Survive in the world of Red Mansions

The working hours of ancient officials are very abnormal. The working hours in winter and spring are almost equivalent to six o’clock in modern times, and even earlier in summer. They have to arrive at their posts at 05:30, and the officials who are sent outside have a lot of freedom. Beijing officials It's miserable, these officials always have some distance from their homes to the yamen, and in order not to be late, some of them have to get up around four o'clock.

If you are late, you will not be able to issue a warning and deduct wages like in modern times. In ancient times, being late could be punished with flogging or imprisonment according to the number of days late and the seriousness of the circumstances. Therefore, these ancient officials really did not dare to be late easily. of.Although the working hours are perverted, the off-duty time is much earlier than in modern times. Usually, people can leave at three or four in the afternoon. Like Lin Hai and the others, their normal off-duty time is almost three o'clock in modern times.

This day Lin Hai took care of his affairs in the household department early, thinking about his son's vacation, he told himself yesterday that he would invite someone to go horse racing in the suburbs tomorrow, but it's a pity that the weather is not good, it started to rain since last night, presumably It's not convenient to leave the house now.Thinking of this, Lin Hai didn't stay in the yamen for too long, and when it was time to release the yamen, he tidied up and returned home.

As soon as Lin Hai returned to the mansion, the servants in the mansion reported to him that Master Lan and the uncle had come to the house, and the uncle brought two pots of flowers.When Lin Hai heard that Xu Jingzhi had brought something over again, he couldn't help laughing to himself, he admired Ai, and he didn't know how long he could hold on to this feeling for Daiyu.

Lin Hai thought for a while, Jia Lan and Jing Zhidu were about the same age as Ruier, it would be good for Ruier to get together with them, and he didn't want to disturb them, so he said to Lin An who was following him, "Lin An, You go to the uncle's yard alone, and tell them not to come over to say hello, and arrange someone to send them back to the mansion after dinner."

After everyone else left, Lin Hai put out his pen, ink, paper and inkstone with rare interest, and began to paint while listening to the sound of rain outside the window.

In Lin Hai's previous life, he learned piano, chess, calligraphy and painting more or less when he was young, but when he was an adult, the only thing he could stick to was chess. He collected some calligraphy and painting for investment, and more for appreciation, so he could go to them by himself. Painting is gone.

After coming here, although I also got Lin Ruhai's memory, it may be that the two people's personalities are too different. Even if Lin Hai inherited Lin Ruhai's memory, but the words and paintings made by those who are interested will know that there is a big gap .In terms of writing, because it involves official business, Lin Hai has always paid more attention to it, trying to keep it as consistent as Lin Ruhai's handwriting before.As for the aspect of painting, because it is just a hobby, Lin Hai can do it according to his own personality.

Lin Hai was completely immersed in the joy of painting, and when he finally put down the pen, he felt a little hungry.Looking up at the window, it should be about the time of the year. It is late summer and early autumn, and the sky is still bright, but it is already past the usual dinner time. Probably because I was too engrossed just now, Lin An didn't bother me any more.Lin Hai ordered someone to prepare the meal, and the servants outside also rushed in to wait for Lin Hai to wash his hands.

As soon as Lin Hai finished eating by himself, Lin Rui walked in, "Father, why are you in such a good mood today, you forget to eat and sleep while painting?"

"You ordered it just now?" Lin Hai asked after seeing Lin Rui.

Lin Rui was stunned for a while, and immediately reflected Lin Hai's meaning. Lin Hai asked him to paint just now, and no one disturbed him in the middle of the painting.In fact, Lin An asked Lin Hai if he wanted to prepare a meal, but Lin Hai himself was obsessed with it for a while, and he didn't notice. Tell them not to disturb Lin Hai, it's rare for his father to be in such a good mood, and it's not a big deal to have dinner once in a while.

"Well, I heard what they said, you are in such a good mood, so tell them not to disturb you, I'm going to see what dad drew today?"

The two came to the study room, the painting that Lin Hai had just made was still on the desk, Lin Rui stood in front of the desk, looking at the painting on the desk, Qinghai Lake in the early summer and early autumn, "It's the Qinghai Lake we visited back then, Alas, there should never be such an opportunity in this life!" Speaking of the latter part, she was quite at a loss.

