"Do you really think she's supernatural? She still has to go back to her parents' home to ask for help!"
…
Bang!
A teacup was thrown heavily to the ground, with broken porcelain splattered everywhere. The sticky amber liquid inside soaked the rust-red thin velvet carpet. The maids and servants in the hall all lowered their heads and shoulders, holding their breath.
"Do you know about this?" Old Lady Sheng's face was gloomy, and she stood tall with her ebony cloud-head cane.
Wang was at a loss and kept making excuses: "How could it be... How could it be... My daughter-in-law knew nothing about this." She felt even more wronged than Dou E.
"It's all because of your good sister! She's so heartless and doesn't act like a proper wife. She can't control her husband, and she can't take care of her children. Whenever she has free time, she takes it out on her concubines and illegitimate children. Apart from asking for help from her brothers and sisters from her natal family, what else can she do? She has a sharp tongue and teeth, is mean and vicious, and she deserves to be sent to the ancestral hall and punished by the family law!" Old Lady Sheng was so angry that she felt like she was eating Aunt Kang's food, and she scolded her very rudely.
Wang was not very happy to hear this and could not help but defend her sister: "Isn't it said that it was the Madam of the Gu family who took a fancy to Zhao'er? It wasn't your sister's intention..." She spoke softer and softer, and finally stopped talking under the frightening gaze of Old Lady Sheng.
"You really don't know what you're talking about! You're the mistress of the house too. Every girl is like pork on a stall. You can give anyone you like to be a concubine! She has brought shame to the Kang family for several lifetimes. Even if you hate concubines' daughters, you shouldn't treat them like this! What's she thinking? She just wants to see that her own children are married, so she lets go and does whatever she wants!" Old Lady Sheng slammed the table.
Wang was embarrassed by the scolding, but she had no way to refute it and dared not retort. Then she heard Old Madam Sheng change the subject, staring at her suspiciously and shouting, "You really don't know? Could it be that you and she were in cahoots?" Wang waved her hands in panic, "Please understand, mother, I really don't know! I have always treated Minglan and Rulan the same!"
Old Madam Sheng breathed a sigh of relief and suddenly pointed at Wang, saying, "You, go find your evil-hearted sister and explain things to her. Whatever she's planning, we don't want it. If she still wants to be a relative of the Sheng family, she should give up the idea immediately!"
Wang was shocked and extremely unwilling: "This, this... is inappropriate. Taking a concubine is a common thing. Even if my sister did something wrong, since things have come to this, let's just let it go..."
The ebony cloud-shaped cane slammed heavily against the ground, making a harsh sound against the polished water-ground blue bricks. Old Madam Sheng began to scold, "Just now you said you treated Minglan like your own daughter. If this happened to Hualan and Rulan, you would do the same!"
Wang was speechless. Old Madam Sheng narrowed her eyes and glared at her sternly. "How many times did you argue with the Wen family's mother-in-law about taking a concubine for your son-in-law? Hualan and Yuan have only been together for a few days, and you're urging Hualan to deal with those little ones as soon as possible. You think I'm old and confused! If you don't go, I'll go myself and expose all her ugly deeds outside. Let's see who is more resilient!"
"Mom, no, no, I'll go, can't I go?" Wang had no choice but to agree.
"Why don't you go now?!"
Wang was stunned: "We're going now? It's already dark."
Old Madam Sheng glared at her and scolded, "Whenever your sister has something important to do, she'll come knocking on the Sheng family's door, not just now. Even in the middle of the night, she'll come. Why, just because she can come, you can't leave!"
Wang was helpless and blamed her sister for being nosy, which caused her to be scolded for no reason. She immediately put on her makeup and drove to Kang Mansion.
The Kang Mansion, nestled near the eastern edge of the Imperial City, was vastly superior to the Sheng Residence in terms of location, layout, and scale. Its high door beams, sweeping eaves, and eighteen different relief carvings, including nine hundred and ninety-eight bats extending from the bluestone floor at the entrance to the interior, all symbolized the Kang family's former glory. Unfortunately, the servants were lazy, the residence was deserted, and it no longer held the grandeur it once held.
