The eldest brother of the Lin family in the Red Chamber

Yingchun was sitting in the room, embroidering the mandarin duck pillow in her hand. She had moved out of the Grand View Garden a long time ago, and arranged three rooms for her in Mrs. Xing's small courtyard, tidying it up for her to marry.How much dowry can a father like Jia She give?Instead, he always urged her to beg the old lady.Yingchun is a dull person, it would be nice to be able to talk to the old lady, there is no way to ask for a dowry, so after such a long time, the dowry is still so shabby that people can't see it.

Mrs. Xing said: "You are Xuxian, you should keep a low profile in the first place, and you can't pass his first match."

Siqi couldn't help but whispered to Yingchun privately for a long time before Yingchun said: "Forget it."

She is not young, she doesn't have the slightest idea of ​​what to do, and has always been submissive. This time, the Lin family acted as a matchmaker and promised to the eldest son of the Rong family and the future head of the Rong family. Sister Feng came to tell her that Rong Xi is now He is a scholar. Back then, because of his wife's filial piety, he didn't come to take the exam with his younger brother, but his studies are not bad, and he will be promising in the future. The family only has a common room, and he has not officially become an aunt. He doesn't prostitute or gamble. His character passable.The mother-in-law, Yingchun, has also seen her before. She is capable and kind. Yingchun married her. As long as she keeps her duty, she will not have any troubles.

Yingchun listened dumbly, not knowing how much she had listened to.But this little aunt knows that if she can't do the three words of keeping her duty, then no one can do it.

When Sister Feng left, Siqi said to Xiuju: "Our second girl must marry a good family this time. You see how smart Second Mistress is. She came here to enlighten our girl at this time. If my uncle's conditions are not good, Now, is she willing to spend this effort?" Xiuju laughed at her: "Young master is capable, can you follow suit, too, and I will promote you to be a—"

Siqi laughed and scolded her and pinched her: "I'll hit you a little hoof, what have you been thinking all day long!"

Yingchun watched the maids messing about, but didn't say anything, and didn't let go of their work.She is an easy-going person who will not fight back when she gets hit, but she also knows in her heart that sister Lin treats people with sincerity. When she lived at home in the early years, she would not send any good things from Suzhou to her sisters. Short of her, cousin of the Lin family, although the old lady and the wives can't speak well, but he came to the house a few times, and he is considered courteous to the sisters.

Now the relationship between the eldest and the second wife is getting weaker and weaker, and Tanchun doesn't often come to talk with her, but Xichun doesn't care about these things, and often comes to talk to her and do chores with her.The fourth sister is young, and her temper has become more lonely and withdrawn recently. Although Yingchun is stupid, she is not ignorant.But she can neither speak nor comfort others, so she can only worry in her heart, and often stay with Xichun for a while, telling her to have fun with her.

Xichun said: "Yesterday when the third sister came to play with me, I was playing chess with Miaoyu, she only stayed for a while and then left, but Shishu stayed here and said a few words to Ruhua."

Yingchun asked: "What did she say?"

"It's nothing, I say you're lucky." Xichun sneered, "How is luck, who is your father, who is the third sister's father, I have stayed at home for too long, and I forgot which one is in charge. "

Yingchun said: "Don't say that, it's not good for the third sister to listen."

Xichun said: "What's wrong? I don't want to get involved with our family members. What good and bad things haven't been done? I live my life well, and I was implicated for no reason. I really don't want to say anything. It's useless. I don't bother to care about these things. Just wait and see, their second wife may have another empress."

Yingchun was taken aback: "I don't dare to say that nonsense."

"I didn't say that." Xichun sneered, "Third sister didn't say that, but there are some people!"

Although Yingchun was bored in the room and didn't ask other people's affairs, she had heard others say that the fourth girl's words were becoming more and more incomprehensible recently, so she said anxiously: "You say so, are you afraid that the third sister will ignore you?"

"Third Elder Sister, if she really treats me as her younger sister, she should understand that I'm doing it for her own good!" Xichun said, "It's really good to think that the palace gate is easy to enter, and it's really good to think that it's inside."

Yingchun hurriedly covered her mouth.

