Minglan, still yawning, sat alone at the breakfast table, holding her porridge spoon as if she were sleepwalking. Danju shook her head repeatedly, "Luckily, Madam was reborn as a girl. If she were a boy, what would Madam do, studying at three in the morning and attending court at four in the morning?"
Minglan almost laughed out loud. A small man who could fly and spin silk told us that with great power comes great responsibility. Compared to modern men, ancient men had so many privileges, so naturally they had to work harder. She had also spent her past life working late into the night and rising early the next morning.
Sigh... I really miss my past life. Back then, even though the sky was gray, the ground was black, and the rivers were colorful, I could still divide the property and divorce my husband if he cheated on me. I could go to my house if I found out he was having an affair. I could talk back if my mother-in-law was provoking me. I could leave my best friend if she tried to steal my boyfriend. Most importantly, even if I had an affair, I didn't have to be thrown into the pig cage.
Well - Minglan swallowed her fantasy saliva, people still have to return to reality.
Wang Xifeng, the famous "March 8th Red Banner Bearer" of ancient China, is an unattainable peak for Minglan. What kind of hardworking person is this? She doesn't have an extra salary, no prospects for promotion, and while she could use her position to make some money, she's insolvent. She wakes up in the middle of the night and works before dawn, with a whole family to support her. Even so, she's afraid of working herself to death, rushing to Ningguo Mansion to find work! What a fool!
In the end, he was exhausted, lost all his dowry, and didn't even give birth to a son. People even said he was childless. So he took a concubine, You Erjie. Was it for the legendary "sense of accomplishment"? It's incomprehensible.
Minglan's personality wasn't one for being a hard worker, so she had Liao Yong's wife and several other housekeepers take turns checking in and then arranging the day's work. She herself would check on things and settle the accounts after breakfast, and the next day's work would be assigned before dinner the previous day, with only occasional surprise checks. So far, it seemed to be working quite well.
Mother Cui was very dissatisfied with Minglan's laziness and would always nag her by the ear. However, Minglan would argue: "Since the results are the same, why do you have to torture yourself?"
Mother Cui frowned and said, "You've worked hard while you're young. Once you have children and grandchildren, you can rest in peace."
"No, no." Minglan shook a finger. "Mom, who do you like sleeping in these days?"
Minglan's eyes were bright, and Mother Cui avoided her gaze: "She doesn't like to sleep much anymore."
"It won't bear fruit! As the saying goes, if you have flowers to pick, pick them right away, don't wait until there are no flowers left to pluck. Sleeping in doesn't wait for anyone. Young wives don't have this opportunity. If I don't take good care of myself now, wouldn't it be a waste of nature's gift? Don't you agree, mom?"
Mother Cui was not good at speaking and was always taciturn, so she could only stare at Minglan angrily. Everyone said that the sixth daughter of the Sheng family was the most well-behaved and docile, but only she knew that "well-behaved" should be changed to "obedient", and "docile" was actually "lip service" and full of seemingly reasonable nonsense. She would approach you with a smile, squinting her big curved eyes, and "discuss" with you with a smile as if asking for advice.
Mother Cui reluctantly admitted that she had not been Minglan's match since she was nine years old.
Minglan observed her expression and knew it was almost time, so she smiled and said, "I know what you mean, Mom, but I don't know how long I can enjoy this good time. If we ever return to the Ningyuan Marquis's Mansion, I'll have to pay my respects before dawn and even have to follow the rules. It's best to take advantage of now to rest well."
"Will he go back?" Mother Cui asked doubtfully.
Minglan chuckled, "We're family after all, so who knows if he'll go back."
Mother Cui sighed and said nothing more. She just strictly disciplined the maids in the mansion.
Minglan had no objection to this. She came from the Internet age and knew the power of rumors and gossip. If she allowed the inner house staff to be lax, something might get out. You know, there are many people in Ningyuan Marquis' Mansion who are watching her.
The most important part is the main courtyard of Jiaxiju.
There are three sources of maids in the inner house: those brought by Minglan, those purchased from outside, and those born in the family.
Nanny Chang had previously gone to the inner courtyard to select two batches of maids. Those selected in the summer, whether purchased or born, were all called Xia X. Xia Zhu and Xia He were among Nanny Chang's first batch of maids sent in. Later, another batch was selected, and because it was winter, they were all called Dong X. Minglan thought this was a good idea, and since it was spring now, the newly selected batch were all called Chun X.
Xiaotao rolled her eyes at her.
According to legislative conventions, there are always a few careless chickens that have to be killed at the beginning to serve as a warning to the monkeys.
