[Red Mansions] The Road to Empress Dowager

Xing Xiuyan asked: "Have you sorted out the general ledger of all expenses in the harem last year?"

Xing Xiuyan was handed over to Princess Hede to take charge of this matter, and Princess Hede said: "There are still some parts that are not matched, and my sister will take three to five days."

Xing Xiuyan said: "Then it's hard work for my sister. I'm afraid the matter of sorting out last year's bills is very heavy. If you need anything, just come and tell me."

Xing Xiuyan wants to guide the preparation of the annual financial budget of the harem according to the expenses of last year's general ledger.And the palace of the imperial family also asked them to compile a budget for review. Smart people will not show extravagance at this time, and blindly raise the budget of the palace to leave a bad impression in front of the emperor.

If you learn to budget scientifically, there will be guidelines for the work of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and there is no need for a strong minister to manage, or even abolish the "minister-in-chief system", and you can reform it into a "collective/collective leadership system" and establish a "Management Committee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs" .

There is a budget first, and all departments only need to do according to the budget, so as to achieve decentralization without chaos.

Because the Yang family involved the downfall of several powerful figures in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, everyone panicked, and the resistance to reform was at its lowest point.

Collective leadership is also good for curbing corruption in the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Although Hexiao is in charge of some distribution matters, he is not as good at settling accounts as Princess Hede. There is a kind of person in this world called Mathematics Xiaobai, and Princess Hexiao has a headache when he sees the accounts.

But seeing that Xing Xiuyan pays more attention to Princess Hede, she has learned how to behave now, and she will only get a slap in the face if she loses her temper with the emperor's wife.

Returning from Taiji to Ci'an Palace, I was unhappy with Princess Xiao for a while, and Empress Dowager Liu asked her to answer the result.

Princess Hexiao said: "The queen just doesn't like me, she values ​​harmony and virtue everywhere, I work hard to take care of everything in the harem, but for whom?"

Empress Dowager Liu couldn't help comforting her a few words, and said, "Didn't you promise me to learn to endure?"

Princess Hexiao burst into tears and said: "I only care about my mother, so I won't say anything about the emperor. He is not partial to the queen. He has no heart for others. The father doesn't love me, and he also favors the queen. It seems that the queen is the queen." It's his daughter. I personally send things to Shangyang Palace, but my father doesn't like to talk to me, if the empress passes by, my father will be very excited and have a lot to say."

Empress Dowager Liu said: "He loves books now, and he wants to preside over the compilation of "The Great Canon of Qianzheng". If you flatter him in this respect, you will always win his favor."

Princess Hexiao said: "But I don't like those."

Of course, the old sage likes to show off to Xing Xiuyan who knows how things are good and bad, and Xing Xiuyan's flattery will not be dry. She is also an expert, and she can point to the old sage's pride.Sometimes Xing Xiuyan can quote the scriptures and praise the advantages that he has not discovered himself. After the praise, he can make some small comments, of course the old sage will be interested.

The old sage had many children back then, and Empress Dowager Liu did not win his heart, so it is good to remember Princess Xiao.

Empress Dowager Liu said: "Now you are fourteen, it's been the past two years, whether it's your father or your brother, you must have something to settle for."

Empress Dowager Liu is in awe of Tu Yuanyi in this life, and has no power in her hands. Their mother and daughter are in a weak position, and everyone who has a heart in the front and rear palace knows it.Serious, talented and ambitious young Jinshi do not love Shangzhu, even if Shangzhu is not limited to being a prince-in-law and captain, it is a rule that son-in-law and foreign relatives do not join the cabinet.

And there are many nobles in the royal family who anoint the sons and daughters, most of them are the kind of men who have no other way to maintain their wealth and honor, begging the Lord, and which woman would like to marry those people?

The mother and daughter were talking, but it was Concubine Wen who came over and wiped away tears with Princess Xiao, even in front of this cousin, she didn't want to reveal anything that would damage her princess dignity.

After Liu Jingru paid a visit, Empress Dowager Liu gave her a seat.

Empress Dowager Liu saw that she had lost a lot of weight, so she couldn't help asking: "I heard that you were sick a few days ago, have you improved?"

Liu Jingru coughed lightly, but held it back. If the illness returns before it recovers, she might be offending the Empress Dowager, so she just smiled and said, "The imperial doctor just saw it yesterday, and he said that he is well."

Liu Jingru didn't just suffer from the wind and cold, she was worried, hated and sad, and she was ill for more than a month.She often had nightmares that she slapped Queen Xing, and Queen Xing would impose various punishments on her a hundred times and a thousand times.And seeing Empress Xing blooming like a brocade, but she herself is lonely and cold, how could she not be sad?

