That night, Sheng Hong rested in Madam Wang's chamber. As he instructed the maids to remove his outer robe and cloak, he listened to Madam Wang's rambling account of Grand Old Madam Gu's visit earlier that day.
"...That Grand Old Madam is both gentle and noble, without a trace of arrogance. Her words are always reasonable and considerate. Compared to the Wen family's old madam, they're as different as heaven and earth! Ah... our sixth daughter is truly blessed!" Madam Wang personally took a Ru ware teacup of sky-after-rain blue from Caipei. "Here, this is the maojian tea Grand Old Madam brought today. Do taste it, husband."
Having changed into casual clothes and seated on the kang, Sheng Hong remarked, "Old Madam also favors this tea. Don't keep it all for yourself." No wonder he spoke so bluntly—Madam Wang had a history of such behavior.
Madam Wang felt a pang of irritation but quickly chided, "Look at you talking like that! Do you still think I'm as imprudent as in my youth? I've left half at Longevity and Peace Hall and divided the rest between you and the children."
Sheng Hong nodded slightly, accepting the teacup she offered. After taking a sip, his face brightened with pleasure. "Excellent tea. Even tribute tea might not compare."
"Ah—our sixth daughter has nothing to worry about, but poor my Rulan will have to face such a formidable mother-in-law." Sitting on the other side of the kang table, Madam Wang fiddled with the gold and jade ring on her finger, her face full of worry. She sighed over Rulan's situation while praising Madam Qin's virtue and kindness.
The more she contemplated Grand Old Madam Gu's merits, the more she despised Old Madam Wen's vulgarity and pettiness. The more she scorned Old Madam Wen, the more convinced she became of Grand Old Madam Gu's goodness. Her thoughts in turmoil, she couldn't stop her rambling, while Sheng Hong beside her remained silent, steadily drinking his tea.
"Husband, do say something!" Madam Wang cried out after her long monologue, frustrated by her husband's complete indifference. "Don't you worry about Rulan at all? Is our daughter only mine?!"
Sheng Hong slowly set down his teacup and turned to face her. Madam Wang slightly shifted her posture, ready to listen attentively. Then Sheng Hong spoke: "From now on, you must be cautious and reserved in your interactions with this Grand Old Madam. Always hold back three-tenths... no, seven-tenths of what you want to say. Be guarded, lest you regret it later."
Greatly perplexed, Madam Wang stared wide-eyed. "Why so? I find her most agreeable. You've never even met her—why say such things? What could there be to regret?"
Stroking his short beard, Sheng Hong shook his head. "No need to meet her to know. Since you think so highly of her, she must be formidable indeed."
Madam Wang's mind turned to muddle, vaguely sensing her husband's sarcasm. "What do you mean by that?!" she exclaimed loudly.
Seemingly in good spirits, Sheng Hong chuckled. "Back in Quanzhou, you and the prefect's wife were almost sworn sisters until some disagreement made you curse her for two full hours at home. In Dengzhou, you and Princess Pingning were so close you nearly became oath-sisters. And now? If not for the abbot of Guangji Temple intervening, you would have made a voodoo doll to curse her! Then there's your sister from the Kang family—after your long separation, you couldn't stop praising her to me and urged me to help them. And now? You nearly skinned her alive... Haha, my dear wife, I've come to understand this pattern. Those you initially admire will inevitably become your enemies sooner or later. Better to prepare early!"After finishing his speech, Sheng Hong laughed so hard his shoulders trembled, his beard fluttering wildly beneath his chin. Madam Wang’s powdered face flushed crimson with anger, her mouth opening and closing like a carp out of water, yet she could find no words to refute him. In the end, she could only fume indignantly, “My lord is in high spirits indeed, with leisure to jest at my expense!”
These days, Sheng Hong had been riding a wave of success. Every evening, he was invited to banquets by colleagues, peers, or superiors, all of whom, overtly or covertly, sought to curry favor with him. How could he not be delighted? The more he thought about it, the more pleased he became. Madam Wang, provoked by his laughter, grew even angrier. She could only stiffen her face, her chest heaving with suppressed rage as she stewed in her own frustration.
After his laughter subsided, Sheng Hong straightened up and turned to Madam Wang, asking, “How are the preparations for the two girls’ weddings coming along?”
