Chapter 33

Chapter 33

The top scholar in the Shun Tian Prefecture provincial examination was an unremarkable middle-aged man well past forty, but his writing was indeed solid. After reading his work, the arrogant look on Yan Jingzhao's face faded.

Mrs. Xie, fearing her son would cause trouble, held onto his arm and said, "There is still the Deer Cry Banquet to attend. The examiners from Shun Tian Prefecture are all Hanlin scholars. I heard that this year's examiner is Scholar Du, who is the father-in-law of Liu Ji, the commander of the Jinyiwei."

Yan Jingzhao respected Mrs. Xie and had already calmed down. He replied, "Mother, I know my limits."

Yao Niang patted her chest and said, "Brother, you scared us to death."

Yan Jingzhao smiled. "You're too timid. Alright, alright." Then he called out to Mrs. Xie, "Mother, the robe you made for me can't be worn anymore."

Scholars need to change from their scholar's cap and robe to a dark blue round-collar robe after passing the examination, which is why Yan Jingzhao made this remark.

Mrs. Xie didn't mind at all; she was just excited. "It should be so, it should be so." She then mentioned Mrs. Guan, "I left your wife at home to manage things. If someone comes to congratulate you, there will be wine waiting when you return from the Deer Cry Banquet."

Mrs. Guan was quite cunning. If Yan Jingzhao hadn't passed, she wouldn't have to console him or lose face here. But if he did pass, by taking the initiative to manage things, everyone would praise her virtue.

As they were talking, Yan Jingzhang and Yan Jingwen also came over to speak. They saw a nearby scholar suddenly pounding his chest and kneeling on the ground, crying, "Father, Mother, your son has finally passed, your son has finally passed."

Seeing him act like a madman, Yao Niang was startled.

Qingdai covered her mouth and laughed, "Miss, look how funny he looks."

"Stop talking nonsense. The provincial examination is no easy feat. Look at his age; his hair and beard are already gray. He must have poured his heart and soul into it. Naturally, he is overjoyed now," Yao Niang scolded.

Even a provincial examination reveals the many facets of life, leaving one feeling deeply moved.

On the way back, Qian Niang and Yao Niang shared a carriage. Qian Niang looked at Yao Niang and said, "Congratulations, Third Sister. Your elder brother has passed the examination and will surely have a bright future."

Yao Niang smiled. "I was worried sick. My elder brother is still young, and we don't know how he'll do in the imperial examinations next year. We are very satisfied with this result."

Qian Niang kept smiling but remained silent. In her heart, she felt Yao Niang was incredibly lucky, achieving everything without much effort. Especially after Yan Jingzhao passed the examination, Qian Niang felt differently.

Meanwhile, Ying Niang and Lady Zhen shared another carriage. Although she didn't get along well with Yao Niang, she had no ill feelings towards Yan Jingzhao. Seeing her mother's sullen face, the usually favored Ying Niang dared not say much.

Lady Zhen always thought Mrs. Xie was too lucky. Her son was so promising, and even without Yan Yingqi, Yan Jingzhao could still have a bright future. Moreover, his father-in-law was a Hanlin scholar, making the marriage a good match. Even though Mrs. Guan wasn't necessarily better than Mrs. Yu in character, her value was much higher.

Feeling suffocated, she lifted the curtain and saw the Shen family's carriage, remembering that Shen Linfeng had also passed the examination. She immediately dropped the curtain.

Ministry of Appointments

Yan Yingqi was reviewing the resumes of several officials. The Ministry of Appointments, besides recommending candidates, also managed the promotions of officials nationwide. Although he usually took breaks to drink tea, today, with the results posted, he was distracted.

What if Jingzhao hadn't passed?

This child was very much like him, always arrogant and might not handle failure well. Lan You would be devastated. However, seeing Lan You's absent-mindedness, it seemed she wasn't too concerned.

He paced around, sat down, drank some tea, but felt uncomfortable.

Fortunately, a servant from his household entered the office and smiled, "Sir, our eldest son ranked second in the Shun Tian Prefecture provincial examination and is currently attending the Deer Cry Banquet."

Yan Yingqi sighed with relief. "That kid..."

After the Deer Cry Banquet, Yan Jingzhao formed good relationships with the other newly passed scholars. Some invited him to visit. Mrs. Xie treated guests equally, whether they were officials' children like Shen Linfeng or ordinary civilians.

Yan Ningxin, freed from restrictions due to Yan Jingzhao's success, could only move about in the garden. Since the Prince Qi's heir returned to his fiefdom, there had been no further news.

One day, Shen Linfeng was invited to the Yan residence for a literary gathering. The Yans naturally welcomed him, as Yan Jingzhao's father was the vice minister of the Ministry of Appointments. Even if they passed the imperial examinations, they would still need the ministry's help for official appointments.

