Chapter 181: The World's Way – Neither Black nor White
No matter how prominent the Gu family was, having someone die during the first month of the lunar year was still considered an ill omen. Therefore, everyone advised the fifth old master to wait until after the first month to hold the funeral. Given the freezing weather, with water turning to ice, there was no concern about the corpse decomposing. However, the fifth old master insisted on settling the matter quickly. He ordered his second son, Ting Di, to handle the arrangements simply and to have the burial in ten days.
The mourning hall was cold and quiet, with only the Gu clan members and a few close family friends coming to pay their respects. They would sit for a short while before leaving. Except for the fourth old master, who was unwell and did not come, the fourth old madam had to stay behind to take care of him. The rest of the third household stayed to keep company.
The fifth old madam cried until she nearly fainted. She jumped up and furiously scolded Ting Di and his wife, accusing them of being unfilial and lacking brotherly duty. She claimed that during his life, Ting Yang faced difficulties everywhere, and even after his death, he was not given a proper send-off, leaving his soul unsettled.
Ting Di and his wife were red-faced from the scolding. Madam Di the second, being accustomed to her mother-in-law's unreasonable outbursts, managed to endure it. However, Master Di the second felt deeply aggrieved. After being severely berated, he suddenly knelt before the fifth old madam, his neck swelling with anger.
"...Mother, you don't understand the cost of managing a household. Just supporting elder brother alone costs more than supporting father, you, all the concubines, and our entire household! Is he studying for the exams or making money in business?! Our household has a dozen or so people, needing medical treatments, food, and clothing... All the earnings from the shops and fields are used up here. Ting Ling's marriage and our eldest nephew's (Gu Ting Yang's eldest illegitimate son) wedding arrangements are being discussed. Where's the dowry and betrothal gifts? The younger ones are growing up one by one; which of these things doesn't require money?"
The more Ting Di spoke, the angrier he became. The fifth old madam had always favored her eldest son, and back when they lived together in the marquis' mansion, the eldest son's household covered all expenses. He didn't bother to argue then, but now that they had separated into different households, even a single thread had to come from his own pocket, making him understandably furious.
"Big Brother spends his days with actors and in brothels, throwing money around extravagantly. To this day, his debts from those escapades still haven't been cleared. Are we all supposed to go starve, just so Big Brother can have a good time?!" Ting Di knocked his head on the ground several times, making a loud banging noise on the stone floor. "Mother, if you still think your son is wrong, then please use the family law and beat me to death!"
Ting Di spoke rapidly and urgently, leaving the fifth old madam utterly speechless, trembling as she looked at her second son, unable to utter a word for a long time. The matriarch sat at the head, calmly stirring her tea with the lid, showing no emotion. The others present looked at each other, some unwilling to get involved, some unable to. In the end, it was the ever-peacemaker Gu Tingxuan who went over to pull Ting Di up and said a few conciliatory words.
The fifth old madam was still seething with anger. Remembering her beloved eldest son's tragic death, tears streamed down her face. She dared not scold her husband, and could no longer reprimand her second son, so she turned her ire on someone else. She stood up and rushed to her eldest daughter-in-law, crying and cursing, "It's all because of you, you bringer of misfortune! My son was fine, but you couldn't keep him in line, making him run wild outside! We should never have let you into this family…"
Madam Yang was draped in mourning clothes, looking even more sallow and emaciated these days. Her sunken cheeks were gaunt, and no matter how her mother-in-law insulted her, she just lowered her head woodenly, enduring it silently. In the middle of the mourning hall knelt her only son, Gu Shixun, a teenage boy in mourning attire, eyes downcast and silent.
Madam Xuan leaned towards Minglan and whispered, "If you ask me, Brother Xun would be better off without such a father! If he makes it to the top of the exam lists in the future, having a father who spends all his time indulging in debauchery would be such an embarrassment, don't you think?"
Minglan, already disliking Ting Yang's character, agreed wholeheartedly and nodded without thinking. Then she remembered it was a funeral and quickly shook her head. Madam Xuan couldn't help but laugh, covering her mouth, "My silly little sister."
Madam Wu was crying and cursing hoarsely, constantly pushing and pinching Madam Yang. Seeing the scene getting out of hand, some of the female relatives couldn't sit still and thought about stepping in to persuade her. At this moment, the usually stoic Old Master Wu seemed to wake from a dream. He suddenly stood up, walked over, and grabbed Madam Wu, raising his hand and slapping her.
