[Red Mansions] The big maid struggles daily

Mrs. Wang's eyes lit up, so it really is a golden mountain, she hurriedly asked: "What does your lady mean?"

Concubine Jia laughed and said: "I was thinking, since her mother is now living in our mansion, it is better to ask the old lady to come forward and take her home. One is not to separate their flesh and blood, and the other is that there are many pavilions in the garden. She also chooses a place to live like the other sisters. It’s also for her to raise her status, so that others won’t gossip about her background. Madam, how about it?”

Mrs. Wang said with a smile: "Your Majesty is sympathetic to their mother and daughter. Naturally, she has good intentions, but..." What does this have to do with the Cheng family and Yanzhi Fangzi?Without the Cheng family, what could Zhu Xiu do as a girl.

The imperial concubine sighed inwardly, the wife is still so impatient, she wanted to take the Cheng family for her own use, how could it be so easy.They are scheming and eager for quick success, and they are talking about the upbringing of the Wang family, but when they saw their relatives, Aunt Xue and Sister Feng, who were also from the Wang family, had already experienced their appearances. Only the wife was still confused about major issues.

I had no choice but to persuade me slowly: "Madam has forgotten the reason why you want to take what you give first? It's just a pavilion, and it's just a favor."

Mrs. Wang also said to herself: "The Grand View Garden is my mother's luck. It is a family-saving villa! My mother loves my sisters so much that it is barely suitable for Baochai and their sisters to go in and live there. After all, this Zhu girl, a slave Yangzi also lived in a serious way, which would be insulting." If the empress really cares about Cheng's family, and Zhu girl has some talents, why don't you give him something to give to his family, since their family is alone, and the imperial concubine and empress value him, I don't know how grateful I am."

Another idea: "Lai Shangrong's grandson is called Lai Shangrong. He was graciously released as soon as he was born. When he was crowned, he was allowed to donate an official. In less than ten years, he was elected by the court again. Now he is also a state and county. Lai Shangrong's daughter-in-law is blessed, and she passed away last year. If the empress really likes the girl of the Zhu family, why don't you give it to the Lai family? After passing the door, she is also a serious official wife."

From Mrs. Wang's point of view, the Cheng family's foundation is shallow, and they just need to curry favor with a backer.Now the empress is a noble concubine, one person is under one person and more than ten thousand people, as long as the empress shows her intentions, the Cheng family will not be afraid.As for the girl of the Zhu family, it was even easier to handle.Although the Lai's family is the old lady's companion, Lai Dahe and Lai Shangrong are considered filial to the masters, and besides, his family's boy can do it well, so it's not an insult to the girl to be assigned to his family.

After all, Mrs. Wang regarded the Cheng family as inferior to ordinary wealthy businessmen who came to Rongguo Mansion with their families.In particular, I often heard Aunt Xue say that imperial merchants are also divided into ranks, and some are often dismissed: this time, the family members are newcomers, who have the means of doing business but have no foundation. They have also learned the "complete set" of tricks, and the royal businessman of his family is not very careful.It is not far from the rich gentry who are attached to their own families.

Concubine Jia smiled wryly: "That's not what I said. I am in the inner palace, the master outside is not in court, and my uncle is not in the capital. Compared with the other lords, I am really weak. Her uncle is very good at doing things. It is not only a matter of filial piety and money from the merchant, but also the meaning of borrowing his family connections. It is inappropriate for the wife to call the slave of the imperial merchant's daughter to our family. The wife just thinks, if you change To be Baochai, to promise the treasure girl to the Lai family, is your wife willing?"

Mrs. Wang blurted out: "How can she be compared with Baoyatou! I like Baoyatou's promise to Baoyu..." She was a little embarrassed when she said the words. My daughter-in-law, only the old lady was there a few times ago, so I finally told the empress, but the empress has not yet agreed.What's more, the empress has already chosen Concubine Wu's sister-in-law to be Baoyu's official wife, and the old lady nodded her head.Mrs. Wang felt that a girl of such a background must be delicate and self-willed, and decided to give Baochai to Baoyu so that she could have an arm.

Concubine Jia patted Mrs. Wang's hand, and said with a smile: "Madam's thoughts, I also agree, but if Baoyu doesn't make progress, how can he match up and ask Bao girl to be his second wife? Baoyu's body is not strong, and neither are we." Willing to force him, this year seems to be a year, and he still hasn't made any progress, how can Aunt Xue agree to make Baochai a child with him? Even the wife can't say that."

Mrs. Wang frowned and said: "Baoyu is the younger brother of the empress, and his elder sister is the noble concubine of the court. He has a bright future. The two families know each other well, and I like Bao girl. Besides, she is a serious second wife. Bao girl gave it to your brother. After a year or two, if you raise a brother, you will be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the royal family." At this time, she didn't remember Baoyu's inhumane incident.

