The maid of the red house

The post that the servant girl handed to Xueyan was actually a post from the Tang family of the imperial merchant, and the person who came was the wife of the imperial merchant of the Tang family.

Although Xueyan didn't know anyone from the imperial merchant's Tang family, nor had any contact with them, except for Xue's family, all she knew were families of high-ranking officials and dignitaries, but she heard from Yu Liansheng that the servants working under the household department now The Tang family, Li family and Miao family of the imperial merchants were all on business for Emperor Changqian. Recently, the things in the tribute palace were not as high as in previous years, tens or even hundreds of times higher than the market price.

Mrs. Tang supported the servant girl's hand, walked up to Xueyan, blessed her body, her eyes showed gratitude, and said: "Grandma Zhao, thank you for saving Yu Xiaoer's life."

Xueyan came back to her senses, quickly returned the salute, and said: "Mrs. Tang, I don't understand why."

After finishing speaking, he hurriedly said: "Look at me, I almost forgot the way of hospitality, Mrs. Tang please go inside, if you have anything to say, go inside."

Mrs. Tang smiled slightly, followed the snow geese in, and sat down in the hall after guests and hosts were divided.

Zhao Yun has already avoided it, and only reads in the study.

Xueyan called Xiaolan to make tea, which was the first-class tribute tea given by Daiyu.

Mrs. Tang smelled the aroma, and said: "Grandma Zhao is very elegant, this kind of tea is even better when paired with this kind of cup."

Xueyan was taken aback, and said with a smile, "Mrs. Tang is too much."

Mrs. Tang sighed, and said: "I'm so reckless today, I wonder if I've disturbed Grandma Zhao's cleanliness?"

Xueyan hurriedly smiled and said: "Nothing, I usually have nothing to do at home. When Mrs. Tang comes over, I think our poor family has added a lot of glory."

Mrs. Tang heard that she was speaking very cleverly, she couldn't help smiling, and then said with red eyes: "It's just that if I don't come, I really can't bear it. A few days ago, the Zhongshun Palace caught a few kidnappers and rescued many children. Send someone there, thanks to the blessing of the heavens, there is a brother who our family lost for several months."

When Xueyan heard this, she knew why she came, and asked with concern, "Is brother alright?"

Mrs. Tang said: "I have been raised by kidnappers for several months, and have been beaten for several months. I don't eat well, I don't sleep well, how can I get better? It turned out that on the Lantern Festival, several children were arguing to go to the Lantern Festival. Our family rules are not as strict as those of the big family, so our master took them there, followed by countless servants, and the younger ones were hugged and protected by several servants. Unexpectedly, there were so many people on the Lantern Festival, crowded and beaten, unlucky There was an accident on the way, crowded with people, and they were scattered by mistake. It was easy to find it, but only my youngest son was lost, and even the servant who was holding him was gone. I have been looking for it for several months , where is there a shadow? I was crying so hard. Later, I found that boy and beat him to death. Then I realized that when the chaos broke out that day, someone snatched my brother from his arms and ran away. , I didn’t catch up and didn’t dare to come back. The heavens have eyes, and my brother was actually among the children rescued by the Zhongshun Palace a few days ago.”

Xueyan comforted: "Mrs. Tang, please don't be sad. It's a great fortune to be able to find it. Brother has already been found, and the family will take care of him in the future. Don't be so careless again. This time it will be fine." Ji who is loyal to the prince may not be like this next time."

Kidnappers can be seen everywhere in this world, if you lose a child, you blame the kidnappers for their viciousness, and you have to blame the parents for their negligence.Prince Zhongshun arrested more than a dozen kidnappers and rescued dozens of children. Now it is not known how many children these kidnappers have kidnapped and sold. It can be seen that kidnappers are indeed the most hateful people in the world, and they really deserve to be cut to pieces.

Xueyan told herself secretly that she must be very careful when she has a child in the future.

When Mrs. Tang spoke, tears flowed down unconsciously. After listening to Xueyan's words, she quickly wiped her tears with a handkerchief, and said, "Grandma is right. I was bitten by a snake for a year and afraid of the well rope for ten years. I don't dare Let the child go out. The son went to Zhongshun Palace to thank you, and the princess said that these are all thanks to Mr. Zhao and grandma, but the outside world didn't know, so I came here to thank grandma."

