Chapter 194: The Ways of the World - Specters and Apparitions
Minglan sat quietly next to the old lady for a while before Dr. Lin entered the room with a furrowed brow. Minglan turned to wipe the corners of her eyes and said, "Doctor, you must be tired. Why don't you rest a little longer?"
Dr. Lin had just taken a nap in the side room for about an hour, and he felt much more refreshed. He cupped his hands in greeting towards Minglan and replied, "Madam, you're too kind. The old lady has yet to awaken, so I can't rest easy." Noticing the deep worry on Minglan's face, he tried to comfort her, saying, "Do not worry too much, madam. After I administered the acupuncture last night, the old lady's pulse showed signs of stabilizing."
Minglan replied, "It's best if she wakes up sooner." Although she didn't know much about medicine, she understood that such a long sleep was not good.
Dr. Lin nodded and said, "That is indeed the case. Once she wakes up, we can properly diagnose her, and it will be much easier to give her medicine and treatment."
After a few more exchanges, Mama Fang urged Minglan to have breakfast. She sluggishly ate half a bowl of purple rice porridge and took a few bites of the fragrant ham-filled lotus leaf dumplings before putting down her chopsticks. By this time, the sky had brightened considerably. Luzhi hurriedly entered from outside, her face filled with joy, and said, "Madam, everyone has arrived." Liu Kun's wife was following closely behind her, with her head lowered. Minglan praised her, saying, "Liu Mama, you've worked hard."
Liu Kun's expression was somewhat pale. Seeing that there were no outsiders around, she whispered, "Aunt Kang went alone to the lady's room. The people she brought have already been detained; Miss Xiao Tao is watching over them."
Ming Lan replied, "The ones who came must be Aunt Kang's trusted aides."
Liu Kun looked up, a flash of admiration in her eyes, and said, "Madam is correct. A total of four maids and wives came, and there are six servants at the gate. Among the four, two are originally Aunt Kang's personal maids, and the other two are reliable housekeepers she trusts. However..." The two sisters from the Wang family spent all day together, so it was not only Aunt Kang who was familiar with the affairs of the Sheng family; the people around Wang Shi also knew quite a bit about the Kang family.
Ming Lan asked, "What's wrong? Please speak, Mama."
At this point, if Aunt Kang didn't fall, she wouldn't be able to get anything good out of this either. Liu Kun said, "There's a Mama Qi; she was originally Aunt Kang's wet nurse, and the Wang family sent her over as a companion."
Ming Lan raised her eyebrow, "She didn't come today?"
Liu Kun nodded and added, "Mama Qi is quite old and has always been Aunt Kang's most trusted confidante." The implication was that if Aunt Kang wanted to do something secretive, even if others were unaware, Mama Qi would definitely know. She continued, "However, Mama Qi is usually very cautious, so it might be difficult to trick her out."
Ming Lan stood up and paced around the room for a moment before leaning down to whisper a few words in Liu Kun's ear. Liu Kun was startled, exclaiming, "Exactly, both of them are... How did Madam know?" Ming Lan pondered for a moment and then quietly instructed Liu Kun again.
Liu Kun was momentarily taken aback. "Madam, why don't you..." she suddenly stopped. Being quick-witted and having worked in this capacity for many years, she quickly understood.
Ming Lan smiled and said, "Mama Liu is a smart person. If you help me with this matter, I will definitely reward you handsomely."
Sweat broke out on Liu Kun's forehead, and she gritted her teeth, saying, "I'll go right away."
Ming Lan shook her hand and laughed, "There's no need to rush. Mama, go have something to eat first and take a break. Later, I'll invite Master Tu to accompany you; you just need to make an appearance, and you don't have to worry about anything else."
Liu Kun agreed and left, while Ming Lan called for someone to invite Master Tu.
Tu Long was just over forty, with a stout build and a prosperous appearance, completely different from the fierce and menacing Tu Hu. However, he was very steady and capable. After Ming Lan gave him her instructions, he chuckled and said, "Madam, don't worry; this is not difficult at all."
Ming Lan sighed, "Inviting someone like Master Tu to perform such a trivial task is truly out of necessity."
