After chatting for a while longer, Mama Chang finally got up to take her leave. Gu Tingye called for Tuange'er to attend to Cui Mama, then went to freshen up and change into his regular attire before returning to the room. It seemed that the affairs of the court had worn him out greatly. He sat down by the bed, pinching the bridge of his nose wearily, and said to Minglan, "I'll take a nap for a while before dinner. It's been quite exhausting."
Minglan, who had been sitting with Mama Chang for a while and was feeling a bit stiff, was about to lie down to rest when she heard his words. She complained discontentedly, "Didn't we arrange another room for you? There's still a couch outside. Why are you squeezing in here with me?"
Gu Tingye couldn't be bothered with her complaints. He lifted Minglan up himself, along with a thin blanket, and gently placed her inside the room. Then he lay down beside her, letting out a long sigh. "Finally reported the affairs of the Two Huais to the emperor. His Majesty is indeed anxious, but with an illness that has lasted for many years, how could it be cured overnight? We'll take it slowly."
Hearing the fatigue in his voice, Minglan reached out to massage his temples. Gu Tingye reached back and caught her hand, placing it on his own cheek. He turned his head to look directly at her and said, "I'm sorry I couldn't come back earlier."
Minglan thought for a moment and then said slyly, "Cui Mama said that actually, my childbirth went quite smoothly. If it weren't for the trouble before and the arson afterward, you wouldn't have needed to come back." Gu Tingye turned onto his side, burying his head in Minglan's chest, and whispered softly, "It won't happen again in the future." Minglan stroked his coarse, thick hair and replied, "Mama Chang said the same thing."
"What did you all talk about?" Gu Tingye asked with his eyes closed, his breathing steady.
"We talked about Manniang's matter," Minglan said, waiting quietly for the man's reaction.
Sure enough, Gu Tingye's eyelashes flickered, and he slowly opened his eyes, speaking calmly, "Where did we leave off?"
"To the part where you left the mansion alone," Minglan replied.
Gu Tingye slowly turned around to face Minglan, lying side by side with her. "Then I'll continue," he said.
Minglan also adjusted herself to lie comfortably, listening attentively.
"In truth, I was somewhat displeased with Manniang's visit to the Yu Mansion. However, as always, she managed to smooth things over, and I still trust her," Gu Tingye said, his hands folded calmly on his abdomen, his voice very calm.
At that time, the Marquis of Ningyuan's mansion was like a nightmare. His old father, who didn't understand him, the hypocritical Madame, enjoying the Bai family's money while looking down on his uncles and brothers. Even returning to his own room, he was surrounded by cunning maids and seductive servants with hidden agendas. Everywhere he turned, he felt unfulfilled and oppressed. Only with Manniang could he find some solace in her gentle words. For a period of time, he truly trusted Manniang.
Humans are creatures of habit. Once they trust someone, many of their actions seem inherently reasonable.
"Until that day at Guangji Temple, your words made a lot of sense."
It might be hard to believe, but aside from Manniang, Minglan was the only woman he had ever had a proper conversation with. That little girl, with her furrowed brow and skeptical eyes, full of discontent, yet she never resorted to empty words or baseless accusations. Instead, she spoke with logic and presented facts earnestly. After returning home, he pondered over her words repeatedly and no matter how he looked at it, Minglan's words seemed to be right.
If Manniang truly only wanted to be a concubine, there would be no reason for her to cause a scene at the Yu Mansion.
People can be deceived, often because they don't consider certain possibilities. If things were truly investigated, many people and many situations wouldn't hold up to scrutiny.
"Manniang had a maid who served her for many years, but later Manniang sent her away with her dowry when she got married. It took me a lot of effort to find her, and after some intimidation and persuasion, she finally confessed." Women who have husbands and children are rarely completely loyal.
"What she said was unbelievable. Firstly, Manniang's brother didn't abandon her at all; Manniang actually persuaded him to leave. It wasn't until Manniang gave birth to two children that her brother pretended to regret and returned. After Manniang begged for mercy, they put on a good show, and I, believing in Manniang's good nature, forgave her brother."
Minglan remained silent, staring blankly at the ceiling beams.
"Then there's the matter of the children, which Mama Chang was right about. Manniang arranged for someone to spike the drink of the herbalist. It's like a farce," Gu Tingye's tone was bitter, as if narrating a ludicrous scene. "But still, I didn't fully believe it. I had the people in Manniang's residence in the capital interrogated. And yet, there were even more unexpected revelations."
