"Third brother, do you have something to talk to me about?" Princess Zhenyang felt strange when she saw Gao Xuance here.
Yao Niang also stepped forward to pay her respects, but noticing beads of sweat on Gao Xuance's forehead, she thought, no wonder they said Prince Chen died young in his previous life, and now it looks like he is not in good health. She and Princess Zhenyang are just walking around in Yu Garden, so it's not a big deal.
Gao Xuance also felt that he had overreacted. He never lost his composure easily, so he smiled and said, "Nothing, I just passed by here and heard that you were not here, so I was about to leave."
"Since the third brother is here, why don't you come in and have a cup of tea?" Although Princess Zhenyang has a cheerful personality, she is also familiar with the etiquette of the palace and knows a little about the ways of the world. She knows that the third brother is probably just passing by and doesn't really want to come in, so she said this.
Unexpectedly, Gao Xuance nodded and came in.
Yao Niang quickly took her leave and went to the side hall. Now that she was grown up, she had to stay away from other men.
After entering the main hall, Princess Zhenyang invited Gao Xuance to sit down. After the brother and sister drank tea, Gao Xuance asked, "Is this Luo Bandu the second lady?"
"Yes, she is the fifth in the clan, but the second in the family, but we usually call her the Fifth Lady." Princess Zhenyang said with a smile.
It was as if he was struck by lightning. Now everything matched. The person written on the birth certificate was Luo Zhizheng's second daughter, whose nickname was Yao Niang. It was indeed her.
But why is she so thin now? Could it be that many things have changed because of his rebirth?
Or maybe he had the same adventure as him and was reborn.
Thinking of this, Gao Xuance stood up and subconsciously denied it.
"Royal sister, I remember that I have something to do. I'll excuse myself first." Gao Xuance no longer cared about so much. Whether she was reborn or not, the two of them would never have any contact in this life.
As for the fact that she was favored by the Ninth Prince, he could remind her that the Ninth Prince was a playboy and had already secretly defected to the First Prince Gao Xuanzhan. If she was really determined to do so, then don't blame him for ignoring them when the time comes to get rid of Luo Zhizheng.
Compared with the great cause, the so-called love affair between children is really insignificant. In this life, he will never give up his power again.
Princess Zhenyang saw her brother's face turn gloomy, wondering what he was thinking. Then she heaved a sigh of relief when she saw him leave, and quickly went to find Yao Niang to help her arrange flowers.
Many people took leave from the library during the winter, but Yao Niang went there every day, and she was the first to go. After school, Princess Zhenyang wanted to go to Kunning Palace to pay her respects to Concubine Hong, and Yao Niang followed her.
Unexpectedly, I met Madam Yan here. Because the empress had not yet been officially canonized, the others were called concubines, just like this Madam Yan, and everyone called her Concubine Yan.
"I pay my respects to the two ladies. May the ladies be blessed with good health." Yao Niang hurriedly followed Princess Zhenyang to pay her respects.
But seeing Concubine Yan in tears, she sat down and realized that the Fourth Prince had fallen off his horse a few days ago. She thought he was just injured, but she had no idea that he was really lame.
"Lame?" Princess Zhenyang was shocked when she heard it.
Concubine Yan cried, "This child is afraid of riding a horse. She has told me this many times, but I told her that who in the palace doesn't want to learn? You only listened to your father and studied hard, but you didn't know..."
Concubine Hong comforted him, "You don't have to be sad. If the palace can't cure it, we can find a sage from the folks. The child hasn't grown up yet, so there's still a chance of recovery."
"Sister is right. If possible, please ask His Majesty for me." Madam Yan wiped her tears.
This is also a kind of surrender to some extent, because the person with the best say in the palace now is Concubine Hong. Of course, this does not mean that the emperor has no other concubines.
Yao Niang thought that she had originally been interested in the Ninth Prince and the Fourth Prince, as these two were the most stable. However, she had heard people say that the Ninth Prince was very romantic. Although he was a prince, he loved money like his life and was greedy by nature. He even took advantage of the fact that the late emperor doted on the youngest son, and his followers even kidnapped people. His character was indeed low. As for the Fourth Prince, he was lame in one leg.
Neither of these two is a good candidate, Yao Niang shook her head.
