Spring usually falls in mid-February, but this year it was postponed to early March due to the emperor's poor health. Changbai and Qi Heng set off in mid-February. Since he left, Wang has burned incense, worshiped at Buddhist and Taoist temples, and made rituals in the house every day. The smoke was so thick that when people outside saw it, they thought the Sheng Mansion was on fire, which almost attracted the watering team. Every time Minglan went to Wang's place to say hello, her eyes turned red because of the smoke. Sheng Hong scolded her a few times at first. He talks about strange things and confuses the gods, but according to reliable information, he actually worshiped him secretly twice.
This kind of exam lasted for three days, and every session was like a torture. Even if you passed the exam, you had to shed a layer of skin. As soon as Qi Heng left the exam room, he was carried back by the servants of Qi Gongfu. Changbai walked on with his own feet. The carriage was then taken back to rest by Chang Wu, a trainer at the Jingwei Martial Arts School. Therefore, the good news arrived earlier than the candidates, and Chang Bai won the second and fifth place in the Jinshi.
Wang was overjoyed and immediately wanted to set off firecrackers to scatter money and rice, but Sheng Hong hurriedly stopped him - Qi Heng failed the exam.
Mr. Qi is okay. He knows that it is rare for someone like Changbai to win in one attempt. Most candidates only win in the second or third time, even after taking the exam for more than ten years. However, Princess Pingning's face is dark. Like the bottom of a pot.
The Qi family has many connections, and they must understand even if they die. Old Qi Gong asked the examiner for advice. The adult stroked his beard and said a few sentences, which roughly meant: The candidates should keep things simple for the Spring Examination, and start from the Autumn Examination. After that, he studied behind closed doors, and the Qi family was better off. Worried that Dengzhou was not lively enough, they rushed back to the capital to celebrate the New Year, leaving Qi Heng to drink, go to banquets and watch the flowers for a month or two. It was lively enough, but he only crammed for the last half of the month. How can I pass the exam?
Princess Pingning regretted it so much that Lord Qi clapped his legs and realized: No wonder Sheng Mansion is so deserted during the New Year, that's it! If I had known earlier, I would have let my son celebrate the New Year in Dengzhou, and I couldn't help but look at Sheng Hong differently - after all, he was born in a major, and he was so lonely. There is experience.
A few days later, the Hanlin Academy took the exam again. Changbai was selected as a scholar, stayed in the academy and taught editing, and took office a year later. Along with this news, the marriage of Changbai's brother was decided, and the chosen one was Jiangning Haijia. The head of the family was the direct daughter of the second daughter, who came from a scholarly family, and was full of nobles. Both her father and brother were officials in the court. Regarding these two incidents, Sheng Hong and Wang had a mixed reaction.
"It's so rare for Brother Bai to do well in the exam, why can't he be promoted to an official position instead of suffering in the deserted place of the Hanlin Academy?" Mrs. Wang cried and complained about Sheng Hong, "Didn't I say that several uncles will lead Bai?" My brother came to visit me and send me a message to smoothen the relationship, but I ended up with a low-level concubine!"
"Women's opinion! What do you know? The Hanlin Academy is so noble. Brother Bai is still young. If he is released, he will be disgraced!" Sheng Hong saw that all his hard work was worthless by the Wang family. Half angry.
Mrs. Wang didn't know what the nobility was in the Hanlin Academy. She only knew that it was true that Hanlin bachelors were poor, cold and poor. However, she also knew that Sheng Hong was more knowledgeable than herself in this regard, so she stopped talking. But another thing was Even more worrying.
"That's all, we women don't understand, but after all, I am the father of Brother Bai, so I can always make the decision about marrying my daughter-in-law. Now the master doesn't even say a word to me, so he invited Uncle Geng Shi to propose marriage. Only now did I know which family my daughter-in-law was from! Where did the master put me?" Ms. Wang felt even more aggrieved and kept lowering her head and wiping away tears.
