Chapter 76
As for this examination, Shen Linfeng was selected as a co-examiner. The chief examiner of this examination was Gong Cifu. Yao Niang packed his luggage for him. "You always love to sleep, unlike a night owl like me. I brought you some strong tea to refresh yourself. If you feel sleepy, you can drink some. But you are not allowed to stay up all the time. Staying up too long is not good for your body."
"I understand. You must take good care of yourself when I'm not at home. If you have any difficulties, wait until I come back." Shen Linfeng said in his official uniform.
Yao Niang straightened his collar and said with a smile, "This official uniform looks very good on you."
Shen Linfeng laughed and said, "You don't even like all those nice clothes I wear everyday? You prefer this official uniform."
Yao Niang patted the wrinkles on his back again and said, "That's different. Those poor nobles still secretly wear the flying fish clothes of their elders, but so what? Although it is good to be indifferent, a real man, with power in hand, can live a meaningful life."
In fact, what the couple talked about most before was literary talent and rhetoric, or some trivial household chores. When Shen Linfeng heard this, he paused. This was the first time he heard Yao Niang talk about these.
This is different from her younger sister. Her younger sister really wants to rule the country, but to Shen Linfeng, this is just a dream. What's more, the queen has no power. What her younger sister wants is the vanity.
But what the wife is talking about is authority. What you get is real, while those false names are just a burden.
She is indeed Yan Yingqi's daughter, she is different. His father-in-law is probably aware of the coming troubles. He has already bet on both Wen Shoufu and Gong Cifu. If Wen Shoufu loses, his in-laws will still be Gong's relatives. If Gong Cifu loses first, then Wen Shoufu's relatives will still be his in-laws. Even if both of them lose, he will come back and Yan Yingqi will directly take over the political resources of both sides, and his daughters will not lose out.
He has already passed the imperial examination and graduated from the imperial examination, so his future will definitely not be bad. Wen Qillang's father is a long-time official, so even if Wen Shoufu really resigns, his relationship with the emperor remains.
This is the worst outcome. From now on, Shen Linfeng and Wen Qilang will have to look at the Yan family's face and depend on them.
Yan Jingzhao is the only outstanding person in the Yan family, but Shen Linfeng watches coldly. His brother-in-law has always been stubborn and vindictive, but because he is eloquent and handsome, some people hate him and some people respect him. This is definitely a sign of great ups and downs in the future.
However, the son-in-law is also a half-son. If he is around, I believe the Yan family will still be able to rely on him in the future.
But does Yan Yingqi really think so long-term?
Seeing Shen Linfeng in a daze, Yao Niang couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong? Are you still worried about your family?"
"My mother is getting older and her personality is becoming a little left-wing. You have to bear with her." Shen Linfeng said.
Yao Niang smiled and said, "Of course, my mother treats me very well now, so you can rest assured."
Shen Linfeng said to her again: "Mother is very anxious about my sister's marriage, but if my sister's marriage requires you, just refuse. First, you are the daughter-in-law, and your opinion on whether it is good or bad does not count. Second, there are some things that do not need to be mixed up."
She didn't expect Shen Linfeng to tell her this. You know, Shen Linfeng rarely criticizes anyone. Now he is specifically reminding her. Originally, she didn't need to care about Shen Mo's affairs, so she nodded in agreement.
After Shen Linfeng left, Madam Shen called Yao Niang over. Yao Niang thought she was concerned about Shen Linfeng, but she got straight to the point: "My dear daughter-in-law, take a look at these posts. They have been worrying me these days."
Yao Niang picked up these posts and read them. In fact, Shen Mo's popularity was still very good. Her family was full of officials, and she herself was also bright and generous. Although some insiders knew a little about her affair with the Prince of Qi in her early years, it was only limited to families like the Yan family who had connections with the Prince of Qi, and outsiders might not be very clear about it.
Therefore, Yao Niang said: "My daughter-in-law is originally at home and doesn't go out often. I see that these invitations are all for young talents who are well-matched. Why should Madam worry?"
