When Dou went to tell Li Shimin and Li Xuanba to get ready to visit Zheng's house, Li Shimin was lying on a low couch, and Li Xuanba was sitting cross-legged with Li Shimin as a backrest, and they were reading the "Book of Jin" together.
The "Book of Jin" they were reading was compiled by Shen Yue of the Southern Liang Dynasty. In addition to the "Book of Jin", Li Shimin also used the history books of the Song, Qi and Liang dynasties, also compiled by Shen Yue, to pad his chest and chin so that he could lie down more comfortably.
It is too early for an average six-year-old to read history books.
Although Li Shimin already knew a lot of words, he couldn't bear to read history books without punctuation.
When Li Xuanba explained the "Five Surnames and Seven Ancestral Names" to him before, he actually didn't quite understand it.
For example, Li Shimin had never heard of "Jia Nanfeng", "The Rebellion of the Eight Kings", "The Rebellion of Yongjia", and "The Rebellion of Guoshi".
After Li Xuanba told him about the "Five Surnames and Seven Families", he suddenly became interested and looked up the history of the extermination of aristocratic families during the Wei and Jin Dynasties in history books.
Li Xuanba originally thought that his second brother understood everything he said because his second brother acted as if he understood it very well.
When he arrived at Li Yuan's place, Li Shimin moved the history books of Jin, Song, Qi and Liang dynasties from Li Yuan's study and studied them by himself with a frown. Only then did Li Xuanba realize that his second brother actually had a problem of being stubborn and showing off.
If you don't know, just tell me and I'll explain it to you. Li Xuanba complained in his heart.
But Li Shimin didn't do that. He wanted to learn by reading books himself.
Li Xuanba did not expose his second brother and read books with Li Shimin.
Shen Yue's "Book of Jin" has been lost in later generations. The "Book of Jin" handed down is the version compiled by Xu Jingzong and Fang Xuanling, known as the "Magic Book of Jin". It is a very good collection of fantasy novels and can be called the historical version of "Soushen Ji".
The "Book of Song" compiled by Shen Yue is also included in the "Twenty-Four Histories", and its fantasy level is better than the "Magic Book of Jin".
But Shen Yue had a big problem. He was born in Wuxing Shen family, and inherited the Eastern Jin Dynasty's habit of attaching great importance to family background. As a result, half of his "Book of Song" was written for the biographies of high-ranking aristocratic families, praising them wildly.
For example, the biography of Wang Wei of Langya is actually entirely letters written by Wang Wei to his friends. People who don't know it might think it is a collection of Wang Wei's essays.
The Book of Jin compiled by Shen Yue also has this problem.
The one during the Zhenguan period was "Magic Book of Jin", and Shen Yue's was "Book of Jin: Biography of Nobles and Aristocrats", which complemented each other. If they wanted to learn about the nobles and aristocrats since the Wei and Jin dynasties, Shen Yue's book was just right.
With the precautions given by Li Xuanba in advance, Li Shimin watched Shen Yue's bragging about the noble families with a critical and mocking attitude, and turned back to complain to his brother from time to time.
Dou came in and just happened to hear Li Shimin telling Li Xuanba this hellish joke: "Every time there was chaos in the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the noble families were massacred. Maybe now their descendants are actually their enemies."
Dou was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. She walked up to Li Shimin, who was lying on the ground reading a book, and slapped him twice on the butt.
"Don't talk nonsense. We are going to visit the Zheng family in three days. Don't say the wrong thing." Dou pretended to be angry and said, "The descendants of those noble families have the family tree as proof. How can they be false?"
Li Shimin and Li Xuanba both showed expressions pretending to be well-behaved.
Dou was helpless. At this time, the two brothers with very different personalities were like twins.
"During this visit, the elders of the Zheng family may test your knowledge. Read the Analects several times." Dou said, "As for the Thousand Character Classic, although you have already learned it, you may be asked to recite it again."
Before Li Shimin could react, Li Xuanba's face fell.
He said unhappily, "I don't know which child has to be tested by the host when visiting. Why does the Zheng family want to infer my brother's ability through my and my brother's ability?"
