The 94th

  That day was no different from usual.

  A thick layer of ice had formed on the surface of the lake, varying in thickness. After lunch, Minglan, wearing a puffy winter coat, squatted at the edge of the pond, separated from the semi-transparent ice by a thin layer of air.

  Bing looked at the carefree fat fish, envied them for a while, then picked up an empty fish basket and returned to Shou'antang; called Lao Taitai to mock her for a while.

  Minglan didn't get angry, and with a nimble movement, she climbed onto the kang, snuggling up close to Old Lady Wang at the head of the bed. "What's the point of fishing on such a cold winter day? Are you looking for a way to freeze yourself?" Old Lady Wang scolded with narrowed eyes. Minglan also narrowed her eyes lazily and said, "Eldest Sister-in-law didn't have an appetite, so I thought of eating that pickled fish I made last time...

  "I think winter fish is cold in nature, especially pond fish and grass carp. Don't eat them on an empty stomach or you'll get sick."

  The old lady covered Minglan's icy hand with her own and said slowly, "Sour son and spicy daughter, I don't know if this child of Baigui will be a boy or a girl."

  "Want to have an older brother or sister?"

  Meilan rubbed her eyes with a small fist, seeming a bit sleepy, and mumbled: "Big brother said he wanted a daughter, can make up for it..."

  "The word 'good' was spoken, but my sister-in-law didn't say anything, yet I knew she still wanted a son." One child wasn't enough, two were needed to be safe. The old lady smiled lightly: "Your sister-in-law is a lucky one, boys or girls are both fine." The grandmother and grandson chatted on and off, both the old and young were drowsy from the warmth of the kang as they dozed off, when suddenly outside...

  A shrill cry suddenly rang out, and Minglan was startled awake. The old lady also opened her eyes and looked at the door curtain, where a maid stood dressed in attire

  The girl rushed in stumbling and fell on the kang, crying out loudly: "Old lady, save me!"

  "Little Xi Juan, what's wrong?" Ming Lan asked strangely, this girl was a third-class maid beside Rulan. Little Xi Juan had disheveled hair, her face powder was all smudged, and she was full of fear: "Old lady, sixth young lady, quickly go save Xi..."

  Magpie sister, the mistress wants to beat her to death! And our daughter, the master wants to find a rope to strangle her to death! Even the big madam dares not persuade.

  "Sneakily release me to find you!" While crying and complaining, she kept kowtowing.

  "What's going on!" The old lady straightened up, sternly asking, "Didn't the ladies go to worship?" Minglan feared that the old lady would get up too quickly and feel dizzy, so she hurriedly stretched out her hand to gently pat her back and help her catch her breath.

  Today, Dahong Temple held a consecration ceremony for a new Buddha statue. Because Wang's family donated a large amount of incense oil money, the old abbot also gave them a gift.

  When the share arrived, Wang brought Rulan to worship and pray for blessings, and also asked for a marriage divination. The old lady kept asking what had happened, but Xiao Jixia didn't follow them and didn't know what had happened, so she cried and begged for mercy.

  It's hard to say exactly why, but the old lady thought she'd go take a look, and Minglan quickly called Cui Ping to help her get dressed.

  Miss Lin wanted to follow, but was stopped by the old lady. Housekeeper Fang comforted her: "Your fifth sister has made a mistake, and Master and Mistress want

  "Scolding, old lady this time must have some verbal conflicts, you as a daughter-in-law heard it's not good."

  Minglan's heart sank, and things seemed to be getting serious. Since it involved a scandal in the inner chambers, she didn't think it was suitable for her to get involved. After nodding, Mother of the Imperial Chamber said:

  She sat back on the kang, feeling anxious and uneasy, so she beckoned to Xiaotao to go and investigate the situation, while she herself held a celadon vase.

  Porcelain small hand warmer, took a pair of fine copper chopsticks to slowly stir the charcoal fire inside, patiently waiting. Watching the charcoal fire in the stove being stirred almost to burn up, Xiaotao finally came back panting, Minglan sprang up like a spring.

  She jumped up, put down the hand warmer, and grabbed Xiaotao's arm, asking repeatedly: "What's going on? Tell me quickly!" Xiaotao wiped the fine sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief, looking like she was still in shock: "The main courtyard of the mistress is heavily guarded, I couldn't get in at all."

  I didn't go in, I just asked around outside and only know... She swallowed hard and trembled her lips, saying, "This time the master..."