When Princess Zhongshun mentioned Xueyan, Mrs. Tang knew a little about it, so she naturally understood, and she vaguely heard that Xueyan had rescued the child who was kidnapped by a kidnapper in Ning'an County.

Xueyan smiled and said: "I don't have any merit, it's just what the princess said on purpose."

Mrs. Tang also smiled, and said, "If it wasn't for grandma, how could I have caught the kidnapper, I should be thankful."

Xueyan understood what they were thinking, and if she didn't accept their thanks, they might feel even more frightened. Therefore, after listening to Mrs. Tang's words, she smiled slightly, but felt at ease.

When Mrs. Tang was speaking, she took a look at the layout of the hall calmly. She saw that the hall was not very big, and the layout was elegant. There were all tables, chairs, tea and bowls. Although the banners and pairs hung in the middle hall were not painted by famous artists, But it doesn't give up too much, there is a long table under it, and there are flowers on the tripod, except for that, there is nothing else.

Mrs. Tang said with a smile: "This painting is really good, and the calligraphy is also good. After tidying up like this, it will look even more beautiful."

Xueyan just smiled when she heard this, and said modestly: "It's all my husband's scribbles, I'm laughing at you."

The middle hall was drawn by Zhao Yun, but the pair was written by himself. Neither of them signed it, and hung it in front of the hall. Because Bajing Town is not like the capital, and they are not a big family, they hung it up in a grandiose manner.

Mrs. Tang said with a smile: "I heard that Mr. Zhao is full of knowledge. When I saw this calligraphy and painting today, he really lived up to his reputation."

Hearing her praise Zhao Yun, Xueyan smiled and said: "If you are too famous, you are better than illiterate peasants."

Mrs. Tang said: "Grandma is too modest, how can the master of Juren be better than the peasants? Our master also admires Mr. Zhao, but regrets that he has no luck to make friends with."

Although the Tang family is an imperial merchant, they are not as noble as Juren, and probably not as wealthy as salt merchants. They are only higher than ordinary merchants. Most dignitaries, dignitaries and scholars do not like to associate with them. Merchants, although there are many families of officials and officials, but none of them come from such noble backgrounds. Mrs. Tang came to thank them today. First, Xue Yan has been kind to them, and second, she wants to make friends with Xue Yan. I heard that her old master's father-in-law Then he is in charge of the Ministry of Households, and it is beneficial and harmless to make friends with him.

Although Daiyu and Xueyan are masters and servants, they are as close as sisters, and they still visit each other frequently, and no one in the capital knows about it.

Mrs. Tang heard Princess Zhongshun's compliments on Xueyan, so she knew that this girl was capable and blessed in the future. Although she didn't ask for any kindness, she got her benefits. As a family, she will always take care of her descendants in the future, and the Zhao family is also a farming and studying family, so it is not impossible to teach another young man to be a man.

Therefore, Mrs. Tang was a little more kind and cautious in her words.

Xueyan had noticed it since Mrs. Tang entered the door, but she didn't feel disgusted. Isn't this how people live?There is no good or bad for no reason in the world, and they didn't step on themselves to climb up anyway.The contacts of the mistress of each boudoir come from this way. Thinking back, she tried every means to persuade Daiyu to make friends with others, isn't it the same?

So Xueyan said with a smile: "my husband is teaching at home and doesn't go to Beijing very often. If he sees the mansion, he will definitely not look at him coldly."

After hearing her words, Mrs. Tang was overjoyed immediately, and hurriedly said: "I can't have banquets and music now, but if I miss grandma, I will send someone to invite grandma, grandma must not say no."

Xueyan said: "Don't worry, it's too late for me to be happy."

Mrs. Tang was very happy.

After speaking again, Mrs. Tang got up to leave, and then said to the maid: "Hongshan, bring the things in."

The maid who had given Xueyan the message earlier agreed, and went out for a while, those maids and servants who were standing under the car and didn't follow in came in one after another, holding, hugging, or carrying, bringing in many things, all of which were dazzling .

Seeing this, Xueyan sighed, and before she could refuse, she heard Mrs. Tang say, "I came here in a hurry today, and I didn't prepare a big gift. Please accept some frivolous things, grandma."

After hearing this, Xueyan thanked her with a smile, but she was not pretentious.

