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As a person who had worked with the laws, Minglan always believed that only the evidence could talk.
At the moment, Marquis Ningyuan’s mansion was in a dispirited situation. After the decreed plaque of the mansion had been taken off, there were still lots of royal censors writing down reports to the emperor about the people of Marquis Ningyuan’s mansion forming a clique to hath a sinister plot. And most of the royal censors seemed to say that with certainty. Meanwhile, those nobilities who were in custody had also confessed that Marquis Ningyuan had been involved in the mutiny. Thus the officials of Dali Temple (A government office akin to the Supreme Judicial Court of modern days) proposed that they should hold Marquis Ningyuan in detention even if they didn’t plan to take away the title of him yet.
However, Gu Tingyu, the present Marquis Ningyuan had already been beyond recovery. Most of the time, he was unconscious. The emperor then kept all the reports against Marquis Ningyuan’s mansion to himself and announced none of them for the sake of Gu Tingye. As a result, Marquis Ningyuan’s family was the only noble family who could survive in the precarious situation.
Right now Gu Tingye really had his moment. Not only had he lived in the Commandry of Armies which had been presented by the emperor ever since he had come back to the capital, he also managed to invite General Bo and his wife to be his matchmaker. As thus, the outsiders couldn’t help having some guesses about him. Someone even dug out some past stories of Marquis Ningyuan’s mansion from years ago. As people started to gossip, the rumor which claimed that Gu Tingye had been bullied before began to spread.
As a matter of fact, Qin shi, as the Old Madam in Gu’s mansion had had a good reputation among the noble ladies in the capital. When people talked about her, they always came up with words like gentle, virtuous, kind or modest. Also, she always comforted and compensated the orphans. Even until now, no one had even considered her as a vicious stepmother. What’s more, even most of the people felt pity for her except for the ones who wanted to fawn on Gu Tingye.
However, the facts were facts. Qin shi’s biological son had lived a prospering life by marrying a decent woman and having a few children. Even if Gu Tingyu had always been sick, he still managed to survive over these years. Meanwhile, Gu Tingye was the one who had to leave home and wander outside for many years. Then the public opinions began to be in Gu Tingye’s favor. However, what on earth was the truth? Thinking of that, Minglan raised her head and looked at the roof. Then she came to a conclusion that it must be a complicated thing.
Perhaps God had heard Minglan’s thought. After a few days, Gu Tingye sent someone to deliver the letter which stated that Old Madam Qin would come over to Sheng’s mansion. Hearing that news, Minglan was stunned. After Old Madam Sheng had been in silence for a while, she sighed, “That’s good. No matter what have happened before, we still need to make sure everything’s appropriate for your wedding.” Then she paused and added, “Gu… he is thoughtful in this…”
Minglan didn’t say anything but she knew what her grandma had meant.
According to the normal wedding process, the bridegroom’s parents should take charge of visiting the bride’s family and presenting the betrothal presents. Any changes in that would look bad to others after all. Qin shi had wanted to control Gu Tingye’s marriage and had been rejected by him without mercy, so she didn’t dare to interfere with his personal matters anymore. Now that Gu Tingye advanced to her and asked her to help him with his wedding, Qin shi was more than willing to accept this request.
She went to Sheng’s mansion in a carriage with green satin covered and a dare red dome. And it didn’t take her too long to get there.
The second day, Minglan was lying on the bed after she had overeaten. As she just managed to embroider two water plants on a red brocade mandarin duck pillowcase, Cuiping rushed in and reported that Old Madam Qin had already arrived and was having a conversation in the Hall of Peaceful Ages.
“Old Madam has instructed us to dress our lady up!” Seeing Xiaotao holding a plain homely coat in a daze, Cuiping said that to Danju instantly. Then those girls turned the closet upside down to find some fine clothes for Minglan.
After a short while, Minglan changed into a pistil red pomegranate flower pattern tilted garment and a rose-pink pleated skirt with dark color lace. Meanwhile, her hair also changed to the formal crescent moon style with a pair of pretty and delicate Xi and Ruyi hair clasps.
After that, Minglan and her maids rushed to the Hall of Peaceful Ages. When they arrived at the door, Minglan took a deep breath at first and fixed the hair by her temples. As the maid reported Minglan’s arrival, she stepped inside right away. She walked slowly with her head lowered while glancing at the surroundings. Old Madam Sheng sat uptight in the seat above with a lady in a luxurious coat sitting next to her. Wang shi was sitting below them. Seeing Minglan stepping in, Wang shi pointed at her and said with a smile, “This is our sixth lady.” Then she introduced the woman in the luxurious coat to Minglan, “This is Old Madam Qin from Marquis Ningyuan’s mansion. Minglan, come here and give your obeisance.”
