Flowers on the other side [Comprehensive Red House]

On the 28th of the twelfth lunar month, Jia Amnesty received the second letter Jia Lian wrote to him from the servants of the Lin family in Beijing, which was another thick stack.

Jia She slowly cut open the envelope, took out the stack of letter paper, and just read a line of words, he felt his eyes burning, "My lord father:"

Jia She put down the letter paper and covered his face with his hands. This was the first time Lian'er called him 20 years after he was born—Master Father.He didn't know who taught this child, but when he saw him, he was "Master, Master". When Jia Lian was young, he didn't dare to correct it. When he grew up, he followed Jia Zheng and called him "Master..." Jia Amnesty swallowed, and continued to read the letter.

This letter from Jia Lian is no different from the previous one, it is still not organized, it looks like a daily journal.Jia Amnesty curled his lips while watching, but fortunately he didn't write about how he washes and dresses every day.But seeing Jia Lian still practicing Wuqinxi with Lin Hai and Daiyu every day, having breakfast and dinner together, going to class with Daiyu, following Lin Ruhai to the Yamen, and Lin Ruhai taking the school exam every day after dinner, I felt a little sore and uncomfortable. Every day, living in Lin's family is like a family member.If this continues, this son will soon be Lin Ruhai's.

Turning to the last page, Jia Lian wrote: "Uncle Lin received the annual gift and asked his son and Lin's cousin to choose their favorites. The son chose an inkstone for his own use; he also chose another inkstone and a brush wash for gifting. To you, my father who loves gold and stone." Jia She saw that Jia Lian's words began to distort.

"Uncle Lin said: This is the Shuxiu you gave him, your son."

Seeing this, Jia Amnesty couldn't help laughing at Lin Ruhai's embarrassment, and his mood improved.

"Uncle Lin said that he would accept his son as a disciple, and that he should choose a good day in the next year to pay homage to his teacher."

"Uncle Lin arranged for his son to go to Jinling to take the boy's examination in March... and asked Father to keep his son's imperial examination a secret."

After Jia She read Jia Lian's letter, she immediately felt ashamed. Although she protected Jia Lian and raised Jia Lian, she didn't teach him anything. Instead, it was Lin Ruhai, who was ashamed of Jia's family, who acted as a father for him.

Jia Amnesty found out the letters Jia Lian sent to Jia Mu, read and re-read the three letters one by one, and waited to re-read Lin Ruhai's question about Jia Lian's school entrance examination. He rubbed his forehead and meditated. In addition to his father's Yu Yin, he still has his uniqueness.Looking at Lin Hai's actions, he probably made up his mind long ago to raise Jia She's son as his Lin Ruhai's son.

While playing with the yellow jade brave on the desk, Jia Amnesty continued to meditate. He skipped over the winter clothes that Lin Hai gave to Jia Lian, which was the same as his own. "Cheese", just change the page.Jia Amnesty still curled his lips as if he was reading a letter for the first time. For a boy who has never seen the world, salt merchants don’t just use various names to give gifts, or they are skinny horses with a dowry of ten thousand taels of silver. of.

Jia She read the letter a few more times, and felt a little more certain that Lin Hai was going to take Jia She's son away.

Jia Amnesty put the letter on the desk, and leaned on the generous rosewood chair to meditate. The advantage of his son following Lin Ruhai is that anyone with long eyes can see it.However, although the Taishang is in the Zen position, he is not someone who can let go of his rights.When Taishang is in better health, I am afraid that the rivalry with Jinshang will become more intense day by day.

Alas, I'm really afraid that Lin Ruhai will be punished by the emperor if he votes today.But if you don't vote for Jinshang, after a few years, when Jinshang takes real power, he won't be spared.

Call Jia Lian back?No, if you come back, you will be an errand-runner in the Rongguo Mansion and a small butler in charge of chores, and there is no possibility of becoming an official in this life.

So what if he doesn't call him back, if Lin Hai can't make it through and is punished by the emperor or the emperor, Jia Lian, as a disciple and nephew, shouldn't be reduced to beheading?