Madam Wang replied sullenly, “Rulan has already passed the betrothal ceremony. After the spring imperial examination results are announced next year, regardless of whether Scholar Wen passes or not, the wedding date is set for the end of February. As for Ming Yatou, being the younger sister, it wouldn’t be proper for her to marry before Rulan. We’ve tentatively scheduled her wedding for early March.”
Sheng Hong nodded slightly, then suddenly remembered something and said to his wife, “Since we’ll be celebrating weddings early next year, let’s keep this New Year’s festivities modest. Firstly, to avoid drawing too much attention, and secondly…” He paused, his expression turning serious as he addressed Madam Wang, “Once the New Year passes, hand over the household affairs to our daughter-in-law and make a trip to Fengtian.”
Madam Wang asked in surprise, “What business is there in Fengtian?”
Sheng Hong fell silent for a moment before sighing softly. “Go to Fengtian to personally apologize to your mother and inform her about the two girls’ weddings.”
Thinking of her mother, Madam Wang felt a pang of discomfort and muttered gloomily, “I’m afraid Mother is still angry with me. I’ve apologized so many times already. They say there are no lasting grudges between mother and daughter, but Mother is being too harsh.”
Sheng Hong’s expression turned stern, his tone serious as he advised Madam Wang, “We were indeed in the wrong last time. No wonder your mother was upset. Over the years, your mother and brother have always supported us, yet you treated your own family so carelessly. Your nephew is, after all, the eldest son and heir of the Wang family—how could they not be angry? Now that the Wang and Kang families have settled their marriage alliance and the matter is in the past, we can’t let this estrangement continue. This time, go and apologize sincerely. If your mother is free and in good health, why not invite her to stay with us for a while? It would liven up our household.”
Sheng Hong held great respect for his mother-in-law. Back when he sought to marry into the Wang family, Old Master Wang had disapproved, disliking his status as a concubine-born son with no family backing, but Wang Laotaitai had taken a liking to him at first sight, insisting that Sheng Hong was honest and principled and would surely have a promising future. It was she who arranged for her second daughter to marry him. For this, Sheng Hong had always been grateful for Wang Laotaitai’s kindness.
Tears welled up in Madam Wang’s eyes as she recalled decades of her mother’s tender care. When she faced the crisis with Consort Lin after her marriage, Wang Laotaitai had sent help and guidance, offering both resources and admonitions. Tears slowly streamed down her face as she said, “It’s all my unfilialness. Mother has always worried and cared for me, yet I made things difficult for her in front of Eldest Sister-in-law!” She quickly wiped her tears with a handkerchief and then smiled, saying, “I’ll follow your advice, my lord. This time, I’ll go personally to kowtow and apologize. At worst, I’ll just let Mother give me a beating!”
Seeing this, Sheng Hong sighed with a smile. “That’s the spirit! Ah… it’s easy to add flowers to brocade, but hard to send charcoal in snowy weather. Lately, as I observe all these people trying to cozy up to us, I often recall the kindness your family showed us in the early years. Now that our family’s situation is improving, we must never forget our roots.”Madam Wang was deeply moved, her gaze filled with tenderness as she looked at her husband, her voice trembling with emotion: "Mother truly didn’t misjudge you. You are a man who values sentiment."
After the pleasantries came the unpleasant ones. Sheng Hong, a seasoned veteran of the bureaucratic world, was well-versed in the art of conversation. He lifted his teacup and took another sip before asking, "For the two girls’ weddings, how much dowry do you plan to prepare for each?"
At the mention of this topic, Madam Wang’s expression stiffened. She opened the warming basket on the kang table, lifted the teapot, and slowly refilled Sheng Hong’s cup, her movements deliberate and drawn-out. "Wasn’t it already decided? We’ll follow the usual practice—whatever is appropriate." Seeing Sheng Hong’s unwavering gaze, she knew she couldn’t be evasive and reluctantly added, "But to be honest, Rulan should naturally receive more. For one, Rulan’s status is more distinguished, and secondly..." She bit her lip, "Rulan’s marriage is a compromise, so she needs more to rely on."
"Foolish!" Sheng Hong rebuked without hesitation, slapping his hand on the kang table and causing the freshly filled teacup to spill.