Mrs. Tang fell in love with her again, and after saying goodbye again, she helped the maid to go out, and Xueyan personally sent her out, leaving behind Xiaolan and Cui Liu to lead everyone to move things into Xueyan's room, and the group waited for release. Good thing, then leave.

Xueyan sent Mrs. Tang back, approached the room, looked at the things on the table on the couch, shook her head and smiled.

The Tang family is an imperial merchant, ten times better than the Xue family, so poor that only money is left.

Xiaolan handed it over with the gift list, Xueyan looked at it, but it was six pieces of silk and satin of various colors, six pieces of makeup pythons of various colors, six pieces of gauze of various colors, six pieces of silk silk of various colors, a mirror box carved with huanghuali wood, and a palace There are two boxes of flowers, and eight boxes of snacks inside. In addition, there are hibiscus mats, fans, incense sticks, rings and other occasional items.

Xueyan saw that the mirror case was carved very delicately, with a Jiangnan charm, and liked it, so she sat on the couch, moved the mirror case to her lap, opened it, and was startled when she saw it. There was a diorama embedded in the case. It is not rare for the Tang family. Among them, there is a whole set of ebony inlaid gold combs and other things, but in the lower drawers there are two strings of agate, two pearls, a pair of white jade bracelets, a pair of jasper pendants, and two pairs of red gold bracelets. , a pair of pomegranate flowers inlaid with red and green gemstones are very unique, while the other pair are inlaid with dazzling diamonds, both of which are rare.

Xueyan shook her head and smiled, not paying attention.

With their identities, money and things are the lightest gifts.

Until Zhao Yun came in, saw these things, and asked in surprise, Xue Yanfang came back to his senses, and said: "The Zhongshun Palace rescued many children, and the children of the Tang family of the Emperor Shang were among them. Their wife heard According to Princess Zhongshun, I came here specially."

As he spoke, he picked up an agate string and put it on his wrist, showed it to Zhao Yun, and said with a smile, "Does it look good?"

The whole body of the agate is bright red, against the snow-white part of the wrist, it is as clear as a red plum in the snow, showing a charming and coquettish figure. Zhao Yun's heart was moved when he saw it, his eyes softened, and he said with a smile, "It's very beautiful."

Xueyan didn't take it off, but put on another string.

Zhao Yun looked at it for a while, saw her get up to pack her things, and locked the land deed, and asked, "What are your plans for the land you bought?"

When mentioning this matter, Xueyan closed her frown and said: "I don't know. The land under the West Mountain is better. It is said that they are all old tenants. They choose a head of the village and send them every year. Those lands in the south of the Yangtze River, you How do I get there?"

She is usually bright and bright, but today's expression made Zhao Yun feel amused, and said with a smile: "I will go to Zhuangzi in Xishan tomorrow. It's good to be close, so I often go to see it. As for those in Jiangnan, Mr. Zhou The family has a lot of land, and people have to be sent to take it over, so I will go there with them, rent it out, and choose a village head manager, and send the renter to Beijing every September and October, which is also cheap."

Xueyan didn't take care of these things before, knowing that the land in the south of the Yangtze River is far away from the capital, and it is not easy, so after hearing this, she said: "That's fine, I still have two hundred acres of land in the south. Let me see, it's far away from here. The Zhuangzi I bought back is not very far away, and the land in the Zhuangzi is not collected in one place, but scattered in different places. If you go, simply take over it together, and you don’t have to bother Grandma Zhou in the future.”

Zhao Yun nodded and agreed, Xueyan couldn't come forward for these matters, so naturally he had to take care of them.

Early the next morning, Zhao Yun took the two servants to Xishan as expected.

It was the middle of May at that time, and the weather was hot. Xueyan was idle at home and didn't want to go out, so she took out the unfinished white peony, and said with some regret: "If it can be used in March and April, it will be used now." We'll have to wait until next spring to use it."

Xiaolan pursed her lips and said with a smile: "At the beginning, grandma said that it would be finished in a month."

Xueyan glanced at her, washed her hands, picked up the needle and thread, and made a few petals, then saw Douzi poking her head in. Seeing this, Xueyan waved, "Come in, who brought you here? Dare you come out by yourself?" ?”

At the end of April, Douzi got two sets of clothes she made, one of which was wearing red and green trousers, which made her look even more beautiful. She ran to Xueyan, raised her face and smiled and said, "Auntie, Dad sent me here. Auntie's door, dad went back."