Empress Dowager Liu said: "Since it's just right, why are you walking around again, and you should take a good rest in your palace."

Liu Jingru said: "Being able to come out for a walk is a bit fresher, and besides, I haven't seen the Queen Mother for a long time, and the concubine misses her very much."

Empress Dowager Liu sighed and said, "You people were born at the wrong time!"

Liu Jingru's heart felt sore, she wanted to shed tears, she wiped the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief, and then talked about Shen Man again.It turned out that the eunuchs and maids in the palace became more and more neglectful of Shen Man, except for the people she brought from outside the palace, even her own servants did not serve them wholeheartedly.The Empress had a feud with Concubine Jing, and everyone in the harem knew about it, and everyone was waiting to see what would happen to her.It is common for women in the harem to come and go, and it is rare to have a good death if they do not offend anyone, let alone offend the person who is least likely to be offended.

Empress Dowager Liu said: "Everyone doesn't touch things, and you don't want to touch them either. Just take care of yourself."

Liu Jingru said, "It's okay to take care, I don't have any hope."

Empress Dowager Liu said: "Don't say this in the palace, you were the one who insisted on entering the palace, otherwise this matter might not have happened to you."

Liu Jingru grabbed the handkerchief and said, "Now that the Empress is pregnant with Liujia, she can't serve the Emperor..."

If Empress Dowager Liu had been in the past, she would definitely not have seen the empress like this, but now she must not let her speak.

Empress Dowager Liu said: "This palace has long since stopped asking about the matter of the emperor's harem. The emperor and empress will make their own decisions about this matter."

Empress Dowager Liu told her to take care of her body, and said she was tired and needed a lunch break, and Liu Jingru just said goodbye.

The empress is pregnant, and the women in the harem have this kind of thought, even if they don't have the emperor's true favor, it's fine if they can have a boy and a half girl, or if they can't, they can be favored once.

In fact, people outside the palace also bullied the emperor Nase very much. Today Mrs. Xing, Wang Xifeng and others went to Jia Mu's place to pay their respects, but Jia Mu dismissed the younger generation and left them alone to talk.

In the interview, Jia's mother cared a little bit, and gave Mrs. Xing a show. Recently, Mrs. Xing felt that she was more loved by Jia's mother than Mrs. Wang in the past.Mrs. Wang is because of the second wife's wife, Baoyu's mother, Wang Ziteng and his sister. Mrs. Xing thinks that she is treated like a queen's aunt, so her treatment has been raised.

After the reward, Mother Jia came over for a while and said: "Now Yingchun in your eldest house has a good family, so Tanchun stayed in the mansion. Recently, her sister taught him that this child is also up to date, and he is no worse than Yuanchun back then." of."

Wang Xifeng smiled and said: "This is the old lady's blessing. The younger sisters are all top-notch. I see that the daughters of other families are always inferior to ours."

Mother Jia laughed and said, "So I wanted to find a good family for her, but our family is also related to Cheng'en Gongfu, so naturally we should share their worries so that we can live up to the relationship between the two families."

Mrs. Xing was very happy to hear this, but she had some sense of taste but was at a loss, and said: "What does it have to do with Cheng En Gong's mansion to find someone for Tan Yatou?"

However, Wang Xifeng felt something bad was going on, and she heard Jia Mu say: "The empress is pregnant, it is a great joy, but don't let the emperor go wrong at this time, but let the empress beside you marry her." Sacred Heart go."

Wang Xifeng smiled and said nothing, but Mrs. Xing said: "No, the sacred heart is always on the empress."

Jia Mu glanced at her displeasedly, and said: "Don't you understand? This empress is pregnant, how can she serve the Holy Majesty? Instead of being won over by others, it is better to use her own people. After all, she is one-hearted." .”

Only then did Mrs. Xing realize that Mother Jia was talking about the emperor's private matters, and her mind went blank for a moment, not knowing what to say.

Jia Mu said earnestly: "As the aunt of the empress, don't you think about the long-term for the empress? The third girl is the daughter of our mansion, and you are her aunt. For your sake, our manor is willing to send her Wouldn't it be best for you to go into the palace to serve the empress and share her worries?"

Mrs. Xing's mind exploded: "What?"

Jia Mu said: "This is helping your mother. You usually run up and down to your mother's house, but you haven't really done your best."

Wang Xifeng sneered secretly, but his face was calm, and said: "The third younger sister also entered the palace election the year before last, didn't she lose the election, how can she enter the palace?"

