Seeing Minglan in a dilemma, she suddenly had a bright idea: "Tuan'er might be sleeping again now. How about I bring him over so you two can nap together? Wouldn't that be nice?" With the little piglet placed beside the man, both problems could be solved at once, and she could peacefully handle the accounts in the afternoon. Gu Tingye chuckled again, looking up at her with a smile. "Sounds good."
The little chunky bundle was a great sleeping companion. Once he fell asleep, he wouldn't even notice if he were carried off to be roasted. He didn't discriminate against sleeping partners; whoever he slept with was fine. Sometimes, when Gu Tingye returned home at night, he would go to the crib and pick up his son. Minglan often found herself drifting off to sleep, with a soft and fragrant bundle beside her. If he woke up in the middle of the night needing a diaper change, the father would get up and call someone to do it, and if he woke up hungry, the mother's meager reserves were just enough to make a late-night snack for the little pork bun.
As time flew by, nurturing the young child was tedious but it held its own joys.
As Tuan'er gradually learned to lift his head, Minglan, relying on her memories and knowledge from her past life, made him lie prone on the soft bedding several times a day, for about a minute each time. When Gu Tingye saw his son lying on his stomach like a little puppy for the first time, he was startled and quickly picked Tuan'er up, then scolded the wet nurse and the maid. Minglan hurriedly explained the various benefits of prone positioning, such as exercising the neck muscles, promoting brain development, and enhancing limb coordination, which would be beneficial for both academic studies and martial arts in the future.
Though skeptical, the father watched his son quietly lying prone without fuss or tears, so he had to let Minglan continue her endeavors. Once, when Minglan got mischievous, she saw Gu Tingye lying back on the couch and arranged Tuan'er to lie on top of him in the same position.
Gu Tingye had broad shoulders and a sturdy chest, providing a stable platform for the little chunk of meat lying on him. He dared not move for fear of his son falling, his eyes wide open with nervousness. Meanwhile, the little one, with a determined expression, tried hard not to let his forehead touch the ground, resulting in a staring contest between father and son. Minglan couldn't help but burst into laughter on the side.
After a while, the little meatball sensed movement and began to sway along with his father's chest and abdomen. He giggled joyfully, feeling the warmth and security of being nestled against his father's body. Gu Tingye, seeing the adorable expression on his son's face, couldn't help but feel immense joy, wrapping his arms around him and laughing heartily.
Minglan felt a twinge of sadness. Deep down, Gu Tingye's feelings toward his deceased father remained complex.
On the day when Lady Dowager moved out, Gu Tingye took his son to the ancestral hall. He dismissed everyone and stood alone in front of the memorial tablet of his late father for a long time, until his son in his arms began to cry, prompting them to leave. The grievances between Gu's father and son had long dissipated over the decades, and now that the departed had passed away, any further words seemed superfluous.
However, reminiscing about the past, when Gu Tingye was born, Gu Yan Kai was already nearing forty. On one hand, there was his eldest son, Tingyu, who was sickly and barely clinging to life, and on the other hand, there was a chubby little boy who resembled him closely, full of health and vitality. What kind of emotions would he have felt back then?
He should have felt happy, too.
Perhaps he had also held and kissed Gu Tingye, felt extreme joy and pride, just like Gu Tingye now treated his own son. It's only through raising a child that one truly understands the depth of parental love. Life has come full circle, returning to its origin once again.
...
This morning, Minglan lazily reclined against the headboard, playing with the little meatball. When the news came that Miss Xiao Shen was here, Minglan quickly tidied her hair and got up to greet her.
Miss Xiao Shen had been a frequent visitor lately, particularly fond of the child. Moreover, the little meatball was round and adorable, making him very likable. Ever since the full moon banquet, Miss Xiao Shen had been coming every now and then, both to relax and to share in the joy. Each time she came, she brought something along.
Last time, she brought two large fresh lotus roots, the time before that, a small basket of sweet cherries, and the time before that, a tiger-headed baby hat with a crookedly embroidered "王" character on top, and the stitches were not very fine. Miss Xiao Shen hesitated for a long time before taking it out, feeling quite embarrassed, but Minglan was very grateful, knowing that she was sincere.
"王" is a Chinese character, pronounced as "wáng", meaning "king" or "monarch", referring to a ruler or leader of a country.
But when she came back this time, Mrs. Shen's demeanor was not right. Not only did she come empty-handed, but her eyes were swollen, her expression pained, and she sat down without saying a word. She looked at the chubby little boy, picked him up, and then burst into tears. The baby's forehead was wet from her tears, and he looked at Mrs. Shen with confusion.
Minglan was taken aback and quickly asked the wet nurse and Danju to take the child away. She hurriedly took a handkerchief to help wipe away the tears. "What's wrong? Oh dear, don't just cry."
