If you don't cut the Gordian knot quickly, there will be endless troubles. For example, what happened today cannot be told to Luo Jingxi. Things in this world are so unreasonable. Even if you are the victim, if your reputation as a concubine is problematic, your husband will think you have a problem. Yao Niang hates these things, but she can't do anything about it.
Mother Jiang was tied up and taken to the garden, where there were few people and it was convenient to deal with her.
Yao Niang whispered in Yu's ear, "This thief bribed my sister-in-law's maid and stole my sister-in-law's underwear to steal it. I just happened to find out. Mother, you must not let her go."
"Okay, I understand. You can go back first." Yu looked at her daughter. She didn't want her daughter to get involved in such things. But she was still surprised by her daughter's sharpness. There were many evil spirits in the house, but she never thought that her daughter would catch the person in the act. And she was afraid that she would shout, so she blocked her mouth and accused her of theft.
It can be said that it was done in a crisp and decisive manner.
Yao Niang knew, of course, that if she asked about anything romantic, it would be inappropriate for her to be here, and even the matter itself was not her business.
Fan also said to Yao Niang: "Fifth sister, thank you very much today. I will discuss the follow-up matters with my wife. It's a rare day off for you, so you should take Third Brother out to have fun."
"Okay, mother and sister-in-law, I'll go out first." Yao Niang pushed the door open and walked out.
There was not much commotion in the family, as everyone thought that the wife was going to punish the theft. Some of the thieves who were usually not clean felt guilty. However, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law Ren and Zhou from the second room felt puzzled.
Ren said to Zhou, "I'm afraid it's the eldest branch who's doing this. For no reason, Aunt Jiang is a master of needlework and has a field and a shop. How could she steal things from Brother Xi's daughter-in-law?"
"Then your daughter-in-law will go and ask." Zhou still couldn't bear to leave Jiang.
She is now lending money and taking shares through this person. If something really happens to Jiang Mu, her affairs will be exposed.
In fact, she guessed right, and Jiang Yu almost told her everything.
Yu was different from Fan. Fan and Luo Jingxi were nominally married and neither of them would speak out their true feelings. But Yu was different, especially after Fan mentioned Chen Ziheng to her, Yu realized that this was not a simple matter of extortion, but someone was plotting against the Luo family behind the scenes.
When facing Mrs. Yu and Mrs. Fan, Mrs. Jiang could say half of the truth and hide the other half, but after Luo Zhizheng sat there, Mrs. Jiang told everything.
"It was Chen Ziheng, the great merchant in your house. He made up a lie and said he had an affair with your eldest lady. I was unwilling to do so at first, but he -"
Luo Zhizheng replied: "He gave too much."
Aunt Jiang lowered her head in shame and recounted how she came to the eldest house through Zhou, but was caught off guard and gagged and tied up by the maid sent by the Fifth Miss and brought here.
"Master Luo, I don't really have any intentions. I just want to tell Grandma the truth."
Luo Zhizheng smiled faintly: "A man who came to my house to blackmail my family dares to make excuses. I have no intention of arguing with you. Officials' families should not allow anyone to do anything unjust."
"Please spare my life, Lord Quan Cao!" Jiang Ma still held out a glimmer of hope.
The Langzhong of the Ministry of Personnel, also known as the "Quancao", was responsible for selecting officials for promotion.
"Don't mention it. I have already sent someone to send your grandson to a childless couple. You don't have to be implicated by your son in the future. Otherwise, if he stays with you, not to mention the imperial examination, even his family background will be tarnished. Now that you are involved in such a private matter of my family, you know what to do."
Mrs. Jiang's face turned pale, but she knew what to do. Luo Zhizheng's implication was that she should commit suicide as soon as possible, otherwise, her grandson would be in danger and it would be too easy for the officials to deal with her.
Mrs. Jiang walked out of the garden with no injuries on her body. She heard about the noble character of the Luo family, but she no longer had the face to stay in Beijing. She entrusted the shop to the agents to sell it, and told everyone that she wanted to return to her hometown.
On the way home by boat, he was drowned because the boat capsized.
This was done perfectly, and Fan heaved a sigh of relief when she heard the news of Jiang's death. Fan's maid Linglan was said to have fallen into a well, and her father took 20 taels of silver from the Luo family for the burial fee.
As for Chen Ziheng, he had already left the house and even Yao Niang didn't know why. Why did Chen Ziheng dare to do such a thing? Wasn't he afraid of being exposed?
