Chapter 216: Last Night, the Rain and Wind Were Light—Trouble Begins at Home (Part 1)

Chapter 216: Last Night, the Rain and Wind Were Light—Trouble Begins at Home (Part 1)

Liu Zhengjie was a skilled official in criminal law, and as he saw more and more people from all walks of life gathering in the capital, the situation became increasingly chaotic. After he took the mother and child, he had them sent out of the city in two separate groups. However, the following night, Liu's wife suddenly arrived in a small sedan chair, apologizing and saying that Chang Ge'er had been kidnapped.

Minglan was shocked. "What do you mean by that?"

"My husband didn't mean to, but just said that this time, it was like a bird being pecked by another bird!" Liu's wife said, her words tinged with a heavy Sichuan accent. She kept fiddling with the hem of her red gown with dark silver thread embroidery as she spoke.

"Yesterday, my husband chased that woman out, and when he sent her to the city gate, he had people threaten her fiercely, saying that if she ever came back to cause trouble, she would be sent to the border for hard labor! The woman repeatedly promised she wouldn't come back, turned around, and left." Liu's wife lowered her voice, leaning slightly forward. "But according to my husband's thinking, this time, it should have been the end of this woman, but…"

"It's no matter," Minglan waved her hand, dismissing the issue. Their brief relationship with that woman had already reached its conclusion. Continuing to act recklessly would only bring ridicule. Now, the real concern for Gu Tingye and the Hou mansion was the young child. To be blunt, if someone with ill intentions sold Chang Ge'er to a corrupt place or led him astray to become a bandit or thief, it would be a huge risk.

She quickly asked, "What exactly happened to Chang Ge'er?"

Liu's wife pressed a handkerchief to her forehead to wipe away the fine sweat, and continued, "Because they needed to find a wet nurse to take care of him, Chang Ge'er's group left the city half a day later. But on the way, when they were passing by the foot of Fengyun Mountain at the eighteenth-mile post on the outskirts of the capital, a group of masked bandits suddenly appeared, and without warning, attacked. During the scuffle, the female thief, who had been hiding at the back, spurred her horse to the side of the cart, knocked the nanny unconscious with a stick, and then grabbed the child and fled on horseback. The escorts were desperate and quickly killed most of the bandits, capturing two alive. After interrogation, it was revealed that they were from the Mountain Demon Gang and had been hired to rob people for money. Since most of the escorts were not in uniform, the bandits mistook them for servants, which emboldened them to be so reckless."

Minglan was stunned. She had a faint idea of who the female thief was.

To be honest, since their first meeting at the Yu estate, she had never underestimated this seemingly unremarkable woman. She hadn't expected it to go this far, but she had still underestimated her. This remarkable woman was not only good at singing and acting, but she was also skilled in martial arts. Fortunately, Cui Mama had been cautious, ensuring that the woman was searched and tied up, otherwise, if Man Niang had suddenly turned violent, it would have been disastrous for Minglan.

She bit her lip and asked, "Has Liu Daren found out who is behind this?"

Liu's wife sighed heavily, her brows furrowing deeply, making her appearance seem even more haggard. "We asked, and the two captured bandits immediately pointed to someone. Among the dead bodies, one of them was the brother of that woman who caused all this!"

Minglan gasped softly. "Man Niang's brother?"

Liu's wife slapped her thigh and said, "Isn't it? I heard that her brother has been hanging around the Zhili area these past few years, making connections with all sorts of petty criminals. The surviving bandits said they were also deceived by him. Her brother claimed that his sister was a concubine of some wealthy family, but the main wife was so vicious that she couldn't tolerate them and wanted to get rid of the child… Alas, if they had known the other party were officers, who would have dared to cause trouble?"

Minglan curled her lips in a sarcastic smile. "That explanation isn't entirely wrong."

Liu's wife chuckled awkwardly and clarified, "The masked female thief hiding at the back was Man Niang herself. Originally, the men wanted to shoot arrows to stop them, but since Chang Ge'er was on the horse, they were afraid of hurting the child, so they could only watch as the mother and child escaped."

Minglan was silent for a moment before replying, "We can't blame the escorting brothers for that. How could they have known that such a small woman would act so recklessly? I wonder if any of the brothers were injured. If any of them were hurt, how would we ever make it up to them?" They had originally only been tasked with a delivery, but now had to take on the role of protection and were caught off guard.