Most of these maids had not been trained for long, and were still young and playful. They saw that the food, clothing, and other necessities in the mansion were extremely generous and superior. Especially those who entered Minglan's courtyard, they were like young ladies, with silk clothes and chicken, duck, fish and meat. The fine porcelain and jade utensils that were rare in the past were now common.
Every time Minglan saw these expenditure items, she sighed: No wonder the maids in the Grand View Garden would rather "die" than go out, no wonder the girls are eager to become concubines; on one side are the common people living in coarse clothes and shabby rooms, and on the other side are the ladies who are well-dressed and well-fed. The temptation of material life is indeed boundless.
Not only were the food and clothing fine, but the rewards included a lot of gold and silver jewelry. The daily chores were not heavy, and seeing that Minglan was a kind master, he didn't feel restrained at all.
Some quarreled because of their proud tempers, some fought for clothes and jewelry, some were lazy and forgot to be on duty or were lazy in their work, some entered Minglan's inner room without permission, and some had some improper thoughts... In just seven or eight days, no less than five or six offenders fell into the hands of Luzhi and Ruomei.
Law is the art of punishing people, and Minglan decided to be a third-rate artist.
Clarify responsibilities, first determine everyone's duties, and then write down in black and white what not to do, where not to go, what not to say, and how not to dress; if there is a violation, the lighter one will be reprimanded, the heavier one will be spanked, the more serious one will be fined a monthly salary, and the more serious one will be kicked out. Those who leave the inner house will not be allowed to stay in the outer courtyard, and will either be picked up by their parents or sent to work in the farm; and expulsion and sale are the last reserved procedures.
Every time you make a mistake, a record is kept, including the reason, the punishment received, and the attitude of admitting the mistake. All of this is noted down so that you can make lump sum withdrawals and accumulate the records for investigation. If you make mistakes endlessly, even if they are small mistakes, it is not good to keep a record if they happen too often, so as to prevent some smart girls from making excuses and causing trouble if everyone follows suit.
In fact, the most severe punishment is not selling, but beating to death. However, Minglan does not appreciate this method. It is not only harmful to one's integrity, but also easy to ruin one's reputation. Selling to the elderly, children, remote areas, poor areas or even wild areas will actually have a worse result.
Except for confiscation of monthly wages and expulsion, which need to be reported to Minglan, the rest of the punishments are controlled by the older maids. Among them, only Danju holds the ruler. She has a relatively steady and kind temper and will not enforce the law unfairly or give a light punishment, causing chaos. The other older maids are responsible for supervision and reprimanding according to seniority.
Minglan watched coldly from the sidelines, feeling somewhat relieved as she saw Danju becoming more and more strict. In the beginning, she always thought that Danju was too good-hearted and not powerful enough, but now she thought that it was not entirely her fault. In the beginning, she herself was just the sixth daughter of a concubine in the Sheng family, and she was not strong enough, so how could she expect Danju to be decisive and resolute?
After a few days of this regulation, those who deserved to be beaten were beaten, those who deserved to be fined were fined, and even a few troublemakers were driven out. Jiaxi Residence became much more peaceful and orderly. Seeing the quietness in the courtyard, Minglan was also quite satisfied. Xiaotao came to flatter her like a sycophant: "Madam is so capable, Madam is so smart!"
Minglan said mysteriously, "In a wealthy family, it is not difficult to punish a few servants. The difficult part is the master behind the servants." That's why the water in wealthy families is so muddy and it is always difficult to figure it out.
Xiao Tao didn't really understand what was said, but that didn't stop her from continuing to flatter him: "Madam is so smart, Madam is so capable!"
Minglan turned around with a stern face and said, "Can't you come up with some new words to praise your wife?"
Xiao Tao twitched her lips awkwardly: "Madam...it's good enough as long as the intention is there. Didn't you say that we shouldn't judge things by appearances?"
Minglan stared at her for a long time, sighed, patted her and said, "That's right."
A few days later, someone came to report that Hai had given birth to a daughter.
Minglan presented two strings of dazzling small gold coins. Each string contained nineteen exquisite, glittering coins, each inscribed with a different auspicious phrase. They were strung together with red silk thread, and dangled from the bottom by a small, round gold ingot. Minglan said proudly, "Thank goodness I had foresight. My eldest sister must be giving birth soon. I'll give one string each to her and my eldest sister-in-law during the third-day bathing ceremony."
"Isn't it... a little too little?" Danju reminded cautiously. The Gu family is now richer than the Liang and Wen families. "Besides, are they all giving the same thing?" Danju bit her lip. In her opinion, Hai treated Minglan much better than Hualan did.
