Chapter 199: The Way of the World - Mundane Couples
Even though everyone had different thoughts, they still all rushed towards the Shou'an Hall together. Old Madam Wang was especially enthusiastic and proactive, leading the way, followed closely by her good son-in-law, Sheng Hong.
Although she was awake, Old Madam Sheng's condition was extremely weak, and she could only laboriously utter a few words. Mama Fang, fearing she couldn't bear it, didn't convey the real thoughts. The old lady only assumed she had suddenly fallen ill due to old age and thought the Wang family had come specifically to visit her in her illness, so she tried hard to raise her body to express her gratitude.
Wang Jiufu felt guilty in his heart and didn't know how to accept the old lady's thanks, so he stepped back a few paces to stand behind the others. Aunt Wang helped Old Madam Wang stand at the head of the bed, her eyes revealing a hint of mockery—if it weren't for Dr. Lin's prior warning, she might have ended up pleading for her daughter at the sickbed, given how her mother-in-law was holding Old Madam Sheng hand and expressing her concern with so many words.
Sheng Hong's performance was no less impressive, beating his chest and crying bitterly. Among all the filial sons in the capital, he could probably rank in the top ten. In contrast, Wang Shi's composure was lacking; standing beside her elder brother with a face full of shame, she kept her head down and wiped her tears.
After a round of greetings that were either genuine or feigned, the old lady managed to hold on until she saw Minglan and Chang Bai, when her true joy finally overflowed.
"…I know… you've performed well during your tenure… your achievements are commendable… Grandmother is pleased…" She looked at her sun-kissed and sturdy grandson with pride. Then, noticing Minglan leaning beside the bed and gently weeping, she struggled to comfort her, saying, "…silly child, as we age… it's inevitable…"
Minglan felt as if a stone was lodged in her throat, desperately holding back her tears and forcing a smile.
The person who had just recovered from a serious illness lacked energy, and after only a few words, Old Madam Sheng fell into a drowsy sleep again. Dr. Lin, sporting dark circles under his eyes and newly white hairs at his temples, led everyone to the hall outside. He excitedly expressed that the old lady could now take her medicine and eat on her own; with proper care, she would recover.
Gu Tingye stood tall and bowed, smiling as he said, "This time, our elder's improvement is largely thanks to the dedicated efforts of the physician. I will remember this kindness. I hope you will continue to take care of her and provide guidance on her recovery."
Dr. Lin bowed in return and replied, "You flatter me, Lord Gu. I will certainly do my utmost in her care." He had been waiting for this acknowledgment and then added that since he hadn't been home in several days, he would like to return to gather medical texts and prepare some herbs for her treatment.
With this matter settled, Sheng Hong personally sent Dr. Lin to the door with countless thanks and had the steward respectfully present him with a generous silver envelope. He wanted to remind Dr. Lin not to mention the matter of his mother being poisoned, but he couldn't bring himself to say it.
Dr. Lin, being quite astute, could tell that Sheng Hong had something to say but was hesitating. In truth, he wanted to say that thirty years ago, when the princes of the Chong Wangfu were vying for the position of heir, they had all resorted to using the venom of the top red viper; he had navigated that situation without a hitch and lived to this day. Wasn't it just a case of a woman in the inner courtyard poisoning the old lady? What was there to make such a fuss about? It was as if they were staging a rebellion; he truly had never seen such naïveté!
However, Dr. Lin showed no sign of concern on his face as he stroked his beard and smiled, "They say old people are like children, and that's quite true. The older a person gets, the more they indulge their appetites. The old lady of your esteemed household should exercise restraint when it comes to her cravings; she should minimize her intake of sweets, raw foods, and spicy dishes."
Sheng Hong was overjoyed and repeatedly expressed his gratitude. He thought to himself that this high-caliber talent was indeed remarkable—both exceptionally skilled and well-versed in human relations, and he certainly knew how to speak.
After seeing off Dr. Lin, Sheng Hong walked back to the hall with a spring in his step, feeling lighthearted. Just as he reached the doorway, he heard voices arguing from inside.
He heard Old Madam Wang anxiously saying, "…Since the old lady has already recovered, why do you insist on holding your aunt responsible? If you cannot overlook her faults for the sake of our friendship, think of me as well. What kind of place is the Shenjisi? Is it fit for a person to be sent there? You're not going to take your aunt's life, are you?"