Luo Zhizheng understood, and he said to Yu: "It is just that she is extremely lustful. Since ancient times, gambling is close to theft, and adultery is close to murder. Many people have committed murder for the word 'lust'. Since this matter has been resolved, there is no need to mention it again. Although those scoundrels in the second house are also problematic, the daughter-in-law should be made more powerful, like Yao Niang."
Yu Shi didn't know what Luo Zhizheng was praising his daughter at the end. Yu Shi laughed and said, "Why did you praise her, old man? I thought she was just a child making a fuss. Fortunately, she was right this time. What if she causes trouble next time? What should I do?"
"That's not the case. Nowadays, everyone wants perfection and wishes they could never do anything out of line in order to preserve their own reputation. Just like officials, everyone is talented, but why are there so many mediocre officials? It's because they are afraid of taking responsibility and losing their reputation. There are still too few people in the world who dare to take on responsibilities. If it were someone else who encountered this today, they would definitely not have handled it so cleanly and neatly, and would not have cared at all. They would have just pretended not to hear it. It is because she dared to take on responsibilities that the innocence of our family and my daughter-in-law was preserved." Luo Zhizheng himself has been an official for many years, so of course he has his own judgment.
He was not a pedantic person, and he despised those who were pedantic and irresponsible. The bad things in the world were caused by those mediocre officials.
Yu had another idea: "But the more you do, the more mistakes you make, and the less you do, the fewer mistakes you make."
Not to mention other families, even in their own family, they would choose a docile daughter-in-law. It would not be a good thing if their daughter was too strong-willed.
Luo Zhizheng raised his eyebrows when he heard Yu's worry: "It's nothing. Doesn't Yao Niang's face look so gentle?"
"Cough cough." Yu, who was drinking water, was choked.
Yao Niang, who knew about this, was learning the rules from Aunt Xu. Aunt Xu was about fifty years old and had an ordinary appearance, but she acted in an orderly manner, which was incomparable to ordinary people.
Because she only taught for one month, Madam Xu taught her more about etiquette and palace taboos: "When you walk, you can't sway from side to side, and you must use your heels to lead your forefoot. Don't hold your head too high to appear arrogant, but don't be timid and shrink either."
This is the balance to be struck in between, and Yao Niang experienced it seriously.
Nanny Xu saw the five girls in front of her. The older second girl Shi Zhen and the third girl Jing Rou were both ruthless people. The second girl was ruthless to herself and good at talking big, which made it easy for her to deceive others, but she was actually uneducated and talented. The third girl was always trying to maintain her reputation, but she was easily constrained by her reputation.
The fourth girl is even more unreasonable and always careless.
The two younger girls, Shi Wei and Shi Yu, are different from the others, especially the fifth girl, Shi Wei, nicknamed Yao Niang. Although she is young, she has fair skin, beautiful appearance, clear manners, and a sense of righteousness.
But with such a personality, it would be difficult to be chosen as the royal companion. The most important thing to be the princess' companion is to be patient and serve the princess carefully, as it is not really a chance for you to show off your talents.
Yao Niang was of course very clear in her mind that in her previous life she had to be the wet nurse of the prince of Zhou because she had no choice but to do so, and that was why she was so humble. It was not because she was born to be a lowly person and wanted to serve others and be inferior to others.
However, Madam Xu thought again, this girl has a gentle aura and is very kind. It is rare to see someone with such a different personality and appearance.
On this day, Yu was invited to Luo Zhizheng's master's house, so Fan invited her sisters to have dinner at her place. Luo Jingrou, Yao Niang and Shi Yu mentioned the second house: "They are making a fuss about dividing the family. The old lady Jiang who stole from our family is said to have lent money for the eldest aunt and sister-in-law there. No, the old lady is very angry."
"I've heard about that, too. I don't think the family will be divided. But recently, it's better to let Sister-in-law Fa take charge of the household." Yao Niang felt that the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law Ren and Zhou from the second house were really messing around.
If we send them back to their hometown, we are afraid that they will bully the locals and cause trouble beyond our reach.
Shi Yu looked disgusted and said, "Yeah, they messed up the second room for a few days, and everyone is complaining."
The girls just chatted a few words and stopped talking when they were with Fan. They just talked about other things during the meal. Fan ate a few mouthfuls and felt a little stuffy in her chest. Seeing her like this, Yao Niang felt something in her heart.
