Chapter 098 Chapter 98

Fireworks are prohibited during the Cold Food Festival and only cold food is eaten. Yao Niang had prepared a lot of cakes a day in advance. After Shen Linfeng offered sacrifices to their ancestors, the whole family went for an outing by the Quchi River.

Shen Linfeng, who had slept well, was indeed extraordinary. As soon as he arrived at Quchi, he met someone pulling him to play Cuju. Shen Linfeng naturally said firmly: "You guys go and play, I want to accompany my wife."

Yao Niang said somewhat embarrassedly: "You go play Cuju, I'll just walk around here by myself."

"Hey, I can usually come out whenever I want, but my wife can't come out for a long time. Let me accompany you." Shen Linfeng used to be a very strong man, but now he is being tortured in the attic every day. The first thing he wants to do when he returns home every day is to lie down.

Now that he finally has some free time, he would rather spend time with his wife.

Since he was willing to accompany her, Yao Niang didn't bother to be polite. The two of them held hands and walked in the place where flowers, plants and trees were lush, with breeze blowing and feeling extremely comfortable.

There were many flower sellers nearby, an old lady selling fish soup on a boat, and hawkers selling cold food on baskets. In short, there was everything you could expect.

Many people looked sad, obviously after worshipping their ancestors. Yao Niang was tired from walking, so she found a place selling cold noodles and sat down to eat with Shen Linfeng.

Just as she was about to sit down, Shen Linfeng suddenly said, "Wait a moment." After that, he took out a silk handkerchief from his pocket and spread it on the stool, then made a gesture for Yao Niang to sit down.

Yao Niang sat down with a smile, she was always moved by Shen Linfeng's attentiveness. In fact, Shen Linfeng was afraid that Yao Niang would think that she was suffering by following him, so he worked even harder.

While she was eating, she also took out money for the servants to fill their stomachs, and then went back to the front to gather half an hour later. This was also a way for the couple to be alone together.

After eating the cold noodles, Shen Linfeng held Yao Niang's hand, and Yao Niang also hugged his arm: "You have to protect me well, I'm afraid I'll get lost, my father said there are many kidnappers."

"Okay." Shen Linfeng also discovered that if his wife went out without wearing a veil, people from all over the country would stop to look at her. It was really exaggerated. Thinking of this, he also began to appreciate his wife's beauty.

Shen Linfeng kept looking at her. Yao Niang suppressed her shyness, but she was quite interested in the people and things outside, just like now she actually saw an acquaintance.

Zhou Lingguang...

He was actually standing side by side with a woman, looking very smiling. Zhou Lingguang's appearance was naturally very outstanding. Even though his face had become a little fatter now, he was still a handsome man.

"Zhou Lingguang."

"Fan Ruhui."

Yao Niang and Shen Linfeng both blurted out the question. She looked at Shen Linfeng in surprise: "Do you know that woman?"

In fact, Yao Niang just wanted to know who the woman was, but Shen Linfeng misunderstood Yao Niang and thought that he and Fan Ruhui had some affair, so he quickly said, "It's not that I know her, but it's not good to spread rumors about her. Now her father is the Zuodu Yushi."

"Oh no, what's wrong?" Yao Niang was curious.

Shen Linfeng obviously didn't pay much attention to a woman. He said, "Fan Jia and my father used to work together in the Dali Temple. I heard that she had a bad temper before. She was once engaged, but she beat her future mother-in-law, so both parties broke off the engagement. Later, I heard that she loved Cao Shou, the son of Commander Cao. When she saw that Cao Jia returned to Jinling and Cao Shou was an official in the Nanjing Guard, she took people south to pursue him, but Cao Shou was already married, so Fan Jia brought people to find her back."

"We don't have to make a preconceived decision. What if it's because her in-laws treat her badly? Besides, she's a weak woman who dares to chase after the man she loves, which shows that she's a woman of passion." Yao Niang didn't feel too much resentment after hearing this.

But after she finished speaking, she could understand Shen Linfeng's feelings. Shen Linfeng had been broken off in public, so he was naturally full of resentment. He was not ashamed of the woman who eloped despite such a noisy and unhappy life. If she were in his shoes, she would also consider his feelings, so Yao Niang said: "But I would never do that, because I would have chosen the person in advance. Whoever can make my husband pass my three tests, I will have regarded you as mine long ago."

