Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 698 Couldn't Dodge It [Thank you! Thank you again! 39k words owed]

"Fourth sister, what are you doing here?"

The words Rulan shouted

Each word became louder.

The sight of the orchid behind the screen struck him as if by lightning.

In an instant, a wave of deep regret washed over Mo Lan!
Just now, no one from the front yard came to call the girls from the back yard, and Mo Lan herself did not intend to come over.

But she couldn't resist the persuasion of her concubine Lin Qinshuang and maid Zhou Xueniang.

The left hand said, "Mo'er, you've been of marriageable age for two years now."

He added, "Young lady, that is the Lady of Yongchang Marquis; it won't be easy to see her again."

This made Mo Lan feel somewhat anxious.

Lin Qinshuang said, "I heard that Liang Liulang is about your age."

Zhou Xueniang said, "Miss, there are so many noble ladies in the capital, how could Madam Wu possibly remember them all? If you show your face, it will at least leave an impression on Madam Wu!"

This made Mo Lan somewhat interested.

Lin Qinshuang added, "Madam Wu remembers you, and your eldest daughter, Hualan, is the second eldest daughter of the Marquis's household. Mo'er, you should at least have a look at your marriage prospects!"

From a young age, Mo Lan has always known the benefits of 'showing off'.

Putting aside everything else, the property in Linxi Pavilion was earned by Lin Qinshuang, the concubine, by gaining favor and influence with Sheng Hong.

Zhou Xueniang was just an ordinary maid in the Sheng family before. She became a close maid after climbing up to her mother's side, which led to her enjoying a life of luxury and gradually accumulating wealth.

Mo Lan remembered asking herself, "But, young lady, that's the front yard. How can a young lady like me just wander over there without a reason?"

'With a shrewd woman like Madam Wu, she could probably tell what my daughter is planning just by looking at her! Wouldn't that be counterproductive?'

As a result, he was persuaded by his mother's words, "Mo'er, what do you mean by 'going over there'? You're going to the school in the front yard and you're just passing by the front hall!"

Thinking of all this, Mo Lan glanced at the book box by the door with even more regret.

Just now, Mo Lan was still a little apprehensive about coming to the front hall, and also found the book box a bit heavy, so she put it at the door.

But to my utter surprise, I ran into my two younger sisters in the front yard.

Inside the screen,
Upon hearing Rulan's shout,
Xu Zaijing turned around and looked at the screen with a surprised expression.

Xu Zaijing had just sensed someone behind the screen and got up to go over, intending to scare the person away, but unexpectedly...
The eyes of Gu Tingye, Qi Heng, and the others sitting in the chairs around them also turned to the screen.

Changbai, who had been smiling, now lost all his smile and frowned.

Wang Ruofu, who was sitting at the table in the main hall and talking to Madam Wu, recognized Rulan's voice. Her smile froze on her face, and after her lips twitched, she looked at Sheng Hong.

Sheng Hong forced a smile and looked at Madam Wu, saying, "My youngest daughter is a bit wild and mischievous; please forgive her!"

Madam Wu had come to thank the old lady, and upon hearing this, she smiled and replied, "The little girls are innocent, lively, and adorable; it's common for them to be mischievous at home!"

“My family consists entirely of rough and simple-minded boys, unlike you two, Lord Sheng and Madam, who have both sons and daughters.”

"When it comes to thoughtfulness, it has to be a girl!"

Sheng Hong smiled and said, "Yes, yes, yes!"

Wang Ruofu nodded repeatedly and said, "Your daughters-in-law are all well-known for their virtue in the capital, and they are no different from your daughters!"

Upon hearing this, Madam Wu smiled and nodded, and then everything behind the screen became quiet.

After chatting for a few more minutes, Madam Wu said, "The young men have to go to school this afternoon, so Liu Lang and I shouldn't bother you any longer. We'll take our leave now."

After saying a few words of farewell to them, Sheng Hong and Wang Ruofu escorted Madam Wu and Liang Han to the second gate.

