After the big commotion that day, from the young ladies to the maids and matrons in the mansion, everyone showed doubled respect for Kong Momo's training sessions, not daring to show the slightest neglect. Mo Lan, in particular, practically kept her head down and behaved cautiously. After Kong Momo's guidance on future prospects, Sheng Hong temporarily let reason prevail over emotion, staying in Madam Wang's room for half a month straight to let Consort Lin and her daughter cool their heads. Madam Wang beamed with joy every day, nearly setting off firecrackers in delight. It must be said that Sheng Hong was determined this time, at least to put on a show for Kong Momo, and he resolutely refused any of Consort Lin's requests to see him.
Seeing the situation turn unfavorable, Consort Lin finally played her trump card. She had her son Changfeng deliver a delicate piece of green silk to Sheng Hong during his examination session, on which a sorrowful love poem was written in bright vermilion ink. Lines like "Morning after morning, my heart breaks missing you; evening after evening, I weep tears of blood like rain" moved Sheng Hong deeply, and one midnight, he could no longer restrain himself and went to see Consort Lin.
When Madam Wang found out, she was furious, saying, "I fear nothing but a concubine with literary talent!"
However, after this incident, Sheng Hong also realized he could not indulge Consort Lin too much, and Consort Lin wisely toned down her flamboyance. Mo Lan likewise behaved more obediently. In this favorable learning atmosphere, Kong Momo provided detailed guidance for another half-month. After Changbai's county examination results were announced, Kong Momo took her leave. Sheng Hong added many trunks of gifts as tuition fees, but Kong Momo kept only half and returned the rest, saying, "I'm halfway into the grave already. Carrying so many things would make people think I came to rob the place."
In the final days, Madam Wang tactfully expressed her hope that Kong Momo would write to her old acquaintances in the capital, putting in a good word for the daughters at home to pave the way for Hualan's future. Unexpectedly, Kong Momo declined with a smile: "The eldest young lady isn't going for a visit; she'll be living in the capital for a long time. Over time, her reputation must be built by herself. If I praise her to the skies, the Zhongqin Earl's household might set their expectations too high, which would backfire."
Translated into plain terms, this meant: Don't set expectations too high, as they lead to disappointment; keeping them lower makes it easier for Hualan to shine. It's unclear whether Madam Wang understood, but she couldn't hide her disappointment. Kong Momo then added, "The eldest young lady is like a living signboard." Once she has children and establishes her footing, if I'm still around, I can speak up for the remaining young ladies." Thinking of Rulan, Madam Wang smiled gratefully and thanked her.
After Kong Momo left, the girls returned to their respective routines. Old Madame Sheng once again summoned Minglan to study reading and writing, adding a new subject—needlework, with Mama Fang serving as the initial instructor. Mama Fang, who had been a top-ranking maid accompanying the dowry back in the day, was renowned as the foremost expert in needlework from the marquis's household. She excelled in weaving, sewing, embroidery, shoemaking, hat-making, knitting, patchwork, and more. Though her eyesight was no longer sharp enough for intricate work, she was more than capable of teaching a novice like Minglan.Drawing from the vivid examples of Old Madam Sheng and Consort Lin, Mama Fang had initially worried that Minglan, who grasped characters and books with remarkable ease, might also prefer poetry over needlework. To her surprise, Minglan cooperated wholeheartedly from the start, approaching the craft with even greater enthusiasm than she had for reading and writing. Both astonished and delighted, Mama Fang immediately devoted all her skills to training Minglan. Thus, Minglan spent her mornings studying under Old Madam Sheng and her afternoons practicing needlework with Mama Fang, while the old lady watched contentedly from the sidelines.
Minglan began by practicing stitches on small cloth scraps—first sewing straight lines that had to be perfectly straight, then circles that had to be perfectly round. The stitches had to be as fine and even as those made by a sewing machine, with uniform spacing. This foundational training alone took Minglan a full month. A month later, on a particularly bright afternoon, Mama Fang tested her and reluctantly gave her a passing grade.
Mama Fang found it puzzling: "Young miss, you’re so diligent. Why is your needlework not as quick or skillful as your reading and writing?"
Minglan thought to herself: There’s a difference between cheating and starting from scratch.
Old Madam Sheng was also curious: "Do you enjoy needlework so much? You’re even more earnest and hardworking than when you study."
Minglan wept inwardly: Who in their right mind would enjoy needlework? I didn’t even bother with cross-stitch in my past life!
Exam-oriented education had a distinct characteristic: whether it was Olympiad math, piano, or painting, the goal was often to earn extra points; studying hard was to get into a top university, and attending a top university was to land a good job and make money. Put nicely, this was clear goal-setting and direct action; put bluntly, it was highly utilitarian. Having come from such a background, Minglan began pondering a question after finishing the Thousand Character Classic .