After hearing this, Xueyan felt relieved, asked Xiaolan to bring him some snacks, pinched his puffy cheeks from eating the snacks, and said: "In the future, don't go out without an adult with you. There are a lot of kidnappers, and they are very bad, and you don't know people, you can't go with them, do you hear?"

Dou Zi seemed to understand, but only nodded and ate his snacks.

Xueyan’s family keeps melons and fruits and snacks, one is for the students who come to class at home, and the other is that she loves to eat melons and fruits, but the children in the neighbors like to eat snacks and candied fruit. Generous, so they all like to come to her house to play games, but Xueyan doesn't get bored, and often wraps a few pieces of snacks for them when they leave.

After Douzi finished his snacks, Xueyan fed him a few sips of tea, filled him with a bagful of candied fruit, and sent him back.

At the same time, Xueyan ordered Xiaolan and Cuiliu to pick out a piece of gauze, a piece of lollipop, and two boxes of snacks from the things sent by the Tang family, a collar of hibiscus mats, and another took four palace flowers. in the back.

Xueyan took Dou Zi's hand and went to Zhao's old house first.

Mrs. Mi was taking Zhao Wei to enjoy the shade at the door. Seeing her coming, she glanced at the things Xiaolan and Cui Liu were holding, stood up hurriedly, and said with a smile on her face: "Sister-in-law is here, come in quickly, It's very hot outside, come in and eat a piece of watermelon."

Xueyan asked: "Are the old man and the old lady at home?"

Mi Shi opened the door and replied: "The old man went to Zhenxi to chat with people, but the old lady is at home."

Hearing the voice, Mrs. Zhao came out holding Niu's hand. She was very happy to see Xueyan, and said with a smile: "It's such a hot day, why are you here? Come in quickly."

Xueyan followed into the house, Fang smiled and said: "I got some things yesterday and brought them to my grandfather and grandmother."

Mrs. Zhao hurriedly asked what it was, Xueyan asked Xiaolan and Cui Liu to bring it up, pointed to the hibiscus mat, and said: "This is a hibiscus mat, and it's also a summer mat. It's just right for this kind of weather, and it's better than ordinary ones."

Mrs. Zhao only thought the hibiscus pattern on it was very beautiful, and said to Buddha, "What kind of rare things are these?"

Xueyan smiled and said: "It's just a mat, what's so rare? The old man and the old lady felt cool, so they used it for its usefulness. These are two boxes of snacks, which are rare and rare. The old man and the old lady should try it for a while. That piece of yarn and a piece of lollipop are good materials for making summer clothes, and the old man and the old lady, as well as uncles, aunts, brothers and sisters, all make two sets of clothes, which are cooler than silk and satin."

Niu looked at it for a while, and praised it for a while, remembering yesterday that someone said that a group of people were looking for Xueyan, so he asked, "Is it sent by someone yesterday? I haven't seen it in the county." Such a good thing."

Xueyan glanced at her, not wanting to show off how rare it was, so she just nodded and smiled, "It was just given to me yesterday."

The old lady Zhao hurriedly said: "Since it is for you, you can keep it. You and Yun'er make clothes to wear, why send them to us?"

Xueyan comforted her with a smile: "Don't worry, old lady, there are still some at home. I also kept some. I will give some to my grandfather and grandmother when I get home later. It is also a kind heart."

Seeing her filial piety, Mrs. Zhao would always send some good things when she got something good, and she was happy in her heart, which showed on her face.

Xueyan pointed to the four palace flowers and smiled at Mi Shi: "This is a new style in the capital. It is more delicate than the flowers we make ourselves. I took two bright red ones and two pink ones and gave them to my younger brothers and sisters." Put it on."

Seeing that the palace flowers were very delicate, the red ones were like pomegranates, and the pink ones were like peaches. They were so lifelike that they didn't realize that they liked them very much. The watermelon in the water was cut and brought over, and said: "Sister-in-law, try the watermelon we grow at home. There is not much rain this year, so the watermelon is sweet."

Xueyan first gave a piece to Mrs. Zhao, then gave up to Niu, and then gave a piece to Douzi, so Fang ate one for herself.

After eating the watermelon, washing his hands, and chatting with Mrs. Zhao, Niu Shiyin asked, "Who came here yesterday? Such a big show, and so many things."

