Chapter 189: The Way of the World — How Much is True Love? Loving Others Less Than Loving Oneself (Part 2)
It couldn't be blamed on her poor eyesight; the young Mrs. Zou used to wear heavy makeup, making it hard to see her true appearance. But now, not only was her hair disheveled and her body in a state of disarray, her mouth was also injured, and her once delicate cheeks were marked with two large purple bruises, resembling hardened scars from popped pimples. However, Minglan knew that these were likely the marks from her cheeks being severely swollen and battered.
She looked quite unappealing, her beauty effectively ruined by half.
"Gu... Madam...?" Young Mrs. Zou finally recognized the person before her and immediately rushed over, shouting loudly, "Madam Gu, please save my brother! They want to kill him!"
Minglan's arm was tightly squeezed, causing her pain. "It's just exile and punishment; they aren't going to take his life!"
"That southwestern region is filled with miasma; it certainly claims lives..." Young Mrs. Zou tried to continue, but Minglan quickly interrupted her, saying, "Aunt Zou, be cautious with your words. The Gu family and the Zou family are not related by blood, and whatever should be done is not up to the Gu family. If this gets out, won't it make people laugh at the Gu family for overstepping their bounds and being ignorant of proper etiquette?"
Young Mrs. Zou realized she had spoken out of turn and grabbed Minglan's arm, pleading, "...My husband treats Lord Gu like a brother... Please, Madam Gu, help me say a few words!"
Cuiwei, who was by Minglan's side, desperately tried to push Young Mrs. Zou away, while several other maids pulled and tugged at her. However, Young Mrs. Zou clung to Minglan's arm like iron, causing Minglan pain.
With one hand still clutching a hairpin, Young Mrs. Zou waved it dangerously, and seeing the situation escalating, Minglan quickly called for everyone to stop. She turned to Young Mrs. Zou and said, "Aunt Zou, do you still remember the story I told you about the prince, the princess, and the concubine?"
Young Mrs. Zou looked a bit bewildered, and Minglan said, "I told you before, if anything happens, it will surely be you who suffers. Why didn't you listen?!"
"But that day..."
Minglan cut her off decisively, "Forget about that day or any other day; if you had the intention to back down, it wouldn't have come to this."
Young Mrs. Zou finally regained her composure and clung to Minglan's arm like a lifeline: "Sister, you had good intentions back then and kindly reminded me. It's clear that you care about me. Now, please..."
"You're mistaken," Minglan interrupted again. "I'm not doing this for you; I'm doing it for the Shen family. The Lord of the Shen family is a major minister of the country, laboring over state affairs. But now, because of you, he is troubled by household matters every day and is constantly being impeached because of the Zou family."
Young Mrs. Zou was left speechless by this statement.
Minglan's face was stern, and she showed no mercy: "Also, don't call me 'sister.' You are the concubine of the Shen family, not of the Gu family. If it gets out, who knows how many rumors will spread, and it will make me uneasy!"
Young Mrs. Zou was furious. "You...!"
At that moment, Minglan seized the opportunity and pulled her arm out. Young Mrs. Zou, distracted by her anger, loosened her grip on the hairpin, and the surrounding maids quickly rushed in. Some grabbed the hairpin, some twisted her arms, and others held her legs, finally managing to subdue her.
Just then, a matronly-looking woman in charge said, "Aunt Zou, the lord has been so burdened by you that he has been confined to his room for three months. I say you should calm down; this constant ruckus only causes us trouble!" A few maids took advantage of the chaos to twist Young Mrs. Zou a few times.
"I won't go back! I won't! You all want to lock me up again..." Young Mrs. Zou struggled madly, tilting her head back and crying out in a high-pitched voice, "Lord, Lord... how can you treat my sister like this! My sister has suffered so much for you... even if it's for her, you shouldn't... I want to see my brother and sister! Hurry, come here! Your aunt is trying to make me suffer to death!"
On the other side, Cuiwei rubbed Minglan's arm with concern, while several maids kept apologizing.
Minglan gently waved her hand, turning around with a bemused expression and said, "Aunt Zou, do you know that the imperial edict for the lord to establish the heir was almost issued? Because of this ruckus, the Imperial Clan Court has now withheld the matter. Do you really want to call your brother here? Do you even have the face to see him?"
Young Mrs. Zou was instantly silenced.
Minglan sighed, "If your sister had any spirit in the afterlife and knew that her siblings were causing trouble for her child, do you think she would blame you or the lord?"
