The Story of Ming Lan Episode 56 Recap, Plot

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> The Story of Ming Lan Recap

Gu Tingye saw that Sheng Minglan had no reaction, so he petulantly declared he would stay in the room for one night. Sheng Minglan simply let him stay, treating it as his wedding night with Qian Fengxian. Gu Tingye sat inside, just drinking tea, not saying a word. Qian Fengxian asked him to settle down, but Gu Tingye ignored her. He called Shitou in and learned that Sheng Minglan hadn't said a single word.

Shitou thoughtfully closed the door, and Gu Tingye looked helpless. As Sheng Minglan soaked her feet, Dan Ju reported that there was another person in Sheng Changfeng's room, arranged by the Third Madam, who claimed it was inconvenient for her. Dan Ju couldn't help but ask, the Third Madam doing this was out of helplessness, but why was Sheng Minglan in such a hurry to arrange concubines for Gu Tingye?

Sheng Minglan said that Gu Tingye was truly submissive to her, and she couldn't bear to let him fight with Gu Laotaitai anymore. Sheng Minglan couldn't treat concubines as sisters, but it would be troublesome to arrange people after she became pregnant. She decided to see where Gu Tingye's heart truly lay. Gu Tingye sat for a while, and Qian Fengxian's maid finally couldn't help but step forward to remind him, then quickly retreated.

Just as Qian Fengxian was about to approach, Gu Tingye opened the door and called Shitou. Learning that Sheng Minglan had extinguished her lamp, he immediately became anxious and told Shitou to go inquire. Shitou could only run to find Xiao Tao, but Xiao Tao started talking about snacks with him. Upon hearing this, Gu Tingye angrily blew out his lamp too, but then lay on a chair and rested for a long time.

At Chou Shi (1-3 AM), Gu Tingye finally came out of the room and went to Sheng Minglan's place. Qian Fengxian looked at the empty room, unable to hide her disappointment. Sheng Minglan slept very soundly. Gu Tingye felt another surge of annoyance when he saw her, but could only lie down beside her, holding her until dawn. When Sheng Minglan opened her eyes and saw Gu Tingye, she was a little dazed.

Gu Tingye thought she would say something, but unexpectedly, Sheng Minglan only regarded Qian Fengxian as a spy sent from next door and wasn't jealous at all. Gu Tingye got angry, pulled back Sheng Minglan's quilt, and got up. During breakfast, Sheng Minglan talked to Gu Tingye about combining households. The compound would be completed in another ten to fifteen days, and then they could hold a banquet to celebrate the opening of the manor.

Gu Tingye told Sheng Minglan to prepare, saying that those who didn't wish to attend the banquet would come to pay their respects to Sheng Minglan beforehand. Sheng Minglan understood, but those few from next door were not easy to deal with. Xiao Qinshi was an outsider, so no matter how badly she treated Gu Tingye, he wouldn't be disappointed.

But he had always regarded Gu Yanke as his world since childhood, so his hopes for him were greater, yet in the end, he could only receive disappointment. Sheng Minglan understood; she also regarded Gu Tingye as her own world. Gu Tingye was somewhat annoyed; her uncomprehending look was truly infuriating. Shitou delivered some pastries to Xiao Tao again, and then saw Gu Tingye walk away furiously, while Sheng Minglan only focused on eating snacks.

On the day of the banquet for combining households, Gu Tingye entertained Shen Congxing and his wife Zhang Shi outside. Just as he was about to enter, he discovered that Xiao Zou Shi's sedan chair had arrived. She was the younger sister of Shen Congxing's main wife, and Shen Congxing had taken her as a concubine a few days ago. It was naturally unreasonable for Xiao Zou Shi to come here; Zhang Shi felt publicly humiliated and was unhappy.

Sheng Rulan did not come, fearing she couldn't secure her pregnancy. Sheng Changbo also did not come. Sheng Hualan arrived and saw Sheng Molan, who had come with Xiao Qinshi's invitation. Inside the room, Kang Yima, Wang Ruofu, and Xiao Qinshi were talking. Sheng Hualan was very unhappy upon seeing this and quickly pulled Wang Ruofu out. Shen Shi deliberately came to Sheng Minglan and called her 'aunt'.

