Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

Chapter 323 Returning to the Capital Sheng Mansion
Bianjing City.

On this day, the weather was fine and the sun was shining brightly.

The streets were packed with people, making it even more lively than usual.

There's no other reason than that today is a good time for people to go out.

After all, at this time of year, June and July in the capital are inevitably filled with incessant rain and drizzle, which can be quite unpleasant and, over time, can cause a sense of unease.

However, today is different. The sky has cleared up, and the sun has even shown its face for the rare occasion, indicating a wonderful season. Therefore, there are more people outside.

However, in Sheng Changquan's hometown, at the Sheng Mansion, the scene was quite different.

The Sheng family's residence, Wei Rui Xuan.

"My lord, are you alright yet?"

"The mother's boat is almost here!"

In the front yard, Madam Wang was dressed in her finest attire, her posture graceful and her appearance dignified, exuding an extraordinary air of elegance.

However, although it looked very good, the moment she opened her mouth, it completely lost the feeling she had given people before.

Lady Wang, accompanied by her maid Liu, shouted loudly towards the main house at the back, "My lord, what exactly do you want to do?"
How long?

"Does that mean you need another hour to get ready before you can leave?"

Outside, Madam Wang and her servant were both fully prepared and ready to go; all that was missing now was Sheng Hong.

However, judging from her appearance, she seemed to be getting impatient!
"Well!"

"My wife, don't rush, wait a moment!"

"Wait a little longer..."

Despite being urged, Sheng Hong remained calm. He simply uttered a few words in the room before disappearing again, and no one knew what he was doing.

"you……"

Madam Wang was furious at Sheng Hong's attitude!
"Row!"

"If you want to be late, then be late!"

"Anyway, she's your legal mother, not mine. Do whatever you want with her!"

Wang Ruofu, who was impatient, couldn't do anything to Sheng Hong, so he simply waited and let him dawdle.

However, after waiting a while longer and still not seeing Sheng Hong, Madam Wang could no longer hold back!

There's nothing she can do; that's just how she is. She has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. She's just never willing to admit defeat in words, but in reality, she's the softest-hearted person in the Sheng family.

Madam Wang glanced at the sky, calculating the time, then suddenly turned around and loudly urged Sheng Hong in the back room, "My lord, are you ready yet?"

Sheng Hong did not respond.

"Look at yourself, the time is almost up, why are you still dawdling in the back?"

"Not decisive at all, she's even more fussy than us women!"

Madam Wang wore a sour face, her expression full of displeasure: "Or is it that, Lord Sheng, you're not actually going to welcome Mother, but rather to find someone to look after?"

"Is that why you spend so much time getting ready, so that someone will notice you?"

Madam Wang's face was full of displeasure, and her words were full of sarcastic remarks, making the scene very awkward!

Fortunately, Sheng Hong was still inside the house and didn't hear what Madam Wang was saying. He assumed she was urging him from outside, so he replied loudly, "Alright, alright, I'll be done soon!"

"Don't rush, I'll come out after I change into another robe!"

Sheng Hong responded to Wang Ruofu again from inside the room, and then muttered to himself in his room.

"I have just finished my official duties. How can I go out without first taking a bath, washing up, and changing my clothes?"

As an official appointed by the imperial court, Lord Sheng still valued his image.

"Yes, Quan'er is right!"

"In this world, it's truly the women and petty men who are the most difficult to deal with!"

Recalling a joke his youngest son had once made, Sheng Hong nodded seriously, expressing his opinion: "My son is right, women are just trouble!"

However, as Sheng Hong thought this, a smile inadvertently appeared on his face.

"Ah~"

Thinking of Sheng Changquan, Sheng Hong couldn't help but frown again.

"That kid too!"

"You've been gone for so long, and you've only written home two letters!"

Sheng Hong was unaware that Sheng Changquan had not written only two letters, but rather that he had only sent two letters to the Sheng family mansion in Bianjing. The rest, after learning that Minglan and the old lady had returned to their hometown, were simply sent directly to Youyang.

Therefore, Sheng Hong mistakenly believed that Sheng Changquan had only written two letters home in the past six years.

and!

