East Cross Campus
After the New Year, Yu wanted Fan to rest and recuperate, so she came back straight after she said her respects. She was originally slim, but now she was even thinner after all the busy work. The clothes she made before the New Year felt empty around her waist.
Shanhu, Fan's maid, said distressedly, "Grandma, you have lost a lot of weight these days. Madam has asked you to take good care of yourself, so you should worry less."
"I'm fine." Fan took off the heavy weight on her head and wiped off her lip balm in front of the mirror. Seeing that she looked very bad in front of the mirror, she couldn't help but sigh.
She had been married to the Luo family for several years, and she was also mourning for her grandmother-in-law, so she had no news of pregnancy. Her husband was originally a bit unstable, and now he was hanging out with the group of playboys in the Marquis of Yanping's mansion, which was like a crow meeting an old crow, birds of a feather.
Not only did he have a beautiful concubine at home who was given to him by someone else, but she also heard that he had a concubine outside. However, even if she knew about it, she had to pretend not to know.
Because apart from this, there is nothing else that goes wrong in the family. The mother-in-law is kind, the sisters-in-law are sensible, and everyone in and outside the family respects her as grandma.
Her father-in-law was a doctor in the Ministry of Personnel. The provincial governors were all equals in front of him. There were countless people who came to him to seek official positions. Her father, brothers, and relatives from her natal family all relied on the Luo family. She also had great face in her natal family. Her mother also said that if she didn't know what was good for her and still made trouble in such a family, it would be her fault.
Even if she did make trouble, what would happen? I'm afraid her family would still blame her.
Suddenly, a maid's voice was heard from outside. The little maid came in and replied, "Grandma, Yinrong from the Fifth Miss sent a dish of candied hawthorns."
Fan stood up and let Yinrong in. After Yinrong came in, she handed the small dish to Shanhu and said with a smile, "This morning before our young lady went to school, she asked the maids to bring a dish over, saying that hawthorns are good for the appetite. The kitchen just prepared it, so the maids brought it over just now."
"It's hard to believe that your girl is still thinking about it. She kept it a secret from me this morning and only told me to go to her place to play after school." Although Fan had three sisters-in-law, the one she had the best relationship with was Yao Niang.
Although she knew that she should be more emotionally inclined towards Jingrou, after all, she was her husband's biological sister, but Yao Niang was very close to her and told her everything without any reservation. This was also the reason why Fan felt that her life in the mansion was not actually hard.
Seeing Fan accept it, Yinrong said hurriedly, "Our girl is always thinking about you, and she always says that the eldest sister-in-law is the best. If she hadn't started learning needlework recently, she might have come to talk to you often."
"Speaking of needlework, do you know Mrs. Jiang from the second house?" Yinrong asked.
Fan nodded. This morning, her mother-in-law said that the second wife was greedy for cheap things and did not investigate thoroughly. Jiang's son was a treacherous person. She brought her grandson to Beijing to seek refuge. It was unclear what her purpose was. Now that she said it, she was afraid that the people in the second wife would not believe it. But it was best to have less contact with her and wait for her to show her true colors before driving her out.
It was actually a little kid who discovered the clue. I heard that because of this, her father-in-law specially rewarded her with a new book and two paintings.
"I already knew about this. She gave me a few boxes of tooth powder the other day. She is very nice and seems like a warm-hearted person." Mrs. Fan had a good impression of Mrs. Jiang. After all, she was very nice, good at talking, and knew a lot about everything.
Yinrong smiled and said, "Yes, people like this are the ones that make people less defensive. Our girl said that the more simple-minded a person seems, the more calculating he is. So you should be careful."
Fan laughed: "I know."
Therefore, when Jiang Mu was about to do this for Chen Ziheng, she found that she could not enter the eldest house at all.
The two families lived in the same place. In order to avoid inconvenience in entering and exiting, after the marriage of the eldest daughter Luo Shilan, the second house opened a single door at the back of Ganquanju for entry and exit. The door between the first and second houses was basically closed day and night unless there was anything important, and there was no connection.
