The Royal Merchant of the Red Chamber

Let's say that Xue Pan kicked out the confused Jia Rong, and brought his mother back to Zhongxinhou's mansion.At that time, the lights had just come on, and the Zhongxinhou's mansion was brightly lit up and down. Yao Bin, the steward, was waiting at the door.Seeing Xue Pan leading the carriage and horses, he quickly ordered the servants to lead the carriage into the courtyard, and he himself went down the steps to help Xue Pan get off the horse.

Xue Pan stood still with both feet, looked at Yao Bin who was busy, and said with a smile: "Uncle Yao just called a young man to come over and lead the horse. It's a fool, why do you have to do it yourself."

Yao Bin smiled honestly when he heard the words, and said, "I waited on the door for a long time, and then I did it. Those boys are sloppy, and the lights are dim now. It would be a big deal if I missed the uncle by mistake."

"Where is Uncle Yao's nonsense?" Xue Pan shook his head disapprovingly, then lifted his clothes and went up the steps, asking casually, "Is Daddy back yet?"

"Not yet. Shicai sent someone from the palace to send a letter saying that the master will stay in the palace tonight and will not come again. Tell the wife and the uncle not to wait for the master to eat, and not to keep a meal." Yao Bin followed behind Xue Pan, Said respectfully.

Xue Pan couldn't help hesitating for a while when he heard the words.Thinking of Tu Zhen's haste to leave this afternoon, he immediately called his father into the palace.Could it be that something went wrong with the expedition to Japan?

Walking behind Xue Pan, Yao Bin saw Xue Pan casually standing on the steps, with a hesitant expression on his face.He didn't dare to go past people, so he had to stand behind and ask, "Master, do you have something to ask?"

Xue Pan came back to his senses, shook his head and said, "It's okay, let's go in!"

Saying that, the two entered the mansion gate one after the other.Passing by the Yimen Gate, the Second Gate, and the Inner Three Gate, he entered the main hall of the inner courtyard, and Mrs. Xue was already sitting in the hall.Baochai, who was preparing to marry for a long time, was sitting beside her, and the two were talking in a low voice!Seeing Xue Pan's figure, Baochai got up and said, "I've seen my brother."

Xue Pan nodded, exchanged casual greetings with Baochai, and then said to Mrs. Xue, "Father sent a letter saying that we won't be going back to the house today, but let us eat by ourselves."

Mrs. Xue nodded, got up and said: "Since that's the case, I'll go and change my clothes, and then I'll go straight to dinner!"

Hearing this, Xue Pan went back to the courtyard and changed into homely clothes.At that time, Xue Baochai had already organized the servants of the family to prepare the meals, and only waited for Mrs. Xue and Xue Pan to take their seats before using their chopsticks to eat.After the silent meal and everyone had their tea again, Xue Baochai sighed and asked, "I was doing needlework in the inner house, and I heard Yinger say that the master of the East Mansion had a funeral. Just as I was about to ask in detail, I heard from the front that my mother and elder brother dressed neatly and passed away. Now that I am about to get married, I can’t walk around casually, I just hope that Jia’s mansion won’t find fault with me.”

Mrs. Xue immediately smiled and said: "No. The family over there also knows about your situation, so why would you choose this kind of wrong. Besides, your brother and I have arrived in accordance with the etiquette, so they probably won't be able to say anything. "

Xue Baochai said the same thing, but when she heard Mrs. Xue's theory, she didn't say any more.But Xue Pan on the side snorted a little dissatisfied, and said: "Etiquette, if their Jia family really understands etiquette, they won't..."

As he spoke, he still kept his mouth shut.

As soon as Baochai heard this, he knew that there was an accident in Tiekan Temple.She has been bored at home waiting to be married since she was bestowed with a marriage, and she has not been able to leave the house for several years.Catch up with the day, and unfortunately, there will be a national funeral, and you have to observe mourning for a year.I've been depressed for a long time, and I also feel a little gossip.Looking at Xue Pan's appearance, he was obviously ruthless by some people, so he couldn't help asking: "Brother talks like that, but what's wrong with him?"

Xue Pan raised his head and looked at Xue Baochai looking at him energetically, with burning eyes and sparkling eyes.It's obviously just a look for a good show.So he shook his head dumbfounded, and sighed softly: "It can be seen that you are always bored at home, and it is really impossible not to go outside. My sister used to be such a quiet and quiet person, but now she is talking about other people's right and wrong."

His words were teasing, Baochai blushed, wrapped her clothes around her shyly and said, "Isn't this a relative's house, I just asked. If it's someone else's house, I definitely wouldn't."

