The Legend of Concubine's Daughter Minglan

Chapter 126

That night, Minglan didn't sleep very well. As she was half-awake, she felt someone was staring at her. When she opened her eyes in a daze, she found Gu Tingye leaning slightly to her side and gazing at her. Minglan, as drowsy as she was, only murmured, "Why don't you sleep?" After a long while, Gu Tingye said gently, "Go back to sleep, honey, you have been so tired lately."

His soft tone exposed his tender affection, and even a bit guilty to her.

The girl's long eyelashes suddenly shivered.

She truly was tired.

It was very tired to manage such a big family. The social engagement was tiring. Guarding against others' schemes was tiring. She had to weigh her words every time she wanted to say something and considered the things she wanted to do over and over again. She was afraid of being reproached and criticized. She was more afraid that her faults would bring troubles to him. If things continued like this, she might go mad someday.

Long long time ago, she had sworn in front of the Buddha that she would live a good life.

Every day, no matter how busy she was, she would make time to have a rest, admire the beautiful flowers, read books, play chess, draw pictures, embroider the Brokeback Mountain pattern which amused her a lot on the cloth and recite the Buddha Texts when facing the clear and beautiful scenery. Those beautiful verses in the poems and those books which recorded the magnificent mountains and rivers could comfort her mind like the cool breeze blowing over the mountains.

Every day, she smiled and begged for the Buddha's mercy. She only wanted peace, joy and a clear mind.

Everyone said that she was a lucky girl- But at least the man beside her knew about her tiredness and difficulties.

Minglan approached to the man and wriggled into his arms like a little puppy. The midnight of the early summer was cold, it seemed she could only find warmness in the man's arms.

In the morning, after the breakfast, the three persons who lived in the House of Cardamon Fragrance came to give their obeisance as usual.

Qiuniang's eyes were swollen like large walnuts, clearly she had cried for the whole night and was still in a dispirited state. Hongxiao spoke smilingly like she used to be as if nothing had happened. As for Rong, thanks to these days nourishing meals, she finally looked better than before. However, she still only uttered one single word or simple phrases at one time.

Minglan chatted with them genially. Normally, she would speak three sentences to each of them and then let them speak freely. Hongxiao played the leading role in the conversations most of the time. However, Minglan said something more today.

"Momo Chang will arrive this afternoon. Tell Mama Hua to bring Rong here then."

Qiuniang moved her lips but didn't say anything. Rong also raised her head slightly. Hongxiao put on a joyful look, saying, "Is Momo Chang really coming? I've already heard Master talking about this Momo. Since she also lives in the capital now, I guess we can see her very often in the future." She seemed to be looking forward to Momo Chang's arrival.

Minglan took a glance at Hongxiao and held her tea cup up, saying, "Master said that Momo Chang had taken care of Rong Before. So he wanted Rong to meet Momo Chang."

Qiuniang's face got paler and paler hearing that. Rong, with her head lowered, seemed to have remembered something. Hongxiao got dazed for a second but changed the subject right away with a beaming smile. After this woman spoken freely for five minutes, Minglan dismissed all of them.

After they left, Minglan raised her head to look at the beams with carvings in a daze. Momo Chang, truly was a remarkable woman.

After Momo Chang's first daughter had died, she had gone to work in the Bai family as a wet nurse. Due to her diligent and considerate work, Old Master Bai had proposed to keep her as well as her husband in the mansion. However, she had refused that right away even though she had known how many benefits that offer would bring. As Old Master Bai had made a career for himself, Momo Chang had been more and more valued in the family due to her loyalty. After Bai family had got richer and richer, when Lady Bai had been about to get married, lots of the servants had competed to follow Madam Bai to Marquis Ningyuan's mansion in order to enjoy a wealthy life. However, Momo Chang had not been among those servants. She had gone back to her hometown to manage her own family.