Old things in the Red Chamber

"The Jia family has wasted so many years in vain." Jia Gu sighed and said to Jia Xuan.

Jia Xun knew the meaning of his words, which meant that the Jia family was already rich at the beginning of the founding of the country, and they didn't want to go further and educate their children and grandchildren, but only knew how to enjoy, and enjoyed the blessings of future generations.

The reason for saying this is because there is an official document copied from the Ministry of Officials on the table. Some dishonest people took the title.

Among them, it is an opportunity to re-divide power and interests. The emperor has finally stabilized the country. This sacrifice to heaven is to reward the heroes, and at the same time, it is also necessary to remove the former ministers who are the favorites of the Supreme Emperor from the honorary system.By the way, beat up some dishonest families.

The four kings and eight princes smelled a bit of malice early on, and now they are jumping up and down in the capital, looking for connections for those with connections, and allies for those without connections, while the Rongguo Mansion and Ningguo Mansion seem to be calm.

"Father, tell me, do they think that if there is a concubine in the palace, they will not be able to seize the title? For so many years, they have been eating a vegetarian diet and have never done a major event for the court. I think...their title cannot be kept. Jue, the family has no pillars, and it is no different from the wealthy landlords in Kyoto, and has become a third-class family through and through."

Jia Gu motioned him not to speak, "You are frightened by the plaque on their door. It is the plaque of the government, but it is the title of a general, and it is still a false one. You don't even have the chance to go to battle, you say Well, what are people anxious about?"

Jia Huan thought about it, and smiled, "According to the official documents, they are indeed not qualified to participate in offering sacrifices to the heavens. My father thinks that our family's title can be kept with absolute certainty."

"Naturally. You and my father and son are not dead yet. Why can't meritorious people keep their titles?"

Things like offering sacrifices to heaven have little to do with Shengdou Xiaomin. The emperor travels and avoids the people, and they don't even have the qualifications to watch.

Those who are qualified to participate are anxious, while those who are not qualified to participate are trying to squeeze in.

In the palace city under the moon, the emperor was furious.

During dinner, the eunuch came to report that the Seventh Prince was slapped by his biological mother, Concubine Xian. The emperor asked his mother to slap Concubine Xian into a pig's head without asking why. After becoming a pig's head, Concubine Xian was pulled to the emperor to be honest Kneeling, at this time, the emperor asked the reason.

Concubine Xian's head was swollen, the corners of her mouth were drooling uncontrollably, and she didn't dare to wipe it off, so she had to lower her head and let her servant answer.

"... Your Majesty said that the Seventh Highness should go down and beg the Emperor. Although there are sacrifices to heaven every year, this year is different. The Seventh Highness replied that if the father agrees, he will go there. If the father does not allow it, it is useless to ask." The empress got angry and said... that the Seventh Prince was too weak..."

The emperor waved his hand and asked people to go down. Looking at the mother and child kneeling in front of him, he became irritable for no reason.As the actual eldest son, the Seventh Prince has a kind personality, but for the emperor, this is a kind of misfortune. All aspiring emperors know that raising a son like a sheep is worse than raising a son like a wolf. Even the concubine Xian can see it , but the Seventh Prince didn't take it seriously.Thinking of this, the emperor sighed and let their mother and son go down.

Concubine Xian's heart turned cold. If the emperor was extremely angry and yelled at someone, no matter who he was scolding, it would not be a big deal. If he was very calm, it can only be said that the emperor has not considered letting the eldest son ascend the throne.

Concubine Xian burst into tears.

Even if you are crying, when the emperor doesn't want to see you, you can't appear in front of him. Someone has already covered her mouth and asked the mother and son to leave.

The emperor's driver arrived at the queen's palace not too long ago. The queen was sitting on the futon, twirling Buddhist beads in her hand, and listening to the emperor with her eyes closed.

"Lao Qi is useless. He is now a boy and a half, and his brothers are all young. If I was like him back then, I would have thought of holding my brothers down to prevent them from getting ahead. He is fine, he is fine, and I can't complain. Concubine Xian is in a hurry."

The queen just listened, the Buddhist beads in her hand were still spinning, and the emperor didn't expect her to answer. He turned his back to the Buddha statue and looked at the courtyard, muttering to himself, "Who should I entrust my country to?"

"One moment and another moment." Lin Daiyu watched her son splashing water in the basin wearing a small belly bag, and said to Wang Xifeng who was sitting beside her, "When the imperial concubine was here, Baoyu was her brother, and now the imperial concubine has long since become a yellow flower of yesterday Besides, it's inappropriate to say the younger brother of a noble concubine. When talking about marriage, this name doesn't work anymore."

"Why don't I know what this means? The old men outside say that people take tea to cool down. It's exactly the same situation as our family at this time. I can't speak, and I haven't read a book. I don't know as much as you, but the old lady , doesn’t my sister know? It’s because she doesn’t like Miss Bao. A few days ago, even her cousin, Miss Qin, came to the house to talk with the old man, so the old lady thought about marrying Miss Qin to Baoyu. Now, the old lady still With the name of a noble concubine, I want to find a girl from a good family for Baoyu to be his wife."

After finishing speaking, he quickly turned his head to look at his son, seeing the little guy lying on his back and sleeping, he felt relieved a lot, "Sister, sister-in-law is also trying to drive ducks to the shelves. For Baoyu's matter, after fighting for so long, no one is willing to take a step back."

