“Did I not tell you I was perfectly capable of returning on my own? Why did you come?”

Inside a carriage curtained with sheer stone-blue gauze, Minglan sat clutching a tea canister, her small face set in a scowl as she questioned him in a low voice.

As the mother had not yet completed her month of confinement, the washing ceremony had been largely attended by female guests only. Large-scale banqueting was generally not held on such occasions, and Wang Shi had simply hosted a modest midday meal before the various female guests began to take their leave. Just as Minglan was about to bid farewell, Gu Tingye arrived. He exchanged a few words with Sheng Hong, and then the husband and wife departed together.

Gu Tingye was half-amused, half-exasperated by the whole situation. A short while ago, he had come to the Sheng Mansion to collect his wife, and Minglan had received him with the perfect air of a modest, virtuous young bride. With a most charming and wifely air, she had even gently hinted to him: “Husband, riding horseback there and back must have been tiring — why not take the carriage back to the residence?”

Seeing Minglan’s rosy cheeks, bright and sparkling eyes, Gu Tingye’s heart had warmed. He had eagerly climbed into the carriage — only to have a bucket of cold water dumped squarely over his head.

“It was on the way, nothing more. What does it matter?” Gu Tingye watched Minglan’s flustered little forehead with considerable amusement. His fingers itched; he very much wanted to pinch her.

“You think I don’t know the city.” Minglan felt her intelligence had been toyed with. She promptly produced a teacup from somewhere and began setting it down on the small table to demonstrate. “The imperial palace is here. Our residence is here. My family’s home is here. So tell me — how exactly was this ‘on the way’?!”

Adjusting for scale: the Gu Residence was roughly situated in the inner ring, the Sheng Family home in the next ring out, and Gu Tingye’s place of duty was somewhere in the direction of the central administrative seat of power.

Gu Tingye looked at Minglan puffing out her cheeks, fussing over the arrangement of teacups like a small child playing with building blocks, and finally could no longer help himself. He reached out and pinched her cheek, laughing: “I accompanied Senior General Bo to inspect the western mountain garrison after morning court. When I saw it was about the right time, I came to find you. Is it not a good thing to give you face in front of your family?”

“Not particularly.” Minglan pressed a hand to her cheek and said very seriously, “It would be better if you kept more of a distance from me in public. As long as basic propriety is observed, any additional displays of consideration are best avoided.”

Gu Tingye stared at her in astonishment. He dimly recalled that one year, when he had not gone to escort Yu Yan Hong back to her family home, she had caused such an enormous scene that she nearly brought the roof down. That first marriage had taught him quite a few lasting lessons.

“Did you not see the expressions on my aunt’s and sisters’ faces just now? Black as the bottom of a cooking pot.” Fortunately, there was one brother-in-law who was perceptive — he had once taken a day of early rest from the Hanlin Academy to travel all the way to a temple gate just to escort his wife home from prayers. As a result, Rulan had no strong reaction at all; after preening about it for a moment, she had only teased Minglan a little before letting the matter drop.

Seeing that Gu Tingye still looked perplexed, Minglan patiently explained: “I was not born of the main wife, I have married better than my sisters, I have been granted an official title, I have been established in a separate residence — and now everyone can see my husband treats me well. Have all the best things in the world fallen to me alone? How could heaven be so unfair? When things are unequal, resentment follows. Better to spare myself the pointless aggravation — that would truly be the wiser approach.”

Gu Tingye had never heard this sort of womanly inner logic before. He thought it over briefly, and recalled the sharp-featured middle-aged woman standing beside Wang Shi — the one called “Aunt Kang” or something of the sort. There had been a barely concealed malice in the woman’s eyes. Gu Tingye looked at Minglan and said in a low, measured tone: “Is there someone… who envies you? Who has been giving you trouble?”

Minglan shook her head. “Better to avoid unnecessary complications. The saying goes: ‘blend with the light, become one with the dust.’ When people are all part of the same family, it is best if everyone’s lives appear roughly comparable. Standing out invites problems. That is the first reason. And second — if I appear to carry weight with you, people will start coming to me with requests, asking me to put in a word with you. Official promotions, performance reviews, postings, recommendations — all manner of things. And then what am I supposed to do, help or not help?”

A daughter married out was best advised to keep a low profile among her relatives on the maternal side. Even if she genuinely had resources to spare, she ought not to flaunt them carelessly. Otherwise the requests would come pouring in — borrowing money, asking for lodging, seeking favors of all kinds. And the moment she showed the slightest reluctance or declined even one request, a volcano of mockery and cold words would be waiting for her: who told you to show off in the first place?

Gu Tingye sat in silence for a long moment before finally asking, with some hesitation: “So then… I should not take special care of you in front of your family?”

“Precisely.” Minglan beamed when she saw he had finally understood. “Better still if you appear stern and forbidding — a bit fierce would be ideal.”

Gu Tingye looked at her, utterly bewildered. “But what about your dignity in all this?”

“If my relatives or elders come to you to complain about me, would you actually come back and reprimand me?” Minglan asked with a smile.

“I would not.” Gu Tingye replied without a moment’s hesitation.

