The maid of the red house

Daiyu likes to dress up, and even likes to dress up well. Seeing this, she immediately smiled knowingly.

But Xueyan glared at Hao'er, and said, "Go back with Citron and wash up, don't let the girl see this dirty look as a joke." After all, Hao'er is only three years old and doesn't like to wash up very much. You have to grab her when you get up.

After hearing this, Hao'er had no choice but to follow Citron dejectedly, turning around every step of the way.

Both Xiaolan and Cuiliu got married at the beginning of the year, Xiaolan married Guanyue, and Cuiliu married Shangfeng. Because Zhao Yun was promoted to the first grade, and there were not enough servants in the family, Xueyan bought four maids the year before last. The servants, two housemaids and two gatekeepers, Citron is one of the four maids, and now they are by Holly's side.

Seeing Haoer's pitiful eyes, Daiyu couldn't help asking Xueyan with a smile, "Why hasn't Haoer washed up yet?"

Xueyan invited Daiyu into the house and even ordered the fragrant oranges to make tea. Fang smiled and said, "I was so playful last night and slept an hour later than before, so I got up late this morning. If it weren't for the girl Come, I'm afraid I don't know when she will hide."

Daiyu chuckled, and said, "The few children in our family are not like her, and I don't know who they are like."

Xueyan said: "I don't know, I think it's inborn. I'm fine with everything else, but I'm afraid of washing my face and brushing my teeth. I'm too lazy. Every time I say that my face hurts and my teeth are sore, I have to twist her. Brother Qi has already It’s been half an hour since I woke up to practice calligraphy, but Haoer still refuses to get up.” Although her daughter is pampered, she still teaches Haoer very carefully so as not to spoil her.

But Daiyu said: "Children are tall, it's okay to sleep more, don't be too strict."

Xueyan nodded and said yes, even if Brother Qi got up early, it was already the time of day.

After joking, Daiyufang talked about Mrs. Wang's words yesterday.

Xueyan was stunned, and said: "As Sister Yuanyang said, the second uncle and wife did this on purpose, why should the girl take it to heart. Cause and effect in the world are all indescribable cycles. Like Grandma Shi, there is no one in the world. How much. Our mother Li, and the mother Chen who bought it the year before last, were young widows and sold off by the clan. Mother Chen also had a daughter in front of her, who is Citron who is serving Haoer now. The mother and daughter were born normally, otherwise I don’t know where they were sold.”

Daiyu remained silent, before sighing for a long time: "In this world, after all, it is our women who suffer. The word "son and heir" has harmed so many women in the world, and it has become their crime."

Xueyan sighed, but had nothing to say.

No matter how much dissatisfaction they have in their hearts, the world is like this, and they can't change it with just a few words.

Daiyu suddenly said: "Someone from our family will come to Beijing in two days. Your family's letters and things must be prepared and sent together. In the past two years, Mr. Xue has not traveled between the capital and the city. Although our family has a post station to deliver letters, Inconvenient after all."

Xueyan nodded and said: "It's been prepared long ago, things are just empty, but there are still so many letters this time. Brother Qi has been thinking about big brother since he learned how to read, but he can't see him. I wrote a lot of letters, and asked me every day when I would send them, and when I would receive a reply from my elder brother.” Julien always remembered her two children, and she often reminded them of each other. Even life is very respected.

Daiyu smiled, Zhao Qi was six years old at the end of the year, and had a very high talent in calligraphy, perhaps because of the influence of his ears and eyes from a young age, he was able to calm down when practicing calligraphy. , has been written very neatly, Daiyu thought to herself that when she was five or six years old, she was not as good as him. Although Zhou Xuan was smarter than Zhao Qi, but the characters were not as good as he was when he was this age. , Daiyu often said with a smile that Zhao Qi's achievements in calligraphy in the future must be higher than that of Xueyan.

Zhao Qi was taught by Zhao Yun himself, and Xue Yan often gave pointers beside him, because Zhao Qi had not hired a teacher at this time and was still young, so Xue Yan asked him to write down the big and small events that happened every day, so that he could practice calligraphy. And because Xueyan often talked about Yu Liansheng, she still received letters from Yu Liansheng every year, most of which were for Zhao Qi and Haoer's brother and sister, so Zhao Qi wrote these letters to him.

