The Fate of the Red Chamber

The capital city in June is hot and noisy.The hottest topic of conversation in the entire capital is that three of the eight princes' mansions have been copied, all of which are conclusive and overwhelming.The few remaining families who followed the queen mother were worried and fearful every day, for fear that they would be the next one the new emperor would deal with.And they just don't have much real power in their hands.

The concubine Jia of the Rongguo Mansion couldn't bear to see the late emperor underground, so she offered to go underground to serve the late emperor, and was named a virtuous concubine.As for the Jia family, there was no joy at all, they were all frowning and fearful.

The catastrophe of one and a half years has already scared Jia's mansion, they followed the first queen mother and had no special relationship with Prince Liu, so now they can't climb up even if they want to.What's even more unimaginable is that most of the Zhuangzi of the Jia family are in Jinling, the ancestral home. Last time King Zhongshun didn't pay enough to recruit several of their Zhuangzi. At that time, they thought that they would have nowhere to go if they didn't help the Queen Mother, so they swallowed their anger and said nothing.

Now that the new emperor ascended the throne, he didn't mention returning Zhuangzi at all, so they naturally didn't have the guts to ask the emperor for something.Poor Jia's family's daily expenses are mostly dependent on a few Zhuangzi, and now seven or eight out of ten have gone, and the rest of the income is not enough for their family to squander.

Seeing that there were only a few thousand taels of silver in the public house, Wang Xifeng was so anxious that she was diagnosed with pregnancy by accident. After discussing with Jia Lian, she took this opportunity to throw out the housekeeper, a hot potato.Mother Jia intends to let Wang Guili be in charge of the house, but she doesn't want Wang Guili to use the excuse that she is young and ignorant to recommend Baozan, who is Baochai to be in charge of the house together with her.Forget it, Mrs. Wang was overjoyed. She thought that Baochai had the Xue family's silver in her hand all day long, and was worried that she would not have a chance to coax her to take it out. Let's take care of the housework together.

In the past two years of marrying into Jia's family, Baochai has almost been a superfluous person. The maid and mother-in-law didn't pay much attention to her before. The government's idea of ​​making money has never been able to be implemented.Now that I have this opportunity, why not, I pretended to decline and took it. ,

It is even more embarrassing to say that she is a girl, she is not innocent, and she is Baoyu's concubine.If you talk about my aunt, Wang Guili has never drank her tea, nor has Baoyu asked her to serve her.

Wang Guili also said in front of Jia's mother that she was ignorant of the housekeeper's affairs, but she had learned to read accounts from his wife since she was a child, so she proposed to take care of separate affairs with Baochai.When Jia Mu heard this, she smiled all over her face. This granddaughter-in-law is not stupid at all, so she agreed repeatedly.

Baochai took over the key ledger from the mansion and looked at it. She was startled, anxious and angry. What kind of family do you care about the few liang of silver in Jia's account?At this time, it was too late for him to take up the post of housekeeper, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and take over.Every time something happened, Wang Guili said that she didn't know how to let Baochai make up her mind. How could Baochai be willing to use her own money to complain to Mrs. Wang, but she was reprimanded by Mrs. Wang: "Didn't Feng girl take care of it before? You Someone who can read and write should be more capable than girl Feng, don't they even have that ability?"

After Baochai was harassed, she suppressed her grievances and took care of the family affairs. Wang Guili was so happy that she clapped her hands.

Yesterday, the emperor confiscated another Duke's mansion, and Mother Jia had to be anxious, if this continues, it will soon be them and the East mansion.That night, all the masters of the Jia family were summoned to the Rongxi Hall to discuss important matters.This is related to the life and death of the Jia family. Whether it is Jia Zhen, who eats flower wine, or Jia She, who plays with concubines, they all arrive on time.They are all a family. At critical moments, there is nothing taboo to say. Men and women sit down and discuss together.

"Old lady, isn't Sanya the Princess of Tubo? With her help, the emperor will not do anything to us for Tubo's sake. Why don't the old lady write a letter to Sanya?" During Qingming, I actually came up with a pretty good idea.

Jiamu was silent, counted with her fingers, and said: "Tuban is thousands of miles away from here, and it will take a month or two to come and go quickly. I'm afraid it will be too late for the people from there. The emperor is no better than the former emperor." , it is Thunder's way of doing things, and it is merciless."

Tanchun grew up next to Mrs. Wang, and she will naturally have face when she is successful, but the problem is that Mrs. Wang's own daughter Yuan Chun died, and listening to Princess Tanchun's words was a bit harsh, and she couldn't help muttering: "The old lady said That's right. Poor lady, why can't I figure it out, if she's still here, she's a concubine anyway, and the emperor will always look at her for the sake of her face." As she spoke, she picked up the handkerchief to wipe away her tears.