Therefore, when Jiang offered to bribe the gatekeeper with money, the gatekeeper refused even though she was jealous: "It's not that we don't want you to come in, but the gate is strictly guarded. Even our master's disciples have to bring a card and get the master's permission before they can come in. No one else is allowed to come in."
Mrs. Jiang went back angrily, waiting for another opportunity.
She took the five hundred taels from Chen Ziheng, expanded the store, and hired more employees. After swallowing the money, she would do her best to do things. Perhaps, with Chen Ziheng's money, she could find a quiet place with her grandson to live in their old age.
After returning from school, Yao Niang and Shi Yu went to Bao Xia's place to learn needlework from Mrs. Dong. They both had already mastered knitting. In addition to knitting every day, they first learned a kind of needlework and then learned cutting. It was not difficult, but it took a lot of time.
I studied for an hour today, ate a few mouthfuls of food quickly, and then continued to embroider.
This is also for future social use. Girls do needlework to provide for their elders, especially in a few days, their female relatives will go to Fenyang Palace to participate in birthday celebrations, and these will be needed.
It was getting dark when Yao Niang got up from here and went to her room. Yu smiled and called her, "Come here quickly. Your father's colleagues sent a few baskets of cherries today. They gave some to the second wife and left a plate for you."
Yao Niang came over to eat and said, "Thank you for saving it for me."
"Of course. Mother asked someone to make some hot tea with chrysanthemum and cassia seed. Use it to warm your eyes. It's easy to have bad eyesight if you do needlework all day."
It's good to have my mother by my side to give me advice. Yao Niang asked her mother again: "Where did you go today?"
"I went to the Mansion of Marquis Zhongjing. You may not know what it is yet. His ancestors have been stationed in Datong all year round. They finally came back to Beijing this time, so I came to visit them." Yu said.
The Mansion of Marquis Zhongjing?
Yao Niang had always thought that her family had a good relationship with the Marquis Zhongjing Mansion only after Luo Jingrou got married. She didn't expect that the relationship is so good now?
She asked curiously, "Mother, how do you know the people from the Zhongjing Marquis' Mansion?"
"Oh, that was when your grandfather was still a Censor of the Ministry of Personnel. In our dynasty, the lower ranks were suppressed by the higher ranks, and even a third-rank official was not as good as a Censor. At that time, Marquis Zhongjing was still the commander-in-chief of the three frontiers, and the emperor was suspicious of him. It was your grandfather who led people from the court to attack the person who replaced the general, so the two sides had a good relationship. Before I got married, I went to their house several times. The old lady in his family was a well-known figure, and I asked him to arrange the marriage between your father and I." Yu was a little proud when she mentioned her father.
Back then, Yu's father started out as a county magistrate and rose to become a leader in the yantai court. From a country boy to an official who influenced the court, this was indeed something to be proud of for the Yu family.
No wonder Yu felt so proud.
But wait, does Luo Jingrou’s marriage have anything to do with this?
When Yao Niang thought of this, she couldn't help but ask Yu: "What is the relationship between the Yanping Marquis's Mansion and the Zhongjing Marquis' Mansion?"
"Most of the nobles probably know each other, but I don't know whether they have any interaction." Yu had never been to the Marquis of Yanping's Mansion, so she didn't know these things.
Yao Niang nodded.
Then Yu said, "Don't worry about others. Eat less greasy food these days to avoid mouth sores. We are going to the Fenyang Palace in a few days, so we can't lose face for your father."
Yao Niang nodded and asked again: "Then will the third sister go?"
"She's not going."
This was a bit surprising. Yao Niang remembered that Luo Jingrou had passed away in her previous life. She acted as if she was Yu's daughter, and the wedding date was set at the end of this year. She didn't expect that this life would be so different.
Yu kept her mouth shut and didn't even tell Yao Niang.
Now that she realized that Luo Jingrou had evil intentions, she could no longer feel at ease letting her daughter have contact with Luo Jingrou. This girl was now desperately sending snacks to her daughter. Her daughter didn't eat them, so the servants shared them. She had carefully observed several servants around Yao Niang and found that in just two months, their waists had more than doubled in thickness.
