“Then she must be punished — but how?” Minglan said ruefully. “To be frank, given Man Niang’s nature, beating her, cursing her, even subjecting her to severe punishment — I don’t believe she would ever truly repent.” She was not like Kang Yi Ma — at least Kang Yi Ma loved her children, and had a weakness that could be used against her. It seemed that not even the safety of her children could stop Man Niang. In truth, for this kind of person with a latent and dangerous psychological disorder, the most appropriate punishment was lifelong confinement — but that was not something Minglan could say aloud.
Minglan spread her hands with a smile. “The Marquis has sent her far away. That’s actually a solution.”
Gu Tingye was taken aback. He had genuinely not expected that at this moment, Minglan could still be so composed and clear-headed — analyzing the situation with such measured reasoning, not a trace of emotion coloring any of it. Something stirred unexpectedly in his chest.
“And as for matters at court and beyond this household — the sooner this is settled the better.” He felt compelled to offer some brief justification.
“This was never something that could be made into a public spectacle anyway.” Minglan agreed immediately and went on: “Man Niang is not your concubine, nor is she a bondservant of this household — she is a proper freeborn civilian. On what grounds would we beat or kill her? If a freeborn civilian commits a wrong, she ought not to be dealt with by private means — there should be a formal hearing and a proper verdict. If a case were brought before a magistrate’s court, and the whole business were made public, what face would we have left? The longer it drags on, the more dangerous it becomes. If your political enemies got hold of it, the trouble would never end.”
If she had been Gu Tingye’s political opponent, she would certainly have seized upon this — magnified the whole matter, stirred it into the greatest possible scandal. If someone were to lodge a memorial accusing him of misconduct in his private life, Gu Tingye might end up confined to his household to reflect on his conduct, just as Lord Shen had been. Two trusted officials simultaneously confined — that would have the Emperor in quite a predicament.
Gu Tingye looked steadily at Minglan, his expression complex. After a long silence he said: “In Mianzhou, I’ve settled some acres of land in Chang Ge’er’s name, and had someone keep watch. I can only hope that for the sake of the children, she will settle down at last.” Then his expression shifted sharply, and he said with cold severity, “If she dares cause harm again — I will not hold back. I will take her life then and there.”
Minglan nodded, then waved her hand and changed the subject urgently: “Anyway, that’s not the crux of it! What matters is the other person — have you actually worked out a plan? I absolutely cannot go on living under the same roof as her.” She said, her face filled with genuine apprehension.
Nominally a senior relative — impossible to hit, impossible to scold. Her hands were truly tied at every turn.
Looking at her a moment ago, composed and unflappable — and now fluttering like a startled little rabbit — Gu Tingye couldn’t help but smile. “Don’t worry. Even if you were willing to go on living with her, I wouldn’t dare. I’ve already made the arrangements — we are separating the household!”