I am a man in a dream

Just after spring, the housekeeper who has been idle at home discusses with Jia She to marry Daiyu and Baoyu.Jia Amnesty said: "Now that Hongming is hand-picked to inspect the salt, he will not come back in two or three months. There is a decree in the mother's life that he and Miss Bao must be married first. Otherwise, how can Baoyu and his niece get married?"

Jia Zhengdao: "If Baoyu and his niece get married, the Holy Lord may be able to forgive him for his nephew's sake." Jia Amnesty nodded.Jia Lian also agreed, and said: "Why don't we settle the first five ceremonies first, and wait for Brother Lin to come back and marry Sister Xue and then welcome the marriage, so it will be difficult to change." Jia Zheng shook his head and said, "That's right. We are willing, there is no one in charge in the Lin residence, who would dare to accept it?"

As the three of them were talking, Manager Lai came to report: "My lord, go and meet the imperial decree!" Jia Zheng wondered, "What imperial decree?" Mr. Lai said, "I don't know what's going on. I saw Captain Wei leading a team." People broke in and asked the master to go to the main hall." When Jia Zheng heard Wei Duwei, he thought that he had given money before, and he felt more at ease.In the front hall, Wei Duwei was looking at the several gilded characters on the plaque in the main hall, "Chizao Rongguo Mansion", and said ironically, "What a royal mansion!" Jia Zheng hurriedly said, "I don't know if your lord is here. What orders do you have?" Captain Wei snorted and said, "I'm here to raid Jia's mansion by order!" Jia Zheng and the others turned pale with fright, and remained silent.After a while, the attendant came to report, and Prince Zhongshun came to deliver the decree.Captain Wei immediately straightened his clothes and knelt down to meet him.After a while, Prince Zhongshun came to the main hall, followed by Jia Yucun. The prince glanced at Jia Zheng and others, opened the imperial decree and said, "Jia Amnesty, Jia Zheng, Jia Lian take the order!" Then read: "Cha Jia Amnesty, Jia Zheng, Jia Lian formed a party and resigned from office, his body was wrapped up in plain clothes, his family property was confiscated, he was dismissed and put in prison, waiting for disposal." After the reading, Prince Zhongshun ordered a group of people to seal up all houses and courtyards, and the group was not allowed to move around.In an instant, the government was at a loss and everyone was in danger.

When Lin Hongming came back, it was already March in Yangchun, and the capital was in full bloom and green grass was everywhere.He went to the palace to report on the patrolling affairs, and the emperor praised him for his proper and prudent conduct.After returning to the mansion, Yaqi reported the affairs of Jia's mansion, and sighed: "Young lady's body is not as good as before, and she eats even less. How can I lose weight day by day? Jia's mansion has been raided, and historians and Wang's family have also been confiscated. Copy it, although the Xue family has not copied it, but it is ruined, and now only money is left for living. But our girl still has a marriage contract with the second master Bao, how good is that?" Lin Hongming waved his hand and let him back down , sitting silently at the desk for a long time.On the second day, the Holy Majesty ordered Lin Hongming to enter the palace quickly.

