Chapter 044 Chapter 44
After Shao Xixi's coming-of-age ceremony, the relationship between the five people improved by leaps and bounds. After Yu Qing'er learned that Yao Niang didn't know how to play polo, he specially invited them to play over and taught her how to play polo.
Yu Qing'er even said self-deprecatingly: "Don't be fooled by my appearance, I'm pretty good at polo. My brother just invited some people to come over to play, so I'll use this place to teach you."
"Thank you for remembering me." Yao Niang complained casually that she couldn't play polo and was laughed at. Yu Qing'er took it to heart.
After saying this, Yao Niang invited Chen Shuyi to come as well. Chen Shuyi shook her head desperately, but she didn't force. As for Shao Xixi and Ye Jingwan, they both happened to have their menstrual period today, so they couldn't do it either.
The General's Mansion is different from other civil servants' residences in that it has a large area. I heard from Yu Qing'er that many soldiers from the General's Mansion are training here. I heard that General Yu was born into a family of a noble lady and a concubine, and his great-grandfather was also the descendant of a famous official, so his family inherited the title of a hundred households. Later, he took the military examination and fought in Xuanfu. Now he is about 45 years old and has been appointed as a general.
Yu Qing'er specially selected a docile horse for Yao Niang to ride, and taught her how to mount it first: "Mounting a horse is very important. If you can't mount a horse steadily, then you can't ride it."
"Yao Niang, you see we have to stand on the left side of the horse, from the left saddle. You need to collect the reins and throw the excess to the right side of the horse. You can grab a little bit of the horse's mane with your left hand, it's not tight. Hold the stirrup with your right hand, step on the stirrup with the sole of your left foot, and then grab the rear saddle bridge with your right hand. Don't be too nervous when grabbing it, use the elasticity of your right foot and step on it in one step. After sitting down, find the stirrup with your right foot and step firmly."
She spoke in great detail. After all, she came from a military family and she heard that women in Xuanfu fought just like men during wartime.
Yao Niang listened carefully. She was smart and courageous. After practicing for about half an hour, she succeeded in getting on the horse.
After getting on the horse, you have to adjust your sitting posture. Yu Qing'er said, "You see, the direction of the horse is controlled by the reins. Pull the reins to the left and it will turn left. Pull the reins to the right and it will turn right. If you want to move forward, you have to squeeze your calves inward at the same time. If you want the horse to stop, just tighten the reins."
Yao Niang studied like this for about half an hour, only drinking some water in between.
Probably because they had been active all morning, Yao Niang, who usually only ate half a bowl of rice, ate a bowl of rice today and added another half bowl. Xie was frightened: "Eat slowly, don't choke."
"I got it, mother. Today my daughter learned how to mount a horse, how to control a horse, and how to do waves. Do you know how to do waves? It means standing up, pushing your hips out like this, then sitting down gently, and then standing up gently again." Yao Niang smiled as she talked about the fun things that happened today when she learned to ride a horse.
Xie picked up a piece of squirrel mandarin fish for her and said, "Last time you talked about our family affairs with your friends, is it okay? You still have to be careful with what you say in the future, for fear that others will deliberately make you say something miserable and miserable to trick you into telling them."
Yao Niang nodded: "I know, but think about it, if I only say good things, how can they accept me into the circle? Besides, I think these friends of mine are all good people. Moreover, they don't have any conflicts of interest with each other, and they usually get along very happily. If there are conflicts of interest between people, even if they are brothers or sisters, it is common for them to fall out. On the contrary, I think that in the process of making friends with them, I can also improve myself better. Even if we are no longer friends in the future, I have become a better version of myself."
"Well, what are the advantages of your friends?" Although Xie hoped that her daughter would make more friends, she was also afraid that her daughter would be taken advantage of. She was like an old hen, wishing to keep her chicks under her wings all the time.
Yao Niang thought for a moment, "As for Sister Chen, I think she is introverted, but kind. With a friend like her, I won't worry about betrayal. Sister Shao has a hard life, but she is warm and cheerful, and rarely complains. Sister Ye has a bad fate, but she has principles in her heart. She is a person who is cold on the outside but warm on the inside. Sister Yu is very loyal, which is rare among women."
