[Red Mansions] The Road to Empress Dowager

The turmoil in the south of the Yangtze River was involved, and there was also the chaos of the Three Kings in the winter of the third year of Qianyuan. So many nobles and officials fell, there is no tension in the official residence in Beijing.

Not all officials have official residences. For example, officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs almost did not have official residences in this dynasty.And many low-ranking officials from humble backgrounds just became officials and couldn't afford a decent mansion in the inner city. Some of them had money but no connections, and at most they bought a yard to live temporarily.It was an unprecedented treatment for Xing Zhong and his wife to get a residence of a former fourth-rank official in the inner city.

When Xing Zhong and his wife entered the mansion, they felt that their eyes were a little blurred. They entered the main courtyard and slept on high beds with soft pillows.And Xing Xiuyan lives in the Lianxiangyuan in the west courtyard, next to a pond with lotus flowers in it.

Xing Xiuyan was very satisfied with the residence, and wrote a letter to Tu Yuanyi to express his gratitude the next day, and he flattered him a bit, and sent some gifts from Yangzhou.

Then she said that she would let Xing Zhong take good care of the royal property for him, and prevent corruption in the bud. Now she is teaching Xing Zhong the double-entry bookkeeping method and so on.

On the night when the things were delivered, he arrived in Tu Yuanyi Palace. Tu Yuanyi was angry and laughed for a while, but he also wrote back to her, saying that he asked her to learn the rules, and there was something else for her to play with.

However, the Rongguo Mansion had already received the news that Lin Ruhai was promoted to the left servant of the household department, and he was awarded the title of a scholar of Wenyuan Pavilion. This is not only a powerful official, but also entered the cabinet. From the position of first-rank military general, to rising up and down secretly, Lin Ruhai is a real favor.If Lin Ruhai was in the middle of the court to plan for Jia Zheng to overthrow, his ten-year-old member of the Ministry of Industry, Wailang, could move his position.

Mother Jia forgot what happened two years ago: Lin Ruhai sternly refused to send her daughter to live in Rongfu. In fact, Lin Ruhai asked people to carry 2 taels of silver in public, and opened the box in the yard. This was to slap her daughter in the face Yes, it made Mother Jia's heart ache for a long time.

In the past year, it's not that Jia's mother hadn't thought about bringing Lin Daiyu back again, but thinking about the previous palace changes, if Jia Lian hadn't stopped her, the Rongning and Ning mansions would have been dispersed long ago, so she didn't think about it.Jia Zheng's blood flowed like a river because of the killing in Kyoto. Even last autumn, there were more than 40 officials who rebelled and were executed, and his nephews were even more. Last autumn, Meridian Gate never stopped.Jia Zheng couldn't help but panic, fearing that he would be caught. He once wanted to be the head of the country.

At this time, Lin Ruhai, Shengen Longwo, why would Jiamu be unhappy?

The Jia Mansion sent someone to invite them, originally wanting the father and daughter to live in Rong Mansion first, but they were rejected.On the third day, everything in the Lin Mansion was properly arranged, and Lin Ruhai and her daughter went to Rong Mansion to meet Yue's family.At the same time, the families of Xing and Shi also posted invitations to Mrs. Jia's family. Mrs. Xing had received a letter from Xing Zhong before, saying that he had become an official and was very happy.Isn't it because she has no family background and dowry is so low in the mansion?Now the elder brother of her natal family has also entered Beijing to become an official, and her waist has straightened up no matter what.

As for the Zhang family of the Shi family who was also promoted to Beijing, it was the first wife's brother's family. Mrs. Xing thought that someone would definitely not come empty-handed. Sister Feng is not Jia Mu either.This is more interesting.

Xing Li and Shi Zhang each took their daughters to Rongfu by car. Jia Lian had already got the news and waited at the gate.

The family members of Xing and Shi got out of the car. Jia Lian smiled all over her face and went up to see her and shouted, "Hello, Aunt Xing, Aunt Xing, and my two cousins."

Xing and Shi's daughter Fushen called "Cousin", and Jia Lian graciously sent him into the sedan chair. To him, this was not only a relative, but also a proper backer.As soon as this backer came, two of them came, and the third uncle was promoted several times to Beijing, and even Uncle Xing's family became an official.He knows that his cousin and Miss Xing are the best, and he can be regarded as a half-backer of the Xing family, so he will be more respectful to Mrs. Xing in the future.Fortunately, in the past few years, Shi Rui has reminded him that he can face Mrs. Xing. Wang Xifeng doesn't need to wait on her mother-in-law every day, but it is okay to show some face.Jia Lian is Shi Hui's cousin by blood and Mrs. Xing's stepson. In the original novel, Xing Xiuyan is poor, and only Wang Xifeng takes pity on her. Therefore, Xing Xiuyan has a good impression of both of them, even though they are not good people in the original novel.

A group of people, maids, mothers, and servants carried gifts, but they did not enter the open main entrance of Rongguo Mansion, but went eastward and entered a dark gate.

