[Red Mansions] The Road to Empress Dowager

But it is said that Tu Yuanyi met Xing Zhong and Chen Yan in the hall, and Xing Xiuyan and Xing Li's mother and daughter went into the backyard room to talk.

Xing Xiuyan talked about her life after entering the palace: "When I entered the palace that day, I also lived in the Chuxiu Palace first. Later, the empress conferred the throne, and I became a talented person. I lived in the Luoxia Pavilion next to the Imperial Garden. The saint It’s okay to treat me, we always have the old love, what others have, I can’t do without me, and I have what others don’t, I won’t suffer, but I can’t go out of the palace to see my parents.”

Xing Li said: "What about the women in the harem? Are you getting along well with them?"

Xing Xiuyan also didn't want Mrs. Xing and Li to worry too much, so she just said: "It's okay, the saint's original concubines are a little less than I thought, and now none of the newcomers has passed me."

Xing Li's face was filled with joy. She didn't know the "golden mean", so she was naturally happy when she heard that her daughter was favored, and said: "The emperor's kindness is great, Yan'er must serve the saint with all his heart." Xing Xiuyan said: "Our A new shop is about to open in the capital, this matter is the second sister who is in charge, if the mother is free, she can also pick up the second sister, there are many people to discuss." Xing Li said: "You have all gone to the palace , but still thinking about these things?"

Xing Xiuyan said: "When you enter the palace, you have to earn money. Dad's salary is not enough for the family to eat, and our Zhuangzi can barely balance it. Now the family looks rich, and mother knows how the money came from in the first place. It is a blessing for a sage to be promoted, but our family has to stand on its own. After all, our family is not as good as the second sister's family and the third sister's family. It is still necessary to do a good job in business and manage Zhuangzi well.”

Mrs. Xing and Li responded one by one, and said: "Okay, mother knows, all these are covered by mother, but if not, there are nuns at home to help."

Xing Xiuyan's heart was moved, and she said: "Mother Zhao and the others are all good, and they should share the management. We open a shop with important people, so I asked them if they would like to join in, so that they can have a share of their own property when they grow old. The nuns are only in their thirties, if there is an honest and decent family, if they are willing to marry, the mother will also be the master for them."

"What?" Xing Li was taken aback.

Xing Xiuyan used to be a daughter so naturally she couldn't talk about these things, but now that she is a young woman, she doesn't have so many taboos.She used to think it was good for a woman to be single, but now she really thinks that she may have to find a partner for the rest of her life.

Although she cannot be said to be in love with Tu Yuanyi, being with Tu Yuanyi also has its own unique advantages, not only in terms of sex/life, nor the person standing behind her, but despite the noisy It's like yin and yang coexisting opposite each other.

The most painful thing for her is the conflict between the ancient reality and the original three views, and the soul tribulation she has to go through to maintain her independent personality.

Of course, women in ancient times didn't have her problems, and they didn't want to be concubines, so if conditions permit, it's better to find a man to live with.

If there is a decent man with a good character, the nuns will not live in vain if they marry. If there is a bad man, of course it is better to be single.

This is completely the thinking of a young woman, which is different from when she was a girl.

But Mrs. Xing Li's ability to accept is not very good, how can there be a mother who educates and marries?

Xing Xiuyan said: "There are always men in their thirties who cannot marry a daughter-in-law not because of their poor character. If they can achieve a marriage, it will be better than building a seven-level pagoda. Think about it. Where is the knowledge that others can reach? If there is a small official who is widowed and wants to marry and fill the house, it will be their blessing if the nanny enters the Qi family. I was wondering if I should ask Yifu Lin to marry one, but Yifu The father is too big, marrying the foster mother who used to live in the Lin family will be a hindrance to his reputation as well as the mother's."

Xing Li almost had a heart attack, and said: "Yan'er, how could you have such an idea? How respectable are Zhao Momo and the others, if you do this for your mother, you won't offend others severely?"

