Chapter 49 Guanyin's Crossing (Part 1) (Nutrient Solution 6...)
Seeing Pei Xian's enthusiasm, which suggested he intended to turn this trip into a family team-building activity, Meng Wanyin had no choice but to agree.
In the afternoon, I asked the housekeeper to book a private room at Fenglelou Restaurant.
The steward was still wiping his sweat as he reported, "Thanks to our Marquis's influence with His Majesty, we managed to snag a room in a great location, right on Xing'an Street, with an excellent view."
Fenglelou was the largest and most prosperous restaurant in the capital, located on Xing'an Street in the heart of the imperial city, and was considered a landmark building. Three or five stories faced each other, connected by flying bridges and railings, "the light and shadow intertwined, beaded curtains and embroidered lintels, flickering candlelight."①
Meng Wanyin asked the housekeeper, "Are all the private rooms at Fenglelou fully booked?"
"That's right. The Guanyin Dharma Assembly, hosted by the Imperial Concubine and the Prince An's Mansion, has attracted many prominent families to join in the fun. Good seats along the street are in high demand."
The butler replied, then said to Shen Lingyue beside him, "When I went to make a reservation, I ran into the head housekeeper of the Shen family, I think her surname was Liu?"
Shen Lingyue nodded, "Yes, yes, it's Liu Mama who works for my mother."
"That's it. The Shen family's private room was finally set up on the second floor, right below us, with a great view."
Shen Lingyue was quite happy; she could go out to watch the excitement and even meet and chat with Zhao Lan.
Meng Wanyin glanced at her youngest daughter-in-law with a smile. She was still grinning foolishly, completely oblivious to the steward's ulterior motive of seeking praise and reward.
With the Buddhist ceremony approaching, it will only become more difficult to book a private room at Fengle Tower. Although my in-laws are a third-rank official, they are still a step below noble families like the Marquis of Changning's household.
The steward brought this up specifically, which suggests he played a role in it, using the Marquis's status to help.
Meng Wanyin winked at Qi's mother, who understood and stepped forward to give the housekeeper a rather heavy purse, saying, "You are efficient in your work, and Madam has seen it all."
The butler then left with a broad smile.
Shen Lingyue hadn't reacted yet and asked in confusion, "Isn't booking a private room the butler's job? Why should he be rewarded extra?"
After Qi's mother explained the whole story to her with a smile, Shen Lingyue suddenly understood.
Good grief, she thought that just because she'd read so many novels about palace intrigue, she could easily dominate the inner quarters of the household.
As a result, they couldn't even understand the subtext...
A naive and foolish college student who has never experienced the harsh realities of society QAQ
Shen Lingyue grabbed Meng Wanyin's sleeve and said sincerely, "Having a mother-in-law like you is truly a blessing for my sister-in-law and me."
Meng Wanyin patted her head and said with a smile, "It's alright. I learned it little by little when I was a little girl. You have a long life ahead of you, and you'll understand when you grow up."
She doesn't want to be the kind of wicked mother-in-law who makes things difficult for her daughter-in-law; a harmonious family is better than anything else.
...
Before we knew it, it was the eighth day of the eighth lunar month, a beautiful day with gentle breezes and bright sunshine.
Shen Lingyue stood at the gate of the Marquis's mansion waiting to get into the carriage, and said to Yan Yi, "Yesterday I felt so stuffy I could hardly breathe, but today the breeze is so cool and comfortable."
Yan Yi looked at the churning clouds in the distance, large swathes of which, like cotton candy, were spread across the clear blue sky, perfectly shielding her from the scorching sun. Accompanied by a gentle breeze, it was a rare and refreshing sight.
She nodded and smiled: "It's Guanyin's birthday, so naturally it's a good day."
Pei Xian and Meng Wanyin rode in one car, followed by Yan Yi and Pei Jingyi, Shen Lingyue and Pei Jinghuai, and finally Pei Yuzhen with her two daughters, Dong Lanyi and Dong Yunzhi.
The maids, servants, and attendants who followed behind rode in two more carriages, and the entire convoy headed towards Fengle Tower in a grand procession.
Shen Lingyue leaned against the window and looked back, asking curiously, "Why didn't the Grand Madam come out with us? Isn't she a very devout Buddhist?"
Although in her opinion, these wealthy ladies and old women were just using Buddhism as a fashionable item, because their lives were too boring and they needed some hobbies to pass the time.
