The Fate of the Red Chamber

Xichun, white flowers, snow geese and a dozen or so little maidservants surrounded Daiyu and came in. Daiyu didn't even look at the people standing in the lobby, and walked to the upper seat and sat down leisurely, with elegant and decent manners.

Although it has not been officially canonized yet, the name of the queen has already been decided. Jia Mu didn't want to annoy Daiyu for such a trivial matter, so she received the salute respectfully, fully expecting that Daiyu would spare them the gift.

After all, Daiyu felt a little stunned, the feeling of her grandmother kneeling in front of you was uncomfortable after all, but Daiyu didn't stop her, Yuanchun could bear the gift of her biological parents, but she couldn't accept it anyway.In the past, she cared too much about family affection, which made people think that she was weak and easy to handle.In the future, there will be more and more troubles between her and her brother. Since the queen mother wants to use her, she might as well use this status to stand up and help her brother at critical moments.

"Get up, you don't need to be too polite. Give me a seat." Daiyu neither went to help Jiamu herself, nor ordered her servant girl to come forward to help her.

Mother Jia was shocked. When did Daiyu become so cold, she had to get up tremblingly, and Sister Feng hurriedly stepped forward to help the old lady.Alas, sister Lin's meaning couldn't be more obvious.

On the contrary, Wang Guili was quite surprised. She married into Jia's house for two months. When the servants and masters mentioned Miss Lin, they said that although she was sometimes petty, she was pure, kind and gentle, respectful and filial to the old lady.Especially her husband Jia Baoyu, the sister Lin in her dreams has always been an elegant figure like a fairyland in the world, and she has such a noble and majestic side.

Wang Guili has never been a person who has no winks. On the way here, she was planning to frustrate Daiyu for a while, and then the old lady must think that she has the skills of a lady.However, she has changed her mind, she can clearly see who can be provoked and who cannot be provoked in Jia's mansion, and now she can see clearly that Lin Daiyu is not someone she can afford to provoke.Therefore, she made up her mind that she would never stand up as a shield until the last moment.

When Jia Mu sat down, Sister Feng and Wang Guili did not dare to sit, but stood behind Jia Mu and waited.

"Sister Xi, could you be more polite to me? The two second grandmas should also sit down." Her voice was round and soft like pearls and jade, but it gave off a bitter taste. Sister Feng shuddered coldly. For her second sister-in-law, it seems that she has to restrain herself and don't stand out.

Seeing that everyone was sitting down, Daiyu just took a sip of new tea and waited for Mother Jia to speak.

The dull atmosphere made Jia's mother even more uncertain, and Lin Yatou became very calm. No wonder the queen mother preferred her to be the queen.With her peerless appearance and outstanding talent, she will be doted on as soon as she enters the palace.Then glanced at Xichun who was sitting across from her, who only ate tea and didn't look at her. No matter in terms of appearance, bearing, or talent, she was not far behind Lin Yatou. I only hope that her luck will be better.It's just that this fourth girl went too far, not only didn't greet her but even acted like a stranger when she met her, it was really hateful, and she wanted to raise something with her later.

"I haven't congratulated the princess yet. It is a great blessing that the princess can win the favor of the empress dowager and the Lord Long Live. When Min'er was here, she loved the princess the most. It is pitiful that she went away at a young age. It is Min'er." No luck. If she knows the truth underground, she will be able to smile at Jiuquan." Jiamu looked at Daiyu as if she was looking at her own daughter, full of love and pity, her voice was choked up at the end of the sentence, and she held the handkerchief to wipe her tears.

Daiyu didn't have a deep memory of Jia Min. She was only six years old when Jia Min went there and didn't know much. In her memory, she often served soup and medicine by Jia Min's bedside.Jia Min loves her very much, after all, she is the only one, and she is very fragile.

However, what Jia Mu said did not arouse Daiyu's favor, she just felt disgusted. This person kept saying that she was her mother, so he could plot all kinds of things about his mother's only flesh and blood, whether it was hypocrisy or ruthlessness.Either way, it made her shudder, and filled her with disgust.You can bear the betrayal of others, but the most unbearable thing is the betrayal of the closest relatives.

