Early the next morning, Madam Wang went to see Old Mrs. Sheng at Longevity and Peace Hall, her heart both fearful and excited. But as soon as she began speaking, the Old Madam coldly interrupted, "So you returned empty-handed?" Madam Wang's face flushed with embarrassment as she feigned indignation, "I pleaded with her every which way, but my sister seems to have lost her senses and simply refused to listen..."
"Enough." The Old Madam cut her off dismissively, as if weary of her excuses. "I never truly expected you to take this matter seriously. Very well, you needn't concern yourself with it any longer."
"Ah..." Madam Wang was stunned, unable to believe she was getting off so easily. Kang Yima had prepared many more arguments for her that remained unspoken. Secretly delighted, she thought her sister truly had foresight—her mother-in-law indeed couldn't do anything to her.
"However..." the Old Madam suddenly added, making Madam Wang's heart leap into her throat again.
"There are matters you must understand clearly. Minglan isn't your biological daughter, so I can't force you to care for her. But you are a member of the Sheng family after all—you cannot turn your elbows outward and side with another household!"
Hearing the Old Madam's tone grow stern, Madam Wang forced a smile, "How could I ever...?"
"Kneel!" The Old Madam's sharp command made Madam Wang's knees buckle instinctively. She thudded onto the thin carpet covering the floor of Longevity and Peace Hall's main hall. Fortunately, it was midsummer and the carpet provided some cushion, so her knees didn't feel cold.
"I won't waste reasoning with you." The Old Madam felt both disgusted and angry, thinking it pointless to explain further to this fool. "I made it clear long ago that Kang Yima was forbidden from visiting again, yet you repeatedly invited her behind my back. Such disobedience toward your elder and disregard for my words is unfilial. Do you have anything to say before I punish you?"
Madam Wang was dumbfounded, at a loss for words.
"For now, you will kneel for a full hour. If Kang Yima visits again, you'll kneel outside in the courtyard." The Old Madam slowly rose, leaning on Mama Fang as she moved toward the inner chambers, her voice fading gradually, "If you're dissatisfied, go complain to your husband. If still unsatisfied, return to your maiden home. I'd like to have a good discussion with your mother about this..."
Humiliated and furious, Madam Wang trembled as she knelt, not daring to rise. The hall's doors and windows stood wide open, allowing servants passing by to witness her shame. Though none dared comment, their curious glances made her wish for death. She could only curse inwardly, bitterly wishing the old hag would die sooner.
Seeing the situation turning sour, Liu Kun's wife quickly sent for Hualan. But the Yuan residence was far, and it was nearly mid-morning when she finally arrived.
"Eldest Young Mistress, please intervene quickly. Madam has been thoroughly humiliated this time!" Liu Kun's wife whispered urgently. Hualan frowned deeply and hurried toward the main chamber. Before even entering, she heard furious shouting from within.
"Get out! Just wish for my early death, all of you get out!" It was Madam Wang's voice.
Three or five maids emerged carrying shattered porcelain cups and bowls, followed by an older servant who glanced at Liu Kun's wife and murmured, "The Madam is furious—she hasn't even eaten breakfast."
"Mother!" Hualan lifted a curtain of sandalwood beads and stepped inside.Madam Wang was reclining on a rattan bamboo daybed, clutching a handkerchief that she kept pressing to her eyes, with a light pink silk blanket draped over her legs. The moment she saw her eldest daughter, tears streamed down her face as she cried and scolded, "You heartless girl! Where have you been all this time? Your mother is nearly driven to death! If you hadn't come, you'd be collecting my bones by now!"
Hualan hurried to sit beside her mother, using her own handkerchief to wipe away the tears while urging, "Mother, I'm here now, please stop crying. If outsiders see this, they'll laugh at us! Wouldn't that be a loss of face?"
"Face?!" At the mention of these words, Madam Wang grew even more furious, sobbing and shouting, "What face do I have left! I've been in the Sheng family for decades, struggling like burning oil to reach this day, raising you three siblings. Today is the first time I've been forced to kneel in punishment! Your father not only didn't intervene but came early to accuse me of being unfilial! I... I don't want to live anymore..." She only hated herself for being afraid of pain and death—whether slitting her throat, hanging herself, or swallowing gold, she lacked the courage to attempt any of them, otherwise she could at least scare people a little.