After dinner, the three sisters had tea together. They heard that Luo Jingxi had returned, so they hurriedly said goodbye.
It was also said that Luo Jingxi had gone to play with Chen Ziheng, but when he heard that Chen Ziheng was missing, he returned in a huff. He also complained to Fan: "I don't know where this brother Chen has gone. A few days ago, he asked me to introduce him to someone from the Marquis of Yanping's mansion."
Fan was glad that the bastard had left. She had thought that he would make a scene and that everyone would perish together. She was very scared. But in this case, because Yao Niang had stopped it early, her parents-in-law had handled it for her and didn't even tell her husband, Fan felt that she was really lucky.
She smiled, pulled Luo Jingxi and said, "I want to tell you something important."
Luo Jingxi looked at her in confusion, while Fan bit her lip and whispered something in his ear. Luo Jingxi couldn't help but be overjoyed: "Really?"
Fan nodded: "Although it's early days, I'm afraid I won't be able to keep stable, so I didn't mention it to anyone."
Luo Jingxi had been married for several years but had no children. Now that he heard that Fan was pregnant, he became a little more considerate.
Of course, this thoughtfulness was just a few soft words, but Fan had already put all her thoughts on her belly, hoping to give birth to a child so that she wouldn't be so lonely.
In her previous life, Fan, who should have died suddenly this month, was not only fine but also pregnant. Yao Niang breathed a sigh of relief, as she had finally changed Fan's fate.
至于二房的引禍人時芳也被許嬷嬷剔除了，一個月的規矩學成，只有時芳不合格，讀書也多為劣，甚至女紅也很一般。
若非是那府的大老爺苦苦哀求，據說窦老太君還想讓人休了任氏，這才把任氏吓唬住，如今已經不敢再出門了。
還有時芳，窦老太君放在身邊養着，也許，窦老太君怕任氏嬌慣了時芳，日後對時芳反而不好，她老人家現在唯一能管到的就是時芳了。
寒食節之後，禮部派官員來造冊，據聞伴讀年紀要在八歲到十二歲左右，太大的不要。這樣，時貞就是第一個被剔除了。
因為她周歲已經十三歲多了，時貞覺得自己時運不濟。
一個競争對手被剔除，另一個競争對手年紀超了，羅敬柔瞬間就笑了，她年紀最大，規矩也是學的最好的，瑤娘和時雨比起自己來可差的遠呢。
但她也想做兩手準備，若選不上，也該有個好去處才是。
可巧羅時貞的婚事就此定下了，單玉京因為縣試府試連捷，已經是童生了，正準備八月的院試，其學問衆人有目共睹，更何況，他也不過十五歲。
二伯父愛其才，單家也有意娶羅家女，兩下就定了親。
範氏也正和羅敬柔提起此事：“如今要尋年貌相當的兒郎也難得，單家到底是我們的姻親，也是官宦人家，家資巨富，單公子是公爹的弟子，學問人品極好，比外頭那些不知道根基的人好多了。”
“嫂子說的是。”羅敬柔心裏也松了一口氣，她又問起範氏：“太太近幾日怎麽都有應酬，是去哪兒了？我正學規矩，倒是沒怎麽留心。”
範氏笑道：“是去忠靖侯府了，太太以前和她們家有些關系，還有那郁姑娘年歲也不小了，和二姑娘一樣，馬上就十四了。”
忠靖侯府？羅敬柔知曉，聽說他們家剛從大同回來，那日在外祖家時，還聽聞說他家出了皇長子妃，和皇家身份非同一般，怎麽此事就沒聽人提起呢。
