Chapter 3 The matron from the Grand Princess's residence has arrived...
Wisps of smoke rose slowly from the celadon-glazed incense burner.
The owner of the house kept the doors and windows tightly closed. The ethereal mist, unable to escape, meandered through the house before returning to calm.
The sound of turning the prayer beads was particularly jarring in this enclosed space.
Wen Tongwen knelt before his mother in front of the ancestral hall, not daring to utter a sound.
Earlier, Old Madam Wen had already learned the details of the matter from the maid.
She calmly led the maid back to the courtyard, but brought Wen Tongwen to the ancestral hall alone.
"Do you understand why I made you kneel?"
Grandma Wen's weathered yet resolute voice echoed in Wen Tongwen's ears.
He lowered his head even further.
"Son, son knows he was wrong."
The prayer beads in Grandma Wen's hand suddenly stopped spinning.
She stood up, looked at her son who resembled a quail beside her, and sighed.
"The damage is done, and instead of trying to fix it, you let your emotions control you."
"You were afraid of being misunderstood, so you fled down the mountain in full view of everyone. Isn't that just like trying to hide something obvious?"
Grandma Wen shook her head.
Her two biological sons, one was not academically inclined, and the other, although academically gifted, was a bookworm.
Just as Old Madam Wen was sighing, a maid came to report from outside the door.
"old lady."
"The nanny from the Yongqing Grand Princess's residence has arrived with a visiting card."
Tu Nan Yuan is located in the southwest corner of Wenfu. It is not large in area, but it is quiet and elegant.
A pine tree in the courtyard, its lush green leaves coated with white frost, was quite different from the courtyards of most young ladies in their boudoirs.
Wen Lingzheng stood under the pine and cypress trees, her fingertips brushing against the bark, feeling a slight sting.
"Miss, shall we go inside?"
"Although the snow has stopped, it's still a bit chilly."
Yao Guang looked at the girl who was standing under the tree in a daze and gently reminded her.
Wen Lingzheng responded and entered the house.
The beaded curtains hanging under the eaves were gently parted, and a crisp sound rang out from among the jade stones.
The room was furnished exactly as she remembered it.
The charcoal fire in the brazier was burning brightly, making the whole room warm and cozy.
Wen Lingzheng sat on the couch, slightly lost in thought.
Yuheng was the last to enter the room. She carried a food box made of huanghuali wood in her hand, and her eyes were filled with laughter.
"The kitchen made plum blossom soup dumplings today! Girl, please try them!"
Yuheng is lively by nature and loves cooking the most.
Seeing her beaming face, Wen Lingzheng knew that it was probably because Madam Wei from the kitchen had secretly given her some pointers again.
I picked up the plum blossom soup dumpling and tasted it.
Memories of the past come flooding back.
This plum blossom soup dumpling was her favorite dish when she was young.
That year, they were newly married and not yet familiar with each other.
Within the vast Dingbei Marquis's mansion, she felt as if she were adrift, and was quite reserved.
That day, thick smoke suddenly billowed from the kitchen.
She was startled when the maid came to report, and she put down the account book in her hand and rushed over.
Suddenly, the young general, who was used to handling swords and knives, plunged headlong into the kitchen.
His face was covered in soot, and his usually neat hair looked messy.
He stood under the eaves holding a bowl of plum blossom soup dumplings that looked really unappetizing. As soon as he saw her, he rushed forward excitedly.
"My wife, please try it!"
"If it doesn't taste good, I'll improve it next time!"
That was the first time she had felt the joy of being cared for and cherished.
Wen Lingzheng's birth mother, Qi, was Wen Tongwen's first wife.
Her maternal grandfather was a successful businessman, and her maternal grandmother had only one daughter, her mother, and suffered a lot of scorn from her husband.
So much so that when her husband wanted to use their daughter to exchange for the career advancement of their illegitimate son, she didn't even have the right to object.
Qi's marriage to Wen Tongwen was arranged by Old Master Wen himself.
However, the daughter-in-law that Old Madam Wen preferred was her niece from her maternal family, now known as Madam Lu, the concubine in Wen Tongwen's study.
Old Mrs. Wen disliked Qi Shi.
