Chapter 011 Fishing Beauty

"Sister-in-law, what are you talking about? Our Yao Niang is still young, how can she worry about such things?" Xie was unwilling to put her daughter's name together with the young man's so quickly. She first took her daughter out and said to the second wife Ming: "Even if it is a big matter of marriage, the Zhou family must have the willingness. Now that he has just arrived, if we ask too much, we don't know what they think in their hearts. It's better to take it slowly."

In Xie's opinion, Second Wife Ming was determined to achieve her goal. If she continued to try to stop him, she didn't know what tricks he would use in private, and it would be her Third Wife who would be embarrassed.

Mrs. Ming was not very satisfied with the result, but seeing Jie's attitude, she didn't want to force her too hard, otherwise she might not only not help but also interfere, which would be bad.

Therefore, her tone softened again and she began to belittle him: "Second Sister-in-law Qi, we have been sisters-in-law for many years. I am not as lucky as you, having a son and a daughter..."

"You are still young, so don't say sad words. I have some medicinal herbs here that can replenish qi and blood. If you don't mind, you can take them back and eat them." Xie interrupted her complaints.

Mrs. Ming knew that Xie was getting impatient, so she found an excuse and left first.

Mother Song came back in and took out a pair of jade bracelets from her sleeves: "This is a gift from Second Madam Ming. She asked me to help put in a good word for her."

Mother Song was the wet nurse of a woman named Xie. Xie was originally a concubine's daughter and was raised by the wife. Although the wife was kind to her, she was not her biological daughter after all, so Xie and her wet nurse Mother Song were very close.

Xie looked at the bracelets and smiled: "Since she loves to give them to you, then you should accept them. Let her think that you have been bribed, and see what else she wants to find out. We should make plans as soon as possible."

Mother Song treated her as Xie's daughter and started to make plans for her: "Madam, I see that Mr. Zhou is so outstanding, why don't you let the third lady--"

"Don't talk nonsense about this matter. Yao Niang is still too young, and there is still a long time to go. Let's wait and see." Xie shook her head.

But he said that the weather was too hot, and Mr. Yu was feeling a little uncomfortable due to the heat, so he let Yao Niang and the others rest at home. In the past few days, Yan Yingqi went back to the main room, and Yao Niang was afraid that her mother would be sad, so she would come over during the day to accompany Xie Shi to relieve her boredom.

But Xie didn't feel anything. She was afraid that she might be pregnant. Fortunately, her period came and she was in a good mood after the shock.

Yan Yingqi was in charge of two wives, so he couldn't completely ignore the first wife, especially since Old Lady Yu was his biological mother. When Zhen saw Yan Yingqi coming back, she naturally had no complaints. Old Lady Yu was very satisfied with Zhen's attitude. As a woman, she couldn't be too strong, like her third brother's wife, who was always strong and sooner or later deserted by her relatives.

At the dinner table, Yan Yingqi asked about Yan Jingzhang and Yan Jingwen's studies. He was very strict with his sons, and Yan Jingzhang and Yan Jingwen were trembling with fear. The two brothers sat down hurriedly after they finished being asked.

Zhen knew that in the half month that Yan Yingqi had been in the third room, Xie had never arranged a concubine. Zhen could also see Xie's character from this. She still longed for a man's love, so she was reluctant to share her husband with others and didn't even prepare a maid. Such a person was not on the same level as her. All men in the world were the same. The most important thing was money and power. Who would be sad and jealous for a man?

"Master, this is a dish of quail roasted with bamboo shoots. Bamboo shoots are the freshest and most tender. Please try it." Zhen softened her posture.

Yan Yingqi tasted it politely and said with a smile, "Your cooking skills are not bad, just as Madam said. I heard that you went out to give out porridge these days, and everyone is praising you."

Ying Niang, who was sitting nearby, couldn't help but puff out her chest. She was naturally proud that her father was praising her mother.

Zhen smiled and shook her head: "It's just that a few ladies asked me to take charge. In fact, I didn't do anything."

"You are too modest." Yan Yingqi said.

This is how Yan Yingqi and Zhen get along with each other. Zhen does things properly, which is in line with the behavior of a virtuous wife, but what she wants is the position of the wife of the Minister. This is different from Jie, who does everything impeccably and flawlessly.

The couple talked for a few words. According to the rules, Yan Yingqi should go to Zhen's room, so he had to give her this face.

As soon as she entered the room, Zhen smiled and said, "You know that I always hate summer, so let the new girl An'er serve you. This girl knows poetry and is pretty and gentle. Let her serve you today."

This was the skinny horse from Yangzhou that she had bought for eight hundred taels. Money was a small matter. As long as she could keep Yan Yingqi in the first house, the benefits would be much greater than this little money. But she couldn't say that she bought the skinny horse herself. She only said that it was a maid who served her. Aunt Yin was old, and Aunt Feng was born a slave. Although she was smart, she lacked talent.

Yan Yingqi, however, was not interested. When he was young, he was a talented scholar. Although he was not a swan, he often went to Qinlou and Chuguan with his classmates. He even went to a brothel the day before the imperial examination. But after getting married, he became more focused, especially when he married two wives and had the pressure of having children. He really had to be arranged wherever he went. Fortunately, he can make his own decisions now.

"Since you're new here, please teach me the rules first. I remember I have some things to take care of in the study." He left with his hands behind his back.

An'er was raised by a wealthy businessman as a daughter. When she saw Yan Yingqi, she admired him very much because he was tall and handsome, and already a high-ranking official in the ministry at the age of 36. However, he obviously had no interest in her, and she was so embarrassed that she wanted to cry.

Zhen looked at An'er, smiling: "I have assigned two maids to serve you where you live. If you have any problems with your daily life, just tell me. When the master has some free time, you must seize the opportunity."

An'er quickly said yes, knowing full well that she was now like a pig kept in the pigsty by Zhen. If she didn't help Zhen to capture the male owner, she would probably be destined to be slaughtered.

Less than three days after Xie's family had been quiet, Yan Yingqi came again. During this period, Mrs. Junsan, who rarely visited others, also came. She inquired about Zhou Lingguang in a very subtle way, and it seemed that she wanted to find a marriage for her niece Zhao Fang.

Just then her husband came over, and she said, "I want to tell you something."

"Go ahead, but don't call me Grandpa anymore. It sounds too strange. You're still the same as before." Yan Yingqi said with a smile.

Xie touched her neck and called out, "Husband." Then she said, "Ever since Mr. Zhou came to our house, the second wife Ming and the third wife Jun from the second house have asked me about him, and they seem to be interested in marriage. I just gave them a word to brush them off. After all, he is a guest, so it is not appropriate for me to ask."

Yan Yingqi said angrily, "Didn't I teach you the strategy of separation last time? You see Jing Zhao is slowly getting close to you now. Now, I will teach you another trick, two peaches kill three warriors! Zhou Lingguang lives in our house. If he is really good, leave him to our daughter. There is no place for others. Those people can be your trial stones."

Xie opened her round almond-shaped eyes and shook her head vigorously: "This won't work..."

"The timid will die of hunger, and the brave will die of weakness. Just do as I say. No, you don't have to do anything, just watch from the sidelines." Yan Yingqi said kindly.

He thought that Xie had been trained well, but he didn't expect that the moment he lowered his head, Xie already had a smile in his eyes.