Chapter 202: The Turmoil of Pregnancy
Minglan was escorted back home, and Mama Cui, holding the chubby Tuan Ge'er, greeted her with a smile at the entrance. Mama Fang stepped forward and whispered a few words in her ear. Instantly, Mama Cui's expression changed; she glared at Minglan a few times in anger. After Mama Fang left, she hurriedly handed Tuan Ge'er over to Cui Wei and personally attended to Minglan's change of clothes, bathing, and resting.
Lying comfortably on the soft, smooth silk mat, Minglan let out a contented moan—there's truly no place like home. It felt as though she had returned to when she was six or seven years old, lying in a sprawled-out position, letting Mama Cui trim her nails while repeatedly asking if she felt any discomfort.
Minglan had always been in good health. Over the years, she maintained regular exercise, a proper diet, and healthy living habits. Thanks to the late concubine Wei, her physique was said to be the legendary "ideal male figure." Although she appeared delicate and fragile, her waist was slender, her hips were rounded, and her proportions were just right, making her an excellent breed for childbearing.
This time, she was just tired—tired in body and mind. Now that everything had been resolved and with a stronger elder brother managing the aftermath, she naturally felt at ease. She planned to rest for a couple of days, eat, drink, and sleep, returning to her previous blissful, carefree life. Little did she know, she was actually pregnant.
Originally, when Mama Cui heard from the doorman that Minglan had returned, she had instructed the young maid to take out the large watermelons and peaches from the well, cut them up, and place them in white porcelain bowls decorated with pink lotus petals. Just as she sent Mama Fang away and turned back into the room, she saw Minglan picking up a silver skewer to pierce the fruit. She hurriedly snatched the fruit platter away, glaring angrily, "Watermelon is cold and damp, and peaches are sweet and hot. You are not allowed to eat either!"
Turning around, she was about to throw the fruit out, when Xiao Tao quickly, gleefully rushed to take it from her, saying, "Don't worry, Mama, I'll make sure to dispose of all of this properly so that the lady won't be tempted at all!"
Minglan swallowed her saliva as she watched Xiao Tao happily bounce out, and then her gaze landed on Tuan Ge'er, who was holding onto the brocade wall and slowly learning to walk. His chubby, pink little feet were stepping on the slippery lake-green bedding, making her feel a surge of anger.
It had only been a few days since she last saw her son; how could she not miss him? Yet, this little rascal, after a brief separation, showed no signs of the sorrowful expression of a precocious child seeing his mother, nor did he act as if he didn't recognize her or was shy.
Gu Xiaogongzi was still living comfortably and healthily, his body adorned with delightful chubby flesh (including his little feet and finger joints). He waved his chubby little hand at Minglan with a cheerful smile—just like Minglan had taught him to greet guests. Then he turned around and lay on the bed, continuing to play with his clever wooden blocks as if nothing were happening.
For a whole afternoon, Minglan worked hard to bond with her son, teasing him to roll over and encouraging him to hold onto the wall and stand on one foot. Tuan Ge'er was overjoyed and finally babbled out, "…yang…"
I'm still a pig! Minglan felt disheartened; it had only been four or five days since they had parted, and he had clearly been able to call for his parents before. Mama Cui sat nearby, eagle-eyed, watching over the mother and son to prevent Tuan Ge'er from leaping onto Minglan.
Before the sky had darkened, Gu Tingye returned like a gust of wind. He stopped abruptly at the foot of the bed, cautiously sitting beside Minglan and holding her hand, as if he had a lot to say, but in the end, all he could manage was, "...What do you want to eat?"
Minglan secretly sighed; just a few days ago, he had been as gloomy as if the emperor had punished him by withholding his salary for three years, even dragging her out for walks by the lake with the melancholic air of a literary youth. But now, he could hardly contain his joy, which seemed to be bubbling up from his eyes.
Mama Cui left with a smile, carrying Tuan Ge'er first.
Minglan grabbed his wrist, lightly biting the back of his hand and whispering, "I want to eat your meat!"
Gu Tingye laughed loudly, "That's no problem! I'll cut some for my lady right now!"
Minglan hurriedly tugged at his sleeve, laughing and anxious, "Don't go! With your tough skin and thick meat, even stewing it for three days and three nights, no one would be able to bite through it!"
