Do You Know?: Rule the World.

Chapter 103 Minglan Bribes Xiaotao
Jiying Lane, Sheng Mansion.

The fact that Wang Ruofu had used the public treasury's money to lend at high interest rates became known to the entire family under Lin Qinshuang's manipulation.

In a wing room on the east side of Shou'an Hall, the furnishings are simple but exquisite in every detail.

All the items were arranged very appropriately, neither appearing rich nor shabby.

There was an elm desk against the wall, with pens, ink, paper and inkstone neatly arranged on it, and a copybook that had not yet been completed.

Sheng Hong was famous for his beautiful calligraphy. Even the emperor remembered the memorials he submitted vividly and could not help but praise him.

Among the three girls in the Sheng family, Molan has the best handwriting. Her handwriting is graceful and lively, with small characters with flower-shaped patterns.

Although Rulan's handwriting is not outstanding, it is straight and neat, and there is nothing wrong with it, nor can I find anything to praise.

Only Minglan's handwriting always made Sheng Hong and Zhuang Xuejiu frown.

It was crooked and sometimes big, sometimes small, just like a earthworm crawling on paper.

The calligraphy on the desk was sent by Changbai yesterday.

Not only did he order Minglan to finish copying it within three days, but he also ordered her not to be careless in the slightest and to send it to his study for his review on time.

At this moment, Minglan was leaning on the soft couch to rest. She was already twelve years old and was growing taller.

She was wearing a moon-white skirt, her skin was as white as jade, and her eyes were clear and bright.

There were still some ink stains on his fingertips and cuffs, obviously he had fallen asleep halfway through copying the calligraphy.

When she learned from Xiaotao that Wang Ruofu had followed Aunt Kang to lend money privately, she couldn't help but open her eyes wide and sit up straight.

"Has this matter spread outside?"

Xiao Tao shook her head and said softly, "The old lady just issued a strict order. No one in the mansion is allowed to spread a single word."

"They said that anyone who dared to leak the news would be sold to the coldest and most miserable farm to do hard labor."

"Look at the old lady, she's really angry. The eldest lady is kneeling in the main room right now, and the fifth lady is so scared that she's crying."

Hearing this, Minglan leaned back on the couch.

He picked up the round fan placed beside him and played with it, whispering, "This lady of our family must have been bewitched by Aunt Kang to do this."

"How did you know that?" Xiao Tao touched her head and looked at her curiously.

Minglan chuckled and twirled the fan around her fingertips.

"Even though the Madam has many faults, she has a soft heart, but a soft heart makes it easy for others to take advantage of her."

"Our family is flourishing right now, but my grandmother told me that Aunt Kang's family is in shambles."

"She must also know that Grandma and Daddy don't like her very much. Since she can't benefit from it, given Aunt Kang's personality, how could she just stand by and watch?"

Xiao Tao opened her mouth slightly and nodded, not quite understanding what he meant.

"But I think this is a little strange."

"There's nothing going on outside, but everyone in our house knows about it. Even the girl who's cooking in the kitchen was gossiping about it."

Minglan's eyes flickered slightly, and she gently covered the corners of her lips with the round fan.

"You can actually find out all this. Let me ask you, if the Madam made a mistake, who in our family would be the happiest?"

"Of course it's Miss Lin!" Xiao Tao blurted out. After all, this question didn't require any thought.

Minglan fiddled with the tassels on the handle of her fan and smiled slightly, "That's it, Miss Lin is so smart."

"I know that if this matter gets out, even though the eldest lady will be in great trouble, my father will definitely investigate it thoroughly."

"When we find out it was her doing, Daddy won't let her off easily."

"If the news only spreads within the inner chambers, even if it only results in a minor punishment, it will only solidify the Madam's reputation for misconduct and allow her to vent her anger."

Xiaotao took a deep breath and looked at her in amazement.

"Girl, when did you become so smart?"

Minglan smiled brightly and gently touched her forehead with her slender hand.