The slap was loud, like a thunderclap in the mourning hall, and everyone present was stunned.
"You still have the nerve to cry after raising such a disgraceful, worse-than-animal son?!" Old Master Wu seemed like a different person, no longer his usual refined self. His eyes were bloodshot, his body hunched, and he coldly squeezed out the words through gritted teeth, "I divorce you!"
Madam Wu staggered from the slap, barely supported by the daughter-in-law beside her. She was so frightened that she forgot to cry and just stood there in a daze. The matriarch quickly barked out an order, "Second daughter-in-law, help your mother-in-law back to rest!"
Second Madam Di finally reacted, hastily dragging and supporting Madam Wu out of the room. Second Master Di also quickly helped his father to sit down. The matriarch began to speak, "Uncle Wu, it's not my place to say, but in our family, we don't condone hitting or scolding daughters-in-law. Now that the children are grown, how can you save face for your wife..."
Old Master Wu sternly interrupted, "Family affairs will be handled by us. Since we've already split the family and established separate households, there's no need for you to intervene, sister-in-law."
The matriarch's face changed instantly, and she let out a cold laugh. "It seems I overstepped. If it weren't for the fear of upsetting your elder brother, I wouldn't have bothered to cover for each one of you." Her words carried a double meaning, and a flash of pain crossed Old Master Wu's face. In a hoarse voice, he replied, "Thank you, elder sister-in-law."
Everyone could tell that his words didn't convey their literal meaning.
Madam Xuan's face also darkened, as if she had thought of something troubling. She pulled Minglan to a corner and whispered, "No wonder Uncle Wu is angry. It's clearly a festering wound. If it had been thoroughly cleaned of pus and blood, it might have healed. But instead, it was covered up and hidden, festering day by day until it became incurable. Sigh, my second uncle is also incorrigible. And now, he's caused trouble again."
Minglan hurriedly asked what had happened, and Madam Xuan explained, "We received letters just a few days ago. Despite being exiled far away and having someone to serve him, he still couldn't behave. He saw the bustling border trade and decided to get involved in business. Somehow, he got into a dispute and ended up killing someone."
"Why do I know nothing about this?" Minglan was taken aback.
Madam Xuan quickly replied, "Your elder brother Xuan hesitated for two days before informing the marquis. Despite the distance, the crime was already settled there. Considering the marquis's standing, they might have let it go otherwise, but now he'll have to endure a few more years of exile."
Minglan was silent for a moment before saying, "Poor Madam Bing. Their family reunion will be delayed once again."
"Isn't that the truth? These days, she's been crying and making a fuss non-stop, which has even made Father fall ill," Madam Xuan sighed. In truth, deep down, she hoped that Tingbing would return later rather than sooner. She harbored a somewhat unfilial thought that it would be best if Tingbing returned only after the death of the fourth old master. The elder brother could control the younger, but it was difficult to manage a muddled old father who was swayed by the younger son—though this was something no one could openly discuss.
Madam Xuan glanced at the matriarch in the hall and lowered her voice, "If it weren't for someone 'kind-heartedly' covering for him all these years, Second Brother might not have been so reckless and disrespectful. Even now, despite his criminal record, he's still not behaving properly. Sigh, it's just a few more years of suffering, and that's already considered fortunate."
Minglan comforted her with a few words, thinking to herself that these two matters were different. Tingyang's troubles were kept secret from the Fifth Old Master, while Tingbing's troubles likely involved the Fourth Old Master actively asking the matriarch to help cover them up.
The situation ended in discord, with the matriarch leading her son and daughter-in-law to leave early. In the following days, she claimed to be unwell and refused to attend any more gatherings. Tingwei, oblivious to the awkwardness, continued to smile cheerfully and offered his assistance to the Tingdi couple with a jovial attitude, saying they should not hesitate to ask for help if needed. Meanwhile, Tingxuan was restless, trying to mediate and smooth things over, hoping for family harmony.
Gu Tingye watched coldly from the sidelines, saying nothing. However, he made sure to visit daily, staying only for a short while before taking Minglan away.
A few days after the funeral, the new year began. After celebrating the family reunion festival, the Yu family patriarch promptly sent two pairs of sons and daughters-in-law (along with Hongxiao) back to their old home in Dengzhou. The patriarch and his wife, on the other hand, accompanied their eldest son to take up a new position in another region. Before departing, the Fourth Lady of the Yu family came to see Minglan again, chattering about some trivial matters.