Sheng Hong's heart sank, and he immediately stopped in his tracks.
The Shenjisi was managed by the Neiwufu (Ministry of Internal Affairs) and was originally used to punish and monitor the female relatives of royal family members. Over time, its operations expanded to include women from powerful families who had committed serious offenses. Though their crimes might not warrant death, they could no longer appear in public and were all sent there. The Shenjisi was not a common place of exile for women; once someone entered, they could not leave for life without a royal decree.
It was like a living tomb, located in a remote and desolate corner of the imperial city. Regardless of how much scandal or uproar occurred outside, all the controversies were buried within when a person entered, becoming invisible and beyond inquiry.
Because the matter was secretive, he had only heard of two cases. One was during the reign of Emperor Renzong, when the wife of the Duke of Jinyang secretly sent someone to disfigure the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Jinxiang so that her daughter could be selected as a concubine. The second involved the Empress Wu, who personally sent two daughters-in-law of the Duke of Cheng into the Shenjisi, though the exact reasons were unknown.
So far, he had not heard of any female relative who entered and came out alive. Most were carried out to be buried after they passed away. To put it bluntly, for the Kang Wang and Sheng families, they were not even qualified to send someone in; it would likely require the involvement of the Ningyuan Marquisate.
As his thoughts scattered, he overheard some of the conversation in the room and quickly perked up his ears to listen intently.
"…Good child, your grandmother begs you, I beg you… I know you hate your aunt deeply. I can ask her to go to the temple to recite scriptures and eat vegetarian meals, can't I? I can have her shave her head to become a nun, or at least keep her from harming others," Wang Laotai wept bitterly, pleading, "But she really cannot go to the Shenjisi! There, they will be forced to do hard labor, grinding rice, washing clothes, chopping firewood, and the food will be nothing but coarse tea and spoiled rice. Your aunt has lived a life of luxury; how can she endure that?"
Chang Bai said, "The Shenjisi allows family members to visit twice a year. If grandmother visits often, I believe the people inside won't make things too difficult for aunt. As for the hard labor... after committing such a heinous act, does aunt still expect to enjoy honor and wealth?"
After a pause, he sneered, "And as for the temple? I remember that seven or eight years ago, aunt was sent to the Kang family's ancestral hall. Yet, within half a year, grandmother couldn't stand your aunt's pleas and personally went to the Kang family to demand that she be released."
Aunt Kang had a knack for manipulating her mother, always managing to soften her heart. It would be far more reliable to deal with a state institution.
Old Madam Wang was furious. "You have such a cruel heart! Your grandmother is still alive; why must you be so aggressive?"
Chang Bai retorted sharply, "Grandmother is fortunate to have survived—first, because heaven is watching and the Buddha is protecting her, and second, because Doctor Lin has been diligent in his treatment. What does that have to do with aunt? Aunt is determined to see others dead!"
"But she ultimately survived!" Old Madam Wang struggled to say.
At this moment, Gu Tingye interjected, "Old Madam, what you said is incorrect. People have a hundred ways to live. My family's old lady has always been healthy and robust. After your daughter poisoned her, she has been left in such a weakened state that she has exhausted her foundation. Originally, she could have lived to be one hundred eighteen, but now she can only live to one hundred eight. She could have enjoyed her old age, watching operas and dances, climbing mountains, and visiting temples, living a cheerful life. Now she can't even do without medicine, and she might even suffer from lifelong ailments. How should aunt compensate for this lost lifespan and the decades of joy?"
Chang Bai wore a look of deep resentment. "My brother-in-law is right. And what about my eldest brother? How will grandmother enjoy her grandchildren in the future?"
"Exactly," Gu Tingye clapped his hands and laughed. "The debts owed are incalculable. We don't know how long aunt will live, so we can't ask her to go to the underworld early, nor can we truly break her hands and feet just because the old lady can't move easily. Why not send her to Shenjisi and settle the grievances between our families once and for all?"
Old Madam Wang was left dumbfounded, completely shocked—how did the Sheng family find such an extraordinary son-in-law?
Ming Lan gazed blankly at her husband's profile, her lips twitching.
