Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

Chapter 523 Begging for mercy
Even the old lady on the couch had a knowing smile in her eyes. She looked at Hua Lan and saw that her brows were much more relaxed than before, and she even regained a bit of the liveliness and spirit she had before she got married. Compared to the restrained haggard look she had when she returned to her parents' home a few days ago, she was truly a different person.

"That's just how the world is; it's always been easier to add flowers to brocade than to provide charcoal in the snow."

The old lady slowly nodded, her tone steady yet carrying the wisdom of someone who had seen through the ways of the world: "Now that our Sheng family's brocade is finished, and it is the most dazzling one in Guanghua, there are naturally many people vying to add to its splendor."

"Hua'er, now that you're in the Yuan family, you'll probably be able to take advantage of this opportunity and have a slightly easier time in the future."

These words were both a source of comfort and a reminder to Hualan, urging her to seize this rare advantage while also seeing through the coldness and warmth of human relationships.

Hua Lan nodded with a smile, a smile that showed unprecedented ease and hope: "Grandmother is right. The wind is changing so quickly."

"My husband..." Hua Lan said, a little embarrassed, "Yesterday, he received the news at the Military Affairs Office. When he came back in the evening, he was practically floating. As soon as he entered the door, he grabbed my hand, his face beaming, and his voice was eight octaves higher than usual. He said, 'Seventh Brother is truly remarkable! He really brings us honor! Now let's see who dares to gossip behind our backs, and who dares to look down on you!'"

"This morning, she unusually didn't sleep in. She personally supervised the maids and servants as they prepared the gifts, inspecting each one and finding fault with them. She complained that this wasn't valuable enough or that wasn't novel enough. She also personally dressed Shige in a newly made robe and urged me to hurry back to my parents' home."

"His enthusiasm was ten times greater than when he received praise from his superiors and was promoted in the government office!"

Although she did not directly complain, the vivid contrast between before and after vividly depicted the sudden rise in the Yuan family's status and the sense of pride that came with her brother's success in the imperial examination. This made all the women in the family feel the same way and happy for her.

Hearing this, Madam Wang felt both relieved and heartbroken. She leaned closer to Hua Lan, lowered her voice, and said with a hint of pride and mystery, "Hua'er, don't worry! This is just the beginning!"

"Grandma, I've thought of that long ago! Once your seventh brother passes the imperial examination and becomes a Jinshi, he'll have an official position, and things will be even more different!"

"When the time comes, let him personally go to the Yuan family to pick you up for a short stay! Or he can simply act like a high-ranking official and visit you at the Yuan family in a grand and honorable manner! We must make those shallow-minded people clearly understand that our Sheng family's daughter has her brothers backing her up!"

"And he's a brother they can't afford to offend, someone they have to treat with respect and think twice before speaking to! Let's see who dares to make you angry again, or try to take advantage of my brother again!"

As she spoke, she glanced lovingly at her grandson, who was playing happily with Zhuojie, her tone resolute.

Upon hearing this, Hua Lan's eyes reddened slightly, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart. She whispered, "Thank you, Grandmother and Mother, for planning this for your daughter."

She knew that with the clear and strong support of her family, especially her seventh brother, who was a very valuable asset, her life in the Yuan family would surely usher in a completely different new situation.

……

Mo Lan sat to the side, eating half a rose pastry without tasting it. She felt that the sweet pastry had an indescribable bitterness in its mouth, just like her mood at that moment.

She watched Hua Lan chatting and laughing with her stepmother and grandmother, watching them enthusiastically discuss how to use her seventh brother's influence to "show off" to the Yuan family, and thinking about how Yuan Wenshao had just thoughtfully served Hua Lan hot tea and carefully inquired about her needs...

Thinking of the cold treatment she had received, and her husband Liang Han's unreliable behavior, who only cared about chatting and scheming in the front yard and completely forgot to speak up for her, she felt extremely bitter, as if a hundred claws were scratching at her heart. The resentment and jealousy almost burst out of her chest.

Her eyes darted around, and she felt that the atmosphere was alright, and everyone seemed to be in a good mood because of Hua Lan's story, so perhaps this was an opportunity.

She leaned closer to Madam Wang again, a sweeter, even more pleading smile spreading across her face. Her voice was extremely low, almost a whisper: "Mother, speaking of which... today is such a joyous day, a time of celebration for the whole world and the whole family. If it were me..."

"...Aunt Lin will also know that even if she has a thousand faults and ten thousand mistakes, she will probably be happy for Seventh Brother and for the glory of our Sheng family. After all...after all, we are also of the Sheng family bloodline..." She carefully observed Madam Wang's expression. Seeing that Madam Wang's chewing movements slowed down, the corners of her mouth drooped obviously, and her eyes turned cold instantly, she felt extremely uneasy, as if a drum was beating in her heart.

