The Fate of the Red Chamber

When the Lin family was in trouble, Xue Baochai's life was not easy.

After the princess returned to Beijing, the Princess Mansion sent someone to Xue's house to propose marriage for Zhao Ping.Originally, this kind of thing didn't need the princess's house to come forward, but Zhao Ping was Guan Tai's personal bodyguard, and Guan Tai personally agreed that day, so although he was just a concubine, his etiquette was only a little lower than that of his wife.

Zhao Ping's wife, Gan Shi, is a very powerful person. She never spared anyone with her words and tongue, and she is famous for her aggressiveness.After Zhao Ping returned to Beijing, she first scolded Zhao Ping severely, and Zhao Ping swallowed his anger and let her vent.Then everyone Gan said that Xue Baochai was worse than the girls in the brothel, and she had to pay for it, and would never take the initiative to climb into a man's bed, cursing all kinds of sluts, whores, and vulgar words.

Later, he pretended to be a courteous wife, and presented all the betrothal gifts he had prepared for Xue Baochai to others, claiming that he was generous and virtuous, and that he was so polite to such a woman.

In this way, everyone praised the Gan family, and even belittled Baochai.These words were originally only circulated among Gan's relatives, friends, old friends, and neighbors, but they somehow reached the ears of Baochai who was convalescing in her boudoir.

The Princess Mansion proposed marriage several times, but Xue's family refused to agree because Xue Baochai was not in good health.Baochai is arrogant, how could she be willing to be a concubine for a guard, and there is a tigress-like regular wife at home, so it would be better to let her die.Aunt Xue felt sorry for her daughter, and she couldn't bear her to suffer that kind of hardship, so she kept procrastinating.It's not easy to refuse clearly. My daughter belongs to someone else, and she still refuses to marry. Isn't this worse than those prostitutes in the brothel who think about being good all day long?

By the way, it was already November, and the Princess Mansion came to propose marriage again, saying that it would be best to marry Xue Baochai before the Chinese New Year, so that the whole family could be reunited, and secondly, others would think that Zhao Ping was unwilling to take responsibility.

"Sister, you know that my daughter's life is suffering, and her health hasn't improved since she returned to Beijing. With such a body, how can I, a mother, marry her? I have to wait until she gets better. Do you think it makes sense?" The people in front of me are all second-class women in the Princess Mansion, they are not something they can offend, Aunt Xue's eyes were red, and she spoke very euphemistically.

The woman's husband's surname is Gan, and she is the aunt of the Gan family. She has long been disgusted with the Xue family's shameless use of Zhang as Qiao. She twitched her lips and smiled ironically: "Mrs. Xue's words are right, let's be mothers How can someone willing to let their daughter suffer. What is wrong with Miss Xue? It has been dragging on for so long. My niece has tidyed up the house a long time ago. The dowry is all good. She knows that Miss Xue is from a decent family. Don't dare to be negligent. I'll just wait for the girl to go. It's almost Chinese New Year, and this matter has caused a lot of noise in the capital. It will look good to everyone soon, isn't Mrs. Xue saying?

After the princess found out, she was very sympathetic. Today, I specially called the imperial physician from the imperial hospital to accompany me. By the way, I could take the pulse of Miss Xue. It would be best to cure any illnesses earlier. The young girl must not cause the root cause of the disease. .Mrs. Xue, wait, I'll invite Imperial Physician Lu to come in. "After finishing speaking, before Aunt Xue could speak, Mrs. Gan walked out quickly, and brought in a middle-aged man wearing a doctor's uniform after a while.

Aunt Xue didn't have time to respond, or refuse, people had already entered.Thinking that this was what the princess wanted, she didn't dare to refuse, but Baochai's body was already healed, and the heat poisoning was not a serious condition that could prevent marriage, so she was a little anxious, and hurriedly stepped forward to stop her: "Princess's kindness is appreciated." Well, but what kind of family are we, how dare we work hard for the imperial physician, let’s forget it. The doctor who sees the disease is quite capable, just let him continue to look after it.”

"You don't need to be polite. If you are a princess, you don't have to worry about breaking the rules. Besides, the doctor Lu is here, but it won't take long to get a pulse." Mrs. Gan persuaded her earnestly, showing great concern.