Minglan admonished, "Silly Danju, don't make anything you give out in public too conspicuous, or people will think you're a nouveau riche. Besides, what about the fourth and fifth sisters? What should they give? The eldest sister and the eldest sister-in-law are due so close together. If I give them different third-day-birth gifts, won't that just cause trouble? Gifts should please both the host and the guests. Then, prepare a generous gift for the full-moon banquet."
The Sheng family's third-day bathing ceremony took place on a sunny day. Minglan had already informed Gu Tingye and left in a small sedan chair. It happened that Sheng Hong was on his day off, so Minglan went to see him first. When she entered the room, she saw Sheng Hong, with a stern face, scolding Wang Shi. Rulan stood by with her head bowed, looking dejected.
After Minglan finished her greeting, she stood up with a smile and said sweetly, "Daddy, your beard has grown again. Mm, it's almost as long as Prime Minister Shen's."
Sheng Hong couldn't help but curl his lips. He stroked his painstakingly maintained beard with a look of complacency, still pretentiously saying, "What nonsense are you talking about? You're already married, yet you're still acting so childish!"
Minglan stepped forward and smiled ingratiatingly, "Daddy, that's what you're talking about. I just happened to find a small beard rake made from rhino horn from the Yunnan border, and I'm keeping it for you. I'll bring it back to you later—Isn't that a little childish now?"
Sheng Hong's expression could no longer be maintained, and he scolded with a smile, "Leave it to your uncle!" Minglan shook her head and said, "Forget it. He's a military officer. Apart from Lord Guan, I've never heard of anyone with a long beard who could fight well in battle. He'd be such a burden on a horse. I see, your uncle is nowhere near Lord Guan's ability!"
Sheng Hong couldn't help laughing, pointing at Minglan and shaking his head.
Minglan turned to look at Wang again and said with a smile, "It's been a while since we last met. Madam, you look much younger. Well, they say daughters are a debt and a worry. Having sent the four of us away, Madam, you've really felt relieved."
Wang's tense mouth relaxed. Rulan suddenly noticed a corner of the inner room curtain being lifted. Liu Kunjia was desperately trying to wink at her. She guessed Sheng Hong's expression and smiled, "Of course. You're the last one to give mother a headache."
Minglan turned and looked Rulan up and down, then suddenly realized, "I suddenly remembered that it was after Fifth Sister got married that Madam immediately began to feel relieved." Rulan smiled angrily and pinched Minglan, "You naughty girl, you're making fun of me again!"
In this way, the tense atmosphere in the room dissipated. Liu Kun's family was secretly amazed. It can be said that this Sixth Young Lady was quite remarkable. She was never restrained in front of Sheng Hong and Wang. Whenever she was in the same room with the master and the mistress, she would always smile and behave naturally.
Especially towards Sheng Hong, Minglan never resented his poor treatment, nor did she feel estranged from him because of his neglect. It was as if he was really a kind father. She was happy every time they met and knew how to please him. Sheng Hong loved her very much over the years, and whenever he had any good things, he never missed Minglan out.
After a few words, Wang led a group of people to Hai's house. Wang still had a sullen face along the way. She walked in front surrounded by maids and old women. Minglan and Rulan walked behind with their arms around each other, biting their ears gently.
"What's wrong with you? You made father angry as soon as you came back?" Minglan glanced at Wang in front of her and deliberately took a few steps away.
Rulan sighed, "Life in the Hanlin Academy is tough. Recently, there's been an assignment outside the capital. I think my husband is quite interesting, but Sichuan is a wealthy place, and I'm afraid..." Minglan understood a little and pulled Rulan along, walking slower and slower. "So you came to ask Father and Brother for help?"
"No, I just complained to mother a few words, but mother brought it up with father herself, and got scolded as well." Rulan's face fell, as if she was blaming Wang for "doing more harm than good".
Minglan looked at Wang Shi, whose shoulders were tense, and sighed inwardly. This woman was really...
Rulan was worried and pulled Minglan's sleeve, saying, "Tell me, tell me. Daddy is the same. If you can help, then help. If you can't, then forget it. Why are you scolding me?" Minglan was her sister who even knew about her late-night trysts. Rulan always spoke directly to her.
Minglan leaned close to Rulan's ear and asked, "Did Fifth Brother-in-law ever ask for Daddy and Brother's help?"
"No."
"Did he deliberately hint at anything in front of you? Like sighing or showing you his annoyance?"
"No." Rulan shook her head. "My husband didn't hide anything from me. He was just chatting and laughing with me about this when he was off duty that day. He even said, jokingly, that I wondered which of my colleagues could pull off this trick."
