[Red Mansions] The big maid struggles daily

In Yuqing Palace, Concubine Zhen's fingers trembled slightly, and she repeatedly confirmed: "In view of everyone's eyes, did the jade chime really shatter by itself?"

Her confidant, the palace maid, lowered her eyebrows and replied, "Yes."

Concubine Zhen laughed miserably, this is really a turn of events, "Concubine Xiande probably suspects me."

Although it is a question, it is unreasonable and certain.

The maid's dull face also showed a sad look, she supported Concubine Zhen and said in a low voice: "Why don't you pass the news to the uncle, please ask the uncle to make things better with the Jia family?"

Concubine Zhen shook her head, the layers of makeup on her still beautiful face could not hide her anger: "The old lady is gone, the sky has changed, we don't know how long our family's idea of ​​love and face can last, don't waste it on it."

The maid looked at her face and asked cautiously: "The jade chime was concocted by our family's method?"

Concubine Zhen didn't know what she thought of, but she showed a stern look, and said repeatedly: "Well, well, what a queen Hui, who has been dead for so many years, and there is still this loyal and revered person in this palace. I can't think of it, but let these people take advantage of the loophole!"

The palace lady opened her eyes wide and said in a daze: "You mean to tell people the secret method after benefiting first, and now that person uses the secret method to take revenge on us?"

Concubine Zhen slapped her backhand, and the maid who hit her staggered, and said angrily: "Revenge? I'm defeated! She died a long time ago and turned into a piece of loess. I'm still wearing a precious crown and fine clothes, and even my face is still intact!" Still beautiful! What right does she have to take revenge on me?"

As he spoke, he sat in front of the half-person-high copper mirror inlaid with gemstones, smoothed his temples, and touched his delicately made-up cheeks. After a long while, his hand trembled slightly, and angrily swept the bright jewel hairpin on the dressing table all over the floor. "Is a glass mirror so hard to come by? Why hasn't the Ministry of Internal Affairs sent it to me yet!"

The palace maid knelt behind her, weeping unceasingly.The Ministry of Internal Affairs has always watched people order dishes. Since the death of Empress Hui, Concubine Zhen's favor has been worsened day by day, and her status has never been promoted to imperial concubine again. It's just that the credit will not be deducted, but when the old lady passed away last year, the Ministry of Internal Affairs became slack and contemptuous.Concubine Zhen has a spoiled temperament, her bedroom has been smashed countless times, and the glass mirror has been replaced several times, but since the mirror was smashed last time, the Ministry of Internal Affairs actually brought over a heavy bronze mirror, saying It is a rare glass mirror, so I will use the bronze mirror first.This bronze mirror inlaid with jewels was also the favorite of a certain palace decades ago, but this is how Concubine Zhen, who is used to glass mirrors with fine details, can bear it.

"Your Majesty, please bear with me for a while, and wait for the uncle to come to Beijing to report on his duties and personally present the old lady's relics to the Supreme Emperor. The old sage must miss the old love..."

Before the court lady finished speaking, Concubine Zhen laughed mockingly: "The relic is a chime, it is the jade dragon pattern chime, the king's favor is like flooding water, it is difficult to repay..." As she spoke, tears flowed from the corners of her eyes.

"Especially the jade chime presented to the empress by Concubine Xiande is broken, just like the chime I gave to Queen Hui that day. The old sage knows the inside story, so how can he not doubt me?"

When the maid heard this, she couldn't help kneeling and fell to the ground.Looking around this magnificent but lonely palace in horror, there are all kinds of chimes, jade chimes, round chimes, flat chimes and so on displayed in the palace. It's cold.

Concubine Zhen's small characters are clear on the chime, and she is the best at playing chime and music. Because the emperor likes Buddhist music very much, Zhen Qing regards it as a holy favor.The old sage praised her very much that day, saying that when the Bodhisattva preached the scriptures, there was a goddess of scattering flowers, and daughter Zhen could be the goddess of knocking chimes beside him.And thus climbed to the position of imperial concubine, Zhen Qing liked to collect and display all kinds of chime wares, during the years when she was the most favored, except for her palace, no chime was allowed in the rest of the imperial court.

