Chapter 50: The Love of Parents for Their Children

Zhao Han hurriedly stood up to return the courtesy.

As his gaze met Hualan's for a brief moment, he paused slightly, then said warmly, "Trust you have been well since we last parted, Sister Hualan."

Hualan's eyes rippled with emotion, and joy was evident in the arch of her brows.

The old lady observed this, unable to help a smile. "Look at these two youngsters. They look just like the talented scholars and beautiful ladies from stage plays."

"Mother is entirely right!"

"The other day, when my elder sister learned that our Sheng family had found such a fine son-in-law, the sourness in her tone could have pickled a whole vat of fermented vegetables."

Wang Ruofu spoke with beaming excitement, a trace of triumph still lingering in her eyes.

After all these years, she had finally managed to hold her head high.

The old lady leisurely twirled the Buddhist prayer beads on her wrist, and with a meaningful tone, said, "The Kang family is not what it used to be, while our household is doing quite well. It is only natural that she feels envious."

"What I fear is that you sisters might harbor estrangement in the future because of these matters."

The old lady had long since seen through Wang Ruoyi's vengeful and narrow-minded nature, knowing that she could least bear to see others doing better than herself.

Back when Sheng Hong moved his entire household to a remote courtyard, whenever festivals came around, Wang Ruoyi never missed an opportunity to mock them with veiled sarcasm.

In contrast, Wang Ruofu, though impulsive and hot-tempered with no filter on her words, possessed the kindest and purest heart. Even if handed a knife, she would never dream of taking someone else's life.

Had the Sheng family had any other mistress as a wife, Lin Qinshuang would never have been able to strut about so arrogantly for all these years.

Wang Ruofu furrowed her brows, the smile on her face gradually fading.

"Mother is overthinking it, surely. My sister wouldn't go that far. Just the other day, she even mentioned wanting to come and pay her respects to you."

Though she said this, her eyes drifted about uncertainly, clearly betraying her own lack of conviction.

When Wang Ruofu was born, it happened to coincide with the Grand Tutor Wang being assigned to a remote and bitter border post, where conditions were exceptionally harsh.

Consequently, Wang Ruofu was fostered out to her uncle's family, who were merchants, while the Grand Tutor took only his eldest son Wang Shiping and eldest daughter Wang Ruoyi.

Merchant families did not place as much emphasis on strict etiquette and rules, and since her uncle and aunt had no biological daughters of their own, the entire household treated Wang Ruofu like the apple of their eye, going out of their way to humor her. Whatever she wanted, she got; whatever she wished for, was granted.

This continued until she reached the age of ten.

Having achieved great success in his administrative career, Grand Tutor Wang was recalled to the capital with honors, and only then was Wang Ruofu brought back home.

The old mistress of the Wang family looked at her eldest daughter, who was well-read, sweet-spoken, and exceptionally beautiful.

Then she looked at her younger daughter, whose speech and manners were crude and who chattered incessantly from morning till night. It went without saying which one captured more favor in her heart.

When Old Madam Sheng went to the Wang family to propose marriage, her original target was the legitimate eldest daughter.

Even Grand Tutor Wang and Madam Wang unanimously believed that Sheng Hong had a bright future ahead of him and intended to betroth their eldest daughter to him.

However, Wang Ruoyi looked down upon Sheng Hong's family background and his status as a concubine-born son, insisting instead on marrying Kang Haifeng, the legitimate eldest son of the Kang family.

At that time, the Kang family boasted a prominent lineage and matched the Wang family in social standing.

Kang Haifeng's placement in the palace examinations had been even higher than Sheng Hong's, and elite young ladies throughout Bianjing vied with one another for the chance to marry into the Kang family.

Little did anyone expect that Kang Haifeng was merely a gilded outside with rotten wood inside—a mere dissolute prodigate.

Ever since the old patriarch of the Kang family passed away and Kang Haifeng inherited the headship of the clan, he cast off all restraint entirely.

He neglected his official duties and lacked the competence to graft wealth.

Even during the mourning period for his parents, he managed to father a child out of wedlock, which led to impeachment by the censors and the immediate loss of his official post.

Instead of working connections to restore his position in officialdom over the years, he simply gave up entirely, spending his days whoring around a house full of concubines and maids, fathering over a dozen illegitimate sons and daughters.

