July is the hottest season of the year in Jianghuai. Even if I live in Jianyuan on the north peak of Shugang, I still feel the heat is unstoppable. Wang Jun is wearing a half-sleeved green shirt and a red-dyed undershirt, sitting lazily on the pond
In the pavilion in front of me, I watched the green lotuses sticking out of the water, motionless, not a breath of wind blowing.
Her forehead, as smooth as jade, was covered with fine sweat, and her pink face turned crimson from the heat. The hot weather also made people feel restless. She put a book on her knees, and she didn't read much of it for a long time.
Seeing the maid Xiangyun sneaking towards this side, Wang Jun waved her over and asked, "There has been a lot of noise in front of Zhuangzi for a while. Is my father back?"
"My lord and Yin Sima have returned to Zhuangzi, but my lord and the others look sad. Maybe they encountered a wall in Chuzhou in front of His Highness King Xin?" said the maid Xiangyun.
"The situation has become so rotten, what else can we do?" Wang Jun said nonchalantly, asking Xiangyun to help her put away the messy books on the table, and then she went to the front to see her father.
Lingyun Pavilion, the study room where the affairs were handled, ran to Lingyun Pavilion.
The maid Xiangyun called her to stop and said:
"I just saw Mrs. Xu rushing over, touching the foot of the wall and eavesdropping. Mrs. Xu couldn't wait to catch the master to make arrangements for the Xu family to arrange a marriage between you and the son of the Xu family, but she didn't want to rush the master.
This time he came back with a bad temper and received a scolding - Your Excellency usually dotes on Mrs. Xu, but I have never seen him lose such a temper to Mrs. Xu. It seems that the trip to Chuzhou really didn't go well.
Why don't you get along with your messy appearance, so as not to get scolded by adults."
"My father scolded my little mother?" Wang Jun asked in surprise.
Xiangyun said naggingly: "Yes, I don't know how much she wants to drive you away so that she can take charge of the inner house. She will praise the young master of the Xu family who killed his wife as if he were a god in the sky. She also said that you should go over and give her
It was a blessing earned in eight lifetimes for the son of the Xu family to be the successor. She ran out with tears in her eyes after being reprimanded. She ran to the Jingxin Lake and stood there for a while. I thought she couldn't stand it and would jump off.
Unexpectedly, I wiped my tears in a blink of an eye and actually ordered the kitchen to cook Tremella and Lotus Seed Soup for you and Yin Sima. You are really very thoughtful - I tell you, you really have to be careful with her."
"What else did you overhear?" Wang Jun asked hesitantly.
"How dare I eavesdrop too much on the wall? I slipped away before Mrs. Xu ran out. If I hadn't thought about whether she would jump into the lake, I would have come here to give you the news." Xiangyun said.
"..." Wang Jun adjusted her skirt and asked Xiangyun to accompany her to Lingyun Pavilion. As soon as she arrived at the courtyard gate, she saw Mrs. Xu, the concubine her father had taken in Chuzhou a few years ago, with two maids, carrying
Two bowls of white fungus soup were coming over, and he bowed and said, "Jun'er has met my little lady."
Mrs. Xu was in her early thirties and in her prime. She was wearing a half-sleeved jacket, revealing jade arms that looked like snow. Her appearance was also rare and beautiful. She stood in front of the courtyard gate with a pair of beautiful black eyes.
Looking at Wang Jun:
"Jun Gu
Mom, what are you running around in such a hurry? Your temples are all messed up, and there are grass stems stuck to the corners of your skirt. I don’t even know what you are doing all day long - by the way, the Xu family I told you about
Young Master, have you ever thought about it seriously? Some words may not be what my mother should say, but your mother passed away early and no one has to worry about life-long matters for you. My mother also sincerely thinks about you. Although the Xu family is in some decline now,
However, the Xu family's great-grandfather and great-grandfather were all servants and ministers in the previous dynasty. The family's fields and houses are as far as the eye can see. It can be said that they are the most famous family in Yangzhou. The Xu family is the direct descendant.
The eldest son, your character and talents are all highly praised by your father. He admires your literary talents and does not mind your age or the fact that your engagement was broken off. He has asked people to come to your home several times to talk about the matter. Your father is doting on you, no matter what.
It depends on your temperament, but you also have to think more about your father, but you can't dislike marrying someone who is your stepmother..."
"Listening to my mother's praise of this young master of the Xu family, Jun'er thought it was my mother who had taken a liking to you. Unfortunately, my father really likes you, so he must be reluctant to marry me to you." Wang Jun said with a smile.
"What are you talking about? What are you thinking about? Your little mouth can really poke people." Mrs. Xu couldn't be angry or annoyed. She could only rush into the courtyard with her maids angrily.
Wang Jun followed him into the study and saw his father and Yin Peng sitting there talking. There was a stack of official letters spread out on the desk, all of which were official business accumulated over the past few days to be handled.
Seeing him walking in, his father's eyes returned to the case letter in front of the case. Yin Penghun turned his head uncomfortably and looked out the window. Wang Jun frowned slightly and asked: "Dad, when I went to see His Highness this time, did I meet him?"
