The return of Fengxi of the Red Chamber

The first day of October was Jia Huan's full moon banquet, and Wang Xifeng managed it well.

A bunch of relatives from the Jia family came, not to mention, there were also visitors from Wang Ziteng and his wife, Shi Ding and Shi Nai, plus some small officials and imperial merchant families who wanted to attach themselves to Rongguo Mansion on weekdays. About twenty tables were set up.

But those who can enter Rongqing hall are only a few close ones, and the rest are arranged to talk and eat in the flower hall.Except for Wang Xifeng who showed his face when the crowd came, these people were handed over to a few collateral clansmen in the back street to receive them, Jia Shishi and Mrs. Xing didn't even show their faces.

But these people are not annoyed, after all, they entered the gate of Rongguo Mansion, that is, they have gained friendship, and when they meet in other places in the future, they will have a reason to strike up a conversation.After going back and forth in this way, you can say that you are old with the Duke's Mansion when you go out, and how much convenience you can get when you walk around in the Inner Palace.

Wang Xifeng didn't bother to pay attention to these things, she was hiding in a corner watching a play secretly with Yingchun and Xichun.

Because something was destined to happen today, Wang Xifeng only brought Mao Geer to greet Jia Shishi and Mrs. Xing when she got up early, and then ordered the nurse to take her back to the East Courtyard.The excitement here, she can just watch it for herself, Brother Mao can't say a word now, if he stays here and gets accidentally injured, Wang Xifeng can cry to death.

Since it was a children's full moon feast today, both the Wang family and the Shi family brought their juniors, plus three girls from the Jia family, and a chattering Jia Baoyu, the Rongqing Hall was really bustling.

The members of the Wang family are thin, and besides Wang Xifeng who is already married, the only girls in this generation are Wang Xiluan who will be married next month.As the wedding was approaching and it was the full moon of the concubine, Wang Xiluan did not come over, but only asked someone to send a set of longevity locks as a token of his affection.

There were many Shi family members, the boys all went to the front yard, and were entertained by Jia Lian, Jia Baoyu and others, while the girls came to the Rongqing Hall, and Yingchun greeted them.Among the people who came here were Shi Xiangyun and her cousins.

Shi Xiangyun is still just a five-year-old girl now, she looks cute and cute, although she has no parents to take care of her, her two uncles and aunts have always been responsive to her requests in the eyes of outsiders because of their titles.In addition, she is the oldest girl in the Shi family's generation, and although she has two cousins, she is still just learning how to speak, so she doesn't feel sorry for her parents yet.

At this moment, Shi Xiangyun, Tanchun and Xichun walked around talking to Jia Baoyu.Yingchun was older, and impatient to participate in the children's twittering, so she sat aside and took care of her, saving herself from arguing and arguing again.

Mrs. Ma, Mrs. Zhongjinghou saw her, and couldn't help but praise: "The second girl in the house is even more generous. They are all taught by my aunt on weekdays. For children who are a little older, it is unnecessary to take care of younger siblings and entertain relatives and friends." What's the matter, my lord?"

After hearing this, Jia Shishi laughed, waved his hands and said, "I don't dare to take credit for this. It's the credit of Lian'er and his wife. Last year they invited a few nuns from the palace, and there was one Xie Xie who was Jiaoxiu. She was born as a maid, and my second girl has been learning manners from Nanny Xie every day for more than a year, so at least she looks good now."

Mrs. Ma's heart moved slightly when she heard the words, looked at the monkey-like Xiangyun, and asked tentatively: "This is Madam Xie, but the former Empress Dowager's Lady Xie?"

Jia Shishi nodded in response, and said: "That's right, Madam Xie has received the grace of the Empress Dowager, and allowed her to come out of the palace to take care of her. But there is no one in her hometown, and it just so happens that the girls in my family have grown up too. , Lian's daughter-in-law invited her to come to the house, saying that she was teaching some eyebrows and eyes."

Mrs. Wang Ziteng's wife, Niu Shi, heard the words, and answered: "Mother Xie is amazing. The girl in my family is not getting married next month, but I always feel that I have not taught good manners. I invited Mother Xie over last month. But after more than a month of work, now walking and talking, and dealing with people are somewhat interesting, not as bluffing as before."

