During the New Year, Jinghao also came back from the academy. Yao Niang looked at her brother who had suddenly grown a lot taller and was wolfing down his meal. She said with some emotion, "Do you eat very badly in the academy? Why did you need to coax everyone to eat at home before, but now you actually eat so much."
"Sister, the food in the academy tastes the same every day. No matter how much I eat, I get tired of it. My classmates and I sometimes buy snacks from outside at the corner. Last time, I ate three big meat buns in one go." Jinghao himself felt that he ate too much.
Yao Niang laughed and said, "You little brat is eating me to death." Thinking of this, she remembered that when her son Cheng Yun was practicing martial arts, he could never feel full. At that time, she got up early in the morning to make small steamed buns specially. Chengze was also very sensible. He knew that his brother was practicing martial arts, so he didn't eat any of the food and saved it for his brother.
Seeing Yao Niang looking depressed, Yu Shi was confused and asked, "Yao Niang, what's wrong with you?"
"No, no." Yao Niang felt very sad. Even if she had children in the future, they would not be Cheng Yun and Cheng Ze. She should just be filial to her mother now.
Because Yu had been working hard recently, her skin had turned slightly yellow, and she had been staying in the warm room for a long time, so her face was extremely dry.
Yao Niang personally ground pearls, white jade and ginseng into fine powder, mixed it with high-quality lotus root powder, and blended it into a paste to apply on Yu's face. Yu was reluctant at first, and she even felt that if she put on makeup like this, people would think she was an old witch.
"Mother Yao, please don't put those sticky things on my face. Is it effective?"
"It's effective. It makes your face white, tender and soft. Don't worry. Look at my face. I take care of it every three days. Otherwise, my face would have been dry and flaky." When Yao Niang had nothing to do in her previous life, she studied these things and looked about 20 years younger than her peers.
Mom looks a little younger, and from now on only Dad will be worried about her.
When Yu was applying the facial mask, she stuffed a piece of fructose into her mother's mouth, and Yu felt very happy.
After applying it for a while, Yao Niang patted her face with rose water and then applied Yurong Powder finely. Yu looked at her face in the bronze mirror and still felt a little embarrassed, but it felt very smooth to the touch.
Now Yao Niang has an additional task. In addition to embroidering her mother's portrait every day, she also takes care of her mother's face and takes this opportunity to tell jokes to her mother.
During their break, she and Shi Yu picked flowers and made some flower cakes.
Luo Zhizheng has been very busy these days because he will be inspecting the capital next year. He usually comes home to rest at night. But when he came back after the government office was closed, Yao Niang was accompanying Yu to eat fresh flower cakes.
There was not a single bit of makeup on Yu's face, which was as white as jade. Her hair was light and pale in color, and she and Yao Niang really looked like sisters.
"You are the one who has so many creative ideas. This flower cake is made in this pink color and is filled with rose filling. It looks very beautiful." Yu took a bite and felt that it was not too sweet and was very good.
The worst thing about snacks is that they are too sweet, otherwise they will not taste good.
Yao Niang was about to speak when she saw Luo Zhizheng coming back. She smiled and said, "Daddy is back. I'll pour tea for him and he can have some of my fresh flower cakes."
Seeing her busy around, Luo Zhizheng suddenly felt that the towel he usually used to wipe his face also had a kind of plant fragrance, and he felt much better. After eating some snacks and drinking tea, even Luo Zhizheng said, "It's better to have a concubine."
My daughter is very considerate. She thinks of everything about her parents and is very filial.
Yu nodded: "Of course."
Luo Zhizheng looked at Yu and noticed that her face was glowing and she looked much younger.
Yao Niang looked at him with a smile and said deliberately: "Dad, do you think my mother has become much younger? I apply facial mask to her every day."
"Ahem." Luo Zhizheng lowered his head slightly and did not answer.
Yao Niang laughed secretly, covered her mouth and went out.
At this time, Shi Yu also gave the flower cake he made to Aunt Qin. After taking a bite, Aunt Qin couldn't help but eat another piece before saying, "This must be the idea of your fifth sister. Since she came back, your father has become more and more inseparable from the wife."
In the past, my husband would go to other people's places when it was inconvenient for my wife, but now he accommodates my wife for meals every day. People with my husband's temperament are really rare.
