The Red Mansions

Chapter 522 Qin Keqing: She's either jealous, or just looking at the study in the West Wing...

Ningguo Mansion, Tianxiang Building

In the evening, the sound of babbling, drums and gongs came from above the attic.

At the moment on the second floor, Jia Mu is sitting in the middle, with Qin Keqing on the left, and Mrs. Wang, Aunt Xue, Feng Wan, Tan Xi, Chai Dai, Xiang Yun and others on the right.

They are receiving the visiting concubine Zhen Xue of Beijing, concubine Zhen Qing of Chu, and Wu Shi and others.

Mother Jia looked at the people and was quite surprised. She remembered that Ke Qing was congratulating her on being conferred the title of Mrs. Yipin, but she obviously didn't send out any invitations. What are you doing here with gifts?
Especially Minister of the Ministry of Industry Zhao Yi, whose wife came to plead for mercy, but was declined by Brother Heng. I don't know why he came to congratulate him now.

Qin Keqing also looked at the women in amazement, her eyes fell on Zhen Xue and Zhen Qing, who were combing the cloud and Qiongyue. The clothes are fresh, the skin is more snowy, and the appearance is beautiful.

One has a gentle and intellectual temperament, the other is beautiful and charming, especially with similar facial features, Qin Keqing can't help but compare with the Youshi sisters beside her.

Compared with the You sisters, who are gorgeous and charming, they are almost the same as stunning beauties, but they inevitably do not have that kind of dignified demeanor, while the Zhen sisters are from a famous family, even the slightly charming Zhen Qing, has a bit of grace and luxury.

Aunt Xue also looked at the Zhen sisters, seeing the two sisters, she couldn't help feeling envious.

This Zhen family is really rich and dignified, there are two concubines from the same family, each of them has outstanding character and appearance, such as this is the standard for the Tian family to choose concubines.

In fact, her Baochai...

Aunt Xue turned her head to look at her daughter, and saw that she was holding a teacup and looking at sisters Zhen Qing and Zhen Xue.

In Rongqingtang, not only Aunt Xue, mother and daughter looked at the sisters of the Zhen family, but Daiyu and Tanchun also looked at Zhen Xue and Zhen Qing.

When Zhen Xue came yesterday, she was still alone, she was lonely after all, and she hadn't had such a perception yet, but now they complement each other, and the feeling is very different.

Jia Mu asked with a smile, "Madam Wu is here?"

Wu said with a smile: "I would like to thank your master Heng for his righteous words, and today he helped my master speak a fair word in the court."

Mother Jia was quite surprised when she heard this, she looked at Qin Keqing and asked, "I don't know, what's going on?"

Qin Keqing smiled and said, "I haven't seen my husband mention it when he came back."

Jia Mu smiled and said: "Brother Heng came back, but he didn't mention it at all, but even if there is this section, I think it's the master of the Zhao family who did the right thing. Brother Heng is not worth it according to the axiom. Came here specifically to say thanks.”

Everyone laughed.

Shui Xin, the daughter of King Beijing, also opened her eyes wide at this time, put down the Jiulianhuan in her hand, and looked curiously at the smiling adults.

Xiangyun was so rare that he pinched the little girl's pink face.

Princess Chu Zhen Qing took over the conversation with a smile and said: "Old lady, I remember coming to your residence when I was a child. I don't want to think that after so many years, the old lady is still so cheerful."

Zhen and Jia were family friends. Zhen Qing and Zhen Xue often came to pay their respects to Jia's mother, and they got married.

Jia Mu nodded and said with a smile: "The princess is very prominent now, and she has a young prince, so it's not easy to walk around. By the way, Mrs. Zhen is in better health now, right?"

Princess Chu Zhen Qing smiled and said, "A letter came during the Chinese New Year, everything is fine."

Jia Mu said with emotion: "She is older than me, and she is also a blessed person."

The Zhen family has two concubines, and Zhen Yingjia is a high-ranking official in Jinling Province. It turns out that her family is stronger than her Jia family.

But now... With Brother Heng, the two families are now at the same level.

Everyone was chatting and laughing, Mrs. Wu said with a smile: "Old lady, there is celebration in the backyard, why don't you see Brother Heng?"

At this time, he quietly changed his name to "Brother Heng", naturally for the sake of getting closer.

Jia Mu laughed and said, "He should be in the front yard right now."

