Ah Fu stood with his head lowered, somewhat dazed.
The person before him still had that same radiant face, her features vaguely reminiscent of the carefree years ago, running along the ridge of the field with her big yellow dog. But now, a calm aura settled over him, the smile in his eyes restrained to a perfect degree, neither as bold and uninhibited as before, nor as reserved and restrained as before, leaving behind only a proper indifference.
Fu Jiu, standing nearby, reminded him again. Ah Fu retracted his speculation and quickly bowed. "Greetings, Grandma Qin."
Wen Tang walked slowly up to Mrs. Zhou and nodded slightly.
She thought that she would have to go back and talk to the old lady about the fourth young lady's matter. If she stayed here for too long, she didn't know what Qin Ruoyue would plan to say to the old lady when she returned.
Fu Jiu asked, "Grandma, the poetry gathering won't start for a while yet. Are you leaving now?"
Wen Tang looked up at Fu Jiu. He was reminded by her that the reason he went out today was to accompany the fourth girl to attend the poetry reading.
The waiter standing nearby knew these were distinguished guests and approached with a beaming smile. "Madam, the elegant seating for the poetry gathering is located by the water, beside the lotus pond. It's bright and elegant, perfect for enjoying the cool breeze and the scenery. The view is truly breathtaking." As he spoke, the waiter pulled out a beautifully bound booklet, clearly intent on currying favor with the distinguished guests. "If you don't mind, Madam, please take a look at this booklet. It contains the riddles for today's poetry gathering. If you take a look at it beforehand, it might add some interest and ensure you win first place."
This was cheating in advance. With several pairs of eyes watching, Mrs. Zhou had no choice but to step forward to take it and then hand it to Wen Tang.
Wen Tang glanced down and saw a few words written in a flamboyant style on the cover of the booklet: */#* Collection.
Wen Tang pursed her lips. This little action was seen clearly by the tall Qin Gong. He frowned, and Wen Tang looked up at that moment. Seeing him looking at her, Wen Tang felt a little embarrassed.
When she first arrived in the capital that year, Wen Zhiyi took her to a poetry reading, but she could hardly read at that time. Facing a room full of talented men and beautiful women quoting from classics, she listened blankly and only knew to clap and cheer. When it was her turn, she couldn't say a word, so she had to say "I don't know". As a result, as soon as she opened her mouth, the whole room burst into laughter. Her strong accent was obviously more impressive than her lack of literacy.
Wen Tang didn't take this little bit of embarrassment to heart.
The waiter was still encouraging her, "Madam, please open it and take a closer look. You will definitely win the jackpot later."
He also had several similar booklets in his arms, with the idea of casting a wide net, always hoping that one or two noble people would get lucky and give him some silver.
Wen Tang had already calmed down. She calmly opened the book, flipped through a page, and then looked up. "Master, my fourth sister has just returned home. As her eldest sister-in-law, I can't let her go home alone, so I'll go back and check on her. You can go and take care of your official duties."
After giving all the necessary instructions, Wen Tang prepared to leave, walking past Qin Gong with his head held high.
Qin Gong pursed his lips. The look she gave him just now was naturally as charming as usual, but with a hint of...annoyance. His brows furrowed even more. She had not helped him undress or serve him tea in the past two days, and today she even dared to glare at him.
"Goodbye, Grandma." Fu Jiu quickly bowed and said goodbye.
Fu Jiu turned her head and saw that the old man was still frowning, his jawline tense, and his aura heavy. She had sensed for the past few days that the old man had some inexplicable dissatisfaction with the grandmother. It had been a guess until that moment, but it was confirmed. Fu Jiu glanced at the item hanging around the old man's waist, feeling that his thoughts were becoming increasingly wild.
Mrs. Zhou also said goodbye to the master and followed Wen Tang.
After Wen Tang went downstairs, he instructed Mrs. Zhou, "Have someone wait outside the two rooms."
Mrs. Zhou was very capable. Naturally, as soon as she walked out of the private room, she signaled with her eyes that someone should wait at the two doors.
However, looking at the room on the second floor, Mrs. Zhou looked up and realized that there was no need to wait in this room, because the person inside was Zhang Yao.
As for the other person on the first floor.
Mrs. Zhou also had a guess, "Grandma, the new number one scholar came to the mansion last time."