"There is no one here who is really worthy of my Mo'er. Take this Mr. Hu for example. His father is the Salt Transport Commissioner and his uncle is the Grand Scholar of the Dongge. He is three years older than our Mo'er, but he has never had any official title. Although for a family like ours, what does it matter if we fail in the imperial examinations? But if someone has an official title, then he is a real talent." Mrs. Shen hinted.
Yao Niang knew very well that this was no longer the era of the Nine-Rank System and the aristocratic families. If one could not pass the imperial examination, how could one become a high-ranking official? Even in the Northern Song Dynasty, many sons of officials were appointed to official positions by favor, but those who had real ability would still take the Lock Hall Examination to advance further.
Therefore, the Shen family, like the Yan family, was eager to find a son of an official who had both fame and a good family background. However, such people were very rare. Even the daughter of the Gong family had married a man from a poor family, let alone the Shen family?
She said, "Good things take time."
Mrs. Shen held her forehead and said, "You can't say that. As the saying goes, everything depends on human effort. Let me ask you, did you understand the Gu Silang your brother brought to our house last time?"
Originally, Yao Niang wanted to be close to Gu Silang, but she was unwilling to do so. Gu Silang was on good terms with her brother and was a free-spirited person. If Gu Silang was willing, she would not say anything, but if she was asked to act as a bridge, that would be impossible. Just because Madam Shen and Shen Mo were not good to her, why should she work for them?
Therefore, Yao Niang said: "I don't know anything about the outsider. Although he is good friends with my brother, my brother is seven years older than me. It's better for you to ask someone else."
Mrs. Shen knew she had said something wrong, so she went to her daughter-in-law to ask about the outsider. Naturally, her daughter-in-law was embarrassed to ask, so she smiled and said, "When we choose a son-in-law, our Shen family doesn't care about family background. I just heard that Gu Silang is a good man with both talent and good looks."
She was obviously hinting at Yao Niang to help her, but how could Yao Niang do that? If someone is unwilling to move forward when he is employed, he will probably move backward after he is employed, so Yao Niang pretended to be deaf and dumb.
Mrs. Shen couldn't help but make her words clear: "Grandma, I'd like to let you mediate this matter. What do you think?"
Yao Niang was really being pushed to the limit. She still said, "Madam, I am young and I don't even understand the affairs of my family. How can I talk about marriage? Please choose another wise man."
Seeing that Yao Niang refused to obey, Madam Shen was sulking again. Yao Niang thought that Madam Shen had set traps for her several times, and if she didn't return the favor, she would not be herself anymore. So Yao Niang smiled and said, "Madam, don't worry. Speaking of my daughter-in-law, she is still young, but there is one person who is very suitable."
"Oh, who is it?" Mrs. Shen looked up.
Yao Niang smiled and said, "How could you forget Second Aunt? Second Aunt is highly respected and well-known in the family. She is now the wife of the Imperial College's chief academic officer, and her status is high enough. If she comes to propose marriage, it will surely be twice as effective as my son, isn't she?"
"My son, you are right." Mrs. Shen clapped her hands and smiled.
After all, her daughter-in-law is young. Although she is a member of the Yan family, she is too young. The matchmaker has to reconcile both sides, and she thinks Yao Niang's idea is good.
Yao Niang said, "It's just that the big exam will be held in the next few days. I'm afraid Master Gu will have to study hard to prepare for the exam."
"Yes, I will tell your aunt after he finishes the exam." Mrs. Shen thought it would be best if Gu Silang passed the exam in one go.
Yao Niang stopped talking, and after she finished cooking, she wrote a letter to Yan Jingzhao to inform him of the incident. After reading it, Yan Jingzhao sneered, "You old witch, you are really shameless."
But since ancient times, power and wealth have moved people's hearts. If Gu Silang wanted to do so, he would have no choice.
It's raining and my mother is getting married, who cares? His sister's letter also told him not to worry about it, and not to ruin someone's marriage because of her.
My sister is really too kind. Little did she know that Yao Niang had already suspected Second Madam Shen's intentions, and she was just trying to test them. If Second Madam Shen was sincere, she would definitely work hard on this marriage. If she couldn't stand seeing people doing well, and was just pretending to be in harmony with the first wife, then it meant that Shen Mo's marriage would be difficult to achieve.
