Chapter 178 - Part 1
After completing the first month postpartum, the first thing to do was to thoroughly wash herself from head to toe three times, and even more importantly, to bathe twice daily. Considering the sweltering weather, it was alarming to think she hadn't bathed for so many days. Minglan immediately felt her scalp tingling and urged Xiaotao to scrub harder, causing her skin to turn red in patches. Old Lady Cui looked on with pity. In reality, during the confinement period, she would moisten a soft cloth with warm water every day and gently wipe Minglan's body several times. It wasn't as bad as it seemed; still, Minglan insisted on scrubbing herself raw until she was satisfied.
The half-person-sized bath tub emitted steam as it was filled with hot water. Crafted from fragrant cypress wood and adorned with fine copper wire from the southwest, Minglan sat comfortably inside, surrounded by the scent of the water infused with fragrant essence. She had saved a lot of the scented milk and flower dew given to her by the palace during her pregnancy, fearing it might have adverse effects. Unsure if they had expired, she decided to pour them into the bath. Old Lady Cui couldn't help but twitch at the corner of her mouth as she watched.
By the bedside, there were no ferocious beasts or venomous snakes sleeping soundly. Minglan felt an unprecedented sense of relaxation. No longer did she have to visit and worry about every word she spoke, fearing repercussions; no longer did she have to wake up each day strategizing defense and counterattacks. Upon closer examination, she realized she had no grievances or enmity with the dowager. There was no need for her to engage in such a life-or-death struggle. However, the old woman couldn't confront Comrade Gu head-on, so she resorted to targeting her fellow woman. Consequently, Minglan became the primary target, suffering from collateral damage.
This battle was truly difficult—Minglan couldn't help but pour two bottles of exclusive fragrant lotion into the bath, a luxury she enjoyed.
Amidst the fragrant mist, Nanny Cui couldn't help but feel both helpless and amused. She used a clean cotton cloth to wipe Minglan's body, while her own face appeared markedly thin and wrinkled, resembling the grain of cedar wood along the edge of a bathtub. Minglan felt a wave of sadness as she observed Nanny Cui's aging appearance. She had aged ten years in recent times due to her exhaustion. Despite Minglan's insistence that she go home and rest, Nanny Cui refused, spending her days guarding the baby as if afraid that a wolf might snatch him away if she blinked for a moment.
After some persuasion from Danju and Xiaotao, Minglan resorted to her trump card, joking that she planned to have seventeen or eighteen more children in the future and would rely on Nanny Cui to take care of them all. It was this remark that finally convinced Nanny Cui to relent.
Once the bath was over, Minglan draped herself in a snow-colored satin inner garment and stood in front of the mirror, turning around three times. With her large eyes, arched eyebrows, rosy cheeks, and supple skin, thanks to the efforts of the dowager, who had meticulously planned her diet and sleep schedule, Minglan had managed to shed her postpartum weight rather quickly. Satisfied with her appearance, Minglan smiled contentedly.
After dressing, she walked to the bedside and picked up her child, looking at the chubby folds on his neck with delight. She kissed him affectionately, noting how adept he was at growing all the fat for himself, leaving none for his mother.
"Madam, Haoguanshi's messenger has arrived to inform you that the old Ding master has arrived," Lü Zhi entered the room and reported softly.
"Tell Haoguanshi to take the master craftsman to inspect the house. You and Liaoyong's family should also go along," Minglan said without looking up, while the little chubby bundle in her arms kicked and made gurgling noises. "As for those houses that were burned, we don't need to rush to repair them. What's important is to tidy up the courtyard where the elder sister-in-law will be staying first. If I find out you've skimped on the lumber, there will be consequences."
With the departure of the dowager, the main hall of the mansion was now vacant. Originally, it was supposed to be where the couple, Gu Tingye and Minglan, would move in. However, after decades of the dowager's reign, every brick and stone there was imbued with the former owner's presence. Not only was Minglan unwilling to live in the cold and gloomy atmosphere of the old house, but even Gu Tingye harbored apprehensions. So, after discussion, the couple decided to shift the focus of the mansion and refurbish the main house of the former marquis's residence, using it as a separate courtyard instead.
With this arrangement, the Shao mother and daughter, who resided in the main house, also had to move. It was unclear whether it was due to a sense of guilt for not coming to help during the previous fire or because Xianjie had suddenly acquired half of the family's wealth, but Shao acquiesced surprisingly easily. Minglan mentioned it only once, and after considering it overnight, Shao agreed the next day.
