Do You Know?: Rule the World.

Chapter 184 The Third Branch of the Sheng Family, Leaving the Palace to Enjoy the Lanterns

As dusk fell, Wei Ling left the palace with great excitement and rode in a carriage straight back to the Earl of Wuxiang's mansion.

The backyard flower hall was brightly lit and warm, like a spring day.

Wei Shuyi wore a moon-white silk jacket, with only a jade hairpin adorning her hair, maintaining her simple and unadorned appearance.

However, his demeanor was more relaxed and composed compared to when he was at the Sheng family.

Yu Yanrong sat gracefully to one side. Her appearance and temperament were somewhat similar to Yu Yanran's; she was gentle, dignified, and well-mannered.

Under the influence of her father, Uncle Yu, she also became quite proficient in calligraphy and painting, making her one of the most talented women in Bianjing.

Wei Ling's mother, Old Lady Wei, has been widowed ever since.

They not only had to manage household affairs and raise children, but also had to find ways to earn money to support their family.

Over the years, overwork has taken its toll, leaving me with many chronic health problems.

So much so that although she is not yet sixty years old, she looks several years older than Old Madam Sheng, and she takes medicine every day, looking like she is on the verge of death.

Therefore, from the moment Yu Yanrong married into the Wei family, she took charge of managing the household affairs. Old Madam Wei, who was not used to being served, directly exempted her from the morning and evening greetings.

The entire Yu family, including the elderly Mrs. Yu and Grand Tutor Yu who were enjoying their retirement in their hometown in Shandong, were extremely satisfied with this marriage.

After all, the Yu family was no longer what it used to be; of the four sons, only the eldest son held an official position in the imperial court.

Over the years, he has remained stagnant, barely managing to reach the rank of fourth-grade official thanks to his seniority and the support of Yu Lao Taishi's protégés and former subordinates. He has no hope of being promoted to the third grade.

Among the eldest sons of the main branch, only Lady Fan gave birth to Yu Erlang, who was utterly useless.

Therefore, being able to form a marriage alliance with the Wei family is a truly good thing for the Yu family.

After Wei Ling revealed the matter of the imperial title, everyone stared at him in astonishment, especially Wei Shuyi.

She never dared to hope that such glory would fall upon her.

Moreover, even if he were to receive an imperial decree in the future, that would only happen after Sheng Changliu had entered the court as an official and made meritorious contributions.

"This is a promise made personally by the Emperor. In a few days, officials from the Ministry of Rites will come to read the imperial edict."

“From now on, when you go out to social events, you will be a proper noblewoman. I’d like to see who dares to look down on you.” Wei Ling said, then let out a soft breath, feeling deeply moved.

Yu Yanrong smiled gently and said softly, "Congratulations, elder sister. Now my husband can finally put down a major matter that has been weighing on his mind for many years."

Wei Shuyi's eyes reddened slightly, and with a relieved smile on his face, he bowed respectfully in the direction of the palace.

She knew that she was granted the title of Imperial Noblewoman not only because of Wei Ling, but also because Minglan was favored in the harem.

Seeing that the emotions of the people in the hall had calmed down a bit, Wei Ling spoke again: "I have already sent people to Yangzhou to bring my second sister's family to the capital."

"My second brother-in-law is a kind and hardworking man. Let them do some small business in Beijing in the future, so that the two families can take care of each other."

"Okay, okay!" Grandma Wei nodded repeatedly.

"I don't know when I will be able to return home after this trip to the southwest. The Emperor has specially granted Yanrong permission to go with me."

"At that time, I will entrust all the family affairs to my elder sister." Wei Ling looked at Wei Shuyi with a solemn expression.

Upon hearing this, Yu Yanrong's eyes widened, her heart pounding. Although the southwest was not as comfortable and peaceful as the capital, she was even more reluctant to be separated from her husband.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of things at home. I managed the household for a while in the Sheng family, so I'm quite familiar with these matters."