Sheng Hong sat next to the Kang table, picked up a tea bowl with a bean-poultry base painted in pastel and took a sip. He sneered and said, "Don't think I don't know. You have fallen in love with your eldest sister's daughter. If I hadn't taken advantage of you first, I’m afraid you’ll have to invite your niece to live here this month!”
Wang's intentions were exposed by this sentence, so she simply threw the handkerchief on the kang and stood up with her eyes: "What's wrong with Yun'er? She's well-educated and sensible, and she's smart and smart. She's also a close cousin of Brother Bo, so they know each other well. Let's see. Nothing could be better!"
"Yes! You know the root of it!" Sheng Hong placed the tea bowl on the kang table: "Don't forget to mention that my eldest brother-in-law has such a good family background. Now the official is not as old as me. In the past few years, my father Ding You actually gave birth to several children. As a child, the imperial censor took a concubine during a period of filial piety and was dismissed from office. He did not think about how to smoothen the relationship and return to the court to fill the vacancy. Instead, he spent every day with ordinary Qing guests, enjoying the moon and the moon, criticizing the government! Such an in-laws you want?"
Mrs. Wang was so embarrassed and angry that she retorted: "Even if I think the Kang family has been defeated now, I shouldn't look for the Hai family. Their family rules clearly state that children can only take concubines when they are 40 years old and have no children. It would be best to be their daughter-in-law." , but how can I get a daughter like this? I heard that after the eldest daughter of the Hai family left the house, she disobeyed her mother-in-law every three days and forbade her husband to take concubines. The Hai family was of a high family, so please let me have such a living Bodhisattva. How to be a mother-in-law!”
Sheng Hong scolded: "Nonsense! If this were not the case, how could our family marry the Hai family? As long as you don't make trouble by stuffing people into Brother Bai's room, and be your mother-in-law, you will be fine!"
The couple had a big quarrel and broke up.
Mrs. Wang was very unwilling, so she cried in front of Mrs. Sheng and asked the old lady to make the decision for herself.
Old Mrs. Sheng was half lying on the soft couch, with her eyes slightly closed. After listening to Wang's cry, she patted her back gently and sighed: "I am not a person who comes from nothing. So what is going on with the Kang family now? Although the Kang family and the We are also in-laws in my family, but after all, it is not as important as Brother Bai's future, so my wife should be cautious."
Mrs. Wang knew that Mrs. Sheng seemed to be indifferent to the world, but she actually knew it in her heart. In addition, she was dizzy from crying, so she simply spread her arms and said: "...My eldest brother-in-law is too disappointing. Now my sister and the former concubine and concubine have become more and more important." There were as many as a dozen of them. What kind of mess of women had children here and there, filling the room with them! Each one of them had to be taken care of by his sister, a betrothal gift to get a wife, a dowry to get married, and a brother-in-law. She only knows how to be an official but cannot make money, and she doesn’t know how much she has paid for her dowry. If her sister refuses, those uncles in the clan who only eat and do nothing will say that her sister is unworthy! Now the Kang family is probably empty-framed, but fortunately for her sister and her son It's quite satisfactory. I was appointed as the director of the Ministry of Etiquette a few years ago. As a younger sister, I have to help out, not to mention that the Kang family's family status is not an insult to our family."
Old Mrs. Sheng looked at the flower-patterned gold incense smoke on the table and sighed softly: "My wife is kind-hearted, but I don't like what I say. No matter how close a sister is, she can't kiss her son! Hey... I am also a mother-in-law. , I know what my wife is thinking, but I’m just worried that the Hai family is so powerful that they won’t be able to suppress their daughter-in-law in the future, eh——?”
Old Mrs. Sheng glanced at Mrs. Wang with clear and sharp eyes, and Wang felt guilty for a while. In fact, she and her eldest sister did not have a very good relationship. They had had quarrels in their boudoir back then, but later the Sheng family and the Kang family went back and forth, and the situation changed. Her sister She often wrote letters lamenting and complaining, and a few years ago she started lobbying for marriage, and I felt very comfortable flattering her.
