Chapter 32B: Secret War

  Wu Meicai furrowed her brow, and Nan Yueyan immediately spoke with a stern tone, "This path is still crawling like ants——" Zhan Lan Sheng quickly lifted his skirt and ran to the front, laughing and smiling, completely losing his elegant demeanor, he was so angry that he was panting.

  Wu Mei also understood, and with one hand on Nan Yue's arm, she leaned in close and whispered, "Don't worry, now that we're back home, this child will be as obedient as before. She used to respect you the most."

  Lan was two years old when he learned to recognize characters and three years old when he started reading. To please him, he had indeed worked hard at his studies. Thinking that he had been absent from his father's position for many years, it wasn't good to blame his daughter for not listening or being sensible, so Nan Yue Bay endured and didn't lose his temper.

  This little outburst made Xiao Gu look up at Lan Sheng, his expression still calm, "A girl changes eighteen times when she grows up, Miss Lan is quite different from when she was a kid."

  "Huh? This is a new way of speaking." Lan Sheng thought to himself.

  Xiao Gu continued, "Master also knows that the courtyard where Madam Mei used to live was given to Third Miss. The newly added small courtyard is too small, and you said it would be for Fourth Miss, who has already moved in. Previously, Madam Mei said she wanted to guard the tomb for a year, so only the young servants came first, and temporarily arranged to stay in the outer servant's quarters. Now, how to arrange, I still ask you to instruct."

  The old servant's expressionless tone explained: One, it's impossible to live in the previous place. Two, there is no room for you in the new house. Three, how can you come today after guarding for a year? Four, I won't offend the master, you decide.

  Lan Sheng listened without batting an eye, only feeling that a storm had begun the moment she stepped into the house. She was also curious about how her father would arrange accommodations for her mother and herself in this seemingly extremely tense mansion.

  Nan Yue thought for a moment, "The second lady will naturally live with me, Lan Sheng..." He paused slightly before continuing, "will also live with us. The main house is the largest, and the second lady doesn't like to put on airs, so it's not difficult to vacate two empty rooms."

  It sounds like a good solution at first.

  Xiao Gu retorted, "It's been less than two months since the mistress passed away, and Mei Furen has already moved in. We can't let people gossip, and we have to consider the feelings of the young misses. Besides, Miss Lan Sheng is already an adult and should have her own courtyard."

  "How are we going to arrange this? Are we going to let the two of them move out?" Nan Yueyan was just like other married men, not paying much attention to household matters, but still had many useless ideas. "Ping'er and Sha'er are still young, let them move into their mother's courtyard, and the second wife can live in the original house, so it won't be unfamiliar. Lan Sheng will live in the new courtyard. Such a big mansion and there is no place for family members to live?"

  "This... it's better to ask Madame Yu and Madame Die first. The old lady has spoken, saying that household matters are managed by the two ladies, and I, an old servant, do not dare to take liberties." In other words, Nan Yue Bay also cannot take liberties.

  Nan Yueya scolded Lao Dian Nu for wanting to come and cause trouble, but Ou Mei persuaded him to calm down.

  "Can't blame Director Xiao for this, I said don't enter the city, you insisted on pulling me back, but since we're back, should follow household rules, otherwise I'd be a laughing stock. Why not do it like this, you go do what you need to do, Lan Sheng and I will go pay respects to Old Lady, then discuss with the two sisters where to live. As you said, such a big mansion must have a place for my mother and me."

  Nan Yue led Wu Mei into the depths of the backyard, "Getting you settled is my top priority today, come, I'll go with you to see Mother."

  There were flowers in Lan's ear, whispering, "It's great, the master is so fond of the lady, from now on who would dare not to give us three points?"

