The Royal Merchant of the Red Chamber

It's the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, and all the colors are ready. Xue's house has changed door gods, couplets, listing cards, new peach charms, and a new look.Because it was the first time for the Xue family to go to Beijing, and the family was sparsely populated, this year was not as lively as it was in Jinling in previous years.Xue Pan was afraid that it would be boring during the Spring Festival, so he urged the servants at home to put on a show to have fun.It's just that the time is tight, and it's only a day or two before the festival, and there can't be any good ostentation, it's just a vain play.

The next day, the four drums had just been beaten, and Xue Zhizhang led his whole family into the palace to congratulate him.After getting off the sedan chair, I found that there were already many people waiting around.Seeing Xue's family, everyone stood aside and watched for a while.After all, the current Xue family is an upstart in the court, and both father and son are the confidantes of the Holy One, plus the luck of being a Marquis of the Dragon before.At present, everyone looked at the Xue family and his party with complicated eyes.Those who are envious have it, and those who disdain it have it, whispering and whispering.

After a while, another group of sedan chairs slowly approached from a distance.When passing by the members of Xue's family, they stopped slowly, and a figure jumped out of the sedan chair.It was too dark to see clearly.But as soon as the man spoke, Xue Pan knew who it was.The man smiled and said, "Uncle, aunt, Brother Xue, Sister Bao, how come you came so early?"

Later, Jiamu and the others also stood down, got out of the sedan chair under the service of the servant girl Yuanyang, straightened their clothes a little, and said with a smile: "It turned out to be the aunt and wife, but they were much earlier than us."

"How is the old lady?" Xue Zhizhang said with a smile: "It's the first time to enter the palace to receive a banquet, sooner rather than later."

Mother Jia nodded, and said very agreeingly: "This is what you said. Heaven's grace is mighty, so you should be extremely cautious."

Xue Pan and Xue Baochai came forward to salute again.Later Mrs. Wang also got off the sedan chair, stepped forward and said with a smile: "It's been a long time since I saw you come to the house to play, but when I saw you today, you seem to have grown in stature again."

Xue Pan and Xue Baochai both bowed to Mrs. Wang again.During such a delay, Mrs. Xing and a certain kind of male from the Jia family also got off the sedan chair and came forward to say hello.After a few gossips, there was the sound of the ceremony official singing in the distance.So everyone quickly divided into men and women and gathered at the designated place according to the rules.Since Mrs. Xue and Xue Baochai were entering the palace for the first time, Xue Zhizhang had to give some instructions.Seeing this, Jia's mother said, "It's better to let the two of them stay with us."

Xue Zhizhang said with a smile: "Then I would like to thank the old lady."

So everyone separated, and Xue Pan followed Xue Zhizhang to the direction of the front hall.Stand in front of the Qianqing Palace according to your rank.The majesty of the sky was so solemn, the crowd was so dark, but the crows and sparrows were silent, everyone looked at the nose, nose, mouth, mouth and heart. Xue Pan felt his legs and feet go weak after standing for a while.Quietly shifting the center of gravity of the body on a pair of feet, the body also swayed slightly, becoming more and more conspicuous in the crowd like wooden stakes, attracting everyone's sideways glances.

Seeing this, Xue Pan stood still with a bitter face.

After five drums, a eunuch with a whip whipped his whip three times in front of Qianqing Palace. And go up until you enter the main hall.

After the ritual officer sang the salute three times and nine times, Tu Zhen signaled to everyone to save their lives.Seeing Xue Pan frowning tightly from the crowd of people, a smile flashed in his eyes.

Xue Pan stood with his head bowed all the time, because he got up too early in the morning and the temperature in the hall was very warm, but after a while, listening to Tu Zhen's words above him, he felt confused and sleepy.Head bit by bit...

I don't know how long it took, but Dai Quan shouted loudly: "Back to the court——"

Xue Pan woke up suddenly.He only saw everyone walking out wave after wave according to their grades, and he also subconsciously moved his footsteps to follow behind them.When he walked to the door, for some reason, he turned his head and saw Tu Zhen sitting on the dragon chair expressionlessly, with a solemn expression, high above the ground, and the morning sun shone on him, making people feel thin illusion.

Tu Zhen noticed Xue Pan's gaze, and hooked the corners of his mouth in relief.Xue Pan blinked, turned around and left the Qianqing Palace.Follow the large army slowly to the east.Not a single bird was heard along the way.Xue Pan didn't know exactly where they were going, but just followed in a daze.After a while, everyone stopped in front of Qiankun Palace.But it turned out that he wanted to greet the emperor.Xue Pan thought of Tu Zhen on the dragon chair in Qianqing Palace in a trance, pursed his lips, and bowed his head in silence.