Speaking of replying, Daiyu said: "Have you heard that something happened to Sister Hui's husband's family, and Sister Hui's father-in-law was dispatched to us, and he just entrusted the letter to our uncle a few days ago, please take care of us. "

Xueyan hurriedly replied: "Why haven't I heard of it? Fortunately, there is a senior scholar Zhang who has made great achievements in the court. I heard that he is exiled, not assassinated." Zhang Hui's father-in-law, Hu Yong, was also a civil servant. Gui, if he is assassinated, even if he recovers in the future, he may not be able to be an official anymore.Xihai Yanzi was originally a place of exile, and many people are sent here every year. Among them, there are also such officials. .

Daiyu shook her head and said, "I'm afraid sister Hui's father-in-law may not be able to recover."

Xueyan was stunned, then sighed: "Young lady is right, accompanying a king is like accompanying a tiger. No one else can guess the heart of a sage. go back."

Zhang Xuan is now an extremely personable minister, with no two in the limelight. The eldest daughter is the daughter-in-law of the princess, and the second daughter married into a high-ranking family. The daughter-in-law is also a daughter-in-law of the government. They also followed the rules and acted without mistakes, but Emperor Changgan did not allow them to grow bigger and bigger, so as not to become the second Rong family.

Although Zhang Hui's husband's family status is higher than that of Zhang's family, his behavior is not as proper as that of Zhang's family. Zhang Xuan has been an official for many years, but he is not a man of ingenuity, nor can he guess the mind of Emperor Changgan. Thousands of miles away, it can be seen that Emperor Changqian intends to deal with it strictly.

Xueyan recalled the news from Yu Liansheng's letters. The Hu family had strict rules and strict rules, and her mother-in-law was also very strict. Zhang Hui did not live very comfortably after entering the house. One daughter survived, but fell ill every day, and I don't know if I can keep it.

Daiyu also knew about this, and sighed: "Although Master Zhang is capable, how can it predict the situation of Sister Hui now? Thinking of the kindness that Master Zhang gave us back then, I am very grateful. I am far away from here. I can’t comfort Sister Hui either. The old sisters were only Sister Yanran, me, Wan’er, Yuan’er, and you who lived a decent and comfortable life. The other sisters are not perfect, but the new sister is better, raising two sons , better than Sister Hui."

Xueyan asked: "I don't know how the general will arrange Mr. Hu?"

Daiyu said: "Mr. Hu is very knowledgeable, but he can't do any heavy work, so I want to ask him to teach a few children to read at home. What do you think? In a few days, I will ask Brother Xuan to take classes with Mr. Hu. If you want , and send Brother Qi there too."

The two families are close, and because although Zhou Xuan is younger than Zhao Qi, he can read and read better than Zhao Qi, and the two of them have the same homework, so Zhou Hong had already discussed with Zhao Yun, and he invited a teacher to teach them to work together. Attend class.

Xueyan pondered for a long time in her heart, then said to Daiyu with a smile: "Of course, this idea is very good, but it's up to our uncle to make the decision." He is very good, and others are not as good as him. He is very smooth and sophisticated in dealing with people, even if he is an exiled prisoner, it doesn't hinder him.

Some of the prisoners exiled here worked in prison camps, some were exiled to the army, and some were used as servants by officials and officials. It was cheaper than buying them. If the family had power, even if they were exiled, they would still eat, drink and have fun.

Daiyu took extra care of Mrs. Wang at the beginning, but now she arranges errands for Hu Yong separately, which is not out of the ordinary. It is commonplace for everyone, but at the beginning, Daiyu could not forgive Mrs. Wang for embezzling a lot of her own property, so she did not take Mrs. Wang to her home to tell the outside world Asking Mrs. Wang to do work at home, even at Zhou's house, even if it's just needlework, is better than washing in a prison camp.

Thinking of this, Xueyan smiled in her heart, not worried that asking Hu Yong to be her husband would cause trouble.