However, the couple from the second room had been staring at their titles for too long, and the old lady was too partial to the second room.When something happened to Jia Lian, would Wang Ziteng take care of his niece, or would he favor his sister?What if Wang Ziteng and the second child's family fell into trouble? ——In that case, Jia Lian would be doomed!

The more Jia She thought about it, the more worried he became. Several concubines who were usually very fond of Jia She, saw Jia She sitting bored in the study, and they all found various excuses to go to the study to hook up, but Jia She was merciless and said nothing. scolded out.Jia She was bored in the study and didn't even eat lunch or dinner, but who would dare to go in and disturb Jia She?

Until it was getting dark, a young man bravely came in to light a lamp.After the young man lit a few lamps, he took a peek at Jia She. Seeing that Jia She's face was black, like the executioner at Caishikou, the young man was so frightened that he almost knocked over the oil lamp and lit it up in a hurry. All the lamps then fled out of the study with a scramble.

The lights in the room were bright, and Jia Amnesty had some maladjustment. He closed his eyes, and then stared intently at the three letters put together on the table. After more than a month, it was obvious that Jia Lian's handwriting was improving.

Jia Amnesty remained silent for a while, and then he took a deep breath and made up his mind.Quickly tidied up the letters on the table, got up and walked to the bookshelf, thought for a while, took out two small red sandalwood boxes, opened them to have a look, put the contents of the boxes into the purse of the pocket, and called the servants to come in and serve them. Great clothes for going out.

Wu Xindeng followed Jia Amnesty with his people. Relying on the affection he had followed Jia Amnesty for more than 30 years, Wu Xindeng asked cautiously, "Master, where are you going? You haven't eaten your second meal."

"Prepare the horse." Jia She said coldly.

Wu Xindeng didn't dare to say anything anymore, and hurriedly ordered the horses to be prepared, and he himself ordered the boy to get the big clothes for going out, and followed Jia Shen out of the east gate.

The winter night is silent, with no moon and no stars, only the sheepskin lanterns carried by the boy in front cast a little bit of light, and the snow on the roadside returned a cold light.In the cold wind, a group of people followed Jia She, all shrinking their necks.On the empty street, there is only the sound of a series of horseshoes, stepping on the snow-covered road in winter, breaking the silence of the night.

Jia Amnesty led the people straight to Cheng Yin's mansion, the new emperor's confidant.This Cheng Yin was the one who accompanied the new emperor to spend the most unbearable study time in the inner palace, and also accompanied the new emperor like an invisible person, surviving the ignorance of the hidden mansion.When the new emperor picked up a Qiaozong and won the throne, not long after he took the throne, he offered Cheng Yin the position of the right minister of the Ministry of officials.

Today's Cheng Yin can be regarded as the No.1 around him.

Jia Amnesty stopped his horse in front of Cheng Yin's mansion, and Wu Xindeng cried out inwardly, "My lord, this Cheng mansion is not allowed to be seen by anyone." But Wu Xindeng had no choice but to go up and call the door.

After waiting for a while, the concierge came out and answered, "Who is it?"

"From Rongguo Mansion."

The concierge didn't open the door at all, but said through the door: "Our master is resting, no see."

Jia She jumped off the horse, beat the copper ring on the door with a whip, and grunted coldly and threatened the door, "Jia She from the Rongguo Mansion came to pay respects to Cheng Yin. If you want to live, go in and tell your master."

The concierge was probably startled by Jia Amnesty's tone, and muttered a few words, but what he said could not be heard outside the door.After a while, hurried footsteps sounded from inside the door, and the door opened quickly. Before anyone arrived, the voice came out first, "Enhou, but Brother Enhou is here?"

…………

Hu Wencai returned to Yangzhou Yushifu years ago.

Seeing that Hu Wen had lost a lot of weight, Lin Hai felt grateful, and said to Hu Wen, "Zong Wen, you have worked hard these past few months."

Hu Wen sniffed the familiar tea fragrance of Yushifu, and replied with a smile: "I don't dare to be as hard as Hai said, but luckily everything is going well." Hu Wen took out a bag from the bag he was carrying. The box full of letters was handed to Lin Hai with both hands.