"Thank you, old lady, for your concern." Her tone was as calm as water, without any hesitation or sadness.

Is this really Miss Lin?She mentioned Min'er herself, it's impossible for her not to be emotional at all, remember she cried like that when she first came to Jia's mansion because of Min'er's death, what's going on now?Finally, Mother Jia became a little flustered. Daiyu had always been a moody person, and she was outspoken and undisguised. Her calmness was scary.

Mother Jia thought for a moment, wiped away her tears pretendingly, and said with a loving smile: "I won't mention this anymore. The princess has only been married for a few months, and the mansion is busy enough. If the princess doesn't have enough hands, just call you Lian's second sister-in-law came to help."

"That's exactly what I said. The last time my mother was visiting relatives, such royal dignity really dazzled my eyes. Compared with the wedding of the emperor and the princess, it is very grand. Anyway, I also borrowed the light of the princess. I can feast my eyes and talk to my children and grandchildren when I am old." Wang Xifeng didn't want to stand out, but Mother Jia mentioned her, so she had to come forward and try to be as casual and friendly as before.

"Let the old lady and the second mistress worry about it. Everything has the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Even I am just free to learn the royal rules. After all, it is fine. There are hundreds of big and small things in your house every day, and the second mistress is already too busy. It's on the ground, so I don't have the nerve to bother Second Grandma." Daiyu had a faint smile on her face, but it wasn't because of Jia's family, but because she saw Mohan outside the courtyard and said to her with lips, " I'm behind the screen", the rest of the people turned their backs and didn't see it.It's not difficult for her to deal with the people in Jia's house, brother must be worried about her, and a sweet feeling spreads from the bottom of his heart.

Mother Jia saw that Daiyu's expression became a lot more friendly, thinking that she remembered the old things in Jia's mansion, she was relieved, and became more loving, pointing to Wang Guili and smiling: "This is Baoyu's new daughter-in-law. You can also slowly follow Feng girl to learn about the family, how about the princess?"

Daiyu nodded politely to Wang Guili, then looked away, and praised: "Second Grandma Bao is dignified, stable, and well-educated, so she is naturally a good match for Second Master Bao."

Seeing Daiyu's sincere tone and unmoved face, Wang Guili felt a little sorry for Baoyu. You are thinking of her wholeheartedly, but he has no affection for you. Why bother.Baoyu is very good to Wang Guili, she obeys her in everything, and even contradicts Mrs. Wang for her, but Wang Guili knows that Baoyu only treats her as husband and wife, but has no love for husband and wife.But she just didn't understand, everyone in the house said that the second master Bao was timid, why did she find that Baoyu was not like that at all after she got married.

"Old lady Jia, I still have important matters in my house. If the old lady has nothing else to do, then I won't stay any longer." Daiyu heard her talking nonsense, but it was just to seduce her memory, and she couldn't help saying angrily.

She was fine a moment ago, but when she said she was going to chase her away, she drove her away. Mother Jia was startled and looked at Daiyu in disbelief. After a while, she shouted anxiously: "Princess, I have something to ask for accommodation from the princess."

"Oh, what's the matter?" Daiyu sat down again and asked lazily.

"Princess, do you still remember that three years ago, for the sake of your elder sister's relatives, the family couldn't raise money for a while, so the princess kindly borrowed it. However, there have been a lot of things in the house recently. Last year, your third younger sister got married, and the month before last, it was your second elder brother Bao. For a big wedding, the money in the mansion is spent like running water, which is a bit inconvenient. Therefore, I would like to ask the princess to allow a little more time, and when the rent from the land is collected, I will definitely give it to the princess first." Jia The mother couldn't help it, she gritted her teeth and said, she has been an ancestor all her life, and she has never had such an embarrassing time.

