The Red Mansions

Chapter 918 Li Wan: This... Could it be because of her?

Shenjing, Grand View Garden
And just when Li Wan's thoughts were complicated and inexplicable, suddenly the mother from outside ran over and said, "Grandma, the old lady and the lady have something to call you to go over there, take Lan Geer over there."

Li Wan's beautiful and beautiful face suddenly saw surprise, and said in a low voice: "Did you say anything?"

It turned out that Jia Heng recommended Li Shouzhong as the Governor of Anhui, and sent it to the Department of General Administration of the capital in a six hundred li rush. After Jia Zheng saw it, he came to look for Li Wan, intending to talk about the situation.

Sister Feng laughed and said, "I think it's a good thing."

The young woman Huaxin looked at the earrings next to Li Wan's ears for a while, thinking in her heart, sister-in-law Zhu hasn't worn earrings for many years.

In fact, after the dead tree came into spring, it was more of a change after a happy mood, and Sister Feng was good at observing words and expressions, seeing Li Wan's recent change of expression at a glance, she naturally became a little suspicious.

When Li Wan heard this, Wen Ning smiled slightly on his jade face and said, "Feng girl, let's go and have a look."

It was in the past that I paid my respects to Mother Jia, but now it's over once.

Rongqing Hall
Jia Mu was sitting on the Arhat bed, and the second wife of Xing Wang was sitting on the bottom, and Aunt Xue was also sitting on the bottom, with a smile on her fair and plump face.

As Baochai moved into the Grand View Garden, she not only helped Jia Heng with housekeeping, but also helped manage the business in the capital, Aunt Xue was overjoyed, and gradually let go of her original hanging heart.

This is indeed not a simple concubine's posture. Brother Heng really likes her family treasure girl, so there should be no problem in marrying her as his wife in the future.

Of course, Aunt Xue didn't know that Jia Heng also really liked another treasure girl.

And Jia Zheng was sitting on the chair at the bottom. Jia Zheng was sitting upright at the moment, twisting his beard under his chin with one hand, and looking at Jia Lan who was sitting upright not far away, like a little adult, with a hint of joy on his elegant face .

I asked a few questions just now, and Lang Geer was indeed able to answer the questions fluently. He was much more diligent and intelligent than Baoyu when it came to reading.

It's no wonder that Ziyu admired Lan Ge'er, who was only young, and said many times that he should cultivate it well.

"The eldest grandma and the second grandma are here." At this time, the mother entered the hall and said happily.

Li Wan and Sister Feng entered the hall, one was wearing a light yellow dress, with eight treasures in a beaded bun, beautifully decorated with pearls, and brilliant color embroidery, the other was in a blue dress, with a dignified appearance, almost like an orchid in an empty valley, gentle and elegant,

"Old ancestor, what kind of happy event is calling me and Mrs. Zhu in a hurry." Sister Feng's sharp eyes saw the joy on Jia's mother's face and Jia Zheng's side, and she guessed in her heart that it must be a happy event, so she laughed. Yi Yingying asked.

Jia Mu said with a smile: "Feng girl's mouth is really like a magpie announcing good news. Don't say it's really a happy event."

Mrs. Xing, Mrs. Wang, and Aunt Xue all laughed.

Sister Feng came to Jiamu's side, continued to laugh and joke, and said, "Old ancestor, what kind of happy event is it? Talk to granddaughter-in-law too."

At this time, Li Wan also sat down and looked at Jia Mu curiously.

What happy event still needs to call her?
As a transparent person in Jia's house in the past, Li Wan has long been used to guarding her children's birthdays, and sometimes feels that she is only a spectator.

At this time, Jia Lan stepped forward and called out to his mother in a polite manner.

There was a trace of maternal gentleness on Li Wan's soft and beautiful face, and she said, "Brother Lan, sit there."

Mother Jia looked at the mother and son with a kind smile and said, "Let your father-in-law talk."

Unable to hide his joy, Jia Zheng smiled on his elegant face, and said: "The imperial court is divided into provinces in the south of the Yangtze River, which is divided into a province in Anhui. Zi Yu just submitted the memorial and strongly recommended Brother Li as the governor of Anhui. Hearing that the Holy Majesty accepted it with pleasure. Well, rumors have spread in the cabinet that he will be appointed governor."