I said this to Shi Yu to remind her not to trust others easily.
Shi Yu said, "Aunt, no matter what, this is your business." She is not a child anymore. She has been watching from the sidelines for so many years. It seems that the mistress has never dealt with her aunt. As for framing the concubine, it is even more impossible for her to do so. She can understand that it is not easy for her mother.
Being a concubine is not easy, but being a wife is not easy either.
The fifth sister said that she thought a line from Bai Juyi's poem was very well written, "Don't be a woman in your life, for your happiness and sorrow will be determined by others."
All women suffer. Concubines complain about the wife, and which wife wants a concubine? In fact, everyone is pitiful. Do they still have to give in to each other?
If it was as my aunt said, what harm did my fifth sister do to me? My wife taught me everything, even her wedding dowry was bought together with my fifth sister, and even the bed was made together.
Could it be that she was helping her aunt to be jealous? She couldn't do that.
Yao Niang didn't know about Shi Yu's little troubles. During the New Year, because she was already the Princess of Chen, it was not appropriate for her to go out, so she stayed at home. Although she felt a little bored, she didn't have to worry about any unexpected things.
But once she complained, Luo Zhizheng personally promised, "Spring is coming soon, and the imperial examination will be over. Many tourists will leave their ink pens beside Jinming Lake. Your brothers-in-law will also take part in the imperial examination. Then we can go to Jinming Lake together to have fun."
Only then did Yao Niang smile happily.
Now it was Yu who said, "Your father loves you too much. How can a girl who is engaged to a royal family run to Jinming Lake? Look at the girls from the Wang and Xu families, they are hiding at home embroidering their dowries."
"Mother, why should I be like them? The purses I made in the palace are enough to give to countless people. I don't want to do it. Father won't say anything. You should come with me to Jinming Lake."
"Oh, there's really nothing I can do with you."
My daughter is so willful by nature. Although she is caring and filial, she has her own opinions and never changes her mind.
On the eighth day of the first lunar month, Mrs. Cao, Marquis of Dongyang, came to visit her. They used to have a very good relationship with Yao Niang, but now that she had become the wife of the prince of Zhongjing, the two sides could not be too close. After all, Concubine Lin and Concubine Hong belonged to two different factions. Although they did not appear to be incompatible, knew it in their hearts.
But Wei Feng was still the woman who could see through everything. She smiled and said, "Congratulations, you got what you wanted. Among the few of us who studied together, I am the least promising. You should marry the Prince of Le'an, and you should marry Chengwei. Now I am just the wife of the prince of a marquisate."
If someone else said this, it would inevitably sound sarcastic, but when Wei Feng said this, Yao Niang just smiled and said, "Sister Wei, you are already on board, you have secured your position as a mother and a child, and you are laughing at us. Sister Cheng will go to her fiefdom after getting married, and as for me, you also know that it is difficult to get out of the palace once you are in it, and it is not like being outside, where you can see your parents all the time."
Wei Feng knew that Yao Niang had a close relationship with her family. Unlike herself, she could escape the Wei family anyway, so it didn't matter who she married. But she married into the palace, which had strict rules, and it would be very difficult for her to return to her parents' home.
"Yes, you are right. However, this Prince Chen..." Wei Feng was a little hesitant about whether to tell Yao Niang the real Prince Chen.
As good sisters, of course they should tell each other everything they know, but Yao Niang is about to become someone's wife, and it is not a good thing for her to say bad things about someone else's husband.
Yao Niang smiled and said, "Sister, what is the relationship between you and me? There is no need to hide it. Just tell me if you have something to say."
Wei Feng nodded: "Then I'll tell you, I heard that the Prince of Chen is very ambitious, and the path he wants is not a smooth one. We women want a harmonious family and healthy children, but as for power and wealth, it's easy to experience ups and downs. It's just like a gambler, Yao Niang."
Of course Yao Niang knew this, but is there any smooth road in the world?
She held Wei Feng's hand and said, "I am really happy that you are willing to speak your mind to me, but I have already been betrothed to him, so I will not think of anything else. By the way, where is your sister? I heard that the son of the Marquis Zhongjing treats you very well."
