Physician Lin had a family tradition of medical practice, specializing in external injuries and internal heat, staunching bleeding and urgent first aid, and the care and rehabilitation of sinew and bone — he was the most frequently sought physician among a circle of military officers. Danju accompanied the outer courtyard manager and went out together; after inviting Physician Lin they went directly to the Chang household. It was not until the lamps were lit at dusk that Danju returned.
“Madam, please don’t worry. Young Nian looks frightening but is in no real danger.”
Chang Nian was not the sort of scholarly boy who could neither lift his arms nor carry a load. The moment the carriage began to overturn, he had immediately braced himself against the carriage wall and leapt clear. He had sustained only some superficial bruising; the vital areas of the head, chest, and abdomen had not been injured.
Minglan suddenly thought of something else and asked urgently: “What about his hands? And his feet?” In an ancient society without any protections for the disabled, any disfigurement or disability could ruin a man’s prospects in officialdom for life. Danju gave a wry smile: “His legs and feet are fine. But his arms — Physician Lin says the humerus of the right arm is cracked, and the left wrist is also somewhat fractured.” Minglan’s heart leapt into her throat. A scholar — how could he afford to injure his hands?
She asked urgently: “Can they be healed fully?” Danju stepped forward: “Madam, please don’t worry. I watched as Physician Lin reset young Nian’s bones, applied medicine, and bound them with splints. Physician Lin said that young Nian is still young and his frame is not yet fully grown — his bones have not yet fully hardened. As long as he rests and recovers carefully and tends to himself, there will be no lasting impairment when he is healed.”
Only then did Minglan let out a breath of relief. She at once had the outer courtyard’s head manager take a two-tael silver parcel to Physician Lin’s household, along with many warm and pleading words of praise — explaining that he was the only elder surviving on the Marquis’s mother’s side, and begging him to take special care. Physician Lin made a show of declining for some time before accepting, and promised to come regularly for follow-up visits. Minglan also had the accounts office allocate five taels of silver to Nanny Chang’s household, so that whether purchasing medicinal herbs or paying physician’s fees in future, there would be more than enough.
“Tell Nanny not to worry — if there is anything she needs, just come and take it; if the silver is not enough, just send word. We’re family — there’s no need to stand on ceremony.” Minglan gave careful instructions to the messenger. “Tell Nanny not to worry about things here — taking good care of young Nian is what truly matters.”
After the others had dispersed, Minglan sat on the brocade couch in a daze. She didn’t know when she came back to herself, but when she did, she found her lip sore and stinging — she had been biting it hard. She couldn’t help but feel a fierce surge of anger: it had better not turn out that this accident had anything to do with those women — because if it did, she would make sure to get every bit of that back! She would teach them what the Underage Protection Act meant.
The very next morning, Minglan had people slaughter a chicken, burn incense and spirit money, and set off firecrackers. Since Gu Tingye was not at home, she asked Tingwei to stand in and perform the offering ceremony on his behalf.
After the brief formalities, the feast tables were set. Two tables of men’s seating were arranged in the outer hall, and the ladies’ tables were set in the small flower hall inside. The children were given two additional tables of their own. Since the household had divided into branches, the Gu Family’s menfolk were gathered together after a long separation, each with his own private thoughts.
Fifth Master’s brow was deeply furrowed, and the fine wine in his cup tasted as bitter as bile. He had spent most of his life under the shelter of his elder brother’s protection, and only now that he was without it did he understand how harsh the world truly was. He had thought that eldest son Tingyang, though of mediocre talent, was at least honest and steady, with something of the gentleman’s bearing about him — but he turned out to be a debauched and lecherous wastrel. No one in his household — not a wife, not a maidservant — had escaped his hands; he spent money like running water, and was racing through every well-known pleasure establishment in the capital with the diligence of a devoted regular. Such a disgrace to the family, such a failure of a person. In the past, the elder brother had covered for him, the elder sister-in-law had concealed it, and his own wife had shielded him — he had known nothing. But now…
His eye swept over, and Gu Tingyang, deeply wary of his father, gave a start. A chopstick-load of fragrant vinegared winter lettuce with shredded pork belly tumbled off the table. Right beside him, Tingdi seemed to know nothing of this, and went on cheerfully clinking cups with Tingwei.
