[Red Mansions] The Road to Empress Dowager

When the representatives of the Zhou family first came to Xiamen, Jin Shiyue took them to eat and drink, saying that they were all descendants of the Han family, descendants of Yan and Huang, and they were originally a family.Then, she bragged and said some big words, showing the strength of the Central Plains, and Guanzhong, Jiangnan, and Shuofang were all controlled by the strong monarch.The powerful style of the sons of several generations of nobles first overwhelmed those civil servants who passed the imperial examination in the feudal domains in small places in Taiwan, making them weak before they talked about it.

But during the negotiations, the Zhou delegation wanted to rely on the water army to defeat the Huo family's Yu Wei. Jin Shiyue said that he would go back to his hometown to hug the thighs of the king of Xining County and his grandfather, General Yili, which stunned the Taiwan delegation.

What about being gentle, courteous and thrifty?Uh, he is not a scholar, but a dude.

The first negotiation broke up badly and things got delayed.Jin Shiyue openly confuses Taiwanese spies during the cockfight in Xiamen, while Tan Qian secretly and some Jinyiwei have begun to investigate and compensate the families of soldiers who died or were captured by the navy.

The Taiwan side urged the delegation to negotiate with them as soon as possible.

So we talked again, and Jin Shiyue asked face to face: "Are you trying to rebel?"

This startled the Zhou delegation in Taiwan. Is there such a negotiator?It doesn't play cards according to common sense at all.

A member of Zhou's delegation asked him what he meant, claiming that the battle was also a misunderstanding, but Zhou's loss was too great, because the imperial court bullied Taiwan's Zhou's navy and broke the original promise.

Tan Qian wanted a lot of gentlemen, so he said to them: "If you want to talk about losses, of course the Great Zhou court is bigger. Besides, it is a misunderstanding, so it shouldn't be like this. If there is a misunderstanding, the vassals will use force. What's the reason?"

Jin Shiyue said: "I asked for an errand, but I just found an excuse to see the scenery in the south. The emperor thought that there was nothing serious in the south, so he sent me here. If the emperor is so holy and the emperor occasionally makes mistakes in judgment, how could you If you want to rebel, then the emperor will send my brother, or Sun Yuanwang, Wang Ziteng, Feng Tang, Zhou Xianchuan, and Lu Kun will be more appropriate."

People from the Zhou family in Taiwan couldn't help being startled. They were just taking advantage while fighting. Anyway, the imperial court always had this peaceful style of doing things.Sending these capable people here, we don't know what will happen next. Maybe the Zhou family will be wiped out before the Houjin Nao enters the Guanzhong Plain.

A member of Zhou's negotiating team said: "The king of Nan'an County is still in our hands."

Jin Shiyue nodded and said: "Then I also understand. You really want to rebel, so how do you talk about this! I think the king of Nan'an County died for the country, and he should be welcomed into the Martyr's Shrine. The emperor will definitely comfort Huo Huo when he is a Mingjun. Family, maybe make his son a prince, hey, this is the first prince of the opposite sex in the Great Zhou Dynasty, this is also the kindness of the king! Now the imperial household department is not short of money, and the imperial court will support the descendants of the king of Nan'an County to fight hard. This country is hated by the enemy."

The Zhou family in Taiwan had a tacit relationship with the Huo family in the past. If Huo Qi was really killed, the court would do what Jin Shiyue said, and there were quite a few of Huo's connections who were skilled in water training.What's more, many of Zhou's business dealings with the mainland are within the scope of Huo's feudal town, killing their patriarch, how can the two do business at sea again.

Zhou's delegation sent a message back to Taiwan. Zhou's current general didn't want to really fall out now, so he ordered peace talks ahead and prepared to release Huo Qi back, but some prisoners were detained.

Then, the two sides bargained, and the Taiwanese Zhou family offered 100 million taels, and the two of them sang the double reed.

Jin Shiyue lamented: "The emperor said that Taiwan's Zhou family is the barrier of the Great Zhou sea and should be the pillar of the country. There must be some misunderstanding. I heard that this is the case, so I want to take credit for it. My brother strongly recommends it. , I just received this beautiful job. This little brother Tan just passed the Jinshi examination this year. He was originally a good scholar in the Imperial Academy. He was unmarried and good-looking when he was in the village. Take care of your relatives, let him take credit and send him as a coercion, and if you do it, you can go back and get promoted. But you don't want us to do this."

