old lady in red

In late July, Emperor Jiahe decreed that on the Mid-Autumn Festival on August [-]th, a large banquet was held in the palace, and princes and ministers were invited to celebrate the festival together.

Rongguo Mansion Chaopin ordered Shi Mei, Mrs. Hou Zhang, General Wei Lie's wife Yang, and Jia Min were all on the list for the palace banquet.

The emperor did not hold banquets, but everyone could celebrate the festival in a vague way, and it was okay not to give gifts.

Now, His Majesty invited the courtiers to participate in the grand ceremony by name. If the courtiers did not give gifts, it would be unreasonable.

Although it would not be like some people in modern times telling jokes, rushing pigs into the palace for a banquet.

However, the emperor's treats never lose money.

On Longevity Day, the gift from the Rongguo Mansion is a top-quality jade mountain that Jia She bought from Udon.

Unexpectedly, only a month later, the emperor wanted to treat him again.

This gift is not easy to give.

Speaking of Longevity Festival, this year His Majesty has a long life, Jia She and Lin Ruhai have not returned to Beijing.

It was Yanhou and Du Zongyuan who came back.

Du Zongyuan is Jia Zhu Jia Lian's No.1 school teacher.

Jinshi three years later than Lin Ruhai.

The fourth in the country, the top two.

Shi Mei felt a little disobedient at the time.

Promotion in officialdom has always been based on seniority.

According to the general rules, Lin Ruhai should be the first, and Du Zongyuan should be the last.

This time Du Zongyuan passed Jia She and Lin Ruhai.

Moreover, Jia Xie Lin Ruhai's family members are in Beijing, if there is no special reason, it should be Jia Xie Lin Ruhai who came to Beijing.

There must be a reason for the sudden change.

At the beginning of August, there was news that Ding You, governor of Huguang, was vacant.

Du Zongyuan, the former Jiangnan Xuezheng, was transferred to the governor of Huguang.

It can be said that he has been promoted to three ranks in succession if he surpasses the fourth rank and becomes the second rank.

Many people are secretly speculating.

Shi Mei was also a little confused.

Busy inferring the root cause of Du Zongyuan's promotion.

Du Zongyuan is Fu Xianfei's nephew and son-in-law.

Could it be that the sudden promotion and leapfrog promotion had something to do with Concubine Fu Xian's son?

Ever since the queen mocked Jia Zheng for being stupid.

Shi Mei touched Concubine Fu Xian.

Concubine Fu Xian really has a certain foundation.

He is the mother of the Fifth Prince.

However, the fifth prince's family name is unknown, not outstanding, just an ordinary prince.

Unlike the first prince who can lead troops, nor is it like the third prince who has outstanding literary talents.

The fourth prince Yunwen Yunwu.

His advantage is that his uncle is a bachelor.There is hope to join the cabinet.

According to Shi Mei's cognition, Emperor Jiahe disliked the prince's family becoming bigger the most.

There is no letter from Jia Amnesty about this matter.

Wang Ziteng also has no news.

Four princes and eight princes, Shi Mei has consciously alienated them.

Jia Min lost interest: "There are people in the court who are good at being officials."

Shi Mei said: "Don't look at his glamorous promotion, the lake is not a peaceful place, there are high mountains and dense forests in western Hubei. There are both bandits and bandits.

The governor of the provincial government is not easy to do.

The son-in-law is weak, but I think it is safer for him to return to Beijing for a sacrificial offering or enter the Sixth Division. "

Jia Min's face flushed: "My husband has been promoted fast enough, and now he is from the third rank, and some people will be fifth rank all their lives. I just sigh with emotion. As long as my husband can return to Beijing to work, even if I go back to the fourth rank to study politics, I will be able to do so." I don't mind either."

Then, Jia Min mentioned one thing: "Sister Yuan is a little too old?"

Shi Mei was a little confused, so: "Why can't you go up and down?"

Jia Min said: "Yuan Chun is 12 years old this year, and he will be thirteen in the next year. In fact, he is only 12 years old. The second brother is now in charge of the fourth rank. Yuan'er is going to participate in the general election, isn't it a small election?"

Shi Mei slapped her head: "I've been thinking about it, it seems that there is something wrong. Thank you for mentioning it, how could I forget about it. I'll go back and prepare a gift for the queen. Put up the sign when it's time."

Jia Min said: "If you put down the sign in the re-election, I'm afraid it's hard to talk about others?"

Shi Mei said: "It's different. We ask for grace. If we don't fail the primary election, we will be eligible to marry a scholarly family."