Daiyu said with a smile: "Don't worry, you must ask Mr. Zhao what he means. Although we can teach children by precepts and deeds, who is at home all the time? There are outside things outside, and inside things inside. After all, please let them know." It’s good to be a serious gentleman. Looking around here, gentlemen with Jinshi background are very rare. Those who are not very educated may delay the children. It’s better to invite Mr. Hu. We can explain to the Zhang family, and the two children can also be serious. Isn’t going to school the best of both worlds?”

Xueyan agreed: "Since I have taken care of Mr. Hu, I won't fall into the shoes of others." She has been thinking about asking Brother Qi for a husband. She knows the power of it, and Zhao Yun naturally knows it, so there is no reason not to agree.

Although Emperor Changqian was afraid of the potential for marriage, and Mr. Hu might not be able to recover, but no one can tell what Emperor Changgan meant. Hu Yong was exiled, but his family was safe and sound, with many heirs, including the Zhang family. Yan also wants Zhao Qi to go to school with him.

At this time, there was a burst of laughter outside, the girl opened the curtain, and saw Zhao Qi holding Haoer's little hand, surrounded by girls and servants, Zhao Qi immediately saluted Daiyu in a respectful manner, Said: "I have seen my aunt."

Hao'er followed suit in a similar manner, and said, "Auntie, I miss Auntie so much that my heart hurts."

When Daiyu saw these two beautifully dressed children, her face was already full of smiles, and what she wanted to say earlier had already been forgotten, and she beckoned, "Brother Qi, quickly bring your sister to Auntie."

Zhao Qi and Haoer approached, Daiyu held one in each hand, caressed it for half a day, and said: "Brother Qi is free, go and find your younger brother Xuan, and your younger brother Xuan is lonely at home studying, let's study together tomorrow as companions." .”

Zhao Qi lived in Zhou's house for three or four months a year, so he nodded and agreed with a smile on his face.

Daiyu stayed at Zhao's house for half a day, and brought Zhao Qi and Hao'er with her when she returned.

As soon as she got home, Daiyu asked someone to bring Zhou Xuan out, and she was also happy to see the three children chasing each other, when she suddenly saw Mrs. Wang coming over crying, knelt down on the ground, and said: "I beg Grandma Zhou to be kind, hurry up!" Send someone to find Baoyu."

Seeing her kneeling and kowtowing, Daiyu quickly stood up and let her go, frowned slightly, and ordered someone to take the child down first, before she asked, "What is Second Aunt doing? Second Aunt came last night, and I already I promised my second aunt, what happened to my second elder brother now? Do I have to send someone immediately?"

Mrs. Wang said with tears: "When I returned to the place where I lived, Baoyu was gone."

Seeing that she was crying pitifully, Daiyu sighed and told Yuanyang, "Send a message to the boy outside to find Second Brother."

Yuanyang agreed and went to cook.

After a while, some people came back and forth saying that Baoyu was not found, but some passers-by said that they saw a flower who went to the north. They sent people to chase him for several days but did not find Baoyu. Go, after Mrs. Wang found out, she passed out immediately. When she woke up, she asked doctors and medicines day by day, but she didn't get better.

Although Mrs. Wang said that she had taken good care of herself when she was pampered and cared for her, she had gone through several times of torture and traveled long distances. She was able to endure it because she wanted to be reunited with Baoyu, but she didn't expect Baoyu to leave suddenly, her condition became serious, and she passed away suddenly in late autumn. .

When Xueyan heard about it, she sighed slightly, and went to help Daiyu cook.

After Daiyu took care of Mrs. Wang's funeral, she deposited her coffin in the temple. The family has cleared out the three outer study rooms. The inner room is for Hu Yong to live in, and the outer room is reserved for Hu Yong to teach Zhao Qi and Zhou Xuan's two children to read and write. Hu Yong has heard Zhou Xuan's name for a long time, observed his behavior, judged his talent, he is really different. Although Zhao Qi is not as talented as him, he is also one of the best, so he is very attentive in teaching. He is exiled here, and he does not know when he will be able to return to Beijing. It's better to rely on Zhou's family to live, it's better than doing hard labor.

After Hu Yong settled in Zhou's house, even though he was rich in food and clothing, he was respected by Zhou Hong, but he always said that he was a servant of a criminal official. Words.

