After dinner, Fang Jinglan left the old lady in the new house, whether Fang Jinglan was sincere or based on face issues, in short, in the eyes of outsiders, he was indeed very good to the old lady's stepmother. Looking at the courtyard where the old lady lived, it was no worse than the Songhe Courtyard in Qizhou City.

When you enter the new Songhe-in, there is a wide courtyard planted with evergreens, pines and cypresses that are easy to plant and easy to care for. Facing the main entrance is a wide open hall, with four or four yellow rosewood hooded chairs on the left and right, tiled with delicate and simple stool covers. On the kang table in the center, there are ice silk bamboo cushions, carved silk flower cushions, and a few dark brown python small cushions scattered around.

The old lady and Fang Jinglan sat on the kang together, the old lady looked around the hall, but she was also satisfied, and after being grateful, Fang Jinglan said respectfully: "Although you are not my biological mother, but over the years, if it were not for my mother's careful care and Dundun's teachings, there would be no son's achievements today." The son can have today, and the mother has contributed a lot. It is also right for your son to honor you. ”

"The old man can have this filial piety, and the old woman is also satisfied." Seeing that Fang Jinglan ordered the girls to serve tea and asked them to go out and guard outside the house, he frowned and asked, "Does the master still have something to say to me?" ”

Fang Jinglan didn't talk nonsense, and opened the door and said: "The Ministry of Officials issued a clear decree last month, and in two days, I will go to the Ministry of Officials to exchange documents and official seals." What does the mother think? ”

The old lady replied: "How can I, an old woman in a deep boudoir, know about these things in the officialdom? Just one sentence to warn the master, the salt transport envoy looks at the fat difference, but the water in it is deep. Most of the wealthy families in Beijing are colluding with salt merchants, so the lord must take care of himself. ”

Fang Jinglan said solemnly: "Thank you mother for mentioning it, my son wrote it down." ”

The old lady nodded, "The old man has always been steady and reliable. Although it is not easy to be the envoy of the salt transportation capital, the master has always been cautious as an official, and I am also relieved. It's that your wife is getting more and more fine, and it's really a shame for our family. ”

Fang Jinglan also smiled bitterly, "There is no way to teach a wife, it is indeed a son." Please rest assured that her son will warn her in private. ”

"My wife is not easy to ask about your room. Still, there are some things I have to say. This is not comparable to Qizhou City, Gyeonggi City, there is a rule for everything, and you must not be careless. It is natural for a man to have three wives and four concubines, and the old man enjoys hugging left and right, but he also has to make the rules. Even if the wife is 10,000 bad, she is still a housewife. Don't let the concubine climb to the top of your head. If this breaks the common principles of reasoning, in case of trouble, it will be a big problem. ”

Fang Jinglan said respectfully: "What the mother said is very true, and the son has written it down. ”

Then, the old lady said again: "Now that you have been promoted, you have to help Jingxuan no matter what." I'm just such a daughter, Jing Xuan is also your only sister, she has a bad life, and I feel uncomfortable. I've been pretty good in my life, but I've never had a son, but I've always been addicted to motherhood. It's contentment. But Jingxuan has always reassured me, you, as an elder brother, can help if you can. The old woman is grateful. ”

Fang Jinglan said with a straight face: "Mother is talking nonsense again, Jingxuan is my sister-in-law, our brother and sister have been affectionate since childhood, and now my brother-in-law's family is in trouble, and my son will do his best to help." Mother is relieved. After a pause, he hesitated and said, "I heard that the sister-in-law's nephew is now eighteen years old and has not yet married a wife, can Jingxuan have a favorite daughter-in-law?" ”

The old lady glanced at him and smiled bitterly, "Jing Xuan has taken a fancy to one family, but it's a pity that ----"

Fang Jinglan said curtly: "It's our sunny girl, right?" ”

"Hmm. Jing Xuan liked Qing girl a few years ago. The old lady stared at Fang Jinglan's expression carefully, and said slowly: "Actually, in my selfish heart, I also want to let Qing Yatou marry her, so that I can have a kiss and a kiss." Second, she is purely selfish, the girl is knowledgeable, smart, well-behaved and sensible, married to the Zhao family, and has a companion with Xuan'er. Xuan'er, in the Zhao family, is really lonely. ”

Fang Jinglan was silent for a while, and said: "Mother, Jin'er's virtuous nephew is eighteen this year, and our Ruqing is only thirteen years old, so it's too young to talk about family affairs now." ”

The old lady stared at Fang Jinglan fixedly.

