Fang Weiyan came back exhausted. What was waiting for him was a room emitting warm orange light and a smiling person. He felt that all his tiredness was gone.
"I was wondering when you would come back. Are you hungry? How about I ask them to prepare the meal?" Mi Niang thought to herself that it was a good thing that she had spent some money to have the kitchen prepare the dishes in advance, otherwise it would be a waste of time to cook when he came back.
"Okay, thank you." Fang Weiyan really liked seeing her being so gentle.
Mi Niang smiled and shook her head: "Why are you being so polite to me? You always tell me not to be polite, but you are so polite."
Of course, she also saw Fang Weiyan's fatigue, but she did not force him to tell her about his difficulties, because it was normal for a newcomer to be excluded wherever he went. There were too many tricks in the officialdom.
If you keep asking him, he might think it's tolerable. But if you keep asking him around and he finally gives up, that would be even worse.
Of course, she also believed that Fang Weiyan was not that kind of person.
The small dishes tasted particularly delicious. Fang Weiyan even ordered an extra bowl of rice. Mi Niang said happily, "That's good. You eat too little on weekdays. You eat even less than I do at night. People who are busy every day should still eat a full meal."
Fang Weiyan smiled and said, "Okay, I'll listen to you."
After finishing the meal, Fang Weiyan asked Mi Niang, "What did you do today?"
Mi Niang smiled and said, "I went to row the boat and picked a lotus flower. Look, there are two lotus buds there."
Following the direction of her finger, I saw a pink and white purse inserted in a sky-blue vase. It was very elegant and swept away the summer heat.
There are two lotus flowers next to the bottle, which are very cute.
"It's so interesting. Are you getting sunburned? The summer sun is very strong." He looked at Mi Niang.
Mi Niang shook her head: "Of course not." But at the same time, she had a very strange feeling. She was obviously a woman, and in the secular sense, she should care about Fang Weiyan. But that was not the case. Fang Weiyan cared about her every day, cared about what she did, whether she was happy or not, and would ask about her well-being.
It was like they were lost to each other, but this feeling was exactly what she needed.
"Wei Yan, why did you come back so late today?"
"Oh, it was Master Cui who called me and Brother Tan to his house to discuss today's class. We were so excited talking that we came back late."
Mi Niang looked him up and down and said, "How is it? He didn't make things difficult for you, did he?"
Fang Weiyan shook his head: "Of course not, don't worry, I know what I am doing."
Only then did Mi Niang feel relieved.
After a few more days, Fang Weiyan would come home late from time to time, but would come back early from time to time, and Mi Niang felt relieved.
However, Shen found out the whole story. Her cousin from her natal family was married to Wang Sanniang's brother, and the two families were related by marriage. When she got married this time, Shen also gave a generous gift. It happened that her cousin was pregnant. When she went to visit the Wang family, she met Wang Sanniang who had returned home. The two chatted for a few words and Shen learned about Fang Weiyan's affairs.
"Mr. Cui also shows his love for them. If the master has something to do, the disciples will do the hard work for him!" Shen didn't think there was anything wrong with it.
Although Jinshi is very valuable in the eyes of most people, his stay or departure is still determined by the words of the president of the Hanlin Academy. Now Fang Weiyan is only a Shujishi and has not yet held an official position, so he has a long way to go.
Even if she is the eldest son of a noble family, it is not easy for her to become an official.
Wang Sanniang smiled and said, "That's right, but fortunately, Mr. Fang has a good temper. Our master's temper is always about the matter, not the person. You and I are not just ordinary people. If Mrs. Fang has any complaints, please forgive her."
Shen's cousin, Xiao Shen, laughed and said, "What are you talking about, sister? Everyone knows that Master Cui is a popular figure around the emperor. If he is willing to say one word in front of the emperor, it is equivalent to ten words from others. If there is any complaint, I don't know how to say it. This is also a way of caring for them!"
Xiao Shen's mother had passed away long ago, and her father remarried a stepmother, but she was not sad but lively and cheerful. When her father was in office, he had a good relationship with Lord Wang, and the two families got married.
After entering the mansion, she also followed the same approach as the Shen family's daughters. All the concubines were chosen to be fat and stupid, and it was euphemistically said that it was the concubine's responsibility to give birth to offspring. She became the housekeeper as soon as she entered the house, and secretly made connections and were extremely resourceful. Wang Sanniang learned how to be a housekeeper from her, and the relationship between the two sisters-in-law was very good, which benefited her a lot.
"I understand after hearing what you said. You also know that my mother-in-law is a stepmother. She is a suspicious person. If she knew we have this kind of relationship, she would definitely call me over. Since ancient times, a harmonious family is the key to success, but I don't want to make things difficult for Sanniang." Shen looked at Wang Sanniang and thought to herself, who could have known that the well-behaved girl who always kept her head down and dared not stand out would have such a bright future. This woman's future still depends on men.
Naturally, the relationship between husband and wife also needs to be managed. After Wang Sanniang entered the palace, she heard that the great scholar Cui had dismissed his concubines, and the two sons born to his first wife all respected Wang Sanniang. She was fed as soon as she entered the palace. Even a family like the Wang family is now very popular in the capital, and it is really thanks to Wang Sanniang, a good daughter.
After hearing this, Wang Sanniang couldn't help but say that every family has its own problems. Shen was already the prince's wife, but she still had a mother-in-law above her. But it was not a big deal, she was just a concubine.
"Sister Fang, I know you understand this principle, but people who don't know it may think that our master is harsh on his subordinates. As the saying goes, if jade is not polished, it will not become a useful object. Let alone the few scholars, even the two sons in our family are strictly disciplined by our master. It is all for their own good." Wang Sanniang said with a smile.