Liu's wife quickly shook her head, "None of them were seriously hurt, just some minor injuries. Those thieves weren't particularly skilled; it was just that there were so many of them, and when they swarmed, they managed to overpower the escorts and took Chang Ge'er away."

Minglan felt a little relieved and offered to send money and medicine to the guards as a token of appreciation. Liu's wife initially refused, but after some persuasive words from Minglan, she finally agreed to pass on the gifts.

The two of them discussed a few more details, and Liu's wife couldn't help but sigh. "It's not that I'm defending my husband, but really, no one could have predicted this. That woman looked so thin and pitiable, completely lost, so much so that when the servants came to arrest her, she was too scared to even speak. She would start crying uncontrollably at the slightest raised voice, her body trembling like sifted rice. But who would have thought, as soon as she turned around, she went to find her brother, had people follow him, hired bandits to rob the road—tch, truly impressive!"

She was older than her husband by many years, and many of the loyal men under Liu Zhengjie's command treated her like a half-sister, half-mother, so when she asked about the details, she did so very thoroughly. When she first heard about Man Niang, she had secretly blamed Minglan for being unable to even tolerate a child—what nobleman didn't have multiple wives and concubines, with a whole bunch of illegitimate sons and daughters? But now, it seemed that those two, mother and child really couldn't be kept.

Minglan crooked a corner of her mouth. "Their siblings are both from the pear garden, talented in both civil and military arts. It's not surprising that Liu Daren and the brothers couldn't have imagined this; after all, they had never seen it firsthand. Besides, it wasn't just one or two people who were deceived by this woman." The first big fool who fell for it was her beloved husband.

Liu's wife clicked her tongue. "That woman truly has a cruel heart. When her brother was struck down by a sword, he cried out loudly, 'Sister!' But she didn't even look back—she just ran off on her own. According to my husband, she deliberately used those thieves as human shields, and probably kept some things hidden from even her own brother. She was willing to sacrifice her own flesh and blood." She shook her head repeatedly. "To use even your own brother's life—this isn't just heartless and ruthless, it's beyond words."

Minglan remained silent for a moment before asking, "Do Liu Daren have any idea where the mother and child have gone?"

Liu's wife gave an awkward smile. "Once they left the mouth of Fengyun Mountain, the roads spread in all directions—east, west, south, north, any of them could be taken. It's really hard to pin down where they went. And besides, well… right now in the capital… there's no way to spare people…"

Minglan gently took her hand and said softly, "Sister, there's no need to explain. I understand Liu Daren's difficulties. I only pity that child—such a young age, he had just settled down for a few years, and now, who knows where he'll be tossed around again."

Liu's wife, being a mother herself, sighed deeply upon hearing this, and gently patted Minglan's hand in comfort. "Little sister, let me speak from experience. A woman as vicious as that, where could she possibly end up with a good fate? You and your husband are both kind-hearted people, honest and sincere. You wouldn't do something cruel and inhumane. If you could, she'd have been dealt with long ago! Alas, that child is unfortunate, to have such a mother. No one can blame him. Let's just hope he has a better life in his next life." She sighed again, deeply.

A better life in the next life?

Minglan felt a sense of confusion. In truth, Chang Ge'er had many chances to change his fate, but unfortunately, he had missed every single one of them.

For herself, Minglan truly wished she never had to deal with this hot potato. She would prefer to avoid anything related to Chang Ge'er if she could.

As for Gu Tingye, due to his past experiences, he always felt that having a biological mother around was the best way to ensure a child was properly cared for, rather than entrusting them to strangers. Moreover, he was concerned about his legitimate wife and son, not wanting Minglan to be burdened or for Tuan Ge'er to be threatened.

As for Man Niang, she was a rare case in a hundred years. Either she should have let go of Chang Ge'er earlier, or she should have lived a good life with her son. But she stubbornly clung to her delusions, unwilling to give up.

For some reason, since becoming a mother, Minglan had grown more soft-hearted. In the past, she would have handled many tragic cases with professionalism, turning away without a second thought. But now, she could not bear to see innocent children suffer, and her heart felt inexplicably unwilling.

After sending off Liu's wife, Minglan called Rong Jie'er in, dismissed everyone else, and told her all the details of the matter, sighing, 'Sigh, now, no one knows where they've gone.'

