"The Tea Saint Lu Yu once said that boiling tea three times is the best, and drinking the fourth or fifth cup is called slugging, right?" Mi Niang spoke first.
She has always had clear goals. Since Fang Weiyan is a suitable candidate for a husband, she will not be hypocritical anymore.
Fang Weiyan was a little nervous when he heard that the girl was coming. It wasn't because he was stage fright, but he was afraid of leaving a bad impression on others about the person he was going to spend his life with.
What is national beauty like?
When he thought of this, he raised his eyes again and was stunned. Isn’t this... isn’t this Queen Mother Ruan?
"You, why are you here?"
The years of being a monarch and his subjects had ingrained the feeling into his bones. Although Fang Weiyan had appeared to be very calm, he was still a little panicked.
Well, she does look like a fairy, and even if Concubine Yang were still alive, she would probably look the same. She is cute and adorable, and even when she enters the house, she can be seen to be very smart and easy to get along with.
So, she is the one my mother likes?
Mi Niang covered her mouth with a handkerchief and chuckled, tilting her head and saying, "We are all equals, so there is no need for you. It was Sister Fang who asked me to come here, saying that the Complete Works of Duke Lu is here."
"Oh oh oh, yes, it's here." Fang Weiyan didn't know what to say in his heart. It was a very novel feeling.
He quickly found the Complete Works of Lu Gong, but instead of handing it directly to Mi Niang, he placed it on the table closest to her.
Mi Niang thought to herself, this person really knows his limits.
She took the book with a smile and flipped through a few pages, as if she had really come here to read.
Fang Weiyan felt a little awkward standing here, and then heard a female voice ask, "What does this mean?"
When it comes to writing articles, Fang Weiyan's eyes light up. He sees that she really doesn't understand, so he explains: "The topic here cannot be taken literally, but from the background of the text. The topic here is about how the prime minister should maintain peace and where to draw the line, but in fact it is about which is more important, the power of the emperor or the power of the prime minister."
Then, when Mi Niang listened to him talk about the background of the person who asked the question and the situation at that time, she suddenly understood.
"I always thought that if I wanted to learn from Cheng Wen, I just had to work hard, but I never thought it would be so difficult. You are really amazing. Now that you put it that way, I understand." Mi Niang looked at him with a smile.
Fang Weiyan smiled and said, "It's nothing. It's something that everyone has to do in the imperial examinations."
"I..." Mi Niang paused, then said shyly, "I can't stay here for long. If I don't understand something, can you teach me in the future?"
"Okay." Fang Weiyan felt a little regretful after saying this.
There was a voice in his head saying, Fang Weiyan, you are crazy. This is the future queen mother. If she marries you, what will happen to the future emperor? Besides, Queen Mother Ruan is not an ordinary person. If she marries into the family, who in the family can be her opponent?
But there is another voice saying that she is so lovely and innocent, although it is said that mountains and rivers can change but human nature cannot, but as the "Analects of Confucius" says, one who has been in a room full of orchids for a long time will not smell their fragrance, and who has been in a shop selling abalone for a long time will not smell their stench.
Maybe she was also forced to do so, after all, it is not easy to be in the deep palace. Good people can become bad when they enter the palace, just like loyal and upright people who want to do something in the officialdom, but if they don't go along with the corrupt, it is difficult for them to survive in the officialdom.
While he was lost in thought, Mi Niang quietly left. When Fang Wei Yan came to his senses, the place was empty, with only a silk handkerchief left at her feet.
He thought that this must have been dropped by Miss Ruan, and it would be bad if someone else picked it up.
So he bent down, picked it up and put it in his sleeve.
A faint fragrance wafted from his sleeves, and Fang Weiyan's face suddenly turned red.
But when Mi Niang arrived at the hall, the storyteller had already started telling the story. When Mrs. Ding asked her to sit in the front, she saw Mrs. Jian and her grandparents.
There were also several girls sitting next to the old lady of the Marquis of Dong'an. Mi Niang unconsciously felt that she could marry into the Fang family, so she treated herself as the host.
She remained very dignified, sipping her tea and occasionally speaking to her mother.
Jian Yuehua looked around and immediately felt that she had the best chance of winning. Anyone with eyes would know that she would be chosen. The two cousins of the Dong'an Marquis's Mansion had already been eliminated. As for the new Miss Ruan, she was somewhat beautiful, but beauty and family background were something that anyone would know how to choose.
Look, the lady sitting behind her knows it.
"That girl is so pretty, she must be a goddess from heaven, but her father is only a sixth-rank official."
