Chapter 035 Chapter 35

Originally Xi Que had been serving Guan, but now she was promoted to a lady, and her hair and clothes had changed. When delivering gifts to Guan, Yao Niang smiled and said, "I forgot to congratulate you. I prepared a few feet of silk and a pair of rings. I'll give them to you now that you're here, so I don't have to send anyone over again."

"Thank you, Third Miss." Magpie was very happy.

In fact, it was only after Xi Que was promoted to be a maid that she realized that the third branch of the Yan family was actually very easy to get along with. Madam Xie never made the eldest grandmother follow the rules and never bothered her daughter-in-law. Whenever there was a big event, she would let the eldest grandmother take the lead in handling it. As for the third lady, she was very kind to all of them.

Seeing that the magpie had left, Mother Gu came in with some ginseng soup: "Girl, it's too cold. Drink some ginseng soup to warm yourself up."

Yao Niang drank the hot ginseng soup and felt drowsy. She sniffed again and said, "I can't go out tomorrow, or my nose will really be blown off."

"Girl, that person who just went out was a magpie, right?" asked Mother Gu.

Yao Niang nodded: "It's her. You didn't recognize her just because she changed her hairstyle and clothes?" In fact, she felt that her sister-in-law was really desperate and making a hasty decision. Her brother originally had two roommates given by their grandmother, and he didn't want to promote anyone else. Her position was very stable, but she was in a hurry to push Magpie out.

Who in this world is without selfishness? Magpie was originally a loyal woman, but she became a concubine so quickly. Does that mean she doesn't want to be pampered at all?

Originally, there were only two concubines who were not even considered concubines, and now there is one more magpie. What's the point of this?

But Yao Niang would not talk about the gossip in her brother's room. This was not something a girl like her could discuss. From her selfish point of view, although she did not like Guan, she still hoped that a man and a woman could only have each other for their whole life. However, that also required them to be in love with each other.

But nowadays, when it comes to marriage, being in love with each other is the most easily overlooked factor. As long as there is a man and a woman who are of similar age, appearance and status, they seem to be a match made in heaven.

Forget it, this is her brother's room's business, and she can't carry someone else's coffin into her room and cry.

In the evening, they lit the hot pot and Yan Yingqi enjoyed the meal very much.

Xie smiled and said, "Yao Niang asked me to order the kitchen to make this. She said she had eaten a pickled cabbage and pork hot pot at someone else's house and she loved it so much that she even asked the person for some pickled cabbage. It looks like it suits your taste too."

"It's light, refreshing and warming, really good." Yan Yingqi really likes it.

Compared to the Zhen family, Xie and Yao Niang would not only eat southern food, nor would they only eat northern food. If they ate anything delicious outside, they would ask people to find a recipe to cook it.

While eating dinner, it was snowing heavily outside. Yao Niang sighed and said, "It would be great if the snow could indicate a good harvest."

Unfortunately, there was no auspicious snow to indicate a good harvest. Instead, I heard early in the morning that the house where Yan Ningxin lived had collapsed. There were big trees planted in front of and behind her house, and the snow broke the branches, which fell on the tiles on the roof.

Yao Niang was surprised: "The horoscopes were just right at the end of this year, and this happened. This marriage..."

But the Shen family and the Yan family are both big families. Not to mention some minor incidents in the middle, even if the horoscopes are incompatible, they can still get along. It's all up to others to decide.

Yan Ningxin went to Qianniang's room during the day because she needed to repair the house. She and Yingniang had an average relationship, but fortunately Qianniang had a mild temper. Qianniang was embroidering on the embroidery. She was good at painting and usually did needlework. When she saw Yan Ningxin coming over, she didn't stop working and even advised, "Big sister, we have all heard about your happy event. I have something to say but I don't know whether I should say it or not."

"What?" Yan Ningxin asked. She and Qianniang didn't actually have much in common.

"Big sister, actually, we women value needlework the most. Whether you give it to elders or embroider something for yourself, it is always better than asking people around you to do it for you. Look at my third sister, she has already started learning tailoring at the age of twelve. Of course, this is just a small suggestion from me. It is up to you whether you listen to it or not." Qianniang said.

But Yan Ningxin suddenly burst into tears. She said, "I have grown up so big, but no one has taught me like this, for my own good."

