The alternative life of the clever sister of the Red Chamber

Jia Wan had been waiting for this sentence. She had eaten too much in the palace just now, but under the eyes of everyone watching, she ate too much before she knew it. "Understood, old ancestor."

As soon as Jia Wan went back, she hurriedly yelled, "Sister Xiaohong, boil some hawthorn water for me, I feel very uncomfortable after eating too much."

Nanny Yang waited to greet her, "How can you eat too much of the good ones?" Nanny Yang asked.

"The empress dowager and empress asked me to eat, and I ate too much before I knew it. Oh, mama, can you stop teaching me? Sister Fei Cui, please rub my stomach!" Jia Wan yelled, clutching her stomach arrive.

Fei Cui hurried over to rub Jia Wan's belly, Hua'er had already gone to the small kitchen to make hawthorn water.

Nanny Yang couldn't suppress the surprise in her heart, "You mean the Empress Dowager summoned you today and let you have dinner at Ningshou Palace?"

Jia Wan nodded, "It seems that the Empress Dowager has a poor appetite. The Empress Dowager said that my food tastes good and I look like I have an appetite, so a few people watched me eat." Unknowingly, I ate a little more.

Nanny Yang nodded, "Girl, rest first." Then she turned and went to Nanny Fang's room to discuss with Nanny Fang.

In Rongqing Hall, Mother Jia waved the crowd away, and asked about the details of Madam Wang's entry into the palace, "You mean that when you entered Fengzao Palace, someone came from the Empress Dowager's side? Or Xiuxia?"

Mrs. Wang nodded, "Yes, not only me, but even the empress was surprised. No one in the palace knew that Xiu Xia was one of the four most trusted female officials around the Queen Mother. That Xiu Xia treated Qiaoer very well. I once discussed with my empress whether the queen mother has taken a fancy to Qiaoer? Qiaoer's age should match the prince's, right? I just don't know which prince it is!"

Jia's mother pondered for a moment, "The seventh prince was originally a bald prince because of his mother's troubles. He went out of the palace for many years to build a mansion, but now he has become a county king. The eleventh prince is the same mother and brother of the seventh prince. , maybe the eleventh prince?"

"Why the eleventh prince? The tenth prince is better than the eleventh prince! Although the tenth prince's biological mother is gone, her mother's family is still standing in court. Isn't this better than the eleventh prince without the support of the mother's family? What's more, the Seventh Prince is just a county king, right? He has no future!" Mrs. Wang said eagerly.

Mother Jia has a headache, why is it so tiring to talk to Mrs. Wang, most people should have understood what she meant long ago, but Mrs. Wang still doesn't know. "Okay, let's not talk about this for now. After all, it's still unknown, and you are not allowed to say it outside, so as not to cause trouble for the family. By the way, what does the empress mean about Baoyu?"

When Baoyu was mentioned, Mrs. Wang quickly shifted her attention, "Your Majesty agreed, and said that the marriage can be granted in a few days."

Mother Jia sighed, "This is the only way to go now. Now that it's what you want, I don't want to make any more troubles in the future. I don't have too many demands on Baoyu now. Now that the empress is pregnant, Baoyu's future is also counted." It's guaranteed. As long as he's safe and well. This child Baochai can be regarded as Baoyu's good match, and it will be good for the two of them to live in harmony in the future."

Mrs. Wang sighed, knowing that there was nothing to hide from Jia Mu, she simply told her, "Old lady, I didn't intend to make any troubles, this is also the meaning of the empress, and the empress also thinks about the prince in her stomach. Find a younger sister-in-law with a higher family background, who can also be the prince's help in the future. At that time, the daughter-in-law was overwhelmed and thought that the mother's idea must be right, so she agreed. Actually, I didn't want to treat Bao girl badly. After all, since she came into the mansion, she has done everything properly, and there is nothing wrong with it. I really can't bear it. I thought, even if Baoyu really finds a rich family's first wife, it will be a big deal for Baoyu to be the second wife. My mother-in-law's support may not be lost to the main wife. But at that time, the theory of gold and jade was very popular, and there were even rumors outside the house. The daughter-in-law was unhappy, so she wanted to teach Bao girl a lesson. Who knows, the third girl would also She intervened and almost killed Bao girl. When Aunt Xue came to see me, she was clamoring to go back to Jinling. My daughter-in-law thought it would be a bad idea to spread the word, so there was no need for people to talk about it. Later, she saw that Bao girl was sick and crooked. The crooked look, the daughter-in-law really couldn't bear it. After thinking about it later, isn't it the old lady's words? Now that we have a mother and a prince in her belly, we can't escape wealth. Why force Baoyu to do it unwillingly? Besides, Baoyu is weak, and Baoyu may not be able to serve the daughter of a high-ranking family. At that time, I am afraid that Baoyu will be wronged. It's better to be like this, just be safe."

