The Red Mansions

Chapter 461 Mrs. Wang: It seems that the pain... has eased a lot?

Changle Palace

Mother Jia was dressed in heavy make-up, and because of her old age and frailty, she received grace, and she was accompanied by two servant girls, Yuanyang and Hupo, to help her into the palace.

Yuanyang stood on top of Majesty Dan, looked up at the plaque hanging in front of the palace, his eyes flickered.

Thinking, this is the imperial palace, the most noble and honorable place in the world.

Mother Jia followed the maids into the majestic and magnificent palace. Except for New Year's Eve, Shangyuan and other festivals, Mother Jia actually did not go to visit Empress Dowager Feng very often. Without him, no one would submit to others unless otherwise what you want.

"Life, Madam Jia Shishi of Rongguo pays homage to the Empress Dowager, a thousand years old." Jia Mu was ushered into the palace, and saluted to Empress Dowager Feng, who was surrounded by a group of lifewives on Shangshouluan's bed.

Empress Dowager Feng sized up the silver-haired Mother Jia with her slender eyes. Xu Shicai's emotion about the cycle of time with Mrs. Korea just now aroused some kind of compassionate emotion, with a gentle look on her face, and she stretched out her hand to help her, and said with a smile: "Madame Rong Guo, please stand up, Xianning will give me a hand, give me a seat, and come forward to talk."

Princess Chen Zhi of Xianning responded, she got up Yingying, and stepped forward to support Jiamu.

But Jia Mu didn't get up, but bowed her head, choked up and said: "Sinful women have committed a lot of crimes, and dare not get up in front of the Queen Mother."

As soon as this remark came out, Empress Dowager Feng was surprised, and asked: "Why did Mrs. Rong Guotai make such a statement?"

Princess Jinyang looked at the silver-haired old woman, her graceful, bright and beautiful face was full of leisure.

Of course, she had heard about yesterday's incident that Zhongshun Wang Shangshu impeached Jia Amnesty, and even wanted to implicate Jia Heng, but in the end the emperor did not allow him to do so.

"The sinful woman's son Amnesty and her grandson Lian violated the law of the country. The criminal woman knew that she could not teach her son well, so she asked the queen mother to punish her." Jia Mu choked up and said, already crying.

Mother Jia didn't sleep nearly all night last night. The eldest son's lineage was wiped out in one go. Whether or not the title could be kept was uncertain. One could imagine that she was anxious.

Empress Dowager Feng was stunned when she heard the words, looked at Empress Song, and asked, "Empress, I am in the deep palace and I don't know what happened in the previous dynasty. Did the Rongguo Mansion commit any serious crimes?"

It is not uncommon in the history of history for such nobles and nobles of the country to order their wives to intercede in the palace when they violated the law.

Again, this is not a modern society where everyone is equal before the law, even if it is a modern society, so what?

When a death row inmate goes to prison, he can still invent a manhole cover to commit meritorious deeds and reduce his sentence...

What, are you not convinced?

Empress Song turned her face like a begonia flower stamen, and said in a soft voice: "Mother, the concubine heard only a few words, saying that King Zhongshun impeached Jia Amnesty to smuggle and smuggle to the border, and he has already confessed."

When Empress Dowager Feng heard this, she understood a little bit, and asked, "This violated the criminal law, how did the emperor deal with it?"

"Your Majesty handed it over to the Secretary Tuiju, and the specific follow-up disposal, the concubine does not know the details." Song Queen said softly.

Empress Dowager Feng fell silent for a moment, turned her head to look at Jia Mu, and said, "Mrs. Rong Guotai, the emperor always took the initiative in the previous court. Now that there are ministers interrogating, there are laws to follow. So discuss You should not worry about life and death."

The eight-discussion system, the law of the Han Dynasty is set up in a special chapter, and the ten evils are no longer listed. Smuggling and smuggling are obviously not involved in the ten evils.

Mother Jia cried: "Sinful women dare not ask for mercy outside the law. It's just that the family of Rongguo has no incense to worship. The criminal woman is more than seventy years old and has few years to live. The only concern is that there will be no incense to worship in the future." The ancestors of Rongguo, now the eldest son and eldest grandson are not filial, but the second wife can still be called filial."