Recalling the contents of those two family letters, especially since most of them were addressed to Minglan and Changbai, Sheng Hong felt even more depressed.

"Humph!"

"This kid doesn't even bother to ask about his father's affairs; he has no consideration for his father at all!"

"What an unfilial son!"

However, although that's what Sheng Hong said, you could tell from the faint smile on his face that his true thoughts were not like that.

To be honest, among the three sons of the Sheng family, the one that Sheng Hong values ​​the most and who holds the most weight in his heart is Sheng Changbai.

Because he is the eldest son of the second branch of the Sheng family, and will be an important figure who will shoulder the responsibility and bring honor to the Sheng family in the future, no matter how busy Sheng Hong is, he will always find time to inquire about Sheng Changbai's situation.

Whether it's in life or in studies, we are all prepared and hope that he can do his best.

However, Sheng Changbai is indeed an anomaly.

He's so outstanding that Sheng Hong is almost driven to despair!

Because, no matter when, where, or what, Sheng Changbai's actions always exceeded Sheng Hong's expectations of him, making it impossible for Sheng Hong's "fatherly love" to be manifested.

Sheng Changbai's excellence meant that Sheng Hong had nowhere to vent his "fatherly love," so he naturally had to find another outlet to release it.

Therefore, Sheng Changfeng, who was not trustworthy, and Sheng Changquan, who was also difficult to trust, gradually came into Sheng Hong's sights.

However, Sheng Changfeng was good at talking and had some poetic talent, which often won Sheng Hong's favor, allowing the latter to feel the satisfaction of being a father.

Therefore, at first glance, it's easy to think that Sheng Hong's favorite child is Sheng Changfeng.

However, smart people all understand that in Sheng Hong's heart, Sheng Changbai will always be the most important person!
As for Sheng Changquan, he actually holds a special place in Sheng Hong's heart as well.

After all, smart children always get more attention.

In fact, Sheng Hong also harbored a certain ambition and aspirations in Sheng Changquan. The higher Sheng Changquan's talent, the greater Sheng Hong's expectations were. Therefore, he was more and more nervous about Sheng Changquan.

However, given Sheng Hong's personality, it's absolutely impossible for him to say anything touching to the children.

Adhering to the belief that strict fathers produce filial sons, Sheng Hong has always been eager to beat his children three times a day.

However, Sheng Changbai's excellence, Sheng Changfeng's sweet talk, and Sheng Changquan's wit—these three children each displayed their unique talents, all of which blocked Sheng Hong's fatherly love that wanted to "unleash its flood."

Therefore, even though Sheng Hong harbored resentment towards Sheng Changquan, he could only grumble to himself in private, lest he reveal his "dignity" as a father. "Heh, I'll see how much this kid improves later."

As Sheng Hong straightened his robes, he secretly thought to himself, "If you don't improve much, let's see how I deal with you!"

Sheng Hong waved his hand fiercely, as if he were scolding his son in the air, and satisfied his urge to be a strict father.

……

Meanwhile, outside.

When Liu Mama heard Madam Wang speaking to Sheng Hong in this manner, she was immediately startled!
"Madam..."

Liu's mother quickly stepped forward, took her wrist, and then secretly pinched it.

"Ok?"

Madam Wang hadn't noticed anything amiss yet. She only paused for a moment after sensing Liu Mama's subtle movements, and then asked in an annoyed tone, "What are you trying to do?"

"Madam, please don't worry!"

Liu Mama winked at Wang Da Niangzi and whispered, "It'll be a while before the old lady's boat reaches the shore!"

"Humph!"

"What do you mean, 'a while'?"

"Didn't we need time in the past?"

Madam Wang glared at Liu Mama with annoyance, still looking somewhat anxious.

"Don't you think about it? The old lady spent six years alone in Youyang, with only Ming'er by her side!"

“We haven’t been back for years, which has already caused gossip. If we don’t do something to show our sincerity now, what about our family’s reputation?”

Madam Wang expressed her concerns, and her expression was not very pleasant.

"Even if it's okay for the two of us old folks, what about Bai'er, Hua'er, and Ru'er?"