Gu Tingye laughed and sat back down, burying his head in Minglan's neck. After a long while, he finally said softly, "...In the past, it was all my fault." He raised his head, speaking hurriedly but incoherently, "...I didn't mean to... Man Niang should have... It's not that I didn't care about you... It's just..." After going around in circles, he couldn't quite say what he meant.
Minglan found it amusing to watch him, his usually commanding face now drenched in sweat. She said coolly, "Go on, go on, just say it..." Gu Tingye, feeling frustrated, closed his mouth and lay down beside her. Minglan gently stroked his sweaty hair, saying, "If you can't explain it clearly, then don't. Life at home doesn't need to be so detailed, it's not like we're in court trying a case."
Gu Tingye suddenly sat up, speaking in a serious tone: "In the future, if anyone dares to threaten you and your child, regardless of whether it's Man Niang or even the King of Heaven, I will make sure she dies without a complete corpse!" The last few words were laced with a chilling intensity.
Minglan looked into his eyes for a long time before wrapping her arms around his neck and whispering, "I believe you."
Why think about so much? What's important is the present and the future.
He treats her very well, wholeheartedly good, loving their child, caring for the family, and doing everything to ensure that they live in peace. That is enough. They are such different people, yet they both hope for a tranquil life and everlasting happiness.
...
The mistress had been away for several days, and everyone in the household only knew that the matriarch of the Sheng family was critically ill, which is why the mistress had gone to take care of her.
The next day, Shao Shi came with the two girls to congratulate Minglan on her pregnancy again. Concubine Qiu, suppressing her sour feelings, also filled her mouth with good words. To her surprise, Minglan, usually polite and gentle, was indifferent and hardly engaged with her.
A few attempts at conversation were met with indifference, leaving Aunty Qiu feeling very bored and awkwardly standing by in silence.
While the adults chatted, Xian Jie stared curiously at Minglan's abdomen but blushed and didn't dare to ask how a baby came into the world. Rong Jie stood quietly with a smile when she suddenly felt someone tugging at the hem of her dress. Looking down, she saw Tuan Ge'er reaching out his arm from the bedside, his large head tilted back to look at her, adorably chubby and cute.
Rong Jie felt a fondness in her heart and was just about to reach out to pat his head when she suddenly remembered Concubine Qiu's and her mother's warnings: never to get close to your father's legitimate child; otherwise, if anything were to happen, you wouldn't be able to clear your name. She quickly pulled her hand back, feeling regretful as she looked at Tuan Ge'er.
But they looked so similar! She couldn't help but steal glances—both had thick eyebrows, big eyes, full cheeks, high foreheads, straight noses, and upturned mouths. They looked even more alike than her biological brother, Chang Ge'er.
After leaving Jiaxi Courtyard, Shao Shi led Xian Jie back to her own courtyard, while Concubine Qiu and Rong Jie walked back together. On the way, Concubine Qiu had a worried expression: "What's wrong with the mistress? Have I done something wrong? If so, just scold me directly; then I can apologize. Why does she have to be so cold?"
Rong Jie stopped in her tracks, and seeing no one around, she said, "Does Aunt Qiu really not know where she went wrong?"
The girl's eyes were bright and sharp, making Concubine Qiu feel guilty. She stammered, "I… I…" It was just that time when she delivered late-night snacks to the lord, who was living alone in his study a few times.
Rong Jie was eleven, tall and slender, with an upright posture. Standing next to Concubine Qiu, they were nearly the same height. She smiled and politely said, "Aunt Qiu has been in the household for so many years, how could you lack this bit of insight? Pretending to be ignorant while knowing full well will only make you more detestable."
She clearly understood the main wife's intentions; the lady had no plans to compete for the man with her. Yet Concubine Qiu still dared to act innocent and sell her goodwill, hoping for success while being prepared for failure—this tactic was too worn out, even more so than the clowns in the cautionary tales Mr. Xue told.
If it weren't for the fact that she had taken care of her quite diligently on ordinary days, she wouldn't have bothered to remind her.
"The lady may be kind and honest, but she is not to be bullied. Aunt Qiu should be careful not to be overly clever."
