By Jinming Pond.
In a boat pavilion, the sound of music was flowing, and female dancers were singing and dancing by the pool, providing entertainment to the dignitaries sitting under the eaves of the Linshui Palace. As for the common people, there were no such good seats, so they had to gather around and cover the stage. The upper wall has three layers inside and three layers outside.
While Zhang Yue and Qi Niang were talking at the stall, a woman in a painting boat on the pool was also looking at Zhang Yue.
This woman is none other than the fifteenth mother of the Wu family. He married into the Wen family only half a year ago.
His father-in-law is now the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Ping Zhangshi under Tong Zhongshu, and Wen Yanbo when he was at Zhaowenguan University.
After the fifteenth mother married into the Wen family, her life went smoothly. When her mother-in-law was in poor health, she took charge of the house on her behalf and managed everything inside and outside in order, which earned her praise from Wen Yanbo.
This day, I came to Jinming Pond with my husband Wen Jifu to play.
Knowing that it was the Wen family's boat, all the other boats on the pool stepped aside. However, Fifteen Niang was not so ostentatious, and instead ordered people to park the boat by the pool.
The fifteenth mother sat by the porthole of the boat and looked at the bright spring scenery by the pool. She peeled a few loquats and then looked out the window to see the seventeenth mother dressed in men's clothing.
"You are here without a female servant?"
The fifteenth mother was surprised and wondered if the family tradition had become like this after she left the cabinet? Even if the mother has no restraint, the sister-in-law...
The fifteenth mother thought to herself, that's all. The eldest sister-in-law, Mrs. Fan, was very close to Shiqi, but as for the second sister-in-law, Mrs. Wang, she didn't care about anything.
Fifteen Niang was angry at the bottom of her heart, wondering if she should go to her mother to accuse Shi Qi, but she saw her walking as if she was looking for someone. This made Fifteen Niang feel very strange. What on earth is going on with Qi Niang?
Are you meeting someone here? But not like it.
When the fifteenth mother thought of this, she was secretly frightened. Although she and the seventeenth mother had not been on good terms since childhood, they were of the same age. Whatever the other had learned, the other would learn it better than her, so they competed openly and covertly.
Now, although the fifteenth mother is married, she still cares about her family. She is also worried that her family's reputation will be damaged, which will also affect her.
She thought to herself that her younger sister had always acted in a very measured manner. She knew best what Seventeen's temper was like. How could it be like this today? What happened to make her like this?
But when she walked to a stall selling porcelain, she suddenly stopped.
When the two men were buying porcelain at the stall, Fifteen Niang understood everything.
His sister hesitated for a moment, showing the attitude of a little daughter. The calm and generous Shiqi in the past was now a little hesitant.
But the other party didn't seem to see it, until his sister stopped talking and finally called the other party.
Seeing this scene, the fifteenth mother was suddenly shocked and angry and said, is this the seventeenth one who has been competing with her since she was a child? They are completely different.
She knew that her sister was a woman with her own opinions, but she didn't expect that the other party would be so bold and take the initiative to talk to a foreign man.
When the fifteenth mother saw this scene, her eyes almost darkened, and the dowry girl at the side hurriedly stepped forward to help her.
The fifteenth mother calmed down and said: "Go down, the wind is strong on the boat, and no servants are allowed to get on the side of the boat and look around to avoid falling into the water."
The female envoy was stunned when she heard this, thinking that the wind was so bright and beautiful outside, but there was no sign of wind at all.
However, the female envoy knew that the other party was telling the truth, so she immediately complied with the request.
At this moment, her husband Wen Jifu walked into the cabin and asked with concern: "I heard that your wife is unwell?"
The fifteenth mother smiled slightly. Her husband was Wen Yanbo's sixth son. Not only did he have a distinguished family background, but he was also impeccable in his conduct and behavior. He was truly the ideal husband in her heart.
When her husband inquired about it, the fifteenth mother was unwilling to mention the matter to her husband, lest he would look down on her because of the seventeenth mother.
But my husband is a very transparent person, so it shouldn't be anything like this.
What's more, it was obvious that my sister and the man were not familiar with each other just now.
Moreover, the two of them were going to be separated. If I reported it to my father and brother and asked them to ask who the man was, based on what I knew about my sister's temperament, even if she was punished by the monastic law, she would never reveal a word.
Therefore, the fifteenth mother still asked for help from her husband.
She told Wen Jifu about this.
But seeing Wen Jifu, he laughed and said, "It's just a few words. What's the point of this in broad daylight? Your Shiqiu is a polite and respectful person. He would never be like this. I think we met by chance and we were familiar with each other in the past." So."
After hearing Wen Jifu's words, the fifteenth mother felt reassured, but she still said: "Maybe it's what you said, but as a sister, I always have to worry about my sister. What have I said and done since I was seventeen? She keeps it in her heart and doesn’t say anything, and even my mother and I can’t see what she’s thinking. How can I not worry about it?”
"That's right. Now that Taishan people are in Xijing, it's right for the lady to worry more. I'm just afraid that you will be tired." Wen Jifu nodded.
The fifteenth mother smiled. At this time, her own servant on the shore came to look for the seventeenth mother.
Seeing that the Seventeenth Mother had been picked up by the servant Jianwen, the fifteenth Mother breathed a sigh of relief, and Wen Jifu said: "I will go to the shore to invite this husband to talk to me."
The fifteenth mother's face lit up when she heard this. How many women can have such a caring husband in their lifetime? As for the future husbands of Seventeen, it is already remarkable that 10% out of 10 will have their own husband.
