Chapter 179: "Year after Year Surplus in the Lunchbox," The Allusion of the Feathered Fan · Part 2
Mr. Yu continued to curse, "How dare you still mention Yanran! If it were her, would she have forsaken her virtue after just a few months of neglect?! With my daughter Yanran's virtue and patience, even if she suffered some grievances, she could endure it; as long as she waited three or four years for her husband to return, wouldn't everything be resolved? It's all because of you, failing to educate your adopted daughter properly, and yet you still don't repent?!"
In truth, what he was thinking was, if Yanhong hadn't gone astray, even if the couple were not getting along, considering the years she had spent waiting faithfully, the position of the legitimate wife would have been secure. Now, seeing Gu Tingye wielding power, the missed opportunity for wealth and prosperity was causing him great regret!
"Know your son as you know yourself," thought Old Master Yu as he looked at his eldest son's tense jawline. He half-mocked and half-sighed inwardly, too tired to say much more. He waved his hand and said, "Enough, all of you go back now. Be careful with your words around your wives to avoid causing trouble for yourselves and your daughters."
Seeing how exhausted their father was, everyone bowed respectfully and left together. As they stepped over the threshold, Second Master Yu and Second Madam exchanged a glance, then glanced at First Madam ahead of them. They shared a subtle nod before lowering their heads and walking away.
First Madam Yu was the second wife married by Eldest Master Yu during his tenure. She didn't serve the elders for long and wasn't fully aware of Old Master Yu's authority. However, both she and her husband were astute individuals, well aware that their elder brother was currently upset. They hadn't expected this situation to escalate to such a degree. Now, seeing the trouble caused by First Madam Yu, they worried about potential repercussions. If Old Master Yu were to punish her severely, it might have been better. However, after spending most of the night questioning her, he hadn't made any decisions on how to deal with her. ...The main household might be in serious trouble.
After the children left, Old Master Yu got up wearily and went into the inner room. He saw Old Madam Yu sitting silently on the edge of the bed, tears streaming down her face. He moved closer and sat beside her, speaking softly, "Don't worry about this matter. Your health isn't good. Don't let me pass away before you do."
Old Madam Yu's eyes were red and swollen from crying. She lamented, "It's all because of my incompetence, my inability to teach the children. Here you are, at your age, still worrying."
Old Master Yu chuckled and replied, "Parents in this world, who have children in body, how can they also have children in heart? When children grow up, they have their own plans. We, as parents, just need to fulfill our duties."
With a choked voice, Old Madam Yu said, "Will this matter... turn out well? I heard that Second Master Gu from Ningyuan isn't a kind person."
Old Master Yu comforted his wife, patting her back gently. "Don't worry. If Second Master Gu from Ningyuan intended to turn against our family, he wouldn't have sent Guan Shi back." Old Madam Yu always trusted her husband. Once he spoke, she didn't doubt him. She wiped her tears with a handkerchief and smiled, "That's true. Didn't you say that the tea ceremony was arranged by him? I think he's quite discerning."
"Humph! Discerning? What's there to discern! Being cuckolded, and the other party doesn't hold a grudge, that's already generous enough. Yet they dare to come knocking on our door for extortion!" Old Master Yu stood up, pacing around the room slowly, regretting his old age and frailty. Otherwise, he would personally administer family discipline and give his eldest son a good beating. "Back then, I thought it was reasonable for Second Master Gu to arrange the tea ceremony for the Duan family. But now, it's just embarrassing! Look at how cleanly and efficiently they handled the situation, fulfilling their obligations to the fullest. Even if this matter is exposed in the future, they won't be blamed for anything! Every step they take is carefully calculated; then look at our incompetent troublemaker..."
The more Old Master Yu thought about it, the angrier he became, feeling a rush of frustration in his chest. He couldn't help but reproach his old wife, "And you, how could you believe what the old lady said and allow her to go cause trouble at the Gu household!"