Xichun remembered that her pearls and hairpins were pawned by the wet nurse that day, and she didn't even mention it, and asked the maid to stand in for her, so she couldn't help sighing: "Come on, you can bear it here! Back, it was the elder brother of Sister Lin's family who did the matchmaking for you, otherwise, if you really follow the uncle's wishes, I think you can bear it!"

Yingchun pinched the embroidered cloth and said, "Well, I'm lucky."

Although Xichun was furious, but when she got up, she still invited Yingchun to accompany her to the Ouxiangxie: "At least come and see, after going to Shandong, it will be difficult to come back!" These words hit Yingchun's heart In her heart, her eyes were red, she nodded after a while, and asked again: "How is Baoyu recently?"

That day, Sister Feng said that Sister Lin was going to be her sister-in-law. But when Baoyu heard this, she passed out and fell ill. When she woke up, she was groggy and talking nonsense all day long. When she clamored to see Sister Lin, Mrs. Wang was so distressed that she couldn't help it, but Jia's mother hardened her heart. While shedding tears, she asked famous doctors and monks everywhere, but she refused to go to the Lin family to ask for help.

"Yu'er is settled. If people know about this child's nonsense, will her reputation be ruined?" Jia's mother slapped the table and shouted, "I have only her mother as a daughter in my life. There are some things that I don't even think about. !" After all, she really loves Daiyu, although she also thinks that the two Yu'er can get married, which can be regarded as an explanation to her daughter, but in this situation, she still has self-knowledge, what is Daiyu's identity?The only girl in the Lin family, the jewel in the palm of Marquis Jingyuan, the daughter of the Concubine family who raised her up carefully, she was promised to Rong Jia, who had fame and official position, and many people said that Rong Jia took advantage of it.Baoyu's this is really wishful thinking.

Thinking of this, she felt distressed, regretful, sad, and helpless, so she could only trust people everywhere, saying that as long as Baoyu could be cured, she would not hesitate.

Xichun said: "Baoyu is still the same, let's go and see him?"

"I don't want it anymore." Yingchun said.She is now the steadfast grandma of the Rong family and Daiyu's future sister-in-law. When Baoyu saw her that day, he burst into tears and said "wow" when he saw her. Madam Wang had no choice but to call Yingchun Don't go to Yihong Courtyard, the precious jade in the province is in love with the scene.Yingchun was also frightened, uneasy for a long time, and obediently stopped wandering in front of Baoyu.

Xichun sneered, and said: "Then don't go, go to my place and play chess."

On the other side, Mrs. Xing was angry: "For the second master of the second room, I can spend 8000 taels to beg the doctor. Our second girl promised someone, and the furniture in the dowry has not yet been settled! This old lady's heart is really serious. Biased."

How could Sister Feng not know that Mrs. Xing just lost her temper with an excuse, and the dowry for the Spring Festival was simple, so didn't her aunt's stinginess take the most of it?So he persuaded: "Other things are easy to talk about, but let me tell you, ma'am, although our family has a bad relationship with the Lin family now, it was also caused by the second wife. Relatives like the Lin family and the Rong family will only benefit us if we make friends. The disadvantages. If the dowry of the second younger sister is too shabby, the face of the master and wife will be bad. After all, he is the eldest son of the governor of Shandong."

Madam Xing was also a bit concerned about face, so she went to discuss with Jia Amnesty, each of them bought some private houses, and then went to ask Jia's mother to add some dowry.

Mother Jia is not an ignorant person.During this trip to the paddock, everyone said that the noble concubine from the Jia family had contributed a lot, but Jia's mother waited for a long time, but there was no reward, and there was no news of the promotion of the Yuan concubine. "Concubine Yuan is frightened this time and needs rest", and then returned their signboard.Now, even she understands, if Concubine Yuan really made meritorious service, how could this be the case?What's more, they all knew about King Zhongshun's arrogance, but for the sake of the emperor, it was expected that the emperor would be lenient. Who would have expected that the emperor would kill them all like this?In the Jia family, everyone said that the power overwhelmed the sky, but she discovered that Xijue's eldest son had no skills other than eating, drinking, whoring and gambling, and her always favored second son had been working as a member of the Ministry of Industry for more than 20 years. up.The title of the family, in the son's generation, is already big or small, and in the grandson's generation, it is even at the level of earning a lot in Beijing. Is the Jia family really going to decline?