The old woman led Wang all the way inside to the main courtyard, where they saw Aunt Kang was about to have dinner. There were many maids and old women standing on both sides, and a woman dressed in rich clothes was serving food to Aunt Kang.
Aunt Kang had known Wang would arrive sooner or later, but she hadn't expected her to arrive so soon. She figured Minglan was flustered and at her wit's end, and she couldn't help but feel a surge of joy. Wang, impatient, launched into a whirlwind of tales as soon as Aunt Kang dismissed everyone. But Aunt Kang calmly blew on her teacup, "I thought it was something serious, but it's this."
Wang was very anxious and suppressed her voice: "Sister, what are you planning? Isn't this harming me?"
Aunt Kang replied with a slow smile: "How can I harm my sister? I am ensuring your wealth and safety!"
"What do you mean?" Wang was confused.
"Your son-in-law from the Gu family is becoming increasingly powerful and influential. He's expected to be extremely wealthy in the future, and your family will also benefit from it. But don't you think about whether the noble Lady Gu is on the same page with you?"
Wang hesitated and said, "She has been raised in front of me since she was little. I have treated her well. How can we not be of the same mind?"
Aunt Kang sneered, with a contemptuous look on her face: "If we were really of the same mind, respecting you and honoring you, I wouldn't have said anything and kicked out the girl you gave me the other day!"
"...That colorful ring was chased away by my son-in-law himself..." Wang's voice became much softer.
"Just keep it to yourself. If she hadn't instigated you, would you have thought of this?!"
Aunt Kang took a sip of tea and continued to talk. "She's only been married for a few days. Once she's established herself, will she still take you seriously?! She's only friendly with your mother-in-law. I'm afraid you'll become increasingly embarrassed in the Sheng family!"
"No way..." Wang Shi was becoming increasingly unsure as she spoke. Suddenly, she remembered something and quickly asked, "Could it be that your daughter Zhao'er is on the same page with you? She's not your daughter either."
"Don't be afraid." Aunt Kang smiled proudly, "Her mother is in my hands. If I tell her to go east, she won't dare go west!"
Wang's eyes lit up, and she began to waver. Aunt Kang, seeing this, added fuel to the fire: "A maid born to me should be taught a lesson. Don't let her forget her status and really think she's become a phoenix! After this incident, regardless of whether Zhao'er has a future or not, that damned girl will definitely behave herself. Your advice will definitely be more effective."
"Then how should I reply? My mother-in-law is not easy to deal with." Wang's scalp tingled when she thought of Old Madam Sheng.
"What's the big deal? Go back and cry, and tell me how much you beg me, but I won't give in. At worst, I won't come to your house, and you can just come to my place secretly." Aunt Kang didn't care. "She puts everything on me. After all, how can she divorce you?"
"Then...what about my master?" Wang's scalp felt numb again.
Aunt Kang's face showed an expression of extreme disgust: "Men, isn't that how it is! You really believe in the 'gratitude between husband and wife'." This time Wang Shi disagreed, thinking to herself: You and your brother-in-law almost broke up, but she and Sheng Hong can still be affectionate from time to time.
But at this moment, Sheng Hong was not at all gentle. As soon as he returned to the mansion, he was hurriedly summoned to Shou'an Hall. After listening to Old Madam Sheng's detailed account of what had happened, his face immediately turned pale and he said in a deep voice, "What a foolish woman!"
I don't know whether he was scolding his own wife or his brother-in-law's wife.
"Now you know everything, what are you going to do?" Old Madam Sheng had suppressed her anger and just sat there calmly.
Sheng Hong thought for a moment and then asked respectfully, "What did you say, mother?"
"Are you willing for the girl from the Kang family to marry into the Gu family?"
"Of course not!" Sheng Hong stood up angrily. Don't be ridiculous. One is his own daughter, and the other is someone else's daughter. How easy is it to find a noble and powerful son-in-law? His son's career and the prosperity of the family will require a lot of help. He just tasted the broth, and the Kang family came to grab the meat bones. Isn't this infuriating!