"So Fifth Sister was wrong." Minglan nodded. "First, Fifth Brother-in-law might not have intended to ask his wife's family to interfere in this matter. Second, you came to ask Dad for help without his consent, which might have upset Fifth Brother-in-law. He might have his own way. Third, if my brother and Dad think it's a good idea, they will help him find a way. If they think it's not, and you insist on saying it, Dad and Brother will think Fifth Brother-in-law is incompetent and only wants to rely on his wife's family to get ahead."
Minglan gave three reasons in one breath, which stunned Rulan. She murmured, "You...what you said seems to make sense."
Minglan glanced at the person ahead, who seemed to be walking further and further away. She reminded him in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "When I was a child, I heard the old lady mention that long ago, Madam and Daddy were very good friends. They respected each other and lived in harmony. It was because Madam always liked to interfere in Daddy's affairs outside the family that Daddy and Madam became estranged. That's why Aunt Lin took advantage of this opportunity."
In fact, it is not uncommon for women in the inner house to interfere in the official affairs of their husbands and sons. The problem lies in whether the interference is good or not, and whether it is appropriate or not. People like Wang who do not understand the greater good and only care about their own interests must have caused Sheng Hong a lot of trouble.
This case was too classic, and the consequences too tragic. Rulan considered herself the worst-hit victim in this incident. Suddenly, as if awakened from a dream, she pounded her fist on her palm and said, "I've vaguely heard of this. So... Sixth Sister, what should I do?"
Minglan herself was living a good life now, so she sincerely hoped that Rulan could do the same. She said, "Let's see how Fifth Brother-in-law reacts first. If he brings this up again, go talk to Eldest Sister-in-law. She's the daughter of the Hai family and knows the ins and outs best. Then she'll talk to her brother and decide whether she can help or not. You can do the same with matters like this from now on."
"That's a good idea!" Rulan smiled and nodded repeatedly. She still had great faith in her sister-in-law, Hai. She then asked, "What if my husband doesn't bring it up again?"
Minglan rolled her eyes at her. "That means Fifth Brother-in-law isn't particularly interested in this job. Don't get involved. Don't dwell on the hardships of the Imperial Academy. If you're even trying to make decisions about Fifth Brother-in-law's career, be careful he won't like you anymore!"
Rulan attached great importance to this "love". In comparison, being a mere Hanlin's wife was nothing. Upon hearing this, she nodded hard.
After a while, Rulan suddenly thought: "By the way, I can also ask you for help. Everyone says that the Sixth Uncle is very capable now! Hey, can you help?" She squinted her eyes, put her hands on her hips, and spoke in a domineering tone, still like she did before she got married.
Minglan took her arm and said with a smile, "We're on good terms. If you asked me to, I'd naturally tell you. But you'd better think it through. Civil officials and military officers have different responsibilities. If you ask your father or brother to handle the same thing, and follow all the rules, it will be done without a trace. But if you ask your brother-in-law to do it... hehe, then everyone will know about it. Don't blame me."
Rulan was worried. Intellectuals love face the most. It would be fine if she was promoted by Yue's family, but she also wanted help from her brother-in-law. It would be fine if she wanted help from her brother-in-law, but she wanted everyone to know about it, which would be bad.
Minglan looked at Rulan with a smile. In this ancient time when everyone had a heart of crystal, it was really not easy to meet someone as straightforward as Rulan.
"Sixth sister, although I am stupid, I am not a person who cannot distinguish between good and evil. What you said were all heartfelt words for my own good. I know you treat me well. Sometimes I have a bad temper, so don't take it to heart." Rulan suddenly said softly, holding Minglan's hand quietly.
Minglan suddenly felt guilty, and held her hand, saying gently: "Why are you sisters saying such strange things? By the way, how does your fifth brother-in-law treat you?" As she spoke, she looked at Rulan. She saw that she was wearing a bright red silk jacket with a pattern of hundreds of butterflies. Although it was a bit too formal, she looked very beautiful and in good spirits. She seemed to be doing well.
As expected, Rulan raised her neck proudly, her face flushed, and she said shyly, "Of course it is. My husband treats me very well. Whenever he has free time, he writes poems and paints with me."
"Is that you?"
"Of course it's me!" Rulan glared fiercely. "Brother Jing said I have a cheerful face and natural manners, and I'm the best to paint!"
"Yes, yes, that's absolutely right," Minglan quickly said, "Then...where's your mother-in-law?"