To be kind to your enemy is to be cruel to yourself.
Marrying her off quickly would be enough to fulfill one of my wishes. Of course, she couldn't be informed of this matter in advance, and even the candidate couldn't be told to her in advance, otherwise, if something went wrong, it would cause trouble.
Old Madam Dou could also understand that since Luo Jingrou was currently at her maternal grandparents' home, it was not convenient to call her back. However, the two girls that Yu was bringing up were both very outstanding, so that was fine.
Shi Yu whispered to Yao Niang, "Why don't you go see Fourth Sister?"
Yao Niang smiled and said, "My aunt doesn't have a royal title."
Although their family and the Fenyang Palace are now relatives, this occasion is not a family banquet. It is the old princess's birthday celebration. How can she meet people casually without rank?
This is Shi Fang's shortcoming. She looks no different from everyone else on weekdays, but she is actually different from them.
Especially with the aging of the old lady Dou, if the old lady died and the second branch of the family split up, then Shi Fang would not even be considered a lady of an official family. Even if she was the prime minister who had passed away, few people would buy her account, not to mention her deceased grandfather, who would protect her.
Just look at Yu Shi, she was once a daughter of an official family, her father passed away, she had no family, and she lived a cautious life.
If her children were not healthy and smart now, she would not be able to stand firm and relax.
Yao Niang and Shi Yu accompanied Yu on a carriage to the Fenyang Palace. After all, they were still little girls, and they found it very novel to hear people talking on the street.
Shi Yu whispered to Yao Niang: "Fifth sister, I heard someone selling sugar figurines outside?"
"It's quite lively outside, but we can't go out." This is also the inconvenience for the female members of the family, as they can't go out anywhere.