Mother Jia was much older than before, her brows frowned deeper, and her spirit was not as good as before. Hearing this, she glanced at Mrs. Wang indifferently, and said coldly, "Your Majesty, she was loyal to the late emperor. She is affectionate and righteous. What do you know?" Hmph, Yuan Chun is dead, maybe the emperor will let them go under pressure from the Jia family, Yuan Chun is alive, how much use can a nominal concubine be.Moreover, her granddaughter knew very well that Yuan Chun would never seek death, most likely she was murdered.It's not that she is cruel as a grandmother, the Jia family is almost collapsed, so she can control too much.

Hearing this, Jia Zheng glanced at Mrs. Wang, who lowered her head embarrassingly.

Jia Zhen ignored the internal struggles of their family, and said with a frown: "I heard that the former son of the second girl's husband's grandson was recalled to the capital by the emperor's announcement. Quite a word for our family.

It's just, how did I hear that since the second girl got married, she didn't even come back home. Have you sent someone to ask, not to mention that the second girl is not liked by the Sun family, it's useless to ask the Sun family like that. "Although Jia Zhen knows that her East Mansion is not clean, it is still far behind the messy things in the West Mansion. There are so many useful girls, but none of them are useful at critical times.

Mother Jia and the others could tell that Jia Zhen was complaining that they hadn't established a good relationship with the Sun family as soon as possible, and that they couldn't even ask for help at this point.

Others didn't say anything, but Wang Guili was a master who would not be bullied, and immediately replied: "I have pity on our fourth girl, what is going on in the Lin Mansion now?"

Jia Zhen's face turned pale in an instant. He was fascinated by the possible prosperity and wealth that day, so he thought of selling his own sister to the Lin family. Unexpectedly, it would end like this, losing his wife and losing his army.A good girl is only worth 5000 taels of silver, it's all the old lady's idea.

"Okay, don't say these things are not available. Whether it is useful or not, you have to try it. The third girl must send someone to deliver the letter; the second girl's house must also go to walk around alone; since the Lin family has returned Jing, I have to go and have a look. Who is more suitable for you to make arrangements?" Mother Jia waved her hands helplessly, these children and grandchildren are still fighting each other to this day, do they have to wait until they are all defeated before they wake up?

"Old lady, I think the third girl and the second girl should go to someone else, but let's forget about the Lin family. The niece was first made a queen, although she was not finally canonized, but she was always the empress dowager, depending on the emperor's wishes , as long as anyone who followed the queen mother will be punished, the Lin family can't escape. They are all in danger, how can they spare time to help our family?" Mrs. Wang was very dissatisfied when she heard that, what happened to the old lady, eating at the Lin family Is it not enough to lose, now I can't forget the Lin family, it would be nice if they are willing to take care of us.

Jia Zheng listened quietly and did not speak. Seeing that Mrs. Wang was about to jump out again and refute Jia Mu's words, he became more and more unhappy. Will you reuse your nephew like this, and send rewards to the Lin family every three days. Besides, everyone has heard that the Lin family was blackmailed back then, so how can you be regarded as the Queen Mother?"

Mother Jia nodded again and again, and finally there was a smile on her face. After all, this second son has been in the officialdom for decades, and he is not stupid enough.Glancing at the crowd, he said in a deep voice: "Zheng'er is quite right. These days, I have been observing the Holy Majesty's actions towards the Lin family. Is the grandson going to the imperial study to discuss matters? How many people can have such an honor nowadays."

"Just follow what the old lady said, let's act quickly." Jia Zhen responded.

"Feng girl, take Baoyu and her daughter-in-law to Lin's house early in the morning; Lian'er, order someone to send a letter to Tubo immediately, and you must see your third sister; to Sun's house, let the eldest daughter-in-law take Baozan. Be nice and talk, don't let your relatives become enemies instead." Jia Mu gave orders one by one.

The rest were okay, only one sister Feng was in a hurry, but she still remembered the previous few times when she went to the Lin's house, they didn't shake their face at all, and it was shameful to go there.But she didn't dare not listen to the old lady's words.

The gate of the Lin family was tightly closed, and the concierge didn't intend to let them in at all, let alone let them in.Baoyu was lazily riding on the horse, not because he didn't want to see Sister Lin, but because he was ashamed to see her, and it would be best not to see her.Sister Feng and Wang Guili looked out anxiously from the car to see how Lin Zhixiao's family was negotiating with the Lin family's concierge. No matter how many good things Lin Zhixiao's family said and how much money they gave, they refused to report.