Rulan was also very proud: "Whenever that old woman caused trouble for me, my husband would hide in the Hanlin Academy. If she said something harsh, he would say, 'Since you don't like other people's girls, how can you have the nerve to live in their house? Move out immediately.' Then my mother-in-law would stop talking."
Minglan laughed out loud immediately, causing Wang in front to turn around and look. She quickly suppressed her laughter; it was not easy for women in this era, and she was really happy for Ruolan's happiness. After all, Wen Yanjing was chosen by Sheng Hong and Chang Bai, so she thought he would not be too bad.
Alas... it would be great if all her sisters were like Rulan, easy to deal with, happy and straightforward; but this was impossible, and Minglan soon met her other sister, Molan.
Molan sat in Hai's room, chatting with other female relatives who came to congratulate her. Her pretty and elegant face seemed a little dull. She was wearing a purple and red jacket with peony flowers. It was expensive, but it made her look a few years older. A huge red gold pearl hairpin with five phoenixes facing the sun was so dazzling that it dazzled the whole room.
Rulan curled her lips when she saw her and deliberately leaned close to Minglan's ear, "Why is she pretending? Everyone in the capital knows that the Yongchang Marquis's mansion is having a hard time these days. The Emperor has reprimanded him several times, and even her father-in-law, the Yongchang Marquis, had his military service suspended. Fourth brother-in-law is lucky to have kept his original position, so there's no chance of a promotion."
Molan also saw them, but just nodded stiffly, as if she wanted to come up and talk to Minglan, but Rulan kept her distance. Minglan didn't show any expression on her face. She just chatted with the other women in the room for a few words, and then went to see the newborn baby girl. She had delicate eyebrows and a slightly upturned mouth, and looked quite like Hai.
Madam Liu, whose husband's family worked at the Dali Temple, looked at the baby and said with a smile, "This little girl is well-born. She looks like her mother. She will definitely become a well-educated and well-mannered lady in the future."
Hai, her head wrapped in a cloth, leaned against a crimson velvet cushion with a veil of Shoushan and Fuhai patterns, smiling and saying, "What's so good about being like me? It's better to be like her aunts; they're all beauties."
Another wife of the Liu family smiled and said, "It's all good, it's all good. You and your sister-in-law are both blessed." She couldn't help but look at Minglan. Everyone knew that Hai hoped her daughter would be like Minglan.
Rulan looked at the baby and suddenly remembered something. She pulled Minglan aside and whispered, "My eldest sister is going to have a baby soon. Have you made some small clothes and shoes? Uh...are there any for me?"
Minglan stared back in astonishment, lowering her voice: "You're already married, and you still come to me for needlework? I'll tell your mother-in-law!"
Rulan rushed over and threatened fiercely in a low voice: "You dare?! I'll crush you to death~!"
Minglan quickly begged for mercy: "I've prepared it, I've prepared it! ...But we agreed that it's only for this year, there will be nothing next year!"
Molan watched the two sisters laughing and joking, with the handkerchief in her hand torn into a ball, feeling secretly resentful.
There were nearly seven or eight women in the room, all talking but constantly glancing at Minglan. Everyone knew that the youngest illegitimate daughter of the Sheng family had married the best. Not only was her husband a distinguished and powerful man, but she now lived in her own private residence, free from the nagging of her parents-in-law and the constraints of her sisters-in-law. She could decorate the vast mansion as she pleased, and the money in the account book was hers to manage without anyone's supervision. She had recently been granted the rank of Second Rank Imperial Consort, a truly blessed blessing.
Everyone looked over and saw Minglan wearing a light green brocade lily-patterned jacket and a water-green long skirt embroidered with emerald green willows. Her hair was tied in a neat crescent bun, and she wore a glittering plum blossom hairpin made of twisted gold and silver threads and inlaid with gems and coral. The end of the hairpin sprouted a small three-spike tassel, and each tassel was hung with a bright red coral bead, swaying on her cheek.
This outfit is very low-key, with a pair of white jade twisted wire bracelets on each wrist that make a crisp sound. At first glance, they are all made of mutton-fat white jade, which is warm and elegant. The most rare thing is that these four bracelets are all of the same color and texture, and they are truly treasures for the imperial tribute.
After taking a few glances at her, everyone felt that Minglan was extremely beautiful, with eyes and eyebrows that were charming and beautiful, and every frown and smile of hers was innocent and bright, with a radiant beauty. The female relatives could not help but admire her secretly.
Wang sat at the top, looking at Minglan's demeanor of wealth and distinction, and then seeing the other female relatives sitting around Minglan as if unintentionally, with words of flattery and fawning, she couldn't help feeling indignant; but when she saw Minglan and Rulan twisting around for a while, laughing and whispering, like close sisters, she finally felt a little calmer.