In just a few months, with his old connections and influence, the Yu patriarch swiftly secured a new official position for his eldest son, resolved the entanglements with the former Yu matriarch's family, and quickly found a suitable candidate for the next Yu matriarch.
Minglan was deeply impressed, acknowledging that the Yu patriarch's skills remained as sharp as ever.
"She is the niece of Master Hong from the Imperial Observatory," the Fourth Lady recounted calmly. "She became a widow soon after marriage and couldn't stay in her husband's family, so she returned to her parental home. She is quite devoted; she remained single for seven or eight years without remarrying. Only when her elderly father's health worsened did she finally agree to marry. Father said that when choosing a wife, virtue and character are the most important."
At her age, she holds only an eighth-rank clerk position, indicating that her official career might not have been very successful. However, the Hong family of Qunzhou is still a distinguished family, and the match with the Yu family is suitable. Since divorcing and remarrying is not a respectable matter for the Yu family, the wedding will be arranged in a different region. Moreover, since Miss Hong was able to withstand her family's pressure to remarry for seven or eight years, she is evidently determined. She will be a good match to discipline the wayward Mr. Yu.
Minglan couldn't help but feel a touch of envy. Finding a man who excels in both the court, where he can influence national affairs, and in the inner quarters, handling domestic chores and responsibilities with such dedication and virtue, is truly remarkable. It must have taken several lifetimes of character accumulation to find such a man, she mused about the Elder Mrs. Yu.
As the ice and snow melted and the spring weather improved, with buds blooming on the moist branches, Minglan was suddenly inundated with invitations, like snowflakes drifting down. There were invitations to admire the spring plum blossoms, attend birthday celebrations, enjoy theatrical performances, and even some for full moon banquets and first birthday parties. Among them were scattered invitations to poetry societies—these she politely declined. Minglan calculated that if she attended every event, she would be busier than the top courtesan.
Navigating social connections for women in the inner quarters is also a skill. Knowing which invitations to decline, which to accept, and how to respond requires careful guidance.
Gu Tingye affectionately patted Minglan's face, saying, "If you like them, then go." Such statements from a man who isn't familiar with domestic matters are rather unhelpful.
Grandmother Sheng frowned and said coldly, "If you don't like them, then don't go!" This was the advice born from half a lifetime of widowhood and a distaste for the fickleness of social connections.
Shaoshi, whose expertise lay in caring for the long-term ill, was clueless about other matters.
Wang Shi was reluctant to ask, and Hualan's social circle was different. Minglan sighed and decided to seek help elsewhere. She packed a large bundle and brought along a chubby little dumpling, heading to visit Xiao Shen Shi and her sister-in-law—Pies, who was the key person in this case.
Xiao Shen Shi, feeling restless and anxious, was overjoyed to see Minglan and her child visit. She couldn't help but express her surprise at Minglan's sudden rise in popularity. She bluntly remarked, "You're so naive. Back then, your family's situation was what it was. You wanted to invite them, but you didn't want to leave out your family's matriarch; you were hesitant to go for the same reason. It was hard enough to get both of you to come together. Either your family's matriarch was performing alone, or you had a wooden expression on your face, bristling with defensiveness as if there was a pit in front of you that you were afraid of stepping into. Which host would be pleased with that?"
Minglan finally understood. To show her gratitude for Xiao Shen Shi's clarity, she let her chubby little son play on the kang (bed platform) and generously encouraged him to have fun, before going off to seek advice from Mrs. Zheng. Although Mrs. Zheng was usually reserved, she had been in the circle of high society for over a decade. Her insights were well-organized and far beyond the gossip skills of Xiao Shen Shi.
Which families had upright traditions and were worth befriending; which families had promising descendants and couldn't be neglected; which ones were all show with no substance, troublesome and needing only superficial attention; and which families had internal strife to be cautious about—Mrs. Zheng explained all of these thoroughly. Minglan regretted not having four ears to take in all the details, and felt embarrassed not to take out a notebook to jot everything down.
After careful consideration, Minglan decided to visit only a few families. For the others, she meticulously arranged for gifts to be sent and had her steward politely convey that the household was currently very busy, asking for their understanding. With one cousin dead and another having his sentence extended, two sister-in-laws were either crying or ill, causing chaos in the family—this excuse worked well.
The newly eighteen-year-old Lady Gu appeared before everyone unhurriedly, catching the eyes of the noblewomen present. She was like a delicate and elegant magnolia, an exceptionally rare beauty. The noblewomen, recalling the rumors about the Gu couple, felt that it all made sense.
