Prequel to the Red Chamber: I Am the Second Wife

The emperor quietly entered the East Palace with Dai Quan. Seeing the emperor's arrival, the slaves in the East Palace immediately knelt down and shouted long live, but Dai Quan stopped him with a wink.The emperor looked at the eunuch who was serving the crown prince and asked, "What is Dalang doing now?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Your Highness has just practiced riding and archery, and will be resting in the back garden with Jia Shidu, servant girl, please invite Your Highness over here." He said that he wanted to ask someone to invite the prince over. "Don't be alarmed, I have nothing to do and come over to take a look, you don't follow and don't alarm Da Lang." The emperor waved his hand and walked towards the backyard.The East Palace is the residence of the prince. The back garden covers a wide area, and there are paths for practicing archery and horseback riding. Behind the martial arts field is a static garden. The buildings and pavilions are all small and unique, with lush trees and flowers.

The emperor walked casually, this place was like the lines on the palm of his hand, the emperor was so familiar with it.He suddenly heard a voice coming from the dense shade of trees.The emperor stood still and listened carefully to the prince's voice when he found out.The prince, like himself back then, likes to hide in this secret corner and think about things quietly. "Why are you always absent-minded these days, who bullied you." The prince was holding Jia Zhu's hand and shaking it vigorously.For the first time in the past few days, Jia Zhu was absent-minded in class, and was severely reprimanded by her husband.

"Hiss, it hurts!" Jia Zhu's hand was greeted several times by the master's ruler, and it was still red and swollen.The prince hurriedly let go, grabbed Jia Zhu's hand, looked at it carefully, and blew on the red and swollen area: "You deserve it, who taught you to be distracted. Tell me what is on your mind, and I will definitely help you make up your mind. Did King Lu and Concubine Ning say something?" King Lu is the son of Concubine Ning, and because the emperor loves Concubine Ning, King Lu's status in the palace has also risen accordingly.

"No, there is the example of King Wei earlier. No one in the palace dares to think otherwise. It's useless to tell you what's on my mind. I'm afraid no one in this world can help me." Jia Zhu sighed, grasping the branch in frustration and breaking it vigorously, so as to vent the depression in her heart.

"What is it, I can't take care of it. The emperor can definitely take care of it. Is there anything in this world that the emperor can't take care of? Just say, we are good brothers with heart and soul. If you have trouble, I will pretend to be confused." Who is it? The prince confidently patted his chest and made a wish to Jia Zhu. The emperor stood behind a rock not far away and listened to the conversation between his son and Jia Zhu. This kid took Lao Tzu as a favor. I don’t know Jia Zhu Because of some embarrassing things, the emperor decided to listen to Jia Zhu's thoughts. Don't let this kid use the prince's affection to seek his own personal gain.

"Maybe I won't be able to stay with His Highness anymore. Speaking of which, this is all a private matter of my family. I really can't say it. My mother and father may be reconciled. Although I will definitely be left behind, I really don't want to be with you." My mother left, and I made up my mind. Even if they really broke up, I would not stay with Jia's house anymore. It would be better for me to go out and make a living by myself than to die of suffocation at home." Jia Zhu clenched his fists and looked firm.He suddenly remembered something and turned to the crown prince and said: "At that time, I beg Your Highness to keep it a secret for me, and don't let them know my whereabouts."

"Why are you going out! Where are you going? Wait, why did your parents reconcile? Jia Zhu's words contained too much information, not only for the crown prince who couldn't digest it for a while, but also for the emperor. Zili wanted to reconcile with Jia Zheng! In this day and age, it is more surprising than June Feixue that a couple with such status as Jia Zheng and Zili should break up.

"I can't explain their affairs in a few words. Anyway, my mother disliked my father for touching a girl, and went back to her mother's house angrily. My uncle and I said through our mouths that my father and grandmother were too deceitful. My mother went back to live with her natal family, and my uncle asked me what I meant." Jia Zhu sighed in embarrassment, and he didn't know why his life suddenly became the way it is now.Originally, the family was harmonious and beautiful, but they would fall apart in a blink of an eye.

The prince is also in a dilemma, he said in disbelief: "Actually, your mother is a little too narrow-minded, but she is just a girl, she will be kicked out if she is not happy, and if she can see it, she will be kept by her side. Worried about what big troubles she will cause? It’s not worth it to go back to your mother’s house to make peace because of a girl’s anger. You go back and persuade your mother, just turn a blind eye and close your eyes.” The prince put the matter on his mother, obediently According to Jia Zhu's mother's wishes, her mother would have to make up with her father after a lot of trouble.The prince also couldn't figure out how that Mrs. Jia who had been patiently leading them in Qingzhou turned into a caring, jealous and bitter woman.

