[Red Mansions] The big maid struggles daily

That military master looks familiar...not familiar, this is the little military master who has met twice, once at the Wanshou Festival Lantern Festival a few years ago, and once at the Lin Mansion in Yangzhou.Zhu Xiu thought, in this era of inconvenient traffic and roads, there are men and women, strange men and women, it is really rare to meet three times.If it were placed in the drama, it would be the plot of "Tang Bohu smiles three times and touches Qiuxiang".

What is it, but this little military master is handsome and heroic. If the young man whom mother and uncle are looking for is also like this, then it will really make a lot of money.Thinking about it, Zhu Xiu gave a "puchi" smile, if Muma found out, she would have to complain "I don't know how to be ashamed!".This idea turned in her mind for a while, and then it disappeared in a flash. When she got to Cheng's house, she told Uncle Cheng that there was still a lot to say about business, and she didn't remember any of it.

On the other hand, Zhan Dong sent away Deng Ji who had forgotten about the "Cheng family".

"I said, my son, I'm trying to soften your face today. It's not for anything else. On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the streets are full of girls and children. It won't look good if you scare people." Zhan Picky on his son when he got up in the fifth grade.

"I made an agreement with my uncle. I will let you take a look at it from a distance during the Lantern Festival. Originally, today is your holiday, but who knows that there is another errand, but nothing has been settled, so I left you alone." In the open space. Do you still want to marry a wife?" In the end, Zhanda was dissatisfied with this, the child's mother left early, fortunately, his son was motivated and sensible since he was a child, but he had troubles in marriage, and finally met this one. This kid nodded his head for the marriage, and he wished he could settle it immediately, because there were so many twists and turns.

Zhan Dong poured a bowl of hot tea for his father, and said, "Don't delay, the lantern festival will be in Nancheng." This means that there are many people at the Lantern Festival Lantern Festival, and accidents are easy to happen. As the commander of the Nancheng army and horses, he must personally lead people to patrol some.

Zhan Da stared, did he mean that?You are wearing official clothes, carrying a waist knife, and have a straight face, so don't scare other girls.According to Zhan Da's original plan, he asked his son to wear a brocade gown with narrow sleeves and a cloak with a white fox fur collar to show off his good figure.

As the old saying goes, women should be pretty and filial, and men should be handsome, but Zhan Da thought that at night, even if the lights were bright, the dark clothes would not look good, so he asked his family to hold Zhan Dong's clothes. For the size, please ask the embroidery shop to make a suit according to the most fashionable styles of young men in Duzhong, all of which are made of good materials.Yesterday I asked someone to put it in Zhandong's room, and Zhandong came to see it at home. There are moon and white cloud pattern arrow sleeves, round pattern vermilion brocade beard gown, and an azurite cloak.Isn't this gaudy outfit the same as those dandy young masters straddling the streets.

Not to mention the tedious errands today, even if he is not on duty, he will not wear this to go out.Zhan Dong's gaze paused for a moment on the white fur collar of the azurite cloak, and the somewhat surprised little face surrounded by the rabbit fur collar appeared in his mind again.

Mrs. Zhao, who was waiting for Zhanda, came to the hall from the back yard, and said with a smile: "My uncle has his own ideas, maybe he doesn't like it, and he can't say for sure. Since the season is here, why don't you ask him about it?" thought?"

Zhan Dong picked up the black standard cloak, spoke to Zhan Da, and strode out the door.

When he couldn't see his son's back, Zhan Da scolded with a gloomy face: "I'm talking to my son, what's the matter with you! Don't think that I don't know your ideas, I advise you to give up, otherwise you will be in a hurry Let me go, let's break up!"

Mrs. Zhao was originally a widow with two good looks. In the early years, she set up a tea stall at the city gate, and became acquainted with Zhan Da.When Zhandong was seven or eight years old, there was a lonely father and son in the Zhan family, and many people at that time persuaded Zhan to marry a second wife.Pian Zhan was unwilling to remarry, fearing that his step-wife would take advantage of his status as an elder and rule over his son in the future, so he asked someone to talk about his second wife.

