The Lady of the Red Chamber

Xue Baochai leaned on the guide pillow, thinking of the scene he saw in the imperial garden today, his hands tightened even more.In the end, the silk satin was torn to pieces, exposing the snow-white cotton wool hidden inside.

Ying'er knew Xue Baochai's thoughts well. Seeing this, she quickly poured a cup of tea and stepped forward: "Master, why should you be angry? Now that you have entered the palace, if you will be favored by His Majesty and ascend to a high position in the future, you will be considered as Miss Yun." It's Princess Ying, and I can't go past you."

Holding the cup of tea, Xue Baochai listened to Ying'er's persuasion, thinking of how invincible Yun Qinghu was when she was protecting Lin Daiyu and humiliating herself; she thought of the humiliation she had suffered under Princess Jiatai in front of everyone in the academy; Thinking of Lin Daiyu, who is now sought after by everyone because of her father's promotion and her relationship with Duke Qin's mansion.

The evil fire in Xue Baochai's heart was getting stronger and stronger, and she couldn't hold it back, and the cup in her hand was smashed to the ground.

Ying'er was taken aback, and hurriedly squatted down to put away the pieces: "My master. No matter how angry you are, you can't make things difficult for these dead things."

What Ying'er didn't say was that the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the palace was the best at looking after dishes.For beautiful girls like them who have just entered the palace without family support, if something is broken, the Ministry of Internal Affairs may not make it up in time.

Xue Baochai listened to Yinger's complaint, but did not speak.With her eyes closed, she seemed peaceful, but her heart was already churning like a raging fire.

why...

Why can they have such noble backgrounds, royal princesses, noble daughters of the clan, and they can easily get everything that others dream of.But I have to work hard and be looked down upon by others.

Why should she devote herself to the merchant's house instead of the duke's mansion.Talking and joking with those ladies in Rongguo Mansion every day, complacent.In the final analysis, he just used his talents to cover up his inferiority complex.

Why did God obviously give her such a talent and appearance, but she still has to stand behind the scenes and fight for power and profit with a group of people.Looking at the people who insulted her before, being loved by the queen mother, she was destined to be that high-ranking prince and concubine from birth.

She was even sure that if His Majesty had not already married a concubine, and if His Majesty and Yun Qingxuan hadn't been too far apart in age, she might have easily acquired the Queen's throne that everyone in this world dreams of.Waiting for a bunch of people to flatter her in front of her, just to get a favor.

…………

The more Xue Baochai thought about it, the more unwilling she became, her beautiful face faintly revealed a trace of ferocious distortion.

Ying'er knew that her master had committed a crime, so after packing up the broken porcelain, she hurriedly went to guard the door.I'm afraid that if Cai'er and others come in, they won't be able to add another piece of talk in the palace.

It took a long time before Xue Baochai calmed down, opened his eyes, and could not see the slightest wave in it: "Ying'er, tell me about the division of power in the palace now."

Actually, Xue Baochai had already inquired clearly, but today she was stimulated and her brain hurts, so she didn't want to think about it.

Seeing Xue Baochai walking out, Ying'er was afraid that she would develop some kind of eccentricity, so she hurriedly reported all the news that Xue's family had spent a lot of money to inquire about.

Xue Baochai was silent for a long time after listening, and murmured: "Concubine Liu Gui..."

Concubine Liu Gui is the biological mother of the great prince Situ Hao.The Liu family has a prominent family background. Concubine Liu Gui is the second-longest old man by the emperor's side, and she has the face and affection of the eldest son of the emperor. Concubine Liu Gui can be said to be under one person and above ten thousand in the harem.

But now that the empress has given birth to a son, the eldest prince, as a son, is becoming more and more embarrassing and dispensable.

After thinking for a long time, Xue Baochai straightened up and made up his mind: "Yinger, prepare the presents, and tomorrow we will visit the imperial concubine."

Standing beside Xue Baochai, Ying'er hesitated: "Master, don't you think about it anymore? After all, the empress is the master of the harem."

Xue Baochai clenched her fingers tightly, shook her head and said: "Don't think about it. The empress is the mother of Princess Huining, and Princess Huining has always been on good terms with Yun Qingxuan. How can I know if Yun Qingxuan will gossip behind her back, and if the princess will?" Therefore, I look down on me. Originally, there were no legitimate sons in the palace, and the noble concubine was so beautiful. Now... our Xue family's financial resources should not be underestimated, and we may be able to help the First Prince in the future."