Fortunately, Jia Lian somehow became competitive. This time, she quietly inquired about the release, and besides paying for the relationship, Lin Mo was also credited for speaking.He and I have become indifferent to the point of going to the Ministry of Household Affairs to lose their registration. Is it because of my old face that I have contributed so much this time?Of course not, it's the face of the Rong family!It can be seen that this marriage is also very important to the Jia family.

So she opened her own private house, added a lot of dowry to Yingchun, and was afraid that Jia She and his wife would end up with their own pockets, so she specially sent Yuanyang to watch over her.For a while, Yingchun, a wooden girl, overshadowed Tanchunqu in Jia's house.

Mrs. Wang secretly resented that their Baoyu was because of that misfortune of Lin girl. The old lady meant that she didn't pursue it at all, but she was so generous with Yingchun. After thinking for a long time, she went to talk to Jiamu. Discuss: "There will be a general election next year, the fourth girl is still young, but Bao girl and the third girl are of the right age, or..."

Every family has difficult scriptures to recite. Some families do everything possible to avoid the general election to enter the palace, and some families fight for a place to enter the palace.This trip was a general election, and girls aged 17 to [-] from the families of officials with a fourth rank and above were all on the roster, but Jia Zheng, who happened to be a fifth rank, Xue Baochai, was not eligible at all.

Aunt Xue begged her younger sister, but Mrs. Wang couldn't tell.Yuan Chun is now a noble concubine, but at the beginning, she was selected by a small selection—a court lady, if the queen hadn't seen her outstanding talent, and she was quite good at reciting poems, she would not have been able to keep her as a female official in the palace. It has the status it has today.Among those selected in this small election, there are lucky ones like Yuan Chun who have reached the sky in one step, and more are those who survived until they were 25 or [-] years old and were released from the palace, or they simply survived in the palace until they died.The general election is different, if you don't win the election, it's another story, as long as you keep the sign, or stay in the palace, or give a marriage, it's an excellent way out.

But can Baochai have this qualification?

Not to mention Baochai, she wanted Tanchun to give it a try—this girl was smart, capable, and thoughtful, and she was a bit shaky when she helped Yuanchun.

Mother Jia sighed, her children and grandchildren did not live up to expectations, relying on girls to start from the harem and revitalize Jia's family is a way out: "Go and ask Dongfu, have you invited Eunuch Dai to drink recently?"

The people who went to Dong Mansion came back soon, and You Shi personally brought a few people here, and mentioned in words that he wanted to bring Xi Chun back: "Hey, since Rong's daughter-in-law is gone, Eunuch Dai and the others have seen less, What's more... these father-in-laws don't go out very often. First, our master made a pot of purple gold pills in the temple, but one of the father-in-law went there, and the words seemed to say that Xichun will also go to choose a concubine next year Yes." Her tone was brisk, as if she was a little excited.

Mrs. Wang squeezed the veil tightly, a little annoyed and a little at a loss.

Her Yuanchun had all the limelight and all the glory, but it was also the result of years of hard work, and now, even Xichun has this qualification?Her elder brother is a third-rank General Wei Lie, and she was born by his wife, and he has passed thirteen, so it seems to be fine, but...Ying girl, fourth girl, in her opinion, are not as intelligent as Tanchun, but now they seem to be out of it. nod.

Jia's mother said: "That's a good relationship, let's call the fourth girl. Do you want to hire a foster mother?"

"It's hard to get a nanny now." You Shi said.

But Xichun got angry: "I can't remember where I am for hundreds of years, but now I think of me? If I don't go back, why should I go back!"

Youshi was a little embarrassed, but even Jiamu felt a little different: "Fourth girl, be obedient, this is your luck."

"I don't want such good luck!" Xichun panicked, and took a pair of scissors to twist her hair, "I don't know what I've been thinking all day, I want to send me to that shameful place! You force me again!" , I simply twisted my hair and scratched my face to be my sister-in-law, to see who has no face!"

Jia Mu cried, "What's the matter!"

