Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

Chapter 61 Conversation
A few more uneventful days passed. After Sheng Hong finished dealing with his duties and settling his family, he finally had some free time and held the final step of the wedding for Sheng Hualan—the personal welcoming of her.

The Yuan family of the Earl of Zhongqin's mansion finally welcomed a new bride, completing a major event in their children's lives.

Similarly, the Sheng family also chose a good husband for their eldest daughter, fulfilling their wishes as parents.

So on this day, Old Madam Sheng finally decided to talk to Mr. and Mrs. Sheng about the matter of Sheng Minglan and her brother.

Shou'an Hall.

Because they couldn't bear to part with their original residence, each room and courtyard was still called by its original name.

"Mother!"

"Mother!"

Sheng Hong, accompanied by Madam Wang, entered Shou'an Hall together, ready to listen to the teachings of Old Madam Sheng.

"sit down!"

The old lady waved her hand, dismissing all the servants in the room, leaving only a maidservant inside.

After serving the master and mistress a cup of hot tea, Madam Fang returned to the old lady's side and carefully served her.

"I don't want to say anything else. What are your plans for Ming'er and Tuan'er?"

Grandma Sheng looked at the couple opposite her with a faint expression, seemingly implying something.

Madam Wang first looked at Sheng Hong, but did not rush to express her opinion. In any case, Sheng Minglan had already decided to raise him in Shou'an Hall. As for Tuan Ge'er, it was easy to handle. If she wanted to raise him, she would raise him, as long as it had nothing to do with Linxi Pavilion. The rest was up to Sheng Hong to decide.

Oh, I forgot to mention that the reason Madam Wang was willing to raise Tuan Ge'er was not only to show her status as the legal mother, but more importantly because Sheng Hong had told her many private things, which allowed him to win her over in one fell swoop.

Apart from the first few years of their marriage when she enjoyed Sheng Hong's sweet words, Madam Wang hadn't heard such comforting words in a long time, which is why she was so compliant with him.

"Mother."

Sheng Hong looked respectfully at Old Madam Sheng at the head of the table, and asked with some confusion, "Weren't these two children already engaged?"

"Tomorrow, he will be raised by his mother, while Tuan Ge'er will stay in Madam's courtyard. Do you have any other instructions?"

As he spoke, Sheng Hong glanced at Madam Wang beside him, asking her to express her opinion.

"Yes, Mother!"

Having received the hint, Madam Wang smiled and said, "It's a blessing for Ming'er to be raised by you. In the future, even when it comes to marriage, she will be looked up to."

"I'm sure I'll find a good husband in the future and live a happy and harmonious life together."

Smiling and flattering Old Madam Sheng, Madam Wang continued, "As for Tuan Ge'er, he should be taken care of by his daughter-in-law. What is there for you to worry about, Mother?"

“As the legal mother, the daughter-in-law should take good care of her and raise her well.”

Actually, Madam Wang didn't mean any harm when she said those things.

First of all, Sheng Minglan is just a concubine's daughter, so it doesn't matter if she is raised by the old lady, as long as it's not like Sheng Molan from Linxi Pavilion who is raised in Shou'an Hall.

Actually, being raised by the old lady's side isn't a good job. Firstly, the old lady is aloof and has many rules. If Wang Da Niangzi's Rulan were sent to Shou'an Hall, she would definitely suffer a lot. Sheng Rulan has been raised by Wang Da Niangzi since childhood and has received all of her mother's love. Therefore, she is inevitably somewhat spoiled and has developed some bad habits. So, if she were really sent to the old lady's side, Wang Da Niangzi would definitely be reluctant to part with her, not to mention that she herself would not want to.

Secondly, given Sheng Rulan's temperament, she probably shouldn't be kept at Shou'an Hall. After all, the old lady is already quite old, and if she were to keep Sheng Rulan, she would surely be driven mad by Sheng Rulan's temperament.
Therefore, in Madam Wang's mind, as long as Lin Qinshuang doesn't benefit, even if Sheng Minglan gains a good deal, it's still acceptable.

Actually, being raised in Shou'an Hall wasn't entirely without its advantages. Aside from gaining a reputation for filial piety, one could also receive better upbringing. After all, Old Madam Sheng was the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Yongyi, a woman of high birth, so her upbringing was naturally impeccable.

If you tell others, they'll look at you with more respect!
As for adopting Tuan Ge'er into her own courtyard, it was something Madam Wang had no choice but to do.

She was originally Tuan Ge'er's rightful legal mother. In a proper family, illegitimate children should be raised in the legal mother's courtyard. It was only because of Sheng Hong's special circumstances that he felt particularly sorry for his illegitimate children due to his own childhood experiences.

Secondly, it would be better for Tuan Ge'er to be raised in her courtyard. Firstly, Madam Wang could control the child. She even planned to train Tuan Ge'er to be her son Sheng Changbai's assistant so that he could help her.

After all, a child's character is developed through experience; it can't be predetermined at birth, can it?

Little did they know, that person really was like that.

Secondly, this would cut off Linxi Pavilion's reach and prevent them from causing any trouble. Although he didn't know what they were planning, Wang Ruofu knew that Lin Qinshuang definitely wanted to do something.

Therefore, in any case, as long as you can interrupt the other person's thoughts, that is absolutely the right thing to do.

Madam Wang believed this without a doubt.

"Ah."

Upon hearing the couple's explanation, Old Mrs. Sheng remained noncommittal.

"So, does that mean you're really going to keep Tuan Ge'er in your own room?"

The old lady had some doubts about this, so she looked at Madam Wang beside her and asked directly, "Daughter-in-law, are you really willing to raise Tuan Ge'er?"

"Don't spoil the child for no reason, or the Sheng family will suffer in the future."

The old lady wasn't worried about Sheng Hong, but she was very concerned about Madam Wang: "If he doesn't have the energy, I can still lend a hand and support him for three to five years. It will be easier to take care of him when he reaches school age."

"We just need to find him a tutor and send him to study in the front yard, and that will be fine."

The old lady used a feigned retreat to advance, deliberately mentioning this impossible thing, and secretly set out her future plans for raising Tuan Ge'er.

"Mother."

Madam Wang inwardly grumbled, but outwardly said, "How could I trouble you with this? Even if I'm busy, I still have time to raise Tuan Ge'er."

"Mother, the fact that you're raising Ming'er is already a huge help to your daughter-in-law!"

After a pause, Madam Wang continued, following her mother-in-law's lead, "Actually, that's what I'm thinking too. I plan to have Tuan Ge'er start school with his brothers when he's four years old, to learn the ways of the sages."

"In this way, we can say that we have fulfilled the wishes of the Wei family's daughter."

Happy Lunar New Year to everyone!

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(End of this chapter)