However, Aunt Kang, who was sitting next to her, had been ignored for a long time. The women in the room were reluctant to talk to her, and Hai was indifferent. Seeing Minglan, a concubine's daughter, enjoying such a glorious life, she felt unhappy.
"I'm talking to you, little girl." Aunt Kang suddenly said in a high and cold voice, "Now that you've come to this day, you must not forget your mother and the Sheng family. Even if you're proud of yourself, let alone having received an imperial decree, you must not act so arrogantly here! Otherwise, you'd be forgetting your roots."
Minglan raised her head in slight surprise and looked at Aunt Kang. She had an unnatural smile on her face, with the corners of her mouth twisted. The other women were also surprised and looked at each other. Only then did Minglan smile and say, "Oh, I see."
Seeing Minglan's respectful attitude but cold tone, Aunt Kang couldn't help but become even more angry. She said in a cold voice, "Although you live in a separate mansion now, you must not break the rules. Your mother-in-law lives not far away. You should visit her every morning and evening, greet her well, visit your uncles and brothers more often, and be filial to your elders. Don't take advantage of your imperial title to disregard your elders. If you break the rules in your own mansion and bring shame to your mother and the Sheng family, I will be the first to forgive you!"
Yoona was so scared that her face turned pale. She kept pulling at Aunt Kang's sleeve, but Aunt Kang ignored her and continued talking happily.
The room suddenly grew cold, and the women looked at each other in bewilderment. They could only hear Aunt Kang rambling on about Minglan, while Wang remained silent. Minglan sipped her tea slowly, and when she had finished her speech, she said slowly, "Aunt, I've taken note of everything you said. It's a pity that Cousin Yuan'er has gone to Fengtian. Why don't we sisters get together?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Aunt Kang immediately deflated like a punctured balloon. Yoona'er's face looked extremely ugly. Kang Yuan'er and her mother-in-law, Aunt Wang, quarreled three times a day, and the quarrel was so intense that not only did she make Old Lady Wang sick, but she was even about to get a divorce.
Minglan looked at Aunt Kang steadily, with a cold smile on her lips. If Aunt Kang dared to be presumptuous again, she would never tolerate it. Since ancient times, she had tolerated this and that, and now she even had to tolerate such a cheap aunt. She had no choice but to give up.
Aunt Kang was furious and turned to ask Wang for help. Wang received the message and immediately said with a gloomy face, "Ming girl, you..."
"Mother!" Rulan interrupted Wang aptly and said with a smile, "Stop talking about irrelevant things. Hurry up and perform the third-day bathing ceremony. Don't let my niece get cold. Daddy and brother will come after you later!"
Although she smiled happily, she stared at Wang with her eyes, emphasizing the words "irrelevant" and "father and brother". Wang understood what her daughter meant. Sheng Hong always disliked the Kang family. She was afraid of being scolded again if he asked someone to say a few words to him. She gritted her teeth and stopped talking and directly announced the start of the third day bath.
Everyone rushed forward with a smile to watch the ceremony, leaving only Aunt Kang behind, which made her extremely angry.
After the ceremony, Minglan went to Shou'an Hall alone. It was still elegant and quiet, with the faint scent of Buddhist incense. Minglan stood under the big osmanthus tree, took a deep breath, and felt refreshed. She smiled and ran in briskly, almost bumping into Fang Mama at the door.
"Sixth Miss! Don't run, don't run, be careful not to be seen~~~~~" Mother Fang called out softly while looking out the door.
Minglan threw herself into the old lady's arms, twisting like a twisted candy, and said coquettishly, "Grandma, Minglan misses you so much!"
"Who's broken? I'm fine!" Old Madam Sheng's quiet face seemed to blossom with joy. She hugged Minglan and rubbed her with a smile. Mama Fang hurried to serve fruits and snacks.
After talking for a while, Minglan asked if everything was going well at home, and Mrs. Sheng told her story with great interest.
"...This time your eldest sister-in-law is pregnant and has been ill. She needs to recuperate for a while, so Madam has taken over the household management again, and Quan Ge'er is left with me." The old lady looked much healthier, and her finger gently pointed at the curtain in the inner room.
Minglan ran to the inner room and took a look. She saw a chubby white baby lying on the old lady's bed. A small white jade fist, the size of a date, was placed next to the rosy and childish face. The baby was breathing evenly in his sleep and snoring slightly.
Minglan hurried out and sat beside the old lady. She was very happy and said to her, "That's great! Grandma won't be lonely now that she has Quan'er to accompany her! Uh...but why would Madam agree to this?"