The second wife is a nice way of saying it. In fact, it is a concubine, a concubine, but good concubines in this dynasty are generally called a second wife.At this time, Zhan has made great contributions, and the Zhan family has already risen. Those from small families are willing to send their big daughters to be the second wife.Although Zhan Da looks like a rough man, he understands in his heart that this is because he sees that his family has only Dongzi, and the purpose is to give birth to a child, not to mention a bunch of relatives who are waiting to be supported. Taking it back is asking for it troublesome.Therefore, I fell in love with this widow Zhao, who still has the charm of a young lady, and took her home as a second bedroom.

Mrs. Zhao didn't know if it was because she was older, or because she had some physical problems, but in these years, she didn't give birth to a single girl.

Wiping her eyes and crying, Mrs. Zhao cried, "I'm all for the old man. What's my plan? Now the middle class in the family doesn't ask me to touch it at all. When my daughter-in-law comes in, she's a new The daughter-in-law who doesn't understand anything has taken over the house, and it seems that I am an outsider! Master, I have served you for so many years, you can't be so heartless!"

Zhan Da looked at her coldly, and waited until she had finished singing and complaining about her grievances before she lowered her eyelids and said, "Well, that's it."

Zhao's eyes lit up, but he heard Zhan Dao: "That day, I paid you 100 taels, 50 taels were given to your ex-husband's family, and 50 taels were for you to keep the box. Your ex-husband's family will sign a contract of sale for you , I didn’t agree. Although you are a concubine, you are also from a good family. I don’t want the 100 taels anymore, and the monthly cases over the years are no less than you. You take all those clothes and jewelry. You and I, I I don't make it difficult for you, don't you just want to be with your natal family? Today you cleaned up and I sent someone to send you back to your natal family. Whether you remarry in the future or ask your natal nephew to take care of you, you can do whatever you want, with the Zhan family It has nothing to do with me."

Mrs. Zhao didn't even dare to wipe her tears, she was so frightened, she cried and begged.

Zhan Da sneered: "What kind of person are you on the cards? I don't know what you think? You can compare it with my daughter-in-law. It's fine if you stay in your own room and don't come out. But when you come out in front of her, she sits and you Standing, she enters the room, you close the curtain...Don't talk about middle-aged women, it's not shameful for someone to ask a concubine to take care of them! I think you are the only one in my room, and I don't want to argue with you about small things. You and your family have become more and more ambitious. I used to respect you twice, but it was just my wish to live in peace, but I raised you up. You don’t need to ask, I will only say this once, but if there is any restlessness, one Concubine, just kick it out."

As he said that, he ordered the chief steward: "What are the relatives of the Zhao family, what kind of relatives! Call me out if you come to the door again! And the niece of the Zhao family behind, if the family really can't survive, I will buy it for her family with five taels of silver. When I came down, Aunt Jiutang was alone in the clan, and she happened to send this girl to serve the elderly. If her family doesn't plan to sell her, then throw her out quickly."

Glancing at the stupefied Mrs. Zhao, he said again: "Take a few people to Zhao's house and tell him about the bonsai with silver branches and plum blossoms in the main room. The bottom of the pot has the imprint of my Zhan's family. This is stolen. Stealing stolen goods! I wrote a complaint and asked his family to print their fingerprints. If he refused, he would sue him in the yamen. Tell his family to return it in a safe and sound manner, and then play tricks under my nose. Submit the complaint and send him into exile. Let his family weigh it!"

Mrs. Zhao was in a mess, and in a short while, Mrs. Zhao's niece was kicked out of Zhan's house crying. What about the face you gave me?"

During the Lantern Festival, Zhan Da quickly chopped up and beat up the carefree Zhao family and his natal family, and dealt with them completely.Although Mrs. Zhao desperately begged not to be divorced and returned to her natal family, all the people she had carefully recruited over the years were uprooted and sent away, just like a bamboo basket fetching water in vain.

If Zhan Dahun had an outburst, he might not have no affection for Zhao Shi, if he really didn't have the slightest bit of affection, he wouldn't have magnified Zhao Shi's heart.It's just that in this man's heart, his son is the number one, the bottom line, and with Zhao's idea of ​​love, a pair with Zhandong, wouldn't it be nothing.