  "Zhēn qì jí le, lǎo tàitai qù de shí hòu, lǎo yé yǐ jīng bá bó shàng wǔ gū niáng de bó zi le!"

  Translation: "The true energy was urgent, when the old lady went, the old master had already put a white silk rope around the neck of Fifth Maiden!"

  Ming Lan was shocked, and Xiao Tao wiped away her cold sweat before continuing: "I secretly waited for a long time before I saw the mothers inside.

  They carried out Sister Magpie, oh my mother, her whole body was covered in blood, her clothes were all soaked through, I don't know if she's still breathing! What's going on inside?

  "I couldn't hear, and Liu's mother came with the wives to drive people away, so I went back!"

  Ming Lan's heart skipped a beat, as if a string was being plucked. She suddenly grabbed Xiao Tao's wrist and said in a low voice: "You go"

  Find Dan Ju, bring some silver money, and then rummage through our house to see if there's any good medicine for boils. Then you two quickly go find Xiao Xi Que.

  "Put in some money, put in some medicine, just do your best to save her!" Xiaotao knew it was serious and immediately responded, Minglan suppressed her anxious mood, slowly sat back down, then picked up

  The tea bowl on the kang made a slow gurgling sound. Xiaojie was a good girl, Minglan quite liked her usual behavior, and she was loyal to Rulan with all her heart.

  She often coaxed and comforted, treating the younger ones with kindness and tolerance. She would often help cover up for the young maids' mistakes. Minglan did not wish for her to die like this, or be crippled. After a while longer, the tea in Minglan's hand had gone cold, the icy ceramic feeling like an ice cube in her grasp, before she finally put it down.

  Tea bowl, look at the sun outside gradually setting in the west, but still no movement, Minglan is getting a bit discouraged, waiting until the sky is dark.

  Just then, a chaotic sound of footsteps was heard from outside.

  As soon as she heard the sound of the curtain being lifted, Minglan hurried out and saw Hai Shi supporting Old Madame as she came in, while Housekeeper Feng supported her from behind.

  She carefully placed her on the warm bed, propped her up to lean against the plush cushion and rest. Minglan took a look at Old Madam's complexion

  She suddenly panicked, her face turned iron-green, her breathing was uneven, and her chest violently heaved up and down, as if she had been holding in a lot of anger.

  He looked embarrassed and guilty.

  "Grandma, what's wrong?!" Minglan rushed to the old lady's knees and trembled as she held her hand, feeling only a faint touch.

  Still warm, and the fingers that grasped back were also very powerful, she just put down some of her mind.

  The old lady slightly opened her eyes, still with a hint of resentment in her gaze. Seeing it was Minglan, she softened slightly: "I'm fine, I just walked too quickly."

  "A few steps away, I'm a bit out of breath." As he spoke, he turned his head and saw Hai Shi, who had a slightly bulging belly, with one hand gently rubbing her lower back.

  However, she stood with her head down and didn't dare say a word. The old lady's heart softened, and she said, "Help your sister-in-law to the kang in the next room to rest, she has also been standing for a long time."

  "It's been half a day." Minglan nodded and gently supported Hai Shi as they walked to the next room. As soon as they entered, Minglan helped Hai Shi onto the kang and handed her Old Madame's pillow to lean against, from the thick cotton wrapped warm

  He took out a teapot from the cage and poured a cup, handing it to Hai Shi; Hai Shi thanked him and took a sip of hot tea, feeling warmth spread through his body.

  Inside, she felt a bit more comfortable. Minglan saw that her complexion was better and hastily asked: "Eldest sister-in-law, what's wrong with Fifth Sister?! Isn't Father in the capital...

  "What's going on? How did you suddenly come back home!" Hai Shi hesitated for a moment, but thinking of the argument between Sheng Huan and Old Lady just now, she thought there was no need to hide it from Ming Lan anymore, so she gritted her teeth.

  He said it all in one breath.

  Wang and Rulan went up the mountain together. Originally, they were having a good time incense-burning, but Wang noticed that Rulan had been very well-behaved lately, so she let her stay in the courtyard.

  Walked away, Wang went to talk to Fang Zhang by herself. Before she knew it, the several maids who were accompanying her had been sent back by Rulan.

  Lan only called Xiao Xikui to accompany her for a walk. Wang Shi felt that something was wrong, and immediately sent someone to bring Rulan back, but Dahong Temple is not as big as Guangji

  The temple is serene and peaceful, with a strong fragrance of incense, many monks reside there, but at that time, they couldn't be found.