"That's not the case. We are just treating each other with respect. He likes beautiful women, but unfortunately, beautiful ones are of low status and he thinks they are not worthy of him. I am so mediocre that I have never caught his eye since I gave birth to a child. But he still wants me to maintain the status of the Marquis' Mansion." Wei Feng is very satisfied now. She is born into a legitimate family and is valued by her husband. It is good for her to have rights as the prince's wife.
Yao Niang hesitated for a moment, but still didn't mention Zhong, because Wei Feng was not Luo Jingrou in this life, so Zhong didn't have that chance, so there was no point in saying anything more.
"Sister Wei, only useful people can live long. Don't be modest. In fact, there is no such thing as true love between husband and wife. Men love themselves more." Yao Niang was also very emotional.
Wei Feng laughed: "I really like this."
The two chatted for a while, and Yao Niang took her to watch an opera again. This time, Mrs. Cao saw that Yao Niang did not dare to intercept on behalf of Wang Yuanshuang. She was very polite, but she was also very regretful in her heart.
Originally, Madam Cao was very fond of Yao Niang as her daughter-in-law, but now she has decided to marry the third daughter of the Lu family. There is a huge difference. Although the Lu family is already a member of the Ministry of Revenue and the dowry is rich, how can the Lu family compare with the Luo family?
But when Yu heard this, she quickly congratulated her: "Look at you, I have seen the third daughter of the Lu family before, she is a good girl."
Mr. Lu and Luo Zhi were of the same age and had some interactions with each other.
Madam Cao whispered, "In terms of appearance, their fourth daughter is more outstanding, but it's a pity that she is born out of wedlock."
To be able to say such things, it seems that Mrs. Cao is quite disapproving of the Lu family. Otherwise, who would make such comments about the family of their future daughter-in-law? A normal person would cover it up.
Yu was not a nosy person, so she did not ask any more questions. Instead, Wei Feng whispered in her ear, "A rich man marries a wife, while a humble man marries a daughter. Alas."
Isn't this reminding her that she is going to marry a prince, so it's the same.
Yao Niang always kept her back straight and her posture graceful when she was outside. The women from the Luo family who came today couldn't help but secretly look at Yao Niang. They all wanted to know who was chosen as the prince's consort from the Luo family?
Of course, they were not disappointed.
The fifth daughter of the Luo family looks very kind and has a beauty that can captivate a country. She is really a stunning beauty and a daughter of a rich family as the rumors say. No wonder she was given by the emperor to his most beloved son, Prince Chen.
The gifts that people gave to Yao Niang were more precious than the last. Yu was still hesitating whether to return them, but Luo Zhizheng waved his hand and said, "Just accept them if they give them to you. If you return them like this, it would be petty."
"In that case, I will listen to you, Master."
"Um."
Lantern Festival
Luo Shizhen personally brought the glutinous rice balls over. When Yao Niang saw Luo Shizhen, she had gained a little weight and looked very sickly.
At this time, Yao Niang and Yu were preparing the filling for glutinous rice balls. When they saw her coming, they couldn't help but look at each other.
The Luo Shizhen in front of me was wearing a moon-white skirt, her hair was combed neatly, and she looked weak. It was hard to associate her with the man who wanted 60,000 taels of silver.
"Why is Second Aunt here? Come on, let's go sit in the hall, I'll ask them to bring some tea." Yu was still very friendly.
Luo Shizhen was moved and said, "I was angry for a moment and did such a wrong thing. Auntie San still treats me so well. I don't know what to do. Today I am here to give you some glutinous rice balls. Our Shan family has decided to return to our hometown in Shandong in a few days."
Yu nodded: "That's good. The Shan family is also a well-known family in Shandong. Your uncle said that after a few years when the emperor's anger has subsided, he will speak well of Yujing."
Who asked Uncle San to say something good? Luo Shizhen was extremely angry. If Uncle San hadn't taken the invitation, she would have divorced him long ago, and the money of the Shan family would have belonged to her. She didn't ask for much, just 60,000 taels, while the Shan family was worth millions.
Shan Yujing was born to be a nobody, so what was the point of following such a man? Was she going to spend her whole life with him? And Shan Yujing was not loyal to her at all, so why couldn't she remarry?
