There are precedents in the history of the Red Chamber

Shi Nai was on duty in the palace today, and after hearing sour words of envy and jealousy, his heart was as sweet as drinking honey.He has a good relationship with his second brother, and his nephew is promising, so he is naturally happy.

Shi Zhongzhu had just come back from a long journey, and when he saw Shi Nai, he gave him a great gift. Shi Nai strode up and supported him, "My family, what are you talking about, please sit down."

Shi Zhongzhu was not as particular as he was when he was talking to the sage. He sat in the first seat on the lower left of the living room, and Shi Zhongbai and Shi Xiaonan also sat down in the first and second seats on the right.

"Finally, I'm back. After the past year, it will be Chunwei. I'm not worried about your ability. It's just up to you to see if you want to pay homage to the chief examiner first. Next spring, the sage will appoint Yuan Jie, a cabinet scholar, as the chief examiner, and the deputy chief examiner will be the chief examiner." The Left Governor of the Academy, the General Secretary of the General Administration, and the General Political Envoy, even the Guozijian Jijiu, have a deputy chief examiner." Shi Nai first arranged for Shi Zhongzhu's scientific examination next year, and Shi Zhongzhu has just returned to Beijing, so the news is still unclear.

"Why did the sage slap the Ministry of Rites in the face like this? Not only is there no one in the Ministry of Rites, but even the Imperial Academy has not obtained the position of deputy chief examiner?" Shi Zhongzhu knew that the Ministry of Rites was the department in charge of Chunwei, so how could there be no person from the Ministry of Rites to take the lead, even if he was the chief examiner? If you want a high position and weight, the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Academy will not even get the deputy chief examiner.

"A few days ago, Prince Duan, Prince Rong, and Prince Xian had a quarrel. The source is your Guangyuan epidemic. The saint was so angry that he was bedridden for half a month. The three princes were also reprimanded. They are still studying behind closed doors. Cultivate your body!"

"Li Zhangyuan of the Hanlin Academy is the family of the third prince Duan. It is normal for him to be out of the game. Why is the Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites also rejected by the saint?" Shi Zhongzhu asked.

"His family is married to the Zhen family! The sage wants to honor his nanny, but the courtiers can only be the sage's courtiers. There is really no way to stop him from seeking death." Shi Nai said.

"It must be the sage who brought Prince Rong by his side to teach, and gave those people unrealistic fantasies! I don't even think that the crown prince is still here, they are so blatantly embarrassing the prince, and don't take the prince of the country seriously, saint It's strange if you don't lose your temper." Shi Zhongzhu sighed.

Shi Nai laughed, "If you don't take Prince Chu seriously, why are we doing the same thing!" Shi Nai has always been a man who dared to tell the truth, and said bluntly, "You have been away from Beijing for two years, and the Crown Prince is not in good health. gone."

"I've heard that the crown prince's health is not good, and his son-in-law died again. The sage's desire to pass on the position of the eldest son to the eldest son is faint, but I think the prince is also stunned by the death of his son-in-law. Now is a good time for him to use bitter tricks." The sage has doted on him for decades, so how could he ignore his branch. Unfortunately, I heard that the crown prince was drinking too much in the East Palace, and he complained~" Shi Zhongzhu didn't understand that the crown prince's decades of court life were wasted? The simple truth is that none of the courtiers in the East Palace know how to persuade them.In fact, the crown prince doesn't know anything, it's just that he has no hope now, and it's all broken.

"What are you talking about, let's talk about your visit to the chief examiner!" Shi Nai brought back the topic of the crooked building.

"No need, the capital is just that big, news spreads fast, just because I came back from my study tour, and the sage quickly summoned me, how could the chief examiner make things difficult for me? It's too obvious that Chunwei's article will be published on the list, and besides, there is also the imperial examination, they dare not rank me in the top three, and the final ranking is not determined by the saint." Shi Zhongzhu was not worried about his Chunwei exam at all.