But ever since Empress Hui's niece died in front of the Imperial Concubine's Palace, Empress Hui has gone crazy and targeted Concubine Zhen, not only her status has been demoted, but she has even threatened the Jiangnan Zhen family.Concubine Zhen gave Huihou a jade chime by the hand of the old saint as a gift of peace and apology. Huihou was concerned about the saint's face, so she had to display it on the high table of the bedroom.Unexpectedly, the jade chime had been soaked in medicine, and when the medicine dissipated, the jade would shatter.

This medicine is not a fatal poison, but it can make people restless at night, haunted by nightmares, Concubine Zhen wants to vent her anger, and jade is fragile, so it is expected that others will not be able to see it.Unexpectedly, the old sage had seen it before, because it was when the wife of the Zhen family was his nurse, in order to protect him, she used medicine to concoct a jade ring to punish a concubine who oppressed him.What was even more unexpected was that Huihou's body was already in dilapidated condition, and she couldn't stand this nightmare at all, so she collapsed and passed away not long after.A thick thorn was planted in the heart of the old saint, and Concubine Zhen no longer favored her.Queen Hui knew that secret law before she died, but she didn't expect her to tell others.

This time, the virtuous concubine Jia's got this emerald jade chime, which is really rare and has a very long and melodious sound. Jia Yuanchun got the power of Zhen's family and Dowager Zhen to enter the palace.Concubine Zhen watched for two days, thinking that the Zhen family was in a difficult situation, and the Supreme Emperor was old and weak, so she wanted to ease relations with the current faction, so she returned the jade chime to Concubine Xiande, and only said to the outside world that she was happy to see Liexin, and borrowed it. Just come to appreciate it for two days.Besides, Taiping has the meaning of "the world is peaceful and the grains are plentiful". It is the emperor's favorite, and only the empress of the palace has the confidence to be worthy of the decoration.

Concubine Zhen instigated Concubine Xiande to present it to the queen.In this way, she showed her favor to the queen step by step, and the queen's family has followed her under her command since she was unknown. Concubine Zhen hopes to ease the current attitude through the descendants, so that the Zhen family can send their daughters to the palace again to accompany the king.

"Everything is ruined. Tell my brother that you must not present the old lady's belongings to the imperial court, just express your heartfelt feelings." Concubine Zhen's expression was sluggish, and she ordered her confidant, "Pick up some valuable calligraphy and painting antiques from the vault and give them to Concubine Xiande." Go, as an apology. Charge more."

The palace maid said sadly: "Your Majesty!"

Concubine Zhen waved her hands and said: "With Mrs. Jia by His Majesty's side, the Jia family will be safe and sound. The Jia family has been picked out. For the sake of us being old relatives, we still expect him to support and help us. How can we offend him?" What's more, it's so bad, even if you give in and bow your head, so what, as long as the third girl can enter the palace, it's worth it! She was taught and trained by the old lady, as long as the third girl enters the palace, even if there is only one noble person, she can protect the Zhen family again 20 years!"

It's not that the next generation of the Zhen family has never sent anyone into the palace, it's just that the bet was wrong, and Prince Yizhong broke something, so they were folded in together with Zhen's daughter.The patriarch of the Zhen family, Zhen Yingjia, was as beautiful as Lan Ruyu, and her talent and appearance were all chosen for a while. After she was fifteen or sixteen years old, the heavy burden of the Zhen family's planning was on her.

The clouds outside the window gradually dissipated, revealing a round of bright moon.The generation of the Zhen family in Jiangnan was arrogant, extravagant and domineering, and the era when they ruled the south of the Yangtze River is finally gone forever.

Xifeng was sitting under the lamp, embroidering tiredly, when Jia Lian lifted the curtain and came in.

"Oh, what wind brought the uncle back?" Wang Xifeng squinted at Jia Lian with a half-smile.

Jia Lian spent several days in Ning's mansion drinking, feasting and having fun. He was very homeless, and when he heard the words, he was embarrassed and said with a smile: "How dare you. The real uncle is over there. What am I? Thank you for taking care of this busy family. .”

Sister Feng laughed with a "chi" and said: "Don't dare, how can I deserve your thank you! As long as I don't get caught by people outside, and I still remember that there are people like us, I will thank the world." Ancestor."

Just talking and laughing, I heard someone talking outside, and Sister Feng asked, "Who is it?"

