Prequel to the Red Chamber: I Am the Second Wife

Jia Zheng and Jia Mu clashed head-on.This explains why Mother Jia rested so early when Zili came back today, but——Zili looked at Jia Zheng helplessly, and suddenly found a red mark on Jia Zheng's face: "What's wrong with your face?" How do you go out to meet people tomorrow." Jia Zheng's left face was obviously scratched by something, and Jia Zheng went to work in the yamen tomorrow, so people might wonder what to do.

Jia Zheng subconsciously stretched out his hand to touch it, and immediately grinned his teeth in pain: "It's okay, I think the old lady was angry and threw the copper spit box over and the edges were scratched. Just go back and apply the medicine." Jia Zheng suddenly remembered that tomorrow is the On the day of the court meeting, the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty and the emperor will see it, and they will immediately become annoyed: "What will I do when I go to court tomorrow!"

Zili hurriedly asked the girl to bring the wound medicine to apply to Jia Zheng, and said helplessly, "If someone asks you, just say that you were drunk and fell off the horse. If today's news spreads in small bits and pieces, be careful that someone will take it." Make a fuss. I think you still go to the old lady to make amends, please forgive me. After all, it is a joke between mother and child." Zili looked at Jia Zheng's tangled facial features and felt secretly refreshed. You can also learn from yourself. My old lady's stubbornness and arrogance.You used to stand and talk without pain in your back, but now you don’t hurt your old waist.Although she was happy in her heart, Zili was still very kind. Instead of mocking Jia Zheng, she asked with concern: "It's good that I didn't hurt any important places. I just need to be cheeky in the court tomorrow. Anyway, my reputation has already gone out, it's a big deal." You just push it on me."

Jia Zheng could only sigh silently: "Forget it, it has nothing to do with you. Who told me that I am a son. You have heard those words, do you think it is the Lin family's intentional rumors. Lin Ruhai is really in vain. I respect him in the past! He is also a decent villain. If he wants to divorce his wife, why would he need a bad reputation! Not only does it shame Sanmei, but it also involves our daughter. Lin Ruhai is also a father, so he won't Are you worried that one day you will be punished!"

"I don't think it's something Master Lin did. After all, their Lin family is a scholarly family, so they won't act like this. And if you think about it, what good will it do him to ruin the third sister's reputation? Isn't it going to be punished?" The joke is that the family is not strict and cannot balance wives and concubines. The third sister is Lin Ruhai's wife, and she also took care of the funeral of their old lady. How can she divorce? Even Daiyu will suffer, he doesn't want others to ignore his daughter Well. I think someone must be running after us. Do you think that His Highness the Crown Prince is about to choose a concubine, how many people are staring at the seat of the Crown Princess? We can't make jokes at this time to make people feel cheap! Zili slapped the table hard, his eyes firm.

Zili can usually tell from Yuanchun's expression and words that her daughter really likes the prince. Since the empress and queen mother also showed this meaning, Zili will send her daughter to the prince's concubine smoothly no matter how hard she tries. seat.

Jia Zheng looked at Zili's firm eyes under the lamp, but he became sober in his heart: "You are right, I will apologize to the old lady tomorrow. Right and wrong are clear to everyone. What happened in Yuanchun has a bearing on the face of the whole family, and she can't ignore it." Jia Zheng still has confidence in Jia's mother.But Zili doesn't think so.Of course, Mother Jia hoped that Yuanchun would be successful, but she valued what benefits she could get.Zili clearly felt that Jia's mother had a clear relationship with the three children she gave birth to.Jia's mother only cared about Jia Zhu and Yuan Chun in general, similar to Jia Lian. Although she loved Jia Lian, she didn't pay as much attention to it as Baoyu did.Zili once wondered what Jiamu was thinking, probably because Jiamu thought that both Jiazhu and Yuanchun were close to Zili, and no matter how hard she tried as a grandmother, she would not pull the two children to her side. More filial to Zili.Therefore, Mother Jia will not spend too much time on the two of them.

The next day, Jia Zheng came back from court without changing his clothes, and knelt down in front of Jia's mother: "Yesterday my son had a drink, and on the way home, he bumped into a passenger, and came back and hit the old lady. Today I am here to accept the crime." Said He kowtowed and knelt on the ground and couldn't get up.

Zili also knelt down and said to Jia Mu: "Last night, the master cried for a long time, saying that he was not filial and offended the old lady." What evil did I do in my previous life to make me give birth to such a good son as you. You are also going to have a daughter-in-law. You have been an official for so many years and you still have nothing to do. Get up, you are all soft-hearted mothers , I will forgive you for a while, if you still mess up in the future, I will beat you with a crutch first, but you still despise my Baoyu all day long, even Baoyu, a child, is much better than you." Jia's mother asked Baoyu to help Jia Zheng and Zili get up.