Xie looked at her daughter tenderly: "You can see so many good points in others, which shows that you are also a good person."
Later, Yao Niang went to Yu's house to learn horse riding a few times. At first, she let others lead the horse, and then she could trot a few steps by herself, and even run a lap.
Her ultimate goal was not to play polo, but to learn how to ride a horse. After learning how to ride a horse, she would be able to ride freely in the future and even take her mother for a ride.
With Shao Xixi's introduction, Yao Niang got to know the sisters of the Peng family, who were wealthy people in the city. The sisters had different personalities. The older one was quiet and said to have been betrothed to a salt merchant, while the younger one was pretty and charming, and was also engaged to her mother's cousin.
Yu Qing'er secretly said to Yao Niang, "The Peng family is very generous. They wanted to give the eldest daughter of the Peng family to Shen Xun to play the role of the second string."
"Shen Xunfu is not young anymore?" Yao Niang was surprised. She heard that Shen Xunfu was already over 40 years old and the Peng family was capable of doing this.
"That's right, but since our parents have decided on the marriage, who can go against it? Fortunately, Shen Xun persuaded her not to marry him, otherwise Sister Peng would have been in trouble." Yu Qing'er curled her lips.
Yao Niang was not familiar with the Peng sisters, and she liked them because they were not philistines and seemed to come from a scholarly family. However, she did not expect that they were both good at the double six of Ma Diao Si Zi. Yao Niang rarely beat Ying Niang at home, so it was a good opportunity for her to learn from the Peng sisters.
Yao Niang even learned how to roll the dice to get big ideas, and the two sisters even taught her how to cheat.
Sister Peng said, "Miss Yan, I'm going to tell you something. Look at all those casinos and see which one really relies on luck."
As the saying goes, people of all walks of life come together. It is difficult for her to come into contact with too bad people in the inner chambers, but Yao Niang is not averse to it. She even listens to the Peng sisters talking about their own business and does not feel disgusted. When the Peng sisters opened a shop, she even invested 50 taels of her own private money as shares.
In Henan, she had more freedom and met a variety of women, no longer all the same.
Before the winter month, Shao Xixi was going to get engaged. She was the eldest daughter of the Censor, and had the same status as Yan Ningxin. Only if the eldest daughter had a good start, the rest would be better, so Shao Xixi thought this marriage was a good one.
Yao Niang specially went out to find a pair of lotus earrings to give to Shao Xixi. Now Chen Shuyi is not so scared when she is with Yao Niang, and she even feels more comfortable talking to outsiders.
When they came over, Shao Xixi was just saying, "I'm going to get engaged now, so I'm afraid it will be inconvenient for me to go out in the future. You all know my stepmother, she always scolds me for no reason. So, I want to take advantage of the opportunity before the engagement to go to Daxiangguo Temple for a visit, so that I can think about this day at home."
Yao Niang remembered that girls like them always had to be accompanied by adults when they went out, so it would be convenient to call her mother out. She had originally planned to travel with her mother, but her grandfather was busy and Xie rarely went out.
So, she said, "How about this? If we girls go out, the elders will definitely be worried. Why not let my mother take us? Firstly, I want my mother to visit the scenic spots, and secondly, it will also make the elders feel at ease."
Shao Xixi smiled and said, "That's great."
When Mrs. Chen heard that Xie was going, she also wanted to go with her, mainly because she was worried about her daughter.
Daxiangguo Temple has been named since it was given by the emperor in the Tang Dynasty and has been used ever since. Kaifeng is located in a plain area, and when a horse-drawn carriage passes by, all you can see is a flat plain.
Ye Jingwan was sent here together with her brother Ye Tinggao. Ye Jingwan said that her brother's biological mother died early, and he grew up with his grandfather. Now that she is with her grandfather, she has a good relationship with this brother alone.
"It's late autumn now, and I wonder how your brother is doing lately?" Although Xie's days in Kaifeng were peaceful, she was worried about Guan's passing and her son being alone in the mansion.
Yao Niang said, "Mom, do you think Dad will give up the idea of letting me marry Shen Linfeng?"
Xie smiled and said, "It may not have happened before, but maybe it will happen now. Otherwise, he would not allow the two of us to go out and would definitely keep us in the capital. I think Shen Linfeng is only one year younger than your brother, and will be nineteen this year. In order to wash away this great shame, the Shen family may also find another lady from a famous family. We can go back next year and everything will be fine."
