Do You Know?: Rule the World.

Chapter 52: Madam Kong Enters Sheng Mansion
After leaving the Sheng family, Zhao Han plunged into the pile of documents in the Hanlin Academy, and was so busy that he didn't have time to rest from day to night.

Mother Hu and a group of servants finally arrived in Bian Jing after a long journey. More than ten carriages were parked outside the mansion.

The servants worked tirelessly to unload the boxes and cages one by one and move them into the warehouse.

The maids were responsible for sweeping the courtyard and making the bed curtains. After a short while, they had all the residences in perfect order.

Mother Hu looked at this luxurious and magnificent five-story mansion and was naturally very satisfied.

Lian sighed that it was really God's will that allowed his brother to buy this house in the land-scarce city of Bianjing for only 30,000 taels.

At three quarters past three in the afternoon, Zhao Han returned from the Hanlin Academy.

Looking at the familiar servants and maids in front of me, I finally felt a breath of life.

In the main hall, candlelight was bright, illuminating the walls.

Mother Hu smiled and pulled Zhao Han to look around. "This official robe looks really pleasing to the eyes, my boy."

Without waiting for Zhao Han to speak, he hurriedly said, "My brother is now an official. He has to deal with social events and all the trivial matters that need to be taken care of by someone."

"I think the servants in the mansion are still a little short. Tomorrow I will go find a human trafficker and buy a few smart maids and servants to bring into the mansion."

"Before coming to Bianjing, I specifically asked Uncle Tan to count all the money in the shops and farms."

"The remaining cash we have is enough to pay the betrothal gifts and bring the daughter of the Sheng family into our family in style."

Over the years, Mother Hu has been in charge of household affairs.

Uncle Tan has always been in charge of the external business affairs. He is a trustworthy old servant.

As she spoke, Mother Hu had already taken out the list of betrothal gifts she had prepared long ago.

Zhao Han took it and took a look. He saw that the list was extremely detailed, with gold, silver, money, silk, fabrics, jewelry, delicacies from land and sea, everything was available.

In addition, there are hundreds of acres of fertile land outside Yangzhou City and several shops in the city, all of which are excellent properties.

Of course, the most important thing is a pair of live geese.

According to the Zhou Li tradition, geese were used as betrothal gifts.

Wild geese are migratory birds that migrate according to the seasons, symbolizing the orderliness of a couple and the harmony of yin and yang.

Wild geese only have one pair of mates in their lifetime, which symbolizes loyalty.

If the season is not right and you really can't catch wild geese, you can use geese instead.

"I could see that my brother was very fond of the young lady from the Sheng family, so I took the initiative to buy some more."

"We must bring honor to both our family and the Sheng family, so as not to let down this good marriage."

"Are you satisfied with this betrothal list, brother?" Mother Hu asked with a smile, wrinkles forming at the corners of her eyes.

Zhao Han nodded and said gently, "Just prepare according to this appointment form. Thank you, Mother Hu."

-

A few days passed and spring was in full swing.

At the Sheng family's side, Wei Xiaoniang's initiative made Sheng Hong feel very fresh, and he stayed in her yard for two or three days in a row.

The maids and servants in Linqi Pavilion didn't even dare to breathe in front of Lin Qinshuang, for fear of offending her.

At the old lady's invitation, Madam Kong finally entered the mansion and began to teach the four girls etiquette and rules.

Flower arranging, tea tasting, and incense making were all included.

Hualan is very intelligent and can understand things quickly.

Minglan knew that Wei Xiaoniang had begun to compete with Lin Qinshuang. If she stepped forward again, it would undoubtedly make Wang Ruofu unhappy.

She pretended to be uninterested in these things, but in fact, like Hualan, she understood them immediately.

Only Molan and Rulan have been secretly competing with each other, quarreling over trivial matters, and sometimes even Hualan, the eldest sister, cannot suppress them.

Today, in the west wing of the backyard, the morning light shines through the carved window lattices, casting mottled shadows of flowers on the bluestone floor.