Tu Long replied earnestly, "Madam, don't say such things. The Marquis pulled us brothers from the pile of dead bodies. Now that we have wives and children, and can live a comfortable and prosperous life, it's all thanks to the Marquis's great kindness. You just sit back and watch."
After watching Tu Long leave, Ming Lan felt half her worries lift and then led Lu Zhi as they slowly walked toward Wang Shi's courtyard.
In past summers, the mornings at the Sheng residence were always lively, with fresh vegetables, fruits, and fish being brought in from outside. Light smoke would waft up from the kitchens, and the maids would be seen carrying various food boxes and baskets to serve breakfast to their masters. The older servant women would have already tidied up the gardens, chatting and heading to the kitchen for their own meals, while they themselves would be dragged out of bed by the enticing scent of tangerines.
But today, the way was cold and quiet, with not a single servant in sight. The lower servants were very obedient; seeing that the gates were all blocked, and with the guards from the marquis's residence being ruthless, the head steward Lai Fu had come to relay the message that no one was allowed to act rashly. With the sudden illness of the old lady Sheng, everyone harbored their own suspicions but dared not come out to inquire.
As soon as they reached the main courtyard, several maids were huddled at the entrance, looking anxious. Upon seeing Ming Lan, they all stood up straight, not daring to speak. One of the older maids beside Wang Shi quietly reported, "Miss is here. Just now, the Madam Kang also came. The lady asked us to wait outside because they have something to discuss."
Ming Lan replied, "You all are smart. Since the lady asked you to wait outside, she has her reasons. Don't be like that restless one who sneaks around to eavesdrop on the masters; it will only bring trouble upon yourselves."
The maids nodded hurriedly and then stepped aside to let her pass. They had heard that Mama Qian had been beaten nearly to death for eavesdropping on the masters' conversation.
Ming Lan continued inside. After walking through a short corridor and nearing the main room, she heard intense voices raised in argument—"... What did you say? Is it really true?! I am your own sister! How could you harm me like this...!"
Ming Lan smiled slightly, not slowing her pace as she walked straight in. Standing by the side of the door, she slightly tilted her body to peek inside. There, she saw Wang Shi's face flushed with anger, pulling at Aunt Kang's collar and shouting, while Aunt Kang grinned and tried to pry Wang Shi's hands away, saying, "Sister, why are you so flustered? I'm only thinking of you. That old shrew won't die no matter what; she's weighing you down. When will you ever get a chance to rise?"
Wang Shi's forehead was bulging with veins, and she shouted hysterically, "Is your heart black, sister? That's a human life! No matter how wrong the old lady is, how can you conspire to take a life?!"
Aunt Kang forcefully shook off her hand and said, "Now you're pretending to be filial? If that's the case, why did you agree back then?"
"I just wanted her to be sick for a while! After that, I could raise Quan Ge'er properly, and we could enjoy a peaceful family life!"
"What kind of medicine isn't harmful?" Aunt Kang said coldly. "You should quickly cover this up. Once that old hag breathes her last, if no one knows anything, who in this house would dare to give you a hard time?!"
Wang Shi gasped for breath and replied, "...and my Quan Ge'er. You clearly know he's also beside the old lady. If he eats that, are you trying to kill my grandson?"
Aunt Kang replied, "Didn't you say the old lady was afraid Quan Ge'er wouldn't eat and wouldn't let him have any snacks?"
Wang Shi's eyes went wide: "There's no guarantee with this matter. If you give him such a strong medicine, what if Ge'er eats it?"
Aunt Kang laughed and swayed from side to side, helping Wang Shi while soothing her, "Oh, it's all right, sister. You just didn't think it through for the child. Quan Ge'er is fine, after all. This shows that heaven is looking out for you!"
Wang Shi gritted her teeth and said, "So you did this on purpose! Fine, fine, fine. Now I see what you're really like…"
Seeing the hatred in Wang Shi's eyes, Aunt Kang's expression turned cold, and she spoke with a threatening tone, "You've had ill intentions towards the old lady for a long time. Don't play innocent with me now! Now that things have come to this, do you really want to cause a scene? I'll tell you, don't bring trouble upon yourself. I can easily wash my hands of this, and you won't escape!"
Wang Shi glared at her furiously for a while before dejectedly sitting down in a chair. "...Right now, no one can escape."
Aunt Kang was puzzled and asked, "What do you mean?"
