Wang came in and sat down in the main hall. Cai Pei immediately placed a round, flat brass foot warmer with five rings and double blessings on it. The three concubines who had followed Wang in stood respectfully to the side. The three Lans also stood up and bowed their heads in greeting. Wang looked up at everyone and waved her hand, saying, "Sit down. It's quite cold. Light the stove a little brighter."
The latter sentence was addressed to the maid. Caihuan immediately took out a pair of curved fire tongs from the corner of the room and added some silver charcoal to the nine-section octagonal white copper incense burner with engraved cloud and dragon patterns. The room became much warmer. Rulan pouted and walked over to sit next to Molan. Minglan knew the rules and sat down next to Rulan in order. Opposite them were three concubines in a row. On this side were a row of large chairs with brocade and cotton covers, and on the concubines' side were three round stools.
This was Minglan's first encounter with the manners of a legitimate wife, and she immediately thought of a military parade, with Wang Shi almost shouting, "Hello comrades, thank you for your hard work!" Minglan's thoughts were scattered as she carefully examined the concubines across from her. She hadn't seen Concubine Lin in years, and she found she had barely aged, her face still beautiful, her manners charming. Concubine Xiang wasn't particularly striking, but she possessed a certain gentleness. Concubine Ping was a beauty, with a small cherry mouth, arched eyebrows, and narrow eyes. Unfortunately, her expression was a bit frivolous, her manners humble and timid, and she carried a touch of pettiness.
Their identities are: daughter of an old friend, wife's roommate, concubine given by a colleague, plus the deceased concubine Wei who was a good concubine hired from outside, basically all the sources of concubines are complete. Minglan sighed secretly - although the sparrow is small, it has all the organs!
Wang drank a sip of warm tea and asked Minglan a few questions in detail whether she was used to living in the new house. Minglan strictly followed the etiquette taught by the housekeeper and answered respectfully one by one. Wang thought that Minglan had been favored by the old lady for a long time and was somewhat spoiled and disobedient. She was planning to put on airs to restrain her, but she didn't expect Minglan to be so respectful and polite, with no mistakes in etiquette and obedient behavior. She felt very relieved and comfortable.
"...If you still need anything, just tell me." Wang instructed Minglan gently.
Minglan smiled and said, "After hearing what Madam said, Minglan will have to be shameless and come to ask for things later."
Wang smiled and said a few more words to Minglan. Then her eyes turned and her expression suddenly dropped. She said solemnly, "What were you sisters arguing about before I came in just now?"
Minglan's heart trembled. Wang's direct use of the word 'quarrel' seemed to indicate she was about to bring the matter to a head. She looked down at Molan, who tugged at her handkerchief nervously. Concubine Lin, on the other side, let out a sneer of disdain. Knowing she was being used as a pawn, Minglan whispered, "Madam, please forgive me. It's my fault. I was late in paying my respects to you the other day. My sisters are trying to teach me the rules."
Wang looked at her in surprise, thinking that it was the old lady who had taught her this. Suddenly, she came up with an explanation and said to Molan and Rulan, "As an elder sister, you shouldn't just scold her. Since you knew that the Sixth Miss came to me the other day, you should have reminded her when you paid your respects to the old lady this morning. Don't wait for your younger sister to make a mistake before trying to act like an elder sister!"
Even Rulan, who was straightforward, understood the implication and suppressed a smile as she said, "Mother is right. If you haven't warned your sister before, what right do you have to scold her?"
Molan lowered her head, looking angry, her face flushed with anger, and she said nothing. Minglan couldn't help but look at Aunt Lin, only to see that she looked normal. She secretly praised her in her heart, thinking that she was indeed very capable. She had heard in Shou'an Hall that no matter how rampant Aunt Lin was in fact, she never openly quarreled with Wang, and there was no handle on her words or deeds. Instead, she found a way to make Wang angry first, so that she would not be afraid even if she offended Sheng Hong.
Today, Wang had a rare opportunity to show off her motherly glory. With a gentle smile, she addressed the three girls, "You sisters, why are you so hostile the moment you meet? I didn't study for many years under learned teachers like you, but I also know that brothers and sisters are only together in this life, so we should love each other. When Madam Kong spanked you, she said that sisters from the same family should share the same punishment for their crimes. Don't let the pain go unnoticed after you've been spanked."
