Chapter 184: In the World of Affairs, It's Not That You Lack Affection, But That I Have Too Many Sentiments
Both the Qi State Duke's Residence and the Ningyuan Marquis' Residence are esteemed as founding heroes (meritorious officials) with many accomplishments. Although the Qi family's breakthrough came earlier than the Guo family's, they discovered long ago that rather than allowing their offspring to continue facing the dangers of the battlefield, it was easier to find sustenance in literary pursuits. Thus, shortly after the founding of the state, the Qi family produced a successful scholar, two jinshi (advanced scholars), and three xiucai (junior scholars). Although the quality still needs improvement, their efforts are commendable.
The Qi family's dedication to literature is evident, but their choice of daughters-in-law from military and noble families led to a situation where the Qi family's men became progressively weaker while their wives grew increasingly formidable, making a domineering wife inevitable.
However, the true reputation of the "Hedong Lion's Roar" emerged from the current patriarch of the Qi family.
**The term "Hedong Lion's Roar" (河东狮吼) comes from a well-known Chinese idiom and is used to describe a powerful, authoritative, and often loud woman, akin to the roar of a lion. The phrase originates from the legend of Lady Huo, the wife of the famous general Huo Qubing during the Han Dynasty, who was reputed for her fierce and commanding presence.
In contemporary usage, it can refer to a woman's strong and imposing character or her ability to assert dominance in a situation, similar to a lion's roar.**
The specific reasons for the "fearful wife" phenomenon in the Qi family are now lost to history, but it is known that during the reign of Emperor Wu, when the consorts were indulged and the Empress Jing'an secluded herself behind palace doors, the old lady of the Qi family not only treated her husband as if he were in confinement but also frequently expressed her displeasure with the Empress's situation. She ordered her husband to cut off relations with families she deemed as "vixens," and the old lord of the Qi family, fearing his wife, complied.
At that time, people jokingly said, "Upon hearing a roar from Hedong, pedestrians outside would shiver thrice."
Because of this, the Qi family faced many difficulties and neglect. However, when Empress Jing'an passed away, even honest and straightforward people like the grandparents of Gu Tingye found themselves caught in the aftermath, nearly losing their titles. Yet, the Qi family remained unscathed.
Soon after, the previous Emperor Ren, who succeeded to the throne, praised the Qi family's virtuous conduct. Leveraging this influence, the Qi family elders selected top-ranking noble women as wives for their two sons—thus, three formidable matriarchs converged at the Hedong residence.
The old mother-in-law was already quite difficult to handle, and the two daughters-in-law were even more formidable. One was a martial woman from a military family, rumored to be able to pull a strong bow with a draw weight of 200 stones, while the other was the only daughter of a high-ranking noble, enjoying significant favor in the palace. The elderly couple could neither provoke nor confront them, so they could only keep a low profile and quietly amass their wealth. Overall, however, the reputation of the Princess Pingning was somewhat better than that of the Qi family's eldest daughter-in-law.
One day, after Gu Tingye finished court duties, he came to take Minglan along. After getting out of the carriage, Gu Tingye threw the reins aside and went directly to the front courtyard, while another servant led Minglan inside.
There were not many female guests in the reception hall yet. When Princess Pingning saw Minglan enter, she left the group of women she had been chatting with, walked over with a smile, and said, "Oh my, I was wondering who it was. It's only been a few days, and you're looking even better. I almost didn't recognize you!"
In fact, she had always felt awkward meeting Minglan before, as she had called her "Aunt" for several years. Now, in the blink of an eye, her niece had become her junior by clan, and she had been troubled for quite some time about how to address her in the future.
"Princess, please don't tease me... If you keep joking like this, I... I won't come again," Minglan said with a flushed face, silently grateful to the late Emperor for granting Princess Pingning this title.
Seeing Minglan still modest and shy, Princess Pingning felt even more at ease and led Minglan into the inner room. Inside, on the central Luohan bed, sat an elderly woman with silver hair, surrounded by several women of varying ages chatting and laughing. Shen Shi was also among them.
