Chapter 205: The Matchmaker's Delight
This news shocked everyone, and the mood for drinking vanished immediately.
Sheng Hong sighed in disbelief, and Changfeng remarked, "Fourth Sister is truly unfortunate." Minglan secretly thought to herself, *"It's the father-in-law who died, not the husband!"* Rulan whispered to her eldest sister, "So it turns out Fourth Sister wasn't lying this time." Hualan glanced at her younger sister, feeling as though Molan had spoken it into existence; what was meant as an excuse had turned out to be tragically true.
Given the circumstances, the gathering quickly dispersed, and everyone returned to their homes. Upon returning to the mansion, Minglan called for the steward, Mr. Hao, and asked, "How is it that the news of Yongchang Marquis' passing was delivered by the Marquis to us?"
Hao Dacheng, wiping the sweat from his brow, stood outside the pavilion and replied, "Madam, it was Gu Lou who rushed back to deliver the news. He also instructed me to send someone to inform you. After that, Xiaolu said that the Marquis had other matters to attend to, so he hurried off elsewhere. As for the exact details, I truly don't know."
Minglan rested her left hand on the armrest of the chair, gently tapping it as she pondered in silence.
Hao Dacheng cautiously inquired, "Madam, should we begin preparing for the funeral rites for the Liang family?"
Ming Lan gave a bitter smile and said, "Since no one has beaten the cloud board and no one has announced a death, how can we go rushing to pay our respects? (It's not like we're looking for trouble.) ... However, the Marquis wouldn't make such a mistake; it must be the truth. You should prepare just in case. Hmm, just add twenty percent to what you would for Lord Yang. By the way, I wonder if the Liang family will hold a road memorial. If they do, we'll have to prepare a few paper figures, so pay attention to that."
[In Chinese tradition, the cloud board (云板) is used to signal important occurrences. When someone passes away, it is customary to announce the death using the cloud board, among other methods.]
Hao Dacheng had no objections and respectfully took his leave.
Thinking about Lady Liang's age, the Marquis of Yongchang should be no more than fifty; how could he have suddenly passed away? The strangest part is that it was her husband who came to deliver the news first. Could it be that... the old Marquis Liang did not die a natural death?
Ming Lan was filled with confusion and speculated many times without reaching a conclusion. It wasn't until Gu Tingye returned home at night that she understood the whole story.
"You should have seen it; the training ground was really chaotic today."
The man seemed to have skipped a meal, devouring two large bowls of hot scallion lamb and dried shrimp mushroom cabbage soup in one go. After wiping his hands with a towel and asking about Grandma Sheng whether the departure was smooth, he slowly began to discuss today's events with Minglan.
Since the new emperor ascended the throne, the old Marquis Liang had been eager to show his loyalty. However, military generals are different from civil officials; in normal times, without wars or disasters, there are few opportunities to demonstrate one's loyalty. This time, seeing the emperor keen to strengthen the army, the old Marquis Liang worked day and night, diligently training and preparing, without a moment of idleness.
Today, it was rare for the emperor to personally visit the western suburb barracks, and the old Marquis Liang was not about to miss this opportunity to show his face. Despite feeling unwell, he donned his helmet, mounted his horse, and personally went to the training ground to demonstrate military formations. Just when he was filled with fervor, the generals saw him clutch his head and sway, then tug at his chest, appearing dizzy and in pain. Before long, he fell from his horse, causing chaos. Before the physician could arrive, the old Marquis Liang had already passed away.
Later, the physician stated that the old Marquis had died suddenly, likely from exhaustion combined with heart disease.
—Could it be a combination of a stroke and heart disease? Minglan pondered for a moment. "Given his loyalty and service to the country, will the emperor bestow honors upon him?"
Gu Tingye nodded, then shook his head: "When it comes to matters of war, omens are crucial. The emperor was in high spirits today, but this news has poured a bucket of cold water over him… As for honors, there will certainly be some, but the emperor may not feel pleased in his heart."
Minglan quickly realized the truth of this.
