Old things in the Red Chamber

In March, Lin Daiyu finally freed up to meet Shi Taijun.

Because she is already married, even if Shi Taijun dotes on Jia Baoyu again, he will not let their cousins ​​meet again. This is not only for Lin Daiyu's reputation, but also for Jia Baoyu's reputation.

"It can be regarded as coming, the old lady is talking to the sky." Wang Xifeng helped her into Shi Taijun's yard, as before, it was full of female relatives.

"Please, old lady. Ann."

In terms of her husband's rank, Gu Yun is still above Jia Zheng, and in terms of relatives' seniority, Mrs. Wang is the elder. At first, Mrs. Wang was reluctant to get up, but then she watched Lin Daiyu being pulled by Shi Taijun to sit beside her and greeted herself. It's also light, so I don't need to give way, and I don't get flattery from her, so I feel unhappy.She has always been in the city, and she doesn't speak, only listens to others.

Mrs. Xue asked kindly, "What does Fourth Grandma do for fun at home?"

"Auntie is too polite." Lin Daiyu was not too shy, "I just worry about our fourth master. Other times, it's just a trivial matter at home."

Everyone in the room was laughing, Lin Daiyu looked up and saw a palace lantern hanging in Shi Taijun's upper room, and there seemed to be words on the palace lantern. "Is this a reward from the palace?"

"Yes, it was rewarded by the imperial concubine and empress on the Shangyuan Festival." When Shi Taijun said it, he was very honored, but when he thought about it, Lin Daiyu's real daughter is the empress empress, so he quickly put away his proud expression, "Your family must also have a reward .”

Lin Daiyu nodded. The family was rewarded with two palace lanterns during the Shangyuan Festival, one was awarded by the emperor to the family of important ministers, and the other was rewarded by the emperor to the natal family in the name of the empress.It's hard for the emperor, who usually doesn't worry about the affairs of the backyard. In order to save face for the queen, he rewarded three palace lanterns in one go, one in Cheng'en's mansion, one in Gu Yun's house, and one in Gu Yu's house.When Gu Yun brought Lin Daiyu back to Cheng'en Gong's mansion that day, seeing his stepmother's face almost made her cry, Lin Daiyu wondered how to blame the emperor, if it was given to the brothers, don't let them down Small one, if it was given to the mansion, the mansion of brothers Gu Yun and Gu Yu is not Cheng'en Gong's mansion.Gu Yun and his brothers didn't care what their stepmother thought, sat for a while, and then left with their respective wives.Lin Daiyu stayed longer when worshiping the ancestors, but at other times, she really sat there for a while, and didn't even recognize everyone. It was said that the fourth master was in a hurry, and she was waiting for the fourth grandma to go back.

Lin Daiyu heard that Concubine He also went to Rongguo Mansion to enjoy lanterns, so why only saw one hanging in the upper room.She didn't ask any questions, but just chatted with her. When it came to Hefei's pregnancy, Lin Daiyu noticed that Mrs. Wang was pursing her lips, as if she was unhappy. Xue Baochai, who was sitting next to her, brought her tea very considerately.

The female relatives chatted in the upper room all morning, and after lunch, Shi Taijun left Lin Daiyu to talk privately, and made everyone go down. The grandparents and grandchildren were lying on one side, so he asked her, "Is your life as usual when you were young? When you are older, you must want to raise a brother sooner."

Lin Daiyu nodded. The pressure of childlessness can be seen from her mother, Jia Min. What a well-educated noble lady is tossed into, her heart is full of melancholy, and she is unwilling to talk to her grandmother.

Shi Taijun didn't want her to think too much, Lin Daiyu had only been married for half a year, it would be a little early, so he quickly changed the subject, "You went to the palace to see Concubine He, how is she?"

The queen's natal family has the privilege to hand in the sign to visit the queen at any time, and every time the three families hand in the sign together.Lin Daiyu can occasionally see imperial concubines and concubines at the empress dowager's place.

"Looking at the bulky body, since last month, the queen mother has spared her to pay her respects, and the concubine is unwilling to go out for a walk. I see the ninth prince more than I see the concubine."

Shi Taijun hasn't seen the Ninth Prince so far, so he couldn't help asking, "How is the Ninth Prince? How tall is he?"

"Looks like a strong, clever little boy. The queen mother likes it, like something."