On the subject of that one, Fifth Master fell again into gloom. He had thought Tingdi sharp and capable, fit to be the family’s pillar — but now that their own doors were closed and they were managing their own household, he found that Tingdi was, to the very marrow, an abacus reincarnated. Whatever didn’t concern him, he let pass; the moment it touched on his own household’s interests, he calculated to the last fraction. Calculating his elder brother’s carousing and squandering was one thing — but now he had even begun counting out their aged father’s modest pleasures for self-improvement.
The second son and his wife had sat down with account books and laid out their analysis with great thoroughness — how much total income the household received, how much needed to be spent, how much future expenditure needed to be projected — and therefore frugality was required… Listening to it made his scalp crawl. Yet knowing the actual state of affairs, he had no choice but to painfully dismiss the better part of his literary entourage, and to drastically reduce his purchases of rare books, prized inkstones, and fine writing brushes.
Fifth Master sighed, raised his cup and toasted Fourth Master sitting beside him. The wine went down and only added to his sadness. Fourth Master, equally without cheer, sighed along with him.
Eldest son need not even be mentioned — honest and simple to a fault, doted on his wife’s opinions, had a few slightly irregular hobbies of his own, and also didn’t cooperate as readily as the younger son, making it hard to be directed. Even trying to enjoy a hobby of amateur opera — his son would pull a long face and sulk for days. Yet besides him, who else could he rely on? The younger son was clearly suited only to squandering a fortune, yet stubbornly fancied himself a commercial genius — and had run up a pile of debt for the old father to pay off. From last year through this one, he still didn’t know how many tangled bad accounts were left to untangle.
The feast was drunk in a damp and dispirited atmosphere. Only Tingwei remained light and carefree; everyone else was without heart.
By comparison, the ladies’ tables were somewhat livelier. The moment they sat down, Minglan was startled — though it was a family gathering, she found the Madam warmly bringing Kang Yima along with her, and sending Zhao’er, who had come as well, to join the table with the Gu young ladies.
The Madam with perfect composure introduced Kang Yima to the sisters-in-law and junior relatives, saying: “She is Minglan’s aunt on her mother’s side. Today she happened to have no plans, so I took the liberty of inviting her — more people make for more merriment.” Kang Yima smiled with unhurried elegance: “I was presumptuous to come.” Fourth Mistress shot a glance at the silent Minglan, then promptly joined Fifth Mistress in a warm chorus of welcome.
Since the branch households had separated, Fourth and Fifth households were guests here, and while Zhu Shi and Shao Shi would normally be expected to serve at table, the Madam had waived that. Everyone seated themselves by seniority and relationship — the Madam sat with the two sisters-in-law and Kang Yima at one table, Minglan and the other daughters-in-law at another, and the Gu daughters who had not yet married sat at a third. Ice basins were placed at the corners of the room, each tended by a small maidservant gently fanning waves of cool air across with large palmleaf fans. A female storyteller had been arranged to perform music in front of the hall, and with the light and elegant menu, the reception was quite presentable.
After several rounds of wine, the music ended, and the girls took each other by the hand and went off to play. Only Kang Zhao’er was called over by the Madam to sit and chat. The various women talked loosely among themselves.
“Today I toast to Elder Sister-in-law Xuan!” Gu Tingdi’s wife pulled Gu Tingyang’s wife along and raised her cup. “I hear that the great nephew’s posting is going well — even Old General Fu gave his praise.” She drank it to the bottom. Tingyang’s wife raised her sleeve and drank as well. As she sat back down, Tingdi’s wife laughed with a sly, significant wink: “When the great nephew’s happy occasion draws near — don’t try to keep it under wraps!”
