The sky is still dark, the dawn after the rain,
The stone pavement reflected the foggy sky, with dim lights flickering in the puddles. The green leaves under the corridor could not withstand the overnight rain, and they were heavy, with a drop of cold water falling from them from time to time.
As usual, Qin Gong got up before dawn with scratches on his bare back. Wen Tang's sleepiness was still shrouded in his eyes, but his body instinctively sat up, stepped barefoot on the slightly cool floor tiles, and walked towards the clothes rack.
She brought him his official uniform, then put her hands through his waist, fastened the collar, and tightened the leather belt.
Mrs. Zhou quietly led the maid in to bring in water. Qin Gong washed his face and rinsed his mouth. He only ate two or three small green bean rolls on the plate and strode out.
The door hinges turned, making a slight creaking sound.
The sky is gray,
Wen Tang walked him to the courtyard gate as usual. It was still early and the mansion was silent.
He should have left straight away, but he suddenly stopped a few steps away, turned his head and looked over with a serious look.
Wen Tang still stood there.
"Don't read those idle books."
So this was the instruction. Wen Tang coughed lightly and nodded immediately.
Finally, she sent away a great god. She went to pay her respects to the old lady and the Duke's wife according to the procedures. When she returned to her own yard, it was already dawn.
Baochun served the chilled lotus root powder and osmanthus sugar cake. The clear lotus root color cake was embedded with bits of golden osmanthus, and the sweet fragrance wafted into the nose.
Wen Tang picked up a piece, and the cool and soft touch melted on his fingertips and melted in his mouth. The perfect sweetness slid into his throat, slightly dispelling the morning stagnation.
She only used two pieces, then put down her silver chopsticks and dismissed Baochun, saying, "Go down."
After a moment, Mrs. Zhou pushed the door open and walked in. She looked around cautiously before turning around and gently lowering the door bolt.
She approached, holding a small white porcelain bowl. Inside, as usual, was a warm, brownish medicinal soup. Wen Tang took it calmly, tilted his head back, drank it all in one gulp, and then picked up a candied plum and put it in his mouth.
Mrs. Zhou skillfully massaged her tense shoulders and neck. "Grandma, do you want more water to scrub me?"
Wen Tang closed her eyes and shook her head. She still had things to do. When she opened her eyes again, they were clear and bright. "No need. What's the news from the Fourth Miss?"
At this point, Mrs. Zhou still felt that Wen Tang was foresighted. No wonder he couldn't pick this and was dissatisfied with that. It turned out that he had his own plans in mind.
Mrs. Zhou truthfully recounted the bits and pieces of information she had gathered from the Fourth Young Lady's courtyard. "Several maids were joking around in the courtyard, saying it was a top scholar."
This year's palace review was held in the third month of the lunar calendar, and the names of the new Jinshi were announced in early April.
Mrs. Zhou thought for a moment and said, "This year's new number one scholar is named Zhang Ji. He comes from a family of scholars and has a good appearance. He also has a good reputation outside."
Wen Tang, "What's your character like?"
Mrs. Zhou said, "His reputation outside is naturally good, but as you can see, with the halo of being the top scholar, who wouldn't praise him? It's hard to tell what his true character is like through his belly. I think since the fourth lady has such thoughts, it's better to report it directly to the old lady."
Wen Tang didn't rush to send someone to reply to the old lady. Instead, he asked, "Since she has such an idea, why doesn't she go and ask the old lady for the money herself? Instead, she keeps it secret. Does she have other plans?"
Mrs. Zhou was stunned. "Isn't she going to see it herself?"
It is not appropriate for a lady of noble family to meet a man outside her family secretly.
But when I think about the fourth girl's lawless nature due to being spoiled, it's really hard to say.
Wen Tang's eyes were calm, "Keep an eye on it, don't make any jokes."
This newly crowned number one scholar has a good family background and should have appeared in the list of husbands chosen by the old lady for the fourth girl. Why was he missed? This man's background may not stand up to scrutiny.