Rong Jie'er lowered her head, tightly gripping her hands. Her eyes were red and swollen, and it seemed like she had lost weight these past few days. Her round cheeks had slightly hollowed out, forming a delicate line along her jaw like a young girl's. After hearing Minglan's words, she didn't respond but silently sat on the round stool in front of the kang, her nails digging deeply into her palm."

The two of them sat in silence for a while. Just as Minglan was about to tell her to go back, Rong Jie'er suddenly said, 'Thank you, mother.' Her voice was thick with nasal tones, and Minglan was momentarily taken aback.

Rong Jie'er wiped her nose with a handkerchief and said softly, 'Thank you, mother, for caring about Chang Di and entrusting his upbringing to Chang Mama. Ever since… ever since I found out about this, I've been extremely grateful. I thought Chang Mama was upright, and that my younger brother could study and make progress with Nian Gege. That really is a huge blessing. But who would have thought that after so many years, Chang Di has become so unruly? He listens to no one's words except… except his mother's…'

She recalled the scene from that day when she saw her younger brother, and they seemed like strangers. Tears welled up in her eyes, and her heart ached with bitterness. 'I begged Mother to agree to this proposal and to persuade my brother to go to the Chang family. If I forcefully sent him there, and he insisted on making a scene, it would not only trouble Chang Mama but also delay Nian Gege's studies and exam preparations. But who would have thought… who would have thought Mother not only refused but also scolded me… and… and…'

She couldn't finish the last part, remembering how her biological mother had insisted she go to Minglan and ask for Chang Ge'er to stay in the Hou residence.

'…But… but Madam wouldn't agree, right?' She remembered answering like that at the time. After all these years together, she understood Minglan well—outwardly gentle and amiable, but with a firm will inside.

'You useless thing! Then cry! Beg! Go to any lengths to ask! You're the eldest daughter of the Hou residence now. Do you think she would dare stand by and watch you die? This is your real brother. Can you bear to see him with no status, wandering alone out there?'"

Looking at her biological mother, who spoke sweet words and wore a face full of calculation—at times coaxing softly, at other times shouting harshly—without concealing her intentions, Rong Jie'er could not utter a single word at that moment.

She was no longer the ignorant and naive young girl; she understood all too well the dangers and implications hidden beneath the surface. She also wasn't someone who, after only a few days of peace, would become complacent and arrogant, foolishly thinking she could change her biological mother's mind about important matters.

Rong Jie'er shook her head forcefully, trying not to think of the cold, heart-wrenching situation from that day. She lifted her head to look at Minglan and said, trembling, "Mother, I truly don't understand her thoughts. Don't mothers always want the best for their children? Why… why… does she have to destroy my brother before she's satisfied?" Unable to hold back any longer, she finally broke into tears, softly sobbing into her handkerchief.

Minglan sighed and gently patted the girl's back.

Looking at it from a darker perspective, it was clear that Man Niang never truly loved Chang Ge'er. The boy was nothing but a pawn, to be used however she saw fit. On a more positive note, one could argue that Man Niang did love her son, but her understanding of what was best for him was vastly different from the normal view.

It was like the plots in some melodramatic dramas, where a poor girl gives birth to twins—one boy and one girl—by a rich man. One twin is sent back to the wealthy family to live as a young master or young mistress, while the other stays with the mother. The final outcome… well, it depends on who the protagonist is.

This matter ended in an anticlimactic way, as Man Niang and her son vanished without a trace, like drifting dandelion fluff. Minglan remained upset for several days until Hua Lan came to visit and offer comfort, which helped her feel somewhat better.

"You silly child, what's there to worry about with such things!" Hua Lan, still as radiant and charming as ever, poked her younger sister's forehead and laughed. "Someone as kind-hearted and soft as you, pitying this and feeling sorry for that, would surely make a mess of things at home. There are always causes and consequences. That boy has his parents—what's it to you?"

Minglan lowered her head, gently stroking her large belly, and whispered, "Lately, I've become more cautious, always worried that my actions might have consequences that affect the child later." As a former active member of the party, Yao Yiyi had once been a firm atheist, she thought with a sigh. Ah, the past was something she preferred not to recall.

