Zhang Yao was dressed in royal blue, looking elegant and handsome. He raised his narrow eyes slightly, looking across the screen, and happened to meet Qin Ruoyue who was walking out from behind.
The moment their eyes met, Qin Ruoyue's cheeks turned red, and she lowered her head, too embarrassed to look directly at him.
Zhang Yao had a gentle smile on his lips and bowed calmly.
Wen Tang, who was sitting opposite him, took in the whole scene with a calm expression.
Qin Gong's eyes swept across the scene of Zhang Yao and Qin Ruoyue smiling at each other, showing their affection. He slowly withdrew his gaze, picked up the celadon teacup beside him, and took a sip.
The old lady sitting in the main seat felt quite relieved when she saw the shy look of the young couple at each other. However, she was still a little dissatisfied with Zhang Yao's previous private invitation to Ruoyue to go out. After all, she was a girl. But when she thought about inviting her out to a poetry reading, it was a graceful thing to do.
The old lady then felt relieved, her brows relaxed, and she waved lovingly at Qin Ruoyue, "Ruoyue, come and sit down."
Qin Ruoyue was indeed dressed radiantly today, in gorgeous clothes and swaying pearls and jade.
However, Mrs. Zhang, who was sitting below the old lady, glanced at Qin Ruoyue calmly. Seeing the fourth daughter of the Qin family appear so ostentatiously, her heart, which had been hanging in the air all the way, finally settled down.
When she came out, she just hid behind her grandmother with a blushing face, and even forgot the etiquette of greeting her future mother-in-law. A girl who only knew how to dress up beautifully and was spoiled by the old lady of the Qin family must be arrogant and shallow. How deep could her thoughts be?
This marriage was more mediocre than expected. This girl, who only had a pretty face, a shallow mind, and no understanding of worldly affairs, was paired with Zhang Yao to save her trouble. Jiang Shi's soft temper couldn't control this spoiled girl who had been raised in a honeypot.
As Mrs. Zhang thought about this, she felt more and more relieved, and even the depression she had been forced to accompany the mother and son to see the couple dissipated for the most part.
The old lady indulged her granddaughter, but the wife of Duke Qin was a person of great courtesy. She reminded in a deep voice, "Fourth Miss, come and meet Madam Zhang and Madam Jiang."
Qin Ruoyue snuggled up to her grandmother's side. After hearing the Duke's wife's reminder, she turned to Madam Zhang and said, "Hello, Madam Zhang." After a pause, she slowly said to Jiang, "Hello, Madam Jiang."
Jiang's face was covered with a gentle smile, but Qin Ruoyue did not notice it. Instead, she turned to Madam Zhang, her future mother-in-law, and smiled shyly.
Mrs. Zhang glanced at Jiang, who was standing aside with her eyes downcast and silent, and she was really satisfied with this Miss Qin Si.
The old lady asked Qin Ruoyue to sit next to Wen Tang. Qin Ruoyue, who had always disliked being close to her sister-in-law, was unusually obedient at this moment. Her heart was pounding because Zhang Yao was sitting opposite her. She almost didn't dare to look up.
After sitting down, she could feel that gentle gaze, seemingly falling on her, making her feel flustered. She secretly wondered if her face was sweating when she came here just now. Was her makeup too much? The color of her clothes today was still not bright enough. Would he find it dull?
She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't even hear her maid calling her several times. After a while, she subconsciously looked up and met Zhang Yao's gentle and smiling gaze.
"Miss," the maidservant lowered her voice and called closer, "someone outside the mansion just now delivered a letter saying that they have been exchanging letters with you, and they came here today to reply."
Across from him, Zhang Yao still had a smile on his lips. Qin Ruoyue's heart skipped a beat as she reached out to take the letter. Her eyes fell on the words on it, and at a glance, her face paled.
Wen Tang, who was sitting next to her, naturally noticed the stiffness of her body.
Wen Tang raised his eyes and glanced across to see Zhang Yao holding a teacup and chatting with Qin Gong, all of them talking about officialdom .
Seeing that her face looked really ugly, Wen Tang asked, "What's wrong?" His eyes fell on the letter tightly clenched in her hand.
However, the moment Wen Tang asked, Qin Ruoyue suddenly raised her eyes, her eyes were full of surprise and resentment, and she stared straight at Wen Tang!
