The 8th Hualan, Mulan, Rulan, Minglan

Sheng Hong's expression suddenly became serious: "I know you have a kind and compassionate heart, always well-intentioned. Recently, I have noticed that Ming'er is not well. Please pay more attention; if this cough continues, it may cost a little life."

As the weather gradually turns cold, spring, summer, and autumn are manageable, but with the onset of winter, the climatic differences between the north and south become immediately apparent. Each household has begun to light their underground heating systems, with various types of earthen kang beds and exquisitely crafted wooden kang beds—these are bedding that combines the spacious comfort of a bed with the kang. Minglan, originally from the south, had never known that in ancient northern regions there existed such warm and comfortable kang beds. It is likely due to her practice of kicking the shuttlecock that, despite the cold weather, Minglan has not caught a cold or fallen ill; however, others have succumbed to illness.

A few days later, Madam Sheng finally recovered from her fever and regained her strength, which could be considered as having been given a second chance at life. The Sheng couple did not dare to relax and promptly sent various nourishing medicines from the storeroom to the Shou'an Hall. For Minglan, no matter how precious the nourishing medicine was, it was still traditional Chinese medicine, and its taste was not particularly refined. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for Madam Sheng. However, before she could dwell on her sympathy for two days, a sudden message came from Shou'an Hall, stating that Madam Sheng, feeling lonely in her old age, wished to raise a girl by her side to alleviate the solitude.

Aunt Lin looked at her daughter with both pride and concern: "Good child, how could I bear to see you suffer? However, we must plan for the future. You have seen how your elder sister Hualan is being courted, truly a situation where one family is sought after by many, how splendid it is! In a few years, when you come of age, who knows what the situation will be like?"

Minglan has a gentle and compliant temperament, doing whatever she is asked without arguing, only looking at you timidly with her sparkling, watery eyes that occasionally drift off into a daze. Hualan is quite pleased with this little sister, even liking her more than her own sister.

"There is no need to be overly concerned!" Aunt Lin interrupted her daughter with a single remark, leaning back into the pile of autumn-colored golden python blankets, she slowly closed her eyes and said, "You are now seven years old and should understand things. When I was seven, your grandfather lost the family fortune, and since then I have not lived a single decent day. Your grandmother did not scheme; she relied entirely on pawning to get by. At that time, she often sighed about not being able to marry into a respectable family. We were once playful little sisters, yet some ended up adorned in gold and silver, enjoying wealth and honor, while others fell into destitution, even shunned by their own family. Fortunately, before she passed away, she did one right thing: she sent me to this prosperous household."

Even though Mo Lan has always been perceptive, she couldn't help but blush upon hearing this: "What are you talking about, Mother? How can you say such things when your daughter is only a few years old?"

Old Lady Sheng, having reached an advanced age, has experienced considerable discomfort due to the long migration between the north and south. After the onset of autumn, she began to cough. Known for her strict demeanor, the maids and servants in the house dared not force her to take medicine or engage in physical activities, resulting in her illness persisting. As winter approached, she occasionally suffered from low fevers, but one day she suddenly became feverish and nearly fainted. The doctor, upon examination, expressed grave concerns, noting that the elderly are particularly vulnerable to such aggressive cold ailments. If not managed properly, it could lead to dire consequences, which greatly alarmed Mr. and Mrs. Sheng.

Mo Lan listened intently as Aunt Lin's voice gradually softened: "Isn't a woman's life ultimately dependent on a man? If the man is a good-for-nothing, no matter how strong a woman is, she cannot stand tall. At that time, I thought, regardless of whether one achieves greatness or not, a husband must possess outstanding character, value loyalty, have talent, and be able to provide shelter from the storm for the family... Being with your father, although I am a concubine, I need not live in fear; at least I can have a stable life, and the children also have someone to rely on."

Hualan is a big sister type of girl, filled with the complex of being an elder sister. Unfortunately, her younger siblings cannot fulfill this need. Zhang Bo is mature and steady by nature, and Hualan is already grateful if he does not scold her. However, Rulan is willful, difficult, and unruly. Hualan has always been at odds with her; for every remark she makes, Rulan retorts with three. The Wang family protects her, so Hualan cannot truly punish Rulan. As for the two at Aunt Lin's, she looks down on them and does not bother to intervene. Zhang Dong is too young, so she has had little opportunity to play the role of the big sister.