Hua Lan, carefree and content, laughed heartily. "Belief in gods and Buddhas should have limits, don't let everything revolve around that. Since brother-in-law doesn't want you to get involved, just happily step back. Are you really planning to bring that boy into the household?"

"That's out of the question," Minglan said firmly, puffing her chest up like a mother hen protecting her chicks, and with a touch of self-mockery, added, "As much as I pity him, a mother must first protect her own flesh and blood. Whoever dares to harm or endanger my child, I won't hesitate to fight them!"

Hua Lan pinched her sister's cheek and laughed, "Now that's the right attitude!"

Looking at her older sister's radiant and forgiving smile, Minglan couldn't help but feel she had been unnecessarily troubled. She quickly changed the subject: "I heard that third sister-in-law is pregnant. I sent her some of her favorite dried fish the other day, I wonder how she's doing now?"

Since Wang Shi went back to her hometown to serve her sentence, Hua Lan often returned to her family's house to help out, fearing that there would be some inconvenience for Liu Shi as she just took charge of the inner chambers. Upon hearing Minglan's words, she smiled and said, "My younger sister-in-law is very fortunate, her pregnancy is going smoothly. She eats well, sleeps well, and everything is going as usual."

Just as she was speaking, Xiao Tao brought in a bowl of garlic-flavored mung beans freshly stir-fried in the kitchen. Hua Lan frowned and covered her nose, letting out a soft retch.

Minglan frowned and said, "Isn't this your favorite dish, sister? Why are you…" Just earlier, they had replaced a plate of milk-flavored sweet bean rolls and honey-coated apples. Hua Lan found the smell of everything unpleasant, so she ordered the kitchen to make a fresh batch of desserts.

Noticing Hua Lan's slightly fuller figure, Minglan teased with a smile, "Could it be that you're pregnant too, sister?"

Hua Lan suddenly paused, laughing and scolding, "Nonsense, I'm already at this age." After years of no news, and with age catching up, she had already given up on that idea.

Though she said that, there were women who gave birth in their middle years, and to avoid any mishaps, Minglan quickly had the three-horse soft gold-embroidered carriage from the Hou residence sent to escort Hua Lan back. Before long, the Yuan residence sent word that indeed, Second Madame was pregnant.

The messenger, Cui Chan, clapped her hands and laughed, saying, "At first, Second Madam didn't believe it. She even had two doctors come, but only when they confirmed it was a pregnancy pulse did she finally believe. Second Master was so happy, he was like a yellow oriole tied to a falcon's leg—he hasn't left her side even for a moment, not even going outside."

Yuan Wenxiao had been eyeing a piece of land for sale outside the city, intending to buy it to build a horse track. He had already applied for leave from his superiors, but now, seeing that his wife was pregnant and the doctors advised extra caution due to her age, he decided he would stay home.

"Serious matters are the most important. My husband has great ambitions, there's no need to worry about me," Hua Lan naturally said.

However, Yuan Wenxiao, with the charm of a male lead in a Hong Kong drama, immediately said, "Money can always be earned, but the most important thing is that our family is happy and peaceful. You safely give birth to the child; that's worth more than a mountain of gold."

Hua Lan blushed, her big eyes full of affection as she gazed at him. Yuan Wenxiao gazed back with equal tenderness. The two middle-aged adults, whose combined age was over seventy, displayed such genuine affection that it was almost alarming. From time to time, they whispered to each other with their heads leaning together, making the maid, Cui Mama, who was delivering gifts to Minglan, feel quite embarrassed.

"No wonder Sister Fang said that Madam didn't approve of the eldest daughter and son-in-law back then," Cui Mama remarked, feeling that she had wrongfully criticized Wang Shi.

Minglan, lying on the bed, burst into laughter, the gloom of the past few days vanishing in an instant.

A few days later, Tu Hu returned from outside the city with around forty strong men. Minglan became busy again, arranging lodging and meals for them in the outer courtyard. She also discussed with Tu Lao Da how to divide the watch duties, how to assign guards to various gates and courtyards.

With the inside taken care of, they continued gathering information from outside. It turned out that several suspicious individuals had indeed arrived in the capital. They were often seen in groups of three to five, but their whereabouts were unknown. Liu Zhengjie grew increasingly frustrated but had no leads to follow. Little Brother Shi was also upset. He and Xiao Tao had often frequented a certain steamed bun stall, but recently the elderly couple who ran the stall had gone into hiding, sensing something was amiss in the market. They had retreated to their children's house in the countryside.

