♂?，，

  The manager of the silk store opposite received the news and rushed to report it to Master Ye, who arrived just as the plaque was being hung.

  "I didn't hear the gongs and drums, I thought the person in charge was fooling me, but it's actually true." Ye Dehua looked up at the several golden characters on the Hui Chun Tang sign, feeling both excited and envious: "The imperial favor is vast! When can our Ye family also earn such a plaque, even if we die, we will have no regrets."

  Lin Lan covered her mouth and smiled lightly: "I'm just riding on Ming Yun's coattails, the Emperor favors Ming Yun, that's why he's being especially generous."

  Li Mingyu glanced at her and chuckled softly: "You're quite modest this time. The emperor originally wanted to grandly bestow a plaque to praise the donation of medicine, but think about it, when the smallpox epidemic broke out in Shaanxi, other pharmacies also donated medicinal materials, so why was only our pharmacy rewarded? This is the emperor's special favor towards us, so I had to use some persuasion to convince the emperor to keep a low profile. Li Mingyu raised an eyebrow with satisfaction and gazed at the plaque, saying slowly: "Huichuntang, these few words are really good, if you didn't know better, you'd think it was 'Magical Hands Reviving Spring'."

  Lin Lan secretly pinched his arm and smiled, saying in a low voice: "Firstly, I'm being humble to comfort Uncle Da Shu, didn't you see that Uncle Da Shu's eyes are about to shed tears? Secondly, the low-key handling is still worthy of praise; thirdly, the words '御赐回春' (imperial gift for rejuvenation) are absolutely true, my wife, I can be called a master of rejuvenation, understand?"

  Li Mingyun took a deep breath and repeatedly said: "Understood... understood..."

  Ye Dehui let out a sigh of relief, his mood finally calming down. "This is the best news ever! We must celebrate properly tonight. Uncle will host a few tables of wine and dinner, and we'll have a good time. And I almost forgot, we need to hurry up and tell Grandma and Grandpa the good news."

  Ming Rong cupped his hands and said, "The wine table for Big Uncle is a must, but this matter should be handled by the nephew. Tomorrow will do, tomorrow at Yu Xiang Ju, I'll specially invite Big Uncle and Big Brother." As he spoke, Ming Rong cleared his throat: "Incidentally, let's discuss some important matters."

  Ye Dehua understood, and smiled: "Alright, let's do it tomorrow then!" He also said to Lin Lan: "Niece-in-law, you're a great person! Too bad Ming Rong doesn't have the Ye surname."

  Lin Lan smiled and said: "Ming Yun doesn't have the surname Ye, but he's also half a member of the Ye family."

  Ye Dehui was delighted again, patted Ming Yun's shoulder: "Not bad not bad, reasonable, Ming Yun's strengths are like those of our Ye family."

  Mingyun was taken aback by his words, and it can be seen that the elder uncle's heart is filled with intense envy, jealousy, and hatred.

  Lin Lan tried her best to hold back her laughter, her big uncle was too ridiculous.

  In the Li's residence, Mingzhu came out of Weiyu Pavilion with a pout on her face and muttered: "It's getting less and less fun lately. Eldest brother is preparing for his exams, eldest sister-in-law has been gloomy every day, seeing her makes me feel unspirited too, Yu Lian doesn't come out to play either, this life is really boring, so dull."

  "A Xiang came up with an idea: 'Miss Biao, why don't we go to the garden and fly a kite? Look at how great the weather is today.'"

  Mingzhu looked up at the clear blue sky and thought: "Is the kite I bought last year still there?"

  "Here! I've kept it well, shall I go get it now?"

  "Go ahead! I'll go take a stroll in the garden first."

  "Yes..." Ah Xiang walked away happily.

  Mingzhu strolled leisurely into the garden, already in mid-March, all the flowers in the garden had bloomed. The tender yellow roses climbed over the low wall, the purple lilacs, red peonies, and pink peach blossoms adorned the spring colors throughout the garden. Mingzhu plucked a peony and played with it in her hand.

  "I heard that the old lady is going to have a concubine for Second Master!"

  "Who said that? The second young master and his wife have been married for less than half a year, and he's already taking a concubine?"

  The conversation behind the fake mountain immediately caught Mingzhu's interest. Mingzhu tiptoed closer, perked up her ears and eavesdropped.

  "What's so strange about that? The young master has just gotten married, hasn't he also taken in Wei Jiangniang? I heard it was the old lady who feared that Er Shaonai would neglect Er Shaojun after opening a pharmacy, and only then thought of taking a concubine for Er Shaojun..."

  "The second young master is exceptionally talented and handsome, I don't know who's lucky enough to be his concubine."

  "Ugh... forget it, even if Second Master takes a hundred concubines, it's still none of your business..."

  "I'm just a little envious! Hey! Seriously, who has the old lady taken a liking to? Someone from our own household or an outsider?"

  "This is unclear, but a few days ago the old lady always called Miss Yu to talk, I only know that Second Master said if it was Miss Na who asked, he would agree."

  "Miss Biao? Impossible! Last time Miss Biao was punished, wasn't it because Second Young Master lost his temper?"

  "That's right! So, I just can't figure it out."

  "I understand..."

  "What's up?"

  "It must be the second young master's wife who has a grudge against Miss Biao, deliberately letting the second young master take Miss Biao as his concubine, and then she can bully Miss Biao at will. Think about it! On the first day the second young master's wife entered the house, Miss Biao made things difficult for her, how could the second young master's wife not hold a grudge?"

