[Red Mansions] The Road to Empress Dowager

That night, Jia Huan went back to a three-entry courtyard he bought for Hua's family. As for the money, it was the share after the slaves' homes were copied to fill in the balance of the loan.The Hua family had already sold their daughters as maidservants. How could they not be happy to have their daughters follow such nobles as Third Master Huan?Jia Huan occasionally didn't go back to Jia's East Courtyard at night, so he had his own reasons to prevaricate. In fact, he lived with Hua Zhenzhu.

After Jia Huan greeted Hua's family and returned to Xiren's independent courtyard, Jia Huan also sold two little maids to serve Hua Zhenzhu. He went to the kang.

But seeing Hua Zhuzhu making needle money under the lamp, he ignored him, because he knew her better and knew she was unhappy.

Jia Huan said, "What's the matter?"

Hua Zhenzhu paused, and suddenly said: "Xin Xiuyan, is she very favored by the emperor?"

Jia Huan didn't start, paused for a moment, and then said: "Isn't this nonsense? If the emperor doesn't like her, will he make her queen?"

Hua Zhenzhu put down her work heavily, and said, "Why? For the same traveler, her life will be good, but mine will be so miserable?"

Jia Huan couldn't help sighing, shook his head secretly, lifted the quilt and was about to lie down on the kang to sleep, Hua Zhenzhu didn't like it, went to pull him, and said, "What do you mean?"

Jia Huan was annoyed: "Then what do you mean? You don't accept Queen Xing, and it's endless, so why don't you have the ability to be a queen?"

Hua Zhenzhu grabbed him and said: "Her fate is good, once she wears it, she becomes Xing Xiuyan, but I become Xiren."

Jia Huan said: "How much better is she than you? Haven't you read "Dream of Red Mansions"? The Xing family is poor and has no foundation. How much better than your family?"

Hua Zhenzhu said angrily: "But she is a commoner, and Xiren is a slave, it's not fair!"

Jia Huan said coolly: "How can there be so much fairness in the world? I helped you steal her case back then, was it fair to her? Does she complain about the unfairness of the world like you?"

Hua Zhenzhu said sharply: "How do you know that she has never complained? She is a saint and I am a mortal, so what?"

Jia Huan asked back: "You say she is a saint and you are a mortal, so why are you still dissatisfied with the current situation?"

Hua Zhenzhu couldn't help being dumb, but felt even more uncomfortable in her heart, saying: "Huh, men are cheap, they don't cherish when they have them, and they become cinnabar moles when they are lost. You don't even think about that man is the emperor, where did Xin Xiuyan throw you long ago?" Gone in the lump."

Jia Huan heard her talking more and more shameless, and said angrily: "Are you finished?"

Hua Zhenzhu roared: "It's not over! How is it!?" Who can understand the torment her heart is suffering?

"You've never made progress, whatever." Jia Huan didn't want to disturb the rest of the Hua family, he sighed, "If you don't like to be my concubine, you can marry whoever you want, I won't stop you. In business matters, we cooperate if there is profit to be made, I am a reasonable person.”

It was only then that Hua Zhenzhu realized that this was not the modern age. A "leftover woman from ancient times" with her background and broken background, not to mention a young Jinshi like Jia Huan, would be regarded as a concubine for an ordinary merchant, and men would think three points of her as a concubine.And other men don't know her details, without this kind of affection, how can they allow her to be presumptuous?

Because of this, Hua Zhenzhu's attitude softened slightly, and she stopped attacking, and said, "What do you mean, why have I not improved?"

Jia Huan said lightly: "In your eyes, apart from the mutual jealousy among women in the house, what else is there? I was with you back then, and I helped you for three years. Can you stand alone in the industry? But Xin Xiuyan, I only With a little guidance, she will be able to take on the case."

Hua Zhenzhu hissed: "Yes, I'm not as talented as her? Is that all right?"

