Chapter 70 Chapter 70 Didn’t you say how considerately your sister-in-law took care of…
There have been many interesting things happening in Kyoto recently. The first and foremost one is that Weiyangbo Duan Wenpei and former Right Censor-in-Chief Li Junji offended the emperor and were punished by him.
Some are happy, some are sad.
Marquis Yong'an hadn't seen his son-in-law come to court for two days in a row, and he felt uneasy, so he wanted to send his wife and children to visit him at the Marquis's mansion.
But in recent years, the government affairs have been very busy, and the officials have been even busier.
This matter was handed over to the eldest young master's wife Yin Wu.
Yin Wu was just looking for a chance to take a break and go out for a walk to change his mood, so naturally everyone agreed. Before leaving, he called the fourth girl Nan Qi, who was teasing two boys in her yard.
It happened that a deer was hunted on the farm, and Yin Wu asked someone to tear off a leg and take it with him. After they were dressed, they got on the carriage and headed straight for Wei Yangbo's mansion.
At that time, the Frost Descent had just passed, and Nan Xu had someone light a charcoal fire and open the warm room. Yin Wu explained his purpose, and after everyone exchanged greetings, Nan Xu ordered the servants to hang up the lamb legs, set up the charcoal rack, and slice the meat for grilling.
He then asked someone to bring wine utensils and wine warmers, and warmed a pot of yellow wine, intending to have a few drinks with Yin Wu.
Yin Wu watched Nan Xu's interest and, remembering the instructions given by the others at the Marquis' Mansion when he arrived, couldn't help but tease, "Your uncle is still recovering from his illness and can hardly even see guests, yet you're so happy, barbecuing and drinking to your heart's content. Be careful, if your uncle finds out, he'll rip you off."
When they heard that Nan Xu was going to barbecue, the kitchen recommended a cook who was skilled in knife skills. The cook was big and strong, but she sliced the meat very delicately and her movements were quick and agile, which was very entertaining to watch.
Nan Xu was fascinated by the sight of the ground with Nan Qi in tow. She suddenly heard these words and realized Yin Wu was teasing her. She pointed at the plump deer leg and said to Nan Qi with a smile, "Before you try to hide me, I'll betray my sister-in-law first. She brought this deer leg with her, and I wasn't the one who started it."
Nan Qi's eyes and heart were filled with the delicious fresh venison. She didn't hear what the other two were saying, and subconsciously echoed Nan Xu, "Exactly. The instigator wasn't Second Sister."
"Okay!" Yin Wu pretended to be angry when he heard them shirking responsibility. He blew hot air into his palm and pretended to pull their ears. "You two heartless little ones, you think I'm a good person. What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and put the deer leg away. I'm going home early while it's still light. I don't want to be the culprit here!"
The servant beside Yin Wu responded politely and really went to get the meat. Nan Xu covered her ears to avoid it, and smiled as she told Chunya and the others to stop them. She also begged for mercy, "My dear sister-in-law, I was wrong. Such delicious food, if you don't share it with us, it will be fun for you to eat it by yourself when you go back."
"Slick tongue," Yin Wu scolded with a smile, not pulling her ear. He tapped her forehead and affectionately pulled her to sit on the round stool in front of the grill. His expression straightened. "I won't chat with you any more. When I got here just now, I wanted to ask you, what's going on? Why did His Majesty remove the Earl from his position in the Ministry of Justice for no reason? Could it be related to Prince Yi?"
This is not just her idea.
When he knew that Li Junji had not been recalled to the capital, the Marquis of Yong'an hurriedly summoned several of his sons to the study to discuss matters. He guessed that since Li Junji dared to come back so blatantly, he probably had something that Emperor Xuanwu wanted.
After going through so many things, everyone in the Marquis' Mansion had some idea of what Emperor Xuanwu wanted.
But no matter how much they speculated, there was no basis to confirm it until the decree of dismissal and demotion came out. Li Junji, who should have been sentenced to death, was only demoted from the second rank to the fourth rank. The speculation became a fact, and everyone naturally thought of Shu and the King of Yi.
After all, compared to the Zhao family, the only one who could be related to Duan Wenpei was the nephew of the Yong'an Marquisate, Prince Yi.
Looking at Yin Wu's expression and combining it with the meaning of her words, Nan Xu knew what his father and brothers were worried about.
However, since the night Duan Wenpei returned, the two of them had never met again, let alone mentioned what happened in the palace that night.
She couldn't tell for the time being whether King Yi was involved in this.
"Not necessarily." Nan Xu said slowly, feeling a little guilty and not daring to look at Yin Wu.