Mother Jia scolded: "Fool! Tanya was unsuccessful in the election, and she suffered because of her age, but she is outstanding, so she can serve her well. Now Cheng'en Gongfu can find a more suitable daughter for her to help her." No?"

Originally, it was normal for high-ranking concubines in the harem to use personal maids, low-ranking concubines, and even younger sisters to enter the palace for fixed pets, especially when she was pregnant.

In the backyard of the Duke's family, the mistress also controls the girl to prevent her husband from being wooed by other women. For example, a powerful woman like Wang Xifeng also wants to give Ping'er to Jia Lian.

Mrs. Xing has also seen Jia She's greedy and lustful. In the original book, in order to please Jia She, she even begged for mandarin ducks for him and did some embarrassing things.

But when it came to the emperor and queen, she didn't dare, and refused to answer for a long time. Jia Mu forced her to say: "Master, tell me a word of conscience, how will I treat you and the Cheng'en government? Isn't it all for you, for Lian'er? We have drawn closer to the empress, what harm does it do to you?"

When Wang Xifeng heard about Jia Lian, she had to speak out, saying, "Second Lord Lian doesn't expect to get closer like this. The Empress wants to employ people, and she has no one around her who can only rely on her, so why bother to go outside the palace?" found it?"

Jia Mu said angrily: "How can those people compare to Tan Yatou?"

Wang Xifeng said: "The old lady thinks that the lady is an ordinary person? She is someone who can kill even monsters. She has a lot of ideas in her heart. She didn't open her mouth. If this kind of thing comes together, it will arouse suspicion. If she is not happy, then But something big is going to happen.”

Wang Xifeng is a jealous woman herself, so she can naturally look at things from the standpoint of a woman. If she really had to accept someone for her husband, she would definitely use a maid who has no foundation other than herself, such as Ping'er.This woman has another natal family, so she will not listen to her own words, and the one who sent it up on her own initiative, isn't it because of Sima Zhao's heart?She also heard Jia Lian say that in Shuofang there is a "noble concubine in charge of politics", which can even be approved by the memorial.Such a strong woman, why play such tricks in front of her?

Jia Mu said: "The empress is so intolerant of people? Can we make her unhappy with all our good intentions? I don't believe it anymore. As long as the elders go and explain it clearly to Mrs. Cheng Engong, she knows the power of it. Even if the empress does not want to accept someone, she will consider it carefully, and most of the time she will listen to Mrs. Cheng Engong's persuasion. This woman, there is no one who wants to hold on to a man forever, let alone a saint."

Wang Xifeng was a little silly when she heard Jia Mu's words. There was no one else around at this time, and this remark sounded good to others, but could their eldest wife make it clear?It is an unchangeable fact that Jia Mu is their elder.

Mrs. Xing is not smart, but she is also a woman, so she naturally understands her husband's mood when he accepts a new bride. She depends on the queen, not Jia Mu, for her safe life, so she shouldn't be at this time.

Mrs. Xing said: "I don't understand the affairs of the harem. Besides, the old lady can give it away if she wants to. She really sends it in. If she is like a big girl again, isn't it a waste of people?"

Jia Mu shouted: "You are talking nonsense! The girl in our family is good, and the saint will always see it. After visiting the girl and serving her wholeheartedly after entering the palace, it is also our intention for the saint's empress, isn't it? You are so stupid and uncivilized that you want to disobey me! "

Wang Xifeng felt that the old lady was getting more and more paranoid, and it didn't make sense, so she couldn't help but sigh in her heart.They couldn't help but have an idea, and they verbally responded to ask Mrs. Cheng Engong, but it was up to them how to do it.Don't mention it to Mrs. Cheng'engong, just gossip about the old lady messing up this matter, even if Mrs. Cheng'engong is angry, she won't get angry at them, and she can do business with the old lady.At that time, Mrs. Cheng Engong refused, the old lady can still say theirs, can't she?

Therefore, Wang Xifeng gave Mrs. Xing a wink and said, "Since the old lady has spoken, let's ask Mrs. Cheng Engong."

Mrs. Xing received Wang Xifeng's gaze, although she didn't know what her plan was, she didn't ask now, and just agreed to ask Mrs. Xing and Li.

Unexpectedly, the old lady would prevent them from being perfunctory, and proposed to bring Tanchun to the house tomorrow to show Mrs. Cheng Engong, and the other person to follow was Jia Yuanchun, probably to supervise them.

Mrs. Xing and Wang Xifeng couldn't help being dumbfounded and worried.