Before parting, Liang Han patted Chang Feng on the shoulder, implying that they should hang out together sometime in the future.

Subsequently,

Xu Zaijing, Changbai, and the others bowed and said goodbye before returning to the school.

Along with Xu Zaijing and the others, the smile on Sheng Hong's face also disappeared.

"Shh!"

Sheng Hong angrily flicked his sleeve and said, "Go, take those few who caused trouble earlier to the main hall in the backyard!"

Wang Ruofu, who was standing next to Sheng Hong, waved her hand with an unpleasant expression.

After giving a curtsy, Liu's mother led her people toward the backyard.

Half an hour later,

The main hall of the Sheng family's backyard

The three girls followed behind Liu's mother, their heads bowed as they entered.

Mo Lan, who was walking at the front, raised her head, glanced at Sheng Hong and his wife sitting in the armchair, and gave a graceful curtsy: "Daughter greets Father and Madam."

Sheng Hong glanced at Mo Lan but didn't say anything.

Rulan followed behind Molan. After glancing at the bamboo board placed on the table, she was so frightened that she quickly lowered her head and bowed to greet the person.

Minglan, who was at the very back, followed suit and bowed, then lowered her head and said softly, "Greetings, Father and Mother."

Subsequently,

No one spoke in the hall; it was quiet and oppressive.

Of the three orchids,

Mo Lan lowered her head, her hands tucked into her sleeves, her fingernails digging into her palms, her eyes darting around.

Rulan clasped her hands together in front of her, secretly twisting the handkerchief in her hands.

Minglan bit her lip and stood there resignedly.

I don't know how long it had been quiet.

"Snapped!"

Sheng Hong slammed his hand on the table.

This strike acted like a gavel, startling Wang Ruofu and the three Lans into trembling.

Frowning at his daughter, Sheng Hong picked up the bamboo cane, took a deep breath, and said, "Tell me, what happened just now?"

Hearing this,

Mo Lan immediately knelt down and said urgently, "Father, I just wanted to go to the school! I came to the front hall only to see if the guests were still there and if I could take a shortcut. I even brought my books!"

"But, as soon as my daughter entered the house, my fifth sister started shouting behind me, which disturbed the guests."

"My daughter thinks that maybe my fifth sister wanted to embarrass her in front of the guests, that's why."

Upon hearing this, Wang Ruofu pursed his lips in displeasure.

Upon hearing this, Sheng Hong frowned and looked at Ru Lan, asking in surprise, "Ru Lan, is that what you're thinking?!"

When Mo Lan knelt down to speak, Ru Lan looked furious.

Upon hearing Sheng Hong's questioning, Ru Lan also knelt on the ground, and Ming Lan quickly followed suit.

Rulan said urgently, "Father, that's not what I think! Molan is lying about going to school!"

"My daughter watched outside for half an hour, but Mo Lan hasn't come out since she went into the hall! It doesn't take that long to check if the guests are here!"

“Back in school, she was always flirting with the young master, only thinking about how to seduce him. I shouted this to teach her a lesson!”

Hearing Rulan's words, Sheng Hong's expression became even more unpleasant, his eyes darting back and forth between Molan and Rulan.

Before Rulan could finish speaking, Molan, seeing Sheng Hong's expression, burst into tears, filled with fear and shame, saying, "Fifth Sister! How could you slander me like this! I've never flirted with anyone, never seduced anyone!"

"Fifth Sister, what about the reputation of the Sheng family if you talk such nonsense?"

"How could I be lying?" Rulan widened her eyes and said, "Whether I'm lying or not, Sixth Sister can see it best! Sixth Sister, tell me!"

Minglan raised her head, her eyes full of innocence, and said, "I... I'll talk?"

Sheng Hong frowned and said in a deep voice, "Minglan, just tell the truth!"

Thinking of the way Qi Heng looked at her, Minglan stammered, "I was practicing calligraphy with my head down in school and didn't really notice if any of what you two sisters mentioned were there."

"You!" Rulan glared and shouted, "Sixth sister, didn't you see or hear Molan discussing poetry with the young master?"

