Meng Anzhi stretched, "Auntie... I want to move these books next door so we won't share a study anymore, and I don't want to disturb Anci."
Jin Shanyao thought for a moment, "Okay... move my books over too, we'll share a study, and he can have his own."
Meng Anci stared at the two of them in astonishment. Their words sounded like they were for his own good, but for some reason, he felt abandoned. "Auntie, my sister left, so why did you go with her?"
Jin Shanyao hummed in agreement, "She's my apprentice. How can I teach her if I don't go with her?"
Meng Anzhi chuckled at her younger brother's dejected expression. She went to the desk and picked up the invitation. "From now on, you'll be working for the imperial court. You can't do what you want anymore. If anything goes wrong, you'll be beheaded."
"Pah, pah, pah... Don't say such unlucky things," Jin Shanyao quickly interrupted her, her gaze falling on the invitation. "Enjoying the flowers is wonderful, they're so beautiful, some of them can even suck out honey."
Meng Anzhi, "Auntie, why did the Prime Minister's residence invite us...?"
Jin Shanyao may not understand people, but she understands animals. "The mountains and forests have their own rules. When a new face arrives in the territory, the local king has to come out and show himself."
Keep the good stuff, and... kill the bad stuff as soon as possible to avoid trouble later.
Meng Anci lowered his eyes, pondering the meaning behind his aunt's words. In other words, the flower-viewing banquet was the Prime Minister's way of assessing their strength, and if he chose the wrong side, he would be torn apart by the other side.
"Auntie, I know what to do."
Jin Shanyao with satisfaction. She was about to say, "My little one is amazing," but then she remembered the danger of "overpraising someone to death" and swallowed the words of praise.
The key points must not be confused; we must figure out the difference between encouraging teaching and overpraising to death tonight.
Meng Anzhi agreed, "No wonder the ' Record of Admonishing Evil - Prefectural City Section ' states that all officials' banquets are not simple banquets. I need to brush up on my knowledge tonight to avoid embarrassing myself at the flower-viewing banquet."
"Yes... let's go see it now," Jin Shanyao said, picking up the book and going next door, with Meng Anzhi following closely behind.
Meng Anci was left standing there, stunned. The huge study suddenly felt very spacious, which made him feel a little uncomfortable.
Jin Shanyao, Meng Anzhi, Meng Anci were attending a flower-viewing banquet for the first time, and the arrival of the oxcart at the entrance caused a sensation.
The young masters and ladies of noble families were all secretly observing them. Old Niu raised his proud head and said, "Look... you bunch of country bumpkins who have never seen the world, you don't even recognize Old Niu."
Madam Su was talking to the Prime Minister's wife when she noticed that she was distracted. Following her gaze, she saw Jin Shanyao the ox's rump, and the old ox wobbled to a stop, even pushing other carriages to the side.
She exchanged a few words with the Prime Minister's wife, then walked up to Jin Shanyao, tugged at her sleeve, and whispered, "Why did you bring an oxcart? These are all wives of officials of the fourth rank or above; it's laughable."
Upon hearing this, Jin Shanyao's gaze swept across everyone's faces. Her short temper flared up, and she had long forgotten the precautions in " The Record of Admonishing Evil ".
She whines and complains in an oxcart; if she rode a pig, wouldn't that cause an uproar? Jin Shanyao patted Madam Su's hand, "Niece-in-law, it's alright... Let's see who dares to laugh at us."
Madam Su's vision blurred for a moment, thinking, "It's not 'us,' it's 'you'..." Never mind, there's no point in saying more. "Stay close to me... don't get separated, understand?"
Jin Shanyao gave her a reassuring look. At that moment, a servant walked over, bowed to Meng Anci, and said, " Lord Meng, my master invites you to have some tea."
Meng Anci looked in the direction he indicated and saw a middle-aged man nodding slightly to him. He immediately guessed that this man was Chancellor Cai, greeted his aunt, and then followed the servant to pay his respects.
"Your humble servant greets Your Excellency the Prime Minister."