Mrs. Sheng looked at Mr. Wang's uncertain expression and patted Mr. Wang's shoulder gently: "Back then, some relatives from the Xu family came to marry me, but I went back one by one. Your Wang family has no contact with my family, but I, old lady, I still begged you to be my wife. In the beginning, I was able to have a smooth career thanks to my father-in-law. You also gave birth to children and took care of the housework. I dare to say one thing today: I will never regret hiring you that day! What a poor mother in the world. , Brother Bai’s future and his wife’s success, which one is more important?”
Mrs. Wang's face turned red after being told that her daughter-in-law was not very qualified, so she got up embarrassed, put away her handkerchief and gently wiped the corners of her eyes.
Old Mrs. Sheng said again: "You don't have to worry. Mother Kong once told me that the second lady of the Hai family has excellent moral character and she will be able to get along with you and her mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. The young lady of the Kang family is my wife's niece. Could it be that the wife can act like a mother-in-law and discipline her harshly? Now that Changbai has made a career, the wife will be indispensable for all official titles and titles, wouldn’t it be better?"
Mrs. Wang was moved by what she said, and when she thought about it carefully, she thought of Sheng Hong's simple and rough communication methods, and said aggrievedly: "I am not that ignorant person. If the master talks to me like this, how can I show my face to the old lady? ...But what should Yoona do? She is already seventeen, and her brother-in-law has no official position now. He cannot do anything high or low, so don’t delay this child."
Mrs. Sheng smiled slightly and held Mrs. Wang's hand lovingly: "What do you think of my cousin Wu brother?"
Wang was stunned after hearing this: "What does the old lady mean...?"
Old Mrs. Sheng said coldly: "Although the Kang family is said to be an aristocratic family, he is just your nephew who is an official now. When it comes to the wealth of the family, my wife knows better than me. Your uncle Wei's family dare not say that the family is rich, but they are also very wealthy." , There are only two brothers in his family. In the future, Brother Wu will be rich even if he separates and lives alone. As an aunt, you know best what Brother Wu’s character is. He has been single in the capital these years, and he has always been honest and progressive. He has never had any problems. It's a bit of a show-off, but it's a good thing to kiss each other even more."
Wang hesitated and said: "But... he is a merchant after all..."
Seeing Mr. Wang's appearance, Old Mrs. Sheng raised the corner of her mouth slightly, and wanted to say something sarcastic, but she held back and said bluntly: "Brother Wu has been recommended as the Zhongweiwei governor, and he will take office in the blink of an eye. I have an official status, a good character, and a rich family. If it weren't for my bad luck in marriage, I wouldn't be able to get married. My old sister-in-law wouldn't blame me. If my wife really feels bad, forget it. I'll find her. Just ask around for other girls."
When Mrs. Wang heard this, she became anxious and said quickly: "Old lady, don't worry, I will write a letter to my sister right now. This is really an excellent marriage, and I think my sister understands it."
After saying that, she hurriedly said goodbye. Looking at Wang's back, Mrs. Sheng sighed leisurely. Suddenly she heard the wind behind the curtain, and said without looking back: "Little one, you've heard enough, don't come out yet! "
I saw Minglan rubbing her eyes, her little face was sleeping red and white, and there were still faint pillow marks on her cheeks. She was only wearing a pink jacket embroidered with silk and magnolia flowers. She came out of the back room and threw herself into the old man's house. In the wife's arms, the little fat squirrel was squirming on the kang. Mrs. Sheng hurriedly put her arms around her little granddaughter and said with a straight face: "I told you to go back and take a nap, but you have to stay here with me. But you must have been woken up."
Minglan hugged her grandmother's neck and said in a soft voice: "Grandma, am I going to have a new sister-in-law?"
