Prime Minister

Chapter 121 Find time to meet

There are two Wu mansions on Jinliangqiao Street, one is Wu Yu's prime minister's house, and the other is Wu Chong's mansion.

The two brothers originally lived together, but now that Wu Chong moved to be the magistrate of Shanzhou, he also bought a house in Beijing, which was next to Wu Yu's mansion.After the completion, the two mansions are connected together, and the children can move around freely.

Knowing that Wu Yu was unwell, all the officials in Beijing came to visit. Pang Yuanying, the son-in-law of Pang Ji, always came to visit.

The third son-in-law is Ren Yi, a doctor of Taichang, and his father is Ren Bu, a young teacher of the prince, and the couple even wait on him.

Wu Yu had ten sons, but most of them did not live in the capital. Only the eldest son Wu Andu was in Beijing, and he received guests.Wu Andu didn't have an official status and couldn't control the scene. Wu Anshi from Wu Chong's mansion, Wu Anchi also helped to receive them.

As for Wu Andu's wife is the daughter of Shangshu Zuocheng Fan Yong, who has received the family members of the government as the eldest daughter-in-law.

Ouyang Xiu, Ouyang Fa and Ouyang Fa's wife Wu Shi came to visit Wu Yu.

Ouyang Xiu was left by Wu Yu to speak, but Ouyang Fa knew that the two had something important to say, so he and Wu Shi left the courtyard first.

Ouyang Fa turned his head and glanced at the endless stream of senior officials and ministers in the yard, and said to Wu with great emotion: "When Dad came, he said that none of Wu's ten sons who participated in politics passed the entrance examination. It's a pity."

"Anduben is the most outstanding one. It is unexpected that the examiners are favored. They fail the examinations again and again. It seems that they have to wait for the Yin officials. It is a pity that the high-ranking officials and ministers of this dynasty must be born as Jinshi. It seems that Wu will participate in politics in the future. The family has to rely on Lao Taishan."

Wu said: "My two brothers are probably useless. Let's not talk about this, I will go back to see my sister first, and after my father leaves the house, I will send someone to call me."

Ouyang laughed and said: "Young lady, I'll go on my own. I'll let daddy go back first, and then I'll come to Taishan mansion to look for you."

Immediately, several old ladies and maids followed Mrs. Wu out of the corner gate and went straight to his house.

The old lady at the corner gate was an old man in the family, and when she saw Mrs. Wu, she came up excitedly and kowtowed.

After Wu wiped away her tears, she walked into the mansion.When she was not married, Wu Chong had just bought a house on Jinliangqiao Street, now several years have passed, and every time she comes, she becomes more and more unfamiliar.

After drinking half a cup of tea, Mrs. Wu came to the inner house, went to the corridor and saw a woman in an apricot yellow shirt walking towards her.She couldn't help saying: "Seventeen Niang."

It was Seventeen Niang who came.

When the sisters met each other, they expressed their heartfelt feelings. The two held hands and sat down in the corridor. Seventeen Niang asked, "Why is my brother-in-law willing to come here alone?"

Wu said with a smile: "Uncle still has a lot to say to my father-in-law, so I came here. As for your brother-in-law, there is nothing to say about whether you are willing or not."

Seventeen Niang said with a smile: "Sister Madam is so kind, I treat you as before."

"It's okay." When Wu Shi heard her sister say that her husband and wife were harmonious, she had a smile in her eyes, her spirits were high, and there was a sense of complacency.

Seventeen Niang said: "Among the sisters in the two houses of our Wu family, the elder sister belongs to your husband and wife. I heard that the elder uncle's Wu Niang is also the same, but she is still not as good as the elder sister.

Wu Shi smiled and asked: "Where is the fifteenth mother? Does she not live in the mansion now?"

Seventeen Niang said: "Now the family is preparing for the marriage with Wenfu. Dad said that the rules of the prime minister's house are no better than those of ordinary ministers. The mother-in-law over there is a strict person, so the aunt I invited a few maids from the palace to teach me, so that Miss Fifteen can learn a little bit of mistakes so that people can't find out. She has learned some rules in Biyunxuan for half a month, and I haven't seen her since I returned to Bianjing. her side."

Wu sighed: "It's really hard for Shiwu Niang. There is no one in this world who can't be picked at all. The mother-in-law and sister-in-law of the prime minister's family, which one is so easy to get with, this is just the beginning."

Seventeen Niang pursed her lips and said with a smile: "My sister doesn't seem to be optimistic about Shiwu Niang's marriage."

Wu said: "I'm a knife-mouthed bean curd, you remind her of my words, so that you won't go back to your mother's house and cry in the future."

"Speaking of which, you and she are the smartest of the sisters in the family. They can learn everything at once. Now that the fifteenth mother is going to marry, you have to make plans yourself."

"Yes, why don't you go and learn with Shiwu Niang?"

Seventeen Niang said with a smile: "I just arrived in Bianjing and I was exhausted by boats and cars, but I just wish I could be more relaxed."

Wu took a deep look at Shi Qiniang and knew that although her mother said that her face was flat, she was still biased at this time.

She even changed the topic and said: "Uncle is not in good health now, but I hope there will be no twists and turns in Shiwuniang's marriage."

Seventeen Niang said with a smile: "Stop talking about such unpleasant things, go and sit in my room."

Wu said with a smile: "Alright, there is a fun utensil brought to you."

