Chapter 13: Today Is Not Yesterday
After parting ways with Madam Liu, Wen Mingqian did not return to the Gong Mansion immediately. Instead, she went to Ming Jing Tower, requested a small private room, ordered four dishes and a pot of wine, and savored them slowly, staying for a full hour.
The Capital City had countless restaurants, and Ming Jing Tower was not particularly remarkable, but it was a place she used to frequent the most.
In the first two years after marrying into the Gong Family, whenever she felt down, she would come here to drink alone.
The Gong Family, however, strongly disapproved of this, especially Old Madam.
She had never been very pleased with Wen Mingqian to begin with, but she couldn’t go against her husband’s wishes.
When Wen Mingqian came to the Capital City at the age of thirteen, her father became a minor Official in the Ministry of Revenue.
Because Father Wen was upright and incorruptible his entire life, despite his talent, he remained in a low-ranking position.
Gong Family’s Old Uncle, who was then an official in the Ministry of Revenue, had been a Jinshi Scholar in the same year as Father Wen. He admired Father Wen’s integrity and did not judge him by his official rank.
The two thus became close friends. When Old Uncle visited the Wen Family, Father Wen ordered his children to come out and pay their respects.
Old Uncle then took a liking to Wen Mingqian and resolved to have her marry his youngest son, Gong Xu.
Old Madam Gong naturally disapproved. She felt the Wen Family’s status was too low. Although Wen Mingqian’s great-grandfather had served as a high-ranking official, that was a matter of past generations.
Currently, Wen Mingqian’s father was merely an eighth-rank official, truly not presentable and likely to cause ridicule.
However, Old Uncle was set on this marriage. He believed the Wen Family had a scholarly lineage and their family principles were exceptionally upright.
In this era of declining morals and superficial hearts, only those with integrity could establish a stable home and secure the nation.
Wen Mingqian was learned and polite, possessed outstanding beauty, and, most importantly, was not greedy for vanity and had a sincere heart.
Therefore, despite everyone’s objections, the engagement was finalized the following year.
Although Old Madam Gong was a thousand times unwilling, her arm could not twist a thigh.
Moreover, the Gong Family valued reputation the most. Her dissatisfaction could not be publicized, so she went along with it, thus preserving their own good name.
Unfortunately, just three months after the engagement, Old Uncle suddenly fell gravely ill and passed away.
Gong Xu observed the mourning period for three years. Due to Old Uncle’s dying wish, the marriage had to take place within three months of the mourning period’s end, so he welcomed Wen Mingqian into the family.
Upon her departure, Father Wen earnestly exhorted her, reluctant to part. He felt heartache for his daughter, who had lost her mother at a young age, and he himself was about to be transferred to another region.
Although Wen Mingqian’s heart was filled with mixed emotions at that time, she never imagined the subsequent hardships and suffering she would endure.
Her life was like a tender willow in spring, just as it stretched its branches, it was struck by a heavy axe.
Wen Mingqian gazed out the window at the pedestrians and carriages on the street, lost in thought for a long time.
It wasn’t until the waiter lightly tapped on the wooden partition, asking if she wanted more wine or hot dishes, that Wen Mingqian snapped back to reality.
“No need. Please settle the bill!” Wen Mingqian glanced at the dishes on the table, which had barely been touched. The cook here had changed, and the taste was far inferior to before.
Like many people and things in the world, it was truly difficult for them to remain as they were at first sight.
“Don’t clear the table yet. Let my followers come up and finish eating before you do,” Wen Mingqian added.
This time, Aunt Tian accompanied her, while Zhang Ma stayed home with Gong Changan.
Aunt Tian was naturally one of Consort Song’s people, but among these individuals, she was the most spirited.
After settling the bill, Wen Mingqian left Ming Jing Tower and saw Aunt Tian and the coachman waiting there, showing no signs of impatience.