The new residence was situated in the southwest corner of the Chengyuan estate, with a small lotus pond to the east and bamboo groves to the west, offering both scenic beauty and favorable Feng Shui. Initially, Shao still harbored some reluctance due to the lingering presence of her deceased husband, but seeing her daughter's lively reaction upon arriving at the new house, she gradually let go of her reservations. Xianjie acted like a freed bird, enthusiastically discussing how to arrange and decorate the new home and eagerly visiting their new neighbors. As a result, Shao's lingering sadness also dissipated.
In the eyes of children, although the old residence may have appeared grand and noble, it was overshadowed by darkness and gloominess everywhere. From childhood to adulthood, it was surrounded by the shadows of death. In contrast, the new residence was bathed in sunlight, with fresh air and the sounds of birds and fragrant flowers filling the rooms as soon as the windows and doors were opened.
Mother and son laughed and played for a while, but then the little boy began to feel sleepy. Minglan gently rocked him and continued giving instructions, "Send the Suzhou embroidery screen that the Fu family sent last time to Rongjie. Both Rongjie and Xianjie should have one. Danju, when you see the servants who serve in front of Xianjie, tell them to fetch whatever decorative items are missing from the storeroom."
With each sentence she uttered, Danju responded promptly, and Lüzhi couldn't help but laugh, saying, "Look at Madam, Danju has already taken care of it. But Madam is cautious, she insists on making sure everything is just right."
Shao was relatively easy to get along with, belonging to the type that didn't help much but also rarely caused trouble. Occasionally, she would show some self-pitying resentment, but she rarely expressed it openly. However, as a widow, could she be expected to be constantly cheerful and upbeat? Anyway, Minglan had no intention of becoming close friends with her. As long as they were polite to each other and maintained appearances, that was enough.
"Also, tell Mr. Lao Ding that with fewer people in the mansion now, there's a lot of empty space that feels deserted. We might as well expand the area around the mountains and forests. Plant some bamboo groves, grow some bamboo shoots, and set aside a separate area to build a greenhouse. Sister-in-law would surely appreciate it. Also, fence off the garden behind the former marquis's residence. We'll raise some deer, rabbits, and mountain chickens to add some vitality."
This was something Minglan had just come up with last night. When Gu Tingye heard it, he found it quite fresh and readily agreed. In fact, according to Minglan's thoughts, with such a large mansion and so much open space, and with so many idle hands, it would be enough to allocate some land for growing vegetables to feed the household. However, such an approach would be too unsightly. Therefore, they could only raise some wild mushrooms and game to enrich the kitchen while saving some unnecessary expenses.
"With so many forests and gardens in the mansion, the fences and inner walls must be repaired tightly. Tell Mr. Lao Ding not to spare any effort. If he does a good job, there will be rewards for him."
Lüzhī smiled and responded one by one, still speaking softly, afraid of startling the sleeping child, then turned and lightly lifted the curtain to leave.
With her formidable adversary gone, Minglan relaxed completely. She looked at the chubby little bundle in her arms, who was already sound asleep, and surprisingly found herself yawning too. Despite having just woken up not long ago and not having attended to many matters, she was already thinking about resting her head on the pillow again. Minglan had always been generous in her treatment of others, and of course, she was even more generous in treating herself. So without further struggle, she cuddled her son and took a short nap.
As Gu Tingye returned home after morning court, he saw his beloved wife and son sleeping side by side, their heads close together. Observing their fair and serene faces, his heart softened. In recent days, little Tuan Ge'er had become more lively, especially when he was playful. Minglan was worried about the child, and she couldn't sleep soundly at night. At this moment, she was sound asleep, but the little chubby bundle beside her had already woken up without her noticing. With wide round eyes, he looked around in all directions. When he saw his father, his eyes focused, and he made cooing sounds.
The nursemaid nearby whispered with joy, "The young master can recognize people now."
Gu Tingye was also delighted. He bent down carefully and lifted the swaddled bundle, feeling that his son was the most handsome baby in the world. No matter how much he looked at him, it was not enough. He kissed his son's little face again and again.
"You little rascal!" Gu Tingye laughed and scolded as he felt Tuan Ge'er kicking his legs inside the swaddle. "This little guy is really strong." With a gentle touch, he lightly patted the baby, causing Tuan Ge'er to burst into laughter. The commotion woke Minglan up, and she rubbed her eyes, still half asleep. "My lord is back, why so early today?"
