Chapter 3 hints at the emperor praising the daughter of the Jiang family
Jiang Si had never had the opportunity to meet the emperor before.
This time, because it was the Empress Dowager's longevity, the Emperor showed great grace and ordered every official in the capital above the fifth rank to attend with their families.
Unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager heard about their appreciation of the vase and called all the younger generations over.
With so many eyes staring at her, including the emperor and the empress dowager, the pressure was very different from when she was usually in public.
Jiang Si was a casual person, outspoken, warm-hearted, straightforward, and a little arrogant.
She could act as she pleased in public, but in front of the royal family, she knew to restrain herself.
Therefore, she just stood upright, bowed like others, lowered her head slightly, and answered with her eyes downcast.
Jiang's parents, who were sitting at the back, and the elders who knew Jiang Si, all couldn't help but feel nervous.
They were worried that with Jiang Si's competitive and unyielding temperament, she might say something wrong in front of the emperor and get into trouble.
Especially today, the person who had the dispute with her was General Xiao Xie, which made people even more nervous.
Xie Yunshuo, his father, brother, and grandfather were all favorites of the emperor.
He is also a younger generation favored by the Queen Mother.
In ordinary situations outside the palace, the two of them would occasionally have friction due to some big or small things.
If a dispute breaks out in front of the emperor, it will not only have a huge impact, but will also damage Jiang Si's reputation and have a far-reaching impact on the entire Jiang family.
Look, even Xie Yunshuo has restrained his temper and pretended not to know.
Jiang Si's father, Jiang Suian, took a deep breath, clenched his knuckles around the sleeves of his Anbu robe, and his spirits were tense.
Mother Feng Qingzhi gently comforted her: "Don't worry, our Ah Si is very smart."
Having said that, she was actually quite worried.
Even though one knows a daughter best than her mother, in this situation and on this occasion, it is impossible to feel completely at ease.
Everyone was waiting, curious about Jiang Si's answer, especially those who knew the truth.
Xie Yunshuo stood in front, his posture straight and upright, with his head slightly lowered.
With his eyelids drooped, his gaze was slightly distracted as he paid some attention to the direction where Jiang Si was.
He wanted to hear what the expression of a woman who had always been competitive and never gave up would be like in front of the emperor and the empress dowager.
If she were to admit that she was right and disagree with what he said, Xie Yunshuo would call her a hero.
Suddenly, he thought of a porcupine covered in thorns.
The animal looked a bit ugly, but it matched Xie Yunshuo's impression of Jiang Si.
He had never seen a woman as arrogant and wild as her.
It's not that he's cheating, it's just that he's hard-hearted, unwilling to give in, and never gives in even when he's right.
He originally thought that she just had a grudge against him, but one time last year, Xie Yunshuo saw her quarreling with Qi Jialang, the young master of the Duke of Qi's Mansion, for some unknown reason.
What a sharp tongue.
He then realized that this was the nature of the man.
Xie Yunshuo declined the offer, so when his mother asked him what kind of woman he wanted to marry as his wife, he inexplicably had an idea.
He told his mother that he wanted to marry a sensible, gentle and kind woman.
Everyone who was close to him knew that he had never had any romantic feelings for any woman. It was Jiang Si who single-handedly helped him find his direction.
In just a few breaths, everyone in this magnificent flower hall had their own thoughts.
Jiang Si guessed that the vase was not simple because the Queen Mother sent someone to call them to her side.
She neither said categorically that her speculation was correct, nor did she lose confidence because of the empress dowager's questioning.
He would not be like Xie Yunshuo, who pretended to avoid problems just for the sake of being cautious in his words and actions.
Isn't it said that General Xie is unrestrained and unruly, but when he is in front of the emperor, he still pretends to be serious.
Jiang Si still insisted on being herself, but only selectively insisted on her own answer.
"Your Majesty, the bamboo forest glaze pattern on the side that I identified as a vase is indeed painted in the same style and ink as the bamboo forest glaze pattern teacup by Wang Wanzhi from the Ru kiln in my home. I don't know about the other three sides."
Her frank reply made many of the listeners laugh.
However, there is nothing wrong with Jiang Si's answer. She is realistic and neither humble nor arrogant.
She felt that her vision was correct and only acknowledged the one she had identified.
What Xie Yunshuo commented on was the pattern of chrysanthemums on the other side.
Coincidentally, the single-sided drawings of bamboo and chrysanthemum that the two identified were two opposing patterns.
One occupies the front and the other occupies the back.
The Queen Mother smiled when she heard her words and said to the Emperor and Empress beside her: "This little girl has a very good eye. She can actually recognize the origin of this painting."
After saying that, she looked at a concubine sitting beside the emperor and said, "Princess Qi, this square vase was presented by you. Please tell us the origin of this square vase."
Those who were unaware of the situation were stunned and wondered, could it be that Xie Yunshuo guessed wrong and Jiang Si guessed right?
But why should Concubine Qi, who presented this square bottle, explain?
Then, a young and beautiful concubine slowly stood up from behind the emperor.
She smiled and said, "General Xie and Miss Jiang have excellent taste. In fact, this square vase wasn't made by just one person. It was created by the two most skilled glaze craftsmen from the two major porcelain kilns in the north and south. They happened to be in Zhongzhou at the time, and each made two glazes. Therefore, this square vase is the only one in the world."
After Concubine Qi finished speaking, the truth came to light.