"Don't be angry, old ancestor. It's my fault. I won't be able to be filial to you in the future." Xichun said with tears streaming down her face, "Who do you want me to choose? Isn't Sister Bao thinking of a way to go? Let her go!"

"You really don't know your blessings in the midst of blessings!" You Shi wished he could come up and cover her mouth.

Yingchun was a little embarrassed, she was playing chess with Xichun, the old lady sent someone to call, she wanted to go back to her room, but Hu Po smiled and said: "The fourth girl is very happy, the second girl is going to join in the fun, happy .” Then he followed.Who knew that this would make her not know what to do, she had no place to put her hands and feet, and she couldn't persuade others, so she could only sit on the bench in awe, wishing that others would not see her.

It's a tough time.

Although Xichun is young, this coercion with death doesn't seem like a joke, and she has always been cold and cold, and doesn't take other people's affairs at ease. It's Jia Zhenyou who is kneeling and begging her now. She couldn't change her mind, this made Youshi anxious, but they didn't know that it was a blessing in disguise, so as not to be ashamed to report the girl's name - that Jia Zhen was brought to Dali Temple with a complaint, saying He prostituted himself day by day, robbed women of the people, and behaved badly.Although Dali Temple did not accept the request, the reputation of Jia's East Mansion has never been a secret.

The queen was holding a pen, and circled a list sent by the household department and the official department together. The emperor sat on her upper hand, holding a Tieguanyin, took a sip, and said: "Come on slowly. Don't worry." The queen said with a smile, "If I don't sort it out sooner, I'll be in a hurry next year. I can't afford to bother—the emperor withdrew Yu Guiren's sign yesterday?"

The emperor smiled lightly: "Yesterday, she told me that there was a little maid in her palace who spread rumors, saying that the father was mad at you, that she is not qualified to be tortured as a concubine, and she was afraid that she would report it to you." You are angry, so you are too stupid to come here to please me." The Queen said: "It is true that I was the first to report this horrible thing to my father." She shook her head, " If the fifteenth younger brother still stays behind, I'm afraid that the concubine will become one of those shameless villains in the storybook."

The emperor stretched out his hand to hold her hand, and said, "It's time to establish a crown prince."

The queen shook her hand, put down the pen, got up and saluted: "Your Majesty, this is not something I can listen to."

"You and I have been husband and wife for 30 years, what have I not said to you?" The emperor said, "This is a state matter, and it is also a family matter. You were just an ordinary husband and wife at that time. Can you tell me which son you want to inherit the family business?" The queen smiled bitterly: "Your Majesty, how can an ordinary person make a comparison for this?" If it were an ordinary person, there would be no need to discuss it, and the son of the first son would not even need to mention the separation of the family.She said, "What's more, the concubine is the aunt of all of His Majesty's sons, so I can't be biased."

The emperor held her hand, scratched it lightly, and said jokingly: "Tell the truth."

The queen was amused, looked around, and said softly: "I want my son to be the prince."

"It's human nature." The emperor also nodded.Although there is no rule in this dynasty, when the son has no obvious defects, he is willing to establish a son, which is safer.Although the imperial concubines have no right to personally raise the princes and want to send the princes to the prince's mansion, the emperor's sons were all born in the outer palace. At that time, the rules were not very strict. , Uncle’s family has a deep connection, especially Han Wang... He pondered for a moment and asked, "What's on your mind?"

The queen smiled and shook her head.What the emperor said just now was a promise, and she was already satisfied.

"If I set up a crown prince to effectively imitate a righteous, loyal and obedient person, what will happen to the queen?"

The queen made another big gift: "Your Majesty's appointment of the crown prince must be the result of careful consideration. I only recognize the crown prince you have appointed." She bit her lip, but she knew in her heart that this was also the emperor's promise to her.Since ancient times, the harem has always intervened a lot in the establishment of the crown prince, especially those who are as high as the queen. If she is partial, it will put a lot of pressure on the prince.

She has three sons, the third prince is as qualified as the fifth prince, and the emperor asked her that she could not make up for the one who was not selected as the prince.

She raised her head and said with a smile: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, the concubine's reliance has always been only the emperor."

No matter which emperor.