"—What I mean is, now that you're in my hands, you won't be able to get away cleanly," Ming Lan said with a smile, standing at the doorway.
Upon seeing her, Wang Shi jumped up like a startled rabbit, trembling as she stood by the table, continuously glancing outside, afraid that the fierce man would suddenly appear behind Ming Lan.
Aunt Kang's face darkened. "What are you doing here?"
Ming Lan was surprised and said, "This is my maternal family. My grandmother is seriously ill; why shouldn't I come?"
Aunt Kang felt a surge of anger and turned to Wang Shi, saying, "Aren't you going to discipline your daughter? Is this how she speaks to her elders?"
Wang Shi thought to herself, don't act so superior; it would be good enough if you didn't end up in trouble later. She turned her head away and decided not to say anything.
Aunt Kang had no choice but to turn back and glare at Ming Lan. "I have matters to discuss with your mother; I'm very busy. You need to leave."
Ming Lan smiled and said, "I'm busy too. I only need to tell Auntie two things." She wiped the smile off her face and continued, "First, Auntie is indeed knowledgeable and well-read. That white ginkgo sap was used extremely well."
Aunt Kang's expression changed, and she said coldly, "What are you talking about? I know nothing about that."
Ignoring her, Ming Lan went on, "Second, the Madam has already said everything."
The atmosphere in the room grew cold. Aunt Kang turned to look at Wang Shi and saw her nodding in frustration. Aunt Kang's mind raced with thoughts, but she quickly put on a smiling face and said, "What is this child talking about? She's really making me confused."
Ming Lan nodded and said, "Auntie, it doesn't matter if you're confused; once we start the questioning, everything will be clear."
"Questioning what? Do you dare to question me?" Aunt Kang laughed arrogantly.
Wang Shi scoffed, her tone dripping with schadenfreude: "Do you think you can still leave the Sheng family today?"
Aunt Kang's face changed dramatically as she stared at Ming Lan in disbelief. "...You wouldn't dare, would you?"
Ming Lan smiled and turned to the outside, saying, "Is everyone here? Let them in."
Luzhi, who was waiting at the door, answered loudly, "Yes, I'll go call them right now."
Moments later, two matrons entered the room first, followed by two guards who dragged in a semi-unconscious person and heavily threw them onto the floor. The guards respectfully exited the room.
Aunt Kang's heart raced as she focused on the figure, and she saw that it was none other than Mama Qian, slowly raising her head.
Mama Qian waved her bloodied hands and cried out, "Madam, Miss, please spare me! I've already told everything!" Upon seeing Aunt Kang nearby, she hurriedly pointed at her and said, "It's all Auntie! She told me that Madam has no vision and doesn't know how to use people, only trusting Liu Kun's family, which made me unable to be of any use. She promised me money and business, telling me to report everything about Madam, even the smallest details!"
As she spoke, she repeatedly kowtowed, her face smeared with blood, mucus, and tears. "Madam, I was blinded by greed and jealous of Liu Kun's family. Please spare my worthless life for the sake of my years of service!"
Wang Shi trembled with anger, pointing at Mama Qian and exclaiming, "You wretched servant! I actually raised such an ungrateful wolf!"
Ming Lan waved her hand, signaling the guards to drag Mama Qian away. She then turned back and gently said, "So, Auntie, do you think I dare or not?"
Seeing the bloodstains on the ground, Aunt Kang began to tremble.
"This is my aunt. Please handle her gently, ladies." Ming Lan instructed.
The two matrons replied in unison, stepping forward, one on each side of Aunt Kang, expertly restraining her so that she couldn't move at all.
They were originally the guilty slaves of the former emperor's fourth prince's residence, helping the matron in charge of punishment. Later, after the rebel prince conspired against the emperor and the incident was revealed, he committed suicide, and the entire residence was punished; these small fry couldn't escape either.
People like them, with no children or status, had been imprisoned for over a year, becoming sick and weak. To their surprise, an imperial decree was issued to bestow them upon a new noble general. Because of their sensitive background, nobody usually paid them any attention. Fortunately, the new lady was kind-hearted; she hired a doctor for them, treated them well, and even assigned them some tasks to teach the new servants in the household about proper behavior. They also took on a few godchildren, thinking that having such relationships as they grew old was a blessing.