Dou smiled and explained, "Marriage is a lifelong thing, so it's not wrong for them to pay a little more attention to it."
Although Dou herself felt uncomfortable, she would not say that to her sons.
For the sake of their own daughters, it is normal to "choose from the best"; the Zheng family just went too far. In the future, the Zheng family of Xingyang will be the relatives of the Duke of Tang's mansion, and Dou does not want her two sons to have an enmity with the Zheng family of Xingyang.
Furthermore, after the young lady of the Zheng family married into the Duke Tang's mansion, she would be in charge of the household expenses. If she died before her husband, her two sons and their newly established small families would have to rely on their eldest sister-in-law.
After Dou got married, she realized how many places in the backyard could secretly disgust people. So even if she was dissatisfied, she had to speak well of the Zheng family to her two sons.
If only Li Shimin were here, he might have believed it.
But Li Xuanba didn't believe it.
It is indeed normal to find out about the background and character of one's in-laws and test the talents and character of one's son-in-law for the sake of one's own daughter.
But this time, my second brother and I made a sudden decision to come here, but the "test" must have been arranged in advance.
In other words, these guys wanted to test their own mother? !
Which family would not let the son-in-law be chosen from the best candidates, but let the mother-in-law and father-in-law shoot for the best candidate? ! Isn't this a pure insult? !
But watching his mother trying her best to speak well of the Zheng family, Li Xuanba knew that his family probably took this marriage very seriously, and he could only hold back his anger.
He said in a muffled voice, "If my brother and I are too flamboyant and compare the Zheng family's sons to nothing, will that offend them?"
Dou smiled and said, "How old are you two? If they were to argue with you, then the Zheng family of Xingyang would not be able to hold their heads up among the five surnames and seven families. If they don't test you, that's fine. But if they dare to test you, just go ahead and make a name for yourself. If you can suppress all the children of his family, they will have to hold their noses to make a name for you."
Li Xuanba frowned: "So generous?"
Li Shimin said in a dignified manner, "Ah Xuan, you are so stupid. How can this be called magnanimous? There is no such thing as a wall that is impenetrable. The news that we have defeated the Zheng family cannot be concealed. They naturally want to praise us highly to show that their defeat is justified. I think they might even want to praise us to death and instigate the children of other noble families to 'besiege' us brothers."
After saying that, Li Shimin shook his head and continued to mutter, "Ah Xuan is so stupid" and "No matter how much he reads, he will still be stupid."
Li Xuanba felt a tight breath in his chest.
He has never experienced these family feuds, isn't that normal? The second brother who can play tricks on others at the age of six is abnormal, okay? !
"Erlang is right." Dou nodded in agreement, "Sanlang, don't worry."
Li Shimin rubbed against Dou's arms and said, "Don't worry, mother. Xuan and I will not embarrass you."
Dou hugged Li Shimin and Li Xuanba and rubbed them: "Mother will be relieved. Also, if they think you two are powerful and secretly send their young ladies to be with you, you must not be fooled."
Li Xuanba: "…" It seems that mother is also resentful in her heart.
Li Shimin snorted coldly: "They look down on us, and I look down on them too, that's why I don't like the young lady from the Zheng family."
Li Xuanba glanced at his second brother.
In the future, Emperor Taizong of Tang will have a virtuous concubine from the Zheng family of Xingyang in his harem. In order to win over the five surnames and seven families, it is not up to you whether you want it or not.
However, it is quite interesting to see Zheng of Xingyang being rude at first but respectful later. She was so picky about the position of the royal family lady in the Duke of Tang's mansion before, and then she eagerly sent her daughter to the palace to be a concubine and serve others.
Dou dressed very simply when she came to Xingyang this time.
In order to maintain the reputation of Duke Tang's Mansion in the Zheng family, Dou specially ordered people to transport new clothes and jewelry from Duke Tang's Mansion as fast as possible, and they would arrive in a day or two.
In addition, she also had to buy some jewelry, clothes, rouge and powder with local characteristics. There were some in Li Yuan's official residence, and Dou had to take people to modify them.
