Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

The curtain fell, completely isolating the outside world.

The humble gratitude on Madam Cao's face vanished instantly. She turned around abruptly, her steps faltering with elation, and she almost ran back into the house.

She grabbed her daughter Cao Jinxiu's hand, her eyes shining with a terrifying light, her voice trembling sharply with excitement as she lowered it: "It's done! Jinxiu! My child! We...we made the right move! It really worked! Your aunt...she believes it! She agreed!"

Cao Jinxiu had already sat up from the bed, and there was no trace of the sorrow and despair on her face.

Her pale cheeks flushed with an unusual redness from excitement, and her swollen, red eyes gleamed with a cold, sharp light, like the tip of a poisoned needle, carrying an almost morbid excitement.

"It's a success, of course."

Cao Jinxiu's voice trembled slightly, barely suppressed, a hint of the ultimate satisfaction of a successful conspiracy.

"My aunt is the kind of person who is soft-hearted and values ​​her family's reputation and face the most. As long as I cry miserably enough, humiliate myself to the point of being in the mud, and put on a sensible act of 'sacrificing' for her and my cousin, how could she not be moved and go along with our wishes?"

As she spoke, she even chuckled softly, the sound of which seemed particularly jarring and eerie in the quiet room.

"And my cousin... he hasn't changed his soft-hearted nature at all."

"I can't resist tears, afraid of getting even the slightest bad reputation. Humph, so what if the Sheng family gave us that damned 'Tales of Two Beauties'? It was still washed away by a few drops of tears from my daughter and me!"

Madam Cao rubbed her hands together excitedly, her fingertips trembling, pacing back and forth in the room, as if she could already see the days when she would enjoy wealth and honor in the He family.

"That's wonderful! That's wonderful! As long as he stays in the He family, with my son's skills, he can slowly win over Hongwen's heart. In the future, when Sheng Minglan marries into the family, she'll have to live at my son's beck and call!"

"What can a cousin or aunt who can't have children really do to you? She might even have to fawn over you for the sake of her reputation!"

The more she thought about it, the happier she became, her eyes revealing a greedy glint in them, as if she already held the He family's vast fortune and future firmly in her grasp: "When the time comes, won't the inner quarters of this He mansion be under our control, mother and daughter?"

"Let's see who dares to look down on us now! Let's see who dares to bring up the past! Those who have belittled us will all have to kneel on the ground and lick our shoes!"

Cao Jinxiu's lips curled into a chilling smile as her fingertips slowly traced the pale purple tattoo scar on her forehead. Her eyes were so deep they sent shivers down one's spine: "Sheng Minglan... heh, she'd better know her place."

"If she's willing to behave herself, I might still tolerate her holding the title of legal wife and being worshipped like a clay idol. But if she's not..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but the fierce and resolute look that flashed in her eyes made Madam Cao shiver involuntarily. Then, an even stronger excitement and trembling surged up—her daughter's cunning and ruthlessness, honed through hardship, were indeed extraordinary!
The mother and daughter looked at each other and smiled. Their smiles were full of calculation, greed, and the arrogance of a petty person who had succeeded. They washed away the tragic atmosphere in the west wing just now, leaving only a chilling hypocrisy and coldness.

They were completely immersed in this brief "victory," selectively ignoring the precarious sand pile upon which this "success" was built, and the fierce and thorough counterattack that would follow.

……

On the other side, the main courtyard of the He residence.

Grandma He leaned back on the chaise lounge covered with soft satin, slowly twirling a string of glossy sandalwood prayer beads in her hand, closing her eyes to rest.

The room was quiet, with only the faint, calming incense wafting from the gilded incense burner in the corner, creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere.

However, this tranquility did not last long.

An old nanny, dressed smartly and with a cautious expression, quietly entered and whispered clearly in her ear everything that had just happened in the west wing, including how He Hongwen was defeated, how Madam He was precisely schemed against and moved by words, and the absurd plan of "winning both sides".

As the pillar of the He family, Old Madam He had absolute control over the entire He mansion; however, there were some things she simply didn't say.

Upon hearing this report from her subordinate, the woman paused almost imperceptibly in the motion of turning her prayer beads.

a long time.

Grandma He slowly opened her eyes. Her eyes, which had seen through the ways of the world and understood human nature, showed little emotion, only a faint hint of disappointment and an understanding that she had already anticipated.

She didn't immediately lash out, nor did she send anyone to summon her good-for-nothing grandson or her soft-hearted daughter-in-law to reprimand them. She simply remained silent for a moment and then gently waved her hand.

The old nanny understood, held her breath, and quietly withdrew.

Silence returned to the room. Grandma He turned her gaze to the window, watching the bamboo stalks in the courtyard sway gently in the breeze.

