"As the saying goes, a son of a wealthy family should not sit idle in the hall. Your Highness Prince Chen is worth a lot of money. Now that Bai Longyu has surrendered, my wife and I are of course happy, but Your Highness must still put his own safety first." Luo Zhizheng said.
Yu was also worried after hearing this: "Yes, Your Highness, you brought two people with you. What if something happens? It's not peaceful outside."
Gao Xuance said quickly, "Lord Luo, Madam Luo, you don't have to worry. Although I am traveling incognito, I have brought enough guards with me. It's just that they didn't come in. I am just passing by today and want to pay you a visit. Don't worry."
After hearing this, not only Yu, but also Luo Zhizheng breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing that it was time for dinner, Luo Zhizheng smiled and said, "It's time for dinner now. If the Third Prince doesn't mind, why don't you stay for dinner?"
Eating means seeing the guest off. He still didn't want the Third Prince to stay in his house for a long time. It would be bad if something really happened.
Gao Xuance didn't seem to understand what Luo Zhizheng meant. Instead, he said to Yu: "Thank you for your help. Yao Niang told me that your spring dish is very delicious. I have wanted to try it for a long time."
Spring plate? When Yu was a child, his family was very poor. The so-called spring plate was actually a thin pancake with vegetables. Later, after his father became an official, everyone still liked this dish. The thin pancake with vegetables was not just salted vegetables. You could stir-fry pork with leeks, add long egg strips, prepare a plate of sweet noodle sauce, and eat it with shallots.
After she married into the Luo family, the fillings became even richer, such as braised pork elbow, smoked pork elbow, big tripe, small tripe, roast duck, smoked chicken, and donkey meat. This was Yao Niang's favorite. She really loved eating this. Paired with a bowl of soup, it was simply a perfect match. Once, after she jumped the rope, she ate three cakes at once.
Originally, Yu was still worried about how to get along with this son-in-law who was from a noble family. Little did she know that the Third Prince was so approachable and caring about Yao Niang. She was actually ready to go into the kitchen and cook.
Luo Zhizheng could not help but said, "Tell them to prepare a table of delicious food and I will accompany His Highness to dine."
"Okay." Yu nodded immediately.
Gao Xuance thought to himself that he had heard Princess Zhenyang mention it before, and it was only when Princess Zhenyang made a fuss about wanting to eat the spring plate that he found out that it was because of Yao Niang. It seemed that he had done the right thing.
After Yu left, Gao Xuance and Luo Zhizheng played a game. Luo Zhizheng was proud of his literary talent. In the world today, apart from the great talent Fu Shen, he was the second best in the world. Little did he know that it was rare for him to meet an opponent when playing chess with Gao Xuance.
Yao Niang was called into the kitchen by Yu: "It's rare that His Royal Highness Prince Chen also likes to eat spring dishes. You should learn how to make it from me so that you can make it for your husband in the future. Look how much I care about you. You know that I make a good spring dish."
Yao Niang felt very happy after hearing this. She had only talked about this with Princess Zhenyang occasionally in the palace, and Prince Chen knew so much when he came to visit her.
"I understand. I'll help you now." Yao Niang asked the maid to roll up her sleeves.
While doing this, Yu was worried: "You said the Third Prince has eaten all kinds of delicacies from land and sea, will he dislike them? These are just some folk snacks."
Yao Niang thought for a moment and said, "I haven't heard about this from Concubine Hong, but since he ordered it, I'll just cook it for him. I can't worry about it."
"How can you say that?" Yu was a little worried.
Yao Niang tried to persuade her a few times, but seeing that Yu was still very excited and worried, she stopped.
While cooking, Yu said to Yao Niang, "I think His Royal Highness Prince Chen is a humble man, knowledgeable, and handsome. He is more approachable than your brother-in-law. He is not as arrogant as you say. On the contrary, he is a very good person."
"This is probably why the Emperor and Concubine Hong both favor him." Yao Niang thought to herself that she was inferior to him.
But Yu didn't dare to delay and prepared the spring dish. The dishes in the kitchen were almost ready. When Yu ordered someone to bring the dishes in, Luo Jingxi said in embarrassment: "Madam, it's hard to tell who is the winner between father and Prince Chen, this..."