The voice was dignified, and all three Minglans stood up and saluted. Wang Shi felt very happy and waved her hand. Two maids, about thirteen or fourteen years old, walked out from the inner room. One wore a silver-red middle jacket and a blue bodice, and the other wore an emerald green long jacket and a ginger bodice. They bowed their heads respectfully and walked to the middle to pay their respects to Minglan. Wang Shi nodded slightly and turned to Minglan again. "The maids around you were given by the old lady. Although they are good, they are still a little young. Aunt Cui has family responsibilities and needs to go home frequently. They can't serve you all day. I will transfer Yinxing and Jiuer, the two older and more stable ones, to your room to serve you."
Minglan smiled inwardly. Sure enough, he had come. Fortunately, she had already thought of a countermeasure. Although she was not surprised, she could not show it. She pretended to be surprised and said, "Madam has given me the capable person by her side. What will Madam do if she has no one to serve her?"
Wang smiled and waved her hand, then softened her voice and said to Minglan, "I originally wanted you to move into Weiruixuan, but the old lady couldn't bear to let you go, so I had to let you stay in Mucangzhai. It's too small to send many people, but you can't be too far behind your sisters. Even if you add these two, you still don't have as many people as your two sisters."
Rulan held Minglan's arm affectionately and said with a smile, "Mother, you should have sent someone to Sixth Sister earlier. We'll go to her place later and make sure there's no one to wait on us!"
Wang rolled her eyes at her daughter and said angrily, "You thought you were worried about your sister, but it turns out you were just thinking about your own comfort!"
Rulan stuck out her tongue and smiled coquettishly. Concubine Xiang and Concubine Ping also laughed along. Minglan felt that it was enough and said obediently, "In that case, I thank you, Madam."
Wang took Minglan's hand and said lovingly, "...Though these two are young, they've been trained by me for several years. They're capable of doing all the work, both inside and outside. You can use them with confidence."
Minglan was filled with gratitude and conviction, and said, "The people around Madam are naturally good. I respect them enough to not worry about them."
After a few more words, Wang dismissed them. Rulan was in a particularly cheerful mood today, strutting past Molan. Molan followed silently out, followed by Minglan, followed by the other concubines. At the door, everyone separated. Rulan yawned slightly and returned to Weiruixuan, presumably to catch up on some sleep. Concubine Lin, leaving for Linqi Pavilion, glanced at Molan before leaving, seemingly giving her a wink. Concubines Xiang and Ping quietly returned to their rooms. Minglan headed towards Mucangzhai, while Molan headed towards the library, their paths crossing.
The winter chill had not yet subsided. The lake was covered with thin ice, withered leaves hanging from the branches, and the sparse white snow covering the ground. It was truly solemn and quiet. The two sisters walked quietly for a while, ignoring each other. Molan endured it again and again, but finally couldn't help it: "Sixth sister, you are so lucky. The madam thinks so highly of you. After all, you were raised by the old lady. I can't catch up even if I flatter you!"
Minglan sighed. She had been incredibly stressed out this morning and really didn't want to bother educating a little girl. But after some thought, she decided it would be best to make things clear sooner rather than later to avoid further arguments. So she stopped and turned to the person beside her, saying, "Yancao, take the two sisters back first. Ask Danju to look after them. Xiaotao, Qinsang, go to the lake and pick up some round pebbles. My fish tank is big, and it'll look better if I put more stuff in it."
They went to do so, and then Minglan turned and looked straight at Molan. Molan was stunned for a moment. She also had a heart as kind as crystal, so she immediately understood what Minglan meant. She remembered that she had not yet expressed all her complaints today, and it would not be good for the maid to hear them, so she directly dismissed everyone around her, and the two sisters walked to a dead tree and stood still.
"Sixth sister, what do you have to say?" Molan asked coldly, holding a handcuff wrapped in thick fur, looking at Xiaotao and Qin Sang picking up stones in the distance. Minglan raised an eyebrow and said seriously, "Sister is a smart person. She doesn't speak in secret in front of others. Let's speak openly today and tell you what's in our hearts."