Shen Linfeng pursed his lips and smiled: "My wife, don't say such embarrassing things outside, otherwise, others will definitely say something about us if they hear it."

"I know, it's my fault." Yao Niang said.

Seeing that Yao Niang admitted her mistake with a good attitude, Shen Linfeng wanted to find an open space to play stacking again. The two of them had long forgotten about Zhou Lingguang.

However, Yao Niang had seen other people perform acrobatics before, and she knew all kinds of acrobatics by heart, but she didn't expect Shen Linfeng to be so good at the tiered tricks. He was afraid that if he ran too fast he wouldn't be able to see Yao Niang, so he only gave her a brief demonstration.

"How amazing." Yao Niang was surprised that he didn't sweat at all. No wonder her husband was in such good health.

Shen Linfeng smiled and said, "These little tricks are nothing, but you really impressed me in every way."

Not far away, Zhou Lingguang was talking to Fan Ruhui. He was eloquent and had a distinguished temperament. Although he was in a bad state for the time being, Fan Ruhui could see that if this boy succeeded in the future, he would surely soar to great heights.

Yao Niang had a great time on the Cold Food Festival. She came back and fell asleep immediately. For the first time, she experienced Shen Linfeng's feelings.

Mrs. Shen Er was not in the mood. When she had sex with her husband again, she couldn't help but ask Mr. Shen Er: "Did she say when she would paint with me?"

"When you ask someone to do something for you, they have the final say." Elder Shen couldn't help but say. He also said to his wife, "You don't have to worry too much. Bangxing has been dead for many years. We don't want to see his death. Instead of always thinking about the old friend, it's better to live a good life now. Bangyan didn't pass the provincial examination last year, and I was worried about his future."

Madam Shen was quick to admit her fault: "It's all my fault. I didn't teach him well."

Elder Shen Er pondered, "What worries me most is his future. No matter how handsome a man is, how elegant his speech is, or how good his family background is, if he has no career path, he is no different from a useless person."

Mrs. Shen was blushing at what her husband said, but the Bi family came to ask for money. She ignored them and the Bi family's aunt turned around and went to Yao Niang again.

In fact, Mrs. Shen had already given the Bi family fifty taels of silver during the Chinese New Year, but they did not produce anything and lived entirely on charity, so naturally the money was all used up in a few months.

Aunt Bi also complained: "She is getting more and more stingy. The houses along the street are all hers, but she didn't even bother to let us live in them. She just watched us suffer. We did a lot for her in the past. Would she be where she is today without us?"

"Okay, sister-in-law, stop talking. I see that their grandmother is such a rich and generous person. She even took the initiative to say hello to me when we were having a drink and opera last time." said Aunt Bi Er.

The two of them came over and asked to see Yao Niang. Yao Niang was about to let them send her away, but when she thought of the suspicious points about Mrs. Shen, she couldn't help but say, "Please ask the two aunts to come over and serve tea."

Mother Gu said, "Those two are just trying to get money. Why should Grandma care about them?"

"They are all relatives. It would not be nice for them to come to our house to ask for favors. We should just invite them in." Yao Niang did not want to explain everything. She actually kept her grandfather's words in her heart.

When the two aunts from the Bi family came over, Yao Niang was handing the account book to Zhou Wang's family. She was an expert in finding information, and it would be a pity to let her do anything else, so she let Zhou Wang's family take charge of the tea room. The tea room was the biggest source of information, and it was also simple. There were special people who stayed up late to make tea, and it was enough for her to take care of those people.

"Grandma, I'm here at the wrong time." Aunt Bi smiled.

Yao Niang quickly stood up to greet them: "The two elders have come to visit us specially. I have to entertain them no matter how busy I am."

The servants brought over some tea. Aunt Bi, who was a picky eater, said as soon as she drank it, "This is sparrow tongue."

"Yes, it's best to drink Queshe at this time."

Aunt Bi put down the teacup and said, "The Shen family is very wealthy and powerful. We used to drink this kind of tea, but now we can't afford it."

