Heir of the Red Chamber

This question really doesn't match what everyone said before, not to mention that Lin Chong was puzzled, even Chen Xiao took his eyes away from the teapot and looked at Lin Ruhai and Lin Ya and his son who were smiling at each other The two raised their eyebrows.

Lin Ruhai's question was reserved, and Lin Ya's answer was also very restrained.

"Indeed. It's hard for the boys to be loyal and obedient. In such a big situation, you can find a way to talk to me, so you didn't miss the business. Although my son is dull, it is enough to deal with such insignificant matters with a few breaths of time." It’s safe and secure and won’t invite people to gossip.”

After finishing speaking, the corners of Lin Ya's lips curled up slightly, obviously very satisfied with the so-called treatment, Lin Ruhai also nodded happily.

What Chen Xiao loves to hear most is such charades, and immediately he didn't even have time to eat tea, he wholeheartedly guessed the true meaning of the two people's words, only Lin Chong couldn't figure out the fate of these words, his eyebrows frowned Mouth, secretly swore that it must grow up earlier.

In fact, what Lin Ruhai and Lin Ya said was not an important secret.Lin Ruhai just heard from the chief housekeeper, He Qi, that as soon as Jia's family came, the uncle's servants left the house in a hurry, without saying a word, making it hard for people to push them away. , Then the strong and strong men who came up from Zhuangzi in the south to see the future also left behind the Jia family. The idiots in the lead played tricks, saying that they would leave the city today and rush back to the south.

What kind of person is Lin Ruhai? If you think about the eldest son's undisguised hatred and dislike for the Jia family, what are the gangsters who have been subdued by the eldest son doing? .It is estimated that Lin Ya didn't target anyone in particular, it was just that whoever came to the door was unlucky.Now that he got Lin Ya's permission, he heard that all the servants did go out of Beijing immediately after the attack, and that they did not lose their sense of proportion, so he put away his little worry.

What does it mean to be appropriate and not invite people to gossip?To put it bluntly, he didn't really hit the young men of Jia's family, but just cleaned up the servants and knocked the mountain to shake the tiger, so as to prevent the poor and settled Jia family from taking the opportunity to be entangled and entangled.

Of course, the phoenix egg of Jia's family actually fell ill because of this, Lin Ruhai and Lin Ya really didn't expect it.Who would have thought that the heart of the second master Bao, who had great fortune and was well-known in the capital, was as fragile as the daughter of the boudoir.

Even though he still regretted that his own son could not stand still, Lin Ruhai was quite satisfied with having a promising and affectionate heir like Lin Ya, and the four of them chatted in the study again, and when they learned how to handle housework in the back house After arranging the banquet, Daiyu sent someone to invite them to the banquet for a drink, so she stopped talking, and just calmly poured Lin Ya, a proud Tanhualang.

Although Lin Ya's drinking capacity has increased since the first time in his life, that is, the tragic experience of getting drunk, but this night is also hard to beat with two fists. Not only Lin Ruhai and Chen Xiao are old and disrespectful, but even his own brother Lin Ya They all used tea instead of wine, filling three cups of Lin Ya.At the end of the drink, Lin Ya didn't even know how to get back to the yard, and Chen Xiao was too drunk to go home. If Daiyu hadn't prepared sober soup for these men who suddenly became playful, they would have had a second In the morning, everyone had a headache.

As soon as Lin Ya woke up, he went to Lin Ruhai's study, wanting to elaborate on all the abnormal remarks on the day of the palace examination, so that he could have a solid foundation in his heart and make some preparations.

Lin Ruhai was also waiting for him in the study, but what he said was not a big family and country matter, and he didn't even give Lin Ya the chance to speak. Hand it over to Lin Ya, let him change into decent clothes and go to Zeng's house to listen to the elders' instructions.

Lin Ya choked. After all, he was too brave and courageous. He still asked Lin Ruhai's eyes slowly about the doubts about what he said today, and reminded the old father to focus on business in a more subtle way.

