MLMD -Chapter 237 Storm Clouds Gather, the Wind Fills the Hall

Early Morning, May 7, 8th Year of Chongzhen, Zhen Guo General’s Mansion, Hunyuan Prefecture

“How is it? Has my good daughter-in-law given birth yet?”

Outside a small but exquisitely decorated room, over ten servants and maids were bustling about, some carrying hot water, others holding clean warm towels, hurrying toward the room. From inside came intermittent groans of pain.

The matriarch of the Yue family leaned on her cane with one hand, while holding her granddaughter Yue Ying’s small hand with the other, anxiously peering inside. Muttering constantly, she fretted, “It’s been hours already—why hasn’t she given birth yet? Why isn’t she giving birth?”

“Grandma, don’t worry. Sister-in-law is a blessed person. She’ll be fine!” Yue Ying said softly, supporting the matriarch and offering comfort.

“Yes, Grandma, the eldest madam seems strong and healthy; she’ll have no problem,” added Cao Youqian, who was trailing closely behind the matriarch, trying to reassure her. The mother-to-be had not yet delivered, and if anything happened to her first, the young master’s return would ensure this steward would face a very unpleasant fate.

“I must go in and see for myself! What are those midwives even doing? How can they be so incompetent at such a small matter!” The matriarch spun anxiously, her mouth already starting to scold.

“Ah… Grandma, you can’t go in!”

“Yes, Grandma, the midwives inside are busy. If you go in, you’ll only make things worse!” Cao Youqian pleaded.

“What… you say I’m making things worse! I’m worried about my great-grandson!” The old lady was now thoroughly displeased. The suppressed anger that had been building over the past few days finally erupted. Her old eyes flared, ready to start shouting—but suddenly, from inside the room, a baby’s cry rang out.

“Waaah…”

The piercing cry was like the first rays of morning sunlight, instantly dispelling the gloom that had settled over everyone overnight. The matriarch’s previously stormy old face softened as if snow had melted under the sun, wrinkles spreading like blossoming chrysanthemums.

“Oh… it looks like the baby is born! Quick… send someone to see if it’s a boy or a girl!”

Just as she spoke, a middle-aged female servant dashed out of the room at lightning speed. Bowing deeply and gasping for breath, she exclaimed, “Congratulations, Madam! Congratulations, Madam! The eldest madam has given birth to a big, healthy boy! Both mother and child are safe!”

“Good… excellent! The Yue family has heirs now. Truly, the ancestors have blessed us! I’ve finally done right by my grandson who’s away fighting!” Hearing it was a boy, the matriarch’s joy made her almost incoherent; she spoke in a jumble of happiness.

At that moment, hurried footsteps sounded behind them. The matriarch turned and saw the Linglong sisters had arrived. Suppressing her excitement, she, aided by Yue Ying, hurried over and said, “Oh my, what’s this? Ling’er, you came too? Didn’t I tell you to rest inside? How many times have I reminded you that your body isn’t in the condition for hard work?”

Today, Yu Ling wore a loose skirt with a slit, her growing belly making walking inconvenient, while Yu Long carefully supported her from the side.

Yu Ling smiled gently, took a step forward, and held the matriarch’s hand. Coyly, she said, “Grandma, you know me too well. I’m not so delicate. Besides, when the young master left, he instructed me to take care of Sister Hai Lanzhu. Now that she’s giving birth, how could I not come?”

“You! How many times must I tell you—address me as Grandma!” The matriarch tugged at Yu Ling’s hand. Though she spoke with some reproach, her face was radiant. The matriarch always claimed to treat everyone equally, but she naturally favored the Linglong sisters, who had grown up under her care. Seeing Yu Ling recognize her duty and come to support Hai Lanzhu brought her great satisfaction.

“Grandma, has Sister Hai Lanzhu given birth?” Yu Long asked beside her.

“She has—a big, healthy boy,” the matriarch replied, smiling so widely her face seemed to stretch.

“That’s wonderful! If the young master knew, he’d be overjoyed,” Yu Long clapped her hands with delight.

Seeing Yu Long so visibly happy and Yu Ling’s calm demeanor, the matriarch nodded inwardly. She had always admired the sisters for their kind hearts; that was why she had entrusted both of them to Yue Yang.

Patting Yu Ling’s hand, the matriarch said, “Alright, let’s not stand here any longer. Let’s go see my obedient great-grandson.” She led the way toward the delivery room, but before she reached it, waves of cheers erupted from afar, one after another, loud and fervent.

