Chapter 125: The Sheng and Wang Families of Yang Zhou [Many Thanks for Your Support

After the Old Lady finished speaking and saw that Sheng Hualan remained silent, she rose to her feet and said, "Hua'er, come try the incense your grandmother just made today."

With a mind full of tangled thoughts, Sheng Hualan lowered her head and followed.

Lighting the incense, the Old Lady watched Sheng Hualan, who was lost in deep thought, and said nothing more.

As for how Sheng Hong and Wang Wang Ruofu would handle matters, the Old Lady already had a clear plan in her heart.

But how Sheng Hualan would turn this corner depended entirely on herself.

Linqi Pavilion

Lin Lin Qinshuang, who was guiding Seeing Mo Lan in recognizing characters, frowned as she watched Zhou Zhou Xueniang hurry in, for she had disturbed Seeing Mo Lan, who was reciting poetry.

Seeing the look in her mistress's eyes, Zhou Zhou Xueniang immediately halted her steps and stood attentively to the side.

Lin Lin Qinshuang said, "Mo'er, the Old Lady loved poetry and songs in her youth; if you master 'Spring River in the Flower Moon Night,' you will surely delight her and bring honor to your father."

Hearing Lin Lin Qinshuang's words, Seeing Mo Lan looked up at her, her eyes filled with joy.

Lin Lin Qinshuang stood up, walked to the main hall of Linqi Pavilion, and asked in a low voice, "What is it?"

"Wei Xiaoniang, just now the Master and the Da Da Niangzi started arguing, and then the steward from the dowry of Weirui Pavilion rode out of the estate on horses belonging to Shou'an Hall."

Lin Lin Qinshuang pondered for a moment before saying, "What has happened? Go, ask Dongrong."

"Wei Xiaoniang, I asked, but Dongrong said he is not clear either."

"Did anything happen this afternoon? Nothing occurs without cause."

Seeing her mistress deep in thought, Zhou Zhou Xueniang also recalled what she knew; suddenly realizing something, she said, "Wei Xiaoniang, this afternoon a gatekeeper boy delivered a letter to Shou'an Hall."

That Wang Wang Ruofu had returned home unhappy this afternoon was something they, mistress and maid, had known long ago.

"From where was it sent?"

"This servant does not know."

"It likely has nothing to do with the Old Lady; otherwise, the Master would not have quarreled with Wang Wang Ruofu. Judging by the argument, it is probably some matter concerning Wang Wang Ruofu's natal family."

"Wei Xiaoniang's judgment is divine; this servant feels eighty percent certain it is so. Also, per your orders, the gatehouse has not allowed that Sister Xiaodie to leave for the past two days; this servant thinks they cannot hold out much longer."

"Keep a close watch."

"Wei Xiaoniang, rest assured."

In the side courtyard that afternoon.

In a sheltered spot, the sun shone warmly.

While hanging clothes on the line, Sister Sister Xiaodie watched her mistress, Wei Wei Shuyi; since food and charcoal in the courtyard were running low, Wei Wei Shuyi had started a game of pitch-pot with her daughter to divide the peach crisps.

Whoever hit the most would eat.

Minglan won more often than she lost.

"Wow! One hit! Mother, you won, you eat."

"Hit! Hit! Mother, I hit it!"

"Ming'er is truly remarkable; then this piece of peach crisp belongs to you and Xiao Xiaotao. Come, open wide."

"Ah-oh~ munch."

Watching Minglan eat until her cheeks bulged, Wei Wei Shuyi laughed.

Swallowing the food in her mouth, Minglan touched Wei Wei Shuyi's face with her small hand and said, "Mother, you look so beautiful when you smile; you should smile more often."

"Ming'er, you must call me 'Wei Xiaoniang.' Go, play with Xiao Xiaotao."

"Oh."

Having said this,

Wei Wei Shuyi turned around and continued embroidering the painting of Lady Li guarding Da Niangzi Pass under the sun.

Sister Sister Xiaodie wiped the water from her hands onto her clothes and pulled down her sleeves, worried in her heart that the food and charcoal brought back a few days ago would only last a few more.

Sister Sister Xiaodie walked over to Wei Wei Shuyi and said, "Wei Xiaoniang, if nothing arrives by the day after tomorrow, our courtyard will run out of provisions."