"I'm afraid I can't make up my mind about this." Daiyu looked at Jiamu quietly, her clear eyes pierced into Jiamu's heart, Jiamu was so guilty that she quickly dodged, not daring to look directly into Daiyu's eyes.

She never knew that the girl who was acting like a baby in her arms before had such sharp eyes, but she didn't want to give up so soon, so she still braved up her courage and said, "This is the princess's family business, how can the princess not be the master?" of?"

"What? Didn't the second wife make it clear to the old lady that day? The money was borrowed from the Liu family by the elder brother and then lent to you. Now the time has come, and the Liu family is in a hurry to get the money. How can our family break promises?" People. Mrs. Jia, you should go back and find a way, forgive me for being powerless." Old lady, you are too greedy, why bother to take things that don't belong to you.I originally wanted to leave a way out for you, but now I am afraid that there is not even the last way, so don't blame me for being ruthless in the future.

Mother Jia didn't want Daiyu to refuse so directly, she didn't even say a few words, how could she, who was used to flattery, bear it.He was furious in his heart, but it's not good to act wild here, otherwise the Lin family would lose face even in the face of his imperial wife in a fit of anger.There was nothing to do, but Xichun sat there silently, and asked Xichun sternly: "Si girl, don't you know how to help the family? It's a difficult time right now, you are a girl from Jia's mansion." Can you not contribute to the government?"

Xichun sneered, the old lady is crazy, but this time she remembered that she was a girl from the Jia family, unfortunately, it was too late.She smiled slightly and said mockingly: "Family? Mrs. Jia, you are so noble and forgetful. I am no longer a girl of Jia's mansion. I am the daughter of the princess. You sold me for 5000 taels of silver." Lost. I have long since had nothing to do with you, and I only recognize the princess as the master.

Why do you think that I will help you? What does it matter to me that your Jia family has no money?I don't eat your food, I don't drink your food, I don't use your food, so why should I speak for you?It's ridiculous. "Xichun's words became more and more explicit. In the end, she flicked her sleeves heavily and turned her head to look without looking at Jia's mother.

Mother Jia was frustrated again and again, first being refuted by her granddaughter, and then being robbed by her niece and granddaughter. She was so angry that she fell backwards and collapsed in the ebony armchair with chiseled Fushou pattern.

Anxious and complaining, Sister Feng was busy patting Jia Mu's back and stroking her chest. Wang Guili brought a cup of tea to Jia Mu's lips.It took a while to catch my breath, and spat fiercely: "White-eyed wolf, I have raised you for nothing all these years. Thanks to me, I don't treat you like an outsider. You should eat and live like your own granddaughter, no worse than Baoyu. "

"Old lady Jia, I am too young to settle accounts. Don't tell me you can't either. If you don't let Second Grandma Lian do the calculations for you, there are twenty or thirty maids around Baoyu. How many of them do I have? There are only two or three who are responsible; there are four first-class maids around Baoyu, including me, and the best one is only a second-class maid; Baoyu's mistakes were never his fault, but ours.

Hmph, Baoyu is your grandson, heart and soul, I am not as good as him, but please don't say that I am not different from Baoyu, it is clearly that the difference is far, and I am not afraid of being disgusted.

You raise me for nothing, I live in your mansion, and the East mansion didn't send money or anything, why did it ever go to your West mansion.I have lived for 13 years, and I spend 200 taels a year, which adds up to 600 taels. Isn't the 5000 taels given by brother Lin not enough?Don't think that I don't know everything since I was young and let you handle it. I'm telling you that I'm wrong. I'm a female official next to the princess, and you Jia's mansion can't order me around. "

Xichun was angry and angry, her face flushed red, her chest was heaving with anger, and tears rolled down her face.She has never been willing to do this, but the old lady is too bullying, and she wants to take advantage of her even if she betrays her.She is young and ignorant, but she doesn't want to be used as a weapon. Sister Lin treats her sincerely. How can she do things that are not good for Sister Lin.

Xichun's words were sonorous and forceful, and every word pierced into Jiamu's heart like a knife, losing his wife and losing his army.

