Prequel to the Red Chamber: I Am the Second Wife

"Your Highness is really good at joking, but it's just ordinary clothes." As he spoke, Zili walked aside calmly, pretending not to know what his grandson was looking at.Taisun slammed his lips with some regret in his heart, always a little disappointed by the unexpected coquettishness and shyness.But Zili was always different from other women, which gave him a sense of freshness.

The two of them walked into the imperial garden unknowingly. The gardener in the imperial garden is not ordinary, the flowers inside are always fresh, and there is no lack of any strange flowers and pistils.Zili looked at a clump of bright red beads on a clump of emerald green leaves, and said in surprise, "Ginseng has grown in the garden. This is considered auspicious."

"Haha, you are so easy to coax. I think the gardener's intention at the beginning was to seek auspiciousness and to get rewards. Think about it, every inch of the imperial garden is filled with internal prisons cleaned by the gardener and I don't know for a day How many times have you tidied it up. Can ginseng still grow? It was all planted by gardeners. This ginseng was planted by your grandfather in a pot with soil and moss. It was originally fresh ginseng for the imperial pharmacy, but It was planted in this place. How is the scenery outside the pass? You must have suffered a lot there.” Zili’s face still had the color of sunshine outside the pass, but fortunately, it was not ugly, but it set off her bright eyes , the whole person is full of vitality and refreshing.Yesterday the grandson accompanied the emperor to visit Wang Changchun and Wang Dingqian, talking about the war outside the customs, and listening to Wang Changchun say that where it is cold and desolate, life is definitely not as good as the pampered life in the capital.Zili can go wherever with her family, but she refuses to open her mouth to complain, she is really a sensible girl.

Taisun wanted to hear Zili's description of the scenery outside the pass. What she saw outside the pass must be different from the battlefield where Wang Changchun said there were hidden murderous intentions.People who grew up in the deep palace have a special curiosity about the scenery outside.The grandson was just studying in the East Palace all day long, and there were very few opportunities to go out. Except for going on a tour with the emperor a few times, it was just a fleeting look. Surrounded by a group of people, he couldn't see what he was thinking.

Zili vividly talked about his free life outside the customs, from the local customs to the special customs of the cold winter, as well as various local legends.Zili vividly talked about her hunting with her father and brother: "There are a lot of hares and roe deer, and a person like me who just learned to ride and shoot can also get something. Once I was chasing a rabbit on horseback, but found a Little Wild Wolf, I took it back..."

"You must have caused trouble. When I went hunting with the emperor's grandfather, I heard the guards say that a female wolf with cubs is the most vicious. If you take her cubs away, she will not let it go." The grandson was also described by Zili. Charmed.

"Sure enough, a wolf chased me after I rode back for a while. I was terrified, and I immediately urged my horse as if I was going back. The wolf was thrown off. But when I ran in the jungle, I realized that the horse was not as fast as the wolf. I could only put the little wolf cub on the ground, but those wolves still chased me." Zili suddenly stopped, A hurdle.

"Then what should I do? You didn't take anyone with you when you went out! Your grandfather and father are too careless. After all, you are also a girl's family. What if you are really hurt?" Taisun was completely attracted by Zili's Adventures Yes, get anxious. "I used to follow people, but my horse was fast and they were behind. I also learned how to archery over there, and I was not to be bullied, so I drew my bow and arrows to the pack of wolves and prepared to compete with them. I drew the bowstring to the full, but my hand trembled, and the arrow fell, but a wolf fell down. The rest of the wolves ran away, and I was still puzzled, wondering if it was me who really became I killed the sharpshooter, and they were frightened by me." Zili looked serious.The grandson also became puzzled and asked with a smile: "I didn't even know you had this ability. I will treat you with admiration for three days. I remember that when you were in Hangzhou, you were a quiet lady who didn't step out of the boudoir. You are a practiced lady." It’s just right to become a sharpshooter, and I’m also practicing riding and archery, and we’ll definitely benefit greatly by practicing with each other.”

As Taisun said, he spread out his hands to Zili, and told her to look at the thin calluses on his hands that had been honed from horseback riding and archery. "Then there's no sharpshooter, it's just that my brother came over in time. When he knocked down the wolf with a marble, it happened to be my arrow that fell." Zili made a helpless expression and spread his hands. Played, not angry but laughed haha.