“When I manage the household affairs, would you override my authority?”

“Why would I bother?!” Gu Tingye laughed despite himself.

“If I wish to have new clothes made, new jewelry crafted, and to do the things I want to do — would you forbid me?”

“As long as you do not have improper intentions, you may do whatever you like!” Gu Tingye kept a straight face, but his eyes held a smile.

Minglan waved her sleeve, then cozied up to her husband and wrapped her arms around his solid arm with a happy grin: “Then is that not exactly the point? Substance is what matters — and I have that. Face is a secondary thing. If people outside think I am having a hard time of it under your thumb, they might actually treat me with more sympathy!”

Gu Tingye’s gaze flickered. He raised an eyebrow, and with a slight smile, dragged the cheerfully laughing Minglan in front of him, seizing her with one hand on each side. “Let your husband summarize this for you. What you are saying is that you want me to be a white, tender sheepskin — so that you, crafty little fox kit that you are, can wrap yourself up snugly inside. Is that it?”

Minglan’s clear, large eyes blinked with complete sincerity, all innocence and guilelessness: “Husband commands an army — it is only appropriate to speak in military terms. As the saying goes: ‘When the enemy is visible and we are hidden, that is the highest strategy.'”

She was citing military theory now! Gu Tingye was both exasperated and entertained. He grabbed Minglan and pulled her into his arms, wrapping both arms around her and squeezing with force until she was whimpering and struggling like some small creature not yet weaned, then burying his face against the curve of her neck and shoulder where he found warmth and a faint, sweet scent. He simply laughed quietly against her.

When he finally lifted his head, he asked with a smile: “Did you eat lunch properly?”

Minglan wrestled free of his iron arms, smoothing her hair back into place and hastily attempting to reassemble her composure. “When you only go back to your family home once in a while, how could you eat like you’ve been starving?” — And especially not with Aunt Kang’s sour face sitting directly across the table.

“That is exactly the problem! Senior General Bo has kept a rule for forty years — when in military camp, one must eat and drink the same as the common soldiers. I made an excuse about needing to inspect the weapons store and slipped away. I have not eaten yet! I’ll take you to Tianxiang Restaurant!” Gu Tingye declared with a bright laugh.

Minglan’s expression turned playful. She extended one slender finger and pointed it at the man, her smile dimpling deep at the corners of her mouth as she deliberately put on a sweet, delicate voice: “You, a pampered young lord of the nobility — unable to endure even a small discomfort. Be careful Senior General Bo finds out and gives you a proper thrashing!”

“Is there any pampered noble lord as impressively capable as I am?!” Gu Tingye pretended to glare. “Stop chattering. Are you coming or not!”

“Coming, of course!” Minglan responded at once, delight barely contained on her face. “Everyone says the crispy pigeon and the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall at Tianxiang Restaurant are the finest in the capital, and I have never had the chance to try them.” Tianxiang Restaurant was a renowned establishment in the capital, catering exclusively to the powerful, the noble, and the official class. The upper floors had private dining rooms especially appointed for female guests. Wang Shi had taken Rulan there, and Lin Yiniang had taken Molan there as well. Once Hualan had planned to bring Minglan along, but on the very day they were to set out, Hualan’s mother-in-law had suddenly made a fuss about something, and the outing had to be abandoned.

Seeing the anticipation and happiness dancing across Minglan’s face, Gu Tingye felt a faint pang somewhere in his chest — but his expression betrayed nothing. He simply drew Minglan close and said with a smile: “The capital gathers the finest food from across the land. I will take you to other restaurants after this too. The braised fish in bean paste and the numbing pepper chicken at ‘Four Seas’ Fragrance’ are truly exceptional — and there is the red-braised pork and honey-glazed char siu at ‘Mouthwatering Pavilion’…” He rattled them off from memory, offering a flowing, enthusiastic commentary.

Minglan sat beside him, clapping cheerfully, privately amused. She thought: calling this man a pampered wastrel was really not an exaggeration. If she were not his wife but rather one of his male companions, he would probably be leading her on a tour of the city’s entertainment districts right now — and could likely rank the capital’s most celebrated pleasure houses in order of prestige, with side notes on service standards, rates, and quality of offerings, laid out like a proper ledger.

“But…” Minglan suddenly remembered something and hesitated. “It is already getting late — will Tianxiang Restaurant still have tables available?” If she were a man, she would not mind sitting in the main hall. But a woman in this era could hardly expose herself so openly, and she was not sure whether a private room would still be free.

Gu Tingye had been speaking with great enthusiasm. Upon hearing this, he let out a short, scornful laugh, tilted his chin up, and declared with easy arrogance: “Do you know who I am? If there is no table, one will be made available.”

There was something almost bandit-chieftain-like about those words — the flavor of a mountain hero who commandeered what he pleased. Minglan suddenly understood. She could not blame herself for having a limited imagination — in her previous life, she had never so much as laid eyes on a living member of the privileged class before dying in the line of duty. And after being reborn, Sheng Hong had always cherished his official reputation too carefully to ever step so much as a hair’s breadth beyond propriety. She would never have imagined that in this life, she would actually have the chance to experience the privileges of the upper class firsthand.

