The Royal Merchant of the Red Chamber

It was night, and the moon was as cool as water.

At this moment, the Xue family's mansion, without the hustle and bustle of the past, appears to be quiet.There is a little sadness in this quietness.

Xue Pan entered the Wutong Garden with his hands behind his back, and the old woman and the little girls who came and went stood still immediately, and bowed quietly to Xue Pan to salute.Xue Pan waved his hand, and everyone continued walking.Only the sound of the jingle of the rings and the rubbing of the skirts and skirts was heard, which was very clear in the silent night.

Going up the steps and entering the inner room, I saw Xue Baochai sitting in front of the dressing table with a sad expression.A pair of catkins rested their cheeks quietly, and stared at the exquisite face in the mirror without blinking, faintly, as if they were a little strange.

"What are you thinking?" Xue Pan called out.

Baochai looked back, looked at Xue Pan and said, "I didn't think about anything. I just sat in a daze. Why did my brother come here?"

"I want to talk to you." Xue Pan said, pulling up the hem of his clothes to be closest to Baochai, and asked: "Tomorrow I have to enter the palace for a draft, are you ready?"

Xue Baochai hooked the corners of her mouth and smiled lightly: "Is there anything to prepare for? It's been too long since I was six years old. I don't even know what to prepare."

After a pause, he said again: "My brother started shopping around for clothes and jewelry a long time ago. All the outfits are made of the best pearls, gold with full color, and beautiful jade with the most transparent green color. The master of Jianbao Pavilion They carefully crafted it for a year, and it was finally completed in the first two days. The clothes were selected from the best Shu brocade and the most exquisite Suzhou embroidery. My brother even spared two masters who can show Huiwen. The eye-catching soles are all embroidered with exquisite embroidery...the preparations are all complete."

Xue Pan sighed softly, and said, "You know what I'm asking is not this, but are you deliberately saying these things to annoy me?"

Baochai was about to speak, but was interrupted by Xue Pan waving his hand. "I'm asking your heart, are you ready?"

Xue Baochai stared blankly at Xue Pan.

Xue Pan cleared his throat uncomfortably, and said, "I heard that some girls are very nervous and irritable before they leave the cabinet. They call it premarital phobia. I think you have acted abnormally in the past two days. Could it be that you have this disease?"

Baochai was a little apprehensive at first, but upon hearing Xue Pan's words, she burst out laughing, shook her head and said, "Brother really...why would you think of such a question? Thousands of miles away!"

Xue Pan said embarrassingly, "Didn't I draw inferences from one example!"

After a pause, he ordered again: "Tomorrow, a mule cart will be sent to take you into the palace, and I will accompany you in until the Shenwu Gate. After arriving at the Shenwu Gate, Dai Quan has already asked his apprentice Xiao Weizi to pick you up. When you arrive at the Chuxiu Palace, he will take care of all aspects, so you don't have to worry about it. At that time, Concubine Yi and Concubine Hui in the palace may announce you to the palace for an audience. This is what my brother and Prince Zhongrui and Prince Zhonglian agreed. .It’s just to support the scene for you, so that those powerful villains will not despise you..."

"...You don't have to pay attention to the filthy framing among other beautiful women in Chuxiu Palace. I have already confirmed with the Holy Majesty that you are going to designate Prince Zhongchun as the right concubine. Just wait for the re-election to directly issue an order." Yes. Chuxiu Palace has already taken care of Dai Quan up and down, including the imperial dining room, which will cook some home-cooked dishes for you every day. Our family is from the south, and we are not used to the dishes here. And there are big rules in the palace , the food that is often delivered is cold. You don’t have to wrong yourself, just ask Yinger to order the small kitchen to make it for you again..."

Xue Baochai sat aside, quietly listening to Xue Pan's babbling instructions, her eyes felt hot for some reason.He threw himself into Xue Pan's arms and cried, "Brother..."

Xue Pan felt sore, he quickly stroked Baochai's black hair and said, "What's wrong?"