"I like your relaxed and lively temperament the most. It's not like those people who either keep their faces straight or lower their heads all day long, just like little mice. I'm not a cat and I can eat them. But your kung fu You still need to practice. The Wang family started with military exploits. They charged into battle with the emperor. Now your grandfather is still a treasured sword, and you can be regarded as a military family. Even if you are a girl, don’t forget the roots of your ancestors. I have learned riding and archery during this period of time. Kung fu, I can probably teach you." Taisun bent his arms to show the outline of the bulging muscles of his upper arms.

Facing the grandson's peacock's display, Zili only thought it was childish and funny, she shook her head with a smile, and kept stepping back, it was impossible.If she really went to practice riding and archery with her grandson, maybe something would come out.

"What are you laughing at? What do you mean by shaking your head! Do you dare to despise me? Do you think they refused to ask me to practice hard because of my status? Then you are a villain with a villain's heart and a gentleman's belly. I have already Cheng draws the hard bow of thirty shi, feel for it if you don't believe me." Taisun suddenly leaned forward and grabbed Zili's hand and forced it on his arm. "Touch and see, it's all very hard tendons!" Rubbing the back of Zili's delicate hand with a callused hand, Zili suddenly felt a hairy feeling in his heart.She seemed to have been electrocuted and was struggling to get out.Unexpectedly, what Taisun said was true, he was seriously practicing kung fu, Taisun's hands were stronger than Zili imagined, Zili's hand was firmly pressed on Taisun's arm and he could not move .

Zili blushed uncontrollably, of course she was not shy but anxious.In the end, the two of them have a bad reputation, if someone sees their intimate behavior in broad daylight, it will be fine for the grandson, and Zili's reputation will be over. "Let go—someone came and saw it..." Zili's face flushed anxiously, his patience was reaching its limit.

"Don't worry about it! Now who doesn't know that you are my righteous wife in the future. It's no big deal to let them see that my filial piety period has expired anyway. You will be shy when you look like this. If you become my wife in the future, But what should I do?" Seeing Zili's embarrassment, the grandson lost his previous high spirits and eccentric spirit, and his heart was filled with satisfaction.On the contrary, Zili's helpless appearance satisfied the grandson's masculine self-esteem, so he simply made a more extreme move, holding Zili's hand and placing it on his heart: "You look so cute, call me I wish I could swallow you up!"

Huluo Pingyang was bullied by dogs, an older young girl was molested by a boy with no hair yet!Zili was screaming in his heart, but his face sank, and his eyes were red: "Your Highness, please respect yourself." Zili was wronged, and Lihua looked at his grandson with rain, "I will be annoyed if you don't let go!" Oops, it seems to have gone too far. The grandson smiled embarrassingly and quickly let go of Zili's hand: "I was just joking. It's me, Meng Lang. Don't be annoyed. I'll make it up to you." He was very gentle, and bowed with a smile all over his face.

Zili hurriedly turned around to avoid it, she lowered her head and felt the tactile sensation from her hands just now.Hey, is the little fat man very interesting!Good luck, it's a little fresh meat!Hey, the drool is about to come out!

"Your Majesty, my servant, please greet Your Highness." A soft and beautiful voice interrupted Zili's obscene imagination. An eunuch in a stone blue python robe and a Wusha winged crown on his head was standing not far away, watching with a half-smile. with them.

"This is Grandpa Wei next to Grandpa Huang." Taisun immediately restrained his laughing expression, pulled Zili's sleeve a little nervously, and introduced the unexpected guest in front of him in a low voice.The next scene suddenly changed. Zili was sitting upright, facing the kindly smiling face of Eunuch Wei, and the grandson beside her was cruising back and forth between the number one man in charge of her grandfather and Zili with worried eyes, fearing that something might happen to her. Zili made a mistake and caused serious consequences.

The flirting with each other in the garden just now is gone, and the style of the painting is not right. Zili feels that he is wearing a suit and narrow skirt, sitting in the company's conference room, waiting for the general manager's induction talk.Whether he can gain a foothold in the Royal Group Company in the future depends on today.And this Grandpa Wei is the powerful confidant next to *oss, and he is definitely a difficult character to deal with. The poor grandson is Zili's direct boss, and those who want to protect his department are helpless.

