Prequel to the Red Chamber: I Am the Second Wife

Zili was stunned for a moment, then he was relieved, Wang Ziteng had a housewarming today, and it was time for guests to fill the door outside, but the emperor could only come out in modest clothes, he didn't even have a chance to serve, so he could only hide in secretly Inside the courtyard.Since one has to pay a corresponding price for mastering the power of the world, one loses a lot of fun of ordinary people.

"Get up. You don't need to talk about those empty etiquette outside." The emperor raised his hand to Zili to get her up, looked at Zili, the emperor smiled and said: "You look good, I think she looks better than when she was in Qingzhou. I still like the fruit. I remember that you like the fresh fruit in the south. The lychees were shipped together with a tree, as well as the red bayberry. Now the red bayberry tree is still growing in my Qingyi Palace It’s ready. Ask someone to pick some for you.”

"I'm about to thank the emperor for the reward. The red bayberry is very good. I was surprised when I saw it at first. How come it grows so good? It really was shipped together with the tree. Forget it, the governor of Zhejiang took a lot of effort to make a fuss I can’t be too greedy for such a tree. The queen mother also likes fresh fruits from the south, and the leftover bayberries are best soaked in rice wine until winter.” Jia Zhuyi brought fresh bayberry and lychee seeds Li guessed that it was the emperor's handwriting.Today she was sure, the emperor sent fresh fruits for several years, Zili was a little bit mixed.I didn't expect this to be a normal person.

"Today I heard that your brother's place is lively, so I came out to take a look. But when I walked to the door, I realized that I was the most shameful of all your brother's guests, so I could only hide here and see no one. Lonely, I just want to invite you to come and walk with me, and enjoy the garden by the way." The emperor pointed to a deep path and made a gesture of invitation to Zili.

The garden of Wang Ziteng is well maintained. There are no carved beams and painted buildings to highlight the rich and noble atmosphere. Instead, it has white walls and black tiles, and log-colored beams and panes, which are a bit of the characteristics of Jiangnan gardens.The emperor looked at the three spacious houses not far away and said with a smile: "I didn't expect that the craftsmen who built the garden were not bad. The big bluestone that rose from the ground just made the screen on the front, and there were lush trees behind. Chi Qingshui, this place is indeed a good place to read and write in summer. Let's go in and have a look." The two pointed to various places in the garden along the way. The construction here is ingenious, and there is no artistic conception implied, and they have already arrived.

Wang Ziteng had already transferred all the people in the inner courtyard away, and there were guards on the courtyard gate, and no one else could enter.At this time, the whole garden was quiet and there was no one there.Walking into the garden, Zili saw the stove and a set of tea sets on the porch, pointed at the stove with a smile and said, "Your Majesty, why don't you sit down and rest, and wait for me to make tea."

"Okay, I'm thinking of taking a break too. I've seen you drink the tea." Said the emperor casually sitting on the porch, waving a fan and watching Zili squatting there making tea.I saw Zili fanning the stove nimbly, and putting an iron pot imitating the carving of the boxwood root on the fire. The red clay stove was filled with fine silver frost charcoal. the sound of.Zili nimbly carried the kettle to wash the cups. The emperor silently watched Zili's movements and suddenly said, "You and Jia Zheng haven't reconciled yet. It's been a few years, and he has learned his lesson. I looked coldly at Jia Zheng, but he restrained his other thoughts and focused on doing things wholeheartedly. He must have alienated those concubines at home."

Zili's hands were still moving like flowing water, and she handed the emperor a cup of tea: "This is Biluochun this year. It stands to reason that this kind of tea should be boiled with olive stones as charcoal to highlight the fragrance of the water. Unfortunately, there is only charcoal fire, but Fortunately, the water is good, it should be the spring water on the mountain this morning, and it tastes sweet and refreshing. It doesn’t matter whether he is diligent in doing things, lazy or sloppy, whether he is alone, or he is drunk all day in the gentle village Fortunately, it has nothing to do with me. I'm not angry because of his concubine. It's just—" Zili glanced at the emperor, and suddenly remembered that this harem is quite large, although I can't say it is huge.Discussing this topic with a man is like playing the piano with a cow, Zili smiled self-consciously, and said lightly: "I'm tired, I just want to be quiet."