When Prince Chen came to the mansion, Luo Jingxi naturally had to accompany him. He was originally very happy, but his father and Prince Chen were playing chess and he could only watch from the side. It happened that both of them walked with murderous auras.
For Prince Chen, no one except his father would let him make a move, and Luo Zhizheng was also a stubborn person, so the two of them really did not get along with each other.
Yu said, "How can that be possible? It's getting dark. Tell your father to let His Royal Highness Prince Chen eat early and return to the palace."
"Yes, son will go in and tell father now." Luo Jingxi was also anxious in his heart, but he did not dare to act rashly in front of his father.
Who is Gao Xuance? Hearing the unusual movement, he took the initiative to move half a chess piece. At the end of the game, Luo Zhizheng won half a chess piece. Looking at Gao Xuance in front of him, he couldn't help but worry: "This man is so perceptive. He let me move half a chess piece at the end, which not only shows his superb skills, but also shows his respect for me. It can be seen that he is very scheming. My daughter's silly sister must have been fooled by him."
But Luo Zhizheng was not completely aloof, otherwise he would not have been able to hold such a high position.
Therefore, he said to Gao Xuance: "I am ashamed. Your Highness is a great chess player. I really enjoyed playing chess today."
Gao Xuance said quickly, "I am the same. I will ask you for advice in the future. Unfortunately, my time is limited today. If not, I would like to ask you for advice on calligraphy. I have heard that you are a master of calligraphy."
Coincidentally, Luo Jingxi said that the meal had been prepared, and Gao Xuance happily took the seat. He only tasted the other dishes casually, but ate a lot of the spring plate. Luo Zhizheng nodded secretly. No matter what, he had done it for the sake of face.
Luo Jingxi was also flattering at the table. When Gao Xuance saw Luo Jingxi, he thought that this man was ambitious but lacked talent. It was unfortunate that a man like Luo Zhizheng gave birth to such a son. However, he did not reveal anything on his face and seemed to be talking to him cheerfully.
But after finishing his meal, he looked at the sky and stood up and said, "Uncle, brother, I've been busy for a long time today, and it's time for me to go. Oh, by the way, I came here in a hurry today and didn't have time to prepare any gifts. I only brought a few shads with me. Please don't reject them."
Upon hearing this, Luo Zhizheng and Luo Jingxi were both shocked.
Shad is a tribute. The emperor never gave more than six shads as a reward to the prime minister, which was the treatment of a powerful prime minister. The second-in-command only got four shads. But the prince gave six shads today, which was indeed a great honor.
You must know that the emperor will not bestow any rank below that of Shangshu.
Luo Jingxi was also very happy. After Gao Xuance left, he was so happy that he didn't know which direction to turn: "Dad, this is shad. I'll have someone put it in the ice cellar right away."
"Yeah." Luo Zhizheng did not comment.
That night, Yao Niang didn't say anything, but seeing that mother and eldest brother were very happy, father was indifferent and didn't seem to be interested. It's no wonder, father has always been the same to everyone, without any flattery.
Yu smiled and said, "The Prince of Chen likes the spring dishes I make. My spring dishes are eaten the most."
"Really? Prince Chen must like your cooking skills. I told you not to be nervous. He is a very good person and was very filial to Concubine Hong when he was in the palace." Yao Niang said.
When Luo Jingxi returned to his room at night, he mentioned this to Fan and was quite excited: "Most common brothers-in-law are somewhat arrogant. I see that His Royal Highness Prince Chen, a descendant of a noble family, treats me without any arrogance. He knew that I had failed several times and he was very appreciative of me. He even promised to recommend me in the future."
Fan nodded secretly: "That's good. Fifth sister finally married into a good family."
For most women, wealth and glory are not the most important thing, but whether the family is good or not. One of Fan's cousins married a good man, but the man liked to beat his wife. He was beaten to death before he was 20.
Like her, Luo Jingxi was born a playboy, and he didn't know how much he had suffered.
Luo Jingxi took off his boots and couldn't help but say, "I think he made the old man lose. It's rare that someone like the old man would lose to someone else. It's so strange."
"Really? Didn't they say that dad won the chess game?" Mrs. Fan asked curiously.
Luo Jingxi said, "No, it was Prince Chen who gave up half a chess piece, and my father was upset. Fortunately, I was there to smooth things over, otherwise everyone would have lost face."
