Prequel to the Red Chamber: I Am the Second Wife

After some rectification, the whole Wang family immediately became quiet, and Zili took the opportunity to drive out some slaves who had expired, according to Mrs. Tang's wishes. Those serious, honest and loyal slaves were promoted and reused.Everyone in the family saw that a little girl in Zili could get rid of her ills without any effort, and they didn't dare to despise her anymore. Instead, they all said that she was fair and clear, not blindly being a good person, nor being harsh on others.Zili's reputation for being smart and capable quickly spread, and relatives and friends secretly praised the second daughter of the Wang family as a good person. Otherwise, why would the queen mother and queen choose her by their side instead of their eldest lady.

Father and son Wang Changchun and Wang Dingqian were going to take office in Liaodong first, Mrs. Tang was busy preparing her luggage and entertaining relatives and friends who came to see them off, so she was naturally extraordinarily busy.Although Zili was reluctant to leave his grandfather and father, he had no choice but to help Mrs. Tang arrange housework every day.With Zili as her helper, Mrs. Tang felt a little more relaxed.On this day, Tian Zili was in Mrs. Tang's room listening to his family's reply.Seeing Wang Ziteng come in happily: "Mother is here, so my sister is also here. There is good news. Grandpa said that he will take me to Liaodong!"

Contrary to Wang Ziteng's joy, Mrs. Tang suddenly became nervous: "You must be pestering your grandfather to mess around. If you are gone, who will send your grandmother back to the capital?" Originally, it was agreed that Wang Ziteng would send the female family members there first. In the capital, send Mrs. Tang and several daughters to Liaodong.Unexpectedly, in a blink of an eye, Wang Ziteng wanted to leave with the old man first. Although Mrs. Tang understood her husband and father-in-law's plan, she was still reluctant to give up when it was her son's turn.

Wang Ziteng had the urge to make contributions, but he still cared about his mother's feelings, and when he saw that his mother wanted to go back on his word, he immediately became anxious.Seeing that her brother was still arguing, Zili tried to persuade him, "Is this true?" She winked at the prince while talking, and Mrs. Tang's heart became more and more anxious as time went by these days.Zili worried that if the matter of Wang Ziteng would be the last straw to overwhelm Mrs. Tang.Wang Ziteng immediately understood his sister's hint: "Mom, I didn't make a fuss about going. It was the old man's order. I'll go and ask if I should go immediately or take another look."

Speaking of Wang Ziteng going out, "Forget it, since it's the old man, just do as you say. I've prepared your things a long time ago. The old man can still treat his grandson badly." Mrs. Tang asked the girl to Take out the things prepared for Wang Ziteng a long time ago, and see what is missing to buy.Wang Ziteng was also made a little uncomfortable by his mother's reluctance and restraint. "Talk to your mother well, I'm a boy, so I can't just hang around at home all day. If you really enter the palace in the future, our family can't hold you back. With military achievements, I won't be afraid of others Said that I went up by relying on my sister. You can hold your head up and talk in front of your grandson. I’m really scared of my mother’s appearance." Wang Ziteng quietly pulled Zili’s sleeve, and raised his chin towards Mrs. Tang .

Zili sighed helplessly: "Yeah, it's hard for me to see my mother enduring her sadness and pretending to be okay. Forget it, don't make mother sad here, you go back first, brother has many friends, you also It's time to say goodbye to them. Just don't make too much noise, the old man means don't make it public. After all, the battlefield is changing rapidly, and our family's future is on it this time. There is no whereabouts yet at this time. If it is too big, it will cause people to say something else.”

Wang Ziteng nodded, and bowed his hands to Zili Gong: "My sister is right, I'm going to see Ziqian and Zimeng. Come to my place tomorrow. I need you to help me put away something. "Speaking, Wang Ziteng watched Mrs. Tang busy preparing things and slipped out quietly.Looking at Zili's back, she frowned slightly, feeling uneasy about the future.

The next afternoon Zili took Mingqian to Wang Ziteng's yard.The boys of the Wang family have been raised extensively since they were young, and the people who serve them have never been able to keep up with the daughters.But since Wang Ziteng got married, his courtyard is no longer in the small courtyard next to the second gate, but in the side courtyard blocking the main house.Seeing that the courtyard gate was open, Zili took Mingqin in. The courtyard was very quiet, only a little girl saw Zili coming and hurriedly announced: "Second Miss is here." Come out: "Your sister-in-law has gone back to her mother's house, come in quickly." Zili asked in surprise, "Why did you go back suddenly?"

"She is going to Liaodong with me, and her mother's family will be far away. I think she is always bored these days, so I whispered to my mother at noon today. My mother told her to go home for a few days. She always I don’t know when I can see my natal family again. I didn’t say anything, and quietly sent her away.” Wang Ziteng took the teacup handed by the girl and taught: “I don’t have any good things here, that is, tea at home. gone."