Gu Tingye chuckled, "I didn't mean to disturb you, but it's almost lunchtime. You should get up first."
Minglan looked out the window and saw that the sun was already close to noon. She blushed slightly, feeling embarrassed. She wondered why she had been acting like a lazy woman lately, unable to get enough sleep. Gu Tingye hadn't noticed these details. He just noticed the red strings tied around his son's little arms and legs, and frowned. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he asked Minglan, "Why is he tied up like this? He's not a criminal."
Actually, Minglan wasn't quite clear about it herself, so she explained, "It's what Mama Cui said. We siblings were all swaddled like this when we were young. This is just a small bundle, but when we get a bit older, we'll be swaddled even tighter. My eldest brother was taken care of by Mama Cui when he was young." Minglan guessed that it was probably to prevent conditions like bow legs or to stop the baby's hands from slipping into the sleeves.
Gu Tingye thought of Sheng Changbai's upright and resolute demeanor, and he felt a bit more confident in Mama Cui. Looking at Tuan Ge'er, who resembled him in appearance and temperament, he couldn't help but express his concerns, "They say a nephew takes after his uncle. If he could be like your eldest brother, that would be the best." He had always admired Sheng family's eldest nephew. Even though Changfeng was a bit weak, and Changdong was honest and diligent, at least they followed the rules and were willing to listen to their father. Unlike himself, who had been causing trouble since he could walk, getting into all sorts of mischief.
Tuan Ge'er's tender little mouth moved slightly like a nursing animal, making a sucking motion. However, since his parents were engrossed in their conversation and didn't notice, he suddenly whimpered and began to cry loudly. The wet nurse on the side was already prepared, smiling as she approached to pick him up, saying, "At this hour, the young master is probably hungry. Let this servant go and attend to him."
Though he appeared to be crying, in reality, there were no tears, just a flushed face indicating his displeasure. Gu Tingye found it amusing and handed the child over, watching the robust wet nurse walk away. Minglan sighed softly, "This little one sure can eat. Needing two wet nurses to care for him. If he were born in an ordinary family, he'd probably eat them out of house and home."
Gu Tingye loosened the neckline of his court attire with a smile, saying, "Being able to eat and sleep well is a great blessing. You're finding fault for nothing. When Brother Zhong's son was born, he would vomit everything he ate. Even now that he's grown up, he's often sickly. Brother Zhong was so worried about him."
As he brought up this topic, he recalled another matter and spoke solemnly, "That wicked woman is so heartless, not even sparing young children. Fortunately, the old lady was vigilant, or else who knows what harm would have befallen us!"
Minglan, putting on her inner garment, got out of bed and began to help Gu Tingye take off his robe and remove his jade belt, saying, "That's all in the past now. Let's not dwell on such filthy matters. Aren't we doing well now?"
Several months ago, Minglan began selecting wet nurses. Following customary practice, Cui Mama discreetly informed Madam Sheng about it. Upon learning of this, Madam Sheng suddenly felt uneasy for no apparent reason. She instructed the housekeeper to secretly search for suitable candidates. In a couple of the Sheng family's estates, there were women who had recently given birth, and among them, two had ample breast milk, gentle temperaments, and stable personalities. After selecting the candidates, Madam Sheng did not announce anything. Instead, she instructed Minglan to continue selecting wet nurses to serve as a distraction. Two days after Minglan gave birth, Madam Sheng sent over the two chosen wet nurses along with their contracts, while the previously selected candidates were dismissed with some rewards without being employed.
At that time, Minglan thought Madam Sheng was overly suspicious and complied with her wishes out of filial piety. However, after Gu Tingye conducted a thorough investigation, he discovered that the two wet nurses originally chosen by Madam Sheng did indeed have some questionable backgrounds.
One of the wet nurses was a servant girl rewarded by the palace, seemingly with no connection to Madam Sheng. However, after a thorough investigation, it was discovered that her previously lost contact with her former partner and son had reappeared. They were found to be resettled in the countryside by someone who seemed to have "kindly helped" them, with vague indications pointing towards Xiao Chen, an attendant in Madam Sheng's entourage.