This time, the lady brought them to the Sheng residence. Having seen a lot of internal household intrigues in the prince's residence, they firmly resolved to not ask, not speak, and not listen, just to do their jobs well. Not only would they repay Lady Gu for her kindness, but life would also be better in the future.
Aunt Kang was restrained on both sides, unsure how the two matrons would handle her. She felt her arms becoming weak and soft, and no matter how she struggled, she couldn't muster any strength. All she could do was to twist her body vigorously, but the two matrons twisted her arms in the opposite direction, causing a sharp, excruciating pain in her elbows. Aunt Kang cried out in pain, almost in tears.
Looking up, she saw a cold smile at the corner of Ming Lan's mouth. In anger, she shouted at Wang Shi, "Sister, I am your own elder sister! You let this wretched girl torture and bully me like this?"
Wang Shi stood beside the chair, woodenly saying, "Elder brother, don't speak of second brother; sister, don't speak of younger sister." Just a moment ago, she had been contemplating denying everything and letting herself take the blame, but now she remembered their sisterly bond.
Ming Lan couldn't help but smile; it was rare to hear Wang Shi say something so rhyming and rich in meaning.
Aunt Kang was about to shout again when one of the matrons quickly pinched her chin. Aunt Kang let out a muffled cry of pain, and her jaw immediately dislocated. She opened her mouth but couldn't make a sound.
Watching as the two matrons escorted Aunt Kang away, Ming Lan turned and asked, "Where did Father go?"
Wang Shi leaned on the chair and slowly sat down. "The master is very angry and has gone back to his study." In fact, Sheng Hong had scolded her harshly, saying that if this matter couldn't be resolved properly, he would definitely divorce her.
"I'll have the guards blocking the main gate withdrawn in a little while," Ming Lan said.
Wang Shi was startled. "Why do you want to withdraw them?"
"It's time to buy vegetables and cook," Ming Lan replied.
Wang Shi was so stunned that she felt as if her insides were numb. "No, didn't we say we were worried about word leaking out?"
Ming Lan smiled and said, "I've already caught the people I needed to. There are still a few others who should be about ready. The doors have been shut tight at home, with no one coming or going; it's very different from usual, and wouldn't that raise suspicions among the neighbors?"
Wang Shi thought about it and fell silent.
Ming Lan stepped a little closer to her and said softly, "Madam, once the door ban is lifted, the news of the old lady's illness and Aunt Kang being in our household will inevitably leak out."
Wang Shi looked dazed and didn't quite understand.
Ming Lan lowered her voice further, "If the old lady of the Wang family finds out early, while Aunt Kang hasn't yet been questioned, then this matter will fall solely on you. If she finds out later, and I've already investigated everything clearly, then you'll be able to shed half the responsibility."
Wang Shi felt a wave of fear; she understood Ming Lan's meaning. "I… I'll wait a few days before telling the Wang family."
Ming Lan smiled, "If the head of the Kang family doesn't return for a night, people will inevitably find out. You only need to keep this secret for one day; besides…" She smiled again, "It won't take that long."
The implication of the latter part of her sentence, when she thought about the injured Mama Qian, sent a shiver down Wang Shi's spine.
Ming Lan continued, "In that case, how to restrain the servants and keep their mouths shut will depend on your skills, Madam."
Since she ordered the guards to seal the doors until now, it has only been half a night and a morning, yet the servants in the residence still do not know what has happened. In the long run, once rumors start to spread, the first person to suffer will undoubtedly be Wang Shi, followed by Sheng Hong, and then Chang Bai, who is currently in the officialdom, along with several married daughters. Oh, and Chang Feng, who is about to enter officialdom, will not escape unscathed either.
Wang Shi also thought of this and pondered for a moment before weakly saying, "Just say that we were robbed at home, that there was collusion inside and out, and not only did we lose valuable items, but the old lady was also frightened and fell ill, which is why we asked for the young lady's help in finding the missing items."
Ming Lan expressed her satisfaction: "That sounds good." Having an internal thief in the household is indeed not a glorious matter; thus, requiring the servants to collectively keep quiet and not discuss it doesn't seem too out of place.