當下，羅敬柔又找兄長打聽，羅敬熙倒是說的明白：“這林家靠軍功起家，這次回京聽聞是請封世子林緯南，這位林公子年紀不大，卻難得的武藝極好，有其祖父遺風。”
是否婚配一事，羅敬柔最終沒好意思問出來，她到底是女子，不能問太多。
這大抵也是羅敬柔的短板了，瑤娘想到前世郁氏帶去忠靖侯府的人是羅敬柔，根本不是郁嫣，也有些明白了。
前世起初郁氏還以為羅敬柔真的和她關系最好，所以也是滿心滿眼替羅敬柔打算，就帶她去忠靖侯府。
以羅敬柔的家世品貌加上郁氏的關系，她才能嫁入侯府。
而今生許多事情變了，郁氏提前知道羅敬柔的為人，肯定不會幫她争取了。
重生這一趟，的确很多事情都不同了。
而郁嫣因為郁氏只求人品好，并不求大富大貴，林夫人也有意把郁嫣許配給林家旁支，這位襲了錦衣衛百戶之職，因為家有寡母弟妹，家境不富裕，因此不上不下。
而郁嫣雖為孤女，雖然落魄，但是她有個好姑母郁氏，郁氏為人溫和知禮，還答應為郁嫣準備半擡嫁妝，更何況郁嫣也是識字又懂女紅，家世清白，有林夫人保媒，這樁婚事定的很快。
郁嫣悄悄和郁老太太抱怨：“聽聞那林百戶既要奉養寡母，日後還要操持弟弟和妹妹的婚事，可姑母哪裏由我選。”
“這就是你的不是了，你這小蹄子以為我不知道你向往富貴，可富貴背後沒有官身，如何才能保得住？你只看人短處，怎麽不看人長處。百戶是正六品的官，還背靠侯府，你嫁過去可就是官夫人了。”郁老太太嫌棄孫女眼界低。
也是，爹娘早死，郁氏對她們外熱內冷，現下能幫忙找這門親事，已經要千恩萬謝了。
郁嫣當然也只敢背後說幾句，當着郁氏及瑤娘的面千恩萬謝。
但郁氏對她的管教嚴了起來，先是拿了幾本賬冊子讓她看，弄的郁嫣每日來，都是挂着兩個黑眼圈。
“郁表姐，最近很累吧？”瑤娘笑道。
這輩子早已定親的郁表姐，也不會像前世因為郁氏喪子，沒心情替她操持，反而四處游走，差點遭羅敬熙輕薄。
郁嫣搖頭：“我知曉姑母都是為了我好。”
“表姐日後進門就當家操持，若是在咱們家中先提前學了，日後，以表姐的聰慧，必定是手到擒來。”
瑤娘也很感慨，短短一年，很多人的命運就發生了扭轉。
郁嫣定親之時，郁氏也帶瑤娘過去忠靖侯府一趟，這次她也是名正言順的可以不帶時雨和敬柔，因為林家是她自己搭過來的關系。
故地重游的感覺是什麽樣，瑤娘還沒準備好呢。
“娘，我能不能不去啊？”瑤娘撒嬌。
郁氏看女兒窩在自己懷裏撒嬌，指了指不遠處看書的羅至正道：“你爹爹在這裏，你還跟我撒嬌，到時候你爹爹又要說我是慈母多敗兒了。怎麽不想去了？”
“就是我不認得他們家人。”瑤娘知道自己這話無理取鬧，但是她前世的傷心之地，終究還是有些近鄉情怯的。
郁氏則笑道：“誰天生就認得的，你和人家見多了不就認得了。況且，林夫人指明了請你過去玩兒呢。”
“好吧好吧，我都聽娘的。”
這次她不是以忠靖侯世子夫人妹妹的身份去，而是以吏部郎中之女的身份去。
羅至正突然插言道：“漣漣，我那裏有一對瑤娘祖母曾經留下的和田玉雕的水仙花簪子，正好你戴去林家。”
不妨大庭廣衆之下郁氏被丈夫叫了閨名，臉瞬間一紅。
瑤娘還是頭一次知曉娘的名字，她笑嘻嘻的道：“原來娘親叫漣漣啊。”
“死丫頭。”郁氏戳了女兒額頭一下，可惜瑤娘皮膚太白，一戳就戳了個紅印子，趕緊又心疼的不行。
羅至正也覺得方才吐露真情，不符合自己一貫嚴父的模樣，輕咳一聲就出去了。
瑤娘則很羨慕郁氏，其實爹爹對娘很體貼呀，連選什麽簪子都說，這樣真好。難得有夫妻這般，看大哥和大嫂，就不是如此。
是日，瑤娘随着郁氏煥然一新，準備乘馬車去忠靖侯府，羅敬柔銀牙都咬碎了。
她外祖家雖然待她很好，但是最多能夠保證的就是讓她嫁給表兄，可表兄那裏并非好去處，如今東陽侯曹世子和忠靖侯的林世子，倒是她可以争取的，偏生繼母不理會。
任氏當然也聽說了郁氏為娘家侄女謀了門親事的事情，她暗自啐了一口，又對周氏道：“我看她表面上是為她那侄女兒，心裏是為了她女兒。”
這樣的怪話當然是任氏出于嫉妒了，時芳被教養嬷嬷公開說不大成，任氏和周氏的錢袋子江媪又死了，也是在大房出去後出的事，這倆人都莫名對長房有成見。
她們倒黴的時候，又聽聞範氏有孕，郁氏要為女兒出入豪門貴府，當然嫉妒不已。
此時的忠靖侯府和她印象中的不同，也許是林家剛從大同回來，還沒到以後那等層臺累榭、丹楹刻桷、飛閣流丹的程度。
朱漆大門打開，門口迎接的是個中年仆婦，瑤娘認得她，她是林夫人身邊最得力的管事媽媽，因嫁給了朱起，人稱朱起家的。
朱起家的是個喜歡聽別人奉承話的人，但凡別人有事求她，只多奉承幾句，倒比什麽都強。
郁氏知道所謂的宰相門口七品官，侯夫人面前得臉的仆婦，那也不能等閑視之，因此見到朱起家的就很客氣：“勞煩朱姐姐過來接我們了。”
朱起家的笑道：“不敢擔羅夫人如此稱呼，我們侯夫人正等着您過去呢！”又看到瑤娘，趕緊道：“這是小姐吧，不愧是書香門第的千金。”
瑤娘連忙欠身謝過：“朱媽媽謬贊了。”
這讓朱起家的覺得羅家真是規矩很好，這位羅五娘子年紀雖小，但面貌溫柔，體态婀娜，又看起來典雅大方。
而瑤娘不擔心這輩子嫁到林家來，她的年紀和林緯南差十幾歲，因此，這次來，她就沒什麽太大的負擔。
上回在汾陽王府是匆匆一見，這次是正經拜見，瑤娘擡眸看了林夫人一眼，跪在蒲團上嗑了三個頭。
林夫人笑着對她招手：“好孩子，過來我看看。”
見林夫人一臉慈眉善目，瑤娘想起前世她對自己一直都不喜歡，因為府上總有傳言說她是在羅敬柔病榻上就試圖勾引林緯南，還有人說是她害死了羅敬柔，想自己嫁給林緯南。