Lin Ruhai sneered directly: "What is business? Getting married as soon as possible and starting a family is the top priority now. Good business is not easy to do, and you will only worry about useless things."

It turns out that getting a wife is more important than the battle for the throne.Lin Ya was speechless for a while, and he couldn't be disobedient. He said that his father was talking nonsense, so he had to argue: "You must first send the steward to Zeng's house to say, the master's house is free, so I can come to the door."

It's not that Lin Ya doesn't pay attention to his future wife and Yue's family, but a little analysis of the court situation confirms that what he thinks is just a cup of tea. Lin Ruhai knows that he has been thinking about this since yesterday, but he still wants to drive him to Zeng Home, it was obvious that he was deliberately watching him get angry.

It's a pity that Lin Ya, who was shrewd all his life, was also stupid.Since Lin Ruhai did it on purpose, the more he doesn't want to leave now, the less Lin Ruhai will let go.His face remained motionless, and he was still gentle and refined as usual, but what he said made Lin Ya roll his eyes from the bottom of his heart.

"Why do you want people to go to the battle first? Is it because you are afraid of being shut down? Originally, you bow your head to marry a wife. If the Zeng family really makes things difficult for you, that is the right thing to do. What is face for a son-in-law? You want face to suffer. , is not the style of my Lin family's children."

Lin Ruhai took it for granted, and Lin Ya endured it again and again, so he didn't ask Lin Ruhai if he also threw away all the nice and gentle skins that he usually wore when he married Jia Min.The old man of my own family just stood up and talked without pain in his back. He himself was the son-in-law that Jia Daishan tried so hard to snatch food back, and Jia pardoned Jia Zheng with that kind of virtue. Who else can make it difficult for him?

It's a pity that seniority ethics pitted his son, so Lin Ya could only take the red lacquer box with him to Zeng's house full of complaints.Anyway, for such an important matter, Lin Ruhai will have to give him a letter sooner or later.

Lin Ruhai, who had just sent his eldest son to someone else's home as an uninvited guest, was at home preparing to take his second son to the study to enlighten him for a while. He also had a surprising guest: Mrs. Chen Xiao's mother, Mrs. Chen.

Chen Xiao's father, Chen Shilang, was also a talented man of his generation back then, but it was a pity that he passed away too early, and died suddenly in his prime, leaving only orphans and widows to depend on each other.It is said that Chen Shilang's mother passed away at that time, and Chen Shilang took his wife back to his hometown to observe filial piety.Unexpectedly, accidents happened on the road, and before Chen Shilang returned to his hometown to offer a stick of incense to his dead mother, he let go of his hands and went west on the way home.

Mrs. Chen was also from a famous family, and she was trained by the court at a young age. Although her natal father and brothers tried to persuade her to remarry, she was very loyal and steadfast.Later Chen Xiao became famous as a young man, his father and son were both biography and glorious lintels, and now he also heard of the old lady Chen's chastity, and specially gave a chastity memorial archway.If Chen Xiao hadn't suddenly become Zuo Xing and resolutely resigned from office and refused to travel far away from Beijing, old lady Chen would definitely be even more beautiful than she is now.

Lin Ruhai also lived with his widowed mother for a period of time, and he has always admired Mrs. Chen, but Chen Xiao sent someone home to report the news before having a drink yesterday. Lin Ruhai saw it with his own eyes. When the wife came to the door, it seemed very strange.

Dazed for a moment, Lin Ruhai only thought that Mrs. Chen had something urgent to find Chen Xiao, and while calling for someone to see Chen Xiao who was still hungover, she straightened her clothes and greeted her in person. Respectfully welcome to the upper room.

Speaking of it, Mrs. Chen is not very old, and she is more than ten years older than Lin Ruhai, but she looks very old. If people don't know the inside story, they will think that Mrs. Chen is about the same age as Jia's mother. .The clothes and hairpin rings on her body are also very simple, with only a round bun on the back of her head, and a silver hairpin with a drop of rice beads inserted on it, not to mention the old people of ordinary officials and eunuchs in Beijing, even the rich and powerful have decent old mothers They are all richer than this, which made Lin Ruhai very puzzled, and intuitively felt that this matter was strange.