Meanwhile, the fourth house's Ting Di and his wife were busy tidying up their shop, and their business was slowly picking up. The fifth house's Xuān (Mrs. Xuān) was busy arranging a match for her eldest son, and the Fu family was quite proactive in their response. The old matriarch rarely left her house, and no one knew what she was scheming. Third Master Gu still went out drinking and watching plays every now and then. Yu Fang Shi continued visiting the Ting Wei mansion every few days, and Master Liang kept up his act as a filial son—oh no, as a good-for-nothing grandson.

Joy and sorrow, each insufficient. The political awareness and decision-making abilities of the court's little clerk were only enough for Minglan to order the housemaids to enforce stricter rules on the door, as he couldn't analyze the essence from the appearance of things.

At this time, the weather gradually warmed up. Within just half a month, her belly had swelled as if inflated. Several of the maids said the delivery date was near. Before Minglan could get used to her heavy body, Ruo Mei's pains began.

Fortunately, the midwife and wet nurse had already been prepared. The bedding, hot water, and scissors were all ready in an orderly manner. Minglan personally supervised in the hall of Gongsun's small courtyard, ensuring no one was negligent.

From noon until the moon rose above the treetops, Ruo Mei's cries echoed continuously. It wasn't until Minglan woke up for the second time on the soft couch that someone came to report that Ruo Mei had given birth to an extremely strong, chubby boy.

Minglan wiped her mouth, forced herself to wake up, and went to visit the mother. She saw the wet nurse sitting by the bed, holding a baby wrapped in a red satin swaddle embroidered with golden peonies. Although Ruo Mei's face was pale, she was overwhelmed with joy, gazing at the baby in the swaddle with admiration."

Minglan leaned over to take a look at the baby. Indeed, he was strong and robust, especially with the large forehead that made the midwives shudder in fear—a true resemblance to Gongsun's old-fashioned demeanor. She sat beside Ruo Mei, gently saying, "The child is fine, he looks just like the master. You are set for life now."

Due to her shouting, Ruo Mei's voice was a bit hoarse. She grabbed Minglan's sleeve, anxiously looking up at her: "When the master comes back, please, Madam, say a few kind words and tell him that I nearly died giving birth to this child. Can… can I raise him myself?"

Minglan was silent for a moment and sighed. "I will speak on your behalf, but this is ultimately the master's family matter. It will depend on the master's and the madam's opinion." Then she added, "I told you this would be the case when you agreed to be the master's concubine."

After saying that, she gently withdrew her hand, ignoring Ruo Mei's tearful expression, and turned to leave with Xiaotao.

Afterward, Minglan did not visit Ruo Mei while she was in confinement, only instructing Liao Yong's wife to take good care of her, ensuring that her food, clothing, and daily needs were not neglected.

When the baby reached the third day (the "Xisan" ceremony), Minglan arranged for two tables to be set up in Gongsun's small courtyard and invited the maids and servants who had been close to Ruo Mei to join the gathering, to comfort her, cheer her up, and prevent her from being gloomy or sighing all the time, as that would affect her confinement period.

The next day after the "Xisan" ceremony, a fast horse courier from the Governor of Shaanxi and Gansu sent a shocking report that reverberated throughout the court and the military:

The son of the King of Jannu, Zuo Guli, ambushed the army of Shen Congxing on the Qing Stone River plain to rescue his father. Due to their recent victory, Shen's army had too much baggage and their formation was too long, leading many generals to become complacent and let down their guard. The Jannu cavalry, as fast as lightning, broke the army into three or four sections, while another detachment of elite troops attacked the central command tent, killing the main generals. The King of Zuo Guli was rescued, Shen Congxing was severely wounded, and the army was thrown into chaos with countless casualties. Currently, General Duan Chengqian is temporarily in command of the army.

In another report, General Bo Tianzhou, the old commander, had recently fallen off his horse and is now unconscious. His trusted subordinate General Bo and General Gan have taken over command of the central army.

Meanwhile, the Zhang-Gou army, which had been the subject of much speculation recently, has been deeply involved in the grasslands, and as of now, there has been no definitive news about their fate. Whether the army was completely defeated or utterly wiped out—no one can say for sure.