"This concubine values beauty, while a wife only needs to see whether she is virtuous or not. Look at the jewelry her mother is wearing. It is still the fashion of last year. It is obviously last year's goods. I think her family can't even afford 500 taels of silver for a dowry."
"My son said that no matter how beautiful a woman is, you will get tired of her after ten days at most. It's better to find someone who can help you."
…
Of course, they said these words in secret, and neither Mrs. Ding nor Mi Niang heard them because Mrs. Xu was very courteous to them.
The same thing happened to Fang Weiyan and the top scholar Zeng Mengjia. Zeng Mengjia didn't know Fang Weiyan was already in the marriage proposal, and just said a lot of heartfelt words: "A few years ago, I won the first prize in the imperial examination and thought I had great ambitions, but now I am just suffering in the Hanlin Academy."
"Wei Yan, you are not young anymore. You must not be like me. I was arranged to marry early, so I didn't have a capable wife to help me. I had a hard time. If I continue like this, I am afraid that after another ten years, I will only be a minor official."
Fang Weiyan nodded: "Brother, I know, thank you for reminding me."
When he became Mr. Zeng's disciple, Zeng Mengjia was at the peak of his career. Even now, Lu Guodong and Sun Shoupeng, who ranked after him in academic achievement, are doing better than him.
Both of them were chosen before they were selected in the list and married women from wealthy families.
At this time, they are all rising to prominence.
However, Fang Weiyan did not think that one could go far in the officialdom only through marriage, and sometimes a disciple was far more important than a so-called son-in-law.
Moreover, the current emperor has been in power for a long time, and he is not a naive child who will believe a few words from others.
Fang Weiyan would never say these words. In life, when many things don't go as planned, most people don't think that it is their own problem, but will blame others.
After all, who would admit that they are not as capable as others?
After the storyteller left, everyone sat down at the banquet table. Madam Jian was the wife of the Minister of Revenue, and was surrounded by many people. Jian Yuehua smiled with a hint of reserve.
Xu narrowed her eyes and looked at Mi Niang again. The child was eating venison slowly. She couldn't help but smile.
After the banquet, Mrs. Ding took Mi Niang back home.
That day, Xu called Fang Weiyan and asked, "Your sister is engaged, and I will propose marriage for you in a few days. You met Miss Ruan today, what do you think?"
Fang Weiyan knew that once he said yes, the marriage would be settled immediately.
So was he really willing to marry Miss Ruan? He knew she was innocent, and he had divine powers that allowed him to see many things that would happen in the future, which she might not know.
But this is a very heavy step, a step that could change history, and he must take it seriously.
Seeing her son's hesitation, Mrs. Xu couldn't help but ask, "Do you think she's not a good person?"
Fang Weiyan immediately retorted: "No, she is very good." Putting aside the so-called old opinions, from what he saw today, this girl was a perfect combination of talent and beauty.
"Are you also such a frivolous person, and would you despise the girl's family background and dowry?"
Fang Weiyan shook his head: "Of course not. A good man does not eat the food of a divided family and a good woman does not wear the dress she wore when she got married. How could I dislike this? Besides, you said that Miss Ruan's father was also a Jinshi, so how could her family be of low origin? People who say this are just greedy for power and nobility. Her family conditions are probably not as good as the Ruan family."
Xu secretly found it amusing to hear her son speaking for Mi Niang unconsciously.
"Then..." Xu asked him tentatively.
Fang Weiyan rarely showed a shy expression: "Son, everything is up to mother's arrangement."
After saying this, he heaved a sigh of relief, and the subtle fragrance of the handkerchief in his sleeve seemed to linger around him.
"Young lady, you are so happy. Young lady, you are so happy. The Marquis's mansion has sent a servant to propose marriage." Zi Su ran over and told Mi Niang who was doing needlework.
This time, Mi Niang understood why her mother asked her to do so much needlework.
She laughed and said, "Look at you, why are you running so fast? I'm not in a hurry at all!"
One after another, people came to report what the gifts given by the man were like.
"The goose was alive, with neat, shiny hair. There were also four-color rock sugar, tangerine cakes, winter melon candy, and gold brocade, a target mirror, scissors, and 18 sets of combs, 20 baskets of seafood, 66 boxes of four kinds of fruit, a basket of four kinds of preserved fruits, a basket of fruit, 18 boxes of dried fruit, as well as betrothal letters and betrothal gifts, incense candles, and firecrackers. I can't even list them all. Our main courtyard can't even hold them all."