Her face lit up with excitement. Both small, plump hands landed on Gu Tingye’s forearm. Her eyes danced with brilliant, vivid light as she leaned in eagerly and stammered: “Do you mean — could we — could we actually… drive out the other customers from Tianxiang Restaurant and take their seats?”

“I could drive out their cook and let you brew fish soup in there!” Gu Tingye let out a light, dismissive laugh and cast Minglan a sidelong look of pure disdain, scolding her: “Think about your own position. Have some ambition.”

Minglan’s eyes lit up further, her excitement only growing. She worked to suppress her stammering: “Then — then could we… eat there without paying?” Dining without paying was, after all, the second great required skill of every pampered, tyrannical young scoundrel in any story. And the first? Did anyone need to ask?

Gu Tingye nearly choked on his own saliva. He stared at Minglan for a solid quarter-hour before finally letting out a long, suffering sigh: “My dear wife — could you perhaps manage to have just a little more ambition? Even just the tiniest, smallest bit?”

……

After that first outing to the restaurant, Gu Tingye noticed how much Minglan enjoyed eating and began regularly bringing back signature dishes from famous establishments on his way home. One time it was sauce-roasted ginger pork ribs wrapped in fresh green lotus leaves; another time it was a bamboo-steamed lamb and fish broth; he even managed to track down, from some obscure little street stall tucked in some forgotten corner of the city, a bowl of duck blood vermicelli soup and large wontons filled with wild mountain mushrooms. The flavors were rustic and alive with fragrance, the taste so exquisite and fresh that Minglan nearly swallowed the spoon. Gu Tingye fully lived up to his reputation — to this day, he had never brought back the same dish twice.

As she ate, Minglan reflected with deep feeling: truly, the world does not lack beauty — what it lacks is the eyes to discover it. Even marrying a pampered young lord had its advantages. At the very least, her brother Changbai would never have been able to track down a truly excellent crispy-skinned silver eel cooked in a bucket.

Each time Minglan ate with great gusto, Gu Tingye would sit beside her, watching her with a smile. Minglan was too busy eating to notice the peculiar look in her husband’s eyes — a strange, searching quality that seemed to conceal something watchful beneath it. In their quiet hours, the two of them would chat freely about all manner of things, from tales of the jianghu to currents in the court. Gu Tingye was fond of this warm, lively atmosphere, and the two of them would ramble on easily from one topic to the next until the thread of conversation wound far and wide. Gongsun, the advisor who spent long hours in the outer study, found himself sending someone to fetch Gu Tingye on more than one occasion.

After several such incidents, Gongsun could not help but sigh aloud: “Now I understand why the poet Lu You’s mother insisted on breaking up his marriage to Tang Wan! When a husband and wife are deeply affectionate, the man tends to forget all ambition.”

Who would have expected it — Minglan’s eyes immediately brightened. She pressed at once: “I have heard that the husband Lady Tang later married, compared to Lu You, was actually superior in both family background and personal qualities. Is that true?” Yao Yiyi had vaguely heard this piece of gossip somewhere.

Gongsun was just about to speak when he caught Gu Tingye looking at him with a particularly pointed gaze. He cleared his throat and said with great solemnity: “Absolutely not. After her second marriage, Lady Tang was deeply unhappy throughout her life, pining endlessly for Lu Wuguan.”

Gu Tingye poured Gongsun a fresh cup of tea with a pleasant smile.

Gongsun Baishi had been born into the household of a mid-ranking local gentry family in southern Shaanxi. After failing in the imperial examinations, he had turned to wandering — exploring mountains and waters for the sheer pleasure of it. With an elder brother to fulfill the family’s duties of filial piety, and no concerns about his livelihood given the family’s comfortable means, he spent his days calling on distinguished men and debating the affairs of the realm. Over twenty years of travel, he had visited famous sites and ancient landmarks across the land, his journeys taking him farther and farther from the beaten path. Several years ago, in a remote stretch of wilderness, he had been set upon by a band of bandits who operated without any professional courtesy whatsoever — not content with robbing him, they intended to silence him permanently. It was Gu Tingye who happened upon the scene, could not stand by and do nothing, and saved his life.

Out of gratitude, Gongsun Baishi had taken up the role of chief advisor at Gu Tingye’s side. Later, upon learning that his elder brother had passed away and that his young nephew Gongsun Meng showed no interest whatsoever in the imperial examinations or scholarly pursuits — and that the grandparents could not manage the boy — he simply packed the lad off to join him, so that the uncle could personally oversee his upbringing and have him train and sharpen himself alongside Gu Tingye. What had begun as an idle arrangement, a sort of pause during his travels, had turned into something else entirely once Gu Tingye’s fortunes turned. Gongsun Baishi rose with him. Now he was Gu Tingye’s foremost advisor, a man of some reputation even in the capital.

After Gu Tingye rose to high office, he had been inclined by temperament to dispense with bodyguards and escorts altogether — he was confident in his own martial abilities. But at Gongsun Meng’s insistence, he now always traveled with military guards when leaving the city, and with personal escorts when moving about within it. The brothers Tu Long and Tu Hu led a company of capable men, while Gongsun Meng trained alongside the Tu brothers in martial arts and spent his spare time reading.