"Ancestress, come and see, this is my sister-in-law from the Ningyuan Marquis's residence that I often mention," Princess Pingning called out.
The elderly woman said, "Come over and let me have a look."
Minglan realized that this must be Old Madam Qi. She quickly approached, bowed, and said, "I greet the Old Madam."
Old Madam Qi's eyes were bright, indicating that she was still relatively healthy, but her speech was somewhat unclear, as if she were tired, common among the elderly. She looked Minglan up and down and nodded repeatedly, saying, "Mm, mm, a well-behaved child."
Princess Pingning then pointed to a middle-aged woman beside Old Madam Qi and said, "This is my eldest sister-in-law; just address her as I do."
The woman appeared to be in her late forties or early fifties, with a tall, robust build, a round face, and eyes that seemed sharp like blades. Minglan quickly bowed and respectfully said, "I greet my eldest sister-in-law."
Madam Qi gave a faint smile and said in a rather amiable tone, "We've all been through the five rites of mourning; how you address each other doesn't matter much. Relations are about closeness and distance, not just titles."
Princess Pingning's expression stiffened, realizing that this was a veiled criticism of her attempts to attach herself to powerful figures. Since the death of the late emperor, her father and husband had fallen from their former prominence. Her relationship with the two empress dowagers was also complex; while she had some rapport with the late Empress Dowager Shengde, her relationship with the current Empress Dowager Sheng'an was more indifferent, leaving her uncertain about her current position.
At this moment, Old Madam Qi suddenly turned to Mrs. Shen and another younger daughter-in-law beside her and said, "This is the new daughter-in-law from the second branch of the family. According to seniority, you two should go and pay your respects."
Mrs. Shen stepped forward and said gently, "Greetings to the aunt."
Old Madam Qi seemed a bit hesitant and after a moment, she replied, "I have seen Madam Gu."
Before Minglan could speak, Princess Pingning giggled and said, "Oh, Old Madam, my cousin's son is almost a year old, and you still call her a new bride?"
Madam Qi's expression turned icy, and she gave her daughter-in-law an annoyed glance. Madam Qi took a few steps back in apprehension. Minglan glanced at her demeanor and noticed that she not only did not appear to have borne children but seemed to have never been with a man at all. Was it possible that the Qi family's eldest son was truly so weak?
Princess Pingning continued to tease Minglan with a smile, "By the way, my Yuli and Hange are only a few months younger than your son. They could play together in the future."
A few months ago, Mrs. Shen had given birth to a pair of twins, a boy and a girl. In the Qi family, one branch had been unable to conceive, while the other had produced twins in one go, creating a stark contrast and fueling much tension.
At this moment, Old Madam Qi yawned, looking tired, and waved her hand dismissively. "I'm old and not as useful anymore. Don't crowd around me; make sure you attend to the guests outside. Besides my old friends, you should greet the other guests."
The two pairs of sisters-in-law quickly apologized and said many polite things. The women then left for the outer hall, where many female guests had already arrived. Madam Qi gave Princess Pingning a cold glance before leading her own daughter-in-law to greet the guests.
Princess Pingning watched as Madam Qi and her daughter-in-law walked away before turning back to Minglan, blushing slightly. "Please sit for a moment. I'll be right back." Minglan smiled and replied, "We're family; you don't need to be so formal. It's more important not to neglect the other guests."
At such gatherings, the attendees were either royal relatives or the female relatives of powerful officials. It was the perfect time to build connections. Seeing Minglan's understanding, Princess Pingning was pleased and quickly took Mrs. Shen with her to attend to the guests.