"Take care of yourself while you are away, and don't worry about home."

Wei Ling and Yu Yanrong exchanged a glance and nodded slightly.

A few days later, at the Duke of Wei's residence, Sheng Hong was on leave at home and was having lunch with the old lady in Shou'an Hall.

On the table were four meat dishes and four vegetable dishes, steaming hot, with Dongrong and several servants, including Liu Mama, standing by.

The mother and son ate their meal quietly, with only the occasional soft clinking of their bowls and chopsticks.

Minglan entered the palace as a concubine, Quan Ge'er also entered the palace to accompany her studies, Hui Jie'er was personally taught by Hai Chaoyun, and Sheng Changfeng and Liu Shi only had one daughter, Nian Jie'er.

Shouan Hall is much quieter than before.

Sheng Hong held a high position and was also the father-in-law of the emperor. He knew in his heart that a large part of his success was due to good luck.

Therefore, they became even more cautious in their words and deeds, and extremely protective of their reputation.

The Xu family has another capable member in the court, and he has already turned the tables on Wei Shuyi.

He naturally treated the old lady with even greater respect than before, showing her concern and care, and visiting her morning and evening without missing a single day.

A short while later, the old lady put down her chopsticks and picked up a handkerchief to wipe her mouth.

"I heard that Lady Wei has been granted an imperial title. Have Changbai's wife prepare a gift and send it over today. There's no need to be too ostentatious; just be appropriate."

Upon hearing this, Sheng Hong immediately put down his chopsticks, cupped his hands, and said, "Mother is right, I will remember it."

Just as the servants were quietly clearing away the bowls, chopsticks, and table, Cuiwei, the first-class maidservant beside the old lady, stepped forward and said softly, "Old lady, sir."

"The Earl of Fuchang and Madam Li have come to pay their respects."

Sheng Hong raised an eyebrow slightly. "Oh? Why didn't you tell me you were coming today, Brother Wei?"

"Let them in." The old lady said calmly, casually gathering her prayer beads back on her wrist. With the help of her nanny, she sat down on the soft couch.

Sheng Hong straightened his clothes and slightly straightened his back.

Before long, Sheng Wei was seen wearing an indigo brocade robe, his face ruddy, with Li Shi by his side. His demeanor was quite different from when he first arrived in the capital.

"Greetings, madam." The two bowed respectfully and took their seats.

Before Sheng Hong could ask, Sheng Wei sighed and said in a deep voice, "Third Uncle has passed away. Brother Zhou's letter just arrived this morning. Song'er is in Youyang helping them with the funeral arrangements."

The third patriarch of the Sheng family, Sheng Huaiyi, had only one son, named Sheng Zhou.

This man, like the Third Master, was unambitious and indulged in all sorts of vices, including eating, drinking, gambling, and whoring. He would often come to Shengwei's house to freeload.

Sheng Zhou had one son and three daughters: Sheng Changliang, Sheng Xiulan, Sheng Huilan, and Sheng Yuelan.

The three daughters of the third wife were forced to live with Li Shi for several years when they were young, by Sheng Zhou and others.

Xiulan was obedient and well-behaved, and rarely spoke much.

Huilan is quite cunning. She has argued with Pinlan more than once over trivial matters, and they have even fought.

As for Yuelan, she was eccentric and immoral. She repeatedly stole Shulan's clothes and jewelry, and even when caught in the act, she denied it and turned the tables on Shulan.

Even Mo Lan and Ru Lan, who have always been at odds, both dislike her.

When Minglan accompanied Old Madam Sheng to Youyang, Yuelan was not yet married.

When Sheng Yun and Li Shi gave her gold and silver jewelry, she was extremely envious and tried every means to take it for herself.

However, Minglan did not let her succeed.

Many years ago, with the help of Li and Shengwei, Xiulan married a scholar from the neighboring county.

Unfortunately, the scholar failed the imperial examinations repeatedly. Sheng Wei then spent some money to help him get a teaching position. Although the couple were not wealthy, they lived a smooth and comfortable life.

