Jiju (polo), & The Sheng Family Discover's Madame Wu's True Goal

As she said in last episode, Ming Lan is looking forward (i admire this quality of hers). Madame Wu continues to corner her in order to spend time with her, and through dialogue Ming Lan tries to evade her citing gossip and concern about her family. Madame Wu says 'you are alone in a big courtyard I get it' meaning she will invite all her sisters. At the Jiju match Madame Wu is clearly extolling her son's brilliance but she also genuinely likes Ming Lan. Rulan's goal is to praise Ming Lan and insult Mo'er, and finally Mo'er excuses herself to go try to catch up with the Sixth son (on his way to a men's only poetry reading) but Ming Lan stops her by throwing mud at her. Not long after the sisters return home, Big Madame learns that Madame Wu really only wants Ming Lan, which she finds insulting, and is annoyed that Rulan does not care at all. Elsewhere, Concubine Lin continues to pressure Mo'er to stoop to extreme tactics in order to get Sixth Son (and although Mo'er argues that it could all blow up in their faces she really doesn't fight her on it and seems to trust her on this matter). Meanwhile, Master Sheng provides Big Madame with some loving (clearly he has a goal in mind) and (I love how they are like an old married couple bickering) in order to learn why she is avoiding Madame Wu, and so he uses sweet talk to try to get her to change her mind about Madame Wu. But Big Madame defend herself by saying this will just create conflict since Madame Wu only has eyes for Ming Lan so waste time with Mo'er....AFTER THIS Ming Lan discovers Mo'er dressed up and lingering outside. She says something which triggers Mo'er, who tries to trigger Ming Lan, and fails. That night, the antics of the Big Madame are truly...intended to incite Mo'er because she is bragging and preening to get a rise out of them....even Ming Lan is participating in this show. Mo'er walks right into this, and Mo'er runs away pleading illness.

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