The Red Mansions

Chapter 277
At noon, Jia Heng returned from Wucheng Bingmasi, rode to the West Market, found a jewelry shop, picked out a few pieces of jewelry, and used them to celebrate the eldest princess's birthday tomorrow.

Then, return to Ningguo Mansion.

Outside the Ningguo Mansion, he dismounted from his horse, put the gifts he had bought for his birthday in the study outside, and then walked along the Chaoshou verandah with a calm expression, towards the backyard.

Baozhu, who received the news of Jia Heng's return, trotted over from the Moon Gate at the end of the corridor, carrying her skirt, and called out with a smile: "Master, grandma has ordered the wine utensils and meals to be cleaned up, and plans to hold the luncheon in Tianxianglou, Xifu The old lady and wife over there just sent someone to say that they will come over later."

Jia Heng frowned, and while walking forward with the orb, he asked, "Isn't it afternoon to appreciate plum blossoms?"

Baozhu was asked by the young man's eyes, and she couldn't help but think of the blushing and joyful voice across the screen last night. She was somewhat ashamed, her face was flushed, and she said softly: "The old lady of the Xifu said, there is nothing wrong there Well, it's really cold in the sky, why don't you come and have a sit while it's warm at noon."

Jia Heng nodded, thought of something for a while, and suddenly asked: "Who is here?"

Baozhu said in a charming voice: "Grandma invited the old lady, the second wife, Mrs. Xue's wife, the second grandmother Lian, the eldest grandmother Zhu, and three girls, Miss Yun, Miss Lin, and Miss Bao. They all said they would come."

Baozhu went to Rongqing Hall to "shake people", while Baoyu was not in Rongqing Hall at that time, but went to the school, so Baoyu was not mentioned.

But Baoyu returned from school at noon.

Jia Heng paused for a moment, feeling that Baoyu might also be here.

He asked again: "Where is Madam? Haven't gone to the corner gate to meet it yet?"

Baozhu was stunned for a moment, and said: "At this moment, it should be over."

Jia Heng's eyes were fixed, and without further words, he walked quickly towards the backyard.

It seems unrealistic for Baoyu, who often hangs out in the back house, to completely put an end to meeting Keqing, because at the end of the year when the ancestors are worshipped, Keqing, as the wife of the patriarch, is very likely to be seen by Baoyu.

But he will still try to avoid being seen by Baoyu.

As for waiting for Baoyu to grow up, it would be unreasonable to continue hanging out in the inner house.

"Of course nothing will be lost if you take a look at it, but there is no guarantee that Big Face will be able to catch people when you go back and draw a map." Jia Heng thought to this point, quickened his pace, and headed towards the small courtyard at the corner gate facing the two houses.

When I came to the courtyard where the corner gate was located, I saw Keqing, Youshi, Second Sister, and Third Sister, surrounded by maidservants, leaving the inner hall and coming from the veranda beside the flower wall.

Seeing Jia Heng, Qin Keqing was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed, stepped forward and asked, "Husband, have you just left the Yamen?"

Jia Heng nodded, looked at Qin Keqing, who was dressed in fine clothes and a bun with clouds on her temples, and said softly: "Well, I heard that the old lady will come over later, so let's take a look."

Qin Keqing smiled calmly: "Then it happens that my husband and I are together."

Jia Heng said: "You go to Tianxiang Tower first and wait, I'll go and meet you."

Qin Keqing's face was stunned when she heard the words, and when she came to her senses, her bright eyes painted with pink eye shadow blinked, and she said with a light smile, "Your husband is worried about... Baoyu?"

There is some speculation in my heart, because my husband told her about it.

Although she felt that her husband was a little nervous, but he cared so much about her, so she felt happy.

Third Sister You chuckled lightly, and said: "I heard that Second Master Bao, who was born with jade, was born with a flirt, and always begs for the rouge on girls' lips. If you come here and say some stupid words, It's a disappointment to enjoy the plum blossoms on the snow."

Jia Heng glanced at Third Sister You, and said, "I don't want the outside world to know his name."

