The remaining fish soup was not wasted, including the fish head meat, which all went into Chen Jingzong's stomach.
Having just made her cry, Chen Jingzong ate with some anxiety. He took her small spoon and scooped the food slowly, instead of directly pouring the food into his mouth from the bowl as he did before.
Huayang sat opposite and continued writing his letter home.
She did not hide anything, so Chen Jingzong watched her write openly. He saw that the first page was all about how her family took good care of her on the road. Her words were full of satisfaction with them. The spoon in Chen Jingzong's hand hit the corner of his mouth, spilling some soup. He dodged hurriedly, and luckily the soup did not fall on his lapel, but his movements were quite large and he looked clumsy.
Huayang glanced at him.
There is still disdain, but it is not the usual hatred, it is more like anger.
Chen Jingzong was so attracted by her glance that he felt itchy both physically and mentally, but he had just promised her not to be lustful, so he had to pretend to be calm.
"Are you reporting good news but not bad news?"
Putting down the soup spoon, Chen Jingzong guessed that this was the only way to explain why she was clearly full of resentment on the road, but the description she wrote was like that of a different person.
Huayang: "I'm just telling the truth. Except for you, your family really cared about me. As for the poor conditions of the post station and the long journey, it's all inevitable."
Chen Jingzong: "Why do you want to get rid of me? How have I treated you badly?"
Before Huayang could bring up the past, Chaoyun's voice came in: "Princess, Prince Consort, the old lady is here!"
The couple looked at each other, Huayang stood up to tidy up the desk, and Chen Jingzong quickly hid the soup bowl and other things... to the clean room.
Huayang: …
She will probably never use this set of cutlery again.
When Chen Jingzong came out, she glared at him and then walked out.
Sun was following Zhen'er into the yard, followed by her maid Lamei.
Sun was the first wife of the cabinet minister Chen Tingjian.
She was born in Lingzhou City. Her father was a teacher in the official school and was very knowledgeable. Chen Tingjian often visited the teacher and got to know Sun and proposed to marry her.
After her mother-in-law passed away, the daughter-in-law, Sun, wore a white cloth dress and a sandalwood hairpin in her hair, dressed like an ordinary woman in the town. However, she was beautiful when she was young, and later she had been following Chen Tingjian as an official's wife. She lived a life of luxury and naturally had a noble demeanor. At first glance, she looked like a wealthy lady.
Siyi Hall is separated from the main house by only a corridor. Yesterday evening, Huayang was frightened by a snake and screamed. Chen Tingjian and Sun both heard it. Sun rushed over to comfort her at that time. She came to check again today and was worried that the delicate princess daughter-in-law might get sick from fright.
Just after asking Zhen'er, Sun saw Huayang coming out of the upper room, followed by her fourth son.
Sun's eyes swept across the faces of the young couple and she narrowed her eyes slightly.
Something doesn't feel right!
The princess disliked the fourth brother's rudeness, and the fourth brother disliked the princess's arrogance. When they were together, they disliked each other, but now they seemed to be in harmony!
Could it be that the princess finally discovered some of the good qualities of the fourth child, such as asking him to block snakes and insects when she is afraid of them
While Sun was thinking secretly, Huayang felt sad when he was reborn and saw his mother-in-law again.
Almost everyone in the Chen family respected her, but her mother-in-law treated her the best.
Her father-in-law and two brothers-in-law were all men, and even though they had to take care of her, they seldom met and talked with her alone. Her two sisters-in-law were even more afraid of her, or perhaps they didn't want to be seen as trying to curry favor with her, so they seldom took the initiative to get close to her. Only her mother-in-law often came to visit her, caring about her and being considerate to her.
Maybe there was also a fear of her involved, but Huayang could tell the difference between sincerity and face, and her mother-in-law really liked her.
Such a good mother-in-law, but in her previous life, she died of pain due to the triple blow of her father-in-law's death, the whole family being imprisoned, and the eldest brother being wrongfully killed.
"Mom, you're here."
Huayang took a few quick steps and held his mother-in-law's left arm.
Sun was stunned!
After the eldest and third daughters-in-law got married, they followed their sons in calling her mother. Only the princess daughter-in-law, because of her noble status, always called her mother politely.
My mother was a good person too. She was an ordinary girl from a certain place, and she was lucky enough to marry a princess as her daughter-in-law. This was already a great honor for our family!
