Chapter 72

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, her aunts would be welcomed back by her parents' family. Then she could ask her brother, since he had been the son-in-law of the Guan family for several years.

Now that she had put this matter aside, Yao Niang practiced calligraphy at home, waiting for Commander Liu to call her.

Originally, she thought she had been a little lax in her fight for the imperial edict for her mother, but now she felt more and more that she could not really relax. Although this Miss Lu had nothing to do with her, Yao Niang always felt that with her father, Ding You, the helmsman, her brother being too aggressive, and her grandfather being away on an official mission, she had to stand on her own.

Thanks to those anti-lichen medicines, she had some sense of presence in this house.

But foreign aid is indispensable.

Commander Liu was indeed a popular figure in the past. He arranged for Yao Niang to enter the palace to meet the emperor in just one day, and even let Shen Linfeng accompany her to the palace. At this time, Yao Niang was still serving Madam Shen. When she heard the news, she quickly explained the reason to her parents-in-law.

Mrs. Shen almost asked you, a woman, why are you getting involved in these things, so she said, "This matter has many implications, why are you, a child, getting involved?"

"It's okay. A newborn ox is not afraid of a tiger. Commander Liu has come to call for help. How can we openly disobey his order? Brother Feng, daughter-in-law, you go." Mr. Shen seemed easy to talk to.

Yao Niang left in a hurry.

But Mrs. Shen said unhappily: "Master, what are you doing? I have never heard of the Jinyiwei and the palace looking for someone to use a girl in her teens as a spy. Since ancient times, serving the emperor is like serving a tiger. She is a little girl and doesn't know the depths of the situation..."

"Since the palace coup, His Majesty has rarely seen court officials, and has always issued decrees in secret with the beginning and the end of the document. We are well-mannered and have outstanding literary talent. If we can meet the emperor and get a good reputation in front of him, then we have nothing to worry about." Shen Zongxian thought further.

If the emperor ignores state affairs for a long time, the people he uses will naturally be those he is familiar with, otherwise Wen Shoufu will not be reappointed.

Mrs. Shen hadn't thought of this yet: "Yes, Master is very thoughtful."

Shen Linfeng is now an editor, his official position is not high, and he has not asked for an imperial decree. Yao Niang tried not to wear those clothes with complicated branches, and changed into a slanting collar and narrow sleeves. She was not a person who mixed in the officialdom, so she did not have much respect for the emperor. But she found that Shen Linfeng was very nervous, and his lips were a little pale.

As the two of them rode in the carriage, Yao Niang noticed that he was sweating, so she immediately took out a handkerchief to wipe it off for him: "Silly husband, I am going to the palace to see the emperor, and the emperor will not do anything to you, why are you so nervous?"

"Because I'm only nineteen years old." Shen Linfeng immediately looked at Yao Niang with a pair of innocent wet eyes.

Yao Niang felt that her husband was really becoming more and more fond of acting like a spoiled child. She was somewhat helpless and laughed, "If I can really help Commander Liu accomplish this, then in the future we can be considered a well-known couple. Although there are difficulties and obstacles, the benefits are not small."

Shen Linfeng nodded heavily: "Yes, I am the first person to pass the engineering exam at the age of 19."

"Calm down, calm down." The two encouraged each other.

Their carriage stopped at the palace gate. Although Liu Ji often went to the palace, he was still very cautious. He said to Yao Niang, "Miss Yan, after entering the palace, we will go to see the emperor first, and then we will listen to the arrangements."

"Yes, I will do everything according to my command." Yao Niang was also very surprised that Commander Liu kept calling her Miss Yan, although she also liked others to call her that, rather than someone who got married and lost her own surname. She really deserved to be such a young and high-ranking official, and she was really good at understanding people's minds.

She turned back and pulled Shen Linfeng's hand. Liu Ji saw this and coughed softly: "Miss Yan, let's go our separate ways in the Forbidden Palace."

Being too affectionate among young people is also a sweet problem!

Little did she know that Yao Niang saw that Shen Linfeng was too nervous and wanted to comfort him. But after hearing what Liu Ji said, she looked at Shen Linfeng worriedly, then smiled and said, "Yes, I know."