Reciting Buddhist scriptures and copying sutras, half a day passes by in no time.
Pei Jinghuai was lounging on the cushion, popping roasted soybeans into his mouth one by one. Hearing this, he laughed and said, "Then you still don't understand her. She only likes to stay in Songhe Hall, that little corner of her land, and doesn't like to go out unless necessary."
Especially in such hot weather, with so many people outside, the old lady was afraid that she might get sick from being squeezed in.
They valued their lives very much.
Shen Lingyue stuck out her tongue. The elders of the Pei family really are all homebodies.
Oh, except for Pei Yuzhen.
This aunt is quite fond of going out and socializing. Today, she was dressed up from head to toe in a flamboyant manner, looking more like she was going on a blind date than going to worship Buddha.
Shen Lingyue lifted the carriage curtain to let the air circulate, looked at the street scene outside for a while, and asked doubtfully, "Are we taking the road to Xing'an Street?"
"Let me see." Pei Jinghuai leaned over and squeezed next to her in front of the car window, then put his arm around her waist.
He was a native of Beijing, a young master who always enjoyed traveling and was very familiar with the streets and alleys. He quickly recognized the place and said, "Let's not go through Xing'an Street. Let's cross Dongshui Bridge, go through Zhulan Alley, and go directly through the back door of Fenglelou."
Upon arriving at Fenglelou, the waiter led the group to a private room on the third floor. Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi walked to the window and looked down, feeling even more the grandeur and importance of this Dharma assembly.
Xing'an Avenue, the main parade route for today's Dharma assembly, was placed under "traffic control" last night, with most of the personnel from the Five Cities Garrison and the Patrol Battalion being transferred there to maintain order.
Street cleaners were sprayed with water, and yellow earth was used to pave the roads. Even the vendors on both sides of the road were temporarily asked to leave, in order to keep the road as wide and clean as possible.
Looking down from the building, the soldiers of the Five Cities Garrison were dressed in neat new uniforms, holding long knives or long sticks. Every few dozen steps, one soldier stood guard along the roadside, keeping the onlookers outside the cordon that served as a warning line.
Shen Lingyue couldn't help but click her tongue in amazement. The Prince An's Mansion really went all out this time. She guessed that the old emperor must have helped quite a bit.
After thinking for a moment, she realized what she had said and whispered to Yan Yi, "Did our family contribute money too?"
Yan Yi, who was in charge of the accounts, naturally knew the details and nodded, saying, "The Marquis's family donated two hundred taels, and I estimate that other noble families and officials will also donate some."
Shen Lingyue clicked her tongue, "Prince An is so cunning. We all contributed the money, but in the end, all the good reputation goes to him."
Yan Yi chuckled, "The Prince An's Mansion will definitely have to foot the bill. Not to mention this Dharma assembly, the daily expenses of those charitable halls and orphanages are all considerable expenditures."
Furthermore, for a grand event like the Guanyin Dharma Assembly, even if the Prince An's Mansion didn't ask for help, every family would be willing to contribute and accumulate merit.
Worried about traffic jams, they left early this morning. With some time before the Dharma assembly started, Shen Lingyue found it boring to stay in the private room, so she decided to drag Yan Yi out to visit other people's homes.
Upon entering the corridor, one sees a bustling crowd of people, with maids and servants from various households moving about, knocking on doors and handing out invitations. Clearly, Fengle Tower has become a small social venue.
Shen Lingyue waved her hand, "Let's go, let's go eat some melon seeds too."
Before she could take two steps, Liu Mama caught up with her and said with a smile, "Third Miss, Madam was just about to send me up to find you."
"Ah, then let's go see my mother first."
Shen Lingyue pulled Yan Yi downstairs and took her to the Shen family's private room.
The entire Shen family is here today: Zhao Lan, Shen Hang, Aunt Liu, Shen Lingyue's two older brothers and Shen Songyi, even Shen Yuanjia and Hengjie are here. It's estimated that they are not with the people from the Heping Xibo Mansion.
"Auntie!"
Heng Jie'er pounced into Shen Lingyue's arms like a little cannonball.
Shen Lingyue picked her up and weighed her in her arms, then pretended to frown: "Heng-jie, have you gained weight again?"
Hengjie insisted angrily, "It's not that I'm fat. My martial arts instructor said that I've become stronger and more muscular."