If it was in the past, Wang Guili would definitely get angry, but it is different now, the Queen Mother, the biggest backer of the Wang family, is gone, and she can't even say that her father's official position cannot be kept. .

Half an hour later, just as they were about to go back, a black-painted carriage was completely covered and stopped at the gate of the Linjiajiao. A woman handed over a card, and the porter immediately smiled He led them into the mansion.

Sister Feng couldn't help being surprised. Whose family is this? It doesn't look very eye-catching, but it's easy to enter the Lin family. I've never heard of such a good relationship with the Lin family.Even though the Lin family associates with high-ranking dignitaries, it seems that there is no such middle-class family.Sister Feng looked at the carriage carefully, but saw a blue "Sun" character on the curtain. The Sun family, there are not many families with the surname Sun in the capital, and even fewer people related to the Lin family?

It wasn't until the carriage disappeared that Sister Feng badly ordered the driver to turn around and return home.Anyway, they have already been here, and they are gone, so the old lady can't blame them for not calling the door.

When I returned to the mansion, I happened to see Mrs. Xing and Baochai returning with displeased faces, and the two went to Jiamu's room together.

Mrs. Xing was the first to say: "Old lady, the Sun family did return to Beijing, and the second girl came back with her, but she was not there when we went, and the concierge said she had gone out early in the morning."

"Going out? The Sun family doesn't have any relatives or friends in the capital. If they could go to someone's house, it wouldn't be because they don't want to see you?" Jia's mother faintly didn't believe her elder daughter-in-law's words, for fear that she wouldn't try her best.

Baochai smiled lightly: "Old lady, it's true that she is not here. The daughter-in-law didn't believe it at first, but later she sent a lot of money to the porter, who said that their grandma had gone out in a black-painted carriage early in the morning. There is no one in the house right now." Master is at home."

"The black-painted carriage? Could it be the second younger sister who entered the Lin family?" Sister Feng burst out.

"What's going on? Feng girl, are you careful?" Jia Mu looked anxious and worried.

"Old lady, we waited in front of Lin's house for half an hour, but the concierge refused to give us a pass. Just as we were about to leave, a black carriage with the word "Sun" on it came up. The concierge saw it and let it in without saying a word. I wondered, could it be the second younger sister, and the time is reasonable." The more Sister Feng said, the more she felt that it made sense. It is not impossible to see the second sister.

Wang Guili also nodded again and again, expressing her agreement with Sister Feng's words.

Mother Jia lowered her head and pondered for a while, before uttering a sentence: "You are very reasonable." Since Lin Daiyu is willing to associate with the second girl, why is she unwilling to associate with her own family? Those things have been going on for many years, is she still so narrow-minded?

After a few days, the eldest master Jia Amnesty, the second master Jia Zheng and Jia Zhen were ordered to suspend their duties at home, and voices of impeachment of the Jia family continued to spread in the court.The Jia family was in a hurry, knowing that the emperor was going to attack them soon, so they couldn't just sit and wait for death, at least they had to think of a way.

Mother Jia finally decided to bring the whole family to the Lin family to cry and beg. She didn't believe that the Lin family would be indifferent.

In the scorching sun, a group of people from Jia's mansion got out of the carriage and stood in front of the gate of Lin's mansion, as if the Lin family was standing here to death without seeing them.Soon, many spectators gathered around.

"Isn't this the Jia family? You're really cheeky. You broke up with the Lin family that day. Why are you here today?"

"No matter what grievances and grievances there were in the past, now that the elders of the Jia family are here, the juniors of the Lin family should always invite someone to sit in on a hot day."

"That's right, look at the white-haired one, he can't be the ancestor of the Jia family, the grandmother of the Lin family's girl brother. What if something bad happens in the heat?"

"Both the two families have severed their ties. What about the grandmother? Back then, the Jia family caused the Lin family to be persecuted by the Liu family, but it was a matter of embarrassment to the ancestors."

"You can't say that. Back then, the old lady of the Jia family felt sorry for her daughter, who was well-known in the capital. The Lin family didn't look at the face of the Jia family. They saw that the ghosts under the mother's nine springs would not rest in peace, so they couldn't just ignore it."

It seems that the Jia family decided to use such shameless tricks to force the Lin family to submit and continue to stand. No matter what happened in the past, the reputation of the Lin family will not be much better.

"Sister, don't be angry, it's not worth it to be ruined by such popularity." Mo Han didn't expect the Jia family to be so thick-skinned, and they resorted to such obscene tricks, making their own baby almost cry.

