There seemed to be strong winds on the way back, which was completely different from the sunny weather on the way here. Yao Niang thought that this so-called auspicious sign seemed to be of no use!

Princess Zhenyang was also surprised: "I don't know what happened, it rained so soon."

Yao Niang also found it strange.

Especially after this auspicious sign, Henan reported a flood, Hebei and Shaanxi reported a drought, and Yang Yingquan in Guizhou rebelled. In short, such major events followed one after another.

Concubine Lin Zheng felt that this auspicious sign came out of nowhere at first, but what happened afterwards made her a little scared.

From the initial slight secret joy to now, she is not a fool and is always afraid that it is fate or someone else's doing. It just so happens that at this time, there is a memorial from the previous dynasty requesting the emperor to make her the empress and to appoint the eldest son as the crown prince.

This was actually a normal petition for a title, but Concubine Lin was most reluctant to bring it up at this time, as if she and her son were coveting that position.

It was at this time that Yao Niang returned home to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, and naturally there were some changes in the family.

First, the second elder brother Jingyuan has married Zhu, the daughter of Yu Shi Zhongcheng, adding a member to the family. And Zhu is about to give birth, so perhaps there will be another child soon.

After giving birth to a son, Fan gave birth to a daughter. Now that she had a son and a daughter, she was much plumper than before.

"Sister-in-law, sister-in-law." Yao Niang bowed quickly.

Fan and Zhu came forward and pulled her to Yu's place. Yu had hardly made any changes in the past three years. When she saw the gauze gown Yao Niang was wearing, she couldn't help but scold her: "Why are you so afraid of heat? Although it's hot now, it's much cooler when you go inside. Don't catch a cold."

Yao Niang smiled and said, "Don't worry, I will never let myself catch a cold."

When she came back this time, Yu found that Yao Niang spoke much less and seemed to be worried about something. On the outside, Yao Niang still appeared the same as before.

Zhu had just entered the family not long ago. At first, she first got to know her own sister-in-law, the sixth daughter of the Luo family, Luo Shiyu. This girl was extraordinary in the poetry society, and was particularly talented, like an orchid in a valley, with an excellent temperament. She thought that her sister-in-law was already very good.

Who would have known that there was this fifth sister who had returned from the palace. She was so beautiful that she didn't look like a real person. Now she was dressed in soft silk gauze, yet she was so bright and beautiful that no one could compare to her.

Moreover, her words and actions were different from others. She was not a quiet lady. Instead, she was very smart and seemed not easy to mess with. Instead, they were most afraid of such a sister-in-law.

Of course, if you don't have close contact with her, you won't be able to discover this side of her. When you see her smiling, she looks gentle and extremely kind.

Yao Niang introduced the two palace maids she brought back from the palace to everyone. Xiulin and Xiujuan also received a lot of rewards. They usually kept a low profile in the palace, and most of the time they just served Yao Niang or did needlework. However, those who could serve in the palace were not ordinary people, so the people of the Luo family were of course very polite to them.

After taking Xiulin and the others back to their room, Yao Niang specifically asked them if there was anything they could ask the Luo family to bring to their families. If so, they could help. Then she let the two of them go to the next room to rest.

Shi Yu came over with a smile, and when Yao Niang saw her, she asked, "What's wrong? I heard about your happy event, but I haven't had time to congratulate you yet."

But Shi Yu blushed: "Sister is used to teasing people, but it was chosen by Daddy, I trust Daddy's vision."

"Which one?"

"My sister also knows him. He is from the Jiang family, the Huaiyang Jiang family. His talent and character are both first-rate. My father admires him very much, so he arranged this marriage for us."

"That's good. Daddy has chosen the right person for you." Yao Niang nodded with a smile.

Shi Yu advised her, "Sister, we only have a few years left. You'd better find a marriage before you reach the age of 15. Otherwise, where can you find one?"

This is true, but now she is not the only one waiting like this. Xu Qingrong and Cheng Shaozhen in the palace are already young ladies of eighteen or nineteen years old.

The closer it is to the last moment, the more you need to keep your composure, otherwise all your efforts will be in vain.

If people leave themselves too many ways to escape, they tend to be indecisive. If you want to accomplish something, it is best to burn your boats.

Then, Yao Niang smiled and took Shi Yu's hand and said, "You don't have to worry about my affairs. You still have a few years to get married, so cherish the days you have at home."

"Of course, sister, you may not know that my third sister has gone to Huguang with her brother-in-law. Father told my third brother-in-law to travel well and my third sister to go back and be filial to her parents-in-law." It was the first time that Shi Yu felt that marrying far away was not a good idea.

It’s unknown when the third sister will come back after she leaves.