"What beauty is beyond the clouds, yet the peach blossoms smile in the east wind."

"Whether you have it or not, just tell the truth tomorrow," Sheng Hong said.

Minglan glanced at Rulan and nodded, saying, "Father, I've heard it a few times!"

Rulan wore a smug expression, as if to say, "Father, look!"

Mo Lan wiped away her tears and looked at Ming Lan, saying, "Sixth Sister, how could you be coerced into talking nonsense by Fifth Sister too!"

"Even if you were to recite poetry, that would be in front of scholars! But, but, Fifth Sister, you disregarded the family's reputation and called me out in public for no reason, which is why Father and Madam lost face!"

Upon hearing this, Sheng Hong's expression softened slightly, and he glared at Ru Lan, saying, "Your sister is right!"

Wang Ruofu looked at Liu Mama with a puzzled expression, her face full of "What's the logic in that?"

Liu's mother shook her head slightly, signaling Wang Ruofu to calm down.

Sheng Hong continued, "You sisters are in school, with scholars and your brothers around. What's wrong with your fourth sister and the young master discussing a few poems?!"

"As for you, Rulan! If your fourth sister has done anything wrong, just tell me in private! I will take care of her!"

"Do you really need to publicly call people out, embarrassing your fourth sister and the Sheng family, just to teach your fourth sister a lesson?"

"Where have you placed the reputation of the Sheng family?"

Upon hearing these words, Rulan instantly welled up with tears of grievance: "I, I..."

Mo Lan looked aggrieved and said, "Father, don't be angry, it was Mo'er's fault! My two younger sisters are young and ignorant, please punish Mo'er instead!"

Sheng Hong listened with a look of satisfaction: "Mo'er, you're so sensible!"

Sheng Hong then said to Ru Lan, "Look at your sister, you should learn more from your fourth sister in the future!"

"What am I supposed to learn from her?" Rulan retorted angrily, "To learn her shamelessness, to be as pretentious as her mother, pretending to discuss poetry but actually..."

Before Rulan could finish speaking, Sheng Hong seemed to have been hit where it hurt. He slammed his hand on the table, stood up, and scolded, "Shut up! How can you talk about your own sister like that?"

After saying that, Sheng Hong reached out and picked up the bamboo stick, walked up to Ru Lan and said, "You broke into the front hall without regard for the family's reputation, and then you slandered your sister for no reason. Raise your hand!"

Rulan looked at Sheng Hong in disbelief.

"Reach out!" Sheng Hong said again.

Rulan cried as she tremblingly stretched out her palm.

Before Rulan could straighten her hand...

"Snapped!"

Sheng Hong then grabbed her finger and struck it hard with a bamboo stick.

The intense pain caused Rulan to cry silently.

Sitting on the day chair, Wang Ruofu looked at Sheng Hong with a mixture of heartache, disdain, and anger in her eyes.

Seeing this, Minglan, though not daring to look up, instinctively extended her hand, after all, she too had 'trespassed into the front hall'.

Sheng Hong glanced at Mo Lan's aggrieved expression, then at Ming Lan, picked up the bamboo stick and slapped Ming Lan's palm.

"Snapped!"

"hiss."

Minglan gasped in pain and quickly covered her burning hand. Overwhelmed by the pain, she couldn't help but shed tears.

He angrily sat back down on the armchair, put the bamboo cane aside, and looked at the three kneeling figures in front of him. Sheng Hong said, "You two go to the ancestral hall and kneel for a day to reflect on yourselves!"

Rulan covered her hand, her chest heaving as she glared at Molan, and said defiantly, "I'm not going!"

"What?!" Sheng Hong stood up, furious, and demanded, "Say that again?!"

Seeing this, Liu's mother anxiously shook her head and winked at Rulan, hoping that Rulan would shut up.

But Rulan seemed to be blinded by anger, crying out, "I won't go! Molan also broke into the front hall, and we were still outside! Father is biased, why only hit us two and not Molan!" Sheng Hong grabbed the bamboo cane and scolded, "You're still trying to argue! If you hadn't shouted, would your sister have been discovered? Would the Sheng family have lost face?"