Later, Concubine Hong made a special plea in front of Emperor Jianzhang to bring in a doctor from the public to treat the fourth prince's leg, but unfortunately it failed and Madam Yan was sad outside.
But in private, he said to the Fourth Prince: "Good boy, you will be safe in the future, and no one will harm you."
The Fourth Prince had a look of maturity that did not match his age. He nodded and said, "Son, I understand. This way, I can become a rich prince. In the future, when mother is older, I will take you to the fiefdom."
Only a useless person, who has no qualifications, will not be envied by anyone.
Not only did the mother and son not think it was a bad thing, but they hugged each other and cried. They were all from the royal family, and no one wanted to sit on the throne. No one didn't have that thought in their hearts, but fighting for power was really tragic.
Just last month, Prince Heng hanged himself in his mansion because he was afraid of being liquidated.
"I'm glad you understand. Now that you're like this, your father will care about you even more." Concubine Yan nodded.
Of course, outsiders, except the parties involved, don't know what's going on behind the scenes.
However, Cheng Shaojian mentioned something to Yao Niang, "I think when the late emperor was alive, the princes' mothers were weaker, and the princes' consorts were stronger. If the mother's family background was good, the prince's consorts chosen were not necessarily good."
After Princess Yongqing left the fiefdom, Cheng Shaojin was reassigned to Princess Xing'an, and Yao Niang interacted with her quite often.
After hearing this, Yao Niang looked at her and said, "You said this to me when I was still young. What about you?"
She now fully understood her father's official position and her own importance. She was no longer the person in her previous life who did not dare to leave the palace because of her obesity. Moreover, she was often in the palace, and she could sense the spring breeze even without any movement.
"Me? To tell you the truth, I don't know either." Cheng Shaojian himself was also confused.
Luo Jingrou, who was the same age as her, was already married, not to mention Wei Feng. So where was her own way out?
Yao Niang said, "You don't have to worry. The emperor is still in mourning. After the mourning period is over, there will definitely be arrangements. Besides, there are Li Tianjiao and Wang Yuanshuang. They are not panicking."
In this way, Cheng Shaojian is much better now.
Soon it was the New Year, and Yao Niang went home to celebrate the New Year as usual. This time, Concubine Hong was much more generous. She filled a cart with gifts and specially asked the eunuchs in the palace to send her home.
When she came back this time, Yao Niang found that her mother Yu was worried.
After the dinner, she spoke to Yu in private: "Mom, what's wrong with you? Did something happen at home?"
Yu whispered to her, "Originally, I shouldn't have told you about your affairs since you were still young, but since you came back, I've realized that you are smart and different from ordinary people. A few months ago, the Prime Minister's wife suddenly proposed to my family, wanting to marry you to her grandson. I've seen the child, and she is indeed of good character and appearance, but your father..."
Yu was a little ashamed: "Your father doesn't agree."
She knew that her daughter would most likely become like Luo Shilan after entering the palace, but the Prime Minister's House was also very good, and even more affordable.
You know, it's not easy for a royal family to become an official, but it's still easy to become an official through imperial examination. What's more, the two families are old friends, so even if her daughter has any problems, she can go to her husband's family to help.
After hearing this, Yao Niang couldn't help but say, "I think Daddy should know what the Li family is planning."
Yu frowned: "What is the Li family's plan?"
"The Ninth Prince and even several princes in the palace are not young anymore, but there are fewer and fewer companions left in the palace. Especially with Princess Zhenyang, ever since Tang Huijun left the palace, the princess has been sentimental and no longer wants another companion. If I were betrothed to the Li family, wouldn't Li Tianjiao lose an opponent?" Yao Niang thought that these people really did everything they could to get what they wanted.
With Li Tianjiao's ability, she certainly didn't want to marry the Ninth Prince. If it was when the late emperor was alive, it would be fine as she had the status of a prince. But now she is just the emperor's younger brother, and her status is not as good as those of the current princes.
Among these princes, the eldest prince goes without saying, but there are also Xu Qingrong and Cheng Shaojin. Xu Qingrong's father has been promoted to patrol, and her brother also has a good reputation in the official position. The Xu family has seven Jinshi, which is richer than Yao Niang's family.
Although Cheng Shaozhen's father was only the Shaoqing of the Dali Temple, with a lower status, she was beautiful and kind.