It was like a boss who has worked hard for half a year, excited to open a new branch. They pick an auspicious date, hire big-name celebrities for the opening, only to have an old employee collapse and die from exhaustion on the day of the grand opening, just before the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
—What a stroke of bad luck! The boss would surely feel frustrated: "Old Liang, your hard work is commendable, but if your health isn't good, you shouldn't have come out. I didn't force you to attend the opening ceremony; it makes it seem like I'm being harsh and exploitative."
It's very sad, yet very realistic.
She nodded and asked, "What about the title of the Liang family? I've heard that the eldest son of the Liang family… um, is quite remarkable."
"Of course not. It must be that the old marquis's legitimate eldest son will inherit the title."
Minglan smiled and asked, "How can you be so certain, marquis?"
Gu Tingye sighed, "Firstly, there's a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children; secondly… haha, do you think the old marquis is working so hard for nothing?"
Minglan was baffled. "Is it really for the legitimate son?" If so, why hasn't he established the heir and has been quarreling with his wife?
Gu Tingye smiled and picked up his teacup. "The eldest son of the Liang family has already developed his own wings and is better connected than his father outside. If the old marquis isn't working for his legitimate son, who else could it be for? The emperor surely knows this. Sigh, I've met the second son of the Liang family; he's gentle and kind, but unfortunately…"
He shook his head and didn't continue.
Minglan felt a pang of sympathy and sighed, "The four words of fame, fortune, and position are like a steel blade hanging over everyone's head."
Gu Tingye smiled slightly and said intentionally, "For the safety and stability of my wife and children, even if it means risking my life, I would do the same." He looked at her eagerly, waiting for his wife's reaction.
To his surprise, Minglan shook her head and replied, "That's not correct. If it weren't for the old marquis's earlier support, how could the eldest son of the Liang family have what he has today? When it comes to legitimate versus illegitimate children, shouldn't he have established an heir early on? Only when the time was critical did he risk his life. Isn't the old marquis at fault?"
She then looked back at him with bright eyes, half-smiling, "Speaking of which, our little Tuan also has an illegitimate older brother, doesn't he?"
Gu Tingye shook his head with a wry smile. He had wanted to make Minglan feel happy and moved, but this little woman was as cunning as a fox and had learned her second brother's tricks, excelling at turning things against him.
"Tuan has no older brother, as you know."
According to those watching over that side, Chang Ge'er was still weak, and Man Niang was still reluctant to urge her son to study or practice martial arts. Instead, she nervously kept Chang Ge'er by her side, never letting him out of her sight, and was so protective that she wouldn't even allow the neighbor's children to come near. She was raising her son like a little girl.
While shaking his head, he also felt a sense of relief.
His initial concerns had led him to design a plan early on, allowing Chang Ge'er to simply live as a farmer.
Therefore, not only did he not include Chang Ge'er in the family tree, but he also arranged for General Zheng and Duan Chengqian to accompany him as guarantors (since these two were relatively steady and reliable). He went to the Ancestral Affairs Office to provide documentation stating that he indeed had a son with an outside woman, but the boy was still young and reckless, and his mother was of low status. Gu Tingye could not bear to disgrace the family, so he made proper arrangements for the mother and son to ensure they would have no worries about food and clothing. However, Chang Ge'er would not be allowed to consider himself a descendant of the Gu family and would not be entitled to any share of the marquisate or his father's property—essentially a premature expulsion from the family.
This completely severed any possible future ties, to avoid various situations, whether it was said that Gu Hou was unaware of his illegitimate child being lost to the world, or that Gu Hou was secretly concerned but just couldn't find them; or that Minglan was jealous and obstructed the father-son reunion, and so on… nonsense.
Minglan knew the arrangements she had made. She stood up, hugged her husband's head, and kissed him gently, whispering, "I know that the Marquis has done many good things for us mother and son."
She couldn't just have Chang'er killed. A child of that age remembers things easily (thanks to Man Niang's influence), and even if he were raised in someone else's home, there would inevitably be those who would exploit him to cause trouble. If the parents were gone, wouldn't Tuan'er have a headache?