"I thought so too. In fact, elder sister must have regretted it when she came back, right? I saw that when the Shen family sent the betrothal gifts, and after she got engaged, she was very proud every time she went out and was complimented. Little did she know that one wrong step would lead to many wrong steps." Yao Niang knew very well that even if Yan Ningxin was released in the future, it would be very difficult for her to find a good marriage again.
No matter how capable a woman is, few can survive on their own. They must have firm beliefs and the ability to support themselves. Yao Niang learned the lesson from Yan Ningxin, so now she has learned how to ride a horse, play mahjong and mahjong, embroider, and play the piano. No matter what she does, having many skills is always a disadvantage.
Xie spread his hands and said, "Where in the world is there a magic medicine for regret? So, no matter what we do, we must think twice before we act."
"You are right." Yao Niang thought so.
Xie was observing men of the right age, such as Ye Jingwan's elder brother Ye Tinggao, who was of average appearance and passed the examination for a scholar at the age of 14. Now he was 17 years old and failed the provincial examination. His grandfather was a governor and his father was a student who was later appointed as the magistrate of Jiujiang.
She still needs to investigate it, and if it is feasible, she will write a letter to the capital.
When they reached the foot of the mountain of Daxiangguo Temple, the forest was so dense that it looked like the sky. Yao Niang took Xie's hand and said, "Mother, listen to the silence."
"The sound of the wind." Xie said.
Yao Niang is in a good mood.
Xie told her to go play with her sisters and not to follow her. Yao Niang then ran up to talk to Shao Xixi and the others. They talked and laughed all the way. After Yao Niang entered the temple, she did not go to the majestic main hall, but went straight to the Thousand-armed Guanyin.
Thousand-armed Guanyin can help people overcome all kinds of difficulties and eliminate all kinds of illnesses. Although Yao Niang doesn't really believe in gods and Buddhas, in view of recent events, she couldn't help but kneel down and beg: "Merciful Guanyin Bodhisattva, please help me eliminate my karma. I, the Goddess Yan, have no other request, but to give me the best man in the world so that we can grow old together."
During these days, Yao Niang was able to sense Xie's anxiety, which was the uncertainty about her future marriage.
Although the mother and daughter expressed their attitude to Yan Yingqi because of this matter, since they had rejected this marriage, they had to find a better marriage than the Shen family, otherwise, they would be the laughing stock of others for the rest of their lives.
Yao Niang also didn't want her father to point fingers at her mother in the future and say that her daughter's life was so unhappy because she didn't agree.
Thinking of this, Yao Niang kowtowed again and repeated: "I pray to the compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva to give me the best son in the world."
After worshipping the Thousand-Armed Guanyin, she went to meet Ye Jingwan. Unexpectedly, she saw a young man outside. Yao Niang quickly bowed and saluted. The young man's face turned red and he hurriedly returned the salute.
"Hello, young lady."
Yao Niang lowered her head and walked in. She saw Ye Jingwan flipping through a book of poetry. She couldn't help but ask, "Did I meet your brother at the door just now?"
"My brother personally sent over some snacks. Come, let's eat together. They won't be back for a while." Ye Jingwan said.
Yao Niang was curious again: "Sister, aren't you going to worship Buddha?"
Ye Jingwan shook her head: "When I was not happy in the past, I also prayed to the gods and Buddhas like the elders in my family, but it was useless. I might as well read more books with such free time."
"As for the matter of gods and Buddhas, it is better to believe in their existence than to believe in their non-existence." Yao Niang made a joke to ease the situation a little.
Ye Jingwan nodded. She always liked quietness and was reading a book. Yao Niang thought it was a waste of time to sit outside, so she took the two maids to see the famous places in the temple.
As they walked, they saw someone carrying a written article on a pole. Yao Niang said to Qing Dai Hong Xiu, "I don't know which family this scholar is from. If he works so hard, why should he worry about success?"
Qing Dai said, "Our eldest son used to study hard, but not to this extent."
"My brother is very talented, but he also works very hard. He sits in a chair for a long time every day and often suffers from pain in his shoulders, waist and back." Yao Niang thinks that even a genius has to work hard.