Seeing that Mother Jia's face had lost her anger, Jia Zheng sat down with a slanted body.Mother Jia pondered for a while and asked someone to take Baoyu out: "I thought about it all night yesterday. I have already asked someone to investigate secretly. This word is nothing more than rumors from the Lin family and our family. I think Mrs. Lin is not so confused. It's probably because his concubine who gave birth to a son is making a fuss. She thinks that she gave birth to a son. Instead, I have to ask Uncle Lin what he is going to do." Mother Jia thought that the biggest suspect was Lin Ruhai's concubine who gave birth to a son.She planned to seize the opportunity and force the Lin family to dispose of that woman and give her son to Jia Min to raise.Listening to Jiamu's words, Zili couldn't help but feel that this old lady is more and more compassionate now, and she often asks people to burn incense and donate to the poor, but she is not merciless in her actions.

Jia Zheng has his own ideas: "I think there may be others, how many people are watching the matter of Yuan girl. There may not be other official families with daughters of the right age who want to enter the palace."

After hearing Jia Zheng's words, Jia's mother frowned: "There are not many people in the capital who are qualified to fight for the position of crown princess, so let me do the math." I counted the families who are capable of becoming the crown princess, but in the end they have no clue: "Those families have never had any friendship with us. We didn't offend them before, and they didn't offend our family. It stands to reason that they shouldn't be so cruel. And their family is not such a dirty person. Besides, this is a private matter of others, how could they know. The rest is the Zhen family in Jiangnan. The Zhen family and our family often come and go, so seriously , our family can be related to the Zhen family. The eldest girl in their family is the same age as Yuan Chun, and the Zhen family and the queen mother are still relatives. The Zhen family has always advertised that they are polite people, let alone do such a thing. That’s all, it’s a mess, so I’ll ask people to investigate it quickly. If anyone in our family reveals something, they’ll be arrested and beaten to death immediately!” Although Jia’s mother cared about Yuan Chun, but if Yuan Chun recovered, the whole family would follow bright.Of course, Mother Jia didn't want the fat from her mouth to just fly away.

Jia Zheng and Zili also had no clue, so they had no choice but to quit.Jia Zheng and Zili went back and searched their brains wondering who might have done it.It's a pity that they have passed the possible suspects countless times and still have no clue. "We can only wait for the news from my uncle, he is now in control of the security of the capital. We will definitely find out!" Jia Zheng can only pin his hopes on Wang Ziteng.Zili's heart suddenly moved, but after thinking about it, she decided to put the question in her heart first: people's hearts are unpredictable, and they usually look at benevolence, righteousness and morality.Who knows what's behind it?I was worried that it would turn out to be someone that no one would have expected. "

Jia Zheng was still comforting Zili, or comforting himself: "Sometimes you think too badly of people, but I don't think that's the case."

It's a pity that Jia Zheng's final fantasy was still shattered by reality. Naturally, Wang Ziteng would not let the rumor hurt his niece. He immediately recruited a few of his confidants, and cast a net all over the capital, and soon the source of the rumor came to light. Everyone in the family was taken aback when the mastermind behind the scenes was found out.Jia Zheng couldn't believe his ears, and shook his head again and again: "How can it be their family, don't make a mistake!"

"I didn't believe it at the beginning. I asked someone to investigate carefully, and I can't be wrong again! I am so angry that I just want to go to their house and ask that Zhen Yingjia. This is the character taught by their Zhen family!" The prince was angry. Throwing the teacup on the table, Jia Zheng came back to his senses after the shock at the beginning, and he was also annoyed: "It's unreasonable to know people and face but not heart!" theory to go.

"I'll just come forward on this matter. Now you can't bear to have twists and turns. The Zhen family has become more and more proud in the past few years. You should also know that the empress dowager's serious natal family is not very prominent, so they value the Zhen family very much. The Zhen family took advantage of this opportunity. You know that the Zhen family has been extremely prominent since the establishment of our dynasty. Although there are few people who can hold important positions now, their family's power is still not small, and the two of us combined can't match it. Really We may not be able to take advantage of tearing up our faces. I think we can't be clear about it, we can only be on guard first, so that we can make a long-term plan. You should go back and discuss it with my sister. By the way, you can go and talk to your Mrs. Lin, please. He came out to help say a few words, then the rumors would be self-defeating, and they would have nothing to chew on." Wang Ziteng advised Jia Zheng to be patient for the time being, and to minimize the immediate impact first.

"That's all I can do. Now that I think about it, I'm really ashamed. I don't know what I've been busy with in the past few decades, I haven't improved my knowledge, my official career is not lukewarm, and I haven't taken care of my family well. It's a lot of things. It’s all dragging down brother-in-law. I’m really ashamed. For this matter, let me thank you slowly in the future.” Jia Zheng stood up and bowed deeply to Wang Ziteng, solemnly promising Wang Ziteng , I must thank you again in the future.