It turned out that Xie Yunshuo was not wrong, and Jiang Si was not wrong either.
Such a coincidence caused everyone in the hall to laugh and talk.
Many people who did not know Jiang Si and did not know that Xie Yunshuo had a connection with Jiang Si found this coincidence quite interesting.
Amidst the lively atmosphere, the emperor spoke and the whole place quickly quieted down.
The emperor laughed and said, "If those two craftsmen hadn't happened to meet in the same place, there wouldn't be a single piece of porcelain in the world with two different origins. Is this the daughter of Lord Jiang? She's so young, yet so clear-headed and lucid. How rare!"
Jiang's father, Jiang Suian, stood up and saluted, then replied, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the compliment. This is my daughter."
Since the emperor specifically praised you in front of everyone, you should just accept it frankly. It would be inappropriate to say something self-deprecating.
For a moment, the senior officials had different expressions.
To others, it seemed that the emperor was kind-hearted and was willing to praise even the daughter of an ordinary official.
But to some of them who were worried, it sounded meaningful and had hidden meanings.
Especially General Xie Xingxiu. The emperor's first words were about Xie Yunshuo's marriage, and his next words were specifically praising the girl from the Jiang family.
The heart of an emperor is unfathomable. If the Xie family had not asked for permission, or had not explicitly expressed their intention to marry into a certain family, according to the emperor's character, he would not have suddenly granted the marriage without regard to the Xie family's wishes.
Because he was not an emperor with a tough and decisive approach, he acted cautiously and gently, and his words were already a clear hint.
The daughter of the Jiang family was of neither high nor low birth, had a straightforward personality, and was beautiful. For the emperor, who both valued and feared the Xie family, this was the kind of woman he most wanted the eldest grandson of the Xie family, Xie Yunshuo, to marry.
Even if the Xie family pretended not to understand the emperor's intention and did not ask to marry the Jiang family's daughter, they could no longer form an alliance with Grand Tutor Wen.
The eldest daughter-in-law chosen should also be from a family like the Jiang family.
In just the time it took to stick up an incense stick, Xie Xingxiu broke out in cold sweat.
He should understand that everything that goes up must come down.
It is indeed wrong to dream of getting married with someone of equal social status when the Xie family is at its peak.
Especially marrying a civil official was really inappropriate, which made the emperor dissatisfied and he used Xie Yunshuo's marriage to warn them.
Afterwards, not only should Xie Yunshuo be cautious in marrying a wife, but the Xie family should also be more low-key and restrained in their actions.
Xie Xingxiu forgot about his eldest son, took a deep breath, and thought to himself, it really is lonely at the top.
If you fail to see the situation clearly and become complacent, you will become too rigid and easily fail.
I'm afraid that soon my mistakes will be discovered and my military power will be tightened.
The undercurrents between the court and the emperor and his ministers are not understood by the young generation who do not know the cause and effect.
Jiang Si's praise from the emperor himself made everyone in the group think differently.
Happy, envious, jealous.
It was also a happy thing for Jiang Si.
She insisted on her judgment and was not wrong. In her heart, she did not lose to anyone, especially not to Xie Yunshuo, which was something to be happy about.
Jiang Si had a smile on her face as she retreated in an orderly manner with a group of people.
Anyone could see that she was very happy.
Xie Yunshuo glanced at her unintentionally, and his eyes were stung by her brilliant smile.
Just at this moment, for some reason, Jiang Si also turned to look over.
Seeing him looking at her, the smile suddenly disappeared and she turned her eyes away.
Because Jiang Si's eyes were too big and her eyebrows were too bright, the look on her face when she turned away seemed like she was rolling her eyes.
Xie Yunshuo felt a tightness in his chest, his heart skipped a beat, and he turned and left quickly.
The corner of his robe swung in a high arc in the air, as if expressing determination, but also as if hiding his anger at the white look.
He didn't even hear Liu Weining's voice calling him, and left without even looking back.
Liu Weining was startled and asked the people around him, "What happened to my cousin?"
Her companions speculated wildly: "People like your cousin, who came from a family background and had earned their own fame, are usually very proud. How could he tolerate not being able to surpass Jiang Si in guessing the vase? Naturally, he was angry."
Another person said, "Which of these young masters is willing to lose to others? I think Jiang Si is really something. She doesn't have even a trace of womanly gentleness. Who would dare to marry her in the future?"
Liu Weining curled her lips. "You don't know that, do you? Although her personality isn't great, she has a beautiful face. Many people want to marry her. I heard from my mother that the Duke of Qi seems to be interested in marrying the young master to a girl from the Jiang family."
They were both shocked: "What? Didn't they say that Young Master Qi was scolded in the street by Jiang Si?"
Liu Weining was also puzzled and shook his head. "That young Master Qi is the Duke's late son, a frivolous, unruly dandy. He must have gone insane and is drawn to sharp-tongued women. Just like a hound needs a stick to discipline, ordinary methods won't cut it. The Duke is probably afraid that if the lawless young master marries someone else, he won't be able to control him. As the saying goes, 'Evil will be punished by evil.'"
Someone sneered contemptuously, "Maybe he's holding a grudge and wants to take her home to slowly take revenge."
The random guesses of several people became more and more absurd, and they all laughed while covering their hands with their fans.
They don't know who will eventually fulfill the prophecy of "evil will be punished by evil".
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