Before Baochai could speak, he heard the sound of the curtain outside, and Xue and his wife opened the half-worn red soft curtain and came in.Seeing this scene, he couldn't help being taken aback.

Mrs. Xue said with a smile: "I still wonder why Pan'er didn't go to Ruirong Hall to say hello to her on this important day, but she came here to comfort her sister first. It just looks like this, but it didn't do much good. Instead, it made my sister cry gone."

Saying that, he went forward and hugged Baochai in his arms, and said with a light smile, "My son, why did your brother provoke you, tell mom. Mom will make the decision for you."

Xue Zhizhang sighed softly: "You still don't know what your son looks like, so don't tease him."

Baochai wiped away her tears, got up and said, "Baochai pays respects to father and mother."

Xue Zhizhang waved his hand and said: "Today, our family has no manners, it's just a heart-to-heart talk. After all, we are a family. If there are too many rules, the family relationship will be weakened. But it is different in the palace. As the saying goes, it is not surprising that many people are polite. Keep it in mind."

What Xue Zhizhang said was very meaningful, and Baochai couldn't help but feel a move in his heart.

I heard Xue Zhizhang continue to say: "In the matter of the draft, your brother volunteered, and he will not allow me to intervene. He has full authority to handle it himself. I thought that your brother will be close to the Holy One, and have a good relationship with Dai Quan and Li Deyu's father-in-law. Some things are easy for him to come forward. Secondly, he is now doing business with the two princes, and he does not look at the face of the monk and the face of the Buddha. Presumably the concubines and concubines in the palace will not make things difficult for you. So he did not interfere in the arrangement of the harem. But now, I want to tell you something."

Upon hearing this, Baochai immediately bowed and said, "Please tell me clearly, Daddy."

Xue Zhizhang waved his hand, signaling Baochai to go back and sit beside Mrs. Xue.After pondering for a while, he opened his mouth and said: "With your elder brother's means and his friendship with the people in the palace, it is definitely no problem to arrange everything properly for you. It's just that my father wants to say that there are many eyes and ears in the palace. It's complicated, after you enter the palace, you must remember that everything should be done according to the rules, and you must not make a show of it."

When Xue Pan heard this, he moved his body in disapproval.

Xue Zhizhang glanced at him lightly, and Xue Pan froze.Mrs. Xue continued to explain: "Your brother is used to being flamboyant and never considers other people's thoughts. But he is deeply favored by the Holy Majesty, and he is a junior who has not been an official in the court, and he is always kind. Making a living by earning money. Surrounded by many powerful princes and relatives to help him take care of him, everyone will not seriously care about him. But you are different. Women have always had the most thoughts. Women in the palace are not only thoughtful, but also ruthless. .They are jealous of your beauty, and they may not say it to your face when they envy you. But no one can tell what happened behind the scenes. Although you are smart, you are no match for two fists."

"Secondly, you want to point the prince to be the concubine. If you act too arrogantly and violate the rules, it will cause dissatisfaction among the concubines in the palace. After all, you are the daughter-in-law—"

Xue Baochai got up immediately and said: "Baochai naturally understands the painstaking efforts of my father and mother. The momentary glory is just a youthful spirit, and the long-term plan is only to laugh at the end. Baochai has learned the rules for so many years, and the people in the palace are sinister. Baochai naturally I understand. It’s just that my brother did so much because he was worried about Baochai, so please don’t blame my father and mother.”

Mrs. Xue nodded with a smile and said: "It's best if you understand. Your brother helped you open up all the joints, and it will be much easier for you to walk in the palace. After all, after the re-election, you will have to live in Chuxiu Palace for a while. It takes a few days to officially refer to marriage. Although the rules of words and deeds are not as comfortable as at home, it only takes a month or two, and Renren passed."

Xue Baochai nodded repeatedly.

Everyone wentssiped for a while, until the second drum beat, and then they dispersed and did not talk about it.

Silent all night.