So after Dou told her two sons to review well, she left in a hurry.
Li Shimin leaned back on the book and said, "Are the daughters of noble families so precious? Even our Tang Guogong Mansion has to be humble and submissive?"
Li Xuanba said coldly: "It's just waiting for a good price."
Li Shimin was curious: "How do you wait for the price to rise?"
Li Xuanba said in his heart: [Brother, do you know about the practice of combining the heirs? In the previous dynasty, two noble families gave their daughters to the same man, and the sons they gave birth to compete for the position of the eldest son.]
Li Shimin's face froze: "This is too unbelievable."
Li Xuanba: [There is a rule of "supplementing the family status with a dowry" when marrying off daughters from high-ranking families. For a high-ranking family like ours, when the couple is well matched, we always pay attention to marrying off the daughter generously. When marrying off a daughter, we will not only use the dowry as the daughter's dowry, but also give a dowry of similar size.]
Li Shimin nodded: "I know this."
Li Xuanba: [The wealthy families will open up the quota of son-in-laws from their side branches to people of low social status, or even those from business families, and ask them to pay a high bride price. The wealthy families will deduct most of the bride price, and the difference between the bride price and the dowry is the money to "make up for the family status."]
This kind of thing was also very common in the early Tang Dynasty. Emperor Taizong of Tang had specifically scolded it, so Li Xuanba remembered it very clearly.
Li Shimin sat up and scratched his head: "One wants money, the other wants fame, so they hit it off."
Li Xuanba: [However, the daughters of noble families are indeed well "educated". In the chaotic times of the previous dynasty, they were the only ones who taught their daughters to follow the Three Obediences and Four Virtues and to remain chaste for their husbands. Even if they were divorced by their husbands, many women from noble families would be proud to live alone for the rest of their lives. Some women would even commit suicide to be chaste. Therefore, many families hope to marry the daughters of noble families to be the mistress of the house.]
Li Xuanba showed a sneer. In troubled times, even nobles were in danger of losing their positions, and at this time, they had to teach their daughters to follow the "rules".
Li Shimin tilted his head and thought for a while: "From what you said, their daughter is indeed well-educated. But if my daughter also wants to remain chaste for her husband's family, I will spank her! Hit her hard!"
Li Xuanba: "...I think my daughter's bottom should not be spanked." The limitations of the feudal era are fine, brother, you are a double standard dog!
Li Shimin put his hands on his hips and said: "Then spank the palm of your hand!"
Li Xuanba: "As you wish..."
"Hehe." Li Shimin hummed twice complacently, and no one knew what he was proud of.
After feeling proud, Li Shimin pulled Li Xuanba to "cheat".
Why fight them fairly if you can cheat? Which general who leads troops to fight a war would fight the enemy fairly?
Li Shimin used the art of war at a young age.
Li Xuanba did not feel guilty about bullying children.
The first to tease is the first to be cheap, this is the truth from ancient times to the present!
...
Three days later, Dou, dressed in her best clothes, went to visit Zheng's ancestral home in Xingyang with Li Shimin and Li Xuanba, who were also wearing gold and silver jewelry.
Dou and Li Yuan had a disagreement over dressing.
Li Yuan originally wanted Dou to dress as close to the gentry as possible.
Dou objected, "Sir, when it comes to the elegance of Han scholars, who can compare with the Han aristocratic families? If I imitate their dress, I will end up with a poor imitation. We are the Duke of Tang's family, we should show the royal bearing. When it comes to women's dressing, please listen to me."
Since Dou was talking about "women's dressing matters", Li Yuan had no choice but to listen to her.
Li Shimin jumped around his mother, who was dressed in her best clothes: "Is this still my mother? She must be a goddess!"
Dou smiled and said, "Yes, it's the goddess of the gods and goddesses of Erlang and Sanlang."
Li Xuanba was so shocked that he was speechless.
Even after all these years since he was born, his mother had never been dressed so gorgeously even when she was summoned into the palace by the Queen.
