Chapter 128 I Love You
At the end of January, the old Tang family residence in Beijing welcomed two young masters from Bingzhou - Tang Feng who came to take part in the imperial examination and Tang Song who accompanied him.
Tang Feng was thinking about the spring exam in February. Time was like the copper coins in the pockets of the poor. There were only a few coins, and it would not give him a few more days . Therefore, when he stepped into the gate of the old house, before the servants packed their luggage, he was already holding a book and began to study hard without distraction.
But it was a pity for Tang Song, who was in a playful mood. He was thinking that Tang Feng, who had been reading a book all the way in the carriage, could relax for half a day after entering the capital, and they could go shopping and have something to eat. Unexpectedly, Tang Feng was not moved by his suggestion to go out, and waved his hand like he was shooing away a fly: "Go away, go and have fun by yourself."
Tang Song studied for three days and did nothing for two days, he had no ambition to learn martial arts, but his widowed mother Madam Tang Wu refused to let him learn martial arts and join the army. They were brothers who had entered the same school together. Now that Tang Feng had obtained the title of Juren, he was determined to take the imperial examination to bring honor to his family and change his family status. He could not even pass the examination to become a scholar, so he could only accompany Tang Feng to Beijing and take care of trivial matters for him.
"It's so boring. I might as well go play with Yingying."
Tang Ying's reputation in Beijing grew day by day, and a lot of news was also reported back to Bingzhou. Among them, the old housekeeper of the ancestral house played a great role. He was old, and in addition to taking care of the old house, he also liked to listen to some rumors in the market to kill time. By the way, he also found out a lot about Tang Ying.
When the old housekeeper heard that Master Song was going to look for Tang Ying, he gave him a rumor: "It's being said outside that during the Lantern Festival, the youngest son of Prime Minister Jing saved Miss Yingying and even came to visit her in person. Later, for several days in a row, many people saw Jing Liulang and Miss Yingying together. They said that Master Tang might end up in the Jing Mansion, but I don't know if it's true or not."
Tang Song didn't believe it: "Yingying's sweetheart's surname is Fu. We met him last time we came to Beijing. He is good-looking and also works in the Imperial Cavalry Department. Do you believe what people outside say?"
"Fu? Fu Chen?" The old butler said with a look of "Young Master, please don't tease me" on his face: "The man named Fu has been dead for more than a year, Young Master Song, you don't know."
When Tang Song heard about this, he sighed: My cousin's marriage is too bumpy, and I don't know if Jing Liulang can come true this time?
The dead Fu Chen was a thing of the past, and there were at least eighteen different versions of the cause of his death. It was not worth it for Young Master Song to delve into it. Instead, it was more worthwhile for him to inquire more about the ready-made "future sister-in-law candidate" Jing Liulang.
Jing Liulang is very good-looking in terms of both family background and resume. He is born into a good family, has a smooth career, a bright future, and is of suitable age, making him a good match.
According to what the old housekeeper told Tang Song mysteriously, the elder sister of the wife of Wan the butcher who sells meat in the market works as a servant in Huamu Chen's family. It is said that a few days after the Lantern Festival, Jingfeng's personal attendant went to Huamu Chen's shop to buy flowers, saying that they were specially prepared gifts for a family dinner hosted by Tang Zhangshi.
"Third Madam didn't say it, but I know it all. She asked me to pass some news back to Bingzhou. Isn't it about Miss Yingying? There is no one else to worry about in Beijing. She is worried that Miss Yingying is not living well in Beijing." The old housekeeper's eyes revealed a childish cunning: "Third Madam is just hard-mouthed but soft-hearted."
Tang Song quite agreed with this - Mrs. Tang San was famous for her strictness, but she was kind-hearted and sympathetic to the elderly and the weak. She said that she didn't care about Tang Ying, but turned around and sent the old housekeeper to deliver the message.
Like something she could do.
"In the past two years, I have done nothing but send people to keep an eye on Miss Yingying or to inquire about rumors about her, so as not to make Third Madam worry too much. Who knows... hehe." He laughed proudly, "It happened. In the past ten days or so, Jing Liulang has already run to the Tang Mansion four or five times."
Tang Song looked surprised: "Really? Then I should go and see what my future brother-in-law looks like." He remembered that the man named Fu was really good-looking.
※※※
Since the Lantern Festival, just as the old housekeeper said, Jingfeng has already gone to the Tang Mansion five times.
The first time he went to return the gift, he took Tang Ying's polite words seriously and finalized the deal.
The second family dinner.
There was nothing wrong with Tang Ying entertaining guests in her house, but the other party happened to be an older unmarried man. Zhang Qing was certain that Jing Liulang had some ulterior motives, so she wanted to distance herself from him. She asked Liu Chong to come and keep him company, and finally the family dinner went smoothly.
But the bad thing was that Jing Liulang's long-time attendant was not trustworthy and the next day, word spread that Director Tang had invited Jing Feng to a banquet. There were many people in the court who were keeping an eye on her movements, so some rumors spread privately.
Tang Ying had only been busy for two days when Jing Feng brought his long-time attendant to personally apologize. He repeatedly apologized to Tang Ying for his long-time attendant leaking the news. His attitude was so sincere that it was impeccable. If she took it to heart, it would be simply ungraceful.
"He was not wrong. Master Xiao Jing saved Tang's life, and it is true that his family held a banquet to thank him. If others insist on spreading the word, why should Master Xiao Jing care?"
