Before leaving the palace, she received gifts from Consort Lin, Consort Hong, and even Princess Zhenyang, including two pieces of palace satin, two boxes of persimmon frost, two boxes of lily powder, six pounds of dried lychees, a set of four treasures of the study, two calligraphy and paintings, two pairs of large vases, and a bunch of scented beads.
In fact, the eldest prince was not treated very well. Even Concubine Lin and Concubine Hong dressed very simply. Now Concubine Liao was in charge of the palace affairs. She even treated the eldest prince harshly. Now that Yao Niang and the others were his study companions, it was not bad for him to get these.
Tang Huijun also left the palace with everyone else. She looked at the jubilant Yao Niang and felt sad in her heart.
Everyone has a home, but she seems to have no home. Going back to her uncle's house now is just like being a guest. It's not like Yao Niang, who is going back to her own home.
Having known each other for half a year, they have become more casual in their conversation. Tang Huijun said, "I really envy you."
Seeing her worried look, Yao Niang couldn't help but say, "It's nothing, Sister Tang. Think about it, although you are a guest here and there are many inconveniences, it's quiet and peaceful. You can return to the palace after you're done being a guest, and we can study together. As for the future, who knows what will happen in the future? Don't think too much."
Yao Niang said that the Empress had not really thought about Tang Huijun. With her condition, she would probably suffer the pain of childbirth. It would be better for her to marry into a good family so that she would have peace of mind.
What's more, apart from the title of the king's uncle, the Tang family is not worth mentioning at all. Although Tang Huijun seems to be of noble status, he is actually not as good as Wang Yuanshuang, who is also a noble, not to mention Li Tianjiao, the granddaughter of the prime minister.
The main reason was that the Empress had no power, her family was mediocre, and she was under the control of Concubine Liao in the palace.
Tang Huijun just sighed quietly, and Yao Niang was helpless.
Yao Niang said to Xiulin and Xiujuan, "You two stay in the palace and take good care of this room for me. When I come back, I will give each of you a big red envelope."
Xiulin and Xiujuan were overjoyed.
Walking in this long corridor, Yao Niang should have been very excited, after all, she was finally leaving here and returning home free, but for some reason, she felt a little reluctant.
At home, the elders take care of all the big and small things, but here, she can take the initiative to make friends, study, and even do what she wants.
I guess everything has two sides.
When she got home, Yu had already asked people to prepare a sumptuous banquet. When Yao Niang saw her, her eyes could not help but turn red: "Mother, your daughter really missed you."
Yu looked at Yao Niang and found that she had grown taller and thinner. She couldn't help but ask, "Why are you so thin? Did you not eat well?"
But then I thought, maybe the food in the palace is not very delicious.
Yao Niang shook her head and said, "No, it's because we used to take horse riding and archery lessons all day long. My daughter was too tired from learning horse riding and archery. Also, she didn't have as many snacks as at home in the palace, so she lost some weight, didn't she? My daughter thinks it's good."
After that, he showed Yu the things he had obtained from the palace, and said, "Although these things of mine are not worth much, they are gifts from the palace, so they are good. It would be a good omen to share them with everyone."
Yu made arrangements: "Your sister-in-law is in confinement after childbirth. I'll have someone cut twelve feet of palace silk for her. Jingrou and Shiyu will also each be given six feet of cloth. Put some of these preserved fruits on a tray and send them to the old lady, and put the rest in jars and distribute them."
"Mother, that one is divided, and this one is goose-yellow spring satin, so I'll give it all to you. Your daughter has grown up so big, but she has never been filial to you."
As for the four treasures of the study, they were given to Jinghao, the calligraphy and paintings were given to his father, and the incense beads were made into bracelets, one for each person.
After a brief discussion between the mother and daughter, Yu discovered that Yao Niang was indeed different after entering the palace, and her behavior was quite methodical.
After a while, Aunt Qin came back with Shi Yu, Nanny Song took Jing Hao home from school, and even Luo Jingrou came over. Luo Jingrou saw the girl next to Yu, who had a tall and graceful figure, and behaved elegantly, giving her a sense of gracefulness.
If this isn’t Yao Niang, then who else could it be?
Luo Jingrou has been drinking bitter juice for the past six months, and she doesn't even know what bitterness tastes like. She is also worried every day. Her mother died when she gave birth to her, and now she herself has uterine cold. She doesn't know what will happen in the future?