Old Madam Sheng was very happy in an unkind way, because Wang had suffered a loss recently.
Aunt Lin was defeated and fled to Maicheng, her daughters were all married, and Wang no longer had to manage the household. She suddenly had some free time. She suddenly discovered that her daughter-in-law was living a very comfortable life, and her heart suddenly soured.
Because Hai was pregnant, Wang wanted to give her son a concubine, saying that he worked hard studying and needed someone who understood him. Changbai said that it was even harder for his father to earn money to support the family, so if you had anything good to give to your father first. Then, according to someone, Sheng Hong immediately expressed his fondness for the two maids serving in the study.
Wang was furious and there was a lot of chaos. In the end, Sheng Hong had two more concubines, and Wang had a few more wrinkles.
Then, Wang wanted to help Yang Hao become a concubine to suppress Hai, so Changbai asked his father where the concubines had gone. Wang's face turned pale, and she slammed the table and cursed, "How dare you talk back to me? Are you tired of living?" Changbai said that he was her son and he couldn't talk back, but he was really curious, so he went to ask his father and the old lady.
Wang almost vomited blood. Despite this, Hai was still depressed for a while after hearing about it, which led to an unstable pregnancy. She asked the imperial physician and Madam He for emergency help, and the situation lasted for several days.
Sheng Hong valued the Hai family very much, and thus valued his eldest daughter-in-law as well, so he disliked Wang. Seeing that Hai had no energy to take care of his grandson, he simply sent Quan Ge'er to Shou'an Hall and asked a trustworthy old lady to raise him.
Whenever Wang objected or tried to provoke Hai, Sheng Hong would immediately take advantage of the situation. He also found several pretty girls with ideals, talents and miserable life experiences that he was very fond of. Wang had to divert her attention and fight on the front line of the struggle between wives and concubines, and had no time to bother her children and grandchildren.
Minglan laughed herself to the ground, burying her face in the old lady's arms until she trembled with laughter. When she looked up, her face was flushed, and she wiped away the tears of laughter. Changbai had grown up, Hai's dowry was generous, and with Wang's wealth, even if Sheng Hong had a few more illegitimate sons and daughters, it would not affect his status.
What's more, with Wang as the door god and Jufang as the favored concubine, it would be difficult for those concubines to have children.
Old Mrs. Sheng hugged her little granddaughter and laughed non-stop. She talked about Quan Ge'er again, saying that he was well-behaved and sensible, cheerful and loved to laugh, and was a good child who required very little worry. She often played with him for fun, which made her very happy. When she talked about happy things, her eyes were warm and joyful.
When Minglan saw this, she felt both sad and happy. It was truly God's will that the old lady could live a peaceful and happy old age.
"Your eldest brother told me that my grandson's wife is not in good health and cannot raise two children. No matter whether it is a boy or a girl, one must be sent to Shou'an Hall. Because of his temper, he said a lot of things and asked me to help take care of the child." Old Lady Sheng spoke in a leisurely tone, with a calm expression and a smile on her lips. She was less aloof and more gentle than before.
"Grandma, this is so kind!" Minglan said sincerely, leaning on the old lady's lap. Old Lady Sheng's personality was such that she didn't like being forced. No matter how much she liked something, she would never ask for it unless someone asked.
The grandmother and granddaughter chatted for a while, and after the housewife served the dishes and tea, she brought out a box from the inner room. Old Madam Sheng took the box and opened it. Inside was a small, thick booklet. She handed it to Minglan, "Here, this is from the old lady of the He family."
"...What is this?" Minglan asked curiously, taking it and looking through it.
"A medical booklet specializing in women's illnesses," Old Lady Sheng said with a smile. "It specifically covers pre-pregnancy conditioning, how to protect the fetus during pregnancy, how to raise the child and take care of your own body after birth, and also dietary precautions. She's very knowledgeable about these things. I've read it; it's very concise and worth reading. On the last page, she also recommends several doctors who are skilled in treating women's illnesses, as well as several of her daughters-in-law from the Zhang family. If you need help later, I can ask them."
"...Thank you, Madam He." Minglan took a look at it and knew that this thing was very practical, and she couldn't help but sigh in her heart.
Seeing Minglan's sentimental expression, Old Lady Sheng said slowly, "You don't have to feel sorry for the He family's Madam. She's the most understanding person. To be honest, as soon as you agreed to marry into the Gu family, she was probably tempted to have other thoughts."
Minglan nodded and said sadly, "Madam He knew it was pointless to argue, so she simply made things work, letting us remember the He family's good deeds. She's so sharp-minded, so thoughtful, and so proactive. She's truly remarkable."