But she still braced herself and continued to probe, "Mother, you are the most compassionate and kind-hearted. My sister has been on the estate for a month or two, and she must have suffered hardships and tribulations. She must have already deeply reflected on her mistakes, realized her errors, and regretted them day and night, weeping bitterly."

"Now that my seventh brother has passed the imperial examination with top honors, it is a great joy and a time of great fortune. Could... could we ask Mother and Father to have mercy on us and, in consideration of our past relationship and this joyous occasion, allow her... allow her to return home... even if it's just to kowtow from afar and share in this happiness..."

Just as Madam Wang was feeling completely relaxed, she suddenly heard Mo Lan inappropriately and tactlessly bring up Lin Qinshuang's name, which she hated most. It was as if she had bitten into a hard stone while eating osmanthus cake and almost broke her teeth!
The smile on her face vanished instantly, and she slammed the half-eaten rose pastry back onto the plate with a loud "smack," sending crumbs flying.

She suddenly turned her head, her eyes wide open, staring at Mo Lan. Her voice was hard and cold, as if it contained shards of ice, as she interrupted without any mercy: "Mo Lan! Are you ever going to stop?"

"Today is a joyous day for the whole family. Why do you keep bringing up that unlucky person? You're disturbing the old lady's peace and everyone's mood!"

"Besides, what does her happiness or unhappiness have to do with the Sheng family? What does the Sheng family's fortune have to do with her? They have absolutely nothing to do with each other!"

She grew angrier as she spoke, her chest heaving, and her voice unconsciously rose, drawing surprised glances from everyone present: "She has her own place to belong! The rules of this manor are not to be trifled with!"

“A mistake is a mistake! And a huge mistake at that! After only a month or two of peace, you want to plead for her again and let her come back to cause trouble? Just because there's a happy occasion in the family today, do you think all those dirty deeds and scheming hearts of the past can be wiped clean? Do you think they can be treated as if they never happened? There's no such logic in the world!”

"Besides, if your little mother were truly happy for Quan-ge'er, why would she have hired someone to kill him in the first place?"

"What a huge joke!"

She even fanned her nose vigorously with her hand in disgust, as if Lin Qinshuang's name carried an indelible stench and foulness: "Don't mention such things again! You'll only make yourself a laughingstock! If you mention it again, get out! Go back to your Liang family! Don't get in my way here!"

The last sentence was an extremely impolite order to leave.

Mo Lan's face turned ashen from the harsh and merciless reprimand. Her body trembled uncontrollably, and tears welled up in her eyes, but she bit her lip tightly, afraid that she would lose even the last bit of dignity.

She was filled with shame and embarrassment, wishing the ground would immediately crack open so she could disappear into it. She clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms, leaving crescent-shaped red marks. Her resentment towards her stepmother had reached its peak.

At the same time, looking at the empty doorway, she recalled the scene of Sheng Changquan leading Yuan Wenshao and Liang Han away. She instantly realized with a mix of clarity and regret that pleading for Lin Qinshuang with her stepmother, who hated her stepmother, and the shrewd and all-knowing old lady was absolutely a dead end!
She's completely lost her mind! She's so panicked and confused! That's why she's brought this humiliation upon herself!
If I had known this would happen, I would have been better off subtly hinting to Liang Han to go to the front yard and find an opportunity to speak to my father, Sheng Hong, on his behalf!
Between men, there's always a need to consider official reputation and kinship ties, so it's probably much easier to talk to Madam Wang, who hates her stepmother to the core, is ruthless, and has a fiery temper!

While enjoying this moment of family glory and warmth, Hua Lan gently took care of her son and listened to her mother reveal her plan for her seventh brother to go to the Yuan family to "support" her in the future. The string that had been taut in her heart for many years seemed to finally be able to relax a little.

She grew increasingly expectant, hoping that her seventh brother, who was about to take the imperial examination, would achieve outstanding results, pass the examination with flying colors, and be recognized in the golden palace. Then, she could truly, gloriously, and confidently wait for her brother to avenge the grievances, forbearance, and hardships she had endured over the years.

She believed that day was not far off.

At that time, the expression on the face of the mother-in-law from the Yuan family will surely be very, very interesting.

With this thought in mind, Hua Lan picked up the celadon teacup beside her, and took a sip with the rising steam. The warm tea slid down her throat, perfectly concealing the long-suppressed, cool, and triumphant smile that was about to burst forth from the corner of her lips.