Shen Linfeng followed Yao Niang closely and only then did he feel a sense of security.

When the two entered the palace, Liu Ji found that the couple seemed a little different from what he had imagined. Shen Linfeng was not as calm as his wife. Thinking about Yan Yingqi and Yan Jingzhao, he was almost deceived by this girl's appearance.

When they arrived at the Yiyuan Hall, Liu Ji nodded to the two of them. Yao Niang had never been to the palace before. She originally thought that the palace would be very large and the emperor would be sitting on countless steps, overlooking the people.

But she didn't expect the emperor's voice to be so clear. Liu Ji even said at this time: "Your Majesty looks very good. It just so happens that I have brought Shen Yanshi here."

Yao Niang and Shen Linfeng knelt down to pay their respects. Her father had been a minister of the Ministry of Rites and was very strict in teaching the girls in his family etiquette, so she paid her respects in a very proper manner: "I, Yan, pay my respects to His Majesty. May His Majesty be blessed with good health."

Although she was very nervous and her back was sweating, she was the type of person who could hold her own in big occasions.

Shen Linfeng said: "Your Majesty, I, the Lord Yan, Shen Linfeng, greet the Emperor. May our Emperor live forever."

Liu Ji, who was standing by, almost laughed out loud. You were so arrogant when you took the exam for the imperial examination, but now you almost said your name as Yan Shenshi? Are you thinking about getting into a rich family?

Yao Niang knew even more that her silly husband must have gotten used to talking about his sister the Goddess every day, and his mouth was so limp that he was almost tongue-tied.

Emperor Qianyuan glanced at the people below and did not find it strange. Many people were so nervous when they met the emperor.

But he said to Yao Niang: "I heard that your painting skills are very outstanding. For example, you can accurately draw the appearance of a person just by listening to his description?"

Yao Niang said quickly: "I dare not say that my painting skills are outstanding, I just know the basics."

"Then why did Liu Ji ask you to come?" Emperor Qianyuan asked.

If a man is gentle and considerate to you, it means he just treats you as a vase. If he makes things difficult for you, it means he really thinks you are at least a capable person.

Yao Niang said, "In reply to your Majesty, I think that although I am not a famous artist, I may have some talent in capturing the characteristics of people. And because the commander knew that I had painted the portrait of a prisoner in Kaifeng Prefecture, he found me here."

Be neither humble nor arrogant, and speak freely.

Emperor Qianyuan looked at him with some respect, and said, "As expected of you, you are the descendant of Mr. Zhushan and Mr. Yan. You are indeed from a famous family."

Mr. Zhushan was referring to Yao Niang's grandfather, and Yan Qing was of course referring to Yan Yingqi. Yan Yingqi was a close minister and was highly valued by Emperor Qianyuan.

"Your Majesty, I am ashamed to accept your praise." Yao Niang was not happy.

She often realized a truth in the back house: whenever you are about to win, if you can't control yourself, something bad will happen. It is easy to be happy, but it is not easy to suppress your happiness.

Emperor Qianyuan waved his hand, and Liu Ji took Yao Niang to a side hall and asked the eunuchs to bring the drawing board and brushes. While the three of them were waiting here, Yao Niang quietly took out a handkerchief to wipe her sweat, and thankfully said to Shen Linfeng: "I was so scared just now that my forehead was sweating."

"I'm even worse. I almost said my name is Concubine Yan." Shen Linfeng thought about it and felt a little embarrassed.

"Haha." Yao Niang used her handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his face.

After a while, Liu Ji came over with his people. Shen Linfeng wanted to exchange a few words of greeting, but Yao Niang said to him, "Don't say anything. I want to start asking questions."

Shen Linfeng immediately stood up to grind and adjust the color for her, and Yao Niang nodded. Liu Ji thought to himself that Shen Linfeng, you kid really have a good eye, and it's different.

"First, tell me when and where you saw this man, and describe his appearance and physical characteristics." Yao Niang looked at the young eunuch opposite her.

She would not ask who was arrested, nor why. Anyway, she believed in Mrs. Liu, and naturally believed in Liu's command.

