Legend of Concubine's Daughter Minglan

Chapter 284: Real Winner in the Family Feud (2)

Translator: Iris

After a few days, word got around from the Ministry of Penalty that Gu Tingbing would be sentenced again. He would either be banished to the place which was two thousand miles further than the original place of exile (the very dangerous border), or be exiled for seven years more, which meant the duration of his penalty would be ten years. Also, Fourth Old Master had to pay a lot of money to atone for Gu Tingbing’s crime.

Fourth Old Master really got scared this time.

He wanted to use silvers to solve this. However, he had already spent too much money on this. He felt as if he was facing a bottomless hole which could never be filled and didn’t know if his money would work. He also thought of using his connections. However, after he was dismissed from his fifth-class post that he had inherited, he was just a mere citizen who didn’t even have the right to enter the main hall of the Ministry of the Penalty.

After hearing the news, Concubine Liu fainted while Second Madam Bing got dazed right away. When they came back to their senses, they both went to beg Fourth Old Master for help. They pulled his sleeves and held his legs while crying miserably, making a scene day and night. Fourth Old Master couldn’t do anything about it and felt ashamed to ask for help from Gu Tingye by himself. Then he told his Eldest Son to go to Gu Tingye.

No one knew what Gu Tingye had said in the study. At last, Gu Tingxuan walked out of the study with a frustrated look. After he had come back home and reported what had happened to Fourth Old Master, the latter was in a rage and gave him a good scolding right away.

Then, two day had passed, and nothing happened again. Today, Rong and Xian were standing in the room together reciting The Peach Blossom Spring while Minglan was listening to them with a smile. Minglan liked the flowery language and the strength of characters in that article. Hearing the clear and tender voice of the two little girls and staring at their adorable faces, Minglan felt even more pleasant. Even Xian’s nanny who stood beside them was also happy to see that.

After they girls finished reciting the article, Minglan nodded constantly as a compliment. Xian clung to Minglan tamely while shaking the latter’s sleeve, saying cutely, “Second Aunt, we have already recited it. You have to fulfill your promise!”

Minglan beamed with joy while rubbing Xian’s little face, “Of couse I will. I’ll ask Danju to bring the cage over and tell Steward Hao to build a house for the rabbits, Ok?”

The shy girl Rong beside Xian said in a low voice while her eyes were sparkling, “Can he… build a two-floor house so that we can put leaves and petals on the second floor?” Minglan burst into laughter and made a request on purpose, “Yes, he can. But you two have to study another article.”

“Fine! Just give another one to me! I’ll definitely supervise Rong when she recites it!” Xian agreed in a hurry. Rong also seemed eager to try with redness on her little face. The smile on Rong’s face seemed so bright and the look in her eyes was very innocent.

Minglan was a bit delighted.

If Rong was her biological daughter, she would have already roared, “You brat, are you going to study or not? I’ll rip your skin off if you don’t study.” There would be no need for her to be this tired! Rong was not interested in reading books and had a stubborn character, which made it hard for Minglan to guide her. Alas… Now Minglan finally had a way to solve this problem.

Right after Minglan had sent the two girls away, she heard noises coming from the outside right away.

“Second Madam Bing doesn’t look very well, Madam, you… have to be careful.” Lvzhi slipped into the room ahead of everyone and reported that in a low voice.

So, the women from the Fourth Family were about to arrive. Minglan felt a little nervous. Then she plucked up the courage and got ready for the fight.

First, she greeted the guests and seated them.

In fact, Lvzhi had understated the situation. Not only did Second Madam Bing look bad, so were all the women in the Fourth Family.

After the tea had been served and the small talk had been finished, Second Madam Bing told Minglan about the things about Gu Tingbing right away and asked for help even when the maids were still there. Hearing that, Minglan didn’t say anything and only waved her hand to dismiss the servants. Only Lvzhi and Xiaotao were left in the inner room, because Minglan felt it necessary to have bodyguards in case she and those women would end up in a fistfight.

“Second Sister-In-Law,” Minglan blew the tea while using the pink teacup lid with light yellow and green bottom to stir the amber-colored tea. Then she continued, “I told you last time that I never interfere with men’s business. If Master can help with this, it would be the best. If he can’t, then he must have a reason. It’s no use talking about these things with me, Second Sister-In-Law.”

Those words were like the last straw for Second Madam Bing. She suddenly stood up with her eyes turning bloody red, “How could you say that! Are you happy to see all our families die? Fine, I’ll kill myself right now!”

Minglan glanced at her, not moved by the latter at all, and still said with a smile, “Second Sister-In-Law, please stop joking. Second brother-in-law is still alive, why do you want to kill yourself? If you die, who will look after your kids?” Threatening Minglan with her life was useless.

Fourth Old Madam, with a tired look, sat there quietly without uttering a word. Madam Xuan seemed to be angry right now. Seeing what had happened, she said to Second Madam Bing loudly, “Sit down! How could you vent your anger on our sister-in-law?! As the saying goes, women should always follow their husbands’ lead. Second Brother Ye is a strong-minded person since his childhood, you can’t blame our sister-in-law for that! Stop talking about killing yourself all the time! Don’t you find that disgusting?!”

Second Madam Bing didn’t want to die anyway, and Madam Xuan’s words sort of gave her a way out. Then she lay on the armchair and sobbed, “Then what can I do now?!” In the meantime, she still said to Minglan, “I know that my husband has offended Master Gu, but Master and he still have the same ancestors. How could Master Ye watch his cousin suffer! Master is so ruthless. How can he watch his cousin die?!”

With a thump, Minglan smashed the teacup on the table and said with a cold look, “Second Sister-In-Law, stop exaggerating! What do you mean by watching him die?!” Saying this, Minglan suddenly straightened her back and stood up. She glanced at the three women in front of her and at last fixed her eyes on Second Madam Bing while snorting, “Second Sister-In-Law, why don’t you ask others how the people who committed the same crimes as us have been convicted? Some got their family properties confiscated, some were exiled, and some got their heads chopped off! Do you know how many people are imprisoned now and how long their imprisonment will be?”

Her voice was loud, and her tone sounded angry. Then Minglan took a few steps and gazed at Second Madam Bing, “Right now, Fourth Uncle, Fifth Uncle and other men are all safe and sound. Only one member of our family was sentenced. Even so, the sentence he received is lighter than it should be! Huh… Who has been running about for all of this?! Second Sister-In-Law, now you think you can ignore all the efforts by saying those words?!”

She squinted her big charming eyes while showing a sarcastic look, “I thought that Master is a bit cruel before. Now it seems like, huh, even though he does good deeds, no one would be grateful to him anyway and they only complain about him!”

After saying that, she sat on her seat in anger, not intending to say a word anymore.