It has to be said that Jia's mother's strategy is quite clever. Empress Dowager Feng gave her grace to continue the incense, and the emperor allowed it, which is in line with filial piety.

Empress Dowager Feng was silent for a while, understood what she meant, and said softly: "The day before yesterday, I was reading a script, and it seemed to say that those who govern the world with filial piety... What's next, in short, they are constantly being incensed, this statement is quite reasonable .”

After all, as I got older, I couldn't remember clearly what happened next.

Princess Xianning raised her face as cold as snow, her phoenix eyes were clear and clear, and her voice was as calm as a spring of jade: "Grandmother, who governs the world with filial piety, who does not harm others' relatives, who governs the world with benevolence, does not The Sacrifice of Absolute People, this is the script written by Jia Heng, the lord of the Ning Kingdom."

Mother Jia: "..."

The figure couldn't help shaking, there's something about brother Heng?
The mandarin duck that lowered its head hurriedly stretched out its hand to support Jia Mu's arm, lowered its duck face, and sighed secretly.

Princess Jinyang picked up the teacup, and there was a hint of amusement in her eyes under her beautiful eyebrows.

Empress Dowager Feng said: "Since the emperor has ruled the world with benevolence and filial piety, he will never harm anyone's relatives or sacrifice others. Don't worry about Mrs. Rong Guotai, just get up first."

After all, at a very old age, it's not good to still be kneeling.

Empress Song parted her lips slightly, and said softly: "Mother, there are two branches of the Rongguo lineage, and there are two branches in addition to the long house. Cutting off the incense is not going to happen."

Since Duke Rong was granted the title of a country, according to the Zhou ritual system, the continuation of the title is the symbol of the continuous inheritance of the ancestral temple's sacrificial incense, so what Queen Song said is right or wrong.

Of course, Empress Song was speaking for her husband, and she was worried that Empress Dowager Feng would be kind to herself after listening to Jia Mu's one-sided words.

At this moment, Mother Jia stood up with the support of Princess Xianning and Yuanyang. She didn't seem to hear what Empress Song said, and said to herself: "The Empress Dowager, the second son of a criminal woman, Jia Zheng, and another son named Baoyu, twelve years old, has a pure and good disposition, can be enshrined to the ancestors of Rongguo, and also ask for the grace of the Empress Dowager."

Although sacrifices often appear together, sacrifices are occasional prayers to the gods, while sacrifices are routine ancestral temple offerings. The so-called: "The sacrifice is the heir, and it is the meaning of the future and the past."

Mrs. Han Tai looked at the old woman and thought to herself, for the sake of children and grandchildren, it is really not easy after a lot of age.

The princess of Leshan County looked at Jia Mu, pinching her handkerchief, and also sighed in her heart.

In fact, the two families have activities during the holidays.

Empress Dowager Feng asked in amazement: "Baoyu, but that one was born with jade?"

At the beginning, Baoyu was born with the title of jade, which was quite miraculous, and everyone in Shenjing City knew it, even the Empress Dowager Feng had heard of her name.

Jia's mother's spirit was lifted, she secretly thought that there was hope, and said quickly: "The empress dowager is Baoyu. Now the unfilial son of the second wife, Jia Zheng, is now a member of the Ministry of Industry, Wailang, and Baoyu is the only adult under his knees. It is just right for him to enshrine the incense of Rongguo."

Naturally, Jia Lan was not mentioned at this time. From Jia's mother's point of view... Jia Lan is too young, still a child, and Baoyu is not young enough to know how to tease a maid.

Empress Dowager Feng did not follow the trend, but said to Empress Song who was beside her, "Incense sacrifices, don't disturb the order of seniority."

Empress Song was overjoyed, because she seemed to have heard some implication, what is the order of elders and children, she is the empress whose mother respects the world, and the son she gave birth to should naturally be the crown prince.

Princess Jinyang listened quietly, for some reason, she just felt amused for a while, a slight smile appeared on her gorgeous and unprovoked face, and said: "What the queen mother said is true, but the inheritance of incense is good, and it can be passed on privately. , The title is a national treasure, we are talking for ourselves here, after all, it is the emperor's brother who will make the decision."