Therefore, she felt unlucky in her heart.
"Fifth sister, you're finally back. That's great." Luo Jingrou stepped forward and said.
Shigure also came over to talk.
Yao Niang smiled and said, "I miss you too."
Look, Luo Jingrou's face has become more rosy. She is already thirteen years old this year, and will be fourteen next year. She is a grown-up girl now. She has powder on her face and lip balm on her lips.
Then there was Shi Yu, who had grown a little taller and had more flesh on her cheeks.
Seeing that she was only talking to Jingrou and Shiyu, Jinghao came forward from the crowd and looked at her silently. Yaoniang laughed and quickly took back her luggage, only to see a pair of clay figurines inside.
"My dear, when did I ever lie to you? I always thought of you. I gave you the four treasures of the study that the palace appreciated."
On her way home, passing Qianmen Street, she waited for a long time for the clay figurines she had specially sent someone to buy.
Jinghao tried to pull Yaoniang's hand, but soon he felt a stinging pain. Yaoniang looked at her own hand and found that she had a cord on her hand because she practiced archery very seriously.
When they heard that she had a rope in her hand and wanted to shoot arrows, Luo Jingrou and Shi Yu both looked at her hands.
Yao Niang generously let them watch, and said: "Riding a horse and shooting arrows are necessary every day, but we have a companion there, who seems to be the companion of Princess Baohua, but he can't ride a horse."
"I still want to practice archery and horse riding?" Luo Jingrou was shocked. She was suddenly glad that she did not enter the palace.
Yao Niang nodded: "This is nothing. There is still a spanking on the palm. I have been spanked before. As long as the princesses recite a word wrong, we who study with them will take the punishment for them."
Hearing this, Yu felt distressed. She took her daughter's hand and looked at her, stroking the old silk cocoon in her hand.
Shi Yu originally thought that entering the palace was the easiest job, so she had no idea that it was so scary. She asked, "Fifth sister, what do you do besides studying?"
"When the weather gets warmer, I'll do needlework. Oh, by the way, I've made purses for you all, and I'll give you the gifts later. But you have to study when the roosters crow every day, and come back when it's dark. I fall asleep as soon as I lie down. If I come back early, I'll pay my respects to Concubine Hong." She told her when she got up every day, when she studied, and when she went to bed at night.
This made Luo Jingrou even more grateful. She knew her own body very well. She was strong on the outside but weak on the inside. Everything seemed to be fine, but she was actually weak inside. Not to mention that she had to get up so early and learn how to ride a horse and shoot arrows.
Everyone chatted about family matters together, and Yu asked Erzhen to distribute the things. Seeing that Shiyu and Jingrou were there, she gave the things to them directly.
Yao Niang also said with a smile: "Don't complain that it's too little, this is all I got, everyone should share in the joy."
"How could that be? We are so happy that we can't even wait to be happy." Luo Jingrou's grandfather's family was a marquis's mansion, and there was also a concubine named Wang in the palace. They received rewards during festivals, but she didn't care and just mentioned it casually.
Shi Yu was very happy. She didn't know why. She had said in her heart that she would keep a distance from her fifth sister, but when she came here, she couldn't help but want to play with her.
Just like now, Yao Niang is teaching Jing Hao how to throw the pot in the corridor. Her aim is very accurate and she hits the target almost nine times out of ten.
"Fifth sister, is this still taught in the palace?"
"Of course, this is a kind of archery, but not everyone is proficient in it. I learn something every day anyway, and if I can't learn it, I will leave last, so I learned tossing the pot very well."
Not long after Shi Yu left, he came over to play pitch-pot with them.
Of course, after playing this kind of pot-throwing game for two rounds, Luo Jingrou lost interest and went in to sit down.
However, it was said that Yu had sent a tray of dried lychees and persimmon frost, a small jar of lily powder, and a Buddhist scripture, and had someone deliver it to Old Lady Dou.
When Old Lady Dou saw that it was Erzhen who came over, she knew that she was Yu's eldest maid, so she couldn't help but laugh and said, "Why are you sending a tray over at this time?"
"Our fifth daughter has returned from the palace. She found some gifts in the palace of the eldest prince, and our wife specially asked me to bring them to you. This Buddhist scripture was copied by my daughter herself in the palace. She also sent me some needlework she made herself. We are preparing to have a banquet at home."