"Is it because something happened to the Empress Dowager?" This was Minglan's first thought, but Mrs. Shen shook her head as she cried.
"Was it your sister-in-law scolding you?" - Mrs. Shen shook her head.
"Then... did you have an argument with General Xiao Zheng... and he hit you?" Minglan immediately thought of domestic violence.
Mrs. Shen burst into laughter through her tears, "What nonsense are you talking about? They wouldn't dare!" Seeing her stop crying, Minglan hurriedly asked, "Then what's the matter? Just crying without saying anything, it's making me anxious."
Mrs. Shen sighed softly, tears shimmering in her eyes, and choked out, "It's my sister-in-law... she... she's pregnant..."
"Your sister-in-law is pregnant?" Minglan was both puzzled and somewhat envious. "General Xiao Zheng and your sister-in-law are really fortunate. Hmm, but why are you feeling sad?"
Mrs. Shen chuckled with tears in her eyes, then jabbed a finger forcefully into Minglan's hand and said sorrowfully, "It's my maternal family's sister-in-law!"
"Is it Lady Weibei?" Minglan was taken aback, then puzzled, "Even if it's your maternal family's sister-in-law, why are you crying?"
"You don't understand!" Mrs. Shen couldn't hold back her tears and cried out, "She has such a distant relationship with my brother, yet she can conceive; but me and... we still haven't... the heavens are truly unfair!"
Minglan was scolded and sat back in a daze.
Mrs. Shen cried on the table for a long time, and Minglan didn't know how to comfort her. She could only gently stroke her back. Minglan understood that Mrs. Shen was feeling very aggrieved. With Mrs. Shen Zhang being pregnant, she couldn't show her anger or discontent. She had to maintain a happy demeanor in front of others. Moreover, her own sister was inside the palace and they couldn't meet easily. So she came to Minglan to vent her frustrations.
Minglan sighed softly and offered some words of consolation, "Why do you compare yourself to others, especially Lady Weibei? I'll ask you this, would you be willing to swap places with her?"
Mrs. Shen gradually stopped crying, but her shoulders still shook slightly. Minglan continued to console her, saying, ""Everyone outside praises you for being fortunate. Just after coming of age, the Emperor ascended to the throne, and your sister became the Empress. your elder brother is a marquis, your in-laws are kind, and General Zheng has a deep affection for you. It's just that your sister-in-law is a bit strict, but she's a decent person. As for your sister-in-law from your maternal family, well... you know the situation..."
It was not uncommon for the Weibei Marquis Couple to have a strained relationship. Rumors in the capital suggested that Shen Guojiu hardly visited Lady Zhang more than twice a month and favored his concubine, Lady Zou.
This unconventional persuasion seemed to work. Mrs. Shen slowly raised her head, still sniffling, but her face showed a sense of indignation. Like a sulking child, she continued, "It's not that I'm petty and can't stand her being well-off. It's just that... hmph, she's too arrogant! I know, she looks down on our Shen family! Her Zhang family is a noble lineage, a cornerstone of the founding of the country. She married my brother as a concubine, which is a huge injustice!"
Xiǎo Shěn's throat dried up from crying, she took a big gulp of tea, and continued, "Hmph, but she doesn't even consider that this marriage wasn't something my brother begged for, it was the Emperor's gracious intention! Her Zhang family wouldn't dare to defy the imperial decree, so she takes it out on our Shen family! Acting all day like she's on her last legs, flaunting her attitude for everyone to see!"
Having started, she found it easier to continue. "I also know that she doesn't like the younger sister from the Zou family. She feels that by raising such a noble concubine, it undermines her dignity! But after all, she's just a concubine. Even if it surpasses the heavens, can it surpass her? In these past two years, my brother has been like he hasn't married a wife at all. She doesn't open the door, and neither does she leave. She wishes everyone in the world knew how wronged she feels!"
On this point, Minglan had a different opinion and couldn't help but interject, "This... can't be put that way. If General Xiao was carrying a noble concubine just before marriage, how would you feel then?"
Xiao Shen choked up and stubbornly said, "That's different. My brother had his reasons."
Minglan teased, "Who doesn't have their reasons? Let me think... Oh, right. If a great benefactor from the Zheng family came knocking on your door and insisted on marrying the girl, and your parents couldn't refuse. What would you do?"
Xiao Shen's face flushed red, choked for a while, and then loudly declared, "Then I won't marry!"
"But the Lady of Wei Bei Hou must marry." Minglan said lightly.
Xiao Shen suddenly deflated like a punctured balloon, slumping into the chair. After a while, she spoke softly, "Actually... At first, my elder brother also felt sorry for the Zhang family. When they first got married, my brother wanted to treat his new wife well, but she was always cold. No matter how nicely he spoke to her, she didn't respond much. Last year, my nephew almost fell into the water, and while Zhang's sister-in-law protected him, she ended up having a miscarriage. My brother felt deeply guilty, but she still remained indifferent..."