Unexpectedly, Jing Feng was very serious: "I am a man and I don't care what others say, but Manager Tang is a girl. It's all my fault that my servants are so hateful and have damaged Manager Tang's reputation."
Tang Ying thought it was interesting: "I have never had a good reputation, so Master Xiao Jing, don't take it to heart."
Whenever she thought about it later, she always felt that it was this sentence of hers that caused the disaster.
Jing Feng came to visit twice, both times to give gifts, either wine or fruits and seafood shipped from the south. The reasons were all ready: "Manager Tang is generous and not fussy about small matters, so Jing does not need to worry too much. It just so happens that some of these things were sent by a friend from the south. They are not worth much, but I just want to try something new."
Tang Ying guessed his purpose and asked directly: "Although I am grateful to Master Xiao Jing for saving my life, Master Xiao Jing has been visiting me so frequently. I wonder if you have anything to ask of me?"
The woman sitting in the main seat was capable and dashing, without a single piece of superfluous adornment on her body. Even at home she dressed like a man, in a moon-white round-necked robe. Perhaps she had been in officialdom for so long that she had long forgotten the distinction between genders.
Jing Feng chuckled: "I do have something to ask for."
"Master Xiaojing, please speak."
Jing Feng stood up and bowed to her, then coughed to clear his throat, "I am twenty-four this year, my parents are still alive, and I am still unmarried. I want to ask Master Tang for a favor."
Before he finished speaking, Tang Ying laughed out loud and said, "I understand. Little Master Jing has taken a fancy to one of my girls." She had solved the puzzle she had been having for many days. She no longer had to worry about guessing Jing Feng's intentions. Her voice was full of ease. "You should have told me about this earlier. Although Tang has never been a matchmaker, it doesn't hurt to be a matchmaker once in a while."
Jing Feng: ...Has she never considered herself as an unmarried woman of marriageable age?
"Ahem, Jing has done it so obviously, can't Miss Tang see it?"
"I like you and want to marry you, so I can't wait to find excuses to visit you every day."
Tang Ying burst out laughing.
Since Fu Chen left, she has never met such a straightforward person again. Besides, Fu Chen was just testing her again and again at the beginning, but this guy wanted to marry her right away, which was quite frank.
"Master Jing has probably only been in the capital for a short time and doesn't know what kind of person I am. He has also heard too few rumors from outside, so he has this idea, right?" Tang Ying sincerely suggested, "In fact, I think Master Jing should ask others about me, such as Lord Shen, the Ninth Princess, or your father, Lord Jing, and then he will give up this idea."
Shen Qian believed that Fu Chen's matter was related to Tang Ying. After the news of Fu Chen's death came, he went to Tang's house and made a big fuss. Since then, he broke off his friendship with Tang Ying. When he met her on the road, he refused to even say hello. If Jing Feng went to ask him about it, he would definitely not hear anything nice.
Jing Feng seemed determined: "I have already reported this to my father. He has no objection to this matter. He only said that it is very difficult to impress Tang, and asked me to be prepared to endure hardships."
Tang Ying: My Lord, your ability to smooth things over is truly unmatched. Even when it comes to your son's marriage, you are so open-minded and easy-going that it's unbelievable.
"The old prime minister is right. I think Master Xiao Jing doesn't need to ask for trouble." Tang Ying ordered him to leave: "Master Xiao Jing, please go back. As for marriage, I have no plans to get married for the time being and I am very satisfied with my current life ."
Jing Feng said goodbye politely, but his attitude remained the same: "Master Tang, don't rush to refuse. Anyway, the man is unmarried and the woman is unmarried. As long as you are not married, Jing has hope. Besides...what if His Majesty decides to grant you a marriage one day?"
Stubborn indeed.
After he left, Tang Ying actually sat in the chair and thought for three minutes, considering the possibility of the Emperor of Southern Qi granting her a marriage. However, thinking that the old man had been obsessed with alchemy recently and had long stopped trying to arrange marriages, she felt that this was purely groundless worry and unnecessary.
Zhang Qing quietly walked in, handed her a letter, and said seriously: "Princess Qing sent another letter from home, and also brought a few carts of leather goods and mountain delicacies."
Tang Ying opened the letter and glanced through it, and found that Yang Huniu's handwriting was as ugly as ever. She kept praising her three-month-old son for being so cute. After marrying Prince Qing, Yang Huniu not only did not get rid of her narcissistic habit, but it also gradually worsened. In the five pages of the letter, four and a half pages were used to praise her son.
I finally had the heart to write something else in the remaining few lines, but I was too stingy to write a few more sentences.
One was to thank Tang Ying for sending two large carts of food to the little meat ball in her belly, whose gender she wasn't sure. Since she didn't know whether it was a boy or a girl, she simply prepared one for each. The shameless Yang Yinjun said that the one for the daughter would be kept for her after she gave birth to a daughter.
Second, I want to report that everything is fine. Both mother and child are safe. Even my old father, Prince Qing, and the cats and dogs in the palace are safe and healthy. Don't worry.
"Cats and dogs?" Tang Ying's eyes stayed on the two words "Ping An" that were written in a ferocious manner on the paper, and she frowned in disdain: "Yang Huniu, Yang Huniu, you really should find a teacher to practice your dog-like handwriting."
She is ugly, so she is only worthy of writing letters home to her.
Or maybe one letter every six months, not too often.
Otherwise, she would have to consider sending two calligraphy teachers along with her next time she goes to Gyeongju to send something.
