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Minglan and Molan were far apart in character and had very little interest and hobby in common. However, the girl in front of them, who had arched eyebrows and wore brocade clothes, had successfully struck a responsive chord in the hearts of the two sisters as they all hated her.

“Sister Rulan, I like the white tea you sent me last time. At first, my mother thought it looked strange because the silvery white bud tips scared her. But we didn’t expect that it tasted refreshing with a lasting delicate fragrance.” In the House of Carefree, several girls were drinking tea. Kang Yuan’er held Rulan’s hand and chatted with her.

Rulan pursed her lips and smiled, “Cousin, since you liked it, I should have sent you more. But the white tea was given to me by Sister Minglan. You can ask her for some more.”

Kang Yuan’er immediately looked at Minglan, who lightly blew the tea and smiled, “The white tea isn’t some good stuff but is rare in the capital. I received some from Sister Yanran in Yunnan. As a girl who couldn’t keep anything for long, I already gave them all away.”

Kang Yuan’er’s delicate oval face clouded over the words. She stared at Minglan and said, “It seems that you don’t take me as your sister. You didn’t give me some white tea.” She knitted her brows with anger.

Molan laughed, “Sister Kang, my sister is the most honest girl. She only got a little tea, and it wasn’t even enough to be parceled out to the sisters in our family. So she sent the tea first to those closest to her.”

Her words added fuel to the fire. Kang Yuan’er was Aunt Kang’s youngest daughter and always relied on her mother’s favor to boss others about. Her sisters born of concubines dared not contradict her at all. So she was never offended by such barbed remarks. When she heard Molan’s words, she got angry and sneered, “You sent the tea to so many girls, and even Wenying, Sister Hualan’s sister-in-law, got the present. But you give me nothing. Maybe it’s because you despise me. I will ask aunt to judge it.”

Rulan frowned, “Minglan, why didn’t you give some white tea to Cousin Kang? We are family.”

Minglan laid down the hot teacup, shook her fevered hands and said unhurriedly, “Sister Yanran sent me 1.25 kilos of white tea. After receiving the tea, I sent half a kilo to Old Madam Sheng in Youyang. She takes the trouble to look after First Old Madam Sheng on behalf of our family and must be exhausted. As her granddaughter, I should show filial concern for her. Then I gave Madam 250 grams of the tea and divided the rest of the white tea into six parts. I gave them to Sister Hualan, Sister Rulan, Sister Molan, Sister-in-law Hai and Sister Yun. Big Sister Hualan has been taking care of me since I was a child, so I also gave my share to her. That’s why Sister Wenying received some white tea. Cousin Kang, if you really like the tea, I will write to Sister Yanran and ask her to send some more to you. But Yunnan is far away from the capital, you need to wait for a long time.”

In the final analysis, Minglan gave all the tea to members of Sheng family. She even gave her own share to Hualan and left no tea for herself. Kang Yuan’er wasn’t a lady of the Sheng family and had no right to blame Minglan. Even if she told Wang shiabout this, Minglan could easily clarify it.

Unable to find any fault with Minglan’s explanation, Kang Yuan’er curled her upper lips with unhappiness, but soon she smiled, “I was only joking. Why take it so seriously?”

Kang Yuan’er was originally the legal daughter of a noble family, but her father wasn’t ambitious and didn’t make any progress, so the Kang family went downhill these years. She didn’t envy Hualan and Rulan who lived a better life than she did, but disliked Molan and Rulan. So she often drove a wedge between Rulan and her two sisters. Though Kang Yuan’er masked her malice with a friendly smile in front of Molan and Minglan, she stirred Rulan up by reciting a list of her high-profile deeds that she had done to her sisters born of concubines. Therefore, every time Kang Yuan’er came to the Sheng Mansion, Rulan gave the cold shoulder to Molan and Minglan for quite a time.

Kang Yuan’er rolled her eyes and smiled, “I often hear that you are a handy girl and are adept at needlework. Last time I requested you to make two bed-curtains for my mother. Do you finish them?” Minglan answered airily, “No. I’m afraid that you have to wait a bit longer.”

