Chapter 75 Chapter 75 Ji Yanlang saw that Fang Ying was in a better mood...
When Fang Ying came out of Zhou's house, it was already afternoon. The sun was shining brightly outside, and it was the hottest time of the day.
Fortunately, it was cool in the car because it was not exposed to the sun. Fang Ying leaned against the pillow in a daze, thinking hard about how to understand the whole process from pregnancy to delivery clearly.
In fact, if she acted coquettishly and said that she wanted to make some preparations early, Li would not think too much about it and would agree to send a nanny to her courtyard - her room was also short of an old nanny to take care of things.
But she was afraid that Li would mistakenly think that there was something wrong with her stomach and thus start to have expectations - although she had her period this month and although Ji Yanlang had only been home for a month, Li had probably been looking forward to this day for a long time.
Fang Ying didn't want to let Li be happy for nothing, and she was even more afraid that everyone in the mansion would keep a close eye on her belly from now on.
"My lady, your husband is here to pick you up."
When Fang Ying came back to her senses, she realized that the car had stopped. Lichun was kneeling by the door, lifting the curtain and welcoming Ji Yanlang in.
"Didn't you say that after the court was over, you would invite some brothers to go drinking? Why are you leaving so early?" she asked.
Ji Yanlang sat down next to Fang Ying and replied with a smile, "It's unfortunate today. They all have their own things to do. They asked me to reschedule for tomorrow, but I said I'd have a day off tomorrow and wouldn't have time for you, so let's just leave it at that. We'll talk about it another day." As he spoke, he assessed his wife's expression. "It's still early, why don't we take a walk along the river before going home?"
Fang Ying nodded in agreement. She didn't really want to go back.
Ji Yanlang leaned out and gave an order, and the two of them turned to the bank of the Bian River, got out of the car and walked.
"Princess Zhou has met His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin, right?" Ji Yanlang asked, picking out something Fang Ying was willing to talk about.
"Yeah." Fang Ying knew that he, like herself, was concerned about whether the fiancée had taken this opportunity to get to know each other. Unfortunately, "She refused to tell me in detail, so I asked her if she had inquired about the case of the Taoist priest with the 'Alchemy Technique'."
Ji Yanlang was also very curious about this, and waited with wide eyes for Fang Ying to continue.
"She said the King of Qin told her that the Taoist priest was not only not in league with the thieves, but also had swindled them out of their money."
Ji Yanlang was not surprised by this: "Since he has the ability to make medicine gold, he naturally won't go into people's homes to steal. Firstly, the amount of money he earns is uncertain and he has to share it with others. Secondly, it is more difficult and risky than making medicine gold for him."
Fang Ying nodded: "Indeed."
"The thieves probably only realized they were deceived after they were caught, right? Didn't they reveal any of the Taoist's dirty deeds?"
Fang Ying couldn't help but turn around and look at him: "You guessed this?"
Ji Yanlang smirked. "It's just common sense. Since the Taoist priest was captured along with the thieves, he obviously hasn't fallen out with them yet. These thieves have committed countless crimes and are extremely vicious. How could they let it go when they knew that the money they worked so hard to steal was easily swindled away by the Taoist priest?"
Fang Ying nodded in agreement, "Not bad." Then, half seriously and half jokingly, she said, "My dear, you are truly as foresighted as a god."
"No, no, my lady, you are too kind." Ji Yanlang also jokingly replied, "Did His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin say what other crimes the Taoist priest had committed?"
"No." Fang Ying shook her head. "Maybe it's inconvenient to say more, or to tell Sister Zhou."
"This Taoist priest dared to make medicine gold and even dared to cheat thieves out of their money. He must be a desperate gangster with a life on his hands. His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin might be afraid of saying too much and frightening Princess Zhou."
Fang Ying also thought this might be the case. The two of them walked for a long distance while talking. Seeing that she was in a much better mood, Ji Yanlang breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "I'll ask around after I meet my father-in-law tomorrow to see if there's anything interesting."
"My father may not tell." The news of catching the thief has spread outside, which is not a big deal, but if the deeper details of the case are leaked, it will be like sending herself to the King of Qin for punishment. Her father will not take this risk.