Fang Jinglan was a little weak-hearted, and he didn't dare to look directly at the old lady's eyes. only left and right, "Mother, Ruqing is still young now, not to mention that there are still Rushan and Rumei who have not yet said their family affairs, and it is not too late to talk about the two sisters' family affairs." ”

The old lady sighed secretly, retracted her gaze, rubbed the corners of her forehead, and looked tired, "Yes, Ruqing is indeed a little smaller." ”

Fang Jinglan breathed frequently, "What does that mother mean ----?"

The old lady laughed to herself, "Me? What else could I mean? It doesn't matter how interesting I am. You can't marry by force, right? ”

Fang Jinglan's face was stunned, "Mother, it's not that the son refuses to marry his sister, it's really that Ruqing is still young, and it is not appropriate to make a decision on the family matter." Zhiyi wrote to me again and again, asking me to consider Ruqing's marriage carefully, and he personally chose a son-in-law for Ruqing. Mother, you also know that Zhiyi is not enthusiastic about anyone, but he is really protective of Ruqing, a girl. I'm afraid that if I take the liberty of making a family appointment for Ruqing, Zhiyi will definitely annoy us. ”

The old lady said noncommittally: "You are the father of the child and the head of the family, and you are the master of the girl's life, so why do you still listen to your son?" It's really putting the cart before the horse. However, Qing Yatou has been painful and considerate since she was a child, and it is understandable that Zhiyi protects her like this. Anyway, the marriage of the sunny girl, let's think about it in the long run. ”

Fang Jinglan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and said: "My son thinks the same way, anyway, the children are still young, so choose slowly, don't worry." What I am worried about now is the knowledge of righteousness. This child is now past the age of a weak crown, not only has he not married a wife, but he does not even have a side room by his side, and he is really distressed. The son is thinking about it, choose two lovely girls, send them to Zhiyi carefully, and often serve by his side, which is always reassuring. ”

The old lady thought for a moment and said, "This method works. Zhiyi is now twenty years old, and ordinary non-commissioned officers, at such an age, they have long had a group of wives and concubines and a lot of children. However, the matter of marrying a wife is also in a hurry. Now the court is the time to employ people, and it is a great time to make contributions. Zhiyi is now gaining momentum, although he is not the eldest son, but he is also the beloved son of you and Mrs. Da Li. When it comes to marrying a wife, you must also think about it in the long run, and you must not be careless. ”

Fang Jinglan thought of his ex-wife Da Li, and thought that this second son had always been not close to him, and he also had mixed tastes in his heart, so he nodded astringently.

The old lady pondered again, and frowned again, "But Zhiyi's age has been promoted several levels in just a few years, and this promotion is too fast, and it is not reassuring." You have to write to him from time to time, warn him more, the so-called full is lost, humble benefit, think twice before acting, don't be arrogant and rude, and arouse people's jealousy. ”

Fang Jinglan's heart sank, and he hurriedly said yes, and complimented the old lady again.

In the end, the old lady told Fang Jinglan about the various famous and powerful families in Beijing, and the old lady talked about what she had seen and heard in the past six months to Fang Jinglan in detail, which people are worth befriending, and which people have to stay away. Fang Jinglan nodded yes, and then praised the old lady sincerely, "Although my mother is a deep girl, she has never lost to any man in her knowledge and vision. Now the son understands that his mother's reputation as a talented woman in the capital is indeed well deserved. ”

The old lady's expression was faint, "It's just that I've read more books than others for a few days, and I know a little bit of truth." As for talented women? That's what others call fun, and it can't be taken seriously. ”

Fang Jinglan said: "You can't say that. It is a fact that my mother was very knowledgeable and far-sighted. If it weren't for his mother's careful teaching over the years, my son would not be where he is today. I hope that our good children will have the same insight as their mothers in the future. Speaking of kindness, Fang Jinglan sighed, he really loves this daughter, she is beautiful and smart, and what is even more rare is that she is proficient in piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, and has always been one of the best in Qizhou City, which makes him earn enough face in front of his colleagues. However, such an excellent daughter is not very popular, and his wife Xiao Li hates her to the core, although the old lady who has always been fair and discerning does not say anything, but she is also resistant in action. Especially Rumei, the sisters are simply needle-to-needle, which makes him extremely headache.

A sneer appeared on the old lady's lips, "I have never been unfamiliar with the reputation of this talented woman. As a boudoir woman, what is the use of being proficient in poetry and songs? Marrying to the mother-in-law, taking care of the housework, serving the in-laws, giving birth to children, and managing the servant women is not something that can be done with the reputation of a talented woman. Although Rushan has a reputation as a talented woman, she acts in a manner, but she always only cares about herself. If you really want to compare, Rumei is much more pleasing than her. ”

Fang Jinglan had a dish on his face, although he didn't agree with the old lady's words, he was not easy to refute, and only nodded his head.

In the end, he said that Ruqing, Fang Jinglan thought about Zhu's softness and Zhiyi's praise in the letter, and his eyes couldn't help but hide a smile.