For example, the colorful phoenix hairpin with clear ruby beads hanging from it, the light reflected in the sun was so dazzling that it made him a little dazzled.
When Dou saw Li Xuanba noticed the tasseled phoenix hairpin on her head, she smiled and adjusted the hairpin, with a nostalgic look on her face: "This is the dowry my uncle and aunt gave me. It is enough to deal with Zheng."
Li Yuan was staring at his wife, who was dressed up and looked so graceful. After hearing what Dou said, he immediately frowned and said, "Madam, didn't we agree not to mention them again?"
Dou immediately lowered her eyes and said, "I was just casually telling Erlang and Sanlang about the origin of the phoenix hairpin, and I let it slip. I will be more careful next time."
Li Yuan emphasized, "Be sure to pay attention."
Dou said, "Yes, my dear, don't worry."
Li Shimin didn't understand why his father scolded his mother. When he was about to ask, Li Xuanba held his hand.
Li Xuanba: [My maternal grandmother was the Princess of Xiangyang of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, and my mother's uncle and aunt were Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty and Empress Wude.]
Li Shimin blinked his eyes without changing his expression, as if he didn't hear what Li Xuanba said. He just squeezed Li Xuanba's hand to show that he heard it.
Li Xuanba sighed in his heart.
My mother was brought up in the palace by Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, Yuwen Yong, and was favored more than all his nephews. When Yuwen Yong died suddenly on the way to the Northern Expedition, my mother was extremely sad, as if she had lost her biological father.
Later, Emperor Wen of Sui usurped the Northern Zhou Dynasty and killed all the direct male descendants of the Yuwen family. His mother cried, "I regret that I am not a man so that I can save my uncle from trouble."
This statement should not have been spread yet. It should have been spread by the Dou family or Li Yuan after the establishment of the Tang Dynasty.
In fact, Li Xuanba speculated that the death of his grandparents and uncle was also related to Emperor Wen of Sui.
Although Dou still has her maternal family, this maternal family refers to the "Dou" clan.
The Dou family is still a prominent family today, and they held high positions in the Sui Dynasty from the central government to the local governments, and they are very prominent. However, Dou's parents and brothers have all passed away.
Dou's eldest brother Dou Wenshu died in the Northern Zhou's attack on Qi, and his third brother Dou Zhao died before the Northern Zhou in the Sui Dynasty, so we will not mention him for now.
Although Dou's father Dou Yi was appointed governor of Dingzhou during the Sui Dynasty and Emperor Wen of Sui often said that he trusted Dou Yi very much, Dou Yi died in the second year after Emperor Wen of Sui usurped the Northern Zhou Dynasty.
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Princess Xiangyang also died in the same year.
The year before they died, the Sui Dynasty had just come to an end, and my grandparents hurriedly arranged for my mother and father, who were only eleven or twelve years old, to get married.
What's even more coincidental is that Dou Zhaoxian, the only remaining brother of the Dou family, also suddenly died of illness not long after he succeeded Duke Shenwu.
Empress Wude, the widow of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou, also died in the second year of Kaihuang, along with Li Xuanba's grandparents.
Empress Wude of the Northern Zhou Dynasty was the daughter of the Turkic Khan and was once neglected by Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty. Dou persuaded her uncle to treat her aunt well to appease the Turkic Khan. Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty listened to the advice of his niece and became friendly with Empress Wude. Empress Wude was very grateful and loved Dou. She and Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty had no children, so she treated Dou as her own daughter, and Dou was also very close to her aunt.
Although there is no evidence that Emperor Wen of Sui was responsible, perhaps they all died of illness due to the fear caused by Emperor Wen of Sui's massacre of the entire Yuwen royal family. But from the perspective of conspiracy theories of later generations, Li Xuanba's death from fear can also be considered a form of forced death, right?
Empress Wude was the daughter of the Turkic Khan, who had not yet split up at the time, and her dowry was extremely rich, all of which were jewels, spices, and animal skins shipped from the other side of the Silk Road, which was not yet open.
Empress Wude left all her dowry to Dou.