The Holy Majesty looked at Lin Hongming, who was sweating profusely, and asked, "What do you want to say?" Lin Hongming said, "I have nothing to say." Temple, do you want to go and see it?" Lin Hongming said: "If my grandmother is here, I will go there." The Holy Majesty laughed and said, "It's rare for you to repay your kindness. It's just your sister and your marriage?" Speaking of Here, Lin Hongming burst into tears, choked up and unable to speak.The Holy Majesty was displeased: "What? I blamed me for copying Jia's mansion. If your sister married there, she would be a commoner." Lin Hongming wept and said, "I am not complaining to the Holy Majesty, but regretful." The Holy Majesty was puzzled and said: "You What are you regretting?" Lin Hongming said: "I have been dissatisfied with this marriage from the beginning to the end, but it is difficult to shirk it for a while. Your Majesty knows this. If Jia's mansion was in the old days, it doesn't matter if I offend you, but today Today it is difficult to refuse." The Holy One was even more puzzled: "Why?" Lin Hongming explained: "If it was the old days, if the minister refused to obey, it would be a crime of disrespecting the elders and the mother, and it would be a reprimand. Whipping is nothing more than that. But now that Jia's mansion has been raided and Xue's family is in ruins, if I repent of the marriage and let people who don't know know it, I must think that I am wise and wise, and I will not save him. Shameless villain. My father has been upright all his life, and I must not let my ancestors be ashamed." After hearing this, the Holy Majesty was silent, and after a long time he said: "It's because I didn't think carefully!" My God, Jia's mansion was copied on my own. My Majesty is only doing it for the country's law, and my minister is a mediocre person. How dare I destroy my court outline for my own selfishness. My Majesty has pity on my ministers and sisters, and I am already grateful." Lin Hongming After leaving, the Holy One summoned Prince Zhongshun and asked about the matter.Prince Zhongshun said: "Jia's mansion is a grasshopper after autumn, but it's just an old empty shelf. The young men in the mansion are just dudes. Although they are incompetent, they have never killed anyone. Although Jia Zheng is not good at things, he is incompetent and mediocre, but he is still honest. , it’s better to find out, if someone is involved in a murder case, he will be exiled for thousands of miles, and the others will be demoted to common people.”

Not long after, the holy majesty issued a decree to remember the old meritorious service of the ancestors of the Jia family. Jia's amnesty sentence was popularized. Jia Zheng, Jia Lian and others were demoted to common people and sent back to their original places. .Because Jiamu is old and can't bear to wrap her body in the wilderness, I hereby send a hundred taels of silver.

After obtaining the imperial decree, Jia's family and others came out of the prison and asked everywhere for money to return to Jinling, but people were indifferent, and no one would dare to borrow it.Jia Zheng had no choice but to brazenly go to Lin's mansion to ask: "Nephew, you know that I want to borrow it now because I have no choice. Besides, about Baoyu's marriage with his niece?" But he is not such a treacherous villain. This marriage was arranged by the eldest sister before she was alive, and I will not go back on it. Just?" Jia Zheng hurriedly asked: "Just what?" Lin Hongming said: "Uncle also knows, sister's body Weak, can't stand the fatigue of driving and horses, and besides, she lives on medicine jars every day. If she goes to Jinling, she may disappear in a few days. The nephew thought, it's better to stay in the capital for a while, and after the two get married, My sister is better and I will go to Jinling to see you." Today, what can Jia Zheng do, he has to agree: "My nephew is righteous, I naturally agree. It's just that the emperor ordered a group of people to return to their original places?" Lin Hongming said: "The emperor is a benevolent emperor. , presumably the day of marriage will still be given. As for brother Bao, I will ask Sheng to let him stay in the capital." Jia Zheng promised without exception.

In order to reassure everyone, Lin Hongming confessed to the Holy Master and explained the reason.The Holy One, Nian Baoyu, was young and ignorant, so he ordered him to be resettled in the capital, and the others waited to leave immediately after the wedding date.

Naturally, Lin Hongming didn't want his sister's marriage to be too shabby, so he first gave Jia Zheng 5000 taels of silver to arrange the marriage.Just after I was busy with this matter, Mrs. Wang came to ask about Baochai's marriage.Lin Hongming didn't treat Mrs. Wang as respectfully as he did Jia Zheng, and said, "I don't know if this is what my aunt meant or what Aunt Xue meant?" Mrs. Wang lost her usual prestige and said, "Of course it's what Aunt Xue meant, but she just asked me to do it." Ask." Lin Hongming said: "If my aunt doesn't trust Hongming, why don't you ask me in person? Please trouble my aunt to go through this. Those who know say that I am young and ignorant, but those who don't know think that I have regretted my marriage and betrayed my promise." Mrs. Wang's face It didn't look good, and said: "My nephew also knows that the Xue family is in ruins now, how can Aunt Xue dare to ask my nephew." Lin Hongming smiled and said: "Auntie said that I bullied others?" Mrs. Wang hurriedly said: "Of course not." Lin Hongming said: "You don't need to say anything, auntie, I already know. Yaqi, see off the guests!" Mrs. Wang turned ashamed and left angrily.

