Chapter 111 Chapter 111
"I never thought that father would marry my elder sister to Zhou Tanhua? This is really a coincidence. She will get married next year and I want to send some dowry over." Yao Niang usually didn't like to take advantage of others. When she got married, part of her dowry was Yan Ningxin's. Later, when Yan Ningxin got married, she also wanted to send some dowry over.
Shen Linfeng was puzzled: "Why is this?" He thought more deeply. Yan Yingqi had just entered the inner cabinet and could be considered cautious, but he was not an ordinary person. The Fan family was impeached by the officials, and these officials were most likely instructed by Yan Yingqi to reinstate Yan Mai.
Of course, this is also because Yan Mai was indeed a very capable minister in charge of water conservation and the country could not do without him.
If you think about it more deeply, Second Master Shen and his own father did help in Zhou Jijiu's matter. Yan Yingqi and Zhou Jijiu have a close relationship. It is possible that Zhou Lingguang will seek revenge on the Shen family in the future.
There are no permanent friends or permanent enemies in official circles.
My father-in-law seems to be a man of integrity, and has different political views from his uncle Yan Mai. The two even criticize each other's political views, but in fact they support each other.
Yao Niang just shook her head when she heard her husband ask this question: "No one can guess what my father is thinking. Just like when he recommended Du Shangshu, he caused trouble for the Gong and Wen families."
Shen Linfeng twitched his lips.
There was a lot of pollen at this time of year, so Madam Liu sent someone to get medicine for the eczema. Yao Niang packed it in a powder box and sent it over. Shao Shi was upset. She loved to draw her eyebrows and eyes, and this happened whenever she went out. She already had eczema on her face, and it got worse.
Shen Linjiang saw her blushing face and frowned, "I told you not to go out, but you went out anyway and this happened again? Aren't you asking for trouble?"
"I have to go and help my cousin, and even play chuiwan and tumbling pots with her. If I go out without putting on makeup and drawing eyebrows, people will say I am a village woman from nowhere." Shao also wanted to go out more often to socialize and consolidate her position.
Otherwise, her husband would still be a penniless person, and Shen Bangyan from the second house had not passed the exam either. How would she make a living?
Shen Linjiang couldn't intervene in her affairs. Shao was still very concerned about his future and often went to her uncle's house for him. But Shen Linjiang said, "I heard that Erlang's wife is about to give birth. Have you prepared your third-day baptism ceremony and full-month ceremony in advance?"
Shao smiled and said, "Why do you need to worry about this?"
Yes, Wang was already in labor. She had consulted several doctors, and they all said that she was very likely to give birth to a boy. Mrs. Shen was very happy and had long since exempted Wang from paying respects. However, she had not expected to see that Mr. Shen was so worried.
"Master, what's wrong with you?" asked Mrs. Shen.
"Ever since Zhou Lingguang won the third place in the imperial examination, I have always felt a little uneasy. I clearly sent people to investigate, and his talent and knowledge are not as good as the rumors. I didn't expect that he is a guy who pretends to be a pig to eat the tiger. Now he wants to marry the eldest daughter of the Yan family. I always feel that he is moving forward step by step. Although he has not targeted me, but..." This is a sharp reaction in the officialdom. Master Shen always feels that this kind of person is cruel to himself and even more cruel to others.
Just like he could marry Fan without hesitation, and then Miss Yan, both of whom had bad reputations, but he was eager to get them. The political effect was immediate, just like now he immediately became the prime minister's son-in-law, and drove together with his nephew Shen Linfeng.
Madam Shen Er said, "Your Excellency is now the Imperial College's chief academician. Why should you be afraid of him? Many top scholars and second place winners have ended up like this."
"So what do you think of Gongding?" Mr. Shen asked his wife.
Madam Shen Er smiled and said, "Needless to say, you can tell from the way the old man treats his baby when he is in trouble. He treats him better than Bang Yan."
Elder Shen Er said, "Back then, if he had passed the imperial examination, he could have chosen a woman with a good family background and reputation, but he still chose the Yan family's daughter. His sister-in-law complained a lot, and he even knelt down to beg for mercy. Now that he thinks about the fact that the children of aristocratic families are willing to sacrifice their reputation, isn't this a good thing?"