After talking about Chun Wei, the topic turned back to home affairs, "Why didn't you go to Fujian to see your parents?" Shi Nai asked.

"I don't have enough time to go out of Sichuan. I have to go back to Beijing to prepare for the spring, and it will be too late to go to Fujian."

"Well, you've been in Guangyuan for too long!" Shi Nai concluded.

"That's right, Master Guo was injured and needs to recuperate, and there are too many things to investigate the assassin, so it's delayed." Shi Zhongzhu didn't want to mention Ji Mudan any more, let the past drift away with the wind.

Only Nanshan, Master Dong, the Twelve Guards, Shi Ding and his wife knew about Ji Mudan, and even Shi Bosong was kept in the dark, so Shi Nai naturally had no way of knowing.

"By the way, has the murderer you were assassinated been found out?" After a long time, Shi Nai forgot about it for a while.

"Two were caught on the spot, and three died. Later, my father sent someone to investigate. It was the Seventh Prince who did it. I just don't know if it was the idea of ​​Concubine Jing or Prince Xian." Shi Zhongzhu managed to find out the result. , Tell Shi Nai.

"Concubine Jing? Lord Xian? Seven kings? What's the matter?"

"The hometown of Lei Ji, the commander of the original Baoning capital, is the same place where Princess Xian's third uncle works. Based on this, I know a horse dealer named Gai Kuan who helped to investigate. The information is concealed and accurate, that's right."

"Why are horse merchants involved again? How did a merchant get involved in the court's important affairs?" Shi Nai was confused.

"Third Uncle, I met Gai Kuan when I traveled to Hetao. He has a lot in his chest, and he doesn't know the whole situation. I excused my family's intention to intervene in the business of Xining Mansion, and asked him to investigate the local gentry thoroughly. They were investigated as business rivals. After Lei Ji returned to Xining Mansion, he lived in hiding and his power was not as good as before, so he found out. The news has been verified repeatedly, and it is absolutely credible." Shi Zhongzhu explained how they investigated and verified. The details are clearly stated.

The four of them were talking in the hall, and saw servants coming from a distance, and turned the topic to eating, drinking, and having fun. When they were talking, the doors and windows were open, and the hall was not covered by screens, it was very open, and there was no way to hide people, so they dared Speak freely, when the servant comes, even if the contract of prostitution is in his hands, Shi Nai is also very cautious about the trustworthy servant, the older the saint, the more suspicious, the royal secret agent will not be betrayed like a piece of waste paper deed trapped.

Moving to the dining room, Shi Nai and Li Shi took the seats, Shi Zhongzhu, Shi Zhongbai, and Shi Xiaonan sat down in turn, Shi Xiangxue and Shi Xiangxia sat at another table behind the screen, and the host and guest enjoyed the meal.

Shi Zhongzhu went home after dinner, today Shi Bosong was on duty but did not come to the Zhongjing Hou Mansion, Shi Zhongzhu confessed to his third uncle and third aunt, and made an appointment that Xiumu would definitely come to pay his respects next time.

After Shi Zhongzhu was sent away, Lord Shi Nai, the Marquis of Zhongjing, did not waste the opportunity to educate his sons, and took the two sons to the small study for re-education.

"How is it? Are you convinced?" Shi Nai asked sarcastically while sitting behind the desk.

Shi Zhongbai blushed, knowing that he was talking about himself, "I'm not unconvinced, Dad, if you don't believe me, ask Brother Nan, we had a good chat with Brother [-] today. Right, Brother Nan?"

"Yes, yes." Shi Xiaonan hurriedly supported his brother.

"I don't know you yet!" Shi Nai put down his teacup heavily, and said, "Last year, I was selected as a scholar, and I was afraid that I was very proud. You only saw that Brother Zhu was only one year younger than you when he was selected as a scholar, and you felt that you were the same as him." He is also outstanding, but he doesn't look at your rankings. Also, do you know what he said when he was selected as a scholar?"