As a sheltered young lady, what was the use of mastering poetry, song, chess, painting, and all the refined arts? She couldn’t make a living from reading because she couldn’t take the imperial exams. Was it to earn a reputation as a talented woman among noble families?
As a legitimate daughter, Old Madam Sheng would say: "To cultivate one’s character, soothe the heart and nurture the soul, to bring glory to the family and shine in the capital."
But Minglan wasn’t a legitimate daughter, and the Sheng family wasn’t a marquis’s household—she couldn’t even enter those elite noble social circles.
As for Consort Lin, she might say: "Poetry, song, and the arts greatly aided me on my path to success."
But Minglan had no desire to become a concubine either.
It wasn’t until one day, when Mama Fang mentioned offhandedly that a medium-quality embroidery piece from Ruyi Workshop could sell for two taels of silver, that Minglan suddenly found her true calling—excelling in reading or finance might draw criticism in this society, but needlework was safe and reliable. It could earn her a good reputation and, in a pinch, serve as a practical skill to fall back on.
After refining her thoughts slightly, Minglan explained to her grandmother: "Needlework is practical. I can make warm hats for you, shoes for Father, scented sachets for Mother and my sisters, and even handkerchiefs for my brothers."
Old Madam Sheng was deeply moved, her eyes brimming with warmth as she hugged Minglan tightly: "Good child, you’ve truly gone out of your way!"
Minglan was baffled. Old Madam Sheng interpreted it as: Studying only benefits oneself, but needlework benefits the whole family. My granddaughter, so young, already knows how to care for her loved ones.
To make learning more enjoyable, Old Madam Sheng sketched a few simple plum blossoms for Minglan to embroider for fun. Minglan worked diligently, stitch by stitch, but by the time she had finished one and a half blossoms, the spring plums had already fallen, and peach blossoms had begun to bloom. Mama Fang sighed and simply added a few strokes to the design, turning it into peach blossoms for Minglan to embroider instead."But plum blossoms and peach blossoms are different, how can they be swapped?" Minglan protested softly.
"It's fine, the difference in your embroidery won't be noticeable," Old Madame Sheng comforted her.
Minglan: ...
By the fourth month when peach blossoms were in full bloom, a letter arrived from the Zhongqin Earl's residence in the capital stating that Yuan Shao would set out at the end of the month to fetch his bride. Counting the days, he would reach Dengzhou in just a few days. Meanwhile, Sheng Hong's elder cousin Sheng Wei also arrived. Though Hualan's wedding should ideally have her maternal uncle present, Wang Yan now held an official post and couldn't leave his duties casually. Only Sheng Wei, who managed business affairs, could move freely. This time he brought his second son Changwu along to offer congratulations, and later would accompany Changbai to escort Hualan to the capital.
When Sheng Wei came with Sheng Hong to pay respects at the Longevity and Peace Hall, Minglan was sitting by the kang table reciting "Ode to the Lotus": "Of all flowers that grow on water and land, there are many lovely ones... But I alone love the lotus for rising from mud unstained, cleansed by clear ripples yet never seductive, hollow-stemmed and straight, neither creeping nor branching, its fragrance growing purer with distance, standing tall and pristine..." Her childish voice recited clearly, the little girl swaying her head with adorable earnestness. Old Madame Sheng sat upright on the kang, listening with a smiling tilt of her head, her eyes filled with warm delight.
Sheng Wei felt a sudden insight. Noticing how Old Madame Sheng appeared more vibrant and rosy-cheeked than when he'd seen her two years earlier, he glanced at Minglan. Her pair of jet-black pupils shone bright and clear. The moment she noticed his arrival, she immediately climbed down from the kang and stood properly to the side. Seeing her so well-mannered and sensible, Sheng Wei grew quite fond of her and understood even more clearly.
After paying respects to Old Madame Sheng, Sheng Wei smilingly drew Minglan closer and said, "You must be the sixth girl. I've met all your sisters except you - every time I visited, you were ill. Are you better now?" He had a square-jawed face bearing marks of hardship. Though only a few years older than Sheng Hong, he looked a full decade older, yet his expression remained particularly kind.
Minglan clasped her chubby little fists and stepped forward to bow properly, greeting him with practiced decorum: "Your niece has fully recovered, thank you for your concern, Uncle. You've traveled far and must be weary."
Her crisp childish voice paired with such serious, adult-like speech amused all the adults in the room. Sheng Wei laughed heartily, holding little Minglan while shaking with mirth. Minglan flushed with embarrassment at their laughter, thinking indignantly: I followed all the proper etiquette! What's so funny? Be serious!