Minglan remained silent, suspecting that Xiaoshen had endured cold treatment from Zhang's wife. Over the past two years, this Madame Zhang had become like a nun, solely focused on her Buddhist practices, neither attending to matters at the Marquis of Wei's residence nor bothering with socializing with relatives and friends. Even when invited to social events, she often declined, citing illness, and seldom visited her natal family.
She didn't even attend the celebration for Baby Tuan's full moon. It seemed that Madame Zhang was a proud and aristocratic woman who had been pampered by her parents since childhood and might find it difficult to change her ways in the short term.
After chatting for a while, Minglan felt it was about time and called for a basin of water to be brought in. She personally fetched a towel and helped Xiaoshen wipe her face clean. Then, she instructed Xiaotao to bring her makeup box and assisted Xiaoshen in applying makeup.
"Your powder is excellent, with a smooth texture and a pleasant fragrance, much better than what they use in the palace," remarked Xiaoshen as she examined herself in the mirror. Minglan smiled and replied, "This isn't just any ordinary powder; it's made from Yunnan camellia flowers, mixed with rice powder, pearl powder, and various fragrant spices. It was concocted by my brother-in-law, who enjoys experimenting with such things in his spare time."
Seeing Xiaoshen's delight, Minglan had Xiaotao pack a small box of the powder for her to take home. After all, she herself rarely wore makeup on ordinary days.
"How old are you? You shouldn't wear too much makeup. You'll end up looking like a ghost, and your sister-in-law won't be pleased with that," Minglan teased as she watched Xiaoshen eagerly holding the powder box.
Xiaoshen glanced at her and retorted, "You're afraid of my sister-in-law!"
"Your sister-in-law is so kind. I've been envious of you for a long time!" Minglan joked, then asked, "Has your sister-in-law ever mentioned anything about having children with you?"
Xiaoshen whispered, "Never. She just tells me to take good care of myself, saying it will happen eventually."
The main branch of General Zheng's household had many heirs, with four sons and one daughter from the legitimate line, and one son and two daughters from the illegitimate line. Therefore, from the elders of the Zheng family to General Zheng and his wife, no one had ever pressed the issue. It was only Xiaoshen herself, due to her deep affection for her husband, who felt guilty and stressed about not having children.
"That's true," Minglan sat down beside Xiaoshen and advised gently, "You've only been married for two years. Relax and don't worry about conceiving so much." Then, unable to resist adding a touch of humor, she continued, "Just think, if everything goes smoothly for you and you end up having two children in three years, and eight in ten years, will there be any of us left who have had a tough time? It's as if the heavens are favoring you. When I gave birth to my son, I almost got roasted alive!"
Xiaoshen couldn't help but smirk, pointing at Minglan with a hint of resentment, "Deserved it! You talk too much, so now you're getting a taste of it."
Then, deliberately giving Minglan a discerning eye, she asked with a teasing tone, "Don't act like you're so pitiful. Do you think I can't see through you? Come on, it's early in the morning, why do you look so tired?"
Minglan instinctively touched her face, chuckling awkwardly, "It's because of Tuan ge'er's fussing all night. That's why I..." But it wasn't really the reason.
"Don't try to fool me again?!" Xiaoshen slapped the table, laughing as she scolded, "Do you think I'm blind? I can see why you're tired. You didn't sleep well all night, did you? Look at you, all delicate and charming, almost dripping with water. You must have been tossing and turning all night..." As she spoke, she too blushed, even though she had grown up carefree in the countryside, she couldn't continue.
Minglan felt extremely embarrassed, her porcelain-white and moisturized cheeks turning crimson, even the roots of her ears heating up.
Breastfeeding was indeed a risky business; with clothes half undone, the couple couldn't help but become intimate; often, just as one baby was fed, the other needed to be attended to. Handling both responsibilities in one night was truly exhausting.
"You shameless person, dare to say anything!" Minglan, feeling both embarrassed and angry, said in a resentful tone, "I'll report you to your sister-in-law!"
Small Shenshi laughed heartily, teasing deliberately, "Go ahead, report me if you dare. I'd like to see who you'll tell."
"You, you..." Minglan was both angry and embarrassed, completely abandoning her usual dignified demeanor. With a childish gesture, she turned her face away, saying angrily, "I'm not talking to you anymore. I won't talk to you ever again!"
Her cheeks blushed like burning fire, contrasting with her fair complexion. It was as if crimson wine from the Western Regions had spilled onto a snowy white silk, creating a beautiful hue. Her watery eyes glared angrily, resembling the crystal lamps bestowed by the Empress the other day. Though they emitted only a faint glow, they were clear and translucent, with vibrant colors like glass. Each lamp, when lit, was as resplendent as peach blossoms in full bloom.