Old Madam Yu was at a loss and ashamed, saying, "I was confused, but..." She whispered, "That Taoist insists that it must be done for the marriage to be successful. As long as you're well, even if it means I have to go challenge the king of the underworld, I'm not afraid."
Old Master Yu couldn't bring himself to get angry at his wife and paced around the table, cursing, "I understand Old Madam Gu Elder's intentions clearly. She's just counting on the fact that the child's birth mother is an actress. She must think that if the child inherits the title, she'll have to acknowledge her relatives for appearances' sake!"
Old Madam Yu was also surprised, "She's really foolish. How could she do such a thing? Does she think Lord Gu is easily fooled? If she annoys him, he'll just get rid of her completely. Can she really benefit from that?"
Old Master Yu loudly declared and couldn't help but curse even louder, "It's bad enough that the women in the inner courtyard are foolish, but our child is even more of an idiot! He only listens to his mother's words! I said it before, he's soft-hearted, hesitates in matters, lacks determination, and can't discern things clearly. He's not cut out for officialdom at all! Back then, he still complained that I didn't help him. With his lack of ability, if he really messes up big time and takes on big responsibilities, he'll end up with nothing left!"
Despite all the shortcomings of the eldest son, he never acted recklessly. The reason why he was comfortable with his son taking on an external position was because he was timid and obedient. Coupled with a well-educated and reasonable wife, even if his political achievements were not outstanding, he wouldn't cause major trouble. Unfortunately, the biological mother of Yanran passed away early, and the replacement wife for the inner house was of poor quality. Not only was she narrow-minded and stupid, but she also liked to incite her husband!
"Afterward, bring Yan Yu to your room and raise her properly," Old Master Yu ordered in a deep voice.
Old Madam Yu looked up, her gaze uncertain and surprised. "You... what about Second Madam Guo?" Even though she had been naive all her life, she still knew her husband's stern style of doing things. Mr. Yu replied calmly, "She's a troublemaker and can't stay."
Once the decision was made, the Yu family quickly took action. First, Old Madam Yu chose a cool and auspicious day, prepared a generous gift, and went to see Old Madam Sheng to apologize sincerely. Old Madam Sheng knew her soft and weak nature well. Despite some reproach, nothing substantial could come out of it. After some tears and apologies, the old sisters had to reconcile.
Two days later, Fourth Madam prepared another generous gift and went to the Ningyuan Marquis's residence to see Minglan, intending to confess her fault.
Fourth Madam was usually elegant and aloof, not fond of such formalities. However, under Mr. Yu's instructions, she had no choice but to come and apologize. She stuttered through her words, almost on the verge of tears due to embarrassment. Minglan had no intention of holding a grudge against these unknowing individuals. To prevent Fourth Madam from continuing her apologies, she quickly had someone bring out Tuan'er to divert the attention.
Tuan'er had just finished nursing and was covered in the scent of milk, sprawled in the nurse's arms after being plucked from his bed. Seeing this sleepy and chubby little bundle, Fourth Madam couldn't help but smile through her tears, cuddling and cooing over him. She looked up at Minglan and said, "What a lovely baby! Good deeds indeed bring good fortune. You're a blessed child." After handing the child to the nurse, she retrieved a piece of red gold pixiu from her skirt and said, "This was blessed by a high monk when your Fourth Uncle went to Yunxia Mountain years ago. Let the child wear it for good luck."
Minglan accepted it with a smile, saying, "Auntie Four's kind gesture is always appreciated." As she asked Danju to fetch a sachet to hold the gold pixiu, she continued with a chuckle, "I still remember when we were young, Auntie Four's delicious silk candy. She would melt it for us to drizzle over cherries, and Jie-jie (elder sister) Yanran couldn't beat me to it." Fourth Madam laughed, "You two! If you liked it so much, you could have taken some home, but both of you were mischievous and loved to fight over it!" Minglan chided with a smile, "Auntie doesn't know, but fighting over it made it taste better."
