Chapter 212: Everyone Needs Praise
Thus, the two were settled: Shi Qiang attended sports lessons with the Tu brothers in the outer courtyard, while Xiao Tao continued to enjoy the comforts of the inner courtyard. The girls in Jiaxi Residence, having received so many favors, began to view Xiao Tao differently. Seeing her usual kindness and sensing she might have great fortune in the future, their teasing and jokes gradually faded. They even started to speak favorably of Shi Xiaodi (Little Brother Shi) on her behalf.
After enjoying honey-glazed ham twice in a row, Xiao Tao's usually slow heart was finally moved. She decided to express her gratitude. Lacking literary skills, she crafted two sturdy, well-made pouches with straight seams as a token of thanks.
One kept giving; the other kept expressing gratitude. Gradually, their exchanges shifted to simple verbal thank-yous. As time passed, their conversations evolved from exchanging barely five words at a time to discussing life's ambitions, the stars, the moon, and reminiscing about the fish they had once caught together.
No need for various spies to relay the details—Xiao Tao honestly told Minglan everything about her encounters. Shi Qiang, having traveled extensively with his elder brother and sister-in-law since childhood, had gained considerable knowledge. When he spoke of local customs, anecdotes, and interesting tales from different regions, his words were clumsy but rich in content, which deeply impressed Xiao Tao.
Whenever Xiao Tao admired someone, she only had one way of expressing it—lavishing them with praise.
Thus, while Minglan was pleased to hear that they maintained proper decorum and showed no impropriety, she couldn't help feeling a little sour. After all, for the past ten years or so, Xiao Tao had only ever praised her, saying things like, "So clever, so knowledgeable, so amazing!"
Suddenly, Minglan felt an inexplicable urge to pick a fight with Brother Shi.
That morning, she took some inventory ledgers to discuss with Cuiwei. Over the winter, the household had acquired quite a few furs and hides. With only a handful of people in the family, not to mention the two growing girls, each of whom had been made two sets of lambskin jackets and another large fur cape, and several gifts sent to relatives during the New Year, there were still plenty left.
As spring was approaching, Minglan worried that the stored furs might spoil. She decided to ensure proper preservation by commissioning the crafting of ten large camphor wood chests, each half as tall as a person. The plan was to dry the furs thoroughly under gentle sunlight before carefully storing them according to the inventory records.
It took half a day of hard work, finishing just in time for lunch. Looking at the hefty camphor wood chests, which required two people to carry, Minglan couldn't help but marvel. She thought about how those elderly matriarchs and noble ladies seemed to have endless treasures to gift to the younger generation. At this rate, by the time she grew old, she might also accumulate plenty of valuable items to pass down.
Seeing Minglan's slightly furrowed brows, Cuiwei misunderstood her concerns and cheerfully reassured her, "Madam, don't worry about these going to waste. Right now, the family is small, but once you've had a few more sons and daughters, the courtyard will be full of children. When they all grow up, there might not even be enough to go around."
Minglan smiled without arguing and sent Cuiwei off to continue her work. She then lay down on the warm kang bed for a nap. After waking up and freshening up a bit, she called for the nurse to bring over her little chubby boy to teach him how to talk.
Tuan-ge'er entered the room, dressed in a bright red jacket trimmed with short silver mink fur. The garment was embroidered with a pattern symbolizing prosperity and longevity, stitched in gold thread. On his feet, he wore round-toed tiger-head shoes. Led in by his wet nurse, his rosy, fair cheeks still bore the imprint of his bedding from his nap. The moment he saw Minglan, he let go of the wet nurse's hand, toddled unsteadily toward her, and without waiting for anyone to pick him up, clambered onto the kang bed using both his hands and feet, panting with effort.
The wet nurse beamed with delight. "The young master is walking more steadily by the day. If he hadn't just woken up, he would never let anyone hold his hand while walking." Ever since Minglan became pregnant, the wet nurse had tactfully started addressing Tuan-ge'er as the "eldest young master."
Minglan said, "Now that I'm heavy with child, I'll have to trouble you to take extra care of him. When Tuan-ge'er grows up, he'll surely remember to show you his gratitude."
The wet nurse immediately knelt down and said repeatedly, "Being able to serve Madam and the young master is the greatest blessing of my life. With such a grand household, there are countless others eager to care for the young master. How could someone as insignificant as me dare to claim any credit?"