Minglan was at ease and chose a well-ventilated and warm spot by the window to sit. Soon, two young maidservants came to serve tea and fruits. As she sipped her tea, she looked around at the hall's décor. The hall was spacious and elegantly arranged, with a clean and refined appearance. Dark wooden window frames and partitions were used, while the walls were painted a soft white. Sparse calligraphy and paintings adorned the walls, and in each corner were large green pots growing lush orchids. The air was not fragrant but rather exuded a sense of elegance and refinement. The maidservants and servants moved about in an orderly manner.
It was indeed a grand family. Minglan nodded to herself in quiet approval.
"Madam Gu."
The plain and calm address snapped Minglan back to reality. She looked up to see Lady Liang of Yongchang Marquis standing in front of her. Minglan quickly stood up and greeted her, "It's been a while, Auntie. How have you been?"
Lady Liang appeared as usual—cool and reserved, with a hint of weariness between her brows. The two had little to talk about.
"Has your son learned to walk now?"
After a long pause, Lady Liang finally asked. Minglan responded promptly, "He can only move a few steps, but he crawls very nimbly. Even if you put him on the ground, he can crawl up along the marquis's leg to the bed, like a little monkey."
Minglan didn't mean to show off; she was just casually mentioning things she'd seen in her daily life. Lady Liang smiled gently and said, "You are fortunate." She then sighed softly, "It is my family that is unfortunate."
Lady Liang is not having an easy time nowadays. The Yongchang Marquis household has finally begun to emerge from its previous gloom, and the Emperor has summoned them twice. Unfortunately, the one who contributed the most to this was the Liang family's eldest illegitimate son. Now, people praise the eldest son of the Yongchang Marquis for his capability, but few mention the legitimate eldest son of the Liang family. Lady Liang's feelings can be imagined—the eldest son has a strong rival, the second son has yet to achieve any scholarly success, and the youngest son's household is still embroiled in drama with his concubines, who are competing fiercely but have yet to produce any heirs.
By the way, the "wife" in this situation refers to Minglan's sister, Miss Molan.
"If you have the time, visit your sister often and…talk to her," Lady Liang said, choosing her words carefully.
Minglan was silent for a moment before she quietly replied, "Fourth Sister won't listen to anything I say."
Lady Liang sighed softly, her face showing even more worry. Minglan hung her head and stubbornly refused to speak. At that moment, someone approached and said with a smile, "What are you talking about? It's such a wonderful day, but you all look so worried. Be careful, or the host might chase you out with a broom!"
Minglan looked up to see Lady Zhang of the Duke of Yingguo's household approaching with a cheerful smile. Delighted, she exclaimed, "Aunt, you're here! I was just wondering when you'd arrive. Please, have a seat." A savior had arrived!
Lady Zhang sat down next to Minglan and smiled, "You arrived early?" Minglan modestly replied, "Today is the Old Lord's birthday. As the younger generation, we should have come early." Lady Zhang then said to Lady Liang, "Sister, have a seat. We haven't talked in a long time." However, Lady Liang shook her head sadly and said, "You go ahead and talk. I'll go pay my respects to the Old Madam." Then she slowly walked away.
Seeing something was amiss, Minglan tentatively asked, "Aunt, are you old acquaintances with Lady Liang?"
Lady Zhang stared at Lady Liang's retreating figure and said, "Our families have been friends for generations, and we lived close to each other. We grew up like sisters. Later, she… Never mind, it's all old, forgotten matters." She then turned to Minglan with a smile, "I haven't thanked you yet. What exactly did you say to Concubine Zou? She was in low spirits for several days after you left. And my silly girl, her appetite has improved, and she's smiling again. Sigh..." She said this with a series of bitter smiles.
Minglan was slightly taken aback, feeling quite surprised. "It was nothing much, just a story I told her." She then briefly recounted the story of the imperial son-in-law and his concubine, leaving out the last few sentences.
Lady Zhang was silent for a long time before sighing, "You put in so much effort with good intentions. If Concubine Zou can understand your goodwill and get along with my daughter, it could indeed turn out to be a good thing."
Minglan nodded, though she feared things wouldn't be so easy.