"Let's not talk about it anymore. Let's continue walking forward. Take the drawing board. I want to paint later. When I'm old, looking at these paintings will be a great memory." Yao Niang didn't know whether she would be able to come out in the future. She would be fourteen years old next year. It was impossible for her father to let her mother stay with her in their mother's home forever. Even her mother was worried about her brother.
After finally choosing a place, Qingdai had a long table brought over and a jar of water. Yao Niang took out the pigments from her box and began to mix the colors.
She wanted to paint the Main Hall, as this place had the best view.
Yu Qing'er and Shao Xixi walked here. Shao Xixi wanted to go up and shout, but Yu Qing'er said, "Let's not bother her. To be honest, I still admire Yao Niang. When I make friends with people, I always want to be with them all the time for fear of neglecting them, but she can always do her own thing."
Shao Xixi nodded: "She is also a warm-hearted person. If she hadn't stepped forward, my coming-of-age ceremony wouldn't have been able to go on."
They privately guessed that Yao Niang should also be from a prominent family, but if Yao Niang didn't say it, they wouldn't ask too much. They even had eaten the snacks made by Xie and liked Xie very much, but they were also worried about Xie's situation.
They did not bother Yao Niang and went to other places. Yao Niang painted for an hour, but only painted a corner. She said to Hong Xiu: "I will have lunch here, otherwise it will be dark later and I won't be able to paint."
Lunch was brought here by Xie herself. Yao Niang ate a few bites and continued to paint. Xie saw that her daughter was eager to finish a painting and did not want to disturb her.
However, after maintaining the same posture for too long, Yao Niang's legs became numb. She could not help but stand up and move a few steps forward, but she did not expect that the door opposite suddenly opened, and a young man wearing a square scarf and a green shirt walked out. He stood there, independent as a solitary pine. This man had such a handsome appearance, who else could it be but Shen Linfeng.
Shen Linfeng had not expected to see Yao Niang in this place, and he thought he had seen the wrong person. Originally, his parents were tempted by Yan Yingqi's proposal to marry their third daughter to him, and they found it hard to accept it. Moreover, he was now keeping his heart closed and felt more and more that he was a joke, so he came to his uncle's place to have some quiet time and prepare for the imperial examination.
In this situation, Yao Niang couldn't just ignore him. It was her own fault, so she immediately bowed and saluted: "Mr. Shen."
Although Shen Linfeng didn't really want to see the Yan family right now, when they greeted him, he still politely replied, "Hello, Miss Yan."
Yao Niang thought that Shen Linfeng was a Hanlin Academy student, and had a bright future. Students only had one day off every five days. Even if her brother's wife died and he took a few days off to attend the funeral, he had to report to the Hanlin Academy immediately. Could it be that something happened in the Hanlin Academy? She was worried about her brother, so she asked, "Master Shen, why are you here? Did the Hanlin Academy close early?"
Thinking of why he was here, Shen Linfeng said unhappily: "Miss Yan, why am I here? It's all thanks to you Yan family."
Yao Niang never thought that Shen Linfeng even resigned from the position of Hanlin Academy Scholar because of Yan Ningxin's matter. You know, there is a slogan in the officialdom that only Jinshi can enter Hanlin, and only Hanlin can enter the inner cabinet. If all Jinshi can enter the Hanlin Academy, then they have a 50% chance of entering the inner cabinet, especially since Shen Linfeng and Yan Yingqi are both so young and are talents that the court focuses on cultivating.
If one is unable to stay in the academy normally, the highest position one can achieve as a minister in the future is at most a chance to become a minister. However, if one stays in the Hanlin Academy, he or she will be a candidate for a cabinet minister in the future. The difference between the two is huge.
"Mr. Shen, the past is the past. We, the Yan family, are indeed sorry for you. We didn't know that such a thing would happen. But you can't really be unable to bear these rumors. Shujishi is the best choice for Jinshi." Yao Niang was afraid that some rumors would be spread in the future, saying that it was the Yan family that caused Shen Linfeng's career to be damaged.
After she finished speaking, she also protested her injustice. After all, Shen Xunfu was now Shen Linfeng's uncle. What if he made things difficult for her grandfather?