Mother Jia regretted unceasingly, she knew that she should not have sold Xichun to the Lin Mansion today, and married a powerful princely mansion as a concubine, and it was not only 5000 taels of silver. enemy.

Wang Guili really wanted to clap her hands and applaud happily. The girls of Jia's family are not easy. One can climb from a court lady to a noble concubine, and the other can jump from a concubine to a princess.These four girls usually look cold and aloof and don't like to talk to others, but they are clear in their hearts, and they can't suffer a little bit or suffer a little bit of grievance.The old lady is at a loss, huh, huh.

In addition to Wang Guili, there are also the maids of the Lin Mansion and Mo Han who is hiding behind the screen, all of them couldn't help but secretly admire: Miss Si is so hard-spoken, she refuted the old lady speechless with just a few words, there is suffering to speak Well, the girl is right to treat her like this.

Only Daiyu didn't have time to think about these things, so she comforted Xichun softly, and kept wiping her tears with a handkerchief.Xichun cried for a moment, her heart became brighter, and she gradually stopped crying.

Daiyu winked at Xueyan: "Miss Fu Xi goes down to wash and wash up, so I can take care of you, don't annoy the girl."

Xueyan smiled and helped Xichun go down, and two little maids followed her to serve her.

"Old lady Jia, I've said all I need to say, please go ahead." Daiyu sent the guests off with tea.

"You, Lin Daiyu, don't be ignorant of good and evil. If this matter gets out, everyone will know that you threatened to pay back the money to your grandmother. Sit on it, I'm afraid it's already unstable.

Concubine Xiande is not in good health recently, but she can still talk to the Empress Dowager. If you are so unfilial and unrighteous, I am afraid that the Empress Dowager will not tolerate you. You should think about it carefully. Supported by Sister Feng, Jia's mother managed to stand still, speaking cruel words, her eyes seemed to be eating people.

Daiyu gently stroked the ruby ​​ring on her finger, slowly raised her head, and smiled sweetly: "Don't worry about it, Mrs. Jia. See off the guests."

Mother Jia was so choked that she couldn't get up, and fell straight down. Sister Feng and Wang Guili were in a mess in fright.Daiyu just turned a blind eye and led the maids away. The old lady should not faint so easily.

Sister Feng had no choice but to call a few strong women who were waiting outside to come in. Together, they carried Jia's mother into the carriage and returned to Jia's mansion.

As soon as she got into the carriage, Mother Jia woke up, and she was so angry that she dropped all the things in the carriage. Sister Feng stayed in the carriage to serve, daring not to say a word.

Mother Jia went back to the mansion and ordered people to invite all the masters of the family to the Rongxi Hall to discuss major issues, and she must not let Lin Yatou be easily let go, thinking that she is great as a queen, let's see how arrogant she is without the queen.

The result of the discussion among the people in Jia's house was to spread the news that the Lin family forced the Jia family to pay back the money. It is impossible to believe that the queen mother would just sit idly by when such a scandal spread out.Although Jia Zheng felt that something was wrong, he couldn't bear it. The old lady, big brother and others all agreed.Baoyu was not at home and did not come over.

When the people sent by Jia's mansion to spread the news arrived outside the mansion, they found that they were already late. Almost everyone in the capital was discussing this matter, but the situation was completely opposite to what Jia's mansion said.A few smarter servants inquired carefully, and then ran back to the mansion to report.

For a while, everyone from the empress dowager to the concubines in the harem, down to street vendors, entertainers and beggars, heard about the grievances between the Lin and Jia families, and pointed their finger at the Jia family.

"The Jia family is really shameless. They want to covet money from their granddaughter. The little queen is soft-hearted, and her aunt asked for it herself. She didn't have any money to borrow from the Liu family. Unexpectedly, when the deadline came, the Liu family begged for money, but the Jia family refused to give it. "

"Hmph, Jia is not fake, Baiyu is the king's horse. Who doesn't know that his family has a lot of money, and if it is short of money, it is probably fake. The little queen is young and ignorant. She just wants to deceive her family property. Such a black-hearted uncle will not Whatever."