"That, this, that's alright. I'll let my little girl prepare it first." Aunt Xue had nothing to say, she knew that she might not be able to pass this test if she was not allowed to see a doctor today, so let's just have a look, anyway, although Baochai is sick Okay, but after all, his body is much weaker than before, even if he can see what it is, he cares too much about his daughter.

Mrs. Gan beamed as if she had gained some benefits, she led Imperial Physician Lu and followed Aunt Xue towards the inside.

Baochai was lying on the kang table doing needlework, wearing a languid makeup bun, with nothing but a red silver hairpin inlaid with beads on her head.A small jacket inlaid with pine flower green and light gold, matched with a plain Hunan skirt underneath, both of which are half-worn and a little plain.Her body, which was plump like Concubine Yang's, had lost a lot of weight, her face hadn't been applied with makeup, and her green eye circles were a bit haggard.

Sitting there, but there was no movement in his hand, he was in a daze, sighing for a while, and looking out the window for a while.

She had an ambition of Ling Yun in vain, but it was a pity that she didn't give birth to a good family, and she worked hard to plan, but in the end it was still in vain.When her father was there, the family was well-off, so she didn't need to worry about it. Now that the family is getting worse, and her brother doesn't know what to do, she needs her to help her mother take care of it.She originally had a beautiful face like a flower, a daughter of a boudoir, and she hoped to marry a good husband, but everything was ruined. Could it be that she will die of old age like this?

And that thing, which weighed her down with worry and longing.

When Aunt Xue saw her daughter in a daze, she felt a little sad. After all, she had missed her daughter. If Pan'er was capable, how could Chai'er end up like this? Who will the mother and daughter count on in the future.

"Chai'er, this is the older sister from the Princess's mansion. The Princess has sent Imperial Physician Lu to see you. You should clean up quickly." Aunt Xue suppressed the bitterness in her heart, and gave Baochai winks behind Mrs. Gan's back.

Baochai was taken aback, knowing that the princess' mansion couldn't wait for someone to come. Fortunately, she has been a little lazy these days, probably because of a fever attack, maybe he won't be able to diagnose anything.He nodded to Aunt Xue, retreated to sit on the couch in the inner room, and asked Lu Taiyi for a pulse diagnosis through the curtain.

Physician Lu heard the rumor, looked at the ground with both eyes, sat on the stool in front of the couch, and examined the doctor carefully.

After a while, Imperial Physician Lu's face looked a little strange, and he changed his other hand to examine again, and then he came out out of bewilderment, and congratulated Aunt Xue and Mrs. Gan: "Congratulations to Mrs. Xue, congratulations to Madam Gan, Xue, Miss Xue I am pregnant." Although it was a happy event, there was no joy on his face.

Mrs. Gan is okay, she didn't say anything, and getting pregnant out of wedlock is not something worth celebrating.

Aunt Xue was shocked, the teacup in her hand fell to the ground, and asked anxiously: "Is it really a happy event?"

Baochai didn't hear the words of Imperial Physician Lu very clearly in the back room, but this time Aunt Xue understood immediately when she yelled loudly, her face turned pale with fright, her body shrank on the couch when she was about to get up, her hands trembled and she couldn't get up anymore Come.

"There's nothing wrong with the pulse. Miss Xue is only a month pregnant." In fact, he was also surprised. Everyone in Beijing knows about Miss Xue's family. It's good for him to come to check her pulse Dissatisfied, but the princess dared not listen to her words.It's just really weird, what happened to Miss Xue happened in the Summer Resort, it was only July at that time, and now it's November, even if she was pregnant, it should be three or four months, how could it be only one month.This is exactly the question he hesitated just now.

This time, both Aunt Xue and Mrs. Gan have completely changed their faces. One month, isn't that what happens in October?Both of them can be sure that Zhao Ping has never been to Xue's house. Whose child is this?

Aunt Xue was trembling all over, and Baochai's pregnancy was like a bolt from the blue, which drove her crazy.How can it be?How can it be?Baochai stays at home every day and never goes out, so how could she be pregnant?

Aunt Xue rushed into the room, grabbed Baochai's hand and asked sharply, "Tell me, what's going on? Tell me?" This daughter, doesn't she think that the family's face is not humiliated enough? Home.