Madam Wang, unwilling to concede, immediately retorted, "Ming Yatou has already secured such an esteemed son-in-law. What more could she possibly want?"
Sheng Hong raised his voice, his tone laced with sarcasm: "As if that esteemed son-in-law was your doing for Ming Yatou? Or did Rulan graciously yield him to her younger sister?" Madam Wang was instantly silenced.
Sheng Hong glared at her several times, then waved his sleeve, only to realize it was half-soaked with tea. Wringing out the sleeve, his expression stern, he reprimanded, "Old Madam was originally unwilling to agree to this marriage. You failed to raise your daughter properly, allowing Rulan to act so shamelessly. In the end, when there was no other solution, you used Ming Yatou as a substitute. And you have the nerve to say such things?!"
Whenever this matter was brought up, Sheng Hong couldn’t help but criticize Madam Wang with sharp words. After all, for a scholar-official who prided himself on moral integrity, the idea of his legitimate daughter secretly meeting an unrelated man was like a slap in the face. And each time, Madam Wang could only listen meekly, as raising daughters was ultimately the mother’s responsibility.
The thought of Rulan and Wen Yanjing’s affair made Sheng Hong feel as though he had swallowed a fly—disgusted and nauseated. Unable to hold back, he berated Madam Wang once more. Only after venting some of his anger did he return to the main topic: "Let me make this clear to you! This time, whether openly or discreetly, including the house you recently assigned to Rulan, you must prepare dowries of equal value for both girls!"
Madam Wang’s lips twitched a few times, but she remained silent, her face seething with resentment.
Sheng Hong stood up, observing Madam Wang’s unwilling expression, and said gravely, "Since you married into the Sheng family, have I ever laid a finger on your dowry? You want to leave it all to the three children you bore, and I haven’t uttered a single word against it. But search your conscience and think: has your elder sister been so fortunate? Where has her dowry gone over the years? Not to mention Kang’s reckless spending, and that entire household of concubines’ sons and daughters—which of their betrothals and weddings weren’t funded by your sister’s dowry? Has Kang Yima gone around crying and complaining about it?!"
Compared to Kang Yima, Madam Wang’s luck was indeed far better. She had nothing left to say.Sheng Hong saw her expression softening slightly and pressed on intently: "Mo'er and Dongge'er go without saying, but Ming Yatou is registered under your name! Therefore, whatever you prepare for Rulan, Ming Yatou must receive the same! If you want to blame anyone, blame yourself for failing to teach your daughter properly, indulging her until she nearly brought disaster upon the family! Even if you discuss this with your mother, see if she would approve of your actions! When you and your sister married, my family was far less prominent and wealthy than the Kang Family, yet did your mother differentiate between your dowries?"
Madam Wang had grievances she couldn't voice, collapsing limply on the kang, twisting a handkerchief in her hands until it was misshapen.
Observing Madam Wang's expression coldly, Sheng Hong slowly added: "Not only that, you are not to question how much the Old Madam supplements Minglan's dowry!"
Madam Wang's heart tightened, and she looked up sharply at her husband, her expression resentful: "Why this? I dare not disobey your orders, Master. Let the two girls' dowries be equal! But they are both the Old Madam's granddaughters! How can there be favoritism?!"
Sheng Hong said coldly: "Although the Old Madam has explicitly stated she would supplement each girl's dowry with fifteen hundred taels of silver, when Hualan married, she gave far more than that! Do you think I didn't know?"
Madam Wang immediately argued: "But Hua'er was raised by the Old Madam—!" She caught herself abruptly, realizing that Minglan had actually been raised by the Old Madam even more.
Sheng Hong stared at Madam Wang, unable to conceal his disappointment, and said slowly: "The Old Madam raised me, and she has already spent much for my future. Now, whatever private savings and belongings she has left, she can give to whomever she wishes. No one should covet them!"
Madam Wang thought to herself that since it would all go to Sheng Hong's children anyway, of course he wouldn't mind.
Sheng Hong glared at Madam Wang, took a breath, and continued: "The Old Madam values sentiment. She raised Hua'er and Ming Yatou, so it's natural she wants to give them more. Now that we've gone against her wishes and forced Minglan to take the blame, you are not to utter a single word of complaint about how much the Old Madam gives Ming Yatou! Otherwise..."