She kissed him again on the bridge of his nose and continued, "Although the old Marquis Liang is pitiful, in my view, you are much better than him." After thinking for a moment, she added, "And you mustn't fall off your horse; you need to eat more vegetables and drink less alcohol and eat less meat."
Gu Tingye touched his nose, pulled Minglan's head down, and playfully bit her little nose, smiling at the corner of his eyes. "You're talking nonsense again. What does eating vegetarian have to do with horseback riding?"
Minglan replied seriously, "If you eat too much meat and drink too much wine, the horse will get angry."
Gu Tingye touched her slightly protruding belly, his hand slowly moving upwards. Due to her pregnancy, Minglan's body was becoming softer and more rounded, and he felt the softness beneath his fingers. He bit her earlobe and breathed hotly, "If I quit alcohol and meat, should I also quit women?"
Ming Lan's face felt hot, and her ears were burning. She noticed his body had tensed up and shyly said, "Um... it's best to avoid that too."
The man immediately turned serious, looking as if he was there to collect a debt. "Stop pretending. Haven't you passed the first three months? If you're avoiding everything, you might as well become a monk!" He had done it before when she was pregnant with Tuan Ge'er.
Ming Lan twisted her waist and deftly jumped out of his arms, clasped her hands together in a respectful gesture, and teased, "Master, refrain from anger."
He scooped her up in his arms, striding towards the inner room, laughing heartily, "Since my little lady serves so well, this master won't be angry anymore."
Ming Lan, being lifted high, pinched the flesh at his waist and bit his ear, her face flushed, "Lower your voice! If someone hears us, they'll think a lecherous monk has come to pick flowers!"
...
Two days later, the Liang family finally sent someone to report the death.
At this time, Hualan had set off with her husband earlier in the day, and since Minglan was pregnant, she could legitimately avoid attending the funeral. Among the sisters, only Hualan could go to express her condolences; the rest would be managed by Molan's proper sister-in-law, Liu Shi.
During this time, Liu Shi not only displayed proper etiquette but also showed warmth and care, skillfully assisting her in-laws with various trivial matters. Even when the family of the state uncle came to pay their respects, Zhang Shi praised Liu Shi upon her return.
"...My mother said that my aunt rarely praises others, but this time she spoke highly of you, San Sao." Zhang Shi brought her son over for a visit and brought many nourishing medicinal foods, smiling as she looked at Minglan's belly, insisting that it must be a boy.
Minglan laughed and said, "I only just learned today that the second lady of the Liang family is your aunt. She is my fourth sister's sister-in-law, so isn't that confusing in terms of relations?"
Zhang Shi waved her hand and replied, "My family has many relatives. After the girls get married, they often mix up the titles. My aunt and my mother are familiar, but I haven't seen her much."
"That's good. I was worried about how to address him in the future." The intermarriages among the powerful families in the capital are indeed complex, and Mrs. Zheng has countless relatives.
Minglan turned to look at the kang (a traditional Chinese heated bed), where Tuan Ge'er was obediently lying beside a red satin swaddle patterned with double koi fish, curiously gazing at the plump white baby. From time to time, he would stretch out his chubby fingers to poke or touch the baby, who had a very good temperament, not crying or fussing, but instead letting out tiny, cat-like giggles.
"Back then, he was just like a little kitten. In such a short time, he has grown so big," Minglan remarked, noticing the rosy complexion of the child and thinking that the Zhang family must be raising him very well. "Does he have a name yet?"
"We've given him a nickname, called Wang Ge'er, after the character for 'hope'," Zhang said, gazing lovingly at her son, her eyes filled with affection and satisfaction—almost unrecognizable from the despairing and pale woman she was a few months ago.
"I was just about to ask about your Tuan Ge'er. He's already over a year old, and you still haven't given him a proper name?"
