Do You Know?: Rule the World

"Extorting money? If my aunt heard this, I'm afraid she would be furious."

Hua Lan smiled brightly, like a blooming autumn chrysanthemum.

In the main hall, Wang Ruofu couldn't help but feel a lump in her throat when she saw Hualan, and she almost cried out loud while hugging her.

"A daughter pays her respects to her mother." Hua Lan bowed politely, tears glistening in her eyes.

The mother and daughter sympathized with each other for a while.

Wang Ruofu then restrained her expression and looked at Zhao Han with loving eyes, her voice still choked with sobs.

"Sir, did my Huaer cause you any trouble?"

Zhao Han smiled gently and said, "Hua'er is gentle and virtuous. It is a great honor for me to have such a good wife."

"That's good, that's good. Hua'er is a child..." Wang Ruofu wanted to say a few polite words as usual and point out some harmless little faults of Hua Lan to show her humility.

But my brain was about to crash, and I couldn't find anything wrong with Hualan when she was at home.

So, she laughed dryly twice and said, "If there is anything she is not considerate of, I hope you will forgive her."

He looked at Hualan tenderly and said softly, "Mother-in-law, you are wrong. It is me who is careless. If I have not taken good care of you, I hope you can give me some pointers."

Upon hearing this, Wang Ruofu immediately smiled with relief and then introduced this aunt from the Kang family to Zhao Han.

After going through the formalities according to the etiquette, Aunt Kang straightened her clothes, put on a fake smile, and said, "Sir, your son-in-law is in the favor of the officials in the court. When you are successful in the future, don't forget to support your wife's family."

Aunt Kang turned her head and glanced at Wang Ruofu. "After all... my sister married her eldest daughter to your Zhao family."

These words were ostensibly spoken for the sake of the Sheng family's future, and to suggest a new son-in-law for Wang Ruofu.

In fact, every word is full of thorns, which invisibly instigates the relationship between Zhao Han, the Sheng family and Hua Lan.

Hua Lan listened and was anxious. Just as she was about to speak, she heard Zhao Han say, "Aunt Kang, you're joking. My father-in-law has a good reputation in the court. Changbai is also diligent in his studies, and he has the style of Old Master Wang. He will become a great man in the future."

"Why should the Sheng family rely on others' power? Moreover, as a minister, loyalty to the emperor is the most important thing. This is the true way to bring honor to the family."

These words were so powerful that the smile on Aunt Kang's face froze.

Hua Lan agreed with a blazing gaze, "Master, you are absolutely right, mother, what do you think?"

Wang Ruofu glanced at Hualan, then looked at her sister's dark face.

I could only nod repeatedly: "Yes, yes, that makes sense, uncle."

Afterwards, Zhao Han and Hua Lan went to Shou'an Hall to pay their respects to the old lady.

The three girls were all chatting and having fun here. Molan was the first to bow and said in a clear voice, "Greetings, brother-in-law."

Rulan followed suit and saluted, her eyes rolling around on Zhao Han.

Minglan was wearing a light green skirt and stood quietly on the side, looking particularly dignified when she saluted.

Hualan snuggled up to the old lady affectionately and talked to her for a long time. Then Sheng Hong sent someone to invite them to the ancestral hall to worship their ancestors.

Today, Hualan will enter the ancestral hall as a married woman to ask the ancestors to bless her new family.

At the same time, Zhao Han will also pay homage to the ancestors of the Sheng family as a new son-in-law.

By the time all the formalities were completed, it was almost noon, and the Sheng family had separate seats for men and women.

After lunch, Zhao Han, Changbai and others gathered together to discuss poetry and important news in the court.

Hua Lan was naturally pulled back to Wei Rui Xuan by Wang Ruofu. After all, when it got dark, Hua Lan would start her return journey.

I don’t know when I will come back next time.

If a newly married girl goes back to her parents' home every few days, it will definitely cause gossip if the news gets out.

Either they are accused of not knowing the rules, or they are suspected of marital discord.

"Hua'er, why do you look thinner than when you were at home?"

Wang Ruofu looked at Hualan carefully from head to toe, afraid of revealing even an inch of her body.

Cui Chan pursed her lips and smiled, "Madam, my son-in-law doesn't even have a maid in his room. He and the girl are newly married, so it's inevitable that there will be some troubles..."

"what?!"

"Not even a concubine?!" Wang Ruofu exclaimed, looking at Hualan in disbelief.

Most young men from wealthy families already have maids before they get married, and some even have their family elders start arranging them when they are fourteen or fifteen years old.

Of course, apart from Qi Heng who was restrained by Princess Pingning, there were no maids in his backyard.

There wasn't even a maid with a slightly outstanding appearance, for fear that Qi Heng would be seduced by a maid and his studies would be delayed.

"My son, I think Caizan is an honest girl. Use her when you need her. Don't tire yourself out." Wang Ruofu instructed in a deep voice.

Hua Lan frowned slightly, hesitated for a moment and said, "Mother, Cai Zan is honest, but I feel that with her appearance, I'm afraid she won't be pleasing to the master."

