Lin Wuchen brought Su Shunci's fox fur cloak over and said, "Let's go. I'll take you back to Prince Ning's Mansion."
After the two entered the city, they did not inform Prince Ning's Mansion. His original plan was to send her back after packing up the gifts for each family.
But she slept for the whole afternoon, and it was already this time after she had her meal.
If I don’t go back, it will be unreasonable.
Su Shunci stood up, and Lin Wuchen naturally put the cloak on her and tied it up for her.
Afterwards, Lin Wuchen sent Su Shunci back to Prince Ning's Mansion and paid his respects to Lin Wanyin and Bai Sulian before returning.
There was naturally laughter and joy in Prince Ning's Mansion. Lin Wanyin, Bai Sulian, Shen Yue and others pulled Su Shunci aside and asked her if she was doing well outside.
Su Yuanzhou watched from the side, his eyes falling on Shen Yue from time to time.
Shen Yue was already three months pregnant, so he wasn't in a rush to return to Northern Xinjiang this winter. If the Tartars didn't make any major moves, he could stay in the capital and stay with Shen Yue.
After some greetings, Su Shunci took out gifts for everyone, and the family stayed together until midnight before dispersing.
The next morning, Su Shunci went to the Song family home to visit several of their godparents. She prepared appropriate gifts for everyone in the Song family, from the oldest to the youngest.
She returned to Prince Ning's Mansion after having lunch at the Song family.
After lunch, Lin Wuchen went to pick up Su Shunci, and the two went to Shen's house together.
He brought two large carts of things, some for Su Qingyu and the children, and some for the old lady of the Shen family and others.
After the two entered the house, they first went to see Su Qingyu and the child. Then Lin Wuchen went to Shen Zhixiu's study and left the sisters to talk.
Su Qingyu pulled Su Shunci into the main banquet room, leaving only Qiuyue in the room to serve them.
Su Shunci held Shen Cong in her arms and gently touched his cheek, "Cong'er, I am your aunt, do you remember?"
Chen Cong stared at her for a long time, then suddenly grinned.
Su Shunci was overjoyed. "Big sister, does he still recognize me? Why is he smiling at me?"
Su Qingyu was just ordering someone to bring in the Fourth Young Lady's favorite snacks when she heard this and said, "This child isn't shy at all and is used to reading people's expressions."
"Look at your doting look, the way you want to hold him in your hands. He must be smiling at you."
Su Shunci found it interesting and immediately looked at Chen Cong with a stern face, "Call me auntie, or I'll spank you."
It was not known whether Chen Cong understood the spanking or noticed Su Shunci's bad face. She immediately pursed her lips, tears welled up in her eyes, and she was about to cry out loud.
Su Shunci coaxed her distressedly, "Auntie is just teasing you, don't cry, don't cry."
Su Qingyu couldn't help laughing. She looked at Su Shunci and said, "Why are you darker? And a little thinner."
"You have grown taller. I see you are a little taller than me now."
Su Shunci coaxed Chen Cong while saying, "The sea breeze over there is strong and the sun is toxic. But don't worry, big sister. Sister Wanwan said she would get me some beauty-enhancing pearl cream from the palace."
"She said it would be healed in one winter."
Su Qingyu looked at her face again and said, "Don't be careless. You will be married in March next year."
Su Shunci didn't care, "Third cousin can't cancel the engagement just because I'm dark."
Su Qingyu hurriedly said, "Nonsense, how can you be so casual about such an important matter in your life?"
"I have to talk to Mother and Aunt Lian. Starting today, I'll be watching you wipe your face and bathe."
While the two sisters were chatting privately, Chuntao came in and reported, "Madam, Master Yuanyi came to see the Third Master and brought some candied fruit. He said it was an old friend of the Third Master and asked someone to bring it to the capital."
As she spoke, Chuntao placed the candied fruit box on the table and opened the lid.
Su Yuanyi is now preparing for the imperial examination next spring, so he often comes to ask Shen Zhixiu about academic matters.
Su Qingyu picked up a dried apricot and handed it to Su Shunci, saying, "Yuan Yi did well in the autumn examination. If the Su family can produce another champion, it will be prosperous."
*
At this time, in the study of Shen Zhixiu in the outer courtyard, Shen Zhixiu was explaining to Su Yuanyi how to write essays in the imperial examinations.
By the window, Song Hongshen and Lin Wuchen sat leisurely on the armchairs.
When talking about the agricultural economy, Lin Wuchen couldn't help but interject a few words.
Although Shen Zhixiu is the prime minister of the cabinet, Lin Wuchen's knowledge of economics is no worse than his.
Lin Wuchen talked for a long time before he suddenly realized that this matter was related to Su Yuanyi's imperial examination.
He hurriedly said, "Have I said too much? Keep talking."
Song Hongshen said, "Third cousin, what you said is very good. Unlike ordinary merchants who only consider immediate profits, you speak in accordance with the development of the court. As for policy essays, they must be practical and have lofty ideals. Ultimately, the imperial examination is to serve the court."
"Based on your opinion, Third Cousin, if I were the examiner, I would definitely give you a good ranking."
Song Hongshen never acted like a prince in the Shen family, and he called Lin Wuchen "third cousin" according to Su Zhilan's seniority.
Lin Wuchen bowed and said, "Your Highness, I am very kind. I have had a lot of experience with you. In front of Lord Shen and the Crown Prince, I am just showing off my skills."
Shen Zhixiu glanced at him sideways, then said to the prince, "Your third cousin is a real Jinshi."
Song Hongshen asked curiously, "Then why didn't you become an official?"
There was no rule in the Great Zhou Dynasty that prohibited merchants from taking imperial examinations or becoming officials.
Lin Wuchen said jokingly: "I am only interested in money."
When he took the imperial examination, he just wanted to see how much he had learned after so many years of studying.
Deep down, I still think being a businessman is good, it gives you freedom.
By the time he realized that a family like theirs should enter the officialdom, it was already too late.
To put it bluntly, the Lin family had a shallow foundation and limited experience at that time.
When Song Hongshen heard what he said, his eyebrows suddenly raised, as if he had thought of something, but he didn't say much.
In the blink of an eye, it was the beginning of the twelfth lunar month, and the Su family began to prepare for Su Zhilan's wedding.
Since she was marrying into the palace, her dowry consisted only of gold and silver jewelry. All other household items were converted into silver.
Two days before Su Zhilan's wedding, Su Qingyu and Su Shunci went to the Su family to add makeup to her.
When I entered the room, I heard Hai instructing Su Zhilan.
"You are young and don't understand many things. But those concubines and consorts are not young anymore."
"You must be careful of them. They must not give birth to children before you consummate your marriage."
"The royal family is not like ordinary families. The issue of offspring is a big deal. If they give birth to a son or daughter first, you will be in an awkward situation."
"You should be careful in everything you do in that place where people are eaten without leaving any bones behind."
Seeing her mother's anxious expression, Su Zhilan consoled her, "Don't worry too much, mother. I'm not a fool. How can I wait for someone to secretly harm me?"
"I've read a lot of military strategies these days, maybe they'll be useful. Didn't my mother tell me to look within for everything?"
"Whether I can gain a foothold in the palace and whether I can live smoothly and safely does not depend on whether there are people secretly plotting against me. Ultimately, it all depends on myself."
Hai knew that her daughter was a person with her own ideas, and said again.
"I think the Crown Prince is incredibly cunning and scheming. You must never try to be clever in front of him. Sometimes, you have to learn how to overcome hardness with softness."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