The rest of the Shen family looked at each other in bewilderment. First, the Second Madam of Shen came over and said, "I heard that Lin Feng and his wife went to the palace to see the emperor. Could it be something?"

"It's a good thing. Brother Feng's daughter-in-law is good at painting. It just so happens that the palace needs to paint something, so she was specially invited to the palace. You know, she is a little girl, and she has to accompany Lin Feng." Mrs. Shen explained hurriedly.

Madam Shen covered her mouth in surprise and said, "I didn't expect that Feng's daughter-in-law would have this trick."

Although Mrs. Shen may not be really fond of Yao Niang, she has been an official's wife for many years and has no flaws, so she said, "If you ask me, Lin Feng has been blessed since he got engaged to Yan. First, he passed the imperial examination, then he was selected as an official, and now he has the opportunity to meet the emperor."

Madam Shen Er smiled and said, "Sister-in-law is right. My brother Yan has only just started school, so he needs Brother Feng to give him some advice."

"Second aunt, I would say that Yan'er is already very well educated. You just wait to enjoy a peaceful life." Second Aunt Jiang said with a smile.

Her complexion has improved now, and she is willing to go out more often. Although she knows that her father-in-law will remarry a girl who is 20 years younger than her, she naturally thinks that her father-in-law is old and undisciplined, marrying a girl younger than them and dominating them. But she changes her mind and thinks that when the time comes, she can serve her father-in-law through marriage and funerals, and they, as daughters-in-law, don't have to worry about their younger brothers. Moreover, even if the girl gets married and has children, she is still 20 years younger than her husband, so there is no competition at all, so she feels more at ease.

Now, in Beijing, she naturally had to build good relations with the eldest house. In the future, no matter what happened in their house, the eldest house would have the final say.

Madam Shen pointed at Madam Jiang and said, "You are the one who is most eloquent. No wonder Brother Jiang loves you so much."

"Second aunt..." Second Aunt Jiang blushed. In fact, she and Shen Linjiang had an average relationship. Shen Linjin didn't care about her future or fame the most. He was nice to her because her brother-in-law was one of the Nine Ministers.

清大奶奶在這個家做大奶奶作慣了，上次還差點擺了窈娘一道，結果被窈娘識破。她那日在信寧侯送嫁妝來時，表現出一幅當家娘子的模樣，熟料，衆人都去問窈娘，讓她羞了好一陣子。

可自從得知公公要娶妻，清大奶奶早已把這些龃龉抛諸腦後，她丈夫雖然是巡撫長子，官宦子弟，中了童生後，還以充場儒士的身份去考過鄉試，自然沒中。

現下在國子監讀書，但要論出頭也不知道是何時？本來清大奶奶沒事還覺得丈夫兄弟多，底下四個弟弟都未成婚，自家雖然是長子得到的就稀少，如今公公還準備再娶，真的是不知道說什麽好？

現在長房看來也是沒的靠了，大伯母原本看着和顏氏冷冷淡淡的，可顏氏倒是有些本事，她居然混進宮裏去了。

比起清大奶奶和江二奶奶到底是三房的，王氏就覺得對比更強烈了。

沈夫人今日午膳和沈二夫人在一處吃的，三個侄兒媳婦幫忙布菜，沈夫人卻有些不習慣，因為這三個人都不用心，随便盛點湯就放在旁邊，甚至有的布幾筷子就等着長輩們讓她們歇着，根本不用心。

不像顏氏，年紀雖然小，但是人機靈，很會拆骨挑魚刺，一個眼神過去就知道她要什麽，飯後還陪自己說話說半天。

才嫁過來一個多月，就在這裏幫自己縫了兩雙襪子，又透氣又暖和。

真是不比不知道，一比吓一跳。

“也不知道臨風和他媳婦兒何時回來？”沈夫人念叨着。

沈陌笑道：“娘，這還早呢，畫畫哪裏會這麽快啊。”

“也是。”沈夫人道。

卻說窈娘此時已經根據三個人看到的，分別畫出不同的樣子了，而最重要的是皇上看到了此人的長相。她的心中已經推測出約莫是聖上遇到刺客了，這才是劉寂不願意聲張的緣故，之前這乾元帝聽說差點被宮女刺殺，如今又有刺客摸到宮中來了，也真是防不勝防。