Hualan felt her mother was acting like a clueless child and sighed inwardly. Half-embracing Madam Wang, she patted and coaxed her, patiently listening as Madam Wang haltingly recounted the whole story from beginning to end twice.
"...Tell me, is it my fault? How could I control your aunt!" Madam Wang wiped her runny nose and tears. "Old Madam punished me harshly without distinguishing right from wrong. How can I hold my head up in front of others from now on?!"
On her way over, Liu Kun's wife had already explained everything clearly. Hualan privately blamed her mother for being foolish and detested Kang Yima for her cunning. She sighed, "Mother, Grandmother isn't blaming you for being unable to control Aunt. She's angry that you don't distinguish between close and distant relations."
Madam Wang stared with tear-filled eyes smudged with makeup, still uncomprehending. Hualan said gently, "Mother, think carefully. How many years has Uncle Kang been without an official position? Only Cousin holds a minor clerk position. How many families in the capital are still willing to give face to the Kang residence? Sixth Sister's husband is currently in the Emperor's favor, their household is illustrious, and Minglan is an officially appointed First-Rank Imperial Mandate Lady. What right does Aunt have? Given how she always either scolded or belittled Minglan before, why should Minglan respect or value her? Even you rarely visit the Gu residence, yet Aunt boldly goes there to put on airs and throw her weight around. To put it bluntly, Aunt is like a fox borrowing the tiger's ferocity—using our Sheng family's reputation to boost her own face!"
Though Minglan isn't biologically related to Madam Wang, she is connected to us siblings. Could that Kang Zhao'er possibly be closer than Minglan? Ah, she only hoped Minglan wouldn't hold a grudge. She would have to go explain things later. Hualan's mouth felt dry from talking—if it weren't her own mother, she wouldn't bother explaining such obvious reasoning.
"Your aunt also has her faults. Ah, you don't know—we sisters share the same misfortune." Madam Wang seemed somewhat persuaded, gradually stopping her crying. "Your eldest brother has gone away, and you and Rulan each have your own families to care for. With your father and Old Madam, I've never been able to see eye to eye; now there's also that formidable Madam Liu. I... I truly have no one to share my thoughts with!"Hualan knew that Madam Wang had been inexplicably irritable lately, unwilling to listen even to her own daughter's advice, prone to cursing dogs and hitting people. Only Kang Yima was willing to share her foul temper, and the two sisters found catharsis in shouting abuses together. Hualan had no choice but to say, "Mother, if you're feeling bored, just call for me. Please don't meet with Aunt anymore." The Yuan residence had become much more lenient, and she could come and go as she pleased.
At these words, Madam Wang immediately sprang up, glaring as she scolded, "You ungrateful child! Where have you been these past few days? I sent someone to look for you, but the Yuan family said you weren't there and couldn't explain where you'd gone!"
Hualan was taken aback, forcing a strained smile. "Well... we bought a manor recently, and I went with your son-in-law to inspect it..."
"Didn't you already stay there for several days last time? What else needs arranging?" Madam Wang grumbled.
"...The summer heat in the capital is unbearable... Shi-geer wasn't feeling well, so we took the children to the manor to escape the heat." Hualan's face flushed crimson as she explained.
Madam Wang grew suspicious, shrilling, "If it's just to escape the heat, why is your face so red!"
Hualan stammered incoherently, making Madam Wang feel increasingly distant from her daughter. She erupted in furious curses, forcing Hualan to whisper meekly, "Your son-in-law... recently acquired a young pony... He said regular exercise is good for health, so he's been teaching me to ride..." Her words trailed off with lingering tenderness—ah, how could a daughter speak of such marital bliss while her mother suffered? After enduring hardships, the old couple now found each other more agreeable than ever, their harmony seamless as milk blending with water, their days sweeter than during their newlywed years.
Madam Wang wasn't blind. Though she hadn't witnessed it firsthand, she could see Hualan's sparkling eyes, radiant skin, and rejuvenated glow, guessing that her daughter and son-in-law had been inseparable, immersed in tender intimacy.