This was why many wanted to be friends with Yan Jingzhao.

When Shen Linfeng returned home, he washed up and the alcohol scent dissipated. His sister visited late at night, prompting him to ask, "What is it? Is something wrong?"

Shen Mo smiled. "I couldn't visit during your exams, but there is something to discuss. A prince died in the palace."

"What?" Shen Linfeng was genuinely surprised.

Shen Mo explained, "Mother went to the palace yesterday, and Concubine Chang mentioned it."

Concubine Chang, despite her surname, was raised by the Shen family and considered them her maternal relatives. With few imperial heirs, Concubine Chang, childless but kind-hearted, was trusted by the Emperor.

Shen Linfeng said, "This doesn't concern us. Concubine Chang has no children, so it's irrelevant."

Shen Mo smiled. "Brother, wise people plan ahead. I have a strategy that allows both offense and defense. What do you think?"

"What do you mean?" Shen Linfeng asked.

Shen Mo went on, "The heir to Prince Qi is enamored with me, yet he spoke of the Qi royal family's wish for him to wed his cousin. It is evident that he harbors affection for her as well. Should I wed the heir to Prince Qi, I might ascend to the position of Empress, thereby bestowing wealth and honor upon the Shen clan. In the least favorable scenario, I would be the Princess Consort, with titles to be passed down through generations."

"But relying solely on the Prince Qi's heir's affection isn't enough," Shen Linfeng said, crossing his arms.

Shen Mo looked at Shen Linfeng. "That's where you come in."

"You are a fellow scholar with Yan Jingzhao, and you have similar dispositions. You've never expressed interest in women, except for your admiration of Yan Ningxin. Should you marry her, even if the alliance with the Qi Prince's household fails, you would still be the son-in-law of the vice minister of the Ministry of Personnel," Shen Mo remarked.

Shen Linfeng looked at Shen Mo and laughed. "How do you know the Yans would choose me as their son-in-law?"

Shen Mo replied, "Brother, someone like you, if not for your disinterest in women, even the daughter of Prime Minister Gong would favor you."

**

Indeed, Yan Ningxin's marriage was discussed by Lady Zhen with Yan Yingqi. She said, "Our eldest daughter is of marriageable age. Having lost her mother at a young age, I feel sorry for her. Sir, please ensure she marries a suitable husband."

Recently, Yan Ningxin has fallen ill, and the physician has indicated that her health has been compromised by the adversities she faced in her early years. Yan Yingqi comprehends the extent of his daughter's suffering. When the Linzi Princess passed away during childbirth, the Qi royal household sought to claim the child, and he did not put up much resistance. He had contemplated the idea of remarrying Mrs. Xie or remaining a widower, entrusting her with the management of the household affairs.

Later, with his busy career and multiple children, he didn't pay much attention to this daughter.

But marrying her to the Prince Qi's heir was out of the question. He didn't want to deal with these princes again. Instead, choosing a virtuous scholar would be better.

"Have any matchmakers sent proposals?" Yan Yingqi asked.

Lady Zhen smiled and said, "Our family hasn't spread the word yet, so some people naturally dare not aspire too high. Actually, I think one of my elder brother's fellow examinees, that young Master Shen, is quite good."

Yan Yingqi thought about Grand Censor Shen's son, Shen Linfeng. He had heard that Shen Linfeng rarely ventured into places of pleasure. The Shens were wealthy, and Shen Linfeng was known for his talent and appearance. This person seemed quite compatible with Yao Niang. Yao Niang had high standards and would certainly not tolerate other women. Shen Linfeng's clean record with women made him an ideal candidate for her third daughter.

In reality, he had other plans for his eldest daughter. She lacked discipline, had average intellect, and was not adept at managing others. If she were to marry into the Shen family as the main wife, she might not be up to the task.

So, Yan Yingqi smiled and said, "I've met Shen Linfeng. He is indeed good, but we can't let our Yan family rush into it."

Lady Zhen thought that her husband was being partial. Such a good match should go to Yan Ningxin, who was the most suitable by age. Yet, her husband avoided the topic, could it be that Shen Linfeng was truly meant for the third daughter?

But she was very tactful and wouldn't say anything negative in front of Yan Yingqi.

Yan Yingqi then asked about Yan Jingwen's studies: "His elder brother passed the provincial exam recently, so the house has been lively. They've all relaxed for a few days, but they mustn't really slack off. Call him over."

Lady Zhen hurriedly sent a maid to call Yan Jingwen. Yan Jingwen, upon hearing that Yan Yingqi wanted to see him, went from being animated with his sisters to looking like a wilted eggplant.

Yao Niang smiled and said, "Third Brother, you should hurry. Come back later to join us in flower arranging."

"Yes, Third Brother, hurry. If you're late, Father might hit you," Ying Niang giggled.

Yan Jingwen left with heavy steps.