Mother Jia took Mrs. Wang's words as half true and half false, and despised her in her heart. If it was really that simple, why did you never mention the Xue family's 20 taels?To build a Grand View Garden, all the Lin family’s property was invested in it, and most of the Jia family’s property was also spent. Only your second wife was fattened, so I’m ashamed to say.The Xue family's 20 taels of silver probably all went into the second wife's pocket. With her miser-like temperament, how could she be willing to take out the silver that went in!snort! 20 taels, 20 taels made her sell Baoyu, and her eyelids became shallower.Alas, the Jia family has such a mistress, and they don't know if it's a blessing or a curse!Fortunately, Xue Baochai is not as shallow-sighted as her. Although she is more thoughtful, she is much smarter than Mrs. Wang.

"That's it! It's just that since the marriage has been decided, it's time for Bao girl to move out of the garden. Otherwise, it's not plausible. Where is the third girl, she is not young, she looks good in the past, who I know, the older you get, the more you will follow Aunt Zhao. You can find a family among your relatives, and marry them! It will save you trouble in the future."

This remark was exactly what Mrs. Wang wanted, she had already meant it, but she was afraid that Jia Zheng would listen to Aunt Zhao's instigation and think that she had bad intentions.Now that Mother Jia has spoken, I guess Jia Zheng has nothing to say!

"Yes, my daughter-in-law knows, and there is one more thing, old lady, where do you want Baoyu to live when she gets married in the future?" Madam Wang asked expectantly.

"Where do you live? You can still live in the garden! You can't let the garden be so deserted! Fortunately, the three girls and the four girls will all leave the cabinet in the future. When Brother Lan gets married, he will also live in it, and Brother Mao It will be the same in the future. I hope our Jia family will prosper, and the garden will always be so lively in the future!" Jia Mu said with a smile.

Mrs. Wang paused, of course she hoped that Jia Baoyu could live in the garden for the rest of her life, so that the garden would become the property of the second house justifiably.But hearing what Jia Mu said, she was a little disappointed.But after thinking about it, Brother Mao is only too old. By the time he can get married, Baoyu will already be full of children and grandchildren.So he laughed, "Yes, do as the old lady said. In the future, Baoyu and Baochai will still live in Yihong Courtyard. Why don't you tidy up the Xiaoxiang Pavilion and use it as a study for Baoyu in the future. The master always attaches great importance to Baoyu. Homework, although we don't expect Baoyu's future, but if he can pass the imperial examination, even if he doesn't become an official, it will be a dignified mother! What do you think, old lady?"

Jia Mu nodded, "You can figure it out! By the way, are you sure that this baby is the prince?"

Mrs. Wang laughed, "It's still early! The imperial doctor can't be sure. But I think the symptoms of my mother's anxiety are the same as when I was pregnant with Zhu'er and Baoyu. I think it's probably true!"

Mother Jia smiled gratifiedly, "I hope so! You can tell the empress to keep her quiet and be careful in everything?"

Mrs. Wang said with a smile: "Your Majesty knows it well, old lady, don't worry! By the way, there is one more thing." Mrs. Wang remembered what Jia Yuanchun said, and said, "My Majesty has been a female official for many years, and her fingers have calluses. She sees Qiaoer every time I have to study and practice handwriting every day, but my hands don’t have any calluses, so I want to ask if there is any way to maintain it.”