Shi Taijun couldn't stop chanting Buddha, thanking the ancestors for their blessings.

"Well, it depends on your generation in the future. During the Chinese New Year, the lamp given by the concubine was taken away by your uncle. I said it was the glory of the family, but he didn't listen. He mixed it up and took it away. He can't help it." He glanced at Daiyu, "Your old uncle is capable, much better than your eldest uncle."

Lin Daiyu has a delicate heart, and knows that the old lady is not only praising her uncle, but also playing with her bracelet without saying a word.

Shi Taijun thought to himself that these two girls were raised to be divorced from him, and what he thought in his heart didn't show on his face, he only talked about what to eat and what to play in daily life.

The weather was hot, Qi Jing'an carried Brother Nan back to her natal home, she went early in the morning, and Princess Anyang was going to enter the palace. "In the palace, the four and five princesses are going to get married. The queen doesn't care about the matter. This matter is handed over to the fourth concubine. The queen mother is worried that they don't care, so she sent me into the palace to discuss it."

Qi Jing'an also understood the empress dowager's mentality, there are only a few girls left for her precious son, they look like eyeballs.She was also presumptuous when talking to Princess Anyang, "Even if the empress does it herself, grandma may not be satisfied."

Princess Anyang stretched out her finger and nodded Qi Jing'an's forehead, "It's fine if I hear this, but if I hear it from others, I have to teach them the rules of respect. You should also be careful."

"I know, I know, I said this in front of you. I wouldn't say it in front of other people."

Jia Nan in her arms looked up at her, and then at Princess Anyang.It made Princess Anyang very fond of it, "Oh, does Brother Nan want to see grandma? You can also follow into the palace. The Queen Mother also wants to see Brother Nan."

"He is more fortunate than his sisters. His sisters haven't met the queen mother yet. It's just that our uncle came to visit early..."

"It's okay. It's time. I'll take you out of the palace when it's almost time. I heard from your second brother that Brother Nan is my uncle's best friend?"

"It's true. When I come back every day, I have to read a few pages to Brother Nan and do a set of punches. This little thing should be a hit."

Qi Jingan was driven to the palace in the car of Princess Anyang. The queen mother was in Shoukang Palace, and the mother and daughter went to Shoukang Palace. Came out of the bedroom.

Concubine Zhen watched Princess Anyang coming over from a distance, and waited for her to salute, Princess Anyang also blessed her, but Qi Jingan wanted to pay her respects.Concubine Zhen accepted her gift and went back to her side hall in high spirits.

In the bedroom, the queen mother was sitting beside the emperor's bed, with the obedient and obedient ninth prince standing beside her. The emperor looked at the ninth prince, "Is this Xiaojiu from the old Qi's family?"

"Yes." The Empress Dowager pushed the Ninth Prince, "Zhaoer, please greet Grandfather."

The Ninth Prince invited Ann again, and obediently retreated to the Queen Mother. The child was sensitive, and he already felt that the Emperor didn't like him.

"Not as good as the eldest grandson of the loyal family."

The queen mother was not willing to compare a dead ghost with her grandson, so she answered, "Did you drink the sour bamboo shoot soup served by the Shangshi Bureau? That appetizer, I ate very well."

The emperor let out a groan.

His current life is chatting and eating with the Queen Mother, recalling the past with Concubine Zhen, feeling very aggrieved, always thinking of hearing the government before the court, but the emperor refuses to agree, he knows his own body, and he is not so healthy.Every time he saw the emperor come in to greet him, he would inevitably be jealous, jealous that he was young and in good health, if he was ten years younger, he would not have to be coerced by the emperor to live in this Shoukang Palace.

He glanced at the Ninth Prince who was obediently listening to the adults, and thought that the emperor would follow in his footsteps sooner or later.

The eunuch outside the door came to report, "Princess Anyang brought her daughter to see you."

The queen mother was happy, "Please come in quickly. By the way, bring the sour plum soup to their mother and daughter. I haven't seen Jing'an for a long time."

Qi Jingan came in with a child in her arms. The Empress Dowager saw her and immediately dismissed her, "Hurry up and let me see, is this Jia Hou's grandson?"

When the Supreme Emperor heard this, he remembered that Jia Hou was Jia Daishan's son. "Hold me and show me."