"So it's the fifth girl who's back. I heard your wife mention it a few days ago, but I forgot about it. Please tell them to come over and stay for a while when they are free. Brother Xi's daughter-in-law is in confinement after childbirth, and your wife is busy during the New Year holidays, so I don't know a lot of things."
"You are right."
Erzhen went to Jiang's place and Ren's place respectively and divided the things neatly.
Of course, Jiang's own daughter had been a companion to the emperor's studies, so she knew that the rewards in the palace were all limited. Even the ladies could only receive more rewards on their birthdays, which were not much in reality. The eldest son's wife could still get some, as they were treated as relatives.
But Ren waited for Erzhen to leave and then spat, "These three melons and two dates are just to feed a beggar."
"Mom, I think this persimmon frost wrapper is very good. Just now someone said it was a gift from the palace." Shi Fang was almost ten years old and was no longer the naive little girl she used to be.
Ren was not welcomed at home, her father and brother were not helpful, and now when she went out, Shifang could not go out to socialize. Her mother scolded chickens and dogs all day long, which made it even more difficult for her to stay at home. She wanted to go to her aunt's house to hide away and have some peace and quiet.
Ren curled her lips and said, "You are the only one who is stupid. If there is something good, people will give it to you. My dear girl, you should also fight for me. You are not as good as Shi Yu in school. You were quite smart when you were young, but now you are timid in front of your grandmother."
In the past, Ren favored her daughter, but this daughter was inferior to others in every way.
Shi Fang burst into tears. When the news reached the eldest son's family, Yao Niang also felt emotional when she heard it.
前世時芳和長房沒有恩怨，甚至範氏死了，郁氏卧床，一片凄風苦雨。而時芳她嫂子和母親分別管着家，那時時雨進宮了，她早被羅敬柔送來的話本子勾去了，而且她八歲已經開始變胖了，牙齒黑爛，和可愛的時芳沒法子比。
現在的時芳，因為罵了自己被羅至正夫妻收拾了一頓，威信大去，管家又放進來了江媪，導致管家權依舊被小蔣氏拿過去。
自己被選入宮，時雨也是比她強，就是窦老太君平日雖然養着時芳，但是見她不大成器，針線女紅讀書無一精通，讨巧是讨巧，但又總惹禍。
況且，窦老太君已經是不太出去交際，蔣氏當然也不會帶時芳出去，因此，時芳幾乎就不如前世那樣，至少什麽宴會還都能去。
這大概就是不同吧，這樣的不同也造成了時芳沒有信心。
就和前世的自己一樣，總覺得自己樣樣不如人，但她好歹還知道自己的缺點，下苦力去學，時芳不知道會不會有那一日？
再說今日郁氏替她接風，瑤娘見桌上都是自己歡喜吃的菜，十分高興。
“用罷飯，女兒想去看看嫂嫂。”瑤娘提議。
郁氏點頭：“可以，你小侄兒還太小，不能見風，你遠遠的見一面就好。”
“知道了。”
在席上羅至正也在默默觀察瑤娘，見她言笑晏晏，并不訴苦，也微不可察的點頭。飯畢，她原本準備去看範氏，又被羅至正留下。
秦姨娘暗地撇嘴，只好帶時雨走了，羅敬柔本想留下來聽。
