The Zhen Family Brothers in the Red Chamber

Song Zhaoyong didn't agree at first, but he couldn't stand his grandfather's persuasion, so Guanshi couldn't do anything about it. He said to Ah Yong: "You are the only male in our family now, and you are nineteen now. It's twenty years old, it's too late, the Jin family boy is younger than you, and your grandma has asked the old lady for grace, so you can stay in the mansion to serve the young master in the future, don't worry at all."

Song Zhaoyong didn't know what reason to use to refuse, most of the people around him were married like this, including his parents, but he vaguely felt that something was wrong, it seemed that if he did this, he would be compared by Jin Bao.

He was still struggling, and the second son of the Song family said to him: "Now your mother can't do anything, you might as well marry a wife earlier, and have a baby to make the family more lively. Your cousin will marry for three or four years." Well, your cousin is only three years younger than you, if you haven't married yet, wouldn't you be delaying her for nothing?"

When Song Zhaoyong heard this, he could only agree unhappily.The next day, she went to Zhen Zhu's side, blushing as she spoke.

Zhen Zhu hurriedly comforted: "Go ahead, it's okay, there will be natural arrangements in the future."

Seeing that Zhen Zhu agreed, Song Zhaoyong let go, knelt down and kowtowed to Zhen Zhu, then turned around and agreed to his family, and on the day of the fifteenth wedding, he invited Zhen Zhu to drink again.

Zhen Zhu went there with Jin Bao, and saw that the people inside were bustling with activity.Others only heard that it was the young master of the Zhen family, so naturally they didn't dare to drink.He just looked at the Song family with admiration from the bottom of his heart.

After the banquet, Zhen Zhu and Jin Bao returned home, the sky was already dark, but the stars were shining brightly.Jin Bao was holding a lantern to illuminate the road ahead, and Zhen Zhu was dressed very formally because she was going to attend a wedding banquet today.He wears a dark blue gown, a sapphire crown on his head, and red beards hanging from his ears.

"Speaking of which, it's been ten years since Ah Yong followed me to Beijing, so it's hard for him to leave home all these years." After Zhen Zhu finished speaking, she turned her head to look at Jin Bao, and then asked, "I heard that you were studying outside. Why don't you read it well?"

Jin Bao smiled, and there was some kind of joy in his voice: "Look at what you said, young master, studying in that small place can learn more than being around you. Whether it is studying or serving the young master, the young ones are all happy."

Zhen Zhu nodded, he likes honest people, especially those who serve by his side.But it has to be said that only smart people can handle it more smoothly. He remembered the money offering wine that was hanged.

"How could such a person suddenly commit suicide because he couldn't think about it." If it was forced, it would be reasonable, but if it was voluntary, I really can't figure it out. Could it be that what he did had a more tragic ending than death?

Jin Bao knew that Zhen Zhu thought of the money offering wine, he rolled his eyes for a while and then said: "I can't figure it out, this person is alive either for money, or for power, or for his children and grandparents. At Qianjijiu's house, his mother has remarried for many years and has other children under her knees, logically speaking, if her mother asked for Qianjijiu to die, it would be impossible, and now she has no heirs, is it because of love?"

It's a little strange to say that, Jin Bao saw Zhen Zhu stop, so he also stopped, Zhen Zhu looked at the lantern in Jin Bao's hand, her head turned rapidly, what was the reason.

The wife of the Qian family, the distant cousin, the remarried mother, the strange injustice through the ages, the scholar who was arrested, the examiner who accepted bribes.One thought after another kept wandering in his mind.

"Even if you bribed the examiner, it would be impossible if they and the other invigilators didn't find out, so it's definitely not a one or two thing, Jin Bao, tomorrow you can ask the young masters of those salt merchants on the list which area they are from. , who is the invigilator, who is checking the guard at the gate, and there must be someone to help you pass this way." Zhen Zhu quickly finished giving orders, and Jin Bao hurriedly responded.

On the second day, Jin Bao went to inquire about these things.Most of them rely on the people around Zhen Yingjia, after all, these are all inside information.It doesn't matter if you check it out, these people who are said to have no literary talents but made the list are all arranged in District C, and Qian Jijiu was the invigilator in District C at that time.

Then Qian Jijiu committed suicide in fear of sin, and it is estimated that the people above did not want to involve himself, so they threw out these small fish and shrimps and used them as cannon fodder.

