[Red Mansions] The Road to Empress Dowager

A new year passed, and this year, all three members of the Xing family stayed in the Lin residence for the New Year, including the masters and nuns of the Xing family.The Lin family has a small population, so this year's Chinese New Year is quite lively.

The concubines around Lin Ruhai had been dismissed long ago. At that time, he thought he was about to die. They either left or married or are now raised in a nunnery.

But Wang Fu and his party returned to Kyoto on the [-]th of the first lunar month to return to their orders, which is another matter.Wang Fu faced the saint, and Tu Yuanyi gave a report. The performance of the Xing and Lin families focused on Xing Xiuyan's current situation.In order to please Yuanyi, Wang Fu emphasized that she loved the snow fox cloak given by the palace, and that she missed the saint very much and cared about the saint's body.

Tu Yuanyi was really happy, but said in his mouth: "Don't speak good things to her, how can she have such a conscience?"

Wang Fudao: "The servant did not lie, it is absolutely true. Master Xing said that the servant should serve the saint well and persuade the saint to take care of the dragon's body. She also said that the saint should not worry about government affairs, and only said that the sun will rise as usual tomorrow, and think more about being happy." matter. Master Xing is also eager to go to Beijing to see the saint immediately, and is already thinking about how to..."

"Think about what?"

Wang Fu paused, but didn't dare to speak for a while, Tu Yuanyi said: "What are you hesitating for?"

Wang Fu accused him of a crime, saying: "Master Xing is already... thinking about entering the palace to accompany him, how can he live in the harem." Xing Xiuyan never imagined that she would be understood by Wang Fu when she asked how many princesses the sage had.

Tu Yuanyi didn't believe it in his heart, Wang Fu either made a mistake or he was bold enough to make it up, so he just calmly told him to back down.

Then, he opened the small wooden box, only to see some of the man's belongings, and he also saw the letter.

This letter is not so trivial and indecorous, expressing gratitude and loyalty, and of course there are many words of concern, and she expressed concern about him being too cruel to him to let him cherish himself.He also introduced the gifts she gave, all of which she made with her own hands, and even used needles for him, making an exception for him.

He opened her paintings again to enjoy them. The paintings were of the beautiful scenery of the four seasons in the south of the Yangtze River, and the other one was exactly the Fangdongtian where they stayed.

Holding the jade belt, he took a closer look and saw the words embroidered by her. He couldn't help smiling slightly, and felt sad after smiling.

……

The New Year is lively and busy, and a splendid and beautiful season is coming again. This year, Xing Xiuyan is 15 years old, Daiyu is 14 years old, and Shi Hui is 14 years old.

After the Lin and Xing families received the imperial decree, they prepared to move their family to the capital in the first month, and took care of their luggage and property for more than a month.The Lin family has many properties, but the transportation between the two places is inconvenient. Except for two big villages and a garment shop outsourced to the shopkeeper, they sell what can be sold.The Lin family went to Beijing, and Lin Ruhai was a bachelor, so he probably won't be released in this life, so it's hard to come to Jiangnan again.

He also spent some money to buy [-] mu of land for sacrifices in Gusu for clans other than Wufu, cleaned out the ancestral house, and put away some things and furniture from the official residence of the Xunyan Yushi in Yangzhou that were inconvenient to take all the way to Kyoto. Enter the Curry of the ancestral home in Gusu.

It was February after everything had been rushed, but fortunately Daiyu spent her birthday in Yangzhou, the Flower Festival, before leaving.On this day, Shi Bai's family was also transferred to the capital as a magistrate Ren Man. He has many years of experience in comforting the Southwestern Yi, and he worked in Gusu for three years, and he was also excellent in the evaluation by the Ministry of Officials.His background as a Jinshi has nothing to do with Prince Lian and others. At this time, a large number of officials in Beijing are down and there is a shortage of people. Shi Rui also ran past the official department, and the etiquette is in place.Therefore, Shi Bai is also promoted several ranks in succession to become a member of the Ministry of War as a fifth-rank member Wailang.This also means that Li Xun, the current Minister of the Ministry of Officials and a scholar of the cabinet, was promoted only after figuring out the holy will. For example, Shi Bai, who was promoted in front of a seventh-rank official, could not be promoted by the saint.

