The Second Master Lian of the Red Chamber

In the compartment facing the tea room on the west side of Qingsi Hall in the imperial city, Xia Shouzhong, the eunuch before the Imperial Chieftain, had just stepped back to have a rest and drink tea, when the servants who were waiting here rushed up, booing and asking about their health, serving tea and pouring water , rubbing shoulders and back, taking off shoes and pinching feet, thoughtful and caring.Those who couldn't squeeze in didn't stand still, and went about doing things with a wink, so that people could see their strengths.

When Xia Shouzhong entered the palace at the beginning of the year, he also suffered for many years. He followed his godfather Wang Deli to serve His Majesty and the old master who had passed away in Lanyuexuan. I understand the thoughts in the hearts of these monkeys, but they are all thinking of being the master.

Unceremoniously enjoying the filial piety of the people below, Xia Shouzhong squinted his eyes comfortably, but refused to say a word to these people.Thinking about how difficult his life was back then, when he woke up every day, he didn't know if he could go back to the house with all his hands and feet, where did these little bastards go?He just has a good fate, and he won't be able to turn himself into the first Grandpa Xia in the palace until the master who serves him has a great fortune. Others want to share this dignity, and it's not the old man they came from Lanyuexuan, that's the door nor.

Xia Shouzhong didn't speak, and the servants who surrounded him refused to give up, and continued to surround the wooden clock attentively. It was Eunuch Huang, the young disciple whom the old eunuch Wang Deli had accepted in the palace, and the servants took the last step after serving tea. The three turned back and scattered.

Eunuch Huang has now held the Ministry of Internal Affairs in his hands by using his decent wrists in front of the imperial court, and even the emperor's subordinates have to shoot back.Except for the expenses in the imperial palace, he didn't dare to intervene rashly. He seemed to be a domineering figure in other places, and he didn't come to Qingsi Palace at all in normal times.After all, these top eunuchs like them are very independent in their hearts, and they are busy controlling their own one-third of an acre of land. They are afraid that someday someone who can do it will not talk about it, and they don't like to see people blind in the place where they are in charge. hang around.

As soon as he saw Mrs. Huang, Xia Shouzhong knew something in his heart. He moved from the kang as if he had no bones, barely sat up, and raised his hand to greet him: "I just brewed Wenlin tea. Your majesty gave it to me yesterday. Yes, you can try it too."

Among the two Xia and Huang, Xia Shouzhong was a generation taller, had served Yang Yuan the longest, had the deepest affection, and was also the most respectable. He was the leader of the eunuchs from Lanyuexuan. How could he say this? , is already very hospitable.

Even now that he is considered a prosperous man, Eunuch Huang still doesn't dare to win in front of Xia Shouzhong.He still abided by the etiquette of the younger generation, sat down on the chair according to the rules, took a sip of tea, and was full of praise immediately.

Wenlin tea has been a tribute in the palace since the previous dynasty, and it has been more than [-] years. In the palace city, from His Majesty and the old sage, down to the servants and maids who are shameful, all have a good tongue to drink this tea.Xia Shouzhong's tea is only mediocre, not a high-quality product, but the palace has always treated people rather than things, and Manager Xia's tea is naturally top-notch, and Eunuch Huang praised him sincerely and from the bottom of his heart.

Seeing that Boy Huang was still doing his best, the smile on Xia Shouzhong's face became stronger, and he asked slowly in a thin voice: "You come here at this time, who is watching over there? There are so many things that have not been decided yet, you As soon as you let go, the group of monkeys will not turn upside down? There is still me here in the imperial court. If you really have free time, go outside the city to take a look at our ancestors, the Holy Majesty will remember you well."

The old Wang Deli had no biological children, so these apprentices and grandchildren bought a farm outside the palace for him, and treated him as the old man, Yang Yuan also passed the Ming road.If anyone can get a good word from Wang Deli, Yang Yuan will naturally take a high look when he turns around, this is a dignity that even the imperial servants can't get.

Eunuch Huang understood the meaning of this remark, so he put on a smile and asked tentatively: "My nephew understands what uncle means. With my nephew watching, who would dare to make a mistake? It's just what my uncle ordered. My nephew always has someone to pass me a message, yesterday there was news that the family is about to go to Jia Shilang's house, this..."

Erasing the name of the Imperial Merchant of the Xue family's internal affairs office in Jinling, and withdrawing most of their family's errands to other families, it was all decided by Xia Shouzhong himself. I don't know how the Xue family, who has always been the most generous in giving gifts and money, offended this The ancestors, so that everyone received a lot of money, but things were difficult to handle, so they simply pretended to be confused.

Eunuch Huang also grew up in the inner court, how could he take a mere Xue family seriously, but when Jia Shilang was involved, this matter is different.Even though the eunuchs who were born in front of the imperial court couldn't figure out many things about the importance of Jia Lian and Jia Shilang, they all weighed them clearly.In all likelihood, this master is an old man who is as obedient as they are, so he cannot easily be offended.Eunuch Huang is not afraid of anything else, but he is worried that Jia Shilang will show his relatives in the future.When Xia Shouzhong stood on the shore with his hands in his sleeves, he would be in trouble.

Guessing it was because of this, Xia Shouzhong sneered, not without complacency.The news from Jinling, Jia Lian's subordinates tried their best to pass it in early in the morning, but these bastards have no part in it.Those short-sighted people from the Xue family actually broke ground at the age of Tai Sui. Jia Lian would be worthy of his conscience if he didn't step on it, so he wouldn't care about their life or death.

