Chapter 039 Chapter 39
After Yao Niang's birthday, the weather became hotter and hotter. The mountain was still very quiet and peaceful. It was even cold to rest at night and had to cover with a blanket.
Guan has been here for three months. She used to complain and resent, but later she gradually longed for Yan Jingzhao to come up the mountain to see her and give her a step down. Maybe then everything would be back to normal.
Unfortunately, no. For more than two months, only the servants of the Yan family brought things to her, and Yan Jingzhao did not bring her any words, as if he had forgotten her.
Xi Que came in with a food box and saw a pretty girl standing at the door opening the curtain. She couldn't help but laugh and said, "Looking at your appearance before, I thought you were only seven or eight years old, but I didn't expect you to be thirteen years old. After these two months of care, you have grown taller and prettier."
"Sister Magpie, thank you for bringing me in."
"Silly girl, it's just that grandma is kind. With you, grandma seems to be much happier. We all think it's the right thing to let you come in as a maid." Xi Que also wished for the grandma to be well. She was grandma's maid. Although she had a bad face, if grandma was here, she would have someone to support her.
Xi Que brought the food in and asked four people to serve it, but Guan Shi had no appetite.
Xi Que couldn't help but say, "Why don't you let Shan'er accompany you for dinner? I think you'll feel better every time she says something."
"That's fine." Guan was bored.
Shan'er was the maid bought by Guan. She saw that Guan was always unhappy and heard that it was because she was sick. After her husband sent her here, he ignored her and became a little angry.
"Grandma, you'd better take good care of yourself. Only by taking good care of yourself can you look forward to the future." Shan'er advised.
Guan said to her, "Do you know that you and my little girl were born on the same day, month and year? You are so sensible, but she doesn't advise me like this."
Shan'er said, "Ms. Yan is a rich lady, how can I be compared to her?"
"More than that, you told me yesterday that I was very frugal, but in the Yan family, I was laughed at for being stingy. My sister-in-law usually changes her new mat after a few days in this kind of summer, and she spends a lot on clothes and jewelry." Guan felt sad when she mentioned it now, because Yao Niang used the money of the third room, and all this money should belong to them in the future.
Shan'er couldn't even have enough to eat, and she was already doing well with Guan. She had no idea that life could be like this.
Guan urgently needed to find someone to tell about her grievances. Shan'er was different from Xi Que. Xi Que was Yan Jingzhao's concubine. There was actually no problem between her and Yan Jingzhao. She also had a good relationship with Yao Niang and Jie. It was impossible for her to join Guan in scolding her, but Shan'er would join in the scolding.
Shan'er didn't care about all that. She considered Guan her benefactor, so she naturally helped her.
Guan had been waiting, thinking that Mid-Autumn Festival would be coming soon, a day for family reunion, and her family would definitely take her back. But this did not happen, and she was immediately in despair.
"Grandma, Sister Xi Que asked me to bring it over." Shan'er came in and said.
Guan looked at Shan'er and said, "Put it down. You should eat with me."
"Yes." Shan'er sat down with ease.
Guan was too lazy to complain now. She also obviously noticed that the servants who followed her were getting impatient. She put on a soft face but still suppressed them with the fan. How would others view her as an abandoned woman who was not favored?
After dinner, the setting sun shone on one end of the wall. Guan felt more and more desolate. She already had a plan in her mind.
"Shan'er, this letter is for you. I have an aunt who is currently serving in Kaifeng Prefecture with her husband. She has everything going for her except that she has no children. Although she is an official's wife, her family is poor. She used to treat me like her own daughter. If you are willing to acknowledge my aunt as your godmother, she will take care of your lifelong affairs in the future. Look at me, it's impossible for me to go out again." Guan curled her lips.
Shan'er tried to refuse in every possible way and refused.
Guan seemed to understand her thoughts: "Good girl, you have always wanted to avenge your sister, but your brother-in-law is also an official of Daxing County. If you don't have some skills, how can you take revenge?"
Shan'er still said: "Grandma treats me like my own sister."