Seeing her true feelings, Qianniang sighed and said, "Since you said so, I don't dare to be your teacher. If you don't mind, just come and talk to me often. If you don't understand something, just ask me."

Yan Ningxin nodded with emotion.

In her eyes, Yao Niang rarely communicates with others, is arrogant, and changes her temper quickly. It is difficult to get along with Ying Niang, not to mention that she is rude and willful, and has a narrow mind. Only Qian Niang is unexpectedly so good. "

Qianniang embroidered for a while, and then took Yan Ningxin to see Yu. Yu's face was slightly rounder because she was pregnant. Yu had always been kind to her sisters-in-law, and Yan Ningxin would soon marry into the Shen family as the mistress, so she didn't want to offend her, so she invited the two of them to have lunch.

This made Yan Ningxin feel warm and happy, and she felt that the Yan family also had its warmth.

During the Chinese New Year, the two families were often together, and Yaoniang discovered that Yan Ningxin and Qianniang had become much closer. She knew why in her heart. It was indeed the world that was bustling with people for profit.

Yan Ningxin was of course unaware of all this. She even received rouge and powder from Shen Mo before the New Year, saying that they were newly produced by Anxiang Pavilion and had a rich fragrance.

"Second sister, what gift do you think I should give in return?" she asked Qianniang directly.

Qianniang did not answer first, but just asked: "Big sister, what do you think?"

Yan Ningxin simply said a few things: "The plum blossoms in our home are in great bloom. It would be nice if we could put some flowers in a vase and send them over." Then Qianniang said, "The Shen family has a plum garden, which is very famous in Beijing. I'm afraid the plum blossoms in our home can't compare to it."

"Or maybe a jade pendant?" Yan Ningxin thought for a long time but couldn't figure it out.

The Prince of Qi had indeed given her a lot of valuables, including silks, satins, and other high-quality treasures. It would be great if she chose a jade pendant.

Qianniang said, "Miss Shen only gave you rouge and powder, but you gave her a jade pendant in return? That seems too formal."

So, Yan Ningxin said: "Please teach me, second sister."

"Big sister, if you don't mind, I have a shawl here. I've never worn it before, and it has a rosy complexion. The Chu Ci says that when a beautiful woman is drunk, her face becomes rosy and she looks charming. Miss Shen has a graceful figure, and she will definitely look good in this shawl." Qianniang said with a smile.

Yan Ningxin felt relieved when she saw Qianniang come up with a solution.

Yao Niang, who was standing by, lowered her eyes and took a sip of tea. In fact, the eldest sister didn't expect the prince to give her so many treasures. She just gave a small and exquisite thing for Miss Shen to play with. That was a return gift and made Shen Mo look up to her. The second sister did this. On the surface, it seemed selfless, but in fact it only highlighted herself. Everyone knew that it was the second girl who took out the shawl to return the gift to the eldest girl.

Both she and Yingniang have conflicts with Yan Ningxin. Even Yaoniang thinks that Yan Ningxin is not necessarily a bad person, but definitely someone with some problems. She thinks differently from others, so they should try to have as little contact with her as possible.

Although Qianniang doesn't have a close relationship with anyone and doesn't offend anyone, she is very good at taking advantage of the situation. Now she cares more about Yingniang than Yan Ningxin.

Thinking of this, she put down the teacup, not wanting to watch the fool being fooled, and said with a smile: "My two sisters, I will go back first. I slept too late yesterday, and my eyes are too sleepy to open now."

Yan Ningxin and Qianniang both smiled and said, "Go ahead."

Yao Niang went out from here and met Yan Jingzhao outside. He was tall and was wearing a black fox cloak, looking handsome and elegant.

"Brother." Yao Niang said happily.

Yan Jingzhao saw his sister coming out alone and couldn't help asking, "What's wrong?"

Yao Niang shook her head: "No, nothing."

"Are they crowding you out? Then can I go play with you? I remember there are red plum blossoms in the garden, so why don't we go and enjoy them?"

Yao Niang suddenly looked at Yan Jingzhao and remembered that she had talked to Yan Jingzhao about the discord between sisters. It turned out that he had kept it in mind for so many years.

"elder brother……"

"Let's go, let's go. You are a little girl and you can't drink. I'll have someone bring some hot drinks over. It's much better for us to enjoy the snow and play the piano together than to talk to those idle people."

