Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

Chapter 472 Warning
"in addition!"

The old lady changed the subject and continued, "The Liang family has agreed to the three letters and six rites, and nothing will be omitted."

Her voice carried a hint of weary mockery: "Although time is tight, the Liang family will 'provide enough' to maintain appearances."

The old lady emphasized the words "give them enough," the irony of which was clear to both Sheng Hong and Madam Wang.

This "decency" was obtained by the Sheng family through coercion and bribery, at a huge cost.

"The dowry," the old lady paused, looking at Madam Wang, "was taken too long to properly inventory and sort out all the good things that were kept in the storeroom and wouldn't be needed for a while."

“Take some of the fine, readily available headwear and clothing materials you prepared for Rulan, and add them to the allowance that should be given to illegitimate daughters according to custom, and get them ready as soon as possible.”

"We don't need to be too flamboyant, but we also can't let people find fault with us or laugh at my Sheng family for being a mean-spirited concubine's daughter who can't even save face."

Her tone was calm, yet carried an unquestionable command.

The dowry given to Mo Lan had nothing to do with affection; it was only to silence gossip and preserve the last vestiges of the Sheng family's crumbling "respectability."

Although Madam Wang was extremely reluctant to give the good things she had prepared for her legitimate daughter to Mo Lan, when she heard the old lady say "pick some things that are not important and are extra", and emphasized "the allowance for illegitimate daughters", she began to make a plan.

She immediately lowered her head and replied, "Yes, Mother, don't worry. Your daughter-in-law knows what's important and will definitely handle it properly, so that no one will laugh at us."

A shrewd calculation flashed in Madam Wang's eyes as she began to consider which items were "surplus" and wouldn't be too expensive to keep.

"As for Linxi Pavilion..."

The old lady's voice suddenly turned cold, as if it had been chilled to the bone: "Keep a close eye on her! Until the bridal sedan chair leaves, she is not allowed to step out of the courtyard! And no one, especially that wretched child, is allowed to see her again!"

When Lin Qinshuang was mentioned, a terrifying ferocity suddenly erupted in Sheng Hong's eyes!
This mother and daughter treated his affection like a toilet bowl...

"Mother, rest assured!" Sheng Hong's voice was like a cold wind blowing from hell, filled with deep-seated hatred. "I have already ordered that reliable people be deployed inside and outside Linxi Pavilion. Not even a fly can get in! That poisonous woman... I will never let her have another chance to stir up trouble and harm my Sheng family!"

At this moment, his hatred for Lin Qinshuang was a hundred times greater than his hatred for Mo Lan!
If it weren't for her instigation, Mo Lan might not have dared to be so audacious!
If it weren't for her...

"Alright," Old Mrs. Sheng waved her hand wearily, "Now that everything is sorted out, you can all go back!"

"Tomorrow, I will tell that girl about this."

"Our Sheng family... has done right by her..."

At this moment, Old Madam Sheng didn't want to say much, but she glanced at Sheng Hong in front of her with a look of disappointment.

Sheng Hong had been keeping an eye on the old lady, so he naturally didn't miss that look.

moment!

Sheng Hong blushed!
He knew that his mother was scolding him for favoring his concubine over his wife and for breaking the family rules.

However, Sheng Hong secretly glanced at Madam Wang, who was still calculating her dowry, and sighed inwardly, "Never mind!"

"Being a little stupid is better than being bad!"

……

The next day.

When Sheng Hong and the old lady informed Mo Lan, who was confined to her boudoir, that the Liang family had agreed to the marriage and that a wedding date would be chosen, a boulder suddenly pierced her stagnant despair, stirring up towering, poisonous waves. Mo Lan knelt on the ground, her head bowed, her shoulders trembling slightly, as if she were desperately trying to suppress her sobs.

However, from an angle that Sheng Hong and the old lady couldn't see, the corners of her mouth were curling upwards in a distorted arc, forming a silent, smug, and almost ferocious smile!
Become!

She won the bet!

In the end, the position of the sixth young master's legitimate wife of the Yongchang Earl's Mansion fell to Sheng Molan!

What are the distinctions between legitimate and illegitimate children, what are the rules and regulations? They are all fragile and vulnerable in the face of overwhelming wealth and power!
Linxi Pavilion's teachings, and the path that my mother paved with blood and tears, were ultimately correct!
She could almost see the glorious future of her, where she would command the Earl's mansion and trample people like Lan Hualan under her feet.