Because of keeping Shen Mo, Mrs. Shen's relationship with her could never be good.
When Shen Linfeng was not at home, Mrs. Shen was busy with Shen Mo's affairs. She also had two plans. If Gu Silang failed, she still liked Hu Gefu's nephew.
Although Yao Niang stayed indoors, she asked Zhou Wang's wife to inquire around. Zhou Wang was originally Yao Niang's concubine. She was an ordinary-looking woman, but she was an extraordinary person with great connections. It was Yao Niang who asked her to inquire about the affairs of the Zhen family. After she got married, she asked Zhou Wang's wife to come along.
Qingdai specialized in learning Mother Wang's craft, Hongxiu managed the warehouse for her, and Mother Gu was in charge of all the other places. Zhou Wang's wife Yao Niang rarely saw her on weekdays, but her monthly allowance was sufficient, so she was asked to inquire about the news.
Late in the night, Yao Niang was about to go to sleep when she heard that Zhou Wang's wife had something to report. She perked up and said, "Come in quickly."
Zhou Wang's wife came in, Yao Niang waved everyone away, and then she said, "I was sweeping near the rockery today, following your instructions to keep an eye on Miss Han Biao. Guess what, I was in the small garden in the west, and it was dark at that time, and I saw Erlang Jun and Miss Han Biao being intimate."
"Second Master? Shen Bangyan? Are you sure you didn't see it wrong?" This was beyond Yao Niang's expectation. When she heard Shao mention it that day, she thought that Third Master Shen Linjiang and Han Ruohua were having an affair.
Zhou Wang's wife said, "That's absolutely right. If other people don't dare to say it, they would not know about this if I hadn't been watching them day and night."
"Don't alarm the snake, keep investigating, it would be best if you have evidence." Yao Niang said with a smile.
Zhou Wang's wife said, "Yes, I know."
"Well, just remember to protect yourself first. I remember that you love wine. It just so happens that my brother brewed a lot of it and sent it to me. Qingdai, you fill a pot for Zhou Wang's family, and cut a few feet of goose yellow indigo satin for her so that her children can make some new clothes." Yao Niang said with a smile.