Lin Hai took them over and looked at them one by one. There was Mr. Li, the head of the Hanlin Academy, his own room teacher, Mr. Chen, his minister of the Ministry of Rites, Mr. Chen, the minister of the cabinet, and Jia Amnesty from Jia’s mansion—one was for himself. Yes, one was for Jia Lian, and some were from the same year I was in Beijing.

"Zong Wen met Master Chen?" Lin Hai was not in a hurry to read the letter.From the original body's memory, he didn't find many impressions about Mr. Chen, and the original relationship was also indifferent.It's really strange. In the officialdom, the seat teacher, room teacher, and students are natural allies. How could Lin Hai have such an indifferent relationship with Mr. Chen, the minister of the cabinet?

"No. After giving the New Year gift, Mr. Chen sent this letter to his family the next day."

After thinking about it, Lin Hai opened the letter from Mrs. Li, which mainly promised marriage, and also promised to transfer him back to the capital as soon as possible next year.After reading it, Lin Hai handed it to Hu Wen. After reading it, Hu Wen smiled and handed it to Zhou Ming.

Lin Hai opened Mr. Chen's letter and quickly scanned it. No wonder Lin Hai had a cold relationship with him. This is the kind of person who respects ancient etiquette and refuses to change it. He is also a suitable position in the Ministry of Rites.Of course, a capable official like Lin Hai and a tactful censor are naturally different.It's difficult for him, as a cabinet minister, to see the danger of Lin Hai's situation, and he doesn't know if it's true or not, but he still tells Lin Hai to do his duty as a salt inspector.

Lin Hai murmured in his heart, the annual gifts he sent should be thrown into the canal.With a sneer, he showed the letter to Hu Wen.Hu Wen read Mr. Chen's letter, grinned and said, "Ruhai, everyone is different. It's a pity that he, a minister of the cabinet, refuses to help."

Zhou Ming read Mr. Chen's letter, but he didn't quite agree with Hu Wen's statement, "Dong Weng hasn't contacted Mr. Chen for a long time. It's rash. Mr. Chen can reply, but he doesn't dare to say anything. But he respects the ancients like this." It is normal for people who are polite not to help."

Lin Hai didn't say anything anymore, and called the boy to come in, and asked the boy to deliver Jia Lian's letter.Guess Jia Amnesty's letter was nothing more than thanking him for teaching Jia Lian.When I opened it, I saw that it was really all these. I became interested and put it away.He also read the letters from the same year one by one, and there was nothing special, so he put them aside.

"Zong Wen, Kuang Ming, if he really respects the ancient etiquette and doesn't know how to adapt, how can he achieve the position of minister of the Ministry of Rites and minister of the cabinet? It seems that the hope of returning to Beijing will be on the head of Mr. Li. Those of us In the same year in Beijing, what do you say?"

"Ruhai, Yulin and I voted for greetings, and we hardly saw anyone when we sent gifts from house to house. The one or two people I saw occasionally thought that the capital was dangerous, and said that the officials in Beijing were in a lot of panic, and most of them were out of conspiracy. Ren. These letters were also sent to the capital mansion the next day."

"It's the people outside the city who want to go into the city to avoid disaster, and the people inside the city who want to escape to escape disaster, ha ha." Lin Hai responded with such a sentence. "Zong Wen, come back and have a good rest for the New Year. Anyway, this matter will not be completed in half a day. In a few days, you will also give lectures to my nephew. I want him to go to Jinling this year to take the talent examination."

Hu Wen's eyes widened in surprise. He still had a general idea of ​​how much knowledge Jia Lian had in his belly.

Seeing his surprised look, Zhou Ming couldn't help laughing happily. It turned out that he was not the only one who reacted like this when he heard that Jia Lian was going to take the talent test.Haha, it's good to have company.

"Zongwen, Dong Weng just wants to show that your son is 'admitted' as a scholar."

Hu Wen rolled his eyes and understood.Then he smiled and said: "The cousin has suffered a lot. Did you get the exam questions over the years? And Cheng Wenshi's anthology?"

"I got a part of it. The rest will be delivered one after another year after year."

"Ruhai, do you want to go to Jinling to say hello first?"