"You asked me to check his background before."
Wen Tang remembered this man. Mrs. Zhou leaned over and said, "It's no wonder the old lady didn't include him on the list of candidates for the fourth young lady's husband. This newly crowned number one scholar already has a wife and even children back home. A few days ago, when the results were announced, an official was looking for a husband and was attracted by his talent and appearance. The young lady of the mansion was also interested in him. Who knew he kept it a secret and deceived them, completely offending the master's family."
"You can know a person's face but not his heart," Mrs. Zhou sighed. "I think the young master from the Yang family chosen for the fourth young lady this time should be a good one, and the old lady is also satisfied with him. I wonder if she is satisfied with him herself?"
Wen Tang turned sideways and handed the booklet in his hand to Mrs. Zhou. Mrs. Zhou took the booklet and said, "I'll go give that guy some reward money."
"Um."
"Grandma, you are kind-hearted." Mrs. Zhou knew what she meant by handing the booklet to her.
Mrs. Zhou found the shop assistant with the book in her hand.
The shop assistant was holding a book, sweating profusely, and hunched over. "Sir, please read it for a while, and then..."
"You'll definitely win first place." Mrs. Zhou came forward with a booklet and some money. The customer standing in front of her was flattered and left with a smile. The waiter scratched his head, wiped his sweat, turned around, and was handed a booklet and some money.
A smile of surprise instantly spread across his face, and he bowed repeatedly, "Thank you so much, sir! Thank you so much for the reward!"
Mrs. Zhou waved at him, then walked towards Wen Tang, "Grandma, let's go back home."
Wen Tang nodded.
Mrs. Zhou stepped forward to support Wen Tang. The master and servant whispered about how to report to the old lady and the Duke's wife after returning home. Mrs. Zhou nodded as she listened, then prepared to turn around and walk towards the gate.
Mrs. Zhou raised her head and looked towards the gate.
Wen Tang suddenly felt her hand tighten. Mrs. Zhou grabbed her wrist and moved sideways to block her.
"Master Zhang, please come upstairs!" The shopkeeper's warm greeting was filled with obvious flattery.
At the door, the sun was scorching and light poured in like a waterfall.
A figure stood against the light, dressed in scarlet and with a jade belt around his waist.
He tilted his head slightly, as if talking to the person who was leading the way.
Almost at the same time, Ah Fu, who had just led Master Qin upstairs, came trotting over and said, "Master, Master Qin has entered the house."
Ah Fu walked in front with his head down, leading Zhang Yao up the wooden steps of Linjiang Tower. When they reached the hall, Ah Fu looked at his nose and his nose at his heart, staring at the ground and moving forward.
Zhang Yao walked steadily.
Mrs. Zhou also escorted Wen Tang out of the gate and helped her get into the carriage.
But Mrs. Zhou didn't notice that someone on the high steps of Linjiang Tower suddenly turned around, with a serious look, looking at her over the crowd of people.
Ah Fu was originally leading his grandfather upstairs. Seeing him pass by Wen Tang without looking sideways, Ah Fu breathed a sigh of relief. Suddenly, he saw the tall figure in front of him suddenly stop and look back sideways.
Ah Fu's heart skipped a beat. "Master?"
Zhang Yao just glanced over there and then looked away coldly, "Hmm?"
Ah Fu suddenly didn't know what to say.
Zhang Yao suddenly chuckled. It was a very light laugh, but it carried a hint of knowing amusement. "What are you thinking about?"
"Could it be that in your eyes, your master is a love-struck fool?"
Ah Fu felt embarrassed when his secret thoughts were exposed. He raised his head quickly. His master had a calm and indifferent look on his face. That glance was just an instinctive look back to the familiar scenes of the past ten years.
Ah Fu hesitated and remained where he was.
"Go upstairs." Zhang Yao said no more, lifted his sleeves, and went straight up the stairs.
In front of the Linjiang Building, the carriage had already merged into the crowd of people in the market, and the last shadow of the roof was completely disappeared at the corner of the bustling street.
--
The Duke's Mansion.
Wen Tang had just stepped through the hanging flower gate when several maids and servants gathered in the corridor, whispering to each other. When they saw the eldest lady come in, they immediately fell silent and dispersed. Those who were sweeping the floor and dusting the floor buried their heads, busying themselves swiftly.