--
The afternoon heat was sweltering. When Wen Tang's carriage from the Duke's Mansion stopped in front of the Earl's Mansion, the door was already wide open. A group of maids and servants stood in silence with their hands hanging down, holding their breath.
Mother Zhou raised the carriage curtains, and Wen Tang supported her hand as she stepped down from the footstool. She was dressed in a dark blue gown, which, under the glaring sunlight, made her look even more dazzling than snow. Her hair was adorned with a step-shaking ornament, and a large oriental pearl was held in her phoenix mouth, trembling with her steps and shimmering with brilliance.
As soon as she got off the carriage, she heard a burst of rapid horse neighing and the sound of wheels rolling over bluestone slabs beside her.
Wen Tang seemed to understand something, and sure enough, another plain carriage stopped beside him.
The car curtain opened and a familiar figure came down.
Her elder sister Wen Zhiyi.
She still looked as cool and pure as the moon, but her face was pale, and her slender body was wrapped in an elegant lilac-colored gauze summer gown. A man also got off the carriage and was holding her hand.
The man had his back to Wen Tang, and Wen Tang didn't see his face clearly. She only saw that he was very tall, with long legs, broad shoulders and a broad back. If she hadn't known that he was a merchant from Jiangnan, she might have thought he was a warrior.
Uncle, Wen Tang's biological father, came up to greet him with a big smile on his face. He greeted him warmly, and every word he said was about his good son-in-law Uncle Qin. Wen Tang smiled but said nothing.
Upon seeing this, stepmother Chen glared at the uncle with dissatisfaction, and looked at her delicate daughter standing under the scorching sun with heartache, but she had to suppress her displeasure and went forward to greet Wen Tang perfunctorily.
Wen Tang had no intention of nagging further, so she nodded slightly and turned to go back into the house. She was only here to visit her biological mother, and it had nothing to do with anyone else, so it wasn't worth bothering her.
Wen Tang was about to enter the house when he heard a gentle voice calling him from behind.
She called out Wen Tang's name. Wen Tang turned his face halfway. Wen Zhiyi had already gently broken free from her husband's support and walked forward. "It's been four years since we last met. I hope you are doing well."
Wen Zhiyi's beauty now is fragile and pitiful, and the thin summer shirt outlines her slender figure.
Wen Tang, dressed in a heavy dark blue formal suit, stood beside her. Far from looking dull, he made his slightly aggressive and gorgeous facial features even more eye-catching.
Wen Tang smiled lightly, then turned and walked into the mansion.
Chen, who followed behind, immediately greeted Wen Zhiyi and said, "Yi'er, you've lost a lot of weight. Come in with me and sunbathe carefully."
Then she lowered her voice and said to Wen Zhiyi, "Don't bother with her. Now that she's climbed up the social ladder and become the eldest grandmother of the Qin family, her tail is all up to the sky. Don't pay attention to her."
Wen Zhiyi pursed her lips slightly, her beautiful eyes flashing with helplessness, "Mom, don't say that. I'm sorry for her, so I let her marry into the Qin Mansion."
Chen disagreed, "What's wrong?"
"What a bargain for her."
Wen Zhiyi called softly, "Mother..."
Chen then stopped, pulled her daughter inside, and hurriedly ordered the servants to serve her son-in-law, a wealthy businessman from Jiangnan.
The man had an elegant face and a friendly smile, typical of businessmen. He nodded to the uncle and then went inside with him.
Passing through the winding corridor, we walked around a large waterside pavilion. The pavilion was exquisite, the water in the pond was clear, and the lush branches and leaves of the ancient locust tree cast a large area of shade. The cool breeze carried water vapor and the fragrance of lotus flowers.
Xiangyangju is hidden deep in the green shade.
As Wen Tang approached the door, a strong, bitter aroma of herbs that had been simmered for years hit him in the face. Like a maggot on the tarsal bone, it had long since merged with this Xiangyang Residence, seeping into every inch of brick and wood.