……

After coming out of Qiankun Palace, it was almost noon.According to the rules, it's time to entertain the ministers.So everyone moved back to the front hall of Qianqing Palace.The interior has been properly arranged, and all the princes and relatives sat down according to their ranks.There were graceful court ladies shuttled through the hall with fruits and dishes. Because of the cold weather and the long journey, it was already very cold when they arrived at the table.Xue Pan pouted and poked the chopsticks, a little dissatisfied.

In front of her was a dancer in the palace dancing, her skirts fluttering, her figure was enchanting, her gestures were indescribably graceful and coquettish, charming and charming.The acquainted ministers whispered to each other in twos and threes, raised their glasses to flatter them from time to time, and whoever said what in front of them, the emperor laughed loudly and clapped his palms together, looking very happy.

"You're still as narrow-minded as you were when you were a child. You haven't changed at all after being on the battlefield." The emperor shook his head, took the case and drank the wine bottle in one gulp.

Prince Zhongchun said with a nonchalant smile, "It's just a first-class barbarian who doesn't follow the etiquette. How can I let my minister change his temper!"

When the emperor heard the words, he was very relieved. "It's my son, and I have high hopes for you."

He asked again: "How are those barbarians arranged for the new year's festival?"

The minister of Honglu Temple immediately stood up and said, "I report to the emperor, according to the emperor's order, those barbarians..."

Xue Pan watched with cold eyes. Tu Zhen beside the emperor had a decent smile on his face, graceful and elegant, and looked at the emperor with undisguised admiration in his eyes.Five or six out of ten civil and military ministers in the hall were busy with how to show their faces in front of the emperor, and the princes and relatives of the lower princes watched with half-smiles, and whispered to each other from time to time.Looking at Tu Zhen was like looking at a mural.

Xue Pan frowned, and put down his chopsticks with some discomfort.While no one was paying attention to him, he quietly got up and slipped out of the hall from behind.A gust of night wind mixed with clear snow blows over, blowing away the dry heat on his body.Xue Pan sighed softly, and walked slowly along the white marble slab under his feet.As the night fell, a round of bright moon hung upside down in the sky, shining silver light everywhere.There is a hustle and bustle behind him, but there is silence in front of him.

Xue Pan crossed his arms and walked to the apse.It is a red plum that is proud of the snow and welcomes the frost.The branches are jagged and red like blood.Taking advantage of the white snow, there is a kind of cool and quiet.In a trance, I returned to my ancestral house in Jinling.I remembered that when I met Tu Zhen for the first time, I also had a conversation in Merlin.only……

A trace of sadness flashed in Xue Pan's eyes.He sighed in distaste.

The heavenly family has no father and son, and the royal family has no affection.I just don't know how long this seemingly loving father, filial son, and respectful brothers and sisters can last.

A gust of night wind blew past, mixed with the unique cold fragrance of plum blossoms, and fine pieces of clear snow fluttered on the face and body.Xue Pan stood silently for a while, and was about to move back to the main hall when he suddenly heard a very thin, indistinct whimper coming from his side.

Xue Pan's heart tightened, and he held his breath and listened carefully for a while.After a while, there was no movement, Xue Pan felt relieved, thinking that he had heard wrong.Smiling and shaking his head, just as he stepped up, he heard the voice come out again.

It was a depressing, sad, soft cry that you wouldn't notice if you weren't careful.But there is a kind of strange gloom in this silent plum grove.Xue Pan thought he was timid, swallowed his saliva, and asked tentatively, "Who's there?"

The sound suddenly disappeared.There was silence again.Xue Pan breathed a sigh of relief.Since there is a reaction, it should not be a ghost or something...

So Xue Pan moved his feet and walked in the direction of the sound.After a few dozen steps, he found a piece of sapphire blue clothes behind a rock.The fine Shu brocade is very conspicuous under the reflection of the white snow and the bright moon.Xue Pan subconsciously hooked the corner of his mouth, stood three feet away, and said, "Who are you?"

The material of this color is not like a little palace maid or eunuch.It's just that I came here to cry in this deep palace, especially on such a festive day...

Xue Pan blinked, feeling curious for a moment.

Hearing the words, the man didn't respond, but shrank back behind the stone wall.Xue Pan laughed and raised his voice and said, "I saw you. If you don't come out, I will pass by."

After a while, a seven or eight-year-old child slowly walked out from behind the stone wall.The eyebrows are exquisite, and they are carved in powder and jade, so they have half a dozen or seven points of imagination with Tu Zhen.There was a strange look in Xue Pan's eyes, but he hesitated.

It is not sure whether this person is Tu Zhen's brother or heir.

The child looked up at Xue Pan, and asked coldly, "Who are you?"

The temperament and charm are three points like Tu Zhen.

Xue Pan asked tentatively: "Are you... the eldest prince?"