"You are too stupid. I'm afraid that grandma would have seen through it a long time ago."

Xiao Tao was stunned for a moment, then changed the subject, pulling Minglan's arm and saying, "It's getting late, young lady, get up and practice calligraphy. Second Brother is doing this for your own good."

"Otherwise, the pedant will see that your handwriting is so ugly and punish you to copy books. I don't want to help you anymore."

Minglan was dragged by Xiaotao and reluctantly came to the desk, mumbling: "I'm not going to take the imperial examination anyway, so what does it matter if my handwriting is good?"

"It's true that I can't do anything about it, but last time I helped you copy the 'Salt and Iron Treatise', my wrists were sore for three days."

Minglan's eyes rolled, and she suddenly moved closer to Xiaotao, a cunning light flashing in her almond eyes.

"Hey Xiaotao, do you want to eat roasted lamb and grilled quail?"

Xiao Tao shook her head repeatedly, "Miss, don't try to bribe me. My second brother said he won't allow me to..."

"Add another sweet-scented osmanthus cake!"

After hearing this, Xiao Tao swallowed uncontrollably, and Minglan took the opportunity to put the pen directly into her hand.

"Help me copy two pages, and I'll make them for you after class tomorrow!"

After saying that, Minglan buried her head on the table and dozed off regardless of Xiaotao's resentful look.

At the same time, the old lady was inside the house.

Wang Ruofu knelt on the ground, her face pale, clutching her handkerchief tightly, and occasionally raised her eyes to peek at the old lady's expression.
Rulan knelt on the side, sobbing softly, her almond-shaped eyes red from crying, like a frightened little rabbit.

Although she looked sharp-tongued, she only quarreled with Molan and was always afraid of the old lady.

At this moment, I didn't even dare to beg for mercy.

"I won't mention the Sheng family. I'll just ask Hua'er and Aunt Kang, who means more to you?"

As the old lady spoke, her sharp gaze pierced through him. Wang Ruofu shrank back and whispered, "Mother's question is... naturally, it refers to Hua'er."

"My sister said that this matter is very safe. The moneylenders are all old acquaintances, and the interest is also according to the rules."

"I was just confused and greedy for money, so I believed her."

"Besides, I told my sister a few days ago that I would no longer lend her money at usury. Now the accounts have almost been settled. I don't know why this news suddenly spread."

The old lady narrowed her eyes and snorted coldly, "Your husband is keeping his tail between his legs outside, always on edge, afraid that he will be caught in the wrong by accident."

"But you, on the other hand, not only don't you know how to restrain yourself, but you also follow your good-for-nothing sister and act recklessly!"

"What kind of business is lending money at high interest? You'll get stabbed in the back!"

"If this gets to the Imperial Censor's ears, think about it. Will your sister bear the responsibility for you, or will the Sheng family and Hua'er bear the responsibility for you?"

"Hua'er may have given birth to a grandson, but how many eyes are eyeing the position of Crown Princess?"

Rulan's heart trembled as she listened, and she couldn't help but wipe away her tears again.

Just as Wang Ruofu was about to speak, Sheng Hong came into the house panting and jogging. He raised his hand and pointed at Wang Ruofu. His lips trembled and he couldn't say a single word.

"It's over, Mother is finished now..."

Rulan said to herself.

She and her maid Xi Que moved to the side unnoticeably, fearing that Sheng Hong would notice her.

After a while, Sheng Hong calmed down and said angrily, "Oh my God, you are so brave!"

"In this magnificent capital of Bianjing, at the foot of the emperor, at the very gate of the imperial city, you dare to lend money at high interest rates. How many officials' families have been convicted because of this!
"You just want to see me dismissed from office, tattooed, and then exiled, so that you can feel happy, right?"

Wang Ruofu collapsed on the ground and cried, "My dear, I know I was wrong. I will never listen to my sister again."