Her grandson is kind and soft-hearted, and quite talented in medicine. However, he lacks decisiveness and responsibility in family matters and interpersonal conflicts, and is easily manipulated.

The clumsy tricks of the Cao mother and daughter—crying, making a scene, and threatening suicide—were as clear as ink stains in water in her old eyes, leaving them nowhere to hide.

It wasn't that she didn't dislike the Cao mother and daughter's weeping and nagging manner, nor was she unaware that Cao Jinxiu was wicked and far from being a kind and docile person. Keeping such a person by her grandson's side was not a long-term solution; sooner or later, she would be a source of trouble, disrupting the peace of the household. However…

Grandma He's gaze deepened, her fingers unconsciously stroking the warm, smooth Buddhist prayer beads.

She thought of Minglan, the sixth daughter of the Sheng family.

She had seen the child a few times. He was outstanding in appearance, dignified in demeanor, and his speech and actions revealed a maturity and insight far beyond his years. His eyes were clear and he had his own opinions. It was obvious that the old lady of the Sheng family had put a lot of thought and effort into cultivating him.

Such a girl is more than a match for Hongwen, and for the He family, it would be an excellent marriage.

But precisely because Minglan seemed so sensible and knew how to conduct herself, Old Madam He had a different, more complicated thought in her heart.

She herself had gone through the hardships of being a daughter-in-law and then a mother-in-law. Life in a large, secluded mansion is never smooth sailing.
Which wife doesn't have a few troublesome concubines or maids around her?

Feeling wronged? Of course I do.

But if it's for the sake of her husband's future or the peace of her family, shouldn't she learn to endure some grievances, or even take the initiative to resolve them, to show her virtue and magnanimity?

Hongwen is soft-hearted and easily influenced; he really needs someone by his side.

Cao Jinxiu was indeed unworthy, but her greatest "advantage" was that she could not bear children, which eliminated the biggest future problem—her illegitimate sons fighting for the inheritance.

How much trouble can a concubine who cannot bear children cause?
Ultimately, he could not surpass the status of the legal wife.

If it were Sheng Minglan… if she were truly virtuous, generous, understanding, and mindful of the bigger picture, perhaps…

Perhaps then they could swallow this grievance and tolerate Cao Jinxiu?
Although it was a bit of a sacrifice for Minglan, this way, the He family's reputation for caring for relatives and remembering kindness was preserved, the troublesome daughter-in-law and the Cao family were appeased, and Hongwen would have someone he knew well to serve him, preventing him from being misled by women of unknown background. Wouldn't that be better...?

Is that even remotely acceptable?

Once the thought came to mind, it lingered.

Grandma He wasn't unconcerned about the injustice Minglan might suffer, but in her weighing the pros and cons, the stability of the family, the comfort of her grandson, and the swift cessation of this troubling farce seemed more urgent and realistic.

She even had a vague feeling that this might be an important opportunity to test her future granddaughter-in-law's character, skills, and sincerity.

If Minglan can't even tolerate or control Cao Jinxiu, how will she manage the He family's household affairs and deal with more complex situations in the future?
As for Hongwen's indecisiveness, she was disappointed, but not entirely surprised.

This child still needs to be tempered.

Perhaps after starting a family, with a virtuous and understanding wife by his side to support and guide him, he can gradually become stronger.

The current situation may be a good opportunity to see the Sheng family's attitude and how Sheng Minglan will react.

Will they swallow their anger and accept this injustice? Or will they take action, demonstrating a sharp edge and decisiveness that cannot be underestimated?

If it is the former, although they may seem a little weak, they may be easier to control and more likely to follow the arrangements of their elders in the future.

But if it's the latter...

Old Mrs. He narrowed her eyes slightly. This granddaughter-in-law was probably not someone who would easily suffer losses or be submissive. In the future, there would likely be many undercurrents in the inner quarters of the He family. But it might not be a bad thing, though. Perhaps she could really hold up the family.

So, in any case, both situations are acceptable. It's just that Grandma He is old and sometimes forgets that some people... are not so easy to understand.

It seems she has forgotten just how strong her best friend was back then...

Unexpectedly, Old Mrs. He slowly began to twirl her prayer beads again, having already made up her mind.
She thought to herself, "Let's observe from the sidelines for a while longer."

Let's see what the Sheng family, especially the sixth daughter, will do next.

Is she willing to endure this grievance, and how much can she endure...?

Grandma He slowly closed her eyes, pondering in her heart: "If I weren't deaf and mute, I wouldn't be a father-in-law."

The incense smoke from the burner rose gently, swirling and changing shapes before finally dissipating, leaving only a faint fragrance in the room. (End of Chapter)