"You and I were bothered and beat you a hundred times earlier. Who told my sister to like you? I can only admit it. What hard work do I have to help my sister and brother-in-law, but my sister has been in love since she married you. Working abroad, but what happens in the end, I have to be a mother-in-law, and my mother-in-law scolded me without even daring to lift my head. I also have people who my mother wants to serve. We are all old and young, yours I can understand the state of mind. You should be filial to your old lady, but what is filial piety, you have to be filial before you can obey. Your blind tolerance is injustice. It is not good for me, an outsider, to intervene in your family's affairs. Now that you know my sister is not easy, you should go back and treat her well." Wang Ziteng took the opportunity to instill in the ears of false witnesses that your wife is the one who will accompany you for the rest of your life, and you should treat your wife well.Jia Zheng nodded repeatedly when he heard Wang Ziteng's words, and told his brother-in-law what was in his heart: "I also know that I have wronged your sister. But after all, the old lady is an elder, what can a junior say. People are getting older. They're all left-tempered, and you should know that."

"You fool, you are a son, and it is more convenient to talk to your own mother. You go to the old lady to act coquettishly, say something nice, and just make the old lady happy. A son is not just coaxing both sides What? You think the old lady in my family is easy to talk. You have to know that the daughter-in-law is not the mother-in-law's own. If you don't pay attention, you will get a pimple in your heart. You are your own. Even if you quarrel and get angry the next day, it will be fine. I often My old lady gave me a message or something, so the old lady can't think about it. Besides, the old lady is getting old, and there are some things you don't tell her." Wang Ziteng patted Jia Zheng's shoulder: "Brother-in-law, the book is for You can read it, but you can’t read dead books.”

Jia Zheng got a full load of scriptures on how to reconcile the conflict between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law from his uncle and went back with mixed feelings.After hearing Jia Zheng's words, Jia's mother fell silent, Zili was not surprised at all, she was just concerned: "How did the incident between Master Lin and the third sister get into the Zhen family's ears?"

"Well, brother-in-law caught a rumorer and found out that it was someone from the Zhen family who came to deliver things that day. He heard our family's servants discussing it, so he listened carefully. After going back, he told the family members that he was born. Such a big turmoil. The Zhen family is really too hateful. They don't miss any old love from the past at all. Their family background is prominent, and if the girl is selected, it is not bad. Why do they have to be so ruthless and put people to death? I should Come to the door to question!" Jia Zheng wanted to argue with the Zhen family angrily.

"Forget it. What can you do if you go to the theory? Their family insists that they are the servants of the family talking nonsense, what else can you do. Instead, they cut off the relationship with relatives. I think it's better to hold back for a while and talk to each other first Master Lin, please say something." Zili knew that Mother Jia was concerned about the Zhen family's affection and power, so she naturally refused to fall out with the Zhen family.

"Your daughter-in-law is right. There is a saying that if you catch thieves and seize the stolen goods and don't get the evidence, you can't make them admit it. It's more serious to clean up our family's gossip servants first." Jiamu stood in Zili On the one hand, it means that you can only suffer.Zili had already guessed that Jia Mu was like this, and she didn't expect Jia Mu to do anything, she just asked Jia Mu to speak to rectify the housework, and she agreed when she saw that her goal was achieved.Jia Zheng originally wanted to discuss with Jia's mother how to knock down the Zhen family, but after hearing Zili's words, he got bored and went out with Zili.

"You always don't touch the sand in your eyes. Now that they bullied you, why are you swallowing your anger instead? I just can't swallow this breath. The Zhen family and our family are old friends, and they can still be related. In the end, it was the one who stabbed the knife in the back. They! I feel very depressed when I think about the relationship with the Zhen family before, and I helped them a lot back then!" Jia Zheng gritted his teeth fiercely, his face flushed with anger.

"Master Bai has been an official for so many years. You have such a human nature, why can't you ignore it? There were more things that were more ungrateful than the Zhen family back then. You think that when Zhen Weiren was in Wei Wang's mansion, he also won Wei Wang's favor." Grace and promotion, the result. Wei Wang’s cigarettes were ruined in his hands. This is much more vicious than the little tricks of the Zhen family. How can there be anything constant in this world?” Zili couldn’t help but pat Jia Zheng's shoulder asked the girl to serve tea.

Jia Zheng drank a few sips of tea and slowly calmed down: "Although what you said is true, it's different when things happen to you and stay out of them. Forget it, I'll go to Lin's house and talk to Ru Hai first. His little concubine , although it has nothing to do with her this time, but I should remind him to plan ahead. Although the third sister is wrong, the Jia family still needs face." As Jia Zheng said, he asked someone to prepare a sedan chair, and asked someone to come over and change it for him. clothes.