"Isn't it? In fact, I don't want to be looked at by him either." Third Sister You stared at the cold gaze of the young man opposite, seeming a bit shy, with lowered eyebrows, looking charmingly at the smoke, twisting a handkerchief in her slender hands, Said in a pretty voice.

He thought about it, if Jia Zhen, Jia She, and Jia Lian were counted, these men in Jia's mansion are not only lustful, but also have nothing to do and take responsibility, so this old man is indomitable, but why...

Well, not necessarily, she does not believe that there is no cat that does not steal.

You Shi frowned, looked at Jia Heng, and said softly: "It's not common for Baoyu to hang out in the inner house every day. You can find a chance to tell the old lady that there is no way to raise promising children in the backyard." ?”

Jia Heng looked up, and was looking at Youshi's soft eyes, nodded and said: "After this year, Baoyu will be one year older, so I will tell the old lady that it's okay to hang out in the inner house all the time." It doesn't look like that."

Qin Keqing said: "Then what will happen later?"

Jia Heng said: "But Qing, I'll tell you later that you're not feeling well and can't stand the wind, so I went to Tianxiang Tower first, and then I played by ear and sent him away."

Qin Keqing: "..."

For a moment, I was a little dumbfounded.

But seeing Jia Heng's solemn appearance, he said softly: "Okay, you and Sister You go to meet him, as long as others don't call me frivolous."

"How could this happen?" Jia Heng smiled and watched Qin Keqing return the same way, accompanied by maids such as Bao Zhu and Rui Zhu.

For a while, only Jia Hengyou, Second Sister, and Third Sister were left in the corridor.

Jia Heng said softly: "It's windy and cold here, let's go to the wing room to rest for a while, and then let the servant girl listen to the movement at the corner door."

Yushi responded lightly.

While several people were talking, they entered a wing room and sat down.

Because of the absence of a big woman like Qin Keqing, Third Sister You obviously let go a lot, sitting at the round table, with a slender hand supporting her fragrant cheek like a peach blossom, she turned her head to look at Jia Heng, and said softly: "Master Heng , can you tell me about this trip to fight?"

Jia Heng said: "There is nothing to say. There are 2 or [-] people in the counties of Gyeonggi. To deal with some bandits, they always fight more and fight less. As long as they are not arrogant or impetuous, and use their troops properly, there will be almost no surprises."

Such things as immortal battles are rare.

"Then this is the unparalleled achievement of a good fighter." Third Sister You said softly, with a bright smile and a gazing at her affectionately.

Jia Heng glanced at Third Sister You, smiled, and said appreciatively, "You've improved a lot recently."

Third Sister You's beautiful face was full of smiles, and she said: "As the old saying goes, a bird flies away with a phoenix, and a person with a virtuous and high character, who is by your side every day, should be beneficial."

Jia Heng smiled at him, and said: "Well, now I feel a little bit full of poetic spirit."

Third Sister You was elated by these words, her eyes were full of light.

Seeing the two talking and laughing at the side, Second Sister You also showed a bit of envy in Yiyi's weak eyes. She also wanted to talk, laugh and feast like Third Sister, but looking at the majestic young man, after all... ... dare not.

Youshi also quietly watched the two talking, and smiled, feeling a sense of sadness in his heart.

The scarf was woven, but I didn't know how to send it out.

This melon field plum...

While Jia Heng was chatting with the Youshi sisters, he heard the maid from the outside come over and said: "Master, the old lady, the lady is here."

Jia Heng said: "Sister-in-law You, let's go to meet you together."

Youshi responded, calling out the second and third sisters at the side, and went towards the corner gate.

At the corner gate, Jiamu, Mrs. Wang, Li Wan, Sister Feng, Yingchun, Tanchun, Xichun, Xiangyun, Baoyu, Daiyu, Aunt Xue and Baochai, surrounded by their maids and wives, were talking and laughing. , across the threshold.

Beside Mrs. Wang, there is a young man wearing a purple gold crown with inlaid treasures on his head, two dragons playing with pearls on his forehead, his face is like a silver basin, and his eyes are like stars. The smile on the face can hardly be contained.

What a pleasant and elegant thing it should be to step on the snow to find plum blossoms, drink wine and compose poems!
Jia Heng saw Baoyu at a glance, frowned, stepped forward, and said politely, "Old lady."