The next morning, everyone in the Xue family naturally got up early.First, after doing a simple grooming, I went to Ruirongtang to treat Ann to dinner, and then had a cup of tea for a break.Then a woman with the best combing hair with rouge and gouache came in to do her makeup.

Putting on clothes again, and combing hair in a bun, it took more than two hours to finish the work.

By the time Xue Baochai dressed up again and stood in front of the crowd, it was already afternoon.The golden sun shone on Baochai's body, emitting a multicolored halo.The eyes of everyone who watched it brightened.

The upper body is a pink jacket with engraved gold and stalked lotus brocade, and the lower body is a fairy skirt with auspicious cloud patterns and dark flowers of the same color.Walking in a swaying posture, the lines on the hem of the skirt are looming, making her figure even more graceful.The black and thick hair is coiled in the most popular Liuyun bun, and on the head is a set of full-colored silk and gold inlaid with jade and eight treasures and pearls. The pearls inlaid in it are full and round, and the emeralds are full of jade. Translucent and moist.Baochai looks more and more graceful and magnanimous.On the right side is a green hairpin with blue bird feathers and dotted wings, and the pearl tassel hanging from the tail is dangling around the ear, showing a bit of naughty youthfulness.A pair of double pearls and bright moons hang from the earrings, making Baochai's skin as creamy and her cheeks as snowy.There is also a string of pearl necklaces hanging around the neck, each one is evenly measured as if it has been measured.

Baochai stood in front of the crowd, clenched her hands slightly nervously, and asked cautiously, "Is it too eye-catching?"

The Xue family couple nodded and smiled, Xue Pan quickly said: "Don't be dazzling, don't blink. My sister was born well, and now this dress is to add color to the clothes! I can imagine that after seeing everyone in this dress, we The business of family rouge and gouache is booming."

When Baochai heard this, she smiled shyly and did not answer.

Baoqin and Daiyu, who had been waiting for a long time, hurried forward to hold Baochai's hand and said with a smile: "My sister is so beautiful. If someone else wears this dress, I'm afraid they won't be able to hold back the clothes. But my sister is wearing it." But it looks more graceful and magnanimous, and we can't bear to look away!"

As Baoqin spoke, she touched the embroidery on Baochai's clothes and said enviously, "It's so beautiful."

Xue Pan immediately teased and said: "Sister, don't worry, when you get married, brother will also make a set for you."

Baoqin was so ashamed that she kept spitting, and if Daiyu hadn't stopped her, she would almost have run back to the backyard covering her face.

They were gossiping here, when they heard Baochai's nurturing mother walk in and said softly: "Master, madam, master, girl, it's getting late, it's time to enter the palace."

When everyone heard the words, they fell silent for a moment and looked at the sky outside, and sure enough, the sun had already set to the west.

People from the House of Internal Affairs had long been waiting outside the house with a unified mule cart.Xue Pan personally put on Xue Baochai a cloak with lotus green bucket pattern and brocade with flowers and foreign threads and silk, and signaled Xueyan and Jinse to help Baochai out of the gate.

After boarding the mule cart, go all the way.He entered Di'anmen before nightfall, and rushed to Shenwumen without saying a word all the way, and then stopped.

Although the night was getting darker, the palace was brightly lit, as bright as day.Looking far away, you can see that there are many mule carts parked in the square, and all the beautiful girls line up the carts one by one according to their rank and title.The first ones are naturally the relatives of the concubines in the palace, followed by the women who were previously selected and kept their badges, but only participated in the re-election this time due to various reasons, and the last ones are the new picks this year.

Xue Pan was just about to order the cart driver to send the mule cart to the back to line up, when he saw two eunuchs in fine clothes approaching from a distance.Walking to the front, the first eunuch, Bai Jing, who was holding the floating dust and dressed in a dark red seventh-rank eunuch uniform, bowed and smiled, "Slave Xiao Wei, please greet the lord."

Xue Pan immediately smiled and said: "So you are Xiao Weizi. I heard your master talk about you. He said that you have learned his true biography, and he is most proud of you as an apprentice."