Since Tuan-ge'er was weaned, one of the two wet nurses that Old Madam Sheng had sent over had already been dismissed. This wet nurse had worked cautiously and diligently every day, winning the approval of the Madam of the Gu household, which allowed her to stay in the marquis's residence.
Minglan smiled and dismissed the wet nurse to have some refreshments and rest, while she stayed to teach Tuan-ge'er how to talk and play games.
Tuan-ge'er had always been healthy and strong since birth, eating and sleeping well. He walked with steady, powerful steps, but his speech was hilariously jumbled.
When Minglan pointed to Madam Shao and asked him to call her "Aunt," the little chubby boy said "Limping Sheep." When she pointed to Hualan and told him to say "Auntie," he said "Clothes." Even after both Rong and Xian tried teaching him to say "Sister" for a long time, all he could manage was "Borrow Money."
** 伯娘 (Bóniáng - Aunt) vs. 跛羊 (Bǒyáng - Limping Sheep)
姨母 (Yímǔ - Auntie) vs. 衣服 (Yīfú - Clothes)
姐姐 (Jiějiě - Sister) vs. 借钱 (Jièqián - Borrow Money)**
— You're the one borrowing money! Your whole family is borrowing money!
After fuming for a while, Minglan realized she had inadvertently roped herself into the situation. Determined to correct her little chubby boy's pronunciation once and for all, she played with him on the kang bed for a while, then called Xiao Tao to bring over a small, low stool.
She had Tuan-ge'er sit properly and began his lesson.
Pointing to the round table nearby, Minglan enunciated clearly, "Table (zhuō'er)."
The little chubby boy, in his soft baby voice, replied, "Pig (zhū'er)."
Minglan resisted the throbbing vein on her forehead and stretched out her tone to teach him, "Say—Home (jiā)."
The little boy obediently and innocently said, "—Blind (xiā)."
Furious, Minglan snapped, "Idiot (bèndàn)!"
The little boy burst into giggles and confidently pronounced, "Manure Egg (fèn—dàn)."
Minglan was left speechless, torn between suspecting that the boy was deliberately messing with her or blaming Gu Tingye's physically dominant yet linguistically "inferior" genes.
Just then, Nurse Cui came in carrying a stew bowl. Seeing the mother and son staring each other down, she chuckled and said, "Why are you so worried, Madam? As long as he can talk, there's nothing to fear. Besides, according to the elders, children who take their time learning to speak often end up being the most eloquent when they grow up."
Minglan harbored some doubt in her heart but obediently began eating the stew Cui Mama had brought, scooping it with a spoon. Meanwhile, Cui Mama lovingly picked up the little chubby boy and fed him spoonfuls of custard-like egg pudding. Seeing his mother enjoying her meal, Tuan-ge'er didn't resist and obediently opened his mouth for each bite.
Once mother and son had finished eating, wiping their mouths and rinsing out, a servant came in to announce that Madam Shen had come to visit.
Minglan quickly got off the kang bed, slipped on her shoes, and adjusted the dangling pearl hairpin that was askew in her bun. She asked Xiahe to tidy up her clothing and glanced at herself in the mirror before heading to the outer room to greet her guest.
Shortly after, Madam Shen entered with a young maid and an older servant, smiling warmly.
Minglan, half-joking, called her a "rare guest" as she supported her pregnant belly with one hand and pulled Madam Shen to sit with her in the side seating area with the other. "I thought you'd never step out of your house again! Everyone says that since becoming a mother, you've transformed into a virtuous recluse, never stepping past your gates."
As she spoke, Minglan sized her up. Madam Shen looked noticeably thinner, her complexion still healthy but lacking the fullness of someone recently postpartum. Instead, she seemed leaner than before, her figure having shed much of its former roundness.
Madam Shen blushed with embarrassment and sighed, "I used to be fearless, but now I realize how weak I really am. Over the past few months, first I had to take care of my daughter, and second… well, to be honest, I'm afraid of people asking too many questions. My sister-in-law keeps telling me to let it go, and I figured, while I might avoid seeing others, I shouldn't cut off contact with someone like you, who truly understands me."
Due to complications during childbirth, she had suffered a lot and spent a full two months in confinement. In the following months, she had only gone out once, and that was to the temple to offer incense and fulfill a vow. She was no longer the lively, outgoing woman who loved to gossip and joke, now appearing much more subdued.
Minglan felt a pang of sympathy but smiled as she glanced at the baby swaddled in the old servant woman's arms. The little girl was tiny and delicate, with elegant eyebrows and large eyes—a miniature version of Madam Shen. However, the baby seemed frail, her cries as soft and weak as a kitten's mew.