Sometimes, when choosing a prince's wife, it's not just about status, but also about personality. Li Tianjiao is very good in Yao Niang's eyes. Although her appearance is not the best, she is full of talent and always has a bit of arrogance.
There is also Wang Yuanshuang who is an even more powerful enemy. Li Tianjiao’s chance of being chosen as the eldest prince’s consort is actually not very high.
Then the next ones would be the Second Prince and the Third Prince. She had herself among the Second Prince and the Third Prince, and even Concubine Hong and Princess Zhenyang were nice to her. Moreover, she was not weak in terms of appearance or family background. If she could be eliminated, her chances of winning would be great.
Only after listening to Yao Niang's explanation did Yu finally understand.
She said, “So that’s how it is.”
Doesn't her husband agree? This is obviously dragging her daughter down. Even if her daughter doesn't marry those princes, she can't be plotted against.
Yu suddenly said, "I think your father has high expectations for you, higher than for your sister."
"Mom, it's not that dad has high expectations of me, but that I can stand on my own feet. If my third sister can enter the palace on her own, father will have different expectations of her." Yao Niang was telling the truth.
Just like in the previous life, her father treated her and her third sister differently. Her mother defended herself in front of her father several times, saying that she was framed, and her father said that she was stupid enough to be framed.
From then on, she knew that no one would understand you, everyone only looks at the results, and it is useless to tell others all your troubles.
Yu sighed slightly: "Mother Yao, don't think too much. You must be tired after coming back today. Go and rest first."
Yao Niang nodded.
等瑤娘走遠了，郁氏和身邊的丫鬟爾珍道：“我這個女兒外表越是溫柔，其實心裏卻是比誰都剛強。”
女兒有出息，在那麽多仕宦勳貴人家中都能選中，穩穩當當的在現在最受寵的公主身邊當伴讀，甚至熬到現在真陽公主只有她一位伴讀了，這次回來時帶回來的賞賜，就非之前所能比的。
在家過了幾日，瑤娘四處去請了安，衆人對她都比以前要客氣許多。
這種客氣也不是來源于她本身，而是在她現在靠近了權利中心，就像靠皇帝越近的人，即便你只是一個小太監，都有無數身份比你高的人對你客氣。
而羅敬柔成親後，現下住在輔國公在京中的宅子中，索性羅至正和郁氏接他們到家中住，因為姐夫王宗沐明年會試，正好有羅至正照管。
瑤娘是頭一次見到婚後的羅敬柔，她拿出自己繡的一對荷包：“這是我親手做的一對荷包，雖然送的遲了些，但請三姐姐別見怪。”
羅敬柔見這對荷包是葫蘆形狀，宮樣式兒的，內裏裝的是玉石金銀，着實闊氣，這份禮送的十分适宜，羅敬柔不由笑道：“真好看，你在宮中倒是越發出息了，看看這荷包，真是好看。”
“姐姐說哪裏話，只是姐姐疼妹妹，不嫌棄罷了。姐姐如何了？我姐夫對你好吧？”