Yao Niang nodded heavily: "Okay."

The brother and sister chatted about everything and walked towards the plum forest. Along the way, they talked about the present and the past, picked plums and put them in vases. They were very happy. Originally, Yan Jingzhao wanted to stay here for a while, but Yao Niang knew that her brother was going to take the imperial examination, so she asked him to go back and rest.

After the Lantern Festival, the days to the imperial examination passed in a flash. This time, Yao Niang prepared a pair of knee pads for her brother and had someone send them to the East Cross Courtyard. Pian Guan's menstrual cycle was irregular today. In addition, she took tonics and ate too much fish and meat during the New Year holidays, and sat for a long time, so that she had boils in her private parts. She was in a bad mood, and she had to prepare things for her husband for the imperial examination. Seeing Yao Niang sent someone to send things over, she couldn't help but say, "We have enough in our room, why did she send it over? It's unnecessary. Humph, I'm complaining about eating some tonics, but her daughter often drinks ginseng soup, petty..."

In the past, Xi Que often sent her servants to keep watch for her. Now that Xi Que has become a concubine, although she also comes to the room to serve, she is very considerate and is liked by Yan Jingzhao. Yesterday, Yan Jingzhao also rested at her place, and she rested in her own room.

These words happened to be heard by Yan Jingzhao. As the saying goes, if you walk on the road often, your shoes will get wet. This is what happened.

Yan Jingzhao thought that what he had thought had really come true. No matter whether it was the people his grandmother placed around him or the wife she married for him, they all looked down on them from the bottom of their hearts.

他真慶幸對方沒孩子，否則自己恐怕都要被三老太太一腳踢開。

這也是難怪父親讓他好好考取功名的緣故，只有他考取功名，才不會受到別人的轄制。以前據說三老太太對父親的好還超過大老太太這個親娘，那又如何呢？

他沒有上前和關氏争辯什麽，只是拂袖而走，還是門口進來的仆婦說方才見大爺離去，關氏才兩腿發軟，幾欲站不起來了。

因為顏景昭沒有往外說，關氏自然更不敢和別人說自己說婆家壞話被丈夫聽到，關氏遂裝病，連解氏都以為她真的不舒服。

大家現在一門心思都在府裏科考士子的身上，顏景昭這次倒是收斂上次招搖的模樣，多了幾分沉穩。

解氏壓根就沒有那種緊張的心理，她只是對顏景昭道：“你能十九歲就中舉，已經是很不錯了，不要給自己太大的壓力。你是個聰明的孩子，欲速反而不達，千萬別把自己弄出病來了。”

顏景昭笑道：“好，兒子知道了。”

“哥哥，我肚子裏墨水有限，就以李商隐的詩送你，長樂遙聽上苑鐘，彩衣稱慶桂香濃。

陸機始拟誇文賦，不覺雲間有士龍。妹妹在這裏望哥哥蟾宮折桂，扶搖直上。”窈娘笑道。

顏景昭道：“那就承你吉言。”

說完，見下人在催，顏景昭一拱手旋即上了馬車。

顏景昭一離開，關氏反而更緊張了，她不知道自己未來面對的是什麽了？丈夫當然不會真的和離，和離不僅僅是對她不好，還有損于顏景昭自己的名聲。

可他會慢慢折磨你，在這個府上，即便是正妻也是要看男人的眼色過日子，甄氏那樣的出身，還得對公公賢良，不敢翻臉。

想到這裏，關氏飯也吃不下去了，甚至嘔吐不止。

解氏請了大夫過來，才發現關氏是有了身孕，關氏心中又是一喜，有了身孕，不看僧面看佛面，顏景昭應該不會對她怎麽樣了？

她有了身孕，解氏對她道：“日後你也不必過來請安，好好保養就好，我也去告訴你母親了，可能明日她就會過來了，你若要什麽，只管和管事說。方才大夫開了些安胎藥，初有身孕可能還不太穩，日後也不必常服藥，畢竟是藥有三分毒。我想在你們東跨院搭建一個小廚房，日後也不必在大廚房那裏吃，這樣你也便宜。”

“是，您說的很是。”關氏見解氏如今一切對她客氣，還要給她建小廚房，心中也逐漸有了底氣。

解氏笑道：“若是景昭知道你有了身孕，不知道多高興呢？”