Now hearing the princess' daughter-in-law call her "Mother", Sun felt flattered!
Huayang noticed his mother-in-law's surprise, but didn't know what to explain.
In her previous life, she had never really integrated into this family. This time is different. She wants to live a good life with Chen Jingzong, so she has to make changes in some areas.
Chen Jingzong glanced at her a few times.
Huayang seemed unaware and was focused on entertaining her mother-in-law.
Sun came back to her senses and asked with concern, "After you spread the medicine last night, did you see any more bugs?"
Huayang smiled and shook his head.
Sun looked at the mountains to the north and said helplessly, "This side is close to the mountains, so there are more snakes and insects. We are used to it. Poor princess, this is the first time she has encountered such a thing, she must be scared."
Huayang did not deny it.
In her previous life, she was indeed tortured by the insects that occasionally appeared. She was frightened and lost her temper at Chen Jingzong, which prompted Chen Jingzong to spread pesticides everywhere, and as a result, the number of insects became fewer and fewer.
You are obviously timid, so why weren't you scared when you mistakenly thought Chen Jingzong was a ghost last night
Huayang glanced at Chen Jingzong secretly.
Chen Jingzong thought she was complaining that he didn't defend himself well, and didn't think much about it. He could defend against thieves, but how could he defend against a small snake as thick as a chopstick while staying in the east wing
Having said that, he should be grateful to the little snake, otherwise he would have to sleep alone in the side room and would not have had the joy he had last night.
The three of them entered the main room.
Sun suddenly sniffed.
Huayang was guilty as a thief, and even though she was cheating, she didn't want her mother-in-law to find out.
Chen Jingzong explained: "Because of that snake, I checked everywhere until late last night and woke up late in the morning and had just eaten."
Sun understood and asked her daughter-in-law, "How is the princess's appetite this morning?"
Huayang: "Maybe I've finally adapted to the climate here. My appetite has improved a lot. I ate a bowl of noodles."
Sun was very happy, and looking at her little face, she said, "That's good, that's good. The princess has lost a lot of weight recently, so she needs to recover quickly."
Huayang nodded, thinking that if he could have some sex with Chen Jingzong every day, his health would recover in no time.
After chatting for a while, Sun prepared to leave.
She knew that she came from a humble background and it was hard for her to get along with the princess' daughter-in-law. After staying together for too long, both of them felt uncomfortable.
Huayang and Chen Jingzong sent her out of Siyi Hall together.
As they were walking back, Chen Jingzong asked her, "Why did you suddenly change your mind?"
Huayang: "You can call me whatever I like. What's there to ask?"
Chen Jingzong stepped in front of her and looked down at her: "Changing your words is one thing. You weren't quite right last night. Why did you cry in your sleep?"
Huayang lied: "I had a nightmare."
Chen Jingzong: "But you said you were not dreaming at that time, and you threw yourself into my arms for the first time in your life."
Hua Yang blushed slightly and glared at him, "Don't you like it?"
Chen Jingzong had a complicated look on his face: "I like it, but I've finally broken my vow."
The implication is that if Huayang hadn't taken the initiative to seduce him, he would have continued to mourn obediently.
Huayang would never believe him. She pushed him away, hurried back to the house, and closed the door to prevent him from coming in and disturbing her while she was writing letters home.
Chen Jingzong pushed the door open but did not move. He stood there for a while and then went to the yard.
He would have to go into the mountains more often in the future, so he had to make some handy bows and arrows, and fish baskets.
In the room, Huayang wrote a letter for a while when he suddenly heard the sound of wood rubbing against each other outside. Curious, he went to the window and saw Chen Jingzong sitting on a small bench under the eaves of the east wing, holding a long, wrist-thick piece of wood in one hand and a machete in the other, concentrating on sharpening the tip.
He lowered his head, his profile was handsome and sharp, much better looking than the guards in his aunt's house.
This is her prince consort, the man she had chosen with her own eyes. Even if she was only attracted by his face, she had chosen him herself.
So what if it's crude? She doesn't want him to die, and no one can take his life this time.
.
In front of Siyi Hall is Fucuitang, where Chen Jingzong’s third brother and his family live.
Chen Xiaozong was a top scholar in the imperial examination, full of talent and literary brilliance. Now he has returned to his hometown to mourn. It is inconvenient for him to go out unless necessary, so he can only obey his father's orders and teach his nephews, nieces and two sons in his own school.