As she spoke, she clenched her little fists, tensing her whole body, and let Shen Lingyue touch her chubby little arms.
Shen Lingyue suppressed a laugh and played along, exaggeratingly pinching it, "Oh my, it's so hard! Sister Heng, you could probably kill a bull with one punch now, right?"
The little girl blushed and shyly snuggled into her arms.
Shen Lingyue pinched her little face and introduced Yan Yi to her, "This is your aunt's sister-in-law, you should call her Aunt Yan."
In front of outsiders, Hengjie was still very well-behaved. She jumped down from her arms and respectfully greeted Yan Yi, saying, "Hello, Aunt Yan. My name is Han Yiheng. You can just call me Hengjie."
"Oh, hello, Heng-jie." Yan Yi couldn't help but touch her fair and tender little face. Who wouldn't like a sweet and soft little girl?
Shen Lingyue then took Yan Yi to pay their respects to Zhao Lan and Shen Hang.
"Father, Mother, this is my sister-in-law, Zhou Yanyi."
Zhao Lan glanced at Yan Yi subtly and smiled, "Young Madam, Yue'er has been spoiled by me since she was little. If there is anything she has done wrong, please forgive her as her sister-in-law and don't hold it against her. Or if you have any problems, you can come to the Shen residence to find me."
Yan Yi quickly shook her head and said no, she and Shen Lingyue got along very well.
Zhao Lan was surprised: these two people used to be at odds whenever they met, but now that they've married into the same family of two brothers, they've changed their ways and started to love each other.
Girls really do change a lot as they grow up; they're so unpredictable!
Over there, Shen Lingyue inquired about Shen Hang's health, "Father, how are you recovering? Can you still speak? Do you need me to translate for you?"
I haven't listened to electronic music tadpoles for quite a while, and I'm actually a little nostalgic for it.
Shen Hang glanced at her and slowly said, "Don't think I can't see through your gloating."
Shen Lingyue exclaimed in surprise, "Dad, you're all better now? You can even say four-character idioms!"
Shen Hang was so angry that he wanted to hit her, but she nimbly dodged and hid behind Zhao Lan.
Zhao Lan coughed lightly to cover her laughter and explained, "Your father returned to the Ministry of Rites a few days ago after his leave ended. He just speaks a little slower and his mouth is a little crooked. You can't really tell unless you look closely."
Shen Lingyue peeked out and was met with a glare from Shen Hang.
"Dad, don't glare at me, or your mouth and eyes will become crooked again!"
Shen Lingyue took advantage of Shen Hang's incoherent speech, which made him so angry that his beard trembled.
Shen Ming'an smiled and stepped in to smooth things over, "Little sister, it's been a long time since you've been back. How have you been doing at the Pei family?"
Shen Yuanjia also led Hengjie over to talk to her. The three of them were siblings born of the same mother, so their relationship was naturally different.
Yan Yi sat to the side, watching the heartwarming scene of Shen Lingyue being surrounded and cared for by her family, and felt as if she herself was experiencing the same happiness.
Until Aunt Liu approached her calmly and spoke gently, "Young Madam Pei, it must be very difficult being my third young lady's sister-in-law, right?"
Yan Yi turned her head and looked at her calmly. "What do you mean by that?"
Aunt Liu touched her lips with her handkerchief, looking hesitant. "Well, in the end, I'm just a concubine of the Shen family. There are some things I can't say..."
"Is that so? Then Auntie, please don't say anything more."
Yan Yi slightly curled the corners of her lips, her eyes filled with indifference and aloofness. "I have eyes, I can see for myself. I can tell who I'm a complete stranger to and who I spend every day with."
Aunt Liu was surprised by Yan Yi's firm stance and, after being turned away, walked away sheepishly.
"Mother, my sister-in-law and I are going to visit other people's private rooms. I'll come home to keep you company another day, and I'll invite my older sister along then."
Worried that staying too long would neglect Yan Yi, Shen Lingyue suggested leaving.
Seeing that she looked healthy and was chatting and laughing with Yan Yi, Zhao Lan waved her hand and let her go, "Go ahead."
They also invited Yan Yi to visit the Shen family when she had time. Yan Yi smiled and agreed, and the two said goodbye and left.
Once in the corridor, Yan Yi said, "Just now, your Aunt Liu was trying to say bad things about you, but I shut her down."
Shen Lingyue snorted and took Yan Yi's arm. "She's always so idle. Shen Songyi's marriage is still undecided, and she's already trying to sow discord between us."
