Chapter 77 Wang Ruo and Madam Wu Arrive
With this in mind, Wang Ruofu told Hua Lan everything Sheng Hong had just said to her, and added at the end:
"Whether you want to tell Yang Wenyuan about this is up to you."

Sheng Hong: The happiness is yours, and I will take the blame!

Hualan didn't expect things to turn out like this, and her father and mother didn't even think of blaming her.

This is totally different from what she expected!

After Wang Ruofu finished explaining the matter, she became even more energetic. She pulled Hua Lan aside and asked with great interest, "Tell me, did you and Yang Wenyuan have a plan in advance for meeting tonight?"

Wang Ruofu: My gossip fire is burning!
When Hua Lan received Wang Ruofu's curious gaze, she pursed her lips helplessly. But thinking that her mother had always been doing this for her own good, she had no choice but to satisfy her curiosity.

"Ah."

Hearing the answer she wanted, Wang Ruofu became even more excited.

"How did you plan it? Did you send someone to communicate in advance, or did you arrange a place to meet?"

“…I think both.”

"Oh."

Wang Ruofu looked satisfied after hearing this, but then some doubts arose in her heart.

"Where are Rulan and Mrs. Chen's Rujin?"

"It was them who planned it, and I didn't even know about it beforehand!"

Speaking of Hualan, she felt a little depressed. She clenched her fists and said coquettishly, "I was also wondering why Rulan suddenly insisted that I bring the fan. It turns out that they had planned it all."

"fan?"

Wang Ruofu felt that she had uncovered some explosive information, and asked hurriedly, "Is it the fan that Yang Wenyuan gave you when he was in Yangzhou? What happened? Did he complete the rest of the poem tonight?"

Hearing this, Hua Lan nodded shyly.

"How is it? Does it match the other half I wrote in Yangzhou?"

How could Hua Lan explain this? She could only vaguely say, "It fits."

Wang Ruofu didn't want to ask about the second half of the poem. She just felt refreshed and happy as if she knew the whole story.

Rolling up her sleeves, Wang Ruofu stood up and said, "In that case, I will go back first. Your father is still waiting for my reply."

Hualan wanted to get up and see him off, but was stopped by Wang Ruofu.

"No need to see me off, just go to bed early."

After that, he stood up and left.

Wei Ruixuan.

Sheng Hong was waiting anxiously in the room, just hoping that Wang Ruofu would come back soon so that he could make sure that the matter was settled and return to Linqi Pavilion to fall asleep with Shuang'er who had been waiting for him.

That’s right, Sheng Hong was supposed to rest in Weiruixuan tonight, but not long after Wang Ruofu left, Xue Niang from Linqi Pavilion arrived.

"Master, I feel that there are too many people outside today, and I am worried about your safety, so I can't sleep. I just heard some noises, so I sent this servant to Wei Rui Xuan to take a look. I can only sleep peacefully after I make sure that you are back."

When Sheng Hong heard this, he was deeply moved.

I didn't expect Shuang'er to be so considerate. I wanted to fly to Linqi Pavilion immediately to comfort my beloved Shuang'er.

After waiting for a long time, Wang Ruofu finally arrived.

Before entering the door, Sheng Hong hurriedly asked:

"How is it? Have you explained it clearly to Hualan?"

Wang Ruofu nodded, "Yes."

"Okay." Sheng Hong agreed, then stood up and was about to leave.

Wang Ruofu couldn't help but wonder, "Where are you going so late?"

While Sheng Hong was waiting for Wang Ruofu, he questioned the servants at home and had already found a reason in advance.

"Go to Linqi Pavilion."

"Going to Linqi Pavilion so late?" Wang Ruofu's eyes widened immediately, as if she was about to get angry.

"Go to Linqi Pavilion and wait for Changfeng!"

Sheng Hong slapped the table with his hand and said angrily, "Although tonight is the Spring Lantern Festival, I heard from the servants that Chang Feng hasn't come back yet. I don't know where he went.

I don't think he has the guts to stay out all night, so I'll go to Linqi Pavilion and block him off in advance!"

The anger on Wang Ruofu's face disappeared, and she gloated, "Yes, he hasn't returned home yet, he deserves a lesson."

Sheng Hong nodded: "Then I'll go?"

"go Go."

While taking off her jewelry, Wang Ruofu said happily, "Go quickly, don't let him sneak back early."

After going out, Sheng Hong, who had successfully controlled Wang Ruofu, was full of pride.

My intelligence and talent are still as good as before.

Saying this can not only achieve the purpose of going to Linqi Pavilion, but also avoid making Wang Ruofu angry.

As expected of me!

As a result, the next moment, Sheng Hong ran into Chang Feng, who had just returned home and was acting suspiciously.

What Sheng Hong said just now was not a lie.

For him, who attaches great importance to his family's reputation, coming home late without reason will result in a scolding to prevent the child from committing the same mistake again in the future.

Therefore, Sheng Hong frowned and looked at Chang Feng: "What's going on? Everyone in the family is back, but you are the only one here so late. Where have you been?"

"Father, I..." Chang Feng was in deep pain but couldn't express it in words.

