Prequel to the Red Chamber: I Am the Second Wife

Seeing her daughter's depressed face, Mrs. Tang also had mixed feelings. She knew that although entering the palace sounded decent, her own child felt sorry for her, and being the grandson Liangdi might not be a good thing to enjoy.It's just that the Wang family can no longer control who is involved now.She knew that the eldest daughter wanted to pursue wealth and honor, but she didn't have that fate in her life. The second daughter seemed to have that blessing, but she might not like it.If Zili really enters the palace, she doesn't know how many times she will see her daughter in the future.Mrs. Tang patted her daughter comfortingly: "Don't worry, you also saw the Queen Mother, Empress Dowager, and the Crown Princess are extremely kind today. After entering the palace, I am not teaching you to be a servant, but to accompany Tai Hao to talk Just relieve boredom."

Zili didn't know what was going on in her heart. She pulled the corners of her mouth reluctantly, and opened her mouth worriedly, but she couldn't say anything. She just leaned on her mother's shoulder and fell silent. Mrs. Tang thought she was worried about Ziqian. , and then comforted: "You are worried that your sister will be angry. You are all born to me, so I can say this. She may look older than you, but her eyelids are too shallow. She only wants to climb up , her thoughts are all written on her face, she has no heart, she is articulate and likes to be jealous of others. Don't help her speak. How did your clothes and jewelry get on her? I know she is planning you to be soft-hearted, because you are not wary of your sister. Your clothes were tricked. In fact, today I tell you the truth, the clothes I prepared for your sister are much better than yours. I know her thoughts, and you have helped her speak. She is destined I can't let her mess around any longer. If rumors reach the Jia family, we don't have to be human anymore." Thinking of her eldest daughter's performance today, Mrs. Tang couldn't help frowning.

Zili could only shut up completely, the city of Hangzhou is not big, and the Wang family's sedan chair went home smoothly.A lot of family members greeted them at the door, and Zili and Mrs. Tang got off the sedan chair at the second gate.I saw that Ziqian didn't wait for the women to move the stools to ask her to get off the car.Just jump out of the car first.Ziqian helped the girl over with a dejected expression, and said to Mrs. Tang: "Return to Madam, I feel very uncomfortable, so I'll go back first." Mrs. Tang looked at the eldest daughter coldly, and was not in the mood to greet her with care.He just said lightly: "You don't need to use it if you are not feeling well. If you are still not well tomorrow, I will ask the doctor to take a look at you. It's best to go back and rest."

Ziqian leaned towards his mother expressionlessly, and helped the girl to leave.Zili worriedly looked at Ziqian's suddenly slumped back, looking at Ziqian's current appearance is almost the same as the confident Ziqian in the morning with shining eyes. "Let's go, you are tired today." Mrs. Tang took her daughter to serve the old lady and went in.Everyone went to the old lady's room first, and the old lady waved her hands to Zili and Mrs. Tang wearily and said, "You don't have to behave yourself, go and rest. By the way, why isn't Ziji's mother here?"

"The second wife is here." The old lady just remembered that she hadn't seen the second daughter-in-law when she came in. The girl announced that the second wife had already come in.Greetings to the old lady, I have been staring at them making dinner in the kitchen, I thought that the old lady and sister-in-law had been tired all day in the palace, they must have no appetite, I asked the kitchen to cook all kinds of porridge for the old lady The wife came back delicious.The old lady nodded: "You are determined, and you have worked hard these days. You can have a good rest after Zili enters the palace in a few days. At that time, I will ask your elder brother and sister-in-law to thank you properly."

Hearing the old lady's words, the second lady's eyes lit up, and she looked at Zili with a smile: "Oh, it's the girl's good deed. I don't have any hard work. It's all the good boy that the old lady took care of."

Zili's face turned red and white when she heard the second aunt's words, but Mrs. Tang was not as optimistic as the old lady. She said worriedly: "It's not sure yet. It's just that she voted for the fate of the queen mother, who asked Zili to come to the palace to accompany her." talking."

The old lady was indeed tired, and she waved her hands to the daughters-in-law: "You all go back, you should take a rest after a day of tiredness." After hearing this, everyone went back separately.

Waiting for Zili to return to his house, he was busy changing Zili's clothes before dawn and after the rain, calling for water to wash up.Mingqian chattered with Yuhou about the scenery she saw in the palace. Qin Nanny smiled and removed Zili's hairpin, and then combed her hair slowly: "Miss, can you see the queen mother?"

Ming Qian was still immersed in the excitement of entering the palace, she said first: "Our girl not only met the Empress Dowager, but also the Empress Dowager and the Crown Princess. The girl has also received a lot of rewards. Let me show you Look, it's an eye-opener." Mingqian brought out the gifts from the queen mother and the queen, and the girls in the room couldn't help but join in to watch the excitement.Qin Nanny was not interested in the Queen Mother's rewards, she just glanced roughly, and at the same time gave Zili a bun of common makeup: "The rewards from the Queen Mother and the Empress are all ordinary, nothing out of the ordinary, it seems The Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager must have seen girls from several families. Listening to the Empress Dowager asking the girl to come into the palace to talk with her, that meant comparing the girls from several families together. The girl's test has just begun."

