Changsheng: Peak at the Beginning

Perhaps because Chang Feng was well-educated and she had a lot of assets for her lavish spending, Lin Qinshuang looked at the river outside the window with joy at having gained new knowledge and did not do anything out of the ordinary. She only burned incense and played the piano occasionally when she was in the mood, which made Sheng Hong very attached to her and also made Wang Ruofu quite angry.

The Sheng family's fortune was not small, especially since the eldest lady Wang Ruofu and the old lady Sheng were both wealthy, so naturally they had a lot of luggage. Moreover, the Sheng family also took most of Hualan's dowry, so even though it had been deliberately streamlined many times, it still filled more than ten boats.

It took almost a month to travel, and another seven or eight days to pack. During this period, in addition to taking up his post, Sheng Hong also had to worry about the studies of Changbai and Changfeng. Their teacher in Yangzhou was unwilling to come to the capital, so now he had to hire someone temporarily.

Old Madam Sheng was forced by Sheng Hong to do Hua Lan's makeup. She could only try her best to hide the shame from other family members. So she called Wang Ruofu to ask Sheng Hong about the arrangement of Changbai and Changfeng's studies: "At present, our family will not leave the capital easily. Changbai and Changfeng's studies are important. Have you discussed it with your husband and wife?"

Wang Ruofu was not very scheming, and was even grateful to Old Lady Sheng for hiring someone to teach Hualan the rules of the wealthy families. When she heard Old Lady Sheng's concern for Changbai and Changfeng, she smiled and replied respectfully, "The master said that he already has a clue. There is a scholar named Zhuang, and the master has been indebted to him. He is knowledgeable and has good character. It would be best if he could come to our house to teach the children."

Sheng Hong had already made arrangements for Changbai and Changfeng. Old Madam Sheng was not discouraged and said to Wang Ruofu, "Since the scholar is so good, why not let the girls in the family take classes with him? We don't ask them to be as capable as their brothers in studying, but we hope they can be open-minded and have a good reputation."

Wang Ruofu fully agreed with the idea of ​​learning poetry and songs. She agreed to the task with a cheerful look on her face and even flattered the old lady for it, not realizing that she was being used by Old Lady Sheng again.

Mrs. Fang felt very distressed by Mrs. Sheng's dejected expression. She knew the ins and outs of the matter, but she didn't think that Mrs. Sheng deliberately did not teach Hualan the rules of a noble family.

In Mother Fang's opinion, the Sheng family claimed to be a clean family and followed the path of civil servants. No one knew that Hualan would suddenly propose marriage to a noble family, and it was naturally impossible for her to be brought up according to the rules of a noble family since childhood. It was unreasonable for her to put the blame for Hualan's lack of education on herself.

Mother Fang thought of Minglan, and hurried forward to say to the old lady: "Sixth Miss is really different from the eldest. The eldest was always lively at that time, no matter how well-behaved she was, but Sixth Miss has already learned to be cautious at such a young age..."

As expected, Old Lady Sheng immediately thought of Minglan, especially knowing that Minglan had been crying for a long time, she couldn't help but feel even more distressed for her.

Master Zhuang arrived not too late. The Sheng family had just started their life in the capital, and he moved into the Sheng family's private school with his old wife. It was just that Minglan was still too young and could not read or write, so she had not yet been admitted to school with Changbai, Changfeng, Molan, and Rulan. Old Madam Sheng felt that Minglan was being excluded, and she taught Wang Ruofu a lesson for no reason. Wang Ruofu was scolded for no reason, and she went back angry without understanding the reason.

But she had a wise counselor who was no less intelligent than Old Lady Sheng and the mother of the previous room, so she immediately guessed, "It's rare to have peace in the mansion now. Only a few brothers and sisters want to study with Zhuang Xuejiu. Could it be that the old lady is unhappy that the sixth girl can't go to school with her brothers and sisters?"

Wang Ruofu got even angrier when she heard this: "Minglan only managed to learn a few words with Wei Xiaoniang before, and now she is delayed because of mourning. Besides, she is still young and is still in the process of enlightenment. Do her older brothers and sisters have to accommodate her?!"

In fact, if it were in the past, Mother Liu would never allow Wang Ruofu to make such speculations about Shou'an Hall. But ever since Molan and Rulan became good friends, Changbai and Changfeng also showed more care and affection towards Molan and Rulan. Although Lin Qinshuang always deceived Sheng Hong secretly, she would never target Wei Ruixuan again. Therefore, Wang Ruofu and Lin Qinshuang had a tacit understanding, and the two sides kept to themselves, and the Sheng family had a rare peace.

But now that Mother Liu saw that Old Madam Sheng was using Minglan's matter to get angry at Wang Ruofu and hold her accountable, she couldn't help but think of Old Madam Sheng's faults.

But Wang Ruofu was a firecracker. She only went over these things in her mind, secretly reminding herself to be more vigilant, but she did not dare to reveal any of it to Wang Ruofu.

Mother Liu was right not to reveal the true identity of Old Lady Sheng to Wang Ruofu, because Old Lady Sheng soon invited Madam Kong, who had just left the palace and returned home, in the name of teaching Hualan.

Old Madam Sheng originally wanted to use Nanny Kong to gain face for herself and support Minglan, so even though she had decided to let several younger girls attend the trial together, she refused to mention it.

When Wang Ruofu heard that Madam Kong was from the palace, especially that she had been with the former queen and the current queen, she naturally wanted to let Rulan get some benefits. She told Madam Liu about this, and then she paused with a smile, "Molan and Rulan are good. I'm not a mean stepmother. Molan should go with them to see what's going on."

Mother Liu agreed with Wang Ruofu's decision: "Madam, you are really thoughtful. I'm afraid there is no one as thoughtful as you in the neighborhood!"

After Wang Ruofu returned to the capital, she heard a lot about the dirty deeds in the inner palace through the Wang family. She even learned that her elder sister Wang Ruo had killed many concubines over the years. Therefore, she felt very proud when she heard Liu Mama bragging like this. After all, the only concubine in the Sheng family who died was due to her own difficult childbirth, so she was innocent.

Neither Wang Ruofu nor Liu Mama mentioned Minglan. Wang Ruofu felt that Old Madam Sheng had the final say and would not tolerate anyone else's comments. Besides, Minglan lived in Shou'an Hall. If Old Madam Sheng wanted Minglan to attend the trial together, it would only take a word.

Mother Liu, however, was unwilling to care about Minglan because she had a grudge against Old Madam Sheng.

So Old Lady Sheng set up the stage, only to find that she was the one being set up in the end. However, Sheng Hong was already an adult man, and she could not interfere in many things. She could only suppress her anger and ask Sheng Hong and Wang Ruofu: "One of you is thinking about Rulan, and the other is thinking about Molan's future, but who would have thought that there is another Minglan in the family?"

Wang Ruofu also felt wronged and said immediately: "Minglan is still young, and even Molan and Rulan are just accompanying their older sister, listening to her and trying to gain a good reputation."

Sheng Hong heard Wang Ruofu's words, which were not polite but very pertinent, and nodded in agreement: "Madam is right. Besides, I still have to go to school tomorrow, otherwise if I go to school with Mo'er and Ru'er, I'm afraid I can only sit with them."

Old Mrs. Sheng was so angry at the couple that she fell backwards. She could only grit her teeth and admit that she had miscalculated.