盡管羅敬柔心底對妹妹不滿，但聽她問起王宗沐，嬌羞一笑：“你姐夫自然是不錯。”
她和王宗沐住在羅家，一應都是羅家準備，王宗沐為人潇灑落拓，才華橫溢，二人在閨閣中寫詩作詞，好不快活。
瑤娘點頭，“這就好，這就好。”
她不知道羅敬柔這輩子還能活多久，日子到底會過的如何，前世她該報的仇已經報了，二人恩怨已經抵消，這輩子，大家各自安好。
羅敬柔拿着這對荷包回到自己的院子裏，以前西跨越是她自己住，現在她和王宗沐住在此處，公婆親自上京主持她們的婚事，婆婆雖然是宗室女，但絲毫沒有一點架子。
當然，這也是因為她父親如今榮升吏部右侍郎，外官入京，哪個不想拜會一番。
這次也不知道夫君能不能一舉中第，這樣，她就是官家娘子。
“這是五姑娘送的荷包嗎？倒是十分精致，這裏面還有玉石金錢呢。”玳瑁看了看。
珍珠笑道：“咱們五姑娘這次還是由宮裏的人送回來的，不知道日後能不能也和咱們家的大姑娘一樣做王妃呢？”
“什麽王妃，大姑娘是國公夫人。”羅敬柔糾正道。
珍珠這才意識到自己說錯了話，因為她們經常說大姑娘嫁到了汾陽王府，嫁到王府，那當然就稱為王妃了。
而這句話瞬間讓羅敬柔所有對于新婚的歡喜化作泡影，她什麽都不是，如今只是王羅氏這個名字，家中繼母都成了淑人，五妹妹更是因為是真陽公主的伴讀，走到哪裏別人都高看一眼。
是啊，她在娘家時，長房的人知道她是長房的大小姐，她依舊是羅家大小姐，可日後女人們嫁出去了，是要從夫家的地位來看的。
這個事實讓她很痛苦。
瑤娘哪裏知曉這些，她翻了翻敬皓寫的字帖，見弟弟如今有長進也是高興。
“這字兒寫的不錯。”
“沒有，爹爹說我憊懶，日後能中個秀才都燒高香了。”敬皓有些難過。
瑤娘笑道：“事在人為嘛，我看能夠中秀才也就不錯了。”
敬皓卻偷偷道：“但是娘說她希望我能中進士，日後和爹爹一樣呢。”
不說其她，敬皓是真的生的好看，小時候卻不怎麽說話，常常生病，還好自己在家時常常帶着他活動，讓他讀書，他的命運不再是五歲而亡，而是活的虎頭虎腦的，瑤娘就已經很滿意了。
她摸着他的頭，眼淚一漫：“姐姐只希望你過的開心，人最難的也就是自得其樂。”
敬皓若有所思。
瑤娘卻敲了一下他的頭：“你別聽了這句話就天天睡懶覺，不去讀書了，那可不成？你是男子漢，将來還得撐起門戶，否則，你得出門讨飯去了？”
姐弟倆感情一向不錯，知道弟弟學會凫水了，她也很高興，前世弟弟就是落水而亡，學會凫水到底可以避免些。
“真的啊，姐姐還不會凫水呢？何時，你也教姐姐凫水吧？”瑤娘看着他，逗着他玩，實際上瑤娘自小在福建長大，經常下水玩耍。
敬皓重重點頭：“我跟爹娘一起去過溫泉莊子，那裏可以沐浴，姐姐，你也可以去。哦，對了，四姐姐不會凫水也救了人呢。”
凫水救人？
“救的是誰呢？”瑤娘問起。
敬皓笑道：“救的是我的朋友，東陽侯府的曹萬軒，東陽侯府還送了不少禮物給她呢。大伯母高興的不行，在我娘面前炫耀呢。”
原來如此，看來緣分來了擋都擋不住啊。
孰料，郁氏卻道：“你大伯母以為侯府看中時芳了，高興的不行，還想到處放話，又讓我和你二伯母去東陽侯府做客帶上時芳，只從那次起曹萬軒就避嫌起來。”
這就是沒有看中呢？
“這是為何呢？我想曹萬軒是幼子，也并不是世子啊……”一般大多數人家對長媳要求很高，未必一定門第高，但品行要好，能力要出衆。
就像她們家選的範氏就是如此，為人柔順也有手段，在如此大家族生活，兄長花心的情況下，她依舊能夠頗會融洽的處理各方面的關系。
可對小兒媳就都沒有那麽要求高了，因此時芳也并非完全不可以。
當然，前提是曹萬軒喜歡。
郁氏卻搖頭：“也不知道怎麽回事，大嫂也真是的，你時芳姐姐也不下狠心戒掉甜食，她倒是控制了一些時日，還瘦了幾近，可最後吃的越狠。”
想到這裏，郁氏看着女兒道：“還好你發現了你三姐姐的陰謀，否則，今日的時芳就是明日的你呀。”
郁氏每每想到此處都會背脊發涼。
起初瑤娘是很恨這件事情的，但是現在卻覺得一切釋然了，她笑道：“且有她的好日子過呢，她這個人從小心術不正，日後有的磨，我看她都不用別人對付，自己就會害死自己。”
“你說的沒錯，你父親說你三姐夫到底年歲還小，少年舉人春風得意，本讓他下一科再考會試，他卻是要考，這次若是考不中，回家閉門讀書幾年也是好事。”郁氏道。
瑤娘搖頭：“三姐姐素來不是什麽心寬之人，又喜歡一些小手段，初時還好，時日長了也未必不能看破手腳。”
其她的，她就不再說羅敬柔了。
今年再見爹爹時，羅至正整個人和以前沒有什麽變化，依舊是目無餘子。
見到爹娘，瑤娘才把湯慧君如何陷害她，她一腳踹了湯慧君怎麽報複回來的事情說了，這件事情本來是一件小事，卻讓羅至正對她刮目相待。
“幹的好，你若真的制止了她，你又告不倒她，反而日後日日在一起做伴讀還得惡心人。自古善有善報惡有惡報，此話真自古名言也。”
瑤娘有些羞赧：“爹，我只是警覺些，還有當時很氣憤，倒是沒有想這麽多。”
羅至正自己倒是個讀書人出身，為人卻從不迂回，他點頭：“這樣也足以看出你的勇氣來了，看來在宮裏不容易啊。”
“湯慧君這樣的壓根就不叫手段，日後，怕是手段會越來越多。但是那又如何，勝者為王，敗者為寇。”
瑤娘自己從來就不是什麽順從忍讓的人，她在前世羅敬柔屢屢讓她做填房的時候，都是毫不猶豫的拒絕的，即便她那個時候都是有自己的想法。
被人捉奸，并随丈夫一起跟随周王就藩，她對周王世子的照顧也是抱持着這個概念，故而最後她果然勝了，還飽了仇。
逆來順受的就是過一輩子又有什麽意思，人若過的快活，就是一天也足夠了。
郁氏在旁看這父女二人，立即道：“你們都是性情中人。”
說白了就是率性而為，不會為了忍受伏低做小，一刻都不願意。
