The Royal Merchant of the Red Chamber

Mrs. Wang kept gossiping in Lixiangyuan until dinner time.The old lady sent mandarin ducks to invite all the people in Lixiangyuan to have dinner, and then everyone got up in a friendly manner, and walked towards the old lady's upper room with laughter.

Because this meal of food and drink was brought to the Xue family for practice, it was more grand and lively than in the past.In Jiamu's inner courtyard, there is even a homely small stage set up, and a new troupe of small plays has been ordered, with both Kun and Ge singing, Yiyi and Yaya, it's so lively.

When everyone from Xue's family came over, the girls and grandmas from Jia's house had already arrived.Wang Xifeng stood on the ground and kept stretching, arranging for the maids to set up tables and chairs.The three Yingchun sisters greeted them with a smile and said that Xue Baochai was surrounded.Tanchun said with a smile: "Why did you just leave, I really can't bear it."

Baochai smiled gracefully: "When the house is tidied up, please go over and play, don't refute my face."

Xichun is the youngest, just the age who loves to play and make trouble. After hearing this, she immediately said happily: "No one else cares, I will definitely go. I just hope that after my sister's home, don't forget that we sisters are .”

"Look at what you said." Baochai hugged Xichun lovingly and said with a smile, "I've forgotten who, and I can't forget my sister Xichun!"

"This is too false." Xichun shook her head and laughed, "There is someone here that my sister will never forget, but it's a pity that this person is not me."

Saying that, she broke away from Baochai's arms and went up to embrace Daiyu's arm, and said with a smile: "From now on, I will rely on Sister Lin. Even if Sister Xue's sister forgets me, she will never forget her." It's Sister Lin. I just want to take advantage of Sister Lin, so I can go to your house anyway."

Everyone burst into laughter after saying a word.Xue Baochai nodded Xichun's forehead, dumbfounded, and said, "What a narrow girl, why didn't I see it before!"

Daiyu pursed her lips and said with a smile: "Then follow me! lest Sister Bao forget you when she picks me up."

Na Tanchun took advantage of the situation and said, "Since that's the case, after sister Xue's family left Pear Fragrance Garden, sister Lin herself felt so boring. How about I move there to accompany you?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone was taken aback.

Mrs. Xue subconsciously glanced at You Shi, and found that You Shi nodded friendly and kindly at her, so she responded tacitly with a smile.

Seeing this, Mrs. Wang picked up a handkerchief and covered her mouth and bowed her head in silence.Mrs. Xing gloated and ordered.Jia Mu, who was at the top, looked at it calmly, with a glint in her eyes, and said with a smile: "Your elder sister Lin and the Xue family girl are used to living together, but now that the Xue family has moved away suddenly, she asked her to blink." Zi Xiang. If you are willing to move to live with him, that would be great."

As soon as Jia Mu said this, Yingchun and Tanchun immediately flashed envious looks.Now the three sisters all live in the three small Baoxia rooms behind Mrs. Wang's room.Although the application speed is as usual, it is not as comfortable as Rikain.What's more, Lixiangyuan was the resting place of Mr. Rong in his old age, and the small and exquisite courtyards beside it are incomparable.

When Jia Mu saw it, she immediately said, "It's a pity that there are more than ten houses in the front yard and the back yard of Lixiangyuan. You two are the only ones living there. Fortunately, girls Yingchun and Tanchun also moved there. , the young girls live together, play and read together, and feel much more at ease.”

Yingchun and Tanchun were immediately overjoyed and thanked.

Mrs. Wang suddenly said: "Since the young girls live together, it will be inconvenient for the Lin family to live in Lixiangyuan. Why don't we let the Lin family move out and live with our master's Qing guests?" , They are all literati, and they have something to say when they recite poems and compose Fu."

Lin Daiyu sneered slightly after hearing this.She really thought they were poor relatives who came to fight the autumn wind, and it was fortunate that she could figure out how to put the eldest son of a second-rank official with a bunch of idlers who were idle to entertain themselves.