Ji Yanlang said it casually, not taking it too seriously. Seeing that they had already walked for a while, he was worried that Fang Ying would be tired, so he asked her to get in the car, "Just turn right off here, there is a wine shop. Let's buy a few side dishes to take back."
The side dishes sold in the tavern were all for drinking, and Fang Ying didn't take them too seriously. Unexpectedly, the car stopped outside the tavern. As soon as the curtain was lifted, a scent of meat wafted in.
"His family specializes in roasted rabbit meat, which is roasted and eaten immediately. I have just sent someone to tell them, so it should be ready soon." Ji Yanlang said.
Fang Ying saw a tavern with a stall facing the street. A shop assistant in a coarse cloth shorts was selling wine to people. Ji Yanlang's chief attendant came over and reported to the carriage that the rabbit would be roasted soon.
"They will tear the rabbit meat and sprinkle seasoning spices on this table later." Ji Yanlang instructed Fang Ying.
"There are more and more varieties of restaurants in Beijing." Fang Ying sighed.
The day grew longer, and it was still some time before dinner. There were not many customers in the tavern, but the aroma of meat became stronger and stronger, making people salivate.
Ji Yanlang asked Fang Ying, "Do you want to come in and sit down?"
Fang Ying hesitated for a moment and before she could answer, someone outside asked from afar, "Is that Liu Lang?" The voice seemed somewhat familiar.
Ji Yanlang stuck his head out to take a look and immediately said with a smile, "It's me." He turned back to Fang Ying and said, "It's your second cousin."
Naturally, the only cousins in Beijing are the two from Uncle Fang Ying's family. Now the eldest cousin is with their cavalry to escort the emperor on his western tour. As for the second cousin - I heard from my stepmother last time that he seemed to be studying at home, so why did he come here?
Fang Ying got off the car behind Ji Yanlang, and her second cousin Pan Zaifeng also came closer, but he was not alone. There was a young man dressed as a scholar next to him.
Fortunately, Fang Ying was wearing a veil hat and standing behind Ji Yanlang, so she was not so conspicuous.
Pan Zaifeng stepped forward and exchanged a few pleasantries, then turned to introduce the young man traveling with him: "This is Brother Luo Yazhi, the scholar who came to Beijing from Fujian to participate in the Spring Imperial Examination."
"I have failed this exam, I am so ashamed." Luo Yazhi bowed and spoke word by word, but his words were still a little awkward and hard to understand, probably because he still hasn't gotten over his accent.
Ji Yanlang smiled and said, "Don't take it too seriously. In this dynasty, no one has ever passed the imperial examination. You can take the exam again next year."
Pan Zaifeng echoed, "Liu Lang is absolutely right." He then introduced Luo Yazhi, "This is Commander Ji, my uncle's son-in-law, whom I told you about."
Luo Yazhi greeted them formally - the Juren had no background, but Ji Yanlang was a proper military officer with a certain rank, so he just nodded in return and asked them where they were going.
"Brother Luo and I just left my uncle's house and are planning to go to Kaifeng Prefecture."
Ji Yanlang was surprised: "What are you going to Kaifeng Prefecture for?"
"Kaifeng Prefecture is currently recruiting clerks. My uncle, seeing that Brother Luo is talented and knowledgeable about practical matters, has advised him to apply."
Fang Ying listened to them talking and felt puzzled. Her father was not a high-ranking official or a famous scholar. Why would a scholar who was going to take the imperial examination go to see a mere magistrate of Kaifeng Prefecture?
Ji Yanlang was actually a little confused, but he couldn't ask in front of Luo Yazhi. Luo Yazhi was very perceptive. After Pan Zaifeng finished speaking, he explained with a smile: "I have lived in Bianjing for a long time and am short of money. When Brother Pan heard about this, he wanted to recommend me to the Fang Mansion to serve as a tutor and teach the young master."
Pan Zaifeng smiled and said, "I heard that my uncle was looking for a teacher for my cousin, and I have always admired Brother Luo's knowledge, so I tried to make the connection. Unexpectedly, my uncle already had a suitable candidate in mind..."
