Prequel to the Red Chamber: I Am the Second Wife

A year later, the sound of birdsong awakened Zili from her dream, she slowly opened her eyes, and heard the little girl's voice: "Madam is awake." Saying this, several girls stepped forward to help Zili get up. "Master, what time is it? Why didn't you wake me up?" It was bright outside, and Zili was a little depressed, thinking that she had been getting up at dawn for decades, but these days she became more and more lazy, and she was able to sleep. When it was three poles in the sun, it could be seen that she lived in Zhuangzi so comfortably, but fortunately she didn't live in the mansion, if she still behaved like this after returning home, she would feel embarrassed herself.

"The master said that he should not be called a shocking wife. No one will come to say hello anyway, and the wife can just rest in peace." This little girl was newly elected, Zili's previous girls were all married off, and these girls were all newcomers.This person named Cuixiu was very clever and served Zili personally.She helped Zili get up, and brought over tea for rinsing mouth and green salt for brushing teeth: "The master said, don't wake up the wife. He said that the wife has worked hard for many years, and every day is going well. She came to Zhuangzi and has nothing to worry about." , and just rested. The breakfast has been prepared outside, waiting for my wife to order. This flower was sent by the master." Zili saw a celadon flower gourd on the table under the window , there are slowly budding roses inside.

Zili suddenly remembered that when she was in Qingchuan County, she also planted some roses in front of the window, and Jia Zheng would often get up in the morning to pick a rose with dewdrops for her.At that time, the two of them really hit it off, there were no such troubles, and the two lived their lives with one mind and one mind.It's a pity that Jia Zheng returned to the capital later, and the distance between them became farther and farther.

Unexpectedly, after decades, they returned to the past.The expression on Zili's face softened, he reached out and took a flower to his nose and smelled it.This Jia Cunzhou finally understood!

"Someone came to the house this morning, saying it was a letter from Master Zhu. Now the master is reading the letter in the study." Cuixiu opened the curtain as she spoke, and Hongxia came in with the little girls carrying food boxes: "The master said This is something that Uncle Zhu sent for his wife to try out."

Zili raised his brows, and his eyes became more gentle: "Zhu'er has a heart, what did you say in the letter?" Before he finished speaking, Jia Zheng came in: "What else can I say? It's just a daily greeting of nonsense. I'm really surprised." Why is Zhu'er getting more and more verbose? The letter is all about the family's short stories." Jia Zheng picked up a chair and sat down, watching Zili dress up, pointing and saying: "This side should be more elegant, then The side is crooked. You have to be more gentle with your hands." The maids who served me wanted to laugh, but they didn't dare to laugh.They didn't expect that the master and wife had a lot of children and grandchildren, and they were as loving as the newlyweds.

Zili sighed and said to Jia Zheng: "Forget it, how old do you think I can become a flower?" I also have two sons, and I don't know if Jin'er can have a daughter this time. If it is a daughter, it should be our first granddaughter."

Jia Zheng sat there depressed, and took a book casually: "You don't have too many sons, but if you don't teach a hundred of them, it's useless. Zhu Er, we have spent so much effort, and now I still have some regrets. Not to mention Baoyu, I thought he was just a dandy. But now he still knows how to read. If Zhu’s daughter-in-law gives birth to a daughter, it will meet your wish, and you can enjoy it with a granddaughter in front of you. The joy of having grandchildren."

"Baoyu and Xiangyun have been married for a year, but the two of them spend all their time reciting poems and painting, and don't know what plans they have." Zili frowned thinking of Baoyu and Xiangyun.

"Ma'am, the master of the Xue family is here." Xue Pan actually came to the capital.These years Xue Pan seems to be hiding from the capital, he took the caravan everywhere, but refused to come to the capital.Why is he here today?

Zili glanced at Jia Zheng: "Go and see, Pan'er has rarely come here these few years. It's probably because of Bao girl's affairs, and he felt embarrassed. In fact, we don't blame him. We are all relatives, so why bother?" It's so stiff."

Jia Zheng met Xue Pan in the study. After several years of experience in the mall, Xue Pan had obviously matured and walked around outside all the year round. Xue Pan was no longer that fat-headed, dull and arrogant look. Xue Pan was quite tall and had a complexion. Tanned by the sun, his eyes were no longer chaotic, but shrewd and peaceful.Seeing Jia Zheng coming in, he hurried forward to beat Qian: "Greetings to Uncle, I haven't seen you in a few years, Uncle is still so energetic." Xue Pan knelt down to kowtow to Jia Zheng.

"Get up, everyone is a family, so there is no need to be polite. I don't dare to take your head off now. This year, you can be regarded as the number one merchant in the household department. You are really promising. My wife is in good health. How is your family? "With time, Jia Zheng's rigidity has been worn away a lot, and he has become gentle and transparent. He no longer lectures his children and nephews with a straight face, but becomes kind and caring.