As he spoke, he commanded Yuanyang: "Yuanyang, go to the front yard and have a look, what is Brother Heng busy with?"

Yuanyang responded and went to the front hall.

Jia Heng had just seen off Han Hui at this moment, and was drinking tea with Qin Ye when he returned to the inner hall of the backyard.

At this moment, when he heard the mandarin ducks coming to report, his thoughts changed abruptly. He knew why Mrs. Wu had come, and said: "Just say that I have something to go to the Yamen later, and I won't come back for dinner."

The mandarin duck responded, then turned away.

"Zi Yu, what is Zhao Shangshu's wife doing here?" Seeing Jia Heng's brows contemplating, Qin Ye asked in a low voice.

Jia Heng said: "Yue Zhang, Wu Shi's visit should be her own intention, thank you for my frankness at the meeting today, I don't see each other well, besides, there is nothing to see the female relatives."

"That's the reason." Qin Ye nodded, and asked, "Ziyu, I was thinking about something just now. Will it be known to the palace that you are looking for Mr. Shi Tingtui who is also in the military aircraft department?"

"Actually, there will be traces anyway. Now that the Qi and Zhejiang parties are fighting fiercely, Yue Zhang won't think that the emperor doesn't know?" Jia Heng put down the tea cup, looked at the sunset outside, and said in a low voice.

The two parties of Qi and Zhejiang are almost showing off their chariots and horses. It can even be said that this is the result of the emperor's overt and covert efforts to fuel the flames.

The two sides appointed private individuals to form a party, would Emperor Chongping not know?
"What does Ziyu mean?" Qin Ye frowned, feeling a little confused.

Jia Heng said: "Officials are selected and appointed, except for the regular elections presided over by the Ministry of Officials. Whether it is the Ministry's recommendation or the court's recommendation, the list will eventually be collected by the Holy Lord and used by the Holy Lord. But Mr. Yue Zhang, don't worry, Yue Zhang is already I'm over sixty years old, and I've worked hard in the Ministry of Industry for many years, but I can't be appointed. It's just that no one recommends me, and I can't get into the eyes of the Holy One. Now that the Ministry of Industry has a big case, my father-in-law's character can be seen, and the Holy One will not use it on purpose because of me. .”

Qin Ye's heart was still a little unsettled, so he couldn't help retreating, and said in a low voice: "Why don't we forget about it."

He couldn't help worrying about whether this matter would affect his son-in-law at Sacred Heart. At his age, he wouldn't be able to be an official for a few years.

Jia Heng said: "Your father-in-law is too worried. If you don't avoid relatives if you raise them internally, if you don't avoid enemies if you raise them externally, if the sage thinks it's inappropriate, then just don't appoint them. It's nothing. Anyway, there are as many as ten people on the list recommended by the court."

He seeks an official for Qin Ye, which shows that he cares about his wife and children, and seeks an official for Jia Zheng, which shows that he cares about the clan, and he can rule if he cares. , On the contrary, I think he is easier to control.

Otherwise, if he is in charge of Jinyi and in charge of the Beijing camp, what if someone makes a wish for him to be an official?
The key is that Qin Ye is old and capable. He can become an official after serving as a minister for three to five years. The minister of the Ministry of Industry is more of a transactional bureaucrat.

As for Jia Zheng, due to his lack of practical ability, he moved to the General Administration Department as an idle official, and it was not a matter of forming a party for personal gain.

Only when they are placed in key departments can they be regarded as forming a party for personal gain.

In terms of political integrity, both of them have withstood the test of the corruption case of the Ministry of Industry, and it is unreasonable not to promote and appoint.

Seeing that Jia Heng was confident, Qin Ye let go of his worries and said, "It's getting late today, I'll go back first."

Jia Heng hurriedly said: "Master Yuezhang stay for dinner together?"

"No, I'll go back and think about it too." Qin Ye said.

Seeing this, Jia Heng couldn't hold back anymore, saying: "Then the day after tomorrow, Ke Qing and I will go to see Yue Zhang again."

After sending Qin Ye outside the door, Jia Heng didn't stay in the mansion any longer, but went to Jinyi Mansion. He also wanted to know who the Qi and Zhejiang courts recommended.

