The Story of Ming Lan Episode 11 Recap, Plot

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> The Story of Ming Lan Recap

Sheng Minglan saw the gifts Qi Heng sent. She only picked a few to save his face, letting Bu Wei take the rest back. Sheng Minglan sent Xiaotao and Danju away, then took out the pair of kneepads from under her pillow, placed them in the box, and closed it, wishing him success in the imperial examination soon.

Just as Gu Tingye was about to leave, Xiao Qin Shi called out to him, saying that the whole family would see him off to the imperial examination hall tomorrow. Gu Yan Kai, however, insisted on him leaving. Gu Tingye, in a fit of pique, simply disappeared. Zhu Manniang brought warm wine for Gu Tingye, leaning softly on his shoulder, begging him to stay.

Just as they were sharing a tender moment, Chang Momo interrupted them with a remark, and Gu Tingye got up to go to sleep. Zhu Manniang quickly hugged him, fearing that Gu Tingye would go back on his word after succeeding in the imperial examination. Gu Tingye comforted her and left a kiss on her forehead before departing. Bu Wei was packing Qi Heng's clothes, grumbling that the tailor had put in an extra pair of kneepads.

Qi Heng saw that the words "Yuan Bao" were embroidered on the kneepads and then understood Sheng Minglan's intention, repeatedly saying that she had him in her heart. On the day of the imperial examination, the Sheng family came to see off Sheng Changbo and Sheng Changfeng. It was said that the entire street had been taken over by Duke Qi's Residence, showing great pomp. Qi Heng came riding on horseback from afar.

Sheng Rulan and Sheng Molan eagerly watched him, but Sheng Minglan alone dared not meet Qi Heng's ardent gaze. Sheng Minglan heard Xiaotao complaining in the carriage that Gu Tingye had no carriage and was the least flashy. Sheng Minglan, however, said that if he wanted to show off, he would probably outshine even the Duke's Residence. The students had to stay in the imperial examination hall for three days.

Wang Ruofu was naturally burning with anxiety, kneeling before the gods and Buddhas all day, praying for Sheng Changbo to pass the examination, and even told Sheng Hong to come and worship. Sheng Hong's face was full of refusal, but after Wang Ruofu left, he knelt and prayed to the gods and Buddhas incessantly, which was quite amusing. Xiao Qin Shi even vowed to the gods and Buddhas for Gu Tingye to pass the examination.

Gu Yan Kai, however, was angry that Gu Tingye had gone to the examination hall on his own, saying he would deal with him after the exam. Zhu Manniang was about to go to the temple, but Chang Momo, who was playing with the children, gave her a disgusted look and told her to stay at home. Old Madam Sheng called the three sisters. Sheng Rulan and Sheng Molan inevitably started bickering again.

Sheng Minglan watched from the side, wanting to mediate but unable to interject. After leaving Old Madam Sheng's room, Sheng Rulan again mocked Sheng Molan for being a concubine-born daughter. Sheng Molan was so angry that she burst into tears, and if Sheng Minglan hadn't intervened to comfort her, she probably would have cried for a long time. The night wind was slightly cool.

Sheng Minglan stood in the courtyard, looking at the lanterns lit at Fanlou, hearing that Duke Qi and his wife had ordered them to be hung. Qi Heng tightly clutched Sheng Minglan's kneepads in the imperial examination hall, his thoughts already drifting far away. Three days later, everyone went to the imperial examination hall to pick up their children. Gu Tingye saw Chang Momo as soon as he came out.

Qi Heng was surrounded by his parents, but he couldn't help but gaze at Sheng Minglan from afar, even raising the carriage curtain to glance at her after getting in. Sheng Minglan, unnoticed by others, exchanged a smile with Qi Heng. The whole family waited for the results to be posted. Lin Qinshuang took the opportunity to send Xue Niang's man, Chi Wu, back to Yangzhou.

Upon hearing this, Sheng Minglan told Xiaotao to go to the inn and tell Aunt Wei to follow Chi Wu, which would reveal Lin Qinshuang's flaws. Only then did Xiaotao understand Sheng Minglan's intention that day when she had pretended to send Aunt Wei back to Yangzhou but secretly arranged for her to stay at the inn.