Minglan smiled bitterly and said, "Still dragging it out. I just hope we can come up with a good name before he starts school." Old Man Gongsun is very slow with naming, and Gu Tingye thinks every character is unsuitable, so it has been delayed day by day.
"Gu Hou is being overly critical," Zhang said with a laugh. "By the way, I need to ask you for a favor."
Minglan chuckled, "I thought you were here to check on me out of kindness; turns out you want me to help! When you were pregnant with Wang Ge'er, I came to see you without any ulterior motives."
Zhang laughed heartily, "I'm not as thoughtful as you; I'm straightforward when I speak. People like us, who are blunt and sincere, can only say things directly without any twists or turns, or we'd be called tongue-tied!"
Minglan exclaimed, "I only said one thing, and now there's so much waiting in the wings! If you're tongue-tied, then there would be no eloquent people in the world!"
"Good sister, I won't ask you to help for free; consider it a debt I owe you," Zhang said with a smile. "Don't worry, I won't put you in a difficult position."
With this sentence, Minglan felt half relieved and finally asked Zhang to tell her what was the matter.
"Gu Hou is one of our own, so I won't hide it from you. The Shen family by birth, our lord has never cared for them. There is only one distant uncle who has been out of mourning for five years, who relied on your father-in-law in the past and has always been loyal and kind-hearted. When my in-laws passed away, their family remained steadfast and continued to look after the lord and his siblings, and later they went to Shu. Although the couple is only distant relatives on paper, the lord treats them like uncles and aunts. Now they have also received the hereditary position of deputy commander of the Jianghuai Guard."
After talking for so long, she hadn't gotten to the point yet, and Minglan wanted to urge her but held back.
Zhang took a sip of tea to moisten her throat and continued, "The old uncle and aunt have a daughter who is thirteen years old. I've seen her with my own eyes; she's just as honest and kind as her parents…"
Minglan felt even more puzzled as she glanced at the chubby little boy on the kang. "My son is still small!"
Zhang chuckled and lightly swatted her. "You're such a wisecracker."
Minglan rubbed her shoulders and smiled, urging Zhang to continue.
"A few months ago, my old aunt went to make an incense offering. Who would have thought that it rained, and the mountain paths were slippery? She couldn't use a sedan chair, and since she was only accompanied by a maid and an old servant, she ended up hurting her foot and couldn't walk. At that time, she met two young scholars who helped an old lady down the mountain. After they got down, one of the boys accompanied his grandmother home, while the other returned halfway up the mountain specifically to look for my aunt and carried her down. While they chatted on the way, she learned that the boy was from an official family in the capital. He was rare, honest in character, and diligent in his studies, so my old aunt was quite taken with him."
Minglan thought for a long time and then said blankly, "Could it be my younger brother... Changdong?"
"That's right," Zhang said with a smile.
Minglan's mouth fell open in surprise, looking as dazed as a frog for a while, before awkwardly saying, "Changdong... is still young."
"Isn't this just the right age? It's time to talk about marriage."
Minglan collected her thoughts. The old lady must be Chang Mama, and the other young man was probably Chang Nian. It seemed that Changdong had accompanied the Chang family's grandmother and grandson to make an incense offering, and in doing a good deed, heaven had rewarded him with a favorable star for marriage.
"Thank you for the consideration from the old aunt of the Shen family, but Changdong... he is a son of a concubine..." Minglan was reluctant to say this, but such matters had to be clarified.
Zhang smiled and waved her hand dismissively, saying, "Anything worth asking, my old aunt has already found out. They have two sons before, but only one daughter. Their parents and brothers dote on her greatly, and they only seek a son-in-law with good character; everything else can be discussed."
Moreover, they learned that Changdong was on the verge of passing the entrance exam to become a child scholar. At such a young age, his future shouldn't be too bleak. Although that Chang boy might study better, his family background was not as strong. The Sheng family, with its rich literary heritage and established family values, was more likely to produce descendants who wouldn't stray too far from the right path. Furthermore, there were many prominent relatives; even if they couldn't rely on them, just mentioning them would be advantageous.
