Guide to Traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty.

Chapter 1242 Epilogue : Zi Feng gets what she wants

Just as Xie Yan said, he was only responsible for writing letters and didn't care what the court did.

After sending the letter, Xie Yan stayed at home and enjoyed himself.

It's winter vacation.

Besides, the weather is cold and I don't feel like doing any work.

Well, when the weather is hot, he doesn't feel like doing any serious work.

Two days before the winter solstice, Qingluan prepared a list of gifts and gave it to the princess and her husband for review.

Zhu Tangxi handed it to Xie Yan without even looking at it, and said to Qingluan: "Liu Lang is the head of the family, don't forget it."

"I'll remember this." Qingluan said hurriedly.

No matter who is the head of the family, it is necessary to show it to the princess first, and Qingluan must make her attitude clear. Next time when something like this happens, she will still present it to the princess first.

The gift list in front of me is for the Winter Solstice.

The importance of the winter solstice in ancient times can be seen from two things.

One is the three grand court meetings every year, one of which is scheduled on the winter solstice. The government attaches great importance to it.

Second, on the winter solstice, children are allowed to play all night, commonly known as "keeping the winter solstice".

As far as gift-giving is concerned, the ancient winter solstice festival gave gifts to each other, and even took away the ecological niche of New Year gifts.

Xie Yan opened the gift list and took a look.

First came the gifts for the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.

Next came the gifts for the princesses (Zhu Tangxi’s sisters and nieces).

After that, there were gifts for servants and hired workers, including the princess's suburban estate, Xie Yan's cement factory, and senior managers.

As for nobles and important officials, Zhu Tangxi did not plan to send anyone to give gifts in order to avoid suspicion.

Xie Yan thought about it and added more than ten people.

There are the old president, Mr. Li, and friends in the academic community who live in Luoyang. Well, Xie Yan also plans to send gifts to the famous doctor in Luoyang who he occasionally communicates with.

The gift is not expensive, it is just a token of my appreciation.

"Sister, do you think it's appropriate?" Xie Yan handed the revised gift list to the princess.

Zhu Tangxi glanced through it, nodded and said, "Okay."

Qingluan immediately went to make arrangements.

The specific procurement and delivery are naturally carried out by other loyal servants.

After Xie Yan spent some time with the princess, he went to the laboratory and specially called Daiyu to come with him.

According to the current learning progress, Daiyu will be able to manage the laboratory next spring. First, she will clean the laboratory, assist in experiments, and take and store chemicals.

In the afternoon, there was nothing to do.

The princess took Xie Yan to the piano room and played for a while before teaching him how to play the piano.

Xie Yan forced himself to study just to please the princess, as he himself had no musical talent.

Zhu Tangxi was very happy, especially when she saw Xie Yan's clumsy look.

After holding Xie Yan in the piano room for two hours, Zhu Tangxi finally knew whether to laugh or cry: "Forget it, forget it, just do your own thing."

"I can do it. How about learning to read music notation first?" Xie Yan did not intend to give up. If you want to live off someone, you must be aware of the fact that you are living off someone.

"That's fine." Zhu Tangxi did not remind him that this was like learning to walk before learning to crawl.

What Xie Yan learned from the princess was not the Gongche notation, but the Jianzi notation for the guqin, which only recorded the playing method and pitch, but not the note name and rhythm.

It looks abstract at first glance, but is quite complex upon closer inspection.

There is no other musical notation to replace it. Even in the 21st century, the learning and playing of Guqin still uses Jianzi notation. Simplified notation, five-line notation and the like can only be used as an aid.

The more Xie Yan studied, the more confused he became. There were too many fingerings, and his brain could remember them quickly, but his hands didn't obey. Then he realized that his brain didn't seem to remember them at all.

Just a few seemingly correct Chinese characters express what note to play with the left hand and what note to play with the right hand.

Just like a martial arts secret book!
Gradually, Xie Yan actually became interested.

He had previously practiced basic fingerings, which he found boring. Now, he practiced with the reduced notation and disassembled each notation, just like solving a difficult problem.

Zhu Tangxi was speechless when he saw it.

Let’s use cooking as an analogy. Forget about flipping the pot and stirring the wok to check the heat. Xie Yan didn’t even know that salt is salty and sugar is sweet.

He started learning how to cook sweet and sour pork directly, then broke down each step and learned all kinds of common sense in the process.

All I can say is that there are different knife techniques for killing a pig or a butt.

After learning the piano for an afternoon, Xie Yan felt that his skills had greatly improved, but Zhu Tangxi just thought he was joking.

If her husband wants to play, she just plays with him, and Zhu Tangxi enjoys it.

Outside the piano room.

Qingluan pulled Zifeng to a corner: "Is it really tonight?"

"Do you want to regret it?" Zi Feng felt aggrieved. "Your Highness has already agreed, but you still monopolize my husband. How can you treat me like a sister?"