When the women of the Luo family were traveling and passing by Aunt Jiang's shop, Aunt Jiang was at a loss what to do.
She had met people from the Luo family's eldest branch of the family. The wife of the eldest branch and the eldest grandmother were both very friendly people. How could she have known that she was not allowed to enter their house?
But Chen Ziheng urged her so much that Jiang had to find another way.
又說瑤娘等人到了汾陽王府，現在的汾陽王是當今聖上的親弟弟，其母因為年老允許出宮，奉養在汾陽王府上。
王府門外那是車水馬龍，但無人敢大聲喧嘩，瑤娘跟着郁氏進去，先坐轎子，再乘馬車，才随着窦老太君一起到內院。
內院處早有兩位仆婦并丫頭等着，她們見了羅家人，連忙迎上門道：“我們國公夫人讓奴婢們在此迎着呢。”
窦老太君就由她們扶着，笑呵呵的寒暄。
今日來王府的也就三人，時貞、瑤娘和時雨。瑤娘只是以過客的身份，頗有興致的看着汾陽王府的一花一草，一樹一木，雕欄玉砌，梁棟龍雕。
時貞還從未見過如此氣派之地，她嫡母蔣氏待她不錯，偶爾上門說親不大好的人家，嫡母也推卻，并不糟蹋她。
可她真正希望的，還是能嫁到王府，這身份氣派，非尋常人家可以比拟的，真是令人羨慕。
時雨倒是沒想那麽多，雖說她姨娘總讓她如何争先，但是五姐姐每次看她跟不上，反而還特地停下，和她關系也不錯，她雖然有意表現，但還是和五姐姐一起表現才好。
羅家衆人由人帶進去後，先是磕頭祝壽，包括窦老太君這把年紀，依舊得行禮。國禮之後，就是家禮，折騰的人不輕。
老太妃的臉都看不到，因為前面遮着珠簾，兩邊還有女官在此。
還是這老太妃笑道：“來的都是家人，把這勞什子簾子撤了吧。”
如此，大家才能一睹老太妃真容，但也不敢多看。
窦老太君平日在家也是說一不二的長輩，如今在這位老太妃面前倒是陪笑湊趣，還介紹小一輩的來：“這是兒媳婦，現任太常寺少卿之妻，這是我侄兒媳婦，是現任吏部文選司郎中之妻。另這三位都是我家的小孫女。”
瑤娘站在中間，并姊妹一起行禮。
她三人今日皆是牙白色素面妝花小襖，既不花哨，又顯得喜慶幾分。
時貞溫婉娴雅，瑤娘光彩瑰麗，時雨則清雅斯文。饒是老太妃算得上見多識廣，如今見了此三人皆眼睛一亮。
又讓人賞賜了金銀锞子并手串一對，這其中時貞本想在這樣的大人物面前多露臉，但她們行完禮只能出來，時貞扼腕。
她們出來後，都一起去附近的閣樓聽戲，幾家婦人們連忙起身行禮。
郁氏帶了瑤娘時雨向一位婦人問好，瑤娘望過去，竟然是忠靖侯府的太太，現在還頗為年輕的林夫人。
林夫人驚喜道：“不曾想在此處見到羅夫人，是了，你們家是汾陽王府的姻親，若非我們早些從大同回來，你們家大姑娘的婚事我也能去祝賀了。”
“誰說不是呢，過些日子我們園子裏的桃花開了，再請夫人來玩吧。”郁氏客氣道。
林夫人也颔首，還給瑤娘和時雨一人賞了一個镯子。
從頭到尾林夫人都沒提起過羅敬柔，甚至都不知道自家有幾個孩子，還以為瑤娘和時雨都是郁氏所出。
除此之外，郁氏和一位芮溪鄉君關系也很好，兩人說了許多話，瑤娘和時雨也是請安聽戲，看大人們交際，倒是認得了不少人。
但交際又是必須的，回程的路上，郁氏就對瑤娘和時雨道：“你們日後不可在這種事情上偷懶，偷懶那是位尊者的事情，像咱們這樣的人家，但凡有宴飲都該去。你看你認得別人了，還攀談幾句，別人也不好不給你下帖子，這樣你們認得的人就更多了。”
認得多了就很有好處，在家庭背景差不多的情況下，一個認識的和一個不認識的，當然選認識的了。
難怪前世羅敬柔拼命養肥自己，不想讓自己出去交際，大抵就是這樣的心情。
作為大家婦人而言，交際非常重要，你的學識品貌，只藏在家中無用，若出去交際，那知道你的人就越多了。
甚至可以通過很多女眷掌握一手消息，日後好行事。
任氏也因為她不能去汾陽王府，把丈夫羅至忠罵了個狗血噴頭，“我是王府的大伯母，憑何不讓我去。就是那大姑爺站在這裏，還得恭恭敬敬的叫我一聲大伯母呢。她們看不起人，我正正經經的羅家大夫人為何不能去？”
“都是你這活王八害的我們一家子跟着你受累。”
……
周氏原本準備同婆母商量家中月銀的發放，哪裏知曉聽到婆母在罵人，趕緊帶着下人離開。