Besides Lu Xiaoniang's influence, the main reason was that Qi Shi had been in the household for many years without conceiving, and only gave birth to a daughter in the fifth year.
A year after Qi died in childbirth, Old Madam Wen arranged for Wen Tongwen to marry Xiang.
"girl."
“Madam Pang, who is by the lady’s side, has arrived.”
Yao Guang held the hot water bottle and lifted the curtain. A kind-looking woman followed her into the room.
The Xiang family came from a distinguished background; their father was the Minister of Rites, who enjoyed the trust of the emperor.
If it weren't for his mother's jealousy, ruthless methods, and the harm she caused to others and damage his reputation, the Wen family probably wouldn't have been able to marry into this family.
This Madam Pang was Xiang's wet nurse. She was a wise and insightful person and was highly regarded by Xiang.
"May the Fourth Sister be well!"
Mrs. Pang's manners are always impeccable.
"The lady is thinking of the young lady and specially sent me to tell her."
"Three days later, Liu Daru's class will begin."
"Third Brother will be waiting for the young lady at Yiqiu Courtyard."
"We must set off at dawn, young lady, please don't be late."
Liu Daru's class?
Wen Lingzheng had a strong impression of this matter.
In the fourth year of the Xuanren reign, the Grand Princess Yongqing chose a tutor for her youngest daughter, and the person she hired was the great Confucian scholar Liu Yong.
Liu Yong was renowned, so many prominent families tried their best to send their children to study under him.
Upon seeing this, the Grand Princess took the lead in extending invitations to various noble families, thus giving them face.
However, due to the limited number of places, all those who were able to enroll in the academy were children from the top families in Shengjing.
The Xiang family managed to secure a couple of spots due to their marriage ties with the Liu family, while the Wen family received none.
It's not that Wen Lingzheng is being self-deprecating.
The dignified Grand Princess, the current emperor's aunt.
Such prominent and wealthy families probably don't look down on the Wen family, but rather simply don't see them.
Could it be because of the Xiang family?
Wen Lingzheng had a guess in her mind.
Xiang Shi had been in the household for over eight years and had both a son and a daughter. Her third son, Wen Shizhen, and her eighth daughter, Wen Lingyun, were both born to her.
It's not impossible that Xiang asked for it on behalf of her third son.
But why bring her along but not Eighth Sister?
Xiang was a very proud woman. She was forced to marry into a lower social class because she had no other choice, which is why she had not returned to her parents' home for many years.
She had no feelings for Wen Tongwen, and therefore didn't care about his other wives, concubines, or children.
Ever since her son and daughter were born, her thoughts have been focused on them.
He couldn't be bothered to argue with the women in the Wen Tong Academy, let alone care about her, the daughter of his first wife.
"Thank you for letting me know, Aunt Pang. I understand."
Wen Lingzheng concealed her thoughts and immediately understood.
After seeing off Madam Pang, Yuheng finally recovered from her confusion.
"Young lady, what kind of drama is this old lady performing?"
"Why don't I understand?"
Yao Guang handed the hot water bottle to Wen Lingzheng, and shook her head as she looked at Yu Heng, who was straightforward and had no guile.
"Despite the commotion in front of the mansion today, the old lady didn't say a word, but simply told someone to take the young lady back to her courtyard."
"The old lady values her reputation the most."
Yao Guang was meticulous and intelligent; she knew exactly what to say and what not to say.
Emperor Taizu spent his life on the battlefield, but he did not have many children. He had three princes, but only one princess, Princess Yongqing.
Wen Lingzheng vaguely remembered that this academy, which was established in the fourth year of Xuanren, had cultivated many pillars of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Among them, the most outstanding was Yang Songjian, the only son of Yang Chengru, the Minister of Revenue.
Until her death, this man was undoubtedly a powerful minister.
He took a small sip of the tea that Yaoguang handed him.
Wen Lingzheng's gaze was deep and somber.
Well then, since we're here, we might as well make the best of it.
Snowfall in Shengjing City is becoming less frequent, and the snow that has accumulated on the treetops is beginning to melt.
Water dripped from under the eaves, and the maidservant, exhausted from sweeping, wiped and wiped again and again.
On the day she went to the Grand Princess's residence, Wen Lingzheng got up very early.