Xuan Mistress said nothing, but couldn’t conceal the pride in her expression and tone. Shao Shi found this puzzling — Tingdi’s wife helped her husband manage the Fifth household’s external business affairs, with eyes and ears everywhere; she must have caught wind of something. Shao Shi spoke pleasantly: “Could it be that the great nephew’s betrothal really does have something settled?”
Xuan Mistress laughed without answering. Tingdi’s wife popped a piece of cherry-braised pork tenderloin in her mouth: “I’ve already said too much — I can’t say more, I really can’t…”
Shao Shi remained puzzled. Zhu Shi, quicker-minded, thought for a moment, then smiled: “Could it be Old General Fu’s daughter?”
Xuan Mistress could not suppress her radiance. Beside her, Bing Mistress felt deeply envious, yet had to flatter her sister-in-law, and quickly said: “Don’t say it like that — there’s nothing confirmed yet — the young lady’s reputation is precious!” Xuan Mistress laughed freely and grandly, shooting a glance at Minglan, and said: “My sister-in-law is right — everyone please eat, eat!”
The various sisters-in-law at the table wore different expressions. Minglan lowered her head with a smile — others might not know, but she had received word of this long ago.
At the Madam’s table, hearing this, the Madam glanced meaningfully at Kang Yima, who returned the glance with equal meaning. After a mutual moment of understanding, the Madam suddenly sighed to Fourth Mistress and Fifth Mistress: “Ah — the two of you are truly blessed. Children and grandchildren everywhere, and now soon you’ll even have great-grandchildren. Our household here is still so sparse and quiet.”
Fourth Mistress’s heart stirred slightly, but she only smiled and said nothing. Fifth Mistress, not quite following the undercurrent, picked up the thread with a smile: “You just need to be patient — Tingye and Tingwei are both still young. They’ll fill your arms with a whole brood before long.”
Tingdi’s wife quickly looked at Shao Shi — and sure enough, she had lowered her head in quiet sadness. Tingdi’s wife inwardly cursed her mother-in-law for speaking without care.
The Madam let her brow droop slightly with worry: “Others I can set aside — but Tingye is the pillar of our Gu household. His line of succession cannot afford to be too thin. Every time I think of this, I feel I have no face to show the late Marquis.”
At these words, the atmosphere instantly cooled. Even Fifth Mistress, who wasn’t the quickest, felt something was off, and looked around at everyone’s faces before falling silent.
Only Kang Yima seemed utterly unaware that the atmosphere had shifted, and reached over with a laugh to take the Madam’s arm: “We’ve always been kindred spirits — I truly wish I could take your troubles upon myself.” The Madam took her arm warmly in return, with the utmost affection: “If you truly care for my suffering, then grant me one thing.”
“Not just one thing — a thousand things, ten thousand things — how could I possibly refuse you?”
The Madam glanced over at Kang Zhao’er, then spoke directly: “I am very fond of this daughter of yours. What if she came to our Gu household? I’ll make the decision — I’ll betroth her to my Tingye as a second wife. If she can give birth and carry on the family line, I’ll cherish her as the apple of my eye!”
Kang Yima cast a deliberate glance at Minglan and smiled: “Of course. If you favor her, it’s Zhao’er’s great fortune!”
At her side, Kang Zhao’er wished she could lower her head all the way to her chest. Her entire face burned scarlet.
Everyone stared at these two women performing their little drama, one line each — and the gaze of all inevitably came to rest on Minglan. Minglan’s expression was entirely composed as she slowly reached out and lifted a slice of vinegar-dressed cabbage to eat.
Kang Yima looked at Minglan and raised her voice: “I’m ten thousand times willing — I’m only afraid my niece won’t agree!” The Madam didn’t even turn her head, and said with a smile: “How could she? My daughter-in-law has the finest of temperaments — she would never be so petty as to be jealous!”