The matriarch paused, puzzled, and turned to Cao Youqian. “Steward, go see what’s happening outside. Why is it so noisy? Doesn’t the young madam need rest after giving birth?”

“Yes, Madam!” Cao Youqian bowed, though perplexed. He couldn’t fathom who would dare make such a ruckus outside. But before he could leave, the noise grew even louder, with firecrackers beginning to pop.

Seeing the matriarch’s displeased expression, Cao Youqian grew angry as well. He decided he would go out and properly scold those who were causing such a disturbance.

Yet before he could act, a young servant came running, shouting, “Grandma! Steward Cao! General… our general has returned to the mansion!”

“What? The general has returned?”

The servant’s words were like a tornado, startling everyone.

Cao Youqian jumped forward, grabbing the servant by the collar. “Did you see clearly? Is it really our master?”

The servant nodded rapidly, pecking like a chick. “Absolutely! The soldier who delivered the news is still at the front yard. The general has entered the city, and the townspeople are spontaneously lining the streets to welcome him.”

“Good… excellent!” The matriarch’s eyes welled with tears of joy. “Sister Hai Lanzhu has just given birth, and my obedient grandson returns home! What joyous news! Quick… have the servants slaughter pigs and sheep; we will host a grand feast today!”

“Yes, Madam!”

With that decree from the matriarch, the entire Zhen Guo General’s Mansion came alive with excitement.

One Year Later, Zhen Guo General’s Mansion

The May sunlight was warm and comforting. Yue Yang sat lazily on a stone bench in the pavilion, holding his son, who had just turned one, basking in the sun. He was so still that, were it not for the occasional babble from his son, he might as well have been a statue.

As Yue Yang dozed, soft whispers floated through the air.

“Elder sister, look—the young master is dozing here again. He’s getting lazier by the day,” said Yu Long.

“Shh… Yu Long, be quiet. Our husband has been busy training troops and overseeing the fields. He deserves some rest. Let him sleep a little longer,” came Hai Lanzhu’s voice. “Xiao Man, go bring the young master over. Let the general rest properly.”

“Yes!”

Soon, light footsteps approached Yue Yang. Just as the person reached him, Yue Yang opened his eyes and made a funny face.

“Ah!”

Xiao Man shrieked beside his ear, startling Yue Yang’s son, who began to cry in his father’s arms.

“Ah… I guess I went too far this time,” Yue Yang murmured, soothing his son while looking pleadingly at Hai Lanzhu, who was hurrying over.

Hai Lanzhu rolled her eyes but took the child from Yue Yang, whispering soothing words: “There, there… don’t cry, my son. Mama’s here. You’re a strong little man; don’t cry.”

Xiao Man, still upset, glared at Yue Yang, trying to convey her indignation with just her eyes.

Hai Lanzhu, as her mistress, naturally defended her, chiding Yue Yang while comforting their son: “You, General, really! You’re no different from a child yourself. Look, you almost scared Xiao Man to tears!”

“Ah… apparently, I’m exempt from being considered human now,” Yue Yang said sheepishly, scratching his nose, and turned toward the Linglong sisters.

The sisters stood nearby, smiling at the scene. Yu Ling held a swaddled baby—less than three months old—kicking and babbling in her arms. In the past year, Yue Yang had children from both Hai Lanzhu and Yu Ling: a son and a daughter, giving him a taste of domestic bliss.

Yue Yang approached Yu Ling and took the swaddled baby from her. Lowering his head, he kissed his daughter’s soft little face. “My darling daughter, you’re the best-behaved one. Your brother is always mischievous. Isn’t that right?”

“Ah… ah…”

But his daughter had other plans. Possibly pricked by her father’s beard, she immediately cried and sprayed warm urine all over Yue Yang.

Seeing his disheveled state, the women laughed. Yu Ling, suppressing her laughter, took the baby back, accepting a diaper from Yu Long to change her. Yue Yang, thoroughly embarrassed, slunk off to sit quietly.

Hai Lanzhu then calmed their son, handed him to Xiao Man, and sat beside Yue Yang, using a handkerchief to clean him up. Seeing all the women busy attending to him, Yue Yang felt a warmth rise in his heart.

Once done, Hai Lanzhu noticed Yue Yang staring at her and smiled softly. “What are you looking at?”

“My wife, of course. Is that not allowed? Who told me to marry someone so beautiful?” Yue Yang replied with complete justification.

“Pfft!” Hai Lanzhu laughed, a gentle expression on her face. She reached out, tapping his head. “I see… you’ve had something on your mind these past days. Otherwise, why would you keep coming here alone?”

