[Red Mansions] The Road to Empress Dowager

Xin Xiuyan didn't remember the specific reason for her distress. Tu Yuanyi simply said that she was a powerful enemy. Now that the matter was over, she was not in a hurry, so she hadn't asked clearly yet.

Xin Xiuyan said: "I can't blame you for this matter, it's just that the thieves are powerful and I'm not good at myself."

Tie Zhu said: "Tie Zhu practiced kung fu to protect his mother!"

Yu Nu said: "Yu Nu will act as a general for my sister and protect my sister!"

Everyone laughed when they heard this, Xin Xiuyan gave the banquet again and asked them about various things in Kyoto in recent years.

Although the women had children and took care of them, they still managed to maintain a huge property with the help of many confidantes in the past few years.At that time, the Jockey Club was also maintained by several sisters. They would race horses every year, and then use some funds for charity.

Xin Xiuyan also knew that the former personal maids of the sisters were all married, either into a country gentleman's family, or into a wealthy businessman, who was also in charge of the property.

Xin Xiuyan also thought of the many concubines in the harem who were going to arrange marriages, and her several big palace ladies were not too young, and they all brought out their successors, so they had to make some arrangements.

At this time, she didn't talk to them about the abolition of the harem. This matter caused a lot of trouble. If the ideological work was not in place, and concubines came to kill her in front of her, she would be in a lot of trouble.

She is used to every big action, she must do ideological work in advance to reduce misunderstandings.

Xin Xiuyan asked Xing Li again: "How is Daddy now?"

Mrs. Xing Li said: "Everything is fine with him, but he is usually busy with official duties and has a lot of entertainment. After Mr. Chen's scientific examination, he was directly released as an official. Your father lost his helper, so he had to waste his time."

Xin Xiuyan didn't know who Mr. Chen was, but she thought it was a teacher or something.

Xin Xiuyan smiled lightly: "Let him pay more attention to his body on weekdays, and come to the palace to meet him when he is free."

Xin Xiuyan thought to herself: Xing Zhong, the background board in "A Dream of Red Mansions", a poor man who took his wife and daughter to Mrs. Xing, is now the second-class Cheng Engong.If she becomes the queen mother, he will still wait for Cheng Engong. Of course, she doesn't want to be the queen mother.What kind of luck is this? Someone studied hard in a poor window, missed years, was destitute, and couldn't ask for a seventh-rank official, so he reached the sky in one step.

Mrs. Xing and Li hurriedly responded, Xin Xiuyan looked at the three sisters again and said, "I am not in the capital, thanks to the sisters who took care of my natal family and taught me a few children."

Su Fu'er said: "To put it bluntly, I am the married daughter of the mansion. Yu'er and Hui'er were also married to the empress Tiandi back then, and they are also their own people. Besides, we didn't do anything serious, the empress That's out of the way."

Su Fu'er is the oldest, and she usually lives in Cheng'en Gong's Mansion.

Lin Daiyu smiled and said: "My mansion is close to Cheng'en Gong's mansion. Cheng'en Gong's mansion is very lively. I like to go to the door. Just don't hate me for my step-mother."

Shi Hui said: "I'm the stupidest and most useless of the sisters. When my mother said it, I felt ashamed."

Xin Xiuyan smiled and said: "Okay, okay, I'm not polite anymore. Since we are sisters who have been friends for eight o'clock, and I'm not here, you should take care of my elders and children. Haha!"

The sisters couldn't help laughing after hearing this.

Xin Xiuyan ordered Zhao Quan to prepare a palace banquet, and she entertained it herself without going into details.

……

It was dusk when Lin Daiyu returned to the Xiao Mansion, and went to the main room to greet Xiao Kai and his wife.Usually Xiao Kai and his wife are not at home and go out to play, but today they are.

After inviting Ann, Xiao Kai and Mrs. Nie hugged each other and teased each other, and then asked about everything about going into the palace.

Lin Daiyu said: "God bless, the eldest sister is more beautiful than before, but she really doesn't remember anything about the past."

