Chapter 17 (Bug Fix) "Have you been dreaming lately...?"

The Zhao family lived in the western part of the city. The head of the family was Zhao Lan's father, Zhao Bingsong, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate.

The elderly couple had three sons and two daughters. Zhao Lan was the youngest, and her second sister lived with her husband in another city.

The remaining three sons were all officials in the capital, married and had children for many years. The whole family lived together without dividing the household. Although it was a bit crowded, it was lively.

Specifically, as soon as Shen Lingyue entered the backyard, she was greeted by more than a dozen cousins, and even several nephews and nieces pestered her for candy.

The men had all gone to court, leaving only Grandma Zhao and her three aunts in the backyard. The elders doted on her, the youngest of the youngest, to the core, hugging and pinching her, stuffing her with sachets, jade pendants, earrings, and pearl flowers.

Shen Lingyue had never dealt with so many relatives in either of her lives. When she finally managed to crawl out of her third aunt's arms, her hair was all messed up, and she looked quite disheveled.

No wonder the original owner was so willful and spoiled; it turns out it was all because of her own family.

She fled to Zhao Lan's side as if pleading for help, and whispered, "Where's the show you told me to watch?"

It seems more like Zhao Lan is watching her make a fool of herself.

"Don't worry, it's coming right now."

Zhao Lan raised her chin, and Shen Lingyue looked towards the door. A maidservant entered to report the news.

"Young Master Tian and Young Master Fang have arrived and are having tea in the front hall."

My aunt smiled and said, "Please have them sit down for a while, treat them well, and don't neglect them."

Field? Square?

"These two surnames are familiar," Shen Lingyue asked tentatively. "Could it be those two...?"

Zhao Lan nodded, smiling but saying nothing.

The eldest aunt noticed Shen Lingyue's expression and took the initiative to explain: "Your eldest cousin was a Jinshi in the last spring imperial examination and was assigned to the Hanlin Academy to compile history books. Today, it is in his name that we have invited these two newly appointed Jinshi to our home."

Got it, it means going to someone's house to arrange a marriage.

Shen Lingyue vaguely remembered that among the cousins ​​who greeted her earlier, there seemed to be a few who were not engaged.

Her eyes darted around, and she leaned close to Zhao Lan's ear, "Are you trying to steal Aunt Liu's thunder?"

Zhao Lan would never admit it, and said with a light laugh, "It's an old tradition to find a son-in-law after the imperial examination results are announced. Which family doesn't want a son-in-law who has passed the imperial examination?"

She shooed Lingyue to the back, saying, "Stay put and don't make a sound, and don't embarrass your sisters."

Shen Lingyue wrinkled her nose; she hadn't fallen on purpose.

No one in the Zhao family wanted to harm her.

She cooperated by hiding behind a screen with her cousins ​​and successfully met Tian and Fang.

Just as Zhao Lan had said, Young Master Tian was of medium height, with slightly dark skin, and his features could only be described as regular.

But he was a witty and charming person. He could make his grandmother laugh out loud with just a few words, and the sisters behind the screen would cover their mouths tightly with handkerchiefs, afraid of making any noise.

Young Master Fang was the only son of the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial. His mother and fourth maternal aunt were distant cousins. This was not their first time visiting the Zhao family, so he appeared very relaxed and at ease.

His talent and appearance were comparable to Qi Xiuyuan's, but he possessed a greater sense of ease, confidence, and composure befitting a son of a high-ranking official in the capital.

Shen Lingyue's eyes were incredibly busy, looking at this and then that, and secretly giving them scores in her mind.

My father really has no social skills. Just because he got into a fight with the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, look what happened, he missed out on a good son-in-law!

She heard a rustling sound beside her. When she turned around, she saw her cousin Xuan from her fourth uncle's family being silently teased by the other sisters. Xuan's cheeks were flushed with embarrassment, her eyes were full of affection, and she lowered her eyes, not daring to look at the screen.

Got it, you two cousins ​​are a match made in heaven, you've probably been interested in each other for a long time.

A group of young girls hiding behind a screen, no matter how careful they were, would always make some small noises.

Zhao Lan sat by the screen, coughed lightly with a sigh, and gestured with her eyes that they had seen enough and should leave quickly.

It wasn't until they left the house and arrived at the small garden at the back that everyone dared to speak more freely.

"Xuanxuan, I think Mrs. Fang will be coming to propose marriage soon, won't she?"

"Okay, okay, I think this brother-in-law is fine."

"Young Master Tian standing next to Young Master Fang looked like a little black winter melon; the contrast was too stark."

"I think it's fine. I heard that his family owns many merchant ships, and you can see the sea as soon as you open the window."

"You like him? Then I'll go talk to your aunt and ask her to marry you off to him—"

"Ugh, I'll slap you in the mouth!"

Their chirping and chattering sounded like orioles released from their cages, filling the garden with the vibrant colors of spring.

Shen Lingyue sat by the stone table, enjoying her tea while watching her sisters laugh, chase, and play. Even the frustration she felt last night from being wrongly accused by Shen Songyi was completely gone.