He had wanted to come back a long time ago, but Rong Xian and the others insisted on taking him out for a drink and listening to music, and he couldn't refuse, so he came back late.

"You went drinking again? With whom?"

Only then did Sheng Hong notice that Chang Feng smelled of alcohol, and even had a faint scent of powder, and anger immediately rose in his heart.

Seeing Sheng Hong's sudden stern tone, Chang Feng immediately confessed: "Father, I was just with Xian'er from the Marquis of Fuchang Mansion and Han'er from the Earl of Yongchang Mansion."

Hearing these two names, Sheng Hong's brows relaxed a little, but he still asked:

"Where did you go? You didn't go to those...huh?"

Chang Feng naturally understood what Sheng Hong meant, and quickly shook his head to deny it: "No, father, we were watching the lanterns at the restaurant on Panlou Street, we didn't go anywhere else."

Sheng Hong was slightly startled when he heard this.

So while your father was just downstairs squeezing in the crowd, you were actually leisurely drinking and appreciating the lanterns in the restaurant, right?
In addition, Chang Feng came back late, which made Sheng Hong even more unhappy. He immediately said, "You come home so late. You have to practice ten sets of calligraphy and hand them in to me tomorrow. This will be your punishment."

After saying that, Sheng Hong left Chang Feng, who had a sad face, and walked straight towards Linqi Pavilion.

……

Throughout history, days during festivals pass fastest.

Time flies, and it is the 19th day of the first lunar month.

Early in the morning of that day.

Mrs. Wu got up happily and prepared to go to the Sheng family to start improving sales.

Jiying Lane.

Sheng family.

Wang Ruofu had already received a visiting card from Madam Wu in advance, and knew that today was the day Madam Wu would come to act as a matchmaker.

This was the first time that Madam Wu had stepped into her family's home, and she was the matchmaker between the Yang and Sheng families, so Wang Ruofu took her very seriously.

Just want to keep the house spotless without any mistakes.

Therefore, Wang Ruofu got up at dawn.

He ordered all the maids in the family to sweep the courtyard and clean the palace. Not only did Wang Ruofu take it seriously, but there was also a person who was "enthusiastic" and went out early.

She is Wang Ruofu's biological sister, Wang Ruoyu of the Kangwang clan.

Since Wang Ruoyu mentioned this last time when he went back to Wang's house, he always sent people to ask when the matchmaker would come.

After receiving Mrs. Wu's business card, Wang Ruofu didn't think much about it, and passed the message to Wang Ruoyu, explaining that today was the day the matchmaker would come to see her.

However, Wang Ruofu did not reveal who the matchmaker was - not because she suddenly became cunning, but because she wanted to give her sister Wang Ruoyu a surprise and make her sister happy too!

Therefore, Wang Ruoyu also got up very early that day.

We arrived at the Sheng family when they were still cleaning the yard.

Without the need for a maid to greet him, Wang Ruoyu walked into the Sheng family's gate in a familiar manner.

Looking at the huge courtyard of the Sheng family, Wang Ruoyu felt mixed emotions.

Wang Ruofu was raised in her uncle's home in the countryside since she was a child. She was inferior to Wang Ruoyu in appearance, means, and mind. Therefore, Wang Ruoyu looked down on this adopted sister who he took home when she grew up.

It's like a young lady who has lived in a wealthy family since childhood, looking down on a country girl who suddenly breaks into her home.

Now, seeing that the Sheng family had just moved into Bian Jing and were living in such a nice house, and his brother-in-law Sheng Hong was diligent and motivated, his official career seemed to be getting smoother and smoother.

Compare yourself again.

This made Wang Ruoyu feel very unbalanced.

Why am I better than you in everything, but my life is getting worse and worse than yours?
Jealousy leads to resentment, and resentment leads to hatred.

Wang Ruoyu had a bad character to begin with, and he felt even more unbalanced because he found out that Wang Ruofu, whom he looked down upon, was actually living a much more comfortable and happy life than himself.

So she came here today with ulterior motives.

Wang Ruoyu knew that his sister Wang Ruofu had admired him since childhood, and it was not an exaggeration for her to obey his words.

When the matchmaker comes in, all she needs to do is find out who the man is going to marry into. With all the information she has heard over the years in Bian Jing, she will always be able to find some faults with the man's family.

When the time comes, I will tell Wang Ruofu about it, and it will naturally shake her mind.

I just don’t know which matchmaker was hired.

Wang Ruoyu thought to himself: I have asked around these days, but I haven't heard that there are any men of marriageable age in families close to the Sheng family.

Could he be a poor family outside Bian Jing?

Thinking of this possibility, Wang Ruoyu couldn't help but laugh in his heart: "If this is true, then today we are going to have a good show!"

Wei Ruixuan.

Wang Ruofu was so busy at the moment that she couldn't stop.

He was busy directing the servants to clean the house, and he also checked it himself from time to time. He suddenly remembered the lesson he learned last time when Mrs. Chen from Yang Yuqing's family came to his house, and hurried to Shou'an Hall to pay his respects and to check on the condition of Old Madam Sheng.