Feeling more at ease, Xia Shouzhong kindly pointed him out again: "The Anluan Palace is the first cousin, what's the matter? Then Xue's family is considered to be relatives of Jia Shilang? They have a separate room. Lin Shangshu's family is the only one. It's Jia Shilang's direct cousin, when that one grows up, it's not too late for you to be courteous."

Anluan Palace is the bedroom of Concubine Shu Wang Xifeng and her third daughter Ayuan, and Jia Yuanchun, who is half master and half servant, still lives there.Everyone in the palace said that Lady Jia was really unlucky in her life, and Concubine Shu loved her so much, but she fell ill because of the shame of bumping into the royal driver before she even came out of the first month, and she hadn't seen anyone for several months.

After hearing the example of the deep love between the sisters, Eunuch Huang understood Xia Shouzhong's meaning. In addition, the news that the two houses of the Rongguo Mansion were not in harmony had spread for many years, and he also understood that he was telling people to lie this time. After stopping, he couldn't help but smile coldly, and thanked Xia Shouzhong three times obediently.

It was Xia Shouzhong's nephew, the only seedling of the Xia family, whom Xia Shouzhong found a few years ago, who took the place of the Xue family's errand.Xia Shouzhong kept his mouth shut, because he was afraid that he would miss his nephew's future.At this moment, the Xue family is still leaning forward, and Xia Shouzhong also has some sinister thoughts in his heart, but he is afraid that he will be disgusted by Yang Yuan if he is exposed in the future, so he hesitates to make up his mind, so he follows Eunuch Huang's words and jokes.

Mr. Huang was about to leave, but Xia Shouzhong's newly adopted godson outside suddenly ran to the door of the house, and shouted in a soft voice: "Jia Shilang is here, and he is about to enter the gate, let the son come in to serve Put on your shoes, old man."

Xia Shouzhong usually would not leave Yang Yuan's side for even a moment, but this time it was a coincidence that he talked with Eunuch Huang for so long.When he came out, he was ordered to wait for Jia Lian, so that when he arrived, he would lead him into the hall to speak.

Since the Lord is coming soon, Xia Shou Zhongwan has no reason to make people wait. He got up from the kang neatly as soon as he turned over, without his godson coming in to serve him, he properly packed his clothes, shoes and socks.After saying hello to Eunuch Huang, he went out to meet Jia Lian outside the gate.

Because of the renovation of Zhongshun Prince's Mansion, Jia Lian, who was in charge of building the fortifications during the period, has had a lot of opportunities to face the saint in the past few months. Many people inside and outside the palace know that His Majesty admires Jia Shilang very much, and he will call people to Qingsi every now and then. Every time there was a question or two in the palace, the eunuch Xia in front of the imperial court personally greeted him. With Jia Lian's rank, it can be said that the emperor's grace is mighty.

Seeing Xia Shouzhong striding forward again today, the guards on duty winked at each other, secretly betting whether the person who came was Jia Shilang.Later, Jia Lian, who was dressed in the uniform of a fourth-rank civil servant, went straight into the palace gate with a solemn face. After winning the bet, he had another good meal.

Before the meal, Yang Yuan had an argument with the emperor in Hanzhang Palace, he felt very bored, and he kicked out all the maids and servants in the palace.After finally waiting for Jia Lian, he complained a lot when he met: "Fortunately, I gave you such an errand, and you can still remember to come in and talk to me, otherwise I see you are on duty every day, and you wish you could just bring your sister to live here." At Lin Shangshu's house, there is no priority in mind, and all major events are delayed. With your virtue, I will never let the queen give you a daughter-in-law, you must be a short-tempered hero!"

Xu was disturbed by the emperor and the half-hearted veterans. Yang Yuan obviously nagged a lot when he summoned his confidants to speak alone in the past two years, and many people had reached the critical moment when they were sent out to be governors. Recently, Jia Lian was the only one who stayed in Beijing and could speak with confidence, and Yang Yuan inevitably talked more.

Jia Lian was already used to it. After coughing lightly, he knelt down and confessed his crimes. The set of movements was smooth and smooth, and even the most stringent officials of the Ministry of Rites would definitely not be able to find a fault in the presence.

After all the etiquette to go, Jia Lian gently rolled up his sleeves, took out a beeswax ball from his sleeve pocket and put it in Yang Yuan's hand, and replied with a smile: "How about all the things I'm doing outside?" Don’t you want to report back to His Majesty? You are not happy, you have a princess and a prince at your knees, and the ladies are gentle and gentle, but I just steal a moment of leisure at your husband’s house, but it is worth your thoughts, it is really my fault.”

Yang Yuan casually crushed the beeswax balls, squinted his eyes, took out the cloth strip hidden inside and looked at it carefully, then stuffed the cloth strip in the smoker and burned it up without changing his face, Jia Lian took a look and scoffed. Said: "I don't know how to share my worries. If you gnaw a few hard bones, you will know how to bully my little cousin. I will have no cousin to bully? That is, your husband is unkind and does not protect his son. Otherwise, I will beat you three times a day."

Jia Lian still had a gentle smile on his face, and casually talked about the interesting things about getting along with Lin Hai's family, especially the young Lin Zhang, as if the slight nod of his head when Yang Yuan asked was just a coincidence, not a coincidence. Half deep meaning.

Only the uneasy monarch and his ministers, who seemed to be chatting about family affairs and harassing their parents, knew in their hearts that they had been planning something for so many years, and finally it was time to actually do it.