[Red Mansions] The Road to Empress Dowager

"Long live my emperor, long live, long live!" Lin Ruhai bowed respectfully. Although Lin Daiyu was not an ordinary person, she was also very happy.She is a pure person, she is happy when daddy is happy.

After Lin Ruhai raised his hands high to receive the edict, everyone got up, but before they could get close to Wang Fu, another eunuch delivered another edict.

"Gusu Xingzhong accepts the order!"

Xing Zhong was taken aback, but it was Xing Tongyan who pulled him, and the three of them knelt down together. Of course, all the servants in Lin Ruhaiji's house knelt down again.

Wang Fu unfolded the imperial decree again, and said in his mouth: "Following the heavens to carry the emperor, the imperial edict said: Xing Zhong, a man from Gusu, has a good character, filial piety and respect, and has talents for general affairs. Choose a day to go to Beijing. Here you go."

Xing Zhong's mind was empty, Xing Xiuyan called him, and he trembled all over, thanking him for accepting the order.At this time, Xing Xiuyan felt the joy of having a prominent relative, the feeling of a chicken and a dog ascending to heaven.She also wanted her father to be a weaver in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, so she should know that she knows embroidery and also knows the materials in the south of the Yangtze River.She has a rough idea of ​​the basic processes and costs of various fabrics, and she thinks that the uncle is so kind to her, and she must help her father to do a good job of being an "executive of the clothing material purchasing department of the imperial enterprise".

Xing Zhong couldn't help but burst into tears after receiving the order. He had seen his uncle as a petty official when he was a child, and his uncle passed away when he was a child, so the Xing family couldn't do it anymore.She was originally considered an official family, so Mrs. Xing was qualified to marry into the Rongguo Mansion as a first-class imperial order.But after all, it's too humble to bear a name. In fact, in the peculiar place of Jia's mansion, Yipin's life is useless, and women have to rely on mountains and money, such as Mrs. Wang.

Now that Xing Zhong is actually an official, even if he has no experience, he has heard his master Mr. Chen Yan say a lot about officialdom this year, and has learned the etiquette and communication of officials and eunuchs. He knows what the internal government affairs are, that is A specialized agency for the royal family.

Xing Zhong was dull, but Lin Ruhai was not an idiot. At this time, he was warmly entertaining, and asked Lin Zhong to invite people from Beijing to rest in the guest room, and personally stuffed the purse with silver tickets to Wang Fu, saying: "The father-in-law came to work hard from afar. , just to let the father-in-law drink some tea, please forgive me for being careless."

Wang Fu didn't push it, he clasped his fists and said, "Congratulations to Master Lin, and congratulations to Xing Zhizao."

Xing Xiuyan also asked Qingxuan to hand over the purse, and Wang Fu hurriedly bowed and said, "Thank you, Miss, for the reward."

Wang Fu took Lin Ruhai's money as a thank you and congratulations, but when Xing Xiuyan gave it to him, he used the "reward" respectfully, and Lin Ruhai read something.

Wang Fu is Zhao Gui's godson. He has been to Zhongjing five times in the past year, and this is the second time for Wang Fu.At this time, there were many people, so Wang Fu left first, and even Master Chen didn't stay any longer, leaving only the parents of the Lin family and the Xing family.

Xing Zhong paid homage to Lin Ruhai, with tears in his eyes, and said: "Master Lin's kindness to rebuild, Xing will remember Wu. It's just that I really don't know how to be an official."

Lin Ruhai knew that he had misunderstood, but looked at Xing Xiuyan, and he would also guess that Xing Xiuyan might not want her parents to know that she had an affair with the emperor, fearing that it would not be a good reputation.As for Xing Xiuyan calling the saint "uncle", Lin Ruhai is not so naive.If the saint really regards her as a "niece", he doesn't need to bother so much. Even if she is a daughter, sending someone to pick her up and go to Beijing, it doesn't cost much to be a princess or county master every year.

To be a concubine is to bring her back to the palace at will, what can others say, he is the emperor.It would be terrible only if the person was left in his home to be raised, and the parents had arranged for it, and they had been thinking about it for more than a year.

Xing Xiuyan didn't explain, Lin Ruhai could only say vaguely: "Brother Xing is destined to be an official. From now on, you just need to remember to be loyal to repay the grace of God. The blessing is yet to come."

Xing Xiuyan was also embarrassed, and didn't want Xing Zhong to pester Lin Ruhai to thank him for this, so he bid farewell to Lin Ruhai and Daiyu first, and took Xing Zhong and his wife back to the Xiangxueyuan where they lived.

When Xing Xiuyan thinks about it, it may be impossible to hide this matter from Xing Zhong and his wife. Now that they are reunited, they will go to Beijing. At that time, Su Qing and Zhao Quan will be served by the servants, which always makes people feel wrong.

So she made up some stories, saying that Lin Ruhai met her when he went back to visit his uncle's relatives. He was also looking for embroidery, but found that she was blind.Lin Ruhai happened to know a famous doctor, so he kindly brought her back to Yangzhou for treatment.

