The Red Mansions

Chapter 457 What is the inside and outside of the threshold?

Ningguo Mansion

Jia Heng and Baochai warmed up for a while, but Baochai insisted not to stay for dinner because she was worried that Qin Keqing would spot the clues.

Jia Heng had no choice but to send him back to Lixiangyuan. First, he bathed and changed under Qingwen's service, changed into a blue su brocade robe, and then went to the inner hall.

At that time, Qin Keqing, Second Sister You and Third Sister You were ordering the nanny to prepare meals, while Xichun was talking with Xiangling. There is also speculation that there is a chat and no chat.

"Husband, why didn't sister Xue come over for dinner together?"

Seeing Jia Heng enter the house, Qin Keqing got up and went to meet him, and asked softly.

Jia Heng said: "If sister Xue is in a hurry to go back to my aunt, she will go there early in the morning. I have to go to Lixiangyuan to sit with my aunt tomorrow."

Qin Keqing said "Oh", and stopped asking, and said softly, "Husband, wash your hands, come and sit down to eat."

Jia Heng responded, and then Qingwen came over with a copper basin, washed her hands in clear water, and said, "In a few days, it's time for Jingqing to have a holiday at school, let's go to Mr. Yue Zhang's place together, By the way, there are some things to discuss."

"The school Jing Qing went to on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, it's the middle of the month." Qin Keqing said softly, with a sigh on her beautiful face, and sighed: "I went to Sister-in-law Feng's side in the afternoon, and saw her cry It was like a tearful person, Ping'er couldn't persuade me, Sister-in-law Feng took my hand and talked for a long time."

As he said that, he sighed softly, obviously thinking of Sister Feng's miserable state earlier, he felt a little bit of pity.

The two used to talk, laugh and play together from time to time.

Jia Heng listened, and for some reason, remembered the scene in the original book, Qin Keqing pulled Sister Feng and shouted "Auntie...", Feng Shui took turns?
Third Sister You's beautiful eyes sparkled, she took a look at the couple, got up, and approached as close as possible, handed Jia Heng a towel, and said softly, "Master Heng, wipe your hands."

Ever since she was "recognized" by Qin Keqing and Jia Heng, this beautiful and charming girl has regarded herself as Jia Heng's roommate.

Jia Heng took the towel, wiped his hands, sat down next to Xichun's embroidery pier, picked up the bamboo chopsticks, and handed them to Jing Jing who was listening, her small face was like a proud little loli covered in frost. .

"Thank you, Big Brother Heng." Xichun stretched out his hand to take it, feeling sweet in his heart.

Jia Heng picked up the chopsticks, looked up at Qin Keqing, and asked, "What did she say?"

"Sister-in-law Feng said that she wanted to ask my husband, is Second Brother Lian's life in danger?" Qin Keqing sighed.

After Sister Feng calmed down, she naturally faced a question, Jia Lian's life and death, regardless of her title, is she going to be a widow?

Jia Heng said: "How did you answer her? Take what I said at noon, and answer her?"

"That's not true. I'm just saying it broadly. It's not a human life lawsuit. I can save my life no matter what." Qin Keqing said.

Jia Heng said: "I thought she asked you to intercede, but it is not wrong to say that she will save her life."

"Since Husband has spoken in Rongxi Hall earlier, it is hard to change it, but I see what Sister-in-law Feng means, and she wants to discuss this matter with Husband, can you give me a lighter punishment?" Qin Keqing shook her head and said softly. Then, he continued: "By the way, there is also the matter of repairing the garden. Sister-in-law Feng said that she can't manage things these days, so she asked Ping'er to come and help me."

"Tomorrow I have to go face-to-face, and my aunt has invited the host when I come back. I'll see if I can talk to her on the way." Jia Heng thought for a while, then whispered: "As for the matter of the garden, the West Mansion recruits craftsmen. Gong, I plan to let the second master take charge, and for our side, you, Heping, will take care of it, and let the third sister help you."