Chen Xiaozong didn't like being around children. When his father gave the order, he subconsciously pushed his eldest brother out: "Father, my eldest brother is more knowledgeable than me, and his temper is most like yours among us brothers. He is dignified and steady, and can calm Erlang and the others. Why don't you let my eldest brother teach?"
Chen Tingjian said expressionlessly: "I asked you to teach in order to temper your temper. Your elder brother is already stable enough, so there is no need for him to come."
Chen Xiaozong: …
After teaching in the school in the main house for a whole morning, Chen Xiaozong felt exhausted.
Watching his niece Dalang return to Guanhe Hall, Chen Xiaozong continued to walk towards Fucuitang with his sons Erlang and Sanlang in the corridor.
When I entered the yard, I saw my wife standing under the eaves, one hand supporting her already very pregnant belly, and the other tilting her neck backwards as if she was smelling something.
Chen Xiaozong was surprised: "What are you doing?"
Luo Yuyan asked the maid to take her sons to wash their hands first, then walked over to Chen Xiaozong and whispered in his ear: "I seem to smell the aroma of fried fish, you try it."
Chen Xiaozong laughed before he even tried: "How is that possible? We don't eat meat at home, and there are no other families behind us. Even if someone in the street ahead eats fish, the wind is blowing from the north today, and the fragrance will never reach our side."
Luo Yuyan curled her lips, "Who said there's no one behind us? Fourth brother and the princess live there, and they have a small kitchen! Humph, she's a princess, she can't endure hardship, maybe mother specially sent fish and meat there! I don't care, I'm pregnant with your child, I haven't eaten meat for almost three months, I'm not greedy but the child is, Erlang and Sanlang are both smart, aren't you afraid that this one will starve stupid?"
The princess was miserable, but wasn't she miserable too? She was also the daughter of a marquis in the capital, she had grown up eating and drinking well, so why would she feel bad about a meal of fish and meat
Chen Xiaozong: "Impossible. My father is very strict about rules, and my mother listens to him. They take care of the princess in other aspects, but not in this aspect. It is even more impossible for them to ask the steward to buy meat and give others an excuse for nothing."
Luo Yuyan: "But I smell fish!"
Seeing her so confident, Chen Xiaozong took a sniff, but he didn't know if there was really nothing or if his nose was not as sharp as Luo Yuyan's, Chen Xiaozong didn't smell anything.
At this time, the maid from the main house brought lunch, which consisted of white rice, three dishes and a soup. Of course, both the dishes and the soup were vegetarian.
Chen Xiaozong helped his wife into the main room first, and Erlang and Sanlang also came over after washing their hands.
Erlang was five years old and understood that his family was mourning for his great-grandmother. Sanlang was three years old and did not understand the big principles. When he saw that there was no meat on the table, his favorite, his little face was full of disappointment, and he looked at his parents aggrievedly. He wanted to go back to the capital, where he had meat every day. His grandfather's hometown was too poor, and every meal was vegetables and porridge.
If Luo Yuyan hadn't smelled the fish, she could have endured it, but when she smelled it, she felt aggrieved when she thought of her father-in-law favoring Si Yi Tang, and she couldn't eat!
The atmosphere at the dinner table was gloomy, and Chen Xiaozong saw it and felt very uncomfortable.
The main thing is his wife, the daughter of a marquis, and now she is pregnant. How could he bear to have to eat only these
"Eat first, I'll think of a solution."
Chen Xiaozong said in a gentle voice.
He didn't get the title of Tanhualang for nothing. He has a handsome face, elegant manners, and can coax people with his gentle voice. Which woman can resist him
Luo Yuyan glanced at her husband's handsome face and decided to endure it a little longer.
She was not unreasonable. She had no objection if everyone was in mourning. But if her father-in-law allowed the fourth room to have its own special meal, then she wanted the same treatment!
After dinner, Chen Xiaozong sat in the main hall for about two quarters of an hour before going to Siyi Hall.
Zhen'er was sitting on a small stool at the gate of the yard, with needle and thread in her hands and a sewing basket beside her legs.
Hearing footsteps in the corridor, Zhen'er stuck her head out and saw the third master, who was the top scholar in the imperial examination. He was wearing a white cloth suit and a crown on his head, and looked very handsome.