In short, he looked anxious and busy.

At this time.

When Wang Ruofu heard the servant report that her sister Wang Ruoyu had arrived, she was overjoyed.

The slight doubts that had arisen in her heart because of Sheng Hong's reminder that day were immediately thrown out of the window.

My sister came so early for Hualan's marriage. She is more enthusiastic than me as a mother. It can be seen that she sincerely cares about Hualan's marriage.

If anyone dares to say that my sister has bad intentions in the future, I will be the first to disagree!

When Wang Ruofu hurried over from the backyard, Wang Ruoyu was already sitting quietly in the front hall, enjoying the snacks and tea served by the maid.

Wang Ruofu was even more moved when she saw this scene.

I thought Wang Ruoyu was so concerned about Hualan's marriage that he didn't even have time to eat breakfast.

Wang Ruoyu: Hmm...there seems to be nothing wrong with what you said!

Wang Ruofu had almost finished her housework and happened to be a little hungry, so she sat down immediately and had breakfast with Wang Ruoyu, completely unaware of the contempt in Wang Ruoyu's eyes.

It's time.

Mrs. Wu came to visit.

Wang Ruofu was about to go out to greet the matchmaker, but Wang Ruoyu next to her said with a displeased "tsk" and then held her back, saying, "How can a host go out to greet a matchmaker? Just sit still."

Wang Ruofu thought it made some sense, so she sat down.

After Wang Ruofu sat down, Wang Ruoyu finally smiled, leaned back in the chair with a comfortable look on his face, and looked at the door with his chin slightly raised.

I want to see what kind of person this matchmaker is!
A moment later, a middle-aged woman with a bun on her head, pearl earrings on her ears, and wearing a purple short jacket embroidered with black flowers walked in with a happy face.

Wang Ruo was a little far away from the first view and didn't see it carefully.

But when the matchmaker came closer.

Wang Ruoyu suddenly widened his eyes and saw the face of the person clearly - it was Madam Wu from the Earl of Yongchang's Mansion!

Wang Ruoyu quickly straightened his body, lowered his raised chin, and spoke respectfully.

But at the same time, huge doubts and disbelief arose in my heart: Why is it Mrs. Wu?
How could it be Mrs. Wu?

You know, matchmakers in the Great Zhou Dynasty are also divided into different levels.

As the Countess, Madam Wu is naturally the number one matchmaker in the Great Zhou.

And it is a marriage that Mrs. Wu can personally arrange.

Or they come from a prominent family.

Or they are the children of high-ranking officials and nobles.

But how could the Sheng family reach such a threshold?

Wang Ruoyu continued to look at Madam Wu, who was walking towards him with a smile on her face and chatting happily with Wang Ruofu, and an absurd thought arose in his mind: the man that this silly sister's daughter is promised to, might he be the legitimate son of some noble family?
Mrs. Wu walked into the house and saw the two people inside:

One is the honest and upright eldest lady of the Sheng family.

As for the other one…

She was also a lady with some fame in Bianjing, Wang Ruoyu from the Kangwang clan.

Madam Wu knew that Wang Ruoyu was Wang Ruofu's biological sister, but she didn't expect that Wang Ruoyu would be here on this festive day.

Although the Kang family has declined, the eldest lady of the Kang family, Wang Ruoyu, is still quite famous in the circle of women in Bianjing in recent years.

After all, it was rare to see a family in Bian Jing who could carry out one or two corpses from their home from time to time.

You know, if a lady in a family treats illegitimate sons and daughters harshly, her family will have a bad reputation and be criticized as a low-class family with no manners, not to mention Wang Ruoyu, a ruthless person who would just carry people out of the door horizontally.

Glancing at Wang Ruoyu, Mrs. Wu felt a little strange: the Sheng family has a good tradition, so why did they invite Wang Ruoyu into the family?

However, this is an internal matter of the Sheng family, and Madam Wu has no right to interfere.

After sitting down, we exchanged some pleasantries.

After getting a little more familiar with each other, Madam Wu took out the draft note that Madam Chen had given her from her sleeve and handed it to Wang Ruofu.

When Wang Ruofu saw the draft note that Madam Wu handed to her, her eyes immediately lit up. She reached out to take it, glanced at it briefly, then took out the draft note that she had prepared in advance from under her sleeve and handed it over.

Even though Mrs. Wu knew the inside story, she couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh at Wang Ruofu's impatience.

He immediately nodded, took the note and put it away properly.

After the exchange of the draft invitations, Mrs. Wu spoke well of Hualan for a while, and then proposed to go to Shou'an Hall to pay a visit to Old Madam Sheng.

Almost every noble lady who came to the Sheng family would go to Shou'an Hall to pay a visit to Old Lady Sheng and admire the legend of Bianliang in the past.

Wang Ruofu had already paid her respects at Shou'an Hall, and knowing that Old Madam Sheng was now free, she nodded in agreement, stood up, and led Madam Wu towards Shou'an Hall.

Just like Mrs. Chen.

When Mrs. Wu saw Old Madam Sheng, she also flattered her, making Old Madam Sheng smile endlessly.

(End of this chapter)