I entrusted Jia Zheng with the matter of the Xifu garden, firstly to find a job for Jia Zheng, so as not to let him think about it, secondly, to repair the garden, preside over the construction of civil engineering projects, to somewhat improve Jia Zheng's ability in general affairs.

As for whether things will come to a standstill because of Jia Amnesty's accident?
Not to mention that Jia She is still alive, even if he is beheaded, the family will continue to play music and dance.

Third Sister You smiled and said, "Don't worry, sir, I'll be helping my sister."

Jia Heng nodded to Third Sister You and said, "Let's eat."

As she said that, she looked at Xichun who was sitting quietly beside her, took a chopstick of eggs from the plate, put them in the bowl in front of Xichun, and said: "Fourth younger sister, eat more chicken, and grow taller and faster."

"Thank you, Brother Heng." Xichun looked up at the young man, embarrassed, lowered her head slightly, and said in a waxy voice.

Originally, she didn't want to come, but her sister-in-law came to call for dinner, so she could only come.

Qin Keqing looked at the two brothers and sisters, picked up an egg with chopsticks, put it in the Xiangling bowl, and said with a smile, "You can eat some too."

Xiangling nodded, and said softly, "Thank you, sister."

Jia Heng looked at Xiang Ling, and had to say that as he kept up with the food and nutrition, the charm of his eyebrows and eyes became more and more like Ke Qing, and said: "Yesterday, the pigeons in Jinyi Mansion sent a message, saying that there is another half month's journey, and Xiang Mother Ling will be able to go to Shenjing City."

Qin Keqing smiled and said, "Yinglian has been looking forward to it these days."

After eating the food, they drank tea and talked again.

Jia Heng said: "King, you can play dominoes with them. I'll send off the fourth younger sister. I ordered Jiao Dazuo's sparrow the day before yesterday. Jiao Da said at noon that it will be delivered in two days. Then I will teach you how to play. This is much more interesting than dominoes."

There are very few entertainment activities in this era, and it is actually boring to go to bed after eating.

Qin Keqing said pleasantly: "Your husband can also play?"

"Well, a little bit." Jia Heng said softly: "I have time to play with you a couple of times."

On this side, Jia Heng and Xi Chun left the inner hall and walked along the corridor, while the servant girl Ru Hua was holding a lantern in front, the evening wind blew in, and it was suddenly cool.

Jia Heng turned to look at the girl beside her, Xichun was wearing a pink jacket and a pink skirt, her pretty face was still somewhat cold, and she asked, "Fourth sister, what have you been up to lately?"

"Learn to paint, read books." Xichun said softly.

Jia Heng nodded and said: "Very good. I thought that after the fourth younger sister moved to the East Mansion, there might be fewer sisters of the same age here, and it is inevitable that they will be a little lonely. Now I have Miaoyu as a companion, let's talk together Talking can also relieve boredom, does my sister often go to the West Mansion recently?"

Talking with Xichun always feels like talking to a peer.

Xichun shook her head and said, "I went to Sister Lin's place a few days ago, but I haven't been there much. There is a narrow road, and it's not very cheap to travel between the two sides."

When Jing Xichun mentioned Daiyu, Jia Heng's face was startled. Speaking of which, he hadn't been to Daiyu's courtyard for a while.

Since the sixteenth year, all the yamen in central Beijing have opened their offices, and there has been no time to go to Daiyu's courtyard to ask questions.

Xichun took a peek at the young man who was lost in thought, then lowered her eyes, and said softly: "I've heard about the matter of the West Mansion, Second Brother Lian and Uncle Lian, after so many years, they are doing well..."

At the end, he sighed lightly, his lips moved, and he hesitated to speak.

Jia Heng thought for a while, realized something, and asked, "Does Fourth Sister want to say that the world is impermanent?"

When Xichun heard the words, she turned her eyes and gave a soft "hmm".

She actually felt this way, but she knew that he didn't like her thinking like this, but she just wanted to talk to him.