Qing Luan smiled and said, "How about a threesome?"

"What threesome?" Zi Feng was confused.

Qing Luan explained in a low voice: "Liu Lang said that a threesome means three people together. He heard that Your Highness suffered from insomnia in the past few years, and I often hugged Your Highness to sleep. Since two people can sleep together, three people can also sleep together."

Zi Feng didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "What is this? Can the Analects be used in this way?"

"There are many more solutions." Qingluan leaned close to Zifeng's ear and whispered.

Zi Feng's cheeks flushed when she heard this: "You have learned bad things from following my husband. I don't want a threesome. Even if Liu Lang likes it, I only want two people for the first time. Hehe, the red candles are ready."

Qingluan asked, "I saw you secretly embroidering a mandarin duck a while ago. Are you planning to wear it inside tonight?"

"I won't tell you." Zi Feng said proudly.

She became more and more certain that her husband liked big breasts, and she would take a look at them almost every day.

This gave Zi Feng more confidence and made him proud of his own ambition.

So she made her own battle suit. When the time comes, she will not wear a tube top but only a half-length white silk red bottom mandarin duck bellyband, which will surely make her lover fall in love with her.

Qing Luan said disdainfully: "You little slut, have you been wearing a soft pillow recently?"

"What is it to you?" Zi Feng didn't bother to argue.

"Suzhen" is a bra, which is said to have been invented by Shen Yourong, the founding queen of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Guoxiang: It has nothing to do with me, please don’t slander me.

Unfortunately, many women nowadays, especially those who have given birth, do not wear this thing when going out, because it will make their breasts look firmer and bigger.

Of course, she wears a lot of clothes at home, just for her man to see.

Zifeng was on duty and went to have dinner. Feeling that she still had plenty of time, she secretly took a shower and changed into new clothes.

Qingluan was speechless when she saw this: "Why are you changing clothes? It's still early."

"Is my husband in there?" Zi Feng asked.

Qingluan said, "No. Your Highness is a little tired, so he took a walk after dinner and took a rest inside. Liu Lang is in the study, and Daiyu and Baochai are waiting on him."

Zi Feng said contemptuously: "What do they know about serving others? Don't let my husband down."

Qingluan said, "You go ahead. I'll be guarding this side, Your Highness."

Xie Yan was working in the study.

After the Winter Solstice Festival, the Ministry of Rites would summon several chemists to compile new chemistry textbooks for the imperial examinations.

Xie Yan was too lazy to show off, because it was too tiring and would make people jealous. He only wrote a proposal, suggesting which experiment to use as an example in a certain chapter, and used it to let students master the relevant experimental equipment.

The proposal can be submitted for reference only, and he will not personally participate in the compilation of the textbook. It is OK for him to be listed as the author of the textbook, or not.

Daiyu stood quietly, ready to add ink for her husband at any time, and was also responsible for adjusting the wick of the kerosene lamp.

Baochai was staring at the brazier beside her, yawning from time to time with her hands covering her mouth. She felt sleepy as soon as she came to the study.

"Boom boom boom!"

"Come in."

The door was opened and quickly closed, but a gust of cold wind still blew in.

Zifeng brought in a bowl of hot porridge on a tray.

Daiyu didn't look away.

Baochai looked at Zifeng's breasts, then turned her head and curled her lips: This bad woman, her breasts are already big, and she actually uses something to push them up higher.

"It's freezing cold, Liulang, have some porridge to warm yourself up." Zi Feng said.

"Well, put it aside."

Xie Yan didn't even raise his head and continued working at his desk.

Zi Feng stopped talking and stood by waiting. After a few minutes, she picked up the bowl and said, "Liu Lang, the porridge is getting cold."

Xie Yan finally put down his pen.

Zi Feng quickly scooped up a spoonful, caught it in a bowl, and brought it to Xie Yan's mouth.

Xie Yan was busy with work, so how could he have time to drink slowly? After swallowing the spoonful, he took the bowl and drank the porridge in big gulps.

Zi Feng took the opportunity to say, "Qing Luan is not feeling well tonight."

Xie Yan thought Qingluan had her period and just nodded without saying anything more.

Zi Feng looked shy, lowered her eyebrows and said: "I am willing to warm Liu Lang's bed."

"Cough cough!"

Xie Yan choked on his porridge and then looked up at Zi Feng.

Well, she had put on makeup and dressed up specially, and that charming look made Xie Yan feel hot all over.

The Prince Consort had to maintain his modest and dignified image in front of the two maids, and immediately said indifferently: "Go back to your room and wait."

"Yes!" Zi Feng bowed and took his leave.

As soon as she got out the door, she cheered and even skipped back.

She had her own separate bedroom and even another room for her personal belongings.

Moreover, she lived in the same courtyard as Qingluan, and she often ran over to eavesdrop on what was going on.