Compared with the uneasy life of Zhan's family early in the morning, the situation in Rongguo Mansion is hundreds of times bigger.

On the fourteenth night, Shangxiatong couldn't sleep, and before five o'clock on the fifteenth day, a woman came to Luocuiwu to call the door.Because of the abnormal cold this year, Daiyu did have a cough, these few days, Nanny Zhu and Nanny Chen took turns sleeping with her.

The mother-in-law outside knocked loudly on the door, Daiyu felt relieved, and asked in a daze, "What's wrong?"

Nanny Zhu hurriedly patted her slender back, and said in a warm voice: "It's irrelevant, the girl will sleep again."

Then she winked at Xingyue who was on duty at night, Xingyue understood, tiptoedly turned out of the bedroom, opened the small door behind the hall and went out.

Luo Cuiwu's gatekeeper Li Po has already opened the door, Xingyue asked the woman who came to call the door: "Mothers, what's the matter?"

The two wives beamed and said: "My mother is returning to the province today. The old lady, the wife, the eldest lady, and Grandma You of the Dongfu will wear heavy makeup according to the clothes before Wugu. Now they are waiting outside the gate! Miss Lin I'm not ready to get up yet, the empress may still summon me..."

Xingyue stuffed two pieces of broken silver and said with a smile: "Thank you two mothers, but my girl suffered from a cough again. I asked the imperial doctor to see it twice yesterday, but it still didn't suppress it. Besides, it's a foreign family member. Summoned, if I can't help coughing in front of the nobleman, I don't want to say it, and I'm afraid of giving it to someone, so I went back to Lian's second grandmother yesterday to know. The old lady and the wife are very busy, and they haven't found time to report back all day. Lian The second grandma said that if you ask, she will help to tell, and we will be fine."

These two women were not very decent people at first, but the Rongqing Hall and Rongxi Hall in front of them have been well maintained, they are unknown, and they can't even hear a cough. Later, take advantage of this season to ask for a reward and make a fortune.

The reason Xingyue said, she and the two of them didn't know at all, but when they weighed the silver dime in their hands, they were already laughing so hard that they couldn't see their teeth, and hurriedly resigned.Xingyue looked in the direction, it was going to Xue's house again.

If it is said that the Xue family is also very aggrieved, the Pear Fragrance Courtyard where they lived before was given up to a group of small opera actors, and his family moved to a courtyard in the northeast corner. Although this courtyard has more houses than the Pear Fragrance Courtyard , but far less exquisite than Lixiangyuan, no one has lived in it for many years, overgrown with miscellaneous trees and trees, and it is quiet and scary.

Xingyue and Taoyue talked about it in private, and they couldn't understand it. It's not that the Xue family has no money. I heard that there is an old house in the capital, so why send it to others and feel so aggrieved.There are widowed mothers and elders in their family, and there are males to support the family, which is completely different from their own girl alone. If their family had their conditions, they would have moved back to the Lin family's house a long time ago. It is clean and comfortable, which is much better.

Xingyue went back to the room, and whispered back in Mama Zhu's ear. Nanny Zhu pursed her lips and whispered: "Close the door tightly, don't worry about it, you can rest for a while. Just now Taoyue served the girl to eat a soup , the medicine prescribed contains medicinal ingredients for sleeping, and the girl can probably sleep for more than an hour."

Daiyu didn't get up until Chenshi, and after finishing her breakfast, Fang asked, "I'm confused, what's going on outside? But Luanjia has come?"

Grandma Zhu smiled and said, "It's been a long time ago. According to the rules in the palace, I'm afraid it will be fine if I can come out in Youshi."

Daiyu asked with a smile: "Since this is the case, how long can I live in the mansion? When I was a child, I heard my mother tell me that there is a custom of 'living opposite the moon' here?"

Daiyu received a letter from her father, according to Lin Ruhai's opinion, she is a foreign family member, and she has no parents by her side, so she is unwilling to ask her to kneel down and greet the concubine Xiande.Daiyu thought about it, this was originally a happy event for the Jia family, she was alone in Beijing, and others saw her as representing the Lin family, her father was so proud, the Lin family really didn't need to bow down to please her.