“You two go upstairs and eat. I’m going to the cosmetics shop next door to take a look,” Wen Mingqian said. “If the meal isn’t enough, feel free to order more. I’ve already asked them to reheat the dishes.”
“Thank you, Madam.” Aunt Tian and the coachman quickly expressed their gratitude and followed the waiter inside.
Wen Mingqian then went to the cosmetics shop, carefully examined both floors, and finally selected a few items for her own use.
By the time she finished shopping, Aunt Tian and the coachman had also finished their meal.
Aunt Tian smiled and asked Wen Mingqian, “Madam, would you like to visit any other places?”
“Then let’s go to the Southern Goods Store,” Wen Mingqian replied without hesitation. “I wonder if the Zou Ji Southern Goods Store on Stone Man Street is still there?”
“Yes, it is. Their goods are the most authentic, and their business is booming,” the coachman said. “If we go now, there should be fewer people.”
Although Wen Mingqian was not favored by Master, she was, after all, the Matriarch of the household. He was merely a servant, so how could he neglect his Master?
Moreover, the two maids from a couple of days ago, although not sold off, had been greatly humiliated, which was truly unnecessary.
Wen Mingqian selected some items at the Southern Goods Store and had Aunt Tian and the coachman load them onto the carriage. She then casually turned into the adjacent silk shop.
A handsome young shop assistant immediately put down his work and greeted her, smiling, “Madam, you’ve arrived.”
Gong Xu returned early today, and Gong Bao’an, being on holiday from the academy, was home all day.
The father and son were strolling around the mansion. Gong Bao’an spotted a beautifully embroidered kite flying in the sky and jumped up, exclaiming, “Who’s flying a kite at our house? Let’s go take a look!”
Saying this, he ran towards the kite, and Gong Xu, fearing he might fall, quickly followed behind him.
They eventually discovered that the person flying the kite was none other than Gong Changan.
Gong Bao’an hesitated at the entrance of Yun Feng Zhai, not daring to enter.
“Bao’er, what’s wrong?” Gong Xu asked him.
“Mother told me not to come here,” Gong Bao’an said, but his eyes were fixed on the kite. “She said it would disturb Madam.”
Gong Xu couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Consort Song was too kind. She was wary of Wen Mingqian, this vicious woman. While she would caution her son, she would not speak ill of Wen Mingqian to him.
“Your mother is right. Let’s go back! If you like kites, Daddy will have someone buy one for you on the street,” Gong Xu said, bending down to pick up his son.
At this moment, Gong Changan turned around and saw them. He immediately handed the spool to Zhang Ma, who was nearby.
“Father,” Gong Changan walked quickly to Gong Xu, paid his respects, and then smiled at Gong Bao’an, asking, “You must be Brother Bao’an!”
“Who are you?” Gong Bao’an was very curious. “Why do you know me, but I don’t know you?”
“This is your Fourth Brother, Changan,” Gong Xu said with infinite patience to Gong Bao’an. “He only recently returned from our hometown.”
“Are you the brother who ranks above me?” Gong Bao’an was even more curious. He knew that the Main House had Elder Brother and Second Brother, and Third Brother Kang An was his full sibling but had passed away early.
No one dared to mention him in front of their mother, as it would inevitably make her sad.
He himself had once said the wrong thing and was quietly instructed by Granny Yang, which was how he learned about Third Brother.
He was the fifth child, and between him and Third Brother, there was a Fourth Brother.
This Fourth Brother was even more taboo than Third Brother. Not only could he not be mentioned in front of their mother, but it was best not to mention him in front of anyone in the household.
However, the more he couldn’t be mentioned, the more curious he became. Gong Bao’an was younger than Gong Changan and naturally shorter. He looked up at this Fourth Brother, and an inexplicable fondness grew in his heart.
Gong Changan gently reached out and stroked his head. “Fifth Brother, if you like this kite, I’ll give it to you! I made it today.”
By this time, Zhang Ma had already retrieved the kite and handed it to Gong Changan.
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