Jia Heng said: "It's not surprising that my sister can have such emotions."

"Brother Heng." Xichun said softly.

"It's a bit cold outside, let's talk when we go back, just in time to call your master Miaoyu, and chat with us for a while, so as not to accumulate food after eating." Jia Heng said softly, reaching out to hold Xichun's hand, and said: "Yu The road is slippery, sister be careful not to fall."

Xichun's cheeks were slightly flushed, a little bit of shame appeared in her heart, she felt that the palm was really gentle.

Jia Heng's expression was calm and he had no other intentions.

Xichun is young and young, in his eyes he is like a child, even though he is arrogant and cold, but on the contrary he is childish.

At this moment, in the Xichun courtyard, the wing room where Miaoyu was located was brightly lit, and there were many figures.

It was Xing Xiuyan and Siqi who came to visit Miaoyu together when they saw that Xichun had sent a message.

It was also because Jia Amnesty and Jia Lian had just been taken away by the Internal Police Department, Yingchun was restless and wanted to find Miaoyu to explain a few words, so she and Xing Xiuyan brought the servant girls Siqi and Xiuju to visit.

Xing Xiuyan wore a light red jacket and a white skirt, sitting in front of Miaoyu in a demure manner, and said apologetically, "I'm really disturbed by bothering you."

This is to say that I didn't make a greeting post in advance, so I came to visit.

Miaoyu was dressed in a Taoist gown with crane pattern and cloud silk, and her face was as clear as jade. Looking at Xing Xiuyan, who had a peaceful temperament, the nun's cold voice sounded, which vaguely echoed the sound of rain dripping on the eaves and stone steps outside the window: "You and I are old friends, on a rainy night. How presumptuous is it to meet each other, cut candles by the west window, and have a great conversation together?"

Once the Wenqing temperament gives something a special meaning, it reveals a poetic elegance.

Dayou said, "I'm going to take advantage of the excitement, and return when I'm exhausted, why should I see Dai?" It's free and easy.

Yingchun stared at the nun on the opposite side, and said softly: "I have heard for a long time that Master Miaoyu's Buddhist teachings are superb, and his conversation is unique. Seeing him now, his reputation is really well-deserved."

Earlier I heard cousin Xiuyan say that Miaoyu has a eccentric temperament and is not easy to get close to, but it seems that is not the case.

Miaoyu said: "I have met the second lady several times before, but now it's the first time we are sitting and talking to each other."

Yingchun said: "I have always been in the house, living in seclusion."

Miaoyu took a look at the sky, ordered the little girl and mother to prepare a small red clay stove, boil water for tea, and said softly: "The spring rain is coming outside, since we are guests, I will pour some rainwater to cook tea and drink."

Therefore, when Jia Heng and Xichun entered the courtyard, they happened to see a woman standing under the eaves, holding a tea urn, watching the raindrops in the courtyard, and the orange light of the candle behind her was a wonderful jade cage for the non-monk and non-Taoist. Layer soft light.

"Miaoyu." Jia Heng called out.

Hearing this, Miaoyu paused for a tea urn in her hand, stared at it, and saw three people carrying lanterns coming slowly in the verandah, seeing the young man, a ripple of joy that she couldn't even detect was surging in her heart. Passed the tea urn to the little girl, clasped his palms together and said, "Amitabha."

"Master, have you eaten yet?" Jia Heng approached and asked.

Miaoyu: "..."

After thinking for a while, he said in a low voice, "I have already eaten the fast."

Jia Heng let out a "hmm", glanced at the maid who was holding an altar and catching the rainwater, frowned, and said, "Go inside, it's quite cold outside, although the rainwater is rootless water, there are many floating water in the air." Accumulate dust, absorb dust when the rain falls, and the rainwater of the scorpion is actually not clean at all."

Miaoyu: "???"

Seeing Miaoyu's stunned look, Xichun let out a "Puff!" and couldn't help laughing.

Although Miaoyu has a cold temper, she is always speechless when she sees him.