What kind of words were these? Yin Wu found them a little strange. "Could it be that Master didn't tell you anything and was on guard against you?"
The more Yin Wu spoke, the more she felt this was the case. Thinking about it, Nan Xu and Duan Wenpei were not just married in name only; there were also many political factors involved. If the Prince of Yi was truly involved, how could Duan Wenpei, a close confidant of Emperor Xuanwu, have told Nan Xu everything? Ultimately, their interests were already conflicting, so it was understandable to be wary. The real fear was...
Yin Wu couldn't help but pull Nan Xu's hand away, looking left and right, his eyes filled with worry. "He didn't make things difficult for you after returning from the palace, did he? Did he do anything to you? I've seen in those storybooks that powerful officials who wanted to take down their father-in-law's family always started with their own wives. I praised him in front of you at first, but then I thought about the positions of our two families, and I was so scared that I broke out in a cold sweat."
Nan Xu felt uncomfortable being looked at by her. Knowing that she was concerned about her, a warm feeling instantly surged in her heart. She held Yin Wu's hand and told her not to worry, "Uncle treats me very well."
Nan Xu originally wanted to reassure Yin Wu, and the word "OK" rolled around on the tip of her tongue, but Duan Wenpei's domineering look that night emerged in her mind. She felt embarrassed and annoyed, and her white porcelain face slowly turned red. Yin Wu saw it clearly, and her heart finally settled down.
"That's good. I'm just worried that this person is two-faced, and I'm even more worried that you've been wronged and dared not tell us. Your eldest brother often complains to me that he's incompetent, and that the future of the Marquisate will one day depend on you."
Yin Wu was melancholy, the light and shadow in her eyes fluctuated with the flames in the charcoal basin. She was an emotional person. Before Nan Xu got married, she also loved this sister-in-law very much. She almost regarded Nan Xu as her own sister. What her husband said was also her thoughts.
Duan Wenpei is indeed quite good, but what this man has to carry is dangerous enough for those around him.
Nan Xu never expected that her eldest brother, who had always been introverted and dull, was not only concerned with books and classics, but also silently blamed himself for sacrificing his sister's happiness for the family.
She bit her lip and took Yin Wu's arm, as if she had made up her mind. "Sister-in-law," she glanced at Nan Qi, who was staring at the barbecue, and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "There's something I haven't had the chance to tell you. Since some things are unavoidable, I think it's best to tell you."
Seeing her serious expression, Yin Wu's heart couldn't help but rise, "What's the matter?"
"Duan Wenpei's surname isn't actually Duan."
"What's your last name?"
"My surname is Zhao, from the Zhao family in Shu."
The Zhao family of Shu? Yin Wu felt that his brain was not enough.
"Really? You're kidding me!"
"Sister-in-law, when have I ever lied to you? It's not something I'm sure of, so how could I easily open my mouth?"
Yin Wu felt his heart beating faster and leaned against the low table beside him. "So, why did you say it might not be the case?"
Nan Xu nodded.
They have all been through the ups and downs of aristocratic families, so they can understand some things without having to say them explicitly.
Since he is a member of the Zhao family and is entrusted with important tasks by the emperor, it seems that the relationship between Duan Wenpei and the Zhao family is not as simple as normal blood relatives.
Moreover, she had also heard that Wei Yangbo showed no mercy to the fourth young master of the Zhao family who had sneaked into the capital.
It would be fine if the son-in-law of the Marquis's Mansion was truly a commoner who had won the emperor's favor through his own abilities, but his current identity...
Yin Wu closed his eyes, waiting for the information to sink in his mind for a moment before opening them and slowly patting Nan Xu's hand. "This is a serious matter. I must go back and tell my father and your eldest brother."
"But he's willing to tell you, which means keeping your identity secret isn't a bad thing for either you or him."
Nan Xu pursed her lips. Unbeknownst to her sister-in-law, she not only knew the secret of Duan Wenpei's life experience, but also that the people of the Zhao family had already met two of them.
However, she and Yin Ruizhu kept this matter a secret and never spoke it out loud, so naturally no one else knew about it.
As for whether it is a bad thing, Nan Xu feels that if you marry a chicken, you follow the chicken; if you marry a dog, you follow the dog. Before she decides to divorce Duan Wenpei, the relationship between husband and wife where they share the same fate should be maintained.
Moreover, in the emperor's mind, the Zhao family is a cancer that he wants to get rid of as soon as possible, and in Duan Wenpei's mind, it may not be a thorn that he wants to uproot.
