Chapter 099 Chapter 99
"Why is the letter from my daughter so thick? It contains every detail." Yan Yingqi shook his head after reading it.
Mrs. Xie said, "I am happy to read it. My daughter is very close to me. We don't know her current situation. I would be worried if she didn't write more. She said she didn't expect that I would give her a brother. She asked me to take good care of myself. She was surprised that I gave birth to a child."
She couldn't help laughing at the end.
Yan Yingqi said: "Children are always children. Our Yao Niang still has such a childish mentality, which shows that she is living well in the Shen family."
"She didn't live a good life either. Her elder sister ran away from her marriage, and we were in a hurry to attend her funeral. How could her life be easy? Life in the rear house was just endurance." Xie herself could be considered to have endured the hardships and finally enjoyed herself. The third old lady was old, and the outcome had long been decided. Her husband and sons were on her side, and she also had a legitimate imperial decree. Now that she had given birth to little Jingci, the wind had already turned to her side.
The marriage between Zhen and Xu's family has been going on for several years, Jingwen's marriage has not been finalized yet, Yan Yingqi has been at home for nearly 27 months of mourning, and the road to recovery is not easy. Xie doesn't care, anyway, it's good for the couple to enjoy their child.
Zhen was very anxious, but she had no say in Yan Yingqi. At first, after Yan Yingqi was demoted, Zhen was secretly happy. Later, the old lady of the third room was already the Minister of Works. As long as the old man was there, Yan Jingzhao's career would not be too bad, but it would be difficult for Yan Yingqi to recover.
Yan Yingqi's career in officialdom was very smooth. He was in his prime, and he even had some plans in mind before leaving. But again, man proposes, God disposes, and the same goes for the changes in officialdom. He had to be patient, and staying at home to raise his children was a good choice.
He didn't need to tell Xie about these things, because Xie never thought about these things and she and he were in perfect harmony.
There was no need to explain to Zhen Shi. Why should he tell her about his future plans? Zhen Shi also relied on him to get the imperial decree of a third-rank official and had been an official's wife for many years. He had nothing to let her down.
As usual, Xie accepted some of the things Yao Niang sent over, and also gave some pieces of cloth to the main room. Zhen snorted coldly after receiving them.
“This little thing is worth sending over.”
Mother Wei served tea and consoled her, saying, "An old clam giving birth to a pearl is not ashamed. She is already a grandmother, and she gave birth to a son who is almost the same age as her grandson."
Zhen waved her hands: "I am worried that the old man can't be reinstated. The third old lady is so old, but she refuses to step down. This makes it impossible for our old man to be reinstated. The people in the third house are pleasing, but our family is finished. It seems that the mourning period is about to end, and I don't know what to do?"
Mother Wei came up with an idea: "Why don't you go ask the old man? See what he says."
"The old man never comes to our main room. He stays with Jie every day. How can I let her come over?" Zhen was older and would not compete for favor.
However, after the old man passed away, the old lady loved her granddaughter Xin Wan more and more. She still wanted to rekindle the old matter and marry her granddaughter to Jingwen. Jingwen came back to observe the mourning this time, and Zhen was not ignorant of what was going on with Xin Wan under her nose. However, the old man's attitude became ambiguous, and it seemed that he did not object to Jingwen marrying Xin Wan.
…
Therefore, when Yao Niang received Xie's reply, it was already the day before her birthday. The letter talked about many interesting things about her younger brother Jingci, and also said that Jingwen's marriage might still depend on Xin Wan.
"This can be considered as lovers finally getting married." Yao Niang said.
Shen Linfeng asked: "Why did your father suddenly agree?"
Yao Niang smiled and said, "You also know that my grandfather is working in Beijing, so it is difficult for my father to return. After all, relatives cannot be officials in Beijing at the same time, otherwise there will be fear of favoritism. Although there is no explicit rule, there is also this unspoken rule. Besides, you see my brother's two marriages, in the end they were all in vain. In this case, why not choose someone who knows you well and has a similar personality? This way, the relationship will last long, but these are just my guesses."