Speaking of later, it was also a little sad. For Lin Daiyu, Xing Xiuyan was also a sister, a friend and a mother, and she entrusted her with too much affection.She doesn't remember the beautiful memories of the intimacy between the sisters now, so why isn't she sentimental?

Mrs. Nie said: "Maybe this mental illness will get better after a while, as long as you are safe, Yu'er doesn't need to be too sad."

Daiyu nodded, and Madam Nie said with a smile: "The empress is a hero among women in the world, and she is affectionate and righteous. When my cousin and senior brothers mentioned it, they all admire her. Back then, women in the world did not convince me." Yes, this time I'm going to be convinced."

Daiyu said with a smile, "Mother, you don't have to be presumptuous."

Madam Nie suddenly said: "I have to think about whether I want to go to work with my mother and make a career while I can still move."

Xiao Kai was shocked when he heard this, and said: "My lady, are you going to abandon your husband?"

Mrs. Nie said, "I didn't abandon you either. You take good care of your home. When I come back from a business trip, won't it be the same?"

"No!" Xiao Kai yelled, holding on to Mrs. Nie's arm.

Daiyu hurriedly asked the two children to come to her side, and calmly faced her parents-in-law who did not follow the normal style of painting.

"Father, mother, please chat slowly. The children and I will go back to the yard first. I will eat dinner casually in the yard by myself."

After Daiyu finished speaking, she took the children out of the main courtyard of the Hou Mansion and returned to the east courtyard.At this time Xiao Jingyun was still in the military camp, and the prosperous Duke's family had to endure the frequent separation of husband and wife in this way. Although Daiyu missed him, she still wanted to support his career virtuously.

After dinner with the children, I asked them to review and recite some homework, and then took the children to sleep together.

In the morning of the next day, Daiyu was settling accounts in the house, and the two children were also taken by the nanny first, when a servant came to report that the Jia family had sent someone to pick her up, and that the old lady was ill.

Although Jia Mu still had to do it from time to time in these years, she often called Daiyu to see her when she was sick, but Daiyu knew that Jia Mu was getting old.After what happened to Jia Yuanchun, Mrs. Jia Zhengwang has been in prison all year round, and Jia's mother has been hit hard and her health is indeed deteriorating, but there is a heart that wants to see her precious son come out.In addition, in the past few years, Jia Baoyu, the demon king who has been messing around, seems to be a different person, giving her hope. She wants to see the great fortune she wants, otherwise she will not be reconciled.

Lin Daiyu hated Jia Yuanchun deeply, and she also knew that Jia's mother was also responsible for what happened to Jia Yuanchun back then.But ethically, she is her own grandmother, and she has loved her very much. I am afraid that the saint empress will also save her grandmother some face for her face, and did not reprimand her.Now that the old man is not alive for a few days, she still wants to see it out of reason.

She took the children to the main courtyard, Madam Nie was practicing martial arts, Xiao Kai applauded, Daiyu gave the children to them before she felt relieved.Because Tu Yuanyi raised his children so that they would not get too close to the nanny, he would not allow slaves to bully the master, and he would not let the nanny take the place of the queen in the hearts of the children, so he sent the prince and princess to It was raised by Cheng'en Gongfu.Daiyu had also heard that Yingchun's wet nurse was not in good shape and bullied the young master back then, so she was very careful in this aspect, if she had something to do, she would not rest assured until she handed over the child to the two elders.

Madam Nie said with a smile, "Pan'er, grandma will teach you kung fu, okay?"

Xiao Pan'er clapped her hands and laughed: "Good! Better than Uncle Yu Nu and Your Highnesses!"

Madam Nie said confidently: "Grandmother will definitely make Pan'er better than them!"

The brother whose baby name is "Xiao Xiao" is only two years old, and he also goes after Mrs. Nie: "I want Xiao Xiao too! Xiao Xiao is amazing!"