Emperor Wen of Sui and Empress Dugu did not take any of Empress Wude's dowry, and even generously gave more to Concubine Dou.
So although Dou no longer had any close peers or elders, her dowry was so generous that even the princess could not compare to it.
People originally laughed at Li Yuan for being chosen from a broad range of candidates, but marrying an orphan.
After seeing Dou's dowry, the Dou family came out to support Dou and said bluntly that all the clans were Dou's maiden family. Only then did the world's ridicule turn into envy.
Li Xuanba felt that if his grandparents and uncles were still alive, perhaps when they saw his mother's life in Duke Tang's Mansion, they would praise his mother's virtue and filial piety to others, and also comfort her in private.
Li Xuanba also knew that his mother suddenly became an orphan from a favored daughter of heaven in the second year of Kaihuang, and she must have been resentful towards Emperor Wen of Sui.
My father should have known this as well, which is why he reprimanded my mother for never mentioning Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou again.
The matter was very complicated and serious, and the two children, Li Shimin and Li Xuanba, were not allowed to interfere.
They could only watch as their father scolded their mother a few more times until their mother's eyes turned slightly red.
The originally cheerful atmosphere of the family going out turned somber.
Li Yuan was busy with official business, so Dou took her two children to visit Zheng's house alone.
It's not that Li Yuan was unwilling to take leave to accompany them, but the Zheng family wanted Dou to go alone.
This is probably part of the "test".
Li Shimin stuck his head out of the car window, waved goodbye to his father, and said to his mother: "Mom, I will definitely make you proud!"
Dou took out a small silver mirror and touched up her eye makeup. She had regained her graceful and kind smile: "Okay."
Li Xuanba moved his fingers in his sleeves.
Originally, after he and his second brother made this flower together, they saw Li Yuan drawing eyebrows for his mother and felt embarrassed to take it out to disturb their parents.
He took a deep breath and took out a small box from his sleeve: "Mom, stick this between your eyebrows, it will be more beautiful than cinnabar."
Li Shimin immediately said, "Ah Xuan and I did it! Ah Xuan was too embarrassed to take it out before, humph, now he has taken it out."
Dou smiled and said, "Look, mother."
She opened the small box, and inside it was a translucent lotus.
Dou was surprised and said, "It's so beautiful, what is it made of?!"
Li Shimin covered his mouth and laughed: "Ah Xuan and I caught dragonflies in the courtyard and dyed their wings to make this. While catching dragonflies, Ah Xuan said we were so cruel, puff."
Li Xuanba said sternly: "It is indeed cruel."
Then he whispered, "But it does look good."
Dou smiled and said, "Just stick it between the eyebrows, like sticking yellow flowers?"
The practice of applying yellow flowers has existed since ancient times, that is, using yellow paint to paint the forehead golden yellow, or pasting golden petals on it. However, this is usually the dress of unmarried girls.
Li Xuan said domineeringly: "It is said that Princess Shouyang of the Southern Dynasty once decorated her eyebrows with plum blossoms, which was called Huadian. In fact, women in the pre-Qin period had also worn Huadian, but it is not popular now."
Li Shimin hugged Dou's arm and said in a sticky voice: "Your Majesty is the most beautiful. Your Majesty has put on flower ornaments, which has made flower ornaments popular again. Ah Xuan and I can sell flower ornaments in our shop. This is what Ah Xuan said!"
Li Xuanba was stunned for a moment, then he said angrily: "I was just joking!"
Li Shimin laughed and said, "You said it, but you dare not take responsibility for it. Ah Xuan is not a real man."
Dou burst into laughter and said, "Very well, Madam will help you sell the flower ornaments. Do you want to use water to paste them?"
Li Xuanba glared at Li Shimin first, then took out a box of transparent bone glue: "Use this today, it will be more secure and prevent it from falling off."
Dou lowered her head, and Li Xuanba carefully helped his mother stick the flower ornament on her forehead.
Together, he and Li Shimin destroyed many dragonflies and pasted them together to create a layered three-dimensional effect.