Jia Huan shook his head and said: "What you lack the most is not talent, but the heart of a successful person. The most difficult thing for every successful person is not to overcome other things, but his own heart. What a successful person cares most about is himself What goal should we strive to achieve, rather than others 'unfairly becoming successful'. Xin Xiuyan gave up revenge on us because she cared more about her own life and who she would be, rather than what we did. On the other hand You are so jealous of her now, so have you thought about what you want to accomplish most? Or what you want to do to be my first wife, but what conditions do you think you meet so that I can marry you? Maybe I once liked you, but we I’ve been through too much, and I’m not the kind of man who would risk everything for a woman, and have you ever really loved me? A hero must fight to overcome the ravages of loneliness, not be like You hate people who have nothing to do with you now. I was born in a poor peasant family in my previous life, and it was difficult for me to eat meat for a week, but I still have to prepare to face off on the battlefield of the college entrance examination. At that time, I didn't have much thought to hate those competitors who had better qualifications than me in the college entrance examination. Enduring loneliness to read the four books and five classics and stereotyped writing that are considered backward by modern people. I have endured loneliness, so when I became famous in the industry, the general manager would give me some face; I have endured loneliness, so now I'm Jia Huan, a young Jinshi, not a little frozen kitten who will be humiliated by others."

Hua Zhenzhu couldn't help being stunned, but still unconvinced, she said: "Then how lonely has Xin Xiuyan endured? She just has a better status than me in taking over. If I become Xing Xiuyan, I can also be the queen."

Jia Huan sneered and said, "Look, I told you so clearly, your thinking is still here."

Hua Zhenzhu said: "Hmph, no matter how much you miss your old lover now, you are not worthy, and don't blame me!"

Jia Huan took a deep breath, couldn't help chuckling, and said, "Xia Chong is beyond words, have you lived in vain all these years?"

Hua Zhenzhu said: "I, Xia Chong, can't say anything. If you have the ability to talk to Xin Xiuyan, I don't know if they will pay attention to a man with a heartless heart like you."

Jia Huan said, "Don't talk about it, if there are common interests, she will still talk to me."

Hua Zhenzhu snorted and said, "I've never seen such a weak bunny woman, she didn't dare to abuse the last one who betrayed her heart."

Jia Huan said with a smile: "If she wants to touch me, do you think you are good? If Xin Xiuyan is a weak bun, she can be the queen? Do you think the queen is given away for phone bills? Manchu civil and military officials are willing to ask the emperor to make her the queen." In the end, those ministers were kicked in the head by donkeys, or did all the civil and military officials fall in love with her? The strong woman in your eyes is the one who knocks people like you and me into the dust?"

Hua Zhenzhu couldn't help being speechless, this time she was really resentful, in fact, when she was in the worst situation earlier, she also regretted that she betrayed her friend and stepped on her friend.But now the cooperation with Jia Huan has stabilized her life, and she finally has a place for the rest of her life. After seeing Xing Xiu's cigarette seal, she can't help but resent the injustice of this world.

Jia Huan was able to become an elite in the industry in his previous life, but he has read a lot of books and classics in this life, and has been in officialdom for so long. His experience is different, and his cognition is of course different from that of Hua Zhenzhu.

……

After Xing Xiuyan was pregnant, she always slept with Tu Yuanyi, but Tu Yuanyi, as a normal middle-aged man, couldn't be said to be a womanizer, so he was miserable.

Xing Xiuyan caressed his now slightly raised belly and fell asleep, and woke up again while he was tossing and turning.

Xing Xiuyan said: "Tomorrow is going to be a grand court, and you still not sleeping?"

Tu Yuanyi turned his back to her and said, "Go to sleep first, I'm about to fall asleep."

Xing Xiuyan turned her head to look at his back, secretly feeling slightly displeased, she stroked her belly, she had gained weight recently, her waist had become obviously thicker, and her face had become much rounder.

Could it be that he turned his back on her?Pregnant women are sensitive, and their emotions come when they say it, but they shed tears.

Tu Yuanyi has not yet fallen asleep, how can he not find it with his skill?

He turned over and hurriedly said, "What's wrong with you?"

Xing Xiuyan cried, "I've become a fat woman..."

Tu Yuanyi hurriedly coaxed: "Xiuxiu is only a little fatter than before, but she is still very cute. How can she be a big fat woman?"

Xing Xiuyan said: "As expected!"

Tu Yuanyi said, "Sure enough, what?"

"Sure enough, I'm fat. You've been calculating in your heart. You don't even want to look at me now, and you'll hate me even more in the future... I once swore to each other forever, 'we will be husband and wife, and our love will never change'. The beauty is old in the end of spring, and the flower falls and the person dies without knowing it'...the infatuated woman and the heartless man...'”

Tu Yuanyi sweated profusely, and said: "Don't say that the wind is the rain. Where is the 'old woman' again? When did I become a heartless person?"

