Chapter 70
The flower banquet for the wife of the Marquis of Jinghai was scheduled before Laba. After Laba, every household would prepare New Year's goods and gifts, so who would still visit other people's homes?
As for the relatives who came to the wedding, it was time for them to return home. Mrs. Shen and Mrs. Shen II would also have to entertain them. The two ladies naturally also prepared a lot of specialties from Beijing for them to take back.
Yao Niang also secretly asked people to prepare a lot of return gifts. If she gave them out at that time, and Wang added more later, it would seem that she was stingy. When these relatives returned, she gave them out like this, and in the end, she would be the one that everyone remembered.
"Including the two aunts from the Bi family, each of them will get a set of four beauties combs and two boxes of snacks produced by our restaurant. We have to take care of our own business. In addition, there is a small pot of Zui Liuxia wine, a gift box of Xitianzhuang's golden dates, and a box of dried almonds. Each costs exactly two taels of silver. In total, twenty taels will be enough for development." Yao Niang didn't even need to use an abacus. She figured it out in her head. She also gave two taels of silver as errand fee to Xiao Qingge and asked him to get everything ready.
Wang was naturally unaware of all this. Even though she was married, she still felt that Second Madam Shen was the elder and she was not the head of the household, so why bother preparing all this and she was unwilling to waste the money.
Therefore, when everyone was seeing off their relatives, Shen Linfeng was still being talked to by Aunt Gan's hand, and when Shen Bangyan was being flattered by his aunt from the Bi family, Yao Niang smiled and said, "Our wife and second aunt have already prepared various gifts. The elders are very kind to us. My husband and I have prepared also some famous specialties in Beijing. We only came to Beijing for a short time, so we can keep some memories."
Mrs. Shen saw that her daughter-in-law had asked someone else to send her six gift boxes, which were beautifully wrapped and not too ostenatious. She even gave one to her aunt from her former family. Although this was a bit pretentious, the relatives were still very happy to receive the gifts anyway.
Even Aunt Gan said to Shen Linfeng: "Thank you so much."
"It wasn't prepared by me. It was prepared by your nephew's wife. She also said that you brought us a lot of local products and asked me to honor you well." Shen Linfeng said.
Aunt Gan was originally very prejudiced against Yao Niang. She was actually a very straightforward person. Now she felt extremely ashamed. She came up and took Yao Niang's hand and said, "Aunt didn't bring you anything good, but instead took away your things."
This was the elders expressing their guilt, Yao Niang immediately said: "Aunt is the elder, and we have hometown ties, so it's only natural. I hope you don't mind. By the way, these two boxes are freshly baked snacks, specially added with milk, which is good for your joints at your age, and not too sweet to make you sick."
"What a good girl! You married a good girl." Aunt Gan took Yao Niang's hand and praised Shen Linfeng.
Several aunts and elder relatives from the clan also came up to express their gratitude. They didn't expect that she was so young and yet so straightforward and generous.
Mrs. Shen was naturally honored, and Second Madam Shen was okay, but Wang felt that her eldest sister-in-law was too sinister. She hadn't even heard anything about her sister-in-law's gift plan, and now she had let her sister-in-law take the limelight. It was a pity that it was too late for her to make up for her loss.
Wang thought that since everyone was a daughter-in-law, why did they have to compete for the spotlight? Wouldn't that ruin the market?
But Yao Niang thought, why don't you ask yourself when you, Wang, often go to the kitchen to show off in front of the elders? It can't be that you are entitled to be in the spotlight and others are just putting on an act.
In fact, it was Yao Niang who told Shen Linfeng about all these arrangements in the morning. Shen Linfeng naturally looked very proud of his beloved wife.
Obviously, the people in the Shen family were not very kind to her, and many even privately suggested that she was at a disadvantage by marrying a girl from the Yan family. But she still repaid everyone with the utmost kindness.
You are so kind.
Yao Niang thought to herself that she didn't know what Shen Linfeng was so moved about. Wasn't this all using his money?
After seeing off her relatives, Yao Niang had some free time. After paying her respects every day, she would read more calligraphy and painting works by famous people at home. If the weather had not been too cold, she would definitely have painted.
Otherwise, she would start making perfumes, such as her newly made Yingji Ruyu Powder, which is for people with acne on their faces. It can remove dirt and grease, and is very suitable for young people like her and Shen Linfeng, whose faces are prone to sweating and oil. The Jade Girl Peach Blossom Powder can not only be used as a face powder, but also remove spots. She also has the osmanthus oil she made from her mother's home.