"What's the matter, you suddenly become so sentimental?"

Lin Rui didn't answer Lin Hai's question, but instead asked Lin Hai, "Father, why did you suddenly think of painting Qinghai Lake?"

"This afternoon, I suddenly remembered the beautiful lake I saw back then. There was a saying that was so true. It was so beautiful. It turns out that nature really has such beautiful scenery, and it deserves this sentence. Unfortunately, I The hands-on effort is still not enough.

By the way, what flowers did Jing Zhi send over today? "

"It's lilies, Dad, you don't know, I have never been interested in these, I didn't even look at them, so I ordered someone to send them to Daiyu's yard. I used to send a bunch of flowers, but here are the whole plants connected to the flower pots Send it off, Xu Jingzhi will please the little girl when he arrives."

"Hehe, I just hope that he won't be too affectionate in the future. Rui'er, in the Imperial College, do you have a lot of contact with some of the noble families' children?"

"Rarely, the children of honorable families entered the Imperial College, and few of them studied hard. They came to pass through the layers of gold and look good. Because there is no way to control the access, many of them just rest at the Imperial College at night and see them during the day. No one, what? Is there any change in the court?"

"Well, the emperor asked me to check the grain storage situation of several prefectures around the southwest a few days ago. According to the emperor's wishes, he may send someone to check it himself. These small border countries have always been restless, and the imperial court has been tolerant to them these years. Their hearts have also grown up, and they should be preparing for a large-scale use of troops against the Celestial Empire. The emperor must have received the news, so they are now making preparations in advance, which can also match the original drama of Hongmenglou. Above It is mentioned that after the leader of the Nan'an County King was captured, Tanchun was named the princess, and then married and married far away."

After hearing this, Lin Rui couldn't help saying: "Tanchun has always been very concerned about her status as a concubine, and this is really a good opportunity for her to get ahead."

"Get ahead? How many of the married princesses have a good end? After the defeat of Nan'an County King, Tanchun married far away, but the war will not stop because of it. Li Min, he is destined not to be a character like this. A weak emperor, the heaven sent a princess to marry him, he will definitely get back such a shameful thing, when the war resumes, think about Tanchun's position, how could it be good?

The reason why I asked you to avoid contact with the children of those honorable families is because I think the emperor may take advantage of this war to clean up these families.Because there have been no major wars for many years, and now that the war has resumed, these people have not taken the opportunity to fight for the right to lead the army. There is also an emperor. In order not to allow the emperor to hold more military power, they will probably support these noble families to lead the army.

These honorable families have been honored and raised for many years, and they have long lost the bravery of their grandparents. That's why the king of Nan'an was captured and survived. In his case, he should have committed suicide early before being captured and could not fall into the enemy's hands. In the hands of Fang, even if he failed to lead the army after committing suicide, it can be said that he died for the country, so that his family can be settled. "

"According to what you said, father, if there is a war, the first batch of soldiers to participate in the war will most likely become cannon fodder?"

"As far as the emperor is concerned, if a war can bring him complete control over the entire Southwest, obtain military power, and allow him to find a suitable breakthrough for the purge of the honorable family, why not?"

When Lin Rui heard his father say this, he didn't know what to say, but felt that it was too cruel.

"I don't think I can accept it? It's too cruel? But the position is different, and the angle of thinking about the problem is also different. From Li Min's point of view, I really can't say that he is wrong."

Lin Hai looked at his son and knew that it was difficult for him to accept it, so he changed his tone and said, "However, this is all my guess. Maybe the emperor will take other measures then?"

Lin Rui twitched the corner of his mouth and forced a smile on his face, because he knew that things were likely to develop according to his father's guess.Lin Hai patted his son's head and didn't say anything more. If Lin Rui would have to experience these things in the future, it would be better to let him be mentally prepared in advance now than to be at a loss when things come to an end.

After returning to the Imperial College the next day, because Lin Rui had a riding and archery class that afternoon, he was so tired that he sat on the chair after the class, and Licorice stood by and pinched Lin Rui's arms and legs. I won't be sore all over tomorrow.

Lin Rui's grades in all subjects in the Imperial College were very good, but the riding and archery class was not good. Although he has always practiced martial arts, but now because he is still young and cannot keep up with his strength, every time he takes riding and archery class, in order not to fall behind After too many, are tired.