After hearing this, Mi Niang felt more and more reliable. This was the kind of marriage that all girls hoped for.
It was a rare occasion that Mrs. Ding doubled the wages of the servants, and the servants were very happy.
The matchmaker invited by the man was Xu's sister-in-law, who also came to the capital specially to arrange the engagement for her son. The matchmaker invited by Mi Niang was the wife of the Duke of Hanhai from the clan.
The Ruan family also invited many relatives and friends to come over. They couldn't compare to the Marquis's Mansion which could invite a troupe of actors, but playing mahjong with cards was also fun.
There was no banquet from Beijing at home. All the food was cooked on our own earthen stove. Most of the food was authentic Hubei and Guangdong local dishes. Compared with the banquet in Beijing, it saved a lot of money, but it was very sumptuous.
There were ten bowls full of fried eight-treasure meat balls and a whole pot of casserole fish, not to mention the seafood sent by the man, including dragon roe crab, Gongbao shrimp, thick sauce abalone, crystal pork knuckle, not to mention the cold dishes including boiled peanuts, pepper beef, etc., and vegetarian dishes, such as fresh bean sprouts grown at home, cabbage stewed with taro, fried bacon with king mushrooms, and radish cooked in lard.
When Mi Niang woke up early for breakfast, she smelled the delicious food and was extremely greedy.
Mrs. Ding felt it was not enough, so she bought a lot of fresh fruits and only then did she feel relieved.
"Mom, your kimchi is the most refreshing. Don't complain that it is not worthy of being served in a formal restaurant. I will get tired of the food at the end. Your refreshing kimchi is very refreshing."
They said they wanted twelve dishes, but Mi Niang went to the kitchen to check and was afraid that sixteen was not enough.
Mrs. Ding Er hurried her back: "Hurry back to your room, the guests will be here soon."
The first to arrive were the Ruan family’s people. The fifth girl didn’t come, but the fourth girl and Fan Yuzhen came hand in hand.
The fourth girl explained for the third girl: "She didn't come because she was afraid of collision."
Although no one came, the gift was still delivered, a pair of purses. The fourth lady and Fan Yuzhen gave an armlet and a hairpin respectively.
Mi Niang asked the maid to bring tea. The one who brought the girls here today was the wife of the prince of the mansion, Tang. When she saw Mi Niang at this time, she was even more intimate with her.
"I didn't expect you to marry into their family. Fang Silang is a famous handsome man. Congratulations."
At this time, Mi Niang could only smile shyly.
The fourth girl is fine, she has also started discussing marriage recently, but Fan Yuzhen is very jealous.
It was also said that the sisters Guo Yaoyu and Guo Yaoxian had also come. Guo Yaoyu was originally not supposed to go out because she was preparing for her wedding, but because it was Mi Niang, she came anyway.
Including Guo Yaoxian, who had been hiding behind others because of her unhappy marriage, but came without hesitation because of her friendship with Mi Niang.
She and the fourth girl Fan Yuzhen were just casual acquaintances, but the moment she saw the Guo Yaoyu sisters, Mi Niang was very excited.
"Master, Yaoxian, you are here."
Guo Yaoyu smiled and said, "Why wouldn't I come to your good thing? Sister Ji will come too."
"That's great. Is Sister Wang here too?"
"I'm talking to your mother outside. She'll be in soon."
Ji Chunfang was the last one to arrive. When she arrived, Mi's family was about to hold a banquet. Master Ji also sent a generous gift. Ji Chunfang quickly apologized.
"It's my fault. I will punish myself by drinking three cups of wine."
She was still the same, causing everyone to laugh, and the fourth girl looked down on her.
In her eyes, the Guo Yaoyu sisters were daughters of officials and Wang Sumin was a young daughter-in-law of a wealthy family. Ji Chunfang was just a merchant and it was beneath her status to sit at the same table with them.
Mi Niang felt very friendly: "Please sit down and eat, we are all waiting for you with empty stomachs."
Everyone sat together and talked about the past. Ji Chunfang's family had news about the ship, so they talked about Tao Chuner, and everyone talked about the past again.
Ji Chunfang pretended to be sad and said, "In the past, Luo Qiujun and Mi Niang always took turns to be the first. I just wish I had someone to fill the gap."
Then he added, "Oh, by the way, Qiu Jun has married to Hanyang, and she said that the family is an old friend."
"I heard that she married into the Yuan family in Hanyang. The Yuan family has a famous garden. I went there when I was in Jiangxia."