Baochai's eyes were glazed over, and she felt as if she had lost her soul. She let Aunt Xue scratch and beat her without any reaction.

Mrs. Gan was lucky enough to watch this good show. If she wanted to laugh or not, she had to pretend to persuade her: "Mrs. Xue, the girl is pregnant after all. Be careful, it's always your grandson, isn't it?"

These words were like adding fuel to the flames, adding fuel to Aunt Xue who was about to go crazy. Aunt Xue slapped Baochai fiercely, crying and scolding: "You unfilial daughter, why did I give birth to you?" For you, please tell me clearly."

Baochai was like a puppet, she was slapped by Aunt Xue and fell to the ground without a word of explanation.

Aunt Xue was crying like a tearful person, her hairpins were all messed up, and her clothes were disheveled.Mrs. Gan saw that there was nothing to watch, so she took Imperial Physician Lu back to do business for the princess. She must let the princess know about such a funny thing.

Presumably the interested observers have already guessed whose child Baochai belongs to.Yes, it belonged to the young doctor who treated Baochai.

The young doctor's name is Zhang Lang, and he is the most obscene and lecherous. Generally, those girls and daughters-in-law who have treated the country's diseases by him would not dare to ask him for a second time.However, he did not know how to suppress Baochai's fever, so that Xue's family trusted him even more, as if they treated him as one of their own.

Later, when Baochai got sick, he would directly invite him into the room. Aunt Xue sometimes came and sometimes she didn't come when she was busy, and there were only one or two maids standing by her.

Xue Pan was already in his twenties, and Aunt Xue was anxious to find a good marriage for him, so she often discussed with Baochai.Baochai remembered that she had an old relative in her family, who was also an imperial merchant, named Osmanthus Xia's family.There is only one daughter in their family, and Nuo's family has a widowed mother with her daughter to take care of it. In the future, her daughter will accompany her if she gets married.

The situation of the Xue family is getting worse day by day, so they can only start from the daughter-in-law. The mother and daughter of the Xue family think it is feasible.In order to be safe, Aunt Xue often took a carriage and brought a lot of gifts to go to Xia's house, so as to win the favor of Xia's family, and then proposed marriage.

One day at the end of September and the beginning of October, the weather was fine, Baochai recovered, and the director was basically fine.Aunt Xue entrusted her with the affairs of the family, brought generous gifts to Xia's house, and planned to find out about Xia's family today, and if possible, she would send a matchmaker to propose marriage as soon as possible.

The Xia family lived in a village outside the city, and they couldn't come back every four or five hours, so Aunt Xue set off early in the morning.Since the Xue family moved here, many of the servants have been dismissed, and there are only a dozen or so maids and a few servants who follow Xue Pan, not including the shop assistants outside.In order to prevent the Xia family from realizing the downfall of their family, Baochai gave Aunt Xue enough appearance every time, and brought almost all the women and maids who could be brought by the family.

Today is even more different than usual, Baochai guessed what the Xia family would ask, worried that his mother would not be able to turn around for a while, so he followed Yinger, who was serving him personally.Over the years Yinger has served Baochai, her eyesight has improved a lot. With her in front of Aunt Xue, Baochai can relax a lot.Therefore, in the inner courtyard, there were only two or three women and the little maid Wen Xing left.

Baochai flipped through the account books in the shop, sighing again and again. If this continues, it may not last for a year or two. If he can get some silver and the shop from the Xia family, maybe it can be saved.A cool breeze came in through the window, Wen Xing hurriedly closed the window, but it was already too late, Baochai began to cough, her heart was pounding, and the hot tide in her body kept rising.

Baochai thought to herself: No, it must be the heat poisoning attack. It hasn't happened for nearly a month. How come it happened at this time?Mom is not here, but fortunately Dr. Zhang is familiar with him, so let's invite him here quickly.

Wen Xing took the order and hurried to the front yard, telling the boy at the door to invite Dr. Zhang immediately.

As soon as Zhang Lang heard it, he came soon.Wen Xing picked him up and walked inside.Zhang Lang found that there was no one on the way, so he couldn't help being surprised, and slowly repeated Wen Xing's words.Wen Xing is a new girl, she just learned some rules, she will answer whatever Zhang Lang asks, she only knows that Zhang Lang comes here often, and she doesn't treat him as an outsider.

