Chapter 130: Sheng Family: Wei Wei Shuyi, Why Do You Not Contend

At this moment, Sister Sister Xiaodie entered from outside the room and said, "Wei Xiaoniang, those people in the main kitchen knew there were honored guests in Shou'an Hall; after I scared them a bit, they gave us some charcoal."

"Mm, then it will be warmer tonight."

"Sister Sister Xiaodie, hurry and taste a bite; these are pastries from Grandmother's courtyard."

"Understood, Sixth Miss."

"Ming'er, put away the remaining pastries properly; save them to eat when honored guests arrive."

Minglan, who was placing a pastry in her hand into the basket, pouted and said, "Oh."

Night fell,

In the side courtyard, charcoal fires were lit; Wei Wei Shuyi and Sister Sister Xiaodie were drying shoes and socks for the two little ones. Glancing at the two sleeping children, Sister Sister Xiaodie whispered, "Wei Xiaoniang, just now outside the main kitchen I heard the people inside saying that there seems to be a problem with the Eldest Miss's marriage."

Wei Wei Shuyi frowned, looking at Sister Sister Xiaodie, and asked, "What? What happened?"

"I heard them say that at this time the Count's Yuan family should almost be arriving, and Wu Da Da Niangzi should have long ago ordered the kitchen to busy itself preparing for the wedding banquet, yet nowadays the kitchen only has provisions purchased over ten days ago; in these ten-odd days there has been no change whatsoever!"

With a somewhat Solemn expression, Wei Wei Shuyi asked, "Is there anything else?"

"I only heard up to this point before they discovered me; that is how I managed to get some charcoal fire."

"Speaking thus, it is eighty percent true."

The night grew deep,

In the fire basin, the fire had already gone out,

The faint glow of dark red charcoal ash illuminated this room.

Wei Wei Shuyi rose and draped Sister Sister Xiaodie's cotton-padded jacket over her shoulders.

Sister Sister Xiaodie was kind-hearted; apart from wearing this cotton jacket when going out or during extremely cold weather, on ordinary days she always let Wei Wei Shuyi cover her legs with it or use it as a quilt.

After tucking in the corners of Minglan's quilt,

Wei Wei Shuyi donned the cloak that Sheng Hualan had sent a few days prior, then walked out of the room door and gazed at the clear, cold night sky.

In the sky, stars twinkled, blinking one by one.

"Such a fine Eldest Miss, yet she encounters such wretched matters!"

After watching the bright, clear moon and the stars for a while longer, Wei Wei Shuyi returned to the room.

"Mother, did you go watch the stars again?" Minglan murmured sleepily.

"Mm, Ming'er, go to sleep."

Inside a side room of the Sheng household,

The stove burned with a roaring hum.

Feng Shi, having changed locations, also found herself unable to sleep; perhaps because she had spoken too much during the day, her mind was somewhat excited.

Moreover, having learned of Lady Sheng's intentions made her feel delighted in her heart; after all, Sheng Hualan had not only saved face but achieved even more!

In the Feng family, her mother had instilled in her countless experiences and examples of managing an inner household, yet the Wang family had no such complications; upon arriving at the Sheng home and taking one look,

"Ho!"

"So it is like this!"

Her natural analysis of the situation gave her the desire to speak her mind.

Thus, she called out to her dowry nurse: "Wen Ye?"

"Da Da Niangzi?"

"Come, keep me company and talk."

The nurse outside brought a candle, poured a cup of water, and walked over.

Under the dim candlelight, mistress and servant chatted about the people and affairs of the Sheng family.

"Miss, I observe that although this Sheng family claims to be a scholarly household, they are exceedingly lacking in rules; where else does one find concubine-born sons and daughters raised before their concubine mothers?"

"My younger brother-in-law is himself of concubine birth! And do you think my sister-in-law is willing to raise concubine-born sons and daughters?"

"Miss, considering that Lord Sheng came through hard times, I would have thought he should favor the one our Old Lady sent even more; yet why do I see him favoring that woman surnamed Lin even more?"

"Hmph, they simply took a fancy to each other. That one is formidable too; she handled Nurse Du Qian so badly that otherwise Nurse Liu from my uncle's household would never have had the chance to come over."

"Speaking of Nurse Du Qian, this Wei Xiaoniang surnamed Wei was sent over by the Old Lady, yet she neither helps our side contend nor fights for her own children; according to Nurse Liu, she just confines herself within that small courtyard."

