Chapter 95

  Two kinds of persuasion methods

  Family internal wars often have the following two characteristics: one is to fight without declaration, directly erupting; and the other is to drag on for a long time. - Things had reached this point, and she still had the mood to think about these trivial things. Minglan felt that she was already close to mental derangement.

  These days, Minglan never had the chance to express her opinion. Just as she was about to speak, Old Madam cut her off: "Don't be afraid, Ming'er! Your ancestors are still alive, they won't dare to bully you!" With a fierce and intimidating expression that scared people.

  The old lady was enraged, and with the same momentum as when she had a big fight with Old Man Sheng at their wedding, she launched into a thunderous scolding. The spittle from her curses almost sprayed onto Sheng Hong's head and face, but he endured it meekly, like a piece of cowhide, begging pitifully, sometimes kneeling, sometimes crying. He spoke of family affection, reason, the honor of their clan, his words flowing like a river, unstoppable, until the old lady was dizzy and fell onto the bed.

  Minglan thought that it was no big deal to pretend to be ill and argue with her son, but she shouldn't really get sick, or else there would be no more energy for future battles. The old lady deeply agreed, and her appetite increased by a fold, apparently planning for a long-term resistance.

  Wang saw the situation was at a stalemate, so she came up with a clever idea and asked Minglan to go express her intentions to Old Madame herself, saying that she was willing to marry into the Gu family. Since the main parties involved had already agreed, what could Old Madame possibly fuss about?

  Sheng Hong listened with his eyes wide and mouth agape, then let out a long sigh. Scholars like to complicate simple things to make themselves appear profound, but this lady likes to simplify complicated things, using coercion instead of enticement whenever possible.

  "Stop meddling!" Sheng Hong rebuked Wang Shi, frowning in displeasure. "What kind of young lady takes the initiative to discuss marriage?! Moreover, she's been raised by Old Lady since childhood, so Old Lady is well aware of her temperament! As soon as Minglan opens her mouth, Old Lady will know you're behind it all! It'll be adding fuel to the fire!"

  Sheng Hongyue's anger grew as he spoke, and he couldn't help but point at Wang Shi's nose and shout: "A woman who doesn't teach her mother's mistakes! It's because of your behavior that there is no discipline, disrespecting your mother-in-law, acting recklessly, that you've allowed the likes of Ya Tou to lose face like this! Do you still have the face to speak about others!"

  Wang was scolded until his face turned red, but he had nothing to say in return and could only sulk in silence.

  In the front, the mother and son were in a heated argument, while Minglan was at the back, dazed and speechless, often not saying a word for half a day. She really didn't know what to say, she just needed to put on a melancholic expression, occasionally sighing with the wind, and her image would be perfect.

  These days she has been doing nothing but reporting to Hai's family and asking to see Ruolan.

  "What about Little Joy?" This was Rulan's first sentence when she saw Minglan, Minglan stared at her pale neck for a while, where there was still a purple-red mark, and slowly said: "Not dead yet. Eldest sister asked the doctor to take a look at the injury, just woke up yesterday, can drink two mouthfuls of porridge now, hopefully won't be crippled."

  Like an deflated balloon, Ruolan sat there stupidly: "Did... did she say anything?" Minglan's mouth curled up with sarcasm: "She said that being able to die for the Fifth Young Miss of the Sheng family is a blessing of three lifetimes. Let alone being beaten until half her body is mangled, even if she were beaten to death, it would be a worthy death!"

  Like an orchid, she lowered her head, her fingers tightly clenched around the handkerchief, only to see her knuckles turn white. Minglan stared into her eyes and continued: "Every time you advised me, sister, I didn't care, saying 'one person does things, one person takes responsibility'. But now? Xiao Xi has served you for ten years, treating you better than her own family members, and you still have the nerve to implicate her!"

  Now Minglan is most annoyed to hear people say nonsense like 'won't implicate family members'. In ancient times, the popular saying was not 'one head one life', but rather 'guilt by association' where the whole family would be punished together. If the third daughter of the East family betrayed the enemy, the fourth daughter of the West family would also be punished.

  On her pale and thin face, a deep sense of guilt was revealed. The little parrot beside her held back tears and whispered: "Sixth sister, don't blame our young mistress; she's also suffering in her heart. When the old lady wanted to beat Xique to death, it was our young mistress who rushed up and threw herself on her body, enduring several blows. Even now, our young mistress still bears the wounds."

  Minglan looked at Rulan's dark circles under her eyes, and she seemed to have changed into a different person. Minglan was silent for a moment before speaking: "I came today to pass on a message from Xiaojikuai. The mistress wants to drive her out to be married off, but the elder sister-in-law told her to recover first before leaving, fearing that you won't get to see her again. She said she has parents outside who can take care of her, so don't worry about her anymore. She also said that she can no longer serve by your side and hopes that in the future, you will think thrice before acting, and when encountering things, you will slow down before doing them, and not be impulsive...and she won't be able to remind you again."

  Minglan smiled and nodded, leaning over to the small round table, picked up a small copper clipper, and began to crack open walnuts with a crunching sound. Wangshi let go of Hualan's hand, took a sip from her tea cup, and said with a smile: "Today is really good, taking advantage of your mother-in-law not being here, we can chat for a while, just the two of us."

  Hua Lan smiled and said, "Why not chat for a while longer? Anyway, even your sister-in-law has followed along; you might as well eat dinner before heading back. I'll have it set up in my room. Your brother-in-law went to the back mountain of the British Embassy yesterday to hunt and brought back several roe deer. Although they're not as fresh as those from outside the city, they're still quite good."