Then Minglan bowed down respectively and gracefully without shaking her body or her dress.
Old Madam Qin was surprised by Minglan’s beauty. She called Minglan to stand up right away and started to measure Minglan with her eyes carefully. Then she only felt that the girl in front of her had the skin as white as snow and the face as beautiful as flower. Old Madam Qin couldn’t even find a single word to describe her feelings right now. So she praised, “What a gorgeous girl!”
Minglan lowered her head shyly while looking Old Madam Qin up and down with the corner of her eyes. As a result, Minglan was also stunned.
Old Madam Qin was wearing a dark rust color coat embroidered with chrysanthemum patterns and a water lily color cotton dress. Today she used a crystal clear white jade hair clasp to form a round hair style. Her skin was bright and glossy and the smile on the corner of her mouth seemed elegant. Minglan only felt this woman amiable and gracious. In a word, Old Madam Qin was an extremely beautiful woman. Maybe only the fine lines on the corner of her eyes could show her seniority.
Actually, Wang shi was even younger than her. However, when they stood next to each other, Minglan really doubted if Wang shi would dare to say she was the younger one.
Old Madam Qin started to ask Minglan some questions softly such as Minglan’s favorite food, favorite books or what she used to do in the ordinary times. Minglan answered all her questions in courtesy. Old Madam Qin seemed to be satisfied with Minglan a lot. As they were still talking, Old Madam Qin took off the jade bracelet and put it on Minglan’s wrist while saying in a smile, “You are so pretty, girl. It’s like you are from a painting!”
With Minglan’s face turning slightly red, she lowered her head and stood there coyly. Old Madam Sheng glimpsed at Minglan and said modestly, “She’s just a kid who doesn’t know about many things.”
Hearing that, Old Madam Qin chuckled and said smilingly, “Old Madam, you are so humble. The decent behavior this girl has shown cannot be faked. I see her as an intelligent and genius girl. I have to say that the ladies of Sheng family all have been raised well.”
Wang shi was quite complacent with Old Madam Qin’s compliments, so she couldn’t help but say, “I’m not bragging about our family. But we do have raised our girls with even more concentrated attention than the boys. We have taught our ladies to read fine books, do the needlework and deal with family matters.”
With light flashing in Old Madam Qin’s eyes, she went along with Wang shi’s words, which made Wang shi even more proud.
Old Madam Qin’s voice sounded soft. It was like she was whispering when she talked and people would be persuaded by her without notice. As she chatted and laughed with others, she still had remained graceful. Unlike Madam Liang from the Marquis Yongchang’s mansion had an alienated elegant style, Old Madam Qin was a graceful lady who tended to make people feel warm.
Also, Old Madam Qin was good at her speech. When she talked to Old Madam Sheng, she only spoke exquisite words as a lady from the Marquis’s mansion. When she chatted with Wang shi, she changed into an amiable talking style while laughed as she wished. After they had talked for a while, Old Madam Sheng only became a bit intimate to her. However, Wang shi had already let all her defenses down and started to speak from the bottom of her heart.
As they chatted joyfully for a while, Old Madam Qin showed a sign of hesitation. She took a look at Minglan, wishing to speak but stop on a second thought. Wang shi who was always dull suddenly became sensitive and said in a hurry, “Old Madam Qin, you can be blunt with us. What’s on your mind?”
Old Madam Qin smiled cheerfully and didn’t hesitate anymore, “Such being the case, I won’t hold anything back. I only come here today to present my second son’s marriage proposal paper.” On these words, she pulled out a large red and gold color paper and handed it over to Old Madam Sheng, saying, “Please don’t mind our family’s humbleness and accept our marriage proposal to the Sixth lady.”
Minglan lowered her head with great effort while feeling super annoyed. She should blush and show a bashful look. However… she just couldn’t do that! It was not like she could slap herself fiercely on the face right now.
Old Madam Sheng took over the paper and glanced at it briefly, showing a satisfied look on her face. Then she threw her eyes on Wang shi. The latter got the hint and said smilingly at once, “Please don’t say any modest words. The ancestor of Marquis Ningyuan is the founder figure of our country. For all these years, all the Marquis Ningyuan have guarded the frontiers for us. We all respect that. I’m afraid that our Minglan does not deserve General Gu.”
Wang shi only said that to be polite as another longer version of ‘The pleasure was all mine.’ However, Old Madam Qin suddenly filled her eyes with tears with a sad look on her face.
Seeing her being like this, Wang shi asked closely. Old Madam Qin wiped her eyes with handkerchief and forced a smile, “I’m fine. It’s just… There’s still another thing I need to say today. Please forgive my rudeness.”