While speaking, he took out a purse from his bosom and handed it to Xiao Weizi very naturally.

Xiao Weizi weighed it in and found that it was not an ordinary silver ingot, but a few neatly stacked silver bills.No wonder people in the palace called this old man of the Xue family "Scattering Wealth Boy", this move was indeed very generous.

At the moment, his attitude is becoming more and more attentive.He smiled and said: "If you go back to the uncle, the slave came to lead the eldest girl's mule cart to line up in front."

Xue Pan couldn't help but asked: "Front?"

Xiao Weizi said with a smile: "It's the order of Grand Concubine Yi."

As soon as Xiao Weizi said this, Xue Pan knew that it must be Tu Huang's kung fu, and couldn't help but feel grateful in his heart.In fact, the order of entering the palace is also particular. The ones who go to the front are naturally more decent, and everyone dare not be contemptuous.It's just that no matter how Xue Pan moves, the rules left by his ancestors cannot be changed.Therefore, when Baochai enters the palace draft, she must also be ranked behind like other new recruits.It was Baochai's turn to wait until everyone had finished selecting and reading.At that time, the residual powder of the branches will fade, not to mention the fading of the flowers, the most important thing is to suffer.Now that Concubine Yi's actions are undoubtedly telling everyone that Xue Baochai is under her protection, Baochai's life in the palace will become easier in the future.

Xue Pan was happy, and naturally the rewards in his hands became more and more generous.Immediately stuffed a purse for Xiao Weizi, and then said with a smile: "I didn't expect Grand Concubine Yi's master to value her sister-in-law so much, Xue Pan was flattered. This is some money for tea, please ask the father-in-law to invite the brothers beside Grand Concubine Yi It's a little bit of my heart for the sisters to have a meal of noodles."

Xiao Weizi naturally accepted it in fear.After a few more gossips, seeing that it was almost time, he led the mule cart made by Baochai and walked forward.Before leaving, he instructed: "Master, hurry up and go out while it's dark! It's not good if someone sees a foreigner mixing with beautiful girls."

Xue Pan nodded and walked out of Di'anmen.

After that is a long wait.Waiting for the gate of Tianming Palace to open, the maids filed into the Shenwu Gate and Shunzhen Gate, and then divided into waves for the Holy Majesty, Empress and Empress Dowagers to choose from.It wasn't until sunset on the western mountain the next day that the beautiful women gradually came out.

According to Baochai's character, appearance, family background and status, he has undoubtedly passed the primary election.After the primary election, the show girls return home, and the palace will send nuns to come to the mansion to guide some rough rules and trivial matters in the palace.Baochai's mother-in-law is Aunt Su Min who is next to Concubine Min. This action has already revealed Baochai's identity after being selected.

One month later, there will be another re-election, and the show girls who have passed the re-election will be sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to live in Chuxiu Palace, and learn some more complicated rules by the way, which will be another month.When the final selection was made, it was indeed chosen by the Empress Dowager herself, and she pointed Xue Baochai to Prince Zhongchun as the concubine.Just wait for Baochai fifteenth and Ji to get married officially.After two or three months of being involved in this way, Baochai's life-long event was finally settled.

Xue Pan sat in front of the gate with a grand master's chair, and looked down the street with his hands on his cheeks.There was a din of gongs and drums outside the door, and the sound of firecrackers.Some families even prepared a lot of copper coins and sprinkled them on the street, celebrating the great event that a girl in their family was selected into the harem.The crowd was noisy, and a mule cart passed by from time to time on the busy street and stopped in front of the doors of rich and wealthy families.

The people living on their street are all relatives of the emperor and the noble families.As long as the family is old enough to participate in the palace, the show girls will not be put on the brand.Therefore, it seems more lively and noisy.