"Yes, our family is in financial difficulty. My daughter-in-law gave birth to a child, and now we can't even afford eggs." Aunt Bi also said.

These two were used to singing the same tune. Yao Niang secretly complained that although the Bi family was poor, they had many children and had to support a scholar. Almost all of their income came from begging and they did not produce anything. How could they not have a difficult family life?

Yao Niang said, "We are all relatives. Your family is in financial difficulty, and we can't just stand by and watch."

The two aunts of the Bi family were delighted to hear this, but then they heard Yao Niang say, "Please don't be so formal with me, aunts."

My aunt said, "Grandma is so kind to us, why should we be so reserved? People outside say you have a kind heart, and I've seen it for real."

"You are my elder, so I don't deserve your words. But my second aunt wants me to paint a picture for my cousin Bangxing, saying that she wants to warn his spirit. I wonder if you two have ever seen him?" Yao Niang asked.

When talking about Shen Bangxing, the two aunts of the Bi family suddenly fell silent, and after a long while they just kept saying how pitiful he was.

"How pitiful! I heard that he died of illness. I wonder what disease he had?" Yao Niang asked concernedly.

Bi's aunt blurted out, "He died of a high fever."

"Didn't you call a doctor?" Yao Niang asked suspiciously.

Just like when Shao's son was not feeling well, they invited several doctors to see him. The Shen family was not a family that could not afford to hire doctors. The child was already that old, not a baby anymore, so how could it not work?

When she asked this question, her aunt said, "We don't know about these things."

"That's true, but when did cousin Bangxing die?" Yao Niang did not continue to ask, but she felt that the two aunts from the Bi family must know something about the inside story.

My aunt remembered it very clearly and told it out immediately.

窈娘心一沉，面上倒是笑道：“顧媽媽，之前我那裏還有買茶的二十兩銀子，先讓賬房支出來給二位舅母。”

這二位也不敢嫌棄，畢竟窈娘說起來也不是她們實真的親戚。

她二人一走，窈娘以一個內宅女子的推測，自己的兒子發高燒死了，會不會嫉妒長房十三歲就要考舉人的沈臨羿。就像清大奶奶，自己沒有兒子就會嫉妒邵氏，甚至想下手害別人肚子裏的孩子，而沈臨羿還那麽年輕，可極其聰明，下毒或者雇人下手風險太大，她也不一定有這個能力。可是沈夫人挑的那兩個通房，都是自己挑的丫頭，據說十分老實，沈臨羿年輕，對那種事情恐怕也早熟，那二人若是可以玩弄，尤其是風寒之後馬上風，這種死狀，沈家還怕傳出去，就更不會查了。

這些都只是窈娘的猜想，具體如何，其實還要進一步查。

等沈臨風回來時，窈娘把自己的猜測告訴沈臨風，“你可知道沈邦興是如何死的？”

沈臨風卻絲毫不記得了：“我只聽聞是病死的，其實你的猜測不無道理，邦興和我哥哥關系很好，他極其喜歡我母親，我還吃醋過呢。”

“你是說沈邦興很喜歡你娘？”窈娘覺得自己明白了點什麽。

沈臨風點頭：“娘子，我知道我娘讓你站規矩，對你也是諸般挑剔，但是我們家的孩子們小時候都喜歡我娘。因為我娘很喜歡給我們買玩意兒，特別大方，她年輕的時候性情也很活潑，常常帶着我們一起玩兒，她百索跳的也很好，每次我們家吃飯人都是最多的。二嬸對我娘畢恭畢敬，實不相瞞，小時候我們都覺得二嬸跟管事娘子似的。”

“你呢？你當時雖然胖，但是聰明嗎？”窈娘繼續問。

沈臨風搖頭：“其實那些我都學會了，但是你知道的，我愛吃也愛睡覺，看起來胖胖的，大家就覺得我沒出息。”

“沈邦彥呢？”窈娘覺得自己已經知曉答案了。

“他，他屬于非常機靈的那種，小時候學什麽都會，書背一遍就會了，就是我感覺他這個人很難靜下心來。不過，他小時候比我好看，親戚們都喜歡他，祖母也喜歡他。”沈臨風也不傻他聽出這個意思來了。