"What's this called? Am I such a picky person? Do you have anything you want me to help clean up? Don't dare to show your sister-in-law anything. I don't care about your bad things!" Wang Ziteng Although they are married and have a good relationship with Zhang, but in this environment, a man who only guards one woman will be laughed at and has no future.And usually when Wang Ziteng is socializing with a group of colleagues or the second generation of officials, romantic scenes are inevitable.Zili thought it wasn't because he was hiding in the golden house outside, but he had to help him plead in front of the adults.

"Who do you take me for? Your sister-in-law is very nice, and I'm also out for entertainment, absolutely nothing like that. I have something for you." Said Wang Ziteng took out a small The box, Zili saw that the box was covered with light yellow satin, and he probably understood something in his heart.She just raised her eyebrows and said nothing. Looking at her sister's expression, Wang Ziteng grinned viciously: "I went to see His Majesty with my father the day before yesterday, and someone slipped this to me quietly. I saw that it was specially given to you." My sister’s, I thought I’d bring it for you. Don’t worry, neither father nor grandfather will know, so you can keep it quietly. If you send it back there, you may feel uncomfortable.” Wang Ziteng said The box is pushed up to the child.

Zili couldn't bear what her brother said, so she gave Wang Ziteng a hard look: "Are you kidding me? What does it have to do with me if you get a reward? Talk about me with crazy words, let me tell the adults." !" Saying that he was going to leave, Wang Ziteng hurriedly dragged Zili to make amends: "Sister, don't be angry, what kind of friendship do we have, you are willing to watch me be scolded? Sister, you are a lot of adults, so please forgive me. Our brothers and sisters can still talk like this for a few days, and you have grown up, and now that you have a good home, I am afraid that I will kneel down when I see you in the future." Thinking that if the younger sister enters the palace in the future, their brother and sister will never be together again. You can't joke around like this, Wang Ziteng's face lost the expression of laughter and became gloomy.

After being told by his brother, Zili also lost the spirit of joking, "In my heart, my brother will always be my brother." Zili reached out and took Wang Ziteng's hand. "Open it and have a look, and tell me to see what kind of rare thing it is." Prince Teng touched his face and calmed down.

The box was opened, and on the yellow satin was a pony carved out of black jade, implying Zili's name.Wang Ziteng stretched out his head to take a look, and said a little disappointed: "Tsk tsk, any thing in the palace is better than this. But the grandson is too stingy." Wang Ziteng couldn't believe that the grandson only gave it to Zili. A poorly carved jade horse, very disappointed.

Zili took a look at the pony, and said unhurriedly, "Don't tell me if the carving is not good, it looks like my grandson made it himself."

Taking a sip of tea, Wang Ziteng stared at his sister in disbelief, and his tone of voice changed: "What did you say? Your grandson made it yourself!" Zili looked at Wang Ziteng with the eyes of an idiot, Give him the look you want. "I think about it, the craftsmen who carve jade in the palace are the best. Even if the grandson wants to drive out a jade ornament overnight, it can't be so rough. When Xiao Zhongliang gave it to me, he had an ambiguous expression, saying that although this thing is worthless , but the heart is in it. I thought it was because of his modesty that the things in the palace could still be bad. Any plaything you brought back is extremely exquisite. I thought this thing should be exquisite It can't be more delicate. Who knew it was a rough jade horse, so I became confused. Now that I think about it, my sister was right, I didn't know that my grandson still had this hobby." Wang Ziteng said holding the jade horse , looking carefully at Zili with his eyes.

He chanted Zili's name, and suddenly grinned: "Congratulations sister, being the grandson Liangdi is not a great joy, but being able to make that person put you in his heart is a real joy, and I will feel much more at ease in the future. " Wang Ziteng put the jade horse back into the box with great care, and put it in Zili's hand: "My errand is over, so please keep it."

Wang Ziteng put a big stone in his heart. Although he was happy when he heard the good news about his second sister, he had other ideas.Although having a grandson Liangdi in the family is the brilliance of the ancestors for several generations, but thinking about the younger sister going to the deep palace and sounding decent, who knows what life will be like.Even if someone bullies her, her family can't help her out.Wang Ziteng and Zili have the best relationship.Of course he is very clear about what is going on with a man. It is normal to like the new and dislike the old. No matter how good the grandson is, the life of the younger sister is also aggrieved!Now that the grandson's heart is all on the girl, Wang Ziteng feels at ease.There is a favored grandson Liangdi, Wang's family not only has face but also inside and outside.

The opposite of Wang Ziteng's joy was Zili, she sighed helplessly, put the box on the table, her eyes were not happy at all. "Hey, it's the best if you can't get it. The girl from the Zhen family is flattering by her side, and he can still think that I am also tired of eating delicacies and want to change to a side dish to clear my stomach." Zi Lisan He said sourly, thinking that the grandson would definitely be with Zhen Ningshan, and felt uncomfortable for a while.

"Sister, don't think about it, brother knows a man's mind very well. The grandson has you in his heart. As for anyone else, um—" Wang Ziteng looked around first, and seeing no one else, he lowered his voice to his son. Li said: "Men are not greedy enough. Tian Sheweng wants to take concubines after taking three or five dollars too much. The grandson just cares about you no matter how many women are around him. Think about people like ours, I will Grandfather and father don't talk about it, and my mother still wants to compete with a few girls in my room. I don't want it now, and I still have to accept it after a few years. Not to mention the grandson, he will own the whole world in the future .There are as many women as you want. As long as you hold his heart in your heart, you are done. A man is very clear about the difference between wives and concubines."

