Seeing them leave, Fang Xin revealed a triumphant smile.

  But this is indeed his true nature

  As the New Year approaches, it's always necessary to return home. Upon returning, I walk through the corridors and courtyards, where the New Year is rapidly approaching. The servants are all busy, sweeping and cleaning in the front courtyard and main hall, replacing old things with new ones, creating an unusually lively atmosphere.

  He went to see his horse again, and when he arrived at the stable, he saw that the horse had grown even more majestic, its black coat shining with health, clearly having received good care. Fang's heart secretly rejoiced as he reached out to stroke the horse's head, but the horse merely let out a snort of annoyance and continued eating its feed.

  Back in the main hall, the He family was wealthy and their furniture was extremely exquisite, mostly made of nanmu wood. As a family of scholars, they naturally had no uneducated people coming and going. Therefore, on both sides of the walls, many calligraphies and paintings were hung, although not written by famous people, but still showed some level of skill.

  He is now at the He family, almost half a master. When he sees him, all the servants ask for good news. Fang Xing passes through the porcelain bottles in the main hall and reaches the wooden stairs to reach the upper floor. It has already arrived in front of the study, but it is known that He Xiang is inside, so he knocks on the door twice before pushing it open. Only then does he feel a faint scent, obviously because the New Year is approaching, incense is used to drive out evil spirits, making the entire study filled with swirling smoke.

  "Come, come, your handwriting is getting better and better. With this handwriting, it's already better than mine, and it's enough to be given as a gift for celebrations." He Xiang was carefully examining his previous practice sheets, saying: "Come on, New Year's couplets, this handwritten sheet is still indispensable. In previous years, I was the one writing them, but this year it's your turn. The county magistrate, the county lieutenant, and the county scholars... there are over twenty households to give gifts to."

  Although Fang Xin is not a famous family, he has no reputation to support him, but he is already a Xiucai. Naturally, he also entered this class, and the calligraphy of scholars has become a style for generations. Fang Xin knew that his own calligraphy was seriously written and could be sold at a price when taken out of the government office.

  Of course. He naturally wouldn't casually write, and most of his drafts were burned away, leaving only masterpieces. But since it was said by He Xiang, Fang Xin just smiled.

  At this time, scholars and literati regarded writing couplets as a elegant thing, which had become a custom of the scholar-official class. If well-written spring couplets were considered as gifts for social intercourse.

  Fang Xin walked over, took out a good scroll, spread it on the table, and concentrated for a moment. He then brought over an inkstone to grind it carefully.

  He's study, although not a grand mansion, this inkstone and brush are also exquisite. The inkstone is fine, resembling pale jade. After grinding, it becomes extremely smooth. After finishing the grinding, he takes up another brush. Made from pure wolf hair, dipped in rich ink, he writes down the couplet: "In the village's seclusion, birds sing freely, Spring follows the bird's voice" and then adds a comment: "The ground is warm, flowers bloom profusely".

  The paper scroll is excellent, this line of words, written with a hint of divine intention in the midst of simplicity, and yet it reveals elegance through its connections. The nearby He Xiang couldn't help but exclaim "good" several times.

  Fang Xinye also felt that his heart and hands were in harmony, and his calligraphy had already reached a state of maturity. If it weren't for the fact that he still hadn't fully grasped the spirit, rhythm, and charm of calligraphy, he could almost be considered a master of calligraphy. However, even if he returned now, his calligraphy would still have three levels to it, and in this regard alone, his time spent in this world wouldn't have been wasted.

  He smiled slightly and continued writing.

  "East wind welcomes new year, auspicious snow indicates a prosperous year!" Couplet: "Flute plays plum blossom tune"

  "Oriole singing in front of green willow building, abundant goods and happy people!" Horizontal scroll: "Spring arrives on the peach tree"

  "The spring grass is full of vitality in the courtyard, and the fragrance of hundreds of flowers wafts everywhere!" Horizontal inscription: "Winter leaves, mountains are clear and water is beautiful"

  Wait, Fang Xin wrote all this from memory without thinking, yet it's a sentence that has never been seen before in the world, almost leaving He Xiang stunned, and after a long time he said: "Xianzhong's writing talent and calligraphy are really good."

  Bring it over and take a closer look, reluctant to let go, sighing: "This kind of book is truly hard to part with, these people are all blessed this year, can't bear to give some gifts in return."

  Fang Xin smiled and wrote it down, then told He Xiang that he wanted to go back home to spend the New Year with his mother.