窈娘就道：“她兒子死了，她心中不滿，若是你哥哥也去了，你看起來能力不成，那她的兒子就會脫穎而出。說實話，沈邦彥比三房那幾位還是才學不錯的。”

沈臨風颔首：“你分析的完全對，那麽重點就在那兩個丫鬟上，這也是你跟我說的，試探沒有用。”

“現在不是還有畢家嗎？畢家缺錢，而你現在點石成金。”窈娘笑道。

沈臨風扶着窈娘的肩膀：“好，我會找人去試探畢家。”

他真的很喜歡他娘子，不管什麽時候她都把自己的事情放在心上。

沈二夫人還不知道沈臨風在懷疑她，她如今是國子監祭酒的夫人，多少人為了兒子的未來都主動上門結交她。

以前在沈夫人的襯托下，窈娘覺得沈二夫人似乎更有才幹，現在卻覺得沈夫人至少還算不得是個壞人，沈二夫人卻是一匹豺狼。

但萬事還得找到證據才行，因為對二夫人的處置必須要大房長輩們處置才可以。

這些事情既然有了頭緒就慢慢攻破，如今當務之急她還有別的事情要做，因為她現在才收到金陵來的信，說起母親去歲誕下一個麟兒。

原來在奔喪途中，解氏發現自己有了身孕，據說顏應祁欣喜若狂，恨不得告知所有人，但解氏怕他這般開心告訴別人，到時候反而折損福氣，一定要堅持不要往外說，等孩子真的平安誕下再說。

再者，解氏也怕自家明明是回家奔喪的，丈夫過于興奮，途中被人參了就完蛋了。

窈娘十分欣喜，又去給祖父顏邁報喜：“恭喜祖父，又得了個孫兒。如今既有重孫，又有孫兒，都不知道咱們家怎生歡喜了。”

“孩子如今都快一歲了啊。”顏邁也被這個喜悅沖昏了。

窈娘道：“這孩子是六月初八生的，我哥哥是六月十八的生辰，我是六月二十四，我們兄妹幾人竟然都是六月出生，上天注定了我們要成為一家人的。”

顏邁興沖沖的道：“到時候我可得準備些禮物送給我的小孫孫。”

在顏邁眼裏，解氏是她們三房的兒媳婦，生的孩子才是三房的人。

“正好了，公定他族叔端午要來京一趟，祖父有什麽信件和禮物到時候一并讓他替咱們帶過去。”窈娘也沒想到她有個弟弟了。

比起顏家人都是正常的反應，沈臨風第一句話則是：“老泰山真是老而彌堅，值得我輩敬仰。”再者，他忍不住道：“娘子，老泰山不是四十多了嗎？”

“對啊，我娘三十六懷的我弟弟，我爹那個時候應該是四十一歲左右吧。”窈娘很快就把年紀算出來了。

沈臨風莞爾：“娘子，那我們倆是不是一直可以親熱到五十歲？”

“胡說什麽呢？我要打你人了。”窈娘嗔道。

沈臨風在趴在桌上，歪着頭看向窈娘：“娘子，我好愛你。”

“你犯錯啦？”窈娘眯起眼睛。

“不是，我就是想等你六月生辰的時候，咱們倆夫妻也準備要個孩子吧，如此，我不在家裏的時候，至少還有孩子陪你。”沈臨風道。

之前他覺得妻子剛及笄，他自然非常尊重妻子的選擇，也怕她年紀太小了，今年窈娘嫁過來兩年了，若是第三年窈娘未曾有生育，到時候沈家人會如何看她呢？她們夫妻也不是普通的夫妻，是宗子和宗婦。

再者，若是窈娘生下名正言順的繼承人，也就無人敢觊觎了。

他也怕妻子害羞，不敢對自己說要孩子，他就主動提出。

窈娘卻鑽進他懷裏：“我要你陪我就好了。”

“好，那就還是和以前一樣。”沈臨風怕她恐懼生孩子，因此也讓步了。

窈娘笑道：“不是，我的意思是即便有了孩子，我們倆才是對彼此最重要的人。”