He was fast approaching the point of decline where he would have to live off Wang Ruoyi's dowry.

Sheng Hong gave a light cough. He not only despised Wang Ruoyi's attitude, but looked down even more upon Kang Haifeng's conduct.

"You would do well to have as little to do with the Kang family as possible from now on."

Wang Ruofu knitted her brows, clearly unimpressed by the words of the old lady and Sheng Hong.

She muttered softly to herself, "But she is still my own flesh and blood sister after all..."

Upon hearing this, Hualan subtly pinched her arm without changing her expression. Wang Ruofu finally understood the hint and nodded heavily, promising to keep her distance from the Kang family henceforth.

The old lady turned her gaze back to Zhao Han, her tone unhurried and relaxed, as if merely making casual conversation.

"Young Master Han, back in Yangzhou, I once heard that your father passed away even before you were born?"

A flash of doubt crossed Zhao Han's eyes, but he nodded solemnly. "That is indeed true."

"That year, my late father was on his way to Bianjing when he unfortunately encountered a treacherous undercurrent. Four or five boats traveling together were sucked into the river, and even his remains were never recovered."

Old Madam Sheng nodded thoughtfully, then asked again, "Are there any other relatives left in your father's clan?"

Zhao Han paused to reflect for a moment before replying, "I only vaguely remember my mother and the nannies at home mentioning that my father's branch broke away from the main clan early on to engage in trade in Bianjing."

"There are a few distant uncles, but we have had no contact with them over the years."

"Consequently, I know almost nothing about the clan's affairs."

Hearing the word "Bianjing" caused a nearly imperceptible ripple to stir in the old lady's eyes.

Though the explanation made logical sense, she still felt something was amiss.

Sheng Hong looked at the old lady with a face full of puzzlement, his brows knitting together involuntarily.

"Why is Mother suddenly asking about these things? It only serves to needlessly stir up painful memories for the boy."

With that, he cast a worried glance at Zhao Han, terrified that these inquiries might displease his future son-in-law.

Old Madam Sheng smiled faintly, unhurriedly picking up her teacup with a light sigh.

"As one grows old, one inevitably grows fond of idle chatter. Young Master Han, please do not take offense."

Zhao Han quickly cupped his hands in salute. "The old lady is merely showing concern for a junior; how could there be any offense?"

Meanwhile, in Tingxue Residence, the surroundings were arranged with elegant propriety.

Wei Xiaoniang was looking at Liu Ge'er with doting eyes as she coaxed the child. By now, Liu Ge'er was four or five months old, growing increasingly fair, plump, and adorable.

His lotus-root-like arms and legs kicked merrily without stopping, occasionally letting out bursts of gurgling laughter.

Sheng Hong would also visit them a few times every month, though he mostly spent his time at Linxi Pavilion.

Xiaodie slowly opened the cosmetics case and spoke in a soft voice, "Xiaoniang, have you truly thought this through?"

Wei Xiaoniang reined in her expression, her fingertips lightly brushing the edge of the cosmetics case before she finally nodded.

"Ever since I walked through the gates of the netherworld and back, I have figured out many things."

"Though I have no desire to contend with anyone over trifles, I cannot simply sit by and watch myself repeatedly reduced to a fish on the chopping block, at the mercy of others."

"Lin Qinshuang would never dare stretch her claws into Shoushan Hall. With Ming'er under the old lady's protection now, I feel much more at ease."

"In the future, Ming'er's marriage will naturally be decided by the old lady. The old lady cherishes her dearly and will certainly not treat her shabbily."

"However, Liu Ge'er is still young. As a descendant of the Sheng family, his fortunes are bound up with theirs—when the family prospers, all prosper; when it falls, all fall."

"Although the master will not entirely abandon him to his fate, deep down, he will still draw distinctions between affection and status."

A loving parent plans far ahead for their child's future. With Minglan's prospects secured, Wei Xiaoniang naturally began plotting for Liu Ge'er as well.

Sheng Changbai's position in the Sheng family went without saying, but Liu Ge'er was different.

As another concubine-born son, should he ever catch Sheng Hong's eye, it would directly block Sheng Changfeng's path.

Even while residing in Bianjing, Lin Qinshuang would never tolerate him.