The Taiwan side hurriedly said that there was no such thing, and also wanted the court to give some rewards, so that everyone was ready to go home for the New Year.

Tan Qian said: "When the emperor sent us here, he didn't mention rewards, he only said that he was here to mediate a misunderstanding, and the household department didn't give us any money. Besides, thunder, rain and dew are all the favor of the king. ..."

Tan Qian cites scriptures as a pawn to influence them. This scholar who has always been a gentleman who is slow in speech but quick in action, is eloquent and eloquent at this time.This is actually because the two of them have done a lot of work in Xiamen this month, but they feel at ease, so they try to figure out the direction of the king and the actual situation, and draw up a strategy for the negotiation.Although Tan Qian is a scholar, he is a man of pragmatism, otherwise Zhou Mu would not have become a military minister, or even the chief assistant.

So at the end of the bargain, the price was changed from 100 million taels to 1 taels. As for Zhou's proposed marriage, Jin Shiyue said: "You want the princess to marry, but the sage doesn't have a marriageable daughter. Besides, the two of us seem to be able to marry the princess. The one who decides? You can see if Huo Qi has a suitable younger sister, isn't he still in your hands? If Huo Qi is willing, the emperor will give him grace."

In this way, although the people of the Zhou family in Taiwan were annoyed, if they dragged on, the two sides would tear each other apart. The Zhou family is now unable to attack the mainland, and the Zhou family does not want to, so they have to wait for the future.

When Tu Yuanyi heard about these causes and consequences, he couldn't help sighing: Weak countries have no diplomacy, and the courts of weak countries even bully the feudal towns.To achieve such an effect in this life, apart from the fact that Jin Shiyue and Tan Qian do have some skills and are more pragmatic and cunning than those who died in the previous life, the people who died in this life have more confidence in the court and him.However, Tu Yuanyi knew in his heart that if other ministers were to talk about it, it might not be so easy to talk about "court decentness", so he was ashamed to "reward" 1 taels.

Tu Yuanyi rewarded the imperial banquet, and they rewarded Jin Shiyue with a good decoration before they left the palace, but they didn't reward Tan Qian with anything.

When they left the Hall of Liangyi, Tu Yuanyi said with a smile: "Tan Qing is full of happy events, and I'm afraid you won't appreciate whatever I reward you."

Tan Qian didn't know what was going on, he naturally wouldn't feel resentful because the emperor didn't reward him, he just said: "My minister is terrified."

Tu Yuanyi smiled and said: "You have been terrified for a long time, and I have been terrified all the time. The Lord of Youlan County is like a queen. I heard that she is pregnant and is living at her mother's house. Go and see her."

Tan Qian was overjoyed, his chest heaved and his face was flushed, he wished he could fly out of the palace.

Tan Qian dismounted at the Xing Mansion, and the two servants also dismounted together. One servant took over the horse, and the other went to knock on the side gate.

As soon as the concierge opened the door, Tan Qian couldn't help being overjoyed: "The uncle is back! Come in quickly! Come in quickly!"

Then, as soon as the boy inside the door came to pay a visit, someone rushed back to tell him that Xing Zhongzheng received visits from several country gentry and big merchants from the capital, and when they came to visit in the first month, they all gave generous gifts.He is a member of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who already has some real power, and has contacts with merchants in the capital. Although he declined a few squires and intended to join him, but meeting these people, he expressed the kindness and benevolence of the Xing family, and gave it to the queen. Gain a good name.The most important thing is that Zuo Zuo is free this afternoon, and he doesn't like reading, so Chen Yan will accompany him.

I was talking with people in the flower hall and having tea, and sometimes there was a sound of flattery, Xing Zhong was also very happy, but he also restrained himself from bragging, and laughed at the flattery.

Suddenly a young man came to report: "The eldest son-in-law is back! He is coming to see the master!"

"Hurry up and welcome in!" Xing Zhong said hurriedly.

Chen Yan pondered in his heart, Tan Qian came back, so the Taiwan matter is temporarily over.

Tan Qian came in and bowed on one knee: "My son-in-law pays respects to his father-in-law!"

Xing Zhong hurriedly helped him up, and Tan Qian bowed to Chen Yan: "Hello, Uncle Chen."

Seeing that he was full of energy, Chen Yan obviously went south, and the errands were done well, he said with a smile: "Zai Hou just came back, we are looking forward to your coming back for the New Year early in the morning."

