The Legend of Concubine's Daughter Minglan

Chapter 67

The man was standing there quietly, whose face was nicely-carved and eyes were as dark as the night could be. Shadows of cherry-apple tree leaves cast on his face, half blurring his face, the red gown decorated with golden ribbon he wore was a bit worn out on the edges. Minglan's torso was ready to turn around, however, her legs were just too numb to even budge, she ended up with bowing with a forced smile on her face, "Good day, second uncle, how have you been?"

Gu turned back slowly with his hands tied on his waist, he squinted his unfathomable eyes, staring at Minglan. It got unbearable silent, Minglan, with her eyes staring at her feet, felt the ornament on her hair trembling with her throbbing heart. Tick tock, Gu uttered briefly, "Today marks the anniversary of my father's pass away."

Minglan was such a quick-witted girl, she replied, "May his spirit rest in peace."

Gu Tingye managed to keep the corner of his mouth from twitching and added after a moment of hesitation, "Did Lady Yu marry someone great?"

Minglan raised her head out of shock, only to find him with a genial look and his tone apologizing. Minglan was much bewildered.

Seeing that, Gu Tingye lifted the corner of his mouth and added, "I have always respected Cabinet Yu, and I've never expected that..."

It gradually dawned upon Minglan that perhaps Tingye Gu had intentionally waited here for her in order to inquire about Yu Yanran. Cabinet Yu was dignified and upright all his life; however, in the twilight of his life, he suffered heartache of parting with his two granddaughters who both had fallen into the miserable fates because of Gu Tingye. One of them had married a man far away in Yunnan, the other had died within six months after having married Gu Tingye. Although it was mainly due to Master Yu's greed, the 'culprit', Gu Tingye, was bound to feel somewhat guilty.

After thinking for a while, Minglan replied, "Yunnan is far away from here. I have only received three letters from Yanran in the past year. She writes that her husband is good-tempered and her parents-in-law are both amicable. Even though Yunnan is not as prosperous as the capital, it's an outstandingly beautiful place with blue sky and clear water. Sister Yu now leads a happy life."

Minglan also had written what had happened before in reply to Yanran: Gu Tingye's wife, Yu Yanhong, fell ill soon after he left home, and when he heard the news and rushed back home, she was dead already. Shortly after his wife's funeral arrangements ended, his father passed away too. All these things happened one after another at a cracking pace. After that, there was hardly any rumors about Gu Tingye in the capital.

Occasionally, Minglan heard some rumors saying that Gu Tingye had abandoned himself to vice, indulging in the brothels, gambling and drinking with the lower orders from all corners of the country every day. He seemed to have made some "achievements", but which was ignoble in the eyes of the high officials and noble lords.

Gu Tingye breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that. He straightened up and said in a soft tone, "If she has any difficulties, please tell me. Though I am not powerful enough, I will do all I can to help her."

Minglan nodded perfunctorily and looked at Gu Tingye with her eyes wide open, surprised and confused. But soon she held her demonstrative expression back and looked up at the sun above. Pigs might fly? His words ran counter to his past image.

Gu Tingye, natural and unaffected, didn't take Minglan's surprise and doubt to his heart. He smiled, "Your name is Minglan, and you are related to the Qi family, right?"

Minglan nodded her head vigorously. No matter what she thought of Gu Tingye, she wore a sincere and innocent expression on her face.

Gu Tingye apologized modestly, "I'm sorry to have offended you twice before. Please forgive me, I didn't mean to insult you. Manniang...I was misled by her lies."