"Not yet. Let him suffer for two months first. When he meets Qingliu in the future, he will feel awe in his heart. He won't get mixed up in noble circles and do stupid things. One more thing, after the new year, I will accept Jia Lian is a house disciple, I asked Lin Qian to choose a date, and what I got was Shangyuan Festival."

"Ruhai wants him...?"

"It's not ten or eight years old. It's hard for any of your sons to get in. During this period, I have to look at my nephew. He is the eldest grandson of the Rongguo Mansion and the heir to the title. With his flexible temperament, there will be less resistance in the clear stream, and his career will be much faster. At that time, they will also have a helping hand."

Zhou Ming and Hu Wen looked at each other and nodded in agreement, so they stood up and congratulated Lin Hai in unison.Based on their friendship with Lin Hai for many years, they didn't force their son to join Lin Hai's sect. Once he was a Jinshi in high school, he would naturally be taken care of by Lin Hai.It's a pity that although my sons worked hard and received some advice from Lin Hai, they were all stopped at the hurdle of Qiu Wei.In the matter of imperial examinations, in addition to being a talent for talent, the higher you go, the more it depends on chance.Over the years, they and Lin Hai have been aides, standing together through thick and thin, and they have become an inseparable one.If you want future generations to go further, you must not be faulty.Otherwise, in a few years, winning a Juren like themselves would probably be an extravagant wish.

Besides, if the children can't be admitted to Jinshi, worshiping under Lin Hai's family, I'm afraid it will hinder the children's future.Both the host and the guest knew things in their hearts, and now they saw Lin Hai accepting disciples, and they had no other emotions.If Jia Lian can really go far in his official career, given Lin Hai's current situation of having no heirs, Lin Hai might really consider Jia Lian his son.

The three of them discussed about the apprenticeship ceremony, then called Lin Qian over, and told Lin Qian to handle the details.

Since Jia Lian was determined to be a scholar, besides eating and sleeping, he read books every day.The hateful thing is that Mingxi often reads "Shangshu" in front of his bed. It is called "Shangshu" by the name, first listen to the general idea, and it will be easy to learn later.Anyway, Jia Lian fell asleep in the "Book of History" every night, and after being woken up by Ming Chuan, he washed up and listened to "Book of Filial Piety" at the same time.

Jia Lian didn't know how other people studied, but he privately guessed that Uncle Lin could win Tanhua without being as weak as the crown, which must be how he studied.Thus, Jia Lian went through the most difficult years in his life, especially when he had to face the tittering of his little cousin from time to time.Even during the [-]-night vigil, he listened to his cousin and uncle reciting poems and odes to him.

"Lian'er, if you don't pass the examination as a scholar this year, you will have to live like this next year."

When Jia Lian heard this, he felt that there was no hope of living.When I got dizzy and got under the covers, I didn't regret it. Why did I choose to stay in Jiangnan and go back to Beijing with everyone Lai, isn't it good? !It would be nice to go back to Beijing with the gift giver!

Jia Lian only thought about it occasionally when he was bored under the covers, but every time he was reminded by Qingming who rushed up immediately, go back, what are you going to do when you go back?The little butler who runs errands in the Rongguo Mansion, follows the second room, and earns a few coins for pocket money from the chores in charge?When he didn't know, he was the future master of Rongguo Mansion!

Everyone in the family followed the old lady's wishes, and praised the second room's precious jade like a phoenix egg.In the past, when Big Brother Zhu was alive, everyone in the house praised Big Brother Zhu, and the champion in the meeting would shine on the lintel!Now it is Baoyu, and there will be great fortune in the future.He never existed—if I didn't take the opportunity given by Uncle Lin to go to school, I'm afraid I'd just be an errand runner for the rest of my life.

People understand clearly, no matter how tired they are from studying, Jia Lian will grit his teeth and endure it.It's just that the winter in the south of the Yangtze River is not as good as that in the north. Although the bed is warmed up, Jia Lian always thinks of Sister Feng, who has not been seen for almost a year, and feels that the long night is long and difficult.