This was the reason why she didn't like Ruan Mi Niang. She was simply trying to gain fame by stepping on the Wang family. Her stepmother really wanted to gain fame for her sister. She should have known this since she was able to attend the Wang family's poetry meeting. Otherwise, why would others send an invitation to the daughter of a poor man like you?
What's more, just mentioning Er Niang first did not harm any interests of other people, but she was like a bloodthirsty wolf, rushing over at the slightest smell of blood and stepping on you.
Even more infuriating is the rumor that Ruan Jiading fought the prefect with all his strength, portraying Ruan Jiading as a man who was not afraid of power.
No matter how bad your life is, you can't use other people's blood to warm yourself.
They are purely obsessed with money and profit. All their integrity is fake. They will do anything to climb up the ladder.
Seeing that Wang Sanniang didn't care at all, Shen was also saddened in her heart. This is the benefit of power.
Cui Ti is favored by His Majesty. No matter what he does, there are people to support him. Those officials in the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Personnel are usually very active, but now they dare not intervene when it comes to Cui Ti.
On the way back, she suddenly thought that the Marquis of Dong'an had been increasingly respecting Fang Weiyan and his mother and son recently because of Fang Weiyan's status. He might become the prime minister in the future in the Hanlin Academy. The old man respected this son very much and gave Fang Weiyan a lot of money in private. But the higher Fang Weiyan's status, the more restless Xu would be. She had always wanted Fang Weiyan to pass the imperial examination and Fang Weijun to be promoted to a noble title.
This matter may not necessarily fail, especially with Old Madam Weng. Even Fang Furong has become polite to Ruan.
When she arrived at the mansion, she did not take a carriage, but thought quietly by herself.
There is no big promotion for military officers unless they encounter something like a war. If their titles are stripped, how can they make a living in the family? The most important thing is that the Fang family has always been a member of the Jinyi Guard, so at least one of her two sons will have to serve in the army.
Thinking of this, she had an idea, but she couldn't take the lead in this matter.
Seeing Yu not far away, she suddenly had an idea and said to the maid beside her, "I thought that Fourth Brother came back so late every day because of the heavy workload in the Hanlin Academy. I didn't expect that he was locked up by Master Cui every day. Not to mention other things, I heard that he didn't finish writing several times and was hungry."
"Really? This is too pitiful, Fourth Master."
Shen also sympathized, "Who says it's not true? We all know he is a good man, and only good people are bullied. Look how he hid the truth about his family, and he has to bear all the suffering and sin alone."
After saying this, he shook his head and walked away leisurely.
These words happened to be heard by Yu. She was already grateful to Mi Niang for always protecting her and didn't know how to repay her. After hearing this, she immediately went to Fengwu Courtyard.
At this time, Mi Niang was painting. She would gain something every day, sometimes a flower or a tree, sometimes birds and animals, or a rainy scene, just as she pleased.
Mi Niang was a little surprised when she heard that Yu was coming. She quickly asked someone to invite her in. Yu didn't even bother to have tea, so she told her about the incident: "... Fourth sister-in-law, I also heard about it from somewhere else."
Mi Niang suddenly realized what was going on. She was asking why Fang Weijun, who usually ate little, would suddenly gobble up food like a wolf. It turned out that it was Cui Ti who was causing trouble. Her expression changed. "Thank you, second sister-in-law, for telling me. I will ask carefully about it."
Yu smiled and said, "That's good, that's good. Now that you have a plan, I feel relieved."
When Shen heard from the maid that Yu had gone to Fengwu Courtyard, a slight smile appeared on the corners of her lips.
Her sister-in-law was an intolerable person. She dared to show off her elders right after getting married. It was a pity that such means could only be used in the inner house. If she chose Cui Ti to deal with her, Fang Weiyan, the young Hanlin, would probably have his career over.
Who would have thought that after three or five days, Mi Niang was as calm as ever, painting and reading as usual, and sometimes even going to serve Xu.
Shen frowned. That was not right. How could she watch Fang Weiyan suffer? Could it be that she didn't care about Fang Weiyan at all?
She even secretly told Xu about this matter, and Xu was said to have just cursed and grumbled, but did nothing. Only Ruan did nothing at all.
Until one day a month later, Fang Weiyan and his second place in the imperial examination, editor Tan Lin, were ordered to go on a diplomatic mission to the residence of the Prince of Wusi-Zang. The officials of Dayong were most reluctant to go to the prince's residence as it would be of no use there. Moreover, Wusi-Zang was too far away and it might take two years before they could return.
Therefore, Tan Lin resigned angrily and returned home.
However, Fang Weiyan achieved excellent results in the quarterly exam.
He was such a mature man, and he even whispered to Mi Niang: "Mr. Lu told me that when the academy closes next year, I will most likely stay on and even be given the responsibility of editing."
Generally, only outstanding Shujishi would stay in the Hanlin Academy and be granted the positions of editors or reviewers. Mi Niang said happily, "This is great." Editors and reviewers could even have parallel dealings with provincial governors, because the highest official position in the Hanlin Academy was only the fifth rank, which was not high, but the cabinet officials must come from the Hanlin.
She said angrily, "I'm not hungry for nothing."
Fang Weiyan smiled and said, "I was only hungry a few times, and then I learned my lesson and always brought some snacks with me."
Mi Niang boasted, "I know. It's hard for you." Those people deliberately hoped that Yu would pass the message to her and let her make trouble, but she refused to be fooled.
Fang Weiyan didn't know how to be an official better than himself. Besides, Mi Niang herself had been in the harem and had been hungry for decades in order to please the emperor!
Only those who endure the most hardships can become the best.
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