He slammed the kang table hard, making Madam Wang tremble, and said sternly: "In all these years since you married into the Sheng family, you have often been disrespectful and unfilial toward your mother-in-law, and unvirtuous and unkind toward the concubines and their children. I've tolerated your faults only out of respect for your mother and brother. Do you think I'm completely unaware? Besides, were you completely blameless in Wei Shi's death?!"
Madam Wang felt as if struck by lightning, trembling violently, her face as pale as a corpse. Since she had begun devoutly practicing Buddhism and listening to masters expound Buddhist teachings, she had started to truly believe in karma and retribution. Moreover, Consort Lin had already suffered retribution, living in austere conditions at the farmstead, and Molan's life in the Liang family wasn't easy either. She wondered where her own share of sin would fall.
Her face ashen, she said in a low voice: "Everything shall be as the Master says."
Although Madam Wang had her petty jealousies and wasn't particularly generous, she was at least straightforward. Once she agreed, she meant it.
The next day, she went to hand over household affairs to her daughter-in-law: "...I'll be leaving home right after the New Year. These days I need to prepare dowries for your two younger sisters. You keep an eye on the household matters. If you have any questions while preparing New Year gifts, come ask me. After I leave, ask the Old Madam. Now that you're with child, if you feel unwell or don't want to move around, you can ask the two Lan girls to help."Hai Shi had long been managing most of the household affairs with practiced ease and naturally complied without objection. However, noticing Madam Wang’s red-rimmed eyes, she privately grew suspicious. In the following days, when Hai Shi heard that Madam Wang intended to open the storeroom and take out the early accumulated silks, satins, and precious timber, dividing them equally into two portions, she immediately understood what was happening.
Being astute by nature, Hai Shi promptly said to Madam Wang, "With my two younger sisters getting married, as their sister-in-law, I cannot show up empty-handed. I will add some dowry gifts for them later, as a token of affection from their elder brother and me."
Madam Wang quickly stopped her. Her math was sharp, and she could easily calculate the implications. If Hai Shi’s dowry remained untouched, it would eventually belong to her own grandchildren. But if Rulan were to receive a share, Minglan would undoubtedly receive one as well. Nowadays, every time Madam Wang tallied the assets and dowries, she felt as if her heart were being sliced with a knife—how could she bear to part with more?
"The Hanlin Academy is a place of modest means, and your child is still young. You’ll have many expenses in the future! Don’t trouble yourself. I will handle your sisters’ dowries appropriately—it’s not as if we cannot afford it. Besides, our Sheng family does not make a habit of coveting a daughter-in-law’s dowry!" Madam Wang tightly grasped Hai Shi’s hand, resolutely cutting off her daughter-in-law’s intention.
Although she spoke this way, Hai Shi understood the situation perfectly. After discussing it with her husband, she still prepared many valuable and exquisite jewelry and ornaments to add to the dowries of the two Lan sisters.
…
Perhaps dowry is an eternal topic, always involving mothers-in-law, daughters-in-law, and sisters-in-law. Compared to the warmth and harmony in the Sheng family, the Yuan family presented a far uglier picture.
In the main hall of the Zhongqin Earl’s residence, all doors and windows were tightly shut. Fine porcelain fragments lay scattered on the floor, tea was spilled everywhere, and the room was filled with a faint tea fragrance. The overturned incense burner released a subtle sandalwood aroma, blending into an indescribable scent.
Old Master Yuan, his face ashen, pointed a trembling finger at Madam Yuan standing below. "You, you… how could you even think of it?! Actually considering using your daughter-in-law’s dowry to subsidize Ying’er! Have you lost your mind?!"
Madam Yuan glanced at Yuanwenshao nearby, her pride preventing her from backing down. Stubbornly, she retorted, "Once she married into our family, she became one of us! What does ‘dowry’ even mean? Everything now bears the Yuan surname! If her mother-in-law asks for it, she should obediently hand it over. How dare she complain to her husband?! What kind of upbringing is that?!"
With a sharp slap, Old Master Yuan struck the square-headed table, startling everyone. His beard trembling with rage, he roared, "Shut your mouth! How dare you criticize your daughter-in-law? Over the decades, not to mention your own dowry, how much of the Yuan family’s money have you taken to support your natal family and the Zhang family? Why don’t you consider that it all bears the Yuan surname?!"