The Ninth Prince stretched his neck and wanted to see it, but the focus of the audience was not on him, and he couldn't do anything to push the adults away to watch. If he really did this, he would be taught a lesson, saying that he was not Noble, very anxious, you can only see the clothes on the baby's body and the short hair on the head, but you can't see the small face.

Jia Nan transferred from his mother's arms to a strange one, ignoring his birth, and grabbed the emperor's beard with his hand. His grandfather's beard was short, and his father hadn't grown a beard yet. When he saw someone with a long beard, he wanted to grab it.

The Supreme Emperor hurriedly handed Jia Nan to the Queen Mother, "This little thing, like Jia Enhou, is used to pushing his nose on his face."

"Look at what you said, how old is he." The queen mother was unhappy, and when she turned her head, the grandson looked up eagerly, and couldn't help being happy, "Do you know who this is? Just look at it."

"My cousin's family." This relationship is discussed from the emperor's side.

The queen mother was very happy, and said to Qi Jing'an, "Hurry up and hold your son and show it to your cousin."

Qi Jingan followed Jia Nan, squatted beside the footrest, and showed it to the Ninth Prince. The Ninth Prince stood, and Jia Nan was hugged. The two looked at each other for a while.The Ninth Prince said shyly, "Cousin, he is so good, he didn't make trouble."

When Qi Jing'an came back with her child, she also brought a bunch of rewards from the palace. Madam Tong found out that her grandson was lovely, and she didn't think much about it.It was Jia Gu who went home at night, and when he heard about it, he asked Mrs. Tong to open the storeroom and get two pieces of jade, and carved them into trinkets or jade pendants for her two granddaughters.

"I looked at Xuan'er and heard that my younger brother was rewarded, and she looked envious. It's not like we don't have things. We will ignore them, and the granddaughter we raise will be unhappy in the future."

"Understood, it's not that I'm biased. Your son and his wife are biased. The daughter-in-law holds the grandson in her arms all day long. Which of these two girls has she hugged?" Mrs. Tong put down the curtain, "I let the needlework The people on the Internet made cloth tigers, cloth hydrangeas, and gold and jade objects for the children. They don’t know the value, so it’s better for a cloth tiger to please them. I told them, only for them, this time there is no younger brother. "

"You can't say that, or if they fight in the future..." Jia Gu sat up quickly, "What if they fight at that time?"

"My lord, which of the girls would argue with my brother? I know what you mean. I get it. Well, I will pay attention to what to say and what not to say in the future. I will let the three of them go." Play together, the more time you play, the better your relationship will be."

Jia Gu sat on the bed with a thin quilt wrapped around him, "I feel anxious when I have fewer children, and worry when I have more children. Oops!"

The distress of happiness, Lord Jia thought about it for a long time, but he didn't think of the reason.

A few years later, Jia She ran over and said happily, "How did I hear that Brother Nan and the Ninth Prince fell in love with each other? It can be seen that it is of blood nature. You should also teach Brother Nan well. From now on, the two of you will study together, so that everyone will be happy." Let's Brother Nan follow the Ninth Prince and be his companion."

Jia Gu looked at Jia She, and put the cup on the table, "Where did you hear that Brother Nan and the Ninth Prince fell in love?"

"Your Zhou's father, that butcher, I met a while ago, how many times have I had a drink?"

Jia Gu frowned secretly, because getting involved with the harem would inevitably cause trouble.Moreover, a butcher and an old dandy can have something to say, but Jia She is his own brother, it is wrong to reprimand him bluntly, and it is wrong to ignore him, so Jia Gu asked him, "He knows the way of gold and stone? "

"I don't understand, he doesn't understand that stuff. Jin Shi is elegant, he used to be a pig butcher."

"You know he's so vulgar, what are you playing with him, you'd better find your comrades, people in Qipan Street call you Mr. Jia, that's sincere, if Mrs. Zhou is her father, it's just flattering you... ..." Jia Gu shook his head, "It is estimated that the people in Qipan Street knew about it, and they just sighed."

Jia Amnesty is not stupid, he thought about it for a while, "Understood, we must not lower ourselves."

Jia Gu pulled him again, "When you go back, you will also restrain your family members. It's not easy for ladies. Seven brothers above the Ninth Prince died in infancy. Don't be too arrogant, or you won't be a Bodhisattva."