The child proudly said: "Since I know it's my prince, I won't pay my respects."

It turned out that this person was the eldest prince of Tuzhen, Tu Xuan.

Xue Pan's face darkened, he touched his nose, and had no choice but to go forward and pay respects: "My humble minister Xue Pan, I have met the eldest prince."

Curiosity flashed across Tu Xuan's eyes, and he asked, "Are you Xue Pan?"

Xue Pan was a little surprised, and asked, "His Royal Highness has heard of my name?"

A complex look flashed in Tu Xuan's eyes, and he couldn't tell what it was like to say: "In this Forty-Nine City, there are a few who have never heard of the name of Young Master."

Xue Pan couldn't figure out what Tu Xuan meant.He cleared his throat in embarrassment, and asked out of words: "Your Highness is not busy in Qianqing Palace, why did you come out?"

Tu Xuan asked back, "Why did you come out again?"

Xue Pan choked for a moment, pursed his lips and stopped talking.

The atmosphere between the two was somewhat silent.After a while, Tu Xuan said without knowing why, "I just... miss my mother a little bit."

Xue Pan raised his eyebrows in surprise.

Seeing this, Tu Xuan said, "My mother, Mei Cairen... died when she gave birth to me. Today is her death day."

Xue Pan felt a little uncomfortable for a moment, and said nonuo: "Sorry, I didn't mean it."

"It's okay." Tu Xuan smiled lightly, blinked his eyes, and asked, "What are you doing here again?"

"It's too hot in the hall, so I'll go out for a walk. I'm about to go back now!" Xue Pan said nonsense without blinking.

That Tu Xuan hooked the corners of his lips, and suddenly said: "If the young master is fine, can you accompany me for a walk?"

"Ah?" Xue Pan subconsciously asked, seeing Tu Xuan looking at him expectantly, he could only touch his nose, and said bravely, "Then let's go!"

So the two of them stepped on the snow and wandered in the plum forest.For a long while, Tu Xuan didn't speak.He just walked forward with his head down, with an indescribably cold and lonely look on his face.Seeing his pitiful look, Xue Pan cleared his throat and said, "How about... let me tell His Highness two jokes!"

That Tu Xuan said in a low voice: "Please speak."

"It was said that a minister had something important to meet with the Holy One, but he couldn't remember anything after kneeling down. So the Holy One said to the minister, if you love Qing so much, get up and talk, after all, 'kneeling people' forget things too much! "

"One person asked the other: Do you know the reason why the ancients hung their heads on beams? The other replied: Probably to prevent the bangs from covering their eyes! The other said in frustration, then do I have to keep my bangs specially for the purpose of hanging the beams once?" Another person smiled and said: No, I will just give you a white silk..."

As the two talked slowly, Tu Xuan's depression and loss were finally relieved.Looking up at Xue Pan who was seriously thinking about all kinds of jokes, he was a little moved.On the face, he pretended to be disdainful and said: "It is rumored that the young master is a genius in heaven, and when he rolls his eyes, he can see mountains of gold and silver seas... Now it seems that no matter how he talks, it is all such nonsense."

Xue Pan's face darkened, and he looked at Tu Xuan who was looking at him with disdain and said with a sinister smile, "In that case, let me tell you a ghost story!"

Tu Xuan twitched his lips, and said, "Your speech is strange."

Xue Pan snorted twice, ignored Tu Xuan, and said, "It is said that in the country of Dongying, there is a family with a girl named Zhenzi..."

As Xue Pan's narration deepened, Tu Xuan's face gradually turned pale.I just feel that the night wind is gloomy.Trembling, he said: "You...don't talk nonsense, be careful of father's punishment of you."

"What are you afraid of? Isn't it strange to say nothing?" Xue Pan said slowly, and was about to tease Tu Xuan when he suddenly saw an arm tremblingly stretched out from the corridor in front of him, thin and thin. Pale, with red fingertips.

Xue Pan suddenly turned pale, and suddenly pulled Tu Xuan closer to his arms.

Tu Xuan was caught off guard, her nose hurt a little from being bumped, and she was about to shed tears.He couldn't help but said, "What are you doing——"

"It's okay..." Xue Pan hugged his arms tremblingly, and said softly, "Close your eyes quickly."

Tu Xuan's heart tightened suddenly, and he quickly asked, "What's wrong?"

Before Xue Pan had time to coax him, he saw a female ghost with disheveled hair slowly crawling out from behind the corridor. Her face was pale and stained with blood, and she looked even more eerie and eerie in the cold moonlight.The female ghost stared fiercely at Xue Pan, and said, "Quick—"

Unable to bear it, Xue Pan buried his head on Tu Xuan's neck, "Ghost—"

A shrill scream suddenly broke the tranquility of the imperial city——