“If the times were peaceful, I would not trouble myself so,” Gongsun said with a worried frown. A gentle breeze drifted through the pavilion. He held a white game piece between his fingers, hesitating over the board without placing it. “But as things stand with His Majesty now — the Court of Judicial Review, the Ministry of Justice, the imperial prison — all are running without pause, day and night. People are called in for interrogation every month. Some of them…” he paused, “simply do not come back out. They go straight to a cell.”

Minglan considered for a moment. “The Jing Wang rebellion, the incursion from the northern tribes — at such a critical juncture, half the military forces failed to mobilize properly, and the involvement spread to implicate half the capital. Fortunately, His Majesty had kept a reserve plan in place, and things were resolved without lasting disaster. His Majesty is not the sort to simply let matters rest.”

Gongsun nodded. “The one now commanding the imperial prison and its guards is Liu Zhengjie. He was formerly a cavalry captain under the Eighth Prince, and enjoys His Majesty’s deep trust. He is known for being relentless. At the time, His Majesty used the occasion of mourning the late emperor to dismiss a number of powerful nobles — the intention was clearly one of warning. And yet there are those who could not read the signs and grew all the bolder for it. Just yesterday, His Majesty did no more than present a few charges against certain high provincial officials, and the court immediately erupted in heated argument. The waters run very deep beneath the surface. As for the military, the moment our Commandant took control of the armies, he discovered a multitude of festering problems: falsified troop rosters, theft of military grain stores, unlawful occupation of civilian farmland, military pay being loaned out at interest, private border trade operations, weapons stores more than half empty… The full list is staggering.”

Minglan smiled faintly, seemingly unconcerned. “The late emperor was benevolent — he lightened taxes, practiced personal frugality, treated the people with care, and was generous toward officials and the nobility. He had something of the spirit of the reigns of Jing and Wen. The imperial treasury is full, and the common people are reasonably fed and clothed.”

“And yet the powerful grow ever more rapacious, plundering the people’s wealth for private gain…”

“Which means that when they are stripped of their holdings,” Minglan quickly added, “the harvest is all the more abundant! One sweeping seizure yields a tremendous take. A single Anhui provincial governor’s personal fortune was enough to equal half a year’s salt tax revenue. The estates of the two Earls and one Marquis who joined the rebellion, once confiscated, amounted to nearly half a year’s surplus for the imperial treasury!”

Gongsun could not suppress a laugh and chuckled until his whiskers lifted. “That is so! Two wars were fought, and the treasury did not run dry.”

Minglan said with a smile: “In every era of prosperity, there are always small imperfections. The late emperor governed with benevolence as his guiding principle, while the current emperor is resolute and decisive. Firmness and yielding in turn — this is precisely the sign of our dynasty’s flourishing vigor. The Jing and Tan Rebellion brought devastation to several provinces, but His Majesty redistributed the estates of the rebel princes and their followers directly to the people. Things are gradually recovering.”

She added, with a glance at the old advisor who always seemed to wear the face of a man weighed down by the sorrows of the realm: “And besides — if the Commandant does not serve alongside His Majesty, what else can he do?”

Gongsun thought about it, and could only smile ruefully and nod — without the Eighth Prince, Gu Tingye would still be nothing more than a wandering man of the jianghu.

“The wisest course is to act with caution, and not to charge forward recklessly. Making too many enemies is never good.” Minglan said quietly. As the Chairman had wisely noted: despise the enemy strategically, but take them seriously tactically.

Gongsun smiled easily. “That is not a concern. The Commandant may appear rough on the surface, but there is precision beneath. He has moved among all walks of life besides — he is not some hot-headed young man without a grasp of the world.”

They played several rounds of chess. Minglan and Gongsun each won once and drew once, leaving both thoroughly dissatisfied. They had each privately fancied themselves a high master of the game. Smoldering with indignation, the two agreed to settle the matter with a rematch at a future date. The old advisor, proud of his considerable memory, muttered through the positions to himself under his breath and departed with his hands clasped behind his back. Minglan was more modest: she had Xiaotao carry the board inside, intending to study the unfinished game at leisure.

At that moment, someone came to report from outside: Cuiwei had arrived with her husband and child.

They had not seen each other in several years. Cuiwei had given birth to a daughter and had filled out considerably — her round, flushed face looked healthy and well. The moment she saw Minglan, she burst into tears, and drew Xiaotao, Luzhi, and the other maids in to weep alongside her. One moment laughing, the next crying, she said over and over how much she had missed everyone. The girls all shared in the joy, talking over each other as they asked about her life.

“I had thought the Old Madam would keep the young lady a bit longer before marrying her off — by my calculations it should have been next year. Who knew the young lady would marry so soon? I was not even able to make it back to the capital in time!” Cuiwei dabbed at her eyes and smiled.

“Who else but our mistress would be so beloved — the master came to propose very early on and was eager to have the wedding done!” Luzhi said with a grin.

