Minglan played the role as an onlooker. After she had seen Danju becoming more and more thoughtful, she finally felt relieved. At first she had thought that Danju had been too kind to everyone and lacked imposing manner. Now come to think about it, Minglan herself couldn’t even act toughly since she was only an illegal daughter of Sheng family. How could she expect Danju to be resolute and strict?
After the regulation had been put into force for a few days, all the ones got what they deserved. Some were beaten, some were fined and the ones who had made serious mistakes were kicked out. The Houses of Auspiciousness regained its peaceful and disciplined state. Minglan was also very satisfied with her organized yard. Xiaotao then flattered Minglan in good time, “Madam, how effective you are! How clever you are!”
Minglan said enigmatically, “It’s not hard to punish the servants in big families like us. But the people whom those servants secretly take orders from are harder to deal with.” That was why the affairs of the prestigious families were always complicated.
As a matter of fact, Xiaotao didn’t get what Minglan meant. But it didn’t stop her from keeping fawning on Minglan, “How clever are you! How efficient are you, Madam!”
Minglan turned around with a straight face, saying, “Can’t you praise your madam with some new words?”
Xiaotao, feeling a bit awkward, replied with the corner of her mouth twitched, “Madam... You know about my good intentions, that’s enough. Haven’t you told us that not everything was as it seemed?”
Minglan glared at Xiaotao for a long while, then she sighed and patted her little maid, saying. “You are right.”
After a few days, someone came to report that Hai shi had given birth to a girl.
Minglan picked two strings of dazzling coins. There were nineteen gold coins each of which was engraved with auspicious words as well as a round gold ingot being threaded onto each red string. Minglan said proudly, “Luckily I am a girl of foresight. Eldest Sister is also about to give birth. On their babies’ Three Shower Day, I can present the strings to each of the babies.” (T/N: In ancient times, the family would shower the baby after three days the baby was born. And that day was called Three Shower Day.)
“Isn’t the gift... a bit humble?” Danju reminded that cautiously. After all, Gu family was richer than Liang family and Wen family. “Also, madam, are you really going to present them the same gift?” Danju bit her lips. As she saw it, Hai shi had treated Minglan so much better than Hualan.
Minglan then lectured, “My stupid Danju, remember this, all the gifts that are given to someone in public shouldn’t be too showy. You want others to assume us as upstarts? Also, what do you want Fourth and Fifth Sister to do if we give expensive gifts? What kinds of gifts should they present? The dates of the two newborns’ birthday are so close. If my gifts to the two babies are not the same, I will only bring myself troubles. When we present gifts, we are meant to let the receivers and ourselves enjoy this procedure. I can prepare something expensive for Eldest Sister-In-Law on the feast for her one-month baby.”
The sun shined brightly on the Three Shower Day of the baby of the Sheng’s family. After Minglan told Gu Tingye where she would go, she then took a small sedan to Sheng’s mansion. Sheng Hong happened to be on a day off this day. So Minglan came to visit him first. When she entered into the room, she saw Sheng Hong scolding Wang shi about something with a straight face. Meanwhile, Rulan was standing beside them with a depressed look on her face.
After Minglan had given her obeisance to her parents, she stood up smilingly while saying in a tame voice, “Dad, your beard has grown longer. Hmm, almost as long as the one of Prime Minister Shen’s.”
Sheng Hong couldn’t help curve the corner of his mouth. Then he stroked his long beard which he had put many efforts to keep and spoke affectedly, “Don’t talk nonsense! You have already got married. Stop being like a child!”
Minglan took a step forward and said with an adorable smile, “Dad, you are absolutely right. I recently got a small comb which was made by rhinoceros corn from Yunnan Area. I have kept it for you specially. I’ll ask someone to bring it to you later-- Now I don’t sound childish, right?”
Sheng Hong couldn’t wear that long face anymore. He then laughed and scolded, “Give it to your own husband!” Minglan shook her head and said, “It’s not necessary. He is a military officer. I have never heard any commander who wore a long beard gain a battle except for Guan Yu. The beard would only be a burden for him when he rides on the horse. Dad, your son-in-law is still not capable of what Guan Yu can do!” (T/N: Guan Yu was a famous general in Three Kingdom Period.)