Seeing Minglan's current demeanor, Xiaoshen couldn't help but admire her, secretly thinking, "No wonder Marquis Gu likes her." But noticing Minglan's genuine anger, she didn't dare to push her luck. Instead, she apologized sincerely and made it clear that she came seeking comfort.
"Oh, by the way, I have some white tea here and some miscellaneous pottery. Would you mind taking them back for me?" Minglan said somewhat irritably.
Xiaoshen chuckled, "You're too polite. I only love Longjing tea."
Minglan felt helpless. "It's not for you; it's for your sister-in-law. I want to thank her for recommending those skilled craftsmen for me."
"You already thanked her last time, didn't you?"
Minglan sighed softly and said, "You don't know. When I thanked your sister-in-law last time, it was just a matter of etiquette. This time, it's genuine gratitude. The craftsmen she recommended are really good." Despite not being well-known, they were diligent and reliable.
After considering her tone, she continued, "During the recent fire, most of the neighboring houses were damaged, but the newly built walls and some of the row houses remained intact. My husband personally inspected them. They were constructed with layers of bricks and timber, mixed with rice paste in the mud, made from good glutinous rice. That's why they were so sturdy and fire-resistant. It's hard to come by such reliable workmanship these days."
"Oh, so you've looked out for them in this business deal," remarked Xiao Shen, her eyes sharp.
Minglan nodded, her expression filled with admiration. Thinking of her own sister-in-law, Xiao Shen couldn't help but feel powerless, only able to acknowledge, "My sister-in-law is indeed reliable and steady. My sister often praises her and tells me to learn from her, instead of being mischievous all the time."
Minglan praised, "The Empress Dowager has discerning eyes."
"But my sister-in-law tells me to practice Buddhism and do good deeds more often, so that the Buddha will bless me," Xiao Shen said, feeling gloomy.
Minglan curiously asked, "Don't you usually pray to Buddha?"
"Big sister-in-law says I only turn to Buddha when I'm in trouble. It's too utilitarian to have all sorts of intentions and then suddenly seek help." Small Shen lowered her head, "We should cultivate goodness and practice benevolence in every moment of our lives, showing compassion to the elderly and the young. Regardless of whether we have any requests or not, we should always maintain a compassionate heart."
Hearing this, Minglan felt a flush of embarrassment. It seemed that she was also guilty of this. The spiritual attainment of modern people was indeed not very high.
After some introspection, when Gu Tingye returned to the room, Minglan was about to speak, expressing her intention to do more good deeds in the future in order to have more children and blessings, as well as to achieve success and wealth (still quite utilitarian), but unexpectedly, Gu Tingye spoke first.
"Mr. Yu is almost well."
Mínglán was taken aback, instinctively responding, "Did you ask Physician Lin?"
Gu Tingye nodded, his hands resting on the armrest of the chair, his expression darkening. "While he's recovering, let's settle everything neatly to avoid any further complications."
Mr. Yu had been conscious for half a month now, undergoing treatment and recuperation with medication, and in recent days, there had been noticeable improvement.
Mínglán fell silent, sitting beside the man. "Don't... overdo it. Mr. Yu shouldn't be made aware of this."
Gu Tingye snorted coldly and said, "This Mr. Yu is going too far. I overlooked his previous actions. But he dares to let his wife pressure you! Hmph, now that they've come to provoke us, what are we afraid of?"
He glanced at Minglan and softened his tone, "Don't worry, the rest of the Yu family has no grudges against me, so they won't be implicated too much."
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Author's note: About the baby's tummy time.
This is an 87-day-old baby who has started to attempt tummy time.
I genuinely sympathize with this little one. Look at him, trying so hard with all those wrinkles on his forehead, but still unable to lift his head much.
At over three months old, theoretically, he should be able to do tummy time well. However, his head is too big, so he can only lift it for a while before inevitably ending up face down again. Poor thing!
No laughing, nobody laughs, let's be serious.
This should be a four or five-month-old baby, already quite stable during tummy time. When the adult in the video flips the baby over so swiftly, I couldn't help but feel a bit anxious; that's way too much force.
Why are you laughing? No laughing! Although his hairstyle is a bit messy, he looks handsome when doing tummy time! This little one is very clever, healthy, and lively. Moreover, he can already lift his bottom and move his legs, which are said to be important conditions for rolling over in the future.
So, this time, I'm seriously collecting materials.
—
About the ending, it's already gradually wrapping up. Everyone will have their appropriate conclusion, so there's no need to worry about whether the necessary twists have been included or not.
Therefore, before the ending is written, please don't rush to say it's a bad ending, okay?
In fact, the ending scenes were decided on quite early in the plot development.