Seeing this, Mrs. Xue who was sitting beside her couldn't help laughing and said, "Look at Baochai's depression. It's just that this kind of thing is not decent. You are an unmarried girl, you don't want to hear this."

Xue Pan shook his head amusedly, and did not argue seriously with Baochai.He just casually told her about Jia Rong's actions, but he didn't have the heart to talk about the dirty details.

After chatting for a while, Mrs. Xue's energy was obviously low, so Xue Pan and Xue Pan bowed to leave and went back to the yard to rest.

To the fourth day of the next month is the day when the Jia family has calculated the time to invite the coffin into the city.It was a day, and it was natural to show off the funeral ceremonies, and there were a lot of guests. From Tiekan Temple to Ningguo Mansion, there were more than tens of thousands of people on the road.As a relative, friend, and junior, Xue Pan had to follow around and help with the funeral.Just looking at the passers-by on both sides of the road to watch the bustle, some sighed, some envied, and some poor and corrupt scholars with jealous eyes said something sour about "funerals are more expensive than extravagance".There was another burst of uproar.Seeing it, Xue Pan couldn't help shaking his head.

"Why did big brother shake his head and sigh, but what happened that I don't know?" Jia Baoyu asked suspiciously as he rode up from behind, looking at Xue Pan.

"It's nothing, just thought of some irrelevant things at random." Xue Pan said, controlling the horse and walking side by side with Baoyu.While asking: "On your birthday, you said that you had something to ask me, but later on, there was something about the funeral of the master of the East Mansion, and you didn't mention it. I am always busy talking about trivial matters, and it is inevitable that sometimes I forget. Yes. If you are really in a hurry, just go find me. Or if you see someone in my family who can help you, you go to him. Just say I said it, and ask him to do his best to help if there is anything. .”

Hearing this, Jia Baoyu couldn't help laughing and said, "Brother You Lao is thinking about it. I thought you had forgotten it long ago! Because I have been involved in the funeral of the East Mansion these days, I don't have time to go to the mansion to look for it. You talk. I still want to talk to you carefully when I find a free and convenient time someday!"

Seeing this, Xue Pan glanced back at the Jia family's funeral ceremony, and sighed: "I just remembered it yesterday. Your Jia family is becoming more and more extravagant now, but I just watched it coldly. Although it is full of flowers now, After all, the inside is not as good as it used to be. I am an outsider after all, so I can’t go into details. I just thought, if you really have any concerns about the ‘future’ or ‘the future’, I will help if I can. It’s not in vain Let's meet once."

What he said was so sad that Baoyu couldn't help but feel depressed for a while.The two of them rode their horses and walked in the convoy silently until they entered Jia's mansion.Jia Baoyu came to his senses in a daze, and he cupped his hands at Xue Pan and sighed: "I thought I was a muddle-headed dandy. Now it seems that everyone is like this, and it doesn't make me look like a dandy. Just thinking about it, these many years of glory and wealth are in vain."

Seeing this, Xue Pan patted Jia Baoyu's shoulder, and said earnestly, "Don't say that, who hasn't been in the second year of middle school. As long as you can understand when you should understand, the hero doesn't ask about his background!"

As Xue Pan spoke, he felt that the taste of what he said was a bit wrong, so he stopped talking embarrassingly.

After a while, I couldn't help but said again: "There is no need to elaborate between you and me. If you really have any ideas, let's find a time to talk about it. I can help, and I will never shirk it. "

Xue Pan wondered how much money and manpower he could provide in addition to the profit dividends that Baoyu had put on the rouge and gouache for so many years.When Jia Baoyu spoke, he also had a plan.

Jia Baoyu looked at Xue Pan in a daze. He didn't understand what "Second Two" meant, but it didn't prevent him from understanding Xue Pan's words.It's just that his thinking now is different from that day.Clearing his throat immediately, he said, "Brother Xue's kindness is appreciated for the time being. It's just that I'm not being hypocritical, and it's not that I'm trying to persuade my brother to stand on the sidelines. Big brother has also seen it. Now that the situation in the house is like this, even if I make a mistake It's just a pebble that fell into the rivers and lakes, and it can't make any waves. It's better to leave it for later..."

When Jia Baoyu said this, he couldn't help but shut up depressed.He has made good friends with Prince Zhongyong recently, and naturally he also vaguely knows that the current impression of the four princes and eight princes is not very good.In addition, the Jia family did not make up much when the court made up for the shortfall in the past few years, and it was even blacklisted by the Holy Majesty early on...