Tan Qian said: "On the way to Luoyang, the road was blocked by heavy snow, so it has been delayed until now."

Several guests came over and said to Xing Zhong: "It's really a blessing that the Duke is so good, this eldest uncle is also a good-looking talent!"

Xing Zhong said with a smile: "Qian'er is different from me. He is doing serious errands for the emperor."

Another person said: "Which of the things that the Duke of the country does is not a serious job!"

There was another flattering statement below, and Tan Qian had seen these things before when he was out of the house. He and Jin Shiyue were admired by many people in Fujian.

But on the face of it, he still had to pass, so he lightly bowed his hands to them again, and according to his current habits, he was a non-commissioned officer.

Xing Zhong said: "Go to your wife quickly."

……

When Tan Qian came over, Mrs. Xing Li, Su Fu'er and all the maids were making children's clothes, shoes and socks while talking and laughing. Yu Nu hadn't woken up yet.

After Tan Qian greeted Mrs. Xing and Li, Mrs. Xing and Li cared a few words, but thinking that their husband and wife had been separated for so long, she said with a smile: "Go back to your own yard! It's winter, and I won't go to the government office recently. In the imperial court, Qian'er lives in the mansion first, and the one in Fu'er's belly is very precious, and there are many experienced nuns in the mansion."

Tan Qian said with a smile: "Mother-in-law's kindness, how can my son-in-law not accept it? My son-in-law and my wife will leave first, and come to say hello at night."

The couple returned to the courtyard and said goodbye. Su Fuer talked about the details of pregnancy, full of happy motherhood, and Tan Qian briefly talked about the scenery of Fujian.

Tan Qian said: "It's just that I asked the boy to buy some earthen instruments temporarily, which is really inconsiderate."

Su Fu'er laughed and said, "My husband is here to deal with serious business, so why bother with these things?"

Tan Qian is just a scholar, but he is not lofty. Many colleagues in the same department watched him go to the north and the south. Reciprocity is still necessary.

Tan Qian said with a smile: "Now that the lady is pregnant, you can't worry about these things. Mother Jiang and Mother Feng have always done it properly, so let's leave the tools to them first."

Su Fu'er said with a smile: "Many sisters are pregnant now. Everyone said the day before yesterday that Yu Nu is a child-giving boy. When he is born, everyone is happy."

Tan Qian said with a smile: "But you don't think that you all got married last year."

When Su Fu'er thought about getting married, she couldn't help saying: "You went to the south, Yu'er and Xiao Shizi are married, you didn't drink the wedding wine."

Tan Qiancai said: "Tomorrow, I will go to the Lin family to visit my adoptive father."

Lin Ruhai is a matchmaker and foster father, so naturally he can't be impolite.

The next day, I prepared generous gifts and went to Shi's house again. I returned to Xing's mansion in the evening, but I saw a family of people wearing cloth jackets, big and small, looking around outside Xing's mansion.

Tan Qian got off his horse and couldn't help but take a look. The boy over there had already asked someone to open the door. He was about to go in when a middle-aged man came over with a smug face.

"This gentleman is being polite!" The man bowed to Tan Qian.

After all, Tan Qian came from a poor family, nodded, and asked modestly, "What's your job, old man?"

Seeing that he was so kind, the man felt at ease, and asked, "Excuse me, is this the residence of Mr. Cheng Engong Xing?"

Tan Qian nodded and said, "Exactly."

The man looked at this majestic mansion, even though Xing Zhong will live in the mansion regulated by the Duke in the future, which is much more luxurious than this, but in the eyes of ordinary people, this is incredible.

The man asked again: "Master Xing is from Gusu, and has a sister who is the wife of the Rongguo Mansion?"

"The Jia family is now the third-class general's residence, and Grandma Xing is the wife of the Jia family."

The man's face was beaming, and he asked again: "Is Mrs. Cheng'en's surname Li? Is she the original wife from Cheng'en's hometown? Is there an eldest daughter named Xing Xiuyan?"

Tan Qian said angrily: "Presumptuous! How can you offend the empress?"

"Emperor... empress empress? Isn't empress empress the second daughter?" The man had also heard that the eldest daughter, Shili Hongzhuang, was married to Cheng Engong's mansion, and the other daughter was the empress.This time, no storyteller was able to tell clearly that the eldest daughter of the ten-mile red makeup was a righteous daughter, and some ordinary people only saw the appearance.The Su family used to be related to Prince Yizhong, and many things were tacit, and it was impossible for ordinary people to know.