"You clearly didn't know your own strength, yet you're blaming your sister!"

Rulan wiped away her tears and said in a sobbing voice, "I, I, she, Molan was in the front hall, she stayed, she stayed for half an hour. Is that not right?"

Sheng Hong said impatiently, "You're wrong but you don't even realize it, yet you dare to find fault with your sister?"

"Fine, fine, I see you won't learn your lesson after kneeling for a whole day!"

"Go to the ancestral hall and kneel there for three days!"

After saying that, Sheng Hong threw down the bamboo stick and looked at Mo Lan, saying, "Mo'er, get up, change your clothes properly, and go to school."

"Yes, Father," Mo Lan said softly, glancing at Ru Lan and Ming Lan as she finished speaking.

Sheng Hong put his hands behind his back and walked outside with Mo Lan, angrily saying as he went, "Nonsense! What kind of child have you raised!"

This veiled insult angered Wang Ruofu so much that she closed her eyes, twisted her handkerchief, and took several deep breaths to try and suppress her rage.

But after a few breaths

"Snapped!"

Wang Ruofu slammed his hand on the table and stood up.

Seeing Rulan wiping away her tears with a wronged expression, Wang Ruofu waved goodbye to Liu Mama again.

Liu Mama sighed, walked over to Rulan and helped her up, saying, "Fifth Miss, you were too reckless!"

Rulan cried, "She was wrong too, why did Father only hit the two of us? He's being unreasonable!"

After Rulan stood up, Liu's mother helped Minglan up again.

Minglan quickly said, "Thank you, Mama Liu."

Wang Ruofu glared at Rulan and said, "You're stupid too. When you see this, don't you know to go find Granny Cui or Granny Liu who are by the old lady's side?"

"Let them block the doorway, how can that vixen's little slut escape?"

Rulan stopped crying, wiped away her tears, and blinked, saying, "Mother, I... I didn't have time to think so much at the time. We only came over because we saw the book box at the door."

As Liu Mama listened to this, she glanced at Minglan beside her and thought to herself that the sixth young lady in front of her might not be so reckless.

But sometimes, things can go wrong.

Ru Lan and Wang Ruofu have very similar temperaments, a fact that Liu's mother has deeply felt over the past ten years.

Just as Wang Ruofu was about to continue speaking, an old woman walked in through the door, curtsied, and said, "Madam, the master has ordered me to escort the two young ladies into the ancestral hall."

Liu Mama flung her handkerchief aside and said, "Zhi Pozi, I say you're too hasty!"

Granny Zhi bowed again and said, "Granny Liu, Madam, this is the master's order, and this servant dares not disobey."

On the way back to Xingguofang,
The rumble of cars,

The roadside was bustling and prosperous.

Various hawking cries and shouts filled the air.
In the Liang family's carriage,
Liang Han sat to the left of Madam Wu and asked in confusion, "Mother, when we go to other people's houses, the mistress and mistress usually call their children out!"

"But today is quite unusual! The Sheng family didn't even send their daughters out to see you!"

Madam Wu smiled and nodded, saying, "The old lady of the Sheng family is the only daughter of Marquis Yongyi. The previous head of the Sheng family was a third-rank scholar, and the current head serves in the Ministry of Personnel. In a way, they are a family of officials and scholars for generations."

“This family of scholars and officials has young daughters who are not unable to find husbands. They are not going to rush to have their daughters come out to see me!”

Liang Han smiled and nodded, saying, "Mother, it seems that the Sheng family's daughter went behind the screen on her own initiative. She was called Fourth Sister, so that must be Fourth Sister Sheng."

Seeing Liang Han's thoughtful expression, Madam Wu said, "Don't think about it anymore. Your Aunt Sun said that the fourth daughter of the Sheng family is named Mo Lan, and she is a daughter born out of wedlock."

Liang Han suddenly realized and said, "That's Brother Changfeng's younger sister! I vaguely remember her."

