[Red Mansions] The Road to Empress Dowager

But Xing Li didn't meet Shi Hui for the first time, but it's different now. He also gave Daiyu and Shihui the shrimp beard bracelets inlaid with pearls, and gave Xing Xiuyan and Daiyu one by one. Nuan Yupei gave a piece to Shi Hui.

Daiyu smiled innocently and romantically, and said: "My aunt rewarded you years ago and years later, and now I borrowed sister Hui's celebration to reward me again. It will make me empty my aunt's treasure box."

Most of Xing Xiuyan's money was handed over to Mrs. Xing Li, and she kept all the jewellery, as long as she didn't wear them often.

Mrs. Xing Li is very grateful to Lin Ruhai, and secondly, she really likes Daiyu. She thinks that without Lin Ruhai, Xing Xiuyan's eyes would not be good, and she would not have the good fortune to almost become a saint's "righteous daughter", let alone now that she has become a royal order. up.

Even if she really took out the treasure box, she also thought it was worth it. After all, with this official, she could earn more money if she ran out.

Xing Li said with a smile: "Sister Dai is happy, even if I really emptied my little box, I would be willing."

Daiyu held Mrs. Xing and Li's hand and said, "What about sister Xing?"

Xing Li said with a smile: "She has no less than me, and you don't need to worry about her."

Shi Zhang couldn't help being surprised, the Xing family was poor, how could they be so generous.At this moment, Su Yue, the second-class maid guarding the door, said, "Miss, dinner is ready."

Daiyu smiled and led the mother and daughter of the Xing family and the mother and daughter of the Shi family to the backyard of Tinglan Courtyard, where the tables and chairs were already set up by women and maids.

There is no mistress at home, so at this time, a few big maids are holding the rice, pressing the chopsticks, and feeding the soup.Although Daiyu is the master, she is a junior. She repeatedly asked Mrs. Shi Zhang and Mrs. Xing Li to sit on the table, but they declined. Mrs. Xing and Li agreed first, and Mrs. Shi Zhang was asked to sit on the left because she was younger. Many years older.

After being seated, the dishes on the table are mainly southern dishes. Shi has lived in Suzhou for three years, while Lin and Xing are also from Suzhou, and their tastes are close to each other.

In the hall, there is a maidservant standing there, but the Lin family is a family of noble poets and scholars, and they just help out with two maidservants.

After dinner, Daiyu knew that Shi Zhang's mother and daughter were tired, so she asked Madam Xu to send them to the guest room, and her servants cleaned up a yard.There are also two guest bedrooms with silk quilts, soft pillows and incense supplies, all of which are appropriate.

Shi Zhang's mother and daughter came to the hall first, and then Qingxuan brought two little maids to bring Shi Hui new clothes and jewelry.

Qingxuan said crisply: "Our girl, Miss Zhishi, has no shortage of clothes at home, but our girl and Miss Lin opened a tailor shop. It turns out that Lin's family name also has a jewelry shop. They really love new patterns, and they love clothes. Making clothes and jewelry of the same style with different colors is interesting for the sisters. They have been thinking of Miss Shi for a long time, and they have prepared yours when Miss Shi comes."

But the little maid sent it up in a pink pleated skirt and jacket, and a red pleated skirt.

Qingxuan said: "Our girl was born in April, when the orchids bloomed, so the orchids were embroidered on the skirt; Miss Lin was born in the flower festival when the apricot flowers bloomed, so she embroidered the apricot pattern "Ms. Shi was born in May of the same year as Ms. Lin. She embroidered peonies when they were in bloom. Looking at this necklace, it was also designed by my lady herself. She and Ms. Lin picked out many kinds of beads and jade before asking her master to make it." Yes, Miss Shi, this is Peony."

Shi Hui caressed the wreath inlaid with large and small peonies inlaid with precious stones and jade carvings, couldn't put it down, and was overjoyed.

Shi Hui was moved in her heart, and said: "Sister Xing and Sister Lin's gift is too heavy, but I like it very much, but I don't want to refuse..."

Shi Zhang said: "You child..."

Speaking of Shi Zhang's reward for Qingxuan, he asked to thank the two girls on his behalf, and Qingxuan left after receiving the reward.

Mrs. Shi Zhang said to her daughter again: "This time when you come to Beijing, you have two boudoir friends. I am not worried. It seems that although Miss Lin is the daughter of a first-rank official, she treats you sincerely."

Shi Hui said: "That's natural. Sister Lin and I exchange letters on weekdays, and we are also attracted to each other. Her poems and Sister Xing's paintings are both unique."

Shi Zhang said: "You are ashamed to say, but you are far behind." The work in the boudoir, Shi Zhang was born in a noble family, and he is also familiar with poetry and books, so he has read it.

Xing Xiuyan likes to draw two strokes, and also likes to ask Daiyu to write poems on the painting on the spot, and the two left their seals.Xing Xiuyan is the owner of Lingyan Valley, Daiyu loves bamboo, and Xing Xiuyan has feelings, saying that it is good to call her Xiaoxiang concubine, Lin Daiyu also likes it very much.Therefore, if they signed the calligraphy and painting together, it would be the master of Lingyan Valley and the concubine Xiaoxiang. Fortunately, they have fun in the boudoir and don't live outside, otherwise outsiders will imagine that they are a man and a woman when they see it.

Shi Hui said: "Sister Xing said that I play the piano well and write articles well."