Having been used to blowing up at her sister born of concubines, Kang Yuan’er immediately sneered, “The bed-curtains are for your elder, but you seemed unwilling to make them. I hear that you are kind and filial, but now you pass the buck. Do you look down upon my mother?”

Minglan cast a glance at Molan, who was drinking tea with her head bowed, and decided to fight alone. She replied with a worried look, “Cousin, you wronged me. I’ve never been lazy. It was hot some time ago. Considering that children are easy to catch a cold in hot days, I made two cotton silk underclothes for Shi and Quan respectively. I’m so clumsy that it took me a long time to finish the work. The other day I just sent them to Sister Hualan and Sister-in-law Hai. Aunt Kang is our elder, I believe that she also loves the children dearly and will certainly understand me.”

Rulan’s eyes lit up, “The underclothes… You made two underclothes?” Minglan blinked at Rulan twice and hinted, “Yes.”

Rulan immediately lowered her head and kept quiet. Every time Minglan made something for Hualan, she made an extra one and sent it to Marquis Zhongqin Household in the name of Rulan. Therefore, Rulan gained a good reputation among their relatives. Minglan was very sensible in this respect.

Kang Yuan’er got angrier when she saw Rulan stand by, “When on earth will you finish making them? Don’t try to deceive me. My sisters all finished the work early.”

Minglan opened her white, delicate hands and said innocently, “How could you compare me with your sisters? I’m the only young sister of Sister Rulan, but you have so many sisters in your family. Ah, Sister Rulan, if only you had a few more sisters! They could help me do some sewing.”

Rulan changed her expression. She was reluctant to have more sisters no matter whether they were born of Madam Wang or the concubines. Molan burst out laughing, and then covered her mouth with her hand to hold her laughter back, trembling slightly. Kang Yuan’er stamped her foot, “I didn’t mean that. I just want to say that you are inefficient.”

Minglan said earnestly, “I got it. I will follow the example of the cousins and practice more in the future. Anyway, I should be as skillful and proficient as female embroiders outside are.”

At this moment, Rulan couldn’t help but curl her lips into a smile. Aunt Kang was honey-mouthed but had an evil heart. She often deliberately made things difficult for the illegal children, and none of them married a good person. Although Aunt Kang had visited the Sheng Mansion for so many times, Minglan had only seen two illegal young ladies of Kang family. They were both good-looking. Unfortunately, one was shy and coward, unable to deal with big matters; the other always flattered her legal mother and sister.

Minglan was grateful that she wasn’t born in such a terrible family when she saw the two girls. Otherwise, she would rather kill herself. Kang Yuan’er was such a coward bully that she only dared to pick on Minglan who had no natural mother nor brother of her own.

Kang Yuan’er was choked by Minglan’s remarks yet couldn’t think out proper words to refute her. Minglan was so cautious in speaking that no one could trip her up.

Just then a noise came from the outside, as if there was a quarrel. Rulan frowned and asked Xique to have a look. After a while, Xique came back and explained with a smile, “Lady, it’s not a big deal. Xizhi was trying on a new hairpin from her family in her bedroom. But when Xiye saw that, she misunderstood that Xizhi stole her hairpin. So they had a slight altercation. I have lectured them and now they are reconciled with each other.”

Rulan was just about to say something but Molan spoke first in a meaningful tone, “Xiye isn’t sharp-witted at all. Although they are both servants’ children, she can’t beat Xizhi. Xizhi’s parents are all right-hand servants of Madam and Master. Moreover, her brother and sister-in-law are capable. As for Xiye, her mother passed away early and her father is a drinker. How dared she quarrel with Xiye? Even if she’s courageous, she should think about whether she deserves a better deal or not.”

Kang Yuan’er’s face was livid with anger. Rulan felt a bit uneasy but could not think of exactly the right thing to say. Molan glanced at them and said to Xique, “Although you are all Sister Rulan’s maids, you have different parents and different surnames. You’d better not meddle in other people’s family matters. You are just a lowly girl. Don’t push your luck.”

Kang Yuan’er smote the table and jumped to her feet, the veins on the back of her hand bulging as she asked with rage, “What do you mean?”