Cuiwei laughed and glared at her: “Still as sharp-tongued as ever. Be careful you end up unmarriageable!”

Luzhi turned red and raised her hand to strike her, while Danju, in all sincerity, immediately offered comfort: “Sister Luzhi, don’t you worry — the mistress will surely find you a fine husband!” Luzhi was even more mortified and chased them both around the room.

After the laughter and teasing died down and the maids withdrew, Minglan spoke privately with Cuiwei and her husband. Cuiwei’s husband was named He Youchang, the son of Old Manager He, who had looked after the old estate in Jinling for many years. He had a round, clean-cut face and a capable, dependable bearing. Standing side by side, he and Cuiwei were quite alike in manner.

“Your father is a man of long service, and I have always trusted him. You are still young, so you will start at the gatehouse and work your way up from there. Watch how things are done, learn to read expressions and hold yourself well, and first get a thorough understanding of the outer courtyard before anything else.” After the initial pleasantries, Minglan sat with a cup of tea in hand and smiled calmly. “Your child is still small, and Cuiwei should not be away from home all day and night. For now, assist Liao Yong’s wife and help me keep watch over things — she is a sensible woman and knows what needs to be done.”

Both Cuiwei and He Youchang were intelligent people and had some knowledge of affairs inside the Gu household. At present, Minglan had no one she could fully rely on in either the inner or outer courtyards — they were to be her ears and eyes, learning the character and conduct of every manager and servant, and the connections between matters inside and out. Advancement and reward would follow in time.

When the couple emerged, they looked around the Gu household grounds with quiet, contemplative expressions, speaking to each other in low voices.

“The mistress is someone who values old ties. I heard that originally a different household was to be sent as part of her dowry retinue, but the mistress asked the Old Madam and specifically insisted on bringing us over from Jinling.” He Youchang sighed — he was a man in his prime, and he understood clearly what it meant to look after an old estate in Jinling versus serving in the household of a powerful official in the capital. “This is thanks entirely to you.”

“…We must serve faithfully and share the mistress’s burdens,” Cuiwei said softly, gazing at her husband, and then looked up and said, “That year, when she came to speak to me and Danju and the other girls, she told us: ‘I am giving you authority to manage these young maids — it is both a constraint on them and a test of yourselves.’ Looking back now, she had probably already seen that Yancao was not right. We must do our work with integrity. Making mistakes is one thing — they can be corrected. But if we harbor improper intentions and the mistress finds out… her eyes are sharp. She does not tolerate even a grain of sand.”

He Youchang held his wife in great respect and smiled: “That goes without saying. Before we left, Father talked to me for two full nights. He said: finding a clear-sighted and good master is the best fortune a servant can hope for. As long as you hold a loyal heart, you will never be at a loss.”

In truth, Minglan hoped Cuiwei would not overexert herself. Her daughter was young and needed care, and Minglan privately thought that at her age, Cuiwei was better off having more children while she could — that was how a woman secured her future in this era. She could not help drawing a comparison: if she could only choose one — having Hualan bear a son or Hai Shi bear a daughter — she would choose for Hualan to have the son and Hai Shi to have the daughter. For no other reason than that Hualan’s circumstances were more precarious; Hai Shi’s life, by comparison, was far more comfortable.

Not long after, word came: Hualan had indeed given birth to a son.

Not wanting to be late for the washing ceremony, Minglan rose and dressed early that morning. She chose a simple, clean robe of moon-white cut silk with an understated brocade pattern, layering over it a sleeveless jacket in deep rose-purple with an embossed floral weave. Her hair was gathered into a sideways cascading bun, and at the base of the rear knot, barely visible, were four lustrous pearls the size of thumbprints — round, smooth, and brilliantly bright. Pinned over them was an exquisitely delicate large hairpin of solid red gold set with five-colored stones and amethysts in the form of a butterfly, whose fine feeler ornaments of inlaid kingfisher feathers trembled with the slightest movement. Xiaotao brought in freshly cut flower buds, still trembling with the morning dew, and Minglan selected a magnolia blossom the size of a teacup and tucked it diagonally into her temple hair. She looked at herself in the mirror — a faint perfume, fresh and dewy, and a luminous, delicate beauty that seemed to gain something from the flower. Her loveliness deepened.

For approximately the nth time, Minglan sighed deeply with gratitude and let her thoughts wander rather freely: this face she had been given was really not bad at all. Were she to be dropped into an age of turmoil, she could probably manage as a favored imperial consort without much difficulty — though she was not sure whether she would end up perishing alongside a foolish emperor or going on to serve a new one.

The Loyal and Diligent Earl’s mansion was located in a prime part of the city, and it took Minglan nearly two full hours of jolting in the carriage before she arrived. Xiaotao climbed inside to help her tidy her appearance before they both descended. Wang Shi saw that Minglan had arrived quite early and allowed a faint smile to cross her face. Aunt Kang wore her usual expression of barely concealed sarcasm and ill will. Rulan, the moment she saw Minglan, grabbed her by the sleeve and leaned close to whisper in her ear with a grin: “My husband is coming to collect me today!” Then she cut her eyes sideways at Minglan with a triumphant, self-satisfied smile.