As he left, Yao Niang suddenly remembered Xin Wan. "I wonder how Cousin Xin is doing at home? Our garden now has white roses. If she knew, she'd be delighted."

Qian Niang, busy with embroidery, looked up and said, "Yes, it would be great if she came with us. But with her entertaining Old Madam, we can rest easy."

"True. We don't need ice at night anymore; the heat has finally subsided. Although it's still hot during the day, it's much better than before. Yesterday, I heard that Zhao Fang's brother passed the provincial exam and plans to take the imperial exams next year. He intends to visit us, so perhaps we'll see Sister Zhao then," Yao Niang smiled.

"Zhao Xian passed?" Qian Niang blurted out.

Yao Niang suppressed her unusual feelings and smiled lightly. "Yes, when he was here, everyone praised his talent."

It was even rumored that the conflict between Second Lady Ming and Third Lady Jun started because Second Lady Ming wanted to marry Yan Rubei to Zhao Xian, which Third Lady Jun opposed.

Ying Niang, bored, held a sachet and said, "If he comes, he comes. It's no big deal."

Sometimes, Yao Niang felt she needed to move forward and not dwell on the past. She didn't contradict Ying Niang and continued arranging flowers.

While the sisters enjoyed the early autumn, the family planned a literary gathering. This gathering was for poets and scholars to recite poetry and compose essays. Invited guests included Yan Jingzhao's classmates and many renowned young talents.

This gathering became meaningful.

Lady Zhen called Yan Ningxin over and hinted at the implications. Yan Ningxin replied, "My future is entirely in the hands of Father and Mother."

Lady Zhen smiled and said, "You are the eldest daughter. You grew up in Prince Qi's household, where you learned the ways of the world. Girls your age often get engaged early. Your father is very busy but wants to find you a good match. Today, among these candidates, if there's a suitable one, your father will favor him. Rest assured."

To be fair, Lady Zhen thought that although Yan Yingqi favored the third daughter, he still treated Yan Ningxin well. Today, he promised a dowry of ten thousand taels plus the dowry from Princess Linzi, which was quite generous. All daughters received ten thousand taels from the family, while additional support depended on their mothers' generosity.

Yan Ningxin knew that after returning, the family would arrange her marriage. Even the young Venerable Wu Xian, who used to follow her around, was engaged, and Miss Gong was also betrothed. At fifteen, it was natural for her to be engaged.

Her cousin had written to her praising Shen Linfeng, saying he had heard that Shen Linfeng passed the provincial exam and had a bright future. Without considering material benefits, Shen Linfeng was an excellent choice.

Yan Ningxin recalled those memories she tried to forget. She wasn't Yan Ningxin but Xu Siniang, the adopted daughter of military officer Xu Wang. She was kidnapped and saved by Xu Wang and his wife, who treated her well, even during famine. For three years, they shared their food with her. When she was seven, her adoptive mother became pregnant, and her adoptive father gained recognition in the army. Everything seemed to be improving.

But that winter, her adoptive father died saving the governor of Zibo, and her adoptive mother miscarried upon hearing the news. Relatives tried to take advantage of the situation, hiding her and making her adoptive mother suffer. Her adoptive mother, kind and wise, sent her to the governor's mansion before passing away.

The governor's wife gave twenty taels for her adoptive mother's funeral and took pity on her father, allowing her to accompany Wei Wuji in the military. At seven or eight, she was indistinguishable from a boy, and Wei Wuji...

Just then, Jin Zhan entered and said, "Eldest Miss, Second Miss and Third Miss have sent embroidered shoes and sachets to Lord. Shall we make some for you?"

"No, if you don't do it, Father won't say anything. But if you lie, he might criticize," Yan Ningxin slumped on the table, unwilling to compete with her sisters.

Jin Zhan felt sorry for her. "But this is your own home."

Yan Ningxin shook her head. "Forget it. If my sisters can get along with me, I'm grateful."

**

The literary gathering was organized by Lady Jie. Although less experienced than Lady Zhen, she sought advice from Yan Jingzhao.

By evening, the scholars entered the Yan residence, dazzled by the opulence and beauty. The garden was lit with crystal lanterns, creating a luxurious atmosphere.

Servants entered in procession, perfumed and adorned.

Amidst pavilions and terraces, music and singing filled the air, marking the start of the gathering.

Meanwhile, Yao Niang and Lady Jie dined with the eldest branch's ladies. Everyone knew this was to choose a husband for Yan Ningxin.

After a round of poetry competition, three winners emerged. A servant reported at the door.

Lady Zhen couldn't help asking, "Are any of these three already married?"