Seeing Jia Heng, Jia's mother was quite surprised, and said with a smile: "Brother Heng, why are you so free today, where is your wife?"

Jia Heng said: "She is not very healthy."

When Jia Mu heard this, her complexion changed, and she said anxiously, "Here, did you find the doctor?"

People like Sister Feng, Li Wan, Daiyu, Tanchun, Aunt Xue, Baochai, Yingchun, Xichun, etc. also cast their eyes with doubt, concern, calmness, or indifference.

For example, in Danfeng's eyes under Sister Feng's Liu Shao eyebrows, there was a moment of doubt, but then there was a hint of understanding, and she thought to herself, could it be that she tossed too hard last night?
Thinking of this, the tip of my heart trembled violently, and I felt a little uncomfortable at the bottom of my heart.

She keeps the vacant room alone every day, and yesterday she encountered that embarrassing incident again.

Ordinarily, she didn't want to come today at all, but she was worried that people would look down on her and think she was heart-warming, so she could only force a smile.

Alas, I just came out to relax.

You Shi said softly: "I saw that I looked fine this morning, and I should have prepared wine and food in Tianxiang Building to wait for the old lady."

Mother Jia turned to look at You Shi, who was beautiful, and said with a smile, "That's good. You've always been a caring person, so you can take good care of her."

These words made Youshi's jade face slightly hot, and ripples appeared in the lake of heart.

For some reason, she faintly felt that what the old lady said was a pun.

At this moment, Sister You and Sister You also came over with a smile to salute Mother Jia.

Jia's mother always liked beautiful people. Looking at the beautiful pair of sisters, the second sister and the third sister, she greeted them with a smile, and said, "Well, there should be more people to enjoy the plum blossoms. It's lively and lively."

With a smile on her face, Aunt Xue looked at the charming You Shi sisters, and thought to herself, this must be brother Heng's concubine, and she really has a beautiful face, but I don't know what kind of appearance that grandma Heng has.

On the side, Baochai's moist almond eyes flashed.

Jia Heng looked at Baoyu at this time and asked, "Baoyu, is there no class in the school today?"

Baoyu was talking to Daiyu, when he heard the words, he stood there in a daze, faltering and saying: "Brother Heng, I..."

Jia Mu laughed and said, "He has just finished school, so let him rest for a long time, and he can't keep studying."

Jia Heng frowned, noncommittal, and asked, "Sister Yun."

Xiangyun was holding Baochai's hand, when he heard Jia Heng calling him, he smiled and said, "Brother Heng, what did you call me for?"

Jia Heng asked: "During the time I was away from Beijing, how many times did Baoyu go to school?"

It's hard to ask other people about this matter, only Xiangyun, this child is sincere.

Xiang Yun heard the words, under the beautiful eyebrows, bright eyes rolled up, and said: "Brother Heng, let me think about it."

As he spoke, he snapped his fingers.

Said: "The second day after Brother Heng left, Brother Ai didn't go. For more than half a month, the lecturer in the school sent someone to ask. Brother Ai went for another two days, and then the weather became colder and colder. Brother said he was not feeling well, so he never went again, and the day before Brother Heng came back, Brother Bao went again."

After Jia Heng listened to it, she looked at Mother Jia with a frozen smile on her face, and said, "Old lady, I've been fishing for three days and drying nets for two days. I'm thinking, can this work?!"

Mother Jia sighed, her mouth was tongue-tied, speechless.

Jia Heng turned to look at Mrs. Wang with an indifferent face, and said loudly: "Madam, you should also supervise and supervise Baoyu's studies, not to mention that you must take the imperial examination, and you should be sensible and righteous when you study. I told the master last time However, Baoyu is always playful at this age, how can he do it."

Mrs. Wang obviously learned a lot this time, and said lightly: "Baoyu has been playing around a bit recently, let his uncle talk about him when his uncle's son is born later."

These words are still a bit soft, but the subtext is that my family Baoyu doesn’t need your trouble, he has an uncle, so you don’t need to “persuade him maliciously” here.

Jia Heng agreed and said: "In fact, it's not bad to leave it to Wang Jieshuai. If Baoyu doesn't want to learn literature, he can go to the army to practice more. It's also possible."