Sometimes Gu Tingye accompanied her to banquets, and if it was just a gathering of women and he had free time, he would come to pick her up. As Minglan jumped into the carriage, his first question was usually, "Did anyone bully you?"
Minglan would reply with a cheerful smile, "With my husband's formidable reputation, who would dare to have such audacity?"
It is worth mentioning Lady Yingguo. Regardless of the occasion or the household, whenever she was present, she would always engage Minglan in conversation and warmly introduce her to others, showing great care. Receiving Lady Yingguo's meaningful glances, Minglan knew better than to ignore them. The very next day, she went to visit the Marquise Zhang, who was resting at home during her pregnancy.
What she saw gave her quite a fright.
Madam Zhang, supporting her large belly, struggled to rise and greet her guest. Minglan, feeling nervous, noticed Zhang's slight tremble. A woman so close to giving birth was shockingly thin, almost skeletal! Minglan wanted to offer some advice but didn't know where to start. Just as she mentioned, "Take more care of the child," Zhang diverted the conversation.
"These two plum trees are quite stubborn. Despite being provided with good water and fertilizer, they refused to bloom. The gardener got frustrated before the new year and stopped tending to them. Now, they've bloomed on their own. Look how vibrant they are, like the clouds at the edge of the Changchun Cliff in Xishan, shrouded in a layer of mist. Their beauty makes one's heart ache, as if you blink, they might disappear."
Zhang turned her face slightly, her neck bent as she gazed out the window. Her complexion was sallow and dotted with many spots. The thin, fragile skin stretched over her prominent cheekbones, and two unnaturally rosy patches appeared on her cheeks, as if she were drunk.
Hearing these vague and misty words, Minglan couldn't help but think of pulling her own younger sister-in-law, Tingcan, over to see what true aristocratic pride and scholarly aloofness looked like. Zhang seemed entirely indifferent, consumed in her own illness and frailty.
Minglan was silent for a while. The two were not very familiar with each other to begin with, and since Zhang seemed intent on avoiding deeper conversation, it became even more difficult to find the right words to say.
"People are not like flowers or mist," Minglan said, holding Zhang's hand, her words sincere. "We have parents who raised us and innocent children. How can we disappear like dew or mist, leaving no attachments behind? Sister, you are a wise person. Even if you think of nothing else, you should remember the love and care your parents gave you."
Zhang was slightly moved and lowered her voice, "It's precisely because I remember my parents' kindness that I..."
Before she could finish her sentence, a high-pitched, sharp voice sounded from outside the room.
—— "You worthless servants! How dare you not inform me that the Lord Gu's wife is here!"
Hearing this voice, Zhang's expression gradually cooled down again. She pulled her hand away from Minglan's and leaned back against the pillows.
The one who entered was a petite woman with overly garish makeup and a sickly sweet smile. Minglan had seen Little Zou several times, and each time she was dazzled by the woman's ostentatious display of wealth. Despite her mature and flashy attire, Little Zou was actually only seventeen or eighteen years old.
Zhang said indifferently, "I've told you before, you shouldn't come to my courtyard often."
Little Zou immediately began to shed tears, saying, "I truly don't know what I've done wrong to make you dislike me so much; serving you is my duty, how could I not come?" After wiping the corners of her eyes, she turned to Minglan with a tearful smile. "It must be laughable to Sister Sheng."
Facing this scene, Minglan couldn't help but think of Aunt Lin's more skilled performances. Little Zou's act seemed rather lacking in comparison. Minglan smiled and said, "I was just about to take my leave."
Little Zou quickly interjected, "Sister's health is delicate and shouldn't be overworked. Why not come sit with me for a while instead?"
Minglan clearly saw the sarcasm in Zhang's eyes—how could the dignified wife of the Marquis of Gu lower herself to have tea and chat in a concubine's quarters? If this matter were to spread, Minglan would have no face to show in public.
"I was just passing by and still have matters to attend to at home," Minglan politely declined. Little Zou, undeterred, insisted on seeing her out. As they walked, Little Zou talked incessantly. She bragged about how well Uncle Shen treated her and subtly hinted at whether Minglan looked down on her for not being willing to visit her quarters.
Minglan suddenly stopped in her tracks and fixed her gaze on Xiao Zou. "When I was young and studying, my teacher told me a story. Would you like to hear it, sister?" Xiao Zou was taken aback for a moment but responded, "Please, do tell, sister."