With this exchange, the atmosphere relaxed. Fourth Madam then mentioned Yanran, and Minglan replied with a smile, "In her last letter, Yanran jiejie talked about raising camellias, it seemed like she had become quite the expert." Fourth Madam chuckled, "That's rare. Your grandfather was worried she'd pick up her Fourth Uncle's habits and neglect household duties. He never allowed her to indulge in flowers, birds, insects, and fish. It seems all his efforts were in vain."
"Actually, Minglan greatly respects Fourth Uncle.", but with Old Master Yu watching closely, she didn't dare to emulate him."
Both of them burst into laughter. When they mentioned Lord Yu, Fourth Madam remembered her current task and felt her stomach churn. She forced herself to speak, "My sister-in-law, the other day, persuaded my father-in-law to return to her family home."
Minglan was taken aback, her expression strange, seeming both surprised and not at all surprised—could it be true, what Tuanzi's father had predicted?
Fourth Madam said with difficulty, "The charge was filial impiety, failing to care for her during her illness and disrespecting elders."
This big accusation is invincible. With the formal complaint issued by her own parents-in-law, it's hard to refute. Mrs. Tang Wan's marriage ended because of this. Minglan stuttered, "But... what about First Master Yu? Won't he offend his in-laws?"
Fourth Madam recounted quietly, "Initially, Big Brother objected, but Father was determined, so Big Brother had to comply. As for the in-laws, alas, after the passing of their patriarch, Big Sister-in-law cut ties with her natal family long ago."
First Madam Yu was born of a concubine. She was betrothed to First Master Yu because her birth mother was favored. But now, with her natal family headed by her eldest brother, who is the legitimate heir, and given the longstanding discord between siblings, being sent back home this time is truly life-threatening.
"Father is truly angry this time. He's even prepared the indictment accusing Big Brother of being unfilial," Fourth Madam said in a hushed tone. These past few days have been tumultuous for the Yu family, with waves crashing against them from every direction.
Old Master Yu has always been decisive and uncompromising. Over the decades, he has maintained a firm grip on everything and has been strict in managing the inner household. First Madam Yu finally experienced firsthand the methods her father-in-law used to deal with political enemies. She collapsed on the ground, crying and begging for mercy, even contemplating suicide. Old Master Yu didn't even bat an eyelid. He simply ordered the servants to tie up First Madam Yu and take her away in a carriage, telling her to die outside if she wished. Then, with a seemingly unaffected smile, Old Master Yu called for the children born to First Madam Yu and kindly instructed them to stay with their grandparents from now on.
The eldest son and daughter, aged fifteen and twelve respectively, were about to plead for their mother when Old Master Yu calmly stated, "Any descendant of the Yu family who disobeys the family rules and defies elders will be expelled from the house." Upon hearing this, the children's personal maids quickly pulled them away. It should be noted that the Yu family already had more than enough legitimate and illegitimate male descendants, so they didn't need those two children. At this moment, Old Master Yu was already weak and trembling.
"At this moment, Father is instructing Third Sister-in-law to sort out the list of the dowry items of Eldest Sister-in-law and store them away. If Eldest Sister-in-law comes to claim them, they will be returned; otherwise, they will be given to our nephews and nieces." Returning the dowry items recklessly would probably result in them being swallowed up by First Madam Yu's elder brother in one fell swoop.
Thinking about how thorough Old Master Yu was, Fourth Madam Yu felt a lingering fear. She hadn't expected that the usually gentle and kind old man would take such decisive action, leading them to a dead end.
Minglan fell silent for a moment. During her time in Dengzhou, she had admired how kind and gentle Grandfather Yu, seemed to be. Mr. Zhuang chuckled and remarked, "The more cultivated one is, the less one leaves a trace." Thinking about it now, in the political arena, very few individuals are truly benign.