Jin Bao accidentally found another line: "It is said that Man Niang was redeemed by a person surnamed Xu, but I don't know what the relationship between the surname Xu they mentioned is related to Xu Jijiu. If there is a relationship, then Xu Jijiu Wine can't escape."

Zhen Zhu thought for a while, and decided to ask Xu Jijiu out. Since the last time they met at Qianji Restaurant, they had met several times. Every time Zhen Zhu felt that the other party wanted to say something, but they didn't say it every time. come out.

Seeing Xu Jijiu this time, Zhen Zhu suddenly found that this person she thought was very honest was actually a little strange, for example, his back was always bowed, but usually he seemed to care about it, so he tried his best to restrain himself and let himself hold his head up, but An inattentive person will bow again, for example, when he drinks very violently, he seems to always want to get drunk, but the previous few times when he was almost drunk, he left alone.Moreover, as a sacrificial wine, he had no waiters around him, and there seemed to be no wives and concubines at home, and both parents died, so there was a gap in interpersonal relationships.

According to the news that Jin Bao inquired, this Xu Jijiu was just friends with Qian Jijiu, but this Qian Jijiu was a well-rounded person who had a good relationship with Shangfeng. There will be such a chance to share a cup, but it is precisely this time that the Jiangnan scholar's frying pot has caused the dew to fall.

Zhen Zhu held the wine glass in her hand, and said to Xu Jijiu pointingly: "Although I'm not familiar with Qian Jijiu, just from what you said, it doesn't seem like he's a person who can't think about it. Could it be that he didn't do it voluntarily?" ?”

As soon as his words came out, the chopsticks in Xu Jijiu's hand stopped for a moment, then he raised his head abruptly, staring at Zhen Zhu, as if looking at something that frightened him.

Bah, I'm not a thing, Zhen Zhu curled her lips, took a sip of wine to cover up, and then said to Xu Jijiu: "Although I'm not talented, this time I was entrusted by the Holy Majesty to investigate Jiangnan case, if you have any difficulties, you can tell me, it will be more useful than going to the capital to find those adults."

Xu Jijiu's face was pale, he put the chopsticks in his hand neatly by the bowl, then looked at Zhen Zhu seriously and said: "What evidence do you have, if I tell the truth, you will kill him to silence him, his wronged There’s really no complaints.”

Seeing that there was something going on, Zhen Zhu immediately put down the cup in her hand, then took out the jade pendant given to her by the Holy Majesty before leaving Beijing, and handed it to Jin Bao, who took it to Xu Jijiu.

This is a piece of high-quality suet jade, with a huge character Yong engraved on it, and the royal Nine Dragon Wall engraved on the back, which was a symbol of identity when King Yong was a prince. Now it is in Zhen Zhu's hands, to protect Zhen Zhu's life use.

After Xu Jijiu finished watching Yu, he was silent for a moment and said, "Ah Rong, it was because of me that I committed suicide." Qian Jijiu's real name was Qian Rong, but before that it was Zheng Rong.

Qian Rong's mother was a person who knew how to deal with affairs, and she was well-matched when she married Qian Rong's father, but she remarried less than a year after Qian Rong's father passed away, when Qian Rong was only three years old.

Qian Rong's stepfather was originally a businessman, and his family was wealthy, so he was considered a landlord. Because he had been married for many years and had no heirs, he found a young woman who had given birth to a child from the countryside. There were more than ten women around Mr. Qian. One, standing at thirty, has no heirs, and others still dislike his daughter, but he doesn't even have a daughter, so when Qian Rong's mother came in, no one in the house made things difficult for her.

Mother Qian was quite pretty in the countryside, but in Qian's house, her looks were worse than the maids in the mansion. Mr. Qian really wanted a son, so he turned off the lights with the mentality of trying, and slept with Mother Qian once. As a result, within three months, Qian's mother became pregnant.

It was at this time that Qian Rong's life became better.Master Qian felt that Qian Rong's mother and son were his lucky stars, so he changed Qian Rong's surname with a wave of his hand, and then hired a teacher to teach him etiquette in poetry and writing.Mother Qian only gave birth to one daughter after reincarnation, but a daughter is also a treasure in Qian's mansion, so in the second year, Mr. Qian didn't have to turn off the lights, and only looked for Mother Qian at night, so he hugged the two for three years, and finally gave birth to the third child a son.

The 33-year-old Mr. Qian hugged his son with tears in his eyes. At that time, Qian Rong, who was seven years old, had reached the age of enlightenment. Mr. Qian ordered someone to send him to the academy. Compared with those who have parents, he is lonely.When he was growing up, the lack of a role of his father led to his lack of consciousness in some aspects and his insecurity.

