Minglan was intently tracing floral patterns, vividly rendering the antennae of several crickets under the bright daylight. Danju approached with a teacup and, seeing Minglan’s unblinking concentration, said with concern, “Young lady, take a break. Don’t strain your eyes.”
Beads of sweat dotted Minglan’s forehead, but she remained motionless. “It’s precisely because I fear straining my eyes that I force myself to work during the day.” Only after completing the final stroke did she let out a long sigh and set down her brush. “It’s done. You and Yancao can cut out the patterns together.”
Danju tested the temperature of the cup before placing it in Minglan’s hands, then went to examine the pattern. She smiled and said, “Young lady, you’ve drawn these so well—these tiny crickets and cicadas, no bigger than a fingernail, look as if they could move.”
Xiaotao, who had been tidying clothes in the side room, overheard and came out to complain, “Wouldn’t it be easier to just catch a few live ones? Young lady, if you had done your tasks a bit less perfectly before, you wouldn’t have been assigned this. No wonder people say, ‘Fame is as burdensome for a person as fattening is for a pig…’” She suddenly realized her slip and covered her mouth in alarm.
Minglan shook her head and sighed at Xiaotao, while Danju burst into laughter before quickly composing herself and scolding, “How old are you, still spouting such nonsense? If it were any other mistress, she’d have your hide for that!”
Xiaotao lowered her head in embarrassment. “I won’t dare again,” she murmured before slipping back to her tidying.
Just then, the bamboo curtain rustled as Lüzhi entered cheerfully, politely holding it aside to allow a plump-faced matron to follow.
“Greetings, Liu Guniang,” the matron said, dressed in a silver-red jacket with subtle embroidered patterns over a dark green silk-lined long gown, holding a flat, elongated brocade box. She half-curtsied to Minglan. She was also one of Madam Wang’s accompanying servants and had once been highly trusted before Liu Kun’s wife arrived, though her standing had since declined—likely due to her lack of effectiveness in the struggles against Consort Lin.
Minglan smiled. “Matron Qian, you’re too kind. Lüzhi, why haven’t you offered a seat and tea?” She glanced sideways at Danju, who understood immediately and slipped into the inner room.
Matron Qian sat down with a smile, leaning slightly toward Minglan. “Today, I’ve brought a few seamstresses to take measurements for the young ladies’ maids, to prepare their summer and autumn clothing.”
“Such a trivial matter hardly warrants your personal attention,” Minglan replied, pointing to a plate of rose-pine nut honey cakes and instructing Lüzhi to offer it to Matron Qian. “This was taught to me by Mama Fang. The ingredients are troublesome, and the process is lengthy. I find it too sweet and soft, but Old Madam adores it. Please try some, Matron.”
Matron Qian picked up a small piece to taste, finding it delicately sweet and soft. Lüzhi eagerly handed her a freshly brewed cup of Yunlan melon-seed tea. After taking a sip, Matron Qian praised it profusely, remarking how the flavors lingered pleasantly.
“If you like it, Matron, take some of these cakes and tea back with you to enjoy at your leisure,” Minglan said gently.
Matron Qian was delighted but feigned reluctance. “How can I accept? To eat and take away too?”
Lüzhi, ever quick-witted, lightly shook Matron Qian’s arm and coaxed, “Matron, don’t stand on ceremony with our young lady. If you feel embarrassed, you can always sneak an extra set or two of clothing for us sisters later.”
Minglan chuckled. “Look at this girl—she must have been a greedy spirit in a past life. Pay her no mind, Matron.”At that moment, Danju emerged from the inner room holding a small bundle, which she handed to Mama Qian. Minglan addressed her with gentle concern, "I heard you caught a chill a few days ago. They say this late spring cold is particularly harsh. Given your age and daily exertions, you must take extra care of your health. This waistcoat was pieced together from leftover brown-gold silk and reed-catkin velvet from Old Madam’s recent jacket-making. If you don’t mind it, please wear it underneath your clothes—it’s both warm and breathable."
Mama Qian hastily accepted it, repeatedly expressing thanks, and sighed, "Everyone says Liu Guniang is the most considerate. All the maids in your courtyard are plump and fair… Ah, still, Mama Liu’s Jiuer is the fortunate one, unlike my girl, who couldn’t enter here."
Minglan didn’t respond directly, merely smiling modestly and exchanging a few pleasantries. After some light banter among the group, Mama Qian passed a brocade box to Lüzhi, saying, "There are a few palace flowers inside, sent by the Madam for the young lady." Minglan quickly asked, "Have Fourth Sister and Fifth Sister received theirs?" Mama Qian replied, "They already have." Minglan relaxed, saying, "That’s good."
She then opened the brocade box to find five palace flowers in pale pink, pea green, sky-blue after rain, rose-purple, and begonia red. Their petals were made of silk gauze, their stamens of velvet, all vibrant in color and exquisitely shaped.
Mama Qian leaned in and whispered, "I set these aside for you beforehand—they’re not the leftovers."
Minglan praised, "These flowers are truly beautiful. Thank you, Mama. Where did they come from?"