Apart from piano skills, Shi Hui is also good at writing articles.Her family has a long history of education, Shimenzi all took scientific examinations, and her two uncles, father, elder brother, and Taifu Shi were all Jinshi, and her family did not know how many good articles they had in the past.Shi Hui was also taught by the same master as her eldest brother Shi Rui and second brother Shi Cong when she was young, and she had been familiar with the Four Books and Five Classics before returning to the Central Plains.If she writes stereotyped essays, she may be able to win a scholar, which is beyond the reach of Xing Xiuyan and Lin Daiyu.Lin Daiyu was brought up as a man since she was a child, but when she went to Rongguo Mansion at the age of six or seven, the matter was discontinued, and she came back to the mansion when she was 11 years old. When I became a family, I no longer read books like I did when I was a child.

And Shi Hui was really raised as a man when it came to reading, and she learned all stereotypes from Yice and theory, so she was not reconciled to being a daughter, and she envied Miao girls to be the masters of the house.She learns like a man, but she insists on three obedience and four virtues.

Just as they were talking, the servants of the Lin family sent Shi Bai back to the guest house. After Shi Hui greeted her, she brought her maid back to the guest room. Seeing the two sisters, she was overjoyed to see these beautiful, novel and meaningful dresses and jewelry.

However, Shi Bai went back to the guest room, and talked to Shi Zhang about seeing Lin Ruhai. Although he mentioned that the two of them shared the same discipline, Lin Ruhai is now a university scholar, and his promotion is not slow. Now I have the grace to climb to the fifth rank.There is a hurdle between the sixth rank and the fifth rank of an official, and another hurdle for the third rank, and the first rank depends on fate.Fortunately, he was promoted from an official of the eighth rank to the seventh rank, and only took three years to be promoted to the fifth rank.

Shi Bai raised it again in doubt, and said, "Lord Lin is a family member, but what's even more strange is that Xing Zhong, who has received the grace of a sage, has become a fifth-rank official in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This is to go to Beijing with Master Lin." I just don't quite understand, Mr. Lin treats Xing Zhong very politely. I know that Mrs. Xing lives in the mansion. Mrs. Lin rescued Ms. Xing, so is it possible to help Xing Zhong find an official in the Ministry of Internal Affairs? "

Shi Zhang murmured: "The outer court and the Ministry of Internal Affairs have nothing to do with each other. Who can Mr. Lin ask for..."

Shi Bai couldn't help but thump in his heart, after all he was the son of the Grand Tutor back then, and he also accompanied the prince to study, went in and out of the court, and pissed off horses in fresh clothes.He naturally knew that the Ministry of Internal Affairs served the royal family. When the Tai/Zu raised troops, there were also a group of slaves who helped manage his huge internal affairs and pay for the army. Later, during the war, the enemy's slaves were also used for his own use.In the founding of the country, a huge slave system was formed, and later the Ministry of Internal Affairs was established, which was changed to specialize in the affairs of the royal court.

Today, when he was still Prince Su, the first place to experience was the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and he rectified it. The corrupt Ministry of Internal Affairs at that time took on a new look.Then the new emperor arrived at the Ministry of Households, and went to the south of the Yangtze River for the first time.Anyway, before Tu Yuanyi became emperor, he was always killing corrupt officials, cutting people's fortunes and piling up money. He had a bad reputation among the dignitaries in the court, and was hated by people.

Others don't know, but Shi Bai knows that this official of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is not easy to become an official, and it is not easier for outsiders to get into this group than scientific examination.

Not to mention becoming a fifth-rank once you enter, even if ordinary clansmen recommend the children of the COSCO branch clan to become officials, I am afraid that you will have to start at the seventh or eighth rank, let alone Lin Ruhai is a courtier of the foreign court.

Shi Bai figured this out, took his old wife's hand and said, "Ma'am, when dealing with you from now on, don't treat Mrs. Xing's family lightly, I'm afraid this Xing family has mighty power."

"What does the master mean?"

Shi Bai said: "Who in this world can make a commoner become an official of the fifth-rank internal affairs government for nothing?"

Shi Zhang's heart tightened, and he sighed: "I said why I always feel something wrong today. I finally remembered. The two nuns next to Mrs. Xing's family and the nun next to Miss Xing looked like they had been female officials in the palace. Yes, there is nothing wrong with being elegant, rigorous, and dignified. But it is rare for others to invite one or two, how can they invite so many?"

When Tu Yuanyi came to the throne, many female officials from the age of the old sages retired one after another. These women who were delayed in the palace until they were in their 30s were no longer easy to marry. It turned out that Tu Yuanyi also recruited many "unemployed" female officials as instructors, teaching some The orphans are literate and take care of them, and these orphans will serve as confidants in the future.

Now these nuns around Xing Xiuyan have been out of the palace for five years, and some court ladies have been released from the palace later on. Tu Yuanyi, who has nowhere to go, still arranges like this.These careful employees were sent to serve Xing Xiuyan, Xing Lishi, and Lin Daiyu.

Shi Bai said: "This is really a miracle."

But Shi Zhang said: "What did the Xing family do to soar into the sky like this? I don't know if they can bear such a blessing. Thinking about Miss Xing, she turned out to be very good, but her embroidery work attracted people. Woe."

Shi Bai said: "The master next to Xing Zhong is also extraordinary, Mr. Lin treats him very well, who do you think he is?"

Xing Zhang said: "Master, what are you trying to do?"

Shi Bai sighed: "This talented man was disfigured in the early years because he offended the rich and powerful, so he was not allowed to be an official. And he used to have a good friend who came from Qiandi, and now he is the governor of Liangjiang. Master Li Wei."

Mrs. Xing and Zhang really understood now that it was obvious that someone wanted to support the Xing family, but no one except that person had such skills.