Madam Yuan was left speechless. Seeing her husband’s fierce glare and realizing he had exposed her secrets in front of their son, she knew he was truly furious. She could only pull out a handkerchief, cover her face, and pretend to weep. "I’m only doing this for Ying’er! The Shoushan Earl’s household has so many branches and brothers. If Ying’er doesn’t have a substantial dowry, how will she face the disdainful looks from her sisters-in-law?! My lord, don’t only feel for your daughter-in-law—think of your own daughter too. We have only this one girl!"Madam Yuan started with feigned tears, but thinking of her daughter, she couldn't help but weep genuinely. The more she spoke, the more heartbroken she became, and soon she cursed bitterly, "That wretched woman! I'll go tear her mouth apart right now! How dare she incite my son to defy me! A daughter-in-law who won't listen to her mother-in-law—does she want to rebel?" She turned and charged toward Yuanwenshao, who stood nearby, clenching her fists to pummel him as she cried and scolded, "...Why is my fate so bitter? I worked so hard to raise you, yet now that you have a wife, you've forgotten your mother! I only wanted some dowry for your sister, yet you went and told your father! You unfilial wretch—I might as well beat you to death!"
Yuanwenshao dared not push his mother away and could only dodge, taking a few blows haphazardly. The furious Lord Yuan, unlike the scholarly Sheng Hong, strode forward in two large steps, yanked his hysterical wife aside, and struck her.
Smack!
Madam Yuan took a heavy blow to the face. Clutching her cheek in disbelief, she stared at her husband. "You... you actually hit me in front of our son... I won't live anymore!"
As she wailed and tried to lunge at him, Lord Yuan forcefully shoved her, sending her sprawling to the ground. He said coldly, "Do you still remember what the Dowager said before she passed?"
Yuanwenshao was confused, but Madam Yuan abruptly fell silent, her expression turning fearful.
Lord Yuan's face was icy as he spoke slowly, "Mother once said in front of Eldest Sister, you, and me that you are foolish and greedy, forgetting greater principles for petty gains, unfit to be the matriarch—but alas, you already had children. Before she died, Mother made me write a letter of divorce. She herself added a note afterward, saying that the Yuan family's restoration of the title was no easy feat, truly a stroke of heavenly fortune, and there must be no further mishaps. If you proved incorrigible and brought disgrace upon the family, we need not consider your three years of mourning for the elders—you could be divorced and cast out! That divorce letter is still locked on the altar table in the ancestral hall!"
Yuanwenshao was shocked; he had never heard of this. Madam Yuan stopped crying now, trembling like a sieve. A look of disgust flashed in Lord Yuan's eyes as he scolded, "Look at yourself—are you worthy of being the matriarch of the Yuan family? Since our sons married, I've tolerated you for the sake of your dignity as a mother-in-law, yet you've grown more brazen!"
Madam Yuan was pale with terror. Yuanwenshao slowly helped his mother up and seated her in a nearby armchair. In truth, he knew the divorce letter was likely more of a deterrent; actually divorcing her would also bring shame upon the Loyal Diligence Marquis Estate.
The room fell silent, broken only by Madam Yuan's soft sobs and Lord Yuan's furious panting. Suddenly, the hall door burst open with a bang. Wenying rushed in, her face streaked with tears. Seeing the disarray in the room—her father trembling with rage, her mother clutching her cheek in despair—fresh tears welled in her eyes. She fell to her knees with a thud, kowtowing once to each parent. Sensing something amiss, Yuanwenshao swiftly stepped to the door and closed it.
Wenying, her jade-like face wet with tears, choked out, "Eldest Sister-in-law told me everything. This is all my fault for being unfilial, causing Father and Mother to argue over me!"
Lord Yuan, who had always doted on his daughter, silently sat down upon seeing her like this and snorted coldly. "She spreads word quickly enough! No other skills, just a sharp tongue for gossiping!"When Madam Yuan heard her husband held displeasure toward her niece, she immediately rushed over, embracing her daughter and weeping, "My poor Ying'er, your father and brother are so cruel!"