"And." Xue Baochai cast a sidelong glance at Ying'er: "Everyone knows that the Empress doesn't like my cousin. Why would I bother to come forward to make fun of her?"

It didn't take long for the news that Jia promised to violate the palace rules and was punished as a school book for the empress.

The palace has no secrets.

It is also a private delivery of family letters, and the rest are only fined for three years of salary and banned from the palace.It's not like Jia Yuanchun, who is obviously a master at any rate, but now he has to do the work of a palace maid, so he loses all face.

In the final analysis, everything depends on the steelyard in the queen's heart.

On the second day, Xue Baochai washed and dressed carefully, and put on bright clothes.Order Yinger Caier to carry many gift boxes to Lijing Palace where Concubine Liu lives.

Unexpectedly, she sat in the main hall of Lijing Palace for a long time, even drank two cups of tea, and she was turned away.

Xu Feng, the palace maid next to Concubine Liu Gui, came out and saluted meekly and respectfully: "Beauty Xue, Your Majesty suffered from the wind last night and was unwell, so she is not suitable to see guests. I hope the beauty will understand."

Xue Baochai's smile froze, but soon returned to normal: "I was the one who interrupted. The empress has a high position and authority, and she is busy with affairs, so this illness cannot be delayed. I happen to have a hundred-year-old ginseng, which is the most suitable for the empress to replenish her body." but."

As she spoke, Ying'er came forward holding a gift box.Inside the box, on the red silk satin, was a rare old ginseng in excellent condition.

Xu Feng swept his eyes, and said calmly: "Since that's the case, I will thank the beauty first."

Xu Feng straightened up and watched Xue Baochai's master and servant disappear outside the door, then returned to the inner room, bent slightly: "Your Majesty."

Concubine Liu Gui was reclining on the beauty couch with her eyes closed, and the little maid stood behind her and gently massaged her temples: "Why, let's go."

Xu Feng said: "Yes."

Concubine Liu Gui opened her eyes, propped her cheekbones with her hands, looked at the century-old ginseng in Xufeng's hand, and said with a sneer, "I still have some self-knowledge. I didn't do such a thing of begging for nothing."

Xu Feng stepped forward and presented the ginseng in front of the imperial concubine so that she could observe carefully: "Your Majesty, why don't you accept Xue Meiren's surrender. Anyway, the Xue family is rich, and our prince will have an extra help in the future."

Concubine Liu Gui looked at Xu Feng, smiled and nodded at her: "You, your eyelids are not shallow, why can't you see clearly?"

Xu Feng also smiled: "I hope the empress will clear up the confusion."

Concubine Liu Gui picked up this excellent old ginseng, stroked the uneven brownish-yellow surface, and said somewhat unclearly: "The Xue family is worthy of being one of the four major families in Jinling. My father also worked in Jinling for a long time. I was an official in [-]. I moved to Beijing a few days ago. When my mother came to the palace to visit me, she talked about interesting things about Jinling. She smiled and said something like "a good year with great snow, pearls like earth and gold like iron". That's all, word of mouth The slang term turned into some kind of official amulet. Xu Feng, you say this is ridiculous."

Xu Feng is the dowry maid brought out by Concubine Liu Gui from her natal family.Because I served young ladies since I was a child, I couldn't help but learn to read and write, and I was also very knowledgeable.

It has been almost ten years since Concubine Liu Gui married into the Sixth Prince's Mansion.At any rate, she is a member of the royal family, and Xu Feng, a maidservant, has broadened her horizons a lot in the mansion. She knows that it's okay to talk about this kind of thing in private, but if it spreads...

Concubine Liu Gui seemed to see what Xu Feng was thinking, and continued: "You have also grown up. You can see clearly that Xue's family is trapped in their own glory and cannot extricate themselves. There are also historians, Jia's family, The Wang family. Which territory does not have that kind of doggerel? Jinling, the streets and alleys, even children are singing it. Relying on the height of the sky and the emperor's distance, they are not ashamed, but proud. This kind of family, getting involved is a disaster."

Xu Feng suddenly realized: "That's why the empress did not give Jia the promise of face."

"Jia promised?" Concubine Liu Gui couldn't help laughing when she heard this name: "However, a concubine bestowed to His Majesty by an ancient sage, do you really think that His Majesty will have his own honor when he ascends the throne? You don't want to look, No one in this palace thinks highly of her. Concubine Rou is lucky, although her background is indeed only that way, at least she gave birth to the second prince, which is unmatched by others. The new ladies in the palace, Xue family's family status, their family Girls are all beauties. Jia promised, I really feel ashamed for her just looking at her."