Before Chen Xiao arrived, Lin Ruhai had no choice but to entertain one or two first after hearing the servant's report.Unexpectedly, Mrs. Chen just sat down at the head without hesitation, and looked at Lin Ruhai who was very respectful and polite to her with a loving face: "When I was still in my boudoir, I had the honor to have a banquet at the same table with Mrs. Lin. , after many years, now you are also a father."

Mrs. Chen's natal family and Mrs. Lin's natal family are both Qingliu. The two are indeed old acquaintances, but they lost their fathers one after another and each raised their young son in their ancestral home. It has been many years without news, and they have never seen Lin Ruhai.

Thinking of his deceased mother, Lin Ruhai also felt a little bit of the impermanence of the world, and was about to say a few words of agreement, but the old lady Chen didn't need anyone to answer her.She didn't seem to see Lin Ruhai's intention to speak at all, so she took it up on her own: "I know that the son I raised doesn't have much ability, but luckily I didn't delay your son, now that Uncle Lin has won the palace, I can rest assured. "

These words are not particularly appropriate.Mrs. Chen said that Chen Xiao's incompetence can be explained by humility. Originally, parents were mostly self-effacing when they mentioned their children, so the following few sentences were somewhat out of proportion.Lin Ruhai's fingers holding the teacup moved slightly, but he still didn't take this feeling of disharmony to heart.

Don't mention Mrs. Chen's seniority here, just say that she is a widow who can support the family business and raise her son to become a talent, but she can't hold it if she has a weak temper.

After a few words of politeness, Chen Xiao hurried over, and Lin Ruhai took advantage of the situation to get up. After seeing the ceremony, everyone planned to point out something and avoid it, so that their mother and son could talk, but he revealed the intention of leaving, Mrs. Chen Then turn the conversation back to him.

"Master Lin, please stop. Just now we mentioned that you are also a person with children. As a parent, even if you don't think about yourself, you must also think about your children." Old Mrs. Chen smiled, her thin face This smile appeared to be more wrinkled: "Even if you had any concerns in the past, now that Uncle Lin has won the number one prize and has a bright future, Mr. Lin should marry another wife, so that he can have a happy family."

The old lady Chen herself was very happy. When Chen Xiao heard the first sentence, she deliberately stopped her and raised her arms. When she remembered that she was at the Lin family, how many pairs of eyes were watching her, she couldn't help but hesitated, and the old lady Chen also He just spoke out when his son and Lin Ruhai didn't respond.

Lin Ruhai smiled slightly and did not answer, but only cast a meaningful glance at Chen Xiao.Mrs. Chen is not visiting here as a guest, she is clearly here to make revenge.

Of course, Chen Xiao knew that Mrs. Chen was meddling in other people's housework, so she didn't need Lin Ruhai to open her mouth. Mrs. Chen went back with him.

It's a pity that Mrs. Chen didn't listen at all, but felt that she was reasonable.

"If there is a virtuous mistress in the family, why are you in such a hurry? Master Lin really should have a good life..."

The old lady Chen didn't finish the rest of the sentence, because Chen Xiao directly interrupted her: "Didn't my mother say that my aunt's house is going to send someone over today, and it's almost time, my son will serve you back."

Chen Xiao didn't make it clear just now, old lady Chen could pretend not to understand, but now that everything has been said like this, old lady Chen's complexion sank, and before Lin Ruhai came to smooth things over, she just took the veil Covering his face, he shouted: "I'm sorry that I haven't raised a good son in my life, and I'm a rebel! At this age, which one should I rely on!"

It's really crying blood every word. If the old lady Chen still pretended to cry at the beginning, but the tears really came down in the end. Those who heard it were really sad, and Chen Xiao's face also changed. She didn't need to say anything, just knelt down plead guilty.