“木蓉，咱們先回去，過會子再來吧。”
“嗯，大奶奶，江媪今日正在教咱們家四姑娘，聽說新得了香粉，要過來送給您呢？”
這個江媪雖然從江北來，但是認得的人不少，周氏上回放印子錢，就是她找人穿針引線，如今進項還頗為可觀。
這京裏，宰相都放貸，何況是她們？只看有沒有穩妥的人幫忙。
周氏見了江媪後，江媪則笑道：“近來我有個巧宗，想和大奶奶說呢，我外頭的朋友，怕是奶奶也聽過，她們家中在戶部挂職，只是孤兒寡母尋個庇護，一年分兩成幹股給奶奶們。”
“這……”周氏沒有小蔣氏她們膽子大，并不敢多要，也怕惹禍上身。
任氏敢做，她可未必敢做。
偏這江媪巧舌如簧，周氏雖然見不得婆母那般撒潑，但心情是一樣的。今日原本該大家一起去汾陽王府，連長房不是親的都去了，她們卻不能過去，怎能不讓人心煩。
如今不多撈錢，将來可怎麽辦？
老太太不是個公正人，平日就偏向二房，又疼羅敬法夫妻，她是大嫂，家中管家權卻交給小蔣氏。
羅敬法夫妻平日就是多賴老太太私下貼補，她們只能眼饞，如今不趁着老太太還沒死多撈些，到時候回高平老家如何是好。
家下人用的銀絲碳，身上穿的是上好的绫羅綢緞，連睡覺的席子鋪蓋，舊了就直接丢，平日客人來了，一桌飯菜五十兩，這樣的日子，要再簡單，誰能願意？
江媪搞定了周氏，暗中松了一口氣，日後就可以借着和周氏一起的機會去長房了。
卻說瑤娘她們去了一次汾陽王府，羅敬柔聽了消息，匆匆從延平侯府趕回來，很是生氣，延平侯府不在去汾陽王府之列，況且延平侯府有意讓她嫁過去，羅敬柔現下是避之唯恐不及。
但是，還好她回來了，據汾陽王府的羅時岚傳回消息說，皇帝準備為幼女昭平公主選伴讀，雖然羅時岚不曾提起讓家中姐妹參選，但言下之意誰會不明白呢？
當今天子的皇後未有所出，也不大受寵，如今宮中地位最受寵的則是衡王之母廖貴妃，衡王排行第三，只吃虧在這個位置上了。
而這位昭平公主之母，原先只是個才人，因為在皇帝五十歲生的，格外恩寵。
食邑堪比嫡出公主，連她生母也因為她位列妃位。
選上昭平公主的伴讀，那意味着很有可能會被選為儲君之妃，因為上一個隆慶公主的伴讀就嫁給了衡王，而她們家現成的例子，大姑娘羅時岚因為被選為汾陽王郡主的伴讀，如今已經是國公夫人。
羅敬柔此時還尚且不知道自己已經許婚，還私下找到了親哥哥羅敬熙，問起選伴讀的事情。
這羅敬熙雖說是纨绔，但向來講義氣，也認為自己有些見識。他這輩子大抵要等自家爹官位做的更大些，就恩蔭出仕。
但現在顯然有一條更平坦的路在前面，妹妹若是出息了，他也能從中撈好處。
“是，我聽說了，昭平公主要選伴讀，這也是合族大事。這位公主今年八歲，是聖上的掌上明珠，但是若是能夠選上，很有可能做王妃啊。聖上諸子中，很是嘉許九皇子高沐，他母妃位列四妃，文武雙全呢。”
這話說的露骨，羅敬柔尴尬一笑：“這些也不定是真的，我只想若是能跟宮中先生讀書，肯定比家中好，哥哥也知曉的，太太為五妹妹和六妹妹她們請的先生，我也不便過去。”
羅敬熙點頭：“此事你放心，有了大妹妹珠玉在前，咱們家裏若真能如此，也就是造化了。”
他自己是個不成的，二弟固然好學，在他看來，要讀出來何其難，再有另一個弟弟，年紀太小，三災五病的，還不好說。
家中現在靠爹，日後兄弟三個靠誰去？
羅敬柔笑道：“要我說二姐姐也可，我不過是湊數去的，也不指望有什麽造化。”
這話說的有些假的，但羅敬熙也不知道他這妹妹說的是真是假，他和羅敬柔聊完，就往後頭去見陳子衡。
陳子衡出手大方，和他又是總角之交，兩人是萬花樓的常客，兩人一見面就笑哈哈的。
“子衡，過幾日我帶你去延平侯府，我們在一起吃酒如何？”
陳子衡笑道：“那自然是好，我閑居在京，一時無事，多認識個朋友，也不是什麽壞事嘛。更何況是侯門子弟，我更該上門拜服才是。”
羅敬熙這等衙內，最喜歡的就是別人逢迎，尤其是陳子衡和他往來時，地位放的很低，他就更歡喜了。
錢不錢的羅敬熙倒是還好，他家裏和二房不同，羅家長房非常富裕，他父親羅至正就是獨子，祖母和母親都有大筆嫁妝，且三代做官，家私頗多。
但有人在一起鬼混，那才是他歡喜的。
“到時候咱們一起去就是了。”
陳子衡看羅敬熙如此模樣，心中深恨之，當年他們陳家也是出了封疆大吏，如今也是閩地說一不二的人物，拿錢開道沒有不聽的。
只是不及羅家罷了，羅敬熙祖父是狀元出身，官至南京刑部尚書致仕，他父親也是年少及第，以羅至正的年紀，至少還要二十年的仕途，陳家現在卻只能行商，且陳家在宮中的靠山剛倒，羅家就是他們陳家找的靠山。
可陳子衡內心又很看不上羅敬熙，因而十分扭曲。
羅敬熙倒是不知道這些，他今日吃了幾盞酒，聽聞羅至正喊他去前頭，知道他爹又要訓他，垂頭喪氣的過去。
果不其然，羅至正對他道：“聽聞你近來和你外祖家幾個表兄走的很近？學問上可有精益？如今王杳之一篇《文思賦》，你看後三句，可有所得？”
