Minglan was concentrating on sketching patterns. In the bright sunlight, she made the antennae on the heads of several crickets come alive. Danju came over with a tea bowl. Seeing Minglan's expression of not daring to blink, she said with concern, "Girl, take a break. Don't ruin your eyes."
A thin line of sweat broke out on Minglan's forehead, but she didn't move. "I'm afraid of damaging my eyes, so I endured it during the day." After drawing the last stroke, Minglan let out a long breath and put down her brush. "I'm done. You and Yancao can cut out the pattern together."
Danju tested the heat of the bowl and placed it in Minglan's hand before going to the table to examine it. She smiled and said, "Young lady, your drawing is really good. These little crickets and cicadas, the size of a fingernail, look like they are moving."
Xiao Tao, who was sorting clothes in the corner, heard it, put down the work in her hands, and came out to complain: "It would be better to catch a few live ones to make things easier, girl. If you had done your job worse in the future, you wouldn't have taken on this task. No wonder people say that people are afraid of fame just like pigs are afraid of..." She realized that she had said the wrong thing and quickly covered her mouth.
Minglan pointed at Xiaotao, shook her head, and sighed. Danju also burst out laughing, then turned stern and said, "You're already so old, and you're still talking nonsense like this. If you were another master, they would definitely skin you alive!"
Xiao Tao lowered her head in embarrassment and said, "I won't do it again next time." She went back to clean up.
At this time, the bamboo curtain made a sound, and Luzhi came in with a smile, but she politely moved sideways to hold the bamboo curtain to let a fat-faced old woman from behind come in.
"Hello, Sixth Miss." The old woman was wearing a silver-red double-breasted jacket with dark embroidered patterns, a dark green carved silk long coat underneath, and a flat long brocade box in her arms. She half-knelt and saluted Minglan. She was also Wang's companion. Before Liu Kun's wife came, she was quite trusted by Wang. Now she has retreated a step, probably because she was not strong enough in the struggle with Aunt Lin.
Minglan smiled and said, "Mother Qian is too polite. Luzhi, why don't you take a look at the tea on the table?" She tilted her head and winked at Danju. Danju understood and immediately went into the inner room.
Mother Qian smiled as she sat down and leaned towards Minglan. "I've brought a few needlework-savvy wives with me today to measure the maids in the young lady's courtyard so they can make them summer and autumn clothes."
"Why bother coming here for such a small matter, mother?" Minglan pointed to a plate of rose pine nut honey cake in front of her and asked Lvzhi to bring it to Mother Qian. "This is what Mother Fang taught me to make. The ingredients are complicated and the process is long. I think it's too sweet and soft, but the old lady likes it. Mother, try it."
Mother Qian picked up a small piece to taste, and found it sweet and soft. Lvzhi then attentively handed her freshly brewed Yunlan Melon Tea. Mother Qian took another sip of tea and found the fragrance lingering on her cheeks, and she praised the tea repeatedly.
"If you like it, mother, please take some of these snacks and tea back and enjoy them when you are free," Minglan said gently.
Mother Qian was pleased, but said half-heartedly, "How can this be good? You can eat and take at the same time."
Luzhi was very clever with her words. She quickly shook Qian Mama's arm and said coquettishly, "Mom, please stop being so polite with us girls. If you feel embarrassed, you can secretly make a few more clothes for us sisters later."
Minglan smiled and said, "Look at this girl. Maybe she's the reincarnation of a greedy ghost. Mom, don't pay any attention to her."
At this time, Danju came out from the inner room, holding a small bag and handed it to Mama Qian. Minglan looked at her with gentle concern, "I heard that Mama caught a cold a few days ago. They say that late spring colds are the worst. Mama is old and works hard every day, so you should take care of yourself. This is the leftover brown and gold-threaded reed velvet from when Mama made a jacket last time. I made this waistcoat with it. If you don't mind, you can wear it inside. It's warm and breathable."
Mother Qian took it hurriedly, thanked her repeatedly, and sighed, "They say that the Sixth Miss is the most considerate. All the girls in the courtyard are raised to be fair and plump. Alas...it is still Mother Liu's Jiuer who is lucky. Unlike my girl, she can't come in here."
Minglan didn't respond, only smiling and saying a few humble words. After everyone had joked for a while, Mama Qian handed the brocade box beside her to Luzhi and said, "Here are some palace flowers. Madam sent them for you, young lady." Minglan asked hurriedly, "Do your fourth and fifth sisters have any?" Mama Qian replied, "We already have some." Minglan said with relief, "That's good."
Then he opened the brocade box, and saw five palace flowers inside - light pink, bean green, sky blue after rain, rose purple and crabapple red. They had silk gauze as petals and velvet as core, with bright colors and exquisite shapes.
Mother Qian leaned over and whispered, "This is what I reserved for you, girl. It's not leftover."