Sheng Wei felt inside his robe and pulled out a red silk bundle, handing it to Minglan. "This is from your grandaunt. All your sisters have received theirs - yours was the only one missing." Minglan glanced at her grandmother and father, only accepting it after they gave slight nods. Unwrapping the red silk, her eyes met a dazzling golden glow.
It was a weighty pure gold ruyi lock. She quickly showed it to Old Madame Sheng, who smilingly fastened the fine chain around Minglan's neck. Minglan immediately felt her neck grow heavy - it must have weighed several taels. She promptly twisted her plump little body to bow properly to Sheng Wei, declaring as she bowed: "Thank you, Grandaunt. Thank you, Uncle."At that moment, Cuiping entered carrying a small red lacquer tea tray carved with lotus leaves and roots. Seeing Minglan approach, she habitually presented the tray to her. Minglan took one of the teacups and toddled over. Sheng Hong had expected her to bring the tea to him as usual, but halfway there, the little girl unexpectedly turned and presented the first cup directly to Sheng Wei instead, only offering the second cup to her own father. Then, Minglan stood on tiptoe to fetch a plate of fresh Shandong dates from the kang table and diligently placed it on Sheng Wei’s side table. Amused, Sheng Hong couldn’t help chuckling and scolding lightly, “This sixth girl! Just from receiving one gift, she’s already serving tea and offering dates—have you forgotten your own father?”
Minglan looked bashful, her small face flushing red. She paused her busy, squirrel-like movements, her little hands and feet fidgeting awkwardly as she mumbled sheepishly, “Well… no, it’s probably… the guilt of a gift recipient.”
Old Madame Sheng and the two brothers, Sheng Wei and Sheng Hong, burst into hearty laughter. Sheng Wei pulled Minglan into a hug, finding her tender, timid expression utterly endearing. He then took out an exquisite brocade pouch from his robe and placed it in Minglan’s hand, teasing, “Uncle has a soft spot for treats—here, these ninety-nine newly minted little gold fish are all for you! I say, little Ming, the snacks in your house sure are expensive!”
The old lady laughed until tears welled in her eyes, pointing and scolding through her laughter, “You rascals, no sense of decorum!” The maids and elderly servants nearby covered their mouths to hide their smiles. Minglan hurriedly picked over a dozen plump dates from the fruit plate and brought them to Sheng Hong, offering a silly, ingratiating smile: “For you, Father, this one’s really fat…”
Sheng Hong smiled and drew Minglan closer, stroking her soft hair. He then opened the embroidered pouch in her hand, took out a small, exquisitely crafted gold ingot shaped like a fish, and placed it in her chubby palm. “Pretty, isn’t it? Keep it to play with.”
Suddenly in possession of so much gold, Minglan felt rather embarrassed, her cheeks flushed as she bowed gratefully to Sheng Wei. Just then, Madam Wang arrived with the children except Hualan. Minglan breathed a small sigh of relief and hurried to pay her respects.
After exchanging greetings with the old lady and Sheng Wei, Madam Wang had her children do the same. Noticing the large, gleaming gold locket on Minglan’s chest, Rulan pouted while Molan kept her eyes lowered, expressionless—both had grown more subdued after Kong Momo’s teachings. Sheng Wei exchanged a few pleasantries with his nieces; Rulan acted haughty and Molan remained quiet, leaving little to discuss. It was Madam Wang who beamed and said, “You’re too kind, Elder Brother-in-law. We already feel bad you traveled so far for Hualan, and you’ve brought so many gifts.” Turning, she added, “Yours are here too—the young master’s items are in the master’s study, and the young ladies’ are all in the Weirui Pavilion. Fetch them later.”
The children promptly thanked Sheng Wei. After a few more words, Rulan eagerly wanted to see the gifts. Old Madame Sheng smiled and let the granddaughters go first. Once the girls had left, the room’s atmosphere quieted. Sheng Wei turned serious and said to Changbai standing opposite him, “I’ve heard our Changbai has passed the prefectural exam. You’re truly blessed, younger brother and sister-in-law.”
Changbai cupped his hands respectfully. “You flatter me, Uncle. I am still ignorant and must study more.”Madam Wang, filled with pride, replied, "He still has one final academy examination before he can be considered a xiucai. Elder Brother-in-law, don’t praise him too soon. I’ve heard that Wu Ge’er is also studying. Perhaps the two of them can take the examinations together someday."