Jia Min was slightly stunned: "I thought my mother raised Sister Yuan so meticulously that even if she didn't enter the palace, she would marry into the family of princes and ministers."

Shi Mei said: "Our family is already beautiful enough, there is no need to trap Sister Yuan, I just hope that under the protection of her father and brother, she can live a smooth life."

Jia Min nodded: "Sister Yuan is really blessed."

Shi Mei smiled and said: "We planned this for you at the beginning, originally thinking that the Lin family's population is simple..."

After that, Shi Mei didn't say anything more.

Although Mother Lin made troubles again and again, but now she has changed her ways and returned to the right, and it is not easy to hold on to others.

If there is a mistake, there is nothing good about it.

This topic will not continue, Shi Mei discusses with Jia Min about giving the queen a gift.

The queen has no children, and the adopted son is confined.

Any jade Guanyin given to her would only be counterproductive.

The empress who gave the money needed it. Most of her family members were in Mobei and Lingnan.

However, Shi Mei did not dare to touch Emperor Jiahe's bottom line.

Emperor Jiahe paid 20 debts to the Rongfu one after another.

Today Rongfu has 40 stocks in stock, 30 of which can be said to be a reward from Emperor Jiahe.

Taking the silver rewarded by Emperor Jiahe and giving it to a woman whom Emperor Jiahe doesn't like is a solicitation.

Shi Mei finally decided to give the queen a wood-type spiritual jade from Udon.

Shi Mei asked someone to modify it a little and make it into a small pendant.

The walnut-sized spiritual jade is engraved with peony patterns.

The whole pendant is like a green peony in bud.

The queen has been a queen for many years. Although she is a puppet queen, she does have insight.

You can see the extraordinary of this pendant at a glance.

To be precise, she read it from her cousin, Empress Yuan,

This is the tribute of udon, the best jade pendant.

The queen's eyes lit up immediately: "It's so beautiful!"

Shi Mei said: "This is my boss's return from Udon Amoy, it's not worth any money.

It is expensive because of its exquisite carving and moderate size.It is most suitable for women to play casually. "

The queen really wanted to say a few words on the occasion, but declined one or two.

However, she really likes this jade pendant.

She has no natal family and is trapped in the palace alone.

Now, she is also unwilling to accept the filial piety of Yizhong County King.

Even if the emperor has good things, he will not give them to her first.

At most, leave some leftovers left by others.

People say that buying jade pays attention to fate.

The queen felt that this jade carving was destined for her.

It seems that this thing appeared just to fall into her hands.

The queen liked it very much in her heart, but suppressed her joy on her face, and said: "The situation of this palace, the duke's wife also knows, this palace is a sign.

If Madam is counting on Bengong for something, she is probably disappointed.

No merit and no reward.

This thing... I'm afraid I won't be able to bear it! "

Then, the queen said that she couldn't bear it, but she didn't put the things down.

But I can't play it over and over again.

Shi Mei laughed and said: "Look at what your mother said, what merits and deeds are not, the minister's wife can't understand.

Today's mid-autumn night, the concubine came to accompany the empress to talk.

The concubine came here empty-handed, feeling very uncomfortable, and I want the empress not to take offense. "

The queen froze for a moment, then smiled.

Only then did he order the maid to serve light chrysanthemum tea again.

Although he didn't look at the pendant again, it was already tightly held in the palm of the queen's hand.

The attraction of top grade Lingyu to women is really irresistible.

Then, the two chatted.

The queen said that Rongfu was handsome and talented, and praised Shimei for being blessed, Jia pardoned Jia Zheng, they were all pillars of the court, and her grandchildren were also like dragons and phoenixes.

Suddenly, the Queen seemed to guess what Shi Mei meant, and said: "I remember that your Master Zheng seems to have a daughter? Master She also has two daughters?"

Shi Mei praised the empress in her heart, and said with a smile: "Speaking of this matter, the minister's wife really troubles the empress with something.

It's the girl from our second child's family, who will be thirteen next year.

Her mother has been sick all the year round, so she seldom goes out for a walk.

The things at home are all arranged by her aunt, who is a direct relative.

As you know, the second queen of my family is just a person who concentrates on doing things and doesn't care about other things, and only I, the old woman, worry about her. "

Such self-deprecation does not sound like asking for marriage.

The queen raised her eyebrows: "What does Mrs. Rong mean?"

If she wanted to stuff her granddaughter into the residence of several princes, she might have a way.

However, it is difficult for the daughter of a fourth-rank official, not to mention the main concubine, or the side concubine.

Safe for one Baolin, at most one talented person.

Whether you can be favored or not depends on your personal fortune.