Everything is based on emotion, and Shen Linfeng can understand that.
Just like Shen Linfeng himself, before he met Yao Niang, his requirement for his wife was that she could meet the requirements of the mistress of the house. But after meeting his wife, he felt that being with the person he loved was happier than anything else, because this person was the one he chose.
This year is her sixteenth birthday. This is not a formal birthday. Yao Niang especially liked celebrating her birthday when she was little, but now she doesn't like it so much. She also accepts gifts from others. In the evening, Shen Linfeng accompanies her to eat a bowl of longevity noodles.
Tonight the couple no longer used contraception, and Yao Niang was of course ready. When Shen Linfeng was about to have sex, Yao Niang also went to meet him. People outside did not know what the couple was planning, especially Wang Shi. Although she also wanted a child, Shen Bangyan rarely came to her room because he was studying hard.
Fortunately, Chunluo beside her comforted her: "Isn't the eldest grandmother not pregnant? She is under more pressure than you. After all, she is the eldest daughter-in-law of the eldest son."
"Yeah, if she's not in a hurry, there's nothing for me to be in a hurry for either." Wang felt better after she felt so comforted.
After saying that, she went to talk to Han Ruohua again. Among the sisters-in-law, only Han Ruohua was considerate and kind. She had treated Han Ruohua just averagely before, but she didn't expect that Han Ruohua was such a nice person. Moreover, they were both young daughters-in-law, and Han Ruohua was not as arrogant as Yan.
In fact, Yan was better in front of her mother-in-law, Madam Shen. Once Madam Shen left, Shen Linfeng seemed to be dead and could not control her at all. As a result, Yan became arrogant and bossed her sisters-in-law around. She was arrogant and willful, and her words were often sharp and difficult to deal with. Wang often interacted with other sisters-in-law, and Yan rarely participated when they got together.
Wang brought people to the third room of Qingyi Garden, but heard that Han Ruohua went to the first room.
Yes, when Han Ruohua arrived at the main room, Yao Niang was painting a lotus pond in the pavilion. She was afraid that her skills would become rusty, so she didn't ask for her painting to reach a certain level, but she must not regress.
"I guessed that Sister-in-law Feng was here. Everyone says you are a great painter, but who knows the hard work that goes into it?" Han Ruohua talked freely.
Yao Niang smiled and said, "It's you. I wonder what brings you here at this time?"
The last time Han Ruohua tried to snatch Shen Linyi's portrait, Yao Niang noticed something unusual. It is possible that the person she likes is Shen Linyi, and she may be in love with Shen Bangyan because of Shen Linyi. This is not impossible.
The relationship between her and me has always been indifferent, especially regarding her wedding, when they actually had some disagreements. So this time she came to my house with a smile, probably just for the painting.
Han Ruohua said, "It's nothing else. I just got married last year and I don't know what to give my relatives for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Unfortunately, both of our sisters-in-law in the third room are busy, so I came to ask Sister-in-law Feng for advice."
Yao Niang said, "Your family is now ruled by the eldest sister-in-law Qing. You are the younger daughter-in-law, so there is no need for you to prepare these things."
"I really don't want to prepare?" Han Ruohua asked hypocritically.
Yao Niang smiled and said, "Perhaps you can ask your eldest sister-in-law. We have our own relatives now, so I have no way of knowing. Hey, the third wife has gone to Henan now. I heard that the eldest sister-in-law Qing has contracted out the garden at home?"
She asked this on purpose. Han Ruohua never said a single practical word. She liked to ask people questions aggressively, but she herself was unwilling to talk about any core matters. So Yao Niang asked this on purpose, knowing that she would not answer, so that Han Ruohua would leave.
As expected, Han Ruohua just shook his head and said, "If you don't know what's going on here, I'll go back first."