Compared with the Wang family and the Shi family, these two families lived together in the capital, not only did none of their elders come, even the younger girls did not come to join in the fun.Daiyu clearly heard that his wife sent someone to invite him, but they all declined.If his own family picks it up, wouldn't Qing wait for others to underestimate him?

If he really lived in the opposite month, he would not be able to justify not going to see him, Daiyu thought about it, and only asked this question.

Zhu Nai smiled and said: "There is absolutely no reason for the concubine to hang around outside for many days. If she keeps doing this, it will be a mess!" , No matter how many pairs of eyes you have, you can't see it. If something scandal happens, where will the royal family's face be?

Daiyu listened, and Fang nodded to reassure herself.I heard Mother Chen laughing again: "You can't watch the Lantern Festival on the Lantern Festival. Wait until August [-]th, when it's neither hot nor cold. At that time, the fireworks and lanterns in the capital will be lively. The master will definitely take the girl to play around." .”

Grandma Zhu also smiled and said: "No, these two times of the year are the time when the girls and grandmas in the inner house have finally lifted the ban, and many young ladies from high families also go out. It's just that this mansion is not popular. , just circle the girls, and don’t take them with you when you go out as guests, and enjoy these festivals at home. It’s hard for our girls to go out even if it’s troublesome, but fortunately, Master Lin is coming to Beijing.”

These words dispelled a lot of Daiyu's sentimentality when she mentioned Jia Min, and hurriedly ordered Xingyue: "Bring me the Qin Tianjian's Huang Li."

The things Zhu Mama can understand casually, but the people in the Rongguo Mansion can't figure it out. The servants whispered and often guessed how many days the Xiande Concubine would stay at home.

Jiamu and the female family members of the whole family, wearing heavy fine clothes, have been waiting at the gate of Rongguo Mansion since Maochu. After several hours, her lips were already black and purple with cold, and she could hardly stand.

Sister Feng didn't have any edicts on her body, so she stood at the back, watching Youshi and Mrs. Wang standing side by side, even though her heart was wider than before, she couldn't help being jealous.

Just thinking wildly, at noon a eunuch came slowly in a big horse, and Mother Jia went to pick it up in person and inquired about the news.

The eunuch casually said that he had to go to Baoling Palace to worship Buddha even after the first dinner, and he had to go to Daming Palace to receive a banquet and watch the lanterns, and finally asked for an order to get up.This probably has to wait until Xu time.

Mother Jia leaned on an ebony crutch in one hand, and was supported by Mrs. Xing in the other hand. Hearing this, she let out her breath, feeling cold and tired, and reluctantly told Sister Feng: "Take care of the garden first, and please leave the inner parts behind." Eat and drink."

Sister Feng was not in the mood to fight any more, she retracted her expression slightly, and replied repeatedly: "Old lady, madam, please go back to your room, it won't be too late to come back when the time comes." She looked at the eunuch's expression carefully.

Sister Wang Feng's ability to observe people's words and emotions is very good, now seeing that eunuch flaunting the master's money in a big way, her heart is half cold.I thought to myself: I knew this rule earlier, why didn't I say hello in advance, but let the masters and wives of the whole family freeze in the cold wind for a long time?From this point of view, it is true that the empress is not as favored as the rumors say, she is probably treated coldly.

She thought about the four concubines in the master's room, the young Aunt Bai and Aunt Liu, Aunt Zhao and Aunt Zhou who had served for many years. Aunt Liu was much appreciated earlier, and the room was more exquisitely furnished than the wife's room, but it was new. A young and naive Aunt Bai, this Aunt Liu is just like that now, not to mention Aunt Zhou who has never been taken seriously, this person just shrinks back in the mansion and usually forgets that she is still there.The difference between being favored and not being favored is just that big. This is only in the mansion. There are more than four in the royal family. There are not too many famous and unnamed forty. The empress is in the palace. Forget it, if it's like Aunt Zhou, it's serious to deceive people to death!

Fortunately, until the time of Xu, when Jiamu led her family members to Dongdong for the second time, Concubine Jia's guard of honor was magnificent and luxurious, which made Wang Xifeng feel better.

Rongguo Mansion Shengqin Bieyuan is resplendent and magnificent, the lanterns made of various gauze silks are brilliant and exquisite, and the lily lilies are surrounded by cigarettes, clusters of clusters, [-]% rich and noble.