"My mother is not that kind of person! My mother is not angry because of a girl. She is—" Jia Zhu couldn't think of a suitable word to describe it for a while, and could only hold back with a flushed face.

"Don't be angry, we are all outsiders, how can we know the real ins and outs of the matter. But even if your parents are divorced, you don't have to run away from home. What can you do alone. You are not old enough to be a soldier and take the imperial examination. You can’t take the exam under a pseudonym. That’s illegal. Even if you pass the exam, you are also your father’s son, and you are Master Zhu from the Rongguo Mansion.” Of course, His Royal Highness was reluctant to leave Jia Zhu, so he came up with a “ The idea of ​​having the best of both worlds": "If you don't want to go back, stay here with me, and if you don't go back, it will be fine."

Looking at the prince's earnest eyes, Jia Zhu softened her heart, and said gratefully: "Thank you for your kindness, as your highness said, even if I don't go home in the East Palace all the year round, I am still my father's son, the son of Rongguo Mansion." Children and grandchildren. That place will always be my home. I can’t never see my father, grandmother and relatives for the rest of my life. Now when I go home, no one dares to criticize me, but in the future. They will definitely Isn’t it the one who made up my mother, I am her own son, can I let others make up my mother without heart?” Jia Zhu thought of the people in the family’s ability to speak freely without wind, and only sighed.

The prince was also silent after hearing this.He patted Jia Zhu on the shoulder for a long time: "Don't sigh, just wait until you grow up and be able to stand on your own. At that time, I beg Father to transfer you outside and stay away from those people."

"Thank you, Your Highness, for your concern—who!" Jia Zhu suddenly became alert and jumped out of the bushes with a loud shout.The prince was also surprised and followed Jia Zhu out, but they searched the surrounding mountains, rocks and trees but found nothing. "You're too nervous, don't get me wrong. There are hares and hedgehogs in this garden. Don't be a rabbit or a hedgehog. It's getting late. Let's go back and save them from looking around." The prince pulled Jia Zhu go together.

Jia Zhu looked back at the forest step by step, always felt that she could clearly hear someone walking, but why was there no one?

Zili took Yuan Chun to Zhuangzi for a short stay. Yuan Chun, who had been suppressed for a long time at home, was going crazy with joy. Her face was flushed with excitement and her eyes sparkled along the way.Yuan Chun leaned on his mother's shoulder and pointed at the scenery outside, exclaiming that there was a rabbit, and lying on the window with great interest, watching the farmers working in the fields by the roadside.Zili, however, was preoccupied, her mind still revolved around the conversation she had with her mother and brother yesterday.

Wang Ziteng looked angry: "What an ungrateful thing, my sister's flower-like personality is already a disadvantage. He didn't think about it, he was a fool in reading, how could he be successful? If it wasn't for our family to go all out and invite Mr. Gao Ming to teach, it would be a high incense to be admitted as a scholar. Not to mention the support and support in the officialdom over the years. Now I think I have wings If you are hard, you will turn your face and deny anyone! Girls just stay at home, I want to see. Their Jia family still has the face to make trouble! If it doesn’t work, get back together, even if you get away, don’t worry about not having better Husband-in-law!"

Wang Ziteng's eyes gleamed fiercely, and he cursed at the Jia family.Zili's mother, Mrs. Tang, thought more than her son did. She sighed, "It's your fate. Of course I won't say anything when you go home now. It's just how we live in the future. We have to figure it out." I don't think the Jia family will watch you come back and stay silent. Whoever cares about the children, the old lady of the Jia family is a person who loves her children. For the sake of her son's future and reputation, how can she let it go. You have to decide Now that we have an idea, our family should figure out a way to deal with it first." Zili's eyes warmed up when he heard what his mother and brother said.The daughter married in this era splashed water, she was wronged by her family, and her natal family was able to silently support her. She is really lucky in this era.

"I was really sad and angry at the beginning, and my heart was in a mess, but now I have calmed down, and I have already thought about it. If I retreat step by step, sooner or later I will lose my foothold. Follow them as before." After thinking about it, Zili decided that he couldn't bear it anymore.

"In this case, you should live in Zhuangzi for a few days first. Don't tear your face when you come up. Ziteng, you should go to Jia's house to check on the situation and see what their plans are. Zili will live in Zhuangzi first. Instruct your family members not to reveal your whereabouts, and if the Jia family members arrive at the Zhuangzi, you will not be seen." Although Mrs. Wang is a womanizer, she looks gentle and silent on weekdays, but at critical moments, she shows up and kills you. The ability to make decisions and make decisions.