"Brother is right, I remember." Zili twitched the corners of his mouth and gave a wry smile: "My job is the hardest in our family. Even if you are the chief minister of the cabinet, if you want to resign and go home, please ask His Majesty That's it. I'm afraid I'll keep doing it for the rest of my life." Life is a constant battle, but she can't let go of her position even if she dies.

"My sister is a transparent person. It hurts when I see you so knowledgeable. We grew up together as a brother and sister. You always like to play with boys. When we were naughty together when we were young, you often helped me when I got into trouble. I cover it up. Thinking about those days seems like yesterday. You, Ziqian, are my sisters, and now you are so noisy that you don’t talk when you meet each other, or you are holding a gun with a stick, which is really worrying." Wang Ziteng was very worried. Acting like an older brother, the conflicts between Ziqian and Zili have been on the surface during this time.Zili always avoids Ziqian, but to make peace with his elders, he still has to meet. Ziqian is usually lukewarm towards Zili, and opens his mouth with sarcasm.Zili is not easy to bully either, she retorts only when Ziqian says she is too angry.Wang Ziteng is an old hen character who protects his younger sister like a chick. He wants to quietly persuade Zili to reconcile. "Everyone knows why she is awkward. You adults don't care about villains, so don't be as knowledgeable as her." Wang Ziteng softened his tone and persuaded Zili to let Ziqian go down the steps first.

"Hmph, brother is really confused. You persuade me to reconcile with eldest sister because you are worried that our sisters will not get along, and the elders will feel uncomfortable when they see it. Besides, it will spread that others will hear that our family has a bad reputation. Brother is wholeheartedly devoted to the reputation of the royal family. The intention is good. I can't be ignorant of the general situation. I don't care about the family's reputation just for myself. It's just that my brother doesn't care about the seriousness. My brother knows why our sisters are angry. Did I cause the matter? Or did I rob What ruined her future? Crying children have sweets to eat. I, who is sensible, should endure it and let the ignorant? She herself is messing around regardless of her family's reputation and her own decency. Why do you want me to tolerate everything? Concession first? I can understand my brother's painstaking efforts, and I will just bear it for the sake of everyone's face. But according to my brother's behavior, how will I manage the house and govern the affairs in the future, and coerce the subordinates? If you don't agree, you will cry. .Or people who develop adultery and cheating, those who like to curry favor with flattery can gain face, those who are honest and dedicated to their duties cannot be rewarded, and unclear rewards and punishments are taboos in dealing with people." Zili's righteous words made Wang Ziteng speechless.

"My sister is right, I'm really confused. There is a way to bully the weak and fear the hard, and people are afraid of difficulties, as expected. I know it's not my sister's fault, but I'm afraid that she will make a noise and make my sister feel wronged. Damn it!" Prince Teng hurriedly I bowed to Zili, "Listening to your words is better than ten years of reading. I have written down my sister's lessons. Don't be wronged. I will go and talk to my eldest sister. She is not young anymore, and Jia's family is also a good family." , why do you need to be greedy?"

"It's better if she can listen." Zili remained skeptical about whether Wang Ziteng could persuade Ziqian.If she could figure it out, she would have to avoid Ziqian now.

"I got some good stuff today, so I'm looking for you—" Jia Zheng suddenly opened the curtain and bumped in rashly.Seeing Jia Zheng rushing in with a bundle in his arms, Zili blushed when he saw himself too, and became awkward. "Well, I'm being rude." Jia Zheng blushed and ran away like a cat whose tail was stepped on.

"It's impossible for everyone to die! No one can tell anyone who comes!" Wang Ziteng jumped up immediately and shouted loudly!The servants were busy and came out one by one to explain to Wang Ziteng with bitter faces: "The second master of Jia's family runs like a rabbit. He just asked at the door if grandma was at home, and then came in."

Zili couldn't help laughing when she heard the servant's complaints. In her impression, Jia Zheng, who was rigid, would even be reckless, and was described by the servant as being like a rabbit.She regretted that she didn't see Jia Zheng running in like a rabbit. If there was a camera to leave evidence, it would be interesting to wait for Jia Zheng many years later.Seeing Zili trembling with his mouth covering his mouth and laughing, Wang Ziteng glanced at his sister, and then remembered all the funny things about Jia Zheng's visit to Hangzhou and couldn't help laughing: "This second master of the Jia family is really an interesting person. Don't look at it." The old man pretends to be a good person, with a belly full of gaudy intestines, and a foolish one, and what he does and says can make people laugh."

"The second master of Jia's family lost something!" A girl came in with a purse, which must have been accidentally dropped by Jia Zheng just in order to escape.

Zili took the thing over, opened it curiously, and a villain fell out of it.Zili looked at the villain and couldn't help but burst out laughing.Jia Zheng's hidden attributes turned out to be a joke!