  "That's great!" Wang smiled, took an orange and slowly peeled it: "By the way, I heard your father say recently that your son-in-law is likely to be promoted again?" Hua Lanmei smiled with her eyes shining brightly: "It hasn't been confirmed yet, but...it won't be far off. This time he can be promoted to a deputy commander in the Five Armies Headquarters."

  Wang put down the peeled orange, clasped his hands together and bowed, reciting a Buddhist phrase: "Good, good, good! Seeing you young couple like this, I'm at ease; The Yuan family is happy now, look at your mother-in-law still nagging you!"

  Hua Lan pouted and hummed: "Father is really happy, but mother will spoil the fun. Just when there was a promotion message, she immediately called Wen Shao to think of her natal family's children and grandchildren, and asked Father to scold them away!"

  "Is it because your mother-in-law got angry and took your elder daughter-in-law back to her parents' home?" Wang Shi lost his smile.

  "It's not that either." Hualan covered her mouth and chuckled, "Her maternal family has been getting more and more out of hand lately. The older generation is recklessly extravagant, selling land to buy concubines. The younger generation doesn't strive for self-improvement, they don't study hard, and just think about relying on connections to get ahead. Father got fed up with them early on. This time when her maternal cousin got married, Father didn't want to go, so they had to go by themselves."

  Minglan peeled a small dish of walnuts and handed it over to Wang, who took it and passed it in front of Hualan, laughing: "I see why your mother-in-law has been looking at you with disapproval - you've got conjunctivitis! Don't bring any more, you eat them yourself."

  Minglan responded with a gentle "yes" and sat back down, picking up another small walnut. She was about to crack it open when Hualan and Wang exchanged a knowing glance, each with their own thoughts in mind. Hualan turned her head and smiled, saying: "Sister Ming, Zhuang's daughter has been thinking of you lately. She's currently in the garden at the back. You two cousins get along so well, why don't you go find her to play?"

  She said, and then called the big maid beside her to come over and serve Minglan to wash her hands and tidy up. Minglan smiled slightly in her heart. On a cold winter's day, how could Hualan ask her little daughter to run around outside? There must be some trickery! Hualan had always been very measured in her actions and was good at managing the servants, so she wouldn't go too far off track. Besides, it was in her own courtyard, so there was no harm in going...

  Minglan smiled and said hesitantly, "It's cold outside, let's call Zhuang sister in." Hualan's expression stiffened, Wangshi coughed lightly and said in a low voice, "Zhuang sister is naughty, she'll cry later, you go coax her in."

  Minglan murmured an "oh" and obediently followed the maid out.

  Wang watched Minglan leave, then turned around and asked his daughter suspiciously: "Can this really work? This... isn't good, if your father finds out he'll get angry again; he always says that if Minglan herself goes to beg Grandma, it's just adding fuel to the fire."

  Hua Lan stood up straight, facing Wang Shi and sitting properly, with a serious expression and a low voice said: "Mother only knows one but not the other. Old lady is not someone who doesn't know what's going on, she and her grandson have been together for ten years, morning and night, can't she tell if Ming sister is speaking from her heart?! If we force Ming sister to beg, old lady will be even angrier! But what if Ming really wants to?!"

  Wang's eyes still showed disbelief: "Ming Yatou only listens to Old Lady, what ideas can she have."

  Hua Lan shook her head with a deep smile: "Mother, you are mistaken. Although Sixth Sister has been obedient and well-behaved since childhood, she actually has her own ideas and is careful and clear-headed in her thinking. When she was young, it wasn't noticeable, but after you all entered the capital, I observed her several times with a discerning eye, and sometimes she could even turn around Eldest Lady's intentions; once she sees the real person, and knows that they are not a monster or demon, for the sake of the family or for her own future, she will be willing..."

  Wang sighed for a long time, then let out a sigh: "It would be great if it were that simple. Alas, it's just a pity about your sister. Ming Yatou can marry into such a prestigious family, but she can only stay in a humble household."

  "Mother, don't say that!" At the mention of Ruolan, Hualan's face darkened with displeasure: "It's all because Mother spoiled her too much. A young lady from a good family actually secretly met with someone, and when her parents arranged a good marriage for her, she didn't show gratitude but instead caused trouble. In the end, it even reached General Gu's ears, isn't that harming people?! Fortunately, your son-in-law wasn't overly enthusiastic, mentioning my sister only twice in the past, never clearly stating which one he wanted to marry. That left room for maneuvering, otherwise... Hmph!"

  The Wang family knew that their daughter was in a difficult situation and didn't dare to speak up for Rulan, so they just sighed. Hualan continued: "At first, it was Mother who insisted on marrying Rulan, but actually, I think Ming'er is more suitable. Just look at how she flatters the old lady with that cute expression, my heart melts! What's more, men like her better. Unlike Rulan, who is so stubborn and hot-tempered, getting angry at every little thing! Minglan has her own ideas, I think she can handle it, but Rulan... maybe we should find someone from a lower social class for her, in case something happens later, our family will have something to say."

  Wang thought for a moment, and reluctantly agreed. After a while, he became happy again: "...it's also true that Ming'niang doesn't have any siblings of the same parents, if she can't get along with us, who else can she get along with? If she can make it work, our family will gain some prestige too; if she can't hold her head up high, a family like ours with such a noble background would be ashamed to show its face. And if Ming'niang really suffered in there, I wouldn't be willing to let that happen!"

  Hua Lan almost choked on her own saliva, staring at her own mother in a daze for half the day; she simply didn't bother with her anymore, her mind only thinking about whether Minglan had arrived or not.

  There is still one more chapter tonight, everyone wait a bit, making up for yesterday's portion.