"Mr. Shen, I was actually influenced by my sister and now have no choice but to leave the capital."
She was afraid that Shen Linfeng would blame her again, but she didn't expect Shen Linfeng to look at her expression and not blame her or get angry. Instead, he explained, "I am taking the imperial examination now. If I pass next year, I can be directly appointed as an official. If I pass, I can still enter the Hanlin Academy."
System science?
"Throughout history, there have been no more than 30 people who have passed the imperial examinations. Even Han Yu failed several times. Mr. Shen, what are you doing..." Yao Niang originally wanted to ask if you can do it or go back to the Hanlin Academy, but she changed her mind and said, "You are confident. I wish you success."
Shen Linfeng nodded without comment, pointed to his room and said, "I have to write a total of 50 policy papers, and I have to start writing now."
Yao Niang didn't dare to stop him, she just said: "I also have things to do, I will leave first."
They both turned away, feeling extremely embarrassed.
After Yao Niang finished painting, she suppressed the incident and pretended nothing had happened, chatting and laughing with everyone. It was only after she returned home that she told Jie about the incident.
Xie was shocked: "You silly child, you are alone, and you dare to go up and talk to her? What if she gets angry with you?"
"What do you mean alone? I brought my maid with me. And we happened to see each other face to face. Do you want me to be so rude as to ignore others directly?" After Yao Niang said this, she also told them the conversation in between.
After listening to this, Xie saw that Shen Linfeng answered every question. This Shen Linfeng was unexpectedly easy to manage! Her husband and son were both quite unruly. This was the reason why Guan had been at odds with Yan Jingzhao since she entered the house. If you can't get along with them, then you are nothing in his eyes.
However, Xie shook her head: "Shen Linfeng is taking a risk. What if he fails the exam? Is he going to give up such a good status as a scholar just because of some gossip? It's such a pity."
Yao Niang felt the same way as Shen Linfeng: "Mom, if you say so, you and I don't have to leave the capital. It's just some gossip from others! Little do you know that people's words are scary. If he can pass the imperial examination, he will have great ambitions from then on, and people will no longer talk about the past."
"What you said makes sense." Xie said.
Yao Niang took out her own painting and showed it to Xie: "You see, this is the main hall. The Thousand-armed Avalokitesvara is too difficult to paint, so I didn't paint it."
"The painting is very good. By the way, why didn't I see you and Miss Chen together today? Isn't she your best friend?" Xie still found it strange.
Yao Niang laughed secretly and said, "Mother, you haven't figured it out yet?"
Xie shook his head with a face full of mist.
"Of course it was Madam Chen who did it on purpose. If Sister Chen had always been with me, how could she be with Sister Ye's brother? Think about it, Sister Ye's grandfather is old. I heard from Sister Ye that he might retire after completing his term as the governor. As for Sister Ye's father, he is just a magistrate in Jiujiang. She will have to rely on her father-in-law in the future. And although Sister Chen's father is only a Tongzhi now, he is no more than 40 years old and has a successful career. The Chen family has only this precious daughter, and Madam Chen is quite good at business. In the future, won't Tongzhi Chen's connections all be those of Mr. Ye?" Yao Niang explained.
Xie said, "That's not right. Didn't Mrs. Chen say that she would keep her daughter to raise money?"
Yao Niang stamped her feet and said, "Mother, you are too honest. Mrs. Chen is just talking. If there is a good aunt, how can she find a son-in-law? Besides, with Sister Chen's personality, it would be better if she finds a kind man. If she finds those evil spirits, I am afraid that the Chen family will be eaten up. Now there is a good candidate, how can they miss it."
Xie secretly thought that it was not good. Ye Tinggao was the son-in-law she had been investigating, but someone else had gotten there before she even started investigating. She had always thought that Mrs. Chen was trying to bribe her and asked her about Ye Tinggao, but she had never thought that she was actually doing someone else a favor. On the surface, her daughter seemed innocent, simple-minded, and open-hearted in her friendships. In fact, she was very smart and she was inferior to her.
No, something was even more wrong.
Why did Yan Yingqi let them come to Henan? Could it be that he had the same idea as Mrs. Chen? To group Yao Niang and Shen Linfeng together?
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