Xing Xiuyan said: "Oh, mother, who doesn't want to have a family of their own? If you are less than 40 years old, you may be able to conceive a child. I wonder if the second wife of the Jia family gave birth to the second master Bao when she was 40 years old? Speaking of this Come on, mother should have a younger brother with father, our family has risen, at least we will pass on the incense."

Mrs. Xing and Li were so embarrassed that she could not speak, she stuttered and couldn't complete a sentence.This Xing Xiuyan is unmarried, so of course he has to hold back everything, so as not to leak the truth in front of his mother, but now he dares to say anything.

It is impossible for Xing Li, who has been poor for half her life, to say that she does not want to have a son, but now she is 36 years old, how can she be ashamed?I haven't been pregnant all these years.

Xing Xiuyan saw her mother's embarrassment, and she had to think about it carefully, so she stopped talking too much.After a few more instructions, Li Dequan came up and said that the meal was set in the front hall, and the mother and daughter came out together.

……

I ate at Xing's house, but I still used Tu Yuanyi's own team and borrowed the kitchen.

Tu Yuanyi was wearing casual clothes today, so he was allowed to sit upright on the top, Xing Xiuyan accompanied him on the left, then Xing Zhong, Chen Yan and others took an empty seat to accompany him on the lower right, and Mrs Xing Li sat The first seat on the lower left.

The three of them, including Chen Yan, felt as if they were sitting on an anvil to accompany Li Dequan, the owner of the West Factory, and several female officials and nuns to serve meals.

Xing Xiuyan also felt that the meal was very unpalatable, since it was in his own home, it was not as comfortable as in the palace.

Eat without talking, sleep without talking, and eat quietly.Li Dequan helped the saint change his clothes, and the nuns helped Xing Xiuyan change his clothes. After drinking tea and giving some rewards, the saint left.

After Shengjia left, Xing Zhong was paralyzed on the chair, the weather was too hot, Xing Zhong took a few breaths while wiping his sweat, and then asked Chen Yan for advice.

"Mr. Chen, the sage doesn't know...is he satisfied with me? If I offend the sage, what can I do if the Sacred Heart is displeased?"

Chen Yan chuckled twice, and said, "The master is very lucky, don't worry, I'll go back to the east courtyard first."

Chen Yan thought to himself, this girl from the Xing family is really capable, now that she is a talented person, the sage will take her back home.

In this world, the only one who can bring the emperor back is the empress. I have never heard of one who brings a talented person back.The Saint Empress is the original match. Back then, he had just married Prince Su. After the wedding, of course he had to go back home with the concubine, and the royal family also had to pay attention to etiquette.

This Qixi Festival brings Xing Cairen back home, which is very kind.But thinking about the sage's careful support of the Xing family, it took great pains to let Xing Cairen be drafted into the palace, and he had to impress Chen Yan, which was really not like what he would do.

In the past, Chen Yan felt that he was too tolerant of the aristocratic family and did not eradicate it in one fell swoop, but after a few years, Jiangnan is stable. It is said that this year's tax revenue in Jiangnan has increased by [-]% compared with previous years, and the income of the Jinling Salt Administration has increased by four levels, but there are not many angry people. thing.Of course, this is also the result of Li Wei, the governor of Liangjiang, his senior brother. Although Jia Yucun is greedy, he is a good dog and can be used for ten years.I have to admit that today is much more wise and powerful than the Supreme Emperor.

But what kind of love is he playing in this matter of men and women?Only time will tell whether he is a wise king or a foolish one.

……

The east wind puts flowers and thousands of trees at night, and it blows down, and the stars are like rain.BMW carving cars are fragrant all over the road.The sound of the phoenix flute moves, and the fish and the dragon dance all night.

Watching the lanterns, letting go of the river lanterns, walking to the bridge and watching the fireworks all over the sky by the river, weaving a bright and lively brocade.

There are commoner girls who have sacrificed to the Weaver Girl Empress everywhere. They don't wear veiled hats, and their young and active faces are full of shyness unique to girls.There were also ladies who were guarded by the elder servants and guarded by the servant girl who came out to visit the Lantern Festival wearing a veiled hat. Everyone looked at them from afar curiously, or received a blank stare from the servant girl.