What is this brief, humiliating imprisonment compared to the honor that is about to be obtained?
This sense of pride, like a poisonous vine growing in the dark night, instantly entwined her entire heart, almost making her burst out laughing.

Mo Lan was already quickly planning in her heart that once she had gained a foothold, she would definitely bring her mother out in a grand and glorious manner, making those who looked down on her and her daughter grovel at her feet!

However, this smugness lasted only a fleeting moment.

Old Mrs. Sheng's eyes, which had seen through the world, seemed to be able to see through the skin and into people's hearts.

“Mo Lan,” the old lady’s voice was not loud, but every word struck Mo Lan’s heart like a hammer, “this marriage was obtained for you by the Sheng family at the cost of their reputation.”

"From this day forward, you will be a member of the Liang family, and you will have no further connection with the Sheng family, especially with that person in Linxi Pavilion!"

Mo Lan suddenly looked up, the feigned sorrow and lingering smugness on her face instantly freezing, turning into astonishment and panic.

The old woman's gaze was sharp as a hawk's, giving her no chance to breathe, and she continued, "Stop having those inappropriate thoughts. If you dare to plead for Lin Qinshuang today, if you dare to mention releasing her..."

The old lady's voice suddenly rose, carrying a resolute determination to destroy everything: "The Sheng family would rather not have you as their daughter! They'll just say you died suddenly from an illness! That way, you won't have to marry into the family and use your blood, which is tainted from the root, to further tarnish the Sheng family's century-old reputation and implicate all the sisters in the clan!"

The words "sudden death" struck Mo Lan like two thunderbolts carrying the chill of the underworld.

It shattered her newly ignited pride and fantasies!

She trembled violently, as if struck by lightning. Her straightened spine collapsed instantly, her face turned deathly pale, and her lips trembled, unable to utter a single word.

She stared in horror at her grandmother's cold, emotionless eyes, then at her father, Sheng Hong, whose face was filled with undisguised, almost tangible hatred and murderous intent! It was as if if she uttered another word, he would truly kill her instantly!
A wave of overwhelming fear washed over her, freezing her completely. She realized that in the Sheng family's eyes, she had never been a valuable tool for marriage; she was merely a piece of poisonous trash in dire need of disposal!
Her meager "value" is utterly worthless in the face of the Sheng family's determination to safeguard their fundamental interests!
My dear... I'm really finished... The despair brought by this realization is a hundred times greater than that of last night!
She felt as if all her bones had been removed, collapsing to the ground, unable to even whimper, only trembling like a leaf.

"Dowry," the old lady said, no longer looking at her, turning to Madam Wang who had followed her in. Her tone returned to a commanding one, yet carried an undeniable air of authority, "Time is short, so do as you say."

Madam Wang glanced smugly at Mo Lan, who was kneeling on the ground like a lump of mud, and said with a hint of satisfaction, "Don't worry, young lady, this dowry will definitely be done according to 'proper etiquette'!" She deliberately emphasized the word "proper etiquette", and her meanness and calculation were not concealed.

Upon hearing the words "etiquette," Mo Lan felt a chill in her heart and instantly understood the meager nature of her dowry. However, the immense fear overwhelmed her, leaving her with no strength to even lift her head, let alone argue. She could only clutch the hem of her dress tightly, her nails almost digging into her palms.

The old lady's voice suddenly turned cold, as if chilled to the bone, as she said, "As for Lin Qinshuang..."

"During this time, she was imprisoned in the most secluded woodshed in the west corner of the mansion, guarded day and night by the housekeeper and several reliable old women. No one was allowed to approach, and nothing was allowed to be sent in!"

"Yes!" Sheng Hong's face was devoid of joy or sorrow, only cold indifference remained. "I will arrange for men to escort that poisonous woman over immediately!"

At this moment, all he felt for Lin Qinshuang was deep-seated hatred.

Sheng Hong turned around and sternly ordered towards the door, "Men! Go to Linxi Pavilion and bring Lin Qinshuang out! Send her to the woodshed in the west corner and keep her under strict guard! Be quick about it!"

"Yes!" came the servant's deep, resonant reply from outside the door, followed by hurried footsteps as he left.

Thank you to the following readers for their support: Da Lao Zhi Bi Mo, Book Friend 20201112143954393, Book Friend 20200208133746854, Book Friend 20230820210426711, and a total of 8 strokes and 1981!