Setting down her tea bowl, Mama Qian explained with a smile, "A few days ago, the results were posted, and Princess Pingning’s son ranked among the top in the second tier. Yesterday, Marquis of Qi Manor held a banquet, and the Madam was invited, so she received these and distributed them among the young ladies."
Minglan’s expression remained unchanged as she smiled and said, "That’s truly congratulations. The Madam has always been close with the Princess, so she must be very pleased. No wonder when I went to pay my respects this morning, the Madam’s face was still flushed—perhaps she had a few cups yesterday?"
"Exactly," Mama Qian clapped her hands and laughed. "I accompanied her and saw it with my own eyes. The Princess was very affectionate with our Madam, just like sisters, and they spoke privately in the inner room for quite a while."
A flicker of thought passed through Minglan’s eyes before she asked with concern, "Last night, I heard Fifth Miss returned quite late from the Madam’s room. Could it be that the Madam was heavily intoxicated? Don’t tell me Fifth Sister had to tend to her alone? Ah, I didn’t know—how unfilial of me." She wore a worried expression.
Mama Qian quickly waved her hand. "It was no trouble. The Madam felt much better after drinking sobering soup. She was just genuinely happy and called Fifth Miss in for a chat." Minglan seemed relieved and smiled gracefully. "Then I am at ease."
Before leaving, Mama Qian leaned close to Minglan’s ear and whispered, "At yesterday’s banquet, the Madam also spoke at length with Marquis Yongchang’s Wife. I faintly overheard something about the young ladies of our manor."
Minglan’s heart skipped a beat.
After seeing Mama Qian off, a while later, Lüzhi entered pouting and complained, "That useless Yancao can’t even control a few little maids, letting them scramble for measurements… Now Mama Qian isn’t even in the Madam’s favor anymore. Why bother being so kind to her, Miss?"
Minglan gave her a quiet look, and Lüzhi immediately pursed her lips and stood with bowed head. Danju came over and pinched her nose, saying, "No nonsense. The young lady has her reasons. Just focus on doing your duties properly.""Every blade of grass and every tree has its use," Minglan said slowly. "Even the most inconspicuous people can be useful." As she spoke, she looked at Lüzhi and continued, "Yancao may have a gentle temperament, but she entered the household earlier than you and is more experienced in handling affairs. You must not treat her lightly."
Lüzhi nervously acknowledged the instruction, clasping her fingers tightly and not daring to breathe loudly. After a moment, Minglan softened her tone and said, "As long as someone is sincere with me, I will always remember their kindness. Yancao... after all, she is a few years older than you. You should rein in your tongue and temper."
Lüzhi mulled over these words for a moment, seeming to grasp something. Her eyes brightened as she looked up and said, "Miss, Lüzhi understands."
After the maids had withdrawn, Minglan pondered for a while, then took out a few sheets of letter paper, smoothed them on the desk, and after a brief moment of thought, picked up her brush and began to write.
That evening, Sheng Hong had dinner at Concubine Xiang's quarters. Feeling exhausted from days of social engagements, he had intended to rest there for the night. Unexpectedly, Madam Wang insisted on summoning him back. When he arrived at the main residence, he saw his wife sitting upright on the edge of the kang. Though middle-aged, her face was flushed, and there was a hint of delight in her expression. Sheng Hong decided to discuss the issue of "rain and dew and teacups" with her—he couldn't sleep with her every night; he also had to consider the feelings of others. But before he could even speak, Madam Wang quickly closed the door and launched into a rapid-fire account, stunning him completely.
"What did you say? Betroth Rulan to Qi Heng? Did the Princess really say that?" Sheng Hong was dumbfounded for a long moment before exclaiming in shock, "Then... what about your family? Wasn't Rulan supposed to marry your elder brother? They were just about to finalize the betrothal."
Madam Wang hesitated briefly, but recalling her sister-in-law's dissatisfied expression when looking at Rulan, she retorted stiffly, "The betrothal hasn't been finalized yet, so why can't I find a better match for my daughter?"
"Is Qi Heng really that good?" As a man, Sheng Hong's first thought was the metaphorical green hue hovering over the Qi residence.
Lowering her voice, Madam Wang said fervently, "I've carefully considered it—it's an excellent match. Whether the title falls to Heng or not, he's already earned his scholarly honors at such a young age. He has a promising future ahead, and with the support of the Duke's household, he's secure regardless of circumstances! Also, the Marquis of Xiangyang has no heirs, so his title will go to an adopted son. But aside from the ancestral property, think of how much wealth the Marquis has accumulated over the decades—it's all been gradually transferred to the Princess. Oh, and Lord Qi—how lucrative is the salt administration post? You understand that better than I do. How many years has he served as the Salt Commissioner? The silver must be piled up like a mountain! In the future, won't all of that belong to Heng? How could life with him be anything but prosperous?"
Sheng Hong was dazzled by the overwhelming glint of gold in Madam Wang's eyes, as if he could see countless silver coins flying within them. At this moment, Madam Wang's mind was exceptionally clear, and she laid out her reasoning methodically: "Earlier this year, the Qi residence was embroiled in that disgraceful incident. Heng felt embarrassed, so it wasn't appropriate to propose marriage immediately. The Princess privately told me this."