At this moment, Zhang Yao's gentle and concerned voice rang out. He motioned for the servant beside him to bring a cup of freshly brewed hot tea. "Miss Qin Si looks unwell, but are you feeling unwell? Have a cup of hot tea to calm you down first."
There was a warm concern on his face, but Qin Ruoyue's eyes suddenly turned red.
She took the teacup and glared at Wen Tang fiercely. This scene happened to be seen by Qin Gong. Qin Gong's voice was cold and solemn, with an unquestionable majesty, "What's the matter? If you are not feeling well, why don't you go down and rest!"
When Qin Gong spoke, no one dared to neglect him.
Even the smiling old lady who was chatting with Madam Zhang came over following the sound. Seeing her granddaughter's pale face, she exclaimed in surprise, "Oh, how come her face is so pale? Quick, help your daughter down to rest!"
The maidservant beside Qin Ruoyue was still confused and had no idea that she had just handed over a letter, but why did she cause the young lady to lose her composure like this?
Qin Ruoyue tightly grasped the letter that was like a hot potato, and was helped by the maid to get up and leave the table. When she passed by Wen Tang, she swept her resentful eyes over again, but met the already cold eyes of her elder brother Qin Gong.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she hastily averted her gaze, not daring to look at Wen Tang again. However, deep down, she was certain it had been Wen Tang! She'd leaked the information! She'd accompanied them to the Linjiang Tower poetry gathering that day, and now a man from outside the family knew about it and dared to write to invite them out. What did they think of her? A frivolous, dissolute playboy who could easily invite anyone without shame?
The gatekeeper of the Qin Mansion quietly entered and whispered a few words in the old lady's ear. The old lady's face, which had just been smiling calmly, froze in an instant, and her eyes were filled with fear and doubt.
Mrs. Zhang, who was sitting next to her, took in the change without making a sound.
The old lady was stunned for a moment before she said, "Please forgive me, Madam Zhang. Ruoyue is feeling a little unwell at the moment. Let her go downstairs and rest for a while and come back later. Let's have lunch first."
The maids filed in, and the table was filled with delicious delicacies. However, the atmosphere at the table was somewhat subtle, and everyone at the table had their own thoughts.
Zhang Yao remained calm, a smile on his lips.
Jiang didn't understand what was going on, so she just lowered her head and ate.
Mrs. Zhang tacitly changed the subject.
Wen Tang sat quietly beside Qin Gong as usual. Everyone tacitly stopped talking about Qin Ruoyue.
It was not until the end of the banquet that Zhang Yao spoke considerately, "Is Miss Qin Si feeling better? Should we ask someone to send over some light food?" His face was full of sincere concern.
"Let her maid come and get it." The old lady replied.
The meal ended in an atmosphere of laughter and conversation among the crowd.
When the banquet ended, Wen Tang stood up and suddenly felt a surge of turmoil in her chest. She couldn't help but cover her mouth with a handkerchief and retched softly. She had greedily taken a few more mouthfuls of the greasy fish soup from the meal.
"Grandma," Mrs. Zhang was sharp-eyed and immediately laughed out loud, "Could it be that what I said was right? Grandma, do you have good news again?" She spoke warmly to the Grandma of the Qin family.
Wen Tang was stroking his chest to catch his breath, and was slightly startled when he heard this.
Qin Gong beside her also lowered his eyes to look at her. Wen Tang was embarrassed and patted his chest and said, "Madam Zhang, you are joking..." Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by Madam Zhang, "Grandma and Master are so loving, it's only a matter of time before they have another son. I'd like to congratulate Grandma first!"
Then he turned to the old lady and the wife of Duke Qin, "Congratulations to the old lady and Madam Qin as well!"
The old lady was very happy to hear others say that the Qin family would have a new baby. She looked at Wen Tang with satisfaction. If she could really get pregnant again, she would be much more satisfied with this granddaughter-in-law.
The old lady was happy and accompanied the Zhang family to the gate of the mansion. However, there were several unfamiliar people standing at the gate, each holding a letter in their hands and negotiating with the gatekeeper.
The leader spoke in a loud voice, "I'd like to ask you to take this poem to the fourth young lady in the mansion for her appreciation. This is a new poem written by my son, and I have admired the fourth young lady's talent for a long time."