After losing his temper, Sheng Hong realized he had been overly excited and coughed lightly, "I've heard a little about my son-in-law's family affairs. The discord between stepmother and son is common knowledge, yet my aunt is trying to be friendly with Madam Gu. Isn't this a slap in my son-in-law's face?"
If the Kang family had taken the blame themselves, that would have been fine, but Aunt Kang had used the Sheng family's name to attack him. How could he face his son-in-law in the future? The worst part was that he had a mediocre relationship with his brother-in-law. If Kang Zhao'er really got favored, it would only benefit the Kang family.
"In this case, we can't take it lightly." Old Madam Sheng smiled, knowing that Sheng Hong was smart and it was much easier to talk to him. Exchanging ideas with Wang was like walking in a quagmire, with mud on her legs, unable to pull it out or move.
"Mother is right. I wonder what plan you have?" Sheng Hong's greatest strength is his humility and his willingness to listen to other people's opinions. That's why he has gotten to where he is today. People in official circles all praise him for being honest and kind, and calling him a modest gentleman.
Mrs. Sheng was satisfied and said in a deep voice, "While Madam was out, I sent someone to escort the girl from the Kang family to Youyang overnight. Let's remove the firewood from the cauldron first, and then we can go our separate ways. Madam Kang, I have taught my mother a lesson. As for you..." She smiled faintly, looked at Sheng Hong, and said word by word, "Didn't Master Kang ask you to do something recently?"
Sheng Hong looked up suddenly. He had discussed this matter with the old lady before. At that time, the old lady's attitude was noncommittal, but now her attitude had suddenly changed. He was a hesitant person who liked to be kind to others. He hesitated and said, "This... is it inappropriate..."
The old lady sneered, "Over the years, we've cleaned up so many messes for the Kang family. Not to mention the few things that have been exposed, it's enough to embarrass their family. Now, I just want everyone with the surname Kang to know that the Sheng family is not to be bullied!"
Sheng Hong thought it over carefully. Master Kang was a hopeless case, and his nephew was of mediocre ability. While some of the other branches of the Kang family held official positions, they weren't high-ranking officials, and the brothers weren't particularly harmonious. He gritted his teeth and said, "Let's do as Mother says."
After Sheng Hong left, Fang Mama stepped forward and helped the old lady into the inner room, saying softly, "Don't worry, both groups have already left."
Old Madam Sheng slowly sat down on the couch in the inner room and asked Fang Mama to take off her shoes and socks. Disgust was still evident on her face as she muttered, "The Kang family girl can go slowly, but nephew Wei needs to write soon. He can come back in six or seven days by fast horse and light boat. Humph, that vicious bitch, I'll teach her a lesson later! She treats other people's daughters like idiots, but what about my own? I'll make her suffer too!"
Fang Mama had just brought a basin of hot water, as usual, to scald the old lady's feet, when she suddenly remembered something and looked anxious: "I'm old, I've forgotten all this. I've been making such a fuss, and I still haven't sent the letter to Ming Ya'er!"
"This...it's so late." Mother Fang said hesitantly.
Old Madam Sheng was anxious, stamping her bare feet on the footstool repeatedly: "The little girl is pregnant, and her husband is not around. I don't know how anxious she must be. She won't be able to sleep well all night. Hurry up, hurry up!"
Mother Fang smiled and said, "Yes, I'll do as you say. I'll go get them right away. Please give me a few more instructions."
The old lady thought for a moment and said lovingly, "Tell her not to be afraid, she'll always have grandma to help her..."
Hearing the tone of someone trying to coax a three-year-old, Fang's mother couldn't help but chuckle. The old lady glanced at her and continued, "Tell her to take good care of herself and give birth to a big, fat boy. That's the most important thing."
Mother Fang suppressed her laughter and agreed, then called a maid to help the old lady warm her feet, and went out to give instructions. Before leaving, the old lady suddenly called her, and she turned around and listened quietly.
"If the Madam returns from the Kang residence, tell her I am tired and have rested, and ask her to come back tomorrow."