Molan said in make-believe astonishment, “I just taught her how to be a good maid, and I didn’t even scold or punish her. Do you think I have done something wrong? I dare not do the things beyond my power. If I want to discipline maids, I will go back to my house and discipline my maids.” Molan looked at Kang Yuan’er with a smile. She never depended on Wang shi. In truth, Kang Yuan’er had satirized her status as an illegal daughter for several times, and Aunt Kang even actively advised Wang shinot to seek a good marriage for her in case of being suppressed in the future. So she feuded with Kang Yuan’er and Aunt Kang.

Kang Yuan’er was so angry that she just said a few more words before she left unhappily.

Minglan gazed at the trembling leaves on the branches outside, which seemed about to flutter down. She turned to Rulan and smiled, “It’s getting colder. Father’s knees will ache if it gets cold. How about making a pair of knee pads for him? Sister Rulan, we can work together to make the knee pads. Would you like to rub the flannelette?”

Sheng Hong knew clearly about Rulan’s poor handicraft, so it was very difficult to cheat him. But if she lent a hand in making the knee pads, Sheng Hong would probably praise her a bit. So Rulan readily agreed, “Yes. I have some good cloths, and you can choose one later.” In fact, her maids would take on the job of rubbing the flannelette. So she only needed to provide the cloth.

According to the official stipulates during the mourning period, women of the rear garden shouldn’t watch a play or make a feast, but they could visit relatives, do needlework and gossip. So they wouldn’t felt bored.

But men couldn’t bear the boredom. After the first few months, several sons of aristocrats, who were born in powerful families, gradually revealed their real natures. Some of them held banquets in their house and caroused with their friends. Some of them went to whorehouses and indulged in merry-making. Some even secretly took concubines.

The new Emperor had just enthroned, and the courtiers didn’t know his temper so they dared not to write down these absurd affairs in the memorials to the Emperor. But a newly-arrived young censor in Sheng Hong’s department delivered a memorial to the new Emperor and revealed all these preposterous affairs that the men of noble families had done. The Emperor’s face turned livid with anger at the sight of the memorial and lost his temper on the spot at the court meeting.

He had gone through a difficult time before he ascended the throne. Now in mourning for his father, he dared not sleep with his concubines or set up a feast, and he even sent away the palace maids who was skilled in dancing and singing. He lived a simple life with few desires. But the men of noble families, who took imperial salary, dared to defy his orders openly! Did they regard him as nothing?

The Emperor acted fast. At first, he praised the young censor as an upright, outspoken, loyal and filial official who didn’t pander and flatter the aristocrats. Then he promoted and rewarded the censor. At last, he decreed a new order that Governor of Shuntian Prefecture must intensify the crackdown, the imperial censors must earnestly perform the supervisory function and Five Armies must be ready to arrest offenders at any time.

Following the example set by the young censor, Department of Supervision got busy at once. Sheng Hong had gained a foothold in the department and was reluctant to offend too many dignitaries, so he only chose some juniors to impeach. But the young censors were so bold that they almost impeached all the errant dignitaries in the capital.

In ancient times, the moral requirements of men were very simple- “Filial piety is the most important of all virtues”. The new Emperor punished the errant dignitaries in the name of observing mourning for the previous emperor. Everyone said nothing to refute his decision. The honest imperial censors quite agreed with Emperor because they disliked the noble families.

The Emperor punished more than a dozen noble families in just half a month. The punishments included forfeiting the salary, demoting post, rebuking, etc.

A dozen prominent imperial relatives uncontrollably abused the inspecting officers in the street. The Emperor immediately ordered the Imperial Guards to arrest them and take them to the Palace. Then they were flogged. As soon as they recovered, they were locked up in the students’ hostel of the Imperial College. The Emperor even invited several learned scholars, who had an abhorrence of sin, to hold training courses in order to teach them what propriety, honesty, shame, loyalty, filial piety, chastity and righteousness were.

The Emperor even sent two grand secretaries to inspect their learning progress regularly. The grand secretaries would randomly ask someone to recite a text. If they couldn’t recite it, they wouldn’t be allowed to return home. If they didn’t show respect to their teachers, they would be flogged until they admitted their mistakes.