In the backyard, in the Tianxiang Tower, Mother Jia heard Yuanyang coming to report that Jia Heng was on official business, so it was inconvenient to come and meet her, so she looked up at Wu Shi, smiled and said, "Brother Heng is busy with official business outside, why don't you come?" Madam Wu please forgive me."

Wu said with emotion: "This is so precious."

Didn't come out to see her, it showed that she didn't want to repay her kindness, it was completely out of public interest.

After thinking about it, he said with a smile: "I came here to take a look, there is no reason to bother me any more. Since Brother Heng is busy, I will just watch it next time during the holidays."

Princess Chu Zhen Qing's eyes flickered.

They sat and chatted for a while, and then said their goodbyes. After leaving the gate of Ningguo Mansion, Mrs. Wu got into a carriage and headed towards Zhao Mansion alone, while Zhen Xue and Zhen Qing shared a carriage.

"Sister, tell me why Jia Ziyu didn't see Mrs. Wu?" Zhen Qing frowned and asked thoughtfully.

Zhen Xue raised her clear eyes, looked at her sister, and said softly: "Didn't you say that, he has official duties, and the female family members have nothing to say."

"It's okay to deceive outsiders with such words, but I feel guilty and ashamed to accept it." Zhen Qing said in a low voice.

Zhen Xue opened the curtain of a carriage, looked at the street view outside, and said in a low voice: "Sister, I think Jia Ziyu Xu has a magnanimous heart. The prince invited Yu to his residence for dinner several times before, but he declined all of them. He has made it clear that he is a member of the Holy Majesty in the palace, and he does not want to make friends with other people in the court."

"I always think it's unusual, sister, just wait. I heard that there is a vacancy in the Ministry of Industry this time. His father-in-law and Jia Zheng from Rongguo Mansion are both in the Ministry of Industry. Can he make plans for himself?" Zhen Qing sleeps in the eyes of the phoenix. A ray of sharp light appeared, and he said softly.

Zhen Xue frowned, puzzled expression appeared on her jade face, and she said, "Sister, how do you say that?"

"My younger sister doesn't pay attention to the court affairs. She doesn't know anything. After the previous case, there are only two Lang Zhong left in the Ministry of Industry. His father-in-law, Qin Ye, is the little girl you just saw who was sealed with a first-rank imperial order. Her father is now As a doctor in the Ministry of Industry, don't you want to take advantage of this big case and go up?" Zhen Qingqing laughed and said in a low voice.

"Sister, let's not talk about these things, why does my sister always stare at Jia Ziyu?" Zhen Xue frowned, and her bright eyes fixed on her elder sister.

Zhen Qing: "..."

Why is she staring at Jia Ziyu?
Of course it's for the sake of the prince, if you don't find out the weakness of your temperament, how can you prescribe the right medicine?

Hmm, drugged?

Let her think about it...

Zhen Xue said softly: "Sister, the Jia family and my Zhen family are family friends, but this Jia Heng is a commoner branch, maybe not too close, if my sister is plotting for her brother-in-law, I will come and walk with the Qin family more often in the future, and the friendship will accumulate over time. It will happen naturally, don’t rush it.”

"I'm afraid I'm not good at it. Last time because of Yuan Chun's incident, I saw Jia Heng's attitude." Zhen Qing shook her head, and suddenly stared at Zhen Xue.

Zhen Xue felt uncomfortable being looked at, and said angrily, "What is sister looking at me for?"

Zhen Qing's voice was a little erratic, and she said: "The Wang family of Beijing County and Jia's family are old friends. Why don't my sisters come to Ningguo Mansion more often? I see that Xin Xin likes them a lot."

Zhen Xue frowned and sighed.

But it was said that Jia Heng went to Jinyi Mansion first, and asked Qu Lang to keep an eye on the candidates from the Qi and Zhejiang parties, as well as the Beijing-China Court, and only returned from Jinyi Mansion at night.

As soon as she sat down in the living room, she heard Qingwen say: "Master, Miss Xue has been waiting in the study in the west wing for a while."

Jia Heng nodded and said, "I'll go right away."

Speaking of which, he hadn't been alone with Baochai for a few days.

These few days, firstly, I'm a little busy, and secondly, I spend more time with... her cousin.

In the study room in the west wing, it was early in the morning, candles had already been lit on the high table, and the glowing candlelight smudged the room, and also reflected a beautiful figure on the window.