What's the matter that's bothering you? Why do you look so gloomy when you first come back? Or maybe there's something about Jun'er that's bothering daddy..."
Wang Wenqian waved his hand to the maids serving in the study, and the servants all retreated. Seeing that his concubine Xu refused to leave, he let her go, pondered over the words, and said with some guilt:
"My father's trip to Chuzhou this time was mainly to talk about cooperating with Tangyi to defend against Chuzhou's enemy troops. However, I heard someone talking about it during the banquet, and it suddenly occurred to me that it had been so long since Han Daoxun was tortured and died. The remains of Han Daoxun
Yanyou was transported back to Xuzhou for burial in April of the seventeenth year. This month, the filial piety period of Han Qian, Marquis of Qianyang, was completed. Your wife just mentioned your marriage. I thought of the time when Yin Peng accompanied Ruan Yan to Fanchang to talk to His Majesty.
Regarding the matter of vassalage, when it comes to your engagement with Han Qian, Han Qian withdrew to Xuzhou in the name of observing filial piety and not discussing marriage, but he did not say no. This matter is still pending, so he had to ask first.
That's where we can discuss Xu's other family..."
"What, the Wang family hasn't lost all their face yet, Wang Jun wants to marry another family, so he still needs the consent of that prince?" Mrs. Xu asked in surprise, her voice couldn't help but become sharp.
"Is this what His Highness means?" Wang Jun asked.
Wang Wenqian knew that some words didn't need to be said clearly so that Jun'er could figure everything out, so he nodded awkwardly.
"What do you mean, Your Highness? Are you going to use Wang Jun as a bargaining chip again this time?"
Xu has followed Wang Wenqian these years, and her vision and knowledge are unparalleled by other women. When Wang Jun pointed out this point,
Naturally, he could think of many things immediately. He stared at Wang Wenqian's old face in surprise and asked,
"Han Daoxun's death that year had nothing to do with you. This is something that many people know well, and it is impossible for Han Qian to not know it. Han Qian kept shouting about filial piety. How could you expect that you would marry Wang Jun? You
Are you really not afraid of putting your hot face on your cold ass again this time? Even if you don’t care about the Wang family and lose face, you still have to think about Wang Jun. No matter what His Highness means, you have to say no for Wang Jun. You
I have worked so hard for His Highness these years, and I don’t believe that His Highness can tie you up and force you to sell your daughter again..."
"It's not like we have to discuss this matter right away," Wang Wenqian reprimanded his concubine with some embarrassment, and said angrily, "Nowadays, Yangzhou has a lot of contact with Tangyi. It's not easy to find someone to mention this matter accidentally.
It won’t be too conspicuous, and if Marquis Qianyang has no such intention, no one will mention it again, and it won’t cause any trouble, so why are you talking nonsense?”
"Who is going to talk? How can you guarantee that others will be so strict with their mouths that they won't stir up any trouble? If you didn't keep saying that Ruan Yan was waiting to see your good show, they really wouldn't let the news out to embarrass you?" Xu
Shi asked.
Mr. Xu relied on being favored and was sharp-tongued. Wang Wenqian was so angry that his veins were pounding in his forehead, but he had to admit that what his concubine said was reasonable and he didn't have the confidence to mess with her.
"Dad seems to have never thought about asking his daughter what she thinks?" Wang Jun stood in front of the case and glanced at the thick shade outside the window, and asked quietly.
"That's it, why haven't you thought about what Wang Jun is thinking? If this thing doesn't work out, it will be better if it gets publicized again! This marriage with the Xu family will be completely ruined." Mrs. Xu thought Wang Jun asked this
The words were filled with resentment, and he said them in a self-righteous and supportive manner.
Wang Wenqian resisted the urge to drive the concubine out, looked at his daughter, and said with a guilty conscience: "If you really don't want to, I will write to His Highness to reject this matter."
"A daughter has to be raised by her father, and she cannot help her father on the battlefield and charge into traps like a man. Perhaps it is only useful for now," Wang Jun said quietly, "But if the father wants his daughter to agree to this, he must agree to his daughter on one condition...
…”
"Please tell me what the conditions are," Wang Wenqian said.
"To test the will of Marquis Qianyang, my daughter wants to go to Tangyi to meet Marquis Qianyang in person..." Wang Jun said.
"Ah..." Wang Wenqian was slightly startled. He didn't expect Wang Jun to make such a condition.
Yin Peng, who stood silently by the side, was somewhat unable to sit still; Mrs. Xu first made a fuss and yelled at Wang Jun: "What's going on? The Wang family really doesn't have any face at all. How can I have myself?"
Why don't you come to your door to talk about marriage? If this doesn't work out, what else can you do except stay alone in the nunnery for the rest of your life?"
"If this doesn't work out, it won't be a hardship for Wang Jun to come back and stay alone in the nunnery so that he can live a peaceful life," Wang Jun said. "If dad doesn't agree to this condition for his daughter, then he will write to His Highness and say that his daughter is not willing to live or die.
Please ask him to choose another virtuous woman to make peace with the Marquis of Qianyang..."