"You deal with my mother so decisively..." Kang Jin, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up, his face filled with anger and grief, "What about your esteemed mother?"
Old Madam Wang actually wanted to ask the same question, but her youngest daughter had already developed resentment towards her, so she didn't dare to speak up. When she suddenly heard her grandson speak, Wang Shi, who felt she had extricated herself from the situation, was immediately filled with anger and glared at Kang Jin.
Chang Bai, unperturbed, said, "My mother has shown disrespect to grandmother and harbored unfilial thoughts; naturally, she should be punished. My mother will dedicate herself to Buddha and chant scriptures to pray for grandmother."
Wang Shi breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "Exactly. I plan to set up a Buddhist hall in the back room..."
"Not at home," Chang Bai quickly interrupted.
Wang Shi was taken aback and awkwardly said, "Yes, I made a significant mistake; I should look for a quiet temple in the capital..."
"Also not a temple in the capital," Chang Bai looked at his mother and said firmly, "Mother must return to our hometown, Youyang, to practice in the Sheng family temple, eat vegetarian, chant scriptures, and repent. Other than during the holidays, Mother is not allowed to leave the family temple."
Wang Shi gasped and stood up straight, screaming, "Isn't this just imprisonment?!"
Chang Bai spoke word by word, "If you refuse, I will resign from my official position. With a mother like this, who doesn't realize her mistakes or repent, and refuses to accept punishment, I have no face to continue serving as an official."
Ming Lan lowered her head in deep thought.
Wang Shi had never liked Youyang; after marrying into the Sheng family for decades, she had spent less than a month in her hometown. There, she had no relatives or friends and could only rely on her uncle's family. Given Wang Shi's relationship with her cousins, it was likely that her aunt would be very willing to strictly supervise her "repentance." Furthermore, the cousins were indeed close, and her aunt would not neglect Wang Shi's food and living conditions.
This method of punishment from her eldest son was quite good.
Wang Shi grew anxious and hurriedly said, "...What are you threatening? I can worship Buddha in the temple, can't I? Why do I have to go back to my hometown? I'm unfamiliar with that place…"
"Mother, being away from family, alone before the ancestors of the Sheng family, you need to think carefully, consider grandmother, think about everyone in the family, and reflect on where you have gone wrong over the decades, and whether you should change." Chang Bai walked over and gently helped his mother sit down. "You know me well; what I say, I will do."
Wang Shi was in a panic, beads of sweat forming on her forehead, and stammered, "Then… how long do I have to go?"
Ming Lan began to count on her fingers in her sleeve—attempted murder didn't count, but intentional bodily harm did. Since Doctor Lin said grandmother would recover, then it could be considered half an attempt; at least... hmm, five years of imprisonment...
"Ten years," Chang Bai said calmly. "After ten years, if you understand, you can come back to serve grandmother."
Ming Lan gasped inwardly and gritted her teeth—she could occasionally come out for the New Year and festivals, so it wasn't too harsh a sentence, right? Right?
Wang Shi nearly passed out from anger, leaping up to point at her son and scolding, "You ungrateful child!" Then she rushed out of the room like the wind, crying with her face covered, completely oblivious to Sheng Hong standing by the door.
The room fell silent instantly. Old Madam Wang looked at Chang Bai, speechless for a long time, while Kang Jin had completely fallen silent.
Sheng Hong listened from outside for a while; the quarrel between grandmother and grandson continued unabated, with Old Madam Wang alternating between pleading and scolding. However, her son remained immovable, refusing to budge even an inch. After some thought, Sheng Hong decided it would be better to avoid the front hall and go to the sickbed of his mother to fulfill his filial duty, serving bowls and tasting the medicinal soup, as that was the right thing to do.
In the end, Old Madam Wang, enraged and humiliated, swept away, while Uncle Wang suggested whether they could take Aunt Kang , who was detained in the back room, away first. However, this was firmly rejected by Chang Bai, leaving him with no choice but to lead his other nephew, Kang Jin, away in disappointment.
Ming Lan was still uneasy and wanted to wait until she saw the old lady could speak and sit before leaving. Gu Tingye noticed that she didn't want to go home at that moment, so he boldly asked his father-in-law if they could stay a few more days.