Xueyan smiled slightly, and said: "It's the wife of the Royal Merchant from the household department who brought her internal funds to buy things, and she came to thank you."

Mrs. Zhao hurriedly asked: "Thank you? Thank you for what?"

Xue Yan and Zhao Yun saved Hou Bao, they did not publicize it, nor did they tell Mr. Zhao and Mrs. Zhao. After hearing this, they just smiled and said: "Mrs. Tang thinks I have done a great favor to their family, so I came to thank you , nothing."

Mrs. Zhao said: "Although our family is a scholar's family, the imperial merchants have a high status and they all work for the palace."

Xueyan nodded and smiled, now it is said that scholars, farmers, and businessmen, but the imperial merchants are above the agricultural and industrial workers, their status is not as low as imagined, everything needed by the imperial palace, the court, etc. is compradored by the imperial merchants, from bricks, tiles, wood From rouge pollen to rouge pollen, it is all managed by the household department, which is extremely important. Therefore, imperial merchants are easily involved in court disputes, and often affect the whole body.

After leaving Zhao's old house, she sent Dou Zi back home. Seeing this, Dou Mu said, "This child has been arguing to go to your place early in the morning. I'm afraid it will disturb your cleanliness?"

Dou Zi ate his face full of crumbs and turned his head away.

Xueyan smiled and said, "I'm deserted at home, but Douzi felt more lively in the past."

When she was leaving, Mother Douzi sent her out, and hurriedly said: "I just picked watermelons, and I packed a load for you. I saw that you might not be able to pick them up, so I will ask Daddy Douzi to deliver them to you later."

Favors come and go, Xueyan didn't refuse, and said with a smile: "Everyone said that this year's watermelon is good, I'm just waiting to eat my sister-in-law's."

After hearing this, Mother Dou became happy.

Xueyan returned home, packed up the same things as the Zhao family, and went to the Han family. There were four more Dugong flowers and one more gauze. The Han family had more than the Zhao family. The Han Qingshan couple, the Han Fei couple, and The two grandchildren and daughters-in-law naturally used a lot, and they were closer to the Han family than the Zhao family. Zhao Yun and his grandfather's family had a deeper relationship than the old house, so Xueyan was naturally a little closer to the Han family.

Seeing her, Mother Han laughed before she could speak, and said, "Why didn't Brother Yun come with you?"

Xueyan sat beside the old lady, explained the things to Han Fei's wife, Fang smiled and said: "We bought a few acres of land in Xishan, and I can't go there, so he will take care of it."

Before saying a word, Mother Han was so happy that she didn't know what to do, and then she became worried again, saying: "When did you buy the land again? You just got married, and there is not much money left in the family. After buying the land, what will happen in the future?" Expenses? Daughter-in-law Fei, after a while you will pack up some food for the family and send it to the couple."

Han Fei's wife agreed.

Xueyan hurriedly comforted her: "There is still money at home, so why bother my grandmother and aunt? I bought the land with my dowry money, and I also wanted to make more money. It is better to leave it behind than a few taels of silver. "

Mother Han suddenly remembered the generous dowry of Xueyan, she felt relieved, and asked, "But it's under Yun'er's name? You don't have to pay taxes."

Xueyan shook her head and said, "I never let go."

Han's mother was anxious, and said, "Why is this? You don't have to pay taxes under Brother Yun's name, wouldn't you earn more?"

Xueyan said: "Grandmother doesn't know his temperament? He is a scholar and always has a temper. Besides, we don't pay taxes on ten hectares of land, so we don't care about it. This time we paid taxes on the land we bought. The income is less, but he feels in his heart that he has done his best for the country, and he feels better, and I am also happy to see it."

Mother Han sighed: "True two stupid children with solid eyes. There are so many scholars in the world vying to make progress. Isn't it for the benefit of being better than the peasants? Scholars are exempted from corvee, and recruits are exempted from taxes. But you have the benefits. occupy."

Their family's land is all under Zhao Yun's name, which can save a lot of taxes every year.

Xueyan smiled lightly, there are always many persistence in life, even if these persistence are not worth mentioning in the eyes of others.