Young Mrs. Zou slowed her struggles, her eyes filled with despair. She slumped, allowing the maids to pull her back inside. Seeing that those blocking the way finally moved aside, Minglan walked out again. Just a few steps later, she heard Young Mrs. Zou's piercing, sorrowful cries behind her—
"...Sister, if you were alive, that would be great! In this world, there are so many heartless people. Once someone leaves, the warmth fades away, and who remembers your kindness! If it weren't for taking care of the Empress and her child, how could you have lost your child at nearly full term and even given your life?! Now that the lord has a new wife and a young son, he surely doesn't remember how desolate your grave is; he has long forgotten you... Sister, why did you pour your heart out for the Shen family... If you had kept your life, wouldn't you be enjoying riches and honor now..."
The voice gradually faded away, as if the person had been dragged further off.
Minglan paused, feeling as if she couldn't catch her breath from the heaviness in her heart.
Seeing that her expression was not right, Cuiwei quietly said, "Madam, do you feel unwell?"
One of the maids quickly added, "It's probably because the sun is too hot; the heat may have affected the madam. How about we go to the pavilion up ahead to rest? I'll bring you a bowl of ice."
Minglan felt a wave of nausea and irritation in her chest as she waved her hand and said, "There's no need for that; I'll just go home to rest."
As she approached the door, Gu Shun stepped forward and said, "Madam, the lord is still inside drinking with the country uncle…"
Minglan replied impatiently, "I'm going back first; you all can wait for the lord."
Seeing Minglan's unfriendly expression, Gu Shun didn't dare ask further and quickly ran to the front courtyard. He found Gu Tingye still toasting and drinking with Shen Congxing, so he quietly approached and said, "My lord, it seems the madam is feeling very overheated and has gone back first."
Gu Tingye nodded, and Gu Shun retreated.
Hearing a few words, Shen Congxing pointed at him and laughed, "Look at you now; you don't have even a fraction of the heroic spirit of the past when you fought with your sword! People say the Gu couple goes in and out together; whether it's for drinking or visiting, you always have to escort the madam back home. Good, good, good! I know that the tender comforts of home are the tombs of heroes…"
Gu Tingye had a thick skin and said indifferently, "If Sister-in-law Zou were still around, I'm afraid Brother Shen would be the same."
Shen Congxing fell silent for a moment, then suddenly said with a pained expression, "I owe her so much. When she was alive, she never had a moment of peace, worrying herself to pieces and enduring so much hardship. Now… I can't even protect her family!"
Gu Tingye picked up the large green jade pot shaped like two dragons entering the sea from the table and slowly poured himself a drink. "Loving them can also harm them. If Brother Shen truly cares for the Zou family, he shouldn't let things go on like this. You may have saved their lives for now, but there will come a time when you can't protect them."
Shen Congxing looked dazed. "How could I not have tried to persuade them? But whenever they mention your sister-in-law, I'm left with no way to help."
"You've become more refined, Brother Shen," Gu Tingye raised his wine glass, a sarcastic smile on his lips. "If they don't listen to advice, punish them; if they don't heed the punishment, beat them… Now the Zou family is not engaged in any production. Aside from Brother Shen, who else can they rely on?"
The color of the wine was clear, like the pure waters of a mountain spring. As he slowly drank the wine, he felt the fragrance of the wine permeate his senses, refreshing his mind. After setting down the wine cup, he stared at Shen Congxing and said, "Just now, Brother Shen said that I no longer possess the boldness of Gu Erlang from back in the day. But I must say, ever since Brother Shen was titled a marquis, you've grown more and more cautious, shrinking back from everything. Where is the imposing presence of the Five Tigers of Shu?"
As he spoke, he forcefully threw the wine cup onto the ground, producing a sharp, crisp sound as it shattered against the cold, hard green brick floor.
Shen Congxing was silent for a while before slowly raising his head and saying, "Since entering the capital, I've been wrong at every turn, step by step, making mistakes. If not for you brothers and the Emperor's compassion, I don't know how many times I would have died by now."
He lifted the wine cup in front of him, drained it in one gulp, and said in a deep voice, "After Ah Qin passed away, my failure to marry her sister as the proper wife was my first mistake. Since I couldn't take her as my wife, I should have treated her as my own sister and found her a good match, but instead, I took her as a concubine, and that was my second mistake. Since then, every time I see the members of the Zou family, I feel utterly ashamed and unable to face them, and I cannot bring myself to discipline them properly!"
After speaking, Shen Congxing also threw his wine cup heavily onto the ground, sending shards of porcelain scattering and leaving a white mark on the green brick floor.
Gu Tingye looked at him for a moment, then emptied the two soup bowls in front of him and filled them with wine. "Brother Shen, there's no need to be overly self-critical. From my perspective, the Zou family had this plan all along. Relying on this connection, they've become more brazen. Now that you've realized this, everything can be dealt with."
Shen Congxing took a sip from the bowl, frowning, "I'm just afraid the Emperor might be upset with me by now."