The sky in the north is quite different from that in the south; there are no thick clouds, and the sunlight easily rushes towards it.
Wen Lingzheng sat by the window, a few wisps of breeze occasionally brushing against her hair.
It's a bit chilly.
She sniffed.
The commotion startled Yao Guang, who was sleeping lightly outside. Wen Lingzheng saw her rush in, carrying a cloak.
"Why did you wake up so early, young lady?"
Wen Lingzheng readily put on the cloak and sat down at the table, letting Yao Guang do her hair and makeup.
Just then, Yuheng lifted the curtain and entered. The clinking of the jade beads made a crisp sound, which made the little girl's steps even more joyful.
"Did he go to steal Wei Niangzi's skills again?"
Wen Lingzheng saw Yuheng through the mirror.
"Lady Wei said that spiced cake is good for your health."
"I'll make it for the girl next time."
Yuheng's sweet voice reached Wen Lingzheng's ears.
The gentle sunlight streaming through the window and curtains fell softly on Yuheng.
In my memory, Yuheng, who had spent half his life adrift in the world, seemed to have shed all his worldly vanities at this moment.
She stands at the other end of her memory, the best version of herself as a young girl.
Wen Lingzheng smiled and lowered her eyes.
She casually picked out a white jade hairpin and handed it to Yaoguang behind her: "I'll wear this one."
Yuheng, who was setting out breakfast, caught a glimpse of the white jade hairpin out of the corner of her eye and was somewhat puzzled.
"This is the young lady's first time visiting the Grand Princess's residence, and her classmates are all from aristocratic families."
"Isn't it a bit too plain for a young lady to only wear a white jade hairpin?"
Yao Guang carefully placed the hairpin into the girl's hair, and while going to get her clothes, she answered Yu Heng's question.
"Those who are new to the place should avoid being the first to stick their neck out."
“Our family is not like those wealthy and powerful families. If we stand out too much, we will attract jealousy. It is better to play it safe.”
Yao Guang was cautious, and Wen Lingzheng was always at ease with him, but this Yuheng...
Wen Lingzheng sighed, "They're still so young."
Branches made of white jade; red plum blossoms carved from blood jade; smooth, jet-black hair; and a moon-white robe prepared by Yao Guang.
A gentle warmth swept in from outside the window, adding an air of cool, scholarly elegance.
It neither attracts attention nor makes one appear poor.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Wen Lingzheng admired Yao Guang but was also somewhat dazed, feeling that the person in the mirror resembled her, yet was not her.
"What's wrong, young lady?"
Yuheng chuckled and leaned closer: "Could it be that you're blinded by the beauty of the person in the mirror?"
Distracted by Yuheng, Wen Lingzheng's long sighs vanished in an instant.
She looked at Yuheng and Yaoguang.
They are sisters, both twelve or thirteen years old, but their temperaments are very different.
Twelve-year-old Yuheng was talkative and cheerful, while thirteen-year-old Yaoguang was mature and steady.
That one-year age difference felt like an eight or nine-year gap.
The saying "the dragon has nine sons" does indeed hold some truth.
When Wen Lingzheng arrived at Yiqiu Courtyard, Wen Shizhen had already arrived.
His gaze toward her was somewhat distant, yet his manners were impeccable.
"Fourth Sister."
"Third younger brother."
Under Xiang's watchful gaze, Wen Lingzheng and Wen Shizhen boarded the carriage and remained silent the entire way.
In Wen Lingzheng's memory, her younger brother was extremely precocious, having passed the imperial examination at the age of eighteen or nineteen.
If not...
Outside the window, a crowd was in turmoil, and vaguely familiar voices drifted through the curtains amidst the commotion.
My thoughts were abruptly cut off.
Wen Lingzheng lifted the curtain and looked outside.
Outside the Grand Princess's residence, two carriages met on a narrow road, neither willing to give way.
Out of the corner of her eye, Wen Lingzheng caught a glimpse of the sign hanging on one of the carriages, and her heart sank.
Is it Pei Ning?
Among the scions of aristocratic families, the one who was most at odds with Pei Ning was none other than Yao Zhongxi, the third daughter of the Marquis of Anping's mansion.
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