Yue Yang admired her perceptiveness. Married less than two years, yet she already understood him so well. Nodding, he said, “You’re right. I have been thinking about some matters lately.”

“What matters? You can’t even tell me?” Hai Lanzhu blinked curiously.

“Uh… nothing too big. Mainly, I’m thinking about how to deal with that person in Datong.”

History in this timeline had diverged greatly from the other one. A famine and peasant uprisings, originally set to break out this year due to prolonged drought, had been greatly altered by Yue Yang’s arrival.

With the introduction of crops like potatoes, wheat, and sweet potatoes, Yingzhou and Hunyuan Prefectures achieved consecutive bumper harvests. Last winter, Yingzhou had a record harvest of over seven million dan of grain. Hunyuan, under Yue Yang’s supervision, cultivated 450,000 acres of reclaimed land alongside the 300,000 acres they already had, yielding over four million dan of grain. Combined, the two prefectures produced over ten million dan, shocking the entire Ming Dynasty.

Years of harvests had earned the northern Shanxi region a reputation as a land of abundance. Yue Yang, having delivered tens of thousands of dan of grain to the court, received multiple imperial commendations from Chongzhen. Controlling Shanxi’s salt trade further earned him the nickname “Ming Dynasty’s God of Wealth.”

But as the saying goes, “Fame invites envy.” Yue Yang’s wealth and food reserves made many envious. From this year onward, rumors targeting him began to circulate.

The most active instigator was Chen Xinjia, the Shanxi inspector, who had returned to the capital after his term ended. Humiliated by Yue Yang in front of all the generals, the narrow-minded Chen saw Yue Yang as an irreconcilable enemy. In Shanxi, he couldn’t touch Yue Yang due to distance and protection from Lu Xiangsheng and Xu Dingchen. Back in the capital, however, he immediately submitted a memorial accusing Yue Yang of amassing troops and harboring ulterior motives. For some reason, the emperor held back the document.

Unwilling to give up, Chen Xinjia colluded with colleagues to repeatedly attack Yue Yang, though still suppressed by the emperor. Rumors gradually spread, with many officials petitioning for Yue Yang’s punishment. When news spread of Yue Yang sending troops to the Chahar tribe, public opinion surged, with many scholars denouncing him as lawless.

Yue Yang was well aware of the situation in the capital. Over the past year, Hai Lanzhu’s You Shan and You Chuan units had extended their influence across Ming territory and the frontier. If Yue Yang had not known of such matters, the entire You Shan unit would be utterly incompetent.

Indeed, not only Yue Yang, but officials throughout Shanxi were aware of the capital’s developments. Generals and officers under Yue Yang were loyal to him, but many quietly observed his next moves.

Amid all this, Yue Yang quietly continued his land reclamation and cultivation work as if the outside world had nothing to do with him.

Hai Lanzhu knew all of this. As the leader of You Shan and You Chuan, she was fully aware. As a smart woman, she knew a man was like a wild horse; brute force alone would not suffice. As his wife, her role was to be a safe harbor, indispensable and relied upon, the mark of a wise woman.

Seeing Yue Yang and Hai Lanzhu silent, Yu Ling and Yu Long understood they were deep in thought. They obediently took Xiao Man and the children to play in the garden, restoring tranquility to the pavilion.

After a while, Yue Yang broke the silence: “Wife, any new news from the court lately?”

Hai Lanzhu nodded. “Some officials are discussing transferring you.”

“Transfer me?” Yue Yang sat up in surprise. “Who dares propose such a thing?”

Hai Lanzhu pursed her lips. “Who else? That same Vice Minister of War, Chen Xinjia.”

“Chen Xinjia!” Yue Yang chuckled instead of getting angry. “I haven’t bothered with him for a while, and he’s getting bold—daring even to suggest transferring me. Has he lost his mind?”

“Don’t worry, he hasn’t,” Hai Lanzhu rolled her eyes. By now, she was used to Yue Yang’s strange choice of words. His family and subordinates even casually called him “silly” or worse.

“Chen Xinjia submitted a memorial, saying that although you’ve contributed greatly as Northern Route Commander for two years, staying too long in one post destabilizes the court. He suggested transferring you to the Eastern or Western route. Not just him—some Ministry of Revenue officials are stirring up trouble as well. In short, they’re jealous of your wealth and food reserves.”

“Storm clouds gather, the wind fills the hall…” Yue Yang sighed lightly.