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 also prepared 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 ostentatious. 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. Your sister-in-law said that the ones I bought were basically used to prevent hair loss, so she told me to use 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.

偏三房的江二奶奶不知從哪裏聽說窈娘制了薔薇硝，正好她一到冬天，炭盆又幹，她臉上發紅又幹癢，動不動就發紅，敷粉了皮膚更差。

她之前弄了消風散吃了也沒太大作用，反而因為消風散吃多了，已經無效了，反彈起來臉上起的更厲害。

她又托人買了銀硝還是不大好，還是聽有人說起窈娘配了薔薇硝，故而立馬便過去讨要。

窈娘一看她的臉，遂道：“我這裏還有消風玉容散，你用這個洗臉，洗完臉之後再敷上那薔薇硝就好了。”說罷，便一樣包了兩包，還在外面寫了字區分。

江二奶奶笑道：“多謝弟妹了。”

“謝什麽，你若再要，派人過來取就是了。”窈娘道。

江二奶奶這麽用了不到半個月，臉上不會灼熱不會動不動就發紅了，她和她嫂子不同，是個熱忱人，因此逢人便誇窈娘。

就是在沈夫人面前，也道：“侄兒媳婦還是找弟妹拿的消風玉容散和薔薇硝才把臉治好，比旁的都管用。”

沈夫人也是每日見窈娘冒着風雪過來請安的，但是她的小臉始終瑩潤光澤，這可并非是天生麗質，而是後天保養。

但要她一個做婆母的開口，那絕對不可能。

而窈娘也是能憋的住，夜裏沈臨風從書房回來，正見下人在幫窈娘洗腳，正見下人用細鹽幫她搓腳，搓完之後，再放盆中洗淨。之後就讓人開始用小刀開始磨指甲，後腳跟，磨完之後再洗幹淨，又浸泡一盞茶的功夫，開始把面脂塗在腳上，厚厚的塗上一層還要穿上襪子。

沈臨風都以為完了，沒想到過了兩刻，窈娘又讓人把襪子脫下來。

此時，她的腳真的是用一句“玉足”形容也不為過了。

窈娘皺了皺鼻子：“終于可以上床休息了，有點累。”

“今日晚上站了很久嗎？”沈臨風關心道。

窈娘搖頭又點頭，今日有別的夫人過來說話，她當然就站在婆母身邊了。

“腿漲不漲？”沈臨風很心疼她。

窈娘還沒來得及作答，他就道：“我幫你按按，下次我和娘也說說，這麽冷的天，總這麽站規矩可不成。”

“我知道你心疼我，可是做人媳婦都是這樣的，即便是我母親，也讓我嫂嫂站了一個月的規矩。”窈娘立馬抓住沈臨風的衣袖，生怕他去說了。

沈臨風不解：“我母親那裏那麽多人伺候，陌姐兒又沒嫁出去，怎麽還要你站着呢。二房也是這樣嗎？”

窈娘點頭：“都是一樣要晨昏定省的，應該也沒什麽不同，尤其是咱們這樣的大戶人家最在意這些規矩。”

“那我幫你按腿，這樣你也舒服一些。”沈臨風也只好作罷。

他都這麽說了，自己若是再推辭，也就太拘泥了，雖然要等及笄之後才圓房，但到底是夫妻，也不能過于生分。

她穿着白緞子的睡褲，就把腿伸了過去，沈臨風倒像是真的懂些岐黃之術，手指的力道剛剛好，就是有一個地方稍微酸點，她“嘶”了一聲，沈臨風加重了力道。

“啊……”窈娘有點舒服的脫力了。

沈臨風本來是正經在按的，聽到這個聲音，只覺得身體酥了半邊，他又看着她翹起來的腳，他忍不住對她道：“窈娘，明天我幫你洗腳吧。”

窈娘一驚：“這樣不好吧，算了算了。”腳那麽髒，怎麽好讓沈臨風幫她洗，他這麽對她，也實在是有些太過了。

“這有什麽的，郭子儀也幫夫人洗腳呢。”沈臨風覺得自己心中有些龌龊實在是不足為外人道。

可窈娘不願意：“腳多髒啊，你幫我按摩一下腿就好了，腳就不必了。”

“可是……”沈臨風舍不得，甚至有些愛不釋手。

窈娘見他低着頭幫自己按摩，也不擡頭和自己說話，還戳了他一下：“過幾日我就要去靖海侯府了，那日你有空嗎？”

沈臨風笑道：“有。”