Chapter 171: East Wind Blows, War Drums Beat Part 4: The next time she comes, she will clean up the main house and courtyard. The next morning, Wang went to Shou'an Hall to see Old Madam Sheng, feeling both apprehensive and excited. But as soon as she opened her mouth, the old lady said coldly, "You've returned empty-handed?" Wang's face was embarrassed, and she tried hard to act angry: "My daughter-in-law tried to persuade her, but my sister was so obsessed with her that she wouldn't listen..."
"Come on." The old lady interrupted her calmly, as if she was impatient to listen to her explanation. "I didn't expect you to really take this matter to heart. Well, just forget about it."
"Uh..." Wang was quite surprised. She couldn't believe that she got through so easily. There were still many things that Aunt Kang had taught her that she hadn't said. She was secretly happy, thinking that her sister was really good at predicting things and her mother-in-law really couldn't do anything to her.
"But..." the old lady suddenly said, and Wang's heart started to lift again.
"There are some things you need to know. Minglan is not your daughter, and if you don't take her seriously, I can't force you to do anything. But you are a member of my Sheng family after all, and you can't turn your elbow outward and side with other families!"
Wang Shi heard the old lady's tone becoming increasingly stern, and she couldn't help but force a smile: "How could this be possible...?"
"Kneel down!" the old lady shouted. Wang's knees reflexively softened and she knelt down in the hall of Shou'an Hall. Fortunately, it was a hot summer day and the ground was covered with a thin felt blanket, so her knees were not cold.
"I won't tell you anything else." She said it anyway, but the fool wouldn't listen. The old lady was disgusted and angry, and she didn't bother to talk any more. "I told you long ago that Madam Kang wasn't allowed to come to our house anymore, but you always ask her to come behind my back. This disobedience to your elders and your disobedience to me is unfilial. I'm going to punish you. Do you have anything to say?"
Wang was stunned and didn't know where to begin.
"Now, you will kneel for a full hour. Next time, if the concubine of the Kang family comes again, you will kneel in the outer courtyard." The old lady slowly stood up and helped Fang Mama walk into the inner room. Her voice gradually came, "If you are not convinced, go find the master. If you are still not convinced, go back to your parents' home. I have to have a good talk with my mother-in-law..."
Wang was both ashamed and angry, she knelt trembling and dared not get up. The doors and windows in the hall were wide open, and the maids and old women coming and going saw it. Although they did not dare to say anything, the inquiring looks made Wang feel ashamed and angry to death. She could only curse in her heart, wishing that the old hag would die sooner.
When Liu Kunjia saw that something was not right, she quickly sent someone to invite Hualan. However, Yuan's residence was far away, so she didn't arrive until the beginning of the 4th hour.
"Aunt, please try to persuade her quickly. Madam is really being ruthless this time!" Liu Kunjia whispered. Hualan frowned and hurried to the main house. Before she even entered, she heard a burst of angry curses from inside.
——"Get out! Just wish me a quick death, all of you, get out!" It was Wang's voice.
Three or five maids came out carrying broken porcelain cups and bowls, followed by a woman. She glanced at Liu Kun's wife and said in a low voice, "The mistress is so angry that she didn't even have breakfast."
"Mom!" Hua Lan lifted a sandalwood bead curtain and turned to go in.
Wang was sitting on a rattan couch, covering her eyes with a handkerchief, her legs covered with a thin, water-red silk blanket. The moment she saw her eldest daughter, tears welled up in her eyes, and she sobbed and cursed, "You heartless girl! Where have you been all this time? Your mother is nearly dead! If you don't come, I'll have to collect her remains!"
Hua Lan quickly sat down beside her mother, wiping her tears with a handkerchief as she hurriedly said, "Mom, I'm here now, so stop crying! You'll make people laugh at you and lose face."
"Face?!" Wang became particularly angry when these two words were mentioned, and she cried, "How can I have any face left! I have been in the Sheng family for decades, and have been working hard until today. Now I have three of you siblings, and today is the first time I have been forced to kneel down as punishment. Not only does your father not care, he also came to blame me for being unfilial early in the morning! I, I don't want to live anymore..." She only hated herself for being afraid of pain and death. She didn't have the courage to try anything like slitting her throat, hanging herself, or swallowing gold, otherwise it would be good to scare people.
