I just want to live a happy life

But she couldn't hold it in for long. As the weather grew colder, how could Sheng Minglan, at such a young age, hide herself?

On this day, after Minglan learned illustration from the female teacher hired by the Sheng family, she returned to her residence. She lived with Wei Xiaoniang.

After entering the house, Minglan felt that it was not much colder inside than outside. She shrank her neck and said, "Mother, why don't you light a charcoal fire?"

Wei Xiaoniang was mending a piece of clothing with needle and thread, and she casually replied, "We are running out of charcoal. We have to use it sparingly. What will happen if your father comes and there is no charcoal?"

Minglan was a little dissatisfied: "Mother, you are still pregnant with your brother, and you can't stand the cold. If Dad knew that we were short of charcoal, he would definitely help us."

"When Daddy comes, I will definitely tell her."

Wei Xiaoniang frowned and reprimanded, "You can't tell me, your father will be angry."

Minglan: "Mother, we have all been bullied. Why can't we speak up? The Madam must not like us, so she withheld our things."

She is now studying with a female teacher. Apart from the eldest sister who has already finished her studies and doesn't need to wait until she gets married, there are also the fourth and fifth sisters.

Sometimes the Madam would ask them how their studies were going. She could sense that the Madam was a little cold towards her and didn't like her very much.

So if it’s not the eldest lady, who else could it be? The eldest lady is the only one who has the power to manage the Sheng family.

When Wei Xiaoniang heard this, she felt a little guilty. She thought about the purpose of the eldest lady making her the master's concubine, which was because she was useless. However, she really couldn't bear to lose face and do those things to win favor. Her father was a scholar, so how could she fawn on him like Lin Xiaoniang?

Moreover, she felt a little sorry for the lady because she was the one who broke the promise.

When Minglan mentioned the eldest lady, she was reminding her again and again how untrustworthy she was.

Wei Xiaoniang scolded, "Alright, stop talking. I'm not cold. If you were cold, I'd ask Xiaodie to put on some warm clothes for you."

"Also, remember what mother said. Don't tell your father if we need anything."

Seeing the seriousness in A-niang's eyes, Minglan could only say dejectedly, "I know."

At this time, Xiaodie came in and said, "Miss, someone around the master said that he will come today."

Wei Xiaoniang nodded: "Okay, take Minglan downstairs to wash her face and change her clothes first."

Xiaodie: "Yes."

After taking Minglan away, Xiaodie saw that there were still traces of tears on Minglan's face. She took out a handkerchief and wiped her tears, saying, "Why are you crying?"

Minglan choked up and repeated what she had just said to her mother.

Xiaodie also knew that what Minglan said made sense, but as a maid, what could she say? She could only touch her head and comfort her.

In addition to Xiaodie, there are two other maids in Wei Xiaoniang's yard, one of them is Baiguo and the other is Yunguo.

This is the unified name given to them when they were bought.

Wei Xiaoniang asked them to light the remaining charcoal fire. Her belly was big now, and the master would not stay here overnight, so she could only come here during lunch time.

Soon, Minglan changed her clothes and washed up.

After Sheng Hong came in, he looked around the room and sat down in front of the charcoal basin, put his hands on it to keep warm, and said, "There's a charcoal fire in this room, why is it still so cold?"

Wei Xiaoniang lowered her head and said, "Pregnant women have a bad temper, so we didn't burn the charcoal just now."

Sheng Hong nodded, didn't ask any more questions, and changed the subject.

Minglan stood aside, watching her mother trying to cover up her feelings. The grievances that had been accumulating in her heart finally burst out at this moment.

No matter how Wei Xiaoniang tried to stop her, Minglan told her father about what they lacked and the grievances they had suffered, and cried and begged him to make the decision.

Sheng Hong was very angry. He turned around and left Wei Xiaoniang's yard and went to the main courtyard.

Of course he was half-controlled and naturally would not lose his temper with Wang Ruofu.

Wang Ruofu is in charge of the entire Sheng family, so how could she not know where Sheng Hong came from and what happened?

Wei Xiaoniang and Minglan want the truth?

Okay, then she would give it to them, but they would have to bear the consequences themselves. She had never lacked anything for them.

In the afternoon, Wang Ruofu found a time and took people to Wei Xiaoniang's yard.

She stood in the yard, waited for a while, and then sat down on the chair placed aside by the maids. The chair was covered with thick fur of some animal. She held an exquisite hand warmer in her hand. She was wearing thick clothes, so she did not feel cold sitting outside.

Looking at Wei Xiaoniang and Minglan standing aside, he said, "My Lord, I heard that you lost something here?"

Wei Xiaoniang shook her head and denied: "No, Madam, it's all Minglan's nonsense, there is no such thing."

Wang Ruofu glanced at Minglan, who was standing next to Wei Xiaoniang with a stubborn look on her face. "Whether it's true or not, let's get someone to investigate. We can't wrongly accuse an innocent person."

"Every time I give you the things that belong to your courtyard, I will ask you to give me enough. I won't be shortchanged. I don't want your little things. Let Mother Zhang come over."

Mother Zhang is responsible for delivering things to Wei Xiaoniang's courtyard. If Wei Xiaoniang really lacks something, she would be the most suspicious.

After Zhang's mother came and heard the whole story, she said aggrievedly, "Madam, I didn't covet anything from Madam Wei's courtyard. I really didn't know about this."

Minglan was very angry and stood up: "You are talking nonsense. You still don't admit it now. It must be you who took the things from our courtyard. Who else could it be if not you?"

Mother Zhang felt really aggrieved. The eldest lady was a strict housekeeper. If she let the eldest lady know that she was greedy for those things, she would be in trouble. So she never did anything from beginning to end. She always gave enough things to Mrs. Wei in the courtyard and never let anything go missing.

Something was missing from their yard, how would she know who took it?

Wang Ruofu said, "Mother Zhang, you said you didn't take it, so who did you give the things from Wei Xiaoniang's courtyard to every time?"

Mother Zhang thought for a moment and looked at the maids in the courtyard. Soon, she saw someone familiar and pointed at them and said, "Madam, they always took things. I really didn't take anything from Wei Xiaoniang. It must be these two maids who took Wei Xiaoniang's things."

Baiguo and Yunguo, who were pointed at, were panicked for a moment, but they quickly calmed down. As long as they didn't admit it, no one would know that it was them who did it.

Both men denied it, shaking their heads like rattles.

Wang Ruofu: "It's obvious that the problem lies with you guys. Madam Liu, can you have someone search where they live and see what you can find out?"