"Well… who is the internal thief? Now that everyone has been dismissed, there has to be an explanation," Wang Shi asked politely, as if she were a student speaking to a teacher—she was now quite afraid of Ming Lan.
"Of course, it's Mama Qian," Ming Lan said without hesitation. "Not only did she steal valuable items, but she also eavesdropped on the conversations of her masters. It's a perfect opportunity to deal with her at once."
Upon mentioning Mama Qian, Wang Shi hesitated and cautiously looked at Ming Lan. "This old hag really should be punished, but… after all, she has been in the household for decades. How about… letting her off with her life? Just make her do hard labor." After all, they had spent so many years together; she had seen Mama Qian and Liu Kun's two more than she had seen her own children and husband. If it came down to someone dying, she found it hard to be ruthless.
Ming Lan was just about to walk out when she paused at the door upon hearing the words, turning to look at Wang Shi with a rather strange expression on her face.
Wang Shi felt a shiver run down her spine under Ming Lan's gaze and awkwardly said, "If you think it's inappropriate, just pretend I didn't say anything."
Ming Lan silently stared at her and slowly replied, "When I was young, I once asked the old lady why you chose to make a woman like her your daughter-in-law, given that she is narrow-minded, selfish, and foolish. The old lady said that although there are many faults with her, she has one good quality: she is soft-hearted and lacks the malicious and sinister nature that would lead her to think of taking someone's life, even if you handed her a knife."
There was more to that sentence. Wang Shi thought that since Concubine Wei was strong and good at bearing children, she could let Concubine Lin stir up trouble. Concubine Wei would suffer hardships, possibly losing her child, and the two of them would inevitably become mortal enemies, allowing her to benefit from it.
When Concubine Wei actually died, Wang Shi felt a slight pang of guilt (she believed her responsibility was minimal). Each time she visited the temple in the Sheng family, she would honestly donate a bit more silver in memory of Concubine Wei.
"The old lady also said that it's a pity that the madam is too trusting and easily incited by others. With someone as evil-hearted as Aunt Kang by her side, she could never feel at ease. Once the madam understands and stops associating with Aunt Kang, she will be able to let go and entrust everything to you, allowing the madam to show off a bit of her role as a mother-in-law, so the whole family can live comfortably together."
After saying this, Ming Lan felt a wave of bitterness in her heart, her eyes warming with tears. She shook her head in sorrow and walked out.
Wang Shi sat there in a daze, her heart in turmoil. How did she end up in this situation?
When she was a child living in a small town, although not wealthy, her uncle and aunt treated her like a precious gem. If she wanted the stars in the sky, her uncle would pretend to climb a ladder to get them, making her laugh heartily. During the cold winter nights, she feared the chill, while her aunt worried that the hot water bottle would burn her. Every night, her aunt would warm her small hands and feet against her own chest as they slept.
It wasn't until she was just over ten years old that her parents took her back home. The house was so grand, the guests who came and went were either rich or noble, and there was an almost unfamiliar sister, so beautiful and with such noble demeanor and extensive knowledge, that she couldn't help but feel ashamed.
In fact, she had always missed the picturesque little town and her loving uncle and aunt. Although her parents cared for her, they were always very busy. Her mother often said to her, "Your uncle and aunt are merely merchants, while your father is a highly regarded minister, and your mother is a lady of noble status who can enter the royal palace. Do you want to go back to being the daughter of a lowly merchant or be the daughter of a high-ranking official?"
From that moment on, she worked hard to hold herself up with pride, learning from her sister's example, determined to become a respected and refined young lady.
In the past two years, she didn't know what had happened. Liu Kun's family urged her, Hua Lan urged her, her son and daughter-in-law urged her—none of their kind words registered with her. Instead, she found herself enjoying the offhand and sarcastic remarks from Aunt Kang.
Gradually, she became filled with resentment, feeling that everyone in the world was wronging her. She was constantly looking for someone to vent her anger on, as if she were under a spell.
She thought of her kind and loving uncle and aunt. They were such good people; if they knew she had become like this, how heartbroken they would be! She could still confide in her daughter for support, but if Hua Lan found out what her mother had done, how would she look at her? And what about Zhang Bo (Changbai)… how could she face her son?
How had she fallen to such a state? Wang Shi's sorrow welled up within her as she buried her face in her arms and wept loudly.