Hua Lan felt that her mother was like an ignorant child. She sighed secretly and half-embraced Wang, patting and coaxing her. She listened patiently as Wang told her the whole story over and over again.
"...Tell me, can you blame me for this? I can't control your aunt!" Wang cried. "The old lady punished me harshly without any reason. How can I stand up in front of others in the future?!"
On the way here, Liu Kun's wife had already explained everything clearly. Hualan also blamed her mother for being confused and hated Aunt Kang for being cunning. She sighed, "Mother, grandma doesn't blame you for not being able to control Aunt Kang. She is angry that you don't distinguish between relatives and strangers."
Wang's old, powdered eyes were open, tearful, yet she was unaware. Hua Lan said softly, "Mother, think carefully. My uncle has been a commoner for years, and only my cousin holds the job of chief clerk. How many families in the capital are willing to give face to the Kang family? My sixth brother-in-law is now favored by the emperor, and his family is prestigious. Minglan is a lady of the first rank. Who does my aunt think she is? If you look back at how she treated Minglan in the past, she would either scold her or belittle her. Why would Minglan respect her or value her? Even you rarely go to the Gu Mansion, and yet my aunt comes here with such arrogance and prestige. To put it bluntly, my aunt is just pretending to be powerful. She's using the Sheng family's reputation to improve hers!"
Minglan wasn't related to Wang by blood, but she was. Could Kang Zhao'er be closer than Minglan? Oh, I just hope Minglan doesn't harbor any resentment. I'll have to explain things later. Hualan's mouth was dry as she spoke. If she weren't her own mother, she wouldn't bother explaining such a simple truth.
"Your aunt has her faults too. Alas, you don't know that we two sisters share the same suffering." Wang Shi seemed persuaded and gradually stopped crying. "Your eldest brother has gone out, and you and Rulan have your own families to take care of. I've never been able to get along with your father and the old lady. And now there's this powerful Liu. I... I really have no one to confide in!"
Hualan knew that Wang had been having an inexplicably violent temper lately, refusing to listen to even her daughter's advice. She would curse and hit people at will. Only Aunt Kang shared her bad temper, and the two sisters enjoyed themselves by cursing together. Hualan had no choice but to say, "Mother, if you're bored, just call me over. Don't see Auntie anymore." Things had become much more relaxed at the Yuan residence, and she could come and go as she pleased.
As soon as she heard this, Wang jumped up, her eyes wide open, and cursed, "You heartless person! Where were you the other day? I sent people to look for you, but the Yuan family said you weren't there, and they couldn't explain where you went!"
Hua Lan was stunned and forced a smile: "This...isn't it a farm that you bought? Your brother-in-law and I will go take a look..."
"Didn't you live there for several days last time? Is there anything you haven't arranged yet?" Wang was dissatisfied.
"...The heat in Beijing is very severe... Shi Ge'er was uncomfortable, so he took the children to the farm to escape the heat." Hua Lan explained with a blush on her face.
Wang was immediately confused and shrilly said, "Just avoid the heat, why are you blushing?"
Hualan stammered and tried to explain herself unclearly. Wang Shi felt that her daughter was becoming more and more distant from her, so she angrily scolded her twice. Hualan had no choice but to say softly, "Your brother-in-law... recently got a pony... He said that regular exercise is good for your health, so he taught your daughter to ride a horse..." In just a few words, she said something so tender that it made her heart melt - alas, I'm in dire straits right now, and it's not easy for me as her daughter. But after all the hardships, the old couple now like each other more and more, and their life is as harmonious as honey, and even sweeter than when they were first married.
Wang was not blind. Although she had not seen the situation with her own eyes, seeing Hualan's sparkling eyes, shiny skin, and radiant complexion, which made her look several years younger, she could guess that her daughter and son-in-law must have been very close to each other these days, and it was a beautiful occasion.