Ma Shi was even more moved, she didn't worry about her two daughters, they were only about one or two years old, and they were still early.But Shi Xiangyun is more than five years old, and when he is six years old, he has to start reading, and he has to teach piano, chess, calligraphy, painting, needlework and housekeeping. This is the rule of the family, and the Ma family understands it.

But she was beating her heart, because Shi Xiangyun was the posthumous son of the eldest historian, his father died before he was born, and within three days of his birth, his mother was gone.Shi Ding took over the title of his elder brother Zhongjinghou, along with his niece Shi Xiangyun, that is their family's responsibility, and they must be well-educated, and they must not let people talk about everything.

It's just that Shi Xiangyun's temperament is quite carefree. She persuaded her many times, both openly and secretly, but nothing worked, and she still acted her own way.She is an aunt, and in the eyes of outsiders, she is an aunt who has taken advantage of Shi Xiangyun, so it is extremely difficult to deal with.

Now that I heard about Madam Xie's ability, I wanted to send Shi Xiangyun to Jia's house, and let Madam Xie take care of me by the way.But it's still early, and today's time is not suitable. After a while, if I personally bring a gift to beg Jia Shishi and Wang Xifeng, I think I won't be turned away.

Thinking of this, Mrs. Ma spoke more enthusiastically. She is not only a niece of Shi Xiangyun, but also two biological daughters. If they can be educated well, she will have face if she attends any banquet in the future.

The little girls don't understand the minds of the adults, they just gather together, whispering about snacks, food, clothing and jewelry.

Aunt Zhao, who was in the side room, was not very happy. It was supposed to be her son's full moon banquet, but she herself didn't have the chance to show up.Even with Jia Huan, he just showed his face in front of the crowd, and was sent back after receiving some gifts. He didn't see the excitement and festivities of Brother Mao's time at all.

She resented secretly, and Mrs. Qian also kept beating the drums. Why didn't Jia Zheng come to see his son on this happy day?

It wasn't until it was almost time for lunch that Jia Lian had had enough greetings with the crowd, and then he started talking slowly, causing a cousin of the historian to shout to see the child.Jia Zheng nodded without hesitation, and a clever boy went to the second gate to spread the word, saying that some men from other houses wanted to see the child.

Mrs. Ma, Mrs. Niu and the others said with a smile when they heard the words: "It's just nonsense for the little ones to take them out and let the wind blow. The old lady don't care about them, it's just to watch the fun, we don't have to follow them Nonsense."

Jia Shishi didn't care: "It's not cold this day, and the sun is out today. It's good for children to see the wind and sun. Ask the nanny to wrap Brother Huan tightly, and ask two more nuns Mama will follow, and after reading it, I will hug it back, and the others will not be in the way."

When Jia Shishi spoke, others naturally had no objections, and Aunt Zhao was even more overjoyed. If the women's family members were not allowed to leave the second door so easily, she would have wanted to follow Jia Zheng.

She couldn't get out of the back house at this moment, but she also asked Mrs. Qian to go with her and say a few nice words in front of Jia Zheng: "Master is entertaining guests in front, he must be able to drink, and Mama Qian will pass by the small kitchen later. , don’t forget to bring a bowl of hangover soup, and tell the master’s servant to drink it for the master.”

Mrs. Qian agreed with a smile, followed the wet nurse out of Rongqing Hall, and turned to the small kitchen along the way.

Jia's family hosted a banquet today. In order to prevent the guests from drinking too much, they prepared ready-made hangover soup.I heard that it was sent to the second master in the front yard, so the woman in the small kitchen specially packed some more, took the food box and arranged it before handing it to Mrs Qian.

It didn't take long to go back and forth, Mrs. Qian walked quickly all the way, and finally caught up with the big team when the wet nurse and others were about to leave the second door.As for what she did on the way, the ready-made reason was to prepare hangover soup for the second master at the order of Aunt Zhao.

A little maid of Mrs. Qian's was following behind her, and seeing her deal with the nanny without changing her face, and carrying the food box and walking smoothly, she was quite amazed in her heart.

After following to the second gate, she winked at a young servant guarding the gate, and the little maid turned her head and bounced back, leaving her to watch the rest of the matter.