Shen Linfeng used to wash his face casually, but after he used the Yingjiruyu powder made by Yao Niang, he felt that his face was clean. It was better than any other powder. The irritation on the sides of his nose disappeared. He then applied the Yulong cream. Even his lip balm, which often caused him to bite his lips, had Yao Niang pick it out with a hairpin in the morning and apply it for him.
So when Shen Linfeng went to pay his respects alone, Shen Mo looked at Shen Linfeng's face carefully and said, "Brother, you always have pimples and those irritating things on your face, why are they gone now?"
Women all pay a lot of attention to their appearance, and Shen Mo is no exception. She also has skin care products given to her by Concubine Chang Guifei in the palace.
Shen Linfeng touched his face. "I originally used the Eight Whitening Powder Facial Cleanser from the Jin Palace. Your sister-in-law said that those were bought from outside and were mostly shoddy, so she specially matched me with the Yingji Ruyu Powder. Now my face is smooth after using it every day. Also, my hair used to be very oily and flaky. her shampoo first. I heard that it is specially used for hair growth. After washing twice, apply osmanthus oil or rose oil to the ends of my hair. As a result, my head and body are much more comfortable now."
"You're a grown man, but you're more particular than the rest of us." Shen Mo pretended to be disdainful.
Shen Linfeng said: "Didn't you ask me that?"
Shen Mo had no choice but to remain silent. Of course she knew about those rouge and powder shops out there, and she herself spent a lot of money on them every month.
"I never thought that my sister-in-law can really do everything." Shen Mo held it in for a long time before finally exaggerating this sentence.
Shen Linfeng smiled and said, "That's right. She knows how to make rose saltpeter and rose water. She said that every spring many people in her family get eczema on their faces, and they all ask her for it."
Madam Shen looked at Shen Mo and said, "You love to have rashes on your cheeks in spring. Ask your sister-in-law for some when the time comes."
"Okay." Shen Mo nodded.
All these things made by Pian Yao Niang were only for Shen Linfeng, and she never suggested giving them to anyone else except him. Mrs. Shen originally wanted her daughter-in-law to give her some filial piety, but she didn't.
On this day, Wang personally spent half a day in the kitchen stewing the Seven Green Soup, and also made crab meat lion head and three-fresh duck and brought them to Madam Shen. She knew that Xiao Yao Niang was not good at cooking, so she often sent dishes to Madam Shen to make herself feel important.
Mrs. Shen had previously praised Wang in front of Yao Niang, but Wang's cooking skills were not as good as those of the chef hired by the Shen family. The eldest daughter could not bear the hard work of being a cook.
Therefore, Mrs. Shen took a bite of the crab roe lion's head and pointed out the key point: "There is no dried shrimp in it. Although the marinated crab roe is poured on it, it lacks some flavor."
"Madam, I am ashamed of myself for my sister-in-law's cooking skills. They are already amazing. And they think of you in everything. What is more important than the thought?" Yao Niang certainly also had to express her open-mindedness.
Mrs. Shen didn't expect her daughter-in-law to speak for Wang. She thought that although the Yan family girl was young, she was very open-minded. She had given her the cold shoulder before, but she still didn't complain or show any displeasure. She stood in line from morning till night without any displeasure. Of course, there was another possibility, that is, this girl was very cunning.
But if she could have such a mind at the age of fourteen, it was really not easy.
Therefore, Madam Shen looked at Yao Niang and said, "I heard from your master what you have been making recently?"
These things made by Yao Niang, once used, no one would say they were bad. This was her unique skill, and was also very useful in daily socializing. Therefore, she kept it secretly, and let Shen Linfeng use it first after it was made. If he said yes, then Madam Shen and Shen Mo, as long as they were women, would have a love of beauty, so how could she not want it?
The more you can't get something, the more valuable it seems. Yao Niang heard Mrs. Shen mention it and said, "My daughter-in-law has nothing to do. It's dry and hot, and she's afraid that the wind will make her skin chapped. I'm the type of person who gets stuffy after applying regular facial cream, so I made some Qiongguiyu Water, which is not so greasy and can whiten the skin. It's best to apply it on the face and neck."