"Long, long ago, there were two virtuous princesses, both married to the noble sons of influential families. However, neither of the husbands loved their princesses, favoring their concubines instead. The kind-hearted princesses concealed their husbands' neglect. Over the years, one concubine became increasingly arrogant, monopolizing the husband and preventing him from seeing the princess. Whenever the princess sought to meet her husband, the concubine would create all sorts of dramas, threatening to end her life. Emboldened by the husband's indulgence, the concubine grew haughty and overbearing, while the princess grew lonely and frail.
The other concubine, however, was different. No matter how much the husband favored her, she never overstepped her boundaries. She dutifully served the princess and often persuaded the husband to visit the princess. Occasionally, the two concubines would meet. The first concubine, basking in her glory and surrounded by attendants, would mock the second one for being foolish and incompetent."
Minglan paused for a moment before continuing her story, noticing Xiao Zou's slightly pale complexion. "As for the other princess, she too fell ill from grief and eventually passed away. But before she died, she entrusted everything to her trusted maidservant, who recounted the entire story to the emperor when she had the chance to enter the palace to give thanks. Upon learning the truth, the emperor was furious and launched a thorough investigation. In the end, the noble title of the husband was stripped, he was exiled three thousand miles away, never allowed to return, and that arrogant concubine…"
Minglan looked directly at Xiao Zou, her voice calm yet firm. "She was executed by slow slicing, a punishment that involved a thousand cuts. All the children she had borne were reduced to slaves in the palace, subject to humiliation and abuse."
Xiao Zou, captivated by the story, couldn't help but ask, "And what about the other concubine?"
Minglan smiled faintly. "The other concubine, who had remained respectful and dutiful, was treated with mercy. Although she was not granted a noble title, she was allowed to live a peaceful life, and her children were spared any severe punishment. The emperor recognized her loyalty and devotion, and she lived out her days in quiet dignity."
Xiao Zou fell silent, digesting the story's implications. Minglan's tale was not just a story but a subtle warning about the consequences of overstepping one's bounds and the virtues of humility and respect.
"The other one was fortunate. The princess found her gentle and kind. Although she was not on good terms with the prince, she treated her like a sister and her children as if they were her own. Later, when her son achieved some success in his studies, the princess personally petitioned the emperor for imperial favor. Eventually, both the princess and the prince passed away, but the concubine's children were devoted to their mother. The concubine lived a life of great fortune and blessings, reaching the age of over eighty before she passed away."
After the story was told, Xiao Zou bit her lip tightly and said, "Even though the Zhang family is prominent, they are not on par with a princess. Besides, there is the Empress and Sister Qingping (Miss Xiao Shen). I'm not afraid…"
Minglan sighed, "Qingping often speaks of your sister with tears in her eyes, choked up and unable to speak. That's why I've said these things today. Now, I only hope that the eldest daughter of the Zhang family will give birth smoothly. If not, if the Zhang family must be held accountable, who will take the brunt of it? It certainly won't be the Duke of the State, nor the Empress or Miss Xiao Shen."
Xiao Zou's expression changed several times before she coldly laughed a few times. "It seems you are siding with the Zhang family. As expected, the British Duke's family is influential, and who wouldn't be cautious around them? But I am not some lowly concubine to be easily manipulated. I hold a title myself!"
Minglan watched her silently for a while before saying, "Qingping mentioned that your health hasn't improved much. You should take better care of yourself; otherwise, if you let it drag on, it might become a chronic illness that's hard to treat. Also, don't apply so much powder; it's not good for your health."
Xiao Zou was stunned, her lips moved a few times, but in the end, she said nothing.
As Minglan left the Guo family residence and met Gu Tingye who had come to pick her up, she preemptively said, "No one has bullied me. Don't worry, my lord."
Gu Tingye noticed her troubled expression and furrowed his brows slightly, asking, "What's wrong?"
The two concubines had vastly different fates, but conversely, one could also argue that the first concubine truly cared for the prince, not allowing anyone else to come between them, while the second concubine, for her own safety, pretended to be humble and even encouraged her beloved to approach the princess.
Foolishness and wisdom, sincerity and pretense, sometimes are really hard to distinguish.
Minglan was silent for a moment before saying, "It's nothing."
After a pause, she added, "I'm a bit worried about the health of the Guo family's wife."
Gu Tingye gazed at her deeply, for a long time, as if he wanted to look into the depths of her heart and uncover the truth.
They were happy, they were harmonious, they spoke openly and shared a deep connection—that was all true; yet, between them, there still existed a layer of silence, a small, secret boundary hidden deep within his beloved's heart.