Xiao Kai went over to pick up his little grandson and said, "Little baby, you are too young, grandpa hold you and see!"

Daiyu smiled, then left the main courtyard, ordered her servants to prepare the car, and took a few maids in charge to Jia's mansion.

Although Jia's house is still on Ningrong Street, but now the family has changed, it has restrained a lot, and the slaves in this area have been cleaned up almost.

Jia's mansion is such a first-class general's mansion. Back then, Jia Lian made great contributions in Ping'an Prefecture. Not only was he promoted, but Jia Amnesty's title was also restored to first-class general.Jia Lian has been established as the eldest son. In the future, he will not be degraded to attack the first-class general.

She is the righteous sister of the queen, the wife of Dingzhong Hou Shizi, and the daughter of Lin Ruhai, a first-rank university scholar. The only woman who can surpass her status in the foreign court is the princess.Even the princess should be polite to her.

Because she is also a noble lady in the capital, although she did not open the middle door, she opened the ritual door, and the servants of Jia's mansion respectfully welcomed her in.

After going to Rongqing Hall, Mrs. Xing was waiting for her illness. When she heard that Daiyu had arrived, she came out to welcome her.

"Hello, Auntie!" Daiyu saluted.

Mrs. Xing grabbed Daiyu's hand and said, "My family, why are you so polite? The old lady has been thinking of you, so I sent someone to go. There is nothing to hinder my niece, right?"

Daiyu said: "Grandmother is seriously ill. It's my duty to visit me. Why do I hinder her?"

As Mrs. Xing said, she led her into the room, and saw Mother Jia leaning halfway on the couch, already with gray hair, she was very round before, but now her cheeks were much thinner.

Jiamu opened her eyes slightly, a gleam of light flashed, and she shouted, "Yu'er is here, come quickly to grandma."

Jia's mother can no longer care about the matter of "I used to love her for nothing, let Xing Xiuyan slut win me over, and don't be close to her".

Daiyu couldn't help feeling emotional, Jia Mu was over seventy years old, no matter how she used to be, she always has compassion at this time.

"Grandma..."

Mother Jia hummed for a while, she didn't know if it was really uncomfortable or the old man's psychology of putting on a show in front of the younger generation.

Daiyu said: "What's wrong with grandma? Have you invited the imperial physician?"

Jiamu took a few breaths, lamented for a while, and said, "Yu'er, I'm old, I'm afraid I won't have a living head."

Daiyu said: "What grandma said, you must live a long life."

Jia Mu mourned: "It's just that I still have things that I can't let go of. Today you are here, and I finally have a caring person. I will talk to you too."

Daiyu saw that she was struggling to speak, but she seemed to have aged ten years in the past four or five years, so she softly comforted her.

Mother Jia rested for a while, and then said: "Now your second uncle and the others are still locked in the sky prison, and they are always worthless. What's wrong with them? Although I have heard about what happened back then, I don't believe it. Yuanchun has already paid for it." Life, isn’t it enough? I heard that the queen is still alive, so why do you want to lock up your second uncle and the others? Come to me for something, lock me in!”

As she spoke, she burst into tears again. Daiyu was unhappy when she heard what Jia Mu said about Jia Yuanchun. She couldn't understand what happened back then.Although it is said that the child is silent and strange, but in the battle of the White Tiger Palace that day, she and the eldest sister were both captured. Although there are many reasons behind which she does not understand, they will definitely not wrong Jia Yuanchun.Jia Zheng and Mrs. Wang did not teach in life, or they had some schemes back then and put the heavy burden on Jia Yuanchun.Jia Yuanchun did evil things for the sake of responsibility, glory and wealth, or if he really fell in love with a saint, but no matter what he did, he did it, and he always had to pay the price.

Daiyu didn't want to be disobedient, so she just kept silent and gave Jiamu a favor. Suddenly, Jiamu grabbed Daiyu's hand and said, "Yu'er, grandma, I beg you. Please intercede with your second uncle. Others can't do it." , your request will be successful. After all, it is your own uncle! Grandmother begs you!"