Madam Wu said, "That's right! If it weren't for Madam He coming to the capital, I don't know when I would have been able to get rid of all my old ailments."

"It seems that the Sheng family's master and mistress are unaware of the hidden story. In a way, they owe the Sheng family's matriarch a favor."

"As long as the Sheng family asks, I will find a good marriage for the Sheng family's daughter!"

Seeing Liang Han nodding repeatedly, Madam Wu said seriously, "By the way! I heard from Diaoche, who is by your side, that you've been getting very close to Gao Jing from the Gao family lately, and you often hang out together?"

Liang Han smiled and said, "Mother, Gao Jing is a relative of Miss Tao Tao, son."

Madam Wu waved her hand to interrupt Liang Han, saying, "In the future, deal more with Gao Lin. There's no benefit in associating with Gao Jing; it's best to stay away."

Looking at Madam Wu's expression, Liang Han nodded earnestly: "Understood, Mother."

Linxi Pavilion
As Lin Qinshuang helped Mo Lan change her clothes, she smiled and said, "Mo'er, you're really great!"

"Not only did he remain calm in the face of danger, but he also came up with so many rebuttals to Fifth Sister!"

Zhou Xueniang, who was standing to the side, chimed in, "What you say is true, young lady!"

Mo Lan proudly raised her chin and said, "Mother, I finally understand how you feel! Ru Lan herself is so stupid, yet she takes advantage of her status as the legitimate daughter to mock and ridicule me."

"In the end, he still got beaten to a pulp by his daughter!"

"You've been oppressed by idiots like Wang Ruofu for decades. If it were your daughter, she would be filled with resentment too!"

Zhou Xuenniang nodded repeatedly.

Lin Qinshuang looked at Mo Lan with pride and smiled, "Mo'er, you've really grown up!"

"Once your brother passes the imperial examination with flying colors next year and becomes a Jinshi, my son and I will no longer have to suffer Wang Ruofu's humiliation!"

"Then I'll ask your father to find you and your brother a good marriage. Let's see if Wang Ruofu still dares to give me attitude!"

As she spoke, Lin Qinshuang nodded at Mo Lan, who had changed into her new clothes, and asked, "Did you see what the sixth young master of the Liang family looked like behind the screen?"

Upon hearing this, Mo Lan bit her lip and nodded, saying, "I vaguely saw something. Liang Liulang's height is similar to Brother Yuanruo's, but his skin is much darker."

Lin Qinshuang quickly said, "I heard from Xue Niang that this Young Master Liang often plays polo at the polo field, so he is naturally darker than the young master who studies all year round."

Zhou Xueniang said, "Miss, that's exactly it!"

Lin Qinshuang continued, "Your brother's servant also sent word that Young Master Liang and your brother hit it off immediately. After you finish your studies, I'll give him a few words of advice and ask him to say a few good things about you to Young Master Liang."

Mo Lan raised her chin and said, "Mother, things are still uncertain about what will happen between me and Brother Yuan Ruo! What if one day..."

Lin Qinshuang looked at her beautiful daughter and nodded, "Alright, alright! Then I won't say anything for now! I hope that you and the young master will fall in love in the future!"

As she spoke, Lin Qinshuang couldn't help but smile, imagining, "In that case, Mo'er, your mother-in-law would be Princess Pingning, the prince's sworn sister; your father-in-law would be the first-rank Duke of Qi; your husband would be the cousin of the next Marquis of Xiangyang; and he would also be a relative of the Chai family!"

"This status is simply incomparably noble; obtaining an imperial decree would be as easy as taking candy from a baby!"

Listening to Lin Qinshuang's words,

Zhou Xueniang seemed to see herself becoming successful in the future, and she smiled as she slowly straightened her chest.

Mo Lan couldn't help but smile: "Mother, just you wait! Maybe my brother will need your daughter and your future son-in-law!"

"Mmm!" Lin Qinshuang nodded repeatedly.

in the afternoon,

Before the start of class,

Xu Zaijing turned his head to look to the left: of the three orchids, only one, the black orchid, was writing with its head down.