Zili followed her mother's wishes to stay in Zhuangzi for a while. Yuanchun's childish nature, how could he understand Zili's state of mind, she was just happy to come out to relax. "Aniang, can I ride a horse on the Zhuangzi? Uncle said there are lambs and rabbits on the Zhuangzi, can I go and see them?" Zili looked at her daughter's innocent eyes and couldn't help poking her. Her forehead: "I just wanted to play. Did I lock you up when I was at home? You are a big girl, and you still think about playing all day long. Have you brought your homework? I ask every day Asking about your homework." Zili poured cold water on Yuanchun.

Yuan Chun held his mouth shut, threw himself into Zili's arms and began to act like a baby: "I'm at home, it's almost like sitting in a prison, and people are watching my actions. Those girls and women have eyes on the back of their heads, and ears are inside the walls. Let me say a word." It doesn’t take the whole mansion to know the next day. I’m worse than a prisoner.”

"Didn't you also figure out a way to subdue them? Don't pretend to be pitiful in front of me. Who are the girls and women in your house who are stabbed? I will deal with them." Zili exposed Yuan Chun's lies. Her temperament is very much like her, independent, assertive, and scheming.

"They don't dare. I understand what it means to give both kindness and power. I have withdrawn from the people who were arranged by others. Now the people in my room are the honest people I usually look at with cold eyes. Mother, we are going to Have you lived in Zhuangzi for a long time?" Yuan Chunshi noticed something, buried his face in Zili's arms and asked in a low voice.

Startled by his daughter's question, Zili decided to tell the truth to the child after thinking about it.

After coming to Zhuangzi for a few days, Yuan Chun has completely accepted the status quo, she has regained her lively and active personality, and she has a great time playing in Zhuangzi.It is impossible for Zili to enjoy a pure leisure life like Yuanchun, and the news brought by Wang Ziteng makes Zili even more confused.Jia Zheng still thought he was right, it was Zili's narrow-mindedness.Jia's mother did not make a statement, but lightly reprimanded Jia Zheng, saying that she treated Zili as her own daughter, and their family was not afraid of a lawsuit.It seems that Jia's mother is sure that the Wang family is also a respectable family, and they will not make an ugly mess with the Jia family.

How to go in the future, Zili has been thinking in her heart that she can travel all over the mountains and rivers and break out of her own world. She doesn't need to hold herself back to be someone's wife or mother. .She doesn't want to waste a good life on endless trivial matters, and she doesn't want to be the woman behind Jia Zheng's back. Her own efforts and talents have helped others, but she has become a dispensable decoration.But the contradiction between ideal and reality is irreconcilable, no matter in modern society or in this era, the gap between ideal and reality can never be bridged.

If she was determined to leave Jia Zheng, she would not be so selfish, not to mention that her parents and elder brother would have to bear huge criticism.There are also Jiazhu Yuanchun and Baoyu. The motherless children in Jia's house are like lambs left in the wolf's den.Zili turned over on the bed, she sighed and simply turned over and got up.

Hearing Zili's noise, the girl hurriedly put on her clothes and got up and asked, "Madam, what's the matter, do you want some tea?"

"It's nothing, I can't sleep and go for a walk. You don't have to follow me, you're just in the yard." Zili said to Mint, and opened the door with her clothes on.

The moonlight streamed down like water, and a breeze brought a scent of flowers. Zili remembered that there was a clump of tuberose growing in the yard. She quietly pushed open the gate, stepped out and walked towards the garden.The moonlight was very good, and the flowers and plants in the garden were covered with a layer of silver light. I followed Hua Xiangzili and walked along the winding path.The garden under the night presents another side, and those familiar things have changed.Zili walked along the path, waiting for her to realize that she had gone the wrong way and was far away from her yard.

This Zhuangzi was built when Wang Changchun was alive. The garden occupies a large area, with complicated paths and lush vegetation. Zili has not finished walking the entire garden in the past few days.The scenery in front of her was unfamiliar, and she never imagined that behind the woods at the end of the garden, there was actually a quiet house.Zili sighed, turned around helplessly and walked back. At this time, the servants in the house were probably resting. If she bumped into her recklessly, she would definitely disturb their rest.

"Why did you come here? Did Wang Ziteng tell you that I was here?" Zili turned around unprepared and almost bumped into someone. The emperor covered Zili's scream that almost blurted out, and pressed her into his arms.

Here's the Emperor's Perspective