羅敬熙支吾幾聲，雙手垂着不敢多言。
羅至正則道：“我就知道你對為父之言，半點不放在心上。平素讓你多讀書，你淨知道尋歡作樂，若給我惹出半點禍事，你給我小心點。”
……
從羅至正這裏出來，羅敬熙回到範氏房中，範氏正在窗前繡花很是入神。羅敬熙一進來，下人們知趣退下，他從後面抱住範氏。
範氏吓了一跳，又見是他，還有些驚喜：“怎麽是你？”
他就是這樣，一時喜，一時冷，範氏起初沉溺于他的溫柔，但很快他會對別人如此，甚至冷落他的時候更多。
羅敬熙被她的表情取悅了，他拇指開始慢慢輕攏慢撚的在她身上游走：“我能來，自然是想你了。”
範氏暗自垂着臻首，不多言語，只耳朵發紅。
二人雲雨，随着外頭的雨，仿佛融入進去。
而瑤娘這邊，正聽郁氏跟她提起選伴讀的事情：“這宮裏并不是那麽好混的地方，況且你父親官職和京中勳貴大員們比起來算不得什麽。我想呢，若是選不到你，你也不必難過，若選到你了，你也不必過分出挑。”
郁氏想要女兒出人頭地，但又怕她過于辛苦。
瑤娘颔首：“您放心吧。其實，我倒是覺得選不上最好，這樣，我就能在家裏陪娘了。現下家中姊妹，聽了這個消息，都擠破了頭，我是不願意蹚渾水的。”
她記得前世選這個伴讀，家中明争暗鬥許久，瑤娘那時因為已經開始長胖，牙齒有壞牙，她又聽羅敬柔說如果選不上，親戚們都知道，肯定說閑話，所以她不想去。
本來她就非常在意別人說她不如那個假千金，現在就更不敢試了。
但這次，她是的确不想去，因為羅家姐妹明争暗鬥，最後出局的只有時雨，而且時雨還是給一個郡主做伴讀，那個郡主一年後還暴斃了，羅家沒有一個人從中撈到什麽。
甚至時雨最後也是嫁的門當戶對的仕宦書香門第，瑤娘也希望如此。
郁氏點頭：“這就對了，有些事情，別人能成，你未必也一樣。娘也想讓我的女兒出人頭地來着，可是這世上幸運的人是少數，誰也別覺得自己僥幸是那個很幸運的，咱們選最穩妥的一種方式，總不會出錯。”
“您說的是。”瑤娘還是更想守護在家，尤其是範氏的死還有弟弟的死，這是她最要守護的事情。
比如瑤娘的不願，秦姨娘是一定要時雨選上的。
“那位公主八歲，你年紀相仿，你二姐姐和三姐姐年紀太大了，她們陪個一兩年就得成婚，湊什麽熱鬧。你最大的對手，反而是你五姐姐。”
時雨搖頭：“若是可以，女兒不願意。”
秦姨娘苦笑：“若是不願意，又有什麽辦法呢。她是嫡女，太太又受寵，你們年紀相仿，她就是沒選上，依舊能有一門好親事。你不是也說曹夫人很看重你五姐姐嗎？你看，也許日後她還能嫁進侯門去，可你怎麽辦？”
就像她當年和黃姨娘關系很好，但是到最後，她若不狠心，也不會是這府裏唯一生了一雙兒女的人了。
而黃姨娘只有病死去了，連祖墳也進不去，到九泉之下還要餓肚子。
人不為己天誅地滅，什麽姐妹情，你混的不如人，日後所有人都會瞧不起你。
時雨撇嘴：“可是我也不一定會贏過五姐姐。”
又不是姨娘說她如何就如何的，她勤奮，五姐姐也比她更勤奮，甚至連休沐的時候都在讀書。再有，管家交際五姐姐比她學的還多。
不過，姨娘說的也對，自己拼盡全力，也許日後的日子就會不同了。
羅至正不愧為羅家族長，平日雖然把家族雞零狗碎的事情交給羅敬熙管理，但大事上絕不含糊，很快就請人找了位宮中放出來的嬷嬷，就連郁氏也不知道他從哪兒找來的。
“這是曾經在福寧宮當差的許嬷嬷，她當年就是替聖上挑選秀女的，知道如何調教新人懂規矩。咱們家的姑娘雖然不是選妃嫔，但是選伴讀也得熟悉宮中規矩才行啊。”
本來二房求了羅時岚，準備從王府請個嬷嬷回來供奉，但見羅至正請的是宮裏的人，也不再麻煩羅時岚。
因此，瑤娘她們又多了一件事，那就是學規矩。
每日除了讀書、學女紅外，還得專門請這位嬷嬷來教，雖然只教一個月，但羅至正給的錢不菲。
連範氏也打趣瑤娘：“五妹妹如今比我們還要忙呢。”
“嫂嫂休要笑話我，哥哥這幾日都在家中陪你，你就不來看我們了。”瑤娘笑嘻嘻的看着範氏，聽聞羅至正把羅敬熙訓了一頓，羅敬熙不能出門，在家便安分了幾日，範氏自然是高興的。
有男人疼寵和沒有男人疼寵那還是不一樣的。
範氏捏了捏她的臉：“成日這樣貧嘴，和我也耍貧嘴了。”
“嫂嫂，我這個小姑子算是好的了，若是再刁鑽些，我看你如何是好？”瑤娘捂嘴直笑。
今年八月才選伴讀，現下不過才陽春三月，大家的急迫感并不強。
羅敬柔原本在侯府就有四個教引嬷嬷，她的規矩學的是最好的，但即便如此，依舊學的很認真。她知曉自己的對手反而不是羅時貞，而是瑤娘和時雨，因為她們年紀和公主相仿，很容易被選中。
這次，她除了給瑤娘送點心外，就給時雨送點心，只時雨得了秦姨娘的吩咐，滿肚子後宅争鬥的經驗，因此時雨送的點心秦姨娘分給下邊的人吃了。
再有，羅敬柔趁着瑤娘等人讀書時，私下找那位嬷嬷學，她甚至還借此搬到東廂房和瑤娘一起住，瑤娘也無所謂，她想學就學吧。