沈臨風端了一杯水來：“先喝點水吧。”

“現在只是畫了個側臉，一道身影，沒什麽感覺。”窈娘撐着下巴看向沈臨風。

沈臨風道：“沒事，慢慢來。”

“我想快些畫好嘛，這樣我們也能早些回去。”窈娘撒嬌。

沈臨風從未見過窈娘根據別人提供的信息畫人，他看的出來這其實是窈娘的天賦，她并非是畫技大家，就是憑着感覺畫。他眼見這裏無人，又上前幫她弄了弄鬓發：“自己都沒發現吧，這縷頭發都掉下來了。”

“謝謝夫君。”窈娘其實不那麽喜歡撒嬌，可是沈臨風也實在是太過嬌妻了，她畫畫的時候研磨調色幾乎都是他幫忙的，端茶遞水更是不在話下，她若是個男子，沈臨風做妻子，真的還是挺不錯的，眼裏特別有活。

以前她就總聽娘說起爹爹可沒這麽體貼，她哥哥就更別說了，母親同意李氏的原因也是李氏很會照顧人。

“咳咳。”劉寂進來了。

皇上當然不可能直接對窈娘說了，那不然就是讓皇上說出刺客了，因此劉寂過來轉述，他自己也有些尴尬，看的出來人家小夫妻真的是新婚夫妻，恨不得時時刻刻都黏糊在一起，自己若是撞見什麽也不好。

沒想到進門後，見沈臨風只是坐在窈娘身旁，二人在商量畫技。

劉寂就道：“顏姑娘，我來說一下此人相貌特征吧，雖然蒙着臉，但是眼睛細長，皮膚黝黑，身量中等。”

“眼睛細長，皮膚黝黑？口音呢，不知是哪裏的口音，服飾上有沒有徵記？”窈娘問道。

劉寂沒想到畫人物要畫的如此仔細，自然他也是個細致人，他道：“我再去問問啊。”

他一走，沈臨風就問道：“人的相貌和地域有關嗎？”

“這是自然，我翻看過縣志還有常常見過不同地方的人，不能說千人一面，但是大體上一個地方的人體貌特征是有那麽像的，一方水土養一方人。”窈娘如是道。

不一會兒，劉寂又過來道：“那人沒有開口，哦，對了，此人顴骨還很高。”

窈娘搖頭：“僅憑半張臉，恐怕很難辨認，萬一對方易容，就更差不到了。劉指揮使，這恐怕很難啊……”

舉凡五分的辛苦，她是肯定要說十分的。

劉寂道：“是，我也知道為難，若是簡單的，哪裏能勞動你。”

在一旁的沈臨風心道劉寂如今已經位極人臣，說話做事卻還能把腰杆子放軟，自己也要多學學。

但他還是怕劉寂逼窈娘太緊了，因此站出來道：“劉指揮使，內子已經很盡力了，若不然她先嘗試畫，若是日後你們再有更多目擊的人，再請她進宮來，如何？”

劉寂痛快點頭：“那顏姑娘你先畫。”

窈娘根據他們提供的相關的碎片似的，先在腦子裏總結了一下，黝黑顴骨高，多半就是長臉，身量中等，肩寬，不，那就是短臉。

她想了想，就開始畫了起來，先打了模子，又覺得有點不對，重新再畫。劉寂安排人送了飯菜過來，沈臨風就在旁邊趁着她空閑的時候喂幾口。

一定要着重眼睛，鼻梁和顴骨，這是最有效的相貌特征，三十多歲上下，正是青壯年，那就算不上臉上溝壑叢生，可是人過了三十，尤其是習武之人，要不就壯墩墩的，要不然就是法令紋很重。

她還是選擇了法令紋深的，因為胖的人即便有顴骨，肯定都會被肉遮住。

嗯，對，就這樣。

分析之後她慢慢的就知曉怎麽畫了，不一會兒一個栩栩如生的習武健壯之人就出現在沈臨風眼前，沈臨風見過的話多半都沒有這麽真實，完全像一個真人站在你的面前，即便這個真人也有可能是假的。