After returning to Xue's house, Mrs. Wang wiped her tears and said: "I don't think Hongming's child is easy to get along with, so it's better to forget it. Although Xue's family is poor, they still have some money to live on. It's not as good as Jia's family. Now it's a good job." Erjing, I have to rely on the Lin family." Aunt Xue cried: "I also know that today is different, Baochai is old, and married according to the decree, if Hongming regrets the marriage, how will she live in the future?" Wang The madam was also helpless: "Maybe this is fate!" Baochai couldn't help crying when she heard it in the inner room. She ran out and knelt in front of Aunt Xue, saying: "As the saying goes, one woman does not matter to two husbands. If Brother Lin doesn't marry, I won't remarry either, there is always a choice between death or becoming a monk, otherwise I will spend the rest of my life with my mother." Aunt Xue hugged Baochai and cried loudly: "Silly boy, how can there be a girl?" If you don't marry, now you and I are dependent on each other, what will you do after a hundred years!" Baochai also cried bitterly.A few people were grieving, Yaqi came in with a box, first greeted Ann, and then asked: "Why are the second wife, concubine, and Miss Bao crying?" Aunt Xue stood up quickly and said: "It's just Talking about the past touched my heart. Why is Miss Yaqi here?" Yaqi smiled and said, "My second master asked me to give Miss Bao some gadgets to relieve boredom." She said and handed the box up.Baochai opened it and saw that it was some jewelry, each of which was top-grade. She was puzzled, and asked, "Why did Brother Lin think of asking sister to send these?" Yaqi said: "Seeing is a family Yes, second master naturally thought about it, and let me ask my aunt to go to the mansion tomorrow to discuss the wedding matters." Baochai's face turned red when she heard this, her almond eyes were smiling, she was indescribably glamorous.Yaqi couldn't help being amazed when she saw it.Seeing this, Aunt Xue was filled with joy and quickly agreed.When Yaqi saw that the matter was over, she wanted to leave.Aunt Xue tried every means to keep her, but Yaqi refused to break the rules.

Back at the mansion, Yaqi served Daiyu and Lin Hongming for dinner, and asked, "Second master, why can't the second wife save some face, seeing that our girl is about to pass, what if the second wife finds fault with this matter? Lin Hongming said: "At first the second wife was not satisfied with this marriage, even if she was given great respect, she would not take her younger sister seriously. In this case, it is better to beat and beat, so that she can know my Lin family's daughter You can't be bullied. Baoyu is worthless, if I am not tough as a brother, it will be useless for my sister to bring a dowry of ten miles." Daiyu shed tears when she heard this.Yaqi said: "That's not necessary, we are married, the girl and the second master Bao stay in Beijing anyway, with the help of Zijuan and Xueyan, and we also escort four big maids, the girl's dowry is managed by the girl herself Now, Zijuan and the others are helping, and the second wife is useless even if she wants to intervene, if it is good, she will be given a monthly payment, if it is not good, she will not give it, what can she do?" Lin Hongming smiled and said: "This statement is wrong. After the younger sister passed away, even a high-ranking girl would be under the control of her mother-in-law. Although they don’t live together, they will naturally see each other during the holidays. Otherwise, how good is the reputation of the younger sister? Besides, Baoyu will not bear the grievance of her parents. No matter whether the second wife is good or bad, the monthly money must be delivered on time. I let her understand that if it is not good, I don’t need my younger sister to come forward. No sister."

On the second day, Aunt Xue came to discuss the marriage. Although Lin Hongming didn't like Baochai, he didn't make things difficult.