Shen Linfeng entered Wenyuan's pavilion, and he was also the prime minister's son-in-law. Yan Yingqi valued him very much as a son-in-law, and his future would surely be very bright.
"Maybe Gongding didn't think so deeply about it. Didn't he just like the daughter of the Yan family because she was both talented and beautiful?" Mrs. Shen said with a smile.
Second Master Shen shook his head and said, "Forget about this matter. It is not easy for me to deal with him now. He was the son-in-law of the Fan family first, and now he is the son-in-law of the Yan family, and he is also the third place winner of the imperial examination! I have to slowly find evidence against him, otherwise it is easy to be hurt by the tiger while trying to kill it."
But he has always been cautious as an official and would not give any handle to others. Although Mr. Shen was a little uneasy, he was not afraid.
Many people were just spectators of this marriage, but Yan Ningxin was the only one who really didn't expect that she would be betrothed to Zhou Lingguang. Admittedly, she knew Zhou Lingguang and they had a good relationship, but she heard Zhou Lingguang once mentioned that he actually had someone he liked, so she didn't know whether it was right or wrong for her father to betroth her to her?
She was from the eldest wife's family, and her marriage was arranged by Zhen. Zhen was afraid of her and was afraid that she would offend Luozi again, so she asked Xin Wan to keep an eye on her more often.
Naturally, Xin Wan couldn't monitor her, so she could only talk to Yan Ningxin from time to time to understand her movements.
Obviously, Yan Ningxin was very happy that someone could talk to her, and she couldn't help asking Xin Wan: "Does Zhou Lingguang agree to marry me too?"
"Of course. The wedding will be next year. Now that Fan has passed away, his family will need someone to take care of them. You are the daughter of the prime minister. Aren't all the men in the world flocking to you?" Xin Wan said with a smile.
To outsiders, it is considered a good story for a prime minister's daughter to marry a man who has won the third place in the imperial examination.
Yan Ningxin smiled bitterly: "You know my situation, so why bother to comfort me?"
Xin Wan was originally a noble and somewhat self-righteous person, but even she could not be arrogant in the mansion, because as a woman, others would no longer treat you with the same standards as when you were a little girl. But she was obviously smart and knew that the first wife had to stabilize Yan Ningxin first, so she advised: "Zhou Tanhua is only in his twenties. Although Fan gave birth to a son, the Fan family has fallen on hard times. Just treat him well, and he will recognize you as his mother in the future. Besides, you still have a friendship from childhood, and he will definitely be better than others in the future."
"Thank you for comforting me." Yan Ningxin thought about this year when she saw Shen Linfeng and Yao Niang standing together. They were simply a perfect match. It turned out that Shen Linfeng was also very considerate. He was no longer the reckless boy who only wanted to drink with Yan Jingzhao when he met her.
Xin Wan added: "What's the point of being comforted? I understand your feelings. When I was at home, I didn't know what to do. You are much better than me. Now you have your master who takes care of you. What's wrong with that?"
In fact, Xin Wan also felt that her uncle Yan Yingqi was too unlucky. She didn't know what he was thinking? The Fan family's wife had just died, and he wanted to marry his daughter to them, as if he was afraid that if he was a step slower, his daughter would not be able to marry a third place winner.
But she would not say that in front of Yan Ningxin. She just felt a little sympathy for Yan Ningxin. No matter how wrong Yan Ningxin was in those days, she had learned her lesson over the years.
Seeing Xin Wan speaking so openly, Yan Ningxin also stood up and said, "In fact, I also know why my father chose Zhou Lingguang. Both his parents are dead, and most of his relatives are in Runan. I don't even have to deal with idle people. Moreover, he is well educated and has a good career. Although his reputation may not be good for a while, just like my third sister, she and Shen's brother-in-law are praised as a match made in heaven. Who would have thought that Shen Linfeng was originally my husband?"
Xin Wan thought to herself, you really dare to make an example of someone else. Madam Yan San is not an ordinary person. Just by the fact that she is the most favored among your four daughters, you can tell that she is extraordinary.