Mrs. Xue blinked her eyes, and immediately said: "I heard from Pan'er that Ziyu has been called into the palace by the Holy Majesty for the past two days to deal with him, and he has all his food and lodging in the palace. If there is the grace of the Holy God, it may be graced by Master Lin." During the Chinese New Year, 0 went to Beijing to reunite with his children... I heard that Ziyu has also asked his servants to clean up the house in Beijing these days! If it is really inconvenient for the house, when we pack the boxes and cages this time, fortunately, we will also take his things Pack it up, and send him home first."

When Jia's mother heard this, she became curious and couldn't help asking: "Why is it that the Lin family still has a house in Beijing? Have you never heard him mention it before?"

Mrs. Xue said with a calm smile: "Zi Yu was born as a number one scholar, so there are naturally many colleagues of the same age in Beijing. It is not a troublesome thing to ask someone to buy a house. Besides, he is deeply favored by the emperor now. After this briefing, there must be a Beijing official to accompany the Holy Majesty. In this way, there will be a place to stay in Beijing."

When Jia Mu heard the words, she smiled lovingly and said, "We are all from the same family, what nonsense are you talking about. His father came, and his father took him out. Now that no elders are away, it is better to live in Rongguo Mansion. Left and right also It's just a matter of age."

After a pause, he continued: "However, it doesn't make sense for Ziyu and the girls to be in the same courtyard. In this way, there is a more secluded house in the northeast of the house, which is suitable for studying. Tell Ziyu to tidy up Move over there, and by the way, also pack up a house in that yard and ask Baoyu to live in it."

Jia Baoyu sat obediently at the side, and couldn't help being startled when he heard Jia Mu's words, and said quickly, "I won't go."

In an instant, everyone in the room stopped talking and looked at him fixedly.

Jia Baoyu's face flushed, and he hastily said under cover: "I want to stay by my ancestor's side, and I won't go anywhere."

"Let you and Ziyu learn about economics, so you won't be swaying around all day and making your father angry." Jia's mother pretended to be majestic and said: "Besides, Ziyu is a guest, and you should accompany you in ethics."

In this way, it won't appear that Lin Mozhi moved out too abruptly.

Mrs. Wang's eyes flickered slightly, she hesitated again and again, and finally did not speak again.

Seeing this, Wang Xifeng immediately greeted everyone and said: "Don't stand and talk in the room, everyone, sit down quickly, old ancestor, did someone pass the meal?"

So Jia Mu called Mrs. Xue, Baochai, Daiyu and Baoyu to sit with her at the head.Mrs. Wang, Mrs. Xing, Youshi, and Li Wan sat at the next table, and Sanchun sat at the table, while Wang Xifeng spread the cloth and vegetables on the ground.

Groups of little girls wrapped in silk were carrying dishes in the lobby. Wang Xifeng directed everyone to put all kinds of dishes on the table, teasing with Jiamu from time to time, and singing a song again on the stage. Out, the atmosphere suddenly became lively.

Jia Mu looked around and asked, "Why don't you see Pan'er?"

"Going to the palace." Mrs. Xue said with a smile: "The Holy Majesty summoned me, I got up early and left. I haven't come back at this time, and I don't think I will come back today."

"That's also the grace of the Holy One, a blessing that many people can't ask for!" Jiamu replied with a smile, looked back at Baoyu who was laughing around ignorantly, and sighed slightly.

Wang Xifeng quickly handed the playbook to Mother Jia, and said with a smile, "Old lady, don't bother talking to them, just hurry up and play."

Mother Jia took it, passed it to Mrs. Xue and said, "Today is for you to practice, and you should come to some."

Mrs. Xue evaded: "I don't go to theaters often, and I don't know much about these things. Let the old lady order!"