This is a courtyard separated by Rongfu Garden.

After entering the Three Daoyi Gate, Mrs. Xing greeted her in person, her face was full of red light, and there were a few beautiful maids behind her. When she came up, she called her sister-in-law, and greeted Mrs. Shi Zhang and Mrs. Xing Li respectfully. In front, Xing Xiuyan and Shi Hui walked behind affectionately.

Although Shi Hui didn't like that uncle who couldn't protect his wife and children and was said to be very disrespectful, but after all, he was his cousin's father. In the prestigious Rongguo Mansion, even the head of the family lived in the main mansion, which is really funny.

When everyone entered the main hall, Xing Xiuyan and Shi Hui were juniors saluting, and Mrs. Xing presented a set of coral head mask and purse.

Mrs. Shi Zhang and Mrs. Xing and Li sent a gift list again, claiming it was a special product in the south of the Yangtze River. Mrs. Xing's eyes were brighter. Although she was curious to see if she was holding it, she asked Wang Shanbao's family to accept the gift list, saying why her family should be polite.

There were also things on the gift list for her, the head wife, to forward to Wang Xifeng, the second wife, and the old lady. This was a real slap in the face of the second wife, and by the way, even the old lady.

The Xing family is Mrs. Xing's elder brother, and the Shi family has objections to the Rong family's treatment of the nephew's family, including their swallowing of Shi's dowry and raising Jia Lian. How could they be willing to make faces for them?

Apart from those special products, both families know that Mrs. Xing loves money. After all, she is from a small family and is in a difficult situation in the house. Now that Mrs. Xing and Li are rich and have a royal order, they will naturally benefit the eldest sister. At least their family has borrowed her reputation for many years. No one dared to bully—except Xing Dequan and the other three.At the beginning, Xing Dequan and the second and third sisters were really ugly and blinded Xing Xiuyan, but Mrs. Xing didn't know about it.

Mrs. Xing said that she took away the dowry, but in fact it was almost all the dowry from Jia’s dowry. Originally, the Xing family really didn’t have much property, but it was just a house and two hundred acres of land. Afterwards, it became poorer and poorer, and it was the three brothers and sisters. Especially when Xing Dequan lost.

Mrs. Shi Zhang asked a nun to open a box to present, saying: "These things are special products in the Southwest. I brought some when I went back to the Central Plains. Today, I gave it to my wife to enjoy in my free time, but it is a bit vulgar."

Mrs. Xing saw that it was a box of jade jewelry, and she knew it was good when she saw the quality. How much is it worth?

Mrs. Xing said with a smile: "What are you talking about? I have been in Beijing for many years but I have never seen the scenery in the southwest. It just gave me some insight. Madam is too expensive."

Mrs. Xing and Li were more straightforward. She sent a box of jewelry made of red gold, including headgear, bracelets, earrings, gold locks, necklaces, etc., and said, "I think everything is gold, which is auspicious. My eldest sister is a first-class royal." Madame, your vision is naturally different from mine."

Mrs. Xing's eyes were almost dazzled. Seeing her unconcealable expression, Xing Xiuyan couldn't help covering her mouth with a veil. Shi Hui had also heard of Mrs. Xing's temper, so she couldn't help covering her mouth and ticking off.

At this time, Wang Xifeng, who was five months pregnant, came here with Yingchun. Because of the butterfly effect on Jia Lian, Wang Xifeng still sat down with this child, but it was also very dangerous during the Lantern Festival as in the original book, because she was tired.

Shi Rui usually takes care of his cousin's lewdness, but he has less absurd things, so he still can't be with Sister Feng when he has time?Therefore, Sister Feng went a bit smoother, and she was afraid of Jia Lian's decision-making vision due to the chaos of the three kings. The Jia family would call him for everything, and Sister Feng saw him differently. She would inevitably listen to what Jia Lian said, no Will be strong everywhere.

But they said that they got the news from Mrs. Xing. Although Wang Xifeng looked down on Mrs. Xing, this time she could get Jia Lian's advice.

Jia Lian said that if she neglected the two aunts and cousins, he would simply say goodbye in the future. If she wanted the son she gave birth to be a prince, she had to get backers.

Jia Lian used to show off that his uncle and cousin are both motivated and rich, but this year I heard that the other two uncles have also been promoted.

Jia Lian said: "Don't talk about your Wang family. My grandfather was a first-rank Taifu back then, and all three uncles were Jinshi and rank. I have seven cousins ​​who either can study or have found serious jobs in the local area. You How many sons does uncle have? Your brother Wang Ren is not as good as me. Now you can rely on your uncle, who will sister Qiao rely on in the future?"

Wang Xifeng didn't dare to underestimate her, she met Daiyu over there, and Daiyu was still by her ancestor's side, so she brought Yingchun to the East courtyard for an excuse.Wang Xifeng described it as in the original book, people arrive before they are heard.

"The honored guest is coming from far away, but I have not greeted him from far away, it is really rude!" The voice was crisp and hearty, and a group of maids and women walked in through the door, followed by a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl. .