Yan Yi laughed: "Anyway, it's all for nothing."
They asked the waiter, and the Zhou family was not on Fenglelou's guest list today.
Come to think of it, Lin Qiyu is still in her postpartum period, and Zhou Yanling is still missing. Zhou Chuan probably has no interest in coming out to watch any Buddhist ceremony.
Seeing Yan Yi's worried expression, Shen Lingyue comforted her, "No news is good news. We'll also make a wish to the Bodhisattva later, praying for her safety."
"The two young mistresses Pei, the Duchess of Lingguo is waiting for you on the top floor."
At the corner of the stairs, a female servant from Fenglelou bowed slightly to the two of them.
Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi followed her upstairs. It turned out that Fengle Tower had three floors on the surface, but there was actually a pavilion with dougong-style brackets above the third floor. The higher the floor, the more prestigious the status.
Duke Gu Lin, the first-ranking noble among the current dynasty's meritorious officials, was naturally among those listed above.
"Sister Zheng, Brother Gu."
As the two entered the room, they saw Zheng Chunyun pushing Gu Lin's wheelchair. The couple, one sitting and one standing by the window, were enjoying the breeze and the scenery. They went up to greet them.
Gu Lin smiled and nodded at the two of them, then turned back to signal Zheng Chunyun to release the wheelchair. He then pushed the wheels to another window, giving them space to talk.
Zheng Chunyun pulled one of them up with each hand, saying, "I guessed you wouldn't miss this big event, so I sent people down to look for you earlier."
She winked slyly at Shen Lingyue.
Shen Lingyue chuckled, "We're all just bystanders, aren't we?"
It was only after chatting with Zheng Chunyun that I learned that this attic was specially reserved for the couple by Prince An. Otherwise, Zheng Chunyun really had no intention of bringing Gu Lin out, since he was immobile and it was very inconvenient to lift him up and down in a wheelchair. Gu Lin also disliked making a fuss and rarely went out except to seek medical treatment.
But then she thought, no matter when Gu Lin's leg recovers or whether it can recover at all, he can't stay cooped up in the Duke of Ling's mansion for the rest of his life without ever going out. He still needs to go out and get some fresh air, which will also be good for his mood.
Even today, when she went out and came to Fenglelou, Zheng Chunyun refused all the visiting cards that others sent. Apart from Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi, she did not see anyone else.
"I heard that this Dharma assembly is very grand and solemn, with Dharma protectors on parade, Guanyin saving people from calamities, Buddhist operas being sung, almsgiving being given, dragon and lion dances and jumping over fire basins... It's extremely lively."
Zheng Chunyun has been frequently interacting with Princess An recently, so she is more familiar with the procedures of the Dharma assembly than outsiders.
Shen Lingyue was itching to join in and discussed with Yan Yi, "What's the point of just watching from upstairs? Let's go to the street and walk with the parade later!"
Those wealthy ladies, presuming on their status, only wished to observe from afar upstairs, while the two of them didn't care about such formalities; watching the spectacle was the most important thing for them!
Shen Lingyue winked at her, "Call your man and my man, and have them lead the way."
Isn't this the kind of time you use your husband?
Yan Yi smiled and agreed.
Shen Lingyue looked around and exclaimed, "Didn't Brother Chen Hu come out with you?"
He was Gu Lin's savior and also Gu Lin's sworn brother. It's said that he even got a position in the army and is now an official. Chen Hu is currently living in the Duke of Ling's mansion. He is very strong and sometimes helps move Gu Lin and his wheelchair, which is very reliable.
Zheng Chunyun's smile deepened, and she pointed out the window, "Look, he's down there."
Shen Lingyue leaned closer to look and quickly spotted Chen Hu, who stood out in the crowd—tall and robust.
"Huh, huh?" Shen Lingyue exclaimed in surprise, "Isn't the girl next to him Mei Fang, the one beside you, Sister Zheng?"
Zheng Chunyun smiled and nodded in agreement, "He and Mei Fang have taken a liking to each other and plan to get married at the end of the year."
Mei Fang was her head maid. They had grown up together since childhood. When the Zheng family was at its lowest point, while the other servants took their severance pay and went their separate ways, Mei Fang stayed by their side. She even did the work of several people. She also took care of the seriously ill and bedridden Old Madam Zheng.