"I don't want to be a master or empress either, as long as I can go home safely from the palace." Zili was not as demanding as Mother Qin thought.She yawned tiredly, and asked after the rain to prepare hot water: "Go and see if the hot water is available, I'm exhausted and I need to wash up and go to bed. Don't get too excited, I have something to ask you to do tomorrow. "After the rain, she didn't look at the queen mother's reward anymore, she put down the things in her hands and hurriedly urged the little girls to see if the hot water was available.

Mother Qin didn't agree with Zili's words. She frowned slightly and looked at Ziqian and said in a low voice, "I heard that the eldest girl doesn't like the queen mother very much. Although the girl looks down on those riches and honors, but I still keep my mouth shut in front of people. Although the girl is telling the truth, some people may not think that the girl is sincere and indifferent to fame and fortune. When the eldest girl just came back, she was still angry at throwing things and cursing others. This It will be quiet for a while." As he was speaking, Yuhou came in angrily, and complained to Nanny Qin and Zili: "It's too bullying, the hot water in the small kitchen was taken away by the big girl .I said a little bit, and the air gun over there made us sour. I'll go and tell my wife. Is this also a big girl being a sister to a sister?"

Zili had a headache when she heard Yu Hou's words, she helplessly stopped Yu Hou: "Forget it, it's getting late, I just took a bath yesterday, and I don't have the energy to toss about it. Look at the hot water on our tea stove. How much more, I just wash and go to bed."

After the rain was still not angry, Nanny Qin winked at her, and then left angrily after the rain.

The members of the Wang family have their own plans, and in the palace, several important figures are not idle.As soon as the Wang family left, the Empress Dowager called someone to invite the Crown Princess, and the three generations of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law sat together and discussed.The concubine first looked at the Queen Mother's face, and spoke first: "Da Lang likes the second girl of the Wang family. I quietly asked Da Lang which girl he likes. Da Lang said that the girl from the Wang family is not pretentious, but stupid." Yes, it's funny. I think the girl from the Wang family is good too. It's just that she's too honest and doesn't have the appearance of a backbone. Since Da Lang likes to be a grandson Jieyu, I'm afraid the wife won't be able to control the overall situation."

"Just looking at the eyebrows, we are just worrying about it and the emperor has the final say. In fact, I like the girl from the Wang family. Although she is straightforward, she is very winky. Unlike some children, they are narrow-minded, and they are like a mirror in their hearts." Well, I don’t know if I ask a question. Children of this age are not yet determined, and it will be fine in the future. The husband and wife have to guess their minds after they live together, let alone pass it by.” The Queen Mother liked it very much. Zili is straightforward and innocent.

The crown princess heard what her mother-in-law said, but she didn't dare to reply. The queen mother was well aware of the differences between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, and she clapped her hands: "What are you in a hurry for? Wait until the children from the families you are looking forward to enter the palace the day after tomorrow. Look at it coldly." That's all. As the old saying goes, horsepower can be known from a distance, and people's hearts can be seen through time. You can tell what's good or bad at a glance."

Both the queen and the crown princess stood up, and said solemnly to the queen mother: "Yes, the queen mother is far-sighted, daughters-in-law, remember." The queen mother was also tired: "You all rest, don't come." Get up and quit.Waiting for the room to quiet down, the queen mother was silently alone, waiting for the nuns beside her to ask her to rest, and then the queen mother got up to wash up.

The empress returned to her bedroom, and the maids had already prepared tea and clothes for her to come back. The empress took a sip of tea and told the palace people: "There is no need to pass the meal, I just want to rest. Your Majesty is here today. Where do you rest? But what beauties did the officials in Jiangnan enshrine?" The queen naturally knew her husband's preferences, but as she got older, her husband seemed to have a second spring, and he liked beautiful women more than when he was young. up.Officials in the south of the Yangtze River have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to buy back in front of the emperor. Why don't they present beauties to the emperor?

"Your Majesty has summoned Concubine Dong. It seems that she is attending bedtime." Huang Quan'an's words made the Queen's face darken, she frowned slightly, and her tone was displeased: "Your Majesty reprimanded the prince today, but what did King Wei say to His Majesty. I don’t know what their mother and son’s calculations are. Wei Wang is a big-hearted man, and Concubine Dong was dissatisfied with my palace’s empress. She has fought with me for 30 years, and now she still wants to fight with me!”

"Queen Empress, calm down. Today, His Majesty reprimanded His Highness the Crown Prince because he seemed to be dissatisfied with the Liang Dao in the south of the Yangtze River. That Liang Dao was the candidate selected by His Royal Highness. Your Majesty said that the Prince didn't know people well. The King of Wei went to the academy to visit the local erudite scholars. I have not served in front of His Majesty these few days. In fact, His Highness the Crown Prince is helpless to be reprimanded by the Emperor. The Crown Prince helps to deal with government affairs, and it is inevitable that there are some incomprehensions. There are many things in the local area, and it is impossible for everything to go smoothly. Your Majesty teaches the Crown Prince. It is also a matter of deep love and responsibility. The empress should be relieved when she sees the young lady of the Wang family today." Huang Quan'an cleverly calmed the empress' emotions, and directed the empress' attention to the grandson's marriage.