Chancellor Cai laughed, "I've heard that Zhuangyuan Meng is a promising young man, and seeing him today, I can see that his reputation is well-deserved. Haven't you reported to the Hanlin Academy yet? Come, stay by my side, and I'll introduce you to the court officials."
After saying that, he shouted into the crowd, " Zhiyuan, Yuchuan, come here..."
Zhao Zhiyuan and Cheng Yuchuan greeted their colleagues and then came over. Chancellor Cai smiled and said, "It's perfect Zhuangyuan Meng is here. Let's take a walk together." He gestured for them to join him.
And in another place.
Madam Su was chatting with Jin Shanyao when she heard laughter behind her. " Zhiwei... why are you chatting here?" she said, looking at Jin Shanyao.
"This must be Zhuangyuan Meng's aunt, she's so beautiful..." Before she could finish speaking, her gaze shifted to Meng Anzhi, "If I'm not mistaken, this must be Zhuangyuan Meng's sister, you two look so alike."
After Madam Cai finished speaking, she noticed Jin Shanyao staring at her and suddenly realized, "Oh my forgetfulness, I completely forgot to introduce myself. I am Cao from the Cai family, my name is Yuetong, you can call me Madam Cai."
Meng Anzhi bowed and said, "Greetings, Madam Cai."
Madam Cai smiled faintly, but Jin Shanyao greeting for a long time. She thought to herself, "She's really from a small place. She doesn't even know the most basic manners."
It's a good thing her daughter didn't choose Meng Anci; what future could such a poor, unconnected scholar possibly have?
But her husband said that those without a background are easier to control, and that to gain a foothold in the court, they would have to rely on the Cai Household's support so that they wouldn't bully his daughter. She didn't think he could amount to anything.
As for Zhao Zhiyuan, she was delighted just looking at him... The boy always had a smile on his face, his speech and manners were poised and graceful, and he knew how to conduct himself properly. He was indeed worthy of being the grandson of the former Chancellor of the Imperial Academy.
Madam Cai turned around and smiled, "Let's go inside and talk."
After she finished speaking, she went into the courtyard first, and then turned around to chat with the other ladies.
Jin Shanyao's gaze fell on the Tree Peony, Madam Su helplessly pulled her to a corner.
"What's wrong with you? Why don't you bow to the Prime Minister's wife?"
Jin Shanyao, puzzled, "Why should I bow to her?"
" Meng Anci is a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, Subordinate Sixth Rank official; Chancellor Cai is a first-rank official. Women are respected by their husbands, so you should naturally pay your respects to Madam Cai; that's the proper etiquette."
Madam Su took a deep breath. "Remember, at the banquet, those of lower rank must bow to those of higher rank."
"What will happen if I don't bow?" Jin Shanyao asked, looking curious.
Madam Su choked for a moment, then replied, "People will talk behind your back about how ill-mannered and lacking in manners, which will lower the Lineage's reputation in our circle."
Jin Shanyao her head and said, "I thought I was going to be beheaded." Then she continued to look at the flowers.
Madam Su paced anxiously, "How can you not understand! A woman's reputation concerns the dignity of the entire Lineage. Your rudeness is disgracing Meng Anci!"
Jin Shanyao at her sleeve, "Alright, look how you've gotten so worked up over just a few words... If a man's reputation depends on the women in his family, then he's incompetent."
They should be like Chancellor Cai, capable of elevating their women to a position of great importance, commanding all the women in the household to bow before their wives.
These words were unintentional, but Madam Cai happened to be passing by and overheard the praise. This praise was even more pleasing to her than being flattered to her face.
Madam Cai sighed helplessly: Although they come from a small place, they do have some knowledge.
Madam Su was speechless for a moment, unable to find a rebuttal, and even felt that Jin Shanyao's words made some sense.
Madam Cai quietly took a few steps back, then walked heavily towards the two of them, calling out, " Zhiwei! Song Zhiwei, I've been looking for you, and here you are. Why don't you quickly take Aunt Meng Household to the flower hall?"
Madam Su was taken aback, wondering: Why did Cao Yuetong's temper subside so quickly today? Normally, if anyone slighted her, she would definitely make that person lose face. What's wrong with her today?