The Splendor of the Red Chamber

Thanks to their ancestors being merchants, the second branch of the Sheng family had a rather remote old house in the capital, but it occupied a considerable area, even larger than the five-courtyard house of Grandmother Jia.

The western annex.

Although Sheng Shulan and Jia Lian had only been separated for two days, and the second branch of the Sheng family had treated her to a lavish welcome, the tension of being new to the capital still made her feel as if each day was an eternity.

Therefore, upon hearing that Jia Lian was coming over that evening, Sheng Shulan became restless and would sit down at her dressing table to tidy herself up almost every half hour.

However, there were others in the Sheng family who were even more panicked and agitated than her.

That was Madam Wang from the second branch of the Sheng family. Ever since she received the news, Madam Wang has been restless, sending people to Shulan's side seven or eight times to deliver messages.

Unfortunately, Madam Wang was unpredictable, constantly changing her mind and going in the opposite direction, leaving Shulan completely confused and unable to figure out what her aunt was trying to do.

"The old lady is still so impatient and impulsive."

Xiao Die couldn't help but whisper sarcastically, "It's because she's always so impatient, like a firecracker that she gets blown up at the slightest provocation. So, despite her noble birth, she's always been overshadowed by Lin Qinshuang."

"Little Butterfly!"

Shulan scolded her and whispered a reminder: "Your status is different now, so stop gossiping about the second wife's family."

As she spoke, she stood up and pressed Xiaodie down to sit in front of the dressing table, saying, "You should also dress up nicely. If the Second Master is in the mood today, I will ask him to style your hair."

Xiaodie was about to argue, but after hearing what he said next, her face immediately turned red, and her tough, steely nature softened into a gentle, yielding one.

Not to mention how Xiaodie dressed up in a coy and hesitant manner.

Meanwhile, in the main house, Madam Wang had been causing trouble for most of the day, still as energetic as if she had been injected with chicken blood, doing whatever came to mind and never stopping for a moment.

Unable to contain herself any longer, Liu Mama, the trusted maidservant beside her, whispered, "Madam, you've gone too far. Even when the young master Qi from the Duke of Qi's mansion came to visit the other day, you didn't make such a fuss."

"How can that be the same?!"

Madam Wang rolled her eyes: "Young Master Qi studied at our private school when he was in Dengzhou, so we often visited each other. Besides, Second Master Lian has the Emperor's favor and holds a proper official position."

As she spoke, she couldn't help but urge, "Where are Hualan and her husband? Quickly send someone to check on them again!"

"I've been urging them, I've been urging them for a long time."

Seeing that she was panting heavily after saying all that in one breath, Liu Mama quickly rubbed her back and said, "Madam, please sit down and rest for a bit. Second Brother and Third Brother are keeping an eye on things outside."

The second branch of the Sheng family now has six children: the eldest daughter Sheng Hualan (who is married), the second son Sheng Changbai, the third son Sheng Changfeng, the fourth daughter Sheng Molan, the fifth daughter Sheng Rulan, and the sixth daughter Sheng Minglan.

Now, Madam Wang reluctantly sat down and drank a few sips of tea, but then remembered something and tried to jump up to give orders.

Just then, someone outside called out that the master had returned.

Madam Wang hurriedly rose to greet him. Upon seeing her husband, Sheng Hong, she didn't even bother to consider his social standing before excitedly saying, "Young Master Qi just came the other day, and today the young master from the Rongguo Mansion is here too! Our Sheng family is really in for a surprise..."

In her opinion, the young master Qi had just come the other day, and now the second master Lian from the Rongguo Mansion was here. Two dukes' mansions serving one Sheng family—what a blessing!

"You've completely lost face!"

Unexpectedly, Sheng Hong interrupted her, sat down on the daybed, and slammed his hand on the coffee table: "Who told you to make such a big fuss, with everyone pressing you from left to right, as if you're afraid people won't know our family wants to curry favor with the powerful?! As if you're afraid people won't know our daughter has become someone's mistress?!"

Taken aback by this sudden revelation, Madam Wang was somewhat stunned and couldn't help but sit down opposite her to protest, "Didn't Master himself say that he wanted to take this opportunity to improve relations with the Rongguo Mansion?"

"I mean, I want to use this as an excuse to get on good terms with Jia Zheng, the second master of the Rongguo Mansion! We're colleagues in the Ministry of Works, with the same rank and duties, so if we're closer, no one can find fault with it!"

As he spoke, Sheng Hong pointed outside, then to the villa where Sheng Shulan was, and angrily questioned, "You want me to sit with that Second Master Lian now? What am I supposed to say to him, and what is our relationship?"

To put it bluntly, he wanted to curry favor with the powerful and wealthy, but at the same time maintained the airs of a virtuous official and didn't want to give anyone cause for criticism.

"Uh~"

Madam Wang was momentarily speechless. She was so happy that she forgot that Jia Lian's relationship with the Sheng family was somewhat shady.

She quickly got up and went around to Sheng Hong's side, asking anxiously, "My lord, what should we do now?"

Sheng Hong glared and said, "What else can we do? We've even invited our eldest son-in-law, so we have no choice but to bite the bullet and entertain him!"

As he spoke, he picked up his teacup and took a big gulp, as if trying to suppress the anger in his heart.