"What did you say?" Shi Zhongbai asked muttering.

"'Based on my identity as the second son of Bou Linghou, the examiner will not dare to let me fail the ranking even if he is blind', listen to it, people know that Zhongxiu's knowledge is not deep in the examination, and he is focused on reforming ethnology, making friends and traveling Come on, how about you!"

"I'm making friends too!" Shi Zhongbai objected.

"Don't dare to say, what kind of cronies did you make, almost put you in the brothel Chuguan, you are only a little older, Yuanyang has premature ejaculation, it is because you are impatient with idle work, right?"

"Father, I didn't do it on purpose, and I didn't really go. I really didn't know where they were dating!" Shi Zhongbai was wronged, okay? Yes, he is too embarrassed not to go when someone else invites him!

"If you did it on purpose, I would have broken your leg long ago." Shi Nai said with a bull's eye. "Don't talk far away, just talk about what I said in the front hall today, can you understand me?"

Shi Zhongbai shook his head.

"What about you?" Shi Nai asked Shi Xiaonan again, Shi Xiaonan also shook his head.

"Hmph, now I know the seriousness. Brother Zhu entered your uncle's study when he was ten years old. How much he has been involved in the affairs of the clan in the past few years? You really think he is just like you, eating and dying every day! Old fox, who can take advantage of him, just go out to study, how did Sichuan governor Zhang Lan step down?"

"It's really the second brother! I thought it was a lie!" After all, Shi Xiaonan was younger and couldn't help sighing.

"It's not without reason, Bo Geer, put your eyeballs on the top of your head back into the sockets, you are as talented as Zhu Geer, and you have not yet ranked at the top of the imperial examination, you are still far behind!"

Let Shi Zhongzhu hear it, and promise to say that his third uncle doesn't know how to teach. You compare a person like this to hurt your own son, right?It's not good to compare with anyone, but you have to compare with me. Are you against me?

Brothers Shi Zhongbai and Shi Xiaonan let their father scold them bloody, left the study door, and went back to the yard together.

"Brother Nan, you said that my father always compares me with my second brother, why don't I hate him?"

"Brother, didn't daddy say that, this is what the second brother is capable of." Shi Xiaonan sighed faintly.

"Well, I don't dislike such a skill, hee hee." Shi Zhongbai is not a person with a small belly and a sensitive mind. He hugged his brother's arm and discussed as he walked, "Let's go to the second brother tomorrow. He told me I have brought a lot of interesting things, I am afraid that my parents will say that they will lose their morale, so they dare not bring them here, so let me go to the house to play!"

"Okay, okay!" Shi Xiaonan echoed repeatedly when he heard that it was funny.

It is Shi Zhongzhu's luck to have such a broad-minded and open-minded cousin, and it is also Shi Nai and his wife who are well taught.Now Shi Zhongzhu is not afraid to play with his two little cousins, he is busy with the important matter of getting married.

Shi Ding and Zheng's were intimidated by Shi Zhongzhu's strange aesthetic concept of choosing a spouse. Zheng didn't care about finding a better daughter-in-law. The procedure will start immediately, get engaged to your son first, and don't make any more fools!

Wei Mansion, Qingqiu Garden.

Wei Zhenniang was sitting by the window reading a book, outside the window the autumn chrysanthemums were in full bloom, a piece of bright yellow, Wei Zhenniang was wearing a light green dress, just like a green leaf under the yellow chrysanthemum, but this green leaf was more beautiful than all the chrysanthemums.

Nanny An walked into the Qingqiu small garden quickly, and saw her young lady by the window holding on to the book, her temperament was high, and she looked like a lady, looking through the small window, she saw a picture of a lady, and she was filled with emotion.Walk into the house and salute first.Wei Zhenniang saw that Nanny An would not come soon, and knew that she was in a hurry, so she put down the thick book in her hand, and asked, "Mommy, what's the matter?"