Concubine Qiu usually flattered and praised them, but after the couple had just a small argument, she rushed to curry favor with the master, and now she wants to act as if nothing happened, as if the main wife is dead!
Mr. Xue had long said that in this world, there are not only cunning people who do harm but also foolish ones who pretend to be innocent. One should not be easily deceived by a few words or a few tears; women who spend all day in the inner chamber and see little of the world should have a discerning eye.
After saying this, Rong Jie turned and left, leaving Concubine Qiu standing there in a daze.
…
Not long after, there was another joyful event: Ruo Mei was diagnosed with a pregnancy of more than three months. Old Man Gongsun was overjoyed and called everyone out to drink heavily, eventually needing to be carried back to his room. Ming Lan had Xiao Tao send her congratulations and some high-quality nourishing herbs, advising her to take good care of herself. Ruo Mei was very happy, unaware that at that moment, a letter of utmost importance was in Ming Lan's hands.
The letter from Gongsun Meng stated that his elder brother's marriage had been settled, describing how virtuous and courteous his new sister-in-law was. However, their mother was worried about her youth and implored their aunt to stay an extra six months to teach the new bride how to manage a household and treat others. The aunt had no choice but to agree. The journey was long, so Gongsun Meng would also stay for a while longer to escort their aunt to the capital, ensuring the reunion of their uncle and his wife.
The letter also included another note, personally written by Mrs. Gongsun to Ming Lan. It stated: If, by the time this letter arrives, Mei Yiniang is already pregnant, in order to prevent her from overthinking and affecting the child, please keep this letter a secret. After all, their master is a man who loves nothing but politics and landscapes, and he doesn't concern himself with the trivial matters of the inner chambers. It would suffice to inform him a few days in advance that his wife is coming.
Ming Lan calculated and realized that by the time Mrs. Gongsun arrived in the capital, Ruo Mei would indeed have given birth, which wouldn't cause any delay.
Looking at the decisiveness conveyed in the letter, she sighed and shook her head, carefully putting it away. This Mrs. Gongsun was not only meticulous but also had a deep understanding of human emotions; Ruo Mei's little tricks might not be enough to contend with her.
Once the child was born, various discontents would surely follow. However, one must bear the consequences of the path they choose.
Just as she finished lamenting Ruo Mei's life choices, Ming Lan soon faced the consequences of her own decisions—Hua Lan arrived at the door with Ru Lan and Yun Er.
In fact, ever since that day when Lady Kang was sent to the Shenjie Office, her confidants had been dealt with by the old lady Wang, and there was no longer any need to keep this under wraps. Chang Bai first informed Hua Lan, then had someone notify Ru Lan, who had just returned from the countryside. Next, they informed Chang Wu and Yun Er, who lived a bit farther away. As for Mo Lan... there was no need for that (after all, Chang Feng and his wife were unaware of this).
When Hai Shi gently recounted the events, Hua Lan was clearly stunned, frozen like a wooden puppet. She had only been away for seven or eight days—how could everything change so suddenly? If she had been more diligent in returning to her family home, perhaps this incident could have been avoided, and the old lady and her birth mother could have escaped this calamity.
Ru Lan was completely bewildered. Throughout her life, the most malicious schemes she had ever imagined were along the lines of wishing that Mo Lan would step into a pile of dog poop. To think of poisoning someone? She wouldn't even dare to dream of it—yet her birth mother actually did it! No, no, it was that damned aunt!
The worst off was Yun Er. Upon hearing that her mother had incited her aunt to poison and kill the most respected old lady Sheng in the family, she fainted. After finally coming to with a pinch on her acupoints, she then learned that her mother had been sent to the dark and lifeless Shenjie Office, never to return, and she fainted again.
Changwu hurriedly went to visit his great-aunt and sighed with relief upon seeing that she was safe and sound. As for his mother-in-law... to speak unfilially, it would be better if that old woman disappeared sooner, so the world could be at peace.
Hualan finally regained her composure and stormed into Wangshi's house, furiously scolding her mother, "I've told you so many times that Auntie has no good intentions towards you! How could you trust her in such matters? Now you've caused a major disaster! I just don't understand, when she snatched your son-in-law back then, why didn't you get angry then?"