Baochai was dressed in a half-new, old-fashioned honey-colored jacket and a long beige skirt. She was sitting quietly, holding a book in her hand, looking down at her, suddenly her heart moved, and she looked towards the prestige, but heard familiar footsteps There was a sound, and then I saw a tall and tall figure on the screen.

Jia Heng stepped into the room, entered the inner room, and called: "Sister Xue, are you here?"

Baochai's apricot eyes were moistened, reflecting the young man's face, and asked: "Brother Heng, just now I heard from Qingwen that you went to the yamen?"

Jia Heng said: "I just went to Jinyi Mansion to have a look."

Sure enough, the two parties of Qi and Zhejiang are active, but the two parties have many followers, and more than one person was recommended by the court.

As Jia Heng said, he approached and took Baochai's plain hand, and in Baochai's slight shame, gently brought it into his arms, sniffing the fragrance of her hair, and said softly: "My sister came here this time for Wenlong's business. ?”

"Mom asked me to ask about my elder brother." Baochai said softly, now in Jiaheng's arms, her head drooping slightly, her snowy skin and jade face flushed into a glow.

In fact, some want to see him.

"I think my aunt should also miss it." Jia Heng took Baochai's hand, and the two sat side by side on the inner bed, whispering: "I was just going to tell you that I will go tomorrow."

Baochai gave a "huh" and said softly: "The Wu family and Princess Chu and Princess Beijing came to visit the old lady just now, why didn't Brother Heng go?"

The original is also a random topic.

Jia Heng held her soft little hand and said in a low voice: "It's not easy to meet each other, it's just to avoid suspicion, what did she say when she came here?"

"I say it's for... thanking Master Zhao." Baochai said softly, feeling a little ashamed.

Jia Heng nodded, and said in a low voice: "There is nothing to thank, just speaking out of righteousness."

Baochai bit her lower lip, and said in a trembling voice, "Brother Heng, why didn't you answer earlier, but instead helped to talk earlier?"

Jia Heng said sternly, "It's what His Majesty meant."

Baochai was slightly startled, resisting the attack from before her, and said: "This...but Mrs. Wu said that none of the civil and military officials in the court helped to speak."

"Zhao Shangshu is not involved in the case, and the Holy Majesty does not want him to go. I am the presiding judge, so I am the only one who can say that." Jia Heng said in a low voice.

When Baochai heard this, his face showed thought.

Jia Heng explained: "Of course it's also because Zhao Shangshu is upright. If he is also dragged into the water, it's useless for anyone to speak."

"So that's how it is." Baochai said softly.

"Nowadays, the court situation cannot be balanced without a person who is neither group nor party." Jia Heng said, feeling Baochai's absent-mindedness, his heart moved slightly, and asked: "Sister, why are you not in the right mind?"

Baochai shook her head and said, "Brother Heng, it's nothing, just thinking about the court affairs."

Jia Heng thought for a while, then said in a low voice: "Is it because of the imperial edict?"

When the central matter was mentioned all of a sudden, Baochai's plump and greasy face suddenly changed, and she subconsciously denied, "No."

Jia Heng: "..."

After a moment of silence, he said, "Sister Xue has been wronged."

Baochai raised her face and said softly, "Brother Heng, I have nothing to do, I am willing to wait for Brother Heng."

Jia Heng said: "At the beginning I thought about marrying my younger sister as the main wife, but that's actually what I meant. Only the main wife has the possibility of asking for a royal order."

"I know." Baochai murmured, leaning her head against Jia Heng's arms.

That's what he really planned...

Jia Heng asked: "Then why is my sister still depressed?"

"It's mother, I mentioned my marriage again yesterday, and asked Brother Heng...to help me manage it." Baochai sighed faintly, and her tone was a bit strange as she spoke.

What is it all about.

Jia Heng: "..."

The man proposed to the woman, and the woman said I should go back and ask my husband?

"I asked my sister to tell my aunt at the beginning, but I knew my sister didn't tell me, because I was worried that my aunt would cause trouble if she found out about our affairs." Jia Heng said in a low voice.

Baochai's heart was not without anxiety, because no matter how good he said, there was no sign of him in the end.

Seeing that Keqing had become a first-rank official, the loss and sourness in his heart must have been uncontrollable, but he hid it deeply, and his expression did not show the slightest bit.

Just like in the original book, the one wearing the dragon robe is your sister.

Baochai sighed: "If it really doesn't work, I can only talk to my mother, but then you and I..."