關氏心虛道：“過幾日他回來就知道了。”

“嗯，你好好歇着吧。”解氏說完起身就要走。

這本來是一件很令人高興的事情，窈娘作為姑姑，也打發人去問候了一場，還打算等天氣暖和之後幫未出世的孩子做些肚兜小鞋子。

顧媽媽道：“這下好了，大奶奶有了身孕，可比什麽都強。”

“媽媽，我上次碰到喜鵲說大嫂捐了一百兩添香油呢，她平日日子過的勤儉，倒是這事兒勤勉。”窈娘道。

顧媽媽倒是見怪不怪了：“這婦人嫁過來超過一年身子沒有身孕，有的還吃偏方呢。”想起面前是未出閣的姑娘，顧媽媽倒是不肯多說了。

話說關氏有了身孕之後，待遇一下就提升了，顏應祁也很開心，畢竟若是關氏生了孩子，那就是景昭的第一個孩子。

“老爺，不必這麽忙，等坐穩胎再說，明日親家太太還要過來，咱們都穩着些，等孩子呱呱墜地，再來慶賀也不遲。”解氏當年在生完顏景昭之後，連着又生了一雙兒女，何嘗不是殷殷期盼，最後卻都夭折而亡。

顏應祁也想到這一點，很是心疼解氏：“是，應該這樣才是。”

解氏抱着他的胳膊，看着他的眼睛道：“今日陪我穿梅花，我想挂一點兒在我床邊當花鈴。”

“好。”顏應祁想解氏還是如此女兒家情态。

次日，關夫人從學士府過來，關氏看到親娘也不好說自己說婆婆小姑子甚至牽扯到顏景昭身上的壞話，被丈夫全部聽了個正着。

她只是道：“娘，我月信沒來，惡心反胃，原本以為是正月酒席吃多了，沒想到大夫說雖然現在日子淺，但症狀看着像是有身孕。我那婆婆已經準備幫我準備小廚房，您看這裏擺的都是各房送的補品，中午還有一尾鲥魚，是聖上賞賜給我公公的。”

關夫人雙手合十，直念：“阿彌陀佛，你公公現下頗得盛寵，姑爺又有出息，如今你也有了身孕，娘這是什麽都不愁了。”

“娘，看來這些符水還真的是有效啊。”關氏摸着還不突出的肚子，心裏很高興。

關夫人則道：“我還弄了一張生子藥方過來，你吃了沒有？那些符水說是有效，可也不能盡信。”

“女兒有分寸，您就放心吧。”關氏如是道。

關夫人看着女兒如此，心裏也是很難受：“你樣樣都好，偏偏生孩子這裏像極了我，我也是嫁過去快三娘才産子。期間不知道受了多少羞辱，如今你能懷上，娘就不盼着別的了。”

母女二人又說了不少孕期宜忌，關夫人破天荒的去謝過解氏，解氏倒是沒所謂。因為她深知，關氏聽不進去別人的話，所以解氏還巴不得關夫人過來多教受關氏。

……

顏景昭在科考時，今年沈臨風還有蘇顯都參加，顏家上下都很關注，甚至顏寧馨身邊的金盞都打趣道：“若是今年沈公子高中，那姑娘您真的是頭一份了。”

顏寧馨笑着搖頭，她又覺得很孤獨，倩娘雖然和她關系不錯，但她要在甄氏面前請安，還得去她親嫂子于氏那兒，平日她也要做女紅，性子也不是那種湊趣的，所以顏寧馨也不好總打擾她。

有一瞬間她想起了魏無忌，那個表面上讨厭她，實際上最救了她好幾次的人。雖然他脾氣怪異，可他對自己還是很好的，不像沈臨風，他對她的眼中沒有任何男女之情。

甚至顏寧馨有一瞬間的害怕，沈臨風以為娶的是顏家大小姐，血統尊貴，必定和倩娘窈娘她們一樣的貴女，可她偏偏又不是。

沈家非一般門第，除了沈臨風的父親是左都禦史，他的叔父據說是廷試第一，現任國子監司業。

就連沈陌也是如此一等一的貴女，否則齊王世子也不會這般懇求沈姑娘嫁給她。

而父親之所以想挑王勉，也正是因為他認為沈臨風那裏他可能力有未逮。因為大家門當戶對，就不存在娘家人幫着出頭的事兒。

就像當年大哥哥的媳婦關氏當時說親時，爹還只是南京禮部侍郎，兩邊還算門當戶對，但後來随着父親官位越做越大，關家已經是略差一些了，這就是關夫人以前和現在對解氏二夫人的态度變幻。