At that moment, there was a burst of laughter from the head of the hall. Two older women entered, each carrying a swaddled baby. A noblewoman sitting beside Princess Pingning laughed and said, "My goodness, after all these years with you sisters, it's been impossible to see your grandchildren. Now you're finally willing to bring them out?!"
Princess Pingning repeatedly apologized, "Dear sister, it's my fault. There's nothing much to see in babies who haven't fully grown yet."
Another noblewoman remarked, "Such precious dragon and phoenix twins, and you don't bring them out to show off. How could you not even invite us to their full moon banquet? How stingy of you!"
Princess Pingning replied, "It was my old man's idea. He said not to make a fuss over the babies, so we just had a small family gathering."
The noblewoman continued, "What small gathering? The palace granted you two gold lockets, such an honor, and you had the nerve to keep it all to yourself?"
Princess Pingning, who was well-connected, had many close female friends. While they might not provide help in difficult times, they were more than happy to celebrate good fortune. They began praising the twins enthusiastically, describing them as incomparable treasures. Princess Pingning modestly deflected the compliments, without a hint of pride or smugness. However, despite her humility, Madam Qi's face turned livid. The young Madam Qi standing beside her was at a loss, on the verge of tears, which aroused Minglan's pity.
Lady Zhang remained perfectly still, smiling meaningfully. "At first, I thought the Qi family was going to hold a full moon banquet. I even prepared a gift, but in the end, we only had a small gathering at the Marquis of Xiangyang's residence, without inviting any outsiders. I thought it would just pass quietly. Haha... the Shen family still has some face." When the awards were bestowed, the decree specifically mentioned the 'outstanding contributions' of the old fox Shen.
Minglan knew about this too and just smiled without commenting.
Upon reflection, Princess Pingning truly could be considered a hero among women. Although she was born into a noble family, she had never been blinded by her wealth and status to become arrogant. She clearly recognized the future crisis—the emperor was getting old, her biological father was getting old, she had no full brothers, her husband was only the second son, and there was a strong-willed sister-in-law. It would be difficult to rely on either the Duke of Qi's household or the Marquis of Xiangyang's household for a lifetime.
Thus, she started planning early. Whether it was the County Princess Jiacheng in the past or the Shen family now, she had not chosen wrong.
If she were a man, she would surely be an extraordinary figure.
"Recently, there have been many happy events in the capital. If we calculate, Sister Zhang should be giving birth soon," Minglan casually remarked.
Lady Zhang furrowed her brow with a hint of worry. "It's soon. But we don't know if it will be a boy or a girl." Minglan immediately said, "It will definitely be a boy!" Lady Zhang was surprised, "How do you know? Can you predict?"
Minglan smiled and said, "I'm just giving you a good omen! To make Aunt happy. Besides..." She deliberately drew out her words, "Even if it's a girl, who wouldn't love her?"
Lady Zhang couldn't help but laugh and pinched Minglan's cheek, "You cheeky girl! You really know how to please people!"
Thinking about it, as long as her daughter is healthy, the gender is secondary. Any woman who becomes a mother will likely have a broader perspective in the future and won't be as stubborn and obstinate as she is now.
When most of the guests had arrived, Madam Qi invited everyone to take their seats. The ladies exchanged toasts and persuaded each other to drink. Despite Lady Zhang's assistance, Minglan couldn't refuse and ended up drinking several cups of wine, her pretty face flushed with a rosy hue.
The banquet continued until shortly after 1 p.m. Minglan, feeling it was about time, drank some tea. Then Cuixiu whispered in her ear that Gu Tingye had already gotten up, so Minglan prepared to take her leave. However, Lady Shen insisted on seeing her out, so Minglan had to endure her dizziness and engage in idle chatter, hoping to reach the second gate quickly.
"…Having these two children has shown me what real life is about. As long as they are well, nothing else matters to me," Lady Shen said slowly and calmly. Minglan, feeling half-dead, could only weakly agree with her.