“That’s true.” Kang Yima followed up. “You know the He Family of Baishi Pond? That old master there was particularly taken with my niece — wanted nothing more than to bring her home as a daughter-in-law. Before Minglan’s betrothal was decided, Old He was coming to my sister’s home two or three times every day.”
As she spoke, she kept her gaze fixed on Minglan, with a barely concealed look of threat in her eyes.
The midday sun had begun to decline, and a mass of grey cloud crept across the sky. The world seemed suddenly a few degrees cooler, and a thread of cool wind could be heard drifting in through the windows. Everyone fell silent. Only Xuan Mistress and Shao Shi looked at Minglan with worried eyes.
At last, Minglan finished that slice of vinegared cabbage. A slender, delicate hand steadily set down her chopsticks. She picked up the cloth napkin and calmly dabbed the corners of her mouth. Kang Yima was growing impatient and said to Minglan directly: “Niece — give us a word. Are you going to agree or not?”
Minglan put down the napkin, smoothed it flat on the table, and kept a slight smile on her face: “Actually, there’s also something I want to say today. I had originally intended to say it in private — but since everyone present is family, and you and Yima are such good friends, Madam, I needn’t hold back.”
The Madam’s gaze flickered for just an instant before she concealed the sharpness within it.
Minglan continued at a leisurely pace: “Before the new year, the family of the now-disgraced Marquis Ma came calling at the door to request an audience. People from a family that has fallen from grace — I had no wish to see them, and only sent the manager to put them off. But then they said they hoped our household would extend some help, out of friendship between the two families. They also said that before their downfall, several of the young masters and young ladies of the Ma Family were regular guests of the Madam’s — especially the original heir Ma Yu, who had played with Tingcan younger sister from childhood, and whom the Madam had been so fond of she almost wanted to take him as a son-in-law…” Of course the Ma Family had not come to the door at all — people fallen on hard times rarely had the nerve to cause trouble. It was all information Tu Hu had dug up.
At these words, everyone at the table understood. The Madam’s face went white as a sheet, her fingers clenching tightly around the table cover. Watching the color drain from the Madam’s face, Minglan smiled softly and went on: “In this day and age, freeloaders come in all shapes and sizes — who would believe such people? I simply sent word back: that friendship between great families, with their children playing together, is perfectly ordinary. Without evidence and proof, it’s nothing more than slander. At the time, Tingcan younger sister’s betrothal with the Prince Consort’s household was being discussed, and I thought the fewer complications the better — so I gave them a bit of silver to send them on their way.”
The Madam managed, with great effort, to let out a breath, and said with forced composure: “You did the right thing.” She knew perfectly well that no one from the Ma Family had come, but since Minglan already knew of the matter, it could be used as a handle against her. She could only say: “When adults are friendly, naturally their children often play together — but one should not speak lightly of marriage matters, lest it create gossip.” As she said it, she gave Kang Yima a meaningful look.
Kang Yima understood. She smiled at Minglan and said: “Who isn’t? Marriage is indeed something to be taken seriously. Your Yima spoke too recklessly just now. Your cousin Zhao’er didn’t come here with any ambition for a formal title — if she could serve as a concubine and attend to you and your husband, that would be more than enough.”
Minglan shook her head again, and in a voice everyone could hear, she said: “Still not possible. A second wife is out of the question. So is a concubine.”
Kang Yima snapped upright with a glare. “What kind of jealous wife did my sister raise you to be!”
Minglan raised an eyebrow and said with poise: “Regardless of jealousy — so long as I’m not the kind of wife who is called jealous simply for refusing to bring in a concubine for her husband, this niece would absolutely not dare claim such distinction.” She smiled and let her eyes travel to the Madam.
“Back when I first entered this household, I also found it rather remarkable. The late master was a firstborn son, and married early — so why were it the children of the first household who were so much younger?” She looked meaningfully at the Madam.
“You dare to speak impertinently of your elders!” The Madam said sternly.