She was initially happy for her daughter, but then a surge of anger washed over her. She thought about how everyone else was doing well, except for her own miserable life. She felt even more that no one in her family understood her. She immediately erupted in curses, "They say raising a daughter is a loss of money, but now I understand! You're living a comfortable life, and you don't care about your mother's life or death!"
Hualan was sprayed with spit all over her face, but since the person in front of her was her own mother, she could only control her temper and keep coaxing her.
"Tell me! Is your man more important, or is your mother more important?"
"Of course, mother is more important. The grace of giving birth to a child is as great as the sky and the earth."
"Well then! You can stay with me today and stay with me for a few days. Are you willing?"
“…”
"I knew my children were so heartless!" Wang cried. "I am just a poor, helpless person..."
"Okay, okay, let me go back and ask... Come, let me take a look at your legs first. Oh, they're all red. Does it hurt? Ouch, oh, oh, let me rub them with ointment for you. Don't get sick..."
——Hualan urgently needs to learn how to make this building tilt naturally and smoothly.
The two sisters suffered together, and Minglan also needed to study, taking the elective course "Disguise." Ever since Fang Mama arrived with the news, she knew the truth about Kang Zhao'er's absence from the Gu residence had to be kept secret for as long as possible. Thanks to the strict controls within Jiaxi Residence, only five or six people knew about it. Xiaotao volunteered to serve "Miss Kang" who was confined to the back room. She would occasionally ask about her well-being outside, then bring food boxes inside to deliver them, then eat heartily inside, slamming a couple of plates as a token of respect. At this point, Lvzhi, hearing the noise, would burst out with a few sarcastic remarks. Collective effort was surprisingly deceptive.
In order to have a good rest and to avoid revealing her true identity, as they were about to fall out, the lady came to visit and persuade her hypocritically, but Minglan simply said she was not feeling well and refused to meet her. She only pretended to be depressed in front of Zhu and Shao without saying a word. Everyone in the mansion felt that the lady was really angry.
Aunt Kang calculated her arrival in two days, demanding to see Zhao'er. Minglan ignored the mad bitch and flatly refused to see her. The Dowager's wife then brought her men, whom Minglan stopped at the Neiyi Gate between Chengyuan and the former Marquis's residence. Aunt Kang threatened to make a scene, and Liao Yong's wife said, "Go ahead." Minglan sneered; she longed to see how the daughter of the aristocratic Kang family would throw a tantrum at the Gu residence for the entire capital to see.
When her plan failed, Aunt Kang resorted to threatening, saying she was preventing anyone from seeing her. Could something have happened? Liao Yongjia looked contemptuous and said coldly, "Yes, my wife has already destroyed Miss Kang's body. You should quickly file a complaint with the Shuntian Prefecture Governor. If that's not enough, you can also file a complaint with the Emperor! If you don't know the way, I'll ask the gatekeeper to prepare a carriage for you."
After saying this, Liao Yongjia turned around and left, leaving a group of sturdy old women blocking the intersection.
Aunt Kang staggered in anger, but the lady advised her to calm down: "Think about it, if she wasn't so angry, she might not be like this. This is the anger of being at the end of her rope." Aunt Kang thought about it carefully and went back.
After another two or three days, Jiaxi Residence remained silent, and the Lady Dowager herself began to sense something was amiss. Forcing Minglan into taking a concubine wasn't a particularly clever tactic. Given her understanding of Minglan, how could such a bright and optimistic person have been so angry for so long over something like this, yet still come up with no plan?
She was shocked and hurried to the Kang Mansion to deliver the message; Aunt Kang also felt that something was wrong, so she came again.
"It's been so many days, I don't know if she is in good health. Please let me see her at least!" Aunt Kang tried to suppress her anger and spoke in a gentle voice, but unexpectedly, it caused a group of burly old women in front of her to laugh at her.
A daughter-in-law wearing a thin iron-gray satin bodice was particularly sharp-tongued. She rolled her eyes and said, "You're here to act like a loving mother, but what were you doing before? If she's not your own child, then you're just cruel!" The woman next to her laughed and said, "Who said she wasn't? You just abandoned your daughter back then, how could you not care about her life or death now?" And there was also someone hiding in the background, saying coldly, "Where's the master? She's using her daughter to marry into a rich family. Even a bald woman like us in the countryside would have more dignity than her!"