羅至正這次也非常大方的送了瑤娘一套點翠首飾，瑤娘在去東陽侯府的時候簪在發髻上，就連曹夫人也誇道：“你們家的時微姑娘我是真的喜歡，再過五年，我看令愛真是傾國之貌了。”
郁氏連忙謙虛道：“她才多大點的人，不過蒲柳之姿，你們倒是總誇這些。”
美貌的人多的是，任憑是誰，年紀大了都會變老。
曹夫人見到時芳很冷淡，見到瑤娘卻非常熱情，曹夫人甚至還親自讓曹萬軒穿好衣裳給郁氏等人請安。
今日是羅家全家婦人都來了，連任氏也跟着過來了，她見狀實在是過于生氣了。
“看看，看看，真真是勢利眼。”任氏氣的不行。
Zhou did try to persuade her gently, but she was still unwilling to accept it. She saw that Fan's husband was talented but not ambitious, far inferior to her own husband. However, she, the eldest daughter-in-law, was much more prosperous than the second eldest daughter-in-law.
No wonder the mother-in-law was angry. This kind of contrast was simply a slap in the face.
At this moment, Madam Cao smiled and said, "I have a treasure that I would not give to anyone else, except Miss Shi Wei. I think she is very beautiful and I love her very much."
A lady beside Madam Cao also said, "Madam Cao, why don't we open our eyes too?"
Yao Niang felt that something was not good. If Li Tianjiao's family wanted to bring her down, it would be fine, but Wang Yuanshuang was a daughter of the Earl's Mansion. If the Cao family had any intention, they should not have acted as if they wanted to marry her in public.
She had heard that Wang Yuanshuang's mother was also related to the Cao family by marriage, and now it seemed that everyone had really started to make plans.
Yu also sensed something was wrong and said quickly, "Madam Cao, my daughter is still young and cannot handle such a great blessing. It is better not to do so."
At this time, Ren saw that Yu was unhappy and thought, she must want to find a better one for her daughter, but I won't let her do so. So Ren said directly: "Sister-in-law, since Madam Cao is interested, why not let her take it out and have a look. It's nothing, not to mention that it's a gift to Shi Wei, and she has given it to her before."
Mrs. Cao smiled with her lips bent, it was like a pillow for a sleepy person, the mother and daughter of the Yu family were very shrewd, but this Ren family was a scoundrel, and it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. She wanted to make this happen, firstly to find a good marriage for her youngest son, to marry the daughter of the Minister of Personnel, and secondly to do things for the Wang family, as her family still had to rely on the Wang family as a relative.
Yao Niang frowned slightly and immediately came up with a plan.