Sheng Huilan originally had her eye on Hu Taisheng, the son of Sheng Wei's sister Sheng Yun, and tried every means to attract him whenever they met. The Hu family was a well-known wealthy family in Youyang, and he was their only son, so there were quite a few women in Youyang who wanted to marry him.

Sheng Yun's first choice for a daughter-in-law was Minglan, and her second choice was Pinlan.

Unfortunately, the two men were of extremely high status, far beyond what her Hu family could possibly hope to achieve.

After sensing the signs, Sheng Yun quickly arranged a marriage between Hu Taisheng and his family to make Sheng Huilan and the third branch of the Sheng family give up on the idea.

Seeing no hope with the Hu family, Sheng Huilan turned to seducing other men and successfully married into a wealthy family. Unfortunately, the household was filled with concubines.

Yuelan fared even worse, having married a nouveau riche from the countryside on her own initiative.

This nouveau riche spent his days indulging in frivolous pursuits, and would beat and kick Yuelan at the slightest provocation; moreover, he was extremely stingy.

Sheng Wei and Li Shi didn't like her much, let alone support her; they felt she had brought it on herself.

On the soft couch, Old Madam Sheng gently exhaled a breath of stale air.

"With Song-ge here, it's fine. He's reliable and will definitely handle things properly."

"You two are both getting on in years, and your health is of utmost importance. The journey from the capital to Youyang is long and arduous; why bother with such a long and arduous trip?"

"Just write a eulogy and send it to a suitable person."

The memory of how this third uncle bullied them, a widow and her orphans, and tried to seize their family property is still vivid in their minds.

Sheng Hong's eyes darted around, and he nodded, saying, "Mother is right. I have been feeling a bit unwell lately, and if I were to travel a long distance, I'm afraid I might really fall ill on the road."

"Why don't we let Changfeng take the sacrificial text and go on behalf of my brother and me? We can broaden our horizons along the way."

The old lady held her teacup and glanced at her sideways.

“Indeed, Changfeng is becoming more and more composed. Having him represent the Sheng family to pay respects is both proper and respectable.”

Li sat upright in her armchair, secretly admiring the tacit understanding between the mother and son.

Sheng Wei blinked and then said, "Excellent, excellent. My family has been very busy lately, so I'll have to trouble Brother Feng to make the trip."

“When he returns, I, as his uncle, will present him with a generous gift.”

The old lady gently turned the prayer beads and said in a gentle voice, "We're all family, no need to be so polite. Let's settle it here, and Changfeng will set off the day after tomorrow."

"Yes, son. I will have people prepare ships to sail south." Sheng Hong stood up and bowed.

While Li and the old lady were chatting, Sheng Wei and his brother Sheng Hongtang went to the study in the second courtyard to write a eulogy.

Sheng Hong, a seasoned veteran of officialdom, was naturally adept at writing eulogies.

He then wielded his brush and poured ink into the paper.

This greedy, lustful, shrewd, and opportunistic third uncle was transformed into a kind, benevolent, and compassionate gentleman who looked after his juniors.

Sheng Wei was taken home by the eldest branch of the family to take over the business during his studies, so his literary skills were naturally not as refined and experienced as Sheng Hong's.

After pondering for a long time over the blank page, he finally managed to utter a few words that went against his conscience: "In my youth, I was fortunate to receive your care..."

In the end, when he couldn't write anything more, Sheng Hong wrote it for him.

-

The day after Sheng Changfeng set sail south, it was the Lantern Festival.

The imperial court won a victory, and this year's lantern festival is even more extravagant and lively than in previous years.

As early as the twelfth lunar month, skilled craftsmen on the Imperial Street erected a colorful lantern mountain several meters high. Hundreds of lanterns were lit up at the same time, shining brightly and illuminating the night sky as if it were daytime.

In the past, there were three consecutive days without a curfew, but Zhao Han decreed that two more days be added this year.