"What do you know? Back then, the second daughter of the Jia family was sold to the Sun family for 5000 taels of silver, and the former fourth daughter was sold directly to the Lin family for 5000 taels of silver. Such a family can give up even their own granddaughter as long as they have money. , would you care if the little queen is their grandson?"

"Now the Liu family is forcing the money, and the Lin family has no choice but to go to the Jia family to ask for it. I didn't expect that it would be fine if the Jia family didn't return the money. The old lady Jia brought people to the Lin family and made a big fuss. She cried and cried. The one who hanged himself on the third day was a lady of imperial order. It doesn't even look like us."

"The poor brothers and sisters of the Lin family are young, and no one makes decisions for them."

"I don't think so. The little empress will enter the palace in a few months. Could it be that the empress dowager doesn't care about her being bullied? There's no such reason."

"Doesn't the Jia family still have a noble concubine in the palace? It is said that they are favored by the empress dowager. The little queen may not be able to take advantage of it. A child without parents is pitiful."

The entire capital city was filled with such remarks, and they were overwhelmingly one-sided, almost all sympathized with the Lin family and hated the Jia family.The Jia family had already done a lot of bad things outside, and their reputation had already been ruined. Hearing such rumors, everyone would naturally believe it, and belittled the Jia family even more.

When the emperor heard about it, he was furious, the Jia family was quite courageous, even her queen dared to bully her, clearly she didn't take him seriously as the emperor.Immediately, he reprimanded Jia's family in the court hall, and then angrily went to ask the queen mother to make decisions.

It took only half a day for the queen mother to figure out who the news came out.Even if she doesn't like the Lin family, the Jia family's slap is not only the face of the Lin family, but also the face of her and the emperor, the face of the entire royal family, how can she ignore it.However, she was reluctant to punish the Jia family. She couldn't let the Lin family take the lead, otherwise it would be difficult to deal with it in the future. The Jia family was the best pawn to restrain the Lin family.

Therefore, the queen mother wants to calm down.Of course, the premise is that the Jia family's money must be returned, and the Jia family might as well get it into their own hands if it is cheaper.

Soon, the Jia family received the emperor's imperial decree, ordering them to pay off the owed money within five days.

After the rumors came out, the Jia family was as anxious as ants on a hot pot.They really want to spread the matter, but they have to be the first to win the sympathy of outsiders as much as possible. Even if the Lin family comes out to make a distinction in the future, but they are preconceived, and many people will still stand on their side.Right now, it's a step too late, public opinion is all on the Lin family, and their Jia family can almost be drowned by the spittle of the capital.

When the emperor's imperial decree arrived, the people of Jia's mansion were shocked, but only Jia's mother was secretly satisfied.This is because the Queen Mother is taking care of their Jia family, she just reprimanded them a few words and ordered them to pay back the money, without any punishment, this is already the best result.

The Jia family held a family meeting again, preparing to shirk the matter from each other.In order to take the lead, Mother Jia offered to offer 5 taels, Mrs. Wang gritted her teeth and offered 3 taels, and Jia Amnesty and Jia Zhen only agreed to 1 taels, which was still 10 taels short.

Mrs. Wang secretly winks at Jia Mu. Jia Mu is puzzled and dismisses everyone, leaving Wang alone to speak.

It turned out that Mrs. Wang had kept in touch with Aunt Xue since the last "encounter" with her, but she just kept it from the Jia family.After the Xue family knew about the Lin Jia family, Aunt Xue sent a letter, willing to give 10 taels of silver, but Baochai must be married into the Jia family to Baoyu.Mrs. Wang couldn't help being moved, she found that Xue's family was very solid, and it was a pity to let it go for nothing. Baochai lost her body before her, and she must be obedient to herself.Thinking of it this way, Mrs. Wang plucked up her courage and hesitated to mention it to Jia Mu despite the belief that she was scolded by Jia Mu.