Later, Mei Fang accompanied Zheng Chunyun to the Duke of Ling's mansion after her marriage. She helped her run errands and made connections with various people in the mansion, helping her gather intelligence and evade Gu Yuan and Qin Zhengzheng's schemes several times.
It wasn't until Gu Lin returned alive and inherited the title of Duke of Ling that Zheng Chunyun and her servant Mei Fang finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel.
Because they both had to take care of Gu Lin, Mei Fang and Chen Hu inevitably had to interact frequently, and over time, they developed feelings for each other.
Zheng Chunyun said softly, "I was reluctant to let Meifang be casually married to any steward or servant in the manor. She has done so much for me and for the Zheng family. I would rather return her indenture and let her be a free citizen. But she was worried about me and insisted on staying with me..."
Now that she and Chen Hu are in love, if she marries him, she will be the wife of a military officer and will no longer have to be a servant.
Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi looked down out the window.
Chen Hu and Mei Fang stood by the roadside. His tall frame carefully protected Mei Fang, preventing her from being jostled by the surrounding crowd. He carefully held a string of candied hawthorns in his large, fan-like hands and held it up to Mei Fang in a flattering manner, with a simple and shy smile on his face.
Mei Fang leaned against him, holding his wrist, gently biting off a candied hawthorn, and smiled brightly at him, as if to say it was very sweet.
"It's so sweet, so delicious."
Shen Lingyue cupped her face in her hands and smiled like an auntie. Although there was no gossip to share, the joy of shipping the couple was irreplaceable!
Yan Yi also had a relieved smile on her face.
She still remembered that in that dream, when Zheng Chunyun was falsely accused of adultery by the Gu family, Mei Fang and the other servants of the main house were all locked up and severely tortured to force them to come out and identify the perpetrators.
Mei Fang, as Zheng Chunyun's dowry maid, refused to submit even at the cost of her life. She had already found a chance to escape, but instead of running away herself, she chose to go to Shuntian Prefecture to file a complaint, hoping that the government would send someone to save her mistress.
Unfortunately, his efforts were in vain. He was captured by the servants of the Duke of Lingguo's mansion just one street away from the Shuntian Prefecture government office and thrown into a pond where he was drowned.
They changed Zheng Chunyun's fate and saved Mei Fang's life; now she has also found her own happiness.
Yan Yi gently touched her chest and felt a surge of warmth flow through her, transforming into an invisible force that nourished her body.
She had a feeling that Mei Fang's fate could also be considered as a result of her and Xiao Yue Liang's "merits".
Before she could think it through, Shen Lingyue excitedly pointed to a teahouse diagonally opposite below and exclaimed, "Yanyan, look!"
Yan Yi looked over and, through the street-facing window of the teahouse, saw a familiar young man gently and attentively wiping the hands of the woman opposite him.
"That's Chen Ang and Yao Yusha?" Yan Yi couldn't believe her eyes. "She's already able to go out and move around?"
The two of them sat in the teahouse, and to outsiders they looked like a young couple out for fun. Even if Yao Yusha occasionally showed a hint of confusion and timidity on her face, no one would ever associate her with a "madwoman".
Tears welled up in Shen Lingyue's eyes. "Waaah, it must be because Chen Ang took good care of her that Lord Yao and Madam Yao felt at ease letting him take their daughter out."
Yan Yi nodded gently and added, "Yao Yusha must also trust him very much, believing that he would not hurt her, much less allow himself to be injured."
She finally dared to step out of her little world and return to this bustling, human world.
Shen Lingyue leaned on her shoulder and murmured again, "It's so nice that everyone is so happy."
...
The Dharma assembly was about to begin, so the two bid farewell to Zheng Chunyun and Gu Lin and returned to their private room in the Marquis's residence.
As soon as I entered the room, I heard Pei Yuzhen's sarcastic tone, "You two ran off pretty fast, going out to social events. Why didn't you take your cousin with you? You're all good at talking sweet nothings, but you don't care about Lan Yi's marriage at all..."
Shen Lingyue blinked. "Aunt, you haven't even gone out yourself, so why do you insist on relying on the two of us younger generation?"
Pei Yuzhen was furious, "You!"
The reason she doesn't go out and socialize is because she's repeatedly met with setbacks and can't bring herself to do it. That's why she's thinking of trying her luck by using Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi's social circles.
Meng Wanyin stepped in to smooth things over, asking the two of them whose private rooms they had just visited.