"Jingjing, who is Jingjing?" The emperor made a gesture, and Zili almost dropped the teacup in his hand. How many drops of tea splashed out, and he shivered from being scalded.The emperor took the teacup from Zili's hand, and suddenly held her hand tightly. "I've always been very curious. A few years ago, you had a temper tantrum with Jia Zheng, and I asked you what you planned to do in the future. You said you wanted to live on your own, but you went back after a few days, and you were still the second wife of the former Rongguo Mansion. I Looking at you coldly for these years, you have fulfilled your duties as a mother in front of others. The wives in the capital say that you are virtuous and capable. You and Jia Zheng are inseparable. Two or three years have passed, and you have been alone. I really don't understand why you have to go back when you keep your body like a jade. Jia Zheng said that he was a bit dull, and the rest is fine. You Why can you be so decisive? If you are now my wife, will we be as alienated as we are now if we don't get along with you one day? "

Did the emperor ask what he wanted to ask the most? In the emperor's view, it was just that Jia Zheng stole the girl, but he refused to admit it and forced Zili to make up for him.Zili was angry and sad, lost her temper, and took the opportunity to build a prestige in her husband's family, but it was just a small thought of an ordinary woman.Zili has both face and lining, and it's time to step down and live in peace.Why is she still stubborn and living a happy life alone.

Zili rolled his eyes in his heart: "Men are really sensory animals. As long as some eat, some sleep in the pigsty, it doesn't matter."

"I am no longer angry about Jia Zheng taking a concubine. I am not angry anymore. At first I thought Jia Zheng was a person who could understand my intentions, but I foolishly dragged him around, and finally got it out. It’s a whole world. In a blink of an eye, I found that the reliable partner I once thought was a stranger. He knows what I’m the least taboo, but stabbing the knife where I care most. Now that I’m leaving their right and wrong, life is comfortable, why should I be unhappy? What?" Zili sat down and held out a flower.

"I wanted to be completely out of sight and out of mind, but you can't be too selfish in this world. My parents and elder brothers have already worried a lot about my affairs. How can I make my parents and brothers worry about my affairs at my age? That's not It has really become unfilial. Another thing is that I am not reconciled. If I leave a home that I have worked so hard to put together, I can’t take anything with me. When the limelight passes, Jia Zheng will definitely marry another one. That’s called Other women spend the money I earned to beat my children, it's not too cheap for them. Zili snorted angrily when he said this, and the emperor couldn't help laughing.

"Indeed, your pair of children are not bad. If Jia Zheng really married someone else, he would definitely not be able to accommodate these two children. After all, you are still soft-hearted and miss the children. Unfortunately, some women are more cruel than heartless. My own child doesn't want to see her more often. Speaking of which, people say that she has a better temper than yours, and it's true that people in the world are sometimes blind." The emperor sighed meaningfully.

Zili knew that the relationship between the emperor and the empress was becoming more and more rigid. The empress actually felt that the emperor wanted to abolish the empress. For the sake of her son's position as the crown prince, the empress is now letting the emperor go. did not see it.The less favored concubines even allowed them to bully those concubines who fell out of favor in the palace, and the harem suddenly became a mess.The queen mother said it several times, but the queen was submissive, and she still didn't do anything when she turned around. When the emperor expressed his dissatisfaction a little, the queen came to apologize in tears.The emperor and the queen mother lost their temper, and after hearing Jia Zhu say that the queen didn't even dare to see her son often, she wished to draw a clear line with her son, hoping that the emperor would only hate herself and not implicate her son.

The prince's behavior towards his mother was also sad. The empress, who was originally upright, made a fuss like a little daughter-in-law.Seeing this situation, the favored concubines in the palace also had other intentions, either provoking the prince or making trouble secretly, making the prince sullen.The emperor was probably upset about the queen's affairs, so he happened to meet Zili when he came out for a walk.

"I think Your Majesty is talking about the queen. The empress is indeed more tempered and patient than the concubines. I think about the children. Why is the empress not for the children? I am ashamed of her motherly heart. If I were more cruel at the beginning Well, I can leave Zhu Er and Yuan Yatou alone, and I don’t know where I am wandering now. Anyway, the three of them were born to me, no matter whether I am Jia Zheng’s wife or not, they will recognize me This is the biological mother. I am worried that if they really reconcile, they will not get along well with the stepmother, so why not the empress. She trembles and thinks that His Majesty has thoughts of abolishing her. If the empress is abolished, the crown prince's position will not be stable. The empress is worried about her majesty She really abolished her to anger the prince. After all, few of the abolished princes can die well. She loves children more than concubines. Does the queen not want to see the prince and get close to the prince? She wants to guard her son more than any mother. But she can't. At least the queen thinks she can't. I can't do this, even if I'm in the queen's position, I won't wrong my love for my son and alienate him." Zili said with a sigh, The queen has had a hard time living in the palace these years.