Wu went to Shi Qi Niang's boudoir, but she was still simple and generous.She knew that when her two younger sisters married to the mansions of the two prime ministers, Lu and Xia, they brought a lot of dowry items, which were displayed all over the house, and she wished that everyone in her husband's family could see them.Daily living is extravagant, the mats are changed every three days, and the bedding is thrown away when they are old, which is somewhat oppressive to the sisters-in-law.

On the other hand, Shi Qi Niang's house is simple, and the things used are half-new and not old, so it is the bearing of a lady.

Mrs. Wu thought to herself that the relationship between the fifteenth and the seventeenth wives was not good because they grew up together in Wu's mansion, and they were both top-notch among the sisters.

Fifteen Niang is a descendant, so if she is careful, she will be superior to others. After seeing the two sisters marrying into the prime minister's house, the whole family looks honorable. people compare.Usually, she and Shi Qi Niang have a heart of comparison, so the relationship between the two sisters is not very good.

Having said that, Wu took out a seal and said, "What do you think of this?"

Seventeen Niang picked up the seal and looked at it: "This is the Shoushan Stone, but it's the first time I've seen someone use it to carve a seal."

Seventeen Niang looked at it again and said: "It doesn't look like it was carved by a craftsman, the carving is lacking, but the strokes of the seal characters are quite obvious, it must be carved by a literati."

Wu said with a smile: "Sister Seventeen, your eyes are too poisonous, that's right."

Seventeen Niang said: "It's really ingenious that this person thought of using very soft Shoushan stone to carve characters, so that he can carve his own seal without a skilled craftsman."

"But after all, it is a stone seal, not as important as a jade seal or a gold seal. However, the seal characters are really good, regardless of the engraving work. It can be seen that the writer's vision and artistic conception are in it, but it seems a bit familiar...Thank you sister for giving me such a gift. .”

Wu Shi smiled and said, "It's fine if you like it."

Seventeen Niang thought about it, and said with a smile: "My father-in-law and brother-in-law both like such gold and stone things. I don't know why they are willing to give up their love? Or are there many such seals in the mansion?"

Wu said with a smile, "Okay, you came up with other ideas. The Fuzhong sent a total of five pieces. It was given by a scholar named Zhang from Fujian. His husband is Zhang Boyi, a master of seal script today."

"Your brother-in-law said that he is good at writing seal script. As for this engraving, he did it easily, but it is already remarkable."

"It really is him." Seventeen Niang's eyes were blurred for a moment, and Xun took another look at the seal in her hand.

Seeing the strange expression on Shi Qiniang's face, Mrs. Wu couldn't help asking: "What do you mean it's really him?"

Seventeen Niang held the seal in her hand, and said: "He came from Pucheng to Beijing to take the imperial examination, so he went with my brother. This man has extraordinary knowledge and a heart of innocence. I want to share with my brother-in-law We must be able to talk about speculation."

"Your brother-in-law really hit it off with him, but it's rare to see you complimenting someone like that." Mrs. Wu carefully looked at Shi Qiniang's face.

Seventeen Niang laughed and said: "Where, on weekdays, I often say how good my brother-in-law is!"

Wu smiled and thought to herself, by saying that, Shi Qi meant that he wanted to introduce this son to the officials?

Wu said: "Brother-in-law really likes this seal, but I know you like it more, so I asked for it. Don't let Shiwu Niang know about this. Otherwise, I should say I am partial."

Seventeen Niang smiled and said: "Okay, but Miss Fifteen is busy with getting married now, so she doesn't have time to get angry with me. By the way, did Mr. Ouyang write a poem?"

"My father-in-law has so many poems, who knows which one."

"It's the song 'Xiu already knows you, you're not ashamed'!"

After visiting Wu Yu, Ouyang Xiu and Ouyang have been sent back to the mansion.

In the middle of the night, Ouyang Xiu called Ouyang Fa to the study.

Ouyang Xiu is 52 years old this year, but he is well maintained, with deep eyes and a deep bearing.

When he saw Ouyang Fa, he asked, "How's the homework going?"

Ouyang Fa replied cautiously: "My child has always worked hard."

Ouyang Xiudao: "I was deeply touched when I went to the Wu family today. The Wu family has one family, one father, four sons, and five Jinshi, but in the generation of grandson, no one has reached the top so far. Do you know why?"

Ouyang Fa said: "The children of the Wu family also have contacts, so they are good people."

Ouyang Xiu said: "He is a good person, but he has lost a little bit of energy in studying. Do you know why the Han and Lu families have been victorious in the court for decades? It is because they have produced Jinshi for generations."

"That's why some people gossip. The people of the world are not from Han, but from Lu. The children of others never point to the grace and beauty of officials, so they are so easy to be arrogant and indulge in pleasure, and don't think about making progress."

"Yes, the child will remember his father's teachings."

Ouyang Xiu said: "You are the eldest brother, you should set an example for your younger brothers! If you don't want to study, you can go back to Yingchuan and live as an apartment. Don't embarrass me in Bianjing!"

After Ouyang Xiu finished speaking, Xun asked again: "Yes, Zhang Boyi, how is Zhang Biaomin's disciple settled down?"

"The boy gave him money and silver, let him live first."

Ouyang Xiudao: "He came to Bianjing from thousands of miles away, and he brought gifts and letters. You need to treat each other carefully, and you must not be rude."

"Now I'm busy with business affairs, and I'm also in politics. I'm sick, so I can't get away for a while. You entertain me well, and when I'm free someday, just let him go over to the house."

Ouyang Fa couldn't help but said: "Father, Mr. Zhang Sanlang is a rare talent, I think I should find time to meet him."

"Oh?"

(End of this chapter)