Jia's mother smiled and shook her head, "She is a child, so she doesn't need any maintenance. You forgot that when your mother was at home, she was just like Qiao'er. Well, in the final analysis, it's better to be at home! However, Qiaoer's side Those two nanny should have some, but they are all from the palace, they will know, presumably the empress should also know. Go and ask! Don’t ask the nanny directly, you can ask the waiter Qiaoer first The servant girl, they should know if Qiaoer has taken special care of her."

Mrs. Wang nodded, "Yes, my wife knows."

After returning home, Mrs. Wang thought about it, and asked someone to call Xiao Hong over, and looked her up and down first, "You are Lin Zhixiao's daughter? It looks different from your parents."

Xiaohong was not stage fright either, she said with a smile: "I don't know what's the matter with the madam calling the servant?"

Mrs. Wang said with a smile: "It's nothing, I just want you to come over and talk. What is Qiaoer doing now?"

Xiaohong smiled and said: "When the servant girl came out, the girl was practicing calligraphy. She said that although the master gave her leave, she couldn't let the practice of calligraphy go for a day."

Mrs. Wang smiled and nodded, "Qiao'er is very diligent. This is very similar to your empress. It was the same when your empress was at home, and she never stopped. By the way, I heard that you were serving in Yihong courtyard before? Why did you follow Feng girl later?"

Xiaohong's face was as usual, "The elder sisters around Second Master Bao can do a good job, and the slaves are fine when they are free. Later, the second mistress wanted to go out and said that there were not enough people to serve the girl, so she asked the slaves to go."

"I see. So, Qiaoer should rely on you a lot, right?" Mrs. Wang asked with a smile.

Xiaohong just smiled without saying a word.

"It's like this. I came to you to ask you, if Qiao'er works so hard, calluses will inevitably appear on her hands. Is there any way to protect her hands?" Mrs. Wang asked with a smile.

"How to protect the hand?" Xiaohong asked in surprise, seeing Mrs. Wang's serious face, she even sat up slightly, as if she was really only called this time to ask this question.Xiaohong had to think carefully about how girls usually do. "The girl usually doesn't pay attention to these things. Every time, the nanny checks every few days, and then puts some ointment on the girl. The girl thinks it's in the way, so she washes her hands every time when the nanny is not paying attention. Others, I didn’t pay much attention to it. Oh, by the way, the girl would soak her hands in warm water soaked with rose petals every night, then apply a thick layer of balm, wrap it in a cloth, and just sleep like this.”

Mrs. Wang listened carefully, and then asked: "Then do you think it's Mammy's way or Qiaoer's way that works better?"

Xiaohong thought for a while, then smiled and said: "It should be the girl's idea! The ointment used by the nanny has an unpleasant smell, and the girl doesn't like that smell the most, but the girl's idea is good, and it smells good. No matter how thick the balm is, there won't be much left the next morning."

Mrs. Wang asked again, "What kind of balm does Qiao girl use?"

"It's just ordinary balm for face. This prescription was given by Master Bao! The girl ordered the servants to make it according to the recipe. The girl likes the taste very much! If the wife wants to use it, there are still a few boxes at the girl's place." , will the servants bring it to the wife later?" Xiaohong asked with a smile.

Mrs. Wang smiled with satisfaction, "Don't bother, I'll let Caiyun go back with you to get it! By the way, I will also copy the prescription and bring it with me."

"Yes!" Xiaohong waited for a while, and seeing that Mrs. Wang had nothing else to say, she tentatively asked: "Madam, if there is nothing else, the maidservant will go back first."

Mrs. Wang nodded, "That's right, wait a minute. Caiyun, bring a bottle of sweet-scented osmanthus dew and let Xiaohong take it there. You can go with Xiaohong and bring back something."

Caiyun responded, turned around and went to the cabinet to get a bottle of sweet-scented osmanthus dew, then followed Xiaohong away.

When Xiaohong came back, Jia Wan was still standing in front of the desk practicing calligraphy, Xiaohong told the matter, Jia Wan didn't look sideways, continued to splash ink, and said: "Since the wife wants it, you go and take it back to Sister Caiyun That's it, as for the prescription, it's in that box over there, take it!"

Xiaohong responded, then turned around to get the balm and prescription, and handed them to Caiyun.He personally sent Caiyun out of the courtyard, "Sister, go slowly!"