…
Xi Que, standing outside the curtain, thought that she had always been loyal to Guan, but Guan, on the other hand, gave all the benefits to Shan'er, a girl she had just met. Shan'er was vindictive and might have even had an intention to enter this courtyard, otherwise why would she come here specifically to cry and shout?
**
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, it is said that Xie's teahouse is packed with people because there are many varieties of tea and you can try everything. The most important thing is that the taste is very good, all made by Su Yang's old master.
Xie also secretly took Yan Jingzhao and Yao Niang to inspect the store, and she was able to calculate the account book, gross profit, and market price clearly.
Although Yan Jingzhao was not very good at doing business, she said to Xie: "Mom, these days I have specially selected mooncakes from our teahouse to give away. When I am free, I will come here with my colleagues to sit and attract business for you."
Xie smiled and said, "I am planning to invite a storyteller to come here in the future. This will also attract a lot of people."
"The better." Yao Niang clapped her hands.
Xie thought of Yan Ningxin's marriage again, and couldn't help but say to Yan Jingzhao, "You and Aunt Shen are of the same generation. What do you think of him?"
Shen Linfeng thought for a moment and said, "From what I can see, he is not as cheerful as he appears to be. He is usually quiet and reserved in the Hanlin Academy. He doesn't like to interact with others. You can even say he is cold and indifferent. When a woman gives him a gift, he directly refuses it and never accepts it."
"He is truly a perfect son-in-law chosen by your father. Your elder sister will get married next month. The three of us will go to Fanlou for dinner later, and then we will pick out a gift for her." Xie nodded upon hearing this.
The pick-up gift was not a big deal, but being able to go out and play, even with a veil, was something Yao Niang found very novel.
Yan Jingzhao was glancing at the passers-by around him. He was very busy, having to take care of his mother and sister so that they would not be seen, and at the same time observe the situation.
Finally, Xie chose a set of filigree enamel teacups with the pattern of three gentlemen as a gift for Yan Ningxin, and naturally gave two more to the third wife's dowager.
Yao Niang and the others also went to watch the excitement. When Yan Rubei got married, she sent along a toilet bucket, which was already jaw-dropping. But Yan Ningxin even sent along a coffin.
Not to mention furniture, clothes and even embroidered shoes, eighty pairs of which were prepared at once, all made by the best embroiderers in Jiangnan.
Even Yao Niang was a little jealous: "Big sister is really full of red makeup, so enviable."
There are very few girls who would not be moved by these things. Yan Ningxin was treated like a star today, surrounded by servants. Hearing what Yao Niang said, she felt a little happy in her heart, because Yao Niang said that Shen Linfeng's private life was very clean and there was no problem. Now Yan Ningxin also felt a sense of honor as a daughter of the Yan family.
Even if she doesn't like Shen Linfeng, it doesn't prevent Shen Linfeng from being a good husband.
The bride has to be accompanied by ten unmarried women when she has meals at home, which means perfection. The Yan family has three girls, and there are also relatives of the Yan family who have come to Beijing to attend the wedding. Even Grandpa Jie, who has come to Beijing to report on his work, has come. It is of course easy to choose a few more girls.
Yao Niang sat below Qian Niang, who asked, "I heard your grandpa is here?"
"What a coincidence! He happened to be going to Beijing to report on his work and brought a lot of gifts for me and my brother. When the eldest sister's matter is settled, you and fourth sister can come to me to choose." Yao Niang was very generous in this regard.
Qianniang looked at Yaoniang and said, "Your third uncle has been promoted to the governor of the river, and your grandfather has come to the capital to report on his work. I'm afraid he will be promoted again. You two can be considered to be very happy."
"Second sister, please stop slandering me. I'm not the official. I'm just jealous of how cute Rong'an's nephew is." Yao Niang was not flattered by anyone.
Yingniang felt annoyed when she heard this: "Second sister, third sister, stop complimenting each other. The food is here, let's eat."