"...It's all because of our family's affairs that the Yu family is in such turmoil. I feel guilty about it." In reality, she felt no guilt at all, but she felt compelled to say such things.
Fourth Madam Yu hurriedly advised, "Don't jump to conclusions. It's only our Yu family that has wronged you! Father said that First Madam's behavior was improper and he feared that First Brother might be influenced to commit actions that would harm the whole family. First Brother only argued a few words on behalf of First Madam, saying that she was also doing it for his advancement. Father was furious, so he decided to enforce family discipline severely..." She abruptly stopped herself, realizing she might be divulging too much information and not wanting Minglan to worry. She desperately tried to backtrack, but her words had already slipped out, including the incident of their eldest brother being beaten.
Minglan smiled and replied, "With great power comes great responsibility, and with high rank comes great influence. Old Master Yu is a compassionate father, and First Master Yu will understand in the future." It's said that if you're not capable of handling something, you shouldn't attempt it. First Master Yu, at best, could only be considered a Neolithic Era artifact. If he were to cause trouble and bring about the confiscation of property and execution, it wouldn't be amusing at all.
"Yes, yes, Father meant the same thing," Fourth Madam Yu, Madam Lin exclaimed happily. "When Father had just recovered from his illness, he was furious when he heard about First Madam's visit to you. He made her kneel all night, planning to go and apologize to Marquis Gu after he felt better. But later, after learning the truth of the matter, he realized he couldn't let her off lightly!"
After chatting for a while about family matters, Madam Lin said, "In a few days, we will return to Dengzhou. Father has entrusted the matter of Hongxiang to me, so don't worry." Minglan nodded slightly, "I have full confidence in Aunt Lin's handling of things. I just wonder if Old Master Yu's health has improved. If not, it might be better for him to rest a bit longer in the capital."
Madam Lin felt embarrassed, as she really didn't want to discuss these matters. However, Old Master Yu insisted that the Gu family must be informed, so she had no choice but to cough and say, "Ahem, well... Father and Mother won't be returning to Dengzhou. They said that the two elders should be supported by their eldest son, and in the future, they will follow First Brother to his new post. Um, after a while, ahem, Big Brother will remarry another wife."
Minglan pursed her lips, suddenly feeling at a loss for words.
After seeing off Madam Lin, Minglan returned to her room and found that Little Tuan was awake. The wet nurse was playing with him using a rattle drum, and the chubby little boy reached out his hands, trying hard to grab it, giggling and drooling happily. When he spotted his mother, he immediately began to babble and coo. The wet nurse stood up and bowed, her round face looking very honest as she smiled and said, "The little master recognizes his mother now, he knows you've come."
Minglan sat down on the edge of the bed, holding the child in her arms, and leaned in to kiss his chubby cheeks, only to end up with drool all over her face. She sighed, feeling somewhat disheartened. Last night, Little Tuan's father had told her that the fate of First Madam Yu would likely either be "deceased due to illness" or "divorced," and First Master Yu would swiftly remarry.
At that moment, Minglan couldn't help but express her admiration, "Mr. Gongsun is truly remarkable, seeing through everything so clearly."
Gu Tingye corrected her, "It wasn't Mr. Gongsun who said that, but I presume it to be so."
Minglan put on a disdainful expression, indicating she cared only about the facts, not the source, and said sternly, "Regardless of First Madam Yu's status, she has been in the household for many years, bearing children for the Yu family. Even if First Master Yu protects her, initially, when she schemed against my sister Yanran, Grandfather Yu wanted to divorce her. In the end, it came to nothing. Lord Hou might be a talented and astute man, but he doesn't know the intricacies of the inner courtyard."
"Using the art of war, it's all about unity of purpose; in planning and strategy, it's about anticipating the enemy's moves. Even matters thousands of miles away must be taken into account, let alone such trivial matters."
The man's temper has been particularly good recently. Minglan's tongue was bold, and she joked, "I'll make a feather fan for Lord Hou later, then he'll look even more like one." You think you can pretend to be Zhuge Liang with just a few literary quips?
