Do you know: I should be fat and you should be thin!

Yu Yanran rushed back before leaving, remembering that she should first share the good news with her grandparents who were living in retirement in Xuzhou.

The Grand Tutor and his wife left Bianjing at the end of last year, saying they wanted to spend their later years in peace and comfort in their hometown.

After she finished writing the letter, she asked a servant to deliver it to Xuzhou before setting off for the Sheng family, hoping to find Minglan to help her!

Wei Zhi was busy preparing for the "Floating Wine Cups on a Winding Stream" ceremony in the main hall, so that Yu Yanran could entertain the distinguished guests who came to offer their congratulations later.

Rong Feiyan followed her, using her own knowledge to help fill in the gaps and also trying to maintain a good relationship with this easy-going lady.

......

After the court session, Zhou Ning immediately went to the Ministry of Works' Literature and Art Academy in the Ministry of Personnel to collect his new clothes.

He had expected to be granted a purple robe, which would have been delivered directly to his residence by eunuchs from the Inner Palace Secretariat. He never imagined he would become a second-rank official, a Grand Master of the Palace with a golden purple robe, a prestigious title, meaning he would have to make the trip himself.

Wensi Institute!

He returned the scarlet robe and donned the purple one!

The silver fish is returned, the goldfish wobbles!

The new robe had sleeves no more than 1.2 feet wide and a length three inches from the ground, which neither hindered Zhou Ning's movement on horseback nor hindered his dignified bearing. His new official rank was engraved on the belly of the goldfish, which was tied to a leather belt and hung down his back. When he walked, the goldfish trembled slightly, and it could shimmer with tiny golden light in the sunlight.

"My monthly salary has increased to 60 guan, and I will receive a spring and winter clothing allowance every year, including 14 bolts of damask, 50 bolts of silk, 1 bolt of gauze, and a certain amount of cotton, as well as a monthly stipend of millet and rice..." Zhou Ning walked slowly, noting down his new salary and benefits.

When Li Tou saw Zhou Ning, dressed in a purple robe, walking with square steps, the silver light turned into a golden light, and she was stunned!

"Remember this next time: when you see someone in purple robes, you must straighten your clothes and tidy your appearance. You grew up with me, so I don't have high expectations for you. Just learn some basic manners, understand?" Zhou Ning said with a smile.

Pear Head nodded, quickly straightened her clothes, and asked, "Young master, are you hungry? I bought some cakes. Are we going home now?"

"Let's go to the Sheng family first. The young master is going to pick up his two wives!" Zhou Ning said happily.

He boarded the carriage, and Pear Head immediately drove to the Sheng family.

After disembarking from the carriage, Zhou Ning saw another carriage outside the Sheng residence, bearing a banner with the character "Zhou" on it, and thought to himself, "Yanran has also come to the Sheng residence?"

The servants of the Sheng family had never seen a man in purple robes visit before; this was the first time in the Sheng family. They hurriedly went into the mansion to report the visit.

Before long, the main gate swung open, and Sheng Changbai and his wife Hai Chaoyun came out to greet him.

Zhou Ning stopped Hai Chaoyun from being overly polite and returned the greeting to Sheng Changbai.

Sheng Changbai said, "You're here because of Sixth Sister, right? Come in with me!" He led the way.

Zhou Ning wanted to mention the matter of his fifth sister, but with so many people around, he decided to go into the mansion with him first.

main hall!

Sheng Hong and Wang Ruofu were both present. Upon seeing Zhou Ning enter in a purple robe, Sheng Hong immediately straightened his clothes, and Wang Ruofu also stood up to bow, expressing their respect for Zhou Ning's noble status.

"Lord Sheng, Madam Sheng, I've come to fetch you!" Zhou Ning greeted.

Sheng Hong quickly returned the greeting and asked, "Who are you meeting? Oh right, Madam Zhou did come; she's talking to Ming'er at Mu Cang Zhai."

Zhou Ning said, "I'm not here to pick her up. Didn't Lord Sheng say to the Emperor that my daughter is my concubine? If this doesn't count, it would be a crime of deceiving the Emperor. I'm here to pick up my fifth sister."

Sheng Hong exclaimed in surprise, "Rulan? Isn't that Minglan?"

Sheng Changbai didn't expect that Zhou Ning wanted the fifth sister. He wanted to speak but was held back by Hai Chaoyun.

Zhou Ning asked, "How could it be Sixth Sister? Shouldn't Old Madam Sheng have been in charge of Sixth Sister's marriage? So, Lord Sheng must be referring to Fifth Sister."

Sheng Hong was speechless. He really couldn't make decisions about Minglan's marriage; his mother would turn against him.

