Do you know: I am Qi Heng

"No wonder you can't even handle a concubine!" said Madam Kang with a look of disgust.

Which of Kang's concubines wasn't obedient?

If it were her, the grass on Lin Xiaoniang's grave would probably be three feet tall.

Sheng Hong owes his current position to the Wang family. If he were to kill a concubine, would he really be able to divorce Madam Wang?

"elder sister!"

Madam Wang said discontentedly, "I already said the Sheng family and the Kang family are in different situations!"

"Alright, I'm too lazy to argue with you about this!"

Madam Kang waved her hand and said, "It's too much of a coincidence that your concubine's daughter was adopted as a goddaughter by the Empress. In my opinion, it was all planned by your mother-in-law!"

"Really?"

Madam Wang frowned and said, "My mother-in-law did stay in the palace for a while, but that was thanks to the late Empress Dowager. The Emperor and the late Empress Dowager..."

Lady Wang stopped there, even though the Emperor seemed to have always respected the late Empress Dowager after her death.

However, in any family with a certain status in the court, everyone knew that the late Empress Dowager had concealed the fact that the Emperor was the birth mother.

Although the emperor did not abolish the posthumous title of the late empress dowager, he also did not move her coffin out of the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

However, the emperor abolished the empress chosen for him by the late empress dowager and posthumously honored his birth mother as empress dowager.

How could Old Madam Sheng possibly plan for Minglan to be adopted by Empress Cao as her goddaughter?

"That's true, but when your mother-in-law was in the palace, the Emperor was still young and had little contact with outsiders. He may well have had some feelings for her."

Kang Wangshi said, "Otherwise, why would it be such a coincidence?"

The feelings she was referring to were not romantic love. Old Madam Sheng was much older than the Emperor, who was still young at the time.

"This...this is impossible."

Madam Wang hesitated and said, "If there really is such a relationship, why hasn't the Emperor given us any rewards after assuming power?"

She had never heard of any connection between Old Madam Sheng and the palace. Over the years, she had received no imperial title, let alone any special favors during festivals.

"Then why didn't she teach Hualan to play polo?"

Madam Kang retorted, "Hua Lan was also raised by her; did she ever mention teaching Hua Lan polo?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Wang frowned. Thinking carefully, she realized that Hua Lan had never mentioned this matter to her, which meant that it wasn't that Hua Lan was unwilling to learn, but rather that Old Madam Sheng hadn't brought it up.

Looking back at this incident, there are indeed many coincidences.

Could it really be as my sister said, that Old Madam Sheng planned this specifically for Hualan?

Actually, Madam Wang really wronged Old Madam Sheng. It wasn't that she hadn't thought about teaching Hua Lan to play polo, but she gave up the idea because she knew Madam Wang would definitely be unwilling.

Having a mother is completely different from not having one. Sheng Hong might not care about her upbringing of Hua Lan, but Madam Wang would definitely pay attention.

If she were to teach Hualan to play polo, given Madam Wang's temperament, she would inevitably make a scene.

Moreover, there are some flaws in what Madam Kang said. For example, how could Old Madam Sheng have such a great deal of influence to ask Empress Cao to take Minglan as her goddaughter?

Even if Old Madam Sheng really has that kind of influence, she should at least go to the palace to say it in person, right?

But Madam Wang was already filled with jealousy about Minglan being adopted by Empress Cao and receiving a marriage decree from the Emperor, so she didn't care about any of that.

That's how people are. When faced with certain things, they are influenced by their inner emotions and thus believe what the other person says. Even if there are some problems, they will ignore them or make up some explanations in their own minds.

"Sister, what should I do now?"

Madam Wang said bitterly, "I always thought she was very good to Hua Lan, but now I realize how biased she is."

Seeing Wang Da Niangzi's reaction, Madam Kang was secretly delighted, but pretended to be hesitant: "Now that the imperial decree has been issued, there's no other way. However..."

"But what?"

Seeing that her sister seemed hesitant to speak, Madam Wang hurriedly pressed her for an answer.

"After all, she's your mother-in-law. You can only keep your feelings to yourself if you're unhappy. But when your brother's wife comes into the family, your life will probably be even more difficult."

Madam Kang said, "To avoid this situation, it would be best to find someone for Bai Ge'er who is of one mind with you."

"Um?"

Madam Wang asked doubtfully, "Bai'er's marriage is naturally decided by my husband and me. My mother-in-law doesn't usually get involved."

"You're oversimplifying things!"

Madam Kang curled her lip and said, "If she wants to interfere, can my brother-in-law disobey her?"

After thinking about it carefully, Madam Wang realized that it was indeed the case, and she suddenly became somewhat anxious.

Neither Old Madam Sheng nor Sheng Hong like her. If her future daughter-in-law is on Old Madam Sheng's side, how miserable she will be.

Seeing this, Madam Kang said, "My Yun'er will be of marriageable age soon, and I also like Bai Ge'er very much. If Yun'er can marry Bai Ge'er, I will be at ease, and Yun'er will naturally be of one mind with her aunt."

Madam Wang was somewhat tempted by this. Although she did not agree with some of her sister's actions, Kang Yun'er was excellent in many ways.

In this way, the two families can be considered even closer than before.

"Sister, Yun'er is a good girl. I would naturally be willing to marry her as my daughter-in-law. But I heard from my husband that he already has plans, and I don't dare to agree without asking him," said Madam Wang.

"Fine, ask your brother-in-law yourself."

Madam Kang smiled and said, "Speaking of which, my brother-in-law owes a great deal to the help of our Wang family. He would certainly be willing to strengthen the ties between our two families through marriage."

"Yes, I also think my husband will agree." Madam Wang nodded.

Although Sheng Hong also showed dislike for his sister-in-law, Madam Kang, it wasn't as severe as that of Old Madam Sheng.

.........

"Big brother, you were looking for me!"

Minglan walked out of Shou'an Hall with some doubt. Just now, her maid went to report that Sheng Changbai was looking for her.

However, they asked her to meet them outside Shou'an Hall.

"Sixth Sister, I have something to tell you!"

Sheng Changbai led Minglan aside, took out the letter Qi Heng had given her, and handed it to her, saying, "Yuan Ruo asked me to give this to you."

"Thank you for your help, big brother!"

Minglan was taken aback for a moment, then reached out and took the letter.

"If there's nothing else, I'll be going now!" Sheng Changbai said somewhat awkwardly.

Although the marriage between the two had been arranged, it was still somewhat inappropriate for his older brother to secretly deliver letters between them.

"Um."

Minglan nodded, watched Sheng Changbai leave, and then turned and entered Shou'an Hall.

Back in her room, she sent Cuiwei and the others away, hesitated for a moment, and then opened the letter to read it.

After a long while, her face slightly flushed, she covered the letter to her chest.

Qi Heng's letter didn't contain any ambiguous or explicit words; he simply told her that the arranged marriage was his doing.

There's no need to worry too much after they get married. Although he can't guarantee that his mother won't make things difficult for him, he can guarantee that she will protect him.

Even these words can be considered a fairly straightforward confession in this era.

.........

Are you satisfied now?

On the other side, Princess Pingning, who hadn't spoken to Qi Heng at all during the journey, finally spoke after arriving home.

"Thank you for your kindness, Mother!" Qi Heng bowed and said.

"That's because you planned it well, why would I need to help you?" Princess Pingning said sarcastically.

"Wife, talk less," Qi Xuan advised.

Princess Pingning rose and said, "I cannot refuse the imperial decree of marriage, but if you fail to pass the imperial examination next year, don't blame me for being heartless as your mother!"

After saying that, Princess Pingning left with a cold face.