Now she came here, still wanting the post from her third uncle. With this post, she would get a divorce in Shandong sooner or later and then marry into another family.
"Aunt, we are deeply indebted to you for all the kindness you have shown to our Shan family." Luo Shizhen pursed his lips, tears streaming down his face.
Yu was a soft-hearted woman, and she understood Luo Shizhen's thoughts to some extent. In those days, without the protection of an official position, even men were bullied, let alone women.
She said to Luo Shizhen: "If you have any difficulties in the future, just find someone to tell."
Luo Shizhen shook his head: "What's the problem for me? I just want my brother to be well. I don't care about anything else. I raised this child by myself. No matter what, I just feel sorry for him. Now that she is pregnant, and I haven't divorced yet, I can tolerate some cold words, but I am afraid that the child can't tolerate it."
Yu just listened from the side. She was always like that and never talked about other people's gossips.
But when Yao Niang heard Luo Shizhen's complaint, she immediately interrupted him and said, "Second sister, the Shan family is also my grandmother's family, and they are also a well-behaved family. Don't think too much about it."
Mrs. Shan really took herself too seriously when she chose among her sisters. Now that she has met Luo Shizhen, who obviously cannot tolerate a bad life, they are now evenly matched.
But if you, Luo Shizhen, want to divorce or make trouble, please talk to your stepmother.
"Fifth sister, I was too talkative." Luo Shizhen kept admitting her fault. She said to Yao Niang, "Yes, I forgot to congratulate you. You have worked hard in the palace. Go home and have a good rest."
This was surprisingly said very appropriately. Everyone else congratulated her on becoming the prince's consort, but only Luo Shizhen gave herself a break.
From this we can see that Luo Shizhen is actually very good at guessing other people's thoughts, much better than Luo Jingrou. Luo Jingrou simply uses tricks to hurt others all the time and oppresses others.
What Luo Shizhen wanted was wealth and power. Apart from that, she was unwilling to wait for and believe anything that would stand in the way of her wealth and power. Everyone told her that Shan Yujing would eventually rise again, but for her, as long as she waited, she would be able to become an official's wife again.
Yao Niang nodded: "Thank you for your concern, second sister. Is this the glutinous rice balls from the Shan family? I heard from my cousin Xuxu that the glutinous rice balls from the Shan family are different from those from other places. They use quicksand inside."
Luo Shizhen wanted to cry and complain, and take the opportunity to visit her uncle again and again, so that she could get a letter from her uncle. But this little sister, who was much younger than her, kept changing the subject and refused to let her cry, so Luo Shizhen had no choice but to leave.
Back in the second house, Jiang and Little Jiang avoided her as much as possible, fearing that she would bring up the matter of divorce again and they would not be able to respond.
Just when she came out, she saw Yu Yan.
Yu Yan was already very worried, but her health was not very good. Luo Shizhen looked at her with contempt, walked up to her and called out, "Isn't this cousin Yu? I heard that you and my second brother are married."
Yu Yan blushed. When she lived in Luo's house, she knew that Luo Shizhen was married to Shan Yujing, the nephew and disciple of her uncle. The Shan family was not only a prime minister's family, but also a millionaire. She had met Mr. Shan once and was very jealous of Luo Shizhen. She just didn't know why she wanted to divorce him.
If it were her, she definitely wouldn't.
"Yes, Second Miss, are you back to see the madam and the others?" Yu Yan asked casually.
Luo Shizhen nodded. Although her biological mother was her aunt, she was well-informed at home. She also knew that Xiao Jiang was likely to deal with Yu Yan, so Luo Shizhen smiled and said, "Cousin Yu, do you know that you will not live long?"
Yu Yan was stunned.
Jinming Pond
It was February and not yet spring. Yao Niang, her parents, three brothers and Shi Yu were walking around the neighborhood. They were all dressed casually and not as elaborate as usual.
Shi Yu's face turned slightly red because the list of candidates for the imperial examination was out and Shi Yu's fiancé had passed. If she had passed the imperial examination, the palace examination would only depend on her ranking.
It was a rare occasion for him to go out for a walk like this. There were already many scholars writing inscriptions in front of him. Luo Zhizheng pointed to Yao Niang and said, "There are many inscriptions written by scholars who have passed the imperial examinations."