"What else did she do?" Minglan's patience was wearing thin.
Gu Tingye reached for her hand, gripping it firmly, before continuing, "She found out about the tavern where Yanhong's household servants frequented, and had someone leak her own whereabouts. Then she spread some exaggerated rumors. Yanhong, naturally infuriated, stormed over. Manniang had everything set up, waiting for me to 'come to their rescue' in time and turn Yanhong against me."
Minglan sighed deeply and shifted her body, curling up against the man's arm and pressing her face against it.
"Learning all of this, I was dumbfounded," Gu Tingye turned to hold Minglan, his hands cold. "I confronted her, and she had no defense. That's when she finally told the truth. All along, she just wanted to be the main wife. Everything before was just to placate me."
On that day, in front of their two children, he had grabbed Manniang by the hair and dragged her out, questioning and scolding her harshly. Unable to escape, Manniang finally spoke bluntly. He was consumed with rage, repeatedly slapping her across the face until it swelled and turned purple, yet she still cried and smiled. He vividly remembered that day, with the setting sun casting a yellowish hue. Manniang knelt on the ground, clutching his legs, pleading pitifully with tearful eyes and declaring her love in a theatrical manner, claiming her sincerity and begging for his mercy and protection.
But little did he know, his heart had turned to ice. Everyone was deceiving him, betraying him, even the one he had always deeply trusted was no exception. Who else could he trust, was there anyone left in this world who was trustworthy?
"That night, I had another argument with my father at home. The more I spoke, the more unreasonable I became, until I made my father cough up blood. He cursed me as 'voluntarily falling into depravity, beyond redemption, truly a despicable person and breed.' I couldn't bear to stay there any longer and left that very night. I traveled southward until I reached a place where I sent Mama Chang a letter to let her know I was safe."
Minglan felt sorrowful, leaning against his chest and letting out a soft sigh.
"After I left, my father searched for me relentlessly. When he finally found me, the first letter he sent me was urging me to return home immediately, saying that Yanhong was pregnant," Gu Tingye said.
"What?!" Minglan exclaimed in surprise. "How come no one ever mentioned this before?"
Gu Tingye gave a peculiar smile, as if mocking, "Because this is a big shameful matter. It cannot be disclosed to the public or even to close relatives."
Minglan had already guessed something, but she didn't dare to speak out of turn.
"My father was overjoyed and held my hand, telling me that he would become a grandfather, advising me to be sensible, behave well, and not get into trouble anymore. But I told him that the child in Yanhong's womb might bear the Gu surname, but it wasn't mine."
The old Marquis was shocked and angry, accusing himself of falsely accusing others. Gu Tingye had been away from home for over a month, while his wife was pregnant for more than two months. It seemed perfectly timed. Gu Tingye coldly replied that since the fallout with Yanhong after Manniang's incident, they had not been intimate.
Gu Tingye would never forget the expression on his father's face at that moment, the anger, the panic, the deep-seated guilt and remorse that penetrated to the marrow. It was indescribable in words. But at that time, he was only concerned with his own feelings, and he harshly criticized the entire Gu family, calling them a filthy quagmire where few were clean.
As for who ultimately cuckolded him, he had neither the interest nor the energy to inquire. After all, there wasn't a single good person in the Marquis's mansion.
"So, how did Yanran's younger sister die?" Minglan asked gloomily.
Gu Tingye replied somberly, "She died from complications during an unsuccessful abortion, resulting in hemorrhage. When the news came, my father was arguing with Lord Yu. While Yanhong was in the wrong, I also had my faults. I never intended for her to pay with her life. But when we rushed to the separate residence, she had already passed away."
Minglan felt a chill run down her spine. Such a manner of death was indeed a form of retribution.
"Everyone believed that Yanhong died from a rushed abortion. To save face, the Gu family claimed it was a natural death due to illness, and Lord Yu dared not make much noise about it. That settled the matter," Gu Tingye said, his brow furrowing suddenly. "But I was the only one who sensed something was amiss. After all, Yanhong wasn't foolish. She knew she would be found out. Why didn't she abort earlier and instead let the Gu family call me back?"
"What happened?" Minglan asked curiously.