Initially happy for her daughter, a surge of bitter resentment soon overwhelmed her. Remembering how everyone else seemed to sail through life while she alone wallowed in misery, she felt utterly misunderstood by her entire family and burst out raging, "They say raising daughters is a financial loss—now I understand! You enjoy your comfort while completely ignoring your mother's suffering!"
Spattered with saliva, Hualan endured patiently, knowing this was her birth mother, and could only soothe and coax her repeatedly.
"Tell me! Who matters more—your husband or your mother?"
"Of course, Mother matters more. The debt of birth and upbringing is as vast as heaven and earth."
"Good! Then stay with me today and keep me company for a few days. Will you or won't you?"
"..."
"I knew it! Children have no conscience!" Madam Wang wailed. "I'm just a wretched, helpless soul with no one to rely on..."
"Alright, alright, let me go back and ask... Come, let me check your leg first. Oh, it's all red! Does it hurt? Ah, let me rub some ointment on it. We mustn't let it develop into a chronic ailment..."
—How to naturally steer the conversation away from this topic was an art Hualan urgently needed to master.The two sisters suffered together, while Minglan also needed to study, with "Disguise Studies" as her elective course. Ever since Mama Fang came to deliver the message, she knew that the longer Kang Zhaor's absence from the Gu residence remained concealed, the better. Fortunately, Jiaxi Residence was tightly managed inside and out, with only five or six people in the know. Xiaotao volunteered to serve the "Miss Kang" locked in the back room, frequently inquiring after her well-being outside the door, carrying a food box inside to deliver meals, then eating heartily herself before smashing a couple of dishes for show. Upon hearing the noise, Lü Zhi would dart out and sneer a few cutting remarks. With everyone playing their part, the deception was quite convincing.
To rest properly and avoid exposing flaws—since they were bound to break relations anyway—Minglan declined all visits from the Grand Old Madam, who came with hypocritical concern and persuasion, using illness as an excuse. She only maintained a silent, melancholic facade before Madam Zhu and Madam Shao, making the entire household believe she was truly enraged.
Kang Yima calculated the days and showed up two days later to make a scene, demanding to see Zhaor. Minglan couldn't be bothered with this mad bitch and bluntly refused the meeting. The Grand Old Madam then brought people over, but Minglan intercepted them at the inner ceremonial gate between Clear Garden and the former marquis' residence. Kang Yima threatened to publicize the matter, to which Liao Yong's wife retorted, "Go ahead." Minglan sneered; she was quite eager to see how the matriarch of the prestigious Kang family would throw a tantrum at the Gu residence for all the capital to witness.
When that plan failed, Kang Yima resorted to threats, insinuating that something must have happened since they were barred from seeing her. Liao Yong's wife looked contemptuous and said coldly, "Indeed, my lady has already disposed of Miss Kang's body. Hurry and report it to the Shuntian Prefecture magistrate. If that's not enough, you can go bang the grievance drum and appeal to the emperor! If you don't know the way, I'll have the gatekeeper prepare a carriage for you right now."
After saying this, Liao Yong's wife turned and left, leaving a group of stout matrons blocking the path.
Kang Yima staggered with rage, but the Grand Old Madam advised her to calm down: "Think about it—if she weren't truly furious, she wouldn't act like this. This is the desperation of someone at the end of their rope." Kang Yima pondered this and eventually left.
Another two or three days passed, and Jiaxi Residence remained silent. The Grand Old Madam herself began to sense something amiss. In truth, the tactic of forcing a concubine wasn't particularly clever. Knowing Minglan as she did, such an intelligent and resilient person wouldn't stay angry this long over such a matter without devising a countermeasure.
A shock ran through her, and she hurriedly sent word to the Kang residence. Kang Yima also felt something was wrong and came again.
"It's been so many days, and I don't know how her health is. At least let me see her once!" Kang Yima forced herself to suppress her anger and spoke politely, only to be met with mocking laughter from the group of sturdy matrons before her.
One wife in a pale gray thin silk vest was especially sharp-tongued, rolling her eyes as she said, "Playing the caring mother now? What were you doing earlier? Not your own flesh and blood, so heartless!" The woman beside her laughed, "Exactly! Back then, you abandoned a perfectly good maiden without a care for her life or death!" Another hiding in the back added coldly, "A mistress? Using your daughter to climb high—even the scabby-headed women in our village have more shame than you!"Though the voice wasn't loud, its words carried sharply across the distance, piercing Kang Yima's ears. She nearly stormed off in a huff again, but Mama Xiang stopped her.