Jia She thought about it, the eighth prince was fine last year, and he would be gone if he said nothing, and the queen's three sons stared at him day and night with dozens of pairs of eyes, and he would be gone if he said nothing. "What my old brother said is that I will burn more incense and do more good deeds when I go back, just to pray for the Ninth Prince."

Jia Amnesty didn't think that Jia Gu was trying to scare him. The more he thought about it, the more he thought about it. When he got home, he was very preoccupied. At night, Jia Lian came to greet him. His wife came and had a private meeting with the old lady for half a day, talking about Smith's marriage, tell me, does the historian plan to kiss us?"

Jia Amnesty is now full of thoughts about how to pray for his grandson, and he just listened to it and let it go, "It doesn't matter if we are married or not, you are old and don't have a son yet, at your age, How many have no sons? Regardless of whether they are descended from a concubine or a concubine, you are only serious if you have a son. Seeing that the Ninth Prince is getting older every day, if your son is about the same age as him, it will be okay to follow him in the future. It is convenient and the official road is also open.”

The more I thought about it, the more I felt that this was the truth, and after a reprimand, Jia Lian ran away with his head in his arms.

Jia Lian's heart was fluttered by what Lao Tzu said, thinking that if he had a son next year, after more than ten years, wouldn't they be naughty and mischievous and run errands together?Not only did he regret messing around with a few servants in the house a few days ago, but if he had a son with Wang Xifeng in a serious way, his life would be considered complete.

He thought so, but he was reluctant to part with the servants who had just arrived, and while thinking of using money to hook up with them secretly, he went home and hastened to have a son.

I went back as if I had a stove in my heart, and when I got to the house, only Wang Xifeng was holding her daughter, patting her to sleep, Ping'er was waiting on her side, and there was no one else, the two of them were talking inside.Jia Lian lifted the curtain and saw his beautiful wife and concubine, he was happy and asked them, "What are you talking about, you don't even know I came in."

Ping'er hurriedly helped him to the couch, let him sit opposite Wang Xifeng, and lowered his voice, fearing that it would disturb the eldest sister's sleep, so she said, "What about Miss Bao and Miss Smith? Miss Smith is young and can wait, but Miss Bao Seeing that the girl is one year older, Mrs. Xue is not in a hurry."

"Auntie, what's the rush? There's a big idiot Xue on top of her." Just as Jia Lian finished speaking, Ping'er quickly looked at Wang Xifeng's face. Wang Xifeng was a little upset because her husband called her cousin an idiot, but she wouldn't get angry at it. , and went on to say, "That's right, Big Brother Xue is about to get married, and so is Auntie. It's only serious to show him to him sooner."

Jia Lian took a sip of tea, "They, they don't look down on ordinary merchants, and high-ranking people don't look down on them. In addition to that idiot Xue, whoever marries him will fall into a pit of fire."

Wang Xifeng felt a little unhappy on his face, thinking that what he said was right, but because he disrespected his relatives, he was unhappy in his heart, patted his daughter, and stopped talking.

Jia Lian didn't intend to end the topic, "Xue is such an idiot. Mrs. Xue wants her daughter to marry a good family and support her brother. It depends on whether your uncle is willing to intervene."

Wang Xifeng became a little interested, "How do you say that?"

"Look, sister Lin is married, and the Gu family is not considered a wealthy family, but no one dares to underestimate it now. It all depends on Jia Hou's hard work. Jia Hou has only been in the court for a few years, and how much is his uncle in the court?" In [-], you said, Jia Hou knows someone like Gu Siye, don’t you know your uncle? Even if you can’t find someone like Gu Si, then again, a concubine from a high family, or a talented scholar from a poor family who studied hard, Otherwise, if some officials in their thirties die and their original spouses die, who will they marry, with Miss Xue's ability, are you afraid that life will be bad?"

Wang Xifeng thought about it, but it was the truth. After all, she was a niece, so she was able to give her a hand. Besides, officials always like to accept a few irrelevant people and promise them to others as god-in-law. This is for clinging Relationship.This child Xue Baochai is a serious relative, so could it be no better than that kind of foreign stranger?

"Second Master's insight is extraordinary, so tell me, since there is such a shortcut, why are they still staring at Baoyu?"