Sheng Hong couldn’t help but laugh out loud while pointing to Minglan with his head shaking.
After that, Minglan turned around to look at Wang shi and said with a smile, “It has been so many days I haven’t seen you, madam. You look even younger than before. Well, they all say that daughters only make their mother worry. Now that your four daughters have all got married, you must be so relieved.”
After Wang shi had heard that, her mouth which had been tied up closely was finally eased. Suddenly, Rulan saw the curtain of the inner room being lifted. Behind the curtain, Liu Kun’s wife was winking at her like crazy. Rulan observed the look on Sheng Hong’s face and then approached to Minglan, saying, “Of course, you are the last one who gives our mother a headache.”
Minglan turned her head and sized Rulan up and down. Then she pretended to be enlightened and said, “I suddenly remembered that madam has been totally relaxed after Fifth Sister got married!”
Rulan laughed and tried to pinch Minglan, “Wicked girl! You are teasing me again!”
The tension in the room was eased right away. Liu Kun’s wife admired Minglan secretly and thought, “Sixth Lady really is so good at dealing with people. She never gets nervous when facing Sheng Hong and Wang shi. Every time she is in the same room with her parents, she always brings happy laughter and behaves herself well.”
Especially to Sheng Hong, Minglan never showed a sign of grudge toward him or estranged herself from him because he had given her the cold shoulder. Instead, she behaved as if he really had been a good father. She was joyful every time she met him and always knew which words would cheer Sheng Hong up. Over these years, Sheng Hong had adored her more than before. Whenever he got precious things, he never forgot to save a piece for Minglan.
After they had spoken for a short while, Wang shi led them to Hai shi’s room. On the way there, Wang shi was still wearing a gloomy face. The maids and elder servants escorted her in the front while Minglan and Rulan walked behind them with their arms locked together and whispered to each other.
“What happened to you? You have just come back, why was father angry at you?” Having glanced at Wang shi who was in the front, Minglan asked while slowing down her steps on purpose.
Rulan sighed and said, “The life in the Imperial Academy is hard. Lately I heard that one of the officials there might be sent to the local office in Sichuan Area. But that is a wealthy place. I was afraid that...” Minglan understood right away. Then she held Rulan’s hand and walked even more slowly while asking, “So you have asked dad and brother for help?”
“No, I only complained a few words to mother. I never realized mother would mention that to father. And after that, I was also criticized by father.” Rulan put on a sullen look on her face and seemed to be complaining about Wang shi’s unnecessary move.
Having looked at Wang shi who was tightening her two shoulders, Minglan couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, thinking, ‘This woman really is a...’
Rulan, as annoyed as she was, dragged Minglan’s sleeves and said, “Tell me, why couldn’t dad help us? Even if he couldn’t, he didn’t have to scold me!” Since Minglan knew everything about her including her private meeting with Wen Yanjing at night, Rulan always talked straightly to her.
Minglan approached to Rulan’s ear and asked, “Has Fifth Brother-In-Law said he wanted dad and brother to help him?”
“No.”
“Has he implied something to you on purpose? Like groaning or showing an annoyed look in front of you?”
“Neither.” Rulan shook her head and replied, “My husband never hides anything from me. That day he only told me about this thing breezily after work. He even laughed and said he didn’t know which colleague of him would get that job with the help of the social connections.”
“So, Fifth Sister, you have done it wrong.” Minglan nodded and continued, “First, my Fifth Brother-In-Law might not intend to let you lend a hand. Second, you have asked our father for help before you and Fifth Brother-In-Law agree on this. Perhaps your husband might be displeased about that because he may have his own ways. Third, if father and brother find that position very promising, they would give Fifth Brother-In-Law a pull on their own. If they don’t and you still ask for help from them, they would only consider Fifth Brother-In-Law a useless man who could only rely on his wife.”
The three reasons which had been told by Minglan really had shocked Rulan. The latter muttered, “Your words... seem to make sense.”