Mrs. Wang also knew that it was only the second room, so it was not easy to mention this to her younger sister, so she tried to test the thoughts in her heart: "Brother Pan of your aunt's family is a bit absurd, and the Xue family's family business is only going down. The marriage of Bao girl is not good... If Baoyu has a title, then your aunt will have nothing to do with it." Just like King Beijing, the concubine of the county king is all girls from the families of officials and ministers; Compared with the county king, it's just the same reason. He has a title on him, and the girl who married an imperial merchant in his concubine is also worthy of it.

Concubine Xiande was named a noble concubine, and Mrs. Wang's heart was already on fire: Concubine Wu's concubine's brother was named a first-class captain of light cars, and Baoyu was also a brother of a noble concubine, and he was born from the same mother. It is not an exaggeration to be named a third-class baron stop?

Yuan Chun rubbed the center of his eyebrows, not knowing how to explain to her.This conferment of titles on officials is based on the Holy Majesty's intention, not that if her elder brother Wu Guifei can be conferred a title, Baoyu will also be able to receive one.Except that the queen's natal family has ancestral rules, and the title of "Cheng'en" is to be conferred, besides, Cheng'en Gong, Cheng'en Hou, and Cheng'en Bo all depend on the emperor's wishes.For the rest, who would dare to ask the Holy Majesty to award titles to her natal parents and brothers?

Jia Yuanchun knew that his mother was a bit of a left-bearer, and it was hard to persuade her to agree. Besides, if she told the truth directly, wouldn't she tell her mother that she was not as favored by the emperor as Wu Guifei, and this was not Yuan Chun's wish.I had to say vaguely: "Baoyu is so talented, he has no job and no merit. Even if the saint has this heart, he still needs to take care of the courtiers' intentions. Madam, let's not mention it for the time being."

Mrs. Wang thought that she really had such a meaning today, so she couldn't help but be happy. When she wanted to ask, she only heard the noble concubine say again: "Besides, get married first and then start a business. Maybe Baoyu will grow up after having a wife and children. He is very smart. Work hard, I'm afraid I will be able to get a good name in the exam... So it's not easy to delay getting married for a long time. I know my wife likes Bao girl, so I can't tell my aunt, but there is an opportunity right now. In my opinion, it is called The Zhuxiu girl is living in the Grand View Garden, she is talented and good looking, so if she stays there for a year or so, how about making it a side room for Baoyu?"

Concubine Jia smiled, as if she had a plan in her mind: "If it really happens, first, the Cheng family will be won over, and with the help of the Cheng family, it will somewhat make up for the mansion's energy spent in building the Grand View Garden; Networks are also beneficial to me, other than that, I often spread the word, there must be a few trustworthy internal officials, the ones I use now, although they are good, but I don’t know the root cause; three things, I can also be like my wife I mean, it's the same imperial businessman, a girl from Cheng's family can be a concubine, and even though Big Sister Xue is more noble, she's similar. If I try to flatter girl Bao, I don't think there's anything else to say to Auntie."

Mrs. Wang felt awkward. Two or three years ago, she would not have wanted this Zhuxiu girl to be Baoyu's housemate.Now this is going to be the second bedroom, and he is the first to enter the door. If he is really a tricky one, it would seem to overwhelm Bao girl.

Concubine Jia smiled and said: "Madam, don't worry, I will never let Bao girl feel wronged. Besides, as long as the main room is soft, Bao girl will also be an equal wife in the future."

Only then did Mrs. Wang smile and said: "Your Majesty is really considerate, so that is what Zhu Yatou meant according to your Majesty. But I heard that Concubine Wu's first sister has a rather indulgent temperament. How can she be gentle with her background?"

Hearing this, Concubine Jia was taken aback: "Concubine Wu's sister-in-law has 'died of illness', Madam doesn't know?"

Mrs. Wang was also taken aback, and hurriedly asked: "When did it happen? Could it be that you have some kind of sudden illness?"

It's hard for Concubine Jia to say this.

There was an uproar in the city over the matter of foot binding, the Wu family was well-known, but it seemed like his wife didn't know about it.

Concubine Wu's youngest sister was widely rumored to have a foot that was no more than three inches long. When the Wu family became proud, they were thrown ice balls by the emperor, and the newly wrapped one was not a real wife.The so-called "new" here refers not only to the person who will be wrapped up after the will, but also to the unmarried girl. If she has small feet, she cannot be the wife of the house.Many families who have newly bound their daughter's feet have hurriedly released them, and asked a good doctor to set the bones. In time, although there are still some sequelae, the feet can grow a little bit, and it will not delay the marriage.This kind of atmosphere can only be prosperous, and most of them are born not long ago, and it is not too late to make up for it.

Only Concubine Wu's younger sister, a young girl with cardamom years, has a foot that is less than three inches long?It's okay to fool fools with these words, after all, this girl's feet were already bound when she was seven or eight years old, and the shape has been fixed for many years, and it's too late to let go.The Wu family also knew this, but they never dared to admit it, let alone ask this girl to stand in front of the world to testify to this matter.If it is really confirmed that the girl in the family had bound her feet a few years ago, wouldn't it be clear that the Wu family and the Jiangnan salt merchants who made Longyan furious have already secretly approved the song and betrayed the emperor.Therefore, the girl had to die of illness.