Seeing this, Jia's mother turned around and said to Xue Baochai, "then you can order it out!"

Baochai gave way, but she had no choice but to discount "Journey to the West" casually.Jia's mother felt happy about the commotion, and Lin Daiyu looked at Xue Baochai with a half-smile, and Xue Baochai returned a tacit smile.On the scene, Xue Baochai is always a lady who understands the general situation and is compliant with people's wishes.

Because the banquets in Jia's mansion were always heavy with salt and greasy oil, which didn't suit Xue Baochai's taste, Xue Baochai didn't eat much food at the banquet, but kept chatting with everyone.Hearing that Youshi from Ning Mansion laughed and said: "I have been here for so long, and I didn't invite you to come to the mansion for a sit down. I originally thought that everyone would have a good time during the Chinese New Year, but I didn't expect you to leave now. Remember to come when you have time!"

Mrs. Xue immediately replied: "After our master goes to Beijing and is settled, our family will also invite a few tables to have a lively dinner. Remember to come when the time comes."

Nayou replied with a smile: "Definitely, definitely."

A banquet ended late at night.Xue Baochai took Lin Daiyu into the west room and sat down, and ordered Ying'er to cook two simple dishes, then turned to Lin Daiyu and said, "I'm not used to the food in their house. I thought you must be I'm not used to it, but it's okay..."

"Don't talk about it, I'm still worried about what I will do after you leave?" Lin Daiyu sighed with some anxiety. "It's already so disgusting now, if you make a small kitchen out of trouble, wouldn't it be even worse to criticize."

Xue Baochai laughed, took Lin Daiyu's hand and said, "Look at you, can you forget a word?"

Lin Daiyu also tilted her head and asked, "What are you talking about?"

"Money can turn ghosts." Xue Baochai rolled his eyes and said with a smile: "Now you are in charge of the land business, and once you spend it, it has nothing to do with others. If you like to eat, you will send the girl to the kitchen to make it for you. At most, give a few rewards. This is convenient for you and fulfills them, wouldn't it be the best of both worlds?"

Lin Daiyu sneered, and said, "This relative's house costs more than a tavern."

"Your mouth!" Xue Baochai shook his head, stretched out his hand to pinch Qian Lin Daiyu's pink cheek, and said helplessly: "It's true that people love it, and neither do they hate it. You should be more careful when you speak from now on."

"What's there to pay attention to?" Lin Daiyu spread her arms and said openly: "My sister doesn't need to hate me, and I don't need them to love me, so let's do it, I think it's fine."

Xue Baochai sighed softly, and reached out to stroke Lin Daiyu's neck.

After a while, Lin Daiyu suddenly asked: "Today, the godmother said that Daddy is going to Beijing...but is it true?"

Xue Baochai replied, "I also heard what my brother said, but I don't know if it's true or not."

Lin Daiyu sighed lightly when she heard the words, and said, "If it's true... that's fine."

For a while, neither of them spoke.Half a day later, Xue Baochai sighed softly, and said to Lin Daiyu, "It's late at night, let's rest too!"

So the two of them undressed and went to bed, without talking for a night.

By the next morning, everyone in Lixiangyuan had finished washing.Mrs. Xue took the neatly dressed Xue Baochai to Jia Mu's room to say goodbye, and everyone gossiped for a while.During the period, Mrs. Xue apologized: "You saw that Pan'er went to the palace due to some business, and she didn't come back all night. Even before leaving, she didn't say goodbye to the old lady. Please don't blame the old lady."

When Jia Mu heard the words, she laughed broadly and said, "Isn't my aunt saying this heresy? Although you have moved out, we are still relatives after all. Could it be that we will stop communicating in the future? In the future, if you have a chance, ask Pan'er to come and invite you." I ask the same for Ann."

Mrs. Xue agreed with a smile.On the other side, Lin Daiyu took Baochai's hand to bid farewell, and she never forgot to ask: "After you settle down there, don't forget to pick me up and have a seat."