“How could Minglan dare?!” Minglan made a great show of being alarmed, pressing her hand to her chest. “I’m complimenting Father, precisely. Go and ask anywhere in the capital — where could you find a man as deeply devoted as Father, who waited nearly ten years out of loyalty to his marital bond before finally having eldest brother?”
Since they were tearing off all pretense, she wasn’t one to shy away either. All this time she had been accommodating them, and they had proceeded to take it for granted — no more!
The Madam’s face was purple with anger and fury. Minglan turned to ask with a smile: “Fifth Aunt-by-marriage, you know this most clearly. Why was it that Father back then was unwilling to take a concubine?”
Fifth Mistress’s expression went thoroughly awkward. She did, of course, know the inside story — she had used it to put pressure on Fifth Master, preventing him from taking concubines or touching his concubines in the past. She had no choice but to stammer: “It was the Elder Brother’s own wish.”
Minglan immediately turned back, looking straight at the Madam: “So has the Marquis ever privately said to you that he wished to take a concubine?”
The Madam was furious enough to burst out cursing, but suddenly remembered her prior plan and with great effort swallowed her rage. She softened her voice and said: “Look how flustered you’ve gotten! What proper man of standing would come out and ask to take a concubine himself? Selecting people to serve at his side — isn’t it the virtuous wife who takes the initiative? I know what’s in your heart — you wouldn’t feel at ease with other women coming in. But Zhao’er is your own cousin — what is there to worry about? Listen to what your mother-in-law says: for the sake of your own reputation, you should agree.”
It would be false to say she felt no anger. Minglan only felt a pressure in her chest and a breath that wouldn’t quite move — but the more pressing the moment, the more she needed to keep her head clear. Minglan shook her head firmly: “Precisely because she is Yima’s daughter — she absolutely cannot come in.”
The truth was that she had long been prepared for the possibility of a concubine being brought in. She could even go out and choose a person herself. A man determined to stray could not be stopped — but the choice of person must not be someone who could threaten her, someone who could not be kept in hand. The Kang Family woman — connected to both relatives and to Wang Shi’s own family — she could not, under any circumstances, relent.
“What do you mean by that?” Kang Yima shrieked. Even the Madam was taken aback, and trembled: “But, but she’s your own Yima!”
“She’s a guest you invited. I certainly didn’t invite her.” Minglan continued shaking her head. “If it weren’t for you, I would never invite Yima through my doors — the less I see of her the better.” Since the pretense was torn — let it be torn all the way!
“You, you…” Kang Yima was like a dog that had had all its fur stand on end — pointing at Minglan, speechless. Even the women of the Fourth and Fifth households felt somewhat displeased now — what kind of way was this to speak?
Minglan looked up and saw the reproachful gazes all around her. She said in an unhurried, orderly manner: “Hasn’t everyone always found it puzzling why I was never willing to see Yima? And you even reproached me for not showing proper respect to my elder. In truth, there is a reason. If you look into it carefully, you’ll find that back in the days of our maiden home, Kang Yima seldom came to pay her respects to my grandmother. Especially from the second year of Chongde onward — Kang Yima never once came to call on our Grandmother.”
The others were puzzled, and their eyes turned all together to look at Kang Yima.
“Because my grandmother had given instructions that from then on Kang Yima was not to be let through the door. Even if she did come, Grandmother would not see her.” Minglan added the explanation.
The room erupted in a brief uproar, and each person’s expression of shock was entirely individual. The Madam and Kang Yima were left in a state of stupor. Kang Yima, in particular, stared at Minglan as if she didn’t recognize her — the meek, patient little concubine-born girl — how had she become like this today?!
“They say household scandals should not be aired in public — but now that the Madam has pushed things this far, I can’t afford the shame any longer. Please, aunts and sisters-in-law — judge this fairly for me.” Minglan drew a handkerchief from her sleeve and gently dabbed the corners of her eyes.