In Rongqing hall, Wang Xifeng also received the news from the little maid that Mrs. Qian had already poured a pack of medicine into the hangover soup.

Wang Xifeng clicked her tongue secretly. These days, Jia Lian had already figured out what kind of medicine it was.

The secret medicine left by the former royal family, as long as a small amount of soybean, can make a man lose his vigor and lose his fertility from then on.Now Mrs. Qian just poured a bag into it. If Jia Zheng really drank the medicine, it would be hard for the gods of Da Luo to save him.

But this has nothing to do with her. In Jia Lian's words, if the couple in the second room fell in love and killed each other, the first room should not join in the fun and just watch.

The Rongqing Hall is full of joy and harmony, the wives and wives of several families get together, nothing more than making clothes and jewelry, children and household chores.But because it was rare to get together once in a few months, they talked with gusto, the little girls stayed with them for a while, and couldn't sit still, so Jia Shishi sent a message to tell them to go out to play in the garden by themselves.

The atmosphere in the outer courtyard was also good. In all fairness, Jia Huan's appearance followed Aunt Zhao's, and she was still outstanding.And now that she is still young, the nanny has taken care of her with all her heart, and it is very gratifying to look at her white and fat.

Therefore, once the nanny carried her out, the masters and young masters of each family would inevitably praise her a few times.Rao Jia Zheng is in a bad mood recently, but facing this son who can prove that he is still in glory, he feels a little more joyful, and he stops the nanny to ask a few words, most of which are about Jia Huan's daily life. It is a demonstration of his fatherly heart.

Jia Zheng said he was happy, but Wang Ziteng next to him didn't look very good. In fact, he has been unhappy since he received the post from Jia's family.

Seeing the brother-in-law's expression suddenly, Jia Zheng shivered all over: "Come on, take Brother Huan back to the backyard. There are so many people in a panic here, the children can't stay longer."

The nanny saw that his expression was not right, so she didn't dare to ask more questions, and went back with Brother Huan in her arms.

Mrs. Qian hesitated for a moment and didn't move. When everyone was ready to eat, she took a moment to spare and went over with a bowl of hangover soup: "Second master, Aunt Zhao is worried that you may drink too much today and may hurt you." It hurts the spleen and stomach, so I specially ordered the old slave to bring this hangover soup, and asked the second master to have a couple of mouthfuls."

Jia Zheng saw Wang Ziteng looking back at him, but he didn't dare to reprimand and refuse, lest people would hear that it was Aunt Zhao's attention, and Wang Ziteng would secretly deal with him again.So he took a bowl and drank it all, and said in a low voice: "Okay, go back to the inner courtyard quickly, don't wander around here anymore."

Seeing that he had finished drinking, Mrs. Qian didn't care about others, she packed up the food box and left.On the way back, taking advantage of no one's attention, she took the opportunity to pour the remaining half bowl of hangover soup into the crevices of the rockery, thus destroying the evidence, and returned to the small kitchen with an empty food box.

After dinner, everyone gathered together and chatted a few more gossips, and since there were trivial matters to be dealt with at home, they all dispersed.

Before Wang Ziteng left, he poured Jia Zheng several cups of tea and said all the soft and hard words, successfully scaring him soberly.Jia Zheng sent off his elder brother's family with an ashen face, and was not in the mood to see his cheap son, so he turned around and went back to Lixiangyuan to have a drink.

After talking and laughing with the guests for a long time, Jia Shishi and the others were also tired, so they went back to their rooms to rest without mentioning it.Even the servants and maids in the mansion just wanted to find a place to rest after hosting the full moon banquet. For a while, there were not many people in the huge Rongguo Mansion except the women and servants who were on duty everywhere. walk around.

Aunt Zhao took advantage of this opportunity, and her own mother, Mrs. Zhao, led the way and sneaked to Lixiangyuan.

The afternoon sun was just right, and the gatekeeper of Lixiangyuan was sleeping soundly. After the two servants serving Jia Zheng delivered the food and wine, they hid in the side tea room to chat and dodge. It was convenient for Aunt Zhao to drive straight in.