"When we were in Bianjing, did you not hear about men being biased? How could the one they choose themselves be the same as the one their parents select? If the one they choose themselves is also agreeable and attentive to their needs, their bias will extend a whole li away!"

Hearing these words, Nurse Wen Ye nodded and said, "What Miss says is true; if she could squeeze out an old nurse like Nurse Du Qian, she is certainly not without schemes."

"Just now when we dispersed from Shou'an Hall, I saw my sister-in-law's expression; Lord Sheng eighty percent went to Lin Xiao Niang's place again. However, I think that Wei Wei Xiaoniang is actually quite clever."

"Miss, how can one tell she is clever from this?"

"Wei Wei Xiaoniang's cleverness lies in her understanding of just how much of Lord Sheng's affection is directed toward my sister-in-law!" Seeing Feng Shi lick her lips, Mother Wen immediately handed her the water, while she herself fell silent in quiet contemplation.

After Feng Shi finished drinking the water, Mother Wen took the cup and set down the tea bowl.

Feng Shi asked, "Have you figured it out?"

Mother Wen Ye, having been trained since childhood in a high-ranking noble household and thus no fool, combined what she had heard in the Wang family and said, "Does Miss mean that out of ten parts of affection, Lord Sheng gives only two parts to Lady Sheng, one part to the Old Lady, and seven parts to Lin Xiao Niang?"

"Correct! In my view, that one part is only because of our Wang family, and the other part is because of the children!"

Looking at Feng Shi on the bed who remained silent yet still sleepless, Mother Wen continued, "Wei Wei Xiaoniang has no natal family, no children, no money, and no supporters! If she truly contended for those two parts, both Lady Sheng and the Lin woman would target her! Judging by these two, neither is capable of tolerating others; she would have no path to survival. Speaking thus, she is indeed a clever person."

Feng Shi nodded and said, "A woman from an ordinary family would long ago have been pushed out as a spear, with no certainty of survival. That she can see this far ahead is already extremely clever! However, now she must contend; otherwise, with three factions vying for dominance in this household, the weakest will always be the first destroyed!"

"Miss, I suspect Wei Wei Xiaoniang understands this; she knows that those without harmful intentions will not move against her, but those with schemes may even now be spreading a net, awaiting her. She dares not act rashly!"

"Alas, what a pity. Tomorrow, after we stand up for the Sheng family, we shall return."

"Regarding what Lady Sheng mentioned about the Eldest Miss's matter, should we send a letter to the capital?"

"No need; I suspect Sheng Hualan will likely turn misfortune into blessing." Seeing Mother Wen hesitate, wanting to speak yet stopping, Feng Shi added, "Lady Sheng subtly hinted as much to me, fearing our family would toil in vain."

"Hiss—do you mean?"

"Yes."

"That truly is..."

On the first day of the second month,

at the hour of the Dragon,

on the dock outside Yang Zhou City, the newly hung banner of 'Loyal and Diligent Earl Yuan' fluttered in the cold wind.

The gong and drum troupe, hired by the servant who had gone to the Sheng family two days prior to deliver the message, was also waiting on the dock.

The red silk prepared in Bianjing began to be arranged by the stewards and servants to decorate the Yuan family's large ship.

The horses were led out from the cabin, adorned with red silk flowers, and galloped toward the Yang Zhou Assistant Prefect's residence, not far from the dock.

Thinking of his father, who was still unconscious in the cabin after being angered by him, Yuan Wen was filled with hesitation and regret, while a trace of panic also showed in his expression.

Standing on the bow in the cold wind, Yuan Wen recalled what his Lady Xiao Xiao Zhangshi had just said: "Now that the Eunuch has collapsed from exhaustion trying to help Yuan Erlang seek the Sheng family's daughter in marriage, what more could the Sheng family possibly demand?"

Yuan Wen's mother had further stated: "Our Yuan family is, after all, a comital house of Bianjing; marrying a daughter of a Sheng family Assistant Prefect is a prestigious match for them! If we give the Sheng family a way to save face, they will naturally climb onto it themselves!"

But having arrived here, he could only steel himself and press forward.

At this moment, Lady Zhang, wearing a stern expression, walked out from the cabin together with her daughter-in-law and said:

And also

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(End of Chapter)