Empress Song: "???"

Jinyang, what do you mean?
Empress Dowager Feng nodded, looked at her daughter, and said, "Li'er is talking about this reason."

When Jia's mother heard this, her heart became anxious, and she couldn't help raising her eyes to look at the person who spoke, and saw that it was the eldest princess of Jinyang.

Secretly thought, this princess is so ignorant, why is she meddling in her own business here.

Empress Dowager Feng turned to look at Mother Jia again, and said with relief: "Mrs. Rong Guotai, since this case is still under interrogation, let's see what the emperor wants first. Come here and ask in the front hall."

When the old man comes over, he can't really ignore it, it seems that the Tian family is too mean, but it needs to be considered how far to help.

Li'er also reminded her, so she interfered too much.

Empress Dowager Feng has survived as an ordinary concubine in the past years. Although her temperament can be described as tough and forbearing, how could she offend Emperor Chongping because of the Rongguo Mansion?

unrelated...

Not long after, while Jia's mother was anxiously waiting, the nanny went and came back, saluted and said: "Your Majesty."

"What is Daming Palace's claim?" Queen Mother Feng asked.

The nanny said: "The Empress Dowager, Your Majesty told the eunuch that the cabinet has drawn up an order."

"Oh?" Mrs. Feng paused and said, "How did you deal with it?"

"General Shenwei seized the title and was exiled to Guizhou with his son," said the nun.

Empress Dowager Feng nodded, and said: "There was no execution, Mrs. Rong Guotai, the emperor is still magnanimous."

Jia's mother was both surprised and happy, but the eyes of Yuanyang on the side flickered, and she didn't know if there was a feeling of "pity that I didn't get it".

The main reason is that Jia Heng said earlier that Jia Amnesty was doomed, and Jia Lian would also be exiled...Mother Jia really believed it.

Later, Wang Ziteng also said the same thing. Jia's mother almost concluded that Jia Amnesty was dead. As for Jia Lian, she couldn't keep it, so she could only keep her title.

Jia Mu thought, "In this way, if there is a royal wedding or funeral, there will be a day of amnesty for the world."

After all, he is old and has experienced many things. Not to mention the new emperor's enthronement, but the death of the empress dowager and the empress dowager, they may be pardoned and returned.

The nanny suddenly said again: "By the way, she also said that she will not be pardoned if she is not pardoned."

Mother Jia: "..."

Empress Dowager Feng didn't care about these things, and asked: "Who did you mention the successor of the title? Offer incense?"

Mammy shook her head and said, "I haven't mentioned that."

Empress Dowager Feng turned to look at Mother Jia, and said, "Mrs. Rong Guotai, I think it is a way of discussing nobleness. The title is worth the death penalty. If this is the case, there is nothing to discuss about the title."

In the law of the Han Dynasty, the eight opinions are clearly recorded, and as for "official role", it has long been abandoned.

In the Yigui section, those who are officials of the third rank or above, casual officials of the second rank or above, and the first rank of the nobles generally enjoy reduced sentences, and Jia Amnesty enjoys this "preferential" policy.

At this moment, Jia's mother wanted to cry but had no tears. She only felt a sense of sadness in her heart.

So, the title is gone after all?
"Now that the title is gone, who will offer the incense?" Mother Jia suppressed her emotions and cried.

The mother said: "Your Majesty, Jia Heng of the Ningguo Mansion, as the patriarch, can inherit the incense."

When Jia Mu heard this, her complexion changed slightly, and her heart was full of surprise and doubt.

Secretly, what's the point?
"Is this Jia Heng the general who led the army?" Queen Mother Feng asked curiously.

When Princess Jinyang heard this, she pursed her cherry lips and thought to herself, he is still your old son-in-law.

Empress Song explained: "Mother, this Jia Heng is the head of the Jia family, and now there is also a first-class baron, so it makes sense for him to offer sacrifices to the ancestors of the Jia family."

When Jia Mu heard the words, she felt mixed feelings.

The title is gone, and with the idea of ​​sacrificial incense, it is absolutely impossible for Baoyu to inherit it. It's over, it's over!