Old Mrs. Chen refused to let it go, she didn't even look at her son kneeling on the ground, but looked around the room with tears in her eyes.Lin Ruhai had almost confirmed that the relationship between Chen Xiao's mother and son was definitely not simple, and there was only a bit of difficulty on his face, and he repeatedly persuaded the old lady Chen to calm down and deal with it with some empty words, but did not answer her words of scolding Chen Xiao for being unfilial.The rest of the servants wished that they were not here at all. Before the old lady could look away, she lowered her head one by one, pretending that she was just a wooden pile.

No one was willing to do what she wanted, so the old lady Chen continued to talk about herself, tears kept rolling, and she didn't choke up at all when she spoke: "I might as well bump my head to death for such a rebellious son."

As she said that, she really took a step towards the pillar next to her. In a panic, several servants of the Lin family rushed over to block the pillar behind her. She hugged her legs so that she couldn't move an inch.

Seeing that Chen Xiao dared to act like this in front of outsiders, the old lady Chen couldn't help being very angry, she stopped crying, and didn't want to die, she scolded Chen Xiao and said that she would go to Shuntian Mansion to beat the drums to sue him for disobedience, while beating Chen Xiao fiercely. Xiao's back.

After tossing and tossing for a long time, it seemed that the old lady Chen's hands were sore from beating her and her voice was hoarse from scolding. Chen Xiao stood up with a dark face, still half-holding and half-holding the old lady Chen to prevent her from moving freely.

"Master Lin laughed at me. My mother is not feeling well. I will take my leave first, and I will come to make an apology at another day."

With a slight nod after finishing speaking, Chen Ling dragged the old lady Chen away. Lin Ruhai groaned for a moment, then gave the butler He Qi a wink, and followed him personally until seeing Chen Xiao and the old lady Chen together. He got into the carriage outside the second door, and strictly ordered all the servants who had seen Mrs. Chen to keep their mouths shut, otherwise the whole family would be sold to the saltworks, and then they turned and went back to the study.

After such a farce, Lin Ruhai had more speculations about why Chen Xiao left his widowed mother at home and traveled alone.If it's just a disdain for the corruption of the government, the darkness of the officialdom and the upside-down of human relations, it is not impossible to send the old mother back to the hometown.But look at what Mrs. Chen did today, she was so upside down, and Lin Ruhai herself wished she could draw a line with this kind of person.

It is only natural for a mother to teach her son a lesson, and it makes sense when it comes to the sky.But Chen Xiao didn't make a big mistake, but just cut off the old lady Chen's words, and the old lady Chen taught Chen Xiao at other people's homes. Those who are shallower or the city is not deep enough, may turn their faces and drive people away.Lin Ruhai has been an official butcher for so many years, and he thinks he has met quite a few people, but this is the first time he has seen someone as confused as old lady Chen.

And now Lin Ruhai really has some doubts about whether Mrs. Chen is Chen Xiao's mother.Don't say anything else, just look at what Mrs. Chen said and did today, even if she treated her enemy's son.Even if the servant who was serving in the study room leaked a little bit out, Chen Xiao's official career would be completely ruined with the old lady Chen's chaste memorial arch and her reputation of being young and chaste.

Being unfilial is a serious crime, let alone being unfilial to a widowed mother?Removal of fame and reputation is light.Ordinary mothers, even if their sons are really disobedient and unfilial, they will never confide a word to the outside world, they just love their sons.

Mrs. Chen's behavior is really too strange.

Chen Xiao was the husband that Lin Ruhai invited back for his children. Even though he had no problems in his daily life, Lin Ruhai did not dare to take it lightly. He carefully thought about what he knew about the old things of the Chen family, and then he thought about what happened today, the mother and the son of the Chen family. Recalling their respective situations, the more I think about it, the more I feel something is wrong.Not to mention the old lady Chen's treatment of Chen Ling, even Chen Ling's treatment of the widowed mother, that's just respect, not even Rumu.

Lin Ruhai was thinking about the Chen family's affairs, when He Qi, who was supposed to take a closer look at the servants who might have heard the news of the Chen family's mother and son fighting, suddenly came in in a hurry.

