Didn't Love You Enough

Half a month later, Shangli, an open space in the Lin family village, was announcing the content of the notice from the county seat, telling the family members in the village that they had entered the palace to go to the capital to reunite during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

When the villagers heard the news, they talked a lot.

"Da Zhuang, there is a letter from your family at the inn, and I brought it back for you." Li was calling to a group of Lin Dazhuang's family, "Come and see, it's from your family's Shuanger, it's a big burden .”

Li Zheng's attitude towards Lin Zhuang's family is very friendly now.Lin Jiawen passed the scholar examination this year, and now he is a man of fame, and he doesn't have to kneel when he meets the county magistrate.

Lin Jiawen ignored Li Zheng's intentional ingratiating attitude, and took over the burden with a few perfunctory sentences.

Everyone in the village heard Lizheng's words, and they were curious about the burden.Several people booed and said: "Lin Xiucai opened it for everyone to take a look, what good things did your Shuanger bring back?"

Among the 10 people who entered the palace before, only Lin Jiaojiao, the daughter of the Lin family who lives in the village, brought back something. Lin Jiaojiao's mother is so proud.Everyone would say how nice her family Jiaojiao is, and now she is working as an servant in the noble lady's palace, she is very appreciated, and she brings back a lot of money.

This time Lin Jiabao sent back such a big package that everyone in the village stared at it, wondering how much money he brought back.

Lin Jiawen ignored their booing, and hurried home with his father.

At home, Zhang Huiniang supported her daughter-in-law, who was six months pregnant, "But what's the good news?"

Lin Jiawen told the news that Li Zheng announced, and said excitedly: "Jiabao brought something back!"

The whole family was very excited when they heard this, and hurriedly urged: "Open it and have a look..."

Ever since Lin Jiaojiao came back with something, they had been looking forward to Jiabao's return with a message.Jiabao has been in the palace for more than a year and nearly two years, and the family misses him all the time, even a message can give them peace of mind.

The family couldn't wait to open the package. Inside was a stack of thick letters, a delicate purse, and a bag of silver wrapped in a handkerchief.

Lin Jiawen first unfolded the letter paper, Lin Jiawen looked at it, Lin Jiabao's writing was relatively large, and began to read to everyone: Dad, mother, I am Jiabao.I had a good life in the palace, and now I'm working in the Imperial Dining Room in the Queen's Palace, making desserts for the Queen.

Nanny Lin, who is in charge of the Royal Dianfang, reconciled me and taught me how to make dim sum. Now I can make several kinds of dim sum and pastries by myself, and they are all delicious.It's a pity that you can't eat it, but I can make it for you every day after I leave the palace.Now I have one or two taels of silver every month, and I often get rewards. After I leave the palace, I can open a dim sum shop in the county town.I will definitely make a lot of money in the future, and then buy a big house in the city.We live together as a family!

Parents, elder sister, elder brother-in-law, elder brother, elder sister-in-law, second sister, younger brother, younger sister, I miss you so much!

This time the empress is kind, you must come to see me during the Mid-Autumn Festival.I'm afraid you won't be enough, so I brought back all the silver and rewards I saved.And the silver that I brought into the palace before, I didn't use it, and there was no expense in the palace, so I brought it back.

Be sure to come and see me, Jiabao misses you so much!

After listening to Jiawen reading the letter, he looked at Jiabao's painting again. Zhang Huiniang wiped away tears, "This child's painting is really good, and the dim sum portrait is really the same."

"It seems that Jiabao is doing well in the palace, so you can rest assured now." Lin Dazhuang was also very happy, "Mother, Jin Er has been worried about you going to visit your in-laws tomorrow."

Lin Jiabao's eldest sister, Lin Jin'er, was so sad that she almost became pregnant when she heard the news that Jiabao had entered the palace.Fortunately, there was no danger, and a pair of twins were born.The Qin family was overjoyed. Mrs. Qin was so indifferent to twins, she believed in Lin Jiner's good fortune even more. After Lin Jiner gave birth to confinement, she handed over the rights of housekeeper to her, and began to pamper the children herself. Good grandma.

Lin Dazhuang opened the veil, and there was indeed a lot of silver.After counting, there were actually 130 five taels of silver. "So much money!

"Wow! Wow!" The twins were also very excited, how much delicious food can be bought with so much money.

"Why so much? It's not one tael a month. Adding the 20 taels brought into the palace before, it should be more than thirty taels at most? I heard that Lin Jiaojiao brought back twenty taels of silver." Lin Jiawen puzzled.