Sheng Minglan had not met her before, and her expression darkened when she learned she was Qi Heng's wife. The two families had ancestral ties but were out of the five degrees of mourning. Shen Shi had come to discomfit Sheng Minglan, also claiming that Qi Heng had been dejected and she didn't know how to cheer him up.

Sheng Minglan repeatedly called him "Brother Heng" (Heng Ge'er), and said that her and Qi Heng's mutual respect and love was the greatest comfort to her elders. Shen Shi was stunned when she heard Sheng Minglan call her "niece-in-law," but still, to save face, she warned Sheng Minglan to be careful, as a full moon eventually wanes. Sheng Minglan saw Sheng Molan outside and immediately understood.

She spoke of her own difficulties in the Gu household, holding Shen Shi's hand to show goodwill, saying that women need not make things difficult for other women. Sheng Minglan spoke frankly, and Shen Shi couldn't help but feel strange inside. Sheng Minglan arranged the banquet and told Xiao Tao to find Qi Heng, saying that this matter could not be left ambiguous anymore.

Xiao Qinshi complained about the pastries Sheng Minglan chose in front of everyone, and also said that Sheng Minglan had stripped her of her authority as housekeeper. On the surface, she seemed to be speaking up for Sheng Minglan, but she was actually damaging her reputation. Kang Yima also took the opportunity to disparage Sheng Minglan, saying that Wang Ruofu had originally intended to take her in and raise her, but who knew she ran to Old Madam Sheng's room.

Her demeanor was truly repulsive, and upon hearing this, the ladies at the banquet all voiced their indignation. Shao Shi didn't come out, so Xiao Qinshi then claimed that Sheng Minglan had frightened her, twisting facts. Zhang Shi immediately became furious. Qi Heng, upon hearing that Sheng Minglan was looking for him, rushed over, hoping she would call him Yuanruo.

But Sheng Minglan, risking a ruined reputation, was not there to reminisce with him; she even directly told Qi Heng to call her "aunt." Qi Heng was stunned and repeatedly said she was heartless. Gu Tingye hadn't seen Sheng Minglan, nor had Shitou seen Xiao Tao, so Gu Tingye told him to go look for them, fearing Sheng Minglan might have been bullied.

Sheng Minglan stated that she was willing to exchange everything to bring Wei Xiaoniang back to life, but she could never return. The dead cannot come back to life, and time gone by cannot be reversed. Sheng Minglan was already married, and Qi Heng was already wed; they could never turn back in this lifetime.

Shitou searched for a long time and happened to overhear Sheng Molan say that Sheng Minglan had gone to the west, so he told Gu Tingye. Qi Heng felt powerless. He deeply regretted why he hadn't tried harder then, and why he insisted on passing the imperial examination before proposing marriage! Gu Tingye and Shitou rushed over. From afar, they saw Xiao Tao quickly hide in the shadows nearby, and coincidentally saw Sheng Minglan talking with Qi Heng.

Sheng Minglan had never hated Qi Heng, but Qi Heng became anxious, saying she should hate him instead. Sheng Minglan tried to persuade Qi Heng to cherish the present, but Qi Heng angrily questioned her, asking if she truly loved Gu Tingye. In his excitement, he even grabbed Sheng Minglan's wrist. Sheng Minglan quickly broke free, but after walking halfway, she returned.

Sheng Minglan had never wept bitterly for Qi Heng, nor did she like Qi Heng repeatedly criticizing Gu Tingye. After all, her next lifetime was to be spent in the Marquis's manor, and had he ever thought of her in all that he did? All of this had long ended; only Qi Heng was unwilling to let go. Sheng Minglan left, and Qi Heng stood alone, weeping in regret.

On her way back, Sheng Minglan complained about Qi Heng's dilly-dallying, saying that if she had scolded him awake earlier, it would have been better for both her and Qi Heng's couple. Xiao Shen Shi was playing touhu (pitch-pot game) when she overheard women discussing Shen Congxing bringing his concubine to the main banquet, which also led her to angrily curse Yuzhou. She was very unhappy.

Xiao Zou Shi, on the other hand, slandered Zhang Shi for not having borne a son or daughter since marrying into the Shen family. When caught by Zhang Shi, she showed not an ounce of remorse, and a quarrel broke out.

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