Yao Niang nodded: "So that's how it is."

My third brother-in-law Wang Zongmu is actually still young, he is only twenty years old this year, it is normal for him not to pass the imperial examination at this age, but no matter how much my third sister wants to go to Beijing, I am afraid she can't, because the elders of the Wang family also want to see their grandson.

However, she still asked Shi Yu: "How is Third Sister?"

"When Xin Ge'er was born, I heard that it was a bit bad. But I am a girl after all, so I don't ask."

Shi Yu heard Aunt Qin talk about the relationship between husband and wife. When the two are together, they are so tender and sweet. But when the mother-in-law, sister-in-law and sisters-in-law live together, there will be much friction.

Men are different at their wife's parents' home and at their own home.

Of course he feels very restricted at his wife's house, but at his own home, his family will tolerate him. Only then can you see how the couple is doing.

Nowadays, life is really hard for women. It is still easy when they are at home, but it becomes difficult when they marry into someone else's family.

Yao Niang thought that it was a good thing for her that Luo Jingrou married far away. She didn't know how Luo Jingrou's health was. If something happened to her and ruined her reputation, she would have no way to explain herself.

It is best to stay away from some dangers, otherwise there will always be loopholes.

On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Luo family worshipped the moon in the garden. The Mid-Autumn Festival is also called the Daughter's Day, which is the day when daughters return to their parents' home. Luo Shilan is unlikely to come back, but Luo Shizhen did bring Shan Yujing back with him. Shan Yujing also passed the imperial examination in March this year and worked as a historian in the Yushi Road.

"Your second sister is really good to her husband. When your brother-in-law casually said he wanted to eat dumplings on the winter solstice, she went to Jintan Temple alone in the middle of winter to deliver the dumplings." Yu thought Shi Zhen was a virtuous woman.

Yao Niang was very surprised: "Is she always like this?"

Yu nodded: "Very considerate. I heard that she met Madam Shan, so she gave the most valuable hairpin in her dressing table to Madam Shan."

"Is the Shan family managed by my second sister now?" Yao Niang asked.

Mrs. Yu smiled and said, "Of course, she not only takes care of the household, but she hasn't been doing anything bad in the past few years since she got married. Now she is taking medicine to recuperate."

The night was as cool as water. Jinghao found a rabbit lamp for Yao Niang from somewhere. The child was only eleven years old, but she was very tall and became more shy than before.

"Did you choose this for me?" Yao Niang asked Jing Hao.

Jinghao nodded: "I chose it. I saw this cute bunny lamp after school, so I bought it for you, sister."

Yao Niang held it in her hands and looked at it carefully, and thought it was very good.

After worshiping the moon, everyone guessed lantern riddles, and Yao Niang also gave everyone a lantern riddle to guess.

"Brothers earn 7,000 or 8,000 yuan, living under the eaves. They make pulp and sell it every day, and the pulp is more valuable. This is very simple, guess what it is?"

After Yao Niang finished speaking, Jing Hao said, "Sister, I know, it's a bee."

"Yes, it's a bee. I can't let you guess in vain. Someone gave me a lot of gold-sprinkled wax paper this time, a whole stack. I'll give them all to you." Yao Niang didn't know why, but every time she saw Jinghao grow up, she would feel very moved.

Luo Zhi was speechless and guessed "bee", so he gave a stack of gold-dusted wax paper rolls.

This wax paper is usually used by the court and is very valuable. Even Mi Fu, a famous calligrapher in the Song Dynasty, said that even the "Dead Tree" by Chu Suiliang, the Secretary of the Central Secretariat of the Tang Dynasty, was printed on wax paper. The gold-sprinkled wax paper is based on this and is coated with gold and silver foil. Therefore, when used to write, the brushstrokes are fluent, and the handwriting is bright and vivid, and more charming.

This kind of thing cannot be bought outside, and it is rarely circulated. Some people in the private sector don’t even know about it.

It's not something you can buy with money.

Luo Zhi knew his daughter well, so he was very generous and decisive in his actions, with a bit of the Liangshanpo spirit.

Therefore, he said: "How can this gold-dusted wax paper be used by children? Jinghao can't even write well, isn't it a waste?"

When Yao Niang heard what her father said, she knew what her father wanted. You know, Luo Zhizheng himself is a famous calligrapher. All literati like exquisite objects and demand perfection in everything.

So, Yao Niang decided to tease her father: "Dad, it is the good paper that allows him to write well. If the characters are not easy to write, it would be a waste of the paper. Oh, I also have those Chengxintang papers, give them to Jinghao too."

"You--" Luo Zhizheng was a little angry.

Yao Niang said, "Okay, give them all to Daddy, but Daddy wants to give me a painting."