The late emperor visited Xuande Gate or Jinglong Gate more than once during the Lantern Festival to watch lanterns and enjoy operas, sharing the joy with the people and encouraging them to go out and appreciate the lanterns.

He even issued an imperial decree: all who come to the Imperial Street to view the lanterns will be given a cup of wine.

Zhao Han also plans to follow the example of the late emperor and go out of the palace to enjoy the scenery this year. However, it is bound to be extremely complicated for the emperor to go out of the palace.

The entourage was divided into three groups. The first to follow were Empress Dowager Cao, Hua Lan, the princes and princesses, and several concubines who were valued by the late emperor during his lifetime, in order to demonstrate the emperor's benevolence and filial piety in governing the country.

Secondly, there were eunuchs and palace maids who served tea and water, helped the empresses and concubines, and took care of the princes and princesses.

In addition, the Imperial City Guard's personal guards were required to be deployed around Xuande Tower in tight security, with layers upon layers of protection, to prevent any accidents from happening.

Thirdly, high-ranking officials, close relatives of the imperial family, and ladies of noble birth were invited to participate, as were some retired but highly respected senior officials.

As the hour of Xu (7-9 PM) approaches, night falls.

Zhao Han, dressed in a scarlet casual outfit, stepped into Xuande Gate surrounded by a crowd.

The streets were brightly lit, bustling with people, and filled with laughter and cheerful chatter.

Hua Lan stood to the side, a smile on her face, her eyes gentle and graceful. She wore only a red gold and kingfisher feather phoenix hairpin in her hair, which not only maintained the majesty of an empress but also exuded a festive joy.

"Father, look at the lanterns that Consort Zhaorong made for me!" Lingjie said in a clear voice, holding Shulan's hand.

She was four years old, with her hair in two buns tied with a red ribbon, and her chubby little hands holding a rabbit lantern.

Zhao Han smiled and bent down to pick her up. Lingjie's eyebrows and eyes were quite similar to Shulan's, but upon closer inspection, she had more of a carefree and cheerful air than Shulan.

"This rabbit lantern is exquisitely made. Does Ling-jie like it?"

"I like it. Consort Zhaorong even taught me how to hold the lamp handle like this so I won't get burned by the candle."

After saying that, Lingjie demonstrated in a very serious manner, her little face full of earnestness.

Shulan looked at Lingjie with eyes full of affection. She could tell that Zhao Han's love for Lingjie far exceeded that for the princes.

With this princess by his side, even if he doesn't get another prince, he can still live a stable life in the future.

Hua Lan's eyes flickered slightly, and she said gently, "Sixth Sister and Xiao Tao used to love tinkering with these things when they were at home. Not only were the designs novel, but they also always had some clever little ideas hidden in them."

"My fourth and fifth sisters often fought fiercely over the lanterns she made."

As Zhao Han listened to her words, her smile deepened.

Among the crowd below the city gate, Zhao Pan'er wore a light blue brocade dress and had a thin layer of powder on her face.

With slightly upturned eyes and pink lips, she is beautiful without being seductive, and has a fresh and lively appearance that makes her stand out in a bustling crowd.

Sun Sanniang stood beside her, tiptoeing to look up at the city tower.

"It's too far away, I can't see clearly. Pan'er, what do you think this official looks like?" She reached out and tugged at Zhao Pan'er's sleeve, her eyes full of curiosity.

Zhao Pan'er smiled gently and said in a soft voice, "Just like us, one nose and two eyes."

"Isn't that obvious? If it were different, wouldn't it be like a monster from a storybook?" Sun San Niang frowned slightly and scolded.

Zhao Pan'er looked at her with a smile, "If I have another chance to enter the palace, I will take you with me, Third Sister."

"Then...then you'd better teach me some manners. I'm clumsy and clumsy, and if I'm impolite, I'm afraid I'll lose my head." After saying that, Sun San Niang unconsciously shrank her neck.

(End of this chapter)