"This..." Wang Ruofu turned her head to look at her external brain - Mother Liu.

Madam Liu pondered for a moment and then said, "Madam, don't be too anxious to feel sorry for the girl. It's only been a few days since we got married, so it's inevitable that there will be some heated arguments."

"After some time, when the young lady is pregnant, it won't be too late to look for a concubine."

Wang Ruofu nodded vigorously upon hearing this, "Yes, yes, the most important thing is to have a child first."

Hua Lan looked up at the two of them, weighed the pros and cons silently in her mind, and finally nodded in agreement.

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Chapter 69 Exposing Zhu Manniang

As dusk fell, Hualan and Zhao Han set off on their journey home hand in hand, under Wang Ruofu's reluctant gaze.

Inside the carriage, Hua Lan's eyes were dim and her face looked lost.

Zhao Han reached out and took her into his arms, saying softly, "Next time we have a day off, I'll come back with you, and no one will dare to say anything behind your back."

Upon hearing this, Hua Lan nodded with tears in her eyes.

As for Gu Tingye, he knew that Zhao Han suspected Zhu Manniang of having bad intentions towards him.

But in his eyes, Man Niang was weak and unable to take care of herself, and was as docile as a kitten.

Even if he has some ulterior motive, it is only for himself.

In order to prove to Zhao Han that his vision was good, he specially invited him to Tianshui Lane before rushing back to Bailudong Academy to continue his studies.

Along the way, Gu Tingye said with a smile: "Actually, I didn't intend to take Man Niang back to Bian Jing, but she insisted on coming back to pay tribute to her brother."

"Her brother was such a scoundrel when he was alive, yet Manniang still cherishes the brother-sister relationship."

"Repaying evil with kindness like this, she is truly a pure and kind woman."

"I've been keeping her here for the past few days. Although it's a bit shabby, it's quiet."

He knew that if he brought Man Niang back to the Marquis' Mansion now, it would not only make Gu Yankai angry, but also give Xiao Qinshi and Gu Tingyu a chance to talk nonsense.

My reputation, which had just improved a little, was about to be ruined again.

"To be honest, Brother Chengyuan, I've already made plans in my mind."

"Next spring, if I can pass the imperial examination, I will immediately bring Man Niang into the Marquis's residence and make her my concubine."

"By then, I will have achieved great success. Even if my father is unhappy, he won't be able to stop me too much."

As he spoke, Gu Tingye smiled and a glimmer of determination flashed in his eyes.

Zhao Han just glanced at him indifferently.

"Zhong Huai, ah Zhong Huai, if it's really as I expected, she's here for your status as the legitimate son of the Ningyuan Marquisate."

"How are you supposed to cope with this?"

Gu Tingye was stunned for a moment, his brows slightly furrowed.

"I, Gu Tingye, hate being deceived and betrayed the most in my life. If she lies to me, I will never keep her."

Turn the corner and enter Tianshui Lane.

Under the guidance of Gu Tingye, they came straight to a small courtyard with a locked gate.

An old woman with gray hair, who was sitting under an old locust tree picking beans, saw Gu Tingye and said with a smile, "It's such a bad luck that you came back, brother. Your wife just hurried out with a package."

Hearing this, Gu Tingye slapped his head.

"I forgot that Manniang said she was going to pay tribute to her brother today. I think she will be back soon."

"Brother Chengyuan, please come in and have a cup of tea, and take a look at my articles."

Zhao Han stopped, his eyes flickering as he said calmly, "Why are you bringing a package to pay respects to your brother, and why are you in such a hurry?"

"This..." Gu Tingye was speechless for a moment, and his brows frowned unconsciously.

He turned his head to look at the old woman, his voice filled with anxiety, "Auntie, did you see which direction my wife went?"

The old woman pointed to the end of the alley and said, "East. She was walking so fast. She didn't even turn her head when I called her."

"East... I remember her brother's grave was in the western suburbs..."

Gu Tingye spoke to himself, feeling a little uneasy.

Having grown up in a den of tigers and wolves, he is not a fool after all.

Moreover, once the seeds of doubt are planted, they will be like a cancer attached to the bone and will be difficult to get rid of.

Zhao Han noticed his expression changing, and spoke at the right moment, "Seeing is believing. Zhong Huai, do you want to go?"

Gu Tingye took a deep breath and nodded: "Okay, thank you Brother Chengyuan!"

After Shitou prepared the horses, the three of them rode all the way to the western suburbs of Bianjing City.

In front of the grave of Zhu Manniang's brother Zhu Gui, the loess was dry and overgrown with weeds, and no one had ever come to pay tribute.

Gu Tingye’s expression became increasingly solemn.

Shitou scratched the back of his head and said, "Brother, why do I feel like this grave is much shorter than before..."

"Are you sure?" Gu Tingye looked at him sideways.

Shitou nodded repeatedly. After all, he had built Zhu Gui's tomb with his own hands, so he still had some impression of it in his mind.

Zhao Han's eyes flashed, and he whispered, "Why not dig it up and see, who knows, we might find something else today."