Ping'er came in, took a look at Jia Lian, and replied, "It was sent by my wife. I asked grandma if she had changed her mind. She said that there are some very reliable brokers who can get one or two thousand a year in profit with only some capital. "

Jia Lian said with a smile: "Hey, what kind of business is doing this, grandma appreciates the face, and I also have a share?"

Xifeng sneered and said, "I'm not short of envoys. Besides, even if I do, isn't there Second Master anyway? Our Second Master's private house is well-hidden and well-hidden. We can live on this alone. Why bother?" Get those ashes off."

Hearing these words, Jia Lian almost suspected that Sister Feng had changed, when did she become so open-minded.

Ping'er laughed and said, "I've politely turned her back and sent her out."

Jia Lian laughed and said, "What kind of business is it that you look down on?"

Sister Feng said: "Give money to others and charge usury."

In just a few words, Jia Lian's face turned pale, and he hurriedly asked: "You, you, you have already mixed in? This thing is terrible!" He paced around in a hurry, and stretched out his hand: "Hurry up and get those account books and deeds. Give me the vote, how much you vote in, we don't want it all, go out immediately to settle this account, who is the person you are ordering here, why don't you keep your mouth shut first."

Sister Feng glanced at Ping'er, and said in surprise, "Second Master, you have always spent money in the frying pan, why are you so generous and afraid now? Besides, didn't you hear me, I didn't get involved!"

Jia Lian stared at Sister Feng firmly, and checked again and again, only to be annoyed by Sister Feng and Ping'er, so she wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve and sat down.

"When I went to pick up Sister Lin, I passed by Haining. The Chen family, a local prominent family, was ransacked and beheaded for exploiting huge profits. Everyone was strangled to death by the maimed master... Uncle Lin was very strict and didn't think much of me, but he also told me that he read a lot of files and cases. You have punished many wealthy businessmen and famous eunuchs... You said all the time that you are the least afraid of retribution from the underworld, and only said that I was afraid that you didn't give much money, and you would put your whole family in it."

Sister Feng exhaled foul breath, waved her hands and said: "Don't mention the previous words, I am not good enough to accumulate virtue now?"

Jia Lian shook his head, frowned and asked, "Madam is the most kind and kind, how could she interfere in this kind of thing? Who started it, or who deceived Madam?"

Ping'er withdrew, and Sister Feng folded her clothes and lay down. After a while, she said, "Are you suspicious of my idea again? It's really not true! My wife told me this long ago, but I didn't respond. After two years, I I also saw it clearly, and I couldn't answer it. The sudden mention of this question at this moment is nothing more than Jin Chuan'er has become the master's aunt, and his wife has already touched her hands. I am afraid that Aunt Bai will use this as a excuse, so I am eager to ask for it. Find someone to take care of the aftermath."

Jia Lian was not embarrassed, Mrs. Wang raised him. Compared with Mrs. Xing, he naturally respected his aunt who had raised him well.But I heard Sister Feng turn her back and say: "Earlier when you said that Uncle Guo was in the Upper Court, I thought you understood it too. I didn't think about it, but you were still confused."

Jia Lian sat on the edge of the kang, pushed her and laughed, "Why are you so confused? Why don't you be happy about such a happy event as our mother's visit? When have you ever been so depressed, and the whole family is proud and happy, but you are twisting at this time." And there is also the wife, since we have a concubine, our family is up again, so we should wipe our hands clean, and you can persuade me."

Sister Feng suddenly sat up, and said with a sneer: "Persuasion? How can I persuade you? You usually only think that I don't have one heart with you, but now I am full of this family, and you are not satisfied! It's just because the mother is raised by the second wife. The old man tried his best to get close to her, and even asked me to flatter him, I advise you, don't worry about it! The empress is a good empress, but she is the empress of the second room, you and I have to go back to the big room to see her You should know the importance of distance and distance!"

Jia Lian was also annoyed, "Your Majesty is from the Jia family! She has long hair but little knowledge. If you hide such a big event, what's the use of showing off your abilities?"

The angry Sister Feng picked up two sachets from the kang cabinet and threw them on Jia Lian: "Look, look! This is a Mid-Autumn Festival gift from our mother. Thanks to my wife's niece and daughter, and my sister-in-law. A sachet, two spindle medicines, and two horses of vintage gauze, but what have you got? What have you got for the old man? Even Aunt Xue is the same as the wife and the old man, let alone the same generation Brothers can get precious jade."

