<h4>Chapter 142: Our Sixth Lady Is a Legal Daughter from the Very Beginning (1)</h4>


    Trantor: Iris


    Proofread by DragonRider


    As it turned out, Sheng Hong was the biggest winner after all of this.


    The ancient schrs thought highly of integrity. As an official who had passed all the Imperial Exams by himself, he had three daughters who married into the families with titles of nobility. Though Marquis Zhongqin hadn’t been in an important position for a long time and Liang Han was the youngest son in his family, Gu Tingye was still a genuine powerful nobility. So in the sight of all the schrs who valued the strength of character a lot, Sheng Hong would seem like a person who was eager to fawn upon the people of power and influence.


    However, Sheng Hong was a very lucky man that he didn’t need to worry about any of that.


    “You are going to marry your third daughter to Schr Wen?” Official Lu, Sheng Hong’s former superior who was the vice prime minister of Cab now said that in surprise. He had had a close rtionship with Sheng Hong when they had worked together in the Ministry of Works. So he knew that Sheng Hong’s third daughter was the legal one.


    Sheng Hong nodded heavily and made an obeisance to Vice Prime Minister Lu, saying “My father died when I was at a young age. All my elders in my family don’t live in the capital city. May I ask you to be the matchmaker for my two daughters?”


    Vice prime minister was more than willing to do that. However, he still had some doubts, “I really thought that...” That was the habit of all the schrs of saving half of the sensitive words in their minds.


    Sheng Hong then said with a bitter and guilty look, “I am so ashamed of myself by going back on my words at first. I owed Wen family so much. So I have always wanted to betroth another daughter to their family. Well, I just want to live up to the principles we have learned.”


    Hearing Sheng Hong’s confess, Vice Prime Minister Lu was deeply touched and agreed to be the matchmaker for Sheng family at once. After their conversation came out, all the people in the capital were stunned. And after a short period, they all began to speak highly of Sheng Hong’s fine quality.


    Before Mn and Schr Wen got engaged, Wang shi had expected that nothing would change. So she had dropped a word to others about the engagement. Hence a lot of people had known that the elders in Sheng family had the intention to betroth Mn to Schr Wen. It had never urred to anyone that after an incident, Mn had married in Liang family. As the people had sighed secretly that Mn had been so lucky, they had also felt pity for hapless Schr Wen who had lost his fiancée. However, much to the people’s surprise, afterwards, Sheng Hong decided to betroth his legal daughter to Schr Wen. Wasn’t he afraid of irritating General Gu?


    However, not only didn’t the people from Gu family lose their temper, they even prepared for the wedding in a haste, which made all the people who had waited to watch the fun feel quite disappointed. The most disappointed ones were the people from Peng family—— Since they had also wanted to betroth an illegal daughter to Gu Tingye, why had they been rejected without mercy while the illegal daughter from Sheng family could be epted?! That was just so unfair!


    In the meantime, all the celebrities and the officials in the six ministries were happy about the engagement. They made lots ofpliments about Sheng Hong’s ‘integrity’. As a result, Sheng Hong gained both fame and fortune and became the biggest winner.


    In a general way, couples always met opposite situations. As Sheng Hong was praised by his superiors and respected by his subordinates, Wang shi was having a bad time. In the beginning of December, Old Madam Wen finally presented all the betrothal gifts to Sheng family. At that time, when those presents had been supposed to give Mn, Wang shi had still been quite satisfied. However, when it was Rn’s turn to ept those presents, Wang shi just discontented with everything.


    At first Wang shi felt the presents were too modest, then sheined that Old Madam Wen were too stingy. However, all the women in Sheng family knew about her thoughts. As a clever woman, Hai shi imed that she kept feeling morning sickness due to the pregnancy and stayed in her room all day. As for Old Madam Sheng, Wang shi didn’t dare to make anyints in front of her. Thus, Wang shi was in low spirits every day and lost her temper more frequently than before.


    Old Madam Sheng was still angry at Wang shi because of Minn’s marriage. Seeing Wang shi being like this, Old Madam Sheng actually felt much better now. Nevertheless, Rn was still her granddaughter. After a few days, she couldn’t stand what Wang shi had done and spoke up.