Prince Zhongyong told him in private that now that the Holy One is in power, it is a good time to express his spirit and reprimand Fang Qiu.He appointed talented people, opened up territories, changed course, and revived civil affairs... The more important things he did, the more courtiers he needed, and the more opportunities he had to make contributions.At that time, the four princes and eight princes will still remain as still as a mountain, watching with cold eyes, I'm afraid that when the holy master pours out his kung fu, the scenery of the four princes and eight princes will be publicized, which is the mirror flower and the moon in the past few years.

After all, the iron-clad officials of the imperial court and the rotten old men who eat vegetarian meals will not stay for long after all.

How can this kind of cognition not make Baoyu feel depressed?

He also had a serious discussion with his father, but his father still scolded him, accused him of alarmism, and kicked him out of the study.

He also mentioned these things straight to the point with his grandmother, but the grandmother only treated him as a child who was happy with her knees, and she just said something perfunctory, and didn't take it to heart at all.

It wasn't until then that Jia Baoyu suddenly understood what kind of position he was in this Jia's mansion.Although it seems noble, it is a pity that he is still a child who messes around. His thoughts and concerns are ignored, cared about, and cared about.

Seeing Jia Baoyu's dejected look, Xue Pan sighed helplessly.Sometimes, it is a kind of sadness that everyone is drunk, but the feeling of being sober when everyone is drunk is definitely not much better.

While pondering, the team arrived at Ningguo Mansion.The young man from the East Mansion came forward and bowed to salute, and then he wanted to lead the two of them to the mourning hall.The two stopped talking immediately, and followed the young man into the gate of the mansion.

While pondering, the team arrived at Ningguo Mansion.The young man from the East Mansion came forward and bowed to salute, and then he wanted to lead the two of them to the mourning hall.The two stopped talking immediately, and followed the young man into the gate of the mansion.

The main hall has been tidied up.The pure white filial piety curtain fluttered in the wind, the thick incense candles were burning, and the round paper money was burning in the brazier in front of the coffin. smell.

Everyone in the Ningguo Mansion knelt in the hall dressed in linen and mourning, and the monks and priests hired at a great price were chanting sutras around the coffin, which made Xue Pan feel a headache.Walked forward side by side with Baoyu, offered incense and bowed, and then expressed condolences to Jia Zhenyou who was kneeling beside him.But found that Jia Zhen's expression was a little dazed, and her eyes glanced sideways.

Xue Pan followed Jia Zhen's gaze, only to see a girl in plain clothes, Jiao'e, standing aside impatiently.She has a coquettish body and a pretty face, and there is an irresistible lust in the eyes.There was no sadness on her face, but she wiped her eyes and sniffed her nose with a sweat towel from time to time.Xue Pan was about to frown at the gesture.

Seeing this, Jia Zhen felt bad.Immediately got up and exchanged greetings, let the person into the back.The back is the resting place for the female relatives in the mansion, Xue Pan naturally will not go there.He quickly waved his hand and pulled Jia Baoyu to stand beside him.

Just standing still, the ceremony officer at the door sang the old lady of the West Mansion to——

Xue Pan and the others followed the prestige, and they saw Mother Jia in plain clothes slowly walking in with the support of Jia Amnesty and Jia Lian, followed by a group of maids and daughters-in-law in plain clothes.Everyone rushed forward to meet her, and You Shi threw himself into what Jia Mu said and wept unceasingly.Jia's mother immediately hugged Youshi and cried bitterly. When Yu waited for everyone to see this, whether they were pretending or genuinely sad, they were also sobbing with tears in their eyes.

Only Jia Lian, who was behind Jia's mother, looked towards the coffin with a sneaky expression.

Xue Pan followed Jia Lian's eyes and saw a pretty girl in sackcloth and filial piety standing aside, with affectionate brows and eyes, and slightly curved lips, revealing an infinite style.At this moment, she was standing with her head bowed, gentle, charming, shy and timid, and a pair of catkins, which were whiter than filial piety, unconsciously grabbed the hem of the skirt, revealing a more shy look of a child.Seeing Jia Lian, Jia Zhen and other men's eyes almost straightened.

Seeing it in his eyes, Xue Pan couldn't help but his face darkened slightly.There is no such thing as a spirit guard here!

Seeing this, Jia Baoyu quietly poked Xue Pan with his elbow, and said softly, "These are the two aunts brought by sister-in-law Zhen's stepmother..."

Xue Pan's complexion became even worse when he heard this.

At this moment, the ceremony officer at the gate sang: "Prince Zhongyong, Prince Zhonglian, and Prince Zhongrui are here—"