It has been two or three days since Zhao Yun came back, and he finally rented out [-] hectares of land. Because the rent collected by his family was [-] to [-]% less than that of Zhen's family, many old tenants were willing to renew the lease, at least rent More than a dozen mu of land, up to thirty or fifty mu, after signing the contract, the village head was elected as the head of the village, and the rent would be sent to them every year in the future.

After hearing this, Xueyan poured tea for him and said with a smile, "Thank you, Mr. Juren, for a visit."

Zhao Yun took the tea bowl and said, "What do you and I divide?"

After eating tea, Xueyan took out a moon-white dress and said, "I'll make you a suit in these two days, try it."

Zhao Yun changed into it immediately, ironing all the posts, and everything fit well.

Xue Yan was also wearing a moon-white gauze shirt, a white silk skirt, and her dark hair tied in a bun. She didn't wear any jewelry, and only had a white jade bracelet on her wrist. The two of them looked at each other and smiled, and sat down Play chess under the shade of flowers.

Xiaolan cut up the watermelon and brought it up, Xueyan didn't eat it, but picked up a sunspot, thought for a moment, and landed on the chessboard.Xueyan has played countless times with Daiyu, and has memorized many chess records, but now it is quite difficult to play with Zhao Yun. Every move needs to be thought about for a long time, lest one move is wrong, and the whole game will be lost.

Although Zhao Yun knew that Xueyan was good at this skill, he was still surprised that he was able to compete with him.

Xueyan had a hard time playing chess with him, why not himself.

The two fought fiercely on the chessboard, one was pressing every step of the way, the other was defending everywhere, one was unexpected, and the other was adapting to the situation. The flower shadows fell on the faces of the two, but they showed a solemn and solemn momentum.

Zhao Yun didn't dare to take it lightly, he suddenly saw the snow geese drop a blow, he was caught off guard, and immediately counterattacked, but then he was startled, picked up a piece of sunspot that was stuffed to death by himself, and said: "Are you putting it to death and then reborn?"

Xueyan was surprised: "You have reacted?"

Zhao Yun shook his head and smiled wryly, "It's too late to react, so I have no regrets."

Xueyan waited for him to finish picking up the sunspots that had been killed, and dropped one with a smile. After a few more tricks, he really ate half of Zhao Yun's kingdom.

Zhao Yun knew that he would be defeated, so he didn't show any signs of dejection. He picked up the chess pieces and said, "Madam is very good at chess. I'm willing to bow down to my husband. Today, I will serve tea and water for Madam, sitting on the saddle and behind the horse."

Xueyan gave a chuckle, sat upright in her seat, and said: "Then make tea, make good tea."

Zhao Yun asked someone to bring the stove, and sure enough, he cooked tea himself, handed a cup to Xueyan, and said: "How did you play this chess today? Killing the enemy by one thousand and destroying eight hundred? lost heavily."

Xueyan took a sip of tea carefully, and said: "Since the winner is decided, it can't be unscathed."

Zhao Yun made himself a bowl of tea and said, "Even so, the loss is too heavy."

But Xueyan said: "If we can have peace, what's the harm in losing it? It's like what our master left for the girl. If it wasn't for the fact that so many things went into everyone's south middle school, how could we leave the girl's dowry. But this method You can’t generalize, it’s all about things outside the body, if it’s on the battlefield, even if you can win, what joy is there? You must gain the greatest benefit with the smallest loss.”

Only when you give up can you get something. Lin Ruhai is willing, so Daiyu has something.

Zhao Yun saw her in high spirits, looking forward to the brilliance between her eyebrows and eyes, couldn't help smiling, with countless springs in his heart, just about to say something, he heard a student in front of him asking about homework, yesterday Guanyue first sent a message saying that when he came back today, the students would Come to class.

Zhao Yun went over, leaving Xueyan alone looking at Fenglu and smiling.

Although the time is so easy to pass, it will be the end of the month in a blink of an eye.The crimes of the Rong family have been brought down, not much better than the fate of the Zhen family. Rong Kui bestowed a piece of white silk, and the family members of the rest of the children are still in prison, because they have done so many things that it is difficult to find out all of them in a short time. Therefore, for the time being, although the property confiscated from his family is not as good as that of the Zhen family, it is still the same. How can a family property of tens of millions not be astonishing?

Emperor Changqian smiled angrily, and made up his mind to clean up the court and get rid of these silverfish.

