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 conservancy 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."
“我是可以，但這再怎麽不方便下個月是我們芙姐兒的周歲，我還打算請大家所有人都去熱鬧一把。這孩子洗三我在坐月子，滿月的時候我們又只擺了幾桌，只請了親戚朋友，周歲就想着大辦一場。”窈娘總想着自己也要為女兒操辦一場。
解氏一聽連忙道：“芙姐兒的周歲宴肯定要大辦。我只是說你，別跑來跑去的，自己累不累啊？”
窈娘搖頭：“還好，我家裏什麽都好。就只有一條，你女婿揮金如土，又大慈大悲，我有時候都覺得恨之入骨的人，他卻泰然自若。”
“他若不是這般，你爹也不會看中他了。你的脾氣和你父親哥哥很像，但你父兄是男子，他們這樣，世人反而會稱許他們是魏晉風度，而你卻難辦了。”解氏道。
窈娘笑了笑。
她說起沈臨風太過大方也是說他拿了二百兩給沈臨清的事情，沈臨清因為楚姨娘又有了身孕，又把楚姨娘的母親弱弟接來安置，碰巧盤下鋪子還差點錢，就跟沈臨風拿錢，沈臨風直接拿了二百兩，還是完全沒和窈娘商量。
母女二人敘完話，窈娘又提醒解氏：“娘，您莫只看眼前，您的诰命——”
“有些事情并非是我想要就能得到的，該得的時候自然就得了，你放心吧。”解氏笑道。
如此，窈娘才從家中離去，只是沒想到她剛到家，屁股還沒坐熱，就聽說清大奶奶過來了。清大奶奶自從被沈臨風打了一巴掌之後，盡失，但聽聞盧扇兒在沈巡撫那裏說了他許多好話，那件事情過後又不了了之了。
沈二夫人才出面讓她夫妻二人和好，但自此恐怕也只是面和心不和了。
“清大嫂嫂過來所謂何事？”窈娘道。
清大奶奶笑道：“我是有好事才上門啊，我認得一個提調官的夫人，她最近買了不少交引，賺了不少銀錢，我就想着有好事不如大家一起做。”
窈娘則道：“我倒是想，可現下你也是知曉的，剛鬧了春荒，莊子上沒送多少銀錢來，偏偏我們人情往來實在是太多太多了，這等事兒還是等我手頭有了閑錢再找你吧。”
也別說窈娘保守，那交引所門前每日坐着哭的人可不少，若非沈臨風那種精于計算的人，尋常人如窈娘不敢沾染交引。
清大奶奶卻是在那一巴掌之後，開始瘋狂扒拉自己的錢袋子，等她離開之後，青黛過來道：“您是不知道，三房的月例遲遲不發，甚至每個月都遲那麽幾日，這次遲了十日才發。”
要說嫁妝，哪家大戶奶奶沒有自己的私房，可誰會拿自己的私房填補整個家裏。延遲發月例，這些錢肯定是被挪走了，很有可能放印子錢，據窈娘私下知曉京中不少人家放印子錢，包括當年的文首輔家中都是如此。
“如今她和清大爺的關系如何？”窈娘問道。
下人們的消息往往比主子們還靈通的，尤其青黛被許給了大管事的兒子，大管事又是家生子兒，大管事的弟弟在三房做大管事，彼此消息都是互通的。
青黛道：“清大爺也不怎麽去大奶奶房裏了，但清大奶奶和江二奶奶都和二房的彥二奶奶走的近，她們彼此結交了不少人，互通有無，清大爺還是很看重清大奶奶的。”
“果然，天下只有利才會讓人趨之若鹜。只不過清大嫂嫂作為正房，自然是可以出外交際，有別的路子，但楚姨娘大抵除了生有子嗣，想做別的就很難了。”窈娘放下梳子，明白其中的事情。
正說着，聽到有童聲喊“娘”，窈娘瞬間回頭，喜笑顏開的上前抱起了若芙。
這孩子快一歲了，能扶着椅子站，也能走幾步路，還會簡單的說一些話。她會時常在窈娘寂寥之時，帶來歡聲笑語，有時候也會惹她生氣，氣的她火冒三丈。
窈娘總覺得她好像沒那麽愛孩子，至少她沒有解氏那麽愛孩子，聽聞小時候她喜歡抓人，解氏就讓她抓，臉都被她抓傷，還是笑嘻嘻的抱着她。可是她對若芙，卻似乎沒有那麽無條件的寵愛，她喜歡女兒，但并不願意縱容，她似乎過分以自我感受為先。
扪心自問，如果是她私下給瑩娘二百兩，不跟沈臨風說，沈臨風可能也不會生氣，但沈臨風若是背着她做什麽事情，她就會怒不可遏，這樣是不是不太好？