Wen Tang stood at the door, adjusted his breathing, and then gently pushed the door open. After the door opened, he immediately met Yuan Shi who was walking towards the door. She was thin and had a melancholy face all year round.
Wen Tang's breathing became much lighter, "Mom."
Yuan was stunned for a long time before she finally reacted. She turned around excitedly, walked quickly to the table to get the pastries, and then reached for the fresh fruits in the fruit bowl.
"Tangtang, Tangtang, my dear Tangtang is back..."
Wen Tang walked over with a smile, holding her slightly shaking arm and asking her to stop working. Yuan Shi just sat there blankly, her eyes fixed on Wen Tang, as if she couldn't get enough of him.
Her daughter married into a wealthy family, gave birth to children, went through confinement and took care of herself. The days she and her daughter spent together could be counted on one's fingers.
It took Yuan a long time before she was willing to take her eyes away. Wen Tang picked up a piece of soft Poria cocos cake and fed it to Yuan, then asked her if she was living a good life.
Yuanshi opened her mouth obediently, "Okay."
This is true. Her son-in-law is the boss of the Duke of Qin's mansion and a close minister to the emperor. Her daughter is sure to be the grandmother. How can she, as a mother, not be a good person?
only,
Yuan Shi still felt distressed. She stretched out her hand to stroke Wen Tang's soft hair. In the small courtyard of the Jiangnan water town, when she was young, Yuan Shi stroked her hair like this and hummed a folk tune to coax her to sleep.
Wen Tang leaned over and rested his head on his mother's lap, feeling the familiar but no longer powerful touch.
"Master... Is Master good to you?"
Yuanshi still couldn't help asking this question.
Wen Tang didn't hesitate, raised his head, and smiled directly into his eyes, "Of course."
She said with conviction, "For four years since we've been married, my father has been alone with his daughter. Now we have a pair of sons, and we are a couple. How could he treat his daughter badly?"
Yuan Shi carefully studied her daughter's smiling face for a long time before she murmured, "Okay, okay...that's good."
Mrs. Zhou stood by with her hands hanging down, not saying a word.
That afternoon, Xiangyangju was filled with a long-lost warmth. The mother and daughter chattered about old times, the ridges of fields in the south of the Yangtze River, the stream behind the house, and interesting stories about the neighbors.
The sun was setting in the west, and it was past the afternoon. Wen Tang had no choice but to get up and say goodbye. She called all the servants in Xiangyangju to the courtyard. Mrs. Zhou brought out a tray of silver ingots that had been prepared long ago and rewarded each one according to the list.
Wen Tang stood upright in front of the steps and said, "Serve Aunt well. I will remember your kindness. If I have been negligent," but he did not finish his words, which made everyone lower their heads.
In the evening, Wen Tang was about to set off to return to the Duke's Mansion, but the front hall was in commotion. Chen was unusually warm and invited her to have dinner, with Wen Zhiyi standing beside her.
Mrs. Zhou declined, "No need. There are still things to do in the mansion, and the eldest lady needs to go back."
Of course Chen was dissatisfied, but before she could say anything, Wen Zhiyi beside her pulled her sleeve, and Chen shut up.
Wen Tang stood there. The evening breeze, with a hint of coolness, blew across the courtyard, rolling up a few summer flowers. The golden glow of the setting sun gave everything a soft halo.
She looked at Wen Zhiyi's eyes, which were filled with tears that seemed to be about to fall, and stepped forward again with overflowing guilt.
Her frail figure looked even more frail in the evening breeze.
"It's my elder sister who is sorry for you."
Wen Tang didn't say anything, but saw Wen Zhiyi hesitantly stretch out his hand, holding a small object carefully wrapped in a white scarf in his palm, and then handed it to Wen Tang.
"Please return it to him for me. It's his."
This is self-evident to him.
Mrs. Zhou gasped instantly, her eyes widening in anger, but Wen Tang raised her hand and took the exquisite red gold safety lock. Her eyes stayed on the gold lock for a moment, then she raised her eyes slightly and looked at her elder sister who was standing opposite her.