The first dish was called Family Meal, which contained many dishes, such as egg dumplings, pork skin, yellow sprouts, meatballs, salted meat, salted chicken, mushrooms, herring pieces, prawns and quail eggs.
Yan Ningxin comfortably picked up a quail egg and put it in her mouth. She heard that the Shen family had a small family, so she wouldn't have to fight with her sisters as often as she did at home.
After all, she didn't dare to eat too much at this meal and only ate some food that didn't taste very good.
Yesterday, Mrs. Quanfu Liu went to make the bed. People say that although she is young, she is very capable. Yao Niang looked around and felt that it was really grand, with flowers blooming and oil boiling on the fire.
There were copper crane lanterns in the garden, ready to be lit at night. Yao Niang suddenly felt like a tourist.
At dusk, Shen Linfeng came to the house in a red dress. Yao Niang and her sisters were in the bridal chamber with the bride. Listening to the makeup-inducing poems being sung outside, they couldn't help but look at Yan Ningxin.
From time to time, someone would come in and recite the makeup-urging poems written by the groom and his best men outside. One of the poems was: She was too shy to leave the dressing table, and the maids were holding nine pins. I send a message to those who are tired of makeup, saying, "I'm lazy to apply rouge and powder lightly." [1]
"This song is very good." Yao Niang praised.
The person who replied said, "Third Miss, the master asked Miss Shen to write three more poems before he was allowed to enter the house, and asked you to guard the door as well."
Yao Niang, Qian Niang and Ying Niang discussed: "Who will come first?"
Who would have known that Yingniang suddenly became a little nervous? Her knowledge seemed quite good, but only she knew that it was all for show. She was the first to back out. Qianniang usually participated in poetry societies everywhere, so of course she was bolder.