Yuanwenshao's face darkened with displeasure as he couldn't help but exclaim, "Mother! If it were anything else, I might let it pass, but you're asking for Hualan's dowry estate outright—that's over a hundred hectares of fertile land near the capital! Moreover, with the Sheng family right nearby, do you think they wouldn't notice if the land changed hands?! How do you expect me to hold my head up before my in-laws in the future? How can Hualan ever return to her maiden home after this?"
Speaking of this, Lord Yuan grew furious again, pointing at Madam Yuan and shouting, "Exactly! All these years, do you think I didn’t know how much of our second daughter-in-law’s private wealth you’ve schemed to take, both openly and secretly?! It’s only because her family is kind and tolerant that they haven’t confronted us! Even if the husband’s family is in urgent need of funds, it’s improper to go too far when it comes to a wife’s dowry, which is her personal property! But you—you’ve practically resorted to outright robbery! Have you no shame?!"
Lord Yuan grew angrier as he spoke, suddenly recalling another matter. He roared, "The other day, two of our third branch cousins came to complain to me, saying several marriage proposals had fallen through. It’s you—you’ve ruined the Yuan family’s reputation! Everyone outside says the Yuan mother-in-law is harsh and habitually seizes her daughters-in-law’s dowries. Who would dare marry into our family now?! And you still have the nerve to put on airs as the eldest sister-in-law in the clan—I’m mortified for you!"
Thinking of his elderly cousins, Lord Yuan’s face flushed with guilt. The Yuan family’s status was neither high nor low, making it difficult to find suitable matches. The thought that his foolish wife had brought trouble upon the clan made his blood boil, and he cursed her harshly a few more times.
Madam Yuan looked aggrieved. The Lady of Shoushan Manor had always looked down on her as a sister-in-law, and precisely because of this, she felt even more compelled to assert her dignity in front of her.
Wenying, sharp and perceptive, understood where the problem lay. She knelt before Madam Yuan and pleaded sorrowfully, "I know Mother means well for me, but Mother... think about it—Auntie herself is a daughter of the Yuan family. Would she not know our family’s circumstances? Auntie has always doted on me. Even if I brought not a single coin with me, would she ever let me suffer?! If I were to bring Second Sister-in-law’s estate or the silver from selling it as my dowry, Auntie would only despise me for it!... Ever since Second Sister-in-law entered our family, she has treated me like her own sister, always giving me the best food and finest clothes first. If Mother acts this way, it will only hurt Second Sister-in-law’s feelings and make things difficult between us sisters-in-law!"
Seeing everyone siding with the second daughter-in-law, Madam Yuan felt as if she had swallowed bitter herbs, unable to utter a word.
Yuanwenshao felt somewhat relieved—at least his younger sister was sensible. Lord Yuan looked at his daughter with relief and heaved a long sigh. Remembering that his son had mentioned having evening matters to attend to, he quickly signaled to him. Yuanwenshao noticed and slipped quietly out along the doorframe, but instead of heading for the main gate, he went straight to Hualan’s quarters in the western courtyard.
Stepping into the room, he saw Hualan wearing a somewhat worn turquoise brocade cotton jacket with floral patterns and velvet trim. A pang of guilt struck Yuanwenshao as he recalled how, when Hualan first married into the family, her trunks were filled with brand-new clothes, yet now... Hualan sat by the kang, leaning on the kang table with her elbow. Seeing her husband enter, she said calmly, "Is it over?"
Yuanwenshao nodded.
Hualan gave a bitter smile. "It’s always like this, every time. A perfectly good family has to be thrown into turmoil. I really want to ask Mother what exactly I’ve done wrong that she must constantly find fault with me? If Mother truly cannot tolerate me, she should write a letter of divorce early on. I would leave willingly and not suffer this piecemeal torment!" As she spoke, tears streamed down her cheeks.Yuanwenshao stepped forward and embraced his wife, soothing her softly, "What nonsense are you speaking? We are to grow old together—even if you wished to leave, I would never let you go!"
Hualan wept bitterly, her tears streaming down. "It's not that I'm unfilial, but I just want to ask—when will this hardship ever end? The dowry silver I brought has long been spent, and the fine fabrics and valuables from my trousseau have been picked clean by Mother day after day. Now she's even set her sights on that estate! Mother, Mother... what does she truly want?! It's not as if the family can't make ends meet?!"