However, Xin Wan had also heard some rumors that Yan Ningxin actually ran back the next day to admit her mistake, but Yan Yingqi still wanted to marry Yao Niang. Some people said that it was a deliberate scheme because the younger sister stole the older sister's husband.
But no matter what the plan is, Yao Niang is now Madam Zhongyun.
Seeing that Yan Ningxin also understood these principles, Xin Wan said: "The adults have arranged this marriage. I think there are many advantages. You are with us. If anything happens, you can go back to your parents' home. This is better than marrying far away."
Of course, she was unwilling to return to Shandong. Wei Wuji was exiled and died, but many of his family members settled in Shandong. What if she returned and was sought for revenge?
This time, Yan Yingqi really gave Zhen a death order, asking her to teach her how to be a wife. Zhen naturally didn't want to destroy the Great Wall again, so she started to have someone teach her how to manage accounts and housekeeping.
Yao Niang sent gifts back before the Dragon Boat Festival. When she heard Xie mention Yan Ningxin, she said, "I think she has improved a lot compared to before. Without her cousin, she has achieved a lot."
"What is Dad thinking? Is he really going to let my elder sister marry Zhou Lingguang? What if life becomes miserable..." Yao Niang was worried.
Xie smiled and said, "Your father said that he could control even a stubborn girl like Fan Ruhui, let alone your elder sister. Now the Prince of Qi is in the vassal state, and all the maids he sent were returned by your father, so they can't have any impact. Besides, we are all in the capital, and if she does something wrong, we can still give her a lesson."
Yao Niang thought for a moment and said, "That's true. But is she willing?"
"Your father said that even a princess may not marry a scholar who has won the third place in the imperial examination. Back then, the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty chose Zheng Hao as the consort for Princess Wanshou. That was the first time a scholar who won the third place in the imperial examination became a consort. What's there to be dissatisfied about marrying her to a young scholar who has won the third place in the imperial examination? If she is dissatisfied, let her cousin, the Prince of Qi, find a young, handsome scholar who is willing to marry her?" said Xie.
Yao Niang sighed: "It's really not okay for our family to be without a father."
The mother and daughter sighed for a moment, and then heard Xie say, "It's been raining a lot in Beijing lately, and there's a foul smell outside. You shouldn't come here often, it's not convenient."
"I can, but no matter how inconvenient it is, next month is our sister Fu's first birthday, and I plan to invite everyone to join in the fun. This child's third birthday was when I was in confinement, and when it was the full month, we only set up a few tables and invited only relatives and friends. I want to have a big party for her first birthday." Yao Niang always thought about organizing a party for her daughter.
Upon hearing this, Xie said quickly, "Sister Fu's first birthday party must be a grand one. I'm just telling you, stop running around. Aren't you tired?"
Yao Niang shook her head: "Fortunately, everything is fine in my family. There is only one thing, your son-in-law spends money like water and is very kind and compassionate. Sometimes I even think he hates me to the core, but he is so calm and composed."
"If he wasn't like this, your father wouldn't have liked him. Your temper is very similar to your father and brother, but your father and brother are men. If they were like this, the world would praise them for having the demeanor of Wei Jin, but you would be in trouble." Xie said.
Yao Niang smiled.
When she said that Shen Linfeng was too generous, she was also talking about the fact that he gave two hundred taels of silver to Shen Linqing. Because Aunt Chu was pregnant again, Shen Linqing took Aunt Chu's mother and weak brother to live with him. It happened that he was short of money after selling the shop, so he asked Shen Linfeng for money. Shen Linfeng directly took the two hundred taels of silver without discussing it with Yao Niang at all.
After the mother and daughter finished their conversation, Yao Niang reminded Xie: "Mother, don't just look at the present, your imperial edict——"
"Some things cannot be obtained just because I want them. They will come naturally when the time comes. Don't worry." Xie said with a smile.
Yao Niang left home, but she didn't expect that she had just arrived home and hadn't even sat down when she heard that Grandma Qing had come. Grandma Qing had been missing since she was slapped by Shen Linfeng, but she heard that Lu Shan'er had said a lot of good things about him in front of Shen Xunfu, and the matter was forgotten after that.
Mrs. Shen Er stepped in to reconcile the couple, but from then on, they were probably just in name only.
"What does Sister-in-law Qing want to talk about?" Yao Niang asked.