Sheng Hong felt bitter in his mouth (having to pretend to be a dutiful son in front of his son-in-law for a few more days), but he put on a welcoming smile.
At this moment, Hai Shi came in with a face full of kindness, inviting everyone to have lunch, as if nothing had happened. It was just a matter of the younger sister bringing her husband back to her family for a short stay, and the elder sister was attentively preparing a delicious meal, serving dishes and soup with cheerful laughter.
Facing his unfilial daughter, his scheming son-in-law, his emotionless son, and his daughter-in-law pretending to be silly, Sheng Hong found the meal to be quite a struggle, almost choking and feeling nauseous. After barely managing to get through the post-meal tea, he hurried back to his study.
There were many empty rooms in the Shou An Tang, and Mama Fang quickly arranged and tidied up a clean and elegant room according to Ming Lan's past preferences. Knowing that Ming Lan had a habit of taking naps, she even laid out the white grass mat that Ming Lan liked. Seeing that it was the hot summer, she also prepared two large buckets of warm water in the side room, fearing that Ming Lan and her husband would sweat and feel uncomfortable.
Both of them were extremely tired, and at this moment, they couldn't even muster up any romantic thoughts about bathing. After washing up, Gu Tingye looked around the room and smiled at his wife, saying, "It's indeed comfortable; my lady will surely be reluctant to leave. I wonder if my lady still remembers that there is a little one at home?"
Ming Lan, lying on the bed with a thin blanket, threw a bamboo pillow at him heavily upon hearing this and jokingly scolded, "Don't mock me! I miss my tuan ge er too! Sleeping in grandmother's room every day, I dream about our son!"
Gu Tingye was happily thrown the bamboo pillow, grinning as he climbed onto the bed. Minglan helped him undo his tied-up hair, gently letting it fall. She quietly said, "I really feel bad for our son this time, but... sigh, there's just no way around it; I can only take care of one thing. Mama Cui and Cui Xiu will definitely look after him well."
Gu Tingye sensed the sorrow in his wife's words and gently stroked her back. "You really scared me this time. I never expected you, who usually seems so honest and gentle, to go all out like this. It's like you've become a different person."
After reading Gongsun Baishi's letter, he could hardly believe his eyes. She had surrounded her family home, angrily reprimanded her biological father, forcibly captured people, deceived others, interrogated, and tortured—each action was a reckless fight without regard for her own safety. Was this really the same Sheng Minglan who was clever, cunning, and always cautious to avoid mistakes?
As he rushed back, he felt a mix of joy and worry, unable to articulate his thoughts, only feeling that he wanted to help and protect her.
Seeing Minglan looking down in silence, Gu Tingye sighed, "You still don't want to talk to me? Forget it..." He was about to lie down and sleep when Minglan suddenly pressed her hand against his chest and looked up at him. "I'll talk."
Gu Tingye sat cross-legged on the bed.
"The unexpected disaster that befell Grandmother is actually my fault," Minglan said with a solemn expression. "It's not unusual for Madame to act improperly. Grandmother has had her eyes open and closed for decades, and they've managed to coexist peacefully. Aunt Kang has been coming to speak with Madame since we moved to the capital; she didn't just start appearing in the last couple of years. At that time, she was also stirring trouble and sowing discord, yet Grandmother didn't seem to get upset."
Outside, the sound of cicadas droned on, and the hot afternoon sun slowly filtered in. Around Shou'an Hall, tall trees were planted, casting mottled shadows of branches on the thin white gauze windows—some dark, some light, and some as delicate as the fine branches of an eyebrow.
Two pots of ice were placed in the corner, emitting a thin layer of mist that felt refreshing.
Gu Tingye listened quietly.
"Grandmother never told me, but I know it was when Aunt Kang wanted to bring a concubine into the house that she truly angered Grandmother." Minglan picked up a banana leaf fan and gently waved it, simple yet elegant. "Grandmother was so furious that she disregarded years of face between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. She publicly scolded Madame and even punished her to kneel at the entrance of Shou'an Hall for everyone to see. From that moment on, Madame held onto her resentment."
A cool breeze flowed gently through the fan leaves, teasing her fine strands of hair and brushing against the man's arm, causing a ticklish sensation.