Ji Yanlang understood, "I see. Then hurry up and go, don't delay it too late. Everyone in the government office has dispersed, and tomorrow is still a holiday."
The two men said goodbye and left. The roast rabbit was sprinkled with seasoning and wrapped. Fang Ying and Ji Yanlang returned to the car. As the car started moving, they couldn't help but say, "My second cousin is quite enthusiastic, but that Luo guy, first of all, is too young, my father doesn't trust him, and secondly, his accent is too strong. Children love to learn such things."
"Yes." Ji Yanlang couldn't help laughing when he imagined Fang Ying's younger brother imitating Luo Yazhi's speech. "They haven't even finished speaking the official language yet, and they dare to teach a child. How dare they think of that?"
"I guess my second cousin was just being overly enthusiastic and wanted to show off his abilities in front of his new friends. So the scholar just took it as a chance, and this is how he found a way out, right?"
Ji Yanlang smiled and said, "Yes, being a clerk in Kaifeng Prefecture is hard work, but it can broaden your horizons and teach you practical skills. After you pass the high school entrance exam, it will also be a good resume, and will be more beneficial to your career than being a children's tutor."
"Even if you fail the exam, you can work in Kaifeng Prefecture for a long time and accumulate experience, and you may be promoted. My father also started as a clerk when he first arrived in Yangzhou." However, her father did have some abilities and knew how to get along with others, so he was promoted much faster than his peers.
"Yeah, in fact, if your second cousin isn't planning to go back to his hometown to take the imperial examination, he should also try it."
Fang Ying was surprised: "Returning home to take the imperial examination? Who? My second cousin? He's only been studying for a few days, and he wants to take the imperial examination?"
Ji Yanlang was also surprised: "Don't you know? I heard it from your eldest cousin."
Fang Ying shook her head: "I only heard from my stepmother that my second cousin has been studying very hard recently and has been staying indoors to study."
"Then wait until tomorrow when you meet your parents-in-law and ask them."
Fang Ying still found it unbelievable. As far as she knew, her two cousins from her uncle's family, apart from studying seriously with their grandfather in their childhood, had never asked a teacher for instruction since they arrived in Yangzhou. It was even more impossible to expect her unlearned uncle to accomplish such a thing. Could it be that her second cousin was a gifted genius?
She doesn't believe it.
Sure enough, the next day when he returned to his mother's house and asked his stepmother, Mrs. Pan, the answer he got was not that Pan Zaifeng had a chance to pass the imperial examination in the autumn, but rather, "Your grandfather was ill in the winter and missed his children and grandchildren, so he wrote to ask your uncle to bring your cousins back home to visit. Dalang is in the army and it's not convenient, and Erlang is studying. If he returns home, he can ask your grandfather and uncle to teach him and take the exam at the same time. So it's settled."
"I see. Grandfather is feeling much better now?"
"She's getting better, but she's old after all, and her legs and feet aren't as nimble as they used to be." Pan sighed, "Your grandmother has also lost a lot of weight."
Fang Ying had only seen her grandparents when she was young, and she couldn't remember what they looked like, so naturally, she couldn't say she had any deep admiration for them. She simply asked, "When are my uncle and second cousin planning to leave? I haven't been filial to my grandparents since I got married, so I'd like to take this opportunity to prepare some gifts for my uncle to take back as a token of his appreciation."
Mrs. Pan showed a look of relief: "Your grandfather doesn't say it, but he actually cares about you very much. After Liu Lang came back last year, the official wrote back to tell your grandfather the good news. Your grandfather replied and said that you are a blessed child..."
She chattered on and on about a few things in her hometown. Although Fang Ying wasn't very moved by what she heard, because of the relationship with her maternal grandfather, she felt a sense of closeness to Pan that she had never felt before.
Because of this closeness, Fang Ying felt that it was her mother's family after all. Even if the person in front of her was her stepmother, she was still her aunt. Now that her mother was gone, she wanted to ask about childbirth, so she should have asked Pan for advice first.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
