Chapter 76 Sheng Hong and Wang Ruofu have their own thoughts

Six quarters past midnight (12:30 am).

A red gauze palace lantern floats on the Xuande Tower.

Then there was another crack of a whip.

In just a moment, hundreds of thousands of lanterns around the Imperial Street went out one after another.

The emperor stood up and returned to the palace.

The dignitaries and their families around the stands also left one after another.

The lantern show is over.

However, although the festival of the nobles has ended, the nightlife of the common people continues.

A night of dancing of fishes and dragons, and I cannot sleep tonight.

……

Sheng family.

People who went out returned home one after another.

Old Mrs. Sheng is old and cannot stay up late, so the lights in Shou'an Hall were turned off early.

Yang Wenyuan knew that Sheng Hong would return home after the emperor returned to the palace, so he sent Hualan back in advance.

When Sheng Hong got home, Hua Lan had already returned to her room to wash up.

Sheng Hong was still thinking about the stunning glimpse he had just had when he was viewing the lanterns, so he went back home and followed Wang Ruofu into Weiruixuan with a surprised expression on her face.

As soon as they sat down, Sheng Hong said to Wang Ruofu, "Hualan should be back by now. Call her over before she rests. I have something to say to her."

Wang Ruofu thought: I was wondering why you came to my room tonight, it turned out to be for Hualan, but after thinking about it again, she looked puzzled and said:
"It's so late, why are you looking for Hualan?"

"It's to wake her up, of course."

Sheng Hong leaned over, stretched out his hand and leaned on the edge of the table, and said unhappily: "Although tonight is the Lantern Festival, and although Hua'er will discuss marriage with the Yang family in a few days, Hua'er is still unmarried after all, and is still the daughter of my Sheng family. As a father, I saw her and a man invited to visit the lanterns. Should I pretend that I know nothing? How can I do that!"

"So what are you going to say? Call Hua'er over here and give her a lecture?"

Wang Ruofu reached out and brushed off the sleeves that were hanging down on the armrest of the chair, and said, "I won't do this evil thing."

"Although Hua'er did something a little out of line tonight, she will be getting married in a few days. I love her so much that I can't wait to scold her."

"Then why did you call Huaer here?" Wang Ruofu asked with a puzzled look on her face.

"Of course I have to point her out."

Seeing Wang Ruofu was about to ask again, Sheng Hong immediately explained: "It's not a reprimand, just a reminder to her, to let her know that we found her and Yang Wenyuan invited to visit the lanterns tonight, do you understand?"

Wang Ruofu frowned immediately and said with a puzzled look:

"Order a little Huaer, what?"

Seeing that Wang Ruofu still didn't understand, Sheng Hong pursed his lips, sighed softly, and said:

"Of course it's because of Yang Wenyuan."

"You've confused me. What does this have to do with Yang Wenyuan? Do you want Hualan to scold Yang Wenyuan?"

"Of course it matters. Hua'er has been virtuous and polite since she was young. Do you think she would take the initiative to be alone with Yang Wenyuan?"

"Of course not. I raised Huaer since he was a child. How could I not know that?"

"This is the crux of the matter! Since Hua'er won't take the initiative, it must be Yang Wenyuan who took the initiative. Hua'er couldn't refuse, so he agreed. He did such a thing and was discovered by us. He must be feeling guilty. We will mention it to Hua'er later. Will Hua'er tell Yang Wenyuan in the future?" "Should be? Hua'er and Yang Wenyuan have a close relationship, so he should tell him."

"That's right. As long as Huaer told Yang Wenyuan, he would understand that his reckless behavior was discovered by us, but we didn't blame him."

Sheng Hong chuckled, "In this way, he will feel guilty towards Hua'er, so he will naturally be better to Hua'er. At the same time, he will also know that we are reasonable and will remember our kindness in his heart."

"How can we not mention something that has the best of both worlds?"

Wang Ruofu suddenly realized, "So that's how it is. You officials think too much, but I didn't think about it at all. I was thinking about forgetting about it. It's fine for both of us."

"Then why don't you go quickly?"

Sheng Hong urged: "We have to talk about this tonight. If we are late, it will lose its essence."

"Go quickly!"

Wang Ruofu thought about it, nodded and was about to go out, but was stopped by Sheng Hong.

Sheng Hong hesitated for a moment and then said, "Wait, there's no need to call Hua'er over. It's better for you and your daughter to talk about this face to face. What I said might hurt Hua'er's reputation. Just go to Hua'er's room and talk. I'll wait for your news here."

In Hualan's room.

Hualan had just taken off her jewelry when she heard Cuichan's report.

"Girl, the lady is here. She said she has something urgent to discuss with you."

"Urgent?" Hua Lan suddenly felt panicked when she heard this.

It was already so late, and my mother should have rested after walking around all night, but she was in a hurry to find me now. I guess she discovered that I was alone with Yang Wenyuan at that time, but my aunt and uncle were around, so it was inconvenient for her to point it out, so she waited until I got home to "question the accusation."

Hua Lan was just about to get up when she saw her mother Wang Ruofu rushing into the room and walking straight towards her.

Seeing this situation, Hualan's doubts suddenly turned into 90%.

Sure enough, Wang Ruofu walked to Hua Lan and said directly: "Hua'er, you didn't stay with your brothers and sisters tonight, but went to see the lanterns with Yang Wenyuan, right?"

Knowing that she couldn't hide it, Hua Lan nodded in admission.

"Yes, mother, I went to see the lanterns with Wenyuan tonight."

Wang Ruofu nodded without comment, then took Hualan's hand and said, "Just now at Panlou Street, your father and I found you, but we didn't tell anyone because we were worried about your uncle and aunt."

Hua Lan lowered her head slightly, thinking her mother was here to lecture her, and she showed an embarrassed look on her face. Unexpectedly, Wang Ruofu smiled and said, "How did you run into Yang Wenyuan? Did you make an appointment in advance?"

Sheng Hong has his own thoughts, and Wang Ruofu has her own ideas.

Although it's all for Hualan's good.

But compared to Sheng Hong who took the opportunity to improve his status in Yang Wenyuan's heart, Wang Ruofu was more concerned about her daughter's situation.

"what?"

Instead of receiving the expected scolding, Hua Lan was teased by her mother. She was immediately surprised.

"Why, in your eyes, I, your mother, am so brainless?"

Wang Ruofu stretched out her index finger and tapped Hualan's forehead, with a loving look on her face: "Your father and his family care about family etiquette, but I am different. I, your mother, was raised in the countryside as a wild girl. I don't care about so many things. I only care whether my daughter is happy or not."

Wang Ruofu didn't want to come at first, but she decided to come after hearing Sheng Hong say that telling Hualan about the matter would be good for her. By the way, with a strong curiosity, she wanted to hear how Hualan and Yang Wenyuan met tonight, and how they talked about visiting the lanterns together.

As for what Sheng Hong said, asking Yang Wenyuan to remember the kindness between the couple in his heart, Wang Ruofu didn't hear a word he said.

Why do I need Yang Wenyuan to think well of me? It’s enough for him to be good to my daughter!
(End of this chapter)