On the day the results were posted, Wang Ruofu burned a stick of good incense, muttering ceaselessly, hoping for Sheng Changbo to pass the examination, but she got too excited and fell before even leaving the house. Sheng Minglan was writing beside Old Madam Sheng, but her mind kept wandering. Old Madam Sheng naturally saw that she was worried about Qi Heng. Sheng Minglan's gaze flickered, and she quickly denied it.

Old Madam Sheng said that Qi Heng was a good person, but unfortunately, his family background was too prominent. If Sheng Minglan were to marry him, she might not be able to become the official wife, and even if she did, she would likely suffer daily. Just then, a mama reported that Wang Ruofu had injured her foot. Old Madam Sheng then had Sheng Minglan go to check on her on her behalf, also fulfilling Sheng Minglan's wish.

Gu Yan Kai and Xiao Qin Shi were on their way to see the results posted, saying that whether Gu Tingye passed or not, they would force him to separate from Zhu Manniang. Gu Tingye and Sheng Changbo met outside the crowd. Sheng Rulan and Sheng Minglan paid them no mind and darted into the crowd to look at the list. The surrounding merchants looked at Gu Tingye, finding his demeanor extraordinary, but kept their distance after hearing his name.

Duke Qi, Commandery Princess, and Qi Heng waited in the carriage for the servant to report, but unexpectedly learned that Qi Heng's name was not on the list. Sheng Rulan and Sheng Minglan saw Sheng Changbo's name on the Jinshi list. Both were very happy. Sheng Rulan turned and ran home, while Sheng Minglan looked around several times but couldn't find Qi Heng's name, so she could only leave first.

Sheng Changfeng's face turned red with anger when he didn't see his name. Lin Qinshuang and Sheng Molan were too ashamed to see anyone and quickly ran away. The Commandery Princess got out of the carriage and looked carefully around, confirming that Qi Heng's name was indeed not there. She immediately turned to return to the residence with a dark face. Qi Heng was naturally disheartened, but he still used the pretext of congratulating Sheng Changbo to meet Sheng Minglan.

Sheng Minglan knew that he must be sad at this moment after years of hard work, so she and Sheng Rulan comforted him greatly. The Commandery Princess saw Qi Heng talking to the Sheng family young ladies and becoming elated, and she cursed inwardly. Gu Tingwei accompanied Gu Tingye to see the list, but they returned disheartened. The drive that Gu Tingye had in his heart dispersed, and he was no longer as proud and ostentatious as before.

Wang Ruofu and Sheng Hong welcomed Sheng Changbo outside the main gate of the Sheng family. The whole family was joyous, planning a family banquet and a teacher appreciation banquet, making it very lively. Lin Qinshuang and her two children returned to the residence through a side gate, completely dispirited. Old Madam Sheng was naturally delighted, but she still pointed out Sheng Hong and Wang Ruofu's ostentation, warning them not to offend the Gu family and the Qi family.

Upon hearing this, Sheng Hong quickly ordered people to close the gates and the residence, but Wang Ruofu felt very wronged. Sheng Minglan quickly comforted her, adding that she had prepared a gift for Sheng Changbo and also one for Sheng Rulan. The few of them then spoke of Sheng Changbo's marriage.

Wang Ruofu seemed intent on betrothing her sister's daughter, Yun'er, to Sheng Changbo, but Old Madam Sheng and Sheng Hong didn't take her up on it, leaving Wang Ruofu standing stunned. Sheng Hong had been with Wang Ruofu for the past few days, so Lin Qinshuang and Sheng Molan spent their entire days with long faces, scolding Sheng Changfeng. Gu Tingye and Sheng Changbo were drinking in a restaurant, one dejected, the other joyful.

Sheng Changbo knew of Gu Tingye's literary talent and truly couldn't understand why he didn't pass. Sheng Changfeng, meanwhile, had befriended many princes and nobles, but in reality, they were just a bunch of disreputable friends, none of whom were useful. Currently, these people were drinking in the restaurant, but they were talking wildly and arrogantly. Lin Qinshuang waited outside the gate for Sheng Changfeng all night, but unexpectedly, he was out drinking, making her truly angry.

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