Legend of Concubine’s Daughter Minglan - Chapter 222

222. Dealing with a Series of Disgusting Things (1)
Translator: Iris
Only after a few days Hongxiao and Qiuniang had arrived, Minglan suddenly found that there were so many people caring about Gu Tingye’s sex life.

One day, Mama Lai came to Minglan’s room cheerfully. At first she kept flattering Minglan with sweet words, which gave tingles in Minglan’s ears. Then Mama Lai finally went to the point, “… Madam, you are still too young to know the rules in a big family like us. Actually, you need to make a schedule for Master to let him sleep with you and his concubine in turn. Then our family would be peaceful!”

Minglan fell into silence for a long while. This was the first time she really got furious. Then she looked at Mama Lai with a cold expression on her face at once. With the smile on Mama Lai’s face freezing, she shut her mouth with fear. Seeing the sullen look on Minglan’s face, Mama Lai then smiled fawningly and said, “Madam, forgive me for be meddling. I said that for your own good. I was only afraid that others might call you a ‘jealous woman’.”

Minglan snorted secretly, ‘You really think I know nothing? How dare you bully me in such a barefaced way?! The rule of letting the madam and concubines serving their masters in turn is meant to restrict the concubines.’ Normally, men favored their concubines more than their wives. Therefore, this rule was meant to prevent the man from doting on one concubine.

However, not so many big families were able to carry out that rule.

Minglan tried her best to hide the cold expression in her eyes and smiled gently, “I didn’t know about that rule indeed. Mama, you were right. Then I have to ask you something. First, has First Madam Qin made any schedule like this?”

Mama Lai didn’t know what to say. When First Madam Qin had been alive, Old Master Gu hadn’t had any concubines or Tong Fang.

Minglan then asked again, “What about Bai shi and Old Madam Qin?”

Mama Lai choked again. Not only had Bai shi never agreed with that rule, even Old Madam Qin who had been famous for her virtue hadn’t made any schedule like that.

Minglan started to snort, “Then have my sisters-in-law made any schedule like this? Mama, have you suggested them to do so?”

Mama Lai couldn’t utter a single word and only stood put, not knowing if she should leave or stay. The look on her face already twisted due to her awkwardness.

Minglan said calmly, “So, it seems that you only care about me.”

Only until then did Mama Lai know that she had got herself in trouble. Her new madam had a clear mind and a glib tongue. Mama Lai, aware that Minglan was not someone she could fool with so easily, wanted to kneel down right away in panic. Minglan winked at Xiaotao immediately. Then the latter suddenly stopped Mama Lai from kneeling down with great strength. On the other side, Minglan smiled softly, saying, “Mama, I don’t deserve this.”

Mama Lai, with cold sweats all over her forehead, couldn’t spit a word.

After Mama Lai had left, Danju said furiously, “Madam, we cannot leave it at that. They are so outrageous!” Xiaotao began to give a lousy idea, “We can find faults with them and punish her fiercely! I hope we can beat her with those big sticks! Then she will never dare to bother us!”

Minglan, with a gloomy look on her face, clenched her fists tightly. No one was able to tell what she was thinking. After a long while, she said in a low voice, “Nice try! If I really punish her, that woman in Marquis Ningyuan’s mansion would be so pleased. The more she wants something big to happen in our mansion, the more I’ll let our family be in peace!”

Danju and Xiaotao looked at each other, not understanding Minglan’s words. Minglan raised her head and asked, “Has Mama Lai had any argument or quarrel with anyone since she arrived in this mansion?”

“Of course she has.” Xiaotao answered, “Those Mamas from Marquis Ningyuan’s mansion all pride themselves on having served the elders. I never saw anyone who’s more arrogant than them. They just love to show off their high position by scolding others. Mama Lai was the most hateful one among them. She gets nothing to do all day, so she likes to make troubles for the ones who are on duty. Now she has already made some enemies.”

“Good.” Minglan said in a flat tone.

Next day in the afternoon, Minglan asked Wang Wu’s wife who worked in the back garden to take charge of the planting in a plot of wasteland next to the woods.

Everyone in Gu’s mansion didn’t understand why Wang Wu’s wife was the one who could get the post which everybody wanted. After all, Wang Wu’s wife was a perverse woman who was not clever in dealing with people. As a matter of fact, Minglan had planned to reserve this post for Cui Wei’s husband. However, he felt that he still needed time to learn how to manage people in the front yard, so he refused that offer. As a result, Minglan couldn’t find a suitable person for that position until now.

“Wang Wu’s wife wants to express her gratitude.” Cui Wei came in and reported that.

Minglan waved her hand and asked, “You sure she’s the most suitable one?”

“Mama Cui and I both felt that she was the most outstanding one among all those servants.” Cui Wei nodded and continued, “That woman is eloquent and straight-forward but not lack of intelligence. I have asked around about her. She gets along well with others. The few times she got into a fight with Mama Lai were mostly because she wanted to defend others. But I haven’t known about her for a long time, so I can’t say if she has other shortcomings.”

“No one can be perfect.” Minglan gave out a wry smile and said, “I will only let her work in that position for the moment. If she does her job well, I’ll let her keep the job. If she fails, I can relieve her of her post at any time.”

Danju stood by the door and looked around. Then she turned around and said in a low voice, “Don’t worry, Madam. Haven’t we already checked the files last night? Although Wang Wu’s wife hasn’t done any farm work herself, her husband used to be a farmer in the manor. Our other candidates might have done lots of farm work, but they always carry tales among others and have no sense of propriety.”

Hearing that, Minglan nodded and made up her mind. She said, “Cuiwei, tell her that she doesn’t need to express her thanks to me. But do tell her two things: First, I want her to devote to her job. Once someone finds her faults, I’ll know about it. Second…” Minglan smiled and continued, “Mama Lai is an elder from Marquis Ningyuan’s mansion. She’s kind and nice. Tell Wang Wu’s wife that she should ‘respect’ Mama Lai. That’s all I want you to tell her.”

With light flashing in Cuiwei’s eyes, she nodded and went out right away. Danju seemed to understand Minglan’s words at the same time. Only Xiaotao who was sewing the brocade cloth by the table asked in a daze, “Will it work?”

Minglan said slowly, “If Wang Wu’s wife really is a clever woman, she’ll understand. From now on, none of you should talk about what has happened today. Be nice to Mama Lai when you run into her. Do not get quarrel with her. If anything happens, just report to me!”

The two girls both answered with a serious look.