Jia Lian wanted to say that the empress probably didn't expect it, and that Xifeng's eyelids were shallow, but Rong Mansion's population is not large, and only these few elders are treated differently.

In fact, Concubine Xiande did not plan so little, but the fact that Jia Zheng and his wife lived in Rongxi Hall in the main courtyard of Rongguo Mansion was brought up by someone who cared about her concubine, saying that the name was not right, Concubine Xiande, in order to suppress the criticism, for Jia Zheng Make a face, and specially give a heavy gift to the second-bedroom couple.Compared with the income of the second household, the income of the master and wife of the eldest household is very simple.But the girls and grandmas in the mansion treated them equally, and even girls from relatives gave gifts.There is also her own reason here.

Here Jia Lian and Sister Feng had a big quarrel, but for the first time, it was not out of jealousy and mischief, which made Jia Lian listen to her heart.

"It's all because of you making me forget about business. The matter of visiting relatives is ninety percent approved, and our family is going to build a relatives' home. Yesterday, the gentlemen made a rough agreement that they would not find another place. Between the two mansions, Measure the land and build a relative's house." While helping him to get up, Sister Feng listened to him: "It's easy and decent. I'm afraid that in the next few months and a half, neither you nor I will be free. You have done something for us. I mean, isn't this a good opportunity?"

When Sister Feng heard what he said, she obviously had the idea of ​​"using the public to enrich the private". The husband and wife are still desperate for money, and they will each plan in their hearts.

Jia Lian patted her head and said with a smile: "There is one more thing. Mother Zhao has said it several times, but I always forget it. She nursed me once, but now she is too old to work hard for two nurse brothers. How can you help me?" Think about them when you are on an errand. It’s just that these two elder brothers are not very capable of taking on the job, so don’t teach them to be the main job, just get some oil and water as a side job.”

Sister Feng stared at her for a few times before saying, "Mother Zhao treats you with sincerity. I know when she doesn't speak up for you, and she covers you up when you get dirty with her."

Before she could finish speaking, Jia Lian called out, "Ancestor Tian, ​​here we come again."

Only then did Sister Feng give up, and agreed: "Leave the two nurse brothers to me. For such a big project, everyone will be fed from top to bottom, and their sips will be missing."

Jia Lian hurriedly said again: "One more thing, these two nurse brothers, the older one is okay, but the younger one is only a few days older than me, but the girl who was born before is not blessed, and she has no luck before she gets started. No, it’s no use delaying him for the past few years. According to my opinion, except for her, Zhao’s mother’s family is soft-tempered, but it’s better to find someone who can do something and can support the family.”

Sister Feng laughed and said, "What's the big deal? I promise to find him one that is ten times better than the previous one. The maids in the family must be sent out in the next year or two, and I'll be tight to my brother-in-law to choose."

Jia Lian glanced at her, pondered for a while and said, "You didn't understand me, I just looked at the old lady and the big girls in the lady's room, it would be good, especially the ones in the old lady's room. There is no need to mention mandarin ducks, old lady Can't do without her, isn't there a few left?"

Sister Feng thought about it, and said: "Your milk brother, Yiteng, has bright eyes and a bright heart. Those few are all treasures, and they are very worthy of him. But they are much younger in age, and we have to wait for them to be released. Isn't it right?" Delaying Brother Nai even more?"

Jia Lian said with a smile: "Is there one that is not ready-made? It must be released. Besides, it is very reliable. It is also good for us to be married to Zhao's mother. You should also be good on weekdays. Do you think it will be okay?"

Sister Feng's eyes widened in surprise, and she said in shock, "You mean Zhuxiu girl?"

Jia Lian nodded: "It's not her. She is different from other girls. I heard later that she is only a little worse than the girls in the mansion. The old lady holds her, and Sister Lin treats her like a young lady. She also There is a capable godmother and god-uncle, but fortunately they are not relatives, and our family can still be the master. If we don’t catch such sweet pastry, who will be the cheapest!”

Sister Feng sneered again and again: "Who have you been instigated by, and what kind of lies have you heard! Put the idea on her. You are away from home all day long, and you don't know that her mother and uncle hold it in the palm of your hand like pearls and treasures. It’s better to be a relative than to be a relative, and you still look like the master of others, go dreaming!”

Ping'er came in with the copper basin in his hand, and sneered at him too.