The Shi family departed from Suzhou and arrived in Yangzhou in one day by boat. They also had ten boats.And Lin Ruhai sent a housekeeper to ask Shi Bailiu to leave for a day before leaving together, Shi Hui was naturally happy to meet Xing and Lin, and couldn't wait, Daiyu sent a letter just after the sixth day that she wanted to go north to the capital.

In fact, the newspapers of Shi and Lin’s two residences also learned that they were promoted, especially the speed of Lin Hai’s promotion made Shi Bai, who was riding a rocket, envious. Made a great contribution.

The boat stopped at the ferry. Fortunately, in the first month of spring, when the river was not crowded, Shi Bai's family brought gifts to Lin's residence.

Lin Zhong, the chief housekeeper of the Lin family, and Madam Xu, who was beside Lin Daiyu, greeted the guests at the gate. Once they entered the Lin mansion, Shi Bai and the young servant went to the main hall, while Shi Zhang went to the Tinglan courtyard.

But I saw that the servants and maids all the way moved forward and retreated in a certain way, and they walked well, their steps were light but their shoulders were steady, and they had the demeanor of a noble heirloom.

After all, Shi Zhang was born in a noble family. When he married Shi Bai, Shi Bai was still a nobleman, the youngest son of Shi Taifu, so he naturally had a lot of experience.She hadn't seen such a family for many years, which made her feel a little emotional.

Turning to the gate of Tinglan Courtyard, I saw the owner Lin Daiyu, Xing Lishi, and Xing Xiuyan with several elegant nuns in their 40s and [-]s, as well as Zijuan, Xueyan, Qingluan, Jinyan, Ziyue, Xuejue, Qingxuan, Jinyao eight big maids, and Bilian (the original little maid Xiaolian was renamed Bilian) and Bihe beside Mrs. Xingli.Although the Lin family does not have a mistress, there are so many women living in the family, and all the masters and maids are dressed in pearls, greens and brocades, and their eyes are full of splendor.

But I saw Daiyu wearing a pale pink mink jacket with a brocade surface, but her lower body was a red skirt inlaid with gold and a snow-white skirt.A head of beautiful hair tied up in a double bun, with two butterfly bead hairpins inserted, a gem and pearl on the forehead to wipe the forehead, emerald green jade earrings on the ears, and a gorgeous red gold apricot blossom wreath designed by Xing Xiuyan around the neck, slender and bright On Bai's wrists are a pair of jade bracelets.

Xing Xiuyan, on the other hand, wore a snow-blue brocade jacket, and a red skirt inlaid with gold of the same style and different flowers as Daiyu, and the skirt and cuffs were also snow-colored.And she tied up a ponytail, with red and snow-blue hairbands hanging down her hair, and only a few crystal pearl hairpins and golden pearl flowers were inserted on her head.She wears a pair of earrings similar to Daiyu on her ears, and an orchid wreath of many treasures hangs from her neck, and several long strings of beads and tassels hang down. stone red gold bracelet.

Mrs. Xing and Li wore an autumn-colored cloud brocade beige, a deep purple skirt, and a white silk skirt underneath.On her head was a golden phoenix hairpin with pearls and lace, ruby ​​and red gold earrings on her earlobes, a red gold eight-treasure necklace around her neck, a pair of Dongling white jade bracelets and a pair of red gold bead-studded shrimp beard bracelets.Xing Li's wives are valued by their husbands, and mothers are valued by their daughters. Their clothes are different from the past, and with the guidance of Yun Yun, who was born in the palace, they are now moving towards qualified officials.

Shi Zhang's family is older than Xing Li's, and Shi's family was originally noble, Shi Bai Jinshi was born as an official of the foreign court, and Xing Zhong was an official of the Ministry of Internal Affairs although he was also a five-official official, so Xing Li's family greeted him first.

"Mrs. Shi, I'm looking forward to your coming, but are you tired all the way?"

After listening to Shi Hui mentioning that Xing Xiuyan was rescued by Lin Ruhai and his eyes were cured, Shi Zhang lived in Lin's house.She didn't know that Xing Zhong's family lived here, but the promotion of the officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs was not reported to the mansion. Xing Xiu also sent a letter to Shi Hui with Lin Daiyu after the smoke, and Lin Ruhai also sent someone to sincerely invite him without mentioning it. .

This matter is related to the mind of a saint, and Lin Ruhai's minister certainly can't say it. Besides, the ancients were very reserved, and some things were kept secret.

