Chapter 228: Mrs. Sheng's Teachings
"Humph!"
Old Madam Sheng slapped the low table in anger and snorted, "I felt something was wrong when Consort Kang came to visit us a few days ago. The eldest lady is hopelessly confused. What kind of place is the Eastern Palace? She actually asked Consort Kang to look for Rulan. I don't know what she is thinking!"
Originally, I heard from Mother Cui that Rulan and Minglan were very much loved by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and the Crown Princess did not make things difficult for them.
Old Lady Sheng was still very happy, but her good mood was soon ruined by the news that Princess Kang went to the Eastern Palace.
At that time, Sheng Hong studied in Bian Jing. After passing the imperial examination, he married Madam Wang, and the wedding was also held in Bian Jing.
At that time, Mrs. Kang often came to the house to ask for money. Old lady Sheng saw through her true nature at a glance. In addition, there was a rumor that two concubines had died in the Kang family. Old lady Sheng was worried that Mrs. Wang would be led astray by her.
However, Lady Kang was Madam Wang's elder sister, and the Wang family was also in Bian Jing at the time, so she couldn't just chase them away.
So Old Lady Sheng said that when Princess Kang came to visit, she didn't need to come to greet her, and she wouldn't see her even if she came.
It is polite for relatives to pay their respects to the elders in the family when they visit.
Mrs. Sheng not allowing Lady Kang to visit is no different from directly kicking her out.
If it were someone with a thin skin, he wouldn't have come to visit. But Wang Kang was an exception. She didn't care about her face at all and would still come to visit.
Fortunately, Sheng Hong was appointed soon and went to serve as an official in the local area.
When she came to Bian Jing a few years ago, Old Lady Sheng specifically told Madam Wang to have less contact with Lady Kang.
Madam Wang did not dare to disobey her mother-in-law. Madam Lin was still alive at the time, and she did not have much interest in interacting with Mrs. Kang.
In addition, the Kang family had suffered many deaths over the years, and Sheng Hong had helped cover up and deal with them all. This made Sheng Hong very annoyed with this aunt and he repeatedly warned Madam Wang not to have any contact with Mrs. Kang.
Therefore, there has been almost no contact with King Kang in recent years.
However, ever since Rulan entered the Eastern Palace, Prince Kang's visits became more frequent.
Old Madam Sheng naturally knew what the plan was.
However, Old Lady Sheng was not worried. Although Madam Wang was confused in other aspects, she was still quite shrewd when it came to her children.
A few years ago, Mrs. Kang wanted Yuan Wenshao to help her and found Madam Wang.
Mrs. Wang did not agree, and the two sisters were very unhappy because of this.
Who would have thought that Madam Wang would actually ask Lady Kang to visit Rulan in the East Palace on her behalf.
"Madam, please calm down." Mother Fang quickly patted Old Madam Sheng's back.
Old Madam Sheng took a deep breath and said, "That's her daughter. She doesn't care. Why should I be angry?"
After saying that, he continued to ask Mother Cui about Minglan's situation.
Mother Cui recounted in detail what happened after Minglan went to the Eastern Palace. After she finished, she looked a little hesitant.
"If you have something to say, just say it directly. Why are you hesitating?" Old Madam Sheng frowned.
"I feel that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince really loves the Sixth Miss, but the Crown Prince seemed a little angry with the young lady a few days ago. It seemed that the young lady was too cautious in front of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and made him angry." Mother Cui said.
Old Madam Sheng sighed when she heard this. Although Minglan looked weak and a little naive on the surface, she was actually very shrewd and cautious.
He would only show his true self in front of her and Wei Xiaoniang. In front of other people, he would always carefully disguise himself.
This disguise is a protection for herself, but if someone can see through her disguise, then her disguise becomes distance and distrust.
Since His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said that, he must have seen through Minglan's disguise.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince loves Minglan so much, and Minglan's behavior will only cause His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to be disgusted.
Minglan is a concubine's daughter and is not favored. It is a good thing that she hides her shortcomings to protect herself when she is at home, which can avoid a lot of unnecessary troubles.
But it is not a good thing that she behaves like this in front of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
Thinking of this, Old Lady Sheng looked at Fang Mama and said, "Go and call Minglan over. Tell her that I miss her and ask her to come and talk to me."
"Yes!" Mother Fang responded and walked out.
…………
Sheng Family Hall
Rulan smiled and told about the situation in the East Palace.
Madam Wang was very happy to hear this, and Sheng Hong was also very delighted.
However, Sheng Hong did not show it, and from time to time he reminded Rulan not to be spoiled by her favor and to abide by her duties.
Minglan sat at the last seat, smiling like a transparent person.
Molan sat next to Minglan, glanced at the smiling Rulan and Madam Wang, and whispered, "Sixth sister, you have to think about yourself."
Minglan glanced at her and said nothing when she heard this.
Seeing that Minglan did not respond, Molan continued, "The Crown Prince has many concubines, and his favor towards the fifth sister is just a temporary novelty. If the sixth sister does not take advantage of the fact that the Crown Prince is still interested in the fifth sister and try to please him, will she have to be a dowry maid for the rest of her life?"
"Although His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said that if Sixth Sister has a child, he will give Sixth Sister a legitimate status. But the prerequisite is that there must be a child. If you don't get the favor of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, where will the child come from?"
"Why do you suddenly care about me, your younger sister?" Minglan said softly.