"What are you pretending to do, little girl? Didn't everyone hear you?" The old lady patted Minglan hard on the back.
Minglan blinked slyly: "Grandma, is it actually you who came to Miss Haijia?"
Old Mrs. Sheng rolled her eyes at Minglan and glanced at the doors and windows. Cuiping on the side understood. She turned around and went to look around. The old lady stroked Minglan's hair and said: "It's you who are too troublesome. You are just a mother when you ask for a daughter-in-law."
It doesn’t matter if you come to bother your grandmother because of something else, Brother Bai is our eldest son’s direct grandson after all, so he cannot be ignored.”
Minglan looked up with a smile, her face was pure and innocent: "My father and mother played the piano and played the piano in harmony, and respected each other as if they were guests. They must be very satisfied with my grandmother's ability to make a blind date."
Mrs. Sheng had a straight face and wanted to scold her, but she couldn't help but laugh first. She only pinched her granddaughter twice, shook her head and said: "Your elder brother is much better than your father back then. There is a
I have just been promoted to the fifth rank. I have a brother-in-law from Zhongqin's uncle's house and a decent uncle's family. Even if the Hai family is as scholarly and noble, they should not be underestimated."
In fact, at first, the Hai family was not optimistic about Changbai and felt that the Sheng family was too weak. However, Mrs. Sheng was very confident. The Wang family had also hesitated about Sheng Hong's marriage, but when Mrs. Sheng came to visit with Sheng Hong,
, the old lady of the Wang family immediately agreed when she saw the gentle and elegant Yushu Linfeng - the so-called mother-in-law often likes her son-in-law more and more the more she looks at him.
Old Mrs. Sheng was very experienced in this operation. This time she also asked Aunt Geng's family to take Changbai to pay homage. As soon as Mrs. Haijia saw the upright and upright Changbai, she half agreed in her heart. She didn't know that Miss Haijia had any idea.
I haven’t peeked through the curtain, but if I had, I would probably be obsessed with it.
Of course, Minglan didn't know this. Old Mrs. Sheng said again: "Miss Haijia, Aunt Kong told me a few years ago that De Rong's words and deeds are not bad, but it's because the men in Haijia don't accept her."
Concubine, even if you raise a daughter, you can’t even accommodate a concubine. It’s difficult for a Haimen girl to marry. But your eldest brother is not afraid of this. We have shared a common room for these years, what’s your name... um..."
"It's called Yanghao." Minglan answered.
Old Mrs. Sheng said lightly: "This is not bad, the other bad names are also called by your elder brother. What kind of good girls are called pigs, wolves, chickens, mice... That sheep is no better than a middle-aged man, and it is also his duty.
It doesn’t matter whether you want to stay or send me back.”
Hearing the old lady decide a girl's life so lightly, Ming Lan gradually dimmed her eyes. Girls like Yang Hao who have been adopted by their masters but have no status have a very worrying future. The best outcome for them is to raise their aunt.
, after the main wife gives birth, if the male master's favor is still there, she can still have a child. If the master's husband and wife are harmonious, she will become a decoration from then on, slowly drying up her youth; if the female master cannot tolerate it, she will be sent out.
Either let him go, or match him with someone else.
But what kind of good person can be matched with him? He is just a servant in the government, a worm in the market, a woodcutter in the mountains, and a farmer in the fields. As long as he has the ability to win over his mother-in-law and a wealthy man, he will not want a woman who has lost her virginity.
But she couldn't tolerate it blindly. Minglan knew that the old lady's tragedy was largely due to the instigation of Mrs. Sheng's aunt. This kind of maid had served the young master since she was a child. She was familiar with them and had a deep friendship with the male master.
The master's position is already established before he enters the house, and sometimes he even sets traps to trip up the new mistress.
Minglan asked herself: When the time comes, will she be able to deal with her opponent without hesitation?