These were made up in the letter before, Xing Zhong and his wife nodded repeatedly and said that Lin Ruhai is a good person.

Xing Xiuyan said: "But there is one more thing. The daughter is hiding it from her parents, but the trouble is serious. If the parents can't keep their mouths open and tell others, father will not be able to be an official. I'm afraid it will be bad for my daughter."

Mrs. Xing and Li were taken aback, and said, "Why is it so important? I don't even talk about it in my dreams."

Xing Xiuyan said: "Mother, you also know that I have a reputation. After living in Lin's mansion, I was lucky to meet the saint who came to Lin's mansion in disguise."

The two couldn't help being startled, and Xing Xiuyan said: "Because the performance was appropriate and the sage liked my embroidery very much, my daughter was given the grace to embroider tributes for the sage in the future. Later, the sage also liked me very much. She intended to accept me as an adopted daughter in private. But I thought that the adopted daughter would not be a patriarch, did not have the title of princess, and was suspected of being a sycophant, so I resigned. The saint must think that I am not greedy for fame and fortune. The sage gave my father this kind of grace because of Lord Lin’s recommendation. Although I didn’t become a righteous daughter, but my father became an official, not only I will be a lady of the official family, but my mother can also be an imperial order.”

Xing Zhong and his wife were surprised and frightened. Their daughter almost became the adopted daughter of a saint?My God, even without the title of princess, no one would dare to bully her as a saint and righteous daughter among the people.

This day's great glory is not a dream, is it?

Xing Li asked: "Is there really such a good thing?"

Xing Xiuyan said: "Father, isn't this an official? The saint still has some kindness to me. He left two servants for me before, and because of the servants, I often prepare filial piety with my heart, and the saint has not forgotten For me, of course, Master Lin gave me more convenience. From now on, when my father becomes an official in Beijing, he must share his worries for the king, restrain himself and be loyal, so as to live up to this overwhelming grace."

Xing Zhong nodded, and said: "Thanks to my daughter Lan Xinhui's quality, she has the support of Master Lin, and she can also win the favor of a saint. I am ashamed of my father." It is said that the father is the daughter's support, but their family is the opposite. It depends on the daughter to make money, and it is because of the relationship between the daughter who is now an official.

Xing Xiuyan said: "My father must have been in a hurry when he first became an official, but he often asked Mr. Chen for advice, and his daughter was also familiar with common affairs, so she would also give advice to her father. Father remembers that the emperor is not afraid of you doing wrong things, but afraid of you not doing things. Father must remember that the most important thing to be an official is loyalty. Mr. Lin serves the emperor loyally, and thinks what is best for the emperor in everything he does. Then the promotion will be quick. We are officials with grace, not foreign ministers. You What you think about is not the important national affairs of those civil servants in foreign courts, just focus on doing your job well, and save money for the saints to do things. And also look, there are so many Jinshi and officials in the world. There are many Jinshi who are seventh-rank officials."

Xing Zhong nodded and said yes: "Thank you for reminding my good daughter, I will keep it in mind."

Xing Zhong was restless, but he was not afraid, but happy to be an official.

……

Early the next morning, Xing Xiuyan summoned Wang Fulai for private questioning.Wang Fu is the godson of Zhao Gui, the Duke of Dongchang, and he also works in the Taiji Palace. Although because of this relationship, he is of course not the deputy governor, but just a foreman, but he is also a person in front of the imperial court.

Xing Xiuyan asked: "Saint, how is he now? Is he worrying about government affairs all day long?"

Foreign ministers are not allowed to inquire about the affairs of the inner palace, but Xing Xiuyan is not a foreign minister. Wang Fu said: "The sage is diligent in political affairs, but he is wise and powerful. Anything in the hands of the sage can always be solved with toughness."

Xing Xiuyan said: "The people who serve you in front of the emperor should also remind the sage to take care of his health. Even if he has a good foundation, he should worry less and think more about happy things."

Wang Fudao: "It is the duty of a slave to serve a good saint, and a slave must do his best."

Xing Xiuyan thought for a while and suddenly asked: "How many princesses are there under the saint's knees?"

Wang Fu couldn't help being taken aback, but he still knew everything, and said: "The sage has two princesses, the eldest princess is from the queen, and she is 12 years old after the new year, and the second princess is from the concubine Shun, and she will be 11 years old after the new year." .”

Xing Xiuyan thought to himself, he only has two daughters, so she thinks her niece is the third one.

She had a thought and wanted to prepare gifts for these two younger sisters, but then she thought about it, they are real golden branches and jade leaves in this era, different from her wild way of hugging thighs, cursing before they come to Beijing, they are afraid will look down on her.

Xing Xiuyan couldn't help but get ready to speak before asking: "Princesses...what do you like? Which princess does the saint prefer?"

But Wang Fu had a hard time answering this question. The eunuch was too clever to think that Xing Xiuyan would position herself as the emperor's uncle and niece, and might have to deal with princesses in the future.

Wang Fu said: "The sage...has no particular preference. I don't know what slaves the princess likes, and slaves seldom walk around in the harem."