"I had a follower named Pingui who Manniang had been grooming and who often spoke highly of her. At the time, I didn't think much of it. Since I left the capital, I hadn't seen him for a long time," Gu Tingye's smile was filled with bitterness. "Little did I know, when I left, the gatekeeper of the separate residence said that just half a day ago, Pingui had come, claiming to relay a message from me. But I hadn't instructed anyone to pass on any messages!"
Minglan exclaimed in shock, "Could it be Manniang again?"
The most remarkable thing about Manniang was that every time Gu Tingye merely wanted to inquire about sesame seeds, he always ended up getting watermelons. Gu Tingye grimly replied, "I caught Pingui and interrogated him, and he spilled everything."
Since Gu Tingye left the capital without a trace, Manniang had been like an ant on a hot pot. Since Aunt Chang refused to speak, she had no choice but to constantly keep an eye on the Marquis of Ningyuan's mansion, especially on the household members of Yanhong's entourage. Soon, she had some success. One day, Yanhong made an excuse to visit her maternal family, but halfway there, the carriage changed course, and Yanhong, wearing a veil, secretly met with a certain doctor along the way.
Afterwards, Manniang went to find the doctor. Since she didn't know who the principal was, and considering the money involved, the doctor unhesitatingly revealed that the veiled woman was already two months pregnant. Manniang was overjoyed and immediately started planning. She needed to make Gu Tingye come back quickly but couldn't let Yanhong be aware of the situation. Then she would secretly resolve the problem.
Pingui's sister served as a maid in the Gu residence. Everyone in the household knew that Mrs. Gu couldn't eat lotus root. Manniang took advantage of this and secretly added some lotus root powder to Yanhong's food. The amount was very light, only causing Yanhong to develop a few small rashes. However, the virtuous Lady of the House refused to let the Marquis think that she neglected her daughter-in-law in Gu Tingye's absence. She insisted on calling a doctor to check on Yanhong's condition, which couldn't be concealed.
After the incident, Yanhong shrank in fear in the separate residence, awaiting her punishment. It was at this time that Pingui came. He said Gu Tingye didn't want to publicize the scandal. As long as she aborted the illegitimate child, after the situation calmed down, he would divorce her.
This bait was indeed too tempting. Gu Tingye already had a bad reputation, and now that he had abandoned his family and left, if they divorced, everyone in the city would think poorly of Gu Tingye, while she could walk away unscathed. After a few years, she could have her parents find her another marriage. Pingui emphasized the need for speed, warning that things could go wrong if they delayed.
Yanhong couldn't refuse. Immediately, she had someone fetch the potent medicine. Afraid that the medicine might not be strong enough, she even took two doses in succession. While the fetus was aborted, she also lost her life.
Minglan felt chilled to the bone, speechless. "…Given the circumstances, why would Manniang still...?"
"Manniang said she just wanted to make Yanhong suffer a bit, to vent her frustration," Gu Tingye sneered. "But little did she know that it would only make me see through her intentions. I confronted her that very night, clarified things, and cut ties with her from then on."
After this incident, the old Marquis faced internal and external troubles, and he was both angry and ill. He soon passed away, and Gu Tingye didn't have the chance to see his father one last time.
Understanding the cause and effect, Minglan couldn't find the words to say. The two remained silent for a long time. After a while, Gu Tingye suddenly turned over and lay beside Minglan, his eyes full of remorse. "Do you blame me? I didn't deal with Manniang."
Minglan was stunned for a moment before smiling wryly. "How could you have dealt with her?"
"Do you mean taking her life?" She slowly sat up, and Gu Tingye also rose, sitting opposite her. "To be honest, if the Marquis had taken her life, I would have been determined not to let Rong'er stay by my side anymore. I would have to send her away far. No matter how much Rong'er understands reason, she is ultimately a mother and daughter connected by blood. I wouldn't dare to take that chance."
"But if she had truly been killed, it would have been somewhat of a punishment," Minglan had already pondered this matter over several times in her mind. Yanhong's death, Manniang's attempt, could only be considered as intimidation and fraud. Neither of these crimes warranted the death penalty.