Xuanyuan Hancheng saw that Lin Jiabao had wrapped 35 taels of silver, so he asked someone to add another 100 taels.After thinking about it, he was afraid that it would be wrong, so he ordered to use broken silver.That's why the burden received by the Lin family will become a relatively large one.

"What's the matter? Jiabao works in the empress's palace. The empress is the biggest in the harem, and of course she is the most generous. There are also many rewards." Mrs. Zhang said indifferently. The family listened, except for Lin Jiawen. I think this is right!

Lin Jiawen's wife, Wu Shi, also thought that this is enough money for Xianggong to go to Xuzhou to take the provincial examination next year.

Lin Lier touched the delicate purse, the flowers and plants embroidered on it were so beautiful, and the purse was bulging, she dumped all the contents on the table, "There is still more in this purse!"

I saw five silver fruits and three golden melon seeds poured out of the purse.

"Ah! Is this made of gold? It's so pretty!" The little girl pinched one and looked at it carefully.

"After all, it's from the palace. It's made delicately. This silver fruit probably weighs two or two." Mrs. Zhang weighed it in her hand.

The family happily played around the table.

With this large sum of money, the family negotiated.Excluding the cost of going to Beijing, and Lin Jiawen's expense of going to the provincial capital Xuzhou for the rural examination every year.

The rest of the money is going to renovate the home, build a few more rooms, and expand the home a bit.Seeing that the family is about to add a new population, and the children are growing up.The matter of the house is imminent.

Originally, I wanted to keep the money for my son to try out in the next year, but now I don't have to worry about it.It is not expensive to build a house in the countryside. With labor and materials, it can be built very well with a few dozen taels.

If there is anything left, I plan to buy a few more acres of fertile land. Now I don’t have to pay land tax, and the more land I have, the more income I will get.

No one objected to counting this mu of land under Lin Jiabao's name.If Jiabao returns with money in the future, he is ready to buy more land.In this way, when Jia Bao came back, he also had some reliance.

Keep the ones in the purse for now, in case there is an emergency, it can be used as an emergency.

Early the next morning, Mrs. Zhang went to the city to visit her daughter. Lin Dazhuang took Lin Jiawen to Lizheng's house to discuss building a house and buying land.

Not long after they left, Lin Jiaojiao's family came to the door.

Lin Jiaojiao heard that Lin Jiabao had brought something back yesterday, she was very curious, and came to inquire about the news early this morning.

Mrs. Wu couldn't chase her away, so Lin Lier helped her, so she had no choice but to ask her to sit down. "It's early in the morning, but something happened?"

"I heard that your Shuang'er brought something back, so I came to ask. Haha, where is your Shuang'er working now? My Jiaojiao is working in the noble lady's palace!" Lin Jiaojiao asked gossipingly.

Mrs. Wu couldn't understand her appearance, "Our family treasure is working in the dim sum room in the empress's palace!"

"It's in the empress's palace!" Lin Jiaojiao paused, and then said proudly: "That's the kitchen handyman. My Jiaojiao is in front of the empress. How much money did your Shuanger bring back .”

"None of your business!" Lin Lier said angrily when she heard that her younger brother was a handyman.

"I heard it's a big bag, a lot of money." Lin Jiaojiao asked persistently.

"I won't tell you." Lin Lier replied aggressively.

Wu also didn't want to reveal it to her, she knew if the money was not revealed. "Not much, Mrs. Lin, I still have something to do at home, it's not convenient for me to entertain you, please go back."

"Hey, are you putting on airs when you become a scholar lady? You don't tell me, I know it. It's just a handyman. I must have come back with a large bag of copper coins, hahahaha." said Ken, guessing maliciously.

Lin Lier took out a big broom to drive her away, "Can you go away! Can you go away!"

Lin Jiaojiao left Lin Dazhuang's house cursing as she walked, "Damn girl, you are so vicious, be careful not to get married."

It was almost noon when Mrs. Zhang arrived at the Qin family in the city, and the entire Qin family was there.Lin Jiner was also very happy to see her mother, "Mother, why are you here?" Qin Kaixing saw it and stepped forward to salute his mother-in-law.

Mrs. Zhang said hello to her in-laws first, and then saw her eldest grandson, Brother Cong, and a pair of twins.

Afterwards, he told all the news about Lin Jiabao's return with a letter from his family.The Qin family was also very happy for them.

"Mother-in-law, when are father-in-law and Jiawen going to leave?" Qin Kaixing asked, he had an idea in his mind.

"They plan to leave at the end of August, and the journey will take half a month." Mrs. Zhang replied, after the family discussed it, Lin Dazhuang and Lin Jiawen would go.She actually wanted to go too, but the eldest daughter-in-law was due to give birth in October, and there were three children at home, all of whom could not live without her.