On the carriage home, she couldn't wait to ask Zhao Lan, "Young Master Fang and Cousin Xuan's marriage is settled, but what about Young Master Tian?"

“Your eldest aunt and third aunt want to think about it some more. Although the Tian family is wealthy, they are just merchants. It would be a huge leap for them to marry a girl from the Zhao family.”

Zhao Lan pondered, "However, they have already promised me that they will send a message to their respective families to see if there are any suitable girls among their relatives. There must be some of similar social standing who can be paired up."

Shen Lingyue covered her mouth and chuckled, "You still say you weren't trying to steal Aunt Liu's thunder?"

We've never seen Zhao Lan so enthusiastic and proactive about matchmaking before.

"You heartless bastard, who am I doing all this for?"

Zhao Lan flicked her nose, looked out the window and snorted, "She dares to wrong my daughter, I'll make sure her daughter can never get married."

*

In the east courtyard, Aunt Liu personally cooked a delicious meal and invited Shen Hang over.

After Shen Hang was drunk and confused, she coaxed him into agreeing that she would invite the two young masters, Tian and Fang, to her home in a few days.

Even when drunk, Shen Hang remained stubborn, "No way, I don't want to be related to that Fang family by marriage!"

Aunt Liu was so angry she wanted to curse, but she held back and softened her voice, "Cousin, they say it's better to resolve a feud than to let it fester. I've heard that Young Master Fang's character and talent are no less than Editor Qi's. You can't let Yi'er miss out on a good marriage just because of a moment of anger."

After much persuasion, Shen Hang finally agreed.

But a few days later, he returned with a strange expression and told Aunt Liu.

"This year's successful candidates are really in high demand. In just a few days, Tian and Fang have already gotten engaged."

The scholar Tian was referring to the granddaughter of the Director of Studies at the Imperial Academy.

Fang Jinshi then wanted to marry the third daughter of his fourth brother-in-law.

Shen Hang didn't think much about the implications and even said to Aunt Liu, "Although that boy from the Fang family didn't become my son-in-law, he'll still have to call me 'Uncle-in-law' when he sees me in the future."

Well, it's not a complete loss.

The Zhao family?

Aunt Liu was so angry that she clenched her handkerchief tightly.

Zhao Lan's methods are truly swift!

Shen Songyi was very flustered when she received the news.

"What should I do? Is Madam deliberately trying to ruin my marriage?"

She felt a little regretful; she should have known better than to try to shift the blame onto Shen Lingyue.

"Yi'er, don't panic, we still have a chance."

Aunt Liu comforted her, "Have you forgotten? Every year, Princess Tong'an holds a banquet at Qiyun Mountain outside the city, inviting all eligible men and women in the capital. I don't know how many couples she has helped to get together."

"Once we get the invitation, with your talent, looks, and character, why would you worry about not having the favor of noblemen's sons?"

Shen Songyi was persuaded and suddenly chuckled, quite proudly.

"I never wanted to marry some scholar who had passed the imperial examinations, or anyone surnamed Fang or Qi. Which one could give me a life of luxury with servants at my beck and call and wearing gold and jade?"

All she needed was an opportunity, a chance for more prominent and influential people to see her.

*

"Isn't this just a disguised matchmaking event? I'm getting married soon, so I'd rather not join in the fun."

Shen Lingyue examined the invitation for a while, then tossed it aside without much interest.

With an account book in one hand and an abacus in the other, Zhao Lan said without looking up, "Princess Tong'an's banquet is held every year. Families attend not only for matchmaking, but more importantly, for this imperial honor."

Receiving an invitation is itself a symbol of status and prestige.

"Moreover, your father is worried about Shen Songyi's marriage. All the candidates he had his eye on have been snatched up. She definitely has to attend this banquet."

Zhao Lan said to Shen Lingyue, "You can go with her and keep an eye on things for me, so that nothing embarrassing happens."

She said meaningfully, "Every year at the banquet, there are all sorts of things like people falling into the water, getting drunk, losing their handkerchiefs, and getting lost... It's really quite a spectacle."

Shen Lingyue: If you talk about this, I won't be sleepy anymore!

She happily put away the invitation. "No problem, I guarantee I'll complete the task!"

The next day, she made an excuse to slip out of the mansion and went to the dowry shop to meet Yan Yi.

Noticing that Yan Yi looked a little haggard, she quickly asked, "Did your stepmother bully you again?"

Yan Yi shook her head. "Recently, I've been taking stock of my birth mother's dowry. The inventory books in the storeroom are a mess, and there are many bad debts. When I call the manager over, he knows nothing about it."

Shen Lingyue said in surprise, "I heard that your birth mother's family are big merchants in the north, specializing in border trade, and they own dozens of trading companies. Her dowry must be very generous."

Otherwise, her maternal grandparents wouldn't have married their daughter and a large dowry to General Zhou back then in order to curry favor with him.

