Prequel to the Red Chamber: I Am the Second Wife

Listening to Xiao Zhongliang's words, Taisun was like a person suffering from thirst in the desert seeing a clear spring. He didn't care about his dignity, and grabbed Xiao Zhongliang and asked: "What's going on? Tell me!"

Xiao Zhongliang was frightened by the grandson's enthusiastic eyes. His highness the grandson, who grew up in the deep palace since he was a child, has been taught not to show emotions, even when he is happy, he will not show excessive joy.Xiao Zhongliang blinked his eyes, and said with difficulty: "Your Highness, this servant just heard the rumors outside, and Mu Bi went to inquire carefully. Old General Wang Changchun repelled the invading enemy. Your Majesty is also very happy to hear the news. Yes. Although the enemy cannot be completely wiped out, it is exciting news to be able to win the first battle. Grandson, please sit down first." Xiao Zhongliang felt that his arm was about to be broken, and he struggled Move your body and tell Taisun to calm down slowly.

The grandson didn't realize his extreme behavior at all, he just said in a long bookish tone, showing a look of rejoicing: "Okay, Grandpa Huang and father are good people, I remember when my father was alive, he said Wang Changchun was a person who could be relied on, now It seems to be the case. Hurry up to the Wang family to announce the good news, their old lady is still in the capital."

The grandson subconsciously regards the Wang family as his confidant and arm, as long as it is any happy event of the Wang family, it is his own happy event.The grandson's concern for the Wang family made Xiao Zhongliang laugh inwardly. The girl of the family has not yet married into the family, and he has become a son-in-law first.He didn't pierce Sun's thoughts, and echoed with a smile: "Yes, the servants will go there in person immediately. In fact, there is a happy event at the private father-in-law's house, and the son-in-law should also come to congratulate him in person. It's just that the royal family doesn't have this rule. But His Highness being able to think about them is also a blessing they have cultivated in several lifetimes. The entire Wang family will definitely be grateful to His Highness."

The grandson was embarrassed by Xiao Zhongliang's words, and he smiled awkwardly and looked angry: "Begging to be beaten, you slave is becoming more and more unruly."

Xiao Zhongliang didn't tease the grandson any more, he suppressed his laughter and was ordered to leave.Just as Xiao Zhongliang left in front, the grandson was called away by the queen after a while.The grandson took a few personal eunuchs to the queen's bedroom without thinking too much when he heard the queen's call.Along the way, Taisun was in a relaxed mood. He found every plant and tree in the palace pleasing to the eye, and everyone was pleasing to the eye.Eastern Liaodong was the biggest threat to the imperial court. The first emperor and his grandfather created a foundation, and finally drove the Tatars to the Yin Mountains, and the threat of the nomads on the grassland to the Central Plains was lifted.But while the imperial court was busy fighting the Tatars, several barbarians in Liaodong quietly grew their strength, and when the Tatars were driven out, they had already begun to openly fight against the imperial court.Although the world has been stable for decades, the wars in the past have been devastated everywhere, and the people's strength has reached the limit of what they can bear.It would be impossible for the imperial court to immediately use large-scale troops against Liaodong at this time.The military officers in front of Wang Changchun were not mediocre, but it was difficult for a clever woman to survive without rice, and they didn't have much military strength or money to fight.Therefore, the defenders in Liaodong mostly adopt a defensive posture, and they can only resist each time the enemy attacks.Those people have lived in the mountains for a long time, and they are skilled in bows and horses. How can those weak soldiers resist the tyrannical and barbaric attack.Most of the defenders abandoned the city and fled, leaving poor people to be robbed and killed.

Not long after Wang Changchun was in Liaodong, he was able to repel the incoming enemies at once. Although it was only a small victory, it greatly encouraged the determination of Liaodong and even the entire imperial court to fight against the enemy. A few have the ability.Taisun couldn't help thinking in his heart that there were quite a few people around King Wei who were clinging to him and making noises, but in the end they were all flatterers.Although my side is not as powerful as them, they are all loyal ministers and good generals.Grandpa Huang should also understand that King Wei is not as good as they boasted.

Then Grandpa Huang would question King Wei's character, and after a long time, King Wei's fox tail would be exposed.At that time, he would be able to easily overthrow King Wei and take back everything that belongs to him without much effort.Taisun was encouraged by the bright prospect of Wang Changchun's victory, his steps became brisk, and his brows no longer had the look of sadness before, but relaxed instead.