Xing Xiuyan took Tu Yuanyi's hand and shouted, "Look, look! It's raining golden!"

"Wow, it's even more beautiful than the fireworks I saw in Gusu! It turns out that Dazhou's fireworks are so superb!"

"Oh! Red! Purple! Do you see that? Heaven!"

Tu Yuanyi shook his head secretly with a smile, and looked up at the sky with his hands behind his back. At this time, the mountains and rivers were at his feet, and the beauty was in his arms, so he had such a leisurely mood, but he felt that the fireworks were gorgeous and beautiful, and he couldn't help illuminating the gloomy places in his heart and removing his troubles .

As the fireworks subsided, Xing Xiuyan led him to another place, and those single dogs, Jin Yiwei, guarded all around carefully again.

Among the street vendors, suddenly heard the sound of a flute playing a folk tune, Xing Xiuyan stopped in his tracks and turned around.

"This son has a good eye. The Xiangfei bamboo flute has an absolutely excellent sound quality. It's an old man's ancestral handicraft. Let's buy one." The vendor owner is a 50-[-]-year-old man with gray hair.

Xing Xiuyan caressed the flute and said with a smile: "This is the capital, why do you make 'Sudi' instead of 'Bangdi'?"

The boss smiled and said, "Master, are you a connoisseur? To tell you the truth, my ancestors are from the south. Originally, they settled down in Kyoto for the purpose of doing business. When my generation's family was in decline, it was only then that I began to use my ancestors' skills."

The Great Zhou Dynasty was more open than the Ming Dynasty because it had fewer restrictions on the movement of people. This is a bit of an inheritance from the Song Dynasty. People from Suzhou come to live in Kyoto. If they have some family background, it is impossible.

Xing Xiuyan held it to his lips and blew on trills, taps, and repeats, but felt the sound was beautiful, so he asked with a smile, "How much is it?"

"Five coins."

"How about four coins?"

"My lord, it looks like you don't look like someone who is short of a penny or two. Don't joke with the little old man."

Xing Xiuyan saw that there was still a Chinese knot hanging on his stall, and said with a smile, "That's fine, but you can buy one and get one free for me."

The old man said happily: "Okay, my guy made it up. If you don't like it, you can give it to you. I wish you and your sweetheart to be united forever!"

Only then did Xing Xiuyan think carefully, isn't this Chinese knot the "concentric knot"?In this era, it symbolizes faithful and beautiful love.

Her face blushed, and she couldn't help looking at Tu Yuanyi, who was also looking at her. He raised his long eyebrows that slanted, his phoenix eyes sparkled, and there was a hint of interest in the corners of his eyes.

Xing Xiuyan paid the money, took the things and left, thinking in her heart: What an oolong, after so long in ancient times, my thinking always shifts to modern times.He wouldn't think she bought it for him, would he?Hmph, why should she always satisfy his Tom Su and Long Aotian's desires?Why should any woman look forward to being united with him forever?Why should she be infatuated and not regret it?She doesn't want it, she just wants to be a professional concubine who is skilled in sales.

"Did you go the wrong way? You walked this way just now." Because she was wandering around, he followed her instead, but she was hiding something in her heart, and this way went astray.

Looking at the surrounding street scene, she felt that something was wrong, and she couldn't help but smile. He looked down at her and smiled slightly.Sure enough, he has the domineering momentum of Tom Su, and his smile is like fireworks blooming in the sky.

Uh, it's not like that, when he laughed, there were fireworks blooming in the sky, and the light and fire flickered across his peerless and noble face.

He stared at her deeply, and suddenly held her hand, her palm was exactly the concentric knot, and the concentric knot was sandwiched between their palms, and his red-hot temperature radiated from the hands.

But her heart was beating fast because she was bewitched by the beauty, and she quickly reminded herself not to be fascinated by the color.