My son, do you know what? Your sister Hua Lan is so successful today. Firstly, it's because your father is a well-connected official with a good reputation and smooth social interactions. Secondly, our family has some wealth, unlike those poor officials without any background. Thirdly, Hua is a legitimate daughter with a family of generations of high-ranking officials. How can you compare to her in this aspect? Moreover, you and Hua are only a few months apart in age, and in the future, you may have to marry into the same family. Will there be any good families left for you at that time?" Aunt Lin took the warm stove from her daughter's hand, opened it, used a copper hairpin to stir the charcoal fire inside, covered it, and handed it back.

Aunt Lin smiled and said, "Good child, when the master is promoted to a higher official rank in the future, it is quite possible that you will marry into a more respectable family than your elder sister. By then, there will be great blessings awaiting you."

Aunt Lin held her daughter's small hands tightly, her delicate brows revealing a hint of sternness as she spoke in a low voice: "I have never regretted what happened back then. Serving others and offending the old lady, being unwelcome to the madam, I fear none of these. Your brother, after all, is a young master; whether born of the main wife or a concubine, he will always receive a share of the family fortune and will have his own place in the future. My only concern is you"

Aunt Lin smiled gently, saying, "Silly child, your father is just flattering you! No matter how dignified I may appear, I am still just a concubine. You are not raised beside the madam. If you could stay close to the old lady and learn some manners and etiquette, you would be more respected when you step out in the future, and when it comes time for marriage proposals, you would stand a bit higher than the average illegitimate daughter. The master said he would let the old lady choose a child herself, but think about it: if Hualan gets married, Madam Rulan will be reluctant to part with her, and Minglan is a sickly, listless girl. Among the young masters, who else is left to consider?"

As summer wanes and autumn approaches, the northern regions differ from the south, with the weather gradually becoming dry and cool. The Sheng residence inevitably prepares some sweet soups to moisten the lungs and alleviate coughs. Since Minglan arrived here, she has spent most of her time unwell, and with this change in weather, she has become even weaker, often suffering from dry coughs and shortness of breath. When the doctor is called, he merely prescribes some nourishing medicine, yet Minglan has always detested the taste of traditional Chinese medicine. She yearns for Chuanbei loquat syrup and cough relief, and the more she thinks about it, the more she resists traditional medicine. After drinking a bowl, she would end up vomiting half of it, feeling sickly throughout the day, unable to muster any strength. Once robust and even practiced self-defense techniques, Minglan is truly frustrated.

Afterward, Hualan was locked in her boudoir to embroider her dowry and temper her disposition. Minglan let out a sigh of relief; she had now accumulated the habit of kicking 65 shuttlecocks daily, to the point where her legs would cramp. With her guard now confined, she could return to her carefree life of eating and sleeping like a little pig, though occasionally she would still be bothered by Rulan.

Mo Lan softly asked, "Mother, please do not take it to heart. Father cares for me so much; among the few girls, apart from my elder sister, I am the only one. In the future, I will certainly not be treated poorly..."

When the news broke, some rejoiced while others were dismayed. Let us first speak of the rejoicing.

Sheng Hong shook his head and said, "What does a child like Hua know? It is better for you to inquire yourself more reliably."

Aunt Lin suddenly opened her eyes, staring intently at her. Mo Lan immediately lowered her head, frightened and unable to speak. After staring for a while, Aunt Lin turned her gaze away and slowly said, "You have grown up; you should understand things now. The old lady is good in every way, but there is one thing she loves to repeat: 'It is easy to seek priceless treasures, but hard to find a true lover.' As the saying goes, 'A poor couple faces a hundred sorrows.' The old lady comes from a noble family, so she does not know the hardships of the poor outside. A licentiate earns only six or seven dou of rice and a tael of silver a month. The head maid in our household receives eight coins of silver monthly, and this coat you are wearing is worth fifty or sixty taels. The fine charcoal you burn in your hand stove costs two taels of silver per pound. Adding up your daily food and clothing, how many licentiates would it take to support you?"

