nashuaworldcup Chapter 12 Wen Chuanhong's Admonition
Chapter 12 Wen Chuanhong's Admonition
The Marquis of Loyalty and Valor's Residence, the Absent-minded Study
On the day of his return visit to his parents' home, Wen Zongji had just finished his dinner when Wen Chuanhong summoned him over.
Wen Chuanhong asked, "Was your homecoming visit today successful?"
Wen Zongji nodded: "Everything is fine. My brother-in-law talked a lot about the imperial examination with my son."
Wen Chuanhong didn't ask for details, but instead inquired about how the couple was getting along: "How are you and the county princess getting along?"
Wen Zongji naturally agreed: "The county princess is very considerate. Seeing that her son studies until very late every day, she has instructed the kitchen to prepare ginseng soup and send it to his study every night."
Upon hearing this, Wen Chuanhong gave Wen Zongji a deep look, unsure whether the matter was true or if Wen Zongji was simply exaggerating.
"Zongji, the county princess is of noble status and has been pampered since childhood. I heard that even her father, Duke Pei, cannot get a good look from her. You are a man, you should be more magnanimous and not take it too seriously."
Wen Chuanhong was not a considerate person, and he was only giving Wen Zongji this advice because he was feeling guilty.
Princess Anhe married into the Marquis of Zhongyong's household. The Marquis's household would inevitably gain some political resources, but it would also gain a ticking time bomb that could explode at any moment.
If Wen Zongji can appease Pei Rujing, the explosion will only be confined to Yunguang Courtyard. However, if Wen Zongji displeases Pei Rujing, the entire Marquis's mansion may be affected.
In this way, Wen Zongji will have to suffer.
Wen Chuanhong continued to instruct, "You must control yourself. Those maids in Yunguang Courtyard are all the county princess's people. You must not have any improper thoughts."
Seeing Wen Chuanhong's solemn gaze, Wen Zongji nodded: "Father, rest assured, I know what I'm doing."
He's not the kind of person who only thinks with his lower body!
Seeing that Wen Zongji had agreed, Wen Chuanhong worried that his son would feel wronged, so he said gently, "You are not necessarily forbidden from touching those maids. In the future, when the county princess becomes pregnant, she may bestow some of her maids upon you as concubines. Back then, your aunt was arranged by the madam to serve your father when the madam was pregnant."
Aunt Chen was originally Jiang's maid. After giving birth to Wen Zongji, she was promoted to concubine.
It was common practice to have maids serve the husband, especially when the wife was pregnant.
The purpose was to keep her husband in the main house so that his favor would not be shared by the other concubines.
At the same time, it was also because his own maid knew his background well, which was much better than having another concubine whose allegiance was unclear.
Although such things are common, Wen Chuanhong still sounded very guilty when he said this.
After all, Princess Anhe was no ordinary woman!
When it was discovered that Duke Pei was keeping a mistress, the Eldest Princess immediately expelled him from her residence without giving him any chance. Her decisiveness clearly showed that she was extremely jealous.
With a mother like that, would Pei Rujing allow Wen Zongji to have other women?
It's safe to say the chances are extremely slim!
You can't say such things to Wen Zongji, lest he become dissatisfied with Pei Rujing. If their relationship is bad, it won't benefit anyone.
Wen Zongji accepted Wen Chuanhong's reassurance, but his heart remained unmoved.
Laugh to death!
He and Pei Rujing haven't consummated their marriage yet, so it's too early for him to get pregnant.
After giving Wen Zongji his instructions, Wen Chuanhong handed him a collection of policy essay questions that he had prepared in advance: "These are the policy essays that I wrote when I took the imperial examinations. Take them back and take a look. The imperial examinations only test those kinds of questions. Read the policy essays of several people and learn to apply them flexibly, and that will be enough."
"Thank you, Father."
Wen Zongji then left the study.
Wen Chuanhong watched Wen Zongji's figure disappear and sighed, "I'm sorry to have wronged the third brother."
Based on their brief encounter on the day of the greeting, Wen Chuanhong knew that Pei Rujing was not someone to be trifled with.
The steward whispered, "The Marquis is also thinking of the Marquis's mansion."
Wen Chuanhong shook his head.
In fact, given Wen Chuanhong's status, he doesn't need to be too accommodating to Pei Rujing.
But the problem is that Pei Rujing and Wen Zongji's marriage was not arranged in a normal way.
Wen Zongji got a great deal in this marriage!
Moreover, Pei Rujing was framed, and even though those involved were severely punished, Emperor Shun'an still felt sorry for his niece.
It can be said that in the first few years after their marriage, Pei Rujing would be protected by a golden shield. Unless she committed an unforgivable crime, the Marquis's mansion would never be able to gain any advantage over her.
Since you know you won't get any benefit, you might as well stay away.
If it weren't for the rule that families shouldn't separate while parents are alive, Wen Chuanhong would have really wanted to separate Wen Zongji from his family.
……
After returning to his parents' home, Wen Zongji completely entered a secluded study mode, spending all his time reading except for eating and sleeping.
Of course, Wen Zongji did not forget to practice health-preserving boxing every morning after getting up.
There are also medicinal diet recipes given by Physician Hu, which the small kitchen prepares daily.
Changdong brought in the medicinal cuisine: "The county princess is really rich. Whether it's medicinal cuisine or ginseng soup, it must have cost a lot of money."
Wen Zongji paused, then sighed silently.
This is his current situation!
The food, clothing, and daily necessities of Yunguangyuan were all paid for with Pei Rujing's money.
After the marriage, the Marquis's mansion would give them money, and Wen Chuanhong and Jiang Shi also gave him a lot of money. Because his wife was of such high status, Wen Chuanhong also gave him two shops.
Logically speaking, all that money, including miscellaneous items, would add up to quite a bit, but he just couldn't resist spending it all.
Just as Changdong said, these medicinal dishes and ginseng soups cost quite a bit.
Wen Zongji considered having Changdong give money to the small kitchen to offset the cost of the medicinal meals and ginseng soup.
But after doing the math, he realized that he didn't have enough money to last until next year's imperial examination.
Wen Zongji simply stopped giving them. Rather than giving them a few times and then stopping, he figured it was better not to give them at all from the beginning.
However, this meant that Pei Rujing became the breadwinner for the family.
"What has the county princess been doing these past few days?"
Wen Zongji stayed in his study all day long and didn't really know anything about his young wife's whereabouts.
Chang Dong said, "It snowed yesterday, and the county princess made a snowman with her people. Unfortunately, when she woke up today, she found that part of it had melted. The county princess was very unhappy. It was only after Granny Feng sent someone to buy pastries from Shengji that she was able to appease the county princess."
Wen Zongji: "..."
He didn't know what to say. The only person who would throw a tantrum over the snowman melting was his little wife.
"Changdong, go out of the manor and buy me some things."
Wen Zongji pondered for a moment and then gave his instructions.
Changdong didn't ask Wen Zongji why he needed it, and ran out without waiting for a reply.
Seeing his impetuous manner, Wen Zongji shook his head helplessly.
His two servants, Changdong and Anfeng, were quite complementary, one lively and the other calm.