When she came back, Hua'er asked Jia Wan curiously, "It's very good, what does Madam want this balm for? Madam is already old, how about it?"

"Shut up!" Xiao Hong hurried over and scolded, "Your teeth are itchy, aren't you? What maggots are you chewing on! Ma'am is what you can say!"

Hua'er looked at Xiaohong with an aggrieved face, "Sister Xiaohong, I was just talking casually in the room. I won't talk nonsense outside."

"You can't say it in the house! I think you have been spoiled in the past, one by one, without covering your mouth! It will definitely cause trouble for the girl!" Xiaohong said angrily.

Fei Cui also walked in, frowning tightly, "I think you guys have to learn the rules again, if you continue like this, you will get into trouble sooner or later. Miss?"

Jia Wan put down her pen and glanced at Hua'er, "Xiaohong and Sister Fei Cui are right, your rules are lacking, starting from today, starting with Hua'er, everyone will go to Mother Yang's place every night, and talk to Yang Nanny learns the rules again, one hour at a time. I plan to use you for a long time, but if you continue like this, I can't keep you."

Hua'er lowered her head aggrieved, "You know, girl, I will learn from you, please don't want my slave." Haoer Yue'er and Yuaner also bowed their heads to admit their mistake.

"Okay, let's go down first! Think about it carefully, where did you go wrong? After you figure it out, you and your sister, little red, will admit your mistake. If you don't understand, you are not allowed to eat lunch today." Jia Wan glanced at them, picked up a pen and continued to practice calligraphy.

"Yes!" The four went out dejectedly.

Fei Cui frowned and looked at the few people, "The purpose of picking these girls was to find some playmates for the girl, but now it seems that these little girls are too lively and bold, it's the girl who spoiled them .”

Jia Wan didn't raise her head, "I'm the only one who spoils you? You don't have any? But you are right, their rules should be tightened. In the future, you should also pay attention to them. If there are some irregularities, you You have to take care of what needs to be taken care of. Not just the little ones, you also have to take care of other people in the yard, and you can't point everything at the nuns." Jia Wan continued, she always had a feeling No, Nanny Yang and Nanny Fang will not stay by her side forever.

Fei Cui and Xiao Hong looked at each other, and said at the same time: "Yes, the servant has recorded it."

At noon, Jia Wan went to Jia's mother for dinner as usual.When Jia's mother saw her, she laughed at her, "Didn't you say that you are full of food? Why are you still here for lunch? I don't have any food for you here!"

Seeing that Lin Daiyu and Jia Yingchun were both there, Jia Wan looked at her with a smile when she heard the words, and immediately went up with a smile and grabbed Jia Mu's arm to act coquettishly, "Old ancestor, he is still growing, he is so hungry! Old ancestor, You just have pity on me! Old Ancestor!"

Mother Jia couldn't close her mouth from ear to ear, and it took a long time to stop laughing, "Well, for your poor sake, let me give you something to eat! In case you lose your weight from hunger, girl Feng came back from Yunnan to find me trouble."

Lin Daiyu covered her mouth with a handkerchief and smiled, "The old ancestor felt sorry for Qiao'er, so he just said it, and even pushed it on Lian's second sister-in-law."

Jia Yingchun also came to make fun of her, "That's right, the old ancestor now only has sister Bao Yulin as Qiaoer in his heart, and he can't see anyone else."

Jia Mu spat: "What Baoyu, don't mention him to me. He is a heartless little villain. Now he runs to Hengwuyuan all day long, and he doesn't say to come and see me. Don't mention him. Let's eat ours." .”

Both Lin Daiyu and Jia Yingchun knew that Mother Jia was hard-spoken and soft-hearted. She loved Baoyu the most, so how could she forget him.Sure enough, during the meal, Jia Mu saw that a dish of stewed duck was good, so she pointed to the plate of stewed duck and said, "This Baoyu likes to eat it, so I will send it to Baoyu."

Jia Wan sighed deliberately, "He said that the ancestors love me! Knowing that I also like to eat stewed duck, I only send it to Uncle Bao. I don't even think about how far it is from here to the garden in this weather. Ah, by the time it was delivered, all the delicious dishes would have gone stale. Besides, it’s already this time, maybe Uncle Bao has already eaten it!”