"Since when did I have the idea of ​​abolishing the empress? It's really unreasonable to make trouble, making me look like a ruthless and ungrateful king who is mean to his wife and children!" The emperor made an expression that I was more wronged than Dou E, and spread his hands to Zili. .

"Have you told the queen what the emperor wants?" If you don't want to abolish the queen, what are you doing to divide the queen's authority and obey Concubine Ning's words.How many times did you only ask Concubine Ning to come out and not the Queen to come out to receive the gift when the wife ordered her to congratulate her?No matter who is in the queen's seat, it is inevitable that they will not have ideas. Fortunately, the queen is gentle, and she has no backing from her mother's family, and she has no power in the court. Got bloody.If Zili is in this position, it is still unknown who is sitting on the throne now.Uh, so to speak, the late emperor's decision was really correct.

"Ah, this. I'm angry. What does the queen mean? She puts on a face of wanting nothing to me all day long. No matter what I say or do, she always has the same expression. Your Majesty makes the decision. What do I want her to do? She is not as good as the servants around me, Dai Quan and the others dare to speak up, her majestic queen, is this how she performs her duties? Am I the kind of unreasonable and stupid king?" Emperor Thinking of the queen's indifferent and maddening face, she complained angrily.

It's really cheap!Zili gave the emperor a disdainful look in his heart, and persuaded him: "The empress is delicate, so she is easy to be overwhelmed. She is also timid and thinks that it is better to have more things than less things."

"She is indifferent to fame and wealth, but I don't think she really underestimated love. I went to her and didn't see her kicking me out. Instead, she served me in fear. She really said no, but her body But he’s very honest! I hate people who don’t agree with what they say the most.” The emperor can’t understand the empress. If the empress’s usual behavior has nothing to do with her viciousness and jealousy, she is not the kind of bad person that is defined.But to say that the queen has a pure personality is a bit unreliable. In the eyes of the emperor, the queen is hypocrisy. She doesn't love anyone, neither the prince nor the emperor, but only her own status and title.

Zili's face flushed, why did the emperor talk about his private life with the empress with such a big mouth.Zili glared dissatisfiedly, and the emperor felt that he had made a slip of the tongue, and laughed: "I take you as a friend who speaks the truth. Sitting in this seat, I find that there is not even a person who speaks the truth. Everyone in the world is Counting on you. That is to say, I feel as if I have returned to the old days when I am in front of you."

"The Queen loves His Majesty deeply in her heart, and her indifference is all pretending. Because only when she doesn't love her, she won't be sad, just like a concubine. The husband Jia Cunzhou in her heart is gone. How does he like that aunt now? It has nothing to do with me. Whether his official career is smooth or encounters difficulties has nothing to do with me. Even if he cooperates with outsiders, he can never hurt me again. I have long since stopped standing with him. He is just a passer-by in front of him. If you are ruthless, you can have no desires, and if you have nothing in your heart, where can you get dusty? The queen only looks indifferent, and she is shy. She is afraid that when she is seventy or eighty, she will still blush when she hears the truth. If you don’t believe me, Your Majesty can give it a try.” Zili persuaded the emperor and the empress to reconcile, and the empress’s status will be stable, so the prince will be secure, and Jia Zhu and Yuanchun will have a safe future.

After hearing Zili's words, the emperor found it inconceivable that the empress would blush and shy?In the emperor's impression, the queen was always a dignified person, she would blush like a girl, the emperor suddenly became curious and went back to test it out.It must be fun to flirt with the queen who is more than short and less lively.

In the evening Jia Zheng and Zili came back to meet Jia Mu.Mother Jia watched Jia Zhengzili come in together and said with a happy smile in her heart: "You guys are tired all day, go back and rest. I have a good thing to tell you here. Your elder brother's daughter-in-law is happy, and I am going to see her tomorrow. .Second wife, come with me."

What Lan's pregnant!Zili was really happy for her when she heard the news.Lan Shi is looking forward to Brother Yu's own child.