"I've never heard of this Qionggui Yulu before?" Mrs. Shen asked curiously.
Yao Niang smiled and said, "It is made with ginseng, pearl powder, polygonatum and white poria. I came across this recipe by chance, so I wanted to try it."
Mrs. Shen said to herself, "I am the same as you. I always feel stuffy when using those facial creams."
Yao Niang's stomach almost hurt from laughing, but she didn't show it on her face. She pretended to be embarrassed and said, "Madam, things applied on the face can easily cause allergies, just like the facial cleanser I used on my husband. He said that his face has never been allergic or had rashes, so I dared to use it on him. How about this, I'll give some to you, and you can use it behind your ears first. If there is no abnormality, you can use it later?"
"Forget it. Actually, the Song Palace facial cream I use here is also very good." Mrs. Shen also picked up the shelf.
Yao Niang naturally would not continue to persuade her. She was also a powerful person. The more you wanted something, the less likely she would let you get it immediately. So she smiled and said, "Madam, the things here are definitely better than mine. Mine are just for fun when I have nothing to do."
Mrs. Shen was speechless: "You..."
As a bystander, Mother Zhou saw it very clearly. The grandmother was truly a wonderful person. She could see through everything, but she still had you under her control.
Yao Niang pretended not to know, which made Mrs. Shen feel unhappy, but there was nothing she could do.
Madam Jiang, the second wife of the third concubine, heard from somewhere that Yao Niang had made rose saltpeter. It happened to be winter and the charcoal basin was dry, so her face became red and itchy, and it would turn red at the slightest touch. Applying powder made her skin worse.
She had taken Xiaofengsan before but it didn't have much effect. On the contrary, because she took too much Xiaofengsan, it was no longer effective and the rash on her face became even worse.
She asked someone to buy silver saltpeter, but it still didn't help. Then she heard someone say that Yao Niang had mixed rose saltpeter, so she went to ask for it immediately.
When Yao Niang took one look at her face, she said, "I have some Xiaofeng Yurong Powder here. Use it to wash your face, and then apply the rose saltpeter. That's it." After that, she packed two packets in the same way and wrote words on the outside to distinguish them.
Second Madam Jiang smiled and said, "Thank you, my sister-in-law."
"What are you thanking me for? If you want it again, just send someone to get it." Yao Niang said.
Second Madam Jiang used it in this way for less than half a month, and her face no longer felt hot or red. Unlike her sister-in-law, she was a warm-hearted person, so she praised Yao Niang to everyone she met.
Even in front of Madam Shen, he said, "My nephew's wife still asked my sister-in-law for Xiaofeng Yurong Powder and Rose Saltpeter to cure her face. They are more effective than anything else."
Mrs. Shen also saw Yao Niang coming to pay her respects in the wind and snow every day, but her little face was always rosy and shiny. This was not because of her natural beauty, but the result of acquired maintenance.
But for her, a mother-in-law, to ask for it, that was absolutely impossible.
Yao Niang was also able to hold back. When Shen Linfeng came back from the study at night, he saw the servants helping Yao Niang wash her feet. He saw the servants rubbing her feet with fine salt, and then washing them in a basin. After that, he asked someone to use a knife to grind her nails and heels. After grinding, they washed them and soaked them in a cup of tea before applying facial cream on her feet. They applied a thick layer of cream and put on socks.
Shen Linfeng thought it was over, but two moments later, Yao Niang asked someone to take off her socks again.
At this moment, it is not an exaggeration to describe her feet as "jade feet".
Yao Niang wrinkled her nose: "Finally I can go to bed and rest. I'm a little tired."
"Have you been standing for a long time tonight?" Shen Linfeng asked concernedly.
Yao Niang shook her head and nodded. Today, other ladies came to talk to her, so of course she stood next to her mother-in-law.
"Are your legs bigger?" Shen Linfeng felt sorry for her.
Before Yao Niang could answer, he said, "I'll help you press it. Next time I'll talk to mom about it. It's so cold, you can't stand like this all the time."
"I know you feel sorry for me, but all daughters-in-law are like this. Even my mother made my sister-in-law follow the rules for a month." Yao Niang immediately grabbed Shen Linfeng's sleeve, fearing that he would tell someone.
Shen Linfeng was puzzled: "My mother has so many people serving her, and Sister Mo is not married yet, why do you have to stand here? Is it the same for the second house?"