But after Han Ruohua said goodbye and went back, she was in a depressed mood. Mother Xu hurriedly advised: "Sister, you are the most sensible one, why are you so angry about this matter? You used the excuse of being a lifesaver to get rid of it before, do you still plan to ask for a portrait? What will the people in the tribe say about you if you do this?"
Han Ruohua closed her eyes and cried: "I just couldn't help it. If cousin Yi was still alive and really won the first place in the imperial examination, then I would..."
Just as she finished speaking, she heard outside say that the Third Master had returned. Han Ruohua quickly wiped her tears with a handkerchief, gave a look to Mother Xu, and then stood up leisurely to greet him.
Shen Linyun finally came back. The couple had a quarrel before. Han Ruohua wanted her husband to socialize with officials more, but Shen Sanlang didn't like it. He ran away when she mentioned it, and the couple parted unhappily. But he listened to his second brother Shen Linjiang's advice, so he came back.
After all, they are a young couple. Han Ruohua is very eloquent and took the initiative to admit her mistakes: "Although those words of mine were all for your own good, I didn't care about your feelings. I was wrong. These days I always sit here, looking forward to the sound of your footsteps, hoping that I can find a shoulder to lean on like before, but unfortunately all this is a dream."
Shen Sanlang scratched his head: "I was wrong too, don't be angry with me, I'm back now, right?"
Han Ruohua took the initiative to hold his hand and said, "Let's stop arguing from now on, okay?"
"Um."
Seeing that her husband was coaxed by her, Han Ruohua also breathed a sigh of relief. She knew that although Sanlang was not of the highest quality, he was a rare honest and kind man without a philandering heart. How could she not want such a husband? Moreover, Sanlang was very good-looking. She put her arms around him and said, "I miss you, I really miss you."