Zhou Wang's wife kowtowed with joy.
她們從顏家過來沈家的下人，那些倚老賣老的幾乎都被敲打過，且下人們見她們家姑娘和姑爺感情親密無間，這些人自然知曉日後大奶奶肯定會有朝一日掌權。
窈娘不是愛示弱的性格，朋友之間若是經常抱怨另一人都會生厭，在這些下人面前也是這般，若她示弱，就會讓下人們心神不定。有的輕視主子，想鬧點事情來，有的另投他人，這也是她為何願意嫁沈臨風的原因，至少沈臨風婚前就對她很不錯，且沒有妾侍。
沈夫人這個人并非陰險之輩，雖然愛擺譜，但一切都往明面上來，反而讓沈臨風對她更為愛憐。
這個韓若華倒真是有點意思，表面比誰都端莊，但私下卻并不守禮。
只是她為何和這些有婦之夫如此呢？簡直是得不償失啊。
再有沈家這些爺們，按照窈娘的理解，前途應該大于一切。
次日一早起來，她出門時遇到了王氏，王氏今日插了新釵。她先喊了窈娘一聲：“大嫂。”
“弟妹，這是去哪兒？”窈娘好奇道。
王氏略帶些得意：“是成國公府請我們去打馬球呢，陌姐兒也随我一起去，原本也想請嫂子一起去的，又說嫂子不會打馬球，便不能成行了。”
春天剛來，雖然有些冷，但的确愛打馬球的貴女們開始行動了，這也是一種交際方法。
而成國公夫人曹氏邀請的大多數會打馬球的人，窈娘她們姊妹除了顏寧馨都不會，故而常常不去，久而久之成國公府也不會送帖子來了。
“是啊，我并不會打馬球，你們都去的話，好好玩兒。”窈娘道。
王氏平日那些所謂的執拗都收起來了，反而顯得有幾分少女神态：“承您吉言。”
其實現在王氏雖然有些嫉妒心理，但是和窈娘的恩怨多半也是攀比為重，可要說生死之敵還沒到那個地步。
幾日之後，沈臨風從考場回來，窈娘早已準備好了花瓣和香草專門給他去除身上的馊味兒，沈臨風泡了快一個時辰才舍得穿上衣服從澡堂出來。
窈娘正在外看書，見他頭發還濕漉漉的，立馬道：“趕緊把頭發擦幹，你怎麽洗了這麽久啊？”
“還不是因為你給我準備的花瓣好聞，泡澡特別舒服，既不馥郁也不膩味，現在整個人仿佛活過來了。”沈臨風跟小孩似的。
窈娘摟着他的胳膊坐下：“我是特地選的，還怕你覺得不符合你男兒家的氣概呢。”
沈臨風笑道：“我很喜歡。那我現在可以睡一會兒嗎？”
“可以，你看我跟你做什麽了？”她特地把自己縫制的騎着白馬負劍的少年玩偶遞到他跟前。
着白衫的少年背着一把寶劍，正騎于白馬之上，沈臨風沒想到她還給自己做了玩偶，他看着窈娘：“弓背霞明劍照霜，秋風走馬出鹹陽。為何連我也有，你何必為我費心，我就不是小孩子了……”
看他這樣，哪裏是不喜歡，是喜歡死了。
還裝小樣呢。
窈娘笑着拍了拍榻：“躺上來，把頭發擦幹。你若不喜歡，就當我自作多情就是了。”
沈臨風懷裏可是緊緊摟着，他似乎帶着香甜進入夢鄉的。
這個人啊，外面看着才高八鬥，其實內心最為童趣，她喜歡的東西，他都跟着很喜歡，不像別人只是敷衍，或者嫌棄自己太孩子氣。
卻說會試之後，沈夫人把沈二夫人畢氏喊過來，畢氏進門就笑道：“嫂嫂還如此鄭重的請我過來，也不知所謂何事？”
“倒是有一件事情要勞煩你。”沈夫人就把顧四郎的情況說了，“這金陵顧氏你或許不知道，但在我們金陵是極其有名的。那顧四郎也不過及冠之年，就已然能到京參加會試，便是這次不中，那也是人才。我聽聞他祖父父親都是進士出身，他父親如今雖然只是颍州知州，但家族底蘊不是随便的人能夠比拟的。”
畢氏聽聞，連忙道：“看來此子家學淵源，倒是不失為一樁良配，嫂嫂既然把此事交給我，那我可要好好打聽了。”
顧四郎原本就是恃才放蕩之人，會試之後，也和所有舉子一樣去秦樓楚館放松一二，原本為了考試緊張極了，住在顏家也不能有風月之事，他雖然并非放浪形骸之人，但慰藉放松也是很正常的。
連顏景昭都不覺得有什麽，又不是流連于青樓，不堪正業。
顏景昭倒是沒和顧四郎說什麽，他還有自己的事情要忙，今年就要選官了，還不知曉如何博弈如何安排？
會試貼榜之日到了，顧四郎今科雖然未中，但他是豁達之人，對顏景昭道：“再過三年，我也伯英兄再見。”
“你能這麽想極好，天下很難有一蹴而就的事情，我也佩服四郎你。”顏景昭敬了他一杯。
顧四郎不知怎麽又想起顏三姑娘，她現在過的很好，這樣也就值得了。他也舉杯：“還要多謝這些日子顏兄的款待。”
顏景昭擺手：“君子有通財之義，說這些做什麽。你回去金陵後，也可多去我父親那裏多走動。”
“若我下科必中，再走動也來得及，若我下科不中，便是在伯父那裏也是無臉面啊。”
顧四郎說完，二人哈哈大笑。
沈二夫人也把打探到的情況和沈夫人提起：“這位顧四郎君并未中會試，不僅未中還和什麽青樓女子那裏留了詩詞，雖說少年人一時興起也是有的。可我稍加暗示了，他還如此，嫂嫂，你看這……”
“什麽？此人竟然如此荒唐。”沈夫人皺眉。
沈二夫人道：“大嫂，也許我打探的有偏差，不若你也去打探一番。”