Minglan breathed a sigh of relief. "I can't speak for other matters, but if we're talking about character and morality, my younger brother is impeccable. However..." She hesitated, "With both parents alive, I can't make a decision on this; it depends on what Father thinks."
Following Sheng Hong's reasoning, they would most likely have to wait until their son had achieved some degree of success before negotiating with potential in-laws. Moreover, Changdong's future father-in-law would probably be a civil official, although perhaps not of the same caliber as those from the Hai and Liu families.
Zhang noticed her discomfort and had her own considerations. She said, "I understand your family's reasoning for choosing in-laws; they fear their son might lack support in the future, and it's true that there are some who prefer not to have military families as in-laws."
Minglan chuckled awkwardly, thinking how blunt Zhang was in her speech.
Zhang sincerely continued, "Let me put it this way. Although my old uncle is in the military, he has great respect for scholars. His second son has been studying under a tutor since he was young, and he passed the scholar exam a few years ago."
"Oh, that's great!" Minglan's eyes brightened. Having a scholarly brother-in-law would be beneficial. The Jianghuai Military Station is a lucrative position, and the dowry would certainly be substantial. As a hereditary fourth-rank military officer, with a father-in-law and brothers-in-law to support him, Changdong would likely appeal to Sheng Hong.
She quickly took Zhang's hand and gently said, "Speaking of which, my younger brother is the one who is lucky to have such prospects."
Zhang let out a sigh of relief. The old couple from the Shen family were among the few confidants of Shen Congxing who had disagreed from the beginning with the way the Shen family treated their wives and concubines. They were upright individuals who commanded respect.
She chuckled, "Sister, what are you saying? The brother-in-law of Duke Gu, along with your father and brother, all have achieved success in their studies. My old uncle worries that you scholars may look down on their martial background."
This marriage proposal was mutually beneficial. Since Shen's second son wanted to pursue a literary career, he naturally needed connections and assistance in the civil service.
As for Changdong, regardless of his appearance or talent, he could not compare to Changbai or Changfeng, and it was unlikely he would have the good fortune to encounter someone like Liu again. It would be better to make plans early.
The two of them discussed for a long time, finding common ground and getting more excited, almost as if they could foresee the upcoming joyous occasion.
As they talked, it was inevitable to mention their respective family matters. Minglan's family situation was simple and could be summarized in just a few words, while the Shen family was indeed bustling with activity.
Although Aunt Zou had been beaten nearly to death and imprisoned for a long time, she refused to come out and even threatened to hang herself after a few more words from Shen Congxing. The children begged her together, and Zhang also expressed her unwillingness, saying it was against the natural order, which resulted in the Duke of State returning empty-handed.
Now that peace had returned among the wives and concubines, there were other worries. The eldest son of the Shen family was on the verge of arranging a marriage, and everyone knew that the new bride would have two mothers-in-law: one, the noble legitimate mother from a prominent family, who would hold the official title, and the other, the aunt who married her brother-in-law as a concubine, who would hold the emotional ties. This kind of complicated relationship would leave the new bride in a difficult position.
As for marriages of lesser status, Shen Congxing looked down upon them, after all, this was his legitimate eldest son, who would inherit the title in the future.
However, prominent families often valued their reputation. Everyone knew it was not a good match; if they proceeded with the marriage, wouldn't it just lead to the reputation of "selling their daughter to curry favor with the Duke of State"? Moreover, the Shen family was unwilling to settle for a concubine.
Furthermore, there were precedents to consider; what use was a high-status bride? The daughter of Lord Zhang from Earl didn't fare well in the Shen family either.
Thus, the Duke of State faced setbacks everywhere.
As for this matter, Minglan had heard a little about it.
Shen Congxing was intent on marrying a legitimate daughter from the Zheng family, the noble family of the Hou Zheng clan—specifically, the niece of the Zheng brothers. He had asked his younger sister, Xiao Shen, to convey their interest. After a few days of discussion, the Zheng family, however, ultimately decided against it.