It seemed that they had just noticed the nobles walking out of the mansion. They immediately fell silent and retreated to the side with embarrassed expressions, but what they had just said had been clearly heard by everyone present.
The old lady's smile froze completely, her face livid. Even the usually calm Madam Zhang couldn't help but raise her eyebrows, a flicker of surprise and consideration in her eyes.
A rich girl was exchanging letters with a man from outside her family? And more than one?
The fourth daughter of the Qin family is truly a talented person.
--
"I'm not pregnant..." Wen Tang and Qin Gong stood in the courtyard and explained softly, "It's just that I used too much greasy food at the banquet, and my throat is still uncomfortable."
Qin Gong lowered his head, his gaze lingering briefly on her now flat belly, then he raised his head and said, "Gluttony is harmful to your health. You should learn to control yourself."
He preached from time to time, and Wen Tang had no idea how many times he had heard it.
"Master." A soft female voice came from behind him. Wen Tang turned around and saw Wen Zhiyi, who had kept his head down and remained silent throughout the banquet.
Qin Gong was still somewhat polite to his wife's elder sister and nodded slightly as a response.
Wen Zhiyi felt mixed emotions. For Wen Zhiyi, it had been some time since she last saw Qin Gong from afar in the palace.
The next time I saw Qin Gong, I was alone listening to everyone at the banquet congratulating his wife Wen Tang on giving birth to an enviable pair of twins, a boy and a girl.
She and Jiang Dao had been married for years, yet she still had no children. Seeking medical advice, praying to the gods, all to no avail. If this was the price to pay for a second chance, she was willing. But Wen Tang was truly fertile. While others would pray for years to have a child, she gave birth to a pair in one go.
During this period, Jiang Dao rarely returned to the mansion. He was busy outside all day. Qin Gong, as a close minister to the emperor, should be even busier. But he could still return home at night. What did he do when he returned home? He slept with Wen Tang and made her pregnant with his child.
Wen Zhiyi's eyes involuntarily swept across Qin Gong's waist and abdomen, and suddenly paused. The little gold locket she and he had was gone, replaced by a simple amulet.
Qin Gong was such a perceptive person. If it weren't for the fact that the other party was Wen Tang's nominal sister, he should have been dragged out and beaten with a stick for such a presumptuous look.
"Uncle..." Wen Zhiyi suppressed his thoughts, then glanced at Wen Tang beside him and said softly, "Sister."
Wen Tang felt that she should have been greeted by Wen Zhiyi.
Qin Gong was indeed very busy with work and had very strict self-discipline. Even on his days off, he rarely indulged himself. He mostly studied in the study or practiced with others in the martial arts field. From a distance, Fu Jiu came over.
Wen Tang understood, "Master, please go and do your work first."
Wen Zhiyi then withdrew her gaze from Qin Gong and slowly moved it down to Wen Tang's lower abdomen. There was an indescribable concentration in her gaze. If Wen Tang was not pregnant, she would have found this gaze a little scary.
"My sister is so lucky. She got a son and a daughter this year. She's the envy of others." Wen Zhiyi smiled.
She paused, then continued, "I think that Master has practiced martial arts for many years and has a strong physique, which is beyond the reach of ordinary people. It is natural that it will be easy for him to blossom and bear fruit."
"This morning, the old lady held my hand and kept saying, 'You have a new, well-behaved and sensible cousin in your courtyard. You should pay more attention to her and take better care of her.'"
Although they were sisters in name, they were not actually familiar with each other. They felt even more awkward than strangers. After a few brief greetings, they went their separate ways.
But Wen Zhiyi was thinking about one thing on the way back.
The last time she was in the palace, she saw Wen Tang coming out of Lord Zhang's house. At the banquet today, although the two were strangers and their eyes had not even met, she looked at Zhang Yao's figure carefully and even noticed an inconspicuous old scar on his forehead.
The figure was strangely familiar. She had seen the man Wen Tang had met before from afar.
The man was very tall, holding Wen Tang tightly in his arms. His forehead seemed to have been smashed by something, and blood was flowing out. He looked embarrassed and ferocious...
But isn't that man a country bumpkin?
Or is it that Wen Tang has no self-discipline at all?