Chapter 227 Erlan Returns Home
"I see."
Rulan said a little aggrievedly: "If I had a family background like Jiang Liangdi, I could be so casual."
Is Jiang Liangdi casual?
Minglan felt that it was not that simple.
Jiang Liangdi was born in a marquis's mansion, how could she not be cunning at all?
The higher the family background, the stricter the education received.
Although there may be some playboys and idiots in wealthy families, it does not mean that they are really stupid.
Jiang Liangdi's behavior just now can be said to have offended Li Liangdi and others severely.
Jiang Liangdi had no intention of contacting Yu Yanran and Rulan, and at first glance she seemed quite arrogant.
But in Minglan's view, this is more like Jiang Liangdi's way of survival.
Jiang Liangdi had offended all the other concubines and had no intention of competing for favor, so the Crown Princess and all the concubines in the harem didn't pay much attention to her.
…………
"Your Highness, it's time to get up."
It was a rare occasion that Zhao Xing stayed in bed. When he woke up in the morning, he hugged Sheng Shulan and took a nap.
Zhao Xing hugged Shulan tightly. Shulan didn't want to wake him up and didn't dare to move.
However, as it was already dawn and Zhao Xing didn't seem to wake up, she could only push him.
Zhao Xing opened his eyes, yawned, and said, "Sleep a little longer."
Because he had to take the child into consideration, he was very careful when he was pampering Shulan last night.
It was fun, but very tiring, and I tossed and turned until late at night before I could fall asleep.
"Your Highness, it's already noon. The imperial physician said that you should walk around morning and evening, which will help with your upcoming labor." Seeing that Zhao Xing was unmoved, Shu Lan had to mention the child.
Sure enough, Zhao Xing lost all his sleepiness when he heard this. He reached out and touched Shulan's bulging belly, and said with a smile, "I will walk with you and your son."
Shu Lan smiled sweetly when she heard this: "Thank you, Your Highness."
"Why are you being so polite to me? I have less time to spend with you recently. I will accompany you during the day today."
Zhao Xing called the palace maid outside to come in and help the two of them wash and have breakfast. Then he helped Shulan to the garden.
The garden is filled with the fragrance of osmanthus, which is refreshing.
After strolling for a while, Sanshui came over.
"Greetings to Your Highness, Concubine Sheng Zheng!" Sanshui bowed.
"What's the matter?" Zhao Xing asked.
Upon hearing this, Sanshui glanced at Shulan.
"Your Highness, business is more important. I will just take a walk and go back soon." Sheng Shulan said considerately.
"I said I'll be with you today, everything else is trivial."
Zhao Xing looked at Sanshui and said, "Just tell me what you want to say."
"Yes!" Sanshui responded and told the story about the conflict between Li Liangdi and Rulan.
"What's my business? Please step back." Zhao Xing waved his hand.
Some verbal conflicts were just minor matters and Zhao Xing didn't bother to pay attention to them.
Upon hearing this, Sanshui bowed and withdrew.
Shulan looked at Zhao Xing, seeming to be hesitant to speak.
"We've been walking for a while, let's go to the pavilion in front and rest for a while."
Zhao Xing helped Shulan to a pavilion not far away and sat down.
"What did you want to say just now?" Zhao Xing took the tea brought by the palace maid, took a few sips, looked at Shulan and asked.
"Rulan has a quick temper and did not mean to contradict Li Liangdi. Please forgive me, Your Highness." Shulan said.
"It's just a small matter. I don't care about it at all. Don't think too much about it. Just take good care of the baby." Zhao Xing said with a smile.
Shulan was relieved to see that Zhao Xing didn't seem to care.
…………
At the gate of Sheng's house, Sheng Hong and Madam Wang were waiting at the door.
Molan and Wenyanjing were also there.
Wen Yanjing had no family in Bian Jing, so Sheng Hong asked him and Molan to come to the Sheng family to celebrate the festival.
"I don't know how Ru'er is doing in the Eastern Palace, and whether she has lost weight." Madam Wang jumped her head and looked around, muttering to herself.
"Okay, you've been nagging me all morning. I'm exhausted from listening to you. Didn't you say that it would be fine if you asked my aunt to visit?" Sheng Hong said a little irritably.
"That's what you say, but I'm still worried until I see her. Rulan is my flesh and blood, and you don't seem to care about her at all. You just spend every day enjoying the flowers and moonlight with others." Madam Wang said unhappily.
After Lin Xiaoniang died, Sheng Hong was sad for a while. Later, a colleague gave him a concubine. Sheng Hong had a new love and completely forgot about Lin Xiaoniang.
This concubine is proficient in everything from playing the piano, chess, calligraphy and painting. She is not much worse than Lin Xiaoniang in appearance, and is even younger.
Sheng Hong liked it very much and had been resting there almost all the time since he came in.
Although Madam Wang was unhappy, the concubine was very respectful in front of her and did not act like a troublemaker like Madam Lin. Sheng Hong also protected her, so she had no place to vent her anger.
"What nonsense are you talking about in front of the child?" Sheng Hong felt a little embarrassed and glared at Madam Wang fiercely.
Mrs. Wang wanted to say something else, but Mother Liu quickly pulled her back.
Mother Liu actually did not agree with Madam Wang's targeting of the concubine.
There's no way. Madam Wang is not that pretty to begin with, and she's not young anymore. How can she compete with those young and beautiful girls?
If there is no this concubine, there will be other concubines.