Grandmother Wen Tang was known for her generosity towards her servants, but she was also very clear about rewards and punishments. She generously rewarded those who did well, but was also unforgiving in her punishments for mistakes. Therefore, the servants in the mansion treated this young mistress with respect, yet always with a certain degree of caution.
Wen Tang did not stop and went to his mother-in-law, the Duke's wife, to tell her everything about Qin Ruoyue. The Duke's wife's face turned pale when she heard it, and she took Wen Tang with her to the old lady.
This trip took the entire afternoon.
After dinner, Wen Tang could still hear Qin Ruoyue's miserable cry.
The fourth girl is well-known for her love of beauty and coquettishness, but today she cried so hard that it shook the heavens and earth and moved the gods and ghosts.
You have to know that before the Duke's wife, the fourth young lady's biological mother, could even say a word to her, the fourth young lady threw herself directly into the old lady's arms.
Wen Tang's head was buzzing from the noise, and even Mrs. Zhou, who was always full of energy, was confused.
"I'm afraid the Yang family's young master's marriage will not be successful." Mrs. Zhou had a headache.
The girl has become like this, who in a respectable family would dare to get involved with her?
The only thing to be thankful for is that the old lady is determined to marry off the fourth girl this time.
Mrs. Zhou thought for a moment and said, "The Fifth Miss is also here today. She is a well-behaved girl."
In fact, Mrs. Zhou thought it was a cowardly character. Today, the fifth girl went forward to comfort the fourth girl, and said something wrong. The fourth girl glared at her, and she was so scared that her face turned pale and her hands were shaking.
Mrs. Zhou said, "The old lady's intention today is to marry the fifth daughter to the Yang family."
"Both girls are of age, so we might as well get together and get married. The fifth girl has a gentle personality, and the young master of the Yang family has good character. The most important thing is that his family has a good tradition, and his mother-in-law is also a kind person. The fifth girl will live a comfortable life if she marries him. This is a good match."
Since the old lady had spoken, the Duke's wife and the Fifth Miss's mother, Zhao, had no objections, so Wen Tang naturally had no objections either. "Then let's start with the Fifth Miss's marriage."
"Let's find an auspicious day next month and arrange for the two of them to meet." Wen Tang said.
--
The fourth lady, Qin Ruoyue, was still crying and begging the old lady to find her husband, Zhang Lang. The noise was so loud that it alarmed the Duke, who had just returned home.
For the sake of her granddaughter, the old lady refused to look at the irrefutable evidence that Wen Tang had found, and did not care that the person Qin Ruoyue was communicating with was someone else.
Upon seeing the Duke enter, the old lady immediately asked, "Duke Zhang's second son, what are his character, appearance, and talent like? Is he worthy of our Ruoyue?"
Before the Duke arrived, he had already heard the Duchess's wife describe in detail this shameful incident that brought shame to their ancestors. At this moment, his face was as black as the bottom of a pot.
Not to mention that Zhang Yao is now a new nobleman in the emperor's sight, holding real power and with remarkable political achievements, even if he were just an ordinary scholar, the Duke would never have the nerve to try to establish such a marriage! If such a dirty secret were to get out, the Zhang family would not only look down on him, but would probably point at the backbone of his Qin family and curse him for three generations.
"Kneel down!" the Duke shouted.
Qin Ruoyue just kept sobbing, curled up tighter in her grandmother's arms, and turned a deaf ear to her father's orders.
When the guards behind the Duke stepped forward, the old lady panicked and shouted, "What are you doing? You scared the child!" The fourth girl's mother, Madam Song, could no longer sit still and rushed over with tears in her eyes, "You are so cruel! Ruoyue is your own flesh and blood, your eldest daughter. Have you forgotten how difficult it was for me to give birth to her..."
"Isn't it just a marriage? Although our family and the Zhang family are not old friends, we have no old grudges. You..."
"It's him, it's him. The one who communicated with me was Zhang Lang, it's Zhang Lang..." Qin Ruoyue also raised her tearful eyes, still stubborn.
Mrs. Song quickly chimed in, "Master, maybe Brother Gong's wife made a mistake. The second young master of the Zhang family might really be treating Ruoyue like that..."