連郁氏都同意了，她也不好再說什麽。
只是她來了，就親自送點心給瑤娘，瑤娘則笑道：“三姐姐，你怎麽總要我吃，你自個兒不吃啊？來，你先吃點吧，今兒我吃飽了，肚子一點都不餓。”
羅敬柔以前也許敷衍一二，現下完全不敢吃，這點心裏面放了油炸的花生酥，吃了臉上容易生瘡，嘴上容易生燎泡，她現在是一點險也不願意冒。
“不了不了，我也吃飽了，只是想着你愛吃就送過來，你若不愛吃就罷了。”
“姐姐也真是的，這裏面放了許多油炸的，我知道姐姐是好意，若是不知道的，還以為姐姐是想讓我上火呢。”瑤娘似玩笑的說着。
羅敬柔卻心裏一凜，背後出了一身冷汗，她生怕瑤娘猜出她心裏所想。
再看瑤娘只覺得她是嘴快罷了，可這點心到底是停了幾日。
是日休沐，郁氏吩咐瑤娘多睡一會兒，不必請安，瑤娘也就多睡了會兒。有了精神，她又去找敬皓玩兒，去年還總覺得敬皓是個小孩子，現在看到他，讀書還學了不少規矩，有模有樣的，讓人看着就高興。
“姐姐，今兒你要帶我踢毽子嗎？我不想踢毽子。”
“放心，我帶你去編花環呀。咱們去園子裏玩兒去，好不好？”瑤娘笑着。
姐弟倆剛出院子就看到時貞了，她以前倒還好，現在據說也是一門心思想選伴讀，時貞還情有可原，大姐姐是她親姐姐，但是時芳也要去選伴讀，這純粹就是瑤娘覺得不自量力了。
不是身份問題，而是時芳這個人現下在家裏讀書，尚且常常缺課，又很散漫，更何況是去宮裏。瑤娘以前服侍過皇帝，宮裏一般都是天不亮就起來，規矩大的很，時芳成日靠一些小聰明，根本就不是踏實的人，也不知道她怎麽想進宮的？
As soon as Yao Niang and the others left, they saw Zhou and Jiang coming over. The maids at the second gate would not stop Zhou, after all, she was the eldest lady of the second house.
After Jiang entered the main room, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. She looked up and saw a young lady from the manor. She hurriedly asked, "Who is that?"
"Oh, she is the eldest daughter of the first house and the third in our clan. No wonder you didn't recognize her. She went to her maternal home, the Marquis of Yanping's Mansion, before." Zhou explained.
"So that's how it is." Jiang smiled and said to Zhou: "I won't bother you if you have something to do. I'll sit here for a while."
Zhou knew that Jiang must also want to come to the eldest house to seek connections, so she didn't stop her and was willing to help her. Jiang had already found out where Fan lived, so she went straight there.
But when the people in the head room saw her coming as a stranger, they couldn't help but ask, "Who are you?"
"Oh, the second wife's eldest grandmother asked me to come here to pass on a message. That's why I just came here." Aunt Jiang smiled.
"Why do you look so unfamiliar?" The maids looked at her.
Mrs. Jiang took out her matching cards and said, "Look, would I dare to come over without this?"