“娘。”懷裏的若芙還喊着她，窈娘摸了摸女兒的頭：“小寶寶，等會兒陪娘睡一會兒，好不好？”
若芙咯咯咯又笑：“娘親，我想吃蘋果泥。”
“嗯，我給你弄。”窈娘讓人削了蘋果，她用勺子挖出來按壓成泥，再喂給女兒吃。
小孩子吃了，又鬧着要出去玩兒，窈娘又抱着她出去乘船玩兒，結果吹了風，晚上就發燒。窈娘自然趕緊拿了沈臨風的帖子請大夫過來，偏偏沈臨風自從升官之後，事情也多了起來。
有時候是真應酬，有時候是他自己也要出去放松，吃酒聽戲還有騎馬蹴鞠。
這些都是窈娘不喜歡的，她并不愛喝酒，對聽戲也是興致缺缺，騎馬蹴鞠也不愛，故而常常沈臨風出去，她就在家，唯一喜歡的便是在家中乘船吹吹風。
“大奶奶，要不要喊大爺回來？”顧媽媽連忙道。
窈娘則道：“他又不是大夫，要他回來做什麽，直接請大夫醫治就好。說起來也是我不好，看孩子一直憋着，又不能出去，天氣又好便帶她吹吹風，沒想到孩子卻發燒了。”
說到最後，她也有些自責。
顧媽媽則勸道：“大奶奶，小孩子就是很容易生病的，莫說是芙姐兒，就是您小時候也是如此。”
“我要守着她。”平日窈娘對女兒百般呵護，芙姐兒也就長牙齒的時候不舒服了些時日，沒想到今日母女倆出去玩了玩就燒起來了。
大夫過來說只是吹了風，吃幾幅藥就好了，偏這個時候沈邦彥聽說了，特地過來探望。窈娘沒想到這個時候居然沈邦彥過來了，他飽含關心道：“嫂嫂如何不把大哥喊回來？”
窈娘笑道：“小兒之病，就怕壞了大爺的事情，倒是我的不是了。”
沈邦彥沒想到他以為性格頗為強悍的大嫂，其實性情如此賢良，今日他原本也是過來刷個存在感，以示自己的關心。他和沈臨清和沈臨江不同，其實他自小和沈臨風一起長大的，大房和二房的關系素來都比三房要好。
“二郎，你先回去吧，孩子服了藥就要歇下了，我守着就成，等會兒你哥哥就回來了。”窈娘自然知曉孤男寡女共處一室不好，讓小叔子幫忙照看孩子也不好。
沈邦彥道：“好，那我就先回去了，若是有事，嫂嫂只管派人差遣我便是。”
“好，多謝二叔了。”窈娘面上禮數還是要做足，但她一直懷疑魏無忌就是沈邦彥搗鬼，此人比沈二夫人還能裝。
沈邦彥出去之時，正好碰到沈臨風了，沈臨風顯然是吃了酒回來的，沈邦彥還怪道：“大哥怎麽才回來，芙姐兒發燒了，嫂嫂急的不得了……”
他這一席話讓沈臨風瞬間醒酒了，今日他是和朋友家中吃酒，壓力大的時候，許多話甚至都不能喝妻子說，平白無故讓家裏人擔心。只是沒想到芙姐兒發燒了，妻子竟然沒有通知他，明明他還專門派人回來說過今日在月滿樓吃酒。
沈臨風來不及和沈邦彥多說就進屋了，窈娘正好拿着冰帕子替女兒降溫，又見沈臨風進來，便上前道：“你身上有酒氣，還是先梳洗一番再過來吧，女兒現下有我守着。”
“窈娘，孩子發燒了，你怎麽不派人告訴我一聲，讓我回來呢？”沈臨風問道。
窈娘笑道：“你又不是大夫，我讓你回來做什麽呢？到時候也就是我們倆一起擔心。現下父親器重你，你又入直文淵閣，事情多的很，家庭鎖事我自己處理就好。”
沈臨風知道窈娘身上沒有一般女子的嬌弱之氣，在家反而是自己撒嬌多一些，所以許多事情她是真的不太在意。
“娘子真乃賢妻也，只是家中孩子的事情也是我的事情，日後你可一定要告訴我才是。”沈臨風道。
聞言窈娘就想出言諷刺給沈臨清錢的事情，但還是忍住了。
沈臨風一向對窈娘的情緒都非常敏銳，見她分明想說什麽，卻忍住了，連忙問道：“窈娘，你這是怎麽了？我總覺得這幾日你我不比之前了。”
“沒，沒什麽，我總覺得我是不是性格太強勢了，以至于你在家中難安。”窈娘認真道。
沈臨風吓了一跳，連忙擺手：“不，不是的，絕對不是這樣。是我自己心情偶爾有些郁悶，又怕回家吃酒吃多了，惹的你心煩。再者我的朋友多，我也不願意他們說我做了官了，就和他們疏遠了。”
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.