"In that case, punishment would be necessary, but how should she be punished?" Minglan smiled bitterly. "To be honest, with Manniang's personality, even if you beat her, scold her, or even use severe punishments, she might not repent. She's not like Aunt Kang; at least Aunt Kang loves her children, and with that leverage, she can be controlled. But it seems that not even the safety of her child could deter Manniang. Actually, for someone with this kind of lurking, mentally harmful condition, the best punishment would be lifelong imprisonment, but I can't say that."
Minglan shrugged and smiled. "Sending her far away is indeed a solution."
Gu Tingye was taken aback. He hadn't expected Minglan to remain so rational and calm at this moment, analyzing the situation so logically and without any hint of emotion. His heart was suddenly filled with mixed feelings.
"And there are matters in the court and outside the mansion; the sooner this is resolved, the better," he couldn't help but argue.
"This matter was never meant to be stirred up," Minglan immediately agreed. "Manniang is neither your concubine nor a servant in the mansion. She's just an ordinary citizen. Why should we resort to violence against her? If an ordinary citizen makes a mistake, it should be settled through legal proceedings, not private punishment. If it escalates into a public trial, our reputation will be at stake. The longer it drags on, the more it gives your enemies a chance to exploit the situation endlessly."
If she were Gu Tingye's political enemy, she would definitely use this matter to attack him, making it a big deal. If someone really dragged personal morality into it, Gu Tingye might end up like Uncle Shen, reflecting at home. If both of his confidants had to reflect at the same time, it would be a headache for the Emperor.
Gu Tingye looked steadily at Minglan, his expression complicated. After a long silence, he said, "In Mianzhou, I've arranged for a hundred acres of land for Chang, and someone is watching over it. I hope she'll settle down for the sake of her son." Then his face suddenly changed, and he said sternly, "If she dares to do wrong again, I won't hesitate to take her life immediately."
Minglan nodded, then waved her hand, saying, "Oh, but that's not the crux of the matter! The important thing is, have you figured out what to do with the other person? I mean, I really can't live with her anymore."
Officially, you can't hit or scold your elders, which really limits your options.
Seeing her go from calm and composed to startled like a rabbit in the blink of an eye, Gu Tingye couldn't help but smile. "Don't worry. Even if you dare to live with her, I wouldn't dare. I've already made arrangements, we're splitting up!"
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The author has something to say:
The discussion in the comments section is lively, and I can't stay silent anymore. Here are a few things I want to clarify.
Firstly, many readers think that Man Niang is too fortunate. She has harmed so many people and yet still enjoys a comfortable life as a wealthy landowner.
How is that possible? What is the reality?
A family that produces actors must be poor. Otherwise, they wouldn't leave their hometown to become actors. Additionally, the profit margin of land in ancient times is approximately 3% (for poor land) to 10% (for extremely fertile land). For example, if we calculate that one acre of land costs ten taels of silver, then one hundred acres would be one thousand taels of silver. Let me give you a compromise calculation: based on a 5% profit margin, Man Niang and her son would have an annual income of around fifty taels of silver.
How can Man Niang live a luxurious and comfortable life with an annual income of fifty taels of silver?
On the other hand, people nowadays may not have a clear understanding of truly impoverished and remote areas.
When I wrote about Cao Biaomei's exile, there was a lovely reader who analyzed in detail the situation of exile in ancient times. Indeed, poverty in remote areas in ancient times was no joke.
Modern people living in small towns or rural areas may face inconveniences like not being able to watch IMAX movies or having to pay extra shipping fees when shopping online. However, in ancient times, living in impoverished and remote areas meant a drastically different quality of life.
In regions like the northwest, where fruits and vegetables are scarce, everyone's face is covered in a layer of dirt, and the water either tastes salty or has an alkaline flavor. People can only rely on grains and meat for food, making them prone to illness. Furthermore, due to the impoverished nature of the region, it's difficult to find good doctors. As for education, children can only attend schools in nearby towns or learn from other wealthy households.
Readers may feel outraged and suggest that Gu'er should seek help from local officials. However, in ancient times, only men could establish households. A single woman with a child and considerable wealth would be vulnerable to exploitation by unscrupulous individuals in such remote and harsh environments. It's not about allowing Man Niang and her child to act arrogantly, but rather about surviving in difficult circumstances.
In small, remote, and isolated areas with no entertainment, no theater troupes, and not even a shop, people need to go to the market every month or every half year to obtain leisure and entertainment items, or even a hairpin.