Grandma Qingda smiled and said, "I came here because I have something good to offer. I know the wife of a supervisor. She has bought a lot of prostitution recently and made a lot of money. I thought that since there is something good going on, we might as well do it together."
Yao Niang said, "I do want to, but you know now that there has just been a spring famine, and the farm hasn't sent much money. But we have too many favors to pay to each other. I'll talk to you about this matter when I have some spare money."
Don't say that Yao Niang is conservative. There are many people sitting and crying in front of the brothel every day. If it weren't for someone as good at calculating as Shen Linfeng, ordinary people like Yao Niang would not dare to get involved in brothel.
But after that slap, Grandma Qing started to frantically dig into her wallet. After she left, Qingdai came over and said, "You don't know, the monthly allowance for the third room is always late, even a few days late every month. This time it was delayed by ten days."
As for dowry, which rich lady doesn't have her own private money, but who would use her own private money to fill the whole family. The monthly allowance was delayed, and the money must have been taken away, most likely lent out at high interest. Yao Niang knew privately that many families in Beijing lent money at high interest, including the family of Wen Shoufu back then.
"What is her relationship with Mr. Qing now?" Yao Niang asked.
Servants are often better informed than their masters, especially since Qingdai was promised to the son of the chief steward, who was also a family-born son. The chief steward's younger brother was the chief steward in the third room, so they were able to keep in touch with each other.
Qing Dai said, "Grandpa Qing rarely goes to Grandma's room anymore, but Grandma Qing and Second Grandma Jiang are both close to Second Grandma Yan from the Second House. They have made many friends with each other and share what they have. Grandpa Qing still values Grandma Qing very much."
"Sure enough, only benefits can attract people. But as the principal wife, Sister Qing can naturally go out to socialize and have other ways. But it will be difficult for Aunt Chu to do anything except giving birth to children." Yao Niang put down the comb and understood what was going on.
As she was speaking, she heard a child's voice calling "Mom". Yao Niang turned around immediately, walked forward with a smile on her face and picked up Ruofu.
The child is almost one year old. She can stand with the help of a chair, walk a few steps, and speak a few simple words. She often brings laughter to Yao Niang when she is lonely, but sometimes she also makes her angry and furious.
Yao Niang always felt that she didn't love children that much, at least not as much as Xie. It was said that when she was little, Xie liked to scratch people, so Xie let her do it. She scratched her face, but she still hugged her with a smile. But she didn't seem to love Ruofu so unconditionally. She liked her daughter, but she was not willing to indulge her. She seemed to put her own feelings too much first.
Ask yourself, if she gave Ying Niang two hundred taels in private without telling Shen Linfeng, Shen Linfeng might not be angry. But if Shen Linfeng did something behind her back, she would be furious. Isn't this not good?
"Mom." Ruofu in her arms was still calling her. Yao Niang touched her daughter's head and said, "Little baby, sleep with me for a while later, okay?"
Ruofu giggled again: "Mom, I want to eat apple puree."
"Okay, I'll make it for you." Yao Niang had someone peel the apples. She scooped them out with a spoon, pressed them into a paste, and then fed them to her daughter.
After the child ate, she wanted to go out to play again, so Yao Niang took her out to play on the boat. As a result, she was caught in the wind and had a fever at night. Yao Niang naturally took Shen Linfeng's note and asked the doctor to come, but Shen Linfeng had more things to do since he was promoted.
Sometimes he was there for real socializing, and sometimes he just wanted to go out to relax, drink, listen to opera, ride horses and play Cuju.
Yao Niang didn't like these. She didn't like drinking, had no interest in listening to operas, and didn't like riding horses or playing Cuju. So Shen Linfeng often went out and she stayed at home. The only thing she liked was to take a boat ride at home and enjoy the breeze.
"Grandma, do you want to call grandpa back?" Mother Gu asked hurriedly.
Yao Niang said, "He's not a doctor. Why do you want him to come back? Just ask the doctor to treat him. It's my fault. The child has been cooped up and can't go out. The weather was good so I took her out to get some fresh air. I didn't expect the child to have a fever."
In the end, she felt a little guilty.
