Minglan is reborn, this time with no regrets!

The next morning, several imperial edicts from the inner court came to the heads of the Zou family.

First, he scolded Miss Zou for disrespecting her superiors and disobeying her mother-in-law, stripped her of her imperial title, ordered her to shave her head and become a nun, and sent her to a Taoist temple in the mountains to practice asceticism; the mother and son of the Zou family and her two brothers made a big fuss in the Qi Mansion and the Shen Mansion, slandering the reputation of Princess Pingning and the mistress of the Shen family, which had a bad influence, and punished the Zou family to pay a compensation of 10,000 strings of cash to each of the two women and make it their private property; Zou Ming, the third son of the Zou family, occupied people's land, forced loans and printed money, and forced innocent people to death, and was sentenced to exile 3,000 miles to the southwest.

Another day later, Minglan visited Princess Pingning and told her that Old Lady Sheng's close friend Old Lady He would come to Beijing soon. Old Lady Sheng specially invited Princess Pingning to come to Sheng's house to have tea and chat in half a month. When Princess Pingning heard that it was someone from the He family of the Imperial Hospital, she immediately understood that this was for her face, and she felt a little grateful. When Minglan mentioned that Old Lady He was actually a gynecologist, she realized that there was another meaning and was deeply moved. Shen also understood, and held Minglan's hand and said many caring words.

In just two days, the offensive and defensive situation of this turmoil changed. The emperor, who was originally at a disadvantage, turned the tide and further gained the support of old ministers in Bianliang. Shen Congying's reputation also improved rapidly. Many people inside and outside the court praised her as a "virtuous queen". Even Princess Pingning, who had always had an unclear attitude, began to publicly praise the queen's virtue.

The half-month deadline soon arrived, and Old Lady He came to Sheng Mansion as scheduled. Princess Pingning and her mother-in-law also came to the Sheng family in the name of visiting Old Lady Yongyi, bringing many gifts.

During the banquet, Mrs. He suggested that she could meet Princess Pingning, and the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law went into the inner room together. Mrs. Sheng and Minglan waited in the outer living room. At this time, Xiaotao came in and reported: "Madam, the seventh brother said he wanted to see you."

Old Madam Sheng smiled and said, "Go! You didn't let that kid see you last time, and he was really anxious."

Minglan smiled and walked out the door. As soon as she left the yard, a tall and thin man called out, "Sister!"

Minglan was stunned for a long time before she realized that this was her own brother. She was surprised and said, "I didn't see you the last time I came home. How come you are taller than me? And why are you so much darker?"

Chang Dong scratched his head and said, "My grandmother said that I am getting old and thin. She has been giving me a chicken a day to nourish me recently. She also told me to go out to the suburbs to run horses more often. Don't let the tonics stay in my stomach, otherwise I will get tanned."

Minglan smiled with eyes curved: "At the rate you grow, won't you be taller than your second brother and your brother-in-law next year?"

Changdong also laughed: "I am now taller than my second brother's shoulders!"

"Okay! Okay!" Minglan nodded repeatedly and then asked, "What book are you reading recently?"

Chang Dong immediately changed the subject: "Sister, I have something important to tell you."

Minglan: "What's the matter?"

Chang Dong: "More than a month ago, I came back from horse racing in the suburbs and happened to meet a Guangyuntai carriage on the street. The wind was strong at the time and the curtains of the carriage were blown up, and I happened to see the lady sitting inside."

Hearing the words "Guangyuntai", Minglan's smile instantly disappeared, and she squinted her eyes and asked, "So?"

Chang Dong: "That lady looks a lot like the same person."

Minglan: "Who?"

Chang Dong: "Fourth sister."

Minglan felt like all her pores stood up. She grabbed Changdong's arm and asked, "Are you sure?"

Chang Dong: "I didn't believe it at the time, but the car did have the Guangyuntai sign. So I sent my two brothers to Guangyuntai. They checked for many days and met all the girls in Guangyuntai. They said they didn't see anyone who looked like the fourth sister, so I thought I was wrong that day. But later they found out that the four new courtesans in Guangyuntai had to pay a thousand-gold banquet to see them, so I persuaded a few friends to buy a place, and only after the fourth game did I see the top winner Luo Susu. She... Although her face was covered, I was very familiar with her eyebrows and eyes, exactly the same as Lin Xiaoniang! But, strangely, her legs were no longer lame, and her voice had changed... Sister, do you think there are really such strange things in the world? I remember that my father said that he had given the fourth sister... gave... gave her to the lake to sink?"