  Just as they were in a hurry, Rulan herself came back and said she had only taken a walk in the woods of the backyard. "Isn't this nothing?" Minglan basically guessed what Rulan was up to and her hanging heart slowly put down.

  Who would have thought that Hai smiled wryly and shook his head: "It's fine if nothing happened! Madame saw the fifth sister return safely, and she also felt that she was being overly anxious.

  With his sister, he had just used the sedan chair and returned to the mansion, but as soon as they arrived, he realized that Master had already gone out early and was sitting in the house waiting.

  He saw the lady and the fifth sister, and without saying a word, he went forward and slapped the fifth sister's face!" "Why?!" Minglan's heart was raised again. Hai Shi put down her tea cup and sighed: "It turns out that the fifth sister, she...she had already had an affair with Wen Yanjing..."

  They made an appointment to meet at Dahong Temple, and only exchanged a few words, but unexpectedly the heavens did not cooperate! Who would have thought that today coincidentally Gu Jiang was also there.

  The army also went to hold Buddhist rites for his deceased mother!

  Minglan's eyes were about to pop out: "He...he...saw Fifth Sister?!"

  Hai's heart felt suffocated, and he shook his head: "Bad luck is here! General Gu is busy with official duties and didn't go in person. Besides, he has never seen

  Even if you saw her five times, you wouldn't know; she was a mom from General Gu's mansion, who was ordered to go and add blessings for the Buddhist ceremony, and came out to give

  Xiaosha saw the monk's clothes and hat from afar, but she had only seen us a few times when we came to deliver gifts!" Minglan was stiff on the kang, not wanting to move or say anything. Haishi sighed and continued: "I suppose that mother...

  Mother went back and reported to General Gu, at noon, a young servant went to the Ducha Institute to see Grandfather, and Grandfather immediately returned to the mansion!...... Interrogation

  "Again and again, Fifth Sister said that she had already thought of obeying, this was her last meeting with Mr. Wen."

  Minglan listened to the whole process, almost didn't breathe out, and finally spat out a sentence: "... Fifth sister is also too careless!" Hai's family sighed softly, without speaking, she actually very much approved of Minglan, this matter since Yu Lan had decided to cut off, then as long as

  It's nothing even if it was discovered, but unfortunately, I was seen by my future husband's family when I said goodbye with tears, this luck is too bad!

  "...What now?" After a while, Minglan asked weakly, suddenly discovering that Hai Shi's eyes were evasive.

  He flashed up, seemingly not daring to look straight into Minglan's eyes; Minglan felt strange and asked several times in a row before Hai Shi hesitantly said:

  Just now, General Gu sent over a letter...

  Before he could finish speaking, a flurry of hurried footsteps sounded from outside the hall, and Cui Ping announced from outside: "The old master and mistress have arrived."

  Minglan glanced at Hai Shi, whose mind was preoccupied, and perked up her ears to listen outside. She only heard Sheng Hong seemingly say something in a low voice, followed by...

  Mr. Wang's sobs were followed by the old lady flying into a rage, shouting loudly: "You dare not! How can you be a father to others with this kind of attitude?"

  "I can think of it too!"

  Her voice was angry and shrill, Minglan had never heard the old lady so angry before. She slowly got down from the kang, leaning against the thick golden brown cloud-patterned brocade

  The satin door curtain stood still, listening to the sound from outside, which was urgent and anxious: "Mother, listen to your son's words, there is only this way! In these days, no one in the mansion has ever revealed a word.

  In front of people and behind their backs, no one has ever made it clear who is going to marry into the Gu family. My brother-in-law only said that she was Huahua's younger sister, and my wife and I still don't know...

  He had a good talk with Gu Er'lang once, and didn't even mention which girl he was engaged to. I reckon Gu Tingyan's heart wasn't in it either, so why spread the rumor?

  The words are also spoken very vaguely, not like asking for punishment, but rather like reminding; since so, it's better to make mistakes and correct them, anyway it's clear

  Lan had long since become a legitimate daughter. If it weren't for that, this marriage would have turned into a feud. The son was frantic at the time and sent a letter saying...

  "Originally, you were supposed to be married to Wen Yanjing, and Minglan was the one who was going to marry into the Gu family..." 'Bang' a crisp sound, probably a tea bowl had been smashed, the old lady's voice was trembling with anger: "You think you're so great,

  You two won't teach your daughter yourselves, one by one, corrupting her morals, and in the end, others will have to clean up the mess. Last time I...