The Grand Old Madam approached slowly from behind, a smile on her face but authority gleaming in her eyes. "After all, she is a daughter of the Kang Family. Even if she were a maid sold into service, if her parents wish to see her, can we deny them?"
Faced with her, the servants dared not be disrespectful. Liao Yong Xifu replied respectfully yet firmly, "Madam has said that if Kang's wife misses her daughter dearly, she may take Miss Kang away. However, let me be blunt: this is not a teahouse or tavern where one can come and go as they please. Madam is not some close relative with the right to keep the young lady here long-term. Once Miss Kang arrives, Kang's wife may take her away. The Marquis has not yet returned to the estate, and the only adult master in the entire household is the Third Lord. Surely, this won't harm Miss Kang's reputation."
Kang Yima hesitated, turning to look at the Grand Old Madam. The Grand Old Madam was also undecided. She was almost certain that Kang Zhao'er was no longer in the Gu residence, but what if this was a trick? Could it be that Sheng Minglan had deliberately leaked the news?
If Kang Zhao'er were to emerge unscathed later, should she be taken away? If not, wouldn't that be contradicting themselves? If she were taken away, the entire concubine-taking affair would end without resolution, and she would become a laughingstock.
Faced with this "empty fort strategy," like Sima Yi, she hesitated to advance, wondering if there was a trap inside the city. The Grand Old Madam wavered.
"If Kang's wife agrees, please proceed to the gatehouse. We will send Miss Kang over shortly. Once mother and daughter are reunited and she is confirmed to be unharmed, you may depart by carriage," Liao Yong Xifu said with a respectful and courteous smile.
The Grand Old Madam gritted her teeth. No! Even if Kang Zhao'er remained there, it would at least irritate Sheng Minglan.
Kang Yima left in defeat once again.
Two days later, a short note was delivered from the Sheng residence to Minglan.
Seeing the words, Minglan smiled, the gloom of the past few days vanishing instantly. She declared clearly, "Come, help me freshen up. We're going to the Xuanzhi Garden."
The Grand Old Madam was in the inner room amusing Xian Ge'er, her face filled with genuine affection that completely concealed the cunning heart beneath. Seeing Minglan approach with a smile, she paused in surprise, then smiled and said, "You've recovered well? Please, sit, sit."
Madam Zhu, standing nearby, seemed somewhat uneasy but quickly stepped forward to assist Minglan. Minglan, supporting her large belly, sat down steadily. She praised the handsome and adorable little boy on the daybed briefly before getting straight to the point. "I've come to bring you good news."
"What... good news?" The Grand Old Madam felt a vague sense of unease.
Minglan watched her expression carefully and said slowly, "Cousin Kang has finally found a good home.""
"What do you mean?" The Grand Old Madam immediately scowled. "A young lady's reputation is important. Don't speak nonsense."
Minglan smiled coldly. "Cousin Kang has been taken away by her family. You needn't worry about her anymore. If you don't believe me, you can send someone to ask Kang's wife, but..." She smiled mockingly, "She's probably too busy to see you right now."
The Grand Old Madam stood up abruptly, her expression shifting between shock and suspicion.
"One more thing," Minglan said leisurely as she rose, leaning on Danju to walk out. "Kang's wife likely won't be visiting anymore. Given my condition, if any other aunts, uncles, or cousins wish to come in the future, there's no need to summon me.""You..." Grand Old Madam fumed, pointing at the doorway with a furious glare.
Minglan cast her a cold glance. At this point, there was no need to keep up pretenses. So what if they tore off all disguises? If this meant war, then let it be war—who was afraid of whom!
She strode out the door without the slightest fear. After taking a few steps outside, she suddenly turned back and looked up at the massive plaque above the lintel. Carved from century-old rosewood, polished to a glossy sheen, were intricate patterns of auspicious qilins turning their heads three times, flanking two solemn, precisely brushed characters in regular script—Xuān Zhǐ. Hah! Such a venomous woman was utterly unworthy of these beautiful words!
Minglan let out two short, cold laughs—the next time she returned, she would thoroughly cleanse this main residence inside and out!
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