Xing Xiuyan let out a wow, and complained: "You said I'm fat..."

Tu Yuanyi opened his eyes and said nonsense: "Xiuxiu is so skinny as lightning, how can she be fat?"

"Is there such a big bolt of lightning? Do you have any conscience? Who planted the iron pillar in my stomach? Our mothers are miserable!"

Although she had given birth to "Tu Yuanyuan" before, she wanted to give Tu Yuanyi a son, because what he needs most now is a legitimate son.

Tu Yuanyi sat next to her, touched his nose, but said nothing, it depends on how long she can cry unreasonably.

Sure enough, he didn't come to coax him, Xing Xiuyan stopped making trouble soon, and looked at him aggrieved.She has become "Xing Sansui" since she was pregnant, and she needs to be coaxed by "Teacher Mom" ​​for her temper and emotions. He is not used to coaxing her.

"Are you done crying?"

Xing Xiuyan bit her cherry lips, rubbed her stomach and said, "Tie Zhu, look at this is your cruel father. Domineering/dominant, flirtatious, your mother is so pitiful..."

Tu Yuanyi looked at her with his chest in his arms, and said, "You teach your son these things every day?"

Xing Xiuyan squinted his mouth and felt aggrieved, he smiled and pulled him up, looked him up and down, and suddenly said in embarrassment: "I see that you are indeed blessed, you still have to tell lies, I am an honest person."

"Wow……"

But Tu Yuanyi laughed and said, "That woman is making such a fuss with you? She's still crying, will she cry?"

Xing Xiuyan was about to turn over and climb off the dragon bed, shouting: "I want to go back to my mother's house..."

"By walking?" Tu Yuanyi raised his eyebrows.

She rushed to hit the emperor again, Tu Yuanyi hit her twice, then grabbed her wrist, looked at her and smiled, with the look of "see how you hit me now".

Where would Xing Xiuyan be caught without a fight, he groaned, saying that it was a stomachache, and sure enough he let go, and her merciless Qianye hand greeted her again.

Tu Yuanyi pressed him down, covered his upper lips, his lips were intertwined, he kissed back and forth, sometimes forcefully and sometimes tenderly, she gradually couldn't exert any strength.

He kissed forcefully for a long time before he left his lips, but felt her eyes fluctuate under the dim light, Tu Yuanyi sighed: "Queen, don't make trouble with me anymore, sleep well, be good."

Xing Xiuyan was moved by his kiss, and the two hadn't had sex for a long time since she was pregnant, she couldn't help but hooked his neck and kissed him.

"Hey, Xiuxiu, don't..."

"Don't what?"

"I... can't..."

"You can't? You can't call it?"

"It hurts you and the baby."

"It's almost four months, just be careful."

"Are you serious?"

"Don't make too much trouble." Modern medicine says that intercourse is not allowed in the first three months and the last three months of pregnancy, but it is common sense during the rest of the period.

Tu Yuanyi has been dry for a long time and met with rain, even if he can't indulge as before, it's better than starving.They can't be Andy Lau, they can be Ouyang Zhenhua, but they definitely don't want to take the blame.

……

Getting up the next day, Xing Xiuyan took a bath and changed clothes under the service of several court ladies, and then put on her makeup and put on home clothes. She was pregnant, so naturally her hair would not be full of emerald jewels.

Qingxuan took care of the Empress Empress's neck and braided her hair, only a few big South Pearls were braided in her hair. Looking at her master's radiant face today, she couldn't help laughing and said: "The empress is pregnant with the little prince, and the servant girl looks more and more beautiful .”

Xing Xiuyan looked at the appearance in the mercury glass mirror, and said, "You've gained a lot of weight, and you can tell nonsense."

Qingxuan laughed and said: "Your Majesty was thin and weak before, isn't it just right now?" In fact, a fifteen or sixteen year old woman is still too immature, and she is about to grow into full bloom at the age of seventeen or eighteen.And Xing Xiuyan happened to be pregnant, and suddenly her immature temperament was replaced by motherhood, there was always a subtle difference.

Xing Xiuyan smiled and said: "You still say I'm thin, so you have a snake waist, why are Ziyue and the others envious?"

Ziyue came in from the outside, and it turned out that the kitchen had already delivered breakfast. After hearing this, she said with a smile: "Your Majesty is really wise, and she can tell at a glance that she is a water snake spirit."

Qingxuan said: "There is no such thing as you bullying the small!"