"Although I had some problems with you in the past, it was just because we were young and ignorant, and it was just a quarrel between sisters. We are both concubines, and we can't compare to legitimate daughters. Now I see through it, and I have to rely on myself for everything." Molan said faintly. "Fourth sister's ability to sow discord is really not that good, far worse than that of Lin Xiaoniang." Minglan smiled lightly.
"You..." Molan glared at Minglan angrily when she heard that.
Madam Wang and Sheng Hong seemed to have heard some noise and looked over.
Molan quickly resumed her smile and whispered, "Yes, my mother has hurt you. But my mother is dead, and death is like the extinguishing of a lamp. Do you think you can be at peace if you please Rulan? It's useless to please her. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has already married Sister Shulan and Rulan. If you don't get pregnant, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will not give you a legitimate status.
Do you think if you get pregnant before Rulan, she will let you go?"
"Don't worry about these, Fourth Sister. Dad has a good eye for people. Instead of worrying about these, you might as well spend more time on your Fourth Sister's husband. The imperial examination will be held in more than a year. If your Fourth Sister's husband can pass the exam, wealth and honor will be waiting for you, Fourth Sister." Minglan said.
Sheng Hong is really good at judging people, and even Old Lady Sheng admires him for that.
Because of the prevalence of the imperial examination system, even aristocratic families and officials found it difficult to ensure that their descendants would be able to serve as officials.
Recruiting students became something that civil servants loved to do.
Among Heaven, Earth, Emperor, Parents and Teachers, the relationship between master and student is second only to that between parents.
It is said that once a teacher, always a father.
Teachers-students and in-laws are a very common way for officials to protect their status.
Sheng Hong had not accepted any students for many years, but now he not only accepted Wen Yanjing, but also married his daughter to him. This shows how much Sheng Hong thinks of Wen Yanjing.
Although Minglan hated Lin Xiaoniang, as Molan said, when a person dies, it is like a light going out.
Although she didn't have much sisterly affection for Molan, she did have some after all.
This reminder comes from the bottom of my heart.
However, to Molan, all this seemed like Minglan was mocking her.
Mo Lan snorted coldly: "If you don't listen to me, you will regret it one day."
"Then you don't have to worry about it, Fourth Sister."
Seeing that Molan didn't listen, Minglan shook her head and said no more.
At this moment, Fang Madam came in and bowed, saying, "The old lady misses the Sixth Miss, so she asked the Sixth Miss to come over and talk to her."
"I forgot about it while we were chatting." Sheng Hong patted his thigh, looked at Minglan and said, "Minglan, go quickly, don't keep your grandmother waiting for too long."
"Then I will take my leave first." Minglan stood up and bowed to Sheng Hong and Madam Wang, then bowed to Wen Yanjing and Molan, and then left.
…………
"grandmother!"
"Tomorrow!"
Old Madam Sheng held Minglan's hand tightly, her voice trembling slightly.
"Good, good, good! You seem to have gained some weight. It seems that you are living well in the East Palace." Old Lady Sheng looked him up and down and said with a smile.
"Mother Cui should have told Grandma everything. Grandma wouldn't think that Mother Cui helped me deceive you and she has to see it to be assured."
Minglan helped Old Madam Sheng to sit down. Old Madam Sheng held her hand tightly and would not let go, so she sat down next to Old Madam Sheng.
"That's not necessarily true. You're a talkative person. Maybe you can trick Mother Cui into cheating me together with you." Mrs. Sheng said.
Mother Cui, who was standing nearby, kept saying that it was unfair, which made the grandparents and grandchildren laugh out loud.
"Let me ask you." Old Madam Sheng's face straightened. She repeated what Madam Cui had said before and asked, "Is what Madam Cui said true?"
"Ok!"
Facing Old Lady Sheng, Minglan did not hide anything and said, "Your Highness was indeed a little angry that day, but he calmed down the next day."
"You, where is your usual shrewdness? The fact that His Highness calms down quickly doesn't mean he doesn't care, it just means he really likes you and doesn't want to get angry with you." Madam Sheng looked at Minglan and said, "How does His Highness treat you? You've been in the East Palace for some time now. Think about it carefully. Do you think His Highness treats you well?"
"Your Highness treats me well."
Minglan nodded. She was a concubine's daughter, and it was quite nice of Zhao Xing to treat her like this.
"But I am just a concubine's daughter, and I am not that pretty. Why should Your Highness treat me so well? Besides, I am a little afraid that the concubines in the harem will be jealous, and I am also afraid that Your Highness will dislike me in the future."
Old Madam Sheng looked at Minglan, who looked depressed, and sighed.
She understood what Minglan meant. Minglan felt that Zhao Xing's kindness to her was too unreal.
She didn't quite believe that Zhao Xing really liked her, and she had many concerns, so she didn't dare to open her heart, let alone be sincere to him.
"You are a smart person, why are you so confused now? As His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, you have to serve me with a smile whether you like it or not. If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince doesn't like you, why would he spend so much time on you?"
"You are being a little too picky. No one can guarantee what the future will be like for His Highness, but at least His Highness likes you now. If you don't give your true heart, how can you talk about the future? You are cautious in hiding your shortcomings, and there is nothing wrong with that. But you don't need to do that in front of His Highness. You have to try to accept His Highness, just like you have never hidden your shortcomings in front of me. As for the other concubines in the Eastern Palace, you should hide your shortcomings as you should, do you understand?" said Old Lady Sheng.
Minglan was silent for a long time after hearing this, then smiled and said, "Thank you for your teachings, grandma. I understand!"
(End of this chapter)