Xue Baochai took Lin Daiyu's hand and replied repeatedly: "Don't worry! When I go back, I will arrange a room with my mother, and I will definitely arrange it for you. It is serious to ask you to come and stay for a while."

On the side, Xichun also interjected unwillingly, "There's still me, don't forget me."

Tanchun and Yingchun also said again and again: "We can visit each other often in the future!"

So it procrastinated for a while, until after lunch, everyone in the Xue family was persuaded to stay in Rongguo Mansion and left the gate.

After returning to the Xue family's mansion in the middle of the capital, it was a good rectification without mentioning it.

Let's say that Xue Pan entered the palace anxiously, and was invited into the Qianqing Palace by Dai Quan.Tu Zhen was crouching behind the case reviewing the memorial, while Lin Mozhi stood aside with his hands down and did not speak.The atmosphere was so quiet that a needle could be heard, Xue Pan couldn't help but hold his breath, and stood tiptoe in the corner, lowering his eyebrows and eyes, wishing he didn't exist.

After about half a day, Xue Pan's feet were numb and his legs were about to cramp.Only then did Tu Zhen straighten his waist, looked at Xue Pan with a half-smile, and teased, "Why are you so quiet today, it's not like you?"

Xue Pan shrank his neck subconsciously, and smiled flatteringly at Tu Zhen: "The Holy One takes care of everything every day, how dare the villain disturb the Holy One?"

"Small man?" Tu Zhen repeated a sentence playfully, and said with unclear meaning: "Isn't it a villain! Your slogan of revenge for a villain has been spread all over Sijiu City from morning to night. Now Even if you say that you are not a villain, no one will believe you."

Xue Pan twitched the corner of his mouth in embarrassment, and murmured: "Really?"

"Really?" Tu Zhen raised his eyebrows, pointed at the piles of half-person-high memorials on the case and said, "Do you know what's written on them?"

"Important national affairs, how do I, a commoner, know?" Xue Pantian said with a smile.

"It's not easy for you, a humble man! So many officials in the imperial court have their eyes on you." Tu Zhen leaned himself on the back of the chair, stretched out his hand to rub the bridge of his nose, and said, "It's all about impeachment. Your memorial."

Xue Pan swallowed a lot of saliva, Xiaosheng glanced at the mountain of memorials in fear, and said anxiously: "There is no need to be so exaggerated!"

"Of course, there are not only those who impeach you, but also I." Tu Zhen glanced at Xue Pan, and said lightly.

"Ah?" Xue Pan's eyes widened, and he asked loudly: "They are so courageous that they even dare to impeach the Holy Majesty. Raising them is not about letting them gossip like gossiping women."

Tu Zhen stared at Xue Pan dumbfounded, and said, "Are you right again?"

But even though he said so, his expression calmed down after all.

Seeing this, Xue Pan immediately followed the pole and asked, "Well... what do those gossiping women say about the Holy Spirit?"

"Court officials, don't criticize." Tu Zhen glared at Xue Pan, and then said: "It's nothing more than conniving with villains and fighting for the interests of the people, and I never took it to heart."

"A villain?" Xue Pan pointed at himself in disbelief, "You actually say that a loving young man who loves Dayong, his family, and his parents is a villain?"

"The king of Nan'an County won the battle ahead... The family of the hero of the country was bullied by an idle marquis with no merit, what face do I have to reward the three armies?" Tu Zhen lowered his eyelids and thoroughly understood the thoughts in his eyes Covering it up, he said in a tepid way: "Now, I have become a fool who doesn't distinguish between black and white and favors treacherous sycophants."

"Bah!" Xue Pan curled his lips disdainfully, "There are many wars these days, and he is not the only king of Nan'an County, so there is no need to bully others like this! These ministers are also, how can they compare? The bitch is ruthless and ungrateful. Even if the bitch takes my money, she still has to greet her with a smile! Oh, I just put the money in my pocket and turned around and refused to admit it. If I have the ability to spit out the money I ate, I can eat people You don't even understand the reason for being soft-spoken!"