Jia Zheng drank a lot during the banquet, and when he returned to Lixiangyuan, he drank another jug ​​of wine. He was already slightly tipsy.In a daze, Jia Zheng saw a gorgeous beauty who tiptoed into his study room, smiled softly at him, and held a jug of fine wine in his hand.

"Master, why are you drinking alone here? How about I come to have a drink with you?" Aunt Zhao walked over with lotus steps, stretched out a pair of catkins to support Jia Zheng's shoulders, her tone was soft and gentle, and her movements were gentle. Coquettish and provocative.

Jia Zheng drank in a daze, and when he smelled the alluring woman's fragrance at the tip of his nose, his heart felt a little ready to move.Alcohol magnified his desire and courage, combined with the special ointment that Aunt Zhao had put on her body, and the good medicine in the flagon, the two of them accomplished good deeds in the study.

Jia Zheng is a man of long time, and he drank wine and took medicine, and he couldn't enjoy himself once, so he thought about doing it a few more times.Seeing this, Aunt Zhao naturally wanted to risk her life to accompany the gentleman.It's a pity that the two of them can count the present, but not the future. As soon as Jia Zheng got interested, he let out his breath and fell into a coma.

Aunt Zhao was taken aback, and stretched out her hand to push Jia Zheng. Seeing that he didn't move, she thought he was gone.

After she turned around in a hurry, she remembered something again, and carefully wiped his breath, seeing that he was still breathing, she was relieved.Seeing that there was no one around, he packed up his clothes and the jug he had brought, and then tiptoed out of the Pear Fragrance Garden and went to the hiding place of his old lady.

She walked very fast, so naturally she didn't realize that just ten steps away from the study, a woman dressed in the clothes of Jia's servant girl jumped into the study.The man looked left and right first, then put his hand on Jia Zheng's wrist and felt his pulse. After his pupils widened slightly, he erased his own traces and jumped out of the half-open window. up.

Old Mrs. Zhao outside saw that it was only a cup of tea, so her daughter came out with a face full of anxiety, and she was quite puzzled and said: "Why so fast, but was kicked out by the second master?"

Aunt Zhao waved her hands again and again, and said anxiously: "Mom, go back to the house with me first. Although this place is remote, it's not good if people see it. Let's go back and talk."

Mrs. Zhao didn't know what happened, but she saw that Aunt Zhao was really anxious and scared, so she took her hand and went all the way back to Aunt Zhao's small courtyard.

Because it didn't take much time, Mrs. Qian who was sent home hadn't come back yet, the nurses and nurses were taking Jia Huan to take an afternoon nap in the wing room, and a little maid, Que'er, was leaning on the porch to take a nap. Discover.

After entering the room, Aunt Zhao found a chair, collapsed on it, poured a cup of cold tea, and said in a trembling voice: "Mom, master, master, he passed out!"

Mrs. Zhao was also startled when she heard the words, she almost sat down on the ground, stammered and couldn't speak clearly: "Why, what, just, just fainted? Could it be that she was drunk? It must be Drunk! You girl, you always scare yourself!"

After finding a suitable reason, Mrs. Zhao spoke fluently, and slapped Aunt Zhao unceremoniously: "Remember, our mother and I are just sitting in the room and talking, and there is nothing wrong with us. We will go. We don’t even know what happened to the second master!"

"Keep these words firmly in your heart. Now you have the third girl and Brother Huan under your name, and the second wife is locked in the Buddhist hall. Good times are yet to come." Mrs. Zhao held her daughter's hand and taught earnestly , "Don't be stupid, even the second master, he..., doesn't do our mother's business, remember clearly?"

Aunt Zhao listened to her mother's words the most, and now she just nodded her head in agreement, but her face turned pale.

On the contrary, Mrs. Zhao was able to stand still, she got up and sorted out all the inappropriate places on Aunt Zhao's body, and finally patted Aunt Zhao on the back, and comforted her for a long time, and then Aunt Zhao's face became normal again.

Mrs. Zhao was worried that Aunt Zhao would reveal her secrets, and secretly complained in her heart that she shouldn't be involved in this matter.

If something really happened to Jia Zheng, according to Jia Shi's method, their old Zhao's family can be regarded as the end of life!