Hualan sobbed uncontrollably, collapsing into her husband's arms. Yuanwenshao felt equally resentful; he understood his mother's motives all too well. She envied how Hualan's maternal family was influential, how she had won his father's favor and his own devotion, leaving her, as the mother-in-law, overshadowed.
Unable to voice these thoughts, Yuanwenshao could only offer gentle comfort. Suddenly, Hualan straightened up in his embrace, her expression resolute, and declared loudly, "Shao Lang, if it were just me, I'd gladly endure hardship with you, eating chaff and drinking brine, without a single complaint! But... but..." She broke down weeping again, "I pity our children! They... they're still so young!"
Seeing his wife's heart-wrenching sobs, Yuanwenshao felt as if a knife were twisting in his heart. Hualan lamented, "The title will go to Eldest Brother, and given Mother's attitude, we'll likely receive little from the family estate. What will become of our children?! Last time my mother visited, she grew suspicious. I lied and told her pregnant women find old clothes more comfortable, but Zhuang Jie's attire gave me away. Soon after, my mother sent two bolts of bright red brocade! It's one thing for a grandmother to gift her granddaughter, but if more such things happen, wouldn't it shame the Yuan family?!"
A sudden alertness sparked in Yuanwenshao. His jaw tightened, and a cold gleam flashed in his eyes. "...From now on, don't yield to Mother in everything. If she makes any further demands, come and tell me! And..." He paused, then said fiercely, "If you're feeling well tomorrow, sell those four maids—Qiu Niang and the others!"
Hualan was startled, her voice trembling. "But... those were bedroom servants Mother gave you. It wouldn't be proper..."
Yuanwenshao's eyes held suppressed anger. "Didn't Mother claim the family is struggling, that she's short on funds for Sister's wedding? What's the use of idly supporting them? Sell them off—it'll save on maids and servants. Send the silver to Mother and see if she still complains about having no money?!"
Hualan was overjoyed inwardly but dared not show it, murmuring hesitantly, "Is... is that acceptable?"
"Why wouldn't it be?! I've long found those flirtatious nuisances troublesome!" As a military man, Yuanwenshao spoke decisively, settling the matter with a firm resolve.
Hualan wiped her tears forcefully, understanding her husband's consideration. She leaned into him tenderly, and the couple shared a moment of warmth. Then, pushing him away gently, Hualan smiled and said, "Isn't Lord Dou hosting a banquet tonight? Shao Lang, don't be late—hurry along!" As she spoke, she retrieved a heavy small bundle from the kang and pressed it into his hands, adding softly, "Take this."
The moment Yuanwenshao took it, he knew it was filled with silver. His heart clenched, and he scrutinized Hualan, asking urgently, "Where is your gold necklace?"
Hualan smiled sheepishly. "I'm a mother now—what need have I for a gold necklace?"Yuanwenshao knew that the gold necklace was something every daughter of the Sheng family possessed. The fact that Hualan now had to pawn hers to manage her affairs deepened his resentment toward Madam Yuan. He declared firmly, "Don't worry! I'll gradually replenish your dowry bit by bit!"
Hualan smiled gently. "You've always been a man of your word, Shaolang, never breaking a promise."
After the couple bid each other farewell, Hualan watched Yuanwenshao depart with a smile. Once he was out of sight, her smile slowly faded, and she sat with a solemn expression. A short while later, a young maidservant lifted the curtain and entered, saying cheerfully, "Eldest Miss, the young master has left."
Hualan nodded. The woman attentively helped Hualan lie down on the kang, arranging the bedding before remarking with a smile, "Eldest Miss has won again. Over the past two years, the young master has consistently sided with you. Old Madam will surely be delighted to hear this."
Hualan's expression remained cool as she said slowly, "After nearly ten years of endurance, there's finally some hope. Cuichan, my legs are a bit sore."
Cuichan immediately knelt by the kang and began gently massaging Hualan's calves. Hualan half-closed her eyes and asked, "Have you gathered all the information?"
Knowing what Hualan was referring to, Cuichan replied in a low voice, "There was no need to investigate. The Earl's voice was so loud that many people overheard. The Earl severely reprimanded Madam, and Miss Ying also joined in persuading her, even mentioning... oh, and a letter of divorce." She then promptly recounted the incident of the Earl having once drafted a letter of divorce.