The servants of the Rong family were not taken into custody, and thousands of servants had nowhere to place them. After the house was confiscated, they were immediately sold by officials. There were also dozens of servants who were rewarded as meritorious officials by Emperor Changqian. There are lives.

Emperor Changqian dealt with many courtiers one after another, and the people in the capital were panicked.

Xueyan heard that Daiyu had suffered from heatstroke, so she went to visit, but Aunt Xue came to pay her respects with Baochai. When she met, she had to say hello.

Daiyu was entertaining guests in the main room, leaning on the cool pillow, her face was not sick, but her complexion was a bit weak, she looked weak, but when she saw this, she was partial to the snow geese, so she smiled and said: "It's a coincidence, you are all guests. Sit down quickly. It's very hot today, and I don't know how many droughts have occurred outside. Seeing that you are sweating profusely, Zijuan, I invited Xueyan to wash your face."

Zijuan agreed, and said to Xueyan, "Come with me."

Xueyan followed with a smile, washed her face, opened Daiyu's dowry, and tidied things up.

Daiyu said to Aunt Xue and Baochai: "Everything outside is handled by men, and I never asked about it. Besides, it is our master who is in charge of the royal merchants of the household department. How can I speak? As long as Uncle Xue does his best If you divide the land and run the errands assigned by the household department well, so that the adults in the household department are satisfied, are you afraid that there will be no good errands in the future?"

Aunt Xue's eyes turned red, and she said: "Where does my aunt know, the emperor's mission is not easy now, there is not much interest, and the money and grain issued by the household department have decreased by an unknown amount compared with previous years, and there is not even a cent of the old one."

Daiyu said with a smile: "Usually, I don't know how much money is handed out, but now I hear that the imperial treasury has reduced a lot of expenditures, but they can buy the same things as before. Usually, an egg sent to the palace costs a lot. It costs a few tens of taels of silver, but now a few pennies are enough. I think it was because the internal funds were unreasonable in the past, so we had to change them one by one. Since the household department has changed, my aunt's family will follow suit."

After hearing this, Aunt Xue was shocked.

Baochai's eyes were hesitant, and she hurriedly asked, "Is what my sister said true? Are they all reduced?"

Daiyu glanced at her and said with a smile: "Can I still tell a lie? The sage is frugal, and he doesn't know how much money he can save in a year. He found that there are many hidden places in the household errands throughout the ages. It is a good thing to change it. It is a great good for the country and the people." Daiyu also had something in her heart and did not say it, but she knew that Aunt Xue and Baochai must understand that although this matter is a great good for the country and the people, it is not a good thing for an imperial merchant. The money has been greatly reduced.

Therefore, Aunt Xue and Baochai have come to her today.

Zhou Yuan was in charge of the household department, and was forced by Emperor Changqian to be frugal everywhere. Zhao Yun came up with a plan, asking him to call all the royal merchants to come over when purchasing things for the palace and the court, and let them each offer a reasonable price. , Whoever offers the lowest price and is very reasonable will take over the purchase.

At the same time, as Zhou Yuan said, he will send someone to take care of them, so there is no need to manage them layer by layer, saving a lot of time and money.

When the royal merchants heard this, Fang smiled a little.

The Tang family, the Li family and the Miao family are all members of Emperor Changqian, so they naturally knew that Emperor Changgan wanted to reduce various expenditures and return the court to a clean slate, so they honestly set prices, all of which were twice the market price, but higher than previous years. It has been lowered countless times. Fortunately, it is not like in previous years, and the price will not be raised layer by layer.

Back then, the imperial merchants quoted ten pennies for things that cost one penny, and the officials in charge of the matter reported up to one hundred pennies. When reported to the palace, it was 100 taels of silver, and the extra was embezzled by them.

Zhou Yuan was originally a scholar, so there was no room for it, so he took great efforts to rectify it.

Therefore, the Xue family still offered the old price, so there was no bird screen to be selected.

Baochai was a smart woman, so she understood Daiyu's meaning in an instant. She secretly thought that if this happened, the family would have nothing to gain, so she could only say: "Thank you sister for reminding me. I will discuss it with my mother when I go back. It's just me. My brother is honest and sincere, so I asked my younger sister Lin to speak kindly in front of Mr. Zhou, so as to keep our family's status as a householder in charge of money and food."

Daiyu dared to agree, and said with a smile: "Uncle Xue has a good job, so naturally he won't be excused."

