305. V4C305: Here Comes Baozi (II) Translator: Ning LL

In fact, Minglan was not good atcozyingupto the people she didn't know. In her previous life, if she had worked in the Propaganda Department the leader of which was her father, things might be completely different now. Her father's subordinates were allquick-wittedand eloquent and always wore those sincere looks. Not only were they able to persuade others,buttheymade others utterly moved. If they couldn't convince you, they would bother you to death.Thecommonidolthey had was Tang Seng.

After they chatted for a while, Minglan then decided to bid her farewell. Little Shen shi stood up and looked at the hourglass beside her,pretendingto be surprised, Hey, it's already this late. The girls should be off school now. Then she looked at Minglan with a smile.

Little Shen shi had lost her parents at a young age,Her brother and sister treasured her a lot and were never strictwithher. As a result, she had got used to a carefree life. However, ever since she had married into the Zheng family, she had toobservethediciplines for women in ancient times and seldom hadachance to go out. Every day, she could only stay in the General's mansion with hersternsister-in-law and wasdisciplinedall the time.Itwas hard for her not to feel aggrieved.

Minglan was well aware what Little Shen shi was thinking. She wanted to play dumb, but the expectation in the latter's eyes was too obvious. Then Minglan gavea wry smile secretly while saying with a calm face, That's right, I planned to pickupthe two girls after I leave here.

Little Shen shi hurrahed inwardly and turned around with a smile, Sister-in-law, the school is near our mansion. I'd like to go with her and pickupmy niece. First Madam Zhengglancedat Minglan and Little Shen shi and then drank her tea without saying anything. Little Shen shi looked at Minglan and the latter lowered her head right away. As they were feeling nervous, First Madam Zheng said, Then, you two should go together.

Little Shen shiactedas if she had finally been released. After she changed her outfit in her room in a hurry, she went out with Minglan right away.

Eh, finally, I could breathe the air outside.

On the coach, Little Shen shi kept lifting the curtain to look at the outside with a cheerful look, When I wason the border of the Shu state, I always heard that the capital is the best place in the world with its prosperity and wealth. Unluckilyfor me, I have been here for such a long time but never really hung out.

Minglan said smilingly, You said as if you were so pathetic, I don't believe you never went out.

Little Shen shi, with her lips curled, put down the curtain and turned around, saying, I only came out when going to the temple or the Taoist abbey, or dressing gravely like I am going to worship the ancestors to have meals or tea at others'mansion. The most interesting thing for me isgoingtothe antique shops. What kind of hanging out that is!

So what are you planning to do? Minglan tilted her head and got closer to the censer, feeling drowsy and limp again.

Little Shen shi'seyessparkledandshesaid loudly, I want totour all the sceneries andstreetsand vieweverythingaboutlife. Then I'll get a full picture of this placeunder the feet of our emperor! Minglanlaughedand raised her hands from the warmer to applaudLittle Shen shi gently. The latter got embarrassed and complained, Stop laughing at me!

Seeing that Little Shen shi really gota bit angry, Minglan then stopped joking and coaxed her softly, I wasn't laughing at you. Your words all make sense, but as a woman, how can we walk around in this city? I arrived at the capital earlier than you did and the places I have been to are merely a few.That year when the spring was the most splendid, all the women in our family went to the Spring Watch Mountainforsightseeing. Onlythen did I see the scenery at the outside world. And it was only because my old grandma suddenlywantedtotakea tour. The women in our family, including our madam, all dare notpropose to hang out except for my grandma.

Little Shen shi gotevenmore yearning to go out hearing Minglan's words. After a while, she said, My mother-in-law is not able to walk now, as for my sister-in-law She sighed gently and stopped talking.

Minglan also got very upset because shewouldlike to walk around in this city too. Then she joked, Then you are left with only one choice. Give birth to as many kids as you can, then when youaresurrounded by your grandkids, you can go wherever you want to.

Little Shen shi flushed at once andsaid annoyedly, I regard you as my best friend and tell you everything. You only know how to joke about me! You wicked girl, I will tell you nothing from now on!