"I heard that the Xiang family is going to invite Princess Jing to be a matchmaker, and is ready to order a sunny girl?"

The old lady said, "Yes, there is such a thing." However, Zhili's daughter-in-law refused on the grounds that the elders were not in Beijing and could not be the master. What does the master think of this Xiang family? ”

Fang Jinglan said: "I have been in Qizhou all the year round, and I am really not familiar with the capital. In fact, what he said was that he had no idea where Xiang home was sacred. Because the deputy official of Lin Yuan, the sixth rank of Xianghong District, does not have much real power, and he is not in the scope of inquiry.

The old lady knew his thoughts, and she didn't break it, but said lightly: "That Mrs. Xiang is very satisfied with our family Ruqing." But the lord doesn't have to look down on others, listening to Mrs. Xiang's tone, the lord of the Xiang family will be promoted one day, although it is only half a grade, but it is an official position with real power. What's more, the son of the Xiang family, I heard that he won the fame last year, and after the spring tomorrow, he can directly enter the Hanlin Academy, and then be led by the Jingwang Mansion. ”

Fang Jinglan muttered, "The prestige of the Jingwang Mansion has been in full swing over the years, and it has great power, with 200,000 border troops in its hands, and it is also a hundred responses in the court, and it is deeply appreciated by the first emperor. And now, the new emperor ascended the throne, and as soon as he came, he set up a number of important ministers of the former dynasty, those generals in the court who held heavy troops, although they still treated everyone equally and even added officials, however, I heard that the harem is now more and more favored by Concubine Mu Xian, I am afraid that this Concubine Mu Xian's maiden family will be targeted by the emperor. ”

Although Fang Jinglan said it vaguely, the old lady still heard another meaning, and frowned, "What does the old man mean, the saint is ready to make a move on the general with a heavy army in his hand?" Among them, King Jing is also one of them? ”

Fang Jinglan first nodded, and then shook his head, "Today's Holy Foundation is still relatively shallow, and I don't dare to make any moves in a short period of time. But as soon as he ascended the throne, he quietly promoted the martial arts rookie. Among them, most of Zhiyi's promotion documents were appointed by the emperor himself. This is where the clues can be seen. Again, General Mu Lao commanded 100,000 Beijing troops, and Concubine Mu Xian was unscrupulous in the palace but never punished, but was greatly rewarded, so it can be seen that the emperor is ready to take the shogunate. ”

The old lady was silent, probably agreeing with Fang Jinglan's words.

Fang Jinglan pondered for a while, and then said: "As for King Jing, the so-called extremes of things must be opposed, and prosperity must decline. King Jing has 200,000 border troops, and it stands to reason that King Fan should have left Beijing early to manage military affairs. However, King Jing's Mansion has always been located in the capital, and it seems that the emperor is reluctant to let King Jing stay too far away from Beijing, for fear of being unfamiliar. But King Jing did not return to the border for several years, and it stands to reason that the princess and the prince should also go together. But the princess and the prince have been staying in the capital. I boldly guess that the emperor wants to hold King Jing's wife and children hostage to control King Jing. ”

The old lady gasped, although she felt that what Fang Jinglan said was too outrageous, but after thinking about it carefully, it made quite sense. couldn't help but frown, "Then, according to what you say, it's better for our family to stay away from King Jing's Mansion." ”

Fang Jinglan shook his head, "King Jing and the prince are very helpful to my family, and the fame that Zhiyi has earned now also has a share of the credit of King Jing's son." Our family can't be ungrateful. You can come and go, but don't get too close. so as not to get into trouble. ”

The old lady also nodded, her eyes appreciative, "Over the years that my lord has been an official, he has become more and more familiar with the situation in the court. I was worried about my lord before, but now I really let go. ”

Fang Jinglan smiled bitterly, "Thanks to my mother's praise." The son is just a bystander. If it happens to me, I am afraid that it will be blind and blind, and there is no way to deal with it. ”

"Either way, it's better to be cautious in everything."

After talking for so long, it was so late again, the old lady was already a little tired, and Fang Jinglan couldn't stay any longer when he saw this, so he got up and said goodbye.

When he walked to the door, the old lady stopped him again, "Then, if you come to our house again to propose marriage, why does the lord think?" ”

Fang Jinglan thought about it, "Don't be in a hurry in this matter. Let's take a long-term view. ”

Today, I'm a double watch, I'm tired and I'm going to die, dear, give me some rewards. Ah, I'm dying of exhaustion. I bought imported New Zealand Life Sunshine Colostrum for the babies, I heard that this can enhance resistance after eating, more than 300 a bottle, I have to work hard to write more than half a month of writing to earn it back, crying to death. Hopefully, though, it works.