Speaking of the Xue family, Concubine Liu Gui shook her head again, her tone was a little cold: "The Jia family is a scumbag, your majesty may be able to tolerate it for a while. Beauty Xue used to be the school attendant of Princess Rouping and Princess Wensu. Not to mention Their Xue family once devoted all their strength to helping Prince Yizhong. Your Majesty is kind, Prince Yizhong is His Majesty’s older brother, and His Majesty cannot bear to criticize his descendants harshly. But these ministers, ah..."

He must bear the wrath of the new emperor for the lord.

Xu Feng understood: "Your Majesty, in this way, Beauty Xue is destined not to be favored."

Concubine Liu Gui said: "There are no absolutes, Beauty Xue is not a person who keeps her own law and order. But this has nothing to do with us. The empress is not easy to get along with, how can she be allowed to make trouble in this palace? I heard that she has some old grievances with Miss Yun. Who is Miss Yun? If she offends His Highness the King of England for such a small benefit, then the loss outweighs the gain."

After explaining so much, Concubine Liu Gui seemed a little tired. She stopped talking about Xue Baochai and said instead, "Is the mung bean and lily soup ready? Hao'er is coming back soon, remember to warm it up quickly. If not, he should be unhappy gone."

Xu Feng saw that Concubine Liu Gui didn't want to say more, so he didn't ask any more questions with great eyesight, and blessed his body and said: "Your Majesty, it has been prepared on the stove for a long time, and His Highness can drink it when he comes back."

Concubine Liu Gui listened, and there was a trace of tenderness in her eyes.

Why didn't she know what Xue Baochai meant? Wasn't it because of Xue's family wealth that she thought that she would accept her overtures for Hao'er.

But I also don't think about it, how old is Hao'er when His Majesty is in his prime?In the future, it is unknown whether the Xue family will exist in the world.How could she offend Miss Yun and His Royal Highness for such petty gains?

Xue Baochai went back to her room, looked at the gift boxes in Ying'er and Cai'er's hands, and felt it was very dazzling: "What are you doing in a daze, and you haven't put these away yet."

After all, Caier was new to Xue Baochai, knowing that Xue Baochai didn't trust her enough, she didn't dare to stay longer, so she made a salute and left in a hurry.

Ying'er closed the doors and windows, leaned over and said, "Master, why should you be angry? The imperial concubine took the hundred-year-old ginseng, so it can be seen that the empress did not completely reject us. If people know that the master is so angry, they will inevitably think that we are angry with the imperial concubine. Empress is dissatisfied."

Xue Baochai closed her eyes: "What do you know? It is precisely because of that old ginseng plant that we couldn't match up with the imperial concubine."

Ying'er was a little confused: "What does the master mean?"

Xue Baochai looked at the veiled window and felt a little tired: "Your Majesty is just a little cold, so many warm and nourishing things are not accepted, but she only accepts this century-old ginseng. Why is this? This shows that she is very sick. 'Extremely serious', so severe that it needs to rely on strong ginseng to recover. This is to express to us that she will 'close the door due to illness' and will not see us. She is also unwilling to accept our overtures."

After hearing this, Ying'er was very anxious: "Master, what should we do? Now all the beautiful women are looking for a backer in the palace. If we don't have one, wouldn't it be..."

Xue Baochai sighed deeply.She knew that it was not easy to enter the palace, but she never expected that it would be so difficult in the palace: "Tomorrow we will go to see Concubine Shu."

But she paid a visit to Concubine Liu Gui first, and Concubine Shu must not be able to get anything good.You can only take one step, count as one step.

"The historian, where did you go today?"

Ying'er said: "My servant heard people say that Mr. Shi Gui went to Feng'an Palace."

"Feng'an Palace..." Xue Baochai opened his eyes: "Shi Xianglan actually went to visit the empress dowager."

Xue Baochai pondered carefully: the four major families had always been the supporters of Prince Yizhong, so there was no reason why historians could win the favor of the concubine.Unless the historian had already taken refuge in His Majesty.

The four big families are in the same spirit, and before entering the palace, her uncle also said that she and Shi Xianglan should support each other.But if so, wouldn't they all be deceived by the Shihou Mansion.

The more Xue Baochai thought about it, the more frightened she became, her back broke out in cold sweat: If this is true, she must tell her uncle and ask him to make a decision.