Minglan felt an almost irresistible urge to roll her eyes heavenward. Steeling herself, she leaned close in turn and murmured back: “Not like you slipped out in the middle of the night to meet him.”

Rulan instantly flushed scarlet to the ears. She glared furiously at Minglan — and then, unable to suppress it, the corner of her mouth tugged upward into a barely concealed smile. She settled for giving Minglan’s arm two hard pinches, and Minglan let out a quiet little yelp — the bruise that wolf had left the night before still had not healed.

Molan stood to one side and watched them with cold, detached eyes.

When they were finally brought to see Hualan, Minglan was immediately struck dumb with shock. Hualan lay reclined against the bed, her head wrapped in a patterned silk kerchief. Someone had clearly made an effort to arrange her appearance — her clothes were clean and neat — yet even so, her face was a dull, waxen yellow, and she looked gaunt and worn with illness. Set against the plump, rosy glow of Hai Shi, Hualan looked less like a woman who had just delivered a child and more like someone who had survived a grave sickness.

Wang Shi rushed forward instantly, calling out “My child, my child” in a panicked voice. Hualan only smiled faintly: “…The pregnancy did not go well this time. I’ll recover with some rest.” Her voice was listless and breathless, and she kept pausing to catch her breath.

The infant was no better — sickly and thin, its cry barely audible. When they changed and washed him, the baby only let out a few faint, cat-like whimpers and lay mostly still afterward. Minglan thought of Hai Shi’s daughter at her washing ceremony — those fat little arms and legs had flailed so vigorously that water had splashed everywhere, the child howling lustily with tremendous energy.

Everyone present exchanged looks of barely concealed suspicion. Heads turned toward the Marquis’s wife and the eldest daughter-in-law. The eldest daughter-in-law seemed somewhat ill at ease, and turned her head to speak in low tones with her own maternal aunt, Aunt Zhang, at her side. The Marquis’s wife, however, showed no trace of discomposure whatsoever. Seeing the questioning expressions around her, she even said lightly: “I told my second daughter-in-law early on that the pregnancy was not going well and she needed to be more careful — but she just would not listen…”

And as she continued, she managed to cast the blame for it all onto Hualan herself, as if it were entirely Hualan’s own doing. The assembled female guests had nothing to say to this and merely smiled and listened. Wang Shi was inwardly seething, but with so many people present, she could hardly challenge the woman outright, and could only clench her jaw and endure it. Molan, without any change of expression, lowered her head and sipped her tea — and found herself privately rather satisfied.

Minglan turned her gaze quietly to Hualan, and saw that her sister had bowed her head, a suppressed fury smoldering in her eyes. Minglan felt a pang of sorrow. She went to sit at Hualan’s bedside and gently stroked the back of her thin, dry hand — when suddenly something scalding fell there. She glanced down: a drop of moisture glistened on the back of Hualan’s hand.

Minglan’s chest tightened with grief and bitterness. She took Hualan’s hand and held it firmly.

Rulan, who was generally not the most perceptive of people and always a beat behind the others, finally registered that something was wrong. The moment she did, she reacted without a moment’s pause. She shot to her feet and, directing her words straight at the Marquis’s wife, said loudly: “Why is my sister so thin? Is she ill?”

The room fell instantly silent at this. There are times when the blunt and fearless leave the clever nowhere to hide. Rulan stood with her eyes wide open, staring directly at the two women of the Yuan household. The Marquis’s wife’s expression darkened at once. “What sort of thing is that to say, young lady of the Sheng family? Women who carry children — there’s always some variation in how things go. When you’ve had your own children, you’ll understand soon enough!”

Such words might have effectively silenced an ordinary young bride, but Rulan was not an ordinary young bride. She was the modern incarnation of Cui Yingying who had climbed garden rocks in the dead of night to meet her love. And indeed — she stepped forward, raising her voice further: “I do not need to wait! I will ask you right now! Did you stuff a pile of concubines and serving women into my sister’s rooms again?” — That had been the Marquis’s wife’s handiwork the first time Hualan had suffered a miscarriage.

“What rubbish are you talking?!” The Marquis’s wife’s face flushed deep red. The teacup in her hand rattled audibly, and quiet, snickering laughter had begun to ripple through the room.

“Then is it that you forced my sister to stand and attend upon you through her entire pregnancy?!” Rulan’s finger was nearly touching the tip of the Marquis’s wife’s nose — that had been the Marquis’s wife’s creative contribution during Hualan’s pregnancy with Zhuang Jie’er.

“Outrageous! You have gone too far!” The Marquis’s wife was trembling from head to foot, and the mocking glances from the surrounding women had grown even more openly contemptuous.

“Or did you force my sister to manage the entire household while she was heavily pregnant?” The Marquis’s wife was not Sheng Hong — Rulan was not the slightest bit intimidated — this had been the new trick the Marquis’s wife had devised during Hualan’s pregnancy with Shi Ge’er.

“You — you — you—” The Marquis’s wife had never in her life encountered such a bluntly outspoken and formidable young woman, and for once found herself entirely at a loss for words. Minglan’s heart cried out with private delight.

