Chapter 204: Before and After the Feast (124.2)
Translator: Iris
“Hey! Even her illegal sisters-in-law haven’t said anything. You already started to protect her. Good for you, Sister Xuan-in-Law!” Second Madam Di covered her mouth and laughed while glancing at Zhu shi and Gu Tingcan on purpose.
Sister Xuan-in-law grinned and cursed with one of her hands resting on her hips, “You little monkey! Don’t you remember how hard I have tried to protect you when you have just married into our family? At that time, Gongge’er and the other boys wanted to tease your husband and you on your wedding night, I was the one who held them off with all my strength! Don’t tell me you have forgotten about that.”
Minglan smiled to Sister Xuan-in-Law with the look in her beautiful eyes as clear as the stream. Sister Xuan-in-law who had received Minglan’s friendly gesture held Minglan’s hand with a beaming smile on her face right away.
Old Madam Qin wore a kind smile all the time. Seeing everyone else having a nice chat with each other, she then dragged Minglan toward her, saying, “Your eldest brother-in-law has been in a bad condition these days. Your eldest sister-in-law couldn’t come. Don’t blame her for that.”
With a worried look on Minglan’s face, she said, “Please don’t say that. I got so muddled due to the heavy work these days. And I feel so sorry that I couldn’t visit my eldest brother-in-law.”
Old Madam Qin sighed deeply and said, “Alas, he would be fine with the recuperation. It’s just your eldest brother-in-law has too many things in his mind. He is always concerned over our family, burdened with all the affairs.
Minglan got alarmed at once. Gu Tingyu’s physical condition had been bad for a long time and he had had that disease ever since he had been born. Nearly half of the people in the capital knew that he was on his pins now. Two years ago, Official Zhang Jingsong, the director of the Imperial Hospital had already implied that Gu family should be prepared for his death at any time.
Although Minglan was still talking with Old Madam Qin with a smile on her face, she couldn’t help snorting secretly, ‘When Gu Tingye came down in the world, you nearly broadcast that Gu Tingyu’s disease was incurable. Now that Gu Tingye has finally made some achievements, you claimed that Gu Tingyu ‘would be fine with recuperation’ and the reason for his disease was because he ‘considered over the family’. What were you trying to imply?!”
Minglan looked at Zhu shi who sat there quietly and said before she pondered for a while,”Can you do me a favor, younger sister-in-law?” In fact, Zhi shi was much older than Minglan. But Minglan still had to call her ‘younger sister-in-law’. Hearing that, Zhu shi stood up and said, “Second Sister-in-Law, what can I do for you?”
“After the feast is over, I’ll go fetch Rongjie’er and the other two concubines. Since Eldest Sister-in-Law is occupied in taking care of Eldest Brother-in-Law, I’ll have to ask you to pack up the things for them.” Minglan said politely.
Zhu shi chuckled joyfully and replied, “I thought you would ask something important. It’s a piece of cake. Anytime you need me to do that, just tell me, Second Sister-in-Law. I have already told Rongjie’er that she could only live with you two after the new mansion was renovated. When I told her that she would have a pretty and well organized yard to live, she was really looking forward to it.”
Minglan said with her face wreathed with smiles, “Thanks, younger sister-in-law.” ‘This woman is not easy to deal with either.’ Minglan thought.
Soon after, the people from Sheng’s family arrived. Old Madam Sheng who disliked the noise and the clamour had already claimed that she wouldn’t come. Hualan and Hai shi were not free to walk around because it hadn’t been a month since they had delivered the babies. Therefore, only Wang shi, Rulan and Molan had come. Minglan went to give them a welcome right away. On their way to the hall, she sent her regards to her mother and her sisters smilingly.
As Wang shi walked along the road, she saw water flowing beneath the bridges and the spectacular and spacious pavilions, terraces and open halls being decorated in elegant style. She couldn’t help but feel a bit depressed. Then she glimpsed at Rulan who was chatting and laughing with Minglan, sighing secretly. Molan pretended to be fine. However, when she glanced at the scene in front of her with a gloomy look in her eyes, she only felt bitter thinking of her shabby yard back in Marquis Yongchang’s mansion.
“It’s such a shame...” Wang shi said, “Hualan is concerning about you all the time. But she still can’t come on your big day.”
Minglan comforted her with a gentle smile, “I have already told Eldest Sister that I would only give a banquet today in the name of the home warming. Actually there are only bare trees in the garden right now. There’s nothing to watch there. After Eldest Sister and Eldest sister-in-law gets better, the flowers would be blooming and everyone in our family would be available. Let’s call grandmother, my nephews and my nieces over. Isn’t is better that we can view the garden with our own families?”
Wang shi was glad to hear that, then she said, “Now I see why your eldest sister adored you so much when you were a child.”
Hearing that, Rulan pouted and said, “Eldest Sister adored Sixth Sister more than me!” Minglan, not feeling bashful at all, bragged about herself complacently, “I can do nothing about my loveliness.” Rulan, eyes wildly open, ran toward Minglan to pinch at her right away.
Wang shi couldn’t help smiling while scolding, “How old are two of you! Behave yourselves!”
After they entered into the hall, Minglan led Wang shi to the seat next to Old Madam Qin. After the two madams from Sheng and Qin family had given their obeisance to each other, the other guests started to chat again. At about 9 o’clock in the morning, all the other guests had arrived in succession.
The male guests headed straight to the front yard to meet Gu Tingye while the female guests went to the inner yard. Minglan, having stood up to bid farewell to her relatives, asked Sister Xuan-in-law and Zhu shi to help her entertain the rest of them. In the meantime, Minglan went forward to greet the new arrivals.
In a moment, the three spacious flower halls without any partitions between them were filled with happy laughter, crowded by pretty women. The ladies from the prestigious family were born with social skills. They could always have a good talk with each other no matter they were familiar to the people they were talking to or not.
The main event of their social contacts was the elder women scrutinizing young girls. One seer had once told that women all had two instinct, which were being a mother and being a matchmaker. When the two identities were combined, their power would be stunning. Old Madam Qin, Fourth Old Madam and Fifth Old Madam who had been gentle and quiet just now were all in high spirit with ruddy cheeks. They brought Tingyan, Tingying and Tingling to talk with all the noble madams. Second Madam Bing also dragged her sister-in-law to join the conversation.
In fact, Minglan didn’t know most of the guests there. Luckily, Gu Tingye had already asked Zheng Xiao to do her a favor. Right now Little Shen shi, Zheng Xiao’s wife, was standing beside Minglan and introducing the guests for her carefully. After a short while, Minglan had already got acquainted with two duchesses, two marquises, four countesses, three madams of commanders’ families, five madams of commanders-in-chief’s families, two madams of officials of the Cabinet’s families and one madam of Hanlin’s family– as well as those madams’ relatives.
Minglan’s cheeks were getting sore having putting on that smile for the whole time. Meanwhile, Little Shen shi continued her introducing job fluently. Sometimes, she would approach to Minglan’s ear and whispered some gossips, such as ‘This Madam Di has carried two kitchen knives to the brothel district and beat Official Di to death’ ‘Those two women are wives of the Duan brothers. They are sisters but also sisters-in-law.’ and ‘How dare she come? Every year, there will be a few pregnant corpses being carried out of Marquis Zhennan’s mansion.’... As a matter of fact, Little Shen shi hadn’t come to the capital for a long time. However, this woman’s achievements during such a period of time really had impressed Minglan a lot. It was such a shame that such a professional woman couldn’t apply for the post of being the assistant of Queen Prada.