A visit to Fangchun

Here Xue Pan came back drunk at night.

When Aunt Xue heard about it, she laughed for a long time, and hurriedly sent someone to ask how Baoyu was doing. When she came back, she laughed and said, "I'm also drunk. The old lady couldn't help laughing when she heard that she was with our uncle. She went to see me." , and hurriedly asked the uncle how he was. He was drunk after hearing it, and even cursed with a smile: "Yes."

Xue Baochai came in, and after hearing this, she laughed along with Aunt Xue.Because of dismissing the servants, she talked privately with her mother.

Aunt Xue heard her asking about how rarely she had seen Mrs. Wang these days, so she took a look outside first, and then smiled softly: "Your uncle's doorman, that is, Jia Yucun, who settled the Xiangling case, has sent a letter. That person has a brain Well, I heard that your aunt has been worrying about the fact that their young lady will not be able to get ahead in the palace, so she came up with a lot of ideas. Now your aunt is trying to find a way to let the emperor see the young lady. So these days are very busy Not at home."

Xue Baochai nodded her head clearly, she didn't seem to notice, she just went to ask other questions: "The elder brother caused trouble outside, won't he add to the trouble?"

Aunt Xue waved her hand indifferently: "Mr. Zhang checked the details of that rascal outside, and he didn't even have half a backer behind him. It's just because all the family's money was spent on this restaurant, so your brother smashed it." He was so angry that he ran to our house to make a fuss because of the deal. It’s okay, I’ve already given him the money and let him go.”

After finishing speaking, he stretched out his hand lovingly to caress the tender face of his daughter, bullying Saixue, and said softly: "It's just, my son, if your elder sister Yuanchun can really gain a foothold in the palace and become the master and empress. I'm afraid you won't be able to enter." Palace."

Xue Baochai was startled, and quickly asked: "Why? Even if Elder Sister Yuanchun becomes the master and empress, she still serves the emperor. Isn't my status as a candidate for entering the palace to accompany the princesses and princesses?" When he got here, his face suddenly turned red, he understood, and hurriedly lowered his head.

Aunt Xue looked at her lovingly, stretched out her hand to wrap her in her arms, and said in a low voice, "Jinling has four surnames, King Jia Shixue. Now Yuanchun is the only one in the palace, so her identity is the most suitable. Her surname is Jia. She was brought up by her grandmother, Shi Taijun, who is closer than mother and daughter. She is also the niece of the Wang family and mine. So if she can have a place in the palace, our four surnames in Jinling will be as stable as Mount Tai. But she has been in the palace for five or six years, and there is still no movement. Only then did everyone think about letting you enter the palace as a candidate..."

It was the idea!

Xue Baochai lowered her head, and her heart was turned upside down.

Aunt Xue continued: "My son has been outstanding since he was a child. If he were to marry in Jinling, he would be really wronged. Those with four surnames who stay in Jinling are either bastards who are not cherished by their parents, or dudes who are really worthless and worthless. Talents like my son How can mother be willing to let you suffer? That's why I want to bring you to Beijing to find a good family. Although entering the palace is frightening, but mother is very clear about my son's ability. With your dignified, bright, thoughtful and meticulous , I'm afraid even the Empress Dowager would not be able to find any fault in you. So as soon as I heard that there was such an opportunity, I immediately agreed."

Xue Baochai was well aware that life in the palace was difficult and dangerous, and besides, her status as an imperial merchant, if she entered the palace, it would not be considered as an attractive background, so she couldn't help but asked in a low voice: "Isn't there an old man in my uncle's family?" A younger sister than me? If she can enter the palace, as an uncle, wouldn't she be able to become a concubine immediately?"

Aunt Xue shook her head and laughed, and sighed: "After all, I'm still a child. Silly girl, your uncle already has a lot of soldiers in his hands. If you send a daughter into the palace to be a concubine at this time, wouldn't the emperor suspect him? So, the Wang family will No matter how many daughters there are, none of them can enter the palace—that's not obsessive favor, but a disaster!"

Xue Baochai suddenly realized, and nodded slowly.

Aunt Xue said again: "Originally, I planned to hand over the signboard for selection when I arrived, but it happened to catch up with your uncle leaving Beijing. Before leaving, I left a message to let us wait. There is nothing left and right, so I listened and waited. Who knows that the wait is so long. A while ago, your uncle wrote to ask your aunt if there is any hope for Yuanchun. If there is no hope, I should send you in as soon as possible. I took the opportunity to urge you too. Are you in a hurry? So my son, you have to wait patiently. But after a year or a year, things must come to a conclusion."

Xue Baochai blushed, but nodded silently.

Aunt Xue knew that her daughter was polite, and she would look like this when she encountered important events, but she had an idea in her heart, so she smiled and asked quietly: "My mother told the old lady of Jia's family before that you, Jinsuo, It was given by a monk, as I said, only those who have jade can be married... What do you think?"

Xue Baochai only felt his face burn, and he blamed his mother for acting recklessly in his heart, so he brought it out of his mouth: "Mom said that she was in a hurry... What if I have to enter the palace? If this word spreads, don't let the royal people think that I Are you frivolous?"

Aunt Xue immediately understood that her daughter was not very satisfied with the situation in Jia's mansion, but she was more concerned about entering the palace, so she pursed her lips and smiled: "Whoever said that there is jade must be Baoyu." ? Yuxi, isn’t it also jade?”

Xue Baochai was startled, and changed her face to look at her mother. After a while, she suddenly looked away, bit her lips and smiled redly, stood up and ran back to her room.

Aunt Xue only felt very happy in her heart, she raised her voice and called Tong Xi to come in to grind the ink, while she wrote back to Wang Ziteng herself:

"Brother Taijian. The second sister is in a hurry to plan and wait patiently for a few more months. My son Baochai has made it clear. The concubine does not miss the important affairs of the four surnames..."

Early the next morning, Aunt Xue took Xue Baochai to Mother Jia to make amends, and asked with a smile, "Where's Brother Bao? His elder brother was hangover and had a headache at home, and I scolded him."

Jia Mu smiled and asked Jia Baoyu to come.

Jia Baoyu was playing with Daiyu, Tanchun and other sisters, when they heard Aunt Xue was coming, they rushed over to say hello together.

Aunt Xue laughed at him: "It's good for you. I'm sorry that your brother still has a headache there. You guys are just children. Without an adult to take care of you, you won't stop eating if you like it. But wine is too harmful to your body. , eat less in the future."

Xue Baochai also persuaded with a smile: "Small drinking is pleasant, excessive drinking is harmful to the body. Brother Bao is still young, and he may hurt his brain if he eats too much. It is better to drink less."

Jia Tanchun was always unwilling to listen to their mother and daughter expressing their kindness. Turning around, he took the tea bowl from Daiyu's hand and said in a low voice, "You don't care what kind of tea it is, just drink it!"

Daiyu was staring at Baochai who was speaking, and then looked at Baoyu's expression. Hearing this, she hurriedly lowered her head to look, and thanked Jia Tanchun with a smile: "I didn't pay attention. Why did you serve Lianxin tea today?"