Daiyu said indifferently: "Second uncle is locked in the prison of the Ministry of Punishment. Naturally, he has to wait for the Ministry of Punishment to convict him. Second elder brother Lian is now a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Punishment and there is nothing he can do. Yu'er is a prostitute, how can he be released by the Ministry of Punishment?"

Jia Mu said: "You beg the sage to show mercy..."

Daiyu said: "Grandmother wants to eat and use whatever she wants, Yu'er is powerful, and she can handle everything, except for the matters of the second uncle's family, Yu'er can't do anything."

Jiamu began to cry, but at this time she didn't call out Bai Yangbai to love Daiyu. Daiyu comforted Daiyu for a while, but Jiamu became weaker after doing it for a while.

Daiyu said: "Grandma, please rest for a while."

But Jia's mother was stubborn and refused, holding her head up and said, "Baoyu can read well now. The face of your Lian's second brother has given him a grace, saying that he will participate in the autumn chamber in Beijing this year, and he will be able to participate in the spring chamber next year." ..."

Daiyu felt that Baoyu seemed a distant and familiar person. Although he had involved countless evil roots, she was happy for him when she saw that he had changed his old bastard problems.Four years ago, Jing Huan died at the hands of Taoist Lingxu, and the "Spiritual Jade" was also shattered. "Psychic Jade" is a stubborn stone, it is attached to Shenying's attendant, and also ensnares Shenying's attendant's soul in the jade. After the "Psychic Jade" was broken, not only the soul of Shenying's waiter was complete in the body, but also no longer affected by the stubborn stone. At this time, although Jia Baoyu was not a heartless/desireless person, he also knew how to work hard. Come.

Wang Ziteng saw that he had changed everything. The Wang family was influenced by Mrs. Wang and Jia Yuanchun, and his daughter could not marry a better family, so he forced the 20-year-old concubine Xiyan to marry him.

Jia's mother said again: "You grew up together, and in the future the two families will have more contacts and support each other..."

Daiyu persuaded: "My cousin has grown up, so grandma can rest assured."

Mother Jia exhaled a long breath, really tired, and murmured: "My Baoyu is a man of good fortune and pure filial piety. I still want him to be an official and a butcher. In the future, no one can compare..."

Daiyu saw that Jia Mu was asleep, so she covered the quilt for her, let Yuanyang and other maids watch, and quietly left the room by herself.

Mrs. Xing was outside but hadn't left yet. Seeing Daiyu, she went up to meet her again and said, "It's rare for my niece to come, so come and sit with me."

Daiyu naturally did not refuse, the two left the Hall of Honor, Daiyu asked about Wang Xifeng again, Mrs. Xing said with a smile: "But you all remember her, Princess Fu invited her to enjoy the flowers, no, bring her with you." Baoyu's daughter-in-law went together, otherwise why didn't they stay in the mansion to serve the sick?"

Naturally, Wang Xifeng also took care of Wang Ziteng's daughter more, because Wang Ziteng was also her backer.And Jia Mu knew that Baoyu's daughter-in-law could also go to those occasions, so of course she would not blame her for being unfilial by not being there to serve the sick.Regardless of whether Jia Baoyu is high school or not, he can't compare to Jia Lian, and since the imperial court has conferred the title of heir, there is no longer any rivalry between the two families.

Although Daiyu, the noble daughter of Chaozhong Xun, is familiar with them, she doesn't often go to those people's homes to enjoy flowers, because she often goes to Cheng'en Gong's mansion to teach children to read, and she has to manage the accounts of so many shops, workshops and farms. Do not leave.Fortunately, since my daughter is still young, I'm afraid I'm looking for a husband and son-in-law in a familiar family, and it's hard to find anyone else.

All the way east to the Rongxi Hall, Mrs. Xing loves wealth and honor. At this time, the Rongxi Hall is still the same as when she first entered Jia's mansion.

After the two entered the room and sat down, Mrs. Xing asked about the Queen's return to court.