I can't handle the life of a girl for a lifetime.

The granddaughter of the Duke's Mansion is definitely not willing to be a maid for the rest of her life.

The queen's understanding of Shi Mei is probably because she wants to marry into the prince's family.

This favor, the queen really can't help.

It is not a problem for the queen to be favored by the prince's family, but the key point is that she has a name for nothing now.

In the harem, no one can make the decision, except for His Majesty's words.

Shi Mei said with a smile: "Her mother is not in good health, and her father is also a pedantic person, her own girl knows it well, she can't bear to be chased by nobles.

Therefore, the minister's house was afraid that she would have a poor life and advance to the court.I also ask the empress to be considerate. "

Hearing this, the empress felt relieved.

Rongfu wanted to be selected, but she had no choice but to lose the election, it would be too easy.

Your Majesty must be embarrassed to hire Jia Daishan's granddaughter.

The emperor didn't intervene, and those princes had high eyes but low hands, and no one would pay attention to the daughter of a fourth-rank official.

The queen smiled and said: "Madam Gong is too modest to resign. How can Madam's granddaughter be stupid? My niece Xiaogu, I only look at Mrs. Lin, there are few in the capital who can compare."

Shi Mei could not help but resign modestly again and again.

The queen finally agreed: "I have taken note of Madam's matters."

This is promised.

Shi Mei then stood up and saluted: "Thank you so much for your success, the empress, the whole family will never forget it."

The two of them said a few more words of politeness, and then Shi Mei left the palace.

Playing with the pendant at the Queen's Gate, the joy in his heart seemed to fade a bit.

The nanny Zhu, the steward of Yikun Palace, was very surprised, and asked, "Doesn't your mother like it? Then just go back, why be so embarrassing?"

The queen shook her head and said: "The lady of the country has a heart, this thing is very rare.

She was willing to intercede with Ben Gong because of the rules.

Today's Rongguo Mansion is going to ask Concubine Zhen or Concubine Fu Xian, and they will definitely rush to solicit them.This gift can also be sold! "

Zhu Nai said: "Ma'am, this is it?"

"I'm just emotional.

Mrs. Rong Guogong plans for her children and grandchildren like this, she really loves her children.

not like our house...

Forget it...

That's it! "

Nanny Zhu is the queen's personal maid. When she first entered the palace, the queen sat in the cold palace.

Relying on the prince to barely support, the emperor also took care of face and affection.

Unexpectedly, the prince left and recited words.

How flattered Concubine Zhen was at the beginning, and how rampant she was later?

Fortunately, Concubine Zhen Gui was not blessed and had no chance to bear children.

Otherwise, I don't know what to do!

Nanny Zhu felt sorry for her master, but she couldn't persuade her.

The queen empress is completely hopeless.

Whether it is the emperor in the palace or the natal family outside.

There is only one step at a time.

The queen seemed to see what the nanny was thinking, and said again: "You don't have to worry about me, as long as I live for a day, as long as the emperor doesn't get rid of me.

No matter who sits in the world, I have a bite to eat.

So live well now.

Oh, you can make a note for me, and remind me when the time comes, after the granddaughter of the Rong Mansion enters the palace, take care of her and let her go out of the palace and go home.

Mrs. Rong thinks highly of me, so I must keep my word. "

The nurse in charge felt relieved: "The servant has made a note, the empress is at ease."

After Shi Mei went back here, she talked to Yuan Chun.

Tell Yuan Chun that he has already asked the queen for grace, and when the time comes, the draft will go through the motions, and he will go home and continue to study.After a few years of happy life, find a good family.

Now that the emperor is seventy, of course she doesn't want to enter the palace.

That woman doesn't love the young man.

Shi Mei said: "The current situation in the imperial court is very mysterious.

I mean we can't get involved.

Prince Xungui's mansion, you can only enter as a concubine as a concubine, you have always been loved by thousands of people, I can't bear you to be wronged.Do you understand what I said? "

Yuan Chun nodded: "My granddaughter understands that my aunt's life is very enviable."

This is really understood.

Shi Mei held Yuan Chun's hand: "Good boy, I'm really afraid you don't understand."

Yuan Chun blushed: "Father once said that grandfather loved Aunt Min, so he went to the emperor to ask for a marriage order. Grandmother also loves granddaughter and saves granddaughter."

Shi Mei smiled and said: "Don't worry, grandma will definitely pick a good one for you, not to mention the number one scholar, Jinshi is a must."

Yuan Chun bowed his head, covered his face and ran away.

"This kid!!"

But it's embarrassing to mention it!