Guo Yaoyu brought the topic back to the topic: "But today we came here specially to congratulate my sister on such a good marriage."
…
Because Mi Niang's marriage had been carried out in secret, when the engagement finally took place, it was like a bolt from the blue.
The first to be unable to bear it were the Jian family. Jian Yuehua thought there was something wrong with her ears: "You heard it right, the Dong'an Marquis's Mansion went to the Ruan family to propose marriage."
"Yes, we went to the Ruan family to propose marriage." The servant was worried.
Mrs. Jian said calmly, "Please sit down. I've always told you not to be impatient." She then called out to the outside, "Rui Zhu, prepare a gift. I'm going to the Ruan family to celebrate."
Jian Yuehua simply couldn't believe her ears: "Grandma, why are you still going to the Ruan family? Her father is just a director of the Ministry of Revenue, and my grandfather is the Minister of Revenue. But the Marquisate chose her instead of me. This is already a great shame, and you still do this. Where do you put me?"
But Mrs. Jian said, "I have been keeping an eye on your affairs. Your marriage is a long and arduous process, and you are not too old, so why rush?"
There was also talk outside that Mrs. Jian's daughter, Mrs. Zhang, had returned. When Mrs. Zhang got married, she wore a lot of red makeup, never wore the same clothes twice, and changed her jewelry once a month, never the same one twice.
When she heard that Mrs. Jian was going to the Ruan family, she felt it was inappropriate: "Mom, it would be bad if you went. She has lived a good life for so many years, hasn't she?"
Mrs. Jian sneered: "You all hold on to this fig leaf and don't know what to do. I have lived to this age, I am not afraid, what are you afraid of."
Mrs. Zhang was silent.
…
As for He Tinglan, he just found out that the girl he wanted was Fang Weiyan's fiancée. He wondered why he pointed out the girl to his cousin in a serious tone that day.
He almost ruined his relationship with his brother, but fortunately that didn't happen.
Dayong was a man of both civil and military talents. Even though he had a title, he would be doomed if the civil officials gossiped about him when he went to war. Fang Weiyan was very good at reading, which was why he became good friends with him.
But could it be that the people who killed him that day were protected by people sent by Fang Weiyan? If so, it is no wonder that his people were arrested.
Fortunately, this layer of window paper was not broken, otherwise how would he face Fang Weiyan in the future? I'm afraid they would not even be able to be brothers.
But he thought that if he succeeded at that time, it would not be impossible to have sex with her and then return her to Fang Weiyan.
It's a pity that the opportunity was missed.
Today's banquet was a feast to the eyes. Mrs. Li did not expect that Second Mistress Ding would prepare such a sumptuous feast. In fact, officials in Beijing are not very rich. Apart from such top-quality seafood, the stir-fried pork with kimchi was the first to be cleared out.
Aunt Ding was also very generous. She put the extra meat and vegetables in clean bowls and gave them to the neighbors.
Mrs. Li wanted kimchi, and Second Mistress Ding gave her a jar directly, as well as a lot of seafood sent by the Fang family's subordinates.
This was also related to the fact that they did not have many family members, and the Fang family sent too much, and they really could not finish it.
Mi Niang reluctantly said goodbye to her sisters. Guo Yaoyu said, "I am very full today. I am afraid I won't want to eat again tomorrow."
Ji Chunfang rubbed her stomach, "I had put down a bowl of the kimchi pork shreds that you served last, and I ate another bowl. Tell me, I'm about to leave the house, why didn't you persuade me to order more?"
"It's unfair. I asked you to drink tea, but you refused."
Even the silent Guo Yaoxian couldn't help laughing, and Mi Niang just felt that she was particularly happy today.
There are good friends, family, and a good marriage.
The banquet was over and the whole family was exhausted, but everyone was very happy because as adults, all they wanted was for their children to get married, start their own businesses and have a good future.
Mrs. Ding was originally thin, and she had lost even less weight after being so busy these days. Only after Mi Niang came out to help her with some chores did she feel a little relieved.
"Mother, you have worked so hard."
Mrs. Ding Er laughed and said, "What are you talking about? It's natural for a mother to worry about her daughter."
As soon as the mother and daughter finished speaking, someone came in and said, "Second Madam, the wife of Minister Jian has sent a gift. It is really too valuable. We brought it to you."
Mrs. Ding Er saw the servants bring a square crabapple lacquered wood box. When they opened it, they found a night-shining pearl inside, with some small beads scattered around it and three thousand taels of silver underneath.
Mi Niang was stunned.
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