Baochai sighed, and said in a low voice: "In the past few years, many imperial merchants have come from behind. This year, our family has no one to buy rouge, pollen, silk, satin, flowers, wood, bricks and stones. We buy melons, fruits, vegetables, chickens and ducks in the palace. The errand of fish meat is even more missed."

Although Daiyu had known for a long time that the Xue family's business was gradually depleted and the family was in decline, she still couldn't help sighing after hearing this.

Xueyan came out and said: "Could it be that the business of Miss Bao's family is only concerned with the palace? Even if it is not in the palace, there are usually countless businesses! I only found out after meeting the wife of the Tang family a few days ago that the business of the imperial merchants is also very important." It’s not just for the palace.”

Baochai heard this and said, "Although our family has business, it's not as respectable as the palace."

Xueyan agrees very much, Xue family's decency lies in the imperial merchants, if this job is gone, Baochai, like Baoqin, will be the daughters of merchants, how can Jia's mother be willing to have a happy marriage.

Looking up, although Baochai is going out today, she still dresses the same as before, not luxurious, and rarely sees hairpin rings, her face is like a silver basin, her eyes are like apricots, her eyebrows are green without painting, and her lips are red without spots. The older she is, the more graceful she looks, but it's a pity that she failed her good time and is still in her boudoir.

Xueyan looked down at the four jade bracelets on her wrist, and then saw that Baochai's skirt didn't even have a single jasper pendant, so she couldn't help but smile wryly.

Daiyu seems to have noticed it too, but she loves to dress up very much, and she has never been as simple as Baochai, so she smiled at Xueyan, "When did you see Mrs. Tang? The last time she came to worship me, I didn't Listen to her."

Xueyan said: "When Mrs. Tang came to visit the girl, we hadn't seen each other yet."

Daiyu nodded and said nothing.

Aunt Xue and Baochai were very affectionate, and because they had heard what Daiyu said, they got up and said goodbye.

Daiyu hurriedly laughed and said, "Auntie and sister came here after all the trouble, let's go back after lunch."

Aunt Xue's face was slightly sad, and she sighed: "I can't, I will bring your sister to see you when Aunt Ming'er is free."

Daiyu didn't want to keep her anymore, and sent her back to the second gate in person.

Sitting in the car, the mother and daughter couldn't help crying. Aunt Xue said, "I really don't know if your brother can support the family business. What should we do now that the household department is like this?"

Baochai said with tears: "We can only lower the price like other royal merchants."

Aunt Xue said: "Come down, don't do business, how much money can you earn? After all kinds of manpower, and then go to manage the money, not only can't make money, but also have to post a lot of money."

Baochai comforted her, "No way, Mom didn't hear what Sister Lin said, although we made several times less money, at least we don't need to take care of it."

Aunt Xue sighed, and said: "It has to be like this, at least we can keep our family's title as an imperial merchant. Otherwise, you don't know what to do with your life. Your aunt and I originally thought that we will make an appointment for you this year." , who would have expected to wait for a year to meet the filial piety of the country, next year you will be 20 years old, and if you don't leave the court again, wouldn't it be a joke?"

Baochai blushed, lowered her head and rubbed her belt, with a wry smile in her heart.

If Jia Mu doesn't let go, what can they do?

Back in the Rongguo mansion, Aunt Xue took Baochai to greet Jiamu. When Jiamu heard that she had come back from Daiyu's mansion, she couldn't help but glanced at them and asked, "I don't know how I am, Yu'er?"

Baochai's heart suddenly felt sour, and she only heard Aunt Xue say: "Grandma Lin has suffered from heatstroke, it's not very good."

After hearing this, Jia Mu hurriedly ordered Sister Feng to come over, to deliver medicine and to invite the imperial physician.

Now that she has a son and everything is fulfilled, Sister Feng said vigorously, "Don't worry, old lady, I will go there in person in the afternoon."

Jia Mufang felt relieved.

Because Aunt Xue said to talk to Mrs. Wang, Jia's mother remembered that Baoyu was living with Mrs. Wang, so she said, "What did you do in the past? I'll come here in a while. When we meet, I have everything. I can't say anything." explain?"

Before he could say a word, he saw Mrs. Wang coming in with tears all over her face. Everyone was taken aback when they saw it.

Jia Mu frowned slightly and said, "What are you doing?"