Xueyan and Zhao Yun checked Zhao Qi's homework every five days, and they were happy to see that he had improved a lot.

Zhao Yun went to the seaside to train soldiers again that day, because the prince of Nan'an fought against the small countries on the sea and returned home. He was not used to fighting at sea. After Zhou Hong took over the military power in the past few years, he and Zhao Yun took care of the local military affairs, built the city wall, and comforted the soldiers and orphans. While training soldiers and forming naval forces, there were occasional disturbances in several sea nations, but they were all repelled one by one.

This time Zhao Yun accompanied Zhou Hong to the sea, and he went there for three months.

Xueyan had nothing to do, so she went to the temple with several officials and female relatives here to have a wedding ceremony. She has been here for a few years without Mrs. Shen, so she respects Daiyu, and Xueyan's status has also risen accordingly. When she came back at night, she heard that Zhou Bai I was sick, so I didn't have time to change clothes, so I went to visit him.

Zhou Bai was born weak, even though he was very careful, he still fell ill from time to time, and the Zhou family was so busy that they were on their backs. Daiyu was very worried and said with tears: "Brother Bai is like me, he was like this when I was my age, It's my fault."

Zhou Bai had just taken the medicine and was lying in Daiyu's arms with tears still hanging from the corners of his eyes, looking very pitiful.

Seeing Daiyu crying, the eyes of the servant girl beside her were red.

Xueyan hurriedly comforted: "What did the girl say? How can you blame the girl? The girl was weak, but now she has been recuperated? The girl gave birth to two brothers safely. Who said that the girl is weak and sick? Brother Bai is young, People are delicate and delicate, so it's inevitable to struggle a bit, as long as you take the medicine, you'll be fine tomorrow, and if we take good care of Brother Bai, he will be as disease-free and disaster-free as Brother Xuan in the future."

Daiyu whimpered: "I hope so, but seeing Brother Bai suffer, it feels like a knife is cutting my heart."

Xueyan persuaded her in every possible way, then hugged Zhou Bai into her arms again, and took the pulse carefully. Daiyu watched intently, and when she finished taking the pulse, she hurriedly asked, "How is Brother Bai?"

Xueyan hurriedly said: "Miss, don't worry, the medicine prescribed by the doctor is very appropriate." Although she knew some superficial medical skills, she was not good at all. She only knew that Zhou Bai was congenitally deficient, but she dared not use it. The truth is that medicine is three-point poisonous, but Zhou Bai was seriously ill and could only use medicine. She thought that Zhao Yun's medical skills were extremely high, so she hurriedly ordered someone to deliver the letter, hoping that Zhao Yun would return soon.

Daiyu became more and more worried, and said in a low voice: "They have gone to sea, how can they receive any news."

Xueyan was speechless, the training of the sailors was very rigorous, even they didn't know where the navy fleet was at sea.

Dai Yufang stopped her tears when it was reported that Zhou Xuan and Zhao Qi were coming.

Zhao Qi wiped Daiyu's tears with a handkerchief, and said, "Don't worry, Auntie, Brother Bai will be fine."

Zhou Xuan also stepped forward and said such words, Daiyu's heart warmed up, she nodded and remained silent.

Zhou Bai originally suffered from insufficiency, and this illness lasted for two or three months. At the end of winter, there were several adventures on the way. Keeping on, people lost a lot of weight. It was so easy to save Zhou Bai's life, even the doctor was astonished.

Xueyan had quite a lot of experience in taking care of Daiyu in the past, so she stayed at Zhou's house to take care of Zhou Bai, and gradually recovered.

Seeing Xueyan like this, Daiyu was very grateful.

It was heard that Zhou Bai was seriously ill and his life was almost at risk. All kinds of medicinal materials and supplements came to the mansion like flowing water, and the female relatives of various families also came to visit in person. Daiyu only saw a few families, and the rest were recommended in the name of taking care of Zhou Bai. up.

At that time, Yu Liansheng received their letters, and so did the Zhou family, but they didn't know about Zhou Bai's illness.

Seeing the heavy snow falling outside, Mrs. Zhou added the things Daiyu sent to her daughter's dowry list, Fang turned to Zhou Yuan and said, "My daughter-in-law Hong gave a lot of things to Yan'er."