"Arong took part in the scientific examination with me at the beginning, and after five years of classmates, I gradually developed a good impression of Arong, and we have a tacit understanding between each other." Xu Jijiu said this slowly, It seems that there are some considerations.

Zhen Zhu said: "In that case, how could you be the reason to force him to death?"

Xu Jijiu grabbed his hair in pain, and then buried his head in his arms. His voice was dull and painful: "Let his mother know about our affairs, and then his mother forced him to marry him. I can only marry if I can't help it, but that woman is not a fuel-efficient lamp. This time it is the bitch who said that as long as Ah Rong helps this time, he will never interfere with me and Ah Rong in the future, and will help We kept it from Ah Rong's mother..."

So just for love, Qian Rong took the risk but lost his life in the end.The cause and effect seemed to be complete, but Zhen Zhu asked: "Do you know why the wife of the Qian family asked Qian Rong to do this?"

Xu Jijiu's face was confused, he raised his head and looked at Zhen Zhu in confusion, Zhen Zhu understood that this matter was not over, and he had to go down the vine.

Coming out of the tavern, Zhen Zhu turned her head to look at the plaque with the word "wine" hanging on it, and then looked back at Xu Jijiu who was still pouring wine, and frowned unconsciously.

Love and love in this world are too complicated, but he himself is also a member of the world of mortals.He can't remember why he likes the Holy Master because of this, but he has no regrets and no regrets because of this love, but he doesn't want the reputation of the Holy Master to be polluted because of himself, so when he was in the capital, everything was wrong. Caring, always cautious, lest others know.

Seeing Zhen Zhu frowning, Jin Bao asked, "What did the young master think of?"

Zhen Zhu shook her head with a smile and said, "It's nothing, I just feel that they are a bit unlucky. If this goes well, even though those candidates are a bit pitiful, the two of them will be able to live happily ever after."

Jin Bao didn't think so, he glanced at the Xu Jijiu inside, and rolled his eyes: "Don't, master, you are so like him, you also believe this, then Mrs. Qian's is just talking, wait for this matter Once it's over, the Mrs. Qian's family will have more troubles in her hands. Maybe one day the two will be separated. If you want to say that the surname Qian had already ruined the two of them because of his mother's marriage The relationship is divided, but they still stick together, no one makes people laugh."

Jin Bao seemed to be a very eager person, and Zhen Zhu suddenly discovered the strengths of the other party, and smiled and said, "If it were you, what would you do?"

"If it were me, I wouldn't look down on this sacrificial wine either. Mother-in-law and mother-in-law don't say anything, I'm a coward. Either we stay together in an open and aboveboard manner, or we break up completely. I'm always vaguely sorry for others and myself."

He said it very well, and then said to Zhen Zhu: "I don't like men when I'm young, but I think that liking men is the same as liking women. Even Song Zhaoyong, I don't like it. For the rest of my life, I have to pick the one I like."

Zhen Zhu nodded with a smile: "Okay, tell me in the future who you like, I will support you, young master!"

The master and the servant went back to the mansion talking and laughing. Mrs. Li in the mansion was already waiting for him to eat. Zhen Zhu first kowtowed to the old lady and then greeted Mrs. Li, and then sat down to eat. Because the old lady was sitting, she shared the chopsticks. It was Mrs. Li who did it, but he just gave a symbolic hand, waiting for the old lady to pick up a piece of food, and then she can sit down and use it.

In the middle of the meal, I heard someone outside shouting that the second master is back. The old lady hurriedly ordered someone to add some more dishes, put the bowls and chopsticks, and saw Zhen Yingjia walked in the door and greeted the old lady. Shi got up and greeted him.The waiter helped remove the top hat and cloak, waited for Zhen Yingjia to sit down, held a washbasin for him to wash his face and hands, and rinsed his mouth again.

Seeing that Zhen Yingjia was in a hurry, Mrs. Sun said with distress, "I didn't say anything before I came here, at least let the kitchen make two things you like to eat."

Zhen Yingjia swallowed the rice in her mouth, smiled, and said it's okay, after that, no one spoke at the table.After all, they eat without talking, sleep without talking, right? Waiting for Zhen Zhu to finish eating, the others are almost used up. The servants removed the food, spread a clean tablecloth and brought snacks and tea. Several people gathered around the table and started talking.