Li Shouzhong was Jia Zheng's in-laws, and Jia Zheng highly admired Li Shouzhong's talent, learning and character, who was born as a scholar and also served as a sacrifice to the Imperial Academy.

Li Wan: "..."

Father is going to be governor of Anhui?This is the official of the frontier, right?
No, why did he recommend his father as governor of Anhui?
Father has been idle at home for some years, it seems that he has long since left the officialdom and been forgotten by the court, so he was recommended again.

This... Could it be because of her?

For some reason, thinking of this, Li Wan's breath became short of breath, her heart jumped violently, her beautiful cheeks flushed slightly, and she felt a strong sense of embarrassment and joy welling up in her heart, which made Li's heart almost uncontrollable .

At this moment, although Jia's mother observed Li Wan's expression and saw that his cheeks were rosy and his gentle brows and eyes were full of joy, but at that time it was only because her father was rejoicing that he was in charge, so it was not different.

Only Sister Feng glanced at Li Wan, and Liu Shao frowned slightly, feeling even more suspicious in her heart.

Why is this state of joy somewhat similar to when she was swaying?

At this time, Mother Jia asked Jia Zheng with a smile, and said, "I don't know Brother Heng, why do you want to use Brother Zhu's daughter-in-law again?"

Aunt Xue smiled, and then said: "I was silent before, and I never heard Brother Heng mention it at home."

Sister Feng Danfeng looked at Li Wan who was standing aside with a half-smile in her eyes, and asked tentatively, "Sister-in-law Zhu, did Brother Heng talk to you?"

I remember that after Brother Heng went to her banquet, he went to Mrs. Wan's banquet the next day.

"Ah." When Li Wanfang was lost in thoughts, she heard the words and said, "Brother Heng didn't seem to have mentioned this matter, and I just heard about it."

It should have happened that day, did he feel guilty to make up for it?But why do you say... just this time, not the next time?

It's not that she doesn't obey women's morals, but she still can't forget it. In fact, these words make people puzzled.

Jia Zheng said softly: "Ziyu praised his in-laws in his memorials. He mentioned that Li Shouzhong kept his filial piety for three years without changing his aspirations, which shows his integrity. Fang Zhi urgently needs a virtuous and virtuous official to take up the post of Fang Bo, so he recommends his in-laws."

Jia's mother worried, "Zheng'er, will people say that Brother Heng is nepotism?"

Mrs. Wang raised her fair face, frowned slightly, and her eyes moved slightly.

And Aunt Xue also had some concern on her face, she was her son-in-law after all.

Hearing this, Li Wan raised her beautiful eyes that were full of autumn waves, and a hint of worry appeared on her graceful and beautiful face that was thinly applied with powder and daisy.

As an official in the court, he already had many political enemies, don't criticize him because of this matter, it's her... her fault.

Jia Zhengdao: "That's not true. Ziyu's recommendation is based on a public heart. The ancients often say that a virtuous person does not avoid relatives. In addition, his in-laws were originally scholars. They used to sacrifice wine for the Imperial College. Now they are governors of a province, and they are very respected. Remember."

Jia Mu laughed and said, "Brother Heng is doing things properly."

As he said that, he glanced at Mrs. Wang who was touching the Buddhist beads, and nodded deliberately: "Isn't Zheng'er the same at the beginning? Now in the Department of General Affairs, it can be regarded as a person who has given full play to his talents."

Jia Zheng hurriedly said: "Mother, my son's qualifications are dull and he can't be brought up, and now he is just making up for it in the Department of General Affairs."

"Hey, what's this called? Brother Heng is a minister of military affairs, and a first-class Marquis doesn't know better than you? Now that you're in the General Administration Department, you're a good official." Jia Mu said with a disapproving expression.

Jia Zheng had no choice but to be modest.

Sister Feng smiled and said: "This is also the right candidate, otherwise the palace will not accept it."

As she spoke, she glanced at Li Wan, and a look of envy welled up in the depths of Danfeng's eyes.

Compared with Sister-in-Law, the Wang family where she is also a widow is in decline in Jinling. This does not mean that Sister-in-Law still has a child under her knees.

And Mrs. Wang held a string of sandalwood beads in her hand, and glanced at her daughter-in-law, not knowing whether it was happiness or worry.