“這麽快就答應下來了，那你若有空就過來接我吧。”窈娘說完還調整了一下坐姿，突然瞥到沈臨風耳朵幾乎跟火燒雲似的，她都不知道這人總害羞個什麽勁兒。

沈臨風忙不疊答應下來。

臘月初六這日，窈娘早上去沈夫人處請完安之後，就讓下人準備車馬去靖海侯府。

這是她除了回門以及奔喪之後，再次出門，這次心情舒緩許多。說實在的，剛出嫁的時候，總覺得沈家不是自己的家，現在過了個把月，對沈家也就沒那麽排斥了。

靖海侯府的花宴很熱鬧，劉夫人一見窈娘就先帶她去見了杜大學生，不，杜尚書的夫人馮氏，也就是劉夫人的母親。

“給您請安。”窈娘笑着福了一身。

劉夫人和她娘杜夫人道：“娘，這位就是顏侍郎的女兒，現如今嫁到沈家去了，女兒當時還去做了全福太太呢。”

杜夫人雖然相貌并不十分标致，但整個人狀态看起來很年輕，她一見着自己，就跟見到什麽稀奇寶貝似的道：“好姑娘，你和沈公子真是天生一對啊。”

“娘，您別吓着顏姑娘了。”劉夫人說完，又趕緊對窈娘道：“我娘特別愛看話本子，所以看到你們俊男美女，就已經代入話本子裏了。”

窈娘倒是不介意：“回杜夫人的話，我和我家夫君關系很好的，當初我出了三道考題，他全部考過了，我祖父父親才将我許配給她。”

杜夫人笑眯眯的看着窈娘：“我聽說沈公子容貌比我那女婿還要強幾分，他平日待你如何？走，我們邊走邊說？”

可能因為她爹在丁憂之前一力舉薦杜學士，所以杜夫人和劉夫人都把她當自家侄女對待，說實在的，這點倒是比龔家強多了，當時她跟着甄氏去龔家，龔家對她們都挺一般的，上次龔夫人還對她擺臉色，試圖孤立她的意思，不如杜家至少還有些人情味，知道承情。

今日花宴是以梅花為主，窈娘挨着杜夫人一起坐着，暖烘烘的。

劉夫人笑道：“往年都是投壺、作詩，咱們今年換個玩法。今年咱們不僅要以詩賦作之，若能畫出美景就更好了，也不算是辜負這片梅林了。”

窈娘看着不少夫人身邊都是帶着妙齡少女過來，大抵也是為了博一把出名，這也沒什麽，她家辦雅宴的時候，那些進士舉子們各個都是使勁渾身解數，巴不得得到她父兄的青睐。

其實窈娘很喜歡這樣的宴會，尤其是專心致志的作詩畫畫，更讓她能夠擺脫一些瑣碎的事情。

作完話，她因為跟在劉夫人身邊，劉夫人替她引薦了不少了，就比如成國公夫人，寧西将軍夫人還有嘉寧郡主。

這些人之前甄氏多半是認得的，可窈娘并不怎麽認識，她們本來在京的時日短，甄氏有意排擠，加上顏寧馨的事情之後，交際就更少了。

“這是沈翰林之妻，沈總憲的兒媳婦顏氏，與我關系很好，郡主，您家若辦花宴，可要給我這位妹妹一張帖子啊。”劉夫人道。

嘉寧郡主看起來就是個很傲氣的人，但居然和劉夫人關系挺好的，立馬道：“你放心，這我肯定會的。”

窈娘初入這樣的圈子，自然知曉自己不該多話，只作腼腆狀。

午宴全都是用梅花烹制的各種食物，真真是風雅極了，宴畢之後，就大家各自游園。窈娘和珊姐兒關系不錯，上次她成婚時還送了一對大小喬的玩偶給她，所以珊姐兒正拉着她去她的小院子裏說話。

不料卻碰到了一位青年男子，此人約莫三十歲年紀，嘴角噙着笑意，看到珊姐兒更是寵溺非常，她這才知道這居然是令人聞風喪膽的劉指揮使。

珊姐兒道：“爹，我和顏姐姐先去玩兒的，您找我娘得去西邊去了。”

劉指揮使一聽到顏字，就忍不住問了一句：“請問閣下可是顏家三姑娘？”

自從成婚之後，別人都喊她大奶奶，要不就是沈顏氏，或者沈翰林之妻，很少有喊她顏家三姑娘的，不過這個稱呼她聽起來舒暢許多，窈娘立馬道：“妾身正是。”

“我知曉你當初因為擅長畫畫，助你外祖父破了好幾宗極其難破獲的案子，所以我今日正是有一事拜托。”劉指揮使笑道。

窈娘擡眸看了這位指揮使一眼，又有些不可置信：“我，我能幫上您什麽忙？”

錦衣衛的高端人才不是很多嗎？

劉寂也愣了一下，除了他家若薇之外，其餘女子幾乎都是羞羞答答，要不然生猛的過分，然而并沒有什麽真才實學的，難得顏神妃這樣身份的貴眷，她沒有一口氣回絕。

故而，劉寂笑道：“也是一樁案子，是宮裏發生的重案，有人看到了這個人的背影，有的人看到了他的側臉，有的人有一面之緣，但不知怎麽畫出來的畫像都是不像，若是有你妙筆生花，我想破獲此案指日可待。”

"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.