沈臨風一把拉着她坐在自己的腿上：“那是當然了，娘子。”

端午節前，窈娘特地寫了一封信給解氏，又畫了一張她和沈臨風的畫像，信中自然說了沈臨風不少的好話，還提起她們現在分家了，她獨掌一府，沈臨風知曉她年紀小，還等她身子好了再懷孕雲雲。

順便還親手做了兩條肚兜，兩雙虎頭鞋，還有二十對福祿壽金銀锞子各重一兩，玉佩擇六樣、又有八絲緞五匹、湯綢五匹、大卷紗十匹，還有珍稀補品等等。沈臨風又找銀樓打了成套的長命鎖、手镯、腳镯，還把他私庫裏的紫檀鑲嵌寶玉的寶船也一并送上。

更別提窈娘還自己做了一個布老虎和爹娘各自的布偶。

滿滿當當的一路讓族叔帶去，這族叔去年上京時得了藺泷改進了船，其運貨之速度非其他人能夠比拟，因此，不少人選擇他們的船行運貨，生意翻了好幾番，窈娘和沈臨風去年拿了一萬兩出來入了幹股。

今年他是來送分紅的，就一年分紅了兩千兩，這沈信還問起沈臨風：“聽聞你如今都已經輪值內閣了？”

沈臨風謙虛道：“不過是巧合罷了。”

“這就不算巧合了，你這日日和閣老們一起共事，什麽軍國大事不都是從你的手裏過的。”沈信算是頗有見識的，他從一開始就覺得沈臨風是個很有本事的人。

沈臨風笑道：“信叔，你放心，只要咱們老老實實的做生意，我該幫你的肯定幫。”

沈信颔首。

沈信的船八日就到了金陵，他受沈臨風所托，也知道顏家在金陵的地位非同一般，他生意做的頗大，若是有顏家在金陵罩着，豈不是又多了一重保護？

解氏此時正在照看孩子，她這麽大年紀生下一個孩子，總覺得害羞，誰都打趣她一句老蚌生珠？景昭被貶，她心痛，但又總覺得大兒子是雄鷹，女兒最為貼心，可女兒終究嫁出去了，現下還好有這個小的陪伴在她身邊，又很是愛笑。

丈夫也似老夫聊發少年狂一樣，笨手笨腳的抱孩子，現在青天白日的又拿着一個撥浪鼓進來了。

“這個時候怎麽來了？”

“來看看你和景慈，這小子都快一歲了，看起來個頭真大。”顏應祁抱在自己懷裏掂了掂。

解氏笑眯眯的：“我現在就盼着我們窈娘也盡快能有身孕，和我一樣，生個健康的乖寶寶，是不是啊景慈，若是你姐姐在這裏，肯定會逗你玩兒的。”

夫妻二人正說着，聽說有沈家的人遞了帖子過來，說是沈臨風和窈娘托他親自帶的東西給她們的，解氏一喜，讓乳母抱着孩子，她和顏應祁出去迎了沈信進來。

After a few greetings, Yan Yingqi learned that his son-in-law had taken over the inner cabinet, and his daughter had become famous in the capital for her painting, and had become a guest of honor in Zhao Cifu's home, which made him very happy. Yan Yingqi asked someone to invite Shen Xin to the guest room.

The couple also read the letter written by Yao Niang in person. Her letter talked about many things about the Shen family, about how they were investigating the cause of Shen Linyi's death, etc. There were also two paintings drawn by Yao Niang herself. One was a painting of Yao Niang and Shen Linfeng. In the painting, one of them was playing the flute and the other was playing the konghou, which could be considered a harmonious relationship. The other picture was actually of Yan Yingqi and her, when they were both very young. Yan Yingqi was riding on a horse in a white robe, and she picked up the kite and suddenly raised her head to look at Yan Yingqi.

"Although the picture is beautiful, didn't we get to know each other after we got married?" Xie said stupidly.

Yan Yingqi pointed at Xie and said, "Please learn from your daughter. What a beautiful painting. Others paint that fate brings people together even after thousands of miles of travel. The kite symbolizes fate. But you ruin the scenery."