These playboys used to be busy enjoying cockfights and dog racing, and bullying common people so that they hadn’t learned cultural knowledge. The duration of detention was repeatedly prolonged. The weather was getting colder, but they were still cooped up in the students’ hostel and bitterly ate vegetables and steamed breads. A few unruly men were beaten black and blue every day. The son of Princess Royal Qingning was the one who cried the most. His mother loved him dearly and went to the Imperial Palace, trying to beg for mercy. But she was stopped by a eunuch outside the palace and had no chance to see two empress dowagers.

The eunuch read out the imperial edict in a cold tone, “After the demise of my father, the whole nation is overwhelmed by sorrow. You are all imperial relatives and enjoy imperial favor. But you are disobedient and even have violated the law. There is no need to keep such disloyal and unfilial people in my nation.”

Princess Royal Qingning was frightened after she heard the imperial edict. Emperor Renzong (the previous emperor) had always been kind and generous. He had been partial to his grandsons and seldom punished the noblemen who had ties of kinship or friendship with him. Now Princess Royal Qingning finally realized that they had a new emperor. From then on, no one dared to go to the Imperial Palace and beg for Emperor’s mercy. Those playboys had to go to the Palace and express gratitude for Emperor’s favor after finishing the training courses, claiming that their cultural levels had greatly improved and they were able to help their families write antithetical couplets and invitation cards in the future. Some of them, who had suffered mental traumas during the confinement, could even compose neat doggerels with neat rhymes and oblique tones when they were inspired in the moment.

After these high-handed actions were taken, all the court officials knew that the new emperor was not as tenderhearted as the previous one. Wise or not, he wasn’t a man to be trifled with.

“His Majesty is taking deterrent measures.” Sheng Hong in a round-collar green housecoat stood at the desk. After he finished the main handwriting in the scroll, he smoothed his beard and said, “He does the right thing. At this critical moment, he should scare the disobedient aristocrats first.”

Changbai standing by thought for a while before he asked in a low voice, “His Majesty has ascended the throne. Is there still any disapproval?”

Sheng Hong picked up a purple small writing brush and inscribed some small words in a corner of the scroll. “Yes, of course. His Royal Highness Jing is the fifth son of previous emperor. If based on birth order, he should take the throne. But the late emperor disliked him because of his cruel nature, so he was conferred fief early and driven away from the capital. After Shen Chen Mutiny, the late emperor immediately conferred the empress on His Majesty’s mother. Then he made his sixth son crown prince in accordance with the system of succession by legal son. In this situation, His Royal Highness Jing is surely not convinced.”

Changbai understood and nodded slightly, “Now His Majesty has ascended the throne and His Royal Highness Jing is the subject. I wish His Majesty will be broad-minded and not collide with His Royal Highness Jing. After all, peace is precious for us.”

Sheng Hong finally finished writing. He seemed quite satisfied with his calligraphy, so he put down the writing brush and took his personal seal out to stamp while saying to his son, “We shouldn’t meddle in the imperial family matters. Just think more about our family.” After stamping his name on the scroll, Sheng Hong continued, “Old Madam wrote that First Old Madam Sheng is on her deathbed. By then Changwu should be in mourning for a year. What a pity! He has been the officer for less than a year.”

Changbai whispered, “Cousin Changwu’s problem is easy to deal with. He is good at his job and gets on well with his superiors and colleagues. Nine months later, we can help him get back his official position. But… Aunt Kang came to our mansion again yesterday.”

Sheng Hong lifted his calligraphy work and looked carefully at it under the lights. When he heard Changbai’s words, he frowned, “You uncle is in a big trouble now. He’s so self-conceited and insolent that he has made arbitrarily remarks on Cabinet’s affair. What’s more, he is audacious in the extreme and even dared to exploit the poor for personal gain. Even if I want to help him, I can do nothing.”

Changbai didn’t like Uncle Kang. But they were relatives and Aunt Kang repeatedly asked for his help. He should not sit idly by, so he said, “Why don’t we help Cousin Kang? I think he is a steady and useful man.”

Sheng Hong put down the scroll and paced back and forth for a while before he lifted his head, “Okay, we can help your cousin.”