There were about seven or eight women guests in the room. While they were chatting with each other, they couldn’t help casting an eye over Minglan. Everyone knew that the youngest illegal daughter of the Sheng family had married into the most prestigious family. Not only was her husband valiant and eminent, he also opened a new mansion for him and Minglan to live. Therefore, Minglan didn’t need to listen to her parents-in-law’s commands, nor did she need to deal with her sisters-in-law. She could design the huge mansion as she liked and allocate all the money of her family without any restrictions from anyone. Lately, Minglan had even been ennobled as the second-class madam. She really was a blessed girl.

All the women guests looked at her. Today, Minglan was wearing a jade-green brocade jacket embroidered with lily flower and Ruyi pattern and a green long dress embroidered with osier pattern. Her hair was combed into a crescent knot, which was anchored by a glaring gold and silver hairpin in plum blossom shape inlaid with a coral. On the head of the hairpin were three layers of the small tassels each of which hanged a glossy red coral bead that swayed by her cheeks.

It was clear to see that Minglan was dressed in low profile. Only the pair of jade bracelets with threads were making silvery sounds on her wrist. Those women guests saw that the bracelets were made by pure white nephire, which looked quite elegant. What’s more, the four of the bracelets were all engraved with the same patterns. Only the jewelries which were presented to the emperor would have such a good quality.

Then, the guests began to observe Minglan’s face. And they only felt Minglan truly was a beauty. The delicate features and charming smiles on her face made her look so glamorous and dazzling, which made them couldn’t help praising her secretly.

Wang shi was sitting in the middle. When she saw Minglan behaving like a noble madam and those women all intending to sit around Minglan in order to fawn upon on her, she couldn’t help feeling indignant. However, Minglan and Rulan had stayed together the whole time and whispered to each other joyfully, seeming like two close sisters. That scene made Wang shi not that disturbed anymore.

Nevertheless, Aunt Kang who had sat beside Wang shi had been ignored the whole time. All the women guests weren’t willing to talk to her and Hai shi also treated her indifferently. As Aunt Kang saw Minglan, an illegal daughter, was so popular, she got displeased right away.

“Minglan,” Aunt Kang suddenly sneered in a loud voice, “Don’t forget about your mother and the Sheng families who have made you who you are. I know you have been ennobled, but even if you get a higher title, you still couldn’t put on airs here! Otherwise, you are just an ungrateful girl.”

Minglan, being shocked, raised her head slightly and looked at Aunt Kang. Then Minglan found the latter putting on an unnatural smile on the corner of her twisted mouth. All the other women guests in the room also looked at each other with surprised look on their faces. Minglan smiled and said, “Oh, I see.”

Seeing that Minglan only replied her indifferently with a respectful attitude, Aunt Kang got even angrier. Then she spoke in a cold voice, “Although you live in your own mansion now, you still couldn’t forget about the rules. Since your mother-in-law doesn’t live very far from you, you should examine yourself critically and give obeisance to her every morning and night. Also, you should visit your relatives more frequently. Be filial to the elders of the family and never disobey their orders! Don’t think poorly of the elders because you have been ennobled! If you don’t behave yourself in your own mansion and humiliate your mother and the Sheng family, I’ll be the first one to come after you!”

Her face turning deadly pale with fear, Yun’er kept dragging Aunt Kang’s sleeves. However, the latter completely ignored her daughter’s warning and continued to dash along.

The atmosphere in the room became awkward right away. The guests looked at each other while hearing Aunt Kang scolding Minglan without a break. Wang shi who sat beside Aunt Kang still kept silent. Meanwhile, Minglan only drank the tea leisurely. After Aunt Kang had finally decided to rest for a while, Minglan then said slowly, “Aunt, I’ll keep your words in mind. It’s such a shame that Cousin Yuan’er has gone to Fengtian. I am looking forward to get together with all the girls.”

After she had said that, Aunt Kang was deflated like a balloon which had been poked. The look on Yun’er’s face turned even paler. Kang Yuan’er and her mother-in-law Madam Wang nearly got locked into fierce quarrels every day. Old Madam Wang had already got ill because of that and nearly sent a divorcing letter to Kang Yuan’er.

Minglan fixed her eyes upon Aunt Kang with a cold smile on the corner of her mouth. If Aunt Kang dared to talk nonsense again, Minglan would never tolerate her anymore. Even since she had come to the ancient times, the only thing she had been doing was tolerating everything. But now she didn’t have the intention to tolerate this annoying aunt anymore.

Aunt Kang, infuriated and flustered, could only look to Wang shi for help. Wang shi received the signal and said with a sullen look on her face, “Minglan, you…”

“Mother!” Rulan interrupted Wang shi right in time and said with a smile, “Stop talking about those irrelevant things. We should shower the baby first. If my niece gets cold, father and brother will make you responsible for it!”

Although Rulan was smiling happily, she was glaring at Wang shi fiercely and emphasizing the words ‘irrelevant’ and ‘father and brother’. Wang shi knew what her daughter meant. Sheng Hong loathed Kang family all along. If someone with evil intention told Sheng Hong that she had helped Aunt Kang to scold Minglan, she would be rebuked again. So with her teeth gritted, she stopped babbling and announced the beginning of the shower ceremony.

Everyone all came up to the front to watch the ceremony. Aunt Kang was the only one who was left behind, which almost made her faint due to the anger.

After the shower, Minglan went to the Hall of Peaceful Ages alone. This place was still tranquil and suffused with the fragrance of the incense. Minglan only felt relaxed and happy as she took a deep breath under the tall osmanthus tree. Then she chuckled and ran inside breezily, almost knocking into Mama Fang at the door.

“Sixth Lady! Don’t run so fast. Others might see you like this…” Mama Fang warned her that lightly while looking around at the door.

Minglan slipped into Old Madam Sheng’s arms right away and wriggled like a twisted candy, saying adorably, “Grandma, I miss you so bad!”

“Who’s bad? I am totally fine!” There seemed to be a joyful look appearing on Old Madam Sheng’s calm face. She rubbed Minglan in her arms smilingly. Then Mama Fang left right away to fetch the snacks and the fruits.

Since they hadn’t met each other for a long while, they had so many things to talk about. Minglan asked if everything was fine in the family and Old Madam Sheng told her what had happened recently with keen pleasure, “… Your eldest sister-in-law’s condition was not so well this time. She has fallen ill lately and should rest for quite a while. So Wang shi started to regulate the family again. Quan has stayed with me these days.” Old Madam Sheng seemed to be in a good health. As she was saying this, she pointed to the curtain of the inner room.

Minglan ran toward the inner room to have a check where she found a white chubby baby lying on Old Madam Sheng’s bed. With his jade-like little fists which were as small as jujubes beside his red and tender face, the baby was breathing evenly in his sleep while snoring slightly.

Minglan walked out right away and sat beside Old Madam Sheng. Being quite excited about the news, Minglan said to Old Madam Sheng, “That’s great. Grandma, you won’t feel lonely with Quan by your side! Eh… But, why did Madam agree on this?”

Old Madam Sheng gave out an evil smile. Lately Wang shi had suffered a hidden loss.