Changing clothes, ascending to the seat, playing music, seeing the ceremony, offering tea three times, all kinds of complicated rules and regulations, it took more than half an hour before Concubine Jia was able to meet her relatives.

After sobbing and crying for a while, she finally stopped. Concubine Jia asked, "Why are Aunt Xue, Daiyu, Baochai and Xiangyun missing?"

Mrs. Wang's face paused, and she said: "The foreign relatives have not done anything trespassing."

Yuanchun heard that he was busy calling for help. In a moment, Aunt Xue and others came in, but Daiyu was not there.Concubine Xiande showed no abnormal expression on her face, and she didn't ask the reason at all, she only talked about some warm and intimate relationship with Aunt Xue and others.

Sister Feng had already whispered in Jiamu's ear, because there were so many things, Jiamu didn't take it seriously, but now she heard what the empress said, putting Daiyu before Baochai, her eyes flashed, could it be the empress? Do you like Daiyu more?

When Concubine Jia saw Baoyu, she became even more intimate, and burst into tears.Finally persuaded, You Shi and Sister Feng hurriedly invited you to Xingyuan, and Concubine Jia ordered all the sisters and Baoyu to write poems, and Xiangyun shined brilliantly.

But after finishing the poem, Concubine Jia ordered four more plays.Among the twelve little opera singers, Concubine Jia loved Lingguan the most. Not only did she bestow a golden plate of cakes, but she also ordered two more plays.

Jia Qiang is in charge of the women's play, and the senior officer is held and coaxed by him to be very arrogant and often makes surprising remarks. scold each other".Concubine Jia also liked it, and she was so pleasant to be an official. She also rewarded her with two bolts of palace satin, purses, gold and silver zippers and other things.

Even Mrs. Wang secretly wondered that when Yuan Chun was at home, she said that she was not bad, but she looked gentle and generous on the surface, but in fact she was a little arrogant. Take a big look.Now that she is a concubine, on the contrary, she is kind to a low-level actor and loves her again.

The servants who had served the big girl up close, as well as Jiamu and others were all puzzled, but Baoqin, who was entertaining in the other room, heard it clearly: the empress is pity for herself.

The four sisters of the Jia family are all good at piano, chess, calligraphy and painting. This Jia Yuanchun is good at the piano, and her close maid also specially called her "Baoqin".

Baoqin knew in her heart that her mother used the qin to enter the Holy Eye to invite her to be favored, and she was lucky to be a female official next to the queen. Not to mention that she greatly offended the queen, even the Holy One used to ask her to play a song.Even today when the Daming Palace hosted the banquet and looked at the lanterns, Concubine Wu Gui and Guiren Zhou were both uneasy and kind, and instigated the empress to perform music for fun. Fortunately, Concubine Zhen helped her and managed to cover up the trouble.

Not to mention the brocade flowers and the fire cooking oil in Rongguo Mansion, the bustling city of lights is no less lively.

Mammy Zhu took care of Daiyu and couldn't leave her. Uncle Cheng took his sister-in-law and a few powerful women for a stroll since noon, but they had a great time.

Until the fireworks in Haizheng were let off, Zhu Xiu pulled Uncle Cheng's sleeve and asked in a low voice: "Uncle, where is that... person?" Didn't you ask me to take a look?

The enthusiastic Uncle Cheng snorted when he heard the words, and said angrily, "My daughter is extroverted!"

After a while, he reluctantly took his niece to the tallest and brightest lighthouse on the street, curled his lips and said, "That one over there is the one with a straight face."

Zhu Xiu glanced under the lighthouse twice, but didn't recognize any of them.The lighthouse is ingeniously built, many young girls came to look at it, and some of the girls talked softly, so they attracted Xiao Erlang, all of them were smiling and had a serious face.

Zhu Xiu couldn't find it, and when he pulled his uncle's sleeve to inquire again, he suddenly saw a tall and tall familiar face in the shadow of the canopy behind the lighthouse.

Zhu Xiu was stunned.

It was the crowd who looked for him thousands of times, and suddenly looked back, but the man was in a dimly lit place.