    “Why didn’t you discuss with us about such a huge matter? You think you can decide it by yourself?” Old Madam Sheng scolded Wang shi harshly on the bed.


    Wang shi who was standing in front of the bed exined for herself with unconvinced look on her face, “Schr Wen’s family is not wealthy. I can’t bear to let Rn have a rough time there. I just wanted to give her some supplements.”


    Seeing Wang shi having no sign of repenting, Old Madam Sheng flew into a rage. She thumped the bed while shouted, “You stupid woman! You think I only talk to you right now because I begrudge the money?! Have the old master and I ever coveted on your dowry?! When can you stop your suspicious thought?!”


    Wang shi then realized that Old Madam Sheng had really got angry. So she went down on her knees right away and begged, “Old Madam, please don’t be angry at me. I admit that it’s all my fault. I should have told you first. It’s just, the thing that Rn has to go through...” As she spoke of that, tears were filled in her eyes. Then she took out her handkerchief to wipe her eyes and continued, “Old Madam, I bet you haven’t seen Schr Wen’s mother. That is just a vulgar country woman. I just felt so bad for Rn, so I...”


    After all, Wang shi had just wanted to be a good mother. Old Madam Sheng understood that and then softened her words, “Schr Wen’s father was also a schr. But he was just unlucky. After he had passed the imperial exam, he died because of typhoid fever before he could be assigned to any department. If Schr Wen’s mother doesn’t have a strong character, how could she support the family all by herself! I understand that you are afraid that Rn might be wronged in their family so you have bought a house for your daughter. But do you know that you would only get the opposite of what you want?!”


    Hearing that, Wang shi took back her tear and raised her head with confused look on her face.


    Old Madam Sheng was really helpless about Wang shi’s foolishness. With her head lowered, she touched the cyan squirrel fur on her sleeves and took a few deep breaths. Only until then was Old Madam Sheng able to exin to Wang shi calmly, “Though I have never met Schr Wen’s mother, I still could make some guesses about her. As a widow, she has managed to raise two sons. Moreover, ording to what I’ve seen about her spending on Schr Wen’s food and clothing, I think she must be very frugal. I believe you have also detected that so you have had some worries for Rn, right?”


    Wang shi nodded heavily while interrupting immediately, “Mother, you are very right! I have heard that Schr Wen’s mother favored her second son more and has given most of her savings to that boy. The day when she came to present the betrothal gifts, I have tried to sound out her intentions. And she just told me that she didn’t have enough money. She even wanted Rn and Schr Wen to rent a house by themselves after they got married! That’s why I have...”


    Feeling that Old Madam Sheng was goggling at her, Wang shi shut up embarrassedly. After that, Old Madam Sheng turned around to sigh and then turned back, saying, “Although you have been a bit opinionated by purchasing a house for Rn, it was not a huge mistake. There are also other elders from families of public officials who aid their needy but aspirant son-inw to continue their studies. But you shouldn’t have bought Rn and her husband arge house which has two entries and three exits. You think the two of them would need that much space?!... Now that Schr Wen has arge house in town, his mother would definitely want to enjoy thefortable life with him! Just wait to see his mother moving in therge house you have bought with all her families from the suburb! Don’t you know that you have only brought trouble to Rn?!”


    Wang shi thought about Old Madam Sheng’s words and got enlightened. Then her lips began to tremble while her face gradually turned pale.


    Being exasperated at Wang shi’s incapability of being a good madam, Old Madam Sheng shook her head and said, “You have always been like this and acted arbitrarily. It’s not a big deal actually. All the madams like to make their own decisions. But you have to be reliable! Why do you always act stupidly at critical moment! If you could just discuss with me before you made this decision, it won’t be like this. After all, I have also watched Rn grow up. No matter what kind of girl she has be, I will never do anything to hurt her!... If you really want to give her some living allowances, you can sell somends and use the money to purchase a small house. By then Schr Wen’s mother won’t ask to live with them since there is not enough space. Then Rn will live in ease!”


    Wang shi was at a loss for word with a flustered look for a while. Then she asked, “So what can I do now?... I’ve already asked someone to decorate the house and purchase the maids and the servants. Also, all the people in Wen family knew about this!”


    Old Madam Shen was still mad at Wang shi, so she said in sullenness, “She’s your daughter. You think of a way by yourself.”