Tan Qian restrained his anger, thinking that there was a reason why this person could tell his mother-in-law's surname Li and the queen's boudoir name.

"Who are you?"

……

In Xing Li's inner room, Xing Li and Su Fu'er were sitting on the kang of the splendid futon. On the top of the kang was a carved nanmu table, some account books and gift slips, and some unfinished silk brocade clothes.

Because Mrs. Xing and Li were breastfeeding and Su Fuer was pregnant, incense was not allowed in any house for nearly a year, but there were a few red plums stuck in several large Yuan celadon vases in the house, exuding a hint of refreshing fragrance.

Tan Qian came in, greeted Mrs. Xing and Li, and told what happened at the gate of the mansion just now and the person who came to see him, and Mrs. Xing began to be in a daze.

Although Tan Qian didn't understand the reason behind it, but he was well-mannered and gave his wife a wink.

Su Fu'er also guessed what Mrs. Xing and Li were thinking, and said with a smile: "Mother, my husband has been busy for a day, so I will go back to the yard first and help him wash up."

Mrs. Xing Li came back to her senses, and said to Tan Qian: "Qian'er, please be careful with Fu'er, I won't rely on her if she is tired."

Su Fu'er giggled and said, "It's good to have my mother in pain."

Xing Li said with a smile: "You have learned from Feng Ge'er and Yu'er with your mouth, or maybe your grandson is a naughty one and spoiled the good daughter."

Su Fuer smiled and said, "The most naughty one is Yu Nu?"

After talking and laughing with Su Fu'er, Xing and Li finally calmed down, thinking about how to face their relatives whom they hadn't seen for more than ten years.

Tan Qian helped Su Fu'er out of Xing Li's courtyard and returned to his residence. After the maidservant left, Tan Qian asked: "Why is mother-in-law not very happy when she heard that brother's family is here?"

Su Fu'er is not someone who spreads rumors behind her back, she thought that she would never have the chance to see someone from the Li family in this life, but since she came to her door, she might see her again in the future, so she couldn't keep her husband from knowing.

Su Fuer said: "How could you be happy? Mr. Xianggong, you don't know the difficulties when the mother's family first moved to rent a house next to the Panxiang Temple. Both parents died when the adoptive father was young, and he was raised by his uncle, Aunt Xing's father. When the uncle of the Xing family was still there, his adoptive father was a housekeeper for him when he was young, so he was a bit of a talent for general affairs. When the uncle was in Jiangning County, he told about his mother's wife and family, and they got married later. Aunt Xing married high After entering the Rongguo Mansion, the uncle and the two little aunts were... the uncle passed away, how could the adoptive father fight with them? I only have two acres of Susukida, and I don’t even have my own house. Later, I lived with his father-in-law The Li family, help him manage more than [-] acres of land."

Su Fu'er has known the Xing family for many years, and in recent years most of them follow Xing Li's family, gossip about family affairs, Xing Li's family is very good at speaking to the righteous daughter who knows everything in her heart.

Tan Qian asked: "After that... did something unpleasant happen?"If it has been doing well, why rent a house.

Su Fu'er said: "The grandfather of the Li family passed away, and after the first seven days, the mother's brother and sister-in-law drove the three of them out, and the mother's sister-in-law also took half of the mother's dowry, saying that she was still eating for free at her mother's house after she got married. Drinking for so many years."

Tan Qian couldn't help frowning, and said, "Father-in-law and the others rely on the aunt's house, why are they still being bullied?"

Su Fu'er said: "The adoptive father... he is satisfied if he can take care of the farm for his uncle and father-in-law, and it is a small amount in his heart."

Xing Zhong is soft-natured, or in other words, a child who had no parents since childhood and grew up with uncles, has a kind of cautiousness and inferiority in his bones.The advantage of this kind of person is that they will not be bold enough to cause disasters. The difficulty is that they are bullied when they are poor, but it is hard for their wives and daughters.Su Fu'er understands this, but now, as the adoptive daughter of the Xing family, she cannot speak clearly about her adoptive father.

Tan Qian is also a scholar from a poor family, but he is very transparent about these favors, and he will agree with his wife's point here.

Su Fuer said again: "After my mother and the others left Li's house, the three members of the family never visited Li's house again. Even when they went to visit their grandfather's grave, each family did their own sweeping. When I first met my mother, such a small baby, I don’t even have any decent warm clothes. Niang Niang has been sensible and open-minded since she was a child. Although I was repairing in the temple at that time, I didn’t lack good things in my hands. When she saw her, she was indifferent. Thinking about it now, I'm afraid she was born different from others."