Sheng Hong stared at her straight in the eyes, looked up to the sky and sighed, "If this gets out, even if His Highness remembers the good times we had together, he will not abandon Hua'er."

"I'm afraid the emperor will immediately issue an imperial decree to reprimand her and appoint a new Crown Princess."

"Idiot, big idiot!"

Madam Liu, who was also kneeling beside them, saw her mistress, who looked terrified, and pleaded, "Master, old lady, anyway, this matter hasn't been spread out, and the mistress has already stopped."

"This old slave deserves to die! I shouldn't have tried to excuse the lady!"

"It's just that the eldest lady has been taking care of the household chores for these years. Even if she has no credit, she has worked hard. This time, she was ultimately bewitched by Aunt Kang."

"Besides, there are my eldest sister and my second brother. My second brother will take the imperial examination next year, so this is a crucial time."

"Please, my Lord, please forgive me this time!"

Upon hearing this, Sheng Hong turned his head and looked at the old lady.

The old lady held her forehead and didn't even lift her eyelids. It was obvious that she didn't want to deal with this matter anymore.

The room was horribly quiet for a moment. Rulan forced herself to stop sobbing and didn't dare to make a sound.
Although this matter was dangerous, fortunately it did not get out to the outside world. If the punishment was too severe, it would be difficult to explain to the Wang family if they knew about it.

After weighing the pros and cons, Sheng Hong frowned and said, "From today on, you will go to the ancestral hall and kneel down to reflect on your actions. When you truly repent, you can stand up again."

"I think you don't need to worry about this matter of being the head of the family anymore."

Wang Ruofu opened her mouth when she heard this. Kneeling in the ancestral hall was not a big deal, it was just suffering.

But if the power to manage the family falls into Lin Qinshuang's hands, she doesn't know when she can get it back.

"Sir!" she cried out.

The old lady knew very well how this happened today.

She had this outburst just to teach Wang Ruofu a lesson that she would never forget.

If we don't teach him a lesson, I'm afraid this fool will be used as a gun and drag the entire Sheng family into trouble.

As for Lin Qinshuang becoming the head of the family, forget it.

The old lady looked at Sheng Hong and said at the right moment, "Wei is a very capable person. I think we should let her take charge of the household for now. When the eldest lady truly repents, we can discuss the handover."

"Wei?" Sheng Hong raised his eyebrows, feeling quite surprised.

"She's a softie. Can she really manage the household? I think it's better to let..."

Before Sheng Hong finished speaking, Wang Ruofu quickly said, "Wei Shi is indeed suitable. She is very considerate and is the perfect person to manage the household!"

Compared to Lin Qinshuang, she would rather choose Wei Shuyi. At least Wei is honest and obedient, and there is still room for maneuver in the future.

The old lady said: "Don't underestimate Wei. Although she has a gentle personality, she is never vague when it comes to setting rules."

"Have you noticed anything wrong with her Tingxueju over the past few years?"

Sheng Hong thought about it carefully and it seemed to be true. He bowed and said, "Then do as mother says."

Then, he turned his head and looked at Wang Ruofu, "Why don't you go to the ancestral hall and kneel down!"

At night, in Songmo Residence, Sheng Changbai's residence, he was still reviewing his lessons in the study.

The maid Yang Hao came in quietly with hot tea and placed the teacup gently on the table.

She hesitated for a moment and whispered, "Second brother, why don't you go and ask the master for help? The eldest lady is still kneeling in the ancestral hall."

"It's been three hours, and the master won't even allow me to send you food or a mat."

Upon hearing this, Sheng Changbai put down the book and frowned.

"It was my mother's fault in the first place. She couldn't even handle this little punishment. Why did she listen to the slander?"

"A trickle of water, if it is not blocked, will eventually become a river. Let the mother reflect on this, so as not to cause greater disasters in the future."

Seeing that he had a stern face and looked determined, Yang Hao immediately shut up and stopped talking about the matter.

(End of this chapter)