If Luo Jingxi's concubine was here at this time, she would certainly start to flatter him. Fan rarely did that. She just said, "Prince Chen is not very old, but he can beat my father-in-law by so much. It shows that he is not an ordinary person."
Luo Jingxi didn't hear the compliment he wanted to hear, so he snorted coldly and said, "By the way, how is the second house going? Has the mistress' niece been brought into the house?"
At first he thought that she was his wife's niece, and his wife and third brother were special in his eyes. If he took action, it would be bad. He didn't know that his second brother Fa would take advantage of him.
Of course, that woman was not a peaceful person either.
Mrs. Fan shook her head: "How can we ask about such things? Besides, Madam was already ill because of this matter, and she sent Miss Yu to retreat. Unfortunately, this is really..."
"It's nothing, madam. Everyone should just live their own life. Why think so much? Women are timid after all. You don't even think about the fact that your second brother Fa is going to die, yet you still listen to that tigress." Luo Jingxi was very dissatisfied.
Fan could only sigh.
Prince Chen also sent six shads when he came to the house. When Xiao Jiang from the second house heard this, she felt very angry. Her attendant Mingyue said, "Second Madam, I'm afraid this won't be enough to deal with Yu Yan in the future."
"Yeah, who would have known that the fifth girl from the eldest house would be chosen as the prince's consort. It's such a great thing." Little Jiang felt like her teeth were about to break.
According to her temper, she should go to the main room to make trouble. This is definitely Yu's conspiracy. If it's not her conspiracy, she must be the one behind it. I know exactly what they are planning.
既然推不得，還不如主動迎回來，到時候要她看看自己的厲害。
想到這裏，小蔣氏冷哼一聲。
明月原本想說，二爺做的是不對，但是二奶奶現在最需要的是個兒子啊，如今同輩的媳婦裏，周氏範氏甚至朱氏都已經生産，只有她沒有兒子，今日就是不納郁嫣，納別人也是很有可能的。
可她自己還要受小蔣氏挾制，更不敢說這些了。
今年過年，瑤娘就替郁氏管家，因為羅家女又要嫁宸王，故而上門的人比以往還多，郁氏有瑤娘和時雨在旁，二人白日就登記造冊，分派事情，夜裏就睡在一處。
臘八這日，瑤娘和時雨手拉着手，一道去廚房和郁氏一起熬煮臘八粥，這些臘八粥都是要到處送的，因此，常常有比較，羅家的臘八粥一直就比別人家的好吃。
郁氏跟她們講訣竅：“你們看我們家的臘八粥之所以熬的好，就是因為加了藕粉，這黑米、糯米、黑豆、紅豆、紅芸豆、花生、紅棗先提前泡一晚上，再開始熬，快好的時候，舀藕粉進去攪拌，你們看，這樣就行了。”
兩位姑娘都是将笄之年，郁氏只恨不得都教給她們。
等臘八粥做好了，瑤娘和時雨則親自端着送去給窦老太君，時芳正在窦老太君外間抄寫佛經，見她們過來，時芳不由得自慚形穢。