Even if Ru'er is disliked, she is still the legitimate daughter of the family. How can she be allowed to become someone else's concubine? But the crime of deceiving the emperor is such a terrifying title that she really cannot bear it!

Sheng Hong coughed and said, "Pengqi, Ru'er's matter still needs Madam's approval."

Seeing that the official had backed down, Wang Ruofu said happily, "Come on, let's go to my Weirui Pavilion. I'll sign an employment contract with you. Don't forget what you promised me!"

Zhou Ning had promised her that if Rulan bore him any children, they could be adopted by Yu Yanran, becoming his legitimate sons and daughters, and would continue to be raised by Rulan, calling her "Mother"! Although she would only be a concubine, a luxurious six-courtyard mansion worth 60,000 guan would be given to Rulan for protection. When he rose to a high position of power, he would petition the court for a special decree, exceptionally granting Rulan, a concubine, an official title. Everything could be written down; if he failed to fulfill any of these promises, Rulan could return to the Sheng family, and he would have to release her!

(Since Lady Zou died saving the Empress, and Lady Zou, as a concubine, received the title of Fifth-Rank Lady, it's not impossible for a concubine to be granted an imperial title. This is a habitual explanation, given my fear of being challenged.)

Seeing that Yu Yanran had been granted the title of Second-Rank County Lady at such a young age, Wang Ruofu was filled with envy. Thinking of Zhou Ning's promise to her, and the possibility that Rulan might also receive an imperial title, she was happy even if she were to become a concubine.

Sheng Hong hadn't expected Zhou Ning to be so capable, having already convinced his fiery wife. He wanted to say something more, but remembering the crime of deceiving the emperor, he could only watch the two leave.

Sheng Changbai led Hai Chaoyun aside and asked, "Why did you stop me just now?"

"My lord, this is not just Zhou's wishful thinking. Fifth sister and mother are also willing. Now that father-in-law has admitted it to the emperor, you should not interfere in this matter." Hai Chaoyun returned the favor.

Since Zhou Ning rescued her husband, she naturally wanted to help him and prevent her husband from causing trouble.

"I was there when Father said that, but he was clearly talking about Sixth Sister. If Fifth Sister takes her place today, what will happen to Sixth Sister? He and Pengqi have already been intimate. Everyone in Funing Palace heard it clearly yesterday. How will Sixth Sister get married in the future?" Sheng Changbai said anxiously.

He wasn't angry that his fifth sister was going to be a concubine, but rather that Zhou Ning had no intention of taking responsibility for Minglan!

This is absolutely outrageous!

Why tease if you won't accept it?

Zhou Ning: "..."

Hai Chaoyun said, "My lord, you may be overthinking it. Grandmother reassured us yesterday that Sixth Sister will also be going with Brother Zhou, it's just a matter of time."

Sheng Changbai remembered what Zhou Ning had once told him: he wanted both Rulan and Minglan!

This guy had barely put on the purple robe when he couldn't wait to run to his own house to fulfill his joke?

The joke is about to come true!

"No! I have to talk to him! Being obsessed with women is not the behavior of a gentleman!" Sheng Changbai said.

Hai Chaoyun abandoned her usual gentle and reasonable ways and desperately tried to stop him, buying time for Zhou Ning.

Wei Rui Xuan!

When Sheng Rulan saw Zhou Ning dressed in a purple robe with a glittering goldfish pouch, she praised how handsome he looked.

Zhou Ning spun around in a flamboyant manner, and even the peacock, after displaying its tail feathers, praised her for being even more beautiful than yesterday, making it impossible for him to look away.

Sheng Rulan was delighted upon hearing this and searched for new jewelry to wear for Zhou Ning.

Seeing that her youngest daughter was genuinely happy, and that Zhou Ning was even better at sweet talk than Sheng Hong, Wang Ruofu became even more determined. She hurriedly asked Liu Mama to bring the writing materials, wanting to sign a contract with him on the spot!

"This is the land deed for the house I promised. Madam, you can have Fifth Sister sign and affix her seal. I'll go to Shou'an Hall to pay my respects to the Old Madam first. You can chat for a while, and I'll pick her up later. I remember all my promises. The Zhou family welcomes Madam anytime, and if Fifth Sister wants to come back to see you, I will not stop her." After Zhou Ning and Wang Ruofu signed the deed, Zhou Ning took out the land deed for his family's six-courtyard mansion and handed it to Wang Ruofu.

Led by the maid, he continued his attack on Shouan Hall.

I vow to take advantage of the purple robe's power and tonight I'll take Erlan into my bed and enjoy our time together day and night!

......