As time went by, Jia Lian read a lot, remembered a lot, opened his eyes and mind, read some interesting articles, and then read the articles he wrote. Several gentlemen ticked off the red comments, and found that he was not as miserable as he thought in the past. , so I also made a relentless effort to read a famous trick.Just looking at Uncle Lin's annual ceremony, if she is better than Wang Ziteng in her official career in the future, like Uncle Lin, who is both famous and profitable, even if Sister Feng sees it, she will no longer think that only the Wang family is powerful.

When he couldn't continue reading, Jia Lian used Uncle Lin to motivate himself, to be famous and profitable, and to make Sister Feng look up to him.

Years ago, after Mr. Hu Wenhu came back, there was one more person who taught Jia Lian.The four have different styles, but there is a lot to memorize and write.What Jia Lian regrets the most is that he didn't read more books with Big Brother Zhu when he was a child.

After the mock exam every other day, Jia Lian became numb after the exam.Whenever Daiyu mentions any sentence from "Four Books" or "Book of Songs", Jia Lian can reflexively take the next sentence. "The Book of Filial Piety" is also followed up every day in Mingxi and Mingchuan, and the middle and back are familiar.Mr. Jia explained "Book of Rites" and "Book of Changes" to him in a nutshell. He doesn't expect him to memorize them like "Four Books", but he must also know what they mean.Mr. Jia always clapped the ruler in his hand. He was not afraid of Mr. Jia's ruler. What he was really afraid of was that Mr. Jia said that the eldest girl of the Lin family could do all these things.

The cousin of the Lin family is so smart that she almost compares herself to a scum. Fortunately, she can't take the imperial examination.

And Hu Wen often smiled and encouraged Jia Lian, "Master Biao, remember this paragraph well, and you will pass the exam."

Hearing such words for the first time, Jia Lian was excited and hurried to recite what Mr. Hu said firmly.As the number of times Mr. Hu said increased, Jia Lian recited it repeatedly, but he was no longer so excited.

Every day after dinner, Lin Hai would still ask Jia Lian what he had learned that day, and then help him summarize and smooth out what he had learned, and teach him how to recite stereotyped model essays and how to summarize similar model essays into common test-taking essays.

"Daddy, isn't it a trick to write like this?"

"It's a trick. Your cousin wants to pass the exam in three months, so he has to use a trick."

Daiyu rolled her eyes, feeling that something was wrong, but she couldn't explain why.

"Yu'er, your cousin is studying for exams, not academic studies, or practical use. Different purposes require different methods of learning."

Jia Lian paid homage to his teacher on the Lantern Festival.Lin Hai not only invited colleagues from Yushi Yamen to watch the ceremony, but also invited the magistrate of Yangzhou Prefecture and others to solemnly give Jia Lian the word: Yonglian.

The apprenticeship ceremony was lively for most of the day, and Jia Lian finally rested for most of the day.

Throughout the first month, Jia Lian was hard at work.

After the first month, Zhao Lin and his wife returned to Yangzhou.In the new year when salt is coming out, the affairs of the Yushi Yamen are complicated, and the affairs of the capital have to be left to Lin Cheng alone to mediate.

Time passed quickly, and it was the Huachao Festival this year, and Daiyu celebrated her sixth birthday.Jia Lian then rested for a long time.

After breakfast the next day, Lin Hai said to Jia Lian and Daiyu, "Lian'er, I'm going to inspect the salt business tomorrow, and you should study hard at home. The exams in Jinling have already been arranged. At the beginning of March, Mr. Jia and Mr. Zhou, as well as Mingxi and Mingchuan, will accompany you to Jinling, so you can just take the exam."

Jia Lian quickly stood up and answered, "Yes."

Daiyu immediately blushed, "Daddy is leaving home again?"

Lin Hai hugged his daughter, "Yu'er, with Mrs. Qiao accompanying you, you have to learn the piano and eat well. Remember?"

Daiyu nodded with tears in her eyes, "Daddy needs to come back soon."

"it is good."

Before Lin Hai left, he called Lin Qian over to give him a detailed warning. In the end, Lin Qian took the initiative to ask his wife to accompany him in Daiyu's yard.

Lin Hai re-arranged the inspections in various salt areas, which were staggered with last year's.Leaving Zhao Lin to sit in the censor's yamen for him, he left home with peace of mind with his entourage and armored soldiers.