Shi Mei was also happy in her heart, she got carried away, forgot that this is ancient times, girls are naturally shy when they talk about marriage.

However, on the ninth day of September, the Double Ninth Festival, the empress suddenly called Shi Mei to speak, and she spoke angrily: "The lady of the country is just playing with others. The object of attention, I also heard that she is convincing His Majesty that she wants to bring Miss Sun from your mansion into the fourth prince's mansion to become Baolin."

Shi Mei was taken aback: "It's nothing, the empress has misunderstood it? Our house has reached an agreement, and we agreed that the girl should place the sign, and the empress also knows that our father-in-law left a last word..."

The queen suddenly became interested: "The father-in-law left a last word before his death, have you never heard of it?"

Shi Mei said: "Our lord said that the Rongguo Mansion starts from the Longxing family, and the sons and grandsons serve the country with iron blood. If they violate the legacy of the ancestors and do things like cheating villains, they will be regarded as disobedience and expelled from the family."

The queen nodded: "I believe Duke Rong can say that, otherwise, he wouldn't have..."

Shi Mei understood in seconds: "Our sons and grandchildren of the Rong family only know to be loyal to His Majesty, and will never do treacherous things. Please trust me, the empress, and I will go home and investigate the root cause. If there is a disobedient person in the family, It must be dealt with by the family law. In short, the minister's wife is the head of the Rong family, and the wishes of the minister's wife are the wishes of the big family of the Rong family, and the empress should check it out."

After Shi Mei returned home, she asked Jia Zheng to ask, "Did you meet Concubine Zhen in the palace?"

Jia Zheng shook his head: "My son only works in the office at the back of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. My son never sets foot in the front and back halls of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and never talks to the women in the palace. Even if it's just a maid in the palace, my son stays away."

Shi Mei said: "That's strange. In the Mid-Autumn Festival in August, I entrusted the empress to beg for the grace of Yuan girl. When the empress promised to be re-elected, she put down the sign, and that one suddenly became very angry today, saying that we have entrusted two of us for one thing. Lord, Concubine Zhen has also participated in Yuan girl's draft. There are only a few people in the family, you don't, I don't, do you think it's strange?"

Jia Zheng said, "Could it be the Wang family?"

Shi Mei said: "Before, the Wang family was abusive because of Jia Zhu's distributing the New Year's goods, but Wang Ziteng has already surrendered to me.

It is said that she rejected Wang's request to speak for Jia Zhu's brother and sister.

And he only said that he was looking at each other, and did not mention the matter of entering the palace.

Or maybe Wang's evil intentions are not dead, and he is still delusional about relying on his daughter to turn over? "

Jia Zheng was furious when he heard the words.

He had already made a marriage request with Du Shangshu, and Du Shangshu greatly appreciated his integrity in not wanting to send his daughter into the palace.

Knowing that Shi Mei has been exempted from the election by begging for grace like a queen, she has already found Jia Zheng, and the candidate has been selected.

The candidate for Du Shangshu is either a relative of the Du family, or Du Jing, the grandson of Du Shangshu.

Du Jing is 15 years old, and like Jia Zhu, he is already a scholar.

Jia Zheng was extremely proud, and was about to show his merits to his mother.Unexpectedly, someone stepped past him and intervened in Yuan Chun's marriage. l

This person is very likely to be a stupid woman like Mrs. Wang,

Jia Zheng was furious.

Jia Zheng bowed to Shi Mei: "Mother, don't worry, if Mrs. Wang dares to do this, I will not forgive you lightly this time."

Then, Jia Zheng went home and interrogated Wang Shuhua.

Jia Zheng didn't believe that Wang Shuhua didn't know about Wang's whereabouts.

Because the Wang family does not have a car or a horse, they must obtain the consent of Wang Shuhua before they can borrow a second car, horse and sedan chair.

When Wang goes out to burn incense and worship Buddha, he likes ostentation the most.She likes to pretend to be Mrs. Sipin, she doesn't have a beautiful car, and she doesn't know how to go out.

Wang Shuhua shouted that she was wronged.

Jia Zheng said harshly: "This time, if the elder girl's marriage is delayed, whether it is Baoyu or Tanchun, they will be sent to Rongxi Hall to be adopted by the elder sister-in-law.

You don't even want to see each other again in this lifetime. "

Wang Shuhua was frightened.

It's good for Tanchun to be the daughter of the big family, but if she never sees her daughter for the rest of her life, she would rather her daughter eat bran and swallow vegetables.

Wang Shuhua almost fainted from crying, Jia Zheng, I will not let go.

"You better think about it!"