Mother Gu advised, "Grandma, children are prone to illness. Not to mention Sister Fu, you were the same when you were a child."
"I have to take care of her." Usually Yao Niang took good care of her daughter, and Fu Jie'er just felt uncomfortable for a few days when she was teething. Unexpectedly, today, the mother and daughter went out to play and she got a fever.
The doctor came and said it was just a cold and that she would be fine after taking some medicine. Shen Bangyan heard about it and came to visit. Yao Niang didn't expect Shen Bangyan to come at this time. He asked with concern: "Sister-in-law, why don't you call my brother back?"
Yao Niang smiled and said, "I'm afraid that my child's illness will ruin Master's business, and that would be my fault."
Shen Bangyan never thought that his sister-in-law, whom he thought had a tough personality, was actually so kind. He came here to show his presence and care for her. He was different from Shen Linqing and Shen Linjiang. He actually grew up with Shen Linfeng since childhood. The relationship between the first and second wives has always been better than that of the third wife.
"Erlang, you go back first. The child will need to rest after taking the medicine. I will stay with him. Your brother will be back soon." Yao Niang naturally knew that it was not good for a single man and a single woman to be in the same room, and it was not good to ask her brother-in-law to help take care of the child.
Shen Bangyan said, "Okay, I'll go back first. If there's anything, just send someone to send me."
"Okay, thank you very much, second uncle." Yao Niang still had to be polite on the surface, but she always suspected that Wei Wuji was Shen Bangyan's trick. This person was even better at pretending than the second wife of Shen.
When Shen Bangyan went out, he happened to meet Shen Linfeng. Shen Linfeng had obviously come back after drinking. Shen Bangyan even asked in surprise: "Brother, why did you come back just now? Sister Fu has a fever, and my sister-in-law is extremely worried..."
His words sobered Shen Linfeng up instantly. He was drinking with friends at their house today. When he was under pressure, he couldn't even say many things to his wife, which made his family worry for no reason. He didn't expect that Fu Jie'er had a fever, but his wife didn't inform him, even though he had sent someone back to say that he was drinking at Yuemanlou today.
Shen Linfeng went into the house before he could say anything more to Shen Bangyan. Yao Niang was holding an ice towel to cool her daughter down. When she saw Shen Linfeng coming in, she stepped forward and said, "You smell of alcohol. You'd better wash up first before coming over. I'm here to look after my daughter now."
"Yao Niang, the child has a fever. Why didn't you send someone to tell me and let me come back?" Shen Linfeng asked.
Yao Niang smiled and said, "You are not a doctor, why would I ask you to come back? Then we will both be worried. Now that father values you and you have entered the Zhiwenyuan Pavilion, there are many things to do. I can handle the family affairs myself."
Shen Linfeng knew that Yao Niang was not as frail as other women. She was more like a spoiled brat at home, so she really didn't care about many things.
"My wife is truly a virtuous wife, but matters concerning the children at home are also my business, so you must tell me in the future." Shen Linfeng said.
Hearing this, Yao Niang wanted to make some sarcastic remark about giving money to Shen Linqing, but she held back.
Shen Linfeng has always been very sensitive to Yao Niang's emotions. Seeing that she clearly wanted to say something but held back, he quickly asked, "Yao Niang, what's wrong with you? I always feel that you and I are different these days."
"No, it's nothing. I always feel that my personality is too strong, which makes you feel uncomfortable at home." Yao Niang said seriously.
Shen Linfeng was startled and waved his hands quickly: "No, no, it's absolutely not like that. I was just feeling a little depressed, and I was afraid that I would go home and drink too much and upset you. Besides, I have many friends, and I don't want them to say that I have alienated myself from them because I have become an official."
In fact, Shen Linfeng was not afraid of anything else but that Yao Niang would get tired of him and find someone more handsome and better looking than him in the future.
In fact, that's what Yao Niang said: "You'll get fat easily if you drink too much. If you don't control yourself, how can you be a good match for me?"
Shen Linfeng suddenly lost all his worries and said directly, "I will practice swordplay at home for you tomorrow, okay? You play the zither and I practice swordplay."
"Of course." Yao Niang didn't want her husband to go out and have fun.
Well, she still can't be a virtuous woman who puts her husband first.
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