On the day of Daiyu's wedding, Lin Hongming specially asked for leave to manage the marriage. In addition to the property left by Lin Ruhai, Lin Hongming accompanied him to send 500 mu of Yangzhou Shanghao paddy fields, 500 mu of dry land in the south of the city, six shops, one Zhuangzi, two in and two out. Two houses, a pair of Ruyi jade, four bracelets, a pot of pearls, ten gold hairpins, ten gold hairpins, a box of earrings, gold tines, etc., two incense cars, 50 pieces of cloth, 50 pairs of calligraphy and paintings, and 100 pieces of porcelain , 10 jade wares, 10 gold wares, 10 mink fur cloaks, 10 fox fur cloaks, 60 spring and autumn gowns of various colors, 60 spring and autumn skirts of various colors, 40 winter coats of various colors, 60 forehead wipes of various colors in spring and autumn, and winter wipes of various colors 40 foreheads, 20 warm sleeves of various colors, 10 gold-painted hand stoves, 50 pieces of high-quality wood furniture, 20 ornaments, 100 pieces of various daily necessities, two sticks of century-old ginseng, two sticks of century-old Ganoderma lucidum, 10 catties of bird’s nest, and various other medicinal materials 1000 catties, 500 taels of gold, and 1 taels of silver.

Jia Zheng held several large dowry lists, and couldn't help admiring: "The good nephew is dedicated, and he gave all his family property to Daiyu as a dowry." Mrs. Wang looked at it, feeling a little disdainful: " When I married Feng girl back then, the dowry was not less than this." Jia Zheng said angrily, "It's different now, my nephew is benevolent, even if the Jia family was defeated, he also married his younger sister, even the marriage with Baochai Accepted. You can see if there is such a family in the whole capital. As soon as the historian copied it, the Wei family called off the marriage. Baoyu is not up to date, and Huan'er is even less up to date. The family has nowhere to go. If Daiyu Without these dowries, what will we do with our family’s food and clothing in the future? Although the house in Jinling’s hometown is let to live in, only one is left in disrepair. Although Hongming gave 5000 taels of silver, the dowry has already been spent Most of them, and the rest were distributed to each house and courtyard, and now you and I have less than ten taels of silver." After hearing this, Madam Wang didn't say anything more.

Feeling guilty, the Holy One absolved Baoyu of his crimes, and gave him 10 silver pegs as a congratulatory gift.

After the wedding, Jia Zheng and others returned to Jinling according to the order, and Daiyu gave 1000 taels of silver as a gift because of her affection.Sister Feng helped Mrs. Wang onto the boat, and said, "That's it, sister Lin gave us some money, and we will have something to eat when we return to Jinling." Mrs. Xing said, "Your father-in-law was exiled, so there is no food for us. "Feng girl was silent.Jia Lian said: "Brother Lin and Sister Lin have done their best, so mother should not speak." Mrs. Xing squinted at him and said, "Why, this is disobeying me. No matter how bad it is, I am still your mother, girl Feng. Mother-in-law." Sister Feng said: "It's my duty to serve mother-in-law, but brother Lin said that the family is in chaos now, and let me and Lian Erye take the responsibility. The two wives pay 6 taels of silver a month. Sister-in-law and Qiaojie 3 taels, Brother Tsuen, Lan Ge and Lian Erye 4 taels, Second Sister Ping’er 2 taels, Brother Huan and Brother Fen 2 taels, master 8 taels, Brother Zhen’s brother Lin gave each other according to love I paid 200 taels to settle down with us, and if I don’t stay with us, my sister Lin is 49 taels a month, and I give an extra 15 taels a month as expenses, which is 64 taels. Although my sister Lin has a lot of dowry, she is the one who raises a family It's a lot of work. Didn't I give back 1000 taels of silver as a package, so that I can take care of the food and drink along the way, and when I arrive in Jinling, I have to repair the house, buy land, and buy girls. Sister Lin paid for any of them. It stands to reason Said, our family is going to be ransacked and wiped out, the Holy Majesty only let it go because of brother Lin's face, my wife still wants to say that, but it hurts people's heart." Mrs. Xing said: "No, the house was ransacked, but you keep it. I have acquired some property." Sister Feng said: "Madam, I left some property, but I saved a few acres of land, but I didn't use anyone's money."