"Master, Mr. Zeng's servant just came to report that Mr. Zeng is already on his way and will arrive immediately." He Qi trotted over after hearing the news, not even bothering to wipe off his sweat at the moment.Today is also an evil door, one by one, they are all sudden visits, which makes people caught off guard.

Master Zeng came to the door suddenly?

Lin Ruhai was startled, and couldn't help asking: "Brother Ya, did you ever enter the Zeng family?" He Qi's eldest grandson was one of Lin Ya's followers, so Lin Ruhai asked this question.He was busy entertaining Mrs. Chen before, and Lin Ya was already the son-in-law of the Zeng family, and he had just earned face for the two families. Logically, he should be the guest of honor of the Zeng family, so he didn't ask.

"It's natural. I heard from the report that the old ladies and wives of the Zeng family are full of praise for the uncle and love him very much." He Qi was also very puzzled by the sudden arrival of the old master Zeng. He clearly behaved and talked in the Zeng family Nothing wrong.

If it's not about Lin Ya, it's about government affairs.

Lin Ruhai rested for the past two days, and he counted the time, Master Zeng came over as soon as the court was over, and he couldn't help but attach great importance to it, and after ordering Xiao Yaoer to prepare tea, he went to greet him outside the gate in person again.As for the important matter that could make Mr. Zeng rush over to discuss it in person, it really made Lin Ruhai's face sink in an instant, and he didn't say a word for a long time.

In Zeng's house, Mr. Zeng, who also needed to go to court on duty, also entered the door with the support of his second son, Mr. Zeng Er.

The expressions of the father and son were also very solemn. Mr. Zeng didn't even ask his grandsons about their homework as usual, and directly caused the young masters of the Zeng family to disperse, leaving Lin Ya alone.

"Today, I'm discussing the eight-hundred-mile emergency report that I just received at night. The war in the Northwest resumed, and the border guards concealed the battle report to delay the battle. On the one hand, they sent envoys west to the frontier pass, sent envoys to the barbarian tribes, and instigated rebellion against the barbarian master's younger brother, King Yin."

The old lady Zeng was very serious, but not too impatient. When he said this, he looked at Lin Ya's expression carefully before continuing: "The Fourth Highness recommended you. Already very moved."

The current barbarian leader of the barbarian tribe is not so justifiable.The rule of the barbarian tribe is that the youngest son guards the stove, but the barbarian master left too suddenly. The current King Yin was still a suckling baby back then, so of course he couldn't convince the guests of the eight tribes. Convinced, he became the new barbarian.

In the past, there was no gossip in the barbarian tribe. It was because King Yin was still young, and when King Yin grew up, the clues of this brother's quarrel gradually emerged.The fact that the important position is light on the flesh and blood is really exactly the same as the Central Plains and the Barbarians.

As soon as Old Master Zeng mentioned the Northwest War, Lin Ya went through the affairs of the barbarians that he had studied in his mind. He was half a beat too late to realize the meaning of Old Master Zeng's last words, and his expression couldn't help but change.

It is said that the sage has not yet given an accurate statement, but who is the old master Zeng who can make him drive away his children and grandchildren and solemnly inform him that this matter is at least eight or nine percent accurate.At this juncture, he was sent to instigate a rebellion against King Yin of the Barbarian tribe, rather than sending him to his death.

For some reason, Lin Ya had a feeling that since he entered Beijing until now, the silence of the four major families has been waiting for this moment.

Even if the sage is already dissatisfied with the four or six princes, so what, the Lin family is just a slave in the eyes of the sage.Even if Lin Ruhai is a rare pure minister in the court, if necessary, the saint may not cherish Lin Ya's life.When the imperial edict is issued, will the Lin family still be able to resist the edict?

Obviously before this, he had just met Mrs. Zeng who came to pay her respects to her grandmother in the corridor by the pond in the courtyard of Mrs. Zeng. She was wearing an apricot dress, her eyes were downcast and her smile was like spring flowers blooming on the branches.It was when he was a proud teenager, but in an instant, drastic changes were imminent.

Now, the most important thing is to find out what happened in the northwest, which made the saint ignore Lin Ruhai's loyalty.