She didn't want to say it unless it was absolutely necessary, otherwise how would the sisters in the Fuzhong think of her?Hook up with a married man's vixen?

Jia Heng was silent for a moment, then said: "It's my fault that my sister is uneasy."

Embracing Baochai, her chin rested on her forehead, which was as clean as jade.

"Brother Heng, it's nothing." Baochai murmured while holding the young man's hand.

Suddenly at this time, seeing the black shadow approaching, his lips were covered, and bursts of familiar breath approached.

But when the two were getting tired of themselves, Qin Keqing accompanied all the women in the West Mansion after dinner, dispersed the theater troupe, and sent off Jia Mu, Mrs. Wang, Aunt Xue, Feng Wan and other women in the West Mansion. A group of nuns cleaned up Tianxiang Tower, led Baozhu, Second Sister You, and Third Sister You back to the inner hall.

Sitting down on the Arhat bed, looking at the night outside, he asked Baozhu beside him, "Has the master come back?"

Baozhu said: "I heard from the front yard that I just came back, and I'm probably in the study in the west wing at the moment. Miss Bao came to see the uncle for her brother's business."

Hearing Miss Bao coming over, Qin Keqing's beautiful eyes under Liu Ye's eyebrows were condensed, and she murmured: "I wanted to ask about my father, since that's the case, I'll ask when I come back."

It's not that there was no doubt before, but from the recent contact, with the shrewd calculation of Mrs. Xue's family, she should not let her daughter be a concubine for her husband.

That's the unrequited love of the Xue family's sister, but thinking about her husband... there shouldn't be anything else, right?

Third Sister You looked at the dazed girl, smiled, and asked, "Sister Qin, why don't you play mahjong?"

Qin Keqing didn't know why, when she heard the word "Mahjong", she felt a little irritable for no reason, and said softly, "I won't play today, and I'm a little tired."

Third Sister You blinked her beautiful eyes, and said meaningfully: "Sister, why don't we go to the study in the West Wing and call Uncle and Miss Xue over to play together?"

Qin Keqing: "???"

"He and sister Xue are talking about business, so don't disturb each other." Qin Keqing said softly, clutching the handkerchief hidden in her sleeve, and rejected the proposal.

In fact, she has a faint intuition, but as long as she doesn't see it with her own eyes, she chooses to...believe in her husband.

Third Sister You glanced around, sat down next to Qin Keqing, and said in a low voice: "Sister, there is an attic in the southeast corner of the study in the West Wing, with a very good view. If my sister goes there, you might as well use the ventilation window on the second floor of the attic." Take a look at the west chamber, you should be able to see some shadows."

She looked at her sister and probably became suspicious of the uncle.

Hearing this, Qin Keqing's heart skipped a beat, her beautiful eyes looked at Third Sister You in shock, and said in a low voice, "You...are you peeping at Grandpa?"

"I just went for a walk in the backyard the day before yesterday and found it by accident. I haven't looked at it yet." Third Sister You quickly denied it.

She has nothing to do these days, thinking about what that guy is busy with every day.

Qin Keqing frowned, and cast a glance at Third Sister You with her beautiful eyes, and said angrily: "In my own house, you are sneaky, let the uncle know what it looks like, and I can't spare you."

"Alas..." Third Sister You sighed quietly.

If he didn't spare her, it would be better.

As Qin Keqing spoke, she was also a little moved, but her face remained calm, she turned her eyes and asked Third Sister You, "Have you finished writing that script?"

Third Sister You smiled and said, "The last one is short."

Qin Keqing nodded, and said with anger and annoyance: "Then you should go back and write earlier, don't just play mahjong and dominoes every day."

"Sister taught me a lesson." Third Sister You saw a smile on her beautiful face, and said in a low voice, "Then sister also rested earlier, so I'll go back first."

After Third Sister You and Second Sister You left, Qin Keqing stayed in the hall for a while, picked up the teacup and put it down again, obviously a little restless.

After thinking about it, he told Baozhu beside him, "Go and prepare hot water for me. I'll take a bath later."

After the second maid was sent away, Qin Keqing pursed her cherry lips, lingered in front of the screen, paused, went out of the inner hall, and headed towards the attic that Third Sister You mentioned.

She's not jealous, she just wants to see the study in the West Wing... Is it as she guessed?
(End of this chapter)