Madam Wang: "..."

If you don't follow the literature, you can follow the martial arts. How about being a rich and idle person?
No, Baoyu will also be an official in the future.

She was almost bewildered.

Seeing that there was another tendency to break up unhappy, Jia's mother quickly winked at Sister Feng who was beside her.

Sister Feng didn't want to intervene in this matter. She herself was sued by the lawsuit, and she was in a depressed mood, but she couldn't stand Jiamu's winking, so she took the conversation and said, "It's not time to play. Brother Bao has been playing for so many days. It’s time to study hard.”

Mother Jia: "???"

On Baoyu's side, Ben himself lowered his head.

He finally figured it out, let your uncle Heng say anything, I will just be an old monk and chant scriptures, don't listen or listen!

Anyway, I won't be beaten.

But when she heard Sister Feng's words, she was stunned.

Jia Heng frowned, and said: "Bi'er, take Baoyu to the wing room, find a copy of "Spring and Autumn" for him to read carefully, and write an article after reading it later."

Baoyu: "???"

It's Lao Shizi's afterthought again!

Seeing that Baoyu was restless and almost ready to move, Xiren pulled Baoyu's arm, his eyes full of worry.

Now she is afraid that Second Master Bao will say something nonsense again.

But there is no doubt that he was worrying too much, Baoyu dared to be angry but dared not speak!

Aunt Xue heard the words, smiled, and wanted to say a few words to make amends. After all, she was her sister's child, but she felt that her sleeve was torn off, and she saw her daughter's greasy face like snow from the corner of her eye. With a slight smile on his face, his eyes are dissuading.

With a twitch of my heart, I realized in an instant.

That's right, the old lady kept her mouth shut for the children of Brother Heng's family. She is an outsider, so she has nothing to say.

only……

I was a little shocked in my heart.

In Aunt Xue's cognition, Mother Jia is respected in Rongning Second Mansion, and since Jia Heng went to Xi Mansion for dinner yesterday, this is obviously reflected, but the facts in front of her remind Aunt Xue that the East and West Second Mansions relationship is rather subtle.

Baochai looked at the young man quietly, her bright eyes flickering like water, and she thought, "Although the old lady has the highest seniority in the two houses, but when it comes to educating the children of the family, I still have to listen to this cousin Heng. In the past, because of brother Bao's enrollment, there have been many troubles in the mansion."

Daiyu pinched the handkerchief, stared at the young man opposite, pursed her cherry lips, but was thinking about how to send the letter to Jia Heng later.

On Baoyu's side, as if mourning for her concubine, she followed Bi'er to the wing with a helpless expression.

After Baoyu left, Jia Heng regained his gentle expression, and stretched out his hand to invite: "Old lady, go to Tianxiang Tower first."

A bunch of people are going to Huifang Garden.

Because You Shi temporarily acted as the hostess of the Ning Mansion, and Sister Feng and Aunt Xue were chatting and laughing at the side to enliven the atmosphere, Jia Heng was left on the sidelines so that he could take a good look at Xiangling beside Baochai.

This is a timid, gentle and quiet little girl, her face is like a lotus stamen, fair and delicate, with a little rouge on her brow the size of a grain of rice, which is unforgettable.

This clear rouge story, combined with the abducted life experience, is somewhat ironic.

Under Xiangling's slender eyebrows, her eyes drooped slightly, as if she was a little afraid, and such an expression was a little bit painful.

"I think it's Xiangling. This face shape, eyebrows and eyes are a bit like Keqing, but, although Keqing's eyebrows and eyes are weak, they are the kind of softness that wants to be charming and rotten. Besides, Keqing actually has a fierceness hidden in his bones, and Xiangling, on the other hand, has a pitiful weakness from the inside out."

Since the birth of a lone tree in the two places, the fragrant soul has returned to its hometown.

Think again of Xiangling studying poetry, and being tortured to death by Xue Pan and Xia Jingui.

Jia Heng thought about this, glanced at Yingchun, who was also tortured to death, and thought, "Speaking of Xia Jingui, he is a good match for Sun Shaozu..."

(End of this chapter)