This concubine is also a sensible person, so why should she become unhappy with Sheng Hong because of this?
Wen Yanjing lowered his head as if he had heard nothing.
Molan raised the corner of her mouth, revealing a hint of sarcasm. She saw Wen Yanjing from the corner of her eyes and felt disgusted. Wen Yanjing was only in his early twenties, but he looked very anxious and looked like a man in his thirties.
Although Sheng Hong is over 40 years old, he is in high spirits and looks very young.
Wen Yanjing and Sheng Hong stood together, looking like people of the same age.
Not only does he look old, but he also has nothing, not even a house.
Sheng Hong still had some nostalgia for the old days, so after Lin Xiaoniang died, he did not take back the farms and shops he had given to her.
When Molan got married, the farms and shops, plus the money that Lin Xiaoniang had saved over the years, were divided into two halves, half of which was given to Molan as a dowry.
However, the housing prices in Bianjing were extremely high, and the dowry was not enough to buy a house.
Now Wen Yanjing and Molan still live in a rented house.
Even the food and drink expenses were paid with her dowry.
When she thought of Rulan and Minglan enjoying wealth and glory in the Eastern Palace, and then thought about her own life, her heart was filled with resentment.
"Here it comes!" exclaimed Mother Liu.
Sheng Hong and his companions looked in the direction of the sound and saw a carriage pulled by two horses, coming towards them under the protection of dozens of imperial guards.
Mama Hua, Mama Cui, Xi Que, and Xiao Tao followed on both sides of the carriage, and behind them was a group of palace maids and eunuchs.
"It's so impressive!"
When Mrs. Wang saw this grand scene, her eyes were filled with tears of excitement.
"Second uncle, second aunt!" Sheng Changwu dismounted and bowed.
"Why is it your bodyguard?" Sheng Hong asked in surprise.
Sheng Changwu is now the deputy commander. When the concubines go home to visit their families, they do not need to leave the city. They just need to have a captain and his men accompany them.
"His Highness gave the order personally." Sheng Changwu said.
Sheng Hong smiled when he heard this. This showed that the Crown Prince liked Rulan very much, otherwise why would he personally arrange such a small matter as the accompanying guards.
Sheng Hong could hear it, and Molan could naturally hear it too. She clenched her hands tightly in her sleeves, and could no longer maintain the smile on her face. She was jealous and mad.
But no one paid any attention to her at this time. When the carriage stopped, Madam Wang trotted over to greet it.
"Mother!"
Rulan leaned out and saw Madam Wang. She called out to her excitedly, got out of the car swiftly, and hugged Madam Wang tightly when she came towards her.
Minglan then got out of the car and stood not far away, watching without saying anything.
Madam Wang managed to control her excitement with great difficulty and pulled Rulan aside to look her over.
"Okay, let's go inside and talk." Sheng Hong said.
"Yes, yes, come into the house and say it."
Madam Wang pulled Rulan and was about to walk in. She glanced at Minglan behind her and a hint of displeasure flashed in her eyes.
Xi Que and the others had already changed into the clothes of palace maids. Minglan was a part of the dowry, so she was also considered a servant.
Logically, she should be dressed like the palace maids.
However, Minglan did not. Although her overall dress was much worse than that of Nanyue, it was much more elegant than when she was a girl at home.
Or maybe Minglan dressed like this specifically because she was going home.
Either that or His Royal Highness the Crown Prince really likes her and has granted her special permission not to wear the attire of a palace maid.
No matter which possibility it is, in Mrs. Wang's opinion, it is not a good thing.
The former shows that Minglan did not put herself in the right position.
The latter means that Minglan may compete with Ruolan for favor, or that Ruolan is more favored.
Thinking of what her sister had said to her before, Madam Wang felt a little gloomy.
But she didn't know what to say now, so she decided to wait until she finished asking Rulan.
Madam Wang pulled Rulan in, and the accompanying palace maids and eunuchs followed behind.
Sheng Hong arranged for the steward to entertain the palace maids, eunuchs and accompanying imperial guards, and then went to the front hall.
After Mother Cui entered the door, she left the team and went to Shou'an Hall.
…………
"If the old lady is worried about the Sixth Miss, why not have someone wait at the door and call her over when she comes back?"
Mother Fang saw that Old Madam Sheng often glanced towards the door and said with a smile.
"She must go and talk to father and the eldest lady when she comes back. How can she be called here as soon as she comes back?" Old Mrs. Sheng shook her head.
Mother Fang opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing.
She also knew the old lady's temper. Sometimes she was unruly and sometimes she was very well-behaved.
At this time, Mother Cui came in, smiling, and saluted excitedly, saying, "Hello, old lady."
She and Fang Mama were both part of Old Lady Sheng’s dowry.
In comparison, her status was not as good as Fang Mama's. Fang Mama had released her indenture and got married.
And she was promised to a steward who came with her dowry.
Her husband and son have been managing the farm that came as a dowry for Old Lady Sheng over the years.
When Minglan was married off to the Eastern Palace, Old Lady Sheng gave the dowry she had prepared to Minglan.
This includes Mother Cui's family and that farm.
Although Old Madam Sheng was strict, she was not mean to her servants. After leaving Old Madam Sheng, Mother Cui still missed her old master.
When Mrs. Sheng saw the smile on Mother Cui's face, she knew that Minglan was living well in the Eastern Palace. She finally let go of her worries and asked Mother Cui to sit down and told her about Minglan's life after she went to the Eastern Palace.
(End of this chapter)