"My old lady is not happy with this matter. The eldest son of their family is a culprit. She also looked at Baoyu's good nature and wanted to marry the girl to him. From now on, she will clean up the mess of their family. The old lady put the words aside, and only him Those who drag Baoyu down will definitely not be able to help Baoyu." The night was already deep, and Shi Taijun's upper room was only Shi Taijun, Jia Zheng and Mrs. Wang.What they discussed was Jia Baoyu's marriage. Shi Taijun thought Shi Xiangyun was good, and Mrs. Wang thought Xue Baochai was not bad.

Jia Zheng didn't speak, and let his mother and wife talk back and forth about the flaws in each other's minds.

"This matter has been dealt with from beginning to end, and no one will mention it in the future. Jinling has also closed the case. Baochai is gentle, gentle, virtuous and dignified, and can persuade Baoyu. Besides, my brother also thinks they are a good match. .”

Jia Zheng's hand stroking his beard paused for a moment. His thoughts were more profound. Marrying a wife is not just as simple as marrying a daughter-in-law.He thought to himself, Jia Lian married Wang Xifeng, logically speaking, the relationship with the Wang family is not bad, and two generations of the two families are married, Baoyu's side, it is correct to choose the historian.But historians have some opinions on the name of the four major families now, just like everyone playing together, suddenly one day, historians don't want to play with everyone, and they are afraid that people will say that they are capricious and sorry for their friends, so they just play with each other little by little. Fade out.What's more, Shi Xiangyun is not the daughter of the two Shihous. This relationship will be weaker when they want to leave the group.In fact, Jia Zheng was afraid of Jia Amnesty in his heart, afraid that Jia Hu would seize the opportunity to help him regain the title, so he also wanted to find someone who was as important as Wang Xifeng, in case Wang Ziteng favored his nephew Wang Xifeng and ignored his nephew Jia Baoyu. .

In the Wang family, Wang Ziteng has now become the leading figure in this generation. His niece, the daughter of the Xue family, has already accounted for half of the power of the four major families... Jia Zheng's psychological balance has tilted to Xue Baochai.

But this matter cannot be decided immediately. The Xue family is a merchant, and after all, their status is still a bit low. If there is someone better than the Xue family...don't make a decision on this matter, so as not to offend the Xue family and the others in time. Wang family.

But Shi Taijun and Mrs. Wang were still trying to persuade each other to accept their own opinions. Shi Taijun said, "Baochai, my wife likes it or not. After all, her status is not enough. She can't compare with Xiangyun who was born in the Marquis."

Mrs. Wang lowered her eyebrows and looked down, "Although Miss Smith was born in the Hou family, the two Hou masters are her uncles and not her own father. Besides, both of his parents died... It's not enough."

No one can say anything, the flags and drums were temporarily extinguished, Jia Zheng stood up, bid farewell to Shi Taijun, and took Mrs. Wang back. Shi Taijun's heart was fried. Some gossips were quite irritating. Shi Taijun was an elder, and they couldn't say anything bad. They just said that they brought Shi Xiangyun back to be educated, and they should talk about kissing in the future.

Shi Taijun had lived for so long, why couldn't he understand the hints from his nephew and daughter-in-law, she hurriedly called her son and daughter-in-law, thinking that there was a son here, and Baoyu's mother would have to obey, who knew it would be the same result, she was not disappointed.

Yuanyang came out from the shadows and supported her, "Old lady, it's late at night, it's time to go to bed."

Shi Taijun sighed, let Yuanyang support him, and lay down on the bed in the inner room. Even though she was lying down, she didn't feel sleepy at all. She had planned most of her life for the Jia family, and she was not happy to let him easily admit defeat now.

Thinking that since Baoyu's mother wanted to choose a girl from the Xue family, she didn't say anything here. Baochai was getting older, so Baoyu and Xiangyun could wait, but Baochai couldn't.

See who can drag whom.

When Shi Taijun thought of this method, he was very happy, so he said to the mandarin duck sleeping outside, "Mandarin duck, I remember, I still have a gold hairpin with a boy holding a carp, you can find it tomorrow, and add some other things. I remember that I still have a set of quilts for children playing in the water. It is the best silk embroidery. You can find it together and send it to the Gu family. It’s just a thought. Miss Lin has been married for half a year, and my uncle is not young. Now, they should take advantage of their newlyweds to conceive a brother earlier."