Li Shimin opened the carriage curtain to let the sunlight shine on his mother's forehead: "My queen! Your hairpin is shining! So beautiful!"
Dou looked at the beautiful flower on her forehead in the silver mirror and smiled, "Yes, it's really beautiful."
Li Shimin and Li Xuanba looked at each other.
Li Xuanba: [Mother is finally happy. ]
Li Shimin gave Li Xuanba a thumbs up. This was a gesture of praise taught to him by his younger brother.
Dou looked at the two children's flirting and the smile on her face became even brighter.
Having a son like this is enough for a mother.
…
The Zheng family opened the side door to welcome Dou.
If Li Yuan came, they would open the front gate. Dou was just a woman in the backyard, so they were more reserved.
Dou didn't think anything of it, but Li Shimin and Li Xuanba both looked gloomy.
Although it is not considered impolite to open the side door, if you show a little more respect to your mother, the future mother-in-law, it is not against the rules to open the front door.
It just depends on whether the Zheng family wants to.
Fortunately, the Zheng family was not too reserved. When Dou got off the carriage, the Zheng family's wives of the same generation as Dou were already waiting to greet her at the carriage stop.
She looked at Dou's carriage with a somewhat stiff expression.
Are there too many people?
Dou did not get off the carriage immediately.
The door of the carriage behind her opened first, and a group of servants and maids dressed in silk came out.
The servant spread silk on the ground, the maid held up a sunshade, and placed an embroidered cushion under the carriage before the door of the carriage in which Dou was riding opened.
The two children first stepped onto the embroidered cushion to get off the carriage, and then stretched out their hands at the same time, one on the left and one on the right.
Dou held the two children's hands and stepped down from the carriage on the embroidered cushion.
The long skirt fell on the silk-covered floor, and under it, only half of Dou's toes were exposed in her embroidered shoes decorated with oriental pearls.
Dou raised her head and gave a graceful and kind smile to the women from the Zheng family who came to greet her.
When she raised her head, the golden phoenix inlaid with colorful gems in her hair trembled slightly, and the red tassels brushed against the ends of her black hair, flashing the eyes of the women in the Zheng family.
The Zheng family is also wealthy and should not envy the Dou family.
But the women in Zheng's family all came from prominent families, so they had sharp eyes and could tell at a glance that what Dou wore was all for the imperial court.
This hairpin in particular should be of the queen's standard, and even the princess cannot wear it without special permission.
Although Dou's outfit of gold and silver was a little vulgar, all the gold, silver, jewelry, silk and satin were used by the imperial court, so it could not be said that they were vulgar.
The Zheng family's wife smiled and said, "I've heard that the wife of Duke Tang is noble, but this... seeing is believing."
Dou said gently, "My mother is the eldest sister of Empress Wenxian, and all the household items were given by the palace. The Duke of Tang's family is frugal and rarely buys new jewelry, so we can only use the gifts to decorate the house. I'm sorry to make you laugh, Madam."
The Zheng family's wife immediately restrained her expression and said, "No wonder."
Dou raised her right hand that was resting on Li Shimin's hand and gently touched the flower on her forehead: "This flower ornament was made for me by Erlang and Sanlang in imitation of the ones in ancient books."
The women of Zheng family immediately turned their eyes to the two children beside Dou.
Li Shimin and Li Xuanba couldn't help but straighten their chests.
The author has something to say:
Random thoughts:
During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, women from noble families needed to maintain their status just like men. The list of chaste and heroic women during this period was supported by women from aristocratic families. The more prominent the noble family, the more the women valued "rules". In the absurd Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties when rituals and music collapsed, they were a "clear stream". This established the reputation of noble women as precious, not just based on family background.
But when the family needs to curry favor with the powerful or exchange money, the rules just... shrug.
Again, in troubled times, women cannot have a high status. Don't believe the marketing accounts that say "daughters of noble families in the Wei and Jin dynasties had a higher status than in later generations. Sisters, hurry up and travel through time." They are definitely in the same group as the marketing accounts that deceive people into immigrating to Myanmar! Don't travel through time to the Wei and Jin dynasties! (Serious) -