General Zhou was only after Yan Yi's mother's beauty and her wealth. After less than two years of marriage, their relationship deteriorated due to personality clashes.

Yan Yi's biological mother was already in poor health and was neglected by her husband. She was filled with worry and died less than two years after giving birth to Yan Yi.

Later, General Zhou remarried Lin Qiyu, the younger sister of his colleague. The two came from similar backgrounds and had compatible personalities. They were inseparable, like an old house on fire. They had two children in three years, completely forgetting that he still had a first wife and the eldest daughter she left behind.

The original owner had been fighting with her stepmother for over a decade; if she hadn't been tough, she probably would have "died" long ago.

Sometimes Shen Lingyue couldn't help but worry about Yan Yi. What a terrible start the Zhou family had! It would be better if she got married sooner, so that the two of them could keep each other company in the Changning Marquis's mansion.

“I suspect that my stepmother has been lining her own pockets all these years, bribing the people left behind by my birth mother, and turning the output of the shops and estates into her own little treasury.”

Yan Yi rubbed her temples, looking troubled and helpless. "I'm all alone in the Zhou family. I don't even have anyone to check the accounts. I can only hint to her not to go too far. After all, this is a marriage ordained by imperial decree. If the dowry is too staggering, it might jeopardize General Zhou's career."

She had absolutely no affection for the original owner's biological father and always addressed him as General Zhou.

"By the way, did you receive an invitation to Princess Tong'an's banquet?"

Shen Lingyue didn't want to upset her any further, so she took the initiative to change the subject.

Yan Yi nodded, "My stepmother's younger sister is seventeen this year, and she's reached the age where she should be looking for a partner."

"My second sister is too."

Shen Lingyue felt a pang of sympathy. "So it turns out we were both ordered to look after the children."

However, it would be nice to be able to openly stroll around the park with Yan Yi, and I heard there's some excitement to see!

Shen Lingyue shared the gossip she had gathered about the banquets over the years, which made even the usually quiet Yan Yi cover her mouth and exclaim in surprise, "Is that even possible?"

The two chatted and gossiped for a while, then Shen Lingyue's wandering thoughts drifted again, "By the way, have you been dreaming lately?"

Yan Yi shook her head; she was also puzzled by this.

"I haven't had such a vivid dream since we parted ways last time."

"Could it be that this kind of precognitive dream can only be triggered under specific circumstances?" Shen Lingyue pondered. "Then we need to conduct a control group experiment."

Why don't we try again today?

Shen Lingyue pulled Yan Yi onto the bed, excitedly saying, "Quick, try sleeping now."

Yan Yi: "...I'm not sleepy."

"Then close your eyes and rest." Shen Lingyue lay down beside her and took her hand. "Let's lie down together, and we'll get sleepy."

Yan Yi was both amused and exasperated, but she still obediently closed her eyes.

Strangely, she wasn't sleepy at first, but when she thought of Shen Lingyue lying next to her, her only support in this world, a feeling of immense peace and relaxation welled up in her heart.

The room was quiet, and you could smell the faint scent of agarwood on the clothes of the people around you.

Yan Yi cleared her mind and suddenly felt her body sink as she fell into a dream.

...Here it comes.

It's a familiar feeling that I haven't had in a long time.

She lowered her head, looked at her body, and moved her hands and feet with great agility.

What place is this? It looks like it's in the mountains.

The surrounding area was a lush forest, with birds chirping and the wind rustling.

She instinctively walked forward, and her view gradually opened up. She came to an open space by the stream and saw many young men and women. Some were reciting poems and painting, while others were playing pitch-pot and shooting arrows at willow branches. They were chatting and laughing, and it was very lively.

Several square-faced mothers stood nearby, dressed differently from the servants of ordinary households, appearing more dignified and noble.

Yan Yi "floated" over and overheard the two mothers talking, mentioning Princess Tong'an.

Could this be the banquet that Princess Tong'an is going to host in a few days?

With a sudden thought, Yan Yi realized that she could no longer control her body.

She floated higher and higher, across streams and gardens, until she arrived at a secluded and expansive villa complex with winding corridors, waterside pavilions, and terraces.

In the winding corridor, she saw a tall, handsome man in a blue robe, his face flushed and his brows furrowed. He stumbled into an empty room, his back pressed against the door, panting heavily, as if he was trying his best to endure something.

Before long, a richly dressed young woman appeared at the other end of the corridor, her eyes brimming with barely suppressed excitement. She ran along, lifting the hem of her skirt, and asked the maid beside her, "Did you see Editor Qi come this way with your own eyes?"

"Yes, Your Highness, Editor Qi has locked himself in that room." The maid pointed.

The master and servant looked at each other simultaneously, as if trying to see through Yan Yi, who was standing in front of the door.

She was startled and opened her eyes.

A note from the author:

----------------------

Moon Child, a sleeping pill exclusively for Yan Yan. √

How to use: Hold hands while sleeping [purple heart]

*It's on the list! I got so many more favorites today. Friends in the comments section, let me see your hands! [Let me see][Let me see]