  Lan has experienced the workplace, business world, academic circles, and examination halls, but she has never been in a large family setting. However, when she reads "Dream of the Red Chamber", it can also be interpreted as a history of domestic struggles. The younger generation is lively and noisy, but amidst all the commotion, the thoughts and calculations of the older generation are also revealed. On the surface, everyone appears to get along, but behind each other's backs, they plot for personal gain. Poor Daiyu, an orphan, despite being intelligent and astute, does not have a mother like Aunt Xue who wholeheartedly plans for her daughter's future. She can only watch as Baoyu marries Baochai, and dies of heartbreak.

  From the time her mother was exiled for over a decade, to Nan Yueping's arrogance and recklessness in front of her, to her father allowing her mother to set up a temple while mentioning the old lady, to the steward clarifying who controls the inner courtyard without making a sound, none of this fails to tell her that this family is not simple. And yet, standing before the national preceptor, Nan Yueya, who has a reputation outside and serves the emperor, may be the one who understands the situation the least. Because he has to serve the ruler of the country, with the ruler being the sky for all under heaven, he naturally also has to be diligent and doesn't have the energy to bother with the trivial matters of his wives and daughters at home.

  "I'm powerless in this fight." Lan Sheng sighed softly.

  As an orphan, she has a self-aware but unchangeable bad habit - not good at interacting with people, thinking that her jokes are funny but often falling flat, thinking that she's being serious but often making others laugh. She basically has zero emotional intelligence. Before fully devoting herself to architectural design, she was into painting, which took up all of her life outside of work. Wanting to stay home and fight? Compared to painting at home or building a house, even demolishing one is fine.

  Hua listened to her and said, "What did you say?"

  Lan Sheng raised an eyebrow and smiled, pursing his lips and shaking his head to indicate that nothing was wrong. His mood didn't stay gloomy for long. Because of the winding corridors, he used his eyes to memorize the layout and imprint it in his mind, so there was no space to think about idle matters.

  The corridor below is brick ground, the garden is mud ground, some mountain rocks are piled up strangely, and some flowers and grasses are colorful. A widest long corridor connects two courtyards on both sides, with three combined yards as a unit, but not symmetrical on both sides. The inner wall surrounded by this place, that unobstructed wing room. Also, the hierarchy is not uniform, high without reason, low strange.

  Finally arrived at a archway, the wind in front of the door kept swirling around, blowing people's hair into disarray and their robes fluttering wildly. But on this day, the autumn sun was shining brightly with only a gentle breeze. This was a draught, Lan could tell at a glance. It wasn't so noticeable in summer, but in winter...

  The door opened, and a little girl's face appeared. Seeing Nan Yueya rushing in to loudly report that the old master had arrived, Lan Sheng followed Wu Mei into the largest room in the courtyard. Until the gate was closed behind her, the strong wind blew against her as she walked, cutting and piercing.

  A whiff of medicinal smell wafted from the main house, and a decent-looking but rather comfortable big girl came to serve tea, saying that the old lady was taking medicine and would have to wait for a while.

  Nan Yue said to Wu Mei, "This is Xiang Yu, she has been serving the young lady for three years. The young lady likes her very much and doesn't want to marry her off even at the age of 18. She also thinks that no one in our family is good enough for her. Mei, you help keep an eye out, if you can recommend a young man who can pass my mother's scrutiny, it will be a great merit."

  Xiang Yu poured tea with a steady hand, not looking at Wu Mei. "Thank you for your kindness, sir. Xiang Yu has asked the old lady for a favor and will serve her for the rest of her life, without marrying. When the old lady passes away, I'll be a servant to the young mistress and take care of the young master and miss."

  Wu Meiduan's hands were even more steady as she poured tea, and she looked at Xiang Yu with a broad smile. "She's really a good girl, the more obedient she is, the more I want to take credit for it."

  The old lady hasn't even appeared yet, and the stewardesses are already so fierce. Those who are not good at fighting in the house should avoid it! Lan Sheng lowered his head and silently drank his own cup of tea.

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  Did you notice yesterday's chapter number was wrong? Jing Zi explained it like this:

  Embracing a beautiful wish that may surprise you one day, just like the secret room in Harry Potter, maybe it will suddenly let you find it. (winking)

  Wish you all a happy weekend!