"The first is Liu Chengzhi from Shanyin, a student of the Imperial College, twenty-two years old, with an fiancée. The second is Wang Mian from Shangqiu, son of Minister Wang Luan. His uncle was once the Minister of Revenue, Wang Tong. Although both his father and uncle have passed away, his family remains wealthy. He could have become an official through patronage but excelled in this year's provincial exam in Henan Province and gained recognition in the capital. The last is Shen Linfeng from Wuxing, son of the Left Censor-General, known for his talent and appearance. Earlier, Lord showed great appreciation for Master Wang."

Lady Zhen usually agreed with Yan Yingqi. Wang Mian, despite his fallen status, had exceptional talent. With the Yan family's support, he might be more accommodating towards Yan Ningxin's shortcomings.

Those outside didn't know Yan Ningxin well, but the family did.

Still, Lady Zhen thought Yan Yingqi was partial. Among the three, Shen Linfeng clearly had the best background and appearance.

"Understood. You may go," Lady Zhen concluded.

Yao Niang, after listening, noticed Ying Niang glaring at Yan Ningxin. Surprised, she said, "Fourth Sister..."

But Ying Niang stood up and said, "Mother, I feel unwell and want to leave early."

Lady Zhen, slightly displeased, said, "You child, you ate too much tonight. Go rest."

The literary gathering continued with the second round. Wang Mian, Shen Linfeng, and host Yan Jingzhao, all talented in poetry, conversed amiably, standing out from the rest.

By the second round, Yao Niang was getting tired. Lady Jie patted her head and said, "Go rest."

"Hmm."

Yao Niang was holding a lantern when she suddenly saw Shen Linfeng and another young scholar at the corner of a rockery. Seeing that they were heading east, she stopped in her tracks.

Shen Linfeng said, "Brother Wang, congratulations today. In my opinion, Young Chancellor Yan (a term for the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Appointments) holds you in high regard."

Yao Niang thought to herself that this person must be Wang Mian. She then heard Wang Mian laugh and say, "Brother Shen, you flatter me. I merely devote myself to my studies. I came here today because Brother Yan invited me. As for women, their status need not be too exalted, but they must be someone I admire. I remember hearing someone playing the zither at Gan Ye Temple some days ago; the music was so beautiful that it left a lasting impression on me. Later, I learned it was Miss Yan playing, which is why I came calling."

Could he be referring to her?

A few days ago, Yao Niang accompanied Lady Jie to Gan Ye Temple for prayers. Finding the place serene and clean, she played a Buddhist melody to express her feelings.

Shen Linfeng then said, "So Brother Wang had such an encounter. As for my requirements for a woman, there is only one: she must be suitable as the matriarch of the Shen family."

Yao Niang could no longer hear what Wang Mian replied, as they had walked away.

...

After the gathering dispersed, Aunt Gu noticed that Yao Niang seemed restless and urged her, "Miss, it's late. You should go to sleep now."

"Alright," Yao Niang smiled.

After this gathering, the Shen family sent over an invitation for marriage, requesting the hand of the eldest daughter of the Yan family.

Wang Mian, however, made no move. Lady Jie privately remarked, "That's odd. Didn't Master hold Wang Mian in high regard?"

Yao Niang knew that Wang Mian would wait until he achieved success before proposing grandly. Moreover, he might have mistaken Miss Yan for someone else.

Yan Yingqi truly sympathized with Yan Ningxin's past experiences. However, regarding Shen Linfeng's proposal, he did not consult Lady Zhen and directly called Yan Ningxin over to speak with her, which was a bold decision.

But Yan Yingqi feared that any intermediary might misinterpret his intentions, so he called her over himself.

"Ningxin, sit down. Today, we're just having a family chat. If it were about Qian Niang, Yao Niang, or Ying Niang's marriages, I wouldn't need to ask and could decide directly. But your situation is special. You grew up with Bing Lu Zi, skilled in horseback riding and treating injuries, which is indeed good for a military household's daughter. But now you are the eldest daughter of the Yan family, destined to marry into a wealthy or noble family. These families expect skills in managing a household, embroidery, and socializing. It's not that I look down on you, but your abilities are limited, and you will live a very hard life. Personally, I favor Wang Mian more. Despite losing both his uncle and father, he is a young man with ambition. His scholarship speaks for itself. If he marries you, no matter how far he goes, your father can protect you for at least twenty years."

"But Shen Linfeng is different. He is from the main branch of the Wu Xing Shen clan, and if you marry him, you'll become the head matron of the clan."

Yan Ningxin recalled her cousin's words: if she married Shen Linfeng, she could persuade the Shen family to support Prince Qi. Since she didn't know either of them, she might as well choose the one that benefits everyone.

"Father, I may not understand etiquette, but since you asked me, I choose Master Shen. I will learn to be a proper matriarch and head matron."

Yan Yingqi found it strange that his daughter spoke so seriously about her own marriage. Seeing her determination, he nodded.

Yet after nodding, he felt uneasy, thinking it might be too soon. He couldn't foresee the turmoil this marriage would bring later.