Minglan praised, "This flower is so beautiful. Thank you, mother. Where did you get it?"
Madam Qian put down her teacup and explained with a smile, "A few days ago, the results were announced, and the son of Princess Pingning won the top two spots. Yesterday, the Duke of Qi's mansion hosted a banquet, and Madam was invited. She received some and shared it with the girls."
Minglan's expression remained unchanged, and she also smiled, "That's truly congratulations! Madam has always been on good terms with the princess, so she must be very happy. No wonder Madam's face was flushed when I went to pay my respects this morning. Perhaps she had a few drinks yesterday?"
"That's right." Mama Qian clapped her hands and smiled. "I went with them and saw it with my own eyes. The princess treated our wife very warmly, like a sister. They even talked for quite a while in the inner room."
Minglan's eyes moved slightly, and then she said with concern: "I heard that Fifth Sister came back from Madam's room quite late last night. I'm afraid that Madam was very drunk. Maybe Fifth Sister took care of her alone? Oh, I didn't know. I'm really unfilial." She looked worried.
Mother Qian hurriedly waved her hand. "It's nothing. Madam will feel much better after taking the hangover soup. Madam was just so happy that she asked Fifth Miss to go and talk to her." Minglan seemed relieved and smiled. "That puts my mind at ease."
Before leaving, Madam Qian leaned over to Minglan's ear and whispered, "Yesterday at the banquet, Madam spoke to the wife of the Marquis of Yongchang for quite a while. I vaguely heard them mention the young lady in the mansion."
Minglan was shocked.
After sending Qian Mama away, Lvzhi came in a while later, pouting and complaining, "Yancao is useless. She can't even frighten a few little hooves, and she lets them scramble for the measurement... Now that Qian Mama is no longer valued by the lady, why do you have to do this, young lady?"
Minglan glanced at her quietly, and Luzhi immediately retracted her mouth and stood with her head lowered. Danju came over and pinched her nose: "Don't talk nonsense, young lady has her reasons, just do your job well."
"Every blade of grass and every tree has its uses." Minglan said slowly, "Even the most insignificant people can be useful." Then, looking at Luzhi, she said, "Yancao has a gentle personality, but she came into the mansion earlier than you and is older in her work. You must not look down on her."
Luzhi responded fearfully, her heels touching her hands, clasping her fingers together, not daring to breathe. After a moment, Minglan slowed her pace and said, "I always remember the kindness of anyone who treats me sincerely. Yancao... after all, she's a few years older than you. You should probably control your words and temper."
Luzhi chewed the words in her heart for a while, and seemed to understand something. Her eyes lit up and she looked up and said, "Miss, Luzhi knows."
After the maids left, Minglan pondered for a moment, took out a few pieces of letter paper, spread them out on the table, thought for a moment, picked up the pen and began to write.
That night, Sheng Hong had dinner at Concubine Xiang's place. He was tired from the social engagements for days and wanted to take a rest, but was called back by Wang. When he arrived at the main room, he saw his wife sitting upright on the edge of the kang. She was middle-aged, with a blush on her face and a hint of joy on her brows. Sheng Hong decided to talk to her about the issue of "rain and dew and teacups". He couldn't sleep with her every night, and he had to take care of the public's mood. But before he could open his mouth, Wang quickly closed the door and started talking in a burst of words, which stunned him.
"What did you say? Betroth Ru'er to Qi Heng? Did the princess really say that?" Sheng Hong was stunned for a moment before he asked in surprise, "Then... what about your family? Isn't Ru'er going to marry my uncle? All that's left is the betrothal."
Wang hesitated, but remembering her sister-in-law's dissatisfaction when she looked at Rulan, she said in a low voice, "Hasn't it been decided yet? Can't I find a better place for my daughter?"
"Is Qi Heng okay?" As a man, Sheng Hong's first thought was the green color above Qi's mansion.
Wang lowered her voice and said eagerly, "I've thought carefully. It's a good match. Regardless of whether Heng'er gets the title or not, he's already achieved fame at such a young age. He has a promising future, and with the support of the Duke's Mansion, he's guaranteed a stable income! Also, the Marquis of Xiangyang has no heir, so his title will be given to his heir. But besides the ancestral property, the Marquis of Xiangyang has accumulated a lot of wealth over the past few decades. It has all been passed on to the princess. Oh, and then there's Mr. Qi. The job of Salt Administration is very lucrative. Master knows it better than I do. He's been the inspector for many years. Wouldn't that money be piled up like a mountain? In the future, all of this will belong to Heng'er! How bad can life be then?"
Sheng Hong was dazzled by the dazzling golden light in Wang's eyes. It was as if he saw countless silver coins flying in her eyes. At this moment, Wang's mind was unusually clear and she spoke clearly and coherently: "Such a shameful thing happened in the Qi Mansion last year. Heng Ge'er was embarrassed and couldn't propose marriage right away. The princess told me this in private."