"Aunt, do you know what names I gave to my two children?" Lady Shen suddenly stopped walking.
Minglan, holding her forehead, tried hard to recall, "I think they're called... Yujie and Hangge."
"Those are their nicknames," Lady Shen said with a hint of melancholy. "Their formal names were given by my husband. One is called Yuming and the other Hanming… Ming as in 'clear'." Then she slowly fixed her gaze on Minglan.
Minglan was stunned for a moment before understanding what Lady Shen was implying. Half of her drunkenness dissipated immediately. Fortunately, she reacted quickly and calmly said, "Those are indeed good names. Wise and clear-minded, serene and far-reaching. May these two children have smooth and successful lives."
Lady Shen looked at her, and Minglan fiercely glared back—if you and your husband are losing your minds, please stay away from me!
The two stared at each other for a while until Lady Shen finally softened, looked away, and gently sighed, "They are good names."
In her heart, she understood: her husband was young and handsome, highly talented, and diligent. Coming from a noble family, his future was limitless. He wasn't a womanizer; even during her pregnancy, Qi Heng hadn't taken any concubines. Except for his heart being somewhat distant, he was impeccable. Compared to her sisters at home, she was already much luckier, so why be greedy for more?
But if she didn't let Minglan know, she felt stifled.
After that, the two had nothing more to say and walked silently to the second gate.
After bidding farewell to Lady Shen, Minglan decided to walk back to the main gate. "No need for the sedan chair; I want to walk a bit to clear my head." Seeing her pale face, little Cuixiu didn't dare to ask more and followed behind with a few older women.
The layout of noble families' residences was quite similar. Walking along the narrow inner alley led to the main gate, and she had remembered the way when she arrived. Now, Minglan was filled with immense anger, wishing she could immediately drag Qi Heng over and give him a good beating.
—That idiot, what was he thinking? Living a good life but insisting on finding trouble and dragging me into it! Have you been living comfortably for too long? Want to get a beating?! The more Minglan thought about it, the angrier she became. She walked faster and faster, her steps heavy and urgent, as if her heart was full of frustration. The people behind her dared not follow too closely, maintaining a distance.
As she reached the corner, she stepped forward and almost collided with someone. That person quickly stopped, and they suddenly found themselves face-to-face, both greatly surprised.
It seemed Qi Heng had just finished seeing off some guests. He was also reeking of alcohol, his cheeks flushed, his fair skin looking like it was tinged with rouge, making his handsome features appear even more striking and elegant, like a beautiful orchid or a jade tree in bloom.
"...Sixth Sister..." Qi Heng, still somewhat dazed, called out habitually.
Even now, after becoming a father, he couldn't stay quiet! Minglan, feeling no hint of charm, only wanted to hit him. She immediately snapped out the six words with fierce anger—"Shut up! You idiot!"
Then she turned to walk away but soon turned back, glaring fiercely, and added in a low growl, "Change your son's and daughter's names quickly!"
In less than ten seconds, Qi Heng stood there dumbfounded, unable to react. Minglan had swiftly walked away, striding forward. The maids and servants who caught up with him quickly saluted Qi Heng and then went after Minglan, not knowing what had happened in between.
A short distance later, after turning a corner, they reached the gatehouse, where Gu Tingye was already waiting. The deep blue silk robe he wore faintly carried the scent of alcohol, but his expression remained unchanged and calm.
Minglan put down her hand from her forehead and smiled as she approached, "Sorry to keep you waiting, Marquis."
Gu Tingye frowned slightly, observing her gesture. "You've been drinking. Does your head hurt? If you get on the carriage now, the bumps might make you feel even worse. Why not rest for a while before we leave?"
Minglan was taken aback for a moment but couldn't help laughing. "No need for that. It's nothing serious. Let's not delay; let's leave now."
Gu Tingye watched her for a while and then said briefly, "Wait a moment. I'll go get a sedan chair."
Without waiting for Minglan to refuse, he turned and walked away.