“Though my grandmother is somewhat strict, she would never say something so cutting to a relative without reason. The truth is…” Minglan wore a look of great difficulty, “…Grandmother said that Kang Yima has a malicious and venomous nature, not a shred of compassion — only calculation and harm toward others, truly unbecoming of a person of integrity. The lives that have passed through Yima’s hands — truly too many to count. The ones Grandmother knows of with absolute certainty number four: one poisoned to death five years ago, one beaten to death in a provoked quarrel two years ago, and just last year in the Kang Mansion, a concubine who was carried out — a mother and child both dead.”
The room fell quiet as ice. All the female relatives were aghast. Fifth Mistress most of all could not conceal her shock, sitting there with her mouth open. She might be unreasonable herself, but she had never done anything to harm people’s lives.
“You’re talking complete slander and lies!” Kang Yima’s voice was unusually shrill.
Minglan said without haste: “When Yima came to ask our family for help — to cover something up one time, to deal with a crisis another time — though Grandmother did not get involved, was there a single matter she didn’t know about? If one truly wanted to argue it out, there would be things to say.” Of course this was embellishment again — it was all intelligence Tu Hu had dug up.
Kang Yima glared viciously at Minglan, her eyes practically shooting sharp blades — yet she couldn’t refute a single word, because every point struck at her real, concealed vulnerabilities.
Minglan did not look at her. She continued her performance, half-crying: “Grandmother said that our family and Yima are sisters by blood — a bond of kinship that cannot be shed. There was nothing to be done — if you couldn’t ignore it, you had to help. But I’m a step removed — do I really need to drag the Gu Family into it as well, into something impossible to shake off?”
The conclusion landed, and Fifth Mistress, taking the lead, looked at the Madam along with the rest of the female relatives, their gazes tinged with contempt. Everyone thought to herself: this kind of vicious and malicious woman — and you treated her as your closest friend? Like attracts like — you must be no better. It’s always been the case that even a proper mother-in-law doesn’t go sticking her nose into a daughter-in-law’s chambers. This stepmother of yours is this eager, pushing with both soft and hard tactics — she clearly has no good intentions.
The sharper-minded among them, like Xuan Mistress and Tingdi’s wife, exchanged a glance and thought together: the Madam has always played the part of the kind one — yet now she’s not even bothering to keep up appearances, being this insistent. There must be some major move afoot.
The Madam and Kang Yima’s faces cycled through shades of green and purple. They had calculated for many scenarios in advance, but never imagined Minglan would play this card — airing the family scandal to publicly demolish Kang Yima’s reputation. They were momentarily at a complete loss as to how to respond.
Fifth Mistress made no attempt to conceal her opinion: “Whether to bring in a concubine or not is your own household’s affair — it’s not for us to interfere.” She prepared to take her leave. Seeing the situation was turning, the Madam quickly gave Kang Yima a look.
Kang Yima set her jaw. She too had no face left to save — there was nothing for it but to play the last card, and it was only one concubine-born daughter she was staking. She rushed to stop Fifth Mistress before she could stand up, and sprang to her feet, crying out loudly: “Well done, my sharp-tongued niece — your Yima has no interest in arguing words with you any further.” Then, turning to the Madam with a show of aggrieved fury: “What did you say to me before? Right now, the whole Kang household knows that Zhao’er is to be a concubine for your Marquis. I have no face left to take her home. You, the Gu Family — give me a definitive word!”
With that, she flung her sleeve and swept out, taking great strides out of the hall, impossible to hold back — and left Zhao’er behind in the Gu household.
Fifth Mistress stood frozen midway, looking at Minglan, then at Zhao’er. Zhao’er covered her face and wept, shrinking to the side. The Madam wept and said: “What is to be done? This is all my fault — aren’t they effectively driving a perfectly good girl to her death?”
Xuan Mistress glanced at Minglan, then at Zhu Shi, moved her lips as if about to say something. The Madam spoke again: “The Kang Family is also a family of long-standing name. A daughter of their household is not just anyone to be taken as someone’s concubine — our Tingye is really the only one who matches up!”