Therefore, she never thought about whether this identity of the Zhao family was good or bad for the Marquis' Mansion.
But these were just Nan Xu's own thoughts, and naturally she couldn't tell Yin Wu directly.
For a moment, both the aunt and the sister-in-law were immersed in their own thoughts. No one spoke, only the sizzling sound of the venison oozing from the oil on the grill.
"Fourth Miss, I'll pick up the meat for you. Be careful not to burn your hands." Seeing the charcoal fire under the grill emitting sparks due to the dripping deer oil, the servant hurriedly stopped Nanqi who stood up and wanted to pick up the meat herself.
Nan Xu and Yin Wu's consciousness, which had flown away into the sky, were called back by these words. Seeing that Nan Qi was still trying to stick to the grill, they both reached out and pulled her over.
"Let them pick it for you. There is plenty of venison. Don't worry, fourth sister." Nanqi was brought out by Yin Wu. If something happened, she would have a hard time explaining it.
Nan Xu was different. The sisters finally got together, and it felt like she was back in the Marquis' Mansion before she got married. Seeing Nan Qi drooling with greed, she couldn't help but tease, "Little greedy girl, now that you're here, are you worried about no one to serve you? If nothing works, you still have me, your second sister! Sit down properly and wipe the saliva from the corners of your mouth with your handkerchief. It's almost dripping onto your flesh!"
It was originally a joke, but Nan Qi took the meat handed to her by the servant and stuffed it into her mouth. While chewing with her cheeks puffed out, she complained to Nan Xu aggrievedly, "Second sister, you don't know, if I hadn't come to you, I wouldn't have been able to eat a few bites of this venison. It was all snatched away by Aunt Zhou's servants. They even called me a lowly bastard who was born by a mother but not raised by one."
She spoke with righteous indignation, but she did not stop eating. She urged the servants to slice it and grill it again while she ate.
He looked just like a hungry wolf pouncing on its prey.
Nan Xu was confused and turned to look at Yin Wu, asking what was going on.
The wine on the stove was warm. While Nanxu and Nanqi were talking, Yin Wu drank several glasses in quick succession. She felt a surge of heat and asked someone to take off her outer garment. She stood up, arms outstretched, and shook her head at Nanxu, her voice tinged with melancholy. "It's better not to talk about this. It brings up another lawsuit." She picked up the wine jug and poured Nanxu a glass as well.
"It's because my third sister is engaged. Aunt Zhou, relying on the fact that a newly-wed cannot have a reputation for killing her mother before she gets married, has been acting like a demon all day long. Whenever my fourth sister gets something good, she cries, makes a scene, and even threatens to hang herself to get it back. But my father only wants to lock her up and not kill her. My mother has tried to stop her several times, but it's all in vain."
"Nan Yun is engaged? When did it happen? Which family did she get engaged to?" Nan Xu slowly raised his wine glass and took a sip, asking in surprise.
She knew her father's attitude towards Aunt Zhou too well, so she naturally didn't think it was strange that Aunt Zhou had done such an indecent thing.
What surprised her was Nan Yun's marriage.
"Didn't mother say to wait another two years? How come it's happening so soon?"
"It's no wonder you didn't know. The people who were ordered were not from Kyoto." Yin Wu explained, and gave half of the meat in the bowl to Nanqi.
Hearing Nan Qi sweetly thank her sister-in-law, Yin Wu couldn't help but reach out and rub the top of her head. He continued, "After the escape, Aunt Zhou became restless and secretly sent a letter to my third sister in the farm outside the city, asking her to rescue her, saying that she was uncomfortable being locked up in the courtyard."
"My mother didn't want to cause any more trouble and wanted to marry my third sister off quickly, so she arranged for someone to look for her. In the end, she decided on a nephew of a distant cousin of my mother's family. He was from Chuzhou and had some assets. His sons were well-educated and made great progress. Although they weren't rich, they could live a comfortable life."
"It was such a good marriage, even my father couldn't find any fault with it. But when Aunt Zhou found out, she pointed in the direction of my mother's residence and started cursing, calling my mother a beast in human form. She found my third sister a white woman I'd never even heard of, and even threatened to commit suicide to force my father to assign two of his former servants to serve her. After all this, she knew that no matter how much my father hated her, he wouldn't kill her, so she took out all her unresolved resentment on my fourth sister. After all..."
What is it after all? Yin Wu glanced at Nan Qi who was eating happily and kept silent.
Nan Xu understood in her heart.
Aunt Zhou hated the people who imprisoned and oppressed her in the Marquis' Mansion.