Shen Sanlang was a few years younger than her. Han Ruohua was so plump and beautiful that he could not control himself after being teased like this. Han Ruohua was also very satisfied with her husband's performance. After all, he was young and full of energy.
When she woke up again, Shen Sanlang wanted to rape her again. Although she was satisfied, she still said, "We haven't had dinner yet."
這兩人和好之後，韓若華暫時忘卻了沈臨羿，只是沈三郎的确不是什麽讀書的料子，年紀也不小了，文章作的非常馬虎。
清大奶奶如今有孕萬事足，她不管生兒生女總算是可以生的，自己的地位也就穩當了。還把身邊的小丫頭開臉伺候沈臨清，她當然愛自己的丈夫，也想生個孩子，但最重要的還是自己的地位穩當。
因此她管着家巴不得家族和睦，自己也更好管一些，她現在也多了個賢惠的名聲，比她的這些弟妹們都強。
甚至準備在中秋之際，好好操辦一二，讓大家都知道她的本事。
主婦們也都是要在中秋大顯身手，還好窈娘家裏就兩口人，她好準備，但是家裏好準備，對外送禮就得好好籌備。趙次輔和翰林院掌院學士，還有幾位上官家中送去的節禮就不能千篇一律。
但是這些也有管家專門管，窈娘和沈臨風夫妻二人還要過目，送錯了禮，很有可能讓別人對你的印象變差。
月餅都是定的樊樓的，美酒定佳釀，再有什麽字畫器具，沈臨風則根據上官喜好選，窈娘就在旁邊重新拟好單子，二人核對之後，才覺得松快許多。
“真不想當大人，你瞧瞧，怎麽這麽多事兒啊！”窈娘打了個哈欠，似乎有些困了。
沈臨風道：“你呀，怎麽最近這麽容易發困。”
“我也不知道，唉，可能是喝坐胎藥喝的吧，大夫還說我氣血不足。”窈娘如此道。
沈臨風暗自把窈娘的胳膊拿過來把脈，見脈象平緩，才道：“嗯，既然困了就多歇息，不要操勞了。”
窈娘點頭，她又問起：“咱們得畫送回去，也差不多三個月了，你爹娘應該收到了，現在還未回信，不知道他們怎麽想的？”
“所謂查案子，我爹爹曾經在大理寺一年就清除過一萬件案子，一件都沒有錯漏，我寫的信過去。她們若是真的要查，何須我們？”沈臨風道。
窈娘冷哼一聲：“不管了，畢家人如何？”
沈臨風道：“畢家的人那裏有點眉目了，只不過她們家畢竟和二嬸有親，得等着下次她們真沒錢了，有些事情才能問的出來。況且，我現在是官員，也不能用極端手段。”
逝者已逝，沈臨風要查出真相，也要先保住自己的官位。
這點窈娘能理解，她又和沈臨風說起自己的弟弟，感覺很新奇：“你說我弟弟才一歲多點，真的是挺好玩兒的，我居然有這麽小的弟弟。我娘說我爹如今跟兒子奴似的，晚上起來還要抱孩子，和以前完全不同了。诶，你說你爹和你娘還能生孩子嗎？”
“咳咳，肯定不能了吧。”沈臨風從未想過他爹娘的事情。
見窈娘不明白，沈臨風添了一句：“你想啊，我娘都五十了，她嫁進來我曾祖父曾祖母相繼過世，守孝都守了好幾年呢，我爹是長子嫡孫。”
五十歲女子差不多絕經了，應該是不能了，不過那也未必，窈娘強調道：“指不定你娘也是有可能的。”
沈臨風被她的想象驚呆了：“我沒聽說過五十歲還能生娃娃的，快別說了，我不敢想象，求你了。”
窈娘用帕子甩他臉上：“沒意思，膽小如鼠。”
中秋之後，清大奶奶卻是小産了，聽聞是操勞過甚，一下就病倒了。這就讓窈娘非常詫異，她道：“我見清大奶奶這個人還是很看重肚子裏的孩子的，怎麽會小産了呢？”
顧媽媽倒是懂一些：“我聽周旺媳婦打聽說清大奶奶之前吃的生子藥，不是像您這樣普通調養氣血的坐胎藥，這人啊吃猛藥就容易出問題。有的人身子強壯的，可以消受掉，有的本來身子弱就很會反噬。有時候孩子沒有了，還有可能是孩子原本就不好，便先流了。”
不過，顧媽媽還是勸窈娘：“大奶奶如今正備孕中，可不能學她，得徐徐圖之。”
窈娘知曉這就是身邊的人真心為自己打算，像清大奶奶野心勃勃，養出來的人也都是剛猛激烈之人，她們要做的事情不會真心在意自己的主子，只在乎自己怎麽立功？而清大奶奶見江二奶奶有孕，也不久之後，就有了身孕。
其實他們這樣的人家，盧扇兒不過是個繼室根本就不會管兒媳婦們的房裏的事情，順其自然比什麽都強。
說完之後，窈娘站起身準備去探望清大奶奶，卻沒想起站起來時，頭一陣發暈。
顧媽媽心想大奶奶月信未至，又嗜睡，她心中已經有數，遂道：“大奶奶，我勸您先別去了，還是找大夫看看您是否有孕，若有身孕了，就不便去探望小産的人了。”
“我？不會吧。”窈娘知曉她娘是宜男相，她娘的确進門就生了哥哥還有好幾個孩子，可她之前月信紊亂，又避孕一年多，備孕也不過兩個月，應該沒那麽快中。