When it came to his own children, Wang Ruofu became much more shrewd.

"Bai'er, there's no need to say more. He's an official, and his reputation is of utmost importance!"

"What if we two old folks do something wrong and he gets into trouble outside?"

Madam Wang grabbed Liu Mama's arm and said again, "And Hua'er and Ru'er too!"

"Hua'er is one thing, since she's already married into the Yuan family, but what about Ru'er?"

"This child isn't even engaged yet!"

"This……"

After hearing what Madam Wang said, Mother Liu was speechless: "...That's true..."

Liu's mother hadn't expected that Madam Wang had thought so much, and for a moment she felt a little ashamed.

After all, she always considered herself the strategist when she was with Madam Wang.

"Madam, what you say is true, but you can't speak to the lord like that again!"

In the end, it was Liu Mama who was more composed. She knew what her mistress's Achilles' heel was, so she couldn't help but say, "Think about it, why does the master like going to Linxi Pavilion so much?"

"Could it be that there's something special about the people over there?"

For Wang Ruofu, when it comes to matters involving his own children, nothing else matters except for one or two things.

However, Lin Qinshuang is an exception; she is one of the rare things that can influence the former.

"whispering sound!"

"What's so special about that bitch?"

Madam Wang looked disdainful!

"She's just good at using some seductive tricks; she's not presentable at all!"

"I...I can't be bothered to look!"

However, although Madam Wang appeared extremely disdainful on the surface, the envious look that peeked out from the corner of her eyes betrayed her true thoughts.

She probably also felt that the other party was using such tactics.

Liu's mother secretly glanced at Wang's wife and thought to herself, "My dear wife, you shouldn't be so stubborn!"

"If you truly disdain it, then there's no need for me to specifically send a few people to Linxi Pavilion!"

Thinking back to what Madam Wang had told her, Liu's mother felt a surge of resentment.

In fact, Liu Mama knew why Madam Wang had planted several spies around Lin Qinshuang. Besides gathering information and intelligence, Madam Wang might also have been interested in exploring the other party's "skills".

However, not wanting to expose her, Liu Mama naturally wouldn't openly point it out. She simply said, "My dear lady, you've misunderstood!"

Seeing the somewhat puzzled look in Madam Wang's eyes, Liu Mama continued, "Madam, what's happening over there isn't just some seductive trickery!"

"Don't forget, he has never said a harsh word to his lord!"

Actually, there were two reasons why Mrs. Liu chose to speak up at this time. One was that she wanted to buy some time so that Sheng Hong could come out during this period, so that the couple would not start arguing again.

Secondly, Liu's mother also wanted to take this opportunity to advise Wang's wife to be more gentle and slow in her words and actions in the future, instead of being as impulsive and irritating as before.

To be honest, it's no wonder that Sheng Hong couldn't get close to Madam Wang. It's just that Madam Wang's personality is really hard to describe!

After all, sometimes even Liu's mother herself couldn't stand her temper, let alone others.

"Ok?"

After being reminded by Liu's mother, Madam Wang immediately realized what was going on.

"Am I supposed to follow her example?"

The thought of having to speak in a delicate, sweet voice from now on sent a chill down Wang Ruofu's spine.

"This...this is...this is..."

"No! I..."

"Madam, even if you can't do it, you have to try!"

Mother Liu advised again, "At the very least, we should set an example for Fifth Miss and establish some rules for her!"

"Otherwise, Fifth Sister might follow your example!"

"This……"

Madam Wang looked troubled.

Actually, among the several orchids, Rulan is the one who most resembles Wang Ruofu.

They're both straightforward and naive.

If it weren't for her older siblings protecting her since childhood, she would never have been a match for Mo Lan. Perhaps, she, Ru Lan, would have been the one constantly bullied.

After all, apart from when she was young, during the years when Hua Lan was still alive, Ru Lan was able to beat Mo Lan. At other times, especially after Hua Lan got married, even with Madam Wang protecting her, Ru Lan was always at a disadvantage!

When facing Mo Lan, you suffer a loss!

(End of this chapter)