See here,

Xu Zaijing sighed helplessly, guessing that Rulan and Minglan had probably gone to kneel in the ancestral hall.

Qi Heng then turned around and asked, "Feng-ge'er, why didn't your two younger sisters come this afternoon?"

Changfeng, who was unaware of the details, shook his head and said, "Young Master, I'm not entirely sure either! Let me send someone to ask."

As he spoke, Changfeng turned around and waved to his personal servant.

After school in the evening,

Before leaving the school, Qi Heng glanced at Minglan's seat one last time.

Xu Zaijing accompanied his elder brother, Gu Tingye, as they walked outside.

"Your two younger sisters were forced to kneel in the ancestral hall as punishment?" Zai Zhang asked in surprise.

Xu Zaijing and Gu Tingye nodded.

Zai Zhang continued, "Did you know they were kneeling for several days?"

"They said they'd kneel for three days," Gu Tingye replied.

When Changfeng, the servant boy, returned to the school to report, Gu Tingye was nearby and naturally overheard it.

Zai Zhang nodded and said, "Then I'll go back and talk to your sister-in-law to see if I can go home and plead for my two younger sisters."

It was only mid-April at this time.

Although it is already the beginning of summer,

But it was still a bit cold at night.

Shengjia Jinanzhai
In the courtyard, after a series of doors opened and closed, Wei Shuyi came out carrying a round object and leading Qiu Jiang out.

By the candlelight on the door, one could vaguely see that Qiujiang was carrying a bundle on his back.

"When you get to the ancestral hall, be a little sweet-talking and try to hide the money well!"

"Young mistress, this servant understands!"

Handing the items to Qiu Jiang, Wei Shuyi said, "These two futons were just brought in by Xiao Die. One for each of you, ladies."

Taking the prayer mat, Qiu Jiang said, "Young lady, I'll head over now."

"By the way, we also need to avoid people on the road."

"Yes."

Watching Qiujiang disappear into the night,

Wei Shuyi raised her head, looked at the bright moon in the sky, and said softly, "Ming'er, I hope you can learn from this."

Stars shift,

It was already early morning.

A commotion broke out in Wei Rui Xuan. Wang Ruofu, who was worried about Ru Lan, led Liu Mama, Cai Huan and several maids, carrying lanterns, toward the ancestral hall.

Upon arriving at the ancestral hall,

After Liu's mother gave the old woman some silver, the door to the ancestral hall was slowly opened.

Wang Ruofu led his men inside quickly.

Rulan and Minglan, who had barely slept all night, were fast asleep and Wang Ruofu's arrival did not wake them.

Looking at Rulan and Minglan, who were covered with cloaks and lying on two prayer mats in the ancestral hall, Wang Ruofu squatted down and whispered, "Who gave you these cloaks and prayer mats?"

Looking at the fabric of the cloak, Liu Mama said, "Madam, look at the embroidery pattern, it should be something from Wei Xiaoniang's courtyard."

Wang Ruofu nodded: "That's so thoughtful! It was so cold last night, I didn't dare bring them anything!"

As she spoke, Wang Ruofu lifted Rulan's skirt to look, and what came into view was a bruise on her knee.

Seeing this, Wang Ruofu frowned with heartache.

Even though Ru Lan and Ming Lan are lying down, they are taking advantage of these two hours in the early morning to slack off for a while.

At other times, old women would stand guard outside the ancestral hall, and the two of them could only kneel and could not rest.

With a sigh, Wang Ruofu suddenly stood up.

The sudden movement caused Wang Ruofu's vision to go black for a moment.

Liu's mother quickly helped Wang Ruofu up.

Wang Ruofu closed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Kneeling for just one night is no good! If they keep kneeling like this, the two girls will definitely suffer injuries!"

"Go and have the head kitchen prepare some good dishes. When the master finishes court this morning, please come to Wei Rui Xuan."

Mrs. Liu nodded: "Yes, Madam."

(End of this chapter)