  "This old face, this time you actually calculated Ming Yatou! I tell you, dream on!" The old lady panted heavily and continued: "Your good wife, usually what good fragrance never thinks of Ming Yatou"

  Head, with high gate nobility coming to ask, nothing is asked clearly and thoughtlessly agreed like orchid! Now that something has happened, it's too late to think of Ming Yu.

  Here is the translation:

  The master has arrived! One is selfish, only thinking of his own daughter, one is greedy, only thinking of wealth and fame, what a pair of wolf-like tigers!

  "You black-hearted couple, you think I'm dead, don't you!"

  A loud thud, Sheng Hong seemed to have fallen heavily to his knees, Wang Shi began to sob quietly, wailing: "Old lady, why...

  It's unfair to blame his wife. Although it is clear that the young girl is not his own daughter, she has been with him for over a decade and is just like Rulan in every way. What's wrong with that?

  If she had been raised by you from a young age, she would have learned some discipline! Madam,

  One must consider Hua's face, she has had a hard time in her husband's family, thanks to the sympathy of her brother-in-law, today this

  If things can't be settled properly, General Gu will resent Guniang's father, what about Huahua then? She was raised by you, you can't just favor Mingyu.

  "Ah!"

  The old lady seemed to choke for a moment, then scolded loudly: "Hua Yatou has given birth to a son, and it's a proper marriage, what's wrong with that?"

  Can't you just call Hui back? Are you going to make my sister pay for the rest of her life so that she can have a better day?! You two, Gu Tingyan, find it interesting to watch.

  "I won't stand for it!" Just then, Sheng Hong shouted loudly: "Old lady, what do you say we should do now? My son is really at his wit's end! I had thought of strangling that scoundrel to death!

  It's all over now, the family reputation is ruined anyway. No matter what happens next, it will be a joke to others. It's all because of my son's poor teaching that led to this situation, and he has no one to blame but himself.

  It's no wonder, but what about General Gu...?" Sheng Hong seemed to choke up for a moment, "A few days ago, news came that Gu Er Lang had asked Old Man Bao to...

  Jun and Zhongqinbo as matchmakers, it's almost time to exchange engagement letters. If we call off the engagement now, how can the Gu family be willing to give up?

  She didn't hear anything else after that, she only felt her ears buzzing, as if something had enveloped her hearing.

  After the shock was numbness, she slowly walked to Hai's side and asked softly: "Is Gu Tingyan really willing to marry me?"

  He nodded with difficulty: "Yes, the letter said that Gu Tingyan was willing to make a good relationship with the Sheng family, and later added a sentence"

  "In her opinion, this sentence was somewhat unpleasant to hear, as if it were hinting at something; she believed"

  Sheng Hong also saw it.

  The old lady was notorious for her jealousy in her early years, but later she suddenly turned over and rose sharply. After Old Master Sheng's death, she would rather quarrel with her natal family than not hold on.

  The husband's family, youth guarding the widow, taking dowry as a concubine paving the way, marrying a daughter-in-law to manage the household, and finally having today's prosperous scene of the Sheng family.

  Decades have passed, and people are even more praising the old lady's noble character. Hai Shi also feels sorry for Ming Lan and the old lady, recently she knows that the marriage between her family and the He family has been discussed almost to the end, just waiting

  As soon as Lan passed by Ding's house, she would come to ask for the engagement letter. But who knew... Hai couldn't help but sigh secretly, and saw Minglan still with an incredulous expression.

  She looked up with a blank expression, and after a while, she couldn't help but ask again: "Sister-in-law, is it true that Gu Tingyan really said he was willing...

  "Are you going to marry me?" There was no resentment in her tone, but rather a hint of incredulity. Hai Shi nodded again: "It's really true." Minglan's mind went blank, and she bit her lip, tilting her head to think for half a day, recalling Gu Tingyan's cold and sarcastic face, recalling how he had pursued her relentlessly

  His temper, and then thought of his fiery and icy personality... Minglan felt that she had thought too much, coming to ancient times for a while and actually learning to be self-sufficient.

  Was it true? But after a while, I felt that my conjecture was very reasonable.

  Outside came the old lady's angry scolding, Sheng Hong and Wang Shi's continuous pleading voices, Minglan slowly sat down on a small stool, sighing.

  He took a deep breath, opened his mouth, confused his brain, and held up his face in a daze.

  Grandma, old master, madam, and poor Rulan's little shoes, I think, it's possible that we've been jinxed.