Gu Tingye didn't argue much, just smiled and said, "Madam, just wait and see."
Very well, now we see it clearly. By working backward from the outcome to the process, we can deduce that initially, Old Master Yu tolerated his eldest daughter-in-law, hence the severe punishment and the intention to personally visit and apologize. However, when he learned of the scandal and saw that his daughter-in-law dared to come and deceive them, he knew he couldn't confront Gu Tingye directly. Instead, he had to settle the matter privately among the womenfolk. At this point, mere verbal apologies were not enough; the Yu family had to shed some blood.
Of course, considering the actions of the culprit, it's clear that she couldn't be allowed to stay. Once First Master Yu takes a new wife, even if the Yu elders pass away in the future, there will be no chance for the first Madam old lady to return. Moreover, the charm of the old lady may not last forever. People with soft hearts can be influenced by anyone's words. When the new wife enters the picture, I don't believe First Master Yu will remain loyal to the old lady.
Gu Tingye is currently in his prime, while the Yu family is experiencing a decline. Therefore, if the Yu family wants to apologize, they must ensure that the Gu family is satisfied. As long as Minglan still values their previous relationship, after another ten or eight years, there might still be a chance for the Gu and Yu families to reconcile.
Thanks to Master Gongsun's professional training, Gu Tingye has clearly become more mature. Minglan cuddled the little chubby-faced bundle on the pillow, pressing her cheek against his and softly discussing, "Little one, do you think your father has already forgotten about your mother's tiny mistakes by now?"
The chubby bundle of joy blew two bubbles of spit, expressing disdain.
That evening, she specially prepared a table of delicious dishes and attentively served Gu Tingye as he changed out of his court attire and removed his court hat. She also brought out their chubby son to entertain him. Because the little one had eaten well and slept enough in the afternoon, he was in high spirits. In his father's arms, he wriggled around, but Gu Tingye's arms were strong and sturdy, and he held him securely, not afraid of his movements.
Gu Tingye calmly glanced at a certain guilty person and, with a calm expression on his face, gently removed the chubby little hand that was almost about to reach into his mouth. Then, he guided the little fingers to touch his stubble. The short stubble felt prickly and ticklish, and the chubby little one found it amusing, giggling as he touched it. His little hands were becoming more and more agile, with quite a strong grip. Minglan never dared to wear earrings while holding him, fearing he might tug at them. When he pulled on his father's hair hanging down over his shoulder, Minglan caught a fleeting expression of pain on Gu Tingye's face. However, to maintain his dignity, he still wore a calm poker face.
Minglan lowered her head and chuckled inwardly. Serves you right for pretending!
Once the table was set, Minglan instructed the nanny to take the chubby little one down so that Gu Tingye could eat. However, the little one was stubbornly clinging on, one hand pulling at Gu Tingye's hair and the other tugging at his clothes, his face turning red as he adamantly refused to leave. Normally, Minglan would handle the task of prying his hand away, but now she was pretending to be docile, and the nanny, lacking the courage, froze in place.
At this moment, the chubby little one resembled an unweaned animal, recognizing people more by their scent. Gu Tingye's scent was particularly familiar to him, and seeing his son eagerly trying to snuggle into his arms, Gu Tingye's heart melted. He decided to hold his son with one hand and use chopsticks with the other, while Minglan smiled ingratiatingly as she served the dishes and soup, playing along.
Gu Tingye would dip his chopsticks into the food and let chubby little one suck on them for a moment (Minglan suppressed a smirk), then he would feed him a small spoonful of soup after taking a bite of his own dish. Minglan would pick some soft and easily digestible egg tofu and tender fish meat, chew them into small pieces, and feed them to the chubby little one. Surprisingly, the chubby little one enjoyed it immensely, sometimes even puckering his lips to ask for more.