Sheng Wei shook his head with a smile. "That won’t do. I was never as good at studying as Second Brother, and my eldest son takes after me—he’s sharp with account books but gets dizzy at the sight of classical texts. Though my second son can read a bit, he’s nowhere near as capable as Bai Ge’er. I’ve noticed he’s more inclined toward martial arts. After escorting my eldest niece to the capital for her wedding, I plan to have Wu Ge’er pay a visit to Chief Instructor Lu Kui and explore the path of martial arts."
Sheng Hong chuckled. "That’s excellent. Lu Kui’s martial skills are first-rate. Back when he was preparing for the Military Examination, we often shared drinks together, and we’ve kept in touch over the years. I’ll write him a letter for Wu Ge’er to bring along—it should help smooth the way."
Sheng Wei was overjoyed. "Thank you so much, Second Brother! Wu’er, hurry and kowtow to your uncle to express your gratitude!"
Changwu, who had been standing nearby, appeared to be around the same age as Changbai. Sturdy and broad-shouldered, with an open and spirited demeanor, he cheerfully kowtowed to Sheng Hong. Sheng Hong quickly helped him up. "Elder Brother, you’re speaking too formally again. If Wu Ge’er achieves success in the future, it will be a blessing for all of us. With our own kin supporting each other in official circles, our family will surely prosper, won’t it?"
Sheng Wei then turned to Changfeng and said with a laugh, "See, your cousin Wu is not cut out for scholarly pursuits—he’ll likely end up as a military man. It seems it’ll be up to you and your own brother to take the examinations together. I’ve heard that Feng Ge’er excels at poetry and has already gained quite a reputation for his talent at such a young age. I’m sure he’ll place as the top scholar in the future."
Changfeng, who had been standing by with a smile, finally clasped his hands and said, "I am unworthy of such praise. I only hope to achieve half of what my elder brother has accomplished. Zhang Yue of the previous dynasty became a child scholar at the age of nine. Though I lack talent, I plan to attempt the examination next year."
Sheng Hong said seriously, "Though poetry is important, the imperial examinations do not solely test poetic skill. You should also devote more effort to essay writing. Even your grandfather, whose poetry once outshone all others in the apricot grove, first mastered the art of essay writing. From now on, you should study alongside your elder brother." Changfeng smiled and agreed.
After some more conversation, Sheng Hong let the young men go off to play while the adults continued chatting.
Once they had left, Sheng Wei respectfully said to Sheng Hong, "Originally, your niece-in-law intended to come as well, but she was tied up with household affairs and couldn’t get away. I’ll kowtow on her behalf to offer congratulations to Second Aunt."
"Why trouble her to come all this way? With such a large household to manage, how could she possibly leave? There’s no need for such formalities between our two branches. How is your mother’s health? Is she still well?" Sheng Hong asked with a smile.
Sheng Wei’s expression darkened slightly. "Everything at home is fine, but my mother has grown increasingly frail lately, and her health is not what it used to be. She often speaks of you, Second Aunt. I was thinking, if you ever have the time, you might come stay with us for a while. But we’re afraid of imposing on you, which is why Mother forbade me from mentioning it."
Sheng Hong sighed. "What imposition? Your mother and I have been sisters-in-law for years and have always gotten along well. What’s wrong with a younger sister-in-law visiting her elder sister? Ah… I deeply admire your mother. As a woman of delicate health, she endured so many hardships over the years and finally saw better days, yet it’s a pity she’s been left with a body full of ailments."
Sheng Wei said earnestly, "Back then, it was only thanks to you, Aunt, standing up for us that our family has reached where we are today. Speaking of it, I truly…"
Sheng Hong waved his hand repeatedly to stop him. "Let’s not speak of it anymore, let’s not speak of it."Sheng Hong noticed the heavy atmosphere and wanted to find a lighter topic. Glancing at Madam Wang, she immediately understood his signal and smiled, "It's been so long since we returned to Jinling. I wonder how Song Ge'er's wife is doing? In her last letter, she mentioned she was with child."
Sheng Wei's expression grew even gloomier. "What a pity. She recently suffered a miscarriage."
A stifling silence fell, making the atmosphere even more oppressive. Sheng Hong shot Madam Wang a dissatisfied look, while she felt utterly wronged—how could she have known?
Well, lightening the mood requires a certain talent, and Madam Wang clearly needed more practice. After silently blaming her, Sheng Hong decided to take matters into his own hands. He smiled and said, "What about the family that came last time to discuss a match for Wu Ge'er? Have you looked into them, elder brother? If it's a good match, I, as his uncle, should start preparing the He gifts."
Sheng Wei's face darkened as if coated in soot. "Ah, let's not talk about that. The daughter eloped with the carriage driver!"
The atmosphere in the room grew even more...
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