At that moment, Lüzhi brought over a tray covered with a piece of red silk, revealing a set of red-gold charms designed for children to wear.
"I had this prepared for your little girl long ago," Minglan said with a smile. "I was thinking, if you'd decided to stay hidden like a turtle forever, I'd wait until after my own child is born and come to your house to deliver it myself." She gestured for Lüzhi to hand the gift to the old servant.
"Pah! You're the turtle!" Madam Shen playfully scolded, laughing as she picked up the small gold bracelet and anklet. She then examined the golden charm shaped like a half-bloomed lotus bud, exquisitely crafted. On the front, a large, rounded character for "Blessing" (福) was engraved, while the back had the words "Safe and Long Life" (平安百岁) etched in delicate strokes. Dangling beneath the charm were tiny, intricate lotus seed ornaments.
"This is such a unique design. I've never seen anything like it," Madam Shen said, running her fingers over the charm and clearly pleased.
Minglan smiled and explained, "I thought that with so many elders in your family, you must already have plenty of cloud-shaped lock charms. So, I came up with this design myself and had the goldsmith make it. You don't have to use it seriously—just let your little one play with it."
Madam Shen knew that these were not the gifts Minglan had initially prepared. It was obvious Minglan had learned about her difficulties in having more children in the future and had specially designed this charming and delightful piece to cheer her up. Touched to the point of choking up, Madam Shen said with gratitude, "Dear sister, you've been so thoughtful. I… I…"
Fearing that Madam Shen might break into tears, Minglan quickly called for Cui Mama to bring Tuan-ge'er out from the inner room. She pointed to Madam Shen and instructed him to call her "Aunt."
The little chubby boy cheerfully shouted, "Rope!" (绳子, shéngzi), which, fortunately, sounded close enough to "Aunt" (婶子, shěnzi) that no one noticed the slip. Everyone in the room chuckled, their spirits lifted.
Madam Shen, seeing Tuan-ge'er's sturdy, chubby figure and round, fair face, couldn't get enough of him. She held him tightly in her arms, showering him with kisses. "It's been over half a year, and I didn't expect him to have grown so much," she said fondly. Remembering his birthday, she added, "I didn't bring anything good today, but when you turn two, Auntie will make sure to prepare something special for you."
After a while of playful affection and joking around, Madam Shen dismissed her maid and servant, while Minglan also asked Cui Mama to take Tuan-ge'er away. However, they left the baby girl sleeping warmly on the heated brick bed, as Madam Shen didn't want her daughter out of sight. She took off her shoes and joined Minglan on the bed, gently patting her daughter to soothe her while chatting. "I heard my sister-in-law recently earned herself a pair of matchmaker shoes from your Sheng family."
Minglan was briefly startled before realizing that the "sister-in-law" Madam Shen referred to wasn't Madam Zheng but Zhang-shi. Curious but maintaining her composure, she smiled and replied, "A month ago, my grandmother wrote back, saying that the match was well-made and there were no objections. Just the other day, my third sister-in-law from my maternal family went to formalize the engagement. The plan is to set the marriage now and hold the ceremony in two years."
Madam Shen clicked her tongue twice and laughed, saying, "Your grandmother is a straightforward person, and very generous too. I heard she brought back a pair of jade bracelets as a gift for the engagement. My sister-in-law said that even she had rarely seen jade of such fine quality—transparent, with a beautiful color and texture. It really doesn't seem like something from Central China; it's truly a rare treasure."
Minglan knew that her grandmother, being worried about the dowry for Chang Dong, had chosen something of great value. Unlike Chang Bai and Chang Feng, who had their own family wealth—one with the Wang family's dowry, and the other with the Lin family's assets—her grandmother was concerned that without something precious to balance the dowry, her maternal family might look down on it.
She smiled and explained, "That jade set was actually part of my grandmother's dowry. I heard it originally came from the royal palace of Xian Guo, and was captured by my great-grandfather when he was stationed in the southern Yunnan region. Later, Emperor Wu gifted it to the Marquis of Yongyi's family. Alas, now that the border of Yunnan is closed off, where could you find something like that on the market?"
"Such an interesting history!" Madam Shen listened with great attention, then slapped her leg, saying, "You don't know, my Uncle Shen and Aunt were both speechless when they saw it. My sister-in-law said that the old couple is currently discussing adding more dowry!"
The Shen family, as newly wealthy, wasn't lacking in money or land, but what they were missing were items with a history and cultural significance.