"Not necessarily," Gu Tingye said, picking up a chopstick and lightly tapping the rim of the bowl. "If it were only about the private affairs of officials, the Emperor likely wouldn't have the time or interest to interfere. But this time, Old Duke Zhang raised the matter of loyalty, and as for you, Brother Shen, you knew it was a critical time to rely on the Zhang family, yet you still allowed indulgence in your household, disregarding the Emperor's intentions. How could the Emperor not be displeased?"
Shen Congxing responded apologetically, "It was my negligence, failing the Emperor's trust..."
Gu Tingye swirled his wine bowl and said, "Here in the capital, we are all like floating weeds without family background or solid roots..."
Before he could finish, Shen Congxing laughed and interrupted, "What do you mean without family background? You're the legitimate son of a marquis family..."
Gu Tingye shook his head and replied, "Having family is worse than not having one, and having relatives is worse than not having any."
Shen Congxing, knowing the internal struggles of the Gu family, felt sympathy for him and said no more.
Gu Tingye continued, "Six years ago, our brother Duan came to the capital, trying to visit his distant relatives at the An Guo Gong Mansion, but he couldn't even get past the gatekeeper. And now, everyone in the An Guo Gong Mansion is scrambling to curry favor with him. For us, rising quickly to prominence and showing our talents, what do we rely on? It's nothing but the Emperor's trust. Perhaps in another ten or eight years, we'll have established our own foundations, but right now, our roots are still too shallow."
Shen Congxing nodded gravely, "Brother, what you said is true. My father-in-law agreed to marry into our family because of this very reason."
"Not just that. There's also... the future."
The two exchanged a brief glance, instantly understanding each other's meaning—currently, the Emperor seemed satisfied with both the Crown Prince and the Second Prince.
"Then... what should I do in the future?" Shen Congxing poured a bowl of wine for Gu Tingye.
"Nothing."
Shen Congxing was stunned, "What did you say?"
Gu Tingye picked up two chopsticks and said, "Although this situation seems dangerous for you, Brother Shen, it's actually quite stable. First, the Emperor still needs you, but he just wants to give you a warning. Second, the Duke Zhang's household won't truly stand by and let you fall. After all, it's not just about their daughter suffering; if something happens with the Crown Prince in the future..." The rest didn't need to be spoken aloud, as both men understood perfectly.
"Therefore, Brother Shen, you truly don't need to do anything for now. You should just stay at home and focus on your well-being." Gu Tingye placed one chopstick down first. "The Emperor is a sentimental person. You've been by his side through thick and thin for over a decade. Over time, the Emperor will recall your past loyalty and, instead of being displeased, he may even feel sympathy for you, knowing that you've been dragged down by the troubles of the Zou family."
Besides, the Emperor still needs you.
Shen Congxing nodded and whispered, "This time, even the Empress was affected because of me."
Gu Tingye laid the second chopstick down flat. "The Duke of Zhang's household has been illustrious for over sixty years; they have reputation, foundations, and connections, but they lack the Emperor's trust. How could they afford to lose an arm like yours? As long as you clean up your household matters, the Zhang family will take care of everything else."
Gu Tingye placed two chopsticks parallel on the table, then overturned a bowl on top of them, saying, "In this way, Brother Shen will be stable."
In reality, if the Shen and Zhang families got along too well, the Emperor wouldn't be pleased, but if they truly fell out, the Emperor would also be angered by their lack of respect. Shen Congxing marrying a daughter of the Zhang family had seemed beneficial at first, but in fact, it was a double-edged sword. When Gu Tingye married Minglan, the Emperor had learned that she was merely the daughter of a mid-ranking official, born of a concubine. Though the Emperor had felt some regret, he was also reassured.
Shen Congxing stared at the bowl, which sat steadily on top of the chopsticks, and after a long silence, asked, "Clean up my household?"
Gu Tingye replied calmly, "The reason the Zhang family can be so imposing is because they have the moral high ground. You, Brother Shen, are at fault. You know what decision you need to make."
One was a legitimate wife, married by imperial decree, while the other was merely a concubine, yet she controlled half the Shen household. If Madam Zhang wanted to stand up for her daughter, she had every reason to. But she had been patient. She waited until everyone, both inside and outside the capital, including the palace, knew of Zou Concubine's arrogance and Shen Guojiu's favoritism before letting the issue explode. This wasn't a conspiracy; it was a strategy done out in the open. The Zhang family was making it clear to everyone that they were fully cooperating with the Emperor, with no hint of half-heartedness.
Shen Congxing picked up his wine cup, his fingers trembling slightly as he spoke in a quivering voice, "When Ah Qin passed away, she just stared at me without saying a word. I knew she was only worried about the children..."
Gu Tingye replied, "Your eldest son is still manageable; after all, he's a man. But what about your daughters? Eventually, they will need to marry."