At this moment, Liu Mama whispered a reminder: "Master, this Second Master Lian has been appointed by the Emperor and will soon be serving as a marriage officer in the Imperial City Guard. Now that he has a proper official position..."

puff~

Sheng Hong spat out a mouthful of tea, stood up, and said, "He's become a marriage officer? Is that really true?!"

As she wiped the tea stains off her clothes, Madam Wang pouted and said, "He said it himself, how could it be false?"

Upon hearing this, Sheng Hong's eyes darted around, and his expression changed noticeably.

Just then, another report came in, saying that Sheng Changwu and Sheng Hualan had arrived one after the other.

Sheng Hong subconsciously stood up, then slowly sat down again, pretending to be calm, crossed his legs, and dusted off his clothes, saying, "Fine, I'll just have to deal with this Second Master Lian. If things come to a head, I'll deal with it as they come."

Outside the second gate.

Sheng Hualan stepped off the carriage with a cheerful expression and walked out. When she saw familiar maids and servants, she would even take the initiative to greet them and chat for a few words, making the servants feel as if they were basking in a spring breeze.

That's just her personality. No matter how much she suffers at her husband's family home, she always presents a sunny and cheerful image to outsiders and never shows any negative emotions in front of others.

In the original TV series, Sheng Hualan endured this hardship for seven or eight years.

When his younger sister Minglan was chosen by his husband's boss, Yuan Wenshao's attitude changed completely, and he suddenly transformed into a "good husband" who cared about his wife and in-laws.

The couple worked together to bring their boss and Minglan together, and Sheng Hualan finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel.

However, the true "love" between her and her husband, where they were inseparable and lived in perfect harmony, would not occur until ten years after their marriage, when the Sheng family father and son were all promoted to the fourth rank or above.

But let's leave that aside.

Meanwhile, Hua Lan was walking towards the back courtyard with a smile when she suddenly heard someone in front of her ask, "Why are you alone? Where's your brother-in-law?"

This is the voice of Sheng Changfeng, the third brother born out of wedlock.

Hua Lan paused, thinking they were coming for her, but then she heard someone laugh and say, "Second Master Lian has guests at home. He told me to come back first, and he'll come over later."

The one speaking must be Sheng Changwu from the eldest son's family.

But who is this "Second Master Lian" he's talking about? Has Sister Shulan already gotten engaged again so quickly?

"Giggle~"

Hua Lan let out a silvery laugh, lifted the hem of her skirt and walked a few steps quickly to her two younger brothers. She looked her cousin Sheng Changwu up and down carefully and said with a face full of satisfaction, "It's been a few years since I last saw you, Changwu, you've grown into a grown man."

"Sister Hualan."

Sheng Changwu quickly bowed in greeting, then asked with some curiosity, "Where's my brother-in-law? Wasn't he supposed to be coming too? I've never met him before."

"this……"

Just as Hua Lan was about to say something to cover for Yuan Wenshao, Liu Mama came out and said, "Eldest sister, Wu Ge'er, the master and madam want you to come in and talk."

The two cousins ​​quickly followed Liu's mother into the main hall.

Sheng Hong first chatted with his eldest daughter for a few minutes.

Hearing that his son-in-law hadn't come this time either, Sheng Hong was displeased, so he turned to Sheng Changwu and asked, "Has the Second Master Lian of the Rongguo Mansion really become a marriage officer in the Imperial City Guard?"

"Of course it's true!"

Sheng Changwu said with pride, "This was an appointment personally made by the Emperor when he summoned Second Master Lian. How could his words be false?!"

"Hmm~"

Sheng Hong nodded, then added, "You must maintain this relationship well in the future. There are many government offices that can oversee the Five Cities Garrison, but the most important and influential one is the Imperial City Garrison!"

As he spoke, he gave a further explanation.

The Five City Garrison Command has many superiors, such as the Ministry of War in charge of selection and assessment, the Censorate in charge of supervision and impeachment, the Ministry of Justice in charge of judicial review, and the Shuntian Prefecture in charge of local administration, etc.

But if we're talking about the strictest father in the Five Cities Garrison, it has to be the Imperial City Garrison!

The Imperial City Guard not only had the power to mobilize the Five City Garrison Commands, but also the power to supervise and monitor them, as well as the final authority to review the promotion and transfer of officials within the Five City Garrison Commands.

It can be said that she wielded all the power of a "mother-in-law" in one person.

Although it cannot make decisions unilaterally and must consult and cooperate with other departments, the Imperial City Guard is definitely the department with the greatest influence on the Five City Garrison.

After hearing this explanation, which was clearly loaded with meaning, Sheng Changwu slapped his thigh and suddenly realized, "No wonder our Five Cities Garrison Commander Chen became even more intimate and attentive to Second Master Lian and me after hearing the words 'Personal Affairs Captain'."

Sheng Hualan, who was standing nearby, couldn't contain herself any longer and quietly asked Madam Wang, "Mother, how did Second Master Lian of the Rongguo Mansion get involved with Changwu?"

"It's your sister Shulan..."

Madam Wang immediately embellished the story of Shulan becoming Jia Lian's mistress.

Sheng Hualan was filled with regret after hearing this. If she had known there would be such an opportunity, she would have dragged Yuan Wenshao over no matter what.

"Mother."

After a moment's thought, Hua Lan stood up and said, "I'll go pay my respects to my grandmother first, and then I'll go see my little sister Shu Lan."

The only thing we can do now is ask my cousin to whisper sweet nothings in my ear.