He wanted to send a message to Duke Cheng'en's mansion, but others couldn't explain it clearly, and it was hard to make it public.

On the second day, Mother Jia had already prepared the carriage and gifts, and Tanchun wore a pink jacket and skirt, while Yuanchun, who had been teaching Tanchun the etiquette letter recently, wore a silver and blue beige. decent.Tanchun's young age, oval face, handsome eyes and sculpted eyebrows are naturally outstanding. After being taught court etiquette by "Nurse Jia Yuanchun", she has the bearing of a noble daughter.

Jia Yuanchun didn't want to go out, but she was burdened with the task of supervision and assistance given by Jia's mother. If she didn't complete this task, she would be even more shameless in the mansion.Besides, she hates Xing Xiuyan more than she is jealous of Tanchun. If this happens, she would be happy to see one more woman to share Xing Xiuyan's favor.

At this time, Wang Xifeng deeply regretted that she had accepted Jia Mu face to face at that time, and now she cannot come down to the stage.

Mrs. Xing was in the same car with her. After much deliberation, she said, "You should talk about this matter. I can't open my mouth."

Wang Xifeng was in a dilemma and said: "I can speak up or not? If this matter is not good, I will offend my mother."

When Mrs. Xing heard this, she thought that if she flew away from the mountain, she would be doomed, and said: "We can't take care of this matter. Don't say that the empress may not want to spy on the girl, but it is a good fortune to spy on the girl. She is also the daughter of the second room. Back then How much money did the girl spend in the palace, if this scout girl enters the palace, the old lady will definitely ask us to share the money."

Wang Xifeng was terrified, no matter how much money was spent, at most their property would be shrinking, and if there was any luck in Tanchun in the future, the second wife would benefit.

Wang Xifeng said: "This matter cannot be done like this."

……

Mrs. Xing Li was looking at some account books of the shop. Hearing that Mrs. Xing and Wang Xifeng were coming, she naturally invited her to her room.

She didn't expect that Erchun would follow in. She had some impression of Jia Tanchun, but she didn't know Jia Yuanchun.

It wasn't until she announced her name that she was a little surprised when she met, and said: "I have never had the chance to see the eldest girl of Jia's family, you are a rare visitor."

Jia Yuanchun said: "It is a great honor for Yuanchun to see the golden face of the Duke's wife today."

After ordering to sit and watch tea, Mrs. Xing asked about the recent situation of Empress Xing Li, and Xing Li smiled and said: "It's rare that you are interested. Your wife is in good health."

Wang Xifeng said with a clever smile: "Auntie will be a grandmother in a few months!"

Mrs. Xing and Li were also very happy, and Jia Yuanchun frowned slightly coldly.Xing Xiuyan took advantage of all the benefits, but brought her into such a situation, in this harem of tigers and wolves, she did not believe that she could laugh wildly for a lifetime.

Jia Yuanchun was also naive and romantic, but her situation and heart were too far apart, so that all she left in her heart was hatred. She couldn't hate the family who raised her and emptied her family for her. She didn't hate the same unfortunate Yang family. Whoever is proud and happy will hate whoever.

Jia Yuanchun suddenly said: "Third sister, please go and greet the Lord of Youlan County." Su Fu'er is still in the mansion, but she will return to the Tan mansion in two days. After all, Tan Qian is back, he is serious Jinshi is not a married man, and he always lives in Xingfu, which is not good for him.

Knowing that he wanted to talk about that matter, Jia Tanchun was very shy, got up, bowed to several people and left the house.

Tanchun coming out of the house was the signal, but Mrs. Xing and Wang Xifeng didn't open their mouths. Jia Yuanchun winked at them, but they just pretended not to know.Jia Yuanchun couldn't help being annoyed secretly, thinking that after returning home, he must tell the old lady that they really planned to perfunctory.

Firstly, Jia Yuanchun wanted to please Jia's mother, and secondly, he really wanted Tanchun to enter the palace. Whether Xing Xiuyan had to be favored or Tanchun went badly, the resentment in her heart could be relieved a little.

So Jia Yuanchun said: "The empress is inconvenient to serve the saint. In this harem, you have to be careful not to let people take advantage of the opportunity. I came out of the palace, and I know that those in the palace have intentions."

Although Lishi Xing felt strange, she didn't get angry because of this remark, she didn't guess her purpose.

Xing Li's family said: "Thank you, Miss Jia, my wife has her own sense of propriety."

Jia Yuanchun said: "Jia and Xing are relatives by marriage, one is honorable and the other is honorable, and the other is damaged. We really hope that the mother will be well, so we are worried about it."