Zhang Lang was delighted to hear that Aunt Xue was not at home and Baochai was served by only such a little maid.I thought secretly.

Arriving in Baochai's small courtyard, Zhang Lang stopped, smiled gently and said to Wen Xing: "I'm going to give the girl an injection later, you know that I don't want to be disturbed by others, a careless girl is in danger of her life." You have to guard here carefully, and don’t let anyone in, if something goes wrong, you are the only one to ask.”

Wen Xing watched Zhang Lang give acupuncture once, and felt a little scared. When she heard that she was asked to stay outside, she laughed and agreed, promising that she would never let anyone in.

Entering the inner room, I saw Baochai leaning on the bed, fine sweat protruding from his forehead, mixed with one or two coughing sounds.

Zhang Lang hurried forward and helped Baochai to lie down.Baochai was seriously ill, and she just wanted to relieve her discomfort at the moment, ignoring what was wrong with it, she just asked weakly, "Why don't you see Wen Xing?"

"I was afraid that someone would rush in without knowing that the girl was giving acupuncture, so I asked Wen Xing to stand guard at the door. If the girl wants her to serve, then I will call her in." Zhang Lang made a gesture that he really wanted to get up and go out.

Baochai was in a hurry, and hurriedly said: "That's all. It's good to have her guarding. Hurry up. My heart is burning."

Hearing this, Zhang Lang stopped, turned around and put the medicine box on the small table in front of the bed.Baochai unbuttoned her clothes and lay down on her body.Zhang Lang gently took off Baochai's coat, small coat, and bellyband. He had never seen such a white body before. After all, it was a girl's house from a big family, and how could those from a small family have such delicate skin and tender flesh.The scent of the woman's body rushed straight into the tip of his nose, making him shaken for a while.Zhang Lang deliberately took his clothes down to his waist, so that he could see the obscene trousers. In the past, only the waist was enough.

It was the first time for Baochai to be undressed by a man, her face was burning hot, and she intuitively felt a scorching gaze focused on her back, which was both cold and hot.But it's not the first time Zhang Lang saw her half-naked body, she just blushed a little, nothing much.

I really don't know what kind of blessings I have cultivated in my life. I am lucky to have such a beautiful and charming woman. Zhang Lang's body has already reacted.But his concentration was good, he didn't act immediately, but gave Baochai the needle as usual, and rubbed Baochai's waist with his free hand.

As soon as the injection was given, a sense of coolness dissipated in the body, relieving the scorching heat just now, and Baochai moaned in comfort.

Under such circumstances, Baochai's sweet voice is undoubtedly seductive, and Zhang Lang finally decides to act quickly regardless of everything.

Baochai was lying in a trance, feeling unspeakable, when suddenly there was a biting chill on his chest, and he woke up suddenly, and there were two hands grasping the softness of his chest, rubbing gently and slowly.Baochai was ashamed and angry, her face was so red that she could bleed, she began to struggle, but she didn't dare to make a sound to attract people to see her.

Zhang Lang knew the scruples in her heart, and he became more and more unscrupulous. He pressed his whole body on Baochai's body, sucking and biting her bare back like a hungry tiger pouncing on a sheep, and didn't give her any chance to breathe.

Baochai felt weaker than ever before, as if that night when she and Zhao Ping had a good time, she was lying on her stomach again, with a person on top of her, and she couldn't get up at all, let alone push Zhang Lang away.Anxious and ashamed in her heart, she wanted to call Wen Xing in to rescue her, but she couldn't help worrying that if the news got out, she would never have the face to see anyone again.And, moreover, there seemed to be a fire in her body, burning all over her body.

Zhang Lang finally succeeded.Baochai still struggled a little at first, but later she wanted to refuse and greeted, allowing Zhang Lang to move.Zhang Lang's ex-wife passed away a few years ago. Because of his bad reputation, he has never been able to marry a step-wife, so he can only sneak around to take advantage of it. How can he enjoy such a beauty as Baochai like today.He actually forced Baochai three times.

