That maid got dazed first but still answered yes.

As Shao shi thought of this, she suddenly felt grieved and lay on the bed, sobbing, “My poor girl. She used to be the legal daughter of Marquis Ningyuan, but now she has to play up to a wild girl whose blood mother is from nowhere!”

The maid was shocked to hear that. Then she stepped forward in a hurry, saying, “Madam, what happened? Did Second Madam give you a long face?”

Shao shi shook her head, “No, she treats me very nicely…” The words got stuck in her throat, “Although she looks childish, she is not a simple woman indeed. Even a powerful woman like Old Madam cannot take advantage of her at all, how"s it possible for me to offend her?”

“Then, Madam, why are you being like this? This is a good thing.” The maid was confused.

“When master was alive, I couldn"t socialize because I had to look after him. Now that I have become a widow, it"s inappropriate for me to attend all kind of social occasions too. I only blame myself for being useless, having no acquaintances or connections.” Shao shi said that while trying to retrain herself from crying.

The maid comforted her, “Madam, you are too worried. No one would look down upon you even if you don"t socialize, since your ident.i.ty is unshakable.”

Shao shi shook her head and sat up, murmuring, “… Tingcan is waiting to get married at home. However, ever since she is a young girl, she has been a beloved daughter all along. In spring, she could view the blossoms, in autumn, she could hold poem parties. She always invite the ladies who are close to her to our mansion and they always respond to her calls. Every year, our mansion would be bustling because of her activities.”

The maid fell into silence for a long time. Xian was also the legal daughter from the Gu"s first family, but her had a much lower status than Gu Tingcan.

“But my Xian… Xian, she could only live a lonely life with me.” Shao shi was choked, “She could only have a teacher with the help of Second Brother"s family! What about her future?”

The maids also shed tears, but she still put on a reluctant smile and coaxed, “Madam, don"t think like that. We have to rely on certain ones to live a good life considering of our condition right now. Old Madam is a kind woman, now it seems that Second Madam Ye is also a great person. I believe that you and our lady won"t have a hard time.”

Hearing her gentle words, Shao shi gradually stopped crying.

“Our lady is a clever girl. Every time she goes to the Cheng Manor, she always wears that joyful look. Have you ever seen her unwilling to go? According to my observation, I feel that Second Madam truly likes our lady. Although young lady Rong seems a bit unrestrained, she is sincere to our lady. That"s all because our lady is a likeable girl.”

Those words pleased Shao shi a lot. She then melt into smiles and felt more relieved then.

That night when Gu Tingye came back home, Minglan helped him get undressed while saying, “… Then, Xian could finally go too.”

Gu Zijin didn"t say anything with his face turning completely sullen and his eyebrows knitted. Minglan observed his face from his side while guessing that this man perhaps was thinking, "I have been bullied by Gu Tingyu for so many years, but now I have to look after his daughter. That is so unfair."

Minglan then ended this topic right away and talked about her doubt today, “… Ever since I married into this family, I always found Old Madam Qin very elegant and restrained. Never have I seen her so cheerful. I wonder what it is all about.”

Gu Tingye raised one of his thick eyebrows slightly and snorted, “That"s not hard to guess. She has a son and a daughter, so there are only two things which will make her happy.”

“What are those?” Minglan took a sip of the white fungus soup to test if it was hot.

“First is that I am dead, and my Third Brother inherits my t.i.tle.” The tall man lay on the armchair and said that.

Minglan was almost choked, with her hand and wrist going stiff in the air, while she was still holding the cup. She sized up the man carefully and said slowly, “I think you aren"t going to die for a while.”

Gu Tingye gave out a cozy smile, “The second one is Tingcan"s marriage.”

Minglan put the hot white fungus soup on the table to let it cool. As she thought it through, she said admiringly, “So, your Seventh Sister"s engagement is on the track now.” It was always a good thing for an over-aged girl to get married. Minglan wondered which family would be able to accept such a cold and proud girl. In the hot days, that family wouldn"t need to use ice. Oh my.

As she turned to Gu Tingye, she found the latter having no intention to air any opinion. Then she couldn"t help but tease at him, “You are her brother. Why don"t you care about your sister"s marriage at all?”

Gu Tingye taunted at her immediately, “You are her sister-in-law, I never see you caring about her so much either.”

Minglan gave a wry smile and walked to Gu Tingye, sighing, “Tingcan and I never talked too much. I really don"t know how to start a conversation with her.”

Gu Zijng raised his arm and dragged Minglan onto his leg, saying with a vague smile, “That"s great. Me, either.”

“How"s that even possible?” Minglan was astonished. After all, Gu Tingye and Gu Tingcan had been brother and sister for dozens of years.

Gu Tingye rubbed the soft flesh on her belly with his arm around her waist and said with an indifferent look, “She is a high-minded girl from a young age and always disdains the bad behaviors. How can she tolerate a notorious man like me?”

Minglan was speechless, not knowing what to say. The brother was almost ten years older than the sister. At the time when Gu Tingcan started to remember things, Gu Tingye was in the period of his life when he had been the most impulsive and mutinous. Minglan guessed that Gu Tingcan must have witnessed lots of outrageous things Gu Tingye had done.

Gu Tingye raised his head to look at the air with a weird look on his face while muttering in a gentle voice, “That"s good, that"s good…”

“What"s so good?” Minglan murmured in a low voice. She enjoyed his ma.s.sage a lot. Then, with her arms around the man"s strong waist, she clung to his chest and fell into a sleep in his warm arms.

Gu Tingye lowered his head, seeing Minglan curled herself up in his arms like a little kitten with smooth furs. Her eyelashes were long, and her face was rosy, giving out a pleasant smell. The girl seemed to be about to fall asleep. He only felt very comfortable holding this chubby girl in his arms.

He weighed the girl and sighed slightly, “My girl truly got fat…”