The nanny chuckled nearby and said jokingly, "The little one has grown so much recently, he can even eat rice porridge now, and his appetite is getting better."
The meal lasted almost half an hour, and thankfully, the dishes were kept warm with hot water added to the bottom of the plates. After they finished eating, the chubby little one, whether tired from mischief or drowsy from the wine, began to yawn and feel sleepy. Finally, the nanny managed to carry him away smoothly.
After washing up and changing into clean clothes, Gu Tingye, dressed in a light-colored middle garment made of loose ink-colored brocade, sat at the desk pretending to read. He casually asked, "I heard that someone from the Yu family came today?"
Minglan glanced at the roof before clumsily recounting what Yu's fourth madam had said earlier.
"Oh, is that so?" Gu Tingye's posture holding the book was very upright, his hair loosely draped, exuding an elegant aura reminiscent of a pre-Qin scholar with a sword by his side. However, despite appearing to read for a while, he hadn't turned a single page.
Minglan glanced at the hourglass and whispered, "Shouldn't you rest now, Lord Marquis? Are you still reading?"
"Even a rough soldier like me knows a few words; reading more books might save Madam from making feather fans," Gu Tingye said with a slight smirk, his eyebrows remaining still but the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, his tone tinged with teasing.
Minglan pouted and strode over to Gu Tingye, swiftly snatching the book from his hands. She then sat on his lap, fiercely biting his earlobe before narrowing her eyes with a flirtatious breathiness. "Do you need books when you have me to look at?"
The neckline of her snow-silk garment had loosened, revealing a vibrant green satin bodice adorned with a deep, lush green embroidered border. It accentuated the slight tremble in the midst of her ample bosom, adding a touch of allure.
"Having too many tricks might backfire," the subsequent development fully proved that those ten Gs she invested in weren't in vain... Harmony, pull the lamp.
—"Madam hasn't made the feather fan yet," the man leaned on his elbow at the bedside, his mouth curved with tenderness, his features relaxed. In truth, Minglan was already tired and sore, but she didn't show it, instead snuggling up to him and cooing, "I'm afraid even if I make it, you won't be able to shake it."
Gu Tingye didn't expect her to provoke him further. With a sudden movement, he flipped over and pressed Minglan down, chuckling softly, "Then let's give it a try."
Thankfully, the bed was crafted by the artisans of the imperial court, made of mahogany with four pillars and columns, sturdy enough to endure. In the midst of the whirlwind, lost in time and space, Minglan was exhausted. She couldn't help but think, this man is becoming harder to fool with each passing day.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
The author has something to say:
Next, there will be a series of lunchboxes, followed by a storm, and then the conclusion; everyone doesn't need to worry too much, as the ending is coming soon.
Recently, I watched the highly popular Korean movie "The Handmaiden," starring Kim Min-hee and Kim Tae-ri. It's said to have received much acclaim at international film festivals. Some may not have seen the original version of "The Handmaiden," but I must say, I find it difficult to understand this new version.
It feels like there's not a single good person in there. The couple played by Kim Min-hee and Kim Tae-ri, along with their mother-in-law, are certainly not good people. But that handmaiden isn't necessarily good either. When a married man comes to her seeking pleasure and she willingly undresses and waits eagerly, why does she still put on the expression of a victim?
As for the child, if you want to have one, go ahead and have it yourself. Why do you need the master to acknowledge it? He doesn't want to have a child, he just wants to have a good time with you, and you didn't object either. You even happily accepted the payment.
Since you seem so well-versed, that scumbag naturally thought you were well-prepared and knew the rules of the game. Who would have known that when the mistress flew into a rage and demanded she have an abortion, that handmaiden suddenly put on an innocent and naive appearance, fragile, crying, bewildered, displaying all sorts of innocent behavior.
Did she really think that the master coming to her for pleasure in the middle of the night was an expression of true love?
—I really can't understand, what exactly is this movie trying to convey?