Eunuch Wei put down the teacup in his hand, and with the sound of the teacup falling on the stone table, Zili seemed to hear the horn of battle, dear friends, the time to charge has come.Zili straightened her waist subconsciously, and took a deep breath to prepare for the opponent's first big move.

"Grandpa Wei has returned to the capital, and Grandpa Huang is still inseparable from people like Grandpa Wei. I went to pay my respects to Grandpa Huang the other day, but he was angry and no one dared to go forward to persuade him. I thought that if Grandpa Wei was here, Is this still a thing? Grandpa Huang always smiles when he sees Grandpa Wei. We juniors have done wrong things and Grandpa Wei will help to describe them. Grandpa Wei will have to stay in the capital for a while when he comes back. The grandson first jumped out to disperse the firepower for Zili. Eunuch Wei is the confidant of the emperor's grandfather. He is not only the chief of the six palaces in the capital, but also controls the Yulin Guard and Jinyi Guard in the capital. He is often sent by the emperor to inspect various places. , The eyeliner of his subordinates is all over the world.Taisun didn't expect to meet Grandpa Wei here at all, he thought he would just say hello and leave, but when Taisun saw Eunuch Wei's smiling face, his heart sank.

Grandpa Wei is not easy to be fooled by the emperor's side. I remember that when my father was around, he was very humble to Eunuch Wei.Even the grandmother looked at Eunuch Wei differently, and told the grandson not to show embarrassment to Eunuch Wei, and not to hide anything from him, because there is nothing in the world that Eunuch Wei cannot know. Grandpa didn't know.Eunuch Wei's appearance in Zahuayuan today was definitely not because he came to the Imperial Garden on a whim, but came here by order to inspect Zili.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, for your note. Serving the emperor is the foundation of a miscellaneous family, and it is not worth mentioning. From the Queen Mother, I heard that the second lady of Mr. Wang's family followed the old lady and his wife into the palace to pay her respects to the Queen. The Queen Mother kept praising her." Miss Wang's benefits, the miscellaneous family is very curious. Are there really wonderful people in the world who are rare in the sky and unparalleled on the earth? This old slave is about to open his eyes. It just so happened that the queen mother gave the miscellaneous family an errand, and rushed over after going to the East Palace to do the errand I happened to meet His Highness and Miss Wang. I was convinced when I saw it today, there really are such beautiful girls in the world." Eunuch Wei followed Zili's topic and ignored his grandson's interruption.

Taisun helplessly gave Zili a self-seeking look, he knew that Zili couldn't escape today.Zili carefully answered Wei Eunuch's seemingly unnutritious topic.What did you do at home, what books did you read, what did you do when you were in Liaodong, and what is the difference between the local customs and the customs.It seems that they are all insignificant words, but in fact, they have inquired about every detail of Zili's life in the most inadvertent way.

Eunuch Wei nodded inwardly, the girl from Wang Changchun's family is really a smart person, she is neither humble nor overbearing in what she says, but she doesn't reveal anything.It can be seen that he was well-bred at home.Eunuch Wei suddenly changed the topic and said: "I heard something happened to the eldest girl in the mansion. When the queen mother was chatting with the slaves, she said that she had seen the eldest girl in the mansion in Hangzhou. Why did she disappear when she was alone? The old lady He and his wife must be sad, and the second girl must comfort the elders more when she is at home. By the way, I heard in a daze that the Jia family is engaged to the family, and now that the eldest girl is gone, what does that mean?"

In fact, if Ziqian really died, Zili wouldn't show a strange expression. She originally had a ghost in her heart, but when Eunuch Wei suddenly asked about Ziqian, a trace of unnaturalness still flashed in her eyes.Even for a short moment, he still did not escape Eunuch Wei's eyes.He stared at Zili and then asked: "Zajia is often outside and knows a lot of famous doctors. If I knew this, I would definitely recommend a few famous doctors to the family. I heard that Jia's family will also go to Beijing to report on their work. Their head family is also a Zajia. know."

"I was outside the customs when my sister had an accident, so I don't know exactly what happened. My grandmother wrote a letter saying that she was not acclimatized, and she kept taking warming and tonic prescriptions to recuperate her body. Who knew that after taking countless medicines, there was no improvement. Please It was only when the imperial doctor came to see that I found out that the disease was delayed. It was already terminally ill and could not be cured, and it was delayed for a few days——grandmother never blamed herself for this matter. When I came back this time and saw that grandma had aged a lot, my father and mother were also heartbroken. Sad." Zili wiped the corners of his eyes with a handkerchief, then lowered his head to avoid Eunuch Wei's penetrating eyes to catch his breath.

