Do you know: I am Qi Heng

"Mother, birth, aging, sickness, and death are all natural occurrences. What illness did she contract and die from? Why would Father care?"

Mo Lan whispered, "As long as Ming Lan dies, Mother can talk to Father and ask me to take her place."

"impossible!"

Lin Xiaoniang frowned and said, "Even if she really is dead, the Empress and your father didn't investigate further, so the possibility of you taking her place is extremely slim!"

The risks involved are too great, and she may not even achieve her goal in the end. She doesn't want to take that risk.

"If Mother won't help me, I'll do it myself!"

Mo Lan has almost lost her mind and can't listen to anything anymore.

"Snapped!"

Lin Xiaoniang slapped her angrily, and shouted in a low voice, "Are you trying to kill me and your brother?"

Mo Lan covered her face and remained silent, just staring at Lin Xiao Niang.

Seeing that she was not giving in at all, Lin Xiaoniang suddenly felt a pang of regret.

She taught Mo Lan to strive from a young age, and Mo Lan's personality was largely influenced by her.

The mother and daughter stared at each other for a long time. Seeing that Mo Lan showed no sign of relenting, Lin Xiaoniang sighed, "Mo'er, that wretch is in Shou'an Hall. They're heavily guarded there; there's no chance for her to make a move!"

If there is a chance, even if Molan cannot replace Minglan after her death, Lin Xiaoniang will still take action.

When Wei Xiaoniang died, Minglan was still young, and judging from her behavior over the years, she probably didn't suspect anything.

But Madam Wang and Old Madam Sheng knew a little bit about it.

Now, Minglan has been adopted as an adopted daughter by Empress Cao and has been betrothed to Qi Heng.

If someone leaks the information to her, they will surely seek revenge.

With this dual identity, even Sheng Hong wouldn't protect her.

The servants at Shou'an Hall were all trained by the old nanny who served Old Madam Sheng, and they were all very loyal.

Minglan usually eats at Shou'an Hall, and the rest of the time she eats with her family.

Poisoning was out of the question; she really didn't know how to kill Minglan quietly without implicating her.

"There must be a way!"

Seeing her mother relent, Mo Lan grabbed her arm and said, "Mother, you can stand up to the main wife as a concubine, you must have a way!"

"This can't be rushed!"

Lin Xiaoniang patted her daughter's hand and instructed, "She still has more than a year until her coming-of-age ceremony, so don't rush it and take your time to find an opportunity!"

She had no other choice but to keep Mo Lan calm and prevent her from doing anything reckless.

"Yes!" Mo Lan nodded when she saw that her mother was willing to help.

.........

The Qi family stayed at the Sheng family's house for lunch before leaving, at the latter's request.

Watching the Qi family members board their carriage and leave, Madam Wang pursed her lips and muttered, "Ming'er is probably going to have a hard time if she marries into the Qi family!"

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Sheng Hong was right next to her. Although he didn't hear clearly, he got the gist of it and glared at her fiercely.

"I'm not talking nonsense, my lord. You didn't see it yourself. Princess Pingning had a cold face the whole time at lunch. Anyone who didn't know better would think she owed her money. She clearly doesn't think much of her..."

Madam Wang's tone carried a hint of schadenfreude. How could she possibly be happy that Minglan had married so well?

"Shut up!"

Sheng Hong's face grew increasingly grim as he listened. Before she could finish, he snapped, "That was an imperial marriage, who would dare object? You've only had a few drinks, and you're already spouting nonsense!"

Madam Wang then realized what was happening, forcing an awkward smile, and said, "I was just worried about Ming'er!"

She realized that what she had just said would cause a lot of trouble if it got out.

In a normal marriage, her words would have only made her a laughing stock.

But this is an imperial marriage. She said that Princess Pingning was unwilling. What would the Emperor and Empress think if this got back to the palace?

"snort!"

Sheng Hong snorted coldly and left in a huff.

What do you mean by "for Minglan's good"? The sourness in your words just now was more sour than a mature adult's vinegar.

…………

Grandma Sheng did not go to see them off. She took Minglan back to Shou'an Hall, and after they sat down, she sent everyone away.

"You saw it just now, didn't you? Princess Pingning looked so unwilling. You're going to have a hard time once you marry into that family!" Old Madam Sheng sighed.

"Grandmother, don't worry. No matter what, I am the adopted daughter of the First Madam. Even if Princess Pingning doesn't like me, she won't go too far."

Minglan comforted her, saying, "Even if your mother-in-law is good, your husband can't be of one mind, and your life won't be happy. Conversely, even if your mother-in-law is not good, it's still the same if your husband is understanding."

But nothing in this world is perfect. Compared to that, a mother-in-law with a bad temper is still better than a husband who isn't on the same page.

"Yes, I was being a bit too idealistic!" Old Mrs. Sheng nodded slightly.

Even if a mother-in-law has a strange personality, she will eventually grow old, but a husband is different.

If a husband dies early, it is too difficult for a woman to support a family alone.

However, if a couple cannot be of one mind, even if they grow old together, they will not live a happy life.

If a woman had to choose between a good mother-in-law and a good husband, almost all women would choose a good husband over a good mother-in-law.

…………

"Sister, why didn't you tell me you were coming?"

Madam Wang led Madam Kang to the flower hall, holding her arm.

"Your mother-in-law can't stand me. If I had been informed beforehand, I probably wouldn't have been able to get into your house," Madam Kang said with a sneer.

"How could that be? My mother-in-law just likes peace and quiet."

Madam Wang also harbored some resentment towards Old Madam Sheng for not liking Madam Kang.

Her family is no longer in Bianjing; she only has one older sister there. Whenever she wants to visit them, it's like she's doing something sneaky.

Even if she was dissatisfied, Old Madam Sheng was her mother-in-law, and she couldn't speak ill of the old lady in front of others.

"Let's not talk about this anymore!"

Madam Kang waved her hand and said, "I heard that the Emperor has betrothed your concubine's daughter to the only son of the Duke of Qi. Have you considered why it wasn't Rulan?"

"That was yesterday at the polo field. Minglan played very well and won the favor of the Empress, who then adopted her as her goddaughter," said Madam Wang.

"My silly little sister!"

Madam Kang said with exasperation, "Madam Wu holds polo matches every spring and autumn. How many years has this been going on? If Her Majesty the Empress wanted to watch polo, she would have gone long ago. Why did she suddenly go this time?"

"Isn't it said outside that Her Majesty the Empress acted on a whim?"

Madam Wang asked suspiciously, "Could there be some hidden story behind this?"

"I'm asking you, do you know that your concubine's daughter can play polo?" Madam Kang asked.

"I have no idea."

Madam Wang shook her head and said, "It was Madam Wu who came to ask her yesterday that made me realize she can play polo."

"That's right!"

Madam Kang slapped her thigh and said, "Your mother-in-law has been secretly teaching her polo. When the Empress suddenly went to a polo match, she had the opportunity to show her face in front of the Empress, and thus gained the Empress's favor. She was adopted as a goddaughter and even betrothed to the only son of the Duke of Qi. What does this tell you?"

After thinking for a moment, Madam Wang asked uncertainly, "Does that mean Minglan is lucky?"

Kang Wangshi: "..."