A hundred years later, under the nine springs, how could she have the face to meet the two Rong Guogongs?
In fact, if Jia Heng enshrines incense and inherits any titles, Mother Jia may be the first to disagree, and it will be your turn to Dongfu for any good deeds?
But now that the title has been discounted as a death penalty, Jia Heng sacrificed incense, because he has an official title and is the head of the clan, and the two ancestors of Rongning and Ning sacrificed together, but it was a burden.

Empress Dowager Feng said: "Mrs. Rong Guo, the family of Wu Xun, is the only one who has made military achievements. If Rong Guo has a son who joins the army, if you want to come to the title, the title is not limited to the first-class general. Isn't Jia Heng now a first-class man?"

But Jia's mother couldn't say a word, and she was so lost that she had to bow her head again and again.

To put it bluntly, how did Baoyu join the army?
Not everyone belongs to Brother Heng.

Now that Dafang's title is gone, and Zheng'er is "leisure" in the mansion, the Rongguo Mansion...is defeated by her.

Yuanyang listened from the side, feeling a little heavy in her heart, but if there was a man like Uncle Heng working outside, it would not be such a predicament.

Princess Jinyang looked at Jia's mother in a daze, and shook her head secretly, but she didn't have much sympathy.

Seeing this scene, Princess Xianning felt a sense of emotion in her heart, if there were no Mr. Jia, the Jia family would have been in decline.

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall

After noon, Mrs. Wang, who had finished her lunch, came to Rongqing hall to wait, feeling unavoidably anxious, fidgeting and looking at the dark sky outside.

In addition, there are Mrs. Xing, Feng Wan, Aunt Xue, Chai Dai, Xiang Yun, Yuan Chun, Tan Chun and others.

In fact, ever since Jia's mother, the first-rank lady of the Rong Kingdom, went to the palace to beg for grace, whether it was the issue of the title or the life and death of Jia She and his son, they all affected the hearts of all the people in the Quanrong Kingdom.

At this time, the visiting daughter-in-law Wang Yi looked at Mrs. Wang and said with relief: "Auntie, don't worry, since the old lady has gone to see the Queen Mother, with her old face, not to mention a certainty, she is sure."

Yuan Chun changed into a vermilion skirt and sat on the embroidered pier beside Mrs. Wang, which made the gentle and graceful girl a little more charming and bright, listening to the conversation silently, Pick up the teacup, sip the tea without saying a word.

She originally intended to go back to the eldest princess's mansion today, but the house was in a mess, and her mother would not let her leave, and brother Heng didn't say anything.

Mrs. Wang looked at the absent-minded Yuan Chun, and asked, "Girl, Baoyu's scar is better now."

"Scars have formed, and your complexion is much better." Yuan Chun withdrew his thoughts and replied softly.

Wang Yi's daughter-in-law looked at Yuan Chun and said with emotion: "Auntie, you said that my cousin's appearance is not a bit better than my family's appearance. It's really a pity."

Although these words put one's own posture very low, but with the "good news" that Wang Yi's daughter was selected as a talented person of Wei Wang, it is a bit "Versailles".

Mrs. Wang forced a smile, her heart flustered for a while, she shook her head and said: "It's also the big girl who didn't die."

Yuan Chun frowned, his eyes glowing with anger.

Speaking of which, she is now also a talented person in the eldest princess's mansion.

Baochai's watery apricot eyes moved slightly, and she also glanced at Wang Yi's daughter-in-law—her cousin.

At this moment, a woman came running from the outside, entered the Rongqing Hall, and said: "Madam, the old lady is back."

Everyone was shocked.

Then, not long after the words were finished, Mother Jia had already opened the curtain and entered the room, expressionless and silent.

Mrs. Wang opened her mouth, but now she became more reserved.

Instead, Mrs. Xing said eagerly, "Old lady, what did the palace say?"

Jiamu murmured in a low voice: "The title is lost, lost..."

Mrs. Xing, Mrs. Wang, and Aunt Xue: "..."

Seeing this scene, Sister Feng, who had been silent from beginning to end, suddenly felt happy because she didn't know the result.

Noble title, nobility, now that the chicken is flying like an egg, won't it fall on Baoyu?
It's good to be gone!

Yuan Chun looked at Yuanyang and asked, "What did the palace say?"