Before the three sisters had finished discussing, they heard a sudden clatter of voices coming from outside. It turned out to be the groom coming with his bridesmaids.
Yao Niang thought quickly and grabbed the bolt. She smiled and said to the outsider, "Wait, who is coming? What do you want?"
今日陪着沈臨風過來的有他表弟韓嘉翊，堂弟沈邦彥，同窗溫玉卿等人，這些人俱是才子。一聽到是一道清亮的女聲，宛若黃莺出谷一般，衆人停住腳步，知道對方肯定是顏大姑娘的妹妹們。
沈臨風笑道：“我就是新郎官，來接顏大姑娘過門。”
窈娘身邊的倩娘和瑩娘都示意她快說話，她才對着門道：“既要娶我家姐姐，就必須過我們這一關，這樣，我若出六道上聯，大家都能對出來，那我們心甘情願的開門。”
沈臨風挑眉：“不知是哪位小姨？說的可是真的。”
“我是顏家三姑娘，既然說得出就要做得到，且聽我的第一個上聯。”窈娘說完，又想了想：“有了，花開并蒂鴛鴦暖。”
沈臨風還未開口，韓嘉翊遂脫口而出：“連理同心楊柳新。”
窈娘挑眉，這個人回答的還挺快的嘛，她又道：“花好月圓羨比翼。”
這次是沈臨風答的：“天長地久蔔齊梅。”
……
“玉鏡人間傳合璧。”
“銀河天上渡雙星。”
窈娘忍不住笑道：“橫批是珠聯璧合，未曾想沈家姐夫如此才思敏捷，我們這就開門。”【2】
方才在她後面的瑩娘現在倒是想出頭，似乎想表示剛剛出對聯的人是她，窈娘可不是那麽好欺負的，她用肘子把瑩娘肘擊到一旁，快些打開門栓。
沈臨風和一衆人見開門的是個十三四歲的姑娘，同時腦海中想起《神游》中的一句詩，千秋無絕色，悅目是佳人。傾國傾城貌，驚為天下人。
這樣的美貌絕對是他們從未見過的，且這位姑娘只露面之後，又翩然往一旁而去，瑩娘見狀，想起自己的簽文，趕緊快步到前面。
但這個時候是要送新娘子出來，場面亂糟糟的，誰也沒有注意到她？
顏寧馨拿着扇子遮面，一路被人扶着走出去，心髒砰砰砰直跳，她真的要成親了嗎？看着前面影影綽綽的紅色，顏寧馨都有一種不真實的感覺。
沈臨風倒是坐在馬上接受圍觀的老百姓們的祝賀，他這個年紀對于士族子弟而言，原本也是比較晚的了，如今娶妻生子，就和他爹娘一樣。
那顏家大姑娘性情爽朗，又愛吃酒，不是那等小性子拈酸的人，再想起上次顏大姑娘的畫，以及今日顏三姑娘的詩詞，想起顏家的教養，總錯不了的。
卻說全福太太劉夫人也坐着後面的馬車跟着她們，她正和丫鬟道：“我看都說顏家二姑娘是才女，現在看來他們家三姑娘才是才思敏捷。”
“當真是才貌雙全。”
……
劉夫人原本以為送新娘子去拜個堂她就能回來了，包括顏寧馨累了許多天了，巴不得趕緊拜完天地就能歇一歇，至少可以換一身衣裳，那冠子把自己的頭皮都快戳爛了。
只是拜天地途中，魏無忌過來了。
“你真的準備成婚嗎？你确定要嫁給他嗎？你聽你父兄的話，難道就忘記了對我的承諾？”
言猶在耳，顏寧馨在心中道她自然是要和沈臨風成婚的，要知道今日可是整個顏家的盛事，她不能對不起顏家對她的付出，也不能對不去表哥。
顏寧馨躲在扇子後面瞠目結舌，她不想答應，也不願意答應，可魏無忌手上拿的是齊王世子表兄的扳指，他還特地晃了一下。
顏寧馨麻木的看着這顆扳指，她很清楚魏無忌在山東的實力，節度山東兵馬，他若是幫着齊王對付世子表兄，俗話說山高皇帝遠，若真的世子出事了可如何是好？
她滿臉歉意的看着沈臨風：“對不住，我先出去和他好好說話。”
只要把話說清楚了，她依舊回來成親，也會給大家賠罪的。或許是聽到她堅定的回答，魏無忌拉着他的手就要出去。
只聽劉夫人對沈臨風道：“沈公子，這可不行，要趕緊攔住啊？”
“讓他們走，這門婚事就此作罷。”沈臨風不知道自己是什麽思緒，方才他還想着和顏寧馨成家後的生活，現在給他最大羞辱的居然也是她。
又說魏無忌帶着顏寧馨騎馬出去，魏無忌帶着她很快到了京郊，他臉上無不帶着得意：“四娘，終究你還是跟我走了。”
“我只是想知道我表兄怎麽了？”顏寧馨道。
魏無忌大笑：“我原本他是你的兄長，我自然會保護他，可惜他頑劣的很，不肯讓我跟着你走，也不肯勸你，我就任由他自生自滅了。”
“你……”