Lin Daiyu privately felt that it was enough for her family and Jia's family to be relatives on weekdays, and it was better to forget about things like helping to talk about marriage. "You know, I'm in poor health, and I don't go out to socialize, and I'm young and thin-skinned, and the ladies I know have families now, and our family letter is too young, so it's not easy for me to go out. I have been paying attention to the matter, the two families form a good relationship between Qin and Jin, it depends on fate, and your family also asks people to look around, maybe the fate of the second elder brother will come."

Wang Xifeng knew what she meant, and didn't force her, and he only came here for the sake of looking good.

I've said the purpose of coming here, and now I'm just talking about gossip, Wang Xifeng is a pungent person, and he doesn't pay that much attention, so he directly asked, "Why didn't I see your master, we Fang'er have to pay a visit , don’t just disappear just to save a gift.”

Lin Daiyu covered her mouth with a handkerchief, "I didn't miss out on your family's gift, and you too, you won't suffer. My fourth master went to sacrifice to the heaven with the emperor, so he is really not at home. If he is at home, he must let Fang'er go." See him."

Wang Xifeng also heard about this incident recently, and the private rumors in the Rongguo Mansion were even more uproarious. I heard that the second master hadn't gone out for a long time and said that he wanted to check Baoyu's homework. If you ask, 'all the government houses have gone to sacrifice to heaven, why don't you go if you don't see the government.' At that time, the second master will have no face to see people." Wang Xifeng thought it very well.

"Your fourth master is not honorable. Duke Cheng'en's title belongs to his in-laws. Oh, he must be a beautiful errand accompanying the king."

Lin Daiyu thought for a while, "It's indeed a good job. I heard that he went with him carrying grains, and those two baskets of grains were sacrifices."

When Wang Xifeng heard this, he became more energetic, "Didn't you go by horse or car? Your fourth master is a civil servant, so you must have his sedan chair, no matter how bad you are, you also have a carriage."

"This time I followed the example of the ancients. Except that the emperor had a carriage, the seventh and ninth princes also carried flower baskets and followed them. Not to mention our master, he carried two loads of grain. With two baskets of soil, it will take seven or eight days to walk from the capital to the place.”

Wang Xifeng became even more enthusiastic, "I have lived for so many years, but I have never heard of this kind of ancient ceremony. I heard that my natal family picked up the driver back then. It was very impressive, but compared with this, it is insignificant. Could it be that the gentlemen in the court All on two legs."

"Hmm..." Lin Daiyu didn't know where she found the ancient rituals, so she must suffer, but considering that her husband is young and has a strong body, she is not really worried. "I asked specifically. For all Xungui families, both the head and the young head of the family will go. In the court, the work dispatched is the most noble. For example, Cousin Xun, he picked two baskets of soil, and one basket was Ganzhou Express. It was sent by horses, and one basket was sent by Yizhou. I heard that people from other families also came out to carry soil, but there were not many people. There is one basket of soil in every state in the world. When worshiping heaven, these soils are poured into the big tripod. , the emperor will put a sword on it. Others, either carrying sacrifices or sacrificial vessels, those who have not been sent by the Ministry of Rites can only carry food and grass, which is more tiring than carrying sacrifices. Those older , just follow behind, whoever can't keep up will take the title directly. It's disrespectful to heaven and earth."

Wang Xifeng was elated and envious, "Oh my god, if I were a man, I would also carry the burden. This is grace."

Like parents all over the world, I always hope that my offspring can climb the heights I haven't reached. After finishing speaking, I looked at Jia Fang, who was sleeping like a piglet, "You know our second master, it's hard to have this honor in this life, so we still have to do it." Look at Brother Fang."

No matter how wonderful the outside world is, women in the backyard can't experience it. Wang Xifeng brought the topic back, "You don't know, when I gave birth to him, I almost lost my life. The women at home are not good at it. I made a bowl of soup, but I put in the wrong herbs, I originally wanted to drive people out, but the second wife persuaded me to accumulate blessings for my brother."

As soon as Lin Daiyu heard it, she knew what she meant, she didn't answer the words, and she didn't show any other expressions, just pretending that she didn't understand.

Seeing that the other party didn't answer, Wang Xifeng immediately changed the subject, "But I have something to ask my sister, you must promise me. I heard that an old gentleman surnamed Yao from Uncle Lin's family has settled in the capital. Open the door. Accept apprentices. They say he has the ability. When Fang'er grows up in the future, sister Lin will also help write a letter of recommendation, and it is also Fang'er's blessing to be able to worship Mr. Yao's disciples."

Lin Daiyu agreed as soon as she heard it. It is a good thing for children to study and make progress. It is more convenient than others. It is just a piece of rotten wood. , as long as Mr. Yao still accepts apprentices, I will definitely write this letter, and let our fourth master bring Fang'er to the door in person."

The big stone in Wang Xifeng's heart can only be regarded as letting go. The couple have been planning this matter since the birth of their son, finding a great Confucian to be his son's teacher, and urging him to make progress. At worst, he is the same as Jia Cong. An official, who has no ability to be a petty official, can always hold up the lintel.

Next, I only wish Mr. Yao a long life.