Xue Pan thought to himself, Brother Zhu is right, but now my uncle has changed a lot.He chuckled: "It's my uncle who supported me. My mother is very good, but she has become more and more lazy in the past few years. She just jokes with some old relatives at home. Everything is fine in my family, Xiangling——my daughter-in-law gave birth to me. I have a girl, I think my aunt and uncle gave a lot of gifts when the girl was born. Now that the little girl is three years old, I brought her and her mother to the capital to pay my respects to my uncle and aunt. On the way I I also saw Big Brother Zhu, Second Cousin and Fourth Cousin, they are all very nice, and they also entrusted me with letters and gifts.”

"You run fast. I just received a letter from your elder brother. He didn't mention going to the capital, but you came here. Since your wife is also here, let her go to see your aunt." Jia Zheng smiled slightly. Somewhat gratifying to think, Pan'er has really grown up.

Xue Pan took a sip of tea, sighed and said to Jia Zheng, "I have one more thing to do. A few days ago, news came out from the womb that my sister was only pregnant. I thought she was in the palace now. My mother can't run around at an old age. I can't wrong her anyway, so I want to go to Hetao to sell horses. But my mother still misses her, so I came to the capital to find out the news. Uncle——have you heard any rumors?"

Jia Zheng was slightly taken aback, Baochai is pregnant?He didn't know at all that although there were rumors in the palace that the first three months of pregnancy would be kept secret from everyone, if Aunt Xue could be asked to accompany her in the palace, she would be five months pregnant, and she kept it secret.This Xue Cairen is really getting more and more serious, but hasn't she fallen out of favor, why is she pregnant?Jia Zheng murmured in his heart, and said haha: "I am now an official without a job, and I quit my job to farm and study in peace. If you need help, just ask."

"Thank you uncle for thinking about it. I just came to see if there is nothing wrong. I will take my family back in a few days." Xue Pan reassured Jia Zheng. He understood anyway that the girl had offended his aunt's family. Well, it's the best of humanity for someone not to trip her up, he doesn't have the face to ask his aunt to help her.Presumably Baochai knew it herself, so she only dared to tell the Xue family about her pregnancy.

In Jia's Mansion in the capital, Daiyu came to see her grandmother.Mother Jia smiled and watched Daiyu help a girl to come in, stopped Daiyu who was saluting her, and said, "Get up, what are you doing here just after confinement? Seeing that your face is fine, how about my daughter? I don’t see you here.” Daiyu finally became pregnant and gave birth to a daughter three months ago.Although they gave birth to a daughter, both Shixiang and Wang Ziteng were very happy. Now Wang Ziteng is still in Hangzhou, but he still set up a three-day feast for his granddaughter in the capital.

"Xuan'er is still young, and the nanny is watching in the mansion. I miss my grandmother and come to say hello, but unfortunately my second aunt is not here. When I was with my grandmother, my second aunt loved me the most. When I was giving birth, the old lady and my second aunt, Sister Feng, Even the sisters gave me things and asked people to see me. Now that I can go out, I should come and thank you." Daiyu has matured a lot as a mother.

"I think you're bored at home, so hurry up and let the air out as soon as the ban is lifted!" Sister Feng complained, causing Daiyu's face to be full of coquettish anger: "You're just making fun of me." Daiyu did Mother, benefited from the recuperation in the confinement, adding to the charm.

Mother Jia smiled and said, "I'm relieved that you are all doing well. A few days ago, Sanya wrote to say that she is not bad there. Shan Yu respects her very much. Thinking of us. Your second sister and fourth sister are also in office with her husband. Isn’t the family just looking for peace and stability. Now that you are a mother, I am also happy.” Jiamu took Daiyu and asked about childbirth, nursing, and children If my nanny is good or not, she will be a little tired.

Sister Feng and Daiyu left together, and Sister Feng took Daiyu to her room.Jia Zhu and his family have long been released from work, and the girls have all married off. Ruoda's Rongguo Mansion has become more and more deserted.Xiangyun was married to Baoyu, and the two of them recited poems and painted paintings all day long, and lived a very elegant life, and Sister Feng couldn't intervene if she wanted to, so her life was extremely lonely.

Daiyu finally came today, and Sister Feng found someone to talk to, so she warmly invited Daiyu to her room.When the two came over, Ping'er had already received a letter to welcome them out.

After sitting down to offer tea, Sister Feng said mysteriously: "You can hear that the eldest brother of the Xue family has brought Xiangling into the city. I heard that Xue Cairen is pregnant. Why is she—" Baochai has not fallen out of favor, Still pregnant?At this time, Sister Feng's gossip was raging, and Shixiang was by the emperor's side, so she must know some gossip.

"Xiangling is here. I haven't seen her for many years and I still miss her. Sister Bao—no, Xue Cairen is a smart person. It's a good thing that she is pregnant." Daiyu pursed her lips and smiled, and told Sister Feng about the story that Shixiang brought. information.