"You can see if this is the case. Let me accompany you to the capital this time. I have never been to the capital, so I just took this opportunity to take a look. There are also some goods in the store. I will take them to the capital to explore the way. I The goods are all good, but the pattern here is a bit outdated, maybe people in the capital will see it fresh. Then I will buy some fashionable cloth in Beijing and come back.” Qin Kaixing has a business mind and has made plans .

After hearing this, Master Qin also agreed very much. His son has a family and a career, so he can go to experience it.Said to Mrs. Zhang: "Mother-in-law, what Kai Xing said is good, let him go together. There are everything in the carriage at home, and you don't have to spend money to hire it. I will send a few more men and servants to escort, so that you can go on the way. It's also safer."

"That's a good relationship, thank you in-laws. I'll go back and tell them." Mrs. Zhang naturally agreed after hearing this.

At noon, the Qin family enthusiastically kept Mrs. Zhang for lunch, and in the afternoon they sent her back in a carriage.

Zhang Huiniang went back and explained what the Qin family meant, and everyone thought it was good.Next, Lin Dazhuang's family got busy.

Just when Lin Dazhuang's family was happily building a house and preparing things for the capital.Xuanyuan Hancheng was also thinking about his plan.

In the blink of an eye, in July, Xuanyuan Hancheng began to participate in the court meeting again, and the court became more mature and tactful in dealing with matters. The ministers also felt the increasing pressure from His Highness the Crown Prince, and they were both convinced and fearful of him.

As usual in the afternoon, Xuanyuan Hancheng came to Yongshou Palace to accompany his mother and talk with dessert.

The queen is very pleased that the prince often comes to accompany her. Her second prince Xuanyuan Hanqi likes to wield knives and sticks, so he doesn't come here often.But the prince is more considerate and often comes to accompany her.The wives who came to see him praised His Royal Highness for his filial piety.

"Cheng'er, I've seen that it's the Qiqiao Festival a few days ago. How about I invite some unmarried women from the court to come to the palace. How about taking this opportunity to choose a side concubine for you? You only have three servants beside Xue Caiyu now." Concubines, there are too few, and they are all too old, I don’t think you like it very much.” The queen thought about accepting a side concubine first, and after the Xue family’s affairs are over, she can choose a crown princess, after all, it is the future. The mother of the country, if the mother wants to respect the world, she can't be sloppy.

"Queen Mother, there's no need. I still need to take care of it for a year or two. I'm afraid it's not appropriate to accept a concubine now." Xuanyuan Hancheng shook his head.

"Why does it take another year or two? It's been more than a year. How does Imperial Physician Qian do things? It's not that he was with the army to help you recuperate." The queen was a little annoyed.

"My mother, don't blame the doctor Qian, he also worked hard to detoxify me. However, when I am away from home, sometimes I can't help but take care of it. The toxins in my body are cleared now, but the treatment is still lacking." Xuanyuan Hancheng replied. .

"Then what to do, you have been away for nearly a year, but you are back now. If you don't get close to women in another year or two, and you don't have any heirs, then there may be rumors that His Royal Highness is ill. .” This is what the queen is worried about.

"But I haven't recuperated well yet, I can't do what I want. Although I can barely have intercourse, but there will be no children." Xuanyuan Hancheng continued to argue with the mother.In fact, his body has recovered a long time ago, but for the sake of his baby, he still delays it for another year or two, because he is unwilling to touch other women anymore.

"What should I do?" the queen asked worriedly.

"Mother, don't worry, I have thought of a way." Xuanyuan Hancheng said to his mother.

"I want to spoil only one Shuang'er. I only love this Shuang'er especially, and I won't go to other concubines. It is more difficult for Shuang'er to conceive a child than a woman, so it is normal for me to have no children for a year or two." Xuanyuan Hancheng explained his solution.

"Doting only one twin's son, this is the reputation of only doting on beauty..." After hearing this, the queen thought that this idea was okay, but it would still be a hindrance to the prince's reputation.

"Mother, this is the best way. It's much better than the rumor that the prince is ill. I'm still young, a heroic boy, and it's nothing to love beauty." Xuanyuan Hancheng continued to lobby.

"Hey! This is the only way to go. You have someone to choose." The queen asked the prince.

"Not yet, I would like to ask my mother to find one for me. It is best to find someone in the mother's palace." Xuanyuan Hancheng said calmly.

"Nurse Zhou, you heard what the crown prince said, give me the list of suitable names in Yongshou Palace tomorrow." The queen looked at her confidant, Nanny Zhou, who was waiting on the sidelines.