Mother Jia suppressed a smile and asked, "Then what do you think should be done?"

Jia Wan said with a smile: "According to what I said, why don't the old lady call Uncle Bao some other day and cook a whole duck feast for Uncle Bao to taste, such as stewed duck, lotus duck, stewed duck, salted duck, roast duck?" , Let Uncle Bao taste his fill. At that time, I promised not to rob Uncle Bao, today’s dish, let’s forget it!"

Mother Jia laughed so hard that she couldn't even hold her chopsticks steady, "You narrow-minded bastard, be careful, I'll tell you Uncle Bao to go. Your Uncle Bao usually loves you so much that he misses you for everything good!"

Jia Wan said with a smile: "Actually, I feel sorry for Uncle Bao and my aunts too! It's okay now, when it's winter, every time I eat, I go back and forth so much that the food tastes stale, so what's the point? Look at Aunt Xue now. I was sick, and a small kitchen was set up in Hengwu Garden, and I just remembered, why not set up a kitchen in the garden! Send a few people over, and all the vegetables will be sent there as usual, saving uncle Bao and aunts from going back and forth Running around. Wouldn't it be better?"

For a long time, Baoyu Baochai and others ate, either with Jiamu or Mrs. Wang, or they took the food to the garden.This time Xue Baochai fell ill, and Aunt Xue had been staying in Hengwuyuan all the time. It was inconvenient to eat or something, so she told Mrs. Wang and opened a small kitchen in Hengwuyuan.Jia Baoyu found it strange, these days he had been eating in Hengwuyuan, and he even took Jia Xichun with him.

Jiamu nodded, "Well, that's a good idea. Let's do it this way! Let's talk to the second wife later!" I can't take advantage of Xue's girl, but it seems that my precious jade has become smeared.

After a meal, Mother Jia was going to take a nap. Jia Yingchun went back to the East Courtyard to continue embroidering the dowry. Lin Daiyu was also a little drowsy. She didn't sleep until early in the morning, so she couldn't hold on anymore, so she politely declined Jia Wan's request to play chess, and went back to sleep.

Seeing that no one was playing with her, Jia Wan had to go back alone.But now that she was asked to sleep, she couldn't sleep either, so she simply went for a walk in the garden.

Jia Wan walked along the Qinfang River for a while, fed the fish, and found some stones to make a splash on the water, scaring countless mandarin ducks and egrets into the air.

Suddenly someone said: "Sister Qiaoer, what are you doing?"

Jia Wan looked back, and it turned out to be Jia Lan, "Brother Lan, hello, has Brother Lan eaten?"

Jia Lan came over, "No, I'm waiting for my mother to have dinner together. What are you doing?" He looked down at the pile of stones at Jia Wan's feet.

"Floating, hasn't Brother Lan ever played?" Jia Wan asked with a smile, "I'll show you!" As she spoke, she threw the stone in her hand obliquely, and the stone rubbed five times on the water. Six strokes.Jia Wan clapped her hands excitedly, "Great, this time is the best. Brother Lan, you should try it too, my highest record is six!"

Jia Lan looked at it for a long time, then shook his head, "No, I have to go back to study! Just now, sister Suyun said that I sat for too long and asked me to come out and hang out." Since Jia Zhu's early death, , Li Wan attached great importance to Jia Lan's body. Every time he read for more than a quarter of an hour, he would let him go out for a walk. He would also let him practice riding and shooting to keep fit.

"Oh, Brother Nalan, go slowly!" Jia Wan and Jia Lan are just casual acquaintances. Because of the research of those red scholars in the previous life, Qiaoer was sold into the palace as a concubine by the unscrupulous uncle. Even if they didn't participate, they would just sit idly by.Therefore, Jia Wan has always kept Jia Lan at arm's length.

Jia Lan's feelings towards Jia Wan are also somewhat complicated. As a woman, she is favored even more than herself, the only great-grandson of the Rongguo Mansion, and her mother, Second Grandma Lian, is also favored more than her own mother. Wan never said anything, but the young Jia Lan still saw it in his eyes and remembered it in his heart.