The Story of Ming Lan Episode 8

Lady Bai (GTY's birth mother) past revealed! Introducing momo Kong

Spoilers Ahead

Note: This is more of a transitional episode as we enter Momo academy. There are a few interesting points though. The most important thing is we learn about the past relationship between the current marquis and GTY's mother. The second important thing we learn is what Princess Pining is like

1)Stepmother Gu has a candid conversation with stepmother (or at least tries to). Stepmother appears to be not inclined to become involved with GTY happenings and even bemoans her own's sons lack of smarts (not untrue) while Elder brother essentially tells her that he will continue to spy on GTY because he expects her son to to be the marquis some day because of his illness. She tells him his health will improve (I didn't realize this at the time, but elder brother is very smart and he has stepmother's number down....)

2)Elsewhere, we are introduced to Princess Pining--the mother of Yuan Ruo. She sells a servant who dressed herself up (this is the second time) and she announces to her maidservants that anybody who tries to seduce her son will basically be killed. This is the fierce mother protecting her only son--she grew up in the palace, seen all the tricks, and has high hopes for him. She catches her son daydreaming instead of studying, and though she does not call him out, she knows a woman is on his mind. Yuan Ruo even tries to get her to visit the Sheng family out of thanks for tutoring him but she slips out of this trap by telling him smoothly that they are too low ranked. Her thoughts go to the Sheng daughters.....she questions Buwei, Yuan Ruo's personal servant regarding any potential lady in her son's life but he is loyal and won't admit to anything

3)Stepmother Gu goes to meet his nursemaid (there are so many momo's in this drama, so I will call her Momo Gu). He convinces her to help with his mistress and children in the house he bought. She finally concedes, saying that as long as the girl is nice she won't complain.

4) Big Madame, Ming Lan, and Rulan meet Momo Kong (from the palace). They exchange pleasantries. while this happens, servants chase away Concubine Lin who hopes to sneak in.

5)elsewhere, Momo Gu relates the truth about the marriage between GTY and his father, and answers some questions. It seems that at the time, the Gu family owed a huge debt of money to the emperor and he was collecting on it, and he was serious (he threw other nobles in jail for not paying). His father was the most honorable; the other gu sons were poor choices (one was hedonistic, one haughty). but his father was married to the first wife (mother of elder brother gu). Hence his mother, who was young, beautiful, and the only daughter and child of the Bai merchant, was cherished and he rejected the sons. However, after Father Gu became a widow, he returned and it seemed to be a great match. They were married, and she brought over a jillion dollars in money

.6)The Lady Bai had problems from day one. On her wedding night, instead of consummating her marriage, ignored her. For three months this dragged out (this is humiliating, insulting, and makes one feel worthless). It took the old marquis (GTY grandfather) to make him consummate. When GTY was born, her relationship with the marquis became worse--maybe because it was a healthy boy--and she regularly was ignored and received harsh words from him. Only by chance, she overhead a servant telling elder brother gu that Lady Bai forced her way into the family because she was greedy for a title, and this caused the death of the first wife. Now this devastates Lady Bai

7)Pregnant with her second child, she confronts her husband in a direct manner and he dismiss her. She calls him out: you married me for my money and you resent me for it (basically) and now you and your whole family mock me and hate me and spread lies about me; you don't even care about your son. she asked for a divorce and planned to leave, but she went into labor and died......broken hearted and hurt

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