That Uncle Heng can't help Baoyu?

"Brother Zhu, daughter-in-law, it's not easy for you to take care of Brother Lang these years." At this moment, Jia Mu looked at the young woman Huaxin whose cheeks were flushed with embarrassment, and said with a chuckle, "Brother Lang will be taken care of by his grandfather in the future." , it will be easier to get ahead in the future.”

In fact, this is an obvious thing. With a grandfather who is a feudal official, Jialan's future will definitely be much brighter.

And as Li Shouzhong's daughter, Li Wan, a widow with an unfavorable status that no one cares about before, now has a brighter face.

Li Wan took Jia Lan's hand, and said softly: "Old lady, Lan Geer still has to look after himself, and his father is getting old, so he still has to retire and take care of himself."

That person should be able to cultivate Brother Lang well in the future, after all, that night, she shamelessly let him bully her like that.

Since everything is for the child, she no longer has to feel guilty about the gods.

Jia Mu laughed and said, "Even if his grandfather becomes an official in the future, won't his Uncle Heng take care of him? If he passes the Jinshi examination, it will be easy for him to be an official again. It’s not that he also became the magistrate of a state.”

In the past, she looked at Brother Heng as if he had a cold temper, but now that she looked at him, she was actually cold on the outside and warm on the outside, whether it was towards Baoyu, his father or Jia Lan.

It's not in vain that she helped him back then.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but look at Mrs. Wang again, there was an inexplicable color in the old eyes.

In the future, if Baoyu wins the election, he really cannot do without Brother Heng's recommendation and support if he wants to become an official.

Mrs. Xing was listening to the conversation of several people, and she saw a faint smile on her wrinkled fair skin.

Brother Heng is also kind and righteous, originally he wanted to find an opportunity to talk about Xiuyan, but he went south to Jinling in a hurry, so he had to look for another opportunity.

Aunt Xue glanced at Mrs. Wang, feeling a little complicated.

Sister doesn't know, Brother Heng is now her Xue family's son-in-law, and when Pan'er's lawsuit is over, he will come out from the Wucheng Army and Horse Division, not to mention finding an official position, but just doing business with him, and will take care of him in the future. , The rest of my life will be well-fed.

Sister Feng Yanli also smiled and said softly: "Old lady, brother Heng is in the south now, you said you won't be back this Chinese New Year."

Jia's mother said: "He is doing errands in the palace, which is what he should be, but Keqing is quite lonely at home by himself."

Sister Feng laughed and said: "The old lady said that, there is Sister-in-law You and the second and third sisters accompanying her over there."

She just needs to stay with Keqing in Keqing's house these days.

A kind smile appeared on Jia's mother's face, and she said, "I know you two have a good relationship, so you should go and see her more. You said that Brother Heng didn't send any letters at all."

Sister Feng smiled and said, "Wait a minute, I said I'm going to find her."

"Early tomorrow morning, the wives of each family will go into the palace to celebrate the birthday of the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager. Don't forget to remind her." Mother Jia said with a smile again.

And Aunt Xue listened to Mother Jia talking about ordering his wife to enter the palace to celebrate, the smile on her fair face froze for a moment, and her eyes seemed a bit inexplicable.

You have to be the first wife to be the first wife, and then you can seal the imperial wife, that is a great honor, and Pan'er will be Lord Hou's uncle at that time.

Ningguo Mansion, Hall of the Back Residence
Qin Keqing didn't play mahjong, but prepared for the New Year together with You Shi and You Sanjie, buying clothes everywhere.

Because today is New Year's Eve, all the houses in the mansion have been decorated with lights and festoons. From the front hall to the Yimen Gate, the inner two gates, and the back hall are hung red lanterns, creating a joyous scene.

In the hall, Third Sister You looked at Qin Keqing, who was flipping through the account books, and asked, "Sister, you won't come back for the New Year this year, will you?"

Qin Keqing said softly: "It should be the New Year in the south. Didn't the mansion report not long ago say that the three Yamen in the south of the Yangtze River were first set up, and the Marquis of Yongning went to Jiangnan Daying to inspect it. It should be busy at this time."

Third Sister You sighed faintly.

Qin Keqing smiled and said: "Sigh, it's not too late to pass the door next year, anyway, I can't let you run away."