Minglan laughed happily. Then she moved on the thick and soft cushion and clung to Little Shen shi's shoulders, saying in a soft voice, Sister, it's my fault. Please forgive me. I won't do it again. After she spoke sweet words for a long time, Little Shen shi finally cooled down.

She poked Minglan's forehead and cursed with a smile, Nuisance. Your master must have made a big mistake in his previous life, otherwise he wouldn't have married afoxygirl like you! He mustbeeithertricked or pissed off by you every day!

Asthe two women who were at the same age were chatting with each other, theygraduallywere gentlyhittingeach other with laughter. After a while, Little Shen shi sat up and said sadly, The capital is a great place indeed, but also very troublesome. I prefer to enjoy acarefree lifeon the border of the Shu State. Minglan leaned on the woolen cushion and stared at Little Shen shi quietly.

Then, Little Shen shi said in a low voice, I only hated to part with my brother and my sister.

Minglan still said nothing. She suddenly rememberedPrincessDiana, a famoustragiccharacter. When Princess Dianawasa nobody, she had wanted to be theprincess, but when she did have become a princess, shelongedfor love and freedom. No one could always get the best of both worlds. Little Shen shi wanted to enjoy the wealthy life in the capital while living anunconstrained life. However, clearly she was not lucky enough tofulfillthat wish.

If one likedto eat salty fish, he hadto be able to endure the thirst. Since she wanted thehighposition and great wealth, she had to endure the hardships.

The affairs of the Zheng familyalsogavethe people in the capital a lot to talk about. Minglan heardsome of the rumors.

When Little Shen shi had just married into the Zheng family, she complained about her sister-in-law in the imperial palace since she had the Empress as her support. She wanted to cut her sister-in-law down to sizeby inviting the imperial members to help her, thus she could then live a comfortable life.

However, never did she know that First Madam Zheng was tougher than her. After Little Shen shi had just complained tearfully in the palace, Empress Shendidn't even thinkof what she was going to say to First Madam Zheng. The latter had already knelt in front of Old Madam Zheng and asked for leaving the Zheng family with the reason that she was too menial to be Little Shen shi's sister-in-law.

Old Madam Zheng who was around eighty years old was scared out of her wits. First Madam Zheng had married into the Zheng family for over ten years and she had always been close to Old Madam Zheng. Not only was Old Madam Zheng very satisfied with First Madam Zheng,butthe latter hadmade a great contribution to the family by giving birth to children, dealing with the family affairs andcreatinga harmonizing atmosphere in the family. Under no circumstances would Old Madam Zheng let herleave. At that time, Old Madam Zheng,sick and weak as she was, put on her noble costume and went to the imperial palace to ask for mercy at once.

At that time, the discussion about this issue was rather heated.

Actually, it was more like a public condemnation sinceallthe people had sided with First Madam Zheng without any hesitation. She was from a prestigious family and enjoyed a great reputation. Her ancestor's memorial tablet wasplacedinthe Imperial Ancestral Temple and her granduncle's memorial tablet was in themartyry. Nearly ten percent ofthe monuments of virtue in the country had been built up for the members of her family. (How scary her family rules would be?) As for First Madam Zheng, she was the most famous virtuous madam in the capital.

Little Shen shi hadn't married into the Zheng family for a long time and already forced such a noble and gentle woman to leave. That behavior truly deserved to be condemned. People claimed that since Shen family which hadn't become the Consort kin for long had already been so arrogant, it would surely create bigger problems in the future.

According to what Sheng Hong had said, some civil officials had already prepared to submit the impeachment they had written to the emperor.

Not only that, the imperial women,ledby Grand Princess Qing Ning, were also quite dissatisfied with Little Shen Shi.

'Marquis Zhongjing's family (First Madam Zheng's parents' family) is noble and virtuous. Now what, princesses like us still don't dare to slight our sisters-in-law, you, the sister of the Empress, think that you have the right to do that? What ashame! Who do you think you are? Princess Taiping?'

Empress Dowager De and a fewprincesses had also sneered at Little Shen shi.