Mo Lan gazed at her mother's hazy and beautiful face and suddenly spoke: "Then, Mother, why must you insist on being a concubine? Wouldn't it be better to marry well and become the legitimate wife? It only invites gossip everywhere, talking about you, saying you... willingly..."

The mother and daughter were momentarily speechless. After a while, Aunt Lin chuckled lightly, "The old lady initially arranged for me to marry into so-called 'cultivated families.' How could she, while clinging to her own poverty, provide me with a respectable dowry? Bah! I am, after all, a proper young lady from a reputable official family. If I were to rely on eating husks and swallowing vegetables, what would be the point of coming to the Sheng family? Truly laughable"

The room was quiet, with only the incense burner on the ground slowly releasing wisps of smoke. Aunt Lin was slightly lost in thought, recalling the scene from her first day in the Sheng residence: at that time, although Sheng Hong held a minor official position, his grandfather had amassed a considerable fortune for his descendants. The old master was also a successful scholar, and the Sheng residence was naturally grand. The exquisitely beautiful garden, the gilded and silver-painted utensils, the silk and feather garments for all seasons—she had never imagined that such a life of wealth and luxury existed in this world, such a life of comfort and privilege. At that time, Sheng Hong was also refined and handsome, cultured and elegant, which inevitably led her to entertain other thoughts...

"What kind of situation is this?" Mo Lan slightly bowed, her tone still so refined, "Mother, please do not speak of legitimate and illegitimate children anymore. Father has long said that he will never treat me unfairly in the future. He will treat my elder sister this way, and he will treat me the same. I will have my own glorious days. Moreover, you have property in your hands, so what do I have to fear?"

Wang's words indicate that she is mocking herself: "Whichever deity proves effective, I shall worship; as long as Hua is well, I would even worship the grass by the wall."

If Old Lady Sheng were to pass away, Sheng Hong would have to observe mourning, and Hua Lan would have to keep the rites of filial piety. As for Yuan Wenshao, who is already twenty, how could he wait? The couple, Sheng Hong and his wife, immediately realized the seriousness of the situation. Thus, they united in purpose and worked together, taking turns day and night to care for Old Lady Sheng. Every prescription had to be carefully scrutinized, and every bowl of medicine had to be personally tasted, nearly exhausting themselves to the point of falling ill. However, this display of filial piety and virtue earned them the admiration of all the officials and gentry in Dengzhou, which could be considered an unexpected success.

Then why do you still let me go to the old lady's place? Can she keep me there? Mo Lan couldn't help but speak up

After much deliberation, Sheng Hong and the Wang family inquired extensively about Yuan Wenshao's character and abilities, ultimately deciding on him. Thus, they proceeded with the betrothal ceremony and sent out the birth date of Hualan to conduct the name inquiry ritual. The Wang family's approach was quite remarkable; they actually invited both an enlightened monk and a promising Taoist priest to compare the birth dates. Both the monk and the Taoist affirmed that the couple's birth dates indicated a harmonious union for a hundred years. Only then did the Wang family feel reassured. Sheng Hong glanced at the incense table in the Wang residence, where a whisk was placed on the left and a wooden fish on the right, and couldn't help but chuckle: "Madam, do you believe in Buddhism or Taoism? It would be better to be clear about it; aligning with one would yield more effective results."

Wang said: "Yesterday, I received a letter from the capital, stating that the Duke of Zhongqin's residence will soon finalize a small agreement. Seeing me overwhelmed with work, Hua took it upon herself to handle the matter regarding Ming girl."

Sheng Hong felt greatly comforted and nodded repeatedly, saying, "Very good, very good. Sisters should indeed be like this. Hua has the demeanor of an elder sister, very good, very good."