顧媽媽笑道：“姑爺年輕氣盛，人又精幹，我這就去請大夫過來。”
大夫很快就過來了，把脈把了半天，又問窈娘的症狀，不由得摸須笑道：“十拿九穩是喜脈了，只是日子尚淺。”
一瞬間，窈娘似乎被喜悅沖昏了頭腦，同時，她又有些忐忑：“大夫，我是真的有身孕嗎？”
大夫點頭：“老夫坐堂多年，若是喜脈都無法查出，那趁早就卷鋪蓋回家了。”
窈娘嘴忍不住咧開，她小心翼翼的摸着肚子，又聽大夫和顧媽媽說着宜忌：“核桃牛肉牛乳可以多吃，若吃魚，鲈魚最好。但是似薏米、桂圓、木瓜這些都要少吃。”
“牡蛎可以吃嗎？”窈娘問起，今年家中送了不少牡蛎來。
大夫笑道：“自然可以，牡蛎有海中牛乳的別稱，您有孕三個月正好吃這個最好。”
窈娘又隔着簾子對顧媽媽道：“媽媽，你給這位大夫雙倍賞錢，還有什麽宜忌也讓她跟你說了，還有，也讓小慶哥去翰林院告訴大爺。”
顧媽媽喜道：“好好好，大奶奶先歇着，別的就交給我們。”
……
沈臨風輪值內閣，平日也要在翰林院來點卯，今日剛過來，就聽說他家小厮急着找他，他還以為是出了什麽事情，沒想到居然是妻子有身孕了。
小慶道：“大爺，是大奶奶讓小的來報喜的，今日才發現，說是日子淺，讓您先別聲張。”
“要不我現下就回去吧？不過我還得找次輔告假，還是晚上回去。好小子，這是賞錢，拿着。”沈臨風心想自己也太厲害了，真是一發就中，只是不知道窈娘懷的是男是女，若是女孩兒就好了，一定要像窈娘這樣，可可愛愛的。
小慶見沈臨風居然賞賜的是一塊銀餅，咬了一口，心道難怪小姐讓他來報喜，小姐真是什麽好事都想着他，以前他們在西北的時候，小姐就說她是大将軍，就要讓他小慶打前鋒。
沈臨風平日在內閣屬于來得早走的晚的人，今日卻是健步如飛，趙次輔再次覺得自己看花眼了：“剛剛沈編修不是還在這裏嗎？怎麽現在一下都快到宮門口去了。”
“公定平日走路都是儀态萬分，人人都說他是最有世家風範的，但我聽說他家妻子有喜了，估摸着趕回家去呢。”掌院學士道。
掌院學士還是頗賞識沈臨風的，因為沈臨風非常擅長寫文章，如今在內閣也和文首輔趙次輔關系竟然都處理的很不錯。
小夥子前途無量啊，最重要的是人頗能忍讓，又有才幹，還心胸寬廣。
趙次輔忍不住點頭。
窈娘有孕的消息很快傳遍了沈家，沈二夫人親自過來探望，說了不少宜忌，窈娘心想無論如何沈二夫人什麽時候都做的滴水不漏。
“多謝二嬸告知我，我年輕，并不知道這些，還是有長輩在身邊的好。”窈娘滿面感動之色。
沈二夫人見窈娘現下躺在床上，身上穿的是粉色的寝衣，臉上不施脂粉，說話時露出慧黠又貴氣的樣子，也難怪沈臨風被她迷的暈頭轉向的，嫁進來兩年，連只母蚊子都不能近身。
一時她有些感慨這死丫頭福氣真好，公婆不在身邊，一般三年無子就得身邊放人了，她則卡在這個關口有了身孕。
又聽外面容安道：“大奶奶，大爺特地請了樊樓的師傅過來，專門給您做菜，讓您先讓廚房別忙了。”
“樊樓？真是難為他了，那裏的廚子可不好請。”窈娘不由得一笑。
只不過這樣卻是礙了清大奶奶的眼，那個人可不是個好相與的，她小産了，大房卻是興高采烈的慶祝有身孕，這可不好。
Although she wanted to remind him, Mrs. Shen thought that this matter had nothing to do with her, so why should she wade into the muddy water? This Yan was usually very arrogant, and she didn't know the dangers of the world. She thought that if there was no conflict of interest with others, others would not harm her. She really thought too much. This Qingda grandmother and Mrs. Shen had a lot of correspondence. Her eldest sister-in-law was also a confused person. She had always regarded Qingda grandmother very seriously. Recently, I heard that Qingda grandmother's cousin Fan family was the Zuodu Yushi, and there happened to be a girl in the family who was still in the palace. If Yan had any accident, the mistress of the big house might change.