When the queen was talking with the prince, she only paid attention to Nanny Zhou, her confidant, and she was very reassuring about Nanny Zhou.

"Empress, please don't worry, I will prepare the roster tomorrow." Nanny Zhou said confidently, patting her chest.

Xuanyuan Hancheng listened to Nanny Zhou's words, with a look of joy on his face.

At the same time, Mother Lin in the imperial room received a message from the hidden guard of His Royal Highness the Prince.After hearing this, Mother Lin frowned and sighed.

Nanny Zhou got the Queen's order and went back to look through the roster of Yongshou Palace.

This time, Nanny Zhou was dumbfounded, there are only five Shuang'er servants in Yongshou Palace!Two of them are over 20 years old, and one is only 13 years old. Only two of them are 15 or 16 years old.These two Shuang'er palace servants were all gardening flowers and plants in Yongshou Palace, and Nanny Zhou went to check on them.

Both of them are plain-looking and not outstanding at all.How does this make His Royal Highness "specially favor" it?

Nanny Zhou was walking back and forth in her room, how would she explain to the empress tomorrow.

"Knock, knock..." Nanny Zhou heard the knock on the door, opened the door and saw that it was Nanny Lin, "Old sister, why are you here?"

Nanny Lin came in with a food box, "It's almost the Qiqiao Festival, and we have researched a new kind of dim sum in Yudianfang. Nanny Zhou, you are in front of the empress, and you know the taste of the empress best. I ask you to help me first. Let me taste it." As she spoke, Nanny Lin put the food box on the table.

"Old sister, what you cook must be good. The empress loves to eat your dim sum." Nanny Zhou and Nanny Lin are both children of the empress's natal family. The palace has been taking care of each other for many years, and they are called sisters.

Nanny Lin took out the plate, "Try it, this is bird's nest cake, and this mold is newly made."

"The shape of this magpie is good, old sister, you put your heart into it. The empress must like it after seeing it." Nanny Zhou took a piece and put it in her mouth to taste, "It tastes so good! Old sister, just wait for the reward. "

"Then I will lend you a good word haha." Nanny Lin also smiled, looking at the roster that Nanny Zhou put on the table, "I think you seem to be busy, so I didn't bother you."

"Hey! Old sister, I'm just worried. The empress wants to give His Royal Highness a servant in our palace, but I don't see any suitable ones. How can I deal with this?"

"There are very few palace servants in our palace, so it's difficult to choose this person." Mother Lin said with concern.

"There are only two who meet the requirements, but their appearance is too ordinary." Nanny Zhou complained.

"Then what to do, the empress must be dissatisfied with her bad appearance." Nanny Lin echoed, "Speaking of appearance...the Shuang'er in my imperial room is very good-looking. "

"It's a pity that only 13 years old is too young." Nanny Zhou said regretfully.

"It's not 13 years old, it just passed its 14th birthday last month, but it's still a little bit younger." Nanny Lin said, "It's really good looking, with big eyes that seem to be able to talk, and a pair of Dimples are delightful."

Mother Zhou heard what Mother Lin said was so good, she thought for a while, "Why don't I report all three of them to the empress, and it would be good to have one more to make up the number."

"That's right, there are too few candidates. If there is one more person on the list, the list will look better." Nanny Lin guided carefully.

"Well, that's it."

The next day, Nanny Zhou handed over the three candidates to the empress. After the queen read it, she put the roster heavily on the table, "Mother Zhou, what are you doing? Why are there only three candidates? There is one as young as 13 years old, just make up the number!"

Nanny Zhou quickly knelt down and said the answer she had thought up before, "Empress, it's not that I didn't care. There are too few palace servants in our palace. There are only two who are suitable, but they are really not good looking. , How can this make His Royal Highness "specially favored", I have to add another one, although he is a little younger, but his appearance is very good, and he will not humiliate His Royal Highness."

Seeing the Empress's face getting better, Nanny Zhou continued, "This Shuang'er works as a clerk in the imperial room, and he is well-behaved and sensible. He just turned 14 last month, although he is a little younger. But Shuang'er and Women are different, younger is the age of freshness."

"That's the case, but I'm afraid Cheng'er won't like it." The queen couldn't blame her after hearing Zhou Nanny's reasons.

"Empress, why don't you let His Royal Highness take a look at it. If you don't like it, then you have to choose among the servants in other palaces."

"Well, let the prince make up his own mind. It's the person he wants to favor, or he likes it. Mother Zhou, you can arrange it." The queen didn't want to choose someone from other palaces, not the president of her own palace. Don't worry.Moreover, the selection of people from other palaces made a lot of noise, which is inappropriate.I hope Cheng'er is satisfied with this candidate.

"promise."