Wen Xing waited outside for more than an hour, but Zhang Lang didn't come out, and the girl didn't call her, so naturally she didn't dare to go in.I thought that it must be because the girl's illness had a sudden onset this time, and it was more difficult to treat than before, that's why Dr. Zhang has been in for so long.

Zhang Lang came out from inside with a radiant face, and said to Wen Xing in a good mood: "The girl is fine, I guess she is asleep this time, so don't go in and disturb you. Here, this is the girl's reward for you." He threw an ingot casually. The broken silver is in Wen Xing's hands, but it is actually his own, in order to stop Wen Xing from talking nonsense.

Wen Xing didn't care about that much, now that Xue's family is in a bad situation, and even the monthly payment is often delayed, let alone a reward, she happily accepted it, sent Zhang Lang out, and didn't go in to see Baochai.

Baochai lay naked on the bed, and gradually woke up from the dizziness just now, she couldn't help but shed shameful tears.Looking at the dark red marks all over his chest, arms, and neck, he clearly knew that all this was not a dream, but a reality.She hated Zhang Lang and scolded Zhang Lang a thousand times and ten thousand times in her heart, but she couldn't help touching her whole body. She is not young, is it true that she really wants to stay in her mother's house and be an old girl all her life?

Baochai didn't dare to tell her mother about it, so she hid in her room and wept all day, no matter how much Aunt Xue coaxed and abused her, she would not let go.Aunt Xue felt sorry for her daughter's life for a while, who was ruined by some god, and blamed her daughter for not living up to her expectations.Zhao Ping didn't say anything earlier, he should have married her if he knew it earlier, and there wouldn't be such a joke like today, not only would she lose face to others, even the Xue family's business would be greatly affected.Those people went to Xue's shop, not to buy anything at all, but to inquire about the girl from Xue's family.

Presumably, not only Mrs. Gan was there that day, but Imperial Physician Lu was also there. The two of them must have leaked the matter to others, so that Xue Baochai's famous name resounded all over the street again, even more than last time.There are often some local ruffians and rascals around the front of Xue's house, clamoring that whoever pays more will sleep with Xue Baochai. Even a thick-skinned Xue Pan hides at home and dare not go out.

After this incident, the Princess Mansion will naturally not come to propose marriage again, who would be so foolish as to be taken advantage of.

Knowing this, Jia's family is noncommittal, and now they can only try to distance themselves from Xue's family, so as not to get involved.They are the natal family of the noble concubine now, and the natal family of the Tubo princess in the future, and the Xue family must not let them be burdened.

Furthermore, Jia's mansion has been very busy recently and has no time to take care of other people's affairs.Because Won Chun is pregnant.Yuan Chun was originally loved by the Empress Dowager, but now she has regained the emperor's favor, conceived a dragon fetus in one fell swoop, and became the most honorable concubine in the entire palace.If the little prince can be successfully born, the queen seal is just around the corner.

Since the Xi pulse was diagnosed, this is the first time that the palace has had a baby, so it is natural to pay more attention to it.The empress dowager sympathized with Yuan Chun and missed her relatives, so she specially allowed Mrs. Wang and Jia Mu to visit the palace every second of every month. Mrs. Wang raised her head like a rooster, and even Jia Mu was not as calm as before.

On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, there was a folk custom of eating Laba porridge. Relatives and friends in the world like to cook Laba porridge as a gift. Generally, the palace will have a small celebration to express the joy of sharing with the people.

This year is full of happy events, the country is prosperous and the people are peaceful, and the harem is peaceful. The Empress Dowager Enzhun held a Laba Banquet in Fengzao Palace in Yuanchun, and invited all the female relatives of the princely mansion to participate. It is an extremely rare honor to hold a banquet in the concubine's palace.

Jia's family, from Jia's mother to Fengjie, from Tanchun to Xichun, all received orders to enter the palace, and none of the female family members of Jia's family was left behind.Except for Xichun who was still cold, everyone else was smiling, even Tanchun looked good.

As for Daiyu, she actually received a verbal order from the Queen Mother, asking her to attend that day.Firstly, to celebrate the joy of Yuanchun, and secondly, the imperial concubine misses her cousin very much, and invited the emperor's order to specially call Daiyu into the palace to reminisce about the old relationship.This has the double meaning of the emperor and empress dowager, so Daiyu couldn't help but refuse.