長房的這對姐妹花真是走到哪裏都會惹人注目，尤其是瑤娘，蘭胸微挺，腰間盈盈一握，整個人已經有女人的樣子了。
“四姐姐，我們是送臘八粥過來，也有你的一份。”瑤娘笑道。
時芳搖頭：“我早起已經吃了一大碗了，來，我随你們一道進去吧。”
窦老太君見她們過來，笑呵呵的：“你母親素來大事都做的極好，你們兩個多在她身邊學也就受用不盡了。”
“您說的是，今兒這臘八粥也是我娘教給我們的。”瑤娘心道，娘也很不容易，從郁家那樣的人家嫁到羅家做宗婦，獲得別人的贊許，實在是付出了許多。
“你弟弟如何了？這些日子總不見他。”窦老太君提起敬皓。
瑤娘則笑道：“前些日子回來了一趟，但爹爹又讓人送去書院了，先生也不讓他回來，他現在在上舍讀書，真真是一息都不會放松。”
敬皓雖然算不得頂頂聰明的人，但勝在老實，就連爹都說，這能讀好書的非老實人莫屬，心太雜的人是讀不好書的。
窦老太君則道：“好好好，敬皓這孩子小時候三災八難的，現在倒是好很多了。我聽說上次不知道怎麽跌落在水池裏，自己就凫水上來了。”
聽了這句話，瑤娘咯噔了一下，此事怎麽無人說。
等從甘泉居回去後，瑤娘問起時雨：“怎麽回事？敬皓落水過嗎？”
要知道前世敬皓就是落水而亡，這輩子自從瑤娘把他的咳疾治好之後，又開始經常玩耍，身體比前世好多了，甚至進宮之前還讓爹爹教他凫水，他不比之前了。
時雨點頭：“有這麽一回事，還是春天的事情，那時候冰雪還未融化，敬皓在園子裏玩兒，說是蛐蛐跑走了，不知怎麽就跌落下去了，還好他力氣大，直接自己游上來了。不過，五姐姐你莫擔心，無事的。”
“還好他現在身子骨好多了，若是小時候，就真的不知道如何了。”瑤娘很慶幸。
可這幕後有沒有推手嗎？如果真的有推手，又到底是誰呢？
這頓臘八粥吃的瑤娘有些心不在焉，恰逢此時，往外送臘八粥的人也回來了，爾珍回來對郁氏道：“太太，不好了，咱們家的二姑娘要和離了。”
和離？
郁氏皺眉：“她不是和姑爺感情一向很好的嗎？怎麽這個時候要和離。”
雖說單玉京變成平民了，但名聲不錯，日後指定也有起複之日，何必如此呢？若是單玉京死了，改嫁說的過去，現在人家正逢難，她就這麽回來了，家裏其他女兒怎麽辦？
郁氏扶額，哪裏知曉蔣氏更煩惱，她兒子和長房弟妹的侄女混在一起已經是讓她頭疼了，現在庶女又出了事情，怎麽事情就全部發生在她家了呢？
別人只會說她教女無方，教子無方。
蔣氏自己不敢作主，就和她家老爺羅至孝商量：“好端端的，說要和離。又說玉京被她捉奸在床，她是一日也過不下去了。”
“不過是個外頭的女子，收房就是了，若不然賠錢即可，我本就因為衡王受到皇上厭棄，如今官卑，難得長房的五娘許了宸王，六娘也許了江家，這個時候你說她和離回來，就怕我們家時岚也受到影響。”羅至忠覺得羅時貞太不省心了。
蔣氏也道：“是啊，這種事情哪家哪戶都有，想想真是頭疼。”
這事兒郁氏就和羅至正提起，羅至正冷哼一聲：“二房的嫂嫂也不知道怎麽管的，當年我都不要許配女兒給單家了，偏二哥要許配時貞，又不了解自己女兒不是個嫁雞随雞嫁狗随狗的樣子，如今鬧成這番地步，我也不知道如何是好了？”
郁氏就道：“這不是玉京也有錯嗎？他也真是的，和自己表妹走的那麽近，你看看……”
“你看看你會管家會讓別的女人接近我嗎？正常人會像羅敬法和羅敬熙着兩個淫賊嗎？這不是成心的設套嗎？”羅至正都無語了。
郁氏震驚道：“老爺，您說的什麽話。”
一句話得罪了三個人啊，瑤娘正在耳房聽了個正着，她爹先是說她娘管的死緊，又把自己的兒子和侄兒說成淫賊。
羅至正繼續輸出：“本來就是啊，你天天都怕別人搶走我，使勁渾身解數纏着我，家中妾侍通房都不敢随意走動，更別提是外人了。我也是個正派人，不像羅敬法和羅敬熙這兩個狗東西，連尼姑庵都敢摸去。玉京是個仕途比什麽都重要的人，若非有人有意縱容，怎麽可能會如此？況且，平日裏，她還主動納妾，現在還裝什麽河東獅，我的話難聽，但我哪點說的不算事實。”
瑤娘不知道為何，總想笑。
因為前世她被人把她和陸宵抓奸在床時，羅至正就罵她蠢鈍如豬，而不是奸夫淫婦，說明他其實很清楚的知道，所謂浸豬籠如果真的要浸，郁氏根本攔不住。
大抵不是真的要害她，而是想吓唬她，自此之後，瑤娘就知道什麽都要靠自己。
娘家和丈夫甚至是親人，誰都靠不住，沒了後路，才能奮發。
再聽郁氏似乎很委屈：“別人怎樣我不評判，但是我何曾吃過醋，何曾把持過老爺，姨娘妾侍通房甚至不是我的兒女我都視如己出，如今你還要這般說我？你真的太過分了。”
聽了這話瑤娘也是暗中點頭，是啊，娘也算夠寬容的了，爹還這麽說她，真是不應該。
她怕爹再罵娘，想等會兒要不要自己去一趟，她們大人總不會當着孩子面吵架吧。
沒想到卻聽到她一向高傲的爹在哄人：“漣漣，我巴不得你吃醋，我是故意這麽說的。你一日不吃醋，我都覺得你不在意我們。我年歲老矣，你卻還風華正茂。”
“老爺，哪裏有這樣的事情。妾身現下也是三十多的婦人了，早已是殘花敗柳。唯獨老爺不嫌棄我，總待我這般好。”
……
之後的情話瑤娘是羞赧的不想再聽下去了，應該是高玄策誇她娘，他爹居然吃醋了，真是大跌眼界。
回房過後，瑤娘似乎覺得自己以前理解錯了爹娘的感情。
她們私下感情應該也是很好的，只是弟弟早死，她又那個樣子，娘當然就沒意思了，失去了求生的意志。
甚至因為自己，她永遠要被人指指點點。可到底，她其實獲得了丈夫的寵愛，只是爹爹在外不表露罷了。
又過了幾日，單大太太上門來，瑤娘正跟着郁氏辦年貨，見到單大太太就準備避開，心知肚明她肯定是來說羅時貞的事情的。
從瑤娘本心而言，這種事情無所謂，願意和離就和離，但是這件事情到底如何呢？她就立馬躲在屏風後面。