Minglan played the role as an onlooker. After she had seen Danju becoming more and more thoughtful, she finally felt relieved. At first she had thought that Danju had been too kind to everyone and lacked imposing manner. Now come to think about it, Minglan herself couldn’t even act toughly since she was only an illegal daughter of Sheng family. How could she expect Danju to be resolute and strict?
After the regulation had been put into force for a few days, all the ones got what they deserved. Some were beaten, some were fined and the ones who had made serious mistakes were kicked out. The Houses of Auspiciousness regained its peaceful and disciplined state. Minglan was also very satisfied with her organized yard. Xiaotao then flattered Minglan in good time, “Madam, how effective you are! How clever you are!”
Minglan said enigmatically, “It’s not hard to punish the servants in big families like us. But the people whom those servants secretly take orders from are harder to deal with.” That was why the affairs of the prestigious families were always complicated.
As a matter of fact, Xiaotao didn’t get what Minglan meant. But it didn’t stop her from keeping fawning on Minglan, “How clever are you! How efficient are you, Madam!”
Minglan turned around with a straight face, saying, “Can’t you praise your madam with some new words?”
Xiaotao, feeling a bit awkward, replied with the corner of her mouth twitched, “Madam... You know about my good intentions, that’s enough. Haven’t you told us that not everything was as it seemed?”
Minglan glared at Xiaotao for a long while, then she sighed and patted her little maid, saying. “You are right.”
After a few days, someone came to report that Hai shi had given birth to a girl.
Minglan picked two strings of dazzling coins. There were nineteen gold coins each of which was engraved with auspicious words as well as a round gold ingot being threaded onto each red string. Minglan said proudly, “Luckily I am a girl of foresight. Eldest Sister is also about to give birth. On their babies’ Three Shower Day, I can present the strings to each of the babies.” (T/N: In ancient times, the family would shower the baby after three days the baby was born. And that day was called Three Shower Day.)
“Isn’t the gift... a bit humble?” Danju reminded that cautiously. After all, Gu family was richer than Liang family and Wen family. “Also, madam, are you really going to present them the same gift?” Danju bit her lips. As she saw it, Hai shi had treated Minglan so much better than Hualan.
Minglan then lectured, “My stupid Danju, remember this, all the gifts that are given to someone in public shouldn’t be too showy. You want others to assume us as upstarts? Also, what do you want Fourth and Fifth Sister to do if we give expensive gifts? What kinds of gifts should they present? The dates of the two newborns’ birthday are so close. If my gifts to the two babies are not the same, I will only bring myself troubles. When we present gifts, we are meant to let the receivers and ourselves enjoy this procedure. I can prepare something expensive for Eldest Sister-In-Law on the feast for her one-month baby.”
The sun shined brightly on the Three Shower Day of the baby of the Sheng’s family. After Minglan told Gu Tingye where she would go, she then took a small sedan to Sheng’s mansion. Sheng Hong happened to be on a day off this day. So Minglan came to visit him first. When she entered into the room, she saw Sheng Hong scolding Wang shi about something with a straight face. Meanwhile, Rulan was standing beside them with a depressed look on her face.
After Minglan had given her obeisance to her parents, she stood up smilingly while saying in a tame voice, “Dad, your beard has grown longer. Hmm, almost as long as the one of Prime Minister Shen’s.”
Sheng Hong couldn’t help curve the corner of his mouth. Then he stroked his long beard which he had put many efforts to keep and spoke affectedly, “Don’t talk nonsense! You have already got married. Stop being like a child!”
Minglan took a step forward and said with an adorable smile, “Dad, you are absolutely right. I recently got a small comb which was made by rhinoceros corn from Yunnan Area. I have kept it for you specially. I’ll ask someone to bring it to you later-- Now I don’t sound childish, right?”
Sheng Hong couldn’t wear that long face anymore. He then laughed and scolded, “Give it to your own husband!” Minglan shook her head and said, “It’s not necessary. He is a military officer. I have never heard any commander who wore a long beard gain a battle except for Guan Yu. The beard would only be a burden for him when he rides on the horse. Dad, your son-in-law is still not capable of what Guan Yu can do!” (T/N: Guan Yu was a famous general in Three Kingdom Period.)