In this way, the maids' doubts were dispelled and she was invited to come. In fact, Shanhu, a maid beside Fan, knew Jiang, but she didn't want her to come. However, when she showed the matching card, the maids thought that something really happened in the second house.
Jiang's plan succeeded, and she was very happy that she could get in smoothly.
On the other side, a little girl named Danju came over from Yao Niang's place and reported: "Girl, my godmother said that the woman surnamed Jiang went to our grandmother's place with the pair of cards given by the second wife's eldest grandmother."
Yao Niang ordered people to keep an eye on Fan, because she had not noticed anything abnormal about Fan on weekdays. Yao Niang even asked the imperial physician to take Fan's pulse, and found that there was nothing wrong with her health.
The only thing that Yao Niang found strange in the past few months was this Jiang Mu. As the saying goes, few good things come to your doorstep. This person's son committed such a serious crime, but she took the opportunity to show off her power so quickly under the name of the Luo family.
However, it is said that when Fan saw Jiang Mu come in, her right eyelid twitched. She had just drunk some tonic. Luo Jingxi had been at home these days and the couple had been very affectionate. She wanted to take the opportunity to have a baby quickly, so she had to drink the tonic.
"I don't know what the grandma wants to talk to me about. Why did she ask Manager Jiang to deliver the message?"
"Oh, Grandma Xi has a really good memory. She still remembers me. To be honest, I came here to tell you something private."
"Private matters? What are those? As the saying goes, there is nothing that cannot be told to others. Just tell me." Fan said calmly.
Mrs. Jiang thought to herself, you whore, you are pretending to be nice to me in person!
"Grandma, if you want me to tell you, I dare not. I want to tell you about the past when you were still a young lady, and you once