Tan Qian said with a smile: "Your Majesty was only three years old at that time, I'm afraid she doesn't understand."

Su Fuer shook her head: "Don't think she is small, she is very bright in her heart."

Tan Qian thought about it, if the queen had nothing special, the emperor would not be so cute.

But I heard Su Fuer sigh: "I don't know how my mother will deal with it. Relatives sometimes don't judge right or wrong."

It would be great if the clan society could be as clean as modern society.It's okay for the two families to acquiesce in not being in contact now, but one family posted it because they are of the blood of their inner relatives, and they don't look at the face of the monk or the face of the Buddha. Xing Xiuyan's name was still taken by Li Xiucai.Can the Xing family really ignore Li Xiucai's grandson now?

Li Xiuqi is the eldest brother of the Xing Li family. His wife Song has two sons and two daughters. The two sons and one daughter are married. His daughters-in-law Zhang and Yao have a grandson.This time when I heard the shocking news, everyone came except for the married daughter.So so many people crowded Xing Li's room to a little bit at once.

In Xing Lizi's house, there are also respectable Nanny Yun and Zhao Nanny in Xingfu, the big maids Xuelian and Bilian next to Lishi Xing, a nanny of Yu Nu and two little maids who serve Yu Nu, and there are responsible Tea, charcoal fire, and three servant girls summoned.There are also servant girls who watch the fire and maids who wait on Mama Yun and Mama Zhao by their ears.

At this time, he has not moved into the Duke's mansion, but the decoration of the house of the head wife is already in accordance with the regulations of the wife of the Duke.

The members of the Li family have been waiting in the side room for quite a while, thinking about the appearance of the princes who came to Xing's mansion, they were blinded. At this time, when they entered Li's house, they saw a man wearing a stone blue shirt. Inside the beige with red borders is a long woolen jacket with autumn-colored brocade.

Because she lives at home, although her head is not full of pearls and emeralds, she still wears the huge pearls in the middle of the mink Zhaojun hat and on her ears, and the gold and jade bracelets on her wrists.

And the house is full of mothers and maids, who are also wearing silk, and there is no shortage of gold and silver jewelry.The Xing family is much smaller than the Jia family, and not everyone wears gold and silver. Of course, the people around the hostess of the Xing family are well-dressed during the Chinese New Year.

Li Xiuqi and Song Shi could still recognize the girl's eyebrows and eyes, even though the overall style was completely different from what they remembered.

Song returned to her senses, and hurriedly ordered: "Tingxuan, Tinglang, Qingqing quickly kowtow to your aunt, and brother Dong to kowtow to your aunt!"

Mrs. Xing Li looked at the juniors of the Li family kneeling in front of her, and said, "Greetings to my aunt!"

Xing Li said with a calm face, "I haven't seen you for more than ten years, and my eyes are a little dull. It's strangely cold on the ground, get up."

Many juniors cheered up.

Both Li Xiuqi and the Song family didn't know how to speak for a while, Xing Li said lightly: "When you left the Li family's gate, you said that the Li family would not have my daughter from now on, so don't come to the house again. For more than ten years, no Dare to bother me. I never thought that you and I would meet again in Kyoto."

Song stepped forward, slapped herself, and said, "Sister, it's because I was ignorant when I was young. At that time, there were so many mouths in the family to eat, and everyone had difficulties. Your lord has a lot, don't be as knowledgeable as I am."

Li Xiuqi stepped forward and said: "After you left, I regretted it back then. You are the sister of my mother and compatriots. It's just because of your face that you dare not come to the door."

Mrs. Xing Li said: "You have come to the door today."

Li Xiuqi said: "We also heard about the empress in Gusu by chance, so we will go to Beijing to congratulate the empress anyway."

It turned out that the Song family and their two daughters-in-law went to work in an embroidery workshop in Gusu. They heard the legend of Concubine Chen, who was originally the number one embroiderer in Gusu. Many Suzhou embroiderers were envious.They heard that Concubine Chen's surname was Xing, and that she was the niece of Mrs. Jia's family, and that her father was a royal weaver for the Ministry of Internal Affairs. They were quite surprised.Xing Dequan is several years younger than Xing Zhong, and he is not a daughter of that age, so he is probably a sister-in-law.