"Miss Hui, the Shi family is here to pick up Miss Geng's post." Nanny An said quickly, with an anxious expression on her face.

"Really? Then the marriage is settled." Wei Zhenniang said calmly, there are six ceremonies to be married, accepting the marriage, asking the name, accepting the marriage, accepting the marriage, asking for a date, welcoming the marriage, and accepting the marriage means proposing the marriage. As early as many years ago, the two families had a tacit understanding, but as the two historians became more and more important to the saints, and as Shi Zhongzhu became famous, the marriage has never been followed up. Wei Zhenniang once thought that this marriage might not be possible.Now that I formally come to ask for my name (that is, take Gengtie and Hebazi), I feel at ease.

"Miss, why are you so careless? It's your marriage. What is Madam's lifelong wish? She would rather keep you..." Nanny An is Wei Zhenniang's own mother, Mrs. Wei Jiaxian's personal maid, Wei In order to save her daughter, the wife resolutely committed suicide and entrusted her daughter to her. Nanny An was also a loyal servant of the generation, who valued Wei Zhenniang more than her own children, and was determined to fulfill the old master's entrustment.

"Grandma, be careful! Marriage matters are decided by my parents, so I have nothing to worry about!" Wei Zhenniang hurriedly stopped Grandma An.

Madam An regained her composure, knowing that her tone was too hasty, she eased it to: "Miss, it's the servant's fault. The servant is just afraid that your wife will delay you. Your father's and mother's families have been passed down for thousands of years. A mud-legged son who has only become rich in this dynasty is not worthy of you, a noble daughter of an aristocratic family!"

"Presumptuous!" Wei Zhenniang slapped the book in her hand heavily, and ordered the big maid, Qiu Ye, to guard the door. Only Qiu Yun, Qiu Shuang, and Qiu Ju were left to serve in the room, and the little girl was not qualified to serve in the room. , now only Wei Zhenniang's confidants are left in the room.

"Nurse An, in the past I thought that you were an old man left behind by my mother, and you ignored your soft words, but now you are making up right and wrong in front of me. I have indulged you too much!" Wei Zhenniang scolded, An Mammy watched her grow up since she was a child, and she is one of the few people in the deep courtyard of the Wei family who really cares about her. If she could, she would not want to embarrass Madam An.

Sister An still has the rules of being an old servant of a family. Hearing what the master said, she immediately knelt down and kowtowed, "I don't dare, I don't dare."

Kowtow sounded, Wei Zhenniang looked at the white hair on Nanny An's head, she couldn't bear it, and said in a stern tone: "Nurse An, I will say this for the last time, I am the daughter of the Wei family. , I will be the wife of the historian in the future, don't let me hear the words about parents and future husbands like this again."

"Yes, I know my mistake, and I won't dare to do it again in the future!" Nanny An kowtowed heavily.

"There are no rules and no rules. Now that Nanny An is old, let's go home and take care of her." Seeing that Nanny An had something to say, Wei Zhenniang raised her voice, "Don't worry, I will arrange the errands for your children and grandchildren. If you It's not impossible to release the good people, Mother An, do you want to?"

Only then did An Momo truly realize that she was rejected by her master, but that was the master she had watched grow up and raised with her own hands!Nanny An knew that what she said was useless, she prostrated herself on the ground deeply, she hesitated, and said with sadness, "The servant is the servant of the young lady, so naturally the whole family will be the servant of the young lady for the rest of her life."

"Okay, Qiuyun, take Mammy down to freshen up. You don't need to be on duty today." Wei Zhenniang sent Nanny An down in a few words, but kept looking at Nanny An. With a long sigh of relief, his shoulders slumped.

Qiu Ju changed to another cup of hot tea, handed it to Wei Zhenniang, and persuaded: "Since Miss An is reluctant to part with Nanny An, why bother to be such a villain."

"You don't understand, today is different from the past." Wei Zhenniang sighed slightly.