Zhen'er's cheeks turned slightly red. She quickly packed up the things around her and stood up.
"Third Master."
"Well, I have something to ask your Prince Consort, you go and pass on the message."
The three brothers all had their own courtyards, and it was easy to run into female members of the family once they entered. He was respectful to his eldest sister-in-law, and he dared not be rude to the princess's younger brothers and sisters-in-law, so when he wanted to see his fourth brother, he would talk in the corridor.
Zhen'er took the order and ran to tell Chaoyun.
In the upper room, Huayang and Chen Jingzong had just finished their meal. On the plate in front of Chen Jingzong was a long fish bone with many small thorns on it.
There was not a single thorn on Huayang's side. Chen Jingzong had picked out the thorns from her flesh before taking it from her.
"Princess, the Third Master is here to look for his consort."
Chaoyun had told Zhener not to let anything slip and to come in and report again.
Huayang looked at Chen Jingzong: "Did you smell something?"
The aroma of roasted fish is stronger than that of stewed fish soup. Although Chaoyue also followed Chen Jingzong's example and closed the doors and windows tightly, the aroma still dissipated a little.
Chen Jingzong: "It's useless to smell it. As long as you and I don't admit it, they will have nothing to say."
He asked Chaoyun to pour tea, and his mouth was full of oil. He had to rinse his mouth before seeing his third brother, otherwise the evidence would be too obvious.
Huayang watched him busying himself, thought for a moment, and said, "Third brother doesn't seem like a greedy person. He is probably here for Third Sister-in-law. Third Sister-in-law is pregnant, and it's really pitiful that she has to eat vegetarian meals every day."
I heard that many sisters-in-law tend to compete and quarrel with each other, but this would never happen to Huayang.
In her previous life, her two sisters-in-law were always respectful in front of her, but Huayang was aloof and would rather stay alone than go and chat with her sisters-in-law.
All the gorgeous clothes and jewelry she used were given by the emperor, so there was no need for her to envy others.
In addition, Huayang, who was reborn, was more likely to be soft-hearted because he had witnessed the miserable scene of Chen Xiaozong and others walking in the snow with handcuffs and leg irons.
Chen Jingzong spat out the tea in his mouth and looked at her as if she were a fool.
Huayang frowned: "What?"
Chen Jingzong: "How can you be called a princess? You are clearly a fairy who has come down to earth. You don't know the sufferings of the world, and you want to help anyone you see as pitiful."
Huayang's delicate face turned from white to red, and then to blue due to his insults.
Chen Jingzong spoke for her: "Do you think I'm stingy? It's just a fish, but I don't even want to share it with my brother and sister-in-law?"
Huayang didn't think so. He just felt that if the third room already knew their secret, it would be nothing for Chen Jingzong to send a fish or a chicken occasionally, after all, there was a pregnant woman there.
Chen Jingzong sneered, "I went fishing because I saw that you were so skinny and wanted to nourish you. Third brother really loves third sister-in-law, so he could have gone by himself. Don't be fooled by his appearance as a scholar. He grew up here and didn't come to Beijing until he was seven or eight years old. When he was a child, he also ran around the mountains. Even if he can't catch pheasants and rabbits now, he knows where to find fish if he wants to eat them."
"He didn't go because he was afraid of being discovered by the old man and ruining his reputation as a gentleman and a filial son. If they get a share of the meat from us, they can both feel at ease, thinking that we broke the rules first. If the old man finds out one day, they can be forgiven for being greedy because of the pregnancy. What excuse can you and I make to say that you, a princess, can't endure hardship?"
"Don't say they won't be exposed. They have Erlang and Sanlang over there. The third brother is very smooth. Can these two kids fool the old man?"
Huayang: …
Chen Jingzong: "Fortunately you are a princess. If you were the daughter of an ordinary family, you would be bullied for the rest of your life if you had more sisters-in-law after you got married."
After saying that, he flicked his clothes and walked away.
Huayang gritted his teeth.
Chao Yun whispered, "Princess, don't be angry. Your husband's words do make sense."
Huayang understood that she was angry about Chen Jingzong's attitude. Why not talk reasonably? Why was he so sarcastic
I heard that many princes-in-law are respectful in front of princesses, so why is Chen Jingzong different? Even my father has never said that to him!
(End of this chapter)