Xing Li said: "I know that."

Jia Yuanchun then hinted that the empress is inconvenient, and there is a way to arrange who will serve the saint.It is said that if there is an outsider who is proud of serving the saint, it will not be good for the queen. This matter must be arranged for people who know the roots.

Xing Li's family was surprised, and Jia Yuanchun attracted his concubine sister Tanchun. If she enters the palace to help the queen, she must have one heart with the queen.

Mrs. Xing Li was shocked and speechless, Mrs. Xing and Wang Xifeng were also shocked, they were ashamed to see Mrs Xing Li's questioning eyes.

Suddenly he heard a burst of laughter, the maid outside the door closed the curtain, and walked in a [-]-year-old self-combing mother, who was exactly the Yun mother who Xing Li relied on.

Jia Yuanchun couldn't help being shocked when he saw her. It turned out that Nanny Yun came from the palace, and she was a female official with high qualifications, and Jia Yuanchun was a junior.

"Yun... Aunt Yun." Jia Yuanchun stood up.

Nanny Yun smiled and said, "Don't dare to be Miss Jia." Nanny Yun put more emphasis on the word "Miss" on purpose. Naturally, she didn't have a special modern meaning, but meant that Jia Yuanchun was a girl who hadn't left the court. Just now But the topic is not easy for unmarried women to bring up.

Jia Yuanchun didn't know that Nanny Yun, who had been out of the palace for many years, had stayed in Xing's house and was living a decent life. Apart from her lack of a husband and son, she lacked nothing.

Mrs. Xing Li said: "Nurse Yun is here."

Nanny Yun bowed to Mrs. Xing and Li, but smiled and said to Jia Yuanchun: "Miss Jia is becoming more and more dignified. She was once relied on by Empress Yang, uh, no, the commoner Yang, but now she is a famous lady." After entering the palace, do you still want to share our mother's worries?"

Jia Yuanchun could still pretend in front of Xing Li's family. She had heard countless times that the Xing family's family background was unseemly, so Xing Li's family was the wife of the Duke, and she still looked down on her a little bit.

But Grandma Yun knew that she had too many things to do, even when she reported on Shang Keqing's matter back then, Grandma Yun was the one who was in charge of rewarding 100 taels of silver.Earlier, she flattered Concubine Zhen, looking forward to being the side concubine of the Ninth Prince, but in the end she was never bestowed. Nurse Yun can also look at people with piercing eyes.When the emperor's maid of grace left the palace, it was Madam Yun who told her the news, and she went to stay with Yang Shiqiang.All these incidents are vivid in my memory, even Jia Yuanchun has no face now, and he doesn't want to meet someone who knows so clearly about her, it seems that his underwear has been ripped off.

Jia Yuanchun said embarrassingly: "It is also the relationship between the two families, so naturally... the same spirit."

Nanny Yun nodded and smiled and said, "What a sympathetic one. Miss Jia, I think you are even more outstanding than the third girl in your mansion, but you are older. But the younger the better, the younger the woman, Miss Jia is well versed in court etiquette and the way to survive in the harem. She is even better at serving people. She is more suitable than the third lady of your mansion. Miss Jia will enter the palace again. If a saint has grace, Miss Jia will naturally be honored. Grace, hehe, the empress must be short of a good nanny. I left the palace early again, and the wife of the country cannot leave me, otherwise I have to be a nanny for the empress. I can’t go by myself, and I don’t think it’s enough for others If you are considerate and considerate, Nanny Jia is the best."

Mrs. Xing suddenly felt a little cramping in her stomach, but she twisted her thigh hard before she calmed down.

Jia Yuanchun's face turned red and then pale, and he was so angry that he couldn't speak. If Wang Xifeng didn't grasp the direction at this time, he wouldn't be Wang Xifeng.At first, I thought that Cheng'en Gong's mansion might have a little old lady's consideration, but now that Nanny Yun said so, obviously there is no such thing.

Wang Xifeng said: "The old lady asked us to ask about this matter, but we couldn't ask, the eldest girl followed. If there is something that offends aunt, there are a lot of aunts, so don't blame it."

Jia Yuanchun sneered and said, "Feng girl, are you accusing the old lady?"

Wang Xifeng said: "I don't dare, I just want to make it clear, I really can't do this, my wife is just like me."

Mrs. Xing Li now deeply understands what is going on, and she can't help saying coldly: "The empress can't do something like using a relative's daughter as a maidservant, so we thank the old lady for her concern."

Mrs. Xing still explained that it had nothing to do with her, but Mrs. Xing and Li issued an order to evict the guest.