Daiyu unloaded the hairpin and said, "Auntie and they left?" Zijuan said, "I boarded the boat early in the morning, and I'm afraid I've traveled dozens of miles now." Daiyu said again, "From now on, you will be in charge of the house. Yes, let Sister Yuanyang take care of the outside ones. It is rare for my brother to be careful, so he redeemed Sister Yuanyang to help me, and even built a wall in the yard, and gave me a place to settle in the Fanghu scenic spot." After hearing this, Zijuan wiped her tears and said: "But fourth sister?" Daiyu said: "fourth younger sister is determined to do this, you and I can't do it, my brother has given the nunnery a hundred taels of money for sesame oil, I hope they will treat fourth younger sister kindly." Zijuan said again : "Seeing that the marriage between the second master and Miss Bao is coming soon, the girl should think about it." Daiyu said: "Naturally!"

When it came time for Lin Hongming to get married, he didn't make a big show of extravagance, he only invited a few close relatives, and all the etiquette was kept simple.Baochai is not a person who is extravagant and wasteful, so naturally he didn't say anything.Aunt Xue thought she had only one daughter, so she gave Baochai all her wealth as a dowry. Baochai would not want it, but she left most of it for her mother to settle down.In the festive wedding room, Baochai was seen wearing Jinqian red make-up, python dark flowers and gold silk double-layer wide silk large-sleeve shirt, with mandarin duck and pomegranate patterns embroidered on the edges, and a red gold collar button inlaid with rubies on the chest. A magenta pair of peacocks embroidered with clouds and golden tassels. The peacocks with their tails open have a gentle and docile attitude, as if they are about to come back to life. The peach red satin color embroidered into a double flower and bird pattern girdle hangs down from the cloud and crane pins. The skirt is embroidered with the pattern of a hundred sons and a hundred blessings, and the edge is rolled with inch-long gold thread embellishments, inlaid with five-color rice beads, which rustle when walking, and in the middle of the temples is a pair of beads. Blooming lotus flowers hang down into two strands of pearl coral tassels and jasper pendant horns. A pair of red gold mandarin ducks embrace each other in the center.

Lin Hongming raised his hijab and glanced at it with a calm expression.Baochai's pink face was full of spring, and she was extremely gorgeous. Seeing Lin Hongming's disgusted expression, she couldn't help but feel disappointed.Yaqi lowered her wine glass, Lin Hongming drank it all, and said: "Everyone is tired today, everyone will be rewarded with a month's worth of silver. Let's all go down!" Seeing this, Yaqi said, "Is there any more for the second master?" Lin Hongming Interrupted her: "Save it all!" Yaqi had no choice but to back down.The wedding room fell silent for a moment.Lin Hongming stood up, brought a plate of dim sum to Baochai, and said, "Sister Bao, I have no intention of getting married, but I don't want to kill you. From now on, you will be in charge of all matters in this courtyard. I will be calm and fair, and I will not interfere. It is enough for you and me to treat each other as guests. In addition, my sister must be more careful, and she must not be wronged." Baochai thought for a while and said: "Since I am married, no matter it is There will be no complaints whether it is bitter or sweet, you don’t need to tell me, sister Lin, I will pay attention.” Lin Hongming said: “That’s good! There are still guests outside, I’ll go to entertain, you can arrange it earlier!”

Saying that, he left on his own, and when he came back, it was already the third watch, and Baochai, who was sitting by the bed, fell asleep in his dress, Baochai looked at him and couldn't help but have tears in his eyes.