郁氏指了指她，瑤娘以為娘會罵自己，誰知道郁氏道：“藏好，別喝水偷吃東西。”
“嘿嘿，知道啦。”
要說單大太太還是多年前見過，那個時候的她白白胖胖的，一幅大家夫人的樣子，現在依舊胖，皮卻全部耷拉下來了。
這個時候她再也不敢像以前擺架子了，反而求郁氏道：“表弟妹，我們是不得已了，時貞鬧着要和離，還要帶走孫子，我們無法呀。”
郁氏安撫道：“那不過是一時氣話，我們羅家也不是不講道理的人家，你把你那位侄女兒送走了，不就好了嗎？”
“這倒罷了，她說不和離就去衙門告玉京，還要我們準備六萬兩銀子給她，兒子她能還給我們。”單大太太忍不住哭哭啼啼。
She really didn't expect that Luo Shizhen, who was so kind to her son on weekdays, would plot against her son behind his back just to give him a plate of dumplings. She already had a lot of evidence against her son, and she even knew about the affairs of the Shan family. If he didn't comply, she would go and sue him directly.
I never thought that the person next to me would be a beautiful snake.
Hearing Mrs. Shan's words, Yu frowned and asked, "What are you going to do?" These things are too big.
"Please talk to Luo Shizhen for me, tell her not to go back to her parents' home and not to reveal Yujing's affairs. In short, don't even think about divorce. You know, the reason Yujing was like this was because of her trap. Ever since Yujing committed the crime, she claimed that she was recuperating and never slept with her again. That's why Yujing..." Mrs. Shan hated Luo Shizhen so much whenever she mentioned him.
Yu shook her head: "How can I control her?"
Madam Shan said anxiously, "You are the main branch of the Luo family. If you don't care, who will? Besides, you don't want to affect your daughter's marriage to the prince. Although the emperor has granted the marriage, there are many people who covet this marriage. If someone reports you, the Luo family, what will you do?"
Although Mrs. Shan was selfish, these words touched Yu's heart.
Yao Niang, who was hiding behind the screen, felt uncomfortable after hearing this. Mrs. Shan was clearly threatening her with her marriage, but if she really agreed, it would be like tofu falling into an ashes, which would not be good in any way. Luo Shizhen only cared about money and asked her to give up the divorce and live in harmony with the Shan family. The only requirement was to give her money.
That person was not the impression she gave when she was a noble lady, gentle and generous. Yao Niang had seen her true face in her previous life. A person who could force someone's entire family to death for a few acres of land was not a good person.