Stitch by stitch, Wei Wei Shuyi embroidered as she said, "Let us economize; the Yuan family will come to deliver the betrothal gifts in a few days, and naturally, there will be some food then."

"Wei Xiaoniang, what if the Yuan family arrives a few days late?"

"Then you speak to the main kitchen; if they refuse to give us anything, we will go to the Da Da Niangzi."

Having said this, Wei Wei Shuyi continued to focus intently on embroidering the painting before her.

Weirui Pavilion,

After Sheng Hong, with Nurse Liu's assistance, finished arranging the steward for Wang Shi's trip to Runzhou, he sat dazedly on an arhat chair.

Noticing the marks on Sheng Hong's neck, Nurse Liu fetched a fox-tail scarf from the inner room, came to his side, and said, "Master, the charcoal stove in the room has not been lit yet; please warm yourself with this."

Sheng Hong glanced at her and nodded.

Subsequently, Nurse Liu invited the Physician into the room for an examination.

Two quarter-hours later,

the Physician emerged from inside carrying his medicine box, followed by Nurse Liu.

Seeing the Physician, he hurriedly asked, "Physician, how is my Da Da Niangzi?"

"Assistant Prefect, there is no need for worry; the Da Da Niangzi is in good health, suffering only from a temporary surge of anger affecting her heart; some medicinal soup will suffice."

"Then I trouble the Physician for his efforts. Nurse Liu, give the Physician some reward money."

"Yes, Master."

Since his own Da Da Niangzi had fallen ill from anger, Sheng Hong naturally could not go to Linqi Pavilion again; instead, he walked in, sat on a chair by the couch, and looked at Wang Shi, who wore a forehead band, feeling somewhat awkward.

At this moment, Wang Shi also opened her eyes, glared hatefully at Sheng Hong, and snorted.

Sheng Hong glanced at Wang Shi, averted his gaze, and said, "No matter what, you should not have scratched me; how am I supposed to face people now!"

"So you know you have lost face? Why didn't you think about how Sheng Hualan can face people! What a rotten place the Yuan family is, yet you described it as heavenly! And you claimed to love Hua'er!"

Sheng Hong also said somewhat gloomily, "Just now at Mother's, you said it might be rumors; why are you so certain now? Let us wait for news from your elder brother in Runzhou."

Hearing these words, a glimmer of hope returned to Wang Shi's eyes as she said, "My natal family possesses great power and influence; they will surely uncover everything. Those sent to Runzhou should be returning soon!"

"From here to Runzhou is a journey of seventy or eighty li, requiring a river crossing as well. Even if the stewards ride the fast horses of Shou'an Hall, they cannot arrive as quickly as you claim."

As the two spoke, Mama Liu entered from outside.

Having just been outside Shou'an Hall herself, she had heard nothing useful while observing the husband and wife conversing.

Sheng Hong glanced at Mama Liu and said, "Da Da Niangzi, you speak with Mama Liu."

Wang Wang Ruofu retorted sharply, "Why do you not say it yourself!"

After delivering her barb, Wang Wang Ruofu turned away, presenting her back to Sheng Hong.

"You!"

Sheng Hong rose to his feet and added, "Unreasonable! Take good care of Da Da Niangzi."

This last remark was directed at Mama Liu; then, flicking his sleeve, he departed Weirui Pavilion immediately.

In the courtyard, he cast a glance toward Shou'an Hall but dared not enter, instead turning a corner and heading to Linqi Pavilion.

You hour.

Runzhou.

A steward from Wang Shi's dowry, having ridden hard from Yang Zhou, arrived hastily at the Wang residence.

Upon presenting his name card, the steward was ushered into the Wang home.

Wang Yan, the eldest son of the Wang family, glanced at the letter from his brother-in-law in his hand, his expression shifting instantly, before he hurried toward the inner quarters.

"Mother, an urgent message from the Sheng family."

Lady Wang, who had been preparing for dinner, started in surprise, then took the letter and read it carefully.

The gist of the letter was this: The Sheng family had received an urgent missive from Bianjing stating that improper matters had arisen within the Yuan family; it asked whether the Wang family had received any correspondence from Bianjing or heard rumors regarding this affair.

After finishing the letter, Lady Wang closed her eyes, lost in thought, while folding the paper to block her daughter-in-law's view.

As if struck by a sudden realization, Lady Wang furrowed her brows and tightened her grip on the letter.

One chapter remaining.

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(End of chapter)