Miss Hualan is a strict and demanding supervisor, lacking in warmth but abundant in authority. Whenever Minglan shows even the slightest reluctance to take her medicine, Hualan is eager to roll up her sleeves and force the medicine down her throat, leaving Minglan in a cold sweat, having already recovered significantly from her illness. Hualan also insists that she practice kicking a shuttlecock every day. Under Hualan's supervision, Minglan stands in the courtyard like a prisoner in chains, meticulously kicking the shuttlecock, required to complete thirty kicks each day, with an additional five every three days. Miss Hualan even took a notebook to serve as Minglan's exercise log, meticulously checking off each entry with the demeanor of a jailer, insisting that not a single kick be missed.

"What did Mother say? I am born of Mother's flesh and blood, so what does it matter if I cause trouble or not?" Mo Lan chuckled as she nestled into Aunt Lin's embrace, "With Mother by my side to guide me, I can surely win the old lady's favor. In the future, when I have a respectable position, I can also allow Mother to enjoy some peace and happiness."

Mo Lan's forehead was beaded with fine sweat, and Aunt Lin smiled bitterly: "Moreover, does being from a poor family necessarily mean one has good character? At that time, I had a cousin who married a poor scholar, hoping for a bright future. However, that scholar could only write a couple of mediocre essays, failed the imperial examination, and was unsuccessful in business. The family relied entirely on your Aunt Zhang's efforts. She endured countless hardships alongside her husband, bore him children, and even saved up a few acres of land. That year, when the harvest was slightly better, the poor scholar wanted to take a concubine. Your Aunt Zhang refused, and was scolded daily for being unvirtuous, nearly facing divorce. Unable to withstand it, she had no choice but to allow the concubine to enter the household. Within a few years, she was driven to her grave by anger, leaving behind several children to be mistreated. Hmph! When that scholar first came to propose, he spoke so grandly, filled with words of virtue and wisdom, promising to cherish my cousin, to live in harmony, and to respect each other... Bah, all empty words!"

"Why did Mother call for me? They all say the old lady has a temperamental disposition and is rather indifferent, hardly speaking a few words throughout the year. The room is very simple, lacking anything of value, and besides, the old lady has never favored you; I see no reason to go and make a fool of myself." Mo Lan was nestled in the warmth of the kang, wrapped in a russet-colored, gold-dotted gray squirrel fur coat, holding a horizontally placed golden gourd cloisonné hand warmer in her arms, already displaying a refined elegance at such a young age.

Mo Lan was both surprised and delighted: "Father truly cares for me, but... I am afraid of the old lady..."

Aunt Lin brushed her hair back, her eyes sparkling, and smiled, saying: "I know this old lady quite well; she has a noble and straightforward character and is more inclined to show compassion to the weak. Although she can be a bit arrogant, she is not difficult to serve. Starting early tomorrow morning, you should go to the old lady to pay your respects and attend to her. Remember to be careful and gentle, and put on an appearance of regret and guilt. Never call me 'mother' outside; you must call me 'Aunt.' Sometimes it’s fine if you say a few unkind words about me; just be sweet-tongued and quick in your actions. I believe the old lady won’t hold my shortcomings against you. Alas, it’s all my fault for dragging you into this. If you had been born from the lady, you wouldn’t have to go out of your way to please that old woman..."

The Duke of Zhongqin acted swiftly, and before long, he made a small commitment. Given that Yuan Wenshao was indeed not young, they aimed for the wedding to take place by mid-next year. Sheng Hong took out the essays he had written during the imperial examination and penned some vague excuses in the letter, unsure if the recipient would understand. The gist was that his daughter was still young and he could not bear to marry her off early, sincerely expressing a father's love for his daughter. The Yuan family immediately increased the betrothal gifts and invited an official from the Honglu Temple to formalize the engagement. Sheng Hong gained both reputation and substance, and wisely added some dowry, setting the wedding date for May of next year, which pleased both families.

Wang said with a smile, "Look at what the master is saying, how can Hua be considered a child? If all goes well, she will be married either by the end of next year or the beginning of the year after. In the future, she will need to serve her in-laws and husband, so she should learn to take care of others. These past few days, she has been giving her share of snow pear soup and almond soup to Ming, and she keeps a close watch on Ming taking her medicine, insisting that if Ming spits out half a bowl, she must have another bowl. Ming is so frightened that she doesn't dare to spit out her medicine anymore"