Mrs. Shi Zhang met Mrs. Xing and Li. In the past, Shi Hui studied embroidery at Xing Xiuyan for more than half a year, and Mrs. Shi Zhang also invited them to Shifu to enjoy flowers as guests.At that time, their clothes were still cloth skirts made of Jingchai, but now the clothes and jewelry are extraordinary.

Xing Zhong and his wife live in Gusu. They came to Yangzhou a few years ago to give a gift and told them that they would come to Yangzhou. They originally said that they would be attached to the Lin family.

But after all, the Xing family is also Jia She's wife's family, and the relationship with the Lin family is also a detour, it is impossible to be a slave, Lin Ruhai just needs to support one or two.But living in this mansion and wearing extraordinary clothes is no ordinary attachment.

Mrs. Shi Zhang came from a famous family, she didn't show it on the face, and said with a polite smile: "Mrs. Lao Xing is worried."

Shi Hui also took Xing Xiuyan's hand to make out, and saw that Daiyu's face was so beautiful, she looked like a fairy who hadn't eaten fireworks for a long time. She had only seen this unique romantic charm in her life, and she liked it very much.

"Sister Lin." Shi Hui paid homage to Lin Daiyu when she was young, and said with a smile: "In the letters, I always hear sister Xing's good words on the left and good words on you on the right, but I thought she was bluffing me. No matter how good it is, how can it be like what she said? Only when I saw it today did I know that I have little knowledge."

Lin Daiyu took her by the hand and said, "Hui'er's appearance is so special to me."

Xing Xiuyan held a beautiful woman in one hand, her heart was full of joy, and she said with a smile: "Daiyu, you don't know Huier's heart, she praised you first, so you have to praise her well? You can't praise her when you praise you. Yao Chi Xian'e?"

Shi Hui was angry and funny, so she refused to follow her: "Sister Xing, I haven't seen you for a year and a half, you were so cruel when you saw me, and you came to bully me, a newcomer!"

Mrs. Xing and Li said with a smile: "Mrs. Shi and Miss Shi have traveled all the way, so let's hurry up and sit in the house."

As they said that, several masters entered the house surrounded by maids and maids, and there were many maids and maids serving tea and fruit snacks in an orderly manner.

When Mrs. Shi Zhang came to the door, there was still a mother handing over the gift list. Lin Daiyu is now the housekeeper, so she asked Mother Xu to accept it.

Lin Daiyu has been the housekeeper for two or three years, and she has been taught by her mother and Xing Xiuyan's advice on general affairs and arithmetic and accounting, so she has already changed her bearings.

"Auntie came from afar to be polite. It turned out that my sister and I were friends, and I was selfishly thinking about going north to Beijing together to have company. It made Auntie bother." Daiyu got up and blessed, and said with a slight smile.

Shi Zhang's elders only supported her, and said: "The elder girl is really a very good talent, and it is her blessing that Sister Hui can make friends with the handkerchief like the eldest daughter. If Master Lin invites her, my master is afraid of losing it." Li, but I came happily."

Speaking of which, Mrs. Shi Zhang gave Daiyu another top-quality imperial green jadeite bracelet as a meeting gift. Mrs. Shi Zhang was a thoughtful person, knowing that Xing Xiuyan was here, and Shi Huineng was able to make friends with the daughter of the University of Lin thanks to her as a "matchmaker" , the other same bracelet was given to Xing Xiuyan.

After all, Shi Zhang still has a bit of taboo in her heart. At the beginning when Xing Xiuyan didn't take money to teach Shi Hui, she also thought that she had a heart of clinging, but after all, Shi Zhang saw that she had an extraordinary appearance, and she was sincere to her daughter. It's not easy, but I also have a heart of support and protection, so I made friends with the Xing family.

No matter how much Shi Hui likes Xing Xiuyan in her heart, Shi Zhang just sees that it is beneficial for Xing Xiuyan to teach Shi Hui female red; but the ladies of other officials and officials in Gusu do not like her so much, Shi Hui is inevitably lonely, so Shi Zhang does not stop her .

But Shi Zhang's treatment of Lin Daiyu, a first-rank official's concubine, is of course different. Xing Xiuyan doesn't care much about what people who are not close relatives have high expectations of him.She didn't feel that before this, Shi Zhang and her acquaintance had not given such a valuable thing to her, so it was to neglect her by seeing Daiyu to give it together.She wants to be a princess, but she won't get princess disease before becoming a princess.