Daiyu said: "Your Majesty, everything is safe. It's a blessing."

Mrs. Xing sighed: "I also went to the palace to pay my respects, but the old lady's health is not good, so I can't leave."

Daiyu laughed and said, "Your Majesty also asked about my aunt yesterday."

Xin Xiuyan did ask during the chat, but she was just curious about her identity as "Xing Xiuyan" and the people and things related to it.

Mrs. Xing said: "That fact has nothing to do with us back then. The eldest girl is the girl of the second room, and I have never been close to me. My closest relatives are not the empress, Yingchun and you. Fortunately, the saint empress is wise and did not anger us. .”

Mrs. Xing asked some more about the queen's recent situation, and Daiyu answered everything she knew, but when she heard that the queen returned to the imperial court forcefully, and the honor and favor became more powerful, Mrs. Xing couldn't help but radiate, and said: "It's not in vain that I read it every day in front of the Buddha. gone."

Because of the queen's disappearance, she has been bored a lot in recent years when she goes out to socialize, because the sage ordered not to talk about the queen indiscriminately, and some people were beheaded because of their rude words.Mrs. Xing used to love to show off Empress Xing among the women in the capital, but later everyone shunned her, so she became very lonely.Now that the queen is still in court, her good days are back.

The two chatted for a while, and Mrs. Xing talked about Tanchun again.

"Back then, she was asked to spend two years in the Muni Courtyard. Last year, even the fourth girl was married, and she was still in the Muni Courtyard. Aunt Zhao still couldn't forget it. Last month, Huan'er sent someone to pick her up. Now she is in the Muni Courtyard. The east courtyard also recites scriptures every day, but they don’t even go to Rongqing hall to visit the sick one day. After all, the third girl is not as filial as you.”

Daiyu and Jia Lian brokered Xichun's marriage, marrying her to Jin Shiyue's son.No matter how much the Jia family has, it's not good, but the daughters are unparalleled, and Jin Shiyue is quite satisfied.Of course, I am not very satisfied with Jia Zhen. The only consolation is that Jia Zhen is most lax in family management, ruthless, and will not kill people and set fires outside.In order to return the treasury silver back then, Jia Zhen also imitated Rongfu's copying the homes of slaves and sent away a lot of slaves.Now I just drink, listen to dramas and play with my little wife and sister-in-law every day.

Jin Shiyue's son is also a dude, raising and amusing birds every day, but the Jin family has money to afford it, and they have other plans when they wait for the next generation.Xichun and the princess are sisters-in-law, she doesn't like to take care of common affairs, but Princess Hede is an expert housekeeper trained in palace affairs, she is also used to other mistresses in the mansion not caring about everything, the two of them live in harmony and live in peace.Xichun usually paints portraits of precious species of birds for her husband, and the husband and wife live a pretty good life.

Thinking of Tanchun, Daiyu couldn't help sighing softly: "After all, he is also a poor person."

Mrs. Xing was a bit mean-spirited, and said: "Didn't you do it yourself? So you still want to enter the palace and become a concubine, and no matter if you can't pass the draft in the early years, when will you get her when you become a concubine?"

Daiyu didn't answer these words, but thought in her heart how many folk girls in history were afraid of drafts and avoided them, why Jia's mansion wanted to send them one by one back then.

Daiyu said: "Jia Yuanchun also misled her." Daiyu knew that Jia's mother was also responsible, but she didn't say it out loud, but Jia Yuanchun was dead, and she hated her for harming Xing Xiuyan for several years, so she didn't call her by name. Cousin, just give me your name.

Mrs. Xing said: "If it wasn't for her lack of greed, how could it be like this? Huan'er is really capable, why not let her decide? But she can't wait to find a better future..."

Daiyu thought of Jia Huan, a young genius, and couldn't help asking: "Is cousin Huan's marriage settled?"