Jia Heng's face is pale, the reason why he sometimes teases Miaoyu is to destroy her image in Xichun's heart.

It's like when a high-achieving Peking University student went to the mountains to practice in the later generations, only to find out that the so-called master he admired was just a "monk flower", his faith collapsed, and he returned to vulgarity again.

Just at this time, Xing Xiuyan in the house heard the commotion outside, pulled out the curtain and asked, "Who is Master Miaoyu with..."

Looking head-on, facing a pair of cold eyes, he couldn't help being timid, lowered his eyebrows, and said in a low voice: "So it's Uncle Heng."

Jia Heng looked at Xing Xiuyan, and said softly, "Miss Xing is also here."

Xing Xiuyan's clothes are quite simple, the jacket is half new and not old, the paint on the arms and sleeves is even a little faded, and there is no powder or rouge on his face.

Xing Xiuyan pushed aside the curtain, and said softly, "I'm looking for Master Miaoyu with the second girl, sir... please come to the room."

Jia Heng nodded, turned to look at Miao Yu, and asked, "Master, won't you invite me in?"

Miaoyu glanced at Jia Heng and opened the curtain.

Jia Heng and Xi Chun entered the wing room together, and Miao Yu also entered. The interior was elegantly furnished, and a scent of sandalwood that soothes the mind permeated the air.

A few more candles were added, and the room was suddenly as bright as day, reflecting the figures of several people on the window.

Seeing Jia Heng, Yingchun quickly got up, saluted and called out: "Brother Heng."

Siqi approached and saluted.

Jia Heng nodded, and then asked: "Second sister, did you not feel frightened by today's incident?"

Yingchun shook her head, indicating that she was fine.

At this time, Miaoyu ordered a few servant girls to prepare tea cups, glanced at Jia Heng, and said lightly: "Since Master Heng doesn't like rain this year, we have to cook it with snow water."

Jia Heng said: "Ordinary well water is good for quenching thirst, but it doesn't necessarily use rain and snow water."

But Miaoyu didn't answer any more, and ordered the servant girls to prepare tea sets and tea cups for several people.

Turning to the high place, holding the green jade bucket that I usually use, with the sound of "squealing", the hot air rises, and the tender green tea leaves are stretched out, and the tea soup is clear, reflecting the candlelight.

Everyone gathered together to drink tea, each holding teacups.

Miaoyu glanced at Jia Heng, handed the green jade bucket to him, and said coldly, "This is the well water you want to drink."

Jia Heng: "..."

Seeing the green jade bucket, his heart moved slightly, he picked it up, took a sip, and asked: "The fourth younger sister just mentioned the matter of the West Mansion, and the fourth younger sister feels that life is impermanent, and wealth and glory are like passing clouds, what does Mrs. Miaoyu think? "

Miao Yu narrowed her eyebrows and glanced at Xi Chun, her red lips parted lightly, and her voice was like broken jade falling on a plate, clear and clear: "Wealth and glory cannot be preserved forever, and we should all be separated. , even if there are thousands of years of iron barriers, but there must be a bun in the end."

Her father weaved for Suzhou back then, and her family was once rich and glorious, but now that the family is in decline, and living under the fence, is it not rich and prosperous, which cannot be preserved forever?
I heard that Xijue and Xijue were arrested and interrogated by the imperial court, that's exactly what they said.

Jia Heng smiled lightly, and said: "Even if there is a thousand-year-old iron gate, there must be a bun in the end... This sentence is quite interesting."

Xing Xiuyan put down the teacup, frowned, and looked at the two. She didn't know if it was her illusion, but she always felt that the two were playing tricks.

After thinking for a while, he said softly: "Master Miaoyu used to say that since the Han, Jin, Five Dynasties, Tang, and Song Dynasties, there have been no good poems, but I like these two lines."

Miaoyu said with a gloomy expression, "Although I was born in an official family, I am now an outsider."

Jia Heng put down the green jade bucket, and said: "But I am not a person within the threshold."