Wangshi sobbed, "I was angry at first, but later I saw that Ruir had a good marriage. Her husband is considerate, and the young couple is happy together. But Yuan'er is always at odds with Youge, and gets punished every few days. I heard your aunt talk about Yuan'er's troubles often, so I lost my anger and even thought that Ruir was better off not marrying into that family."
Rulan's face flushed as she exclaimed, "Sister, Mother, what are you talking about? Why bring that up at all?!"
What kind of situation is this?! She was gradually becoming more sensible, but her mother was being so irrational again.
Hualan was distraught, "Mother, that's Auntie's trick! First, she makes you feel angry, then slowly lulls you into falling for her scheme! Who is Auntie? We, the siblings, have never cared to deal with her. It's not because we look down on her due to the Kang family's weakness; it's because Auntie is…" She struggled to find the right words for a long time. "Changbai is right; she's just a disaster! Being close to her only brings misfortune!"
The last sentence nearly made Yuner, who had just entered, faint again. Changwu supported his wife as they went to apologize to Wang. Wang gritted her teeth in anger and coldly said, "Having such a sister is already my past life's misfortune; I can't possibly accept this cousin of yours!"
Yuner knelt on the ground, crying, and Changwu had no choice but to kneel beside her.
Hualan hurried over to help them up, saying to her mother, "Mother, look at you! What does this have to do with Sister Yuner? Even if you refuse to acknowledge your niece, you still have to recognize your daughter-in-law!" This statement carried weight, and Yuner understood it to some extent but dared not respond, only crying on the floor.
Seeing that things had come to this, the two sisters decided to find a way to comfort their weak grandmother and also their father, Sheng Hong, whose 'wounded spirit' was deeply saddened by marrying an unsuitable wife and the misfortune that befell the family.
Yuner, on the other hand, went to the Inner Court and begged pitifully for a chance to see her mother, but, of course, there was no result.
Changwu secretly hoped that the officials would be fair and just.
After crying for a long time, Yuner first went to discuss matters with her father and brothers. Upon learning that Concubine Jin was now in charge of the household, her father, cold and indifferent, didn't even want to mention her mother. Her elder brother looked pained and lost, not knowing what to do. Fortunately, her sister-in-law's dowry was substantial, and her mother's remaining dowry had been claimed back by her maternal grandmother. With Kang Jin's salary, even if her father turned against him, he would still be able to stand on his own.
Yuner thought about seeking help from the Wang family, but her grandmother was gravely ill and unconscious, her uncle was busy attending to the sickbed, and her aunt's attitude was disdainful and dismissive. After several rounds of evasion and perfunctory responses, Yuner could only hold onto the impossible hope of going to the Sheng family.
Because Sheng Hong was still "sad," Yuner had no choice but to seek out Changbai. She didn't even know what she should be asking for—whether to release her mother or to forgive her mother's madness. As a child, she felt she had no choices.
To her surprise, she encountered Hualan and Rulan, who were also pleading with Changbai. They didn't care much about Aunt Kang being locked up in a Taliban-like prison or concentration camp; they were simply hoping that Wang Shi wouldn't suffer too much. However, this time there was a result:
The two sisters were thoroughly scolded by Changbai from head to toe. Not only did they fail to negotiate any reduction in their mother's punishment, but their behavior in their in-law's house was also preemptively criticized, and they were forced to listen to three or four teachings from the sages.
If he treated his own sisters like this, he was naturally not going to be polite to the daughter of the culprit. Changbai bluntly said, "If you're here as Auntie's daughter, then there's nothing to discuss; please leave. If you're here as my cousin's wife, then we are still family."
Yuner was heartbroken and, before she could say anything, Changbai added, "I've already written to Youyang and informed your uncle and aunt of everything."
Changwu, who was comforting his wife, was stunned, while Yuner was left in a daze, but she stopped crying.
It wasn't until they got home that the couple finally understood the hidden meaning behind Changbai's words:
"Dear sister-in-law, Kang, do you want to be divorced? Do you want to be separated from your children? Then please make the right choice: your wicked and irredeemable mother or your own happy family?"
"But she's still my mother!" Yuner cried, tears streaming down her face.