Mrs. Zhao was worried about Aunt Zhao, so she had dinner with her abruptly, and then went back to her small courtyard with fear.Fortunately, until after the lights were turned on, there was no wind from the mansion, especially in the direction of Lixiangyuan, which was so quiet that it seemed that no one lived at all.

Mrs. Zhao was relieved, thinking about what she had heard before, that Jia Zheng would drink until midnight, and guessed that the boys hadn't discovered the problem yet.It may also be that Jia Zheng woke up by himself and felt that he had had a dream, and the wind passed without a trace.

With this kind of luck, Aunt Zhao and the Zhao family fell asleep with apprehension, but before they had breakfast the next day, they were stunned by a news: Mr. Jia Zheng, the second master, is paralyzed!

It turned out that Jia Zheng was addicted to drinking on weekdays, and no one was allowed to go in and disturb him easily, so the two waiters didn't dare to go in when they saw that he didn't yell or yell, thinking that Jia Zheng was asleep .

As a result, early the next morning, Jia Zheng was not seen getting up to go to the Yamen, so the two young men pretended to be brave enough to go in and have a look.But he saw Jia Zheng lying on the ground, his whole body was icy cold, his complexion was blue and white, and there was something wrong at first glance.

The two of them were terrified, they hurriedly helped Jia Zheng to lie down on the bed, and then anxiously began to discuss countermeasures.In the end, the two decided to unify their caliber, and only said that the second master drank until dawn last night. After serving the second master to wash up, they went down to rest by themselves, and only found out that something was wrong this morning.

In short, the responsibility for his dereliction of duty must be pushed away, and no one should know that Jia Zheng lay on the ground all night.

Immediately one stayed behind to scrub him, but the other hurriedly ran to Rongqing Hall to ask Jia Shishi for an imperial physician.

Jia Shishi cried so much that he almost fainted, he ordered the servant girl to fetch the imperial physician, and leaning on crutches, trembling, he was about to go to Lixiangyuan.Mrs. Xing, Wang Xifeng, Li Wan and others looked at each other, leaving Yingchun to look at the two younger sisters, and the three of them followed.

At this time, Jia Zheng had been scrubbed clean, changed his clothes and lay on the bed. His pale face was warmed by the quilt, but a little bit of blush returned, but the smell of alcohol could not go away.

Sitting beside Jia Zheng's bed, Jia Shishi saw his slumped face and eyes closed, and couldn't help crying bitterly: "My son, you are going to gouge out your old lady's heart. Zhu'er has already gone, so you want my old wife to be sent by a white-haired man to a black-haired man?"

After all, Mrs. Xing and Wang Xifeng are the female relatives in the next room, so they just wait outside the screen, listening to Jia Shishi's weeping.

Li Wan is his daughter-in-law, so he could only follow him in, comforting Jia Shishi in a low voice with a handkerchief: "Don't worry, old ancestor, maybe the master was happy last night, so he accidentally drank too much and fell asleep. .Let’s not get confused, wait until the imperial physician arrives, so that I can ask for a pulse, maybe it’s not a big deal.”

Jia Shishi also couldn't believe that something serious would happen. For more than half a year, Jia Zheng had been drinking heavily for a living. Although she was anxious, she was not too worried.Gein gave the Rongxi Hall to the second room after Jia Hu and Zhang went there. Jia Amnesty also drank like this for more than a year, and now he is doing well, enjoying himself with his little wife in his arms every day.

Therefore, Jia Shishi stopped crying and began to question Jia Zheng's valet about what happened yesterday.

It's just that the two young men refused to admit it, and only said that they watched through the window from time to time, but the second master only concentrated on drinking, and he was in a bad mood seeing the two of them, so he didn't dare to enter the house to disturb them.It wasn't until the time of ugliness was approaching that the second master was so drunk that he fell asleep. After the two of them washed up, they put the second master on the bed.

It was this morning when he was thinking about going to the Yamen, so he had the courage to come in and call for someone. Who knows, he couldn't wake up, so he panicked and asked the old lady for instructions.

Jia Shi asked all kinds of questions, but the two men were afraid of death, they gritted their teeth and said they were drunk.

At this moment, a servant girl from outside came to report that it was the doctor Wang who had come.