Xing Xiuyan smiled, and said: "Don't talk about bullying the young with the big, you are all grown up, and we have been in the palace for almost two years. You are such a big girl, it's time to get married."

Ziyue said angrily: "Your Majesty is playing three major boards each. What are you talking about to marry someone? The slaves and servants will follow the Empress for the rest of their lives."

With their support, Xing Xiuyan also left the sleeping hall and went to the Ganlu hall, and said: "That's a crime, how many men can't get a wife, Ruhua's daughters are all detained by my side, people can't curse me behind my back? I am not afraid myself, but I have to accumulate some virtue for this in my stomach."

The second servant girl was very shy, but the little maids who had been promoted after nearly a year were envious. When they grow up, they will also have the empress as their master in the future. It would be great.

Xing Xiuyan ate breakfast, a bowl of bird's nest porridge, an egg, an apple, and several delicious vegetarian dishes.She is from the south of the Yangtze River, and she doesn't like things that are too greasy.

Just after breakfast, the eunuch reported that Mrs. Cheng Engong had come to the palace.Today is the sixth day of February, only five days away from Jitianxun Street, and the weather is warm on this day, so Mrs. Xing and Li handed over a sign and went to the palace to visit.

Hearing that there were only Xing Lishi and Yu Nu, Xing Xiuyan called people into the inner room where she usually sits, sleeps and reads, and ordered Ziyue to call for Nanny Yun, Xuelian and others who came with her to talk in their room.

After the etiquette visit, the seat was given, and the mother and daughter began to talk.

Xing Xiuyan couldn't help being surprised when she heard about the people from Li's family, and she couldn't help thinking to herself: It's true that one person has achieved the Tao, and the chicken and dog ascended to heaven. It's outrageous that the government is like that.A minion or a minion of a minion has a big tail.

Xing Xiuyan has memories of her ex, but her ex has a vague impression of the Li family's uncle and aunt. She only remembers that when her grandfather passed away, her ex couldn't stop crying, and the other is her big cousin Li Tingxuan.

Xing Xiuyan asked, "How do they make a living now?"

Mrs. Xing and Li said: "In the past, they were only in charge of the [-] mu of land. When the farm work was not busy, Mrs. Song would also do some embroidery."

The ancient economy cannot be measured in modern times. Thirty mu of land is not considered a lot in modern times. Naturally, the output in ancient times was not as good as that in modern times. Pay poll tax, just live.Li Xiucai has passed away, and the Li family no longer enjoys the exemption from poll tax and [-] mu of land tax.

Xing Xiuyan secretly smiled bitterly, and said, "Can the two sons of the Li family know how to read?"

Xing Li said: "Ting Xuan is also proficient in literature and ink, but Ting Lang sent him to study since he was a child."

"Li Tinglang is also 23 years old, what is his fame now?"

Mrs. Xing and Li felt a little embarrassed. It turned out that they also asked, Li Tinglang was the expenditure center of the family, and most of the Li family's money was spent on him, but after studying for 20 years, even a child student failed the exam.Although Li Xiucai failed to pass the Juren examination back then, he passed the Tongsheng examination at the age of 17.

After listening to Xing Li's euphemistic explanation, Xing Xiuyan laughed and said: "In my opinion, a man in his twenties who is in the name of studying is not very promising to be supported by others. Parents raised him when he was young, but now his wife raises it. In the future, the real test To be a Jinshi is to have no talent for managing the world. I am an adult and I am not responsible for my own life. Do you expect him to be an official one day and be responsible for the people of the world? Those who really love to read or are talented in reading can find ways to make a living Read it out."

Mrs. Xing and Li couldn't help panicking. It turned out that Xing Zhong also asked Tan Qian to meet Li Tinglang to test him out. Tan Qian also euphemistically said that Li Tinglang was not a good reader.

Xing Xiuyan's words are much meaner, and it is also because she has seen a lot of gnawing old people in modern times, and she looks down on the ancient scholars who gnawed on the old and their wives the most.Even if it will really develop in the future, there is something to impress people now, if not, then it is almost like this.

Xing Xiuyan said: "Don't get too involved in the affairs of the Li family, the Xing family just needs to be kind to grandpa, but their Li family's family affairs have nothing to do with the Xing family. Although they can't send people back to their hometown immediately, they will be criticized by others, but don't let them People live in the mansion, women like the Song family get the first day of junior high school, and look forward to the fifteenth day, and when the time comes, they will have a bad debt, and you, mother, can't figure it out."