Although the sound was not loud, it was extremely harsh when it was heard. Aunt Kang was about to leave in anger again, but asked Xiang Mama to stop her.
The lady came slowly from behind, smiling, but with a hint of authority in her eyes: "After all, she is the daughter of the Kang family. Even if she is a maid who sold herself into the mansion, her parents want to see her, so shouldn't we let them see her?"
The servants didn't dare to be rude to her. Liao Yongjia said respectfully but firmly, "Madam said that if Madam Kang really misses her daughter, then she should bring Miss Kang here. However, let me be frank, this is not a teahouse or a tavern. She can come and go as she pleases. Madam is not a close elder, so there is no reason for her to stay here long term. When Miss Kang arrives, please ask Madam Kang to take her away! The Marquis has not returned yet, and the third master is the only adult master in the mansion. I don't think it will harm Miss Kang's reputation."
Aunt Kang hesitated for a moment, then turned to look at the Dowager. The Dowager was also undecided. She was almost certain that Kang Zhao'er was no longer at the Gu residence, but what if there was a trick? Could Sheng Minglan have deliberately leaked the news?
If Kang Zhao'er comes out later, should I ask her to be taken away? If I don't, I'll be contradicting myself. If I do, the whole concubine-taking incident will end in vain, and I'll become a laughing stock.
Faced with the empty city plan, Sima Yi dared not move a step. Was there a trick in the city? The lady hesitated.
"If Mrs. Kang feels it's okay, please move to the gatehouse. We will send Miss Kang over right away. After the mother and daughter meet and she is in good health, you can get in the car and go home." Liao Yong's wife smiled respectfully.
The lady gritted her teeth and said, "No! Even if Kang Zhao'er stays there, it will only make Sheng Minglan angry."
Aunt Kang returned empty-handed again.
Two days later, a short note was delivered to Minglan from Sheng Mansion.
Minglan smiled when she saw the words, and the depression she had felt for the past few days was swept away. She said in a loud voice, "Come, pack up for me, let's go to Xuanzhi Garden."
The Lady Dowager was in the inner room, playing with Xian'er. Her face was filled with genuine affection, making it impossible to tell what kind of treacherous heart lay beneath. Seeing Minglan approach with a smile on her face, she was startled for a moment, then said with a smile, "Are you feeling better? Come and sit down."
Zhu, standing by, was a bit uneasy, but she still stepped forward quickly to help Minglan up. Minglan sat down steadily, cradling her large belly. She looked at the cute little boy on Luohan's bed, praised him briefly, and then said straight to the point, "I've come to tell you some good news."
"What...good news?" The lady felt vaguely uneasy.
Minglan carefully observed her expression and said slowly, "Cousin Kang has finally found a good home."
"What do you mean?" The lady's face immediately fell. "A girl's reputation is important. Don't talk nonsense."
Minglan smiled coldly, "Cousin Kang has been picked up by her family. You don't have to worry about her anymore. If you don't believe me, you can ask Mrs. Kang. But..." She smiled sarcastically, "She's probably very busy right now and doesn't have time to see you."
Madam Huo stood up, looking surprised and doubtful.
"One more thing." Minglan stood up slowly and walked out with Danju. "Mrs. Kang probably won't come to visit anymore. I'm in a heavy state, so if any aunts, cousins, or relatives want to come, you don't have to call me."
"You..." The lady was angry and pointed at the door and glared.
Minglan glanced at her coldly. There was no need to pretend at this point. It would be better to break up and start a war. Who was afraid of who?
She walked out the door fearlessly. After a few steps, she suddenly turned back and looked up at the huge plaque above the door. The glossy, century-old mahogany was carved with an intricate and exquisite auspicious unicorn three times turning its head. In the middle, in solemn and upright calligraphy, two large characters were written in regular script: Xuan Zhi. Humph, such a vicious woman was not worthy of such beautiful words!
Minglan sneered briefly twice - the next time she came, she would tear down the main house and courtyard inside and out!
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