卻被羅至正道：“敬柔你先回去，我問你妹妹一些事。”
羅敬柔心道，難不成是什麽宮闱之事，故而不讓我聽，但她到底不敢在這裏聽。
瑤娘也以為羅至正會問什麽陰私之事，不料羅至正道：“你在宮中這幾個月，個頭怎麽竄的這麽快？”
“咳咳，父親原來問這個。是因為女兒在學騎馬射箭，常常還要跑着過去，旁人興許懶得動彈，但女兒難得可以動彈因此跑的很快，吃的也不少，不知不覺就長高了。”瑤娘其實還怕自己掉頭發，變得面黃肌瘦，每日膳食裏的湯水，她是喝的幹幹淨淨。
只要活動，就會稍微吃多一些，若是不活動，就盡量多吃青菜，少吃葷，還有多歇息，每天睡足四個半時辰，她連風寒都沒有得過。
羅至正笑道：“你母親頭一日擔心你，之後倒是面色如常，反而是我怕你在宮裏吃不着穿不暖，特地托司禮監的李公公照拂于你。”
瑤娘心道，這李太監也不知道是何人？但父親這樣說，分明就是把這個人告訴她，日後自己若出了什麽事情也可以找她，但這個關系不能亂用。
她欣喜道：“原來有父親囑咐，這可太好了。”
不過，她爹這種人難得說這麽溫情的話，瑤娘也把自己知道的一切說了：“我們皇子所頭所裏，林正妃并不受寵，多半是洪側妃的管事。只是一些大場合是林正妃出面……”
她又把自己被打手，甚至和湯慧君的點點滴滴，到廖貴妃打死兩名宮女都說了。
原本以為說這些是有用的，誰知道羅至正道：“行了行了，什麽狗屁倒竈，人長人短的閑話都說，我的耳朵都吵疼了。”
“爹爹……”瑤娘在心裏想到，就你這張嘴，不知道你如何能娶妻的。
羅至正拔腿就要走，就在他快出門的時候，瑤娘以為他早走了，又和郁氏道：“娘親，我要和你說一個大秘密。”
郁氏聽的入神，連忙點頭。
比起羅至正來，郁氏的脾氣實在是太好了，她也喜歡聽女兒叽叽喳喳。
正當瑤娘來說話時，又見羅至正若無其事的抽回大腿走回來了，瑤娘狐疑的看了他一眼，羅至正倒是好整以暇的倒茶，似乎完全忘記方才拔腿要走的樣子。
還是郁氏和羅至正生活多年，知道對方的脾性，只問瑤娘：“你有什麽話，說就是了？”
瑤娘無語，只是覺得她爹好奇心也太強了，她看也不看羅至正就對郁氏道：“女兒屢次聽真陽郡主提起，說洪側妃偏心小兒子，不喜歡長子，因為她的長子在林正妃膝下長大，還有，林正妃據說是搶了洪側妃的位子呢。”
本來瑤娘想說自己騎馬騎的燒裆了，大腿火辣辣的疼過兩天，後來用膏子才好，她前世是肥胖的時候才如此，哪裏知曉自己這麽瘦了也燒裆，但她爹在這裏，她也不好意思說這個。
“這皇帝重長子，百姓重幺兒，皇家也與我們尋常人家一樣麽？”郁氏觑着羅至正的眼神，斟酌的道。
瑤娘則笑道：“誰會沒有私心呢？皇家的事情就很難說了，我們在皇長子宮中，且看真陽郡主和衡王之女永慶郡主，二者并不同，永慶郡主一言九鼎，落落大方，在宮中是旁人巴結的對象，而真陽郡主還得時常依附昭平公主，這昭平公主似乎對真陽郡主另眼相待。可見人人心裏都有一杆稱。”
……
夜裏，終于回到自己熟悉的東廂，自從羅敬柔搬到西跨院之後，瑤娘自己占了東廂房。以前服侍她的銀容、白芷、白英等人都單獨拜見。
瑤娘笑道：“你們快起來吧，不知道你們在家如何？我在宮裏沒見你們，總想着你們。”
說罷打開一個匣子，內裏裝着都是極其精美的絲帕，這是昭平公主随手用的，平日擦手時用的，她大方的給她們伴讀一人送了一匣子。
這些在宮中不過是尋常之物，但卻是外面很難買的，造價不菲。
服侍她最近的銀容，一人得了三方，其餘人一人兩方。又有真陽郡主送的通草花，這些是不同于回家時宮中賞賜的可以分，她自己就作主讓丫頭們一人選一枝。
丫頭們都很高興，個個親熱極了。
瑤娘又道：“你們也不必逢人去說，平日逢年過節簪上是個喜意。我不在家中時，切莫生是非，待我回家，有什麽話只管與我說就是了。”
銀容一聽這話，就知曉瑤娘要問她們家中的事情。
本來瑤娘是打算問郁氏的，但她爹不知道為何一直在那兒，瑤娘也不方便說，故而只好回來。
“五姑娘，近來我們家裏來了位客人，是三姑娘的未婚夫，已然在前院住下了。前兒，她二人還錯身見過一面。”銀容早就攢了許多話，就等瑤娘回來了。
王宗沐來了？
“三姐姐滿意嗎？”瑤娘問起。
銀容還未說，只聽白芷道：“奴婢聽聞三姑娘很是滿意，那日奴婢在去上房送茶，見了那位王公子一面，莫說是老爺太太，就是咱們大少爺那也是很滿意的。不愧是讀書人家的公子，才學極好，出口成章，相貌俊秀。”
瑤娘點頭：“這就好，難怪我看三姐姐從延平侯府回來了，這次見她臉上沒有任何怨怼之氣，這般就好。”
若平日羅敬柔是千般萬般打探，今兒說走就走了。
殊不知羅敬柔十分慶幸，她起初是百般不想嫁到王家，因為她實在是覺得王家配不上她，只有像大姐姐那般嫁到王府或者宮裏，她才覺得自己是真的嫁的好。
可一見過王宗沐，但見此子卓爾不群，她想起見過的成國公高登豐，相貌卻是差遠了。原本王家是要在湖廣參加鄉試，但輔國公府對這位外孫很是看好，讓他遷籍在順天府參加鄉試，因為如此王宗沐這才上京。
那邊羅至正知曉他上京，考較幾句，見他才高八鬥，當即讓他住在家中，親自教他讀書。
如此，羅敬柔又聽他爹說王宗沐才華橫溢，也心滿意足。
況且，她近來在調養，但行經總不順，因此成夜成夜的擔憂，把以往十分要強的心，去了許多。
不管如何，此人倒也出身官宦世家，母親是宗室女，出手豪綽。
聽聞他賞賜家中下人，随意就扔了銀元寶出去，且等她日後過門，定要先拿捏住他才好。
且說瑤娘這邊一夜黑甜，早上也不必早起，踏踏實實的睡到天亮，才梳洗起床，去郁氏那裏用早膳。
年節下忙碌不已，郁氏也要忙，瑤娘又單獨去見了範氏一眼，範氏也惦念着她，她已經坐了一個月的月子了，但婆母說她太瘦，生孩子用了太多氣力，讓她再多休養些時日。
而範氏想的是年節下忙碌，能幫婆母這家裏也輕松松多了。
因此，她已經起身讓瑤娘進去，命人倒茶送水，還道：“昨兒聽聞你回來了，還送了尺頭手串果脯過來，難為你在宮中得了多少，竟全部都給我們分了。”
“這有什麽的，怎麽不把小侄兒抱來我看看？”