"Greetings to grandma." The grandson greeted her with a brisk voice, but the queen who sat upright on it did not say anything. The grandson was bent over and did not dare to raise his head, and gradually realized that something was wrong with the atmosphere.Wasn't Wang Changchun victorious?Grandma should be happy too, why is she still sullen and seems to be angry?Could it be that grandma also knew about the Zhen family's affairs, or did Concubine Dong Gui and King Wei have trouble again?Taisun wondered in his heart why grandma had such a sullen face.But the answer was soon revealed. Although the queen's voice was not loud, it was with unquestionable authority: "You flatten yourself, come and sit down." His Royal Highness was able to stand up straight at last, and he was secretly surprised, how could he be so angry? .His Highness Taisun glanced at a person beside him and was startled: "Xiao Zhongliang, why are you here? I didn't ask you to go—"

"You still have the nerve to ask him, Xiao Zhongliang not only tried his best to persuade his master, but Ben Gong didn't settle accounts with him? You are a child, and it is inevitable that you will be careless when encountering some things, but Xiao Zhongliang. He has been in the palace for many years. Choose thousands of options for your big companion. I thought he was old-fashioned, and you can remind you if you have something out of line, but now it’s better, and I’m going to mess around with you. Xiao Zhongliang go out and get twenty boards by himself I have something to ask you!" The queen glanced at Taisun's master and servant, and the aura emanating from her made Taisun only bow his head and dare not have the slightest objection.

Xiao Zhongliang knelt down and kowtowed in front of the empress and grandson, and went out obediently to receive the board.The hall was very quiet, except for the green smoke curling up from the incense burner, and the muffled sound of the planks hitting the flesh in the courtyard, the sound of the planks hitting the grandson's body. "Xiao Zhongliang has served you since childhood. You must be wondering why I am angry. He was sent by you to reward the Wang family. How could he be in front of me. I will make it clear to you today that you are my relative." Grandson, I can’t harm you. I used to be happy and leisurely when your father was around, but it’s not the past. How many people are staring at you in the dark. Every day I wish that something happened to you in my heart. How can I let the little people get what they want? Although you are from Kunning Palace, your eyes, ears, and mind are all by your side. I know your every move, and I can't let the villain harm the only remaining flesh and blood of my son."

It turned out that my grandmother had been secretly watching my every move. The grandson raised his head in surprise and looked at the white hair on his grandmother's sideburns, feeling sad: "Grandmother, it's the grandson. It's not good for grandma to worry about it. I will never dare not report back Grandma just acted casually. I also asked Xiao Zhongliang to go out. It's not the Wang family—"

"I will always grow old one day. Grandma staring at you is not angry. You call someone out without authorization. Dalang will grow up one day. Grandma can't be with you forever. I am teaching you how to behave in the world. You heard Wang Changchun I am glad to hear the news of the victory. Grandma knows, why doesn't grandma feel relieved? It's just that your grandpa hasn't said anything yet. You first asked the most important people around you to go to the Wang family. How many pairs of eyes are staring at you. How many eyes are there on King Wei's side? Your ears are watching your every move and you are about to lay maggots in front of your grandpa, but you are ready to rush to your door. Wang Changchun contacted the officials to support the orthodoxy, your grandpa stayed in the middle school, why is it? ?They only said that the etiquette is like this, and they dare not directly say that they support you to inherit the throne, because they are afraid that the emperor will feel uncomfortable. You should give your pigtails to others by yourself. Didn’t you just send someone there? Immediately confirm that you are contacting the ministers and want to fight against the emperor? My palace asked someone to stop Xiao Zhongliang, and this time I taught him to make him understand. He is beside the grandson to persuade the master to behave inappropriately If you tell him to please you, he will let you mess around!" What the queen said made the grandson's face gradually become ashamed.

What the grandmother taught was that the grandson was too impetuous.It's just that in recent days, there is finally good news, so I can't help but get carried away.I think the Wang family is very close to us, Wang Changchun is old enough to be able to go to Liaodong to take up that difficult job regardless of his own honor, disgrace and safety, which is already a lesson from his loyalty.Now he should be rewarded for winning battles.Why didn't my grandmother tell me to do this?I just want to set an example of the kindness of a close minister to know you and show it to the world.The grandson is still puzzled by his grandmother's indifference and inhumanity.