Zhou Yuan stood in front of the window watching the snow, heard the sound without turning his head, and said, "Since it is Hong'er's wife's wish, Yan'er should accept it."

Mrs. Zhou nodded, planning to bring Daiyu a lot of things when the visitor came back, thinking about this year's income for a while, and said: "My daughter-in-law's income in the past few years has already reached 6 to [-] taels of silver. Should I ask someone to send it to them, or should I still stay at home? They are over there, and they don’t know when they will come back, so they should have some money.”

Daiyu followed Zhou Hong along the West Sea, and it was better to buy some foreign goods there than in the capital. In the past few years, she prepared a dowry for Zhou Yan. Many things were bought by Daiyu there, and it cost 1 taels. Silver can buy five to sixty thousand taels of things in the capital.Mrs. Zhou thought that Daiyu had given birth to two sons safely, and she was still young. If she had a daughter in the future, she would have to save a dowry first. I heard that Xueyan had already started saving a dowry for Haoer, so Daiyu had to have money around her. make.

Zhou Yan's wife, Wang Shi, entered the family for three or four years, and gave birth to two daughters, one of whom died young, and now she is pregnant with another child. Madam Zhou didn't say anything, but her heart was inevitably biased towards Daiyu, after all, Daiyu gave birth to two grandchildren.

Zhou Yuan turned around and said, "It's okay to send it, it just takes some effort."

Mrs. Zhou said with a smile: "There are so many people in our family, why are we afraid of spending any effort? Besides, there are domestic servants and official servants, and they have to send military pay at the beginning of the year. Why don't we exchange the silver for gold and take them there together, escorted by the official servants?" , not afraid of accidents."

Zhou Yuan said: "Clean up, I will arrange for my family to go with me when the military pay is delivered in spring."

Mrs. Zhou answered with a smile.

Early the next morning, Mrs. Zhou sent someone to exchange the silver into gold, but Zhou Yuan went to the court. Today, the case of Jia Yucun was settled, and Emperor Changgan approved his dismissal, confiscated his whole family, and exiled him in southern Guangdong to escort Jia Yucun. One of the official messengers who reported on Jia Yucun was said to be the mentor who gave advice in the gourd case back then, and came to avenge Jia Yucun's punishment of him out of nothing after the incident.

Zhou Yuan sighed secretly: "The law of heaven recurs, and the retribution is not good."

Jia Yucun fell today, did he ever think that he would be the enemy he made back then?

Menzi looked stern, and escorted Jia Yucun on the road. Jia Yucun was carrying the shackles, staggered, and almost fell. He looked at Menzi, and Menzi sneered, saying: "Master Jia, you didn't expect today's disaster, right?"

Jia Yucun walked on the snow with one foot deep and one foot shallow, and remained silent. He really did not expect that the door would appear in front of him.After he became an official, he enjoyed all the glory and wealth all his life. When he went out, he always sat in a big sedan chair and was carried by others.Hearing Menzi's words, he felt cold all over his body.At that time, he disliked his small official position, flattered his horse and flirted with his beard, servilely, and did a lot of things in order to get promoted, but today he became a prisoner.

After walking in the snow for half a day, Jia Yucun suddenly raised his head and stared at the person standing by the roadside without taking his eyes off him. Although his body was covered with wind and frost, he vaguely recognized that it was Jia Baoyu.

Menzi glanced at it, but didn't recognize it, so he pushed and shouted, "What are you dawdling about?"

Seeing Jia Yucun's end, Baoyu laughed out loud, and the laughter resounded throughout the world. He walked into the distance and sang in his mouth: "For the rich, the gold and silver will be scattered; for the gracious, escape from death; for the ruthless, Clear retribution. Those who owe their lives have already paid back their lives; those who owe their tears have already used up their tears. It is not trivial to repay the injustice, and separation and reunion are all pre-determined. If you want to know your fate, ask your previous life. It is really a fluke when you are old and rich. If you see through, escape into Buddhism. ;Those who are obsessed have lost their lives in vain. It's like throwing a bird into the forest after eating all the food. It's so clean to leave a piece of white land!"

The sky and the earth are connected into one piece, surrounded by snow-white, boundless.