可劉寂看到這幅畫的時候，卻笑道：“真是得來全不費功夫，此人我似乎見過。”

窈娘也怕産生誤會，連忙道：“劉指揮使，這只是我根據想象畫出來的，也未必是真的，你們千萬不要因我之過，抓錯了人。”

“不會的，顏姑娘今日真是多謝你了。”劉寂真是覺得窈娘若是個男子就好了，可以名正言順的進錦衣衛辦事。

窈娘道：“能幫上您的忙就再好不過了。”

看得出來這個劉指揮使絕對是一門心思都用在辦差上，得了畫就顧不上其他了，還好他忙中抽閑讓人送了他們夫妻出去。

這個時候已經是晨光熹微，馬車經過市坊的時候，窈娘一下就聞到食物的香味，“好香啊，我走不動道兒了。”

她扒在車窗上，眼巴巴的望着外面。

沈臨風道：“要不然下去吃吧。”

窈娘卻很懂事的道：“爹娘恐怕都等着咱們呢。”

越看窈娘這樣，沈臨風就越心疼：“停車，我們就在這兒吃吧，派個人回去說一聲就好了。”

“既然你這麽為我着想，我若是推辭，那我就太不是人了。”窈娘可不會學人家那麽假，若是丈夫每次為自己做什麽都被說教一番，那日後人家肯定也沒那個熱情了。

沈臨風扶着窈娘下了馬車，二人都是年輕人，眼看這裏燈火通明，小攤小販密密織織，煙火之氣迎面撲來，各種各樣食物的香味都讓他倆挪不開腳步。

“你要吃什麽？”沈臨風問道。

窈娘吸了吸鼻子，又道：“我想吃旋炙豬肉皮還有烤鴨，若是再有一碗酸漿飯，就再好不過了。”

“诶，我也喜歡吃炙烤之物。”沈臨風欣喜。

窈娘白了他一眼：“傻瓜，我當然知道你愛吃什麽我才點的呀。”

沈臨風頓時一喜，他就喜歡窈娘偏愛他，一直這麽偏愛他。

二人在小攤上坐下，窈娘想起今日沈臨風照顧自己那麽久，她現在也想照顧他，所以用帕子擦拭好了筷子遞給她，又從荷包裏拿出銀錢給掌櫃提前會鈔。

店家見沈臨風儀表堂堂衣着光鮮，沒想到卻是個小白臉，看他妻子生的如此貌美還自掏腰包，忍不住調侃道：“公子爺，你也是命好啊，能娶到這樣的媳婦。”

沈臨風不明所以，窈娘卻看向店家道：“才不是呢，我夫君對我很好的。”

店家撓撓頭，也不敢說什麽。

夫妻二人在這裏吃的都不肯擡頭，宮裏那點飯菜完全就不是讓人吃飽的，二人吃的酒足飯飽，幾乎是扶着牆出來的。

又說此事過後幾日，沒聽到宮中傳來什麽消息，窈娘想來錦衣衛聽說什麽人才都有，自己都不知道幫到忙沒有，倒是把事情放下了。

反而是顏景昭聽說此事，過府了一趟，顏景昭半開玩笑的對窈娘道：“若是再過幾年出嫁，就是哥哥陪你面聖了。”

“哥哥……”窈娘笑着，又把盧扇兒的事情跟顏景昭說了，又問他道：“關學士對你如何呀？”

Seeing that no one was around, Yan Jingzhao held out his hand and said, "Sister, there is no need to mention the Guan family's affairs. I am not afraid even if they try to take advantage of my misfortune. My father-in-law is now the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. As for you, I have something else to tell you."

Seeing how serious he was, Yao Niang couldn't help but ask, "What's the matter? You're so nervous, really."

Yan Jingzhao said, "Last time I mentioned Zhou Lingguang, I saw my brother-in-law's face was strange, and I thought it was strange. Recently, I accidentally learned that it was Shen Zongxian who had the Zhou Jijiu family exiled. Zhou Lingguang lay in wait for a long time and studied hard. I think it was for revenge."

Yao Niang was stunned.