Shen Lingyue truthfully replied, "I went to my mother's house and the Duke of Ling's mansion..."
The Shen family?
Pei Yuzhen's eyes darted around, and her attitude suddenly changed completely, beaming with smiles: "Huaizhou's wife, I remember your eldest brother from your maternal family isn't married yet, is he? I heard he's a famous scholar at the Imperial Academy—"
She clapped her hands and said happily, "You know your cousin's talent. If she marries your brother, the two of them will have common interests, play music in harmony, and be a perfect couple. Wouldn't that be a wonderful story?"
Shen Lingyue: "Huh?"
Pei Yuzhen spoke to herself, even trying to win over Pei Xian, "Brother, do you think what I said makes sense? The Shen family has a good family tradition, otherwise His Majesty would not have bestowed a marriage upon our two families. Lan Yi is your own niece. If she marries into Huai Zhou's wife's family, it will be a double blessing. Mother will definitely agree to this marriage!"
Pei Xian: "Huh?"
Pei Yuzhen was completely immersed in her imagination. Although the Shen family was not a noble family and their background was rather shallow, Lan Yi would be the eldest daughter-in-law of a third-rank official's family after marrying into the family. Once she entered the household, she could be the head of the household. It wouldn't be too bad, would it?
Then there's Shen Lingyue's mother, Zhao Lan, the youngest daughter of the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate. It's said that she has a great talent for business. She married into the Shen family more than 20 years ago and single-handedly raised the family from a humble beginning to prosper, buying many estates and shops. Every year, the income from her family is like a flowing river.
Just looking at the generous dowry Shen Lingyue received when she entered the family made her extremely envious. And that was only the dowry Zhao Lan gave to her youngest daughter. Wouldn't she have even more in her hands, which she would leave to her eldest son in the future?
It's settled then. Lan Yi will marry the eldest son of the Shen family, and then give birth to the eldest grandson, who will then take control of the household and have the entire Shen family in the palm of her hand.
When Zhao Lan gets old, she'll have to live at the mercy of her daughter, hahaha...
Pei Yuzhen felt increasingly pleased with herself and even laughed out loud, oblivious to everyone else around her.
Meng Wanyin mustered her courage and nudged her, "...Auntie, are you alright?"
How did this person suddenly become possessed? We need to send her down to be exorcised once the ceremony begins...
"I'm fine, I'm perfectly fine."
Pei Yuzhen quickly regained her composure and said to Shen Lingyue in a gentle tone, "Send a message to your family and ask your mother to send a matchmaker to propose marriage as soon as possible. We're family, so let's not be formal. I agree to this marriage. Hurry up and complete the six rites of marriage so as not to delay your cousin's marriage."
Shen Lingyue: ………………
Silence, a deafening silence.
If her in-laws hadn't been watching, she would have loved to rush up and shake the water out of Pei Yuzhen's head.
What the hell? Who agreed to this?
Did you even give me a chance to speak?!
"That's not right."
Pei Jinghuai suddenly spoke up, scratching his head and frowning slightly as he recalled uncertainly, "I seem to remember my mother-in-law saying that my brother-in-law is engaged to the granddaughter of the Grand Master of the Imperial Academy, Sang, and they plan to marry her next year?"
"What?!" Pei Yuzhen screamed in disbelief. "I've never heard of this before!"
Shen Lingyue finally had a chance to speak, but she explained to Pei Xian and Meng Wanyin, "The Sang family's granddaughter is a year younger than me. They are reluctant to let their daughter marry too early. In addition, the Sang family is a family of upright officials with strict rules and does not want to make a fuss. So the two families just quietly exchanged marriage certificates and did not announce it to the outside world."
Pei Xian nodded knowingly, "It's the Sang family. That's not surprising. My mother-in-law has good taste. The Sang family's daughters will never have trouble finding husbands."
The Sang family's genealogy is even longer than the founding of the Great Ye Kingdom. They were already an official family in the previous dynasty, and both men and women were outstanding in talent and learning. The men entered officialdom, and the women were devoted wives and mothers. They passed down the family tradition of poetry and propriety, and the Sang family earned several memorial arches for chastity. This is what a great family should be like.
The Sang family has strict rules, and many Sang women have entered the palace as concubines or married into royal families in both the previous and current dynasties; they are all very precious.