Among the female guests present, aside from the Shoushi Earl’s wife, who had gone back to attend to family affairs in her hometown, and Yuan Ying, who was already married out, quite a few were women who regularly visited the Loyal and Diligent Earl’s mansion and knew rather well what went on inside. Most of them were inwardly laughing as they watched the spectacle unfold. A few pursed their lips and frowned slightly.

The eldest daughter-in-law hurried to support her mother-in-law and said in a sharp voice: “Young Lady Sheng, do mind what you say! If something should happen to our second sister-in-law, does that mean every bit of it is our fault?!”

To which Rulan replied with perfect composure: “Naturally! My sister had better not come to any harm, because if she does, it will most certainly be because the two of you have been making things difficult for her! Just look at the two of you — well-fed and rosy-cheeked, both of you with a second chin. If you had truly been looking after my sister properly, you ought to have worn yourselves thin from the effort of caring for her!”

Minglan nearly burst out laughing. Faced with someone so entirely unreasonable — and with Wang Shi making no move to restrain her — the eldest daughter-in-law was left speechless. She reached up to feel her own double chin and, burning with shame and rage, turned away and sat down without a word. Hualan said weakly: “Ru’er, enough…”

The Marquis’s wife finally caught her breath and said sharply: “If the young ladies of the Sheng Family are too precious and fine for us, our Yuan household is not worthy of such distinguished company! If you want her back, take her!”

Seeing the situation come to this, the guests all understood that things had gone badly, and began urging the Marquis’s wife to calm herself. But she kept a cold, unyielding expression. Hualan was both agitated and frightened. Minglan jumped to her feet, fixing the Marquis’s wife with an icy stare: “Honored Kinswoman, please make yourself quite clear! What exactly do you mean by ‘take her back’? Are you producing a letter of divorce?” Her tone was hard as iron.

The Marquis’s wife had never in her wildest dreams anticipated that the Sheng Family would dare to throw the question back at her so directly. She had assumed they would offer a few conciliatory words, accept the face-saving exit, and be done with it. She was now completely stuck — to say yes was impossible, to say no cost her her dignity.

Minglan narrowed her eyes, her gaze sharp as a blade’s edge. She said very deliberately, one word at a time: “Honored Kinswoman — speak plainly. Is this a letter of divorce or is it not?”

Given the Sheng Family’s standing these days, though they could not claim to be at the very top, they were more than a match for the Yuan household. The Marquis’s wife knew this very well. If Hualan was turned out today, she herself would be driven out of the household tomorrow. Biting down hard, she turned her head away and said nothing.

Aunt Zhang immediately saw her opening and rushed in to smooth things over: “Oh, dear young Lady Sheng, what words are these? My old sister-in-law only meant that our niece-by-marriage should go back to her family’s home to recuperate properly — so she can be well taken care of, is that not a good thing?”

“I see.” Minglan’s expression carried the faintest trace of contempt. She smiled lightly. “I had quite misunderstood.”

Minglan walked slowly back to where Rulan sat fuming, and drew her down to sit beside her. Then, in a warm and gracious tone, Minglan addressed the room: “Please forgive this sister of mine, ladies. She is simply someone who says exactly what is on her mind — she cannot keep anything to herself.”

As a second-rank noblewoman by official title, Minglan held the highest standing of any woman present, and the assembled guests could only seek her good favor. Several of them chimed in obligingly with “Yes, yes, of course.” The Marquis’s wife turned her back in a huff.

Minglan continued with a pleasant smile: “One can hardly blame my fifth sister for letting her imagination run wild. It is only that coincidences do abound — every single time my eldest sister has been with child, some incident or other has arisen. Those who know the full story would say it was simply bad luck. Those who do not might be tempted to think that the honored elder kinswoman had been deliberately unkind to my eldest sister and partial toward her own side of the family. But of course, those of us who know better understand that Honored Kinswoman could never have meant any such thing.”

This went without saying — even if the mother-in-law’s conduct had been thoughtless rather than malicious, after the same thing had happened to her daughter-in-law again and again during her pregnancies, any sensible person ought to have started paying far more careful attention. There was no excuse for continuing to invite trouble. The Marquis’s wife’s chest heaved up and down, her heart nearly bursting with fury — and yet there was nothing she could say in response. The female guests around her, their expressions ranging from cool indifference to thinly veiled mockery, trained every manner of gaze upon her. The combined effect was enough to make her dizzy.

“The young lady of the Sheng Family certainly has a clever tongue,” the Marquis’s wife said with bitter mockery, “To marry one of your Sheng daughters is truly a fine fortune!”

Minglan said with a serene smile: “You are far too kind. I have done nothing more than speak the truth. If I have said anything improper, I beg Honored Kinswoman not to hold it against me — please simply point out where I have erred, and I will take great care to correct it next time.”

Wang Shi’s expression improved considerably. She let out a long breath of suppressed feeling and said in a clear voice: “Our kinswoman need not concern herself with the Sheng daughters. All the young ladies of this generation in our household married this past month — each and every one of them. The only one still waiting to be wed is my great fat little granddaughter, who is barely a fortnight old. Her wedding day is still quite a long way off.”