Luo Zhizheng said with a fierce look on his face: "Now even your father has started to have fun."

"I'm just joking with you, don't worry. Last time I went to Ci'en Temple, I asked for a peace amulet for your father. I'll take it to the study and give it to your father later." Yao Niang acted coquettishly to her father.

Although Luo Zhizheng still had a fierce look on his face, he couldn't help but relax.

Luo Zhizheng is the absolute authority in the family, but everyone can see from his expression that he is not so approachable to his other children, especially to Yao Niang, whom he always dotes on.

Study

"What do you think of the three princes?" Luo Zhizheng asked.

Such a question is very shocking to the world, and Luo Zhizheng's status should not be used to ask such a question.

Yao Niang was speechless for a moment.

Luo Zhizheng said, "What are you thinking? I mean, you are in the palace, what is the reputation of these three princes? What do you think?"

Princes cannot make friends with ministers directly unless they are crowned kings in the future. So if they want to get to know a few princes, they usually have to inquire through eunuchs.

Now that Luo Zhizheng has his daughter as a channel to inquire, he naturally wants to ask.

Yao Niang blushed, thinking that her father was asking about who to choose. She really had made a mistake recently because of this matter. Therefore, she quickly calmed down and said seriously: "The eldest prince is the son of Concubine Lin. He has a dark skin, is good at martial arts, and is very heroic. The emperor loves this son very much. The second prince is a person who is a dilettante. He usually respects and worships Buddha. He grew up with Concubine Lin, so he has a good relationship with the eldest prince and the third prince."

"Speaking of the Third Prince——"

Luo Zhizheng was listening at first, but when he saw his daughter suddenly change the subject, he felt something was wrong.

As expected, Yao Niang said, "This third prince is extraordinary in appearance, and is both civil and military. Although he is a little arrogant, he is very filial to the emperor and Concubine Hong. The emperor likes this prince even more. Whenever he is not feeling well, he will recover and feel relieved as long as he sees the third prince. Not to mention Concubine Hong, she likes this third prince the most among her three children. As for the fourth prince, everyone knows that there may be some rumors in the previous dynasty that he is lame."

"Even if he wasn't lame, he wouldn't be able to do it. He is a timid person, and Concubine Yan is also trying to survive in the palace. Unless, unless the first three have problems, otherwise, it will never be his turn."

Luo Zhizheng nodded: "Yes, in the past, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang was not smart when he was young, and he had to wait for the death of all the brothers of Emperor Jingzong of Tang, Emperor Wenzong of Tang, Emperor Wuzong of Tang, and Emperor Xuanzong of Tang before he could sit on the throne. But this fourth prince, I'm afraid it's very rare to have such luck."

Yao Niang nodded: "You are right. If there is another auspicious event, does Dad know about it?"

Luo Zhizheng knew it, but he asked Yao Niang to explain it in detail. After listening, he slammed the table and said, "What a woman's opinion. If she creates such auspicious signs again and writes about the phoenix coming ceremony, wouldn't it make the emperor confer a title on her immediately? It's really Sima Zhao's intention that is known to everyone."

"Yes, the palace is currently cutting back on spending. I heard it was because of the flood in Henan. I also sent a few hairpins to sell. If this is a good omen, it would be good weather and good harvest. But if it is such an auspicious omen now, I am afraid that the emperor..."

"Okay, I understand."

As the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Luo Zhizheng certainly supports orthodoxy. It has been like this for thousands of years. Establishing the foundation of the country early is a good thing for the country.

But after listening to his daughter talk about so many secrets of the palace, Luo Zhizheng suddenly thought about it and asked, "So do you think the third prince is good?"

"Dad, I didn't say that." Yao Niang spread her hands.

Luo Zhizheng was suspicious and said, "But when you told me about the eldest prince, you only said that he likes martial arts. That means if he ascends to the throne in the future, he might be militaristic. And the second prince is just a lazy guy, a good guy, no one dares to offend him. Only the third prince, you said he has extraordinary appearance, is both civil and military, and is the most favored by the emperor. So, isn't it this third prince who not only coaxes his parents well, but also coaxes ignorant girls like you well, which shows that he is a person like Yang Guang."

In order to fight for the throne, Yang Guang pretended to be too nice in front of Emperor Wen of Sui and Empress Dugu.

Yao Niang was a little unhappy: "Dad, why do you say that about him? He and I have only spoken a few words. He is not like Yang Guang. Why do you always think so badly of him?"

Luo Zhizheng was just trying to get her to talk, so he just said something casually. He had no idea that his daughter would say bad things about him just for a stranger. He immediately asked, "Are you interested in him?"