Wang lowered her voice even further and spoke mysteriously, "The princess said that the emperor's body...will be gone in the next two months. By then, families like us will have to wait and see for a year. After a year or two, who will remember the dirty deeds of the late emperor? Anyway, Rulan still has a year until she reaches marriageable age, so we can wait and see."
Sheng Hong slowly regained his shrewdness. After careful consideration, he said, "The results of the special examination have been announced this time, but His Majesty has delayed the palace examination, saying that he will discuss the names after the Eighth Prince arrives in Beijing. It's obvious that he is saving these newcomers for the new emperor. Perhaps... Heng'er really has some potential, so this marriage is not a bad idea?... But what about my uncle?"
Wang hesitated and said, "If the emperor..., my brother is also an official and must observe mourning. Let's wait and see."
Sheng Hong thought about it and nodded.
Seeing her husband approve of her plan, Wang Shi became even more proud and dropped another bombshell: "Yesterday at a banquet, I even ran into the wife of the Marquis of Yongchang."
Sheng Hong hummed a sound, yawned slightly, and leaned against the headboard. He spread out his coat and asked Wang Shi to pick it up. As Wang Shi sorted the clothes, she said with a smile, "Madam Liang told me that she has taken a fancy to our Minglan!"
"What?! When did this happen?" Sheng Hong woke up from his sleepiness and jumped up. His head was confused again, and he growled, "The old lady has only been gone for two months, and you dare to set your sights on Ming girl? She's already settled on the He family!"
"Look how panicked you are! Could it be that I would actually betray Ming-chan? Listen to me." Wang pushed her husband down with force, her face beaming with smiles as she continued, "On the day of Shi-chan'er's full moon, there was a banquet at my in-laws' house. Madam Liang took a liking to Ming-chan at first sight, and didn't mind that she was a concubine's daughter. She praised her good character and appearance. The Liang family, the Marquis of Yongchang, is a very powerful family. Although that boy is the youngest, he is also a legitimate son. They are now thinking of filling the vacancy of the deputy commander of the Wucheng Bingma Division. Even if he can't fill it, he still has a seventh-rank battalion guard position in the Imperial Guard. What do you think? This marriage won't be unfair to Ming-chan. It's much better than the He family!"
Sheng Hong really wanted to stick to the old lady's decision, but when he thought about the Liang family's foundation and power, he hesitated.
Wang looked at her husband's wavering face, added another handful of firewood, and said, "Think about it, Minglan is so beautiful, wouldn't it be unfair for her to be married off to the He family? If she can marry into the Qi and Liang families, then the Bai brothers will have someone to rely on in the future." In fact, the most important thing is that Minglan has no brothers. Apart from her own son, who else can she rely on from her mother's family?
Sheng Hong was persuaded. He gritted his teeth and asked, "What do you think of the young man's character? If the old lady doesn't want to, it's useless to say anything."
Wang Shi knew the matter was half done, so she slowed down her tone and pretended to be aggrieved, "Look at what you said, Master. It's as if I'm selling my daughter for fame and fortune. Ming girl has been well-behaved and filial to me all these years. She has no brotherly love, but she gets along well with her sister-in-law. She loves Quan'er. I was thinking about her for her own good. That young man is Liang Han. Master, you should go and find out about his character, so that others won't blame me later."
She pouted and stopped talking with an angry look on her face. Sheng Hong tried to persuade her kindly and whispered a few words into her ear while hugging her. Wang smiled again after hearing what he said.
"Well," Wang revealed all her plans. "Master, please take your time to find out. I've also thought of a good excuse. When the old lady comes back, we can persuade her. You know her temper. If Liang Han's character is acceptable, I'm sure she won't kill the He family."
Although Sheng Hong was tempted by the Liang family's marriage, he couldn't help but feel a headache when he thought about persuading Old Madam Sheng. Over the years, he had almost always obeyed the old lady and never disobeyed her. Now... He couldn't help but ask, "We've been in the capital for so many days, and no one is interested in Molan?"
If the Liang family chose Molan, wouldn't that be the best of both worlds, and he wouldn't have to worry about it.
Wang was shyly untying Sheng Hong's belt. Upon hearing this, her expression immediately changed, and she couldn't help but snort coldly: "Master! I'm going to tell you something you won't like. Miss Mo doesn't want to learn from others' kindness, but chooses to act just like that guy. The gentlemen may like her, but the wives and grandma don't like her behavior at all."
Sheng Hong didn't refute this time, but could only sigh. Wang Shi glanced at Sheng Hong's profile and sneered inwardly. No matter how much one doted on a concubine, love would fade over time. Only status and offspring were reliable. Only now did she realize this truth.
But for some reason, after the joy, I felt lonely in my heart.
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