Mrs. Xing heheed twice, and said: "Now that the second master and the others are still in the prison, which daughter of a thousand golds is willing to marry him? He himself is picky, and he wants to marry a talented daughter of a thousand golds. Those on the left and right will not be able to do so. I'm afraid this matter will fall on your Lian's second sister-in-law again."

Jia Huan had to be used by Tu Yuanyi before, and the account transfer department was responsible for making various financial budgets. Xiao Jingyun also said that this work is very important. The queen also makes budgets in Sichuan, and there is still a special group of people who do this. .

Jia Huan's own future is still bright. Jia Lian has been in the officialdom for a long time, so he knows this, so he will not be entangled in Jia Zheng's harm, and stay away from Jia Huan.In history, those who have achieved something should have a mind. Han Guangwu and Liu Xiu did not forget the past suspicions. He recruited and killed his brother and enemy Gengshi Emperor's former department Zhu Yu, so that all the Gengshi Emperor's former forces returned to their hearts and promoted the process of unifying the world.Jia Lian is not an emperor, but he still has a heart to tolerate his younger brothers.

Daiyu sighed: "It's been so many years, we've always been sisters. Since I'm here, let's go to the east courtyard to see the third sister."

Mrs. Xing didn't stop her, she seemed displeased, she just said: "Yu'er is kind, I'm afraid that the third girl is devoted to Buddha now, it's useless to you."

……

Daiyu resigned from Mrs. Xing and went to the East Court in a small sedan chair. Aunt Zhao was reported by the woman in charge. At this time, Mrs. Jia Zhengwang was in prison, and Jia Huan hadn't married yet. Naturally, Aunt Zhao was in charge of the affairs of the East Court. .To be honest, apart from worrying about Tanchun, Aunt Zhao has been doing pretty well these past few years. Jia Huan is considered filial, and she will never let the maidservants bully her, and he dismisses all the slaves who bully the master.

Aunt Zhao was not qualified enough to greet Daiyu, but there was nothing she could do.

And Daiyu was high-spirited back then, so she wouldn't associate with Aunt Zhao, but later she saw that Xing Xiuyan treated people with more understanding and tolerance, and she was also much more peaceful with people with poor status and talents.Aunt Zhao is just a woman whose fate is involuntary, even if she is not clear about being stupid, she is mostly fighting for her son and relatives, but it is not a serious crime.In ancient times, there was no such thing as a mistress. She was given to Jia Zheng by the old lady back then, and she was promoted to aunt only after she had a child.

Aunt Zhao is of course very respectful to such a distinguished guest as Daiyu, and Caixia (say Caiyun) is by her side, and now she is also Jia Huan's roommate.After all, Jia Huan is 19 years old. In ancient times, as long as the family had some money, it was impossible for the house to be empty.But Xiren is outside, and he and Jia Huan are collaborators and tacit concubines.

Entering the hall to serve tea, Aunt Zhao said: "Madam is really an unexpected guest, I haven't greeted you well enough."

Daiyu said: "I just came to visit my grandmother, so I stopped by to have a look. I heard that the third girl is back?"

When she heard about Tanchun, Aunt Zhao couldn't help but her eyes were red, and she said: "My poor third girl lived in the Muni courtyard for three or four years, and now she comes back to chant Buddha every day. I let her also go to see my wife, She just doesn't want to go out."

The wife refers to Mrs. Xing.Aunt Zhao's status is not enough, and Jia Huan is not married, so if she takes Tanchun back, if she wants to settle down, she may still have to look up to her husband.Of course, there are many people with lower status who are not married, but how can Tanchun give in, and how can Aunt Zhao be willing?

After talking for a while, Daiyu wanted to see Tanchun, and Aunt Zhao couldn't wish for it.Tanchun lived in Baosha. After the announcement, Daiyu and Aunt Zhao went in, but everything was clean, like a Buddhist temple, not like a 20-year-old girl's house.

But seeing a skinny, pale-faced nun with hair in gray black clothes came to visit her, Daiyu couldn't help being surprised: Is this still the radiant Tanchun back then?