That evening, Sheng Hong planned to have drinks and chat with Sheng Wei, while Madam Wang accompanied Old Mrs. Sheng for a while. Before dinner, Cui Mama brought Minglan back, with Danju and Xiaotao carrying two large bundles of gifts, followed by two sturdy maids carrying a chest together.
Old Mrs. Sheng pulled Minglan close, rocking her like a little child for a long time, and said with a laugh, "Our Ming Yatou has struck it rich this time! Tell your grandmother, what did your uncle give you?"
Minglan hadn't really looked closely earlier and began counting on her little fingers as she recalled: "There was... gold, silk, pearls, bracelets, um... hairpins, hair ornaments too... um, and, and..." She struggled for a while but couldn't remember the rest. Old Mrs. Sheng rolled her eyes in exasperation, poked Minglan's little forehead with her finger, and scolded sternly, "...And, and there's you, you little silly!"
Minglan's little face turned red, and everyone burst into laughter together.
Then, the old madam instructed Cuiping to direct the maids to open the bundles and chest for inspection—there were four bolts each of the latest Hu silk in various colors, three bolts each of Shu brocade in different shades, all with brilliant sheens and patterns, two sets of Huizhou scholar's treasures, a pair of gold filigree agate bracelets, a pair of silver leaf-wrapped jade bracelets, two pairs each of pearl hairpins and gold hair ornaments, a box each of bright red round coral beads and various colored glass rice pearls, five rings in fashionable new styles, and various other little trinkets for girls.
Old Mrs. Sheng frowned and said, "These gifts are rather generous."
Madam Wang smiled and replied, "Uncle said that since it's been several years since he last saw her, he might as well make up for it all at once." Then she turned to Minglan and said, "You silly child, they say you're quick at memorizing characters, but you can't remember all these things? No wonder the old madam calls you a little silly!"
Minglan responded with an embarrassed, silly giggle—she was better at remembering numbers and cases. Hearing Madam Wang's words, Old Mrs. Sheng's eyes flickered with a hint of mockery, but she said nothing.
Then Madam Wang turned to the old madam with a smile and said, "Our Ming'er is a generous child. When she stayed with me, she wore whatever was given to her and ate whatever was fed to her, never picking or choosing, and never envying her sisters' things. When Ru'er lived with her, food, toys, and decorations were scattered everywhere, but Ming'er didn't even touch them! No wonder the old madam dotes on you—you truly have class."
Old Mrs. Sheng glanced lightly at Madam Wang and said impassively, "After Hua Yatou gets married, you'll need to put more effort into properly raising the remaining three. Young ladies shouldn't be too shallow-minded, lest they be looked down upon."
Madam Wang immediately beamed with delight, but then Old Mrs. Sheng added what seemed like a completely unrelated remark: "Ming Yatou, after you left earlier, you had Xiaotao take that bag of gold coins your uncle gave you. What, were you in a hurry to show off to your sisters?"
Minglan widened her eyes and replied, "I wasn't showing off! I wanted to share them with my sisters."
Madam Wang's expression immediately soured. Old Mrs. Sheng smiled enigmatically and asked, "Did your sisters take them?"
Minglan shook her head, pouting as she said, "We got punished together, so we should share the gold coins too. I had Xiaotao bring the little ivory scale along, but Big Sister absolutely refused, saying Uncle gave them to me alone, and they'd all received some when they saw Uncle before."Old Mrs. Sheng said with relief, "The eldest girl has truly matured. This time, her cousin added quite a bit to her dowry as well. We ought to be content with that."
Only then did Madam Wang let out a sigh of relief.
Minglan sighed inwardly. The women in this household spoke with hidden barbs in every word; one careless misstep and you'd be ensnared.
After a while, Old Mrs. Sheng called for the meal. Madam Wang, who usually returned to her rooms to dine with her daughters, took her maids and servants and bid farewell. The moment she left the courtyard of Longevity and Peace Hall, she quickened her pace and hurried toward Wēiruì Pavilion. Before the maids could even lift the curtain to the main room, Madam Wang heard Hualan scolding Rulan from inside.
"How could you be so shallow? Seeing Minglan with a few gold ingots and you want half of them? Have you never seen gold before?!" Hualan's voice made Madam Wang's eyelids twitch.