Several girls sat in front of a rosewood table, fiddling with various seasonal flowers.

Mo Lan kept pestering Granny Kong to teach her the art of flower arranging. Ru Lan tried to ask her for advice several times, but was drowned out by Granny Kong deliberately raising her voice.

Long before Nanny Kong came, the old lady had subtly explained the situation of the Sheng family in a letter.

Nanny Kong had a keen eye, and after just a few days of contact, she had a thorough understanding of the girls' personalities.

She had been waiting for the right time to set some rules for them.

Molan's behavior today was exactly what Madam Kong wanted.

She deliberately only responded to Molan's questions and ignored Rulan's look for help, until her little face gradually turned red and the peony branch in her hand was squeezed until juice oozed out.

Nanny Kong deliberately found an excuse to slip away and waited for them to make trouble in the school.

Rulan leaned over the table, eyes full of indignation as she said, "Fourth sister, you really work so hard!"

"She doesn't delve into knitting, but instead pays attention to things like burning incense and arranging flowers, things that only the rich and powerful enjoy, as if you will definitely need them in the future."

Molan glanced at her calmly and said nonchalantly, "Daddy specifically told us to learn from Nanny. It's better to learn without using it than to be laughed at."

"We are both father's daughters. Fifth sister was born in the eldest lady's womb, so she is more noble than me."

"Just because of this, I can't even ask Mammy for advice?"

Rulan sat up straight and gritted her teeth, "Since you know you're a concubine's daughter, you should behave yourself!"

"Don't think that just learning these things will allow you to marry into a wealthy family. You're just daydreaming all day long, and you don't even look in the mirror to see how much you really are!"

"You people in Linqi Pavilion, from top to bottom, don't learn good things, but instead learn despicable means!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Molan's eyes turned red and she said in a trembling voice, "I just asked a few more questions to Nanny. Why did Fifth Sister have to treat me like this? Woo woo woo, I'm going to tell Daddy..."

"Go now if you have the guts. Who's afraid of you?"

"Cry, cry, cry. All you do is cry all day long!"

"You just want Mammy to see me and think I'm bullying you, so that Daddy can teach me a lesson!"

"I've experienced your tricks many times!"

Rulan stood with her hands on her hips, sparks flashing in her almond-shaped eyes.

Seeing that she was still arrogant, Molan started to threaten to kill herself by banging her head against the school.

Hua Lan slammed the silver scissors in her hand onto the table with a "snap".

Her usually dignified and gentle features now held a hint of solemnity and anger.

"How long are you going to stop making trouble?!"

"If you don't want to study with Madam Kong, I'll tell Grandmother to let you two continue to go to the private school!"

Molan raised her eyes and trembled as she said, "Big sister, it was clearly the fifth sister who spoke rudely first today."

"Why are you teaching me a lesson too? Could it be that you also look down on me because I'm a bastard?"

Hualan wouldn't be as impulsive and reckless as Rulan. She just snorted and said calmly, "When did our family ever distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate children? Fourth sister, do your daily food, clothing, and other necessities resemble what a concubine's daughter should have?"

Hearing this, Molan fell silent. Nanny Kong, who had been squatting outside the house, lifted the curtain and came in without a sound.

Although this old lady, who is nearly sixty years old, has slightly gray hair, her every move and gesture still reveals the dignity and solemnity of a palace lady.

She didn't say anything, but punished the four girls to copy "Xiang Yue" fifty times.

As soon as Sheng Hong returned home, Madam Kong sent someone to bring him, Wang Ruofu and Lin Qinshuang over.

On the way here, a maid told him everything that happened in school today, no matter how big or small.

Sheng Hong cares most about his family's reputation, and Madam Kong is the madam that the wealthy families in the capital are vying to invite into their homes.

His face was gloomy and he walked to the west wing gritting his teeth.

Seeing Hualan also kneeling on the futon, he curled his lips and said, "Mammy, this matter has nothing to do with Huaer. She is a girl who is going to get married. Let her get up."

(End of this chapter)