Everyone is well-informed, and they don't forget to congratulate each other when the whole world celebrates.Naturally, wave after wave of people came to congratulate the eldest daughter of the Xue family on being chosen as Prince Zhongchun and Princess Concubine.After all, the majestic prince and concubine are already higher than most of the palace ranks, let alone enter the palace with their own daughters to compete for favor.Moreover, Prince Zhongchun is already highly valued by today, and the status of the Xue family is also in full swing.Making friends with such a family is naturally the favorite thing for officials of aristocratic families who seek good fortune and avoid evil.

In the beginning, it was just Yao Bin outside greeting the stewards of Beppu.Unexpectedly, it only took a while to attract many masters.All the officials, relatives and dignitaries who were lingering at the door waiting to take home the female family members who had already been appointed young masters all gathered together, and the Xues and his wife had no choice but to go up to greet them.It took another half an hour for this one.

Daiyu and Baoqin walked back and forth in the yard, endured for a while and asked, "Why hasn't Sister Bao come back? The eunuchs who delivered the decree have been gone for almost an hour."

Mrs. Xue laughed softly: "Don't worry, the first ones to come out must be the direct family members of the concubines in the harem. Although our family Baochai was selected by Concubine Yi for the sake of the face, he must stand behind them. In this way So as not to violate the rules of the ancestors. What's more, now that the status has been determined, maybe the concubines in the harem also have something to tell Baochai, so it will naturally take some time to delay."

It's just that even though he said so, he walked around with his feet not touching the ground, and his expression was anxious and restless.

Seeing this, Xue Zhizhang shook his head and said with a smile: "Looking at how anxious you are, Baochai can still be lost. There are some things in the palace that have not been settled, and they will come out when they are done."

Before he could finish his sentence, he saw a mule cart slowly driving up from the other side of the street, followed by Xueyan and Jinse.The sharp-eyed boy immediately shouted: "The eldest girl is back—"

All the people quickly gathered around and welcomed Baochai down.They walked into the yard in a crowd.All the way through the gate, one gate, straight to the main hall.He hurriedly sat down by Baochai again.Then he asked aloud: "How is it, are you still used to the life in the palace?"

Xue Pan immediately interjected: "It's over whether you're used to it or not. The most important thing is that my sister is not bullied in the palace, right?"

Baochai smiled, and first said to Mrs. Xue: "Although there are strict rules in the palace, as long as you are careful in every step, you can live a quiet life with careful attention to everything."

He turned to Xue Pan again and said, "Don't talk about being bullied anymore. Thanks to my elder brother's help, I was called to talk by the queen just after I arrived at Zhongcui Palace. After coming out from the Empress Dowager, she was picked up by Concubine Yi's people. Immediately afterwards, Concubine Hui and Concubine Min walked around each other. Most of the masters in the palace met each other."

Baochai paused, and then said: "Among the rouge and gouache in Jinling in the past few years, there are many officials and women who have been educated and educated. Although most of them are talented, beauties and nobles. But they are I lived in the palace for a long time, and I kept giving some sweet words. It’s not too late, it’s the final election. It’s as if I’ve had a lot of connections in the palace, and then I was let out.”

Mrs. Xue heard the call of Amitabha Buddha. "It's fine if you're not wronged, it's good if you're not wronged."

Xue Pan asked again: "Then you have been in the palace for more than a month, have you ever met Prince Zhongchun?"

Mrs. Xue immediately spat: "What nonsense are you talking about! Baochai is still a girl who has not left the court, how can she meet a foreigner?"

Xue Pan smiled and said, "What's the matter, Prince Zhongchun is no one else."

"That's not OK--"

"Okay, you two will talk about this later. Listen to Baochai first." Xue Zhizhang waved his hand and smiled.

So several eyes stared at Baochai again.Baochai's face was flushed with shame, she lowered her eyes in embarrassment, and nodded slightly.

Everyone asked in surprise, "Have you really seen it?"

Xue Baochai replied shyly: "One time I went to pay my respects to Concubine Min, and I happened to meet Prince Zhongchun."

Xue Baoqin quickly asked, "What does he look like?"