Zhao Lan had her eye on the Sang family's daughter more than a decade ago, believing that only a woman like her was worthy of becoming the future matriarch of the Shen family. Fortunately, Shen Ming'an was exceptionally talented and ambitious, and fortunately, Zhao Lan had intentionally cultivated a relationship with the Sang family, having business dealings with the current matriarch of the Sang family and doing them a great favor by mitigating their enormous losses.
Otherwise, given that Shen Ming'an is currently only a Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations), he is not qualified to be the son-in-law of the Sang family.
That's why Zhao Lan got so angry when she discovered that the maid in Shen Ming'an's study was trying to seduce the young master.
Before the Sang family's youngest granddaughter marries into the family, she must ensure that her son's room is spotless, both physically and mentally, and that everything is prepared for his future wife.
Pei Yuzhen's face turned extremely pale.
No matter how confident she was, she wouldn't dare say that Dong Lanyi's talent and looks could surpass those of the Sang family girl, let alone her family background.
Shen Lingyue cleared her throat and kindly suggested, "Although my eldest brother is engaged, my second brother isn't. Although my second brother is only a scholar now, he's a good person. He's gentle and kind, and he can make many small wooden carvings. If my cousin is willing to marry him, he will definitely treat his wife very well."
"Your second brother?" Pei Yuzhen rolled her eyes. "He's just one of your concubine's twins, a mere illegitimate son, yet he dares to dream of marrying my Lan Yi! What a pipe dream!"
Shen Lingyue: ...
Fine, I guess she was just being cheeky.
So what if she was born out of wedlock? To be frank, she even thought Dong Lanyi was not good enough for Shen Mingda.
She didn't mean to discriminate against Dong Lanyi for losing her father at a young age, it's just that... well, never mind, if she really marries her second brother, Zhao Lan will be the one who has to worry in the end.
Shen Lingyue slapped herself, "Serves you right for being so talkative."
She gave Pei Yuzhen a forced smile and said, "Auntie is right. My second brother is not good enough for Cousin Lanyi. You should find someone else."
Pei Yuzhen didn't respond, and instead cast a wistful glance at Yan Yi.
Yan Yi quickly replied, "I only have one younger brother, and he's not even a month old yet."
Pei Yuzhen scoffed dismissively.
Hmph, the Zhou family, a mere military officer, their social standing is too low. Even if they had a son, she wouldn't look down on him.
The atmosphere inside the private room was strange, and Meng Wanyin felt like she was sitting on pins and needles. When a gong sounded from below, she immediately said, "The Dharma assembly is about to begin. Yan Yi, Yue'er, didn't you say you wanted to go down and see it more clearly? Go quickly."
Let's go, let's go, it'll be quiet here once everyone's gone...
"Second sister-in-law, Azhi also wants to go down there."
Dong Yunzhi looked at Shen Lingyue expectantly.
Shen Lingyue had a good impression of her little cousin and took her hand. "Okay, then Azhi will come with me and my second cousin?"
Dong Yunzhi breathed a sigh of relief, her eyes crinkling with a smile. "Thank you, Second Sister-in-law. I, Azhi, will definitely be good and won't cause you or my cousin any trouble."
Shen Lingyue pinched her little face, "What's the trouble? Let's go."
She and Pei Jinghuai led Dong Yunzhi downstairs.
Pei Yuzhen rolled her eyes, nudged Dong Lanyi, and said to Pei Jingyi, "Yunzhao, you should bring your cousin along too."
If they missed out on the eldest son of the Shen family, then they could only continue to keep an eye on their own nephew.
However, Pei Jingyi remained calm and refused, saying, "I have to take care of my wife and I'm too busy. You should find someone else."
Pei Yuzhen became anxious, "Huaizhou and his wife can handle Azhi, so why can't you handle Lanyi? Lanyi isn't a child anymore, how could she be more difficult to handle than Azhi?"
"Precisely because my cousin is no longer a child, I must avoid any appearance of impropriety."
Pei Jingyi spoke frankly, almost exposing Pei Yuzhen's little scheme.
He put his arm around Yan Yi's shoulder in public, as if to declare his presence, but more like to possess her.
"In my heart, my wife's feelings come first."
After saying that, he stopped looking at them and took Yan Yi's arm as they left.
Pei Yuzhen stomped her foot in anger and turned to Pei Xian to complain, "Brother! Look at your good sons, none of them respect me. Am I still your sister? Am I still their elder?"