After sitting for a while, I heard someone knocking on the door outside, "Brother Lin, are you there?"

Lin Rui replied weakly, "Come in."

When Luo Jianye and Sun Jie saw Lin Rui's appearance, they couldn't help laughing, "Brother Lin, it's like this every time you finish riding and archery class, and it's so uncomfortable every time, why don't you cancel this class?" , or Master Lin must ask you to choose?"

"How is it possible? My father never made too many demands on the homework. I have to choose it myself." Lin Rui said and turned to Licorice, "Licorice, put out the food that I brought from home today, Let Brother Luo and Brother Sun taste it."

When Sun Jie heard Lin Rui say this, he couldn't help laughing, "Brother Lin, we're just waiting for your words, every time we come back from vacation, we are waiting for extra meals!"

"We are here to take advantage of Brother Lin!" Luo Jianye also said aside.

Lin Rui couldn't help laughing, "It's not worth anything, it's all prepared by myself."

After Sun Jie heard this sentence, he also laughed, and suddenly put on a gossip look, "Lin Rui, I don't know if you went home yesterday, but it was very lively here yesterday, and there was almost a fight."

Lin Rui hurriedly asked back, "What's so exciting here, who dares to fight here?"

"Both of them entered the Imperial College by virtue of their families. One is Wang Ren from Teng's family, the ruler of the nine provinces, and the other is from the Duke of Zhen's mansion. These two people almost got into a fight yesterday."

"Oh? These two families seem to have a good relationship all along. How could there be trouble?"

After Lin Rui asked, he waited for the answer from these two people. After waiting for a while, neither of them made a sound, so he couldn't help but look at them, "What's going on?"

Sun Jie couldn't help showing some embarrassment on his face, "I'm sorry, Brother Lin, I didn't realize that this incident actually has something to do with your family."

"How do you say it?" Lin Rui couldn't help asking when he heard Sun Jie say this.

Lin Rui watched Sun Jie touch Luo Jianye, probably expecting Luo Jianye to speak.

Seeing the reaction of these two people, Lin Rui guessed that it should be related to the Rongguo Mansion, "Brother Sun just said that it has something to do with my family, is it something about my grandfather's family?"

"Sun Jie, you don't have to hesitate anymore. This Rongfu matter is Rongfu's matter. What does it have to do with Lin Rui? When did you hear what happened to Lin Rui's sister?" Luo Jianye probably couldn't stand Sun Jie didn't do anything, so he said directly.

Lin Rui also knew that people in Guozijian often gossip about Rongning and Ningfu, but it's not the first time. As for the trouble so much that it almost started a fight?

Sun Jie continued, "I also inquired about it later, a group of people did not know why they talked about the poems passed on by the girls of the Rongguo Mansion. There are no rules or anything, and someone mentioned that the four major families are similar, etc. Why did Wang Ren and Niu Jizu almost fight because Niu Jizu said that the second grandma Lian of the Jia family went to their house for a banquet, Actually sitting in the same car with that uncle, Jia Baoyu, I said it as a joke, but the people next to me heard it, and they couldn't help but say some unpleasant things, and that's how the trouble broke out."

When Lin Rui heard this, it was fortunate that Daiyu seldom went to Rongguo Mansion, "Didn't they rarely see them in the Imperial College on weekdays? Why did they come here yesterday during the holiday?"

Wang Jie went on to say: "Didn't Mr. Wang leave the capital? Those who stay in the capital of the Wang family are servants. They probably can't control Wang Ren and don't let him do what he wants. As for why it so happens that they all stay here, I don't know too well." , I didn’t inquire about it anymore, after all, it’s someone else’s business and has nothing to do with us.”

Probably Lin Rui could guess the situation, and didn't want to mention anything, so he said, "Forget it, there's nothing to say, let's go to the dining hall, it's almost time."

Although it was involved in the matter of Rongguo Mansion, the Lin family has always kept a respectful distance from Rongguo Mansion in the past few years, so although the rumors are very bad, the influence on Lin Mansion is very limited.But no matter how far away, some days, even if the Lin family members don't want to get close to Jia's house, they still want to visit.