"Uncle has lost his mind! You and I are the ones born of the wife. How could he take a lowborn daughter of a concubine seriously? Why should she get so many gold ingots? They should all be ours!" Rulan retorted.
Madam Wang's veins bulged in anger. She ordered Caihuan and Caipei to keep watch at the door and stormed into the inner room, pointing at Rulan and shouting, "You wretched girl, shut your mouth! What nonsense are you spouting? Kong Momo should have given you a few more strikes last time!"
The sisters Hualan and Rulan were sitting on a pair of crabapple-embroidered stools. When they saw Madam Wang enter, they quickly stood and bowed. Madam Wang grabbed Rulan and said sternly, "Don't you dare speak of 'lowborn concubine-born' again. Have you forgotten your father?"
Rulan's heart tightened. That's right—Sheng Hong was also born of a concubine. Though she knew she had spoken out of turn, she still refused to back down. "Back then, the gold lockets for me and Eldest Sister were sent by Da Lao Taitai. Consort Lin had no part in it. Fourth Sister's gold locket was only given later by Uncle and Da Bomu. Didn't you say so yourself, Mother? Da Lao Taitai despises concubines the most... Even if Uncle is showing Minglan favor out of respect for Father, giving her a few trinkets would have been enough. Why give her one gold locket after another and a pouch of gold fish? He's just spoiling that little brat! And I noticed her gold locket is even more exquisite than mine!"
Madam Wang felt a headache coming on and slumped onto the soft couch. Seeing this, Hualan stepped over and pinched Rulan's arm hard, whispering, "What do you know? Da Lao Taitai is closest to our Old Madam. Back then, she didn't favor Fourth Sister because of Grandmother. Today, she's showing favor to Sixth Sister also because of Grandmother! If you want to blame anyone, blame yourself for refusing to be raised by Old Madam back then!"
Madam Wang cast an affectionate glance at her eldest daughter before turning to Rulan and snapping, "Your Eldest Sister is right! I just found out—originally, your uncle only gave Sixth Sister a gold locket. It was because Sixth Sister is so likable, serving tea and greeting him with such proper respect, that your uncle brought out a pouch of gold fish. And what about you? Have you ever stopped to think? Every time your uncle visits, he brings gifts for you sisters. Hualan is fine, but you—whenever you see your uncle, you put on airs as the young mistress, too lazy to even speak properly, never showing any warmth, acting like a spoiled brat. Who wouldn't dislike you?"Rulan had never been scolded like this by Madam Wang before. Her small face flushed crimson with anger as she retorted, "Who cares if Uncle likes me or not! Didn't you say yourself, Mother, that without Old Madam, Da Lao Taitai would have been divorced by the old master long ago? And without Father, where would Uncle have gotten such a vast family fortune? Uncle's family owes us such great favors - no matter how much we take from them, it's never enough! Why should I curry favor with Uncle? It's only right that he gives me things!"
With a sharp rustle of fabric, Hualan stood up abruptly and scolded sternly, "What nonsense are you spouting? Shut your mouth this instant! One more word and I'll tear your lips off!" Seeing her sister's severe expression and fiery eyes, Rulan stubbornly clamped her mouth shut, though her neck remained stiff with defiance.
Hualan turned to Madam Wang and reproached, "Mother, how could you? You know perfectly well how reckless my sister is - how dare you tell her such things? If she ever loses her head and spouts this nonsense outside, Grandmother and Father will skin you alive! And that Lin woman would only grow more pleased with herself!"
Madam Wang immediately felt her head swell as if struck by a mallet. She leaned back on the soft couch, pressing her forehead, looking as if she'd suffered a stroke.
Hualan sat beside Rulan and, with unusual patience, began instructing her younger sister: "It's true that Father and Grandmother have helped Uncle greatly. But now it's Minglan who's being raised by Grandmother, and Father has more daughters than just you and me. I'll be married soon and won't be around to advise you anymore. From now on, Rulan, you must think carefully before you act."