Zifeng took out two red candles from the drawer and carefully inserted them into the candlesticks. She also took out a small stove to boil wine, and calculated the time to heat the wine and drink the wedding cup.

Then he lit a brazier to warm the house.

After washing her hands again, she took off her clothes and put on the mandarin duck bellyband.

After waiting for a long time, the prince consort still hadn't arrived. Zi Feng gradually became a little anxious, and from time to time she looked into the yard through the crack in the door.

Finally, footsteps were heard in the yard.

A maid holding a lantern brought the prince consort here.

"You guys go back and rest."

"Yes!"

Zifeng stood behind the door and unbolted it.

Xie Yan pushed the door open and walked in.

Zifeng waited for him to come in, quickly closed the door, and helped him take off his cloak and hang it on the hanger.

"I went to the princess. Been waiting for a long time, right?" Xie Yan asked.

Zi Feng said passionately: "It is worth waiting any longer to be favored by you, my lord."

Although Xie Yan saw Zi Feng every day, they had never had any in-depth communication. They only had a few daily conversations occasionally.

A very familiar stranger.

"This red candle is very beautiful." Xie Yan made small talk.

Zi Feng smiled and said, "I took a leave to go out and buy it. I went through several stores and the price is not cheap."

Xie Yan lit the red candle himself and chatted casually: "Is your family okay?"

Zi Feng went to pour hot wine and said, "My parents and brothers are all here. I will send them some money every year."

"I call Qingluan "Youniang" in private, so how should I call you?" Xie Yan asked.

Zi Feng smiled and said, "You can call me whatever you like, Liu Lang."

Xie Yan said: "How about calling you Xiao Feng'er?"

"It sounds nice." Zi Feng was very happy. This was a nickname that belonged only to her.

Xie Yan pulled her to sit in his arms: "Xiao Feng'er is a native of Luoyang?"

Zifeng said: "I am from Henei, Huaizhou, and was selected to enter the palace."

Caixuan is the selection of concubines, basically to become palace maids of slightly higher status.

As for the palace maids who were responsible for odd jobs, they were directly recruited in Luoyang. It was enough that their family members had no criminal record, and the requirements for appearance were not high.

The requirements for concubines are higher, and they are selected every five years.

It was not a big deal. The local government would just post a notice and people would send their daughters to apply. If the family had no criminal record, the daughters themselves had no disabilities, met the age requirements, and had a dignified and beautiful appearance, they would be selected for admission.

Each prefecture and county had only a few places for beauties, who were then sent to the Luoyang Palace for training.

Most of the concubines were actually workers, but their wages were higher than those of the lower-level palace maids. They also had a few days every year when they could send money to their families and receive letters from them.

But they were not allowed to write letters to their families to avoid leaking information from the palace.

Including the training time, they usually stayed in the palace for five and a half years before being sent out to marry. Such beautiful girls who returned home were extremely popular when it came to marriage.

Even after she left the palace and had not yet left Luoyang, a matchmaker came to contact her.

After an unknown amount of time, they had already drunk the wedding wine, took off their outer clothes and cuddled in the quilt, with Zifeng telling her about her past.

"My family runs a small shop," Zifeng said, "not a proper shop, just a stall in the town selling tea. One day, an official came to the town to post notices, and seeing that I was pretty, he joked to my father: The official is going to select concubines, and your daughter is pretty good, maybe she can become a concubine in the future. Even if she can't become a concubine, she can still earn some money for the family, and she can marry into a good family in the future."

Xie Yan reached out and grabbed the big white rabbit, feeling the amazing touch: "Is he entering the palace just like that?"

"Yes," Zifeng said, "I didn't know anything at the time. I followed my father to register at the government office. When I arrived at the palace, I learned the rules for another half a year. Because I knew a few words at home, I learned to read and write faster in the palace, so I was chosen to be with the princess. It must be God's will. God chose me to enter the palace just to meet Liu Lang."

"You are so devoted to me, aren't you jealous?" Xie Yan really wanted to know what the maids were thinking.

Zi Feng would never tell the truth, so she would definitely say something nice: "Liu Lang is a star descended to earth, a rare good man in the world. For a humble slave like me to be favored by Liu Lang is a blessing I have cultivated for eight lifetimes. I am not jealous, and I am already satisfied to be able to have sex with Liu Lang once a month."

"What a little fool." Xie Yan was too lazy to think about it.

He just needs to enjoy himself. The sisters at home must be simple and kind-hearted women.

Zi Feng continued to flatter: "I want to be Liu Lang's little fool for the rest of my life."

"Do you know how to kiss?" Xie Yan asked with a smile.

Zi Feng had a naive look on her face, but she rubbed her chest against Xie Yan: "I don't know anything, please teach me patiently, Liu Lang."

"Little fairy!"

Xie Laoliu became very beastly.

(End of this chapter)