Xiao Shen felt a bit sad, sensing that everyone looked down on her maternal family. To comfort her, Lady Zheng did not hold back and frankly expressed her disapproval of the matter—
Just imagine, after getting married, if the bride were to honor Lady Zhang, Aunt Zou would definitely be unhappy, and her husband would also be displeased. But asking their precious legitimate daughter to flatter a concubine and serve her like a proper mother-in-law would only bring ridicule—families like the Zhengs interacted with those of high status, and having a legitimate daughter lowering her status for no good reason would make it difficult for her maternal family to face others.
Xiao Shen knew this was the truth. Furthermore, after giving birth to a daughter, she no longer possessed the same mindset she had at the beginning. She depended on her elder sister-in-law, who had been like a mother to her, to ask her, "If it were your daughter, would you be willing to marry her to your nephew?"
Xiao Shen quickly held her daughter in her arms. This was likely her only child in this life, so weak and delicate that her heart ached, wishing she could even dig out her own heart to give to the child—she hurriedly shook her head, refusing to let her daughter suffer that fate.
Thus, she concealed the truth in front of her brother, only following the unified narrative that the Zheng family had already proposed marriage back in their hometown of Xunyang.
The Duke of State faced setbacks in his marriage negotiations and inevitably sought help from his legitimate wife, asking her to find a suitable match among acquaintances. At that moment, Zhang Shi nearly laughed three times, almost wanting to scold him back—did he think marrying into the Shen family was a great blessing?! He had already ruined her life; did he expect her to harm the good daughters of her friends and relatives as well? Dream on!
After having a son, she was no longer the Zhang Shi who would swallow her pride as before. In front of her husband, she coldly laughed and said, "The eldest son has never even called me 'mother'—he only thinks of his aunt. When he marries, he won't be serving me either. The Hou Ye truly knows how to amuse people; he's taking advantage of my good nature and bullying our Zhang family too much!"
Shen Congxing felt quite embarrassed but couldn't find a way to refute her. He could only grit his teeth and say that he would bring their son to pay his respects and apologize to his wife.
Zhang Shi stopped him again and sighed, "You gave him life, but you cannot give him your heart. Forcing him to acknowledge me will only make him resentful; what's the point in that? It is only natural for him to think of his birth mother. I only regret that those with ulterior motives have stirred up trouble, making it seem like I forced his mother to her death."
She wept as she continued, "When Sister Zou passed away, I was still thousands of miles away. The Zhang and Shen families have no connection at all, yet I have inexplicably borne this sin. I truly feel wronged!"
Shen Congxing naturally knew who this scheming person was, but he still couldn't bring himself to speak out. He only hated the Zou family for causing trouble and felt that his son was foolish. He said, "When he grows up a bit, he will understand." In truth, he was already feeling guilty towards Zhang Shi, and his tone softened.
Madam Zhang took advantage of the situation and, feigning sorrow, said, "Enough, it's not like I'm counting on the eldest son to take care of me in my old age. Let's just stay out of each other's way. But now that the eldest son holds a grudge against me, if he knows that I was the one who chose his wife, will he be happy? I fear the poor girl might suffer because of this, and if they don't get along, we'll end up offending the in-laws for no reason."
When Shen Congxing heard this, he found it quite reasonable. After that, he no longer asked Madam Zhang to trouble herself with their son's marriage arrangements. But after several months of going around in circles with no solution, he had no choice but to seek help from the Empress. In the end...
Minglan almost spat out her tea, exclaiming, "What?! The Duke wants his eldest son to marry a princess?!"
Madam Zhang casually played with the tassels on her skirt. "Isn't it perfect? The eldest son and the princess are of similar age, and they are also cousins, well-acquainted with each other. Two birds, one stone. After all, I'm sure Her Highness, the princess, will understand Shen family's painstaking efforts to treat Concubine Zou so well."
Besides, once Shen Congxing passes away, she planned to move out with her son immediately, living more freely and comfortably.
Minglan was speechless for a long time; this... was truly an imaginative solution.