Song Wanning was slightly surprised and looked up at Yin Yichen. "Now everyone in the capital is talking about this marriage? It's really unexpected. Now that the news has spread all over the capital, I have only just found out about it."
Yin Yichen saw Song Wanning's frustration and asked softly, "Wanning, you only know now?"
"That's right. This way, I seem like an outsider. They didn't tell me such a big thing... So I tricked my brother into giving me a painting." Song Wanning said, presenting the "Dou Lian Tu" she brought back to Yin Yichen and said with a smile, "This is what I deserve. I tricked my family into giving it to you. Do you like it?"
Yin Yichen looked at the painting in surprise, then saw Song Wanning's expression of wanting to be praised. "You actually knew I liked this painting? I couldn't find it anywhere before, so it turned out that it was taken to the General's Mansion."
Song Wanning put the painting away, looked at Yin Yichen and smiled, "I saw Zhang Xuan's 'Lady of Guo State Enjoying Spring Outing' in your collection in the study. I think you both painted by the same artist. I think you should like this painting too."
Yin Yichen took Song Wanning into his arms and whispered, "I have Wanning now, it's like finding a treasure."
Yin Yichen had less work to do now, so he returned to the Prime Minister's Mansion and spent time with Song Wanning. They sat in the courtyard, enjoying the cool breeze. Song Wanning was looking at the account book, while Yin Yichen read a book nearby.
Song Wanning was now thinking about meeting Madam Yan and was just waiting for a good opportunity. Fortunately, there was never a shortage of people sending invitations in the Prime Minister's Mansion, and soon Caique came in with a bunch of invitations from outside.
Cai Que placed the invitations in her hand on the desk next to Song Wanning. The invitations of different patterns looked quite thick. "Madam, I have already picked out all the invitations from the nobles in the capital, and I am just waiting for you to take a look."
"Now I wonder which family Madam Yan will go to." Song Wanning picked up the top post and took a look. It was written on the Li family, the Minister of Revenue in the capital. Song Wanning raised her head and looked at Yin Yichen, asking softly, "I wonder why the Li family, the Minister of Revenue, sent a post to our family."
It has always been difficult to invite people to the Prime Minister's Mansion. Now that Song Wanning has married in, there are probably countless families who want to ask for favors. Although Song Wanning wants to meet Madam Yan, she doesn't want to go there without knowing her background, which will put herself and Yin Yichen in an awkward position.
"The son of the Minister of Revenue just failed the imperial examination. I've always supervised the examinations at the Hanlin Academy. I think it's because of this incident."
Yin Yichen raised his eyelids slightly, propped himself up on the recliner and sat up. He pulled Song Wanning, who was reading the invitation, into his arms from behind. "Minister of Revenue Li Zhan is a shrewd man, but his wife, Mrs. Sun, is not one to be fooled. Besides, their family has always looked down on businessmen. I'm afraid Mrs. Yan won't be among those invited."
Song Wanning nodded gently. She was now completely encircled by Yin Yichen's embrace, making it difficult for her to move. She only whispered, "Prime Minister, please let me go for now. Let me take a look at the other posts."
"My wife and I will read it together." Yin Yichen said, and his bony hand reached out and picked up another post on the table.
Yin Yichen rested his head on Song Wanning's neck, opened the post and glanced at it, then said indifferently, "The Chief Censor has always been unceremonious. He has always disliked me and has always been against me in the court. I'm afraid he invited Madam this time just to find fault with me."
Yin Yichen threw the invitation in his hand away and picked up another one. "The Qian family, the Dali Temple, I heard that their wife just gave birth to a big fat boy, and this invitation is for the full moon banquet. As far as I know, the Yan family and the Qian family, the Dali Temple, are related. I'm afraid that Mrs. Yan will not be absent this time. The full moon banquet will be crowded, so it's a good place to go."
After listening to Yin Yichen's analysis, Song Wanning sorted out the places for her. The most suitable place now was probably the Liu Mansion. Song Wanning looked at Yin Yichen and smiled, saying softly, "The Prime Minister has helped me a lot now."
Yin Yichen said calmly, "If I didn't have official business, I could go with Wan Ning."
Song Wanning just shook her head and said with a smile, "Let's not do that. The Prime Minister has always been a noble lady who doesn't like to get involved in these things. If he goes, I'm afraid every family in the capital will send invitations to him in the future. How can he handle so many invitations?"
Yin Yichen shrugged upon hearing this, "Then I won't go. If I go, it would be a huge honor for the Dali Temple Minister."
When Yin Yichen said this, Song Wanning was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.
But what Yin Yichen said was true. Yin Yichen rarely went to such banquets. If he went to one now, he would really give that party a great honor.
After listening to Yin Yichen's words, Song Wanning accepted the invitation from the Dali Temple. She was just waiting to attend the full moon banquet of the Dali Temple Qian's family.
On the day of the full moon banquet, Song Wanning took a carriage to the Qian family.
The Qian family's official position was neither high nor low, so there were many guests coming. When Song Wanning got off the carriage, she happened to meet Liu Yuyuan who came from Pingyuan Marquis Mansion.
When Liu Yuyuan saw Song Wanning, she ran over with a smile and said to her, "Wanning, I haven't had a good chat with you these days since you got married. It's just a coincidence that we met here today."
The two hadn't seen each other for quite some time. Song Wanning responded and followed Liu Yuyuan into the Qian Mansion.
Liu Yuyuan held Song Wanning's arm and whispered gossip in her ear, "I heard that Qian Shaoqing's wife gave birth to a big fat boy before the full term. It was all the concubines in this house who did it. Fortunately, Madam Qian is in good health, and both mother and child are safe. Otherwise, who knows what kind of trouble would have happened."
"How can a concubine have such ability?" Song Wanning was quite surprised.
Liu Yuyuan curled her lips and said calmly, "Qian Xingyu loves that concubine and dotes on her to no end. A fellow who favors his concubine over his wife should be reported to the civil officials in the capital."
Su Qingjiu felt a pang of regret, and without saying anything, he followed Liu Yuyuan inside. The example of Wen Tingbai of the Marquis of Zhongping's mansion was a warning, yet officials in the capital dared to follow suit.
Liu Yuyuan suddenly remembered something and took Su Qingjiu's arm, whispering something else. "Wan Ning, I heard that Wu Junrou, the wife of the Yin family, is looking for beautiful girls everywhere. She said she wants to take a concubine for her son. Do you know about this?"
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