"You still don't understand what I mean. Dalang said just now that the monarch and ministers are kind to each other. Let me ask you who is your ruler now, and whose minister is Wang Changchun? You are jealous of your grandfather's thoughts, and you are most afraid of others when he forms a party for personal gain and plots against others. Now that you are in such a state of power, why do you want to flaunt the kindness of the monarch and his ministers? How does your grandfather think of you and Wang Changchun? You want to give up what is left of you. Do you want to destroy the few cards? You still don’t know why I’m angry, I’m afraid that the King of Wei has already been telling stories in front of your grandpa.” The queen explained the crux of the problem, the emperor, the imperial power is most afraid of being scattered, The prince is in Japan. As the prince grows older, the prince helps the emperor handle government affairs, and the prince's prestige in the court gradually increases. The emperor has begun to be wary of the eldest son.The emperor dotes on the king of Wei, and often picks his nose and eyes at the prince, because the emperor doesn't like the power of the East Palace.Now that the crown prince is gone, the king of Wei covets the position of the crown prince, and the grandson is still blatantly fighting against the king of Wei to win over the ministers.In that case, wouldn't there be three factions of the emperor, the king of Wei and the grandson of Wei in the court.If the emperor felt that his status was threatened, he would not hesitate to get rid of all the forces that threatened him.

Beads of sweat came out from the grandson's head. He wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead, stood up and bowed deeply to the queen: "The grandson has remembered the teachings of the grandmother. It is the grandson who is too reckless."

"You are a good boy if you know your mistakes and can correct them. I know you like Zili from the Wang family, but it's a pity that things are taking a long time for you. Why do you have to wait for your filial piety to expire before you can issue a decree. She can learn a lot in Liaodong. In the future, I will have her." I can feel at ease by tailoring the harem. But you should also add a few servants to your side." The queen looked at the grandson with a smile on her eyes, she clapped her hands, and the four maids filed in and stood between the grandson and the queen. before.

Listening to Yingsheng Yanyu's greetings, Taisun stared at the four girls in a daze for a while.These four girls are all dressed in the same way, like four identical flowers growing on a flower branch.The grandson's face turned red all of a sudden, of course he knew that these servants were not ordinary servants serving tea and pouring water, but—but he was still in the period of filial piety, how could his grandmother give him a beautiful girl? "Grandmother, I can't have—" Taisun blushed and looked at her sadly.Unexpectedly, the queen pretended to be confused: "These four girls were given to me by Concubine Dong Gui today, because the crown prince is gone, and His Majesty has an order that no one with a title is allowed to have banquet music for a year. Her natal father is I like raising small opera actors. In the end, I couldn’t keep them anymore. These are the best in their troupe. She kindly gave them to me to relieve my boredom. It's a waste of such a smart girl to do things. Your mother is suffering, so take her back to relieve your mother's boredom."

The queen said nothing else.It's just that the words Dong Guifei are extremely harsh, and the grandson's eyes when he looked at the four girls suddenly changed. It turned out to be four beautiful snakes, so he said that Wei Wang and Dong Guifei had no good intentions.They had no good intentions in sending four coquettish girls in.Taisun wished to beat up the four girls in front of him and drive them out immediately, but he couldn't show any real meaning.The grandson's hands were tightly clenched in his sleeves, but there was a smile on his face, and he deliberately looked up and down the four girls: "It's really different from others, I'm just wondering, since it's the slave girl here, why did you use it before? I haven't seen it. What's your name, how old are you this year, and what are you singing? Are you willing to enter the palace to serve?"

When the four maids saw a young man sitting next to the queen, who was dressed in plain clothes but looked more and more handsome and handsome, they knew it was His Highness the Grandson.Seeing Taisun Wenhua's kind tone, he didn't feel frivolous at all.The first one squatted down and gave a blessing: "My maidservant is 16 years old this year, and her name is Tumi, and she sings Xiaodan." The second one went on to say, "My maidservant is 15 years old, and her name is Xiyan, who sings Zhengdan." The third one is a handsome With a melon-seeded face and a pair of eyes slightly raised, she took a step forward and turned her eyes: "The maidservant's name is Zhuyu, and she sings Xiaosheng." The grandson smiled slightly, and said to the queen with a little surprise: "I really didn't see it. Grandson still I thought she also sang Zhengdan."