At the beginning, Jia Heng said that he would use a sedan chair to welcome Third Sister You through the door, but later, because he went south to Jinling, he gradually delayed.
"I'm not worried about this, but I'm thinking about the Chinese New Year, and the family can reunite together, talking and laughing." Third Sister You said softly.

Second Sister You looked at her third younger sister, and there was a hint of a smile in her soft eyes.

The third younger sister has been hugging her in her sleep for the past few days, acting like she is her own man, she is so ashamed.

At this moment, the mother from outside came in and said, "Grandma, Sister-in-law Feng and Sister-in-law Wan are here."

Not long after, Sister Feng, accompanied by Ping'er and Feng'er, came to the hall with Li Wan, with a smile on her face, she said, "Are you all there?"

Qin Keqing said softly, "Sister-in-law Feng, why are you here?"

"Come and see you." Sister Feng looked at the graceful beauty with a rippling smile in her beautiful eyes, and said softly: "By the way, the second master just said that Brother Heng delivered the memorial to Jingli in the south, saying it was a recommendation Sister-in-law's father is the governor of Anhui."

Qin Keqing smiled and said, "Really?"

Then he looked at Li Wan and asked, "Sister-in-law Zhu, my husband has always said that it is a pity that Mr. Li is idle in the south of the Yangtze River."

Li Wan saw a bit of embarrassment on his face, and said softly: "Just now the master said so at the old lady's side, but in fact, I don't know what's going on."

Speaking of which, Li Wan lived in Daoxiang Village during this time, and did not come to the hall in the backyard to meet Qin Keqing. Now, looking at the beautiful woman of Yadai, and seeing that charming smile, she inevitably felt a little guilty.

Qin Keqing didn't suspect him, but actually wanted to ask Li Wan about her experience in giving birth and raising children, and said with a light smile, "Sister Wan, let's sit down and talk."

As the people talked, they sat down in the room, and the servant girl brought fragrant tea, and everyone drank the tea and talked.

Sister Feng said with a smile: "It's New Year's Eve today, it seems Brother Heng won't be back."

"Husband may come back before the Lantern Festival. The matter in the south seems to be settled." Qin Keqing said softly with a beautiful face.

"After walking for so long, it should be sent a letter." Sister Feng said softly, her phoenix eyes blinked, and said softly: "Brother Heng handed over the memorial to Beijing, so it should be sent a letter from home along the way." yes."

Qin Keqing smiled lightly on Furongyu's face, and said softly: "Maybe they are still on the road at the moment."

And just as he was talking, the mother in the outer room once again lifted the curtain and entered the back hall, and said happily: "Grandma, the servant in the outer room said that the Jinyi Mansion sent someone to deliver the uncle's family letter."

Sister Feng said with a smile: "Look at it, it's called a tacit understanding, and it's really on the way."

Qin Keqing's cheeks were flushed, and she was a little shy in her heart when she met all the smiling and joking eyes, but immediately, there was a little bit of embarrassment in her heart.

She knew that there would definitely be a letter from her husband, probably... more than one.

Grand View Garden, Hengwu Garden——

There are not too many furnishings in the wing room, as the original book says, the four walls are like a snow cave, and under the east window, Baochai is wearing a honey-colored jacket and a pink horse-face skirt, sitting on the kang couch, staring intently. Looking at an account book with a blue cover on the small table, with the sound of "swiping" the pages, the other plain hand moved the abacus beads.

Accompanied by the sound of patter and patter, I took up a pen and recorded it in the account book from time to time.

The golden morning light of winter shines on the girl with curvy eyebrows and plump cheeks through the window, and the plump and white face looks like a pear pistil, with a greasy complexion, and the unspotted red lips are radiant and slightly blue. Speech slightly.

The girl suddenly raised her head, and the moist almond eyes under her beautiful eyebrows showed a little curiosity, and asked, "Ying'er, have all the clothes of the maids in each room been delivered?"

"It's all delivered, girl, but I'm exhausted. Some things can't be messed up. It takes a lot of energy." Ying'er was wearing a light yellow dress, and sat down, with a delicate and crisp voice. There are a few tactful and coquettish orioles coming out of the valley.

But in terms of voice alone, Yinger lives up to her name.

Baochai smiled lightly, looked at her servant girl, and said, "Take a rest when you're tired, and I'm not in a hurry."