"Don't worry, don't worry. My grandmother hasn't been able to return to the capital these past few years, so she's just sending some gifts for her granddaughter-in-law. I don't want it to seem like my maternal family is pressuring for dowry. Please tell them that the dowry should be modest," Minglan quickly waved her hand, worried that things might escalate in the future.
Madam Shen, who had been entrusted with the task of inquiring, felt relieved upon hearing Minglan's words. She smiled and began talking about the Shen family's dowry preparations.
After listening for a while, and hearing Madam Shen repeatedly say, "My sister-in-law said this and that," Minglan couldn't help but cautiously ask, "You… and your sister-in-law, that… are you both getting along?"
Madam Shen gave a slight bitter smile and shook her head, saying, "Looking back, we had no grudges or conflicts, so why was it necessary? Sigh, it's not easy for her either." She sighed again, then quietly added, "Now that I've suffered, I finally understand what's important."
Minglan gently touched her swollen belly, feeling sympathy for her. "…What does your sister-in-law say about this?"
Madam Shen lovingly gazed at her sleeping daughter, her voice tinged with sorrow. "My sister-in-law advised me not to be afraid. She said we come from a respectable family, and even if a concubine bears a son, it can't surpass me." As she spoke, a tear fell. She quickly wiped it away, forcing a smile. "I'm not the type to be petty or jealous. I never stopped my husband from taking another woman into the household."
She sniffled, lifted her head, and straightened her back. "My sister is the Empress, my brother is a general commanding the army—who would dare insult me?! I'm just worried…" Her voice faltered as she choked up. "When I'm gone, this child won't have her maternal relatives to back her up. What will she do? My sister-in-law's sons are good, but after all, they are from a different branch of the family—they are cousins."
The heart of a mother is always tender, and once the Empress and the uncle pass away, those cousins will have their own families to care for. How many of them would still care for her? Minglan felt for her deeply and sighed. Not knowing what to say, she could only sit beside her in silence, offering her company.
After a moment, Madam Shen wiped away her tears, embarrassed. "You must think I'm foolish. Lately, I can't stop overthinking things. In fact, it's not so urgent. Not to mention, my husband is far away in Longxi, managing grain shipments, and… sigh, my father-in-law really isn't doing well, and my mother-in-law has fallen ill too. My sister-in-law has been running herself ragged, taking care of my in-laws and the whole family. How can I only think of myself? I should also do my part to help."
Once the father passes, a military man might lose his affections, but marrying a concubine and having children is no longer an option.
Minglan had known about General Zheng's grave condition and wasn't surprised. She urged her warmly, "In that case, you should take extra care of yourself. Things will work out eventually. Maybe your son will be a kind-hearted one, who will respect his birth mother and love his elder sister. Or perhaps your daughter will be lucky enough to marry into a good family, where her husband dotes on her, and her in-laws are kind. Every generation has its own fortune. Why worry yourself sick about things that haven't even happened yet?"
Madam Shen managed a smile through her tears. "If that's the case, I'd be willing to pray every day at Fahuasi Temple." After laughing for a while, she suddenly remembered something, looked at Minglan's face, and hesitated. "There's something… I don't know whether I should tell you."
Minglan rolled her eyes, half-amused and half-scolding. "Nonsense! You always tell me whether you should or not!"
Madam Shen hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, "You know that our Zheng family, as relatives of the loyal and respected Hou family, has ties with the Han family. A few days ago, Lord and Lady Hou came to visit my father-in-law, and several of my sisters-in-law also came. The wife of the heir and my sister-in-law whispered together for a while. Afterwards, my sister-in-law told me…" She looked hesitant, "She said that Princess Chengchang is recently trying to arrange a second wife for their third master."
Minglan was stunned for a moment. "A second wife? Not a concubine, right?" Why would a son need a princess to intervene to take a concubine?
"It's not just a regular concubine; there are formal posts and legal documents," Madam Shen shook her head. "I heard that the girl is the daughter of a teacher. Somehow, the princess took a liking to her and is arranging for her to be his second wife."
Minglan was so shocked she couldn't speak. The idea of a princess personally intervening to marry off a second wife was so bold that it felt like a slap in the face. She couldn't help but wonder, "…But doesn't Tingcan dislike her husband?"