Minglan frowned slightly, "Father said so, but didn't our whole family see it with our own eyes? We all went to the dock that day. I'm afraid only father knows the truth..." She raised her head suddenly, "No, father also went to the dock that day. The person who executed Fourth Sister should be his confidant..."

The brother and sister exclaimed at the same time: "Dongyung!"

They quickly found Dong Rong, but the other party refused to say anything.

Minglan saw that she couldn't pry Dongrong open his mouth with coercion or bribery, so she changed her mind and advised: "Perhaps you think that you should keep this matter to yourself forever to be loyal to my father, but have you ever thought about it? If that woman is really my fourth sister, and she becomes like this, what if she turns around and takes revenge on our Sheng family?"

Dong Rong said stubbornly, "Let's not talk about the fact that the fourth lady has indeed sunk into the lake. Just say that a courtesan from Guangyuntai can pose a threat to which master of the Sheng family? The life and property of such a brothel girl are in the hands of the adults. Even if she wants to take revenge, who can she take revenge on?"

Minglan: "Back then, Lin Xiaoniang, an orphan without parents, almost brought the entire Sheng family to its doom. Now, there is a knowledgeable and popular courtesan. Do you think she will not pose a threat to our Sheng family?" In fact, if it was an ordinary courtesan, there would be no threat. In this era, no woman of lowly origin dared to challenge the officials.

But if it is Molan, it’s a different story!

Dong Rong still refused to say anything.

Minglan sighed, "In fact, the way you are now has given me the answer. I guess my father had a little affection for my fourth sister and didn't let you drown her in the lake, but just threw her into the wilderness to let her die, right?"

Dong Rong lowered his head and said nothing.

Minglan: "Fourth sister is pretty, even if she has a leg disease, if a farmer in the mountains finds her, they will most likely keep her alive and take her in as their wife. Father feels that by letting her live, we can preserve the father-daughter relationship we have had over the years, and it will also prevent Miss Lin's bloodline from being cut off."

Dong Rong still said nothing.

Minglan nodded: "Okay, very good. Since you won't tell me, I'll go find her and ask her in person."

Dong Rong raised his head suddenly and said, "Young lady!... Madam Hou... what are you going to do to her?"

Minglan: "There are many things I can do. If she is indeed my fourth sister who almost ruined our family, then I can eradicate the root of the problem for the Sheng family and put an end to it forever; if she just looks like her, then I can redeem her, support her, and let her live a normal life."

Dong Rong didn't know whether that Luo Susu was really Molan, but he knew that he had indeed let Molan go that day according to Sheng Hong's order. If Luo Susu was really Molan, then once she fell into Minglan's hands... If the master were still alive, wouldn't he blame him for not protecting his bloodline?

Dong Rong kowtowed to Ming Lan and said, "Sixth Miss, you used to be the most gentle and filial one in the family. You are right. It was the master's order to spare the life of the Fourth Miss. Please let the Fourth Miss go because she is no longer here!"

The brother and sister finally felt relieved.

Minglan said coldly: "Tell me the whole story in detail."

……

When they returned to Shou'an Hall, both Princess Pingning and her mother-in-law were delighted, obviously because Old Lady He had given them good news.

Old Madam Sheng saw that Minglan's expression was not right, so she did not ask in a hurry. Instead, she turned to Princess Pingning and said, "We had a good chat today. Princess and Madam Shen, please stay for dinner together!"

Princess Pingning declined hurriedly: "I have bothered you for a long time! Now I have a miraculous prescription from a miracle doctor, and I am anxious to go home and try it out. I will not eat dinner! If you see improvement, my Qi Mansion will hold a banquet to thank you all!"

After sending the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law away, the old lady put away her smile and asked Minglan: "I noticed that you looked strange when you came back. Did you have a fight with Changdong?"

Minglan shook her head.

The old lady of the He family who was sitting nearby stood up and said, "You two are talking privately, I won't join in the fun. Quickly arrange a ten-foot-long bed for me, so that I can benefit from our old lady's kindness!"

Old Madam Sheng laughed and said, "You old rascal, you are not an outsider, why are you pretending to be so arrogant in front of me? Just stay still!" Then she turned to Minglan, "The grandmother of the He family is not an outsider. Her grandson is going to marry your sister Pinlan soon. We will be relatives in the future. She can discuss anything with us."

Minglan thought for a moment and asked, "Grandmother He, have you ever heard of someone's broken leg being able to recover as normal?"

When the old lady heard the words "broken leg", she quickly thought of someone and looked at Minglan intently.

Old Lady He: "When my old man was alive, he told me that the Tibetans have a bone-breaking and regenerative art, which is to completely break the injured bones and then reconnect them. If the person survives, then they can recover as before; if the wound cannot heal and the person dies, then he will die."