"So that's how it is. Didn't Daddy also write an inscription here in the past? He was the youngest among the seventeen people who wrote his name at the foot of Ci'en Temple. Daddy must be the youngest. En Ta" Yao Niang smiled.
Luo Jingyuan, who was walking in front, seldom interacted with the fifth sister. He knew that she was very capable in the palace. He heard that Concubine Hong originally intended to choose the daughter of Duke Xian Guo, but chose her instead, whose family background was lower than that of Duke Xian Guo. This shows how powerful she is.
No one dares to act rudely in front of dad. Everyone knows that Luo Zhizheng is very serious and arrogant. Most people will feel wrong in front of him. But the fifth sister actually flatters like this in front of father. Isn't she afraid that dad will scold her right away?
As expected, Luo Zhizheng immediately said, "No, Mr. Zhu, the Left Secretary of the Zhanshi Mansion and the Imperial Academy Lecturer, passed the imperial examination at the age of 19, younger than me."
Yao Niang was not angry and said directly: "Then my father must be the most handsome."
"What are you talking about? Are you making fun of your father?" Yu came out quickly to smooth things over.
Luo Zhizheng coughed, but his face was still very happy. Yao Niang did not feel embarrassed, but said: "Mother, to be honest, how can this be called a joke?"
Believe it or not, most people in the world like to hear nice things. There are a few who don't like to hear nice things, but you just didn't exaggerate the right things.
Daddy is a dozen years older than Mom, and because she takes care of Mom every day, Mom looks even younger. How can she not praise Daddy?
"You kid."
"That's right. A man as handsome and clever as Daddy is rare in this world!" Yao Niang whispered in her mother's ear.
Yu blushed: "Be careful not to be overheard."
"I heard it, but I'm not afraid." Yao Niang laughed.
Luo Zhizheng turned around and said, "Yao Niang, follow me. You usually read Li He more, why are you reading Bai Juyi now?" It was obvious that he wanted to talk to Yao Niang.
Luo Jingyuan was very surprised!
When did Dad become so nagging? He was even willing to talk to Fifth Sister. You have to know that his dad is not the kind of person who will flatter anyone who has a high status in the future. He will just snort at people he doesn't like.
Yao Niang raised her head and talked to her father and mother. She was very curious about everything outside. If she married a scholar, would she be able to see her fiancé here like Shi Yu?
She thought she was looking at everything around her, but she didn't expect that many people were staring at her blankly, and some were almost motionless.
Yao Niang only thought that her appearance was good before, at least it was acceptable for the Luo family, but she didn't expect so many people to be looking at her. She immediately put on the veil, but even with it on, it couldn't hide her figure.
Luo Jingyuan was afraid that something might happen, so he quickly said, "Master and Madam, why don't we go to a nearby temple to burn incense first? There are too many people here, and it would be bad if we bump into someone."
Luo Zhizheng pinched his beard and nodded: "Okay, I understand."
After getting on the carriage, Shi Yu looked at Yao Niang and said, "Sister, today I finally understand the beauty of Luofu."
In the poem “Mulberry on the Road”, it is said that the beauty of Luofu is that when a traveler sees Luofu, he takes off his hat and strokes his beard. When a young man sees Luofu, he takes off his hat and puts on a cap. When a farmer forgets his plow, a weeder forgets his weed. When they come back, they complain and just sit and watch Luofu.
Yao Niang pinched her face and said, "Nonsense, I think I'm looking at you."
Shi Yu laughed out loud: "Sister always teases others, but now you are teased by me too."
Without the fat face, she was so beautiful. Yao Niang couldn't help stroking her slightly hot face. At this moment, Yao Niang heard someone shouting, "Help! Is there anyone who can save my Xiao'er? Lu Xiao, hold on, I'll take you to see a doctor..."
Lu Xiao? Her husband in her previous life.
Although the two had no feelings for each other and Lu Xiao died young, she couldn't just sit back and watch. After all, without Lu Xiao, she wouldn't have been able to give birth to Cheng Yun and Cheng Ze.
Thinking of this, she called for the carriage to stop: "Butler Sun, stop the carriage."
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