The queen said with a smile: "You still don't know much. I see that there is a natural charm between her eyebrows and eyes. If she dresses up, she will be able to play those young romantic men or something." and the Peony Pavilion." The queen smiled and said, "What do you think, I'm not wrong." The grandson brought tea to the grandmother himself: "Grandmother has good eyesight, and my grandson is educated."

The last girl was much more stable than the previous ones, and it wasn't until the grandson asked her that she knew that she was called Lue because of the old man.Taisun looked at Xiao Zhongliang who limped in after being beaten and said, "Take the four of them back home and tell mother that it's my filial piety, and put them by your side to relieve boredom." Listening to Taisun's instructions All the girls were taken aback, the grandson seemed very interested in their clothes just now, why did he send himself to the concubine's side in the blink of an eye?But disappointment was disappointment, and they didn't dare to show any disappointment, so they could only follow Xiao Zhongliang.

Waiting for the hall to be quiet again, the grandson's face suddenly changed, and his face became distorted and ferocious: "It must be the ghost of King Wei and Concubine Dong Gui. It seems that he has the intention of killing everything. Grandma , I’m swallowing my anger and giving way to them step by step. But they’re still not satisfied—”

As she spoke, Taisun's eyes turned red, and his voice became choked with sobs.The queen hugged her grandson distressedly: "Don't be sad, Dalang, who would dare to bully you when grandma is around. You did a good job just now, and you know how to hide your thoughts from the enemy. You must remember in the future, even if you are with grandma, don't Easily reveal your dissatisfaction and complaints towards the King of Wei and Concubine Dong Gui, and be more humble when you see them. Especially in front of His Majesty, do you want to be a junior who knows all the etiquette to the elders? And the people around you, don't take it lightly I believe that no one and the ministers should be too close to each other in private. You must know that there are not only the eyeliners on the west side, but also your grandpa's people in this palace."

The emperor has the most eyeliner news channels in the palace, and nothing big or small can be hidden from the emperor's eyes and ears.The grandson suddenly remembered Dong Guifei's increasingly domineering behavior these days and his cautious forbearance, and even Dong Guifei's uneasy and kind "gift" was actually in the eyes of the emperor's grandfather's persuasion.Thinking of this, Taisun's heart suddenly tightened, and he kept feeling cold: it's so dangerous, it's fortunate that I have been listening to my grandmother's words, keeping a low profile and not complaining about Grandpa's preference for King Wei.If I really showed a little bit of dissatisfaction, or if there was something that the emperor misunderstood, then it would be a problem whether I could still talk to my grandmother here today.Taisun tried his best to control his voice so that his voice did not sound trembling: "Grandson understands, we must be more cautious in the future so as not to disappoint Grandpa Huang."

"Dalang, you can only keep peace for a while if you are cautious and retreat to the king of Wei step by step. If you want to really become a qualified prince, there are more things to do." The queen waved to her grandson, and the grandson and grandson Let's talk privately.

Although the news of Wang Changchun's victory had come to the Wang family in the capital, the whole family was still not happy because Ziqian was ill again.The second wife of the Wang family came out of Ziqian's yard with a sad face, and saw that the girl next to the old lady was already standing outside waiting for her: "The old lady asked the second wife to come over." The second wife said to her son: "Send the doctor out, and I'll see the old lady." Wang Ziji was a few years younger than Wang Ziteng, and he was left to look after the house.Wang Ziji said to his mother: "Don't worry, mother, I will take the doctor out personally." Then the mother and son walked away.

When we arrived at the upper room, a girl had already informed me to come in. The old lady lay on the couch and said to her daughter-in-law, "What did the doctor say?"

The doctor said that it was stagnation of liver qi, and it would only get better after recuperating slowly.Does the old lady know the news that the old man won the battle?The second wife didn't want to make the old lady get angry, so she changed the subject.Unexpectedly, the old lady suddenly opened her eyes and stared at the second daughter-in-law: "Is Ziqian girl bad? Tell the truth, her parents are all outside. How can we explain to them if something happens to them? The Wang family doesn't know either." How did such an evil happen? It’s just breaking my heart!" The old lady sighed, her eyes were full of sadness and worry.