Xuan Mistress let out a sigh and fell silent.
“What a perfectly good feast — ruined.”
Minglan pressed on her lower back and stood, her expression cool: “She’s the guest you invited — you decide. I’m tired.”
Back in Jiahi Residence, Minglan could no longer suppress the fury in her heart and smashed a cup hard against the floor. She pressed her hand over her heaving chest and lay down slowly on the couch. Danju had been serving at the hall just now and was also furious. She gently wiped away Minglan’s cold sweat and helped her rest.
From the exertion, Minglan drifted off into a confused sleep almost immediately. After some unknown passage of time, Luzhi came in and said quietly: “That little hussy from the Kang Family — she’s kneeling outside!”
At these words, even the usually mild-tempered Danju practically had her hair standing on end: “Do those people never stop?!”
The two were about to slip out quietly when Minglan suddenly woke and sat up, saying coldly: “Help me out to have a look.”
“Madam, don’t go out — just let her kneel! It’s a pity-play — who would believe it?” Luzhi said indignantly.
“Hmph. If she were one of our household’s own people, even if she died, I wouldn’t be afraid. What I fear is that if something goes wrong with her, the Kang Family will use her as a weapon against me.” Minglan’s expression was cold as ice. She steadied herself on Danju’s arm and walked slowly to the doorway.
Nanny Cui was standing at the entrance, glaring at the figure kneeling in the courtyard.
The afternoon heat was stifling, the grey clouds thick and oppressive — it was hard to breathe. Kang Zhao’er looked fragile and pitiable, alone in the courtyard. At the sight of Minglan coming out, she wept: “Please have mercy on me, elder sister — save my life!”
Minglan smiled coldly inwardly. Very well, very well — she had gone so far as to place a life directly on Minglan’s head.
She wasn’t afraid of the Madam presenting a concubine — given how things stood between her and Gu Tingye, he would likely dispose of any such person quietly and without a trace. The problem was that this particular girl was the Kang Family’s daughter, connecting to Wang Shi’s own family — and against such a person, Gu Tingye would find it considerably harder to act. What a truly vicious scheme!
Could it be that this woman only wanted to introduce a concubine to irritate her, betting that Gu Tingye would become infatuated with the girl on sight, driving a wedge between husband and wife — was it really as simple as that?
A thought suddenly flashed through Minglan’s mind. She glanced sideways at Nanny Cui, and then said: “Someone — search her body.”
Zhao’er was still weeping, when at Minglan’s sudden command, two stout matrons and several maids swarmed forward, pressing her down and searching her from head to foot. From inside her sleeve, they pulled out a small pair of scissors.
“Madam, here it is.” Luzhi held out the small scissors with a fierce expression. “Could she have meant to assault the Madam?!”
Minglan nearly burst out laughing — this maid had been listening to far too many storytellers.
Kang Zhao’er was shaking all over with fright, weeping and insisting repeatedly: “No, no — not even if I were given a hundred times the courage would I ever have such a thought!” She went on pleading repeatedly.
“Clean, then — bring her in.” Minglan said with a slight smile, turning to go inside.
Two maids half-supported, half-dragged the limp Zhao’er inside and deposited her heavily on the floor five paces from Minglan. They stood on either side and watched over her like hawks. Nanny Cui, Danju, and the others stood guard as well, ready to flatten Zhao’er with a single kick at the first sign of any violent movement.
Minglan sat squarely in the center of the room, one hand patting her skirt slowly. “This Nanny Cui of mine is always most cautious — she never likes letting outsiders into this courtyard, afraid of them bringing in something unwanted. Since your first visit, she’s wanted to search you. Now she’s finally had her wish — truly happy occasion upon happy occasion.”
Given the moment, making jokes like this — Nanny Cui felt the last thread of her tightly strung nerves begin to fray, and couldn’t help shooting her a fierce glare.
“All right — let’s have a proper talk.”
The playful expression faded from Minglan’s face, and in its place came a tone with an edge of icy clarity.