Yi Ning wiped one with a sweat towel and handed it to him to eat: "Third brother, this is your wages."
Luo Shenyuan nodded and smiled, "Yining, the deed to this courtyard is in my name. You're using my things as wages? That's a good plan. It seems the accounts of the mansion should be left to you. You won't suffer any loss."
Yi Ning stuffed the dates into his mouth and said, "It's good to have something to eat."
He patted her head. After all, he was an official appointed by the court.
After walking around the yard, Yining went back with a basket of fresh dates.
Dinner was eaten in the main room. Luo Chengzhang was there, and Concubine Guo stood and waited on him. The first wife's family also came.
Yining hadn't seen such a scene for many years. The only time she had eaten like this was when Old Mrs. Luo was still alive.
Luo Huaiyuan asked Luo Shenyuan about the Ministry of Rites assessment.
He has been observing government affairs in the Ministry of Rites for more than a year and is now a senior official.
"The Ministry of Rites is clearly an idle job, but I dare not slack off on a daily basis. I don't know how this assessment will turn out..." Luo Huaiyuan's tone was filled with worry. "If I fail the assessment, I'm afraid I'll be exiled."
"The Emperor values rituals, music, and sacrifices, and holds grand sacrifices every year. You're doing well in the Ministry of Rites, and there's a good chance you'll be promoted if you follow the opportunity." Luo Shenyuan then said calmly, "The Rites Secretary you're evaluating is a good friend of Yang Ling. I'll let him know later. The evaluation is secondary; it all depends on whether you can show your face to the Emperor."
Luo Huaiyuan seemed relieved and raised his glass to toast with a smile.
Yi Ning listened thoughtfully, and when he returned, he asked him, "Third brother, is it appropriate for you to ask Lord Yang to help you speak?"
"I can go and talk to her, but it will inevitably seem too much. Besides, I am the Minister of Works, and it is not convenient for me to interfere in the Ministry of Rites. Yang Ling and the others are of the same level, so it will be easier for them to talk to." Luo Shenyuan explained to her.
Yi Ning hesitated for a moment. In fact, she wanted to ask Luo Shenyuan why he wanted to help Luo Huaiyuan. But after thinking about it, after all, there are not two Luos in one stroke. For the third brother, Luo Huaiyuan was also his own faction.
"In fact, as long as I stay in the capital, he won't be able to become an official of the fifth rank or higher." Luo Shenyuan suddenly told her, "Sooner or later, he will be transferred to a distant place to avoid suspicion. But since he really wants to stay in the capital, then let him do as he pleases."
When he reached the door, someone hurriedly came to him: "Sir..."
Luo Shenyuan seemed to have something to discuss with him, and he became a little serious. Yining went in first. She had some of the dates she had picked left over, so she asked her maid to dry them and make dried dates.
It seemed that they discussed things in the study until quite late that day, and he even went to the front yard in the middle of the night.
When Yi Ning was asleep, she didn't feel him coming to sleep. When she woke up, she didn't see him either. She turned around and asked the maid to come over: "When the Third Young Master stays up late at night, tell me to get up with him. I can't sleep while he's busy."
It's always okay for her to help add tea and grind ink.
The old woman was a little embarrassed: "The master came back and specifically ordered not to disturb your sleep. The servants walked very quietly. He said that you were growing up and needed to sleep more."
Yining was stunned when he heard this.
When I went to Lin Hairu's place that afternoon, Mrs. Chen was there with Mrs. Zhou and Mrs. Zhou. They were all talking about the color and fragrance of lip balm. Mrs. Zhou loved it and could talk about it like the back of her hand.
"The Cheng family has distinguished guests coming today," Chen said. "Mrs. Cheng invited us to go to the theater together. Why don't you take Yi Ning with you? She's just married, so she needs to get to know the ladies around her."
Lin Hairu said nonchalantly, "Why would I want to get acquainted with those people? They all look sour to me."
Chen's face froze, and Lou Mama immediately stepped out from behind Yining and said with a smile, "What the eldest lady said makes sense. Our third wife has just arrived, so she has to go."
Chen's intentions were good; a distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor. Furthermore, the families living nearby were all officials in the imperial court, so private communication among their families could be useful.
The importance of the female circle is self-evident. Yi Ning thought for a moment before pulling Lin Hairu's arm and saying, "Why don't we go? I just want to listen to an opera."
Lin Hairu turned around and asked her directly, "Don't you dislike opera?"
Yining: “…”
Chen's carriage stopped at the gate and soon arrived at the Cheng family's entrance. The Cheng family was a family of scholars, so naturally, they were built in a grand and luxurious manner. The carriage passed through the alley and arrived at the newly built stage, where several people disembarked. After meeting the two wives of the Cheng family, Chen took Yi Ning and introduced her to the surrounding ladies. When they learned that Yi Ning was Luo Shenyuan's wife, they all took a few extra glances at her.
Madam Cheng led the others to sit down, and then Chen asked Madam Cheng, "I heard that a distinguished guest is coming today. I wonder who it is?"
Madam Cheng lowered her voice a little: "Our fourth young master is planning to get married. Did you know about this?"
"Of course I know, but I don't know which family it is?"
Madam Cheng smiled and said, "I'm talking about Second Miss Xie. The old master has said that we must take good care of her. Shouldn't we quickly set up the stage?"
Cheng Lang's biological father was Master Cheng San. Of the four young masters in the Cheng family, Cheng Lang was the most gifted and intelligent. His mother was Lu Jiaxue's older sister, and the entire family was rooting for him. Consequently, his two aunts, who lived next door, were deeply concerned about his well-being.
Chen was surprised when she heard this: "It's her... Isn't she the niece of the current Empress?"
"That's right." Madam Cheng said with a smile, "She's also Lord Xie's own granddaughter. Otherwise, would our old master agree to her marrying Cheng Lang?"
Yi Ning drank tea in silence, and soon she saw Xie Yun being helped down from the carriage.
Madam Cheng Da and Madam Cheng Er personally went to pick her up. Xie Yun's face was indifferent, and it was hard to tell whether she was happy or not. She was still the most popular person. When she came over, she saw Luo Yining sitting among the ladies drinking tea.
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