Sister Feng pointed to Ping'er and said, "Not to mention this girl's own mother and uncle, but her own ability can do it, and even Ping'er can't match it. With her mother and uncle here, she just waits to be born in a country gentry and rich family." How can she have the face to bring it up because she can't do it in the main room? Besides, she has a lot of ideas when she speaks on weekdays. Even mandarin ducks have people making plans, but she is the only one, the old lady promised Zhu Nanny long ago, even at this moment, we don't know whether her body deed is still in the old lady's hands."

It is true that Jia Lian didn't know the details of these maids, but he had heard some words, and he wanted to help the nanny Zhao Mama's family, so he said that, who knew it would be boring.

After Jia Rong and Jia Qiang came to ask Jia Lian to go out to discuss the matter in person, Sister Feng said to Ping'er: "Our master, he listens to the wind and rain, has a soft face and a kind heart, and can't hold back a few kind words from others. If the girl Zhuxiu can ask If it came out, it would be enough to be a second wife for the men, and he planned it lightly, if he really sent someone to be a matchmaker, it would be strange, I don't know who has a bad heart to fiddle with it."

Ping'er just smiled and said: "That's not the reason, Madam Zhu is not easy to provoke, besides, she has no family wealth or no backer."

Sister Feng also said: "Our own family naturally values ​​family-born children more, but others can see that these bought family backgrounds are more innocent. If this Zhuxiu girl hadn't had bad luck, she would also be a spoiled girl in a small family, older than us. The wife's niece is not bad either."

Ping'er had never heard of Mrs. Xing's niece, so she hurriedly asked.

Sister Feng laughed and said: "The eldest wife brought her family wealth to become the successor of the elder. She has a brother who is poor and destitute. I heard that he will not be able to make ends meet. He always writes to ask for money. The letter is written by his niece, who is also a literate reader. You only think that the Zhuxiu girl has been born. Comparing the two households, isn’t the Zhuxiu girl better? That day her uncle’s house came to deliver things, and I heard the housekeeper call her "little aunt" , it can be seen that it is important."

Ping'er said nothing, and Sister Feng began to think about the other hospital.

Ping'er came out quietly.Before it was night, Nanny Zhu and Zhu Xiu knew about it.

Zhu Mama's face was livid, and she secretly calculated that Mr. Lin would return to Beijing to report on his duties in the autumn of next year. This return to Beijing would mean that things in the south of the Yangtze River would be peaceful, and Miss Lin could go home.At that time, more than half of my care responsibilities will be relieved, and these girls from the family will get married on the [-]th and [-]th. As long as Miss Lin gets married, the burden entrusted by Mrs. Lin that day will be considered handed over. Xiu'er's marriage will never wait until then...

Mother Zhu thought about everything, and discussed with her daughter: "You will be born next year, and the girl's life cannot be delayed. We small families should also get ready. Find a good time next year, and ask your uncle to pick you up in a fair and reasonable manner." Go live at home, we can't delay any longer!"

If it's another girl, it's natural to look at the marriage after listening to this, and I'm so ashamed.But Zhu Xiu was thick-skinned after all, so he didn't listen to this, and just said in his heart: "What kind of golden finger and emerald bag, the greatest luck in this life is to meet Muma. If there is no Muma, just rely on wisdom It is a single-plank bridge to get out of the nationality, and it is very possible that the bamboo basket will be empty. Now that I have to spend so much time planning for me, no number of biological mothers in this world can do this. I can only repay it by serving and filial for the rest of my life. two……"

Mother Zhu here is full of motherly love, and there is also a mother in the back street of Ningrong who plans all kinds of things for her daughter, but she is born not to get her girl's thoughts, and she is wronged and weeps bitterly when she complains and hates her.

Jin Chuan'er was dressed in a fine attire, with her head full of gold and jade, sitting on the embroidered stool, even though old lady Bai was crying sadly, she was dumbfounded and turned a deaf ear to it.

Yu Chuan'er persuaded with tears: "Mother, all these thoughts are for your own good. If you hadn't made up your mind to give that treasure..., you would not be able to survive. Mother is afraid that you will do something stupid, so why bother?"

Jin Chuaner sneered, and said sharply: "You still have a share here! If you hadn't complained all day long and said those things, how could I have become the master's aunt? The master is older than my father, so if you don't like me, don't care about me." Well, I’m willing to serve the master!”