The other wet nurse was brought in from a reputable family outside. Despite thorough scrutiny by Cui Mama and Chang Mama, there seemed to be no issues with her background. The family was honest and diligent, having accepted the deposit earnestly intending to serve well. They often provided nourishing food to the wet nurse to help with lactation. Additionally, a nearby neighbor, known for their hospitality, frequently offered discounted fish and poultry from their pond and livestock to the wet nurse's family, which helped supplement their diet while saving money. Naturally, the wet nurse's family appreciated this arrangement.
By the time Minglan gave birth, the wet nurse had been consuming the neighbor's poultry and fish for nearly two months. Recently, Chang Mama relayed news that the wet nurse and her mother-in-law had fallen seriously ill, with persistent high fever, rashes, and convulsions. Minglan sent Tu Er to investigate, and aside from the food supplied by the neighbor, there were no other apparent issues.
Of course, by now, that neighbor had already moved away completely.
Upon hearing this, Minglan felt a chill run down her spine, feeling cold from the depths of her heart. It must have been a slow-acting poison, initially undetectable when consumed, but only manifesting when it accumulated to a certain level in the body. If adults could be affected in such a way, how would it affect infants who had just been born?
The old witch had indeed planned meticulously, with malicious intentions. Regardless of whether she could kill Minglan, she had no intention of sparing the child.
Fortunately, the wet nurse's family was very filial, and despite consuming the poisoned food, only the wet nurse and her chronically ill mother had been affected. Minglan felt deeply guilty and immediately sent for a doctor to examine them. She also sent a considerable amount of silver, hoping to turn the situation around and ensure their safety.
Gu Tingye still harbored deep hatred, his voice cold as he said, "Justice will prevail, there will be retribution!"
He was now torn apart by his anger towards the Dowager, regretting being too lenient when they divided the family. "It's fortunate that the Dowager made a decisive move, otherwise..." He couldn't bear to imagine the sight of little Tuan'er suffering from fever and convulsions.
Minglan lowered her head as she untied her sash, saying that her lack of anger was pretense, but she was more grateful. Grateful that fate had bestowed upon her such a good grandmother, thankful that the old witch's schemes had failed, and grateful that her little meatball was now healthy and lively, able to eat and sleep well.
Old Madam Sheng had issued stern warnings to the two wet nurses sent to them. If they served well, their family members' contracts would be sent over, allowing their entire families to enjoy comfort in the marquis's residence. However, if anything went wrong, their family members would be immediately sold off, enduring as much hardship as possible, with none spared! How could they not be obedient, how could they dare not to put their hearts into their duties.
Thinking about how the Old Madam Sheng's cautiousness stemmed from her painful experiences in her youth, Minglan felt bitter and sorrowful. She whispered, "Let's open a couple more porridge stalls later on, hoping that goodness will be rewarded."
Handing her morning court dress to Xia Zhu, who stood nearby, Minglan said, "Marquis, you should wash your face first, then we can have our meal." Gu Tingye nodded and headed towards the washroom. After washing away the sweat and dust, he returned to find the dining table set, with an ice basin placed in the corner of the room. The couple sat down to eat.
"It's so hot even the cicadas have stopped chirping. How can the weather still be so hot?" Minglan, who had always been sensitive to the heat, broke into a sweat on her forehead and cheeks after just a few sips of soup. Gu Tingye, however, remained unperturbed, his calm demeanor undisturbed. "This year's heat seems to be lasting longer. We shouldn't delay the agricultural taxes."
Minglan paused for a moment, then hurriedly asked, "Should we consider reducing the rent for some of the tenant households?" Gu Tingye shook his head and replied in a solemn tone, "That won't be necessary for now. Let's see how things go in Lianghuai. If we can make some progress in rectifying the situation there and collect more salt tax revenue by the end of the year, then we can discuss other matters."
Currently, all eyes in the court were focused on Lianghuai, and there was intense competition both overtly and covertly. Shen Congxing had finally finished his reflection and returned to his position in court affairs. Gu Tingye felt a sense of relief as the pressure lessened. He didn't want to offend all the influential families in one go. The Emperor might be the leading actor, but it was wise to leave some room for the supporting cast.
Feeling the weight of the topic, Gu Tingye changed the subject, saying, "How has everything been at home these days? If there are any troublesome matters, just inform me, and I'll handle them. Take care of yourself and don't overexert."
Minglan set down her chopsticks and ladled a bowl of soup for him, smiling as she said, "Even if the Buddha has moved, would the monk still be chanting sutras in the empty temple? Rest assured, Husband, the elders in the mansion are much more obedient now."