  He Xiang said, He Xiang couldn't help but show a disappointed look, and it wasn't good to say more. After all, going home to spend the New Year with his mother was only natural, and no one could stop him. Since he had no children of his own, these days he had been treating him like a son, but now that this was mentioned, he suddenly felt that this was just his own foolish thinking. So he said: "Forget it, this is filial piety, I also can't stop you. Today at noon, I'll hold a banquet, and after the banquet, you can go home."

  He Fang Xin bid farewell and left, stroking the scrolls on the table, unfolding them one by one to gaze at. As he gazed, he couldn't help but feel melancholy. The room was empty, quiet and still, with only the scent of books remaining, but the person was gone.

  He stared around him, saying nothing.

  At this time, Mrs. Chen had already known and came in to see his expression, and couldn't help but say: "It's my fault for not being able to give birth to a son for you."

  After finishing speaking, his throat was choked with sobs and he couldn't say a word.

  He Xiang immediately said, "My wife has something to say, you and I have been together for decades, our loving hearts know each other, this is my fate. Besides, what's the point of having a son? A son like Li Rui, how can he be born? That's only possible with heavenly gift."

  "Besides, I'm not thinking about that now. What I'm thinking is that in the past, his father and I had a marriage arrangement, but unfortunately we didn't have a formal agreement at the time, or else this would be settled immediately. This son-in-law, isn't he my own son? It's just that now, I don't know what his thoughts are, and I'm still waiting for him to ask me."

  Mrs. Chen wiped away her tears and said slowly, "What the master says is true, but I think his eyes are not entirely innocent towards my two daughters. Since the master had a verbal agreement with his father in the past, things would be much easier to handle. Moreover, his mother sent him here, perhaps with this intention in mind. However, there is one difficult matter at present."

  "What you said is right, it's just that I don't know which difficult thing you're referring to," He Xiang said with a relaxed expression.

  "As a father, you don't seem to notice, but as a mother, I'm very aware that since Li Rui arrived, these two girls often find excuses to go to the study room and frequently run into each other. They exchange flirtatious glances, have feelings for each other, and know he likes music, so they practice tirelessly, like they're in a trance. If they get to chat and laugh together, their faces light up with joy. But if they can't, they become listless and sleepy every day. Li Rui is devoted to his studies, but it's causing the two girls distress. I've seen all this with my own eyes. Master, if you're going to give your consent, which one will you choose? I think both girls have already developed deep feelings for him, and if things get out of hand, it won't be good."

  He Xiang was startled and hastily asked: "Is this true?"

  After getting a definite answer, he also got a headache, and his palms were all flesh. As parents, who is so thin? After taking a few steps, he said with a bitter smile: "Just see who he chooses, although it's my daughter, there are thick and thin fortunes."

  After a short while, the wine feast began, and dishes were served. This was a family banquet, but it wasn't held in the main hall. The five members of the family ate together in a small hall, which was located behind the moonlit corridor. When Fang Xin arrived, he couldn't help but be surprised.

  The two, He Yao and He Rong, seemed to have received the news. They painted their eyebrows, wore beautiful cheongsam dresses, with pearls and jewels adorning them, making a soft tinkling sound, their skin as white as snow. Their figures were beautiful and elegant. It seemed that in just half a year, they had acquired the charm of young girls.

  Fang Xin couldn't help but reveal a smile.

  Inside the small hall. There was a woolen mat on the stool, and a brazier was burning, suddenly warm as spring, and the atmosphere was relaxed. At that time, they drank wine and looked at each other, this taste was also good.

  After drinking for some time, Fang Xin showed signs of intoxication. He Yao and He Rong, the two women, each played the zither. Both were highly skilled at playing the zither, and their music was melodious and pleasing to the ear. Fang Xin listened with rapt attention, tapping his feet in appreciation and praising them repeatedly.

  But after finishing the performance, he heard He Xiang say: "Xianzhong, I had an agreement with your father, do you know?"

  Fang Xin listened and put down his cup, bowing his head and saying: "Yes, Mother has already spoken to Xiao Shu about it."

  Mr. Fang understood at once and was overjoyed, saying: "In those years, the children were still young, and no agreement was made in writing. Now that you have grown up, my two daughters are yours to choose from. I will immediately draw up a written agreement and send it to your mother."

  After hearing this, Fang Xin looked over and saw that the two girls were both kneeling on the ground, their skin as white as snow, their beauty natural. However, upon closer inspection, he noticed that they were both tense, fearful, and expectant as they gazed at him. At this moment, a single word would decide the fate of one of them.

  Fang Xin's eyes swept over, smiled slightly, and with a smile full of composure, he said loudly: "Uncle, your two daughters are both stunning beauties. As your nephew, I'm lucky to have the chance to choose one of them. However, my heart is greedy, and I want to take both of them. How about that?"