Dai Yu was so angry that she fell into Mo Han's arms, her eyes were red, and she said coldly: "They don't care about my late mother at all. Unfortunately, I thought it would be too heavy to confiscate the entire Jia family."

Mo Han hugged her lightly, and said in an affectionate tone: "There is me. At worst, I'll go see them and see what they have to say. Don't they just want us to intercede with the emperor? It also depends on whether we have the ability. .”

"You, I'm afraid there will be rumors that are bad for you. Forget it, let's send someone to coax them away. They are shameless. Can I still save face for them?" Give orders to the maids.

"Yu'er, let me meet them. Didn't you say that you are not filial? I want to ask whether it is more important to be filial to my grandmother or my grandmother, and see what people in the capital say." After hearing the news, the old lady said, Based on her violent temper, she beat up the Jia family and kicked them out, but for the sake of the reputation of the two children, she changed her mind. She wanted to convince the Jia family so that the people in the capital could not speak a word of gossip.

When Daiyu saw her, she threw herself into her grandmother's arms, and held her arm to persuade her, "Grandma, how can you go out in such a hot day? Let's just drive them away. And what's your identity?"

"It's okay, I have to meet people, maybe I won't come out for the rest of my life. Mo Han, you go out with me. Bai Hui, you guys are good at serving girls, don't get mad at her." Mo Han hurriedly took orders.

Daiyu had no choice but to watch them go worryingly.

The old lady of the Lin family has always been a person who enjoys life, even though she has been a monk for many years, her life is still of high quality.You see, the mother-in-law has already set up a bamboo table in the shade of a century-old tree inside the gate. The tea sets and fruits are neatly arranged on the table, and an umbrella is placed on it to block the light that occasionally passes through the gaps in the leaves.Surrounded by large buckets of ice, it made a small place much cooler.

The door of the Lin family opened slowly, and everyone in Jia's house was shocked. They were all used to being rich and precious. When had they ever suffered such hardships, especially the old lady was almost unable to hold on.

They thought they would see Daiyu, but what they didn't want to see was an old lady with fair skin but a frosty face sitting leisurely on the bamboo slum, and Lin Mohan sitting on the small bamboo slum next to her, looking at the old lady very much. Respectfully, I personally offered her a cup of tea.

Everyone in Jia's residence was stunned. Who is this old lady who made a prince treat her so respectfully? Even Jia's mother would not dare to order her grandson like this.If it is said that there is a famous concubine in the capital who ordered his wife, but I have never seen her, who is it?

The rest of the onlookers were also curious, and those who planned to run away quickly stopped, but instead followed the steps of the people in Jia's mansion and walked in, they all gathered around the gate of Lin's mansion to look inside.

Sister Feng received Jia Mu's wink, quickly supported Jia Mu and said exaggeratedly: "Old lady, are you all right?"

Grandma Lin's eyes didn't move, and she whispered a word: "Sit."

There was only a huanghuali eight-legged round stool left, and the maid knowingly carried the stool to the shadow opposite Grandma Lin.Jiamu's complexion was quite ugly, she was an ancestor anyway, and she was the court's appointed wife, how could she be allowed to sit in such a place.But people had to bow their heads under the eaves, so they had to sit awkwardly.

"Your Jia family has entangled so many people, why did you come to our Lin family's door?" Grandma Lin's tone was flat, but she just glanced at the people with sharp eyes.

"May I ask who you are? This is my granddaughter's housework. What capacity do you intervene in?" Mother Jia fought back, avoiding Grandma Lin's words.

"Who am I? Looking at the people in the Lin family respecting me, do I seem like a person who can't make decisions?" Grandma Lin laughed, as if Mother Jia's question was just a joke.

Mother Jia's heart shuddered, knowing that this was not an easy role to deal with, but then she thought about it, she was the grandmother of the Lin family, no matter how honorable she was as an old lady, at least she couldn't compare to her closeness.Thinking about it, she became quite amiable, and said to Mo Han, "Grandson, this is our family business, so it's not good to invite an outsider to come forward. It's better to invite my granddaughter out, and let's talk."

It was a rare time for Mo Han to share the same hatred with Grandma Lin, and smiled brightly: "It's such a hot day, my sister needs to rest, is it possible that Mrs. Jia will let my sister come out to meet so many outsiders regardless of the rules? Besides, she is not an outsider, it is me and Yu'er's grandmother."

There was a low exclamation from the crowd. Everyone in the world knew that the Lin family had only one son and one daughter. When a grandmother appeared, it couldn't be a fake, right?