Hualan's eyes lit up brightly. "Really?!"
Cuichan nodded emphatically, covering her mouth to stifle a laugh. "Now Madam has been thoroughly humiliated. Let's see how she can still put on airs and act high-handed in front of you, Madam!"
Hualan lay back with a smile, closed her eyes, and murmured leisurely, "Perhaps this time the peace will last a bit longer. Grandmother was right—a woman must use her wits to navigate life. She can't muddle through and allow others to bully her, nor can she act on impulse, throw tantrums, or nurse grievances."
Cuichan listened with a smile while gently patting Hualan's legs. Seeing Hualan's weary expression, she couldn't help but wipe her eyes with her sleeve and said softly, "Eldest Miss has truly had a hard time. Every time we return, Mama Fang always pulls me aside to ask endlessly how you're faring."
Thinking of Old Mrs. Sheng, Hualan's eyes welled up with tears. She sobbed, "It's all my fault for being unfilial and making Grandmother worry about me. This time, because of Minglan's matter, she must be angry with me."
Cuichan hurriedly reassured her, "How could that be?! Old Madam's anger is fleeting. Once she sees that Liu Guniang is doing well, she won't be upset anymore. Didn't Madam mention last time she visited that Old Madam has been looking more favorably upon the Gu family lately?"
Cuichan had originally come from Longevity and Peace Hall. When Hualan married, Mama Fang personally selected her to accompany Hualan as part of her dowry. Later, Cuichan married a steward who managed Hualan's dowry assets and had since become one of Hualan's most trusted aides.
Hualan smiled through her tears. "That's right! That Gu Erlang is truly impatient. It's only been a few days since the exchange of betrothal documents, and he's already rushing to send New Year's gifts to our family—entire chests of fine fabrics, not to mention Jiangnan gauzes, silks, and satins, furs from beyond the Great Wall like lynx, purple lamb, fox fur, snow bear, and even half-foot-long snow ginseng. My mother was so overwhelmed she could barely receive them. It seems he had been stockpiling these things, just waiting for the formalities to be settled!" As she spoke, Hualan couldn't help but chuckle.Cuichan listened with envy, her mouth agape. "So many fine things! Even if Old Madam doesn't care for such worldly possessions, she should recognize the Gu family's sincere intentions."
Hualan nodded with a faint smile. "Exactly." As she lowered her head, she caught sight of her slightly worn clothes and felt a pang of melancholy.
Noticing Hualan's expression, Cuichan leaned closer and whispered, "Don't take it to heart, Miss. Sixth Miss hasn't married yet. They say the Gu family has deep waters to navigate - Sixth Miss will face many challenges ahead and endure much hardship. Meanwhile, you're about to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Remember what Old Madam said? Observe your husband's character. If he proves heartless, gather your silver and prioritize yourself. But if he's kind and cares for you, devote yourself wholeheartedly to him without reservation!"
Hualan's spirits lifted, her face brightening. She took Cuichan's hand and said warmly, "Thank goodness Old Madam gave you to me. All these years, you've been my comfort. Well, at least I didn't lose all my dowry!... Now Shi Ge'er's father knows what's important - he no longer hands all our silver to his mother without thinking. As long as he stands with me, I'm willing to spend any amount. Later we'll seek some provincial postings, and life will become easier."
Cuichan playfully asked, "Didn't your husband just get promoted to deputy commander of the Five City Military Command? You're quite ambitious, Miss - barely tasting what's in your bowl yet already eyeing what's in the pot!"
Hualan tapped Cuichan's forehead affectionately. "You minx, daring to tease your mistress!" After glaring at Cuichan, her expression turned worried as she sighed softly. "Truthfully, I only feel I've let Old Madam down, but..."
With glistening eyes, Hualan whispered, "Being a daughter-in-law is so difficult! Especially with such a mother-in-law. I never meant to scheme against Ming Yatou - Commandant Gu's status and character wouldn't disgrace any Sheng family daughter. Even if she were my own full sister, I'd still agree. Ah... I just hope Sixth Sister finds happiness, otherwise I'll never dare face Old Madam again."
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