Madam Shen shook her head and lowered her voice, "I heard that your little sister-in-law has quite a temper. If things don't go her way, she makes a scene and throws a tantrum. If her husband speaks to a maid or a servant, she gets sick for days, crying like a miserable sick woman, even kicking him out of the room. At first, your brother-in-law would try to appease her, but after all, he's someone who wants to study and make progress. How can he keep spending all his time with his wife, composing poetry and acting submissively…"
Minglan couldn't help but quietly laugh to herself—she might want to learn from the likes of Lady Qin, but she would need someone as foolish as Gu Yan to support her!
Princess Chengchang endured for two years, but in the end, she couldn't take it anymore. Not wanting to have a lowly maid or servant give her a grandson, she arranged for a daughter from a scholar family to be the second wife.
"You and your Madam…" Madam Shen trailed off, struggling to find the right words. "Well, it's not exactly… smooth. My sister-in-law asked me to come and tell you, just so you have an idea of what's going on."
Since the day Minglan gave birth to Tuan Ge'er and the big argument ensued, various rumors in the capital had been circulating, often subtly hinting at the situation. People noticed that after the division of households, the two families hardly interacted, and the relatives and friends who came and went had started to speculate.
After sending Madam Shen off, Minglan furrowed her brows and thought for a moment, quickly coming to a conclusion. With her thoughts settled, she felt at ease and slowly walked into the inner room, supported by Xiahe. She saw that Tuan Ge'er had already sprawled out in a big letter and was fast asleep.
Cui Mama saw Minglan enter, got up to help her sit down, and then heard her muttering something like, "Madam Shen is really thoughtful. I'm glad she came to tell me…"
Cui Mama asked Xiahe to bring some hot tea, then knelt down to help Minglan take off her shoes and loosen her outer garments. As she did, she exchanged a rare, playful smile on her usually serious face. "The two wives of the Zheng family treat you so well. Surely, Madam, you don't fail to see their intentions?" She had been in the next room and overheard most of their conversation.
Minglan turned to her in surprise. "Intentions? What kind of intentions could there be?"
Cui Mama sat beside Minglan's bed and gently brushed the stray hairs from her face with a loving expression. "My dear girl, you're so clever, yet you can't hear it? Madam Zheng kept saying how much she treasures her daughter, how she's worried that the child won't have anyone to rely on in the future… When it comes down to it, that's easy enough to solve—find a trustworthy, decent family. I think Lady Zheng must know this as well."
She paused and cast a glance at Minglan, then at the sleeping Tuan Ge'er, with a half-smile, as if to say something more.
Minglan opened her mouth in surprise, then lowered her head to look at the chubby boy sleeping soundly before raising her head again. "…No way, right?" Although she said this, the more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed, and she couldn't help but feel a shiver down her spine.
"Tuan Ge'er will inherit the title one day, and his wife… will have to be capable," Cui Mama continued. It wasn't that she looked down on Madam Shen's daughter, but… she couldn't quite put her finger on it. If it were Lady Zheng's daughter, she'd give her full approval immediately.
Wait, why did her thoughts suddenly start sounding like Lady Bao's?
Cui Mama saw Minglan frowning deeply and couldn't help but chuckle quietly. "It might not even be Tuan Ge'er. I don't think Madam Zheng would be willing for her daughter to become the eldest son's official wife. Didn't she just ask about your pregnancy and due date?"
Minglan instinctively covered her stomach, uncertain, "…Even if this child is a son, he's still younger than her daughter."
Cui Mama laughed and said, "A gap of half a year to a year isn't a big deal. A younger daughter-in-law is easier to handle than an elder one."
Minglan was stunned.
She never imagined that, with her eldest son not even two years old and the second still unborn, she would already have to consider the choice of a daughter-in-law.
Cui Mama chuckled and patted Minglan's back, reassuring her, "Don't worry, madam. I don't think Madam Zheng is set on making a match with you. Who knows how Tuan Ge'er will turn out as he grows? His temperament, his accomplishments—no one can say for sure. Even mothers have to wait and see."
Minglan seemed lost in thought, as if she were in a dream or fog, and it took her a while to recover. "…So, you're saying that her sudden reconciliation with the Wife of Wei Bei Hou isn't just about her coming to her senses, but also about this intention?"
Zhang Shi's son was more than half a year older than Xiao Shen Shi's daughter. Not only was the age more suitable, but they were also cousins by maternal side. Zhang Shi had upright character and wouldn't make things difficult for her daughter-in-law.
Cui Mama laughed aloud. "Madam is truly clever!"
Upon hearing this, Minglan suddenly felt a wave of sadness.
It had been a long time since she heard a compliment—ever since Xiao Tao started dating—so had she grown so dull?