Yao Niang nodded: "It's the same as having to visit parents every morning and evening. There shouldn't be much difference, especially for a wealthy family like ours who cares the most about these rules."
"Then I'll massage your legs so you'll feel more comfortable." Shen Linfeng had no choice but to give up.
He has said so, if I continue to refuse, I will be too rigid. Although we have to wait until I reach the age of 15 to consummate the marriage, we are husband and wife after all, and we cannot be too distant.
She was wearing white satin pajamas and stretched her legs over. Shen Linfeng seemed to really know some medical skills. The strength of his fingers was just right, except that there was a place that was a little sore. She hissed and Shen Linfeng increased his strength.
"Ah..." Yao Niang felt a little comfortable and relaxed.
Shen Linfeng was massaging her but when he heard the sound, he felt half of his body go numb. He looked at her raised feet and couldn't help but said to her, "Yao Niang, I'll wash your feet tomorrow."
Yao Niang was shocked: "This is not good, forget it." Her feet were so dirty, how could she let Shen Linfeng wash them for her? It was really too much for him to treat her like this.
"What's the big deal? Guo Ziyi also washes Madam's feet." Shen Linfeng felt that there was something dirty in his heart that he couldn't tell anyone else.
But Yao Niang was unwilling: "My feet are so dirty, you can just massage my legs, not my feet."
"But..." Shen Linfeng was reluctant to let it go, and even couldn't let it go.
Yao Niang saw him massaging her with his head down, not looking up to talk to her, and poked him: "I will be going to the Marquis of Jinghai's mansion in a few days. Are you free that day?"
Shen Linfeng smiled and said, "Yes."
"You agreed so quickly. Come and pick me up when you are free." After saying this, Yao Niang adjusted her sitting position. Suddenly, she glanced at Shen Linfeng's ears, which looked like burning clouds. She didn't know why this guy was always so shy.
Shen Linfeng agreed without hesitation.
On the sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, after Yao Niang paid her respects to Madam Shen in the morning, she asked the servants to prepare the carriage to go to the Marquis of Jinghai's mansion.
This was her second time out after visiting her parents' parents and attending a funeral. This time she felt much more relaxed. To be honest, when she first got married, she always felt that the Shen family was not her home. Now, after a month or so, she is not so repulsive to the Shen family anymore.
The flower banquet at the Marquis of Jinghai's Mansion was very lively. As soon as Mrs. Liu saw Yao Niang, she took her to meet Mr. Du, no, Mrs. Feng, the wife of Minister Du, who was also Mrs. Liu's mother.
"Greetings." Yao Niang bowed with a smile.
Madam Liu and her mother, Madam Du, said, "Mother, this is Minister Yan's daughter. She is now married to the Shen family. At that time, my daughter became a full-fledged wife."
Although Madam Du was not particularly pretty, she looked very young. When she saw me, she said as if she had seen some rare treasure: "My dear girl, you and Mr. Shen are really a perfect match."
"Mother, please don't scare Miss Yan." Mrs. Liu said, and then quickly said to Yao Niang: "My mother especially likes to read storybooks, so when she sees you handsome men and beautiful women, she has already been put into the storybooks."
Yao Niang didn't mind: "In reply to Madam Du, my husband and I have a very good relationship. I gave him three exam questions and he passed them all. That's why my grandfather and father betrothed me to him."
Madam Du looked at Yao Niang with a smile: "I heard that Mr. Shen is more handsome than my son-in-law. How does he treat you? Let's go and talk while we walk."
Maybe it was because her father had strongly recommended Mr. Du before Ding Xun, so Mrs. Du and Mrs. Liu treated her as their own niece. To be honest, this was much better than the Gong family. When she followed Zhen to the Gong family, the Gong family treated them quite normally. Last time, Mrs. Gong even gave her a cold look and tried to isolate her. The Du family at least had some humanity and knew how to appreciate favors.
Today's flower banquet was centered around plum blossoms. Yao Niang sat next to Madam Du, feeling warm and cozy.
Mrs. Liu smiled and said, "In previous years, we played pot throwing and wrote poems. This year, we will try something different. This year, we will not only write poems, but it would be even better if we could paint the beautiful scenery. This would not be a waste of this plum forest."
Yao Niang saw that many ladies came with young girls, probably to gain fame. It was nothing, because when her family held elegant banquets, those successful candidates all tried their best to win the favor of her father and brother.