在這裏，她看到了這個前世原本就不該出來的孩子，以及前世原本就已經故去的範氏，此時的範氏笑臉吟吟，已經逐漸不是以前那軟弱無根的樣子，反而很堅強，而這個孩子也白胖可愛。
She touched the child's head and said, "Good boy, you have to grow up well too."
After seeing the different changes after her rebirth, she finally realized that she still had a role to play.
After coming out of Fan's place, Yao Niang saw Jing Hao. He ran towards her with a smile and said that he wanted to practice throwing pots. Yao Niang smiled and said, "Let's go to the garden to practice throwing pots. It's inconvenient here with so many people coming and going."
"Sister, you have learned to ride a horse?" Jing Hao asked enviously.
Yao Niang nodded: "Of course, but riding a horse requires courage and skills. You are too young now. Get a small bow tomorrow and I will teach you archery and pot throwing. I have learned well in the palace."
As soon as the brother and sister walked into the garden, they saw a girl walking towards the Moon Gate. Yao Niang was shocked. How come Shi Fang had gained so much weight after not seeing her for several months?
"Why has Fourth Sister gained so much weight?"
Yinrong thought for a moment and whispered "pastries".
Yao Niang shook her head: "No, Third Sister didn't go with her." Luo Jingrou and Shi Fang had no interactions, and Shi Fang couldn't do anything to hinder her.
Bai Ying added, "That's not it. The Third Miss always sent you sweets in the past, and often sent them to your study. You didn't want to eat them and put them aside, but the Fourth Miss took them and ate them all. She has a strong taste for sweets. The old lady raised her in her care, but the old lady was young and old and liked light dishes. She was always hungry and ate snacks. The sweeter the food, the better it tasted, and that's how she became."
"You should remind her not to eat this dessert." Yao Niang didn't like Shi Fang, especially because she took Fan's dog away, causing Fan to suffer an unexpected disaster and not come out afterwards, and also caused Zhou to have a miscarriage. Later, she brought Jiang into the garden, and it was also because of her that Fan almost hanged herself.
But no matter what, Yao Niang never wanted to use such inferior means to harm others. If you can't stand one person's behavior, but agree to use this behavior against another person, then what is the difference between her and Luo Jingrou?
Yinrong and Baiying were both surprised. Although they didn't know what it meant, they both agreed.