"It's okay, I just want to do things beautifully, and don't embarrass the girl." Ying'er turned around and smiled, and said softly: "Actually, the girl is really tired. My uncle has so many shops for the girl to open." Take care."

Rao Baochai's temperament is grand, and it's inevitable that she felt a little bit of shame and resentment in her heart, as if annoyed and annoyed, she said, "Your mouth is talking nonsense."

You can't talk nonsense about this, the main wife is still in Ningguo Mansion.

Ying'er came close enough, and said softly: "Girl, I have been to the south for so long, and I haven't delivered a letter. Looking at the posture, I won't be back this year."

Baochai closed the account book in her hand, sighed softly, and said, "It should be. It should be after the year when the errands in the south are finished."

She also misses him a little bit. After they got together, they also get together less and leave more. Not long ago, the Plum Blossom Poetry Club opened, and all the sisters wrote poems. Without her watching from the side, writing poems would lose a lot of fun.

"Miss, Miss Lin is here." Wen Xing, Baochai's other maid, entered the wing room through the curtain, and said softly.

When Baochai heard the words, Yingying got up, and her bright and clear apricot eyes saw the meaning of joy, and she went away.

In fact, without him by his side, she and Shao'er are much closer than ordinary sisters.

At this time, Daiyu, accompanied by Zijuan and Xiren, entered the room, looked at the muscular young girl, and said with a chuckle, "What is Sister Bao busy in the room?"

Baochai looked at the girl with a smile, and said with a light smile: "Here comes the hairpin, and I didn't do anything, just flipped through the account books."

As she spoke, she took Daiyu's slender hand, intimately and naturally, and said with a smile: "It's boring when no one talks, so you're here."

Daiyu stared brightly, and said with a light smile: "Xiangyun and the others are making a fuss in Qiushuangzhai. I'm a little tired, so I came to see my sister. My sister is very busy now, and I can't find anyone."

He gave the outer shop to Sister Bao, and didn't ask her if she would take care of it, hum!

Hey, he actually knows that she doesn't like to care about these things, and he also understands her.

Baochai smiled lightly, looked at the young girl with a young face, and said, "If you like it, come and help me see it."

As she spoke, she stretched out her hand to help Daiyu untie her red and white fur cape, and said with a light smile, "Let's sit in the inner room."

Daiyu laughed quickly and said, "Sister, I'll be fine if I come."

As he said this, he helped her take off the cloak she had put on, if he saw it, he might think she was frivolous.

Baochai said softly: "It's all right, we are all one family, so there is no need to see outsiders like this."

Daiyu's cheeks, which were as clear as jade, blushed slightly, and then she didn't insist anymore, she sat down on the kang bed in Baochai's arm, lightly pursed her pink lips, and asked: "Sister Bao, Brother Heng It's been a while since I went to Jiangnan, so I don't know how busy you are in the southern province?"

Baochai ordered Ying'er to prepare hot tea, and said softly, "I haven't seen any progress in the mansion newspaper, and I haven't seen him sending letters from the south, but everything should be going well."

Daiyu sighed softly, and said softly, "It's been so long, but not a single letter has been delivered."

Baochai said with a smile, "It's only been a short time since I arrived in Jinling after all my efforts. I'm probably still busy at the moment. It's common sense that I didn't have time to write a letter. Don't worry too much about my sister. It's only been a long time, and I'm just so clingy."

As she spoke, she held Daiyu's slender hand.

Can't help but carefully look at the girl opposite, her eyebrows are picturesque, her cheeks are peachy and her eyes are starry, especially the gentle charm of the Jiangnan water town, no wonder Brother Heng likes to frown.

Daiyu blushed and said angrily, "Sister Bao, who is clinging to him?"

Baochai smiled lightly, took the girl's plain hand, and asked with concern: "I read the mansion newspaper recently, and Uncle Lin is going back to Beijing to report on his duties. I don't know where he is now?"

"When I was in Luoyang, there was a letter saying that I was going to enter the Guanzhong. If I follow the route, I will arrive soon." Daiyu said softly.

Lin Ruhai was recalled to the capital by an imperial decree from Emperor Chongping to report on his duties, and he was entrusted with another assignment. He was on the road before, but recently entered the Sanfu.

(End of this chapter)