When Jia's mother heard this, she firmly refused, and even dreamed of marrying into Jia's family and marrying her phoenix egg.Jia's mother doesn't know about Xue Baochai and Zhang Lang, otherwise she doesn't know how angry she will be.

The Xue family was not stupid, and knew that Jia's mother would refuse, so they proposed that Baochai marry in a different identity, and that she would only be Baoyu's second wife as Xue Baozan, a cousin of Baochai who died young.

This can temporarily silence outsiders, but there are so many people in the mansion who know Xue Baochai, how can they not recognize him, and they will tell the truth in the end.The most favored grandson of the Jia family married someone else's broken shoes and was given a cuckold. How could he raise his head and be a man?

"Old lady, there is no need to worry about this. Girl Bao has lost weight, and she is completely different from before. Let's just say that their sisters look alike. Anyone who doesn't know anything dares to talk nonsense will be shot immediately."

Jia's mother was finally moved. After thinking about it for a long time, she decided to marry Xue Baochai and get 10 taels of silver. She would find a mistake in the future and send her far away.

Nominally, she is the second wife, but it is always a scandal, so it is not good to publicize it. At night, Baochai was carried into the mansion in a small sedan chair, and settled in the wing room of Baoyu's courtyard.The Jia family didn't tell Baoyu just for the money. Baochai stayed alone that night, and Baoyu still stayed in Wang Guili's room.

Everyone must still remember that Baochai was pregnant that day. Later, Aunt Xue couldn't ask any more questions. Baochai cried again and said that she didn't want the child. .

Of course, the people in the princess mansion knew about it, but the princess is not the kind of person who waits for such frivolous things, but she just laughed it off and didn't order anyone to spread it around.As a result, not many people know about it.However, after Baochai married into Jia's mansion, it is not certain whether anyone will reveal this matter.

A few days later, Jia Zheng and Jia Lian of the Jia family sent 20 taels of silver to the Lin family, intending to restore the relationship between the two families.

I thought this was the end of the matter, but unexpectedly, on the second day, Mo Han went to the palace to make a big fuss, thinking that the Jia family bullied their brothers and sisters, and the Lin family, which damaged the reputation of the Lin family and became the laughing stock of the capital. I am sorry for the ancestors of the Lin family. , and demanded to sever justice with Jia Jiaen from then on.

The queen mother was very unwilling, trying to persuade her, but Mo Han just wouldn't let go.Daiyu also made a note, echoing Mo Han's statement.Later, even several censors in the court jointly signed a letter requesting that the Lin family and the Jia family be separated. With such a relative, it is clear that the queen will serve as a clue to outsiders in how to obey others and manage the harem in the future.The queen has a noble status, her mother respects the world, and is admired by all people. There is no such stain on her body, not to mention that the queen will soon be a member of the royal family. Her ancestral family is only the emperor's ancestral family, and she will soon sever ties with the Jia family. But it was a few months too early.

In addition, I don't know what Liu Xuan said in front of the emperor, so that the emperor kept nagging with the queen mother every day, and the queen mother couldn't bear the pressure from many parties, so she reluctantly agreed, and secretly thought about it for a while.

It was rare, this time the emperor acted very quickly, the queen mother only spoke, and an imperial decree from his side went to the Lin family and the Jia family, agreeing to the request of the Lin family and the Jia family to sever justice.The Empress Dowager does not guard against the emperor's decree, even if the emperor does not have much real power, but you are not joking, she cannot ask the emperor to withdraw the imperial edict, otherwise it is a contempt for the imperial power.There was no room for change in the matter, but the Empress Dowager personally agreed, so she had to swallow her anger and let him go.

The Jia family thought it would be fine if they paid back the money, but who would have thought that the Lin family would break up with them after paying back the money, so it would be better not to pay back the money.Otherwise, no matter what happened, they were still the queen's ancestral family, and outsiders would give them some respect.Such a line of work, not to mention respectable, it is God's blessing not to take this opportunity to step on them to death.

Mother Jia is really regretful. Money is important, but it is not worth power.