Pei Xian's lips twitched, his face darkening. "You still know you're an elder? Then act like one. Stop being so clueless all the time; you're just annoying."
He only recently learned that on the day his two daughters-in-law entered the house to serve tea, it was Pei Yuzhen who whispered in the ear of the Dowager Madam that they insisted on taking the memorial tablet of Princess Qinghe out of the ancestral hall, making things difficult for his daughters-in-law and Meng Wanyin.
Pei Xian was also confused. Just because they didn't agree to let Pei Jingyi marry Dong Lanyi, Pei Yuzhen was causing trouble in the Marquis's mansion and didn't want the whole family to be happy.
He felt sorry for his sister who lost her husband at a young age, so he let her bring her two daughters back to live with him for ten years. How did she end up raising a troublemaker?
Pei Yuzhen had never heard Pei Xian speak so harshly before, and she was stunned for a moment. "Big brother, you..."
"Uncle, please stop. It's all my fault. I'm completely wrong. I shouldn't have been born, I shouldn't exist..."
After saying that, Dong Lanyi ran out crying.
"Lan Yi!"
Pei Yuzhen also chased after him, giving Pei Xian a resentful glare as she left.
Only Meng Wanyin and Pei Xian remained in the private room. She asked worriedly, "Should we send someone out to follow them?"
With such a lively scene today, and a huge crowd below, who knows if there might be bad guys or kidnappers hiding inside?
Pei Yuzhen was one thing, but Dong Lanyi was a beautiful young woman, a perfect target for him.
Even if Pei Xian was angry, he couldn't disregard his niece's safety. He nodded and sent several servants and attendants with him.
Meng Wanyin poured him a cup of tea. "My lord, please calm down and have some water."
Pei Xian hummed in agreement, picked up his teacup and drank it all in one gulp. He then got up, walked to the window, and waved to Meng Wanyin.
"Come here, you can see clearly from here."
...
Downstairs, two young couples with Ah Zhi were squeezed into a relatively spacious spot by the roadside.
The deafening sound of gongs and drums approached from afar, accompanied by cheers from the people on the street, and the Guanyin Dharma Assembly officially began.
Thump, thump...
The lead drummer raised his drumsticks high and struck the large cowhide drum painted with thunder patterns, the rhythm gradually increasing until the climax.
A chorus of voices cried out: "Alas! — Whoa!"
The bustling street suddenly fell silent.
The four guardian deities arrived on a tour.
The vanguard was the Dharma Protector Weituo, holding a vajra and stepping in the Eight Steps. The young man had a dignified face and a majestic appearance, and he walked at the very front to clear the way.
Next came the Vajra Warrior, wearing a mask with fangs, his eyes wide with fury, intimidating all around. His bare chest was covered in gold powder, his muscles taut, as if he possessed the strength to lift a cauldron.
General Sanzhi arrived in a long procession with his twenty-eight followers, carrying magical implements such as spiked clubs and soul-locking chains, with copper bells attached to them. As they walked, the bells jingled, creating an ethereal sound that blended with the drumbeats, as if it were a divine message from beyond the heavens.
Bringing up the rear was the Yama's Judgment Retinue. Yama, the King of Hell, rode in a black sedan chair, flanked by attendants holding judge's pens and books of good and evil, their expressions blank, inspiring awe.
The Black and White Impermanence wear tall hats, hold chains, and carry a huge book of good and evil made of paulownia wood. The book is filled with illustrations of short stories about cause and effect and reincarnation, as well as depictions of the eighteen levels of hell. The various tortures are so gruesome that they are too shocking to look at directly.
Knock knock!
The drumbeats seemed to be a signal, and the carriage suddenly stopped. The black-faced, black-bearded Yama looked around and suddenly pointed at Azhi, who was leaning against Shen Lingyue.
"Young lady, do you dare answer one question for me?"
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The author notes: ① "Light and shadow blended seamlessly, beaded curtains and embroidered brows, lamps and candles flickered." — *Dongjing Menghualu* (Record of the Splendor of the Eastern Capital)
Fenglelou is based on the famous Fanlou of the Northern Song Dynasty. However, after some research, I found that commerce in the Ming Dynasty wasn't as free and developed as in the Northern Song, and there weren't many well-known large restaurants. Most were government-run, so we'll just create a fictionalized version. [doge emoji]
The ritual ceremony was also something I cobbled together and made up; just enjoy it for the fun of it. [heart emoji]
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