  Mingzhu's seven orifices were smoking with anger, the peony in her hand was torn to shreds by her, and she cursed in her heart: Good Lin Lan, your mind is really vicious, last time you splashed dirty water on me, this time it's even more detestable.

  "Miss, miss..." The distant call of Ah Xiang came. Mingzhu was startled and her foot slipped, almost falling to the ground, and she couldn't help but let out a "Oh no".

  The people behind the fake mountain exclaimed: "Oh no......" and immediately fled in a hurry.

  Mingzhu originally wanted to catch the two and ask them in detail, but they escaped, and she was so angry that she stomped her feet.

  Ah Xiang ran over, excitedly waving the kite: "Miss, look, this kite is still fine."

  Mingzhu glared at her fiercely: "What's good about it? It's all just a big fuss, shouting and yelling, it's exhausting..."

  Ah Xiang didn't know how she had offended Miss again, and with a wronged expression, she pouted her mouth, hung her head low and didn't dare to speak.

  Mingzhu was furious and didn't know who the two maids were earlier, couldn't tell from their voices, never mind, Lin Lan you want to harm me, I won't let you be comfortable either.

  Zhou's mother was anxiously pacing back and forth in the courtyard, seeing Yunying and Wenli hurrying back, she quickly went forward to ask: "How is it? Is everything done?"

  Yun Ying patted her chest, calming down her racing heart, and replied: "We followed Miss Biao to the small garden and conveyed your message about 70-80%. If Ah Xiang hadn't come and startled Miss Biao, we would have finished speaking. However, the important things were all said."

  Zhou's mother peeked through the door crack to look outside: "Have they been discovered by Miss Biao?"

  Wen Li said: "We slipped away quickly, Miss Biao probably didn't notice us."

  Mother Zhou calmed down and said with a gentle expression: "This time, the errands were handled well. Recently, we two shouldn't go out again, nor should we discuss this matter."

  Two people were busy responding.

  Zhou's mother sneered, this brainless cousin, is actually a good chess piece. Whether the second young lady's plan can succeed depends on her now. Cousin, you must perform well and not disappoint anyone. Old treacherous woman, soon you will know what it means to reap what you sow.

  Mingzhu hurriedly went to find the old witch.

  "Auntie..." Mingzhu pouted and acted coquettishly.

  Mr. Han was discussing interest with Mr. Sun when Mingzhu burst in, causing him to frown and say to Mr. Sun, "Just do as I said, get through this month and it will be easier next month."

  Mr. Sun wisely bowed and withdrew.

  Mother Jiang saw him out and closed the door behind him.

  "What's wrong? Didn't you see your mother discussing something? Why did you rush in so recklessly?" Madame Han rebuked.

  Mingzhu's mouth was raised and she could hang an oil bottle. She sat down next to her mother: "Mother, did Second Brother say he wanted to take me as his concubine?"

  Han's eyes widened: "Where did you hear such nonsense?"

  Mingzhu scolded: "You're still deceiving me, it's already spread throughout the mansion."

  Han looked at Jiang Mama, and Jiang Mama was also puzzled: "Yesterday it was only Lao Nu and Zhu Mama, the other maids were all waiting outside! Who spread the word?"

  Han's eyes flashed with a cold light, and he gritted his teeth: "Who else? It must be those two **. I didn't expect this move, it's poisonous! Really poisonous. They knew I was finding a husband for Mingzhu, so they deliberately spread the word that they wanted to take Mingzhu as their concubine. If this gets out, what will outsiders think?"

  Mrs. Jiang was sweating profusely, needless to say, outsiders would definitely think that Second Master and Miss Mingzhu had some ambiguous relationship, which decent family would still want Miss Mingzhu?

  Before Mingzhu came, I hadn't thought of this kind of trouble. Now the more I think about it, the more afraid I become, and the more anxious and flustered I get, shaking my mother's arm: "Mother, what should we do now? We can't let them ruin our daughter's reputation like this."

  "Rest assured, I won't let them get away with it," said Mrs. Han, patting Mingzhu's hand. "Aunt Jiang, go and investigate, if anyone is secretly discussing this matter, catch one, no matter who, and beat them to death with a stick as a warning."

  Jiang's mother wiped away a cold sweat and hastily said: "I'll go investigate right now."

  "Mother, Second Brother is bullying me like this, and Father doesn't even care? I'm his flesh and blood too!" Mingzhu burst into tears.

  Han sighed: "Dad, Dad now can't wait to put Mingyun on a pedestal, he's all smiles when it comes to Mingyun, but when it comes to Big Brother, he's scowling and furious. In his heart, where do we three mothers fit in?"

  "Go tell grandma, she won't ignore it. If even grandma doesn't care, then why should I continue to be this fake young lady? I'll just ignore everything too and announce to the world that I'm Li Jingxian's biological daughter. Let this family be ruined, we can just go back to our old home, at least there's land, houses, and fields. I don't want to be some fake young lady anymore." Mingzhu was so angry she lost her head and didn't care about anything.

  "Hey, don't be reckless, it's easy to tear each other apart! But we can't let them take advantage of us for free. If we leave, won't all this wealth fall into their hands? And what about your future prospects?"

  The bright pearl was confused again and said helplessly: "What should we do then?"

  "Don't worry, it's a bit tough now, but after I pass the imperial examination and then the official test, things will gradually improve, and Father's thoughts will naturally change."

  "What if Big Brother doesn't pass?" Mingzhu asked worriedly.

  Han glared at her: "Shut your crow mouth, shoo!"

  Mingzhu was silent for a moment, and then Han said with a sigh: "If it really comes to that point, I'll have to empty this house before coming to tear my face off."

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