At that, the room filled with hearty laughter. The guests, sensing the tension had broken, all rushed to join in with cheerful remarks of their own.

The Marquis’s wife looked at Rulan — teeth bared, ready to bite — and then at Minglan — all warmth and smiles, entirely unreadable. One a force of nature, the other a smiling tiger. Knowing she would gain nothing from this today, she stopped trying altogether. So agitated was she that she refused to even stay for the midday meal, complaining of a headache and general malaise. Seeing that the Yuan household had issued what amounted to a dismissal, the female guests all took the opportunity to make their farewells.

Minglan watched with dispassionate eyes and noted that a fair number of the departing guests wore expressions of barely concealed displeasure. A few even let slip some sharp remarks as they left. Clearly, the Marquis’s wife was not well-liked even among her own social circle.

True to Minglan’s suspicions, the brother-in-law came to collect Rulan — she was quite certain he had been quietly waiting nearby all along, specifically to give Rulan a moment of public pride. To the undisguised envy of everyone watching, Rulan departed in high, delighted spirits. Just as Minglan was also preparing to leave, a young manservant from the Yuan household came with a message:

“The Second Master says he will be returning shortly with Commandant Gu. He learned only today that Senior General Bo’s wife has taken ill, and so requests that the Gu household’s Madam kindly remain a while, so that they may all go together to pay their respects when the Second Master and the Commandant return.”

Senior General Bo Tianzhu had relinquished his military command and had been living in a state of semi-retirement on an estate outside the city, which happened to be quite near the Loyal and Diligent Earl’s mansion. Minglan considered this for a moment, then glanced at the Marquis’s wife with a smile: “Whatever shall we do?”

Wang Shi immediately added fuel to the fire: “If it is inconvenient for our kinswoman, my Minglan can simply wait outside the gate.”

The Marquis’s wife had been driven to the edge of a breaking point by today’s ordeal — several times she had felt as though she might have a fit of apoplexy right then and there. If Minglan actually stood outside the gate waiting, the Yuan household would become the laughingstock of the entire capital by the next morning. Gnashing her teeth over and over, she finally held herself in check and bellowed at the maid standing nearby: “What are you standing there for — go see that tea is brought for the Gu household’s Madam!”

……

Minglan made her way back to Hualan’s room at an unhurried pace. Hualan had already received word and smiled as she invited her younger sister to come and sit beside her, calling for maids to bring tea, fruit, and pastries, while asking without pause how Minglan’s life had been since the wedding. When Minglan came to the amusing parts, Hualan pressed her handkerchief to her eyes and laughed on her behalf. When Minglan mentioned difficulties, Hualan offered impractical and questionable advice. The two sisters chatted warmly and easily for a good long while.

Minglan looked around the room and gestured for Cuichan to stand watch at the door. Then she lowered her voice. “Sister, what actually happened? Have you decided never to speak of it? After Old Madam He spoke to you about what you needed to be careful of, you were never one to take risks with your own wellbeing during a pregnancy.”

Hualan froze. Her eyes went immediately wet. Remembering that a new mother must not weep, she pressed the feeling down with great effort and said in a choked voice: “I knew it… I can fool everyone else, but I cannot fool you.”

“Tell me what happened!”

Hualan suddenly called out loudly: “Cuichan — go bring Shi Ge’er to me, and bring Zhuang Jie’er in too. Yinjie — close the windows and doors and watch them carefully!”

An acknowledgment came from outside.

Hualan gripped Minglan’s hand tightly, her voice coming in broken, halting sobs: “That — that — that wicked woman! She has gone too far! From the moment I became with child, she said she wanted to take Shi Ge’er and raise him in her own rooms!”

“Is that true?!” Minglan exclaimed.

Hualan said with barely contained fury: “In ordinary households, it is not unheard of for a grandmother to raise a grandchild — that is true enough. But — but that wicked woman has always been trying to hold something over me. How could I possibly feel at ease leaving him in her hands? Your brother-in-law also refused. So things kept being pushed off and delayed with various excuses, for the better part of two months, until — this wicked woman started putting on a show of illness, whining and whimpering. She even brought in a Taoist fortune-teller woman who kept saying that Shi Ge’er’s birth-chart was beneficial to her health, and that unless he was raised beside her, she would never recover. Then she brought the cap of ‘filial piety’ crashing down — and how could your brother-in-law hold out against that?!”

Minglan said nothing. That strategy was truly shameless and beneath contempt.

She had chosen to strike at the very moment Hualan was at her most physically vulnerable. There was no knowing yet whether the child Hualan carried would be a boy or a girl. Shi Ge’er was Hualan’s only son. Take Shi Ge’er away, and Hualan would spend every day and night sick with worry — how could she possibly rest and recover properly? And once a mother-in-law made a demand, how could a daughter-in-law dare refuse?

Hualan wiped at her tears. Her expression was wretched with grief as she continued: “Those two months — I truly do not know how I got through them. Every time I closed my eyes I dreamed that something terrible had happened to Shi Ge’er. I could not eat, I could not sleep. I nearly went out of my mind.”