固然最後她嫁了過來，林夫人對她一直都不是很喜歡，聽聞原本羅敬柔過世她準備讓自己娘家侄女嫁過來的。甚至常常橫眉冷對，雞蛋裏挑骨頭，這也是瑤娘等到林緯南一死，本就被強迫嫁過來的她愈發不願意在林家待的原因。
Now she is the descendant that Mrs. Lin likes and values, and Yao Niang walked over.
"Has Miss Luo ever been to school?"
"I have started reading the Four Books now."
"You come from a family of scholars and officials, and you are truly well-educated." Madam Lin said to Yu while holding Yao Niang's hand.
Yu waved her hand quickly and said, "She just knows a few words. Needlework is more important for a girl."
Mrs. Lin saw that Yu was so young and kind, and she couldn't help but like her. She had dealt with Yu several times and felt that she was a very good person. Not to mention this little girl, whether it was etiquette or speech, she was very proper. It was a pity that she was too young, otherwise, it would not be impossible for her to be the match for her son.
However, Madam Lin has also picked out a few more suitable families. Since she has not yet decided, she naturally refuses to say more. Instead, Madam Lin asked Yu: "I heard that the third daughter of your family is going to marry the son of the Lord of Ruixi?"
"Yes, the invitation has been sent and the horoscopes are compatible." Yu nodded.
Yao Niang had never expected that Luo Jingrou's marriage had been arranged, and the man was the son of the Lady of Ruixi. She remembered this Prince Wang Zongmu, whose grandfather was the governor of Huguang, his mother was a Lady of Ruixi, and his father was also knowledgeable and talented.
This Prince Wang Zongmu was called a true celebrity by later generations. He had a carefree and unconcerned personality, was straightforward, and disliked pretense. For example, he once said that he wrote and read poetry out of his own love, without any purpose. In order to oppose others' pursuit of him, he sometimes even burned paper after writing.
However, everything Luo Jingrou did was just disguise. She told nine truths just to cover up one lie. She was not very happy as a person. She always came up with some low-brow tricks to appear dignified.
It just so happens that these two are extremely intelligent people. It is truly like a straightforward gentleman meeting a hypocritical gentleman. It is unknown what will happen in the future.