Tu Zhen saw Xue Pan cursing and swearing next to him, a smile flashed in his eyes, and he curled his lips calmly.

Xue Pan suddenly asked: "My lord, who said that I have no achievements and no rewards?"

"Why are you asking this?" Tu Zhen picked up the teacup on the desk, lifted the lid and took a sip, and asked casually.

"Come on! I'd like to ask if the money our Xue family handed over to the state treasury every year is not a credit, but what is the credit for the minister who called me a villain when his upper lip touched his lower lip?" Xue Pan flipped. White Eyes said.

"Oh?" Tu Zhen raised his eyebrows disapprovingly, Gu Jing Wubo asked: "Do you think your Xue family has made great contributions? I know that your current appearance is another sin of relying on your merits and favors."

Xue Pan glanced at Tu Zhen, and suddenly said with a thief-like smile: "Our Xue family's greatest contribution is that we got the Holy Majesty as a backer, but unfortunately no one dares to impeach. Let them envy and hate! I don't mind at all, it's a mediocrity not to be envied!"

Tu Zhen looked at Xue Pan's complacent look with cold eyes, and couldn't stop the smile in his eyes.Dingding stared at Xue Pan for a while, then sighed, and said: "Forget it, who made me promise not to let you be wronged! But you have to remember, just this once, and you are not allowed to be so domineering again in the future."

"They don't come to mess with me, and I'm not the one who takes the initiative!" Xue Pan responded with a smile from ear to ear.Looking around, he raised his legs and walked behind the emperor, pressed his hands on Tu Zhen's shoulders and kneaded them slightly, and said with a flattering smile: "Your Majesty has worked hard, I will give you a hammer."

Tu Zhen couldn't stop being stunned.Just about to reprimand Xue Pan for his insignificant behavior, when he turned around and saw Xue Pan's dog-legged smile and the sincere smile in his eyes, he couldn't help but shut his mouth in embarrassment, snorted coldly, and enjoyed Xue Pan's rubbing and pressing peacefully, while He opened his mouth and said, "This is the end of the Nan'an County Prince's Mansion. From now on, your chamber of commerce is not allowed to target Nan'an County's Prince's Mansion."

"It's the Jingcheng Chamber of Commerce." Xue Pan carefully corrected, and then asked, "Then what if the king of Nan'an County targets me everywhere after he comes back?"

"Won't you bear it?" Tu Zhen said irritably.Seeing Xue Pan's suddenly disappointed little face out of the corner of his eye, he sighed softly and couldn't help but said, "You are my man, and I won't look at him too much."

"That means I will be bullied again?" Xue Pan curled his lips, looked at Tu Zhen accusingly and said, "It was the Holy One who said that I would not be bullied before I came to the capital. It turned out that I arrived in the capital within two days Mom and sister have been pointed at their noses and scolded. Now you still have people bullying me, I can't fight back..."

Xue Pan snorted dissatisfiedly, but did not continue.It's just that the strength in his hand is getting heavier.

Tu Zhen was upset by Xue Pan's words, stretched out his hand and kneaded Xue Pan's head until he messed up all the buns, and then said in a calm tone: "I have my own reasons, and I won't let you talk about it. "

Xue Pan's eyes widened, and he said with an angry face, "It's up to the owner to beat the dog! Now they are bullying me, and they obviously don't take the Holy One seriously. Isn't the Holy Majesty angry?"

Tu Zhen looked at Xue Pan in disbelief.After a long while, he sighed and said, "Your appearance now... really looks like a treacherous courtier."

Xue Pan twitched the corners of his mouth with a half-smile, and thanked sinisterly: "Thank you, Majesty, for your compliment."

Tu Zhen: "..."