"Shut up!" The Duke was trembling with anger, his finger trembling as he pointed at the family. "You've spoiled her so much that she's lawless! From today on, she'll be confined to her own home to reflect on her mistakes. You," he pointed at Madam Song, "are to go with Gong's wife to choose a husband and marry her off immediately! It doesn't matter what family background they have, as long as they're clean and quiet."
"What's the Yang family like that? I don't want it..." Qin Ruoyue cried loudly in her grandmother's arms. The old lady patted her back distressedly, "It's nothing, it's nothing."
The Duke, who had just stepped out of the door, was so angry when he heard this that he felt dizzy. He almost turned around and cursed immediately, but he met Zhao, who was outside the door holding a soup bowl and bringing the fifth girl to thank the old lady for choosing a marriage for her daughter.
Zhao was so frightened by the Duke's ashen face that the tray in her hand tilted and the soup splashed all over the Duke's boots, giving him a start.
"One or two! They are both troublesome!" The Duke's pent-up anger completely exploded at this moment. He had no good expression at all and rushed away angrily.
Seeing her husband walk away with a flick of his sleeves, Zhao's face turned pale, and she thought about what she had just heard.
What are you talking about?
What is the Yang family?
Her fourth daughter was disgusted with the food she had chewed, so she spit it out and threw it to her daughter?
--
As the night deepened, Yuanbao was outside, persistently pulling at the door panel.
Qin Gong hasn't come back yet.
"Master has been summoned to the palace this evening." Aunt Zhou undid Wen Tang's hair. "The Saint's birthday is approaching, and this year it will most likely be the Imperial Concubine who will handle this prestigious task."
The Emperor has not appointed a harem, so the prestigious task of organizing birthday banquets has fallen year after year on the shoulders of the Imperial Concubine. Every time this happens, the Emperor always summons you to the palace, and the busy schedule lasts for quite a while.
"But it's hard to say for sure. Last year, they said that Concubine Shu would be in charge, but Concubine Gui went to the emperor to make a fuss, and the emperor got annoyed so he gave it to her as usual." Mrs. Zhou muttered.
The concubines made a fuss, the princes also made a fuss, but in the final analysis, it was because there was no empress, and the legitimate son was in charge.
"The Emperor has always valued you, my Lord. This birthday celebration will probably keep you busy in the palace for a while."
--
In the palace,
There are many palaces, swaying palace lanterns, and red walls and golden tiles.
The door to the emperor's bedroom slowly opened, and two figures walked out, one in front and one behind, stepping on the light.
"Lord Qin." The man at the back spoke first.
Fu Jiu, who was standing beside Qin Gong, frowned imperceptibly, disgust flashing across her eyes. Qin Gong's face remained calm, but his tense jawline revealed his impatience.
The Second Prince walked over, raised his hand, and patted Qin Gong's shoulder with a familiar touch. "Look, your father treats you so well, allowing you, me, and the other princes to listen to the Holy Teachings in the palace. Sir Qin, you must be even more diligent and do not disappoint your father's earnest expectations."
He paused, "My father's birthday is approaching. Sir Qin must have already begun to carefully prepare for this birthday gift."
"But your wife prepared it herself?"
Qin Gong, who had always treated the Second Prince as nothing, obviously changed his aura. He raised his eyelids and looked sharp.
Fu Jiu had already stepped aside. "Second Prince, the time for the palace gates to be locked is almost here. I dare not linger in the palace any longer and disturb His Majesty's rest."
Qin Gong turned and left without even looking at the second prince.
The second prince was not irritated by his attitude. After all, he had just seen the change in Qin Gong's expression. It was rare to find an opportunity to suppress him in all these years. The last time, he was just a little bit short.
"Tsk," the Second Prince stood still, "What was his wife's name?"
I don't remember her name, but I remember that she was really beautiful, as pretty as a lotus. In previous palace banquets, I always saw her following behind Qin Gong, tightly protected, for fear that he would take a second look at her. But there were always a few times when they ran into each other in a deserted place, and there was no way to avoid it, so she had to salute him. Her waist was slightly bent, and her collar was slightly loose, revealing her plump and undulating figure, and her snow-white skin was translucent.
When he raised his head and called "Second Prince", his eyes moved with an unconscious innocence.
The attendant whispered, "She is the daughter of Lord Wen, her name is Wen Tang."