"After that, Grandmother became increasingly worried that Madame would be influenced by Aunt Kang and turn against me, so she became stricter with her, even taking away Madame's authority to manage the household and letting the sisters-in-law take charge instead. Madame has always been strong-willed and competitive; she wouldn't even back down in front of Father. By publicly humiliating her like that, Grandmother only deepened Madame's resentment, which allowed Aunt Kang to exploit the situation."
Minglan's tone was calm, yet it carried a hint of sorrow.
"Grandmother's actions were wrong. Madame is a mother-in-law with children and grandchildren; she deserves at least a modicum of dignity. Grandmother could have simply closed the door and educated her privately, explaining things thoroughly... In the past, every time Madame made a mistake, that's exactly what Grandmother did."
Tears brimmed in her eyes, and she seemed completely unaware, continuing to speak slowly. "Why does Grandmother have to seek revenge for me? I've already married out and will take care of myself. At her age, she should enjoy her life in peace, being respected and cared for by her children and grandchildren. Isn't that better? Why does she have to rush to vent her anger whenever she hears I've been wronged? Brother is, after all, Madame's son; doesn't she fear that this might create a rift between them, leading to a troubled old age for her?"
Her long eyelashes could finally no longer hold back the tears, which fell one by one, forming dark little circles on the soft, thin cotton blanket. Minglan pressed a handkerchief against her face, slowly absorbing the warm moisture.
"Grandmother truly cares for me and worries about me, which is why she has brought this disaster upon herself... I know the marquis's concerns, but I can't deceive myself. That year, when I gave birth to Tuan Ge'er, the Madam Qin wanted to burn me alive, and Man Niang wanted to kill herself by crashing into something. Later, when the marquis arrived, everything was arranged perfectly; I knew in my heart what was happening."
"Because... I didn't heavily punish Man Niang?" Gu Tingye's throat felt dry, making it difficult for him to complete a single sentence.
"Whether or not she was heavily punished doesn't really matter," Minglan slowly shook her head, her eyes red. "That time the marquis asked how Qi Heng was doing, and you didn't care at all; you only cared about what I was thinking. Today, I will return the same sentiment to you: I don't care about Man Niang at all. What I care about is what the marquis does and thinks."
The cool air gradually seeped into the tent as Minglan put down the fan, gently rubbing the pattern of the banana leaves on it.
"In terms of how Man Niang was dealt with, to be fair, the marquis acted very appropriately; he silenced the gossip from outsiders and didn't let those with ulterior motives take advantage of the situation, while also sparing me from any awkwardness. Even after reflecting on it repeatedly, I couldn't find a more suitable arrangement. However, do you know? When you genuinely care about someone, you'll make mistakes in your urgency—this is what they mean by 'the more you care, the more you get flustered.' Just like Grandmother..."
She raised her head, her moist eyes gazing at him. "When you heard that Man Niang wanted to kill me, did you panic? Did you lose your composure? Even after knowing that I was safe, were you still furious, wishing to take revenge on my behalf?"
Gu Tingye felt a sense of confusion in his heart and fell silent.
Minglan's eyes brimmed with tears as she covered her face with her sleeve, speaking sorrowfully, "I know I shouldn't say this, but… I always feel that true love isn't about how many clever things he has done, but about how many foolish things he has done for me."
Gu Tingye was not Qi Heng, nor He Hongwen, nor any reckless youth ignorant of the world. He had experienced betrayal and deception, nearly losing everything, and because of that, his "care leads to confusion" was even more precious.
Like Old Madam Sheng, who had suffered bitterly and endured mistreatment throughout her life, she was still willing to wholeheartedly love a child with no blood relation to her. This was what drove her to act recklessly, to go forth against the odds.
Lowering her sleeve, she revealed her tear-streaked face, her eyes filled with pleading: "We will grow old together, living a life of mutual respect and love. I will definitely be a good wife and a good mother… Let's just live like this."
After saying this, Minglan turned to her side and lay down, closing her eyes and stopping her conversation.
Gu Tingye leaned against the bed railing, staring at her in a daze. Her curled-up body was as soft as a willow, quietly buried beneath the thin blanket.
Suddenly, he remembered something she had said long ago—ordinary couples entangled too much can easily get hurt; living a calm and ambiguous life is the best way to go through it all.
He picked up the fan beside the bed and gently began to fan her.