    Only until then did Wang shi feelpletely hopeless. She begged Old Madam Sheng on her knees for a long time by apologizing constantly and pulling Old Madam Sheng’s sleeve to cry. Even though Old Madam Sheng hadn’t cooled down yet, she still couldn’t leave Wang shi in that miserable situation. Atst, Old Madam Sheng said, “You don’t have to be too anxious. I believe no matter how domineering Schr Wen’s mother is, she won’t bully Rn a lot since she could live in the house which is bought by you. Besides, Rn is not a girl who’s easy to be dealt with. You just have to stop saying anything. You always make things worse as soon as you speak. You can ask Changbai to tell Schr Wen to be smart by being able to tell right from wrong when Rn and his mother have conflicts. Tell Schr Wen that he doesn’t need to take part with anyone, just remember to do things fairly... Huh, don’t let him forget that it’s not like we don’t have ady in our family who got divorced with her husband.”


    Wang shi froze on the ground with tears running out from her eyes.


    Meanwhile, as someone who already got used to eavesdropping, Minn who had napped in the inner room already woke up. The conversation between her grandma and Wang shi made Minn shook her head repeatedly.


    Mrs. Wang was like a crappy director. When she filmed aedy, all the audience would cry bitterly. When she filmed a tragedy, the audience would burst intoughter. Although she nevercked of audiences, she always put herself in an awkward condition. Luckily, the investors and the film producers were quite reliable and always controlled the direction. So the film she made wouldn’t lose any money.


    On the other side, after Wang shi hadined tearfully, she left distractedly. Then Minn came out and asked, “Grandma, is Schr Wen’s mother really that hard to handle?”


    Old Madam Sheng’s anger still hadn’t disappeared. She was holding up the tea cup and taking a sip of the tea slowly. Hearing Minn’s words, she sneered, “All the mother-inw in this world is hard to handle. That’s why the husband ys a very important part in a family. Your eldest brother-inw is not as clever as Changbai and has wronged your eldest sister for a long time. Fortunately, Hun has finally got through it after all these years’ suffering. Now your eldest brother-inw has just realized his fault and supported Hun all the time against his mother.”


    Minn apuded and gaped in admiration, “Eldest sister surely is an extraordinary woman. As an obedient son as eldest brother-inw is, she could still change his mind.” Minn didn’t have the chance to have a mother-inw in her previous life but she still admired Hun’s capability. If all the modern women were capable of what Hun could do, the amount of Yao Yiyi’s work might have cut down to half.


    Old Madam Sheng sighed gently and said, “Tolerance is the most difficult thing. No matter how tame your eldest brother-inw is to his mother and how much he cares about his brother, he wouldn’t bear his mother’s preference to his brother all the time. She has given all the precious stuffs to her eldest son. But she ignored that your eldest brother-inw is also a proud and ambitious man. Every time your eldest brother-inw was in difficulty, she looked on indifferently so he could only ask Hun for help. When her eldest son ran into trouble, she would force your eldest brother-inw to offer a hand. All the people in this world are selfish in some ways. Your eldest brother-inw also has his own wife and children, his mother has already pushed him away from her by doing that all the time even if he is her biological son.”


    Minn ttered Old Madam Sheng right in time, “What a nice speech, grandma. You are so right about the tolerance thing. Eldest sister used to be such a proud woman. I think the reason why she could bear all of that is because of your wise instructions!”


    Old Madam Sheng nced at Minn and saw a fawning face. Minn’s two cute dimples were now showing up with her ingratiating smile. Ever since she had confessed everything about Gu Tingye, she always felt guilty in front of her grandma. Therefore, she put on a sincere and apologetic look everyday while trying to make up for her grandma all the time. Old Madam Sheng found that quite funny so she said deliberately, “Speaking of this, you are a lucky girl. Your mother-inw is your husband’s stepmother. That will save you lots of efforts of dealing with her.”


    As soon as Old Madam Sheng finished that sentence, she looked at Minn with a meaningful look. However, Minn didn’t blush at all. Instead, she shook her head and said, “No no no, we cannot make conclusion so fast before we see her with our own eyes.”


    After a long while, Old Madam Sheng only replied with a ‘Oh.’