Not to mention that Jia Zheng went to Lin Ruhai's house, here Zili was waiting for Yuan Chun to come back from the palace.Today is Yuanchun's holiday. In the afternoon, the family members who had been picked up at the gate of the palace in the morning came back.Zili stood at the door and watched Yuan Chun come in, and asked worriedly, "Why did you come back so late today? But what's the matter?" Yuan Chun greeted Zili, was held in his mother's arms and said with a smile, "It's okay, It’s just a little bit of a delay.”

Zili knew her daughter best.She also broke through Yuan Chun's perfunctory words, and only took her daughter in to meet Jia's mother first.

Baoyu and the girls on Jiamu's side were talking, laughing and playing in front of Jiamu. Seeing Zili come in with Yuanchun, Jiamu laughed and said, "The eldest girl is back. Tell me to see that she has grown taller." The mother named Yuanchun sat beside her holding hands and asked carefully how Rihe lived in the palace, how the empress dowager and empress treated her, whether anyone made things difficult for her, what she ate, and what she wanted.Yuan Chun answered them one by one, and Jia Mu smiled and said, "You are the eldest among the sisters. You have always been well-behaved and obedient, and set an example for the younger sisters. I love you as much as Baoyu. It's a pity that you spend most of your time with me." In the palace, you can't be by my side all the time."

Yuan Chun said with a smile: "No matter where I am, I am the granddaughter of the old lady. It is possible that I am far away, and the old lady will forget me. Baoyu and his sisters should love each other more when they are young, let alone the old lady. Madam loves Baoyu and the sisters, and I love them too." As he said that, Yuan Chun asked someone to bring out the trinkets they got from the palace for Baoyu Xiangyun and others to play with.

Seeing that Yuanchun acted properly and behaved mildly, Jia's mother was even more happy and called out: "Yuanyang, take out the things." A little girl promised and came out from behind the curtain with a box in her hands.Mother Jia took the box and opened it, and there were some extremely delicate jewelry inside.Jia Mu picked up a suet white jade bracelet, which was different from ordinary bracelets.This white jade bracelet is made into the shape of bamboo joints, and thin bamboo branches and leaves are carved out of the bamboo joints with gold inlaid chisels, and a butterfly is inlaid with gemstones on a leaf.The butterfly is lifelike, and the gems on its wings are shining.

Mother Jia put the bracelet on Yuan Chun herself and looked at it: "It's very suitable. This is what the old man gave me when I was out of the house. Don't think this jade bracelet is not a whole piece, but no number of jade bracelets can compare to this. The daily seal of Emperor Taizu and this bracelet are made of the same material. How many jade stones can be used to make the emperor's jade seal in the world, and those scraps are rare in the world. You see, the wings of butterflies are all holding high-quality gemstones It is carefully ground into thin slices and inlaid on it. The bracelet is not big in the first place, and the butterfly is still made lifelike. There are only a handful of people in the world who can make this vivid trick. Not to mention that those gems are made of the remaining materials from the queen's phoenix crown. Yes. Let’s make you something to sleep on.”

Zili gave Yuan Chun a look from the side, and Yuan Chun stood up and thanked Jia Mu for accepting it.Jia Mu pointed to the dazzling gemstones, pearls, jade and some red gold in the box and said to Zili, "I looked at the old things yesterday. Although the jewelry is good, it looks outdated. I will find these and you can take them." Buy some exquisite and beautiful things for Yuan girl. I think you are not vulgar, don't blindly show off your luxury, the most important thing is to match Yuan girl's demeanor and make delicate and unique jewelry." Jiamu took the box Give it to Zili and ask her to buy Yuanchun's outfit.

Jiamu is really a moron, the emperor's jade seal can be made into a bracelet, no wonder that the three hundred miles of Afang Palace can't accommodate a history of Jinling, Jiamu's grandfather was in charge of the palace's internal affairs, and the emperor's warehouse was directly connected to the historian's What about the warehouse.

"It's so beautiful!" Baoyu and Xiangyun came up to take a look at the box in Zili's hand, and the two little things were immediately attracted by those eye-catching jewels.

"When girl Yun grows up, she will have this." Zili smiled and touched Xiangyun's head. Xiangyun was surprised when she heard Zili's words at first, but after a while she seemed to understand something , suddenly blushed, turned around and hid behind a girl: "I don't want this. Second brother, let's go out and play." The girl hurriedly pushed Xiangyun out: "Miss Yun, don't be shy, the second wife and You're joking."

Zili saw that girl looked familiar, and was about to ask her, when a notification came in from outside: "Go back to the old lady and the second lady, someone from the Zhen family is here."