沈夫人擺手：“不必了，你還會騙我不成，再說了，我家女兒多的是人求娶。”
“是，我也是這麽想的。”沈二夫人道。
等顧四郎回鄉了，窈娘才問起沈夫人：“太太，上次您說要讓二嬸去說親？那顧家如何說？”
沈夫人并不想提，只道：“那顧家門第還是低了些。”
窈娘笑道：“是，和我們沈家的門楣自然是比不上的，只是二嬸如何說呢？”
沈夫人還有些怪罪窈娘：“你二嬸暗示于他，他卻不管不顧還去逛青樓，又傳出什麽佳話來，我們這樣的門第，只有別人求着我們的，哪裏有我們求別人的。”
據窈娘所知，顧四郎雖然是風流才子，若真的有意要娶沈氏女，是不可能如此如此的。
沈二夫人說的這些話似乎有問題，但這也證實了窈娘的想法，這位沈二夫人的确背地裏搗鬼。
“太太，兒媳今日制了些安息香，您要操勞這麽一大家子，也着實是勞心傷神，若此香能讓您能安睡，也算是兒媳盡一些孝心了。”窈娘讓紅袖拿了一方香遞給沈夫人的随從。
沈夫人笑納了，又道：“我聽臨風說他身體恢複的這麽快，都是你伺候的好，日後，若有他在家，你不必往我這裏來。”
窈娘趕緊道：“太太這是哪裏話，正是夫君常常讓我在您跟前走動，讓我服侍您呢。”
這話沈夫人倒是能夠入耳，窈娘亦覺得沈夫人脾性直爽，只不過耳根子軟，有些糊塗。若是日後聽命于她，也頗好操控。
婆媳二人說了幾句，沈夫人這裏卻有龔六夫人郦氏來了，也別小看這些夫人交際，有時候丈夫們不便說的話，便由夫人們代傳。
窈娘見龔六夫人容色中帶着些許緊張，也不知道是何事？
再說科舉之後，三月開春，沈家三房灑掃庭院，正等着沈家叔父上京。如今窈娘也不再是之前不管遇到可疑之人都猶如驚弓之鳥，她會慢慢心平氣和，提前下手。
三月中旬，窈娘接到了劉夫人桃花宴的邀請，她現下的人脈，一是丈夫翰林院的同侪們，二是通過婆母這裏認得的客人，再就是劉夫人這條人脈了。上次劉寂答應她的事情，她一貫信任劉夫人，所以即便之後沒有封诰，也從未追問過。
這就是她的信任，真正信任之人，她并不好懷疑。
沈陌的親事原本還懸而未決，沈夫人也在挑挑揀揀，但就在這個當口，沈夫人同意樂胡家的親事，但聽聞那位胡公子卻和範學士家中結了親事。
就在這樣的氛圍下，沈叔父攜着嬌氣和幾個兒子一并上京，沈夫人讓廚下做了滿桌的菜，專門為他們接風。
沈巡撫的車駕專門在通州驿館停下，他先下馬車，又再對着馬車道：“夫人，下車吧。你在通州先行整理儀容，我們再行進京。”
從車馬中緩緩下來一位麗人，此人正是盧扇兒，她身後還跟着沈巡撫的兩位妾侍，那兩位妾侍年紀都二三十歲，皆比她大，卻還要在她身後站着。
Shen Xunfu originally hated his third son Shen Linyun for being useless and bringing shame to him. He also thought his son was stupid, so he wanted to find a wife from a lesser family. However, Mrs. Lu should have told her son that at his age, he should find a wife in her thirties, even if she was a widow.
But the girl said frankly that she liked him. He saw that although she was young, she was better than ordinary people and even saved his little son's life, so he arranged to marry her.
Of course, he was in his prime, so it was normal for a young girl to admire him, or to want something from him, which was even more normal. Chang'e had always loved young men, and since she had chosen him, she must have valued power and wealth, which he was willing to give. However, the happiest thing was that his eldest nephew Shen Linfeng married the girl from the Yan family, thus eliminating the hatred between the Yan and Shen families. Otherwise, Mr. Zhushan was afraid that he would have written himself on the list he presented to the capital this time.