As long as Concubine Zou remained in the household, Madam Zhang could never truly take on the role of the children's mother. When the time came to discuss marriage proposals, the fact that Shen's daughters were raised by a concubine would cause respectable families to avoid them. Given Concubine Zou's behavior in recent days, her character was clearly lacking. What kind of children could she raise?
It would be better to let Madam Zhang raise the children from now on. This way, she could help find good marriage prospects for the girls in the future. A woman capable of holding a grudge against her husband for so long was unlikely to stoop to petty schemes.
Shen Congxing stood up and paced the room with his hands behind his back. Suddenly, he stopped and said in a determined voice, "I want to write a severance agreement with Concubine Zou and find her a good husband to marry."
"You act on the first day, I act on the fifteenth—soon, no one will say you favor your concubine over your wife. Instead, many will privately speculate that Madam Zhang is jealous and that the Zhang family is using their influence to refuse to tolerate others. As for the Zou family, they're in your hands now. You just need to manage them well from here on."
"Brother Shen, household matters are for you to decide," Gu Tingye said, taking a small sip of wine. "Suspicion between husband and wife, with both calculating against each other, makes the Shen and Zhang families a fitting match. If there are any ambitious members of the Zou family, you could teach them to study and train in martial arts—this would at least console your late wife's spirit."
Having made this decision, Shen Congxing seemed drained of energy and collapsed back into his seat in defeat.
Gu Tingye slowly walked over and quietly said, "Listen to me, brother—the Eighth Prince, he is now the Emperor."
Shen Congxing's face darkened. The Emperor was still in the prime of his life, and new princes were being born one after another. The future was uncertain, and Shen realized he needed to tread carefully.
"And we… we are not who we once were," Gu Tingye straightened up, sighing softly. "Old Geng is now afraid of the censors. Every word he says now, he has to think over three times."
The Eighth Prince's consort had become the Empress; from then on, her husband was no longer just her husband, but her monarch. Shen Congxing had become the Emperor's brother-in-law, and from that point forward, he was no longer just a brother-in-law, but a subject. From the frontier to the capital, from the prince's mansion to the imperial palace, the once wild and carefree brothers now wielded great power, and each had to adjust to their new roles.
Shen Congxing reminisced wistfully, "Do you remember that year when we all ran up to Qingya Mountain to drink?"
"Still that cheap wine, ten coins a jug."
"Haha, of course, brought by Zhengjie—what else could it have been but bad wine!" Shen Congxing laughed.
"We drank ourselves into a stupor that night. The next morning, we woke up on the mountaintop, all with splitting headaches, yet none of us were willing to go home," Gu Tingye chuckled. "Even Cheng Qian, who always boasted of being a great man, was too scared to face his wife. In the end, we settled it with a game of finger-guessing."
"I was out of luck, so I had to take you all back to my house. When Aqin saw the state we were in, she made a big pot of hangover soup," Shen Congxing recalled.
Thinking of that day, Gu Tingye couldn't help but wince. "Sister-in-law was ruthless! She had the maids pinch our noses and pour it down our throats, one by one. Honestly, we were all scalded awake."
"Yes… yes…" Shen Congxing murmured, recalling the deep affection between him and his wife. Suddenly, he choked up and, overwhelmed with grief, began to sob at the table. "Aqin, why did you leave so soon…?"
Gu Tingye placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to comfort him. "Brother Shen, try to take it easy. In time, if you live well with Madam Zhang, you may yet have a peaceful and happy family life…"
"It won't happen. It will never happen again." Shen Congxing shook his head bitterly. "Between husband and wife, whether there's true love or not, you can't fool yourself. Most so-called good marriages in this world are just people deceiving themselves."
Gu Tingye stood there for a long time, lost in thought—self-deception, was it?
As the wine sank into his sorrows, it didn't take long for Shen Congxing to become completely intoxicated.
Gu Tingye slowly rode back to his residence. By this time, the sky had darkened, the wind was cold, and the stars were sparse. The biting chill dispersed much of the drunkenness, and he quietly returned to his room, only to find it completely dark inside. He didn't call anyone and took it upon himself to light a candle.
"Why isn't the lamp lit?"
Minglan was sitting by the window, gazing at the sky. She slowly turned her head and said, "Would the marquis like something to eat?"
Gu Tingye shook his head and leaned on his arm as he sat at the table, watching the flickering candlelight. A moth fluttered its delicate wings, weak yet resolute, slowly drawing closer to the flame.
"You come over here; let's... talk for a while."
Minglan nodded and stepped over to sit at the table. "Okay, you go ahead, Marquis."
Chapter 189: The Way of the World — How Much is True Love? Loving Others Less Than Loving Oneself (Part 2)