魏無忌沒說話，蒙着她的眼睛到了一處別院，又笑道：“我和你打個賭，你在我這裏待兩日，若是沈臨風還要你，那算我輸，若是沈臨風不要你了，那就換我娶你。”
陰鸷偏執又自大，顏寧馨心想她早該了解魏無忌這個人就是個瘋子？沒關系只要等她回去了，好好向沈家顏家解釋就好了。
殊不知顏家和沈家已經亂成一鍋粥了，先說最生氣的人，莫過于顏應祁了，他頭一次臉差點漲成豬肝色，并且派人把甄氏解氏叫到一起商量。
甄氏比解氏更慘，一切都是她在操持，現在新娘子跑了，她是首當其沖，現在的甄氏已經是毫無辦法了。
“老爺，這可怎麽是好？”
解氏也忍不住道：“大姑娘這樣跑了，別人還以為她私奔了，家中還有三位姑娘待字閨中？如今外面的親友賓客們還不知道這事兒，我們又如何解釋？老爺，大嫂，你們可得拿出一個主意來啊。”
顏應祁扶額：“方才劉夫人說的很清楚，沈家丢了大臉，恐怕對我們顏家早已是恨之入骨了。如今之計，先找到大丫頭，送走賓客，再和沈家商議。說實在的，我也不知道如何是好了？平生也未遇到過這樣的事情？”
“這所有人慌了，您也不能慌啊，老爺，大家都等着你拿主意呢。”解氏焦急。
其實外面的顏景昭兄弟和窈娘衆姐妹們都坐在一起也是議論紛紛，顏景昭倏地站起來，“我要親自帶人去找人，是生是死，總得給沈家一個交代才是。”
“大哥哥，現在已經有人出去找了，咱們先在這裏聽爹示下吧。”窈娘上前拉住哥哥。
她就怕顏景昭和別人起了沖突，因為她哥哥可不是那種懦弱的人，很有可能還會自己受傷，那就得不償失了。
顏景昭卻是搖頭，“窈娘，別拉我，我直接進去請爹示下，二弟三弟，你們也和我一起進去，我們分頭去找人，這可不是她一個人的事情，到時候我們家養出了個私奔的女兒，如何向整個士林立足？”
他一貫說話非常有號召力，且身先士卒，顏景璋和顏景文只有聽着的份兒。
顏應祁已經聽到外面顏景昭的聲音，他在內道：“景昭，你先在家維持大局，景璋和景文出去找人。若不然前面賓客如何維持？”
“父親……”顏景昭恨不得此時就把魏無忌那個狗東西踹幾腳，根本忍不了。
顏應祁看的很清楚，顏景昭性情出了名的暴烈，他是自己最為鐘愛的長子，怎麽能讓他和別人對上，到時候被禦史參奏可就完蛋了。
老二老三這倆脾氣溫和點，上不得臺面，不如讓他們出去找人。
窈娘上前勸道：“哥哥，你就聽爹的吧。”
顏景昭才“嗯”了一聲，顏景璋和顏景文平日處理庶務都很少，一時摸不着頭腦，還得顏景昭道：“二弟，你拿我的帖子去找五城兵馬司的榮大人，就說有人在沈家擄走了顏寧馨。三弟，你去找順天府尹投案，控告淄青節度使之子拐賣新娘。”
真是聰明，窈娘忍不住在心裏贊嘆，首先這件事情就不能用私奔處置，而是直接控告別人擄走新娘。
顏應祁也有了啓發：“是啊，我女兒在沈家拜堂，沈家的人也不攔着魏無忌進門，臨走時也沒有直接阻擋，該不會是沈臨風刻意的吧？”
想到這裏顏應祁也有點心虛，因為顏寧馨曾經被拐走，市井長大，難道是因為這個？可當初是沈家幾次三番求娶，現在發現貨不對板所以退親？
這算什麽，你想娶就娶，想不娶就做局？
“三姐姐，我們可怎麽辦啊？”瑩娘有些堂皇的拉着窈娘的袖子。
窈娘對她搖頭：“四妹妹，咱們家姑娘們的名聲毀于一旦，日後怕就要靠我們自己了。”作為大姐當堂和人私奔，別人肯定會懷疑顏家女兒的德行問題？這個時候就要堅強以對，等時日長了，別人就不一定還記得此事。
大家都茫無頭緒之時，京中也是嘩然，顏應祁被迫告病在家，顏景昭亦是如此，他和沈臨風是同侪，更是覺得難堪。
就是沒想到過了兩日，有人上門對顏應祁道：“不好了，老爺，大姑娘去了沈家認錯，說都是她的不是。”
“她認錯了？”顏應祁頭一次覺得自己要暈倒了。
Yan Jingzhao couldn't help but curse: "This idiot, didn't she realize that she got away so smoothly? Who let Wei Wuji in? I still suspect that the Shen family did it on purpose."
"It's too late to say anything. Instead of complaining, let's think about how to solve this problem. Let's go to the Shen family first and see what's going on with this evil girl." After all, Yan Yingqi is older now and can keep calm than Yan Jingzhao.