When Miaoyu heard this, she stared at the young man, her eyes brightened slightly, he was indeed... her bosom friend.

Jia Heng raised his eyes to look at Miaoyu, and after a while, he said: "The rise and fall of withered prosperity is the principle of heaven and earth. Those who cannot be preserved forever are not only riches and glory? The sun, moon and stars are still withered and dying, and long-term vision is nothing but flowers in the mirror. You and I are all living beings." , living in this world, but taking the four characters of Momenta Fanghua, how can we talk about the inside and outside of the threshold? If you cling to this, you will fall into the lower vehicle."

There is nothing eternal and immortal in this world, and the universe will still be heat-dead. If it is fatalistic, then everything will eventually perish.

And Jia Heng's words undoubtedly made Miao Yu's heart skip a beat, so why talk about inside and outside the threshold?

What kind of temperament pattern is this?

Um?Instead, he fell behind?who?
Thinking of this, Miaoyu's face was as clear as frost, and said in a calm tone: "So the Buddha said, only the four elements are empty."

Xing Xiuyan listened to the conversation between the two, holding the tea cup in her hand to her mouth, like a crowd "eating melons", only a hint of thought floated in the quiet, chatty eyebrows and eyes.

Jia Heng looked at Miaoyu, sized him up, and asked: "Since Mrs. Madam is so enlightened, why does she never tire of fine food and fine meat? Even the water for drinking tea must be drawn from rootless water, and the tea set is even more exquisite and luxurious. ?”

As he spoke, he gently shook the green jade bucket that was shiny to the touch, dazzling the candlelight with its emerald color.

Miaoyu: "..."

It's false to co-author with her, but it's true to make fun of her?
Just wanted to snatch the green jade bucket.

Xichun glanced at Miaoyu first, and then at the young man, for some reason, felt a little funny, and said: "Brother Heng, Sister Miaoyu was originally from a family of officials and officials, she was not tolerated by the rich and powerful, she just drifted away from the rivers and lakes. "

When Miaoyu heard the word "sister", her cheeks became slightly hot. At this time, what kind of sister is she talking about, let alone that her so-called practice is just deceiving the world?
"I know, that's why Ms. Miaoyu realized that even if there is an iron threshold of a thousand years, there must be a bun in the end. The truth of life is the most reasonable, and the family has undergone great changes. It is human nature to feel this emotion." Jia Heng said, in fact, the original Isn't that true of Xichun in the movie?
Miaoyu pursed her cherry lips, and stared at the young man in a daze, obviously she was being talked about.

Xing Xiuyan looked at the two people who were talking, and vaguely understood something.

Yingchun looked at a few people with a confused expression, confused for a while, so whose business is this talking about?

Jia Heng said: "It's just that where are the generals in ancient and modern times? A pile of grass in the barren mounds is gone. However, those generals, even though they are hard to find in the barren mounds today, still live in the history and people's hearts. How can they be ordinary buns?" Comparable? Not to mention, no one in life has died since ancient times, so keep your loyal heart in the history."

Miaoyu's heart trembled slightly when she heard the words, and she recounted the words "Where are the ancient and modern generals, and the pile of grass in the barren mound is gone", and the follow-up...

Although this concept deviates from her, but she can feel the indomitable demeanor contained in the young Jinshizhiyin, who is similar to her father.

Jia Heng turned his eyes to look at Xichun, who was already dazed and unfamiliar, and said: "Fourth sister, back then, I, the second son of the Jia family, Rongning and Ning, followed the great ancestor of the Han Dynasty to punish the people and save the common people from living in the upside down. Even after thousands of years , the time has changed, the Jia family has declined, and even the incense has been cut off. There are also many heroic deeds recorded in the annals of history for future generations to pay tribute to and pass on from generation to generation. , why sigh?"

Young people should set up great ambitions, realize great virtues, become great talents, and take on great responsibilities. How can they all go to the mountains...to practice Buddhism?
You can accept your fate, but you can't lie flat.

(End of this chapter)