"Old lady, don't worry. I just feel sorry for Ziqian when I see her skinny. This time, I invited her to the most famous place in the Taiyuan Hospital. She will definitely be cured. The doctor also said that it's okay, and she must be taken care of carefully." It will be fine. The doctor prescribed a new prescription and added a lot of body nourishing herbs." The second wife helped the old lady to sit up, and carefully held the cushion for the old lady to lean on.

Seeing the hairpin on the second daughter-in-law's head, the old lady sighed: "It's just her own good fortune. I always feel that this child seems to have something on her mind. What do you think?"

"Well, I'm her aunt after all. I don't know what the eldest girl thinks. If you talk about your thoughts, the girl will always be thoughtful when she grows up. The second master of the Jia family has a good personality and likes to read books. It is also a good marriage. I think it may be that the eldest girl has always been proud and arrogant, and she is thinking of fighting for face when she sees that her younger sister is favored by the queen mother and queen." After all, it is the seat of the grandson Liangdi, the future queen.Watching helplessly as the little sister who has always been by her side as Xiaoben ascended to the top of the sky, being an older sister is always uncomfortable, and Ziqian is not a particularly open-minded girl.It's normal for her to be angry and depressed.

"It's not like, it's not like, I always feel that it's not like. Ziqian is not jealous of her sister because of entering the palace. I think she has other secrets. Who else is serving Ziqian? The girl and mother-in-law she used to serve are here. The capital or the south?" The old lady narrowed her eyes slightly, and slowly fell into deep thought.

"The girl who followed Ziqian was married out in Hangzhou when she was old enough, but her nanny came to the capital with her son. She also asked her to go out and lived behind our house. The old lady wanted to ask her to come in another day That's it. Is there any other business for mother? I heard that our master won the battle, and relatives and friends in the capital sent people to congratulate. Does the old lady want to see them?" The second wife talked about the trivial matters of the past few days.

"It's nothing. Since the relatives are kind, you and Ziji want to treat you well and don't neglect them. In fact, they came to find out the wind because the emperor didn't seem to blame our family. By the way, Jia's side Is someone coming? Has our family's fresh fruit boat returned from the south?" The old lady figured out that the Jia family must have a letter, but she hasn't heard any news of the Jia family's arrival or letter these days, so she couldn't help asking.

"Yes, the Jia family sent things here on our boat, but they didn't write a letter, but they just asked someone to tell the old lady who their old lady was thinking about. Ask everyone how is the family, and their family also sent a lot of seasonal fruits The satin cloth and local products from the south are common things, and I have asked someone to entertain the sender from their family. They will go back tomorrow." The second wife asked someone to bring the gift list of Jia's gift.

"If there is anything interesting, entertain them according to the usual rules." Before the old lady could finish her sentence, she suddenly heard a report from outside: "Mrs. Chang, Minister of the Ministry of War, is here to pay respects." I have worked with your father before, don't be negligent."

When Mrs. Chang saw the old lady, it was natural for the guest and the host to greet each other. Waiting for everyone to sit down, Mrs. Chang said with a smile: "I am very happy to hear that the old lady is coming to the capital, and I want to come to see her right away. I was ill for a while. Now I can finally struggle to go out, so I come to the old lady to say hello. I haven’t seen the old lady for a few years, and she is getting tougher."

The old lady smiled and said: "I dare not work. Everyone was very affectionate when we were in Hangzhou before. Master Chang felt quite deserted when he was transferred back to the capital. But I am also happy that Master Chang has a smooth official career. What's wrong with Madam's health? Find a good doctor to see." Chang Shangshu used to be Wang Changchun's deputy, and the two families have always been close. Mrs. Chang's niece from her natal family married Qin Wang as the princess, so the relationship between the Wang family and the Chang family became closer.

Mrs. Chang exchanged pleasantries with the old lady for a while, then she suddenly lowered her voice and whispered to the old lady: "Congratulations, old lady, I got good news yesterday that the daughter of the Zhen family has lost the election, listen to what the queen and the queen mother mean. The second young lady of your family has been selected. Isn’t this a gratifying and congratulatory event. The crown prince’s filial piety period has not yet passed, as long as the grandson’s filial piety period expires, the decree canonize it.”