Changwu said solemnly, "When your mother committed such a wicked act, she should have thought about the impact on her children."
He then firmly stated his position: as a son-in-law, he should actively rescue his mother-in-law, but Old Madam Sheng was an unparalleled benefactor of the main family. Therefore, if his wife insisted on continuing this entanglement, he would have to step back.
After two chaotic days, Yuner cried until her eyes were dry, unable to shed another tear. Faced with Changbai's unyielding stance, the two sisters were powerless, and Wang Shi gradually quieted down, beginning to accept reality.
At this point, the two sisters finally thought of Minglan.
It wasn't that they were slow-witted, but rather that in Hai's narrative, she deliberately downplayed Minglan's involvement and role in the matter, as if it were only Sheng Hong and his son who had been fighting on the front lines, while Minglan was merely standing by in anger. Of course, Sheng Hong wouldn't clarify this himself; after all, his mother was harmed, and he was just idly standing by. Mama Fang and others wouldn't speak out either.
As for Rulan, after hearing Cuiping's account, she didn't suspect anything; she only listened as Hai explained that Minglan was exceptionally furious and deeply resentful of Kang Wang Shi.
At this point, Hualan felt uneasy. She knew her younger sister's feelings for their grandmother. Since she had such deep hatred for the principal offender, what about Wang Shi, the accomplice? Thus, she brought Rulan and Yuner to the Ningyuan Marquis's residence together.
As soon as Minglan saw Yuner, she immediately furrowed her brow. She had always liked this gentle and kind cousin and thought that a bad bamboo could produce good shoots. However, upon seeing her, she was reminded of Kang Wang Shi, and that resentment lingered. She said, "Our families have always been close. Cousin, if you come here, I welcome you wholeheartedly. I just ask that you absolutely do not mention your mother even once."
Seeing Minglan's frosty demeanor, Yuner lowered her head in tears, feeling ashamed and no longer daring to speak. She knew her mother's sins were grave, and as children, they had done all they could; there was nothing more to be demanded.
On this side, Rulan was eager to talk about Wang Shi, repeatedly saying that their mother was being punished too severely. This made Minglan laugh: "Fifth sister should go talk to eldest brother about it. This matter was really decided by him alone. Even Father hasn't said a word."
This was the truth.
When it came to Changbai, Rulan immediately fell silent, but then hope ignited again: "How about... we ask the brother-in-law to talk to eldest brother? The marquis holds a high position; eldest brother surely wouldn't want to offend him."
Minglan pondered for a moment and replied, "Fifth sister should first talk to grandmother. After all, it is she who was poisoned and is struggling between life and death. You could ask how grandmother currently views the lady who wants her to remain ill."
Rulan was completely deflated; she couldn't face doing that.
After hearing this, Hualan understood her younger sister's attitude. She indeed held a quiet resentment towards Wang Shi, but it was not deep hatred, primarily out of sympathy for their grandmother.
Sigh, it seems the only option is to send mother back to her hometown for some serious reflection.
Moreover, to be honest, she secretly agreed with Changbai.
First, their mother was indeed wrong and deserved to be punished; otherwise, their grandmother's suffering would be too unjust. Second, separating the two women for a few years, and then later shedding tears to apologize, would allow for the possibility of reconciling past grievances. This approach was better than maintaining a facade while harboring resentment deep inside for years.
Having come to this conclusion, Hualan no longer droned on about anything. Instead, she smiled and expressed concern for Minglan's pregnancy, pulling Rulan into the conversation to talk and laugh, sharing some family anecdotes to lighten the atmosphere—at her age, she had enough experience to understand the strength of family ties. They absolutely could not let their aunt's foolishness and madness create a rift among their close kin and break up the family.
Of course, their public statements had to be unified: it had to be said that Grandma Sheng had suddenly fallen ill (the old lady did not permit otherwise), remaining unconscious for several days and nights. Daughter-in-law Wang Shi wept and vowed to Buddha that if her mother-in-law could awaken, she would eat vegetarian meals and chant scriptures at the family temple for several years (everyone said, "What a good daughter-in-law!"). However, the root of Grandma's illness was not cleared, so she went to find that hidden physician with her grandson.