"Well, that girl is nice. Please tell me carefully how she gets along with my Dalang. The Crown Princess dislikes her for being careless, and she only knows how to play foolishly. What do you think?" The Queen thought about what the Crown Princess said, holding The teacup asked Huang Quanan.

Huang Quanan knew what the princess was thinking when he heard the queen's words, and he didn't say anything immediately, he just flattered the queen to get up: "Please ask the empress to take a bath first. Get rid of fatigue." With Huang Quanan's massage technique, the queen also felt tired and agreed.

The queen's bedroom fell silent, the little maid moved the incense burner out of the tent, Huang Quan'an saw that everyone had gone out, and then slowly beat the queen's leg through the cushion. "Looking at the young lady of the Wang family as a servant, she understands very well. Although her words are straightforward and her actions are completely unaffected, her rules and etiquette are not bad, and she is even more considerate than her sister. In fact, the princess has her favorite candidate. Naturally, I will look down on girls from other people's families." Huang Quanan told Zili's performance, and the queen listened very seriously: "No wonder, my daughter-in-law is good at everything but has shallow eyelids. She likes her aunt's family. Girl." Although the girl from the Zhen family is also good, the queen doesn't want her grandson and daughter-in-law to be from the daughter-in-law's side.The emperor had to balance the ministers in the previous court, and the harem also taught balance skills.

Huang Quan'an's thoughts towards the queen seemed to be mirror-like. He didn't answer the queen's words, but said: "My servant sees that His Highness the grandson likes the second daughter of the Wang family very much. But the second daughter of the Wang family seems to dislike the grandson."

"Oh, is that so? She actually dislikes my Dalang? I'll take a closer look when she enters the palace. How can she despise the emperor's grandson?" The queen became more interested in Zili. .

Zili who was lying under the quilt suddenly sneezed, she rubbed her nose helplessly, and pulled the quilt even tighter.It's already spring and flowers are blooming, where is the wind coming from?

The next day, the Wang family received the emperor's order. The queen mother felt lonely in the palace without being accompanied, and especially asked the daughter of a family in the south of the Yangtze River to serve the queen mother in the palace.Waiting for the eunuch to deliver the message, Mr. Wang hurriedly got up and said to the servant who delivered the message: "It's laborious father-in-law, please sit down and have tea." The inner eunuch who delivered the decree cupped his hands and said with a smile: "The old man dare not give up the reward. It's just that the Miscellaneous family has to go to several other families to spread the word. The girl from the Zhen family is also entering the palace, as well as the Fang family and the Yuan family. It's getting late, don't dare to delay."

Wang Dingqian held the hand of the inner eunuch who sent the message: "Since this is the case, we dare not delay any longer, and I will send my father-in-law out." Then he handed over a 100 tael silver ticket without anyone noticing it.The eunuch who delivered the message held Wang Dingqian's hand and his eyes were narrowed with laughter: "How dare you, thank you. The lady in the mansion should pack up her things early. I sent a message today, and a car will come to pick it up tomorrow morning. There are no shortage of things in the palace, and the lady doesn't need it." Bring a lot of things. You can’t bring anything that gets in the way.” Wang Dingqian thanked the eunuch for his advice, took him by the hand and sent him out affectionately.

Zili and the female relatives were listening to the rumors inside the door, she stood up a little confused, thinking to herself why so many girls were brought into the palace?Or is it an excuse to accompany the Queen Mother?She has no idea what the palace is like, what does the eunuch mean?What is the obstructing thing?

While Zili was tinkering with all kinds of sharp weapons in the palace, the old lady had already said: "Let's go to the self-care room and help her pack her things together."

Mrs. Tang stared at the door with a gloomy expression on her face.Mr. Wang came in with a relaxed face. He found that his wife's complexion was not good, so he persuaded him: "Don't worry, I have met the girl from the Zhen family. She can't keep up with Zili from our family. If you don't fight, you will fight. There is no one in the world who can compete with her." Also, girl, don’t worry, grandpa told you not to look forward and backward, just remember what I usually teach you.” Wang Changchun squinted his eyes and patted Zili on the shoulder.Suitan's long eyebrows blocked most of Wang Changchun's eyes, but Zili still saw a gleam in his grandfather's eyes.

"Girl, come with me. I have something to tell you. Go and pack Zili's things. Prepare more silver and other scattered silver and gold and silver fruits. As for the clothes and jewelry, don't be too luxurious." Yes. There is also rouge and face powder, and don’t bring anything with a particularly strange smell.” Mr. Wang Changchun gave his wife and daughter-in-law instructions, and pulled Zili away towards the backyard without looking back.