“Go ahead please.” With a light flashing in Old Madam Sheng’s eyes, she said with calmness.
Then Old Madam Qin put down her handkerchief, with a bit sadness climbing up to her gentle smile, “My second son has been a rebellious boy since his childhood. Ever since he had issues with our marquis, he has run away from home for many years. Now there always seems to be a barrier between him and us. His brother and I both feel bad about it. After all, he still belongs to Gu family. Since he is going to have a wedding, I was hoping… that he could hold the wedding in Marquis Ningyuan’s mansion.”
Wang shi hesitated for a while. Since Minglan and Gu Tingye hadn’t been officially married, she couldn’t comment anything on the issues between Gu Tingye and his stepmother. Old Madam Sheng pondered for a moment and said, “Even if Minglan already was married to General Gu, we could not intervene in Gu’s family matters, not to mention that she hasn’t.”
Old Madam Qin sighed slightly and looked right into Old Madam Sheng’s eyes with a sincere expression in her eyes, saying in a low voice, “Tingye’s brother is seriously ill now and talks about Tingye on the bed all day. He said that he wanted his brother to take over the matters of our family and that his other little brothers were just good for nothing. If Tingye could come back to the family, maybe in the future…” She stopped right there and sighed again.
Wang shi’s eyes lit up. It was not a secret that Gu Tingyu was at his last gasp and didn’t have any children. Marrying in the Marquis’s mansion and being the wife of the marquis were two different things. Moreover, being a mother-in-law of the brother of a marquis was also quite different from being a mother-in-law of the marquis himself. The situation right now was that Marquis Ningyuan really needed Gu Tingye to support the whole family. So it was very likely that Gu Tingye might become the next Marquis Ningyuan. Thinking of that, Wang shi couldn’t help but say, “Of course it’s better if he could come home…” However, without letting her finish, Old Madam Sheng flashed her a look. So Wang shi had to hold back her words.
As Old Madam Sheng took back her gaze, she smiled, “General Gu (Gu Tingye) is a sensible person. I believe he would understand that Marquis Gu and you only want the best for him.”
Hearing Old Madam Sheng’s words, Old Madam Qin was not displeased at all. She only turned around to look at Minglan and then turned back to face Old Madam Sheng. Again, she looked straightly into Old Madam Sheng’s eyes and said slowly, “Being a stepmother is the hardest thing in the world. You know my second son, he used to be a naughty boy when he was young. Then he left the family and wandered outside. I think that experience gives him a stubborn character. He has said that he would only marry a legal daughter. But now… I know Minglan is an excellent girl. As long as I am in the family, I won’t let anyone take advantage of her!”
Old Madam Qin even began to choke with sob as she spoke her last words. Wang shi, who was visibly moved, thought Old Madam Qin’s words quite reasonable, so she expressed her approval by nodding and sighing lightly.
Meanwhile, Old Madam Sheng frowned, feeling a bit confused. So she turned around to look at Minglan who was raising up her head lightly. Though the expression on Minglan’s face didn’t change, her eyes were shining now. Then Minglan lowered her head right away, not wanting to let others detect the slight change of her facial expression. Now she finally knew what the problem was!
—— Now everybody including the emperor knew that Gu Tingye wanted to marry a lady in Sheng family. However, people had assumed that Gu Tingye’s future wife would be a legal daughter of Sheng family. However, Rulan was betrothed to another man beyond everyone’s expectation. And then Gu Tingye accepted an illegal daughter as his wife without complaining anything. So why would all the civil officials be so happy about the result? Because, they would consider this as Gu Tingye, this new influential nobility’s compromise and respect to them. Now all the praises from the outside could be explained.
Minglan was finally aware that the people out there all thought that Gu Tingye had made a concession by marrying her. However, as a matter of fact, only she and Old Madam Sheng knew that the situation was quite the opposite. She was the one that had been set up to marry Gu Tingye.
According to Gu Tingye and Old Madam Qin’s reputation, all the people would find Old Madam Qin’s words just now very persuasive if they thought in a normal way. However… Minglan showed a vague smile on her face. Now she knew about her biggest strength in there—— The Gu Tingye she knew was very different from the one in other people’s eyes. Not many people, especially the people in Gu family would know about the stories between Gu Tingye and her.
Minglan raised her head slowly and met Old Madam Sheng’s eyes. At the moment, Old Madam Sheng gradually understood what Minglan was thinking. With an implicitly joyful smile hanged up on the corner of her mouth, Old Madam Sheng turned around and answered Old Madam Qin, “Madam, you must have got it wrong. Our sixth lady is the legal daughter from the beginning.”