Molan was a little surprised to hear these sharp words. She glanced at Minglan, who took a deep breath and said, "Ever since my eldest sister got married, there are only three of us sisters in the family. To be honest, in terms of appearance, talent, and even the position in our father's heart, my sister is the best in the family."
Everyone loves to hear nice words, especially from a little girl in her teens. Molan's cold expression softened after hearing them. Seeing this was a good start, Minglan started the conversation: "The only thing Fourth Sister lacks is her family background..." Molan's face immediately darkened. Minglan didn't dare delay and continued: "...If Fourth Sister had also come from Madam's womb, she would have been blessed like the eldest sister in the future. But as fate would have it, Fourth Sister was given this shortcoming."
Molan's eyes were filled with resentment, and she snorted softly, but she finally let her thoughts drift away. She didn't dwell on the previous argument. Minglan carefully brought the topic to the point: "Fourth sister, let me be honest. I'm also a concubine's daughter. Aside from the old lady's pity, I can't compare to you in any way. Why are you so angry with me, sister?"
Molan was startled and looked at Minglan, only to see that she was looking straight at her. Although Minglan had not lost her baby fat, her childishness had disappeared. Her eyes, as lacquer-like as a deep lake, were as quiet and elegant as a grown-up. Molan hesitated and said, "Sister, you are overthinking it. I am not angry with you. I just said a few words today."
For some reason, Molan felt that her momentum had weakened a lot, and the anger she had just had in the argument disappeared.
Seeing Molan's refusal to admit it, Minglan said nothing more, but smiled and said, "Mr. Zhuang once said that everything in this world ultimately comes down to the two words 'benefits and harms'. We are both concubines, but Fourth Sister has Concubine Lin to protect her above and Third Brother to look after her below. She is far superior to me, and I can't compare to her in terms of 'benefits'. Sister is outstanding in character and appearance, as everyone can see, and she has lofty ambitions. Sister knows what the old lady likes, while I, brought up by her, have only known to keep my head down. Neither sister nor I have any 'harm' in mind. We can just live in harmony as sisters, right?"
Molan's heart was filled with turmoil after hearing this. She felt both proud and seen through. She couldn't refute anything and could only hide her sneer twice: "Sister, you are right. Just now at the Madam's place, you were really powerful!"
Minglan saw Molan's expression and knew she had been persuaded, but she was still unconvinced. She smiled and said, "People need to be proud, and trees need to be barked. No matter how incompetent I am, I still have to take care of the old lady. Today is the first time I pay my respects to the lady, and I'm being treated with contempt. How can the old lady who raised me feel embarrassed? Just like my sister has to take care of Aunt Lin's face, it's the same principle. As a concubine's daughter, we must not let others look down on us, right?"
Molan's heart skipped a beat, and she looked Minglan up and down, feeling as if she had never known her before. She always prided herself on her eloquence, and if Rulan had no one to help her, she would often be bullied by her. But today, she had almost no power to fight back against Minglan, but she still felt that what she said was very reasonable, and every word touched her heart. She felt inferior and proud, unwilling and unconvinced. Her thoughts were hit home by her words. Listening to Minglan's slow tone and gentle and childish voice, she didn't feel angry at all.
Minglan watched Molan's expression change and knew that she had achieved her goal today. This was the advantage of talking to smart people. As long as the pros and cons were explained clearly, the other party would be able to accept it easily. If it were Rulan, once she acted on impulse, no matter how reasonable she was, it would be useless.
Minglan turned her head away, slowly relaxing her facial expression, and happily looked at Xiaotao and Qin Sang who were coming back from picking up stones. The cold wind blew across her face slightly, but she only felt cool and comfortable. Her gaze turned to the two tall, bare osmanthus trees in Shou'an Hall, and her heart felt warm and soft - anyway... she didn't need Molan to be sincere to her, as long as they could live in peace; she had people who truly loved and cared about her, in her previous life and in this life.
At least God didn't treat her too harshly as a half-martyr.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com