In fact, Yao Niang really likes such banquets, especially the time when she can concentrate on writing poetry and painting, which allows her to get rid of trivial things.
After she finished speaking, because she was always by Madam Liu's side, Madam Liu introduced her to many people, such as the wife of Duke Chengguo, the wife of General Ningxi, and Princess Jianing.
Zhen had known most of these people before, but Yao Niang didn't know them very well. They had been in Beijing for a short time, and Zhen had deliberately excluded them. Moreover, after the incident with Yan Ningxin, they had even less social interactions.
"This is Shen Hanlin's wife, Shen Zongxian's daughter-in-law, Yan. I have a very good relationship with her. Princess, if your family holds a flower banquet, please give my sister an invitation." Mrs. Liu said.
Princess Jianing looked like a very arrogant person, but she actually had a good relationship with Madam Liu. She immediately said, "Don't worry, I will definitely do this."
Yao Niang had just entered such a circle, so she naturally knew that she shouldn't talk too much and just acted shy.
The lunch was all made with plum blossoms, which was really elegant. After the banquet, everyone went to visit the garden. Yao Niang had a good relationship with Shan Jie'er. When she got married last time, she gave her a pair of big and small Qiao dolls, so Shan Jie'er was pulling her to her small courtyard to talk.
Unexpectedly, she met a young man, who was about thirty years old, with a smile on his face. When he saw Shan Jie'er, he was very doting. Only then did she realize that he was the dreaded Commander Liu.
Shan Jie'er said, "Dad, Sister Yan and I are going to play first. You have to go west to find my mother."
When Commander Liu heard the word Yan, he couldn't help but ask, "Excuse me, are you the third daughter of the Yan family?"
Since her marriage, everyone has called her Grandma, or Shen Yanshi, or Shen Hanlin's wife. Few people call her the Third Miss of the Yan Family. However, this title sounds much more comfortable to her, and Yao Niang immediately said, "That's me."
"I know that because you were good at painting, you helped your grandfather solve several extremely difficult cases, so I have a favor to ask of you today." Commander Liu said with a smile.
Yao Niang looked up at the conductor and was a little bit incredulous: "How can I help you?"
Aren’t there a lot of high-end talents in JYW?
Liu Ji was also stunned for a moment. Except for his own Ruo Wei, the other women were almost all shy or too vigorous, but they did not have any real talents or skills. It was rare to have a noble lady of Concubine Yan's status, so she did not refuse without a breath.
Therefore, Liu Ji smiled and said, "It is also a case, a serious case that happened in the palace. Some people saw this man from behind, some saw his profile, and some saw him once, but somehow the portraits they drew all look like him. If you can paint with your talent, I think we can solve this case in no time."
"Is this no trouble?" She is not only Miss Yan San, but also Shen Linfeng's wife. Shen Linfeng's future was almost ruined because of his marriage with the Yan family. She cannot be so selfish.
Liu Ji smiled and said, "How can there be any trouble in working for the emperor?"
Yao Niang knew Liu Ji was avoiding the question when he heard what he said. She was indeed a commander, and she was also working for the emperor. She drew a big cake.
"Don't worry, if you succeed, the emperor will reward you. Even if the emperor doesn't have any, I will ask for it on your behalf. Your mother is only a sixth-rank Anren now, right? Is it just an imperial edict? Not to mention your mother, even you, Shen Hanlin is only an editor now. Think about it, if you also have an imperial edict higher than his, he will have to salute you when he sees you in the future. How majestic it would be?" Liu Ji was very good at persuading others, especially when he wanted to complete his tasks.
Sure enough, Yao Niang's eyes lit up when she heard the last part, but she still said, "Of course I have no problem, but as for my husband..."
Liu Ji thought to himself, "Just agree to it. He saw them last year. Shen Linfeng looked like a wife slave, but now he pretended to be embarrassed. "Oh, Shen Hanlin, I will do my best. It's really a bit difficult."
Yao Niang was also a little nervous. What if Shen Linfeng didn't agree?
Unexpectedly, when Liu Ji walked to the rockery in front, his wife punched him and said, "Let me ask you, it's fun for you to cheat on a young girl, right?"
"Ruo Wei, I was wrong." Liu Ji acted calm and composed in front of people outside, but he had no idea what to do with his wife.
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