Madam Wang lowered her voice even further, speaking mysteriously, "The Princess said that the Emperor's health... it's a matter of these next two months. When the time comes, families like ours will have to observe a year of mourning. After a year or two, who will remember the messy affairs from the Late Emperor's time? Anyway, Rulan still has a year before her coming-of-age ceremony. We can take our time and observe the situation."Sheng Hong gradually regained his shrewdness and pondered carefully before saying, "This time, after the imperial examination results were announced, His Majesty has delayed the palace examination, saying he will wait until the Eighth Prince arrives in the capital before determining the rankings. It’s clear that this batch of newly successful scholars is being reserved for the new emperor’s use. Perhaps... Heng'er really has some prospects, and this marriage might not be a bad idea? ...But what about my brother-in-law?"
Madam Wang hesitated and said, "If His Majesty... my brother is also an official and must observe mourning. Let’s wait and see."
Sheng Hong thought for a moment and nodded.
Seeing her husband agree with her plan, Madam Wang grew even more pleased with herself and dropped another bombshell: "Yesterday, while drinking, I also ran into Marquis Yongchang's Wife."
Sheng Hong hummed in acknowledgment, yawning slightly as he leaned against the headboard and loosened his outer robe, asking Madam Wang to tidy up. As she gathered his clothes, Madam Wang said with a smile, "Madam Liang hinted to me that she has taken a liking to our Minglan!"
"What?! When did this happen?" Sheng Hong was no longer sleepy. He jolted upright, his mind in a daze, and then growled in a low voice, "Old Madam has only been away for two months, and you dare to scheme for Ming Yatou? Isn’t she already engaged to the He family?"
"Look at how panicked you are. Do you think I would ever harm Ming Yatou? Listen to me first." Madam Wang forcefully pushed her husband back down, her face beaming with joy. "On the day of Quange’s full-month celebration, during the banquet at our in-laws’ residence, Madam Liang took a liking to Minglan at first sight. She didn’t even mind that Minglan is a concubine-born daughter, praising the girl’s character and appearance. The Yongchang Marquis Liang family—what kind of family is that? Although the young man is the youngest, he is also a legitimate son. They are currently trying to secure the position of deputy commander in the Five-City Military and Patrol Command. Even if he doesn’t get it, he still has a seventh-rank position in the Imperial Guards. How about it? This marriage wouldn’t be beneath Ming Yatou, would it? It’s much better than the He family!"
Sheng Hong wanted to stick to Old Madam’s decision, but thinking of the Liang family’s foundation and influence, he hesitated again.
Seeing her husband’s wavering expression, Madam Wang added fuel to the fire, saying, "Think about it too. Ming Yatou is so beautiful—wouldn’t it be a waste for her to marry into the He family? If we could form a marriage alliance with the Qi or Liang families, Brother Bai and the others would have support in the future." In truth, the most important thing was that Minglan had no full brothers. Apart from her own sons, what other maternal family could she rely on?
Sheng Hong was swayed. He gritted his teeth lightly and asked, "What is that young man’s character like? If Old Madam isn’t willing, nothing will come of it."
Madam Wang knew the matter was halfway done and softened her tone, pretending to be aggrieved. "Look at how you’re talking, as if I’m trying to sell my daughter for glory. Ming Yatou has been obedient and filial in front of me all these years, showing respect to her brothers, harmony with her sisters-in-law, and affection for Quange. I naturally have her best interests at heart. The young man’s name is Liang Han. You can inquire about his character yourself, so no one can accuse me of wrongdoing later."
With that, she pouted and fell silent, looking angry. Sheng Hong hurriedly tried to console her with kind words, whispering a few sweet nothings in her ear until Madam Wang smiled again.
"Let’s do this," Madam Wang laid out all her plans. "You can slowly make inquiries and prepare your arguments. When Old Madam returns, we can try to persuade her. You know Old Madam’s temper. If Liang Han’s character passes muster, I’m sure Old Madam won’t stubbornly insist on the He family."Though tempted by the Liang family's marriage proposal, Sheng Hong felt a headache coming on at the thought of persuading Old Mrs. Sheng. Over the years, he had complied with her wishes in almost every matter, never once opposing her. Now, yet again... He couldn't help but say, "We've been in the capital for so many days—has no one taken a liking to Molan?"
If the Liang family had taken a fancy to Molan, it would have been the best of both worlds, sparing him this headache.
Madam Wang, who had been shyly unfastening Sheng Hong's belt, immediately changed her expression upon hearing this. She couldn't suppress a cold snort. "Master! Forgive my bluntness, but that Molan learns nothing good and is just like that woman. Men might fancy her, but proper wives and madams despise that sort of demeanor the most."
This time, Sheng Hong didn't refute her and could only sigh. Madam Wang glanced sideways at his profile, sneering inwardly. No matter how beloved a concubine is, over time, affection fades. Only status and heirs are dependable. It was only now that she had come to understand this truth.
Yet, for some reason, after this moment of satisfaction, she felt an overwhelming emptiness in her heart.
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