Rulan's lips twitched, her expression stubborn and unyielding. Hualan tried to be even more patient: "We share the same mother. Even if we've quarreled before, would your own sister ever harm you? In the future, don't be so quick to argue with Molan. That wretched girl is always putting on an act and is far too clever - you'll only end up losing out. At most, just don't play with her. If you feel bored, go find Sixth Sister instead. She seems quite decent to me - though younger than you, she conducts herself much more appropriately. In such a short time, Grandmother already treats her like precious flesh of her heart, giving her all the best things. Haven't you noticed how much Father dotes on her lately?"
Rulan lowered her head, pouting disdainfully as she muttered, "How can they compare to me? They're all born of concubines - they have to curry favor just to secure their place. But I was born of the legal wife."
Hualan emphasized her words firmly: "That's right, we're born of the legal wife. But we must conduct ourselves with the dignity befitting legitimate daughters, lest we end up inferior to those born of concubines!"
...
On the third day of the fifth month, the weather was fine and warm with gentle breezes - an auspicious day for weddings. The wedding procession approached with festive music and clamor. Within the Sheng residence, flowers and red decorations were everywhere, creating a jubilant atmosphere. Early in the morning, Minglan had been pulled from bed by Cui Mama to be dressed up. Her hair was styled into two round butterfly buns, fastened with gold wire hairpins decorated with red coral beads. She wore a long, deep red brocade coat with gold-thread embroidery of jade orchid patterns, from beneath which peeked a pale blue cloud-patterned silk skirt. When she looked in the mirror and smiled, puffing out her chubby cheeks to reveal a small dimple, she looked exactly like a cheerful New Year painting doll.
When she went to Wēiruì Pavilion, Minglan saw that Molan and Rulan were similarly dressed in bright red festive attire, both wearing delicate gold necklaces with the filigree locks gifted by Sheng Wei. Then they took turns bidding farewell to Hualan.
Molan said: "I wish Elder Sister a marriage blessed with love and prosperity, enduring like ivy through the seasons, perfect as the full moon, and flourishing like twin flowers."Rulan: "Elder sister, may your marriage be blessed with harmony. I wish you and your brother-in-law a lifelong union, growing old together with flourishing descendants and a thriving family tree."
Minglan: "...The capital's weather is quite dry. Elder sister, remember to drink more water—it's good for your skin." She truly couldn't think of anything else to say. Couldn't they have left a few proper idioms for her to use?
Hualan glanced at Minglan and blinked, the tears she had mustered with difficulty now gone.
After Madam Wang offered a few more instructions, an elderly matron Minglan hadn't seen before emerged from the side, dressed in a dark purple embroidered vest. Hualan looked at her mother in confusion, but Madam Wang averted her eyes and stammered, "Let this matron... explain the duties of marriage to our daughter."
With that, she led the crowd away from Weirui Pavilion. Minglan immediately understood and inwardly scoffed. Wasn't this just sex education? She recalled how Yao Yiyi's cousin had once been assigned by his company to expand business in Africa. In his rush, he forgot to bring his "spiritual sustenance"—a full 10 gigabytes of adult films—and asked his younger cousin to mail them to him. True to her habit of seizing every opportunity and her meticulousness as a legal professional, Yao Yiyi had conscientiously reviewed every single one from start to finish.
As the saying goes: "Read three hundred Tang poems, and even if you can't write poetry, you'll learn to compose lust." Perhaps she could explain it more profoundly and clearly than the matron. But seeing both Molan and Rulan wearing expressions of innocence, Minglan thought it unwise to appear too knowledgeable and decided to play dumb.
By then, many ladies and madams had arrived outside. Madam Wang went to receive the guests and brought the three girls along to meet them. Dressed in bright red jackets that set off their snow-white, delicate faces, they looked as vibrant as blossoms, drawing exclamations of admiration from the crowd. Some reached out to pat their cheeks, while others tugged at them for a closer look and questions.
Sheng Hong had only been in his post in Dengzhou for a year, so the Sheng family's connections with the local officials and gentry were still shallow. The female guests vaguely knew that only one of the three girls was the legitimate daughter, but since all three were dressed identically, and Madam Wang couldn't openly point out which one was hers in the midst of the busy occasion, the ladies had to rely on their personal preferences. Those who favored delicate elegance gravitated toward Molan, while those who preferred dignified pride approached Rulan. Noticing Minglan was the youngest, with jade-like snow-cut cuteness, poised and graceful manners, yet small and chubby with short limbs, her movements charmingly naive, she became the favorite and was touched the most.