However, Aunt Huan, whom she could bully at will in the past, had been burned to death by her own hands. Now she could only bully Nan Qi, who had no mother and no father who loved her.
"Next time those people scold you or steal your things, have the servants in the courtyard beat them out with brooms." Nan Xu wiped the corners of Nan Qi's mouth stained with gravy with a distressed look and taught her, "You are a girl in the mansion, a proper master, what are you afraid of? If those people are not afraid of being beaten, just go ahead and make a big fuss. When you get to father, change into plain and elegant clothes and cry and complain to him. Don't mention how Aunt Zhou instigated those servants. Just say that they are bullying their master. Father loves his reputation and will not ignore it."
Yin Wu agreed and said it was a good idea.
Although she was in charge of the miscellaneous affairs of the mansion, she could not say much when it came to Marquis Yong'an and Aunt Zhou. She could only let Nanqi walk around in the main courtyard as much as possible to avoid having to listen to those people barking and to have some peace and quiet.
Nan Xu's idea was exactly what he wanted, and he wanted to take Nan Qi back with him to implement it right away.
Nan Qi nodded, not quite understanding, picked up the barbecue and brought it to Nan Xu's mouth, nodding obediently, "I'll listen to Second Sister, Second Sister, eat it."
Looking at this face that looked 50% similar to Aunt Huan, Nan Xu felt a lump in her throat. She opened her mouth and ate it, then asked the servants to roast more.
The tender venison is slightly charred over charcoal fire and dipped in a special sauce, which is irresistible.
However, no matter how delicious it is, there is a limit. Nan Xu felt it was a bit greasy after just a few bites. She drank a few cups of warm rice wine, stood up, and leaned unsteadily onto the couch by the window.
She casually opened the window, and the cold wind rushed in, reducing the burning sensation on her body.
"Comfortable."
With a sigh, Nan Xu supported his forehead and squinted at the pale sky outside.
"It looks like it's going to rain."
Yin Wu hasn't been so unrestrained in a long time.
There was no child crying for her mother all the time, no husband needing her to serve him, and no mother-in-law to report to.
There are only three good sisters-in-law.
She picked up the wine jug in one hand and the wine cup in the other, walked steadily to the couch, and lay down beside Nan Xu.
Nan Xu moved in closer and asked vaguely, "When did sister-in-law learn to observe the sky?"
Yin Wu pointed at the sky with her wine jug. "What's so difficult about this? Before I married your elder brother, I was also a talented woman who knew everything about astronomy and geography. It's just observing the sky. It's not difficult."
Yes, the Yin family is a family of scholars with a collection of tens of thousands of books. Uncle Yin II works in the Imperial Observatory, so my sister-in-law has such ability.
"Unfortunately, there is no time to study these things now."
Yin Wu sighed, picked up the wine cup with melancholy, and drank it all in one gulp.
Indescribable sorrow and distress linger in this small space.
Nan Xu suddenly thought of Yin Ruizhu.
The girl whose wings are now broken and who is waiting to escape from her marriage when her wedding is approaching.
"Sister-in-law, have you seen Ruizhu recently?"
"No. I was just asking you, but for some reason, my great uncle keeps a very close eye on her and doesn't allow her to leave the house at will. I haven't seen her for a long time."
The wine jug was empty, and Yin Wu was getting tipsy. She chuckled, her words adding a touch of girlish innocence. "What happened to Ruizhu? She's not engaged, is she? That's normal, though. Men and women should get married when they're old enough. Take me for example. I married your eldest brother when I was sixteen, and it's been almost five years now."
She hiccuped and recalled the past, "Ah Xu, to be honest, during the first few years after I married into the Marquis' Mansion, I envied you and Ruizhu. I even envied your second sister-in-law."
Nan Xu looked at the dark clouds gradually covering the sky and followed up Yin Wu's question, asking her, "What do you envy us for?"
"You're asking that..." Yin Wu nudged her from behind. "Of course I envy you guys for being young and having so much to do... Uncle, such a conservative guy, actually agreed to let Ruizhu dress like a man and go out. Your second sister-in-law may not be a great person, but your second brother is very considerate and caring towards her. As for you, Ah Xu, you certainly can't imagine how much I thought of you and Li Zhan back then."
She smiled and said, "Compared to Li Zhan and Second Uncle, your eldest brother is like a piece of wood, a piece of wood that only knows how to chew books and doesn't know how to care for others..."
Nan Xu was at a loss for words. "Sister-in-law, you're not envious now, are you? Even the love between Li Zhan and my second brother is just like that. It's not as long-lasting as my eldest brother's dullness and inertness."