The grandson came in without knowing it, and he hurriedly interrupted: "Grandpa Wei just said that he was going to the East Palace, but Grandpa Huang has something important to say, I will go to greet Grandpa Huang right now."

"It was His Majesty who asked the servants to run an errand and sent a few servants to work next to His Highness. His Majesty said that His Highness's filial piety period has expired. This year, there are servants and servants around him. I am afraid that they are all clumsy and clumsy. Serve well. Your Majesty specially asked someone to select four maids to serve His Majesty next to him. In addition, the four maids sent by the Empress Dowager are exactly eight people. They are all carefully selected, and it is only safe to serve His Majesty by His Majesty's side." Eunuch Wei smiled and explained to the grandson why he came, and he winked at the grandson ambiguously.Even a fool would know what the four maids that Eunuch Wei personally sent over do.

Eunuch Wei's face was full of smiles, but his eyes were fixed on Zili.Unexpectedly, Zili sat there calmly, listening to the conversation between Eunuch Wei and the grandson with a smile.On the contrary, Taisun was embarrassed first.His face blushed, and he observed Zili's expression first: "I'm used to it, after all, my father just left for a year. When I was studying hard, it would be distracting to have too many people around me."

Eunuch Wei didn't answer, his eyes fell on Zili.This is for Zili to express his opinion.How can it be like this, the grandson and daughter-in-law come first to show off before they even enter the door?What does the emperor mean? He is testing Zili's character, whether she is a jealous and domineering woman or a virtuous and generous wife?

However, His Majesty the Emperor also underestimates people, the girls who come out of ordinary people.As long as anyone who has not been pampered and spoiled will not show any displeasure, Zili turned to the grandson and said, "It's your Majesty's kindness, Your Majesty, don't refuse. The elders can't refuse, Your Majesty just accept it with peace of mind." gone."

The grandson lowered his head to think about it, stood up and bowed deeply to Eunuch Wei: "Grandson, thank you grandpa for your concern. I also ask Grandpa Wei to help me pass a sentence to grandpa. I only need four servants around me. Yes, mother is kind. But I don’t like maids who are too delicate and charming. I’d better return the four that mother sent me.”

Seeing that King Wei had lost his power, the crown prince thought that the four pretty girls he had sent in in a circle at the beginning must not be able to cause another disturbance.Moreover, these four people have been serving the Crown Princess all the time. After a long time, the Crown Princess has been coaxed to change her mind, and I saw that when the usual son came to pay her respects, he was talking and laughing with the four maids.Since the son likes it, these four maids and grandsons are also familiar, and their temperament and character are all passable. Instead of looking for maidservants again, it is better to choose four familiar ones, which will be more convenient to serve.So as soon as the filial piety period came out, the princess concubine sent four young girls who were as fresh as green onions to the grandson.

Unexpectedly, the grandson didn't like his mother's move very much, but he didn't dare to object because of his mother's face.Today, I happened to meet Eunuch Wei and said something about his maid, so he immediately sent the girl sent by the princess through the emperor.

"Since it is the grandson's intention, the miscellaneous family will tell your majesty. It's just that the four were sent by the crown princess, and they all withdrew at once. I'm afraid the crown princess feels uncomfortable. Ms. Wang, why don't you persuade your highness, okay? Stay here, let's make a long-term plan." Eunuch Wei tore Zili off again.

Zili really wants to kick Eunuch Wei out, what is the meaning of your old man dragging me in several times?Are you trying to tell me to have an enmity with my mother-in-law before I even enter the house?What enmity and resentment do I have with you?You don't even give me 200 yuan!

"Zi Li doesn't know about the East Palace. Those four maids were originally to accompany mother. I can't serve her day and night, but the four of them can make mother happy. Let them continue to be by mother's side to relieve boredom." Taisun immediately Come out to help Zili block the arrow.

Eunuch Wei smiled and cupped his hands: "This old slave is talking too much, it's getting late, and the miscellaneous family has to go back to report." After Eunuch Wei left, Zili realized that her back was wet, and her palms were full of sweat. There are four deep nail prints on the palm.Did she pass her final interview?