Especially the people in Jia's mansion, they are the in-laws of the Lin family. Not long after Jia Min married into the Lin family, didn't they say that the old lady of the Lin family was gone?How come one pops up out of nowhere.Jia's mother immediately lowered her face: "Lin Mohan, you are the adoptive son of the Lin family. It doesn't matter if you control the Lin family's property, but you even brought your grandmother here. You must know that you have nothing to do with your original family. My poor Yu'er, young and ignorant, and a boudoir girl, there is no one to complain about being bullied by you. Min'er, your spirit in heaven must protect my poor granddaughter."

Mother Jia's mind turned slightly, and she thought that the old lady was a relative of Lin Mohan, and now Lin Mohan took her to the Lin family to worship as an ancestor. These should have belonged to their Jia family, but they were acquired by a few outsiders. Ken let it go.

With a bang, a small Ru kiln celadon-glazed teacup disappeared, and the tea splashed on Jiamu's shoe. Fortunately, the water was already cold.Grandma Lin frowned, and stood up slowly: "Ms. Jia, I respect you for being old, and I don't want to argue with you. I didn't expect you to make an inch of it. Our Lin family and your Jia family have long since broken up. The imperial decree of the late emperor They are all there, why do you come to persecute again and again.

You treat my granddaughter and grandson without the support of elders, and do everything possible to deceive them. Let me tell you today, you are wrong.I am an upright old lady of the Lin family, Yu'er's grandmother, and I will not let you bully my granddaughter and grandson again. "That kind of natural nobility and majesty bloomed in an instant, startling Jia Mu and others.

"You, it's impossible. Everyone in the Lin family is dead. Min'er said you are long gone. You can't be Yu'er's real grandmother." Mother Jia was shocked by her certainty, and spoke hysterically.

"I don't know what your daughter said. You go and look at the family tree of the Lin family, Lin's Zuwen, but there is a single word that can prove that I am dead. I just like to rest. When you are Yu'er's grandmother, don't worry. She entrusted it to you, but I didn't expect your Jia family to be so shameless, thinking about plotting against their two children every day, from now on, don't think about it." Grandma Lin shook her sleeves with a dignified tone, and no one could believe her words.

The Jia family, including Jia's mother, were dumbfounded. They thought of various scenarios and excuses, but they never expected that a grandmother would appear out of nowhere in the Lin family.Mother Jia recalled that in the letter her daughter wrote to herself back then, she did not say anything about the death of the old lady of the Lin family, and she did not even receive a funeral report from the Lin family. Could it be that she really did not die?Impossible, impossible, why didn't she come out if she didn't die?

Grandma Lin didn't bother to talk nonsense with them, she said to herself: "Our two families have long since broken up their friendship, don't try to use a little filial piety to control my grandchildren. Even if you are filial, you should first be filial to me, my own grandmother. You don’t have to go against your grandmother’s words and go to be filial to your parents. Ask yourself, when did you have such a rule, and who has such a teaching? Thanks to your Jia’s family who often call themselves a family of poetry and etiquette, it turns out that they are full of nonsense .Why don’t you tell your girls and grandsons to go and honor their grandparents’ family? Why are they all honoring you, hmph!”

Mother Jia was so helpless by her non-breathing words, her mind was in a mess, unable to refute.Mother Jia has nothing to say, let alone the rest of the Jia family who are not motivated.

Mo Han obediently fanned Grandma Lin, smiled flatteringly and said, "Grandmother, it's so hot outside, and my sister will be worried later, I'd better send you back to the house first, there is nothing to argue with this kind of person, there is no gain or loss Our dignity. It is clearly written in the imperial decree, but they are used to being arrogant and domineering outside, and now they are worried that the emperor will investigate them, so they come to force us to intercede.

Even if our two families are still relatives, there is no reason to disregard the laws and regulations of the country and the voice of the people for the sake of personal affection, don't you think?How could our Lin family have been well-known for hundreds of years, how could they coerce them to plead with the emperor? Not only did the emperor betray the trust he had placed in us, but he also felt sorry for the ancestors of our Lin family, and even more sorry for the many innocent people who were murdered by the Jia family.

Grandmother just go back to rest at ease, the grandson knows it in his heart, he will never lose the Lin noodles of our Lin family. "

What he said made the Jia family's complexions extremely ugly, turning green and white for a while, especially Jia's mother almost fell backwards and fainted. Lin Mohan brought this kind of words to the table, and now many people outside have heard it. Could it be that the sky is going to kill me?When Jiamu closed her eyes, she really fainted.

The people of the Lin family ignored it at all, and just supported Grandma Lin to walk inside.Mother Jia had no choice but to help her mother in a mess, and fled in disgrace.After watching this good show, everyone naturally went back to publicize it, scolding the Jia family again until they covered their faces.