Facing the staring eyes, Yuanyang sighed: "The Eldest Master and the Second Master Lian were both exiled to Guizhou. I heard from the Empress Dowager that the title was used to offset the death penalty of the Elder Master. The title in the mansion is gone."

Mrs. Wang's complexion kept changing when she heard this, her hands hidden in her sleeves tightly clenched the Buddhist beads, all her calculations turned into flowing water, and she almost blurted out: "Brother Heng and Uncle Baoyu didn't say that, my lord... ..."

Said, woke up and made a slip of the tongue.

Mrs. Xing's face changed slightly when she heard the words, and said angrily: "What are you talking about? Do you want Lian'er and his father to lose their lives?"

Mrs. Wang opened her mouth and said, "I, I didn't..."

"Old lady, now the master managed to save his life. In the future, when there is an amnesty, and when he comes back, he can still earn his title. If his life is gone, he will have nothing. There are people who wish for the title..." Mrs. Xing said coldly road.

"The palace said that after their father and son were exiled, they were not pardoned and would never come back." Jia Mu interrupted Mrs. Xing's conversation, tightly closed her eyes, and tears flowed silently on her old cheeks.

Sister Feng's heart ached as if she had been struck by lightning, and she also closed her eyes.

In Rongqing Hall, it was as if falling into a deathly silence.

After a while, a mammy from the Wang family came in from the outside. She walked up to Wang Yi's daughter-in-law and said in a low voice, "Ma'am, Mr. Yi sent someone over, saying that a female officer has come to Kunning Palace, let Mrs. Hurry up and go back."

When everyone heard the words, they all looked at the old woman. Mother Jia was wiping her tears with a handkerchief, and stared at the old woman with teary old eyes from the corner of the handkerchief.

Aunt Xue's eyes were not without envy. Speaking of which, her family's treasure girl was originally a candidate for the palace, but she failed in the end.

Baochai shook her head secretly, looking at the Rongqingtang with an elegant and eerie atmosphere, she suddenly said something, some families were happy and some were sad.

Wang Yi's daughter-in-law frowned. At this time, the Jia family was experiencing bad luck. This Mrs. Li was so ignorant, it was really inappropriate to say this.

Wang Yi's daughter-in-law said in a low voice: "Talk to uncle first, I will go back later and let him just prepare the dowry for the girl."

The mother-in-law of the Wang family probably felt that the appearance of Wang Yi's daughter-in-law was too unbearable, so she said with a bitter face: "Ma'am, the girl has lost the election. The female officer of Kunning Palace gave some royal gifts. The uncle asked the wife to go back to receive the female officer." Woolen cloth."

Because the last hurdle was defeated, Empress Song was very particular about it, and gave a lot of silk and jade, and sent a female official of the sixth rank to explain the reason, such as Wang Zi's age is too young, and so on.

Wang Yi's daughter-in-law: "???"

Aunt Xue and Baochai: "..."

Mother Jia put down the handkerchief covering her face, paused slightly, and continued to wipe her tears.

Mrs. Wang's complexion suddenly changed, and the hand holding the Buddhist beads suddenly loosened. Well, for some reason, it seems that the pain... eased a lot?

……

……

But it was said that Jia Heng returned to the check-in room of the military aircraft and sat there until noon, when the inner supervisor sent by Emperor Chongping gave imperial meals, and everyone used them separately, and continued to distribute and handle military affairs.

Since the establishment of the Hebei Economic and Strategic Appeasement Department, Li Zan, Minister of the Ministry of War, has been in the north, and the logistics, military supplies, and personnel scheduling surrounding this former enemy command organization have been placed on the desk of the Military Aircraft Department. It is urgent to give advice on how to deal with it, and then hand it over to the emperor for review. .

This undoubtedly greatly reduced the burden on Emperor Chongping, and it also avoided the cabinet and the department's prevarication and disclosure of secrets when "the court was discussing side affairs".

When it was almost dusk, Jia Heng didn't stay in the duty room like Shi Jie, the servant of the Ministry of War, who came everywhere without fighting. Instead, he bid farewell to Emperor Chongping, left the palace, and went home to rest.

(End of this chapter)