Xing Lishi never had a big idea, she also asked Su Fuer, but Su Fuer is the adopted daughter, some things can't be said too clearly, the Li family is Xing Lishi's relatives.

Fortunately, Mrs. Xing and Li have listened to Xing Xiuyan's opinions since she was ten years old, let alone now that she is the empress.

Xing Li said: "Then am I sending people to Zhuangzi?"

Xing Xiuyan said: "It doesn't matter whether it's sent to the village or settled elsewhere. In short, mother must be clear in her heart that the Song family has no relationship with you. Don't let someone say a few soft words and you will surrender. It will be rare in the future. Mrs. Song, so as not to get confused. But you can see Li Tingxuan and give him some of the benefits of taking care of her. At that time, hehe, Li Tingxuan's daughter-in-law will naturally have great power in the Li family, and both Mrs. Song and Mrs. Yao will focus on her. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are enemies, and the Li family is at odds with the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. The Song family only wants to compete for favor in front of you, but the one who is most jealous is Li's family. But we can't say that our Xing family is ruthless to the Li family. This is not counted. Don't miss Grandpa's old love, the Xing family won the reputation of being affectionate and righteous, and they didn't make Song's complacent, so it can be regarded as revenge for her bullying mother back then."

Xing Xiuyan listened to Mrs. Xing and Li, and heard that Li Tingxuan had a dull personality and was also responsible for the family. This person should not have such a big bad idea, at least he was more comfortable than Li Tinglang who pretended to be a scholar and the Song family.

Mrs. Xing and Li couldn't help being stunned, and said, "This... can this work?"

Xing Xiuyan smiled and said, "Probably, I'm not a god, so I can't predict everything."

Xing Li said: "Your Majesty is always more considerate than me."

Xing Xiuyan sighed: "Running a family is not easy, just like how beautiful the Yang family used to be, but now it's gone; or like my aunt's Jia's family, which used to be a family that we couldn't even imagine. In fact, if there is no Jia Lian, we still have to use it. The situation? Parents and mothers should also be prepared for danger in times of peace, what I said before is still the same."

Xing Lishi knew that it was her fault about not allowing slaves in the family back then, so she hurriedly agreed, Xing Xiuyan sighed, but seeing Yu Nu showing her a toothless smile, she couldn't help feeling amused, and scolded: "Sycophant!"

As he said, he took it and pinched his chubby face, and suddenly someone came to report that it was Princess Hede and Princess Hexiao who came to pay their respects.

Xing Xiuyan became the queen and took charge of Fengyin, but because she was pregnant, she didn't have much energy to directly manage all aspects of the harem, so she thought of a way to let the two eldest princesses learn from the experienced concubine Wu Hui.The two princesses were fourteen or fifteen years old at this time, and even the daughters of ordinary officials and eunuchs were at the time when they were learning to be housekeepers.

This is to check and balance Concubine Wu Hui with the two princesses, or the two queen mothers behind them, and she will sit firmly on the Diaoyutai first, and everything will be discussed after giving birth to a child.This method is really good, and Concubine Wu Hui can't be a demon, and all divisions and bureaus in the harem have achieved stability.

When the two princesses entered the room, Mrs. Xing and Li also stood up. The princess greeted Ann, and Mrs. Xing and Li also bowed down to them.

Princess Hede said with a smile: "Ma'am, don't be too polite, there are no outsiders."

Xing Li said: "There is a difference between monarchs and ministers, etiquette cannot be discarded."

Xing Xiuyan smiled and said: "Let's all sit down, I can't be so polite anymore."

So he sat down according to the words, Xing Xiuyan asked about the affairs of the harem, the two princesses answered according to the words, even if Princess Hexiao had the Empress Dowager Liu as a gunner, they could answer some, Xing Xiuyan was secretly satisfied.

Princess Hexiao suddenly said: "Even if the Ministry of Internal Affairs does not have a minister in charge at this time, it will be inconvenient for the harem to spend and supply."

Xing Xiuyan nodded, thinking to himself that when a group of dragons have no leader, how can there be no chaos, and there are many interests involved in this.The two or three thousand servants of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are not a joke, and some capable ones have been transferred to Tu Yuanyi to manage the factory.

So, Yang Huaigu is a traitor, but he still has skills.