"I'm still worried."
Wen Jifu said with a smile: "Madam, don't worry, I will never be rude. That's right, you move to the Heyu Pavilion to rest. I will bring people here to talk, and you can help me with my eyes."
The fifteenth mother sighed, "If your husband is like this, what else can I ask for?"
The fifteenth mother is not only worried about the seventeenth mother, but she is also curious about the man who can make her little sister like her.
Zhang Yue and Wang Anguo were planning to return along Liudi.
Looking at the noisy scene on Jinmingchi, Zhang Yue felt that all this had nothing to do with him.
Many beautiful things in life are always hard to get. For example, success, money, and girls.
Zhang Yue thought that if he didn't work hard, he wouldn't get all this.
Before Zhang Yue visited the Wu Mansion, he had wondered whether Wu Chong wanted to see a young talented man to choose a husband for his daughter, but later Zhang Yue learned that the Wu family was wealthy.
In other words, if Zhang Yue wants to marry a woman like Wu Shiqiniang, his only hope is to pass the Jinshi examination, and the ranking cannot be too low.
Zhang Yue also sighed, which proved the truth. Money and girls really go hand in hand with success.
How many people are successful? No wonder in this world, there are always droughts and droughts and floods.
When Zhang Yue and Wang Anguo were leaving, they saw a man in his twenties standing in front of them. The other man smiled politely and said, "I've just seen you two handsome brothers. I wonder if we can make some friends." ?”
Zhang Yue and Wang Anguo certainly knew who the other party was. Prime Minister Wen Yanbo's son said he wants to make friends with you, do you dare to say no? Besides, the other party was so polite and courteous.
…
The sun goes down.
The Lotus Rain Pavilion next to Jinming Pond was used by the palace officials and their female relatives who were tired from visiting the garden.
But Wen Jifu brought Zhang Yue and Wang Anguo inside.
Wen Jifu sat down and glanced at the screen, knowing that his wife would be watching from behind the screen.
In fact, they had just known each other. Wen Jifu knew Wang Anguo, and his elder brother was Wang Anren. Wang Andao and Wang Anshi were both Jinshi.
Among them, Wang Anshi's reputation goes without saying, and he is highly respected in the world.
He had also heard of Wang Anguo, who was good at poetry and prose, and was even better at minor poems. He was somewhat famous among the talented people in Bianjing.
What's more important is that both brothers are gentlemen.
As for this young man named Zhang Yue, if he can associate with someone like Wang Anguo, he is probably not a villain.
As for the young man Zhang Yue, he had just heard that he was now an imperial student. His name sounded familiar, but he couldn't remember it at the moment.
After the three of them sat down, Wen Jifu looked at Zhang Yue frequently and carefully, thinking that this boy was indeed extraordinary, full of poems and books, and a fifteen-year-old imperial student, he was considered very good.
However, when Zhang Yue saw Wen Jifu looking at himself frequently, he couldn't help but think, doesn't the other person have some kind of fetish?
As for the fifteenth mother behind the screen, she also saw Zhang Yue clearly and thought that this boy's appearance matched the seventeenth one very well.
So what if the man is just handsome in vain? If there is no matching talent, learning and knowledge, it is nothing more than an embroidered pillow.
Wen Jifu is as worried as his wife, I have to see how this man is doing.
Wen Jifu asked: "Sanlang comes from the famous Zhang family, so he must be extraordinary. I wonder what position my ancestor Shangguan held?"
Zhang Yue said: "I'm ashamed. Although I come from the Zhang family in Pucheng, I'm from the Shu tribe. No one from my ancestors has been an official for three generations."
After hearing this, Fifteen Niang's face darkened.
Even though Zeng Gong's family was poor, he still encouraged his brothers to study hard, so that they could hold on to the lintel of their family.
Zeng Gong's ancestor was an official, and Ouyang Xiu and Fan Zhongyan's fathers were both officials. However, due to their early death, both of them were classified as Han Confucians.
As for Zhang Yue's ancestors who had no official positions in the last three generations, they really can't even be called 'Han Confucians'.
Wen Jifu knew that his wife would be very dissatisfied, but he was still fine.
With his family background, he would not deliberately look at people based on whether their ancestors were officials. After all, no matter how high an official was, they were not as big as his father.
Wen Jifu said seriously: "No one in Sanlang's family is an official. He was admitted to the imperial examination at the age of fifteen. He must be very talented. I really admire him."
Wen Jifu said these words not only to Zhang Yue, but also to the lady behind the screen.
If my wife loses her temper, the consequences will be disastrous.
Wen Yanbo had a very strict upbringing. Even though he was now the prime minister's son, he was not willing to make grudges easily or offend others outside. Besides, in his opinion, Zhang Yue had a bright future.
Besides, if the young man really agreed, he wouldn't mind using the Wen family's connections to support the young man, so that he would be able to speak more easily in front of Lao Taishan in the future.
Sure enough, just after Wen Ji finished speaking, Wang Anguo also smiled and said: "Mr. Wen, this Sanlang is my best friend. Despite his young age, he is very talented in literature and knowledge. I think he will not be a Jinshi in the future. Zhuzi is also available..."
Wang Anguo was so warm-hearted that he did not hesitate to praise Zhang Yue in front of anyone, including his brother Wang Anshi.
Wen Jifu chatted with Zhang Yue for a few words, and felt that this man was very sensible and polite, and he admired him a bit, so he said kindly: "Although Sanlang is talented in literature, it is not easy to live in Bianjing!"