  This move was actually made with the intention of the second lady present and Mr. and Mrs. He.

  He Xiang hadn't had a chance to speak yet when Madame Chen said, "You're really impolite. Is it that my daughter can't even be your concubine?"

  Fang Xin, however, did not think so. He stood up, bowed deeply, and said to himself: "Uncle and aunt, please forgive me. I think both young ladies are excellent, and I am infatuated with them, that's why I said so. Please punish me for this crime. As for the matter of wives and concubines, there is also a saying about equal wives. The two young ladies are sisters, one can be the legitimate wife, and the other can be the secondary wife. It's a good story." He Xiang spoke up at this time: "One person as the legitimate wife, and the other as the secondary wife, you really are greedy. However, it doesn't matter. You just can't marry a secondary wife yet!"

  Since ancient times, ordinary people, even if they were rich enough to rival a country, could have at most one wife and many concubines. Having two wives was punishable by law.

  However, the aristocratic bureaucrats often arranged marriages for political needs or superiors gave their capable subordinates a wife as a reward. Whether it was an arranged marriage or a granted one, these women were naturally considered to be of equal status and could not be treated as concubines, thus giving rise to a new social norm: the "equal wife".

  The Renzong Emperor of Great Chu once decreed: "The Son of Heaven has one empress and four noble consorts, those with titles have one wife and three concubines, officials may have one wife and two concubines."

  Of course, there is a difference between the wife and the legitimate wife. The social status of the legitimate wife and her husband are equivalent, whether at home or outside. In terms of ceremonial attire, vehicle arrangements, and other rituals, they enjoy equal treatment. The wife is slightly inferior but does not have to pay respects to the legitimate wife as a concubine would. Their family status is basically the same.

  Children born of me or out of wedlock are considered "illegitimate".

  The legal and social status of a concubine is the same as that of an official wife, and children born to her are considered legitimate heirs. A concubine also has the right to be named on tombstones or ancestral tablets after death, and may assume the position of a lawful wife if the first wife dies. The wedding ceremony for a concubine is similar to that of an official wife.

  In other words, to have a concubine, one must at least be an official, and as long as they are not enfeoffed, even if they hold the highest position in the imperial court, they can only have one formal wife and two concubines. Now Fang Xin has achieved some success, but he is still just a scholar and does not count as a formal official; at least he must pass the imperial examination to qualify.

  "Fang Xin smiled and said, 'Uncle, rest assured, it's not that I'm being arrogant. In three years' time, I'll be able to pass the imperial examination. If I do, becoming a jinshi is only natural. There's no need to worry about this matter.'"

  "Three years is still three years!" He Xiang didn't take the matter of Zhong Hui to heart, he believed that Fang Xin had this level of skill. The two sisters were 15 and 14 years old, after three years they would be 18 and 17, although not considered old, but already a bit late. Just as he was thinking about it, suddenly the sound of knocking on the door came, and he couldn't help but say: "What's going on? Didn't I tell you not to disturb me?"

  "His Majesty, His Majesty, the Emperor has given birth to a son, great joy, universal celebration, orders to reduce taxes by one-tenth throughout the empire, and also grants amnesty to all under heaven. Moreover, with the arrival of the new year's spring, the imperial examination will be held!" Someone reported back.

  What is called "enke" refers to holding imperial examinations outside of the regular schedule, allowing everyone to take the exam.

  He Xiang was suddenly shocked. The emperor had always been gentle and elegant, although not wise and powerful, but a guardian of the country. However, his children were rare, and now there were only three princesses, which had already caused unrest in the court and the countryside. Giving birth to a son at this time would be the crown prince, and it would indeed be a blessing for the world.

  "This is truly a blessing for the world and a fortune for the common people."

  Upon receiving this auspicious news, he no longer hesitated and said: "Alright, regardless of whether you pass the imperial examination this time or not, both daughters in my family are betrothed to you. Then go take the provincial exam!"

  After finishing speaking, he took out the document and wrote it on the spot. Although it still needs to be sent to his mother, He Shi, for confirmation, this matter was decided then and there. Fang Xin immediately reported his birth date and performed a ritual: "Your humble son-in-law pays respects to Father and Mother!"

  Therefore, having drunk to intoxication, they could not leave on the same day. When they came out of the small hall, the cold wind blew, and although it was a time when neither cold nor heat invaded, there was still a slight chill that penetrated through their clothes. At this moment, the two women also forgot about modesty, and carefully supported each other forward with tight grips.

  As he walked down the stairs, Fang Xin smelled the fragrance of the two women and felt their chests pressed against his body. Various thoughts flashed through his mind, and in his heart, it was as if everything was clear, yet also muddled. He could only laugh "haha".