Old Madam Sheng smiled, a hint of mockery in her voice: "She is indeed remarkable. The Emperor has approved Old Master He's retirement petition, and she will soon be leaving the capital. However, the He family still has children and grandchildren pursuing official careers, and they still need help. Now that we are all grateful for her kindness, how can we not help her in the future? This is the wise course of action."
Minglan was deeply moved and nodded heavily, then sighed softly, "No matter what, Madam He has always been kind to my family. It's a pity that such a thing happened at home..."
Old Madam Sheng chuckled again, pointing at Minglan and saying, "You're such a fool! Who do you think Old Madam He is? She married into the He family at the age of fifteen. Her husband prided himself on being a playboy, yet she managed to stay firmly on her feet. Now she has many children and grandchildren, all of whom are her flesh and blood. The whole family respects her. How could she have achieved this without some talent?"
Mother Fang, who was standing by, couldn't help but interrupt after hearing this, saying, "That's the real tough one. His face is like Maitreya Buddha, but his actions are quick and clean. Unlike our old lady, who looks fierce but is incredibly kind."
This earned a roll of the eyes from Old Lady Sheng. She turned back to Minglan and said, "I used to dislike her ways, but now it seems there's nothing I can do! She always says, 'If others want me dead, I can have them dead, it's fair and just.' You should listen to her!"
"What about now?" Minglan nodded blankly.
"Now? Now that Mr. He has retired with honor, and Brother Hongwen is far away, and her daughter-in-law has given face, that Cao family slave is also a member of the He family. She has plenty of ways to deal with it slowly behind closed doors." The old lady sneered, "The Cao family wants to rely on my sister and daughter to take advantage of the He family, but it won't be that easy."
…
The He family, whom the grandfather and grandson were talking about, was now busy packing up the packages and gifts. After several days of packing, everything was almost done. However, in the main hall of the He family's courtyard, there was a cold atmosphere.
There were five people in the room. Old Madam He sat at the head of the table, with a trusted housekeeper standing on each side. Below her knelt two women, He's mother and Cao Jinxiu, their faces already covered in tears.
"Mother, please!" He's mother cried, "If my daughter-in-law has done anything wrong, please punish her, but don't treat Jin'er like this!"
"How dare I punish you?" Madam He's face was as cold as ice. "You are Hong'er's biological mother. You have the final say. You can marry whoever you want and take in whoever you want. I dare not stop you! But since Aunt Cao has entered my family, I can take care of her. Now, Aunt Cao, don't just stand there. Go back and pack your things quickly. In a few days, leave with me and return to our home in Baishitan!"
Cao Jinxiu was so frightened that her face turned pale. She had never thought that things would turn out like this. She shuddered and said, "No, no, old lady, please, I can't bear to leave my aunt. Now that my cousin is gone, I have to take care of her!"
Madam He said sarcastically, "You don't need to worry about this. Your cousin has been away for many years, but your aunt has never died. Even if your niece is more important than her own son, she will probably survive!"
He's mother felt that the voice was extremely cold. She looked up slightly and saw that Madam He's eyes were as hard as ice and full of anger. She knew that she was no longer liked by her mother-in-law and that the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law of the past twenty years was over. She could not help but collapsed to the ground, but no one helped her. Only Cao Jinxiu cried out to the sky.
Madam He looked at them both coldly. "I've made it clear today, Aunt Cao, I must take her away. She ruined Hong'er's great marriage, and I can't let her ruin Hong'er's life! I've already found a match for Hong'er. The girl also comes from a medical family. Although her family isn't prominent, she's straightforward, bold, and capable, and can very well support the family. Her father passed away not long ago, and she's still in mourning. I roughly calculated the date, and it will be a year until Hong'er returns, and then we can get married."
Cao Jinxiu's heart was broken. She looked at Madam He in disbelief. "You, you found a marriage for my cousin?" So soon?!
"That's right." Madam He looked at her with disgust. "So, I can't ask you to stay here and cause trouble for the young couple and the He family."
"No, I won't cause any trouble for my cousin and his wife!" Cao Jinxiu immediately came to her senses and kowtowed repeatedly, "I will serve my cousin and his wife well and live like sisters."
He's mother also pleaded, "Mom, Jin'er has said so, you just..."
"I don't believe it!" Madam He said bluntly, "I don't believe either of you."
Cao Jinxiu and He's mother looked at Madam He in horror, only to hear her slowly say, "I remember clearly that when Aunt Cao came into the family, the Cao family swore to heaven that they would never trouble the He family again; but it was only a few months later that
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