During the division of the family, Lady Tao took away many servants who were either her staunch loyalists or reliable and capable. What remained were mostly stubborn and elderly servants who not only loved to rely on their age but also constantly sought to take advantage. It was then that Minglan came up with an idea to completely vacate the area of the former marquis's mansion. Everything that needed renovation was renovated, and everything that needed tidying up was tidied up. Only a few honest servants were needed to look after the house.
With this move, all those who were accustomed to bossing others around found themselves with nothing to do. Without a master, there were no tasks to be assigned. Without tasks, how could they flaunt their power outside or gain benefits?
"If only... there could be a general amnesty soon..." Minglan muttered to herself, chewing on her chopsticks.
Gu Tingye's eyes flashed as he raised an eyebrow. "It's not necessarily waiting for a general amnesty. By releasing a few of the most disobedient households first, we can probably achieve some effectiveness." Minglan looked embarrassed. "How did you know..." She had considered releasing some people, but she was afraid of being criticized for being ruthless. She only hoped for some happy event in the royal family or court so she could take advantage of the situation and grant "grace" or enact punishment.
"In families like ours, there are inevitably some servants who have followed the master to serve on the battlefield. They've essentially risked their lives. There are a few families who tend to be arrogant and annoying," Gu Tingye smiled faintly. "Find some pretext, whether it's to show favor or to punish, and deal with one or two families first. The rest will fall in line."
Minglan understood the logic of taking gradual steps to achieve a rounded outcome. She nodded and said, "Then we'll see if there are any others who dare to cause trouble. Otherwise, we'll wait for the right opportunity in the future to release them together." Even when it came to the task of developing gardens, forests, and raising animals in the future, Minglan didn't want to casually entrust these responsibilities to others. After all, there might still be some trusted servants among those old servants who were favored by the respected Lady of the House.
After finishing their meal, Minglan followed the usual routine of attending to Gu Tingye for his afternoon nap. Just as she was about to get up after he fell asleep, Gu Tingye stopped her. With his pillow full of thick, black hair, he looked lazy but sincere as he used his fingers to tug at the hem of Minglan's skirt, inviting her earnestly to nap together. Minglan firmly refused, saying, "Do you think I'm your precious son, to eat and then sleep?"
Gu Tingye smirked, "That would be great, let it grow fat quickly." It sounded like a slogan from a livestock farm. Minglan retorted sarcastically, "Why don't you raise pigs then? You'd surely have a thriving business." Gu Tingye buried his face in the pillow, dragging Minglan's hand to his face and chuckling, "I am, I have two, both fattening up nicely, growing beautifully." Minglan struggled to free her hand from the man's iron grip, maintaining a stern expression, "I'm going to check on Tuan ge'er, not getting in the way of you raising pigs, Marquis!"
Gu Tingye held onto Minglan, refusing to let go, suddenly lifting his head and suppressing his smile, "Do you feel aggrieved for marrying me?" Minglan was puzzled by the question, "Aggrieved about what?" Gu Tingye explained, "Dealing with this whole mess, almost causing you trouble."
Minglan chuckled, "Men handle the external affairs while women manage the internal affairs. Dealing with the matters in this mansion is simply my responsibility, nothing to feel aggrieved about." She wasn't marrying a "phoenix man," where she'd lose money, give away cars and houses, and still be bullied by her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law, while also managing the affairs of the husband's extended family.
"In those households with many people, daughters-in-law have to deal with parents-in-law, sisters-in-law, uncles, aunts, nephews, and grandchildren, with relatives from four or five generations living together. It's a constant calculation and negotiation, never a comfortable situation. As they say, 'heavenly justice prevails,' if the heavens have spared me from that burden, they'll surely compensate elsewhere." Yes, with the combativeness of the Dowager, she could indeed counterbalance a whole heap of relatives from others.
"You have a broad mind," chuckled Gu Tingye, hesitatingly asking, "You... don't blame me?" Minglan sat on the edge of the bed, slowly inching closer, and whispered softly, "I understand what you mean." It was he who had brought upon her many trials and tribulations.
"But your kindness towards me, I understand that even more." To be honest, given the choice between dealing with concubines, illegitimate children, and a witch-like stepmother, she'd rather choose to fight dragons.
Gu Tingye looked at her steadily for a moment, then suddenly buried his head in the pillow, as if throwing a childish tantrum, murmuring under his breath, "Stay with me for a while, or else I won't be able to sleep." His hand still tightly grasped hers, unwilling to let go.