Apart from watching the sunrise and sunset every day and listening to the sounds of chickens and dogs fighting, Man Niang's life is indeed considered bleak, which is why she feels so desperate.
For Gu'er, this is tantamount to exile, separating oneself from unstable factors, and essentially abandoning his son. Of course, his personal emotional factors also play a role in this decision.
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Many discussions among readers are indeed reasonable, because Gu'er does have a fatal mistake in this matter (which will be discussed later), but it's not about some readers repeatedly mentioning "issues of propriety" or "legal matters"!
For the sake of these readers, the author has deliberately added a section. Originally, I thought everyone understood it, so I skipped it. I didn't expect some readers, especially some girls, to attribute Gu'er's failure to harshly punish Man Niang to issues of propriety or principles.
Come on, Man Niang is a law-abiding citizen! She shed her lowly status long ago, hundreds of years before. Can law-abiding citizens be subjected to private punishment for their crimes? If Gu'er had privately punished her, his political enemies would have been ecstatic!
So, can Man Niang be brought to trial in court and punished accordingly? Come on, it's Gu'er's reputation that would be tarnished, and his political enemies would love to stir up trouble with this matter, making Gu'er miserable for a while.
Therefore, Gu'er carefully considered how to handle the issue with Man Niang. There are indeed emotional factors involved, but it's not like some readers think, that he is so unforgettable to Man Niang, that he's making a big fuss over nothing, or that he's trying to ensure Man Niang's comfort, and thereby deducing that he is indifferent to Ming Lan.
That's just too far-fetched.
However, Gu'er indeed has made a mistake in this matter, and it's a significant one that will lead to the final storm in the story. As the author, I am the birth mother of the female lead, and I won't let Gu'er off the hook. So please, I implore the angry crowd not to be filled with righteous indignation, lest you force me to spoil the plot!!!
Unconditional love at first sight typically occurs during the hormone-driven teenage years. I understand everyone's affection for the female lead, but expecting a weathered man, especially after experiencing hardship with Man Niang, to trust another person unconditionally and love another woman wholeheartedly is unreasonable. Even if it's the female lead, it shouldn't be so conveniently set up.
I won't say more; I won't say more. I might spoil the story again.
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Finally, a few words of digression.
Among the readers of a certain era, the one who left the most profound impression is none other than the esteemed Fei Da. Her writings are like poppies, knowing full well that reading them will bring about anguish, yet one still desires to read them. Good literature leaves a lasting impression, unforgettable to this day.
The greatest realization of certain individuals and their clique at that time was, sometimes, what good is true love anyway?!
True love cannot withstand the helplessness of power (Spring Festival Gala), nor can it resist the desires of ambition (Jade Pavilion), much less stop the flames of revenge (Hibiscus). Even rumors and misunderstandings can easily kill true love (Broken Jade). So, when true love cannot withstand the hand of death, certain individuals instead become calm (Wedding Day).
Of course, it's an incredibly classic heartbreaking story, and nowadays there are very few stories that can compare in terms of their ability to tug at the heartstrings.
Because the emotional wounds were too severe, a certain individual developed a psychological aversion, and from then on, they always checked whether a book had a happy ending before deciding to read it; otherwise, they absolutely refused to read it.
Jingwan was indeed the true love of Xiaoliu's life, and he remembered her for a lifetime. But what good did that do him? Let me ask you, dear readers, is this kind of true love something you would want?
My friend, Bajie, said she would rather be like Lady Cheng, who had no true love. At least she enjoyed honor, wealth, and longevity, living to a ripe old age surrounded by children and grandchildren. Wearing fine clothes, selecting jewelry, wielding power, what's not to like?
"In the realm of Xiao Liu, Jingwan is just a passing cloud, gone in the blink of an eye. Years later, no one will remember her. Lady Cheng, on the other hand, is an indelible annotation, deeply engraved. As long as the Mu family's reign continues, her descendants will forever sit on the throne.
Of course, if there's a choice, let's not be either of them. Let's just live a plain and honest life.
I know, I'm too vulgar. Let me scold myself: Too vulgar, too vulgar, too damn vulgar..."
"P.S. Just a note, there's absolutely no intention of criticizing Fei Da from my friend. It's just discussing the story for what it is, everyone understands.
She's a revered figure in my friend's eyes, her writing, her plot, her grasp of character emotions, are all peaks that are difficult to reach in tragic novels."