Sheng Hong couldn’t help but laugh out loud while pointing to Minglan with his head shaking.
After that, Minglan turned around to look at Wang shi and said with a smile, “It has been so many days I haven’t seen you, madam. You look even younger than before. Well, they all say that daughters only make their mother worry. Now that your four daughters have all got married, you must be so relieved.”
After Wang shi had heard that, her mouth which had been tied up closely was finally eased. Suddenly, Rulan saw the curtain of the inner room being lifted. Behind the curtain, Liu Kun’s wife was winking at her like crazy. Rulan observed the look on Sheng Hong’s face and then approached to Minglan, saying, “Of course, you are the last one who gives our mother a headache.”
Minglan turned her head and sized Rulan up and down. Then she pretended to be enlightened and said, “I suddenly remembered that madam has been totally relaxed after Fifth Sister got married!”
Rulan laughed and tried to pinch Minglan, “Wicked girl! You are teasing me again!”
The tension in the room was eased right away. Liu Kun’s wife admired Minglan secretly and thought, “Sixth Lady really is so good at dealing with people. She never gets nervous when facing Sheng Hong and Wang shi. Every time she is in the same room with her parents, she always brings happy laughter and behaves herself well.”
Especially to Sheng Hong, Minglan never showed a sign of grudge toward him or estranged herself from him because he had given her the cold shoulder. Instead, she behaved as if he really had been a good father. She was joyful every time she met him and always knew which words would cheer Sheng Hong up. Over these years, Sheng Hong had adored her more than before. Whenever he got precious things, he never forgot to save a piece for Minglan.
After they had spoken for a short while, Wang shi led them to Hai shi’s room. On the way there, Wang shi was still wearing a gloomy face. The maids and elder servants escorted her in the front while Minglan and Rulan walked behind them with their arms locked together and whispered to each other.
“What happened to you? You have just come back, why was father angry at you?” Having glanced at Wang shi who was in the front, Minglan asked while slowing down her steps on purpose.
Rulan sighed and said, “The life in the Imperial Academy is hard. Lately I heard that one of the officials there might be sent to the local office in Sichuan Area. But that is a wealthy place. I was afraid that...” Minglan understood right away. Then she held Rulan’s hand and walked even more slowly while asking, “So you have asked dad and brother for help?”
“No, I only complained a few words to mother. I never realized mother would mention that to father. And after that, I was also criticized by father.” Rulan put on a sullen look on her face and seemed to be complaining about Wang shi’s unnecessary move.
Having looked at Wang shi who was tightening her two shoulders, Minglan couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, thinking, ‘This woman really is a...’
Rulan, as annoyed as she was, dragged Minglan’s sleeves and said, “Tell me, why couldn’t dad help us? Even if he couldn’t, he didn’t have to scold me!” Since Minglan knew everything about her including her private meeting with Wen Yanjing at night, Rulan always talked straightly to her.
Minglan approached to Rulan’s ear and asked, “Has Fifth Brother-In-Law said he wanted dad and brother to help him?”
“No.”
“Has he implied something to you on purpose? Like groaning or showing an annoyed look in front of you?”
“Neither.” Rulan shook her head and replied, “My husband never hides anything from me. That day he only told me about this thing breezily after work. He even laughed and said he didn’t know which colleague of him would get that job with the help of the social connections.”
“So, Fifth Sister, you have done it wrong.” Minglan nodded and continued, “First, my Fifth Brother-In-Law might not intend to let you lend a hand. Second, you have asked our father for help before you and Fifth Brother-In-Law agree on this. Perhaps your husband might be displeased about that because he may have his own ways. Third, if father and brother find that position very promising, they would give Fifth Brother-In-Law a pull on their own. If they don’t and you still ask for help from them, they would only consider Fifth Brother-In-Law a useless man who could only rely on his wife.”
The three reasons which had been told by Minglan really had shocked Rulan. The latter muttered, “Your words... seem to make sense.”