In the end, Wang Shuhua said: "I don't know if this is right or not. Recently, my sister often goes to Ciyun Temple outside the city to offer incense. I heard that the donation of sesame oil is a donation of thousands or thousands.

The money is my sister's dowry, and I have no right to interfere.

My brother told me to persuade my sister to report something to my brother.

However, the master also knows that I am just my brother's clan sister, and my status is embarrassing. My sister is just burning incense. How can I let my brother stop me? "

When Jia Zheng heard this, his face became more gloomy: "Ciyun Temple belongs to the royal temple, how can the Wang family go to offer incense?"

Wang Shuhua said: "I don't know about this. I haven't been there, but my sister often goes there. I asked Jia Liu's house in the car handle. The second master can ask Jia Liu. See if the concubine has ever lied."

Jia Zheng snorted coldly: "Of course I have to ask!"

Jia Liu came, and what he said was exactly the same as Wang Shuhua's.

And explained that Mrs. Wang is very familiar with a Mrs. Jing'an.

As for why he recognized Mrs. Jing'an, Jia Liu didn't know.

Jia Zheng could not ask any questions, so he had to discuss with his mother.

Then Shi Mei had an epiphany when she heard the word Jing'an.

Jing'an is a young draft girl in the same class as Concubine Zhen in the palace. After being favored, she was named Baolin.

Later, when she was involved in court battles, Concubine Zhen used her favor to save her life and sent her to become a nun.

Her Taoist name is Jing'an.

Since then, Jing'an has become Concubine Zhen's minion.

Back then Yu Wan died in Zhen's family, one dead body and two lives.

Jia Daishan wants to sue the Zhen family.

Concubine Zhen Gui sent Jing'an to Rongfu to make peace.

At the beginning, Mother Jia was impatient to meddle with the concubine's affairs, and felt that Yuwan and her daughter were doing their own thing and let them go.

Mrs. Zhang also disdains to associate with Taoist nuns.

Jia Daishan had no choice but to ask Wang to mediate.

Later, the Rong Mansion was forced to swallow their anger, and this matter was overturned.

Presumably because of this, Zhen Guifei sold Wang's face.

Because of this, Mrs. Wang got in touch with Mrs. Jing'an.

Shi Mei recalled the muddled account of the money that the Zhen family owed the Jia family back then.

The Wang family asked people to help, and it would definitely not work without money.

It seems that Wang Shilai did not pay.

Said: "She entrusted Concubine Zhen, she will definitely pay for it.

Wang's eyes are on money, and he won't give up money until the end.

In this way, we only need to cut off the connection between the Wang family and the outside world.

I don't believe that Concubine Zhen Gui will fight against the queen just for a little bit of love.

Drafting is originally the queen's responsibility. She doesn't have the ability to make people become princesses, and she still has the ability to make people lose. "

After Jia Zheng returned home, he ordered people to seal off the passage between Wang's house and the outside world.

Shi Mei was afraid that Wang would put all her eggs in one basket, so Jin Da sent someone to fully supervise Wang.

People around Wang were strictly searched when they came in and out.

At the same time, Shi Mei communicated with Jia Zhu and told Wang that she had bribed Concubine Zhen to send Yuan Chun into the palace.

Ask Jia Zhu to cooperate with the supervision of the Wang family and protect Yuanchun.

Yuan Chun burst into tears when she learned that her mother sent her to the palace.

The emperor is seventy!

He also didn't want to spend his time in the prince's mansion.

There was no one on Wang Shuhua's head, and she was humiliated just because she wasn't her original partner.

Please your father, please your grandmother, and even please their siblings!

Yuan Chun would never want to live a day like this!

Jia Zhu was also furious.

Shi Mei reassured the brothers and sisters: "Right now" things are still under control.

However, we must be vigilant and not allow her to communicate with Zhen Guifei again.

In this way, I should hurry up and communicate with the queen, so as not to let Concubine Zhen take advantage of it. "

Jia Zhu bowed to Shi Mei, "Don't worry, grandma, my grandson will never let my sister into the palace."

After that, Shi Mei received news of Wang's noise every now and then.

Just clamoring to go out.

In Dongyue, the Wang family suddenly stopped making trouble.

Shi Mei learned that it was a Taoist nun named Ma Daopo who entered Wang's yard.

After that, the Wang family suddenly stopped making trouble.

Shi Mei learned that Ma Daopo was Wang's godmother who worshiped Baoyu!

It seems that Jing'an and Ma Daopo are in the same group.

Shi Mei ordered Jin Da: "Investigate Ma Daopo's footsteps!"