I know she is drunk, but only a drunk person can boldly speak the truth hidden in his heart.
Her eldest brother is a very nice person, but he is indeed a little dull. Sometimes he is so dull that he can't even tell his wife's joy, anger, sorrow or happiness.
"Sister-in-law must have had a hard time these past few years."
The title of the eldest lady of the Marquis's Mansion may seem glamorous, but only those who are in that position know the hardships involved. There are parents-in-law who seem loving but actually have a grudge against each other, sisters-in-law and concubines who are troublesome, and a husband who is not considerate enough in the room.
Nan Xu thought that if it were her, she would also feel resentful after a long time.
"It's a bit hard." Yin Wu turned over. "But sometimes I think about it, isn't this how we women get through life? At least I'm married to your eldest brother. As long as your eldest brother successfully inherits the title in the future, I will be the legitimate wife of the marquis, surrounded by children and grandchildren, and have a noble status, which is better than most people in this world."
"Let's not talk about the distant past, let's just talk about your second sister-in-law. Your second brother has become even more unruly now. He's tasted every maid in the room, and still not satisfied, he even brazenly visits brothels. A few days ago, I heard that he's been bewitched by a courtesan named Yao Niang. He hasn't returned to the manor in several days. Your second sister-in-law is so angry that she cries every day. She even abandoned the farm that she had managed so hard, and your third brother took advantage of it. So it seems that this little hardship is nothing."
Nan Xu was listening intently and was about to ask about his second brother's recent situation when he was blinded by a sudden flash of lightning in the sky. The words he wanted to ask died on the tip of his tongue.
The sound of rain was like dense drumbeats, coming from far away and covering the entire world in an instant.
“Boom!”
It was rare that thunder sounded in winter.
Yin Wu was startled by the sudden thunder. Half drunk and half awake, he seemed to remember something and waved to the servants of the Marquis' Mansion to come over.
"Go, take the supplements that my mother asked me to bring from the Marquis' Mansion to Master Bo. Don't let Master Bo think that people from the Yong'an Marquis' Mansion don't know etiquette."
After she finished speaking, without waiting for the servant to reply, she closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
Nan Xu sighed slightly, thinking that even when he was drunk he still did not forget what his mother had told him.
The servant didn't expect Yin Wu to just give a few simple instructions, and looked at Nan Xu at a loss for a moment.
"Madam, these things, we servants don't know where the master lives, please ask Madam to let someone lead the way."
Nan Xu waved her hand and called Chunya closer. "Uncle is recuperating and won't be seeing anyone. Leave these things to Chunya. I'll explain to Uncle what Mother and Sister-in-law meant to him."
Duan Wenpei did not rest in the main room. If the servants around her sister-in-law knew about it and told her mother, she would be accused of being ignorant.
Nan Xu winked at Chunya as she spoke. Chunya understood and took her people and things out of the warm room.
*
"A-choo!"
In the study, Duan Wenpei, who was holding up the teacup to drink tea, couldn't help but sneeze loudly.
Xie Jin and Huang Yu, who were sitting next to him, were so frightened that they quickly moved away from him.
Xie Jin: "Didn't you say you're well from your cold? My mother is trying to find me a husband. Don't infect me and ruin my plans."
Huang Yu hesitated for a moment, "It's almost the end of the year, and the assessment of officials in the court is about to begin. Some of them are very busy."
Xie Jin explained for him, "Huang Yu and I have the same idea. Don't pass the disease energy to us."
Duan Wenpei glanced at the two of them leisurely, then drank a sip of tea calmly.
"Isn't it a bit too late to talk about this now?"
"A-choo!" This sound was directed at the two of them, intentionally.
Xie Jin gritted his teeth and dodged.
Huang Yu leaned sideways and was half a beat slower.
"Master, Madam sent Chunya to deliver something, saying it's a tonic sent to you by the wife of the eldest young master of the Marquis's Mansion."
The three of them were talking and laughing when Liu Hui knocked on the door outside and reported.
The room was silent for a long moment before Xie Jin narrowed his peach blossom eyes and asked teasingly, "You only sent the supplements for the Marquis' Mansion. Didn't you send anything else? For example, roasted venison, or warmed rice wine?"
Liu Hui said no.
Xie Jin was slightly startled, then pointed at Duan Wenpei and looked at Huang Yu, who had an expression that said, "I knew you would ask this," and smiled.
"Ahahaha, Huaizhou, you said your sister-in-law was so considerate and caring about you, but it seems to me that this isn't the case."
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The author has something to say: ①: Eating wild animals is wrong
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