Baochai pursed her lips, and said indifferently: "The rules in the palace are strict, and I'm still a show girl waiting to be selected. I can't avoid a man when I meet him. How dare I look up at him with a grin."

Xue Pan asked again: "Then have you talked to him?"

Baochai shook her head again.

Xue Pan couldn't help being disappointed.

Xue Zhizhang waved his hand and said: "Okay, living in the palace for so long is not as comfortable as being at home after all. Let Baochai go back to the room first, change clothes and come out to eat!"

So Xueyan and Jinse immediately supported Baochai and went back to Wutong Garden, not mentioning how to wash and change clothes for the time being.

And when it came to the second day, all the relatives and friends who got the news naturally posted invitations and sent gifts to celebrate.For such a big happy event, Mrs. Xue naturally publicized it to the fullest.Hastily chose another auspicious day and issued an invitation card to entertain all relatives and friends.

This kind of publicity and celebration, except for the family who really feel happy and proud, most of them are for the royal family to see.Use this way to tell everyone that the Xue family is very satisfied with this finger marriage, and thank the emperor for his kindness.Naturally, the people who do it are careful, and the people who come are happy.Four kings and eight princes, families of noble lords, all those who were friends with each other sent invitations, and for a while there was a lot of traffic in front of Xue's mansion, and there was a bustle of people.

When it was time for the banquet in the evening, even Prince Zhongrui and Prince Zhonglian joined together.Because of his status, Prince Zhongchun did not come to the door in person, but he also entrusted Prince Zhonglian with a gift in private.It is a white hosta carved in the shape of a peony, exquisitely carved and lifelike.The whole body is shiny and white, which is really a good thing.

Prince Zhonglian handed the brocade box with the white jade hairpin to Xue Pan, and said softly with a smile: "I heard that it was carved by the eleventh brother himself. Xiao Wang only told you, so don't talk nonsense."

Xue Pan smiled knowingly at Prince Zhonglian, and said, "Although you said so, I still understand."

While talking and laughing, he suddenly saw the gatekeeper running in in a panic.The prequel to the meeting reported: "Someone is coming from the palace—"

So everyone hurriedly stopped the play, withdrew the banquet, set up an incense table, and opened the middle door to kneel down to receive it.Long ago, Xia Shouzhong, the governor of the Sixth Palace, led a group of inner eunuchs to the hall, stood facing the south, and said: "I will immediately announce that Xue Pan, the son of the faithful Marquis Xue Zhizhang, will enter the palace to have an audience."

After some actions, Xue Pan was taken aback for a while.

Isn't this the part of Jia Yuanchun's concubine in "A Dream of Red Mansions"?Now that Qin Keqing is not dead, and today is not Jia Zheng's birthday, how could this act be performed?

He was contemplating this side, and Xia Shouzhong laughed softly on the other side: "Young Lord, hurry up and go to the palace to listen to the order."

Xue Pan asked in a daze, "Grandpa Xia, do you know what the Holy Majesty called me?"

If these words were placed on others, Xia Shouzhong would have sneered back with sarcasm.However, Xue Pan's identity is very different, Xia Shouzhong could only patiently say: "The Sacred Heart is unpredictable, so we can figure it out. But I see that the Holy Majesty looks very good, so it's not a bad thing to be left or right!"

Then he said to Xue Zhizhang and the others with a warm face: "The Holy Majesty ordered that only the young master enter the palace to have an audience. The rest of the people will continue to feast and enjoy the show."

Hearing Xia Shouzhong's words, everyone was still worried, but at least half of their hearts were relieved, and they hurriedly got up to clean up, helped Xue Pan change clothes and entered the palace without mentioning—

++++++++++++++++++++++++++ small theater --

After Pantao arrived at the Qianqing Palace, Pudi was crushed by Tu Zhen, tearing it up, the naked bird Pantao was shocked, and asked, "Do you want to dry hair?"

Tu Zhen smiled charmingly, and said, "Wa is going to do it immediately, unless everyone leaves a lot of messages, Wa can consider holding it back~!"