會試結束之後，顏景昭從外回來，他雖然依舊器宇軒昂，但是據說這次會試難度頗大，故而他擔心自己名次不能靠前。

回來之後，解氏告訴他關氏有了身孕。

顏景昭眼皮一跳：“她有了身孕？”

解氏笑道：“是啊，她還害口呢，我就特地在你們院子裏搭了個小廚房，這樣炖點湯水，平日她要吃什麽點心，也免得再派人到我這邊來。”

“知道了。”顏景昭笑道。

解氏看兒子的表情似乎很平淡，并未多問其中緣由。

偏在這個時候，于氏生下了一個兒子，家中洗三辦的很熱鬧，甄氏還教顏寧馨如何操辦，這一點倒是讓顏應祁對甄氏刮目相待。

有的親生母親，都未必想的這麽周到。

甄氏倒是氣自己女兒瑩娘不争氣：“你呀你，看看人家二丫頭，人家怎麽就知道你大姐姐不大擅長這些，分出心思去教她，偏你總擺個小姐架子。”

“娘，我知道她嫁了個好人家，你們現在都巴結她，我偏不，就她那樣的都能高嫁，難道女兒比她還差了不成？”瑩娘覺得顏寧馨和沈臨風根本都不配。

說起來瑩娘就看不起顏寧馨，她看不起顏寧馨純粹覺得覺得她沒什麽本事卻能得到這一切，雖然沒有親哥哥，卻有個齊王世子那樣比親哥哥還好的人，還在王府長大，回來之後明明琴棋書畫一竅不通，說話行事半點不成，卻還能高嫁沈臨風這樣的才子。

甄氏拿這個女兒沒辦法，再者瑩娘如今也才十一歲，她也就不再苛刻女兒了。

于氏生下孩子原本很高興，她在顏家雖然是庶子媳婦，可是比關氏讨人喜歡，也比關氏先生下兒子，偏偏……

就撞到了會試發榜的日子。

“念兒，今兒發榜，你說大爺會中嗎？”

念兒沒想到二奶奶問的是大爺，只是搖頭：“奴婢也不知道。”

于氏往外望了望，手抓着窗棂緊了緊。

Yao Niang did not go to the main room for the third day bath either. She and Xie were waiting in the flower hall. Xie had someone exchange a lot of loose change for her at home. If she won, she would give it as a reward. If not, she would keep it for future use.

If my brother passed the examination, even if his ranking in the palace examination was not good, he would still be a Jinshi.

Waiting is the most anxious thing. When Yao Niang saw Jie's pale face, she knew that although her mother appeared calm in front of her brother, it was because she was afraid that her brother would be under pressure. In fact, she was still very nervous.

Therefore, she comforted him, "Mom, even if my brother doesn't get pregnant, my sister-in-law might give birth to a nephew."

It was rare to see Xie scolding with a fierce face: "Don't talk nonsense."

Yao Niang was startled, and when she heard the housekeeper coming in from the second door, she almost fell to the ground in joy: "Congratulations, Madam. Congratulations, Madam. Our eldest son ranked 28th in this year's examination."

Xie and Yaoniang were instantly delighted, and then they heard the steward say, "The eldest son specially sent someone to say that Mr. Shen also passed the examination and ranked eleventh."

"What about Master Zhao?" Yao Niang suddenly remembered Zhao Xian.

Obviously, he missed the target. The steward was quite eloquent: "I don't think I heard Mr. Zhao's name."

Xie asked, "When will the eldest master come back? Should I prepare for others to come and congratulate him? He can't be away, can he?"

The steward said with a smile, "Today, Master Shen is treating everyone at Fanlou to rose wine. Our Master is also at Fanlou and won't be back for a while."

Rose wine is a top-grade wine, and a small jar costs tens of taels. Yao Niang exclaimed, "Master Shen is really rich."

The manager was not surprised: "That's Wu Xing Shen's family, they are very rich!"