Minglan had no idea how many times her little face had been patted by these "old girls selling matches." Not only could she not cry "harassment," but she also had to pretend it was an honor to be touched. However, being a child wasn't all bad—at least Minglan and the others got to see the legendary elder brother-in-law, Yuanwenshao, before the bride did.
The groom was twenty years old, considered late to marry. He was robust and handsome, with a fair complexion that should have borne a beard, though it seemed he had shaved it hastily the night before, leaving a shadow of stubble on his cheeks. Dressed in bright red wedding robes, he stood tall and straight like a crane, with bright eyes and steady demeanor. Standing beside his father-in-law, Sheng Hong, who was in his thirties but scholarly and fair-skinned, they looked more like peers.
Madam Wang held Yuanwenshao's hand, scrutinizing him for what felt like half an incense stick's time, until the son-in-law's face grew stiff with discomfort before she let go. Then she spent another half an incense stick's worth of time offering admonitions like "be tolerant" and similar advice.After the wedding ceremony, Yuanwenshao took his bride aboard the boat, accompanied by his uncle Sheng Wei and younger brother Sheng Changbai to see them off. Madam Wang had soaked three handkerchiefs with tears at the main gate of the Sheng residence, and Sheng Hong's eyes were also slightly moist.
That day, over a dozen banquet tables were set up within the Sheng residence, with several dozen additional tables reserved at the renowned Hongbin Restaurant in Dengzhou. The festivities lasted until midnight before the guests finally departed. Ancient nightlife wasn't for children, so Minglan had long been taken back to the Longevity and Peace Hall by her nanny. Covering her small mouth with chubby hands as she kept yawning, Danju and Cui Mama settled her comfortably. Old Mrs. Sheng lay on the bed with her little granddaughter, half-listening as little Minglan described the wedding festivities outside. Suddenly, Old Mrs. Sheng said, "Ming'er, recite a poem about marriage for your grandmother."
Minglan, who had recently been studying the Book of Songs, thought for a moment and selected the simplest one, reciting clearly: "Lush the peach tree, / Bright its blossoms. / This young lady is marrying, / Most suitable for her home. / Lush the peach tree, / Abundant its fruit. / This young lady is marrying, / Most suitable for her home. / Lush the peach tree, / Dense its leaves. / This young lady is marrying, / Most suitable for her family."
"Ming'er recited that beautifully." In the darkness, Old Mrs. Sheng seemed to sigh softly, her voice carrying a hint of sorrow as she murmured to herself, "Did you know, Ming'er, when I was young, my favorite was actually 'Cypress Boat'? I recited it morning and night. But now thinking back, it's not as practical as 'Peach Tree.' If a woman's life can truly be like a peach tree—blooming with brilliant flowers and smoothly bearing abundant fruit—that would be true blessings."
Minglan was extremely sleepy and didn't clearly hear what her grandmother was saying, vaguely catching something about planting peach trees. So she mumbled drowsily in response, "...If the peach tree is healthy but bears no fruit, it must be the soil that's poor. Just plant it somewhere else, renew the soil, fertilize and water it—it should work eventually. Unless the peach tree dies, you should keep planting it..."
Old Mrs. Sheng was initially startled upon hearing this, then found it somewhat amusing. When she looked at her little granddaughter again, she found the chubby girl already fast asleep, her small face pale and tender with a rosy glow, pouting lightly and breathing softly. The old madam gazed affectionately at her sleeping granddaughter's face, gently patting her rhythmically.
...
That night, Madam Wang drank a bowl of Mind-Soothing Soup and, full of worry for her daughter, fell into a heavy sleep. Meanwhile, the thoroughly drunk Sheng Hong was helped by people Consort Lin had arranged beforehand to Linqi Pavilion, where she had prepared sobering sour soup, hot water, and towels. After resting, the two engaged in intimate relations. Seeing that Sheng Hong was in high spirits, Consort Lin knew from experience that he was particularly amenable at such times, so she prepared to deliver her rehearsed speech.
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