The noble concubine sighed, shook her head and said: "Madam also advises the master, don't be so obsessed with learning, what's the point of not asking about worldly affairs?" How can I not expect that the news in the mansion is so blocked, and I can't help but make Concubine Jia exhausted and depressed. .

Mrs. Wang laughed and said: "This is your master's kindness. The Holy Majesty heard that we are so peaceful and do not rely on your mother to be arrogant and domineering. I am afraid that he likes it."

Yuan Chun stopped talking, according to the emperor's temperament, such behavior really pleased him.It's a pity that Yuanchun lived in the deep palace for a long time, and he didn't know that although Jia Zheng followed the rules, he couldn't restrain the children of the family. How many unscrupulous children of the Jia family who were related to the Rong family all used the noble concubine as a guise to bully men and women, blackmail and collect money. He does all kinds of evil, he is even more like an uncle of the country than the serious uncle of Cheng Enhou's mansion, he is more than a hundred times rampant and presumptuous.These misdeeds have been on today's desk, and today they are reluctant to reveal it, but because the nobles are married to each other, the weakening needs to be dealt with step by step.

The imperial concubine brought up the foot-binding incident in a few words, and Mrs. Wang sighed: "Then Cui Minggui is still a scholar, so immoral! Fortunately, the wise eyes of the sage did not teach them to be deceived, otherwise what will the empress do?"

As soon as Yuanchun came out, Sheng Sheng didn't step into this palace in the first ten days of the month. Even if he liked the Jinlian girl, where did he get his favor?He only persuaded: "Even if you keep your law and order, the master should pay attention to the situation. If you are free, the wife might as well go out and socialize more. However, you must not follow the trend and follow what others say. For example, this time, the master and wife did not move. It is good to have the thought of binding the feet of the sisters in the house."

Mrs. Wang also sighed secretly in her heart that she was lucky. She didn't know what happened to the master, but she was in the second gate, so she only listened to it occasionally, and never took it to heart.When the wind was flourishing, if she really knew, it would be hard for Mrs. Wang to say whether she would be tempted now: the second girl is older, and she belongs to a big family;These maids were supposed to be Yuan Chun's concubines in case of emergencies.

The three sisters of Jia's family didn't know that they had escaped unharmed before they even realized it. Mrs. Wang didn't care about it, but said worryingly: "Fortunately, I haven't paid my respects to the Wu family, otherwise Baoyu's marriage will be ruined." It's difficult. It's just that, Baoyu's marriage... I'm afraid the old lady likes that Yun girl again, what does your mother say?"

Yuan Chun smiled slightly: "I have my eyes on a person, and the old lady must like it."

Mrs. Wang's heart moved, and she hurriedly asked, "Who is it?"

Yuan Chun said: "Madam, what do you think of Sister Lin? Her foundation, appearance, and upbringing are all a rare match."

Mrs. Wang and Jia Min have always had a rift, and she doesn't like Daiyu very much, but because of Lin Ruhai's prosperity as an official, she can save face.Hearing this, she forced a smile and said: "This Lin girl looks unhealthy, and she has always been a bit petty. Baoyu's temperament is best known by the empress. If these two are pinched together, I'm afraid there will be more quarrels."

Yuan Chun said with a smile: "It's okay. Baoyu has always been willing to give in to the sisters. I heard that Sister Lin's character and appearance are rare in the world. Besides, on the day of the family visit, Sister Lin didn't come. I think Baoyu is obviously a little disappointed. I'm afraid he also likes sister Lin."

Mrs. Wang also said: "Baoyu doesn't have those thoughts. He treats all his sisters the same, and he treats Lin girl the same. I am only worried that Lin girl's body and bones will not be good for the heirs..."

Concubine Jia Guifei had already decided in her heart that she couldn't change it. She just smiled and said, "What are you afraid of? Baochai is strong, so my wife likes it even more. Now Uncle Lin is very sacred, and the master has always admired Uncle Lin's knowledge. As the son-in-law of the Lin family, there is no reason for Uncle Lin not to support and teach. Baoyu is intelligent, and once Uncle Lin takes care of him, he will be successful. Besides, sister Lin is also familiar with Baochai, so she can't get married in the future. Good fortune is at hand."

"My wife only told the old lady what I said. They are not very old, so I just plan slowly."

Mrs. Wang had no choice but to agree.

For a while, he came in holding the piano, and replied: "It's getting late, it's time to send Yiren out of the palace."

The mother and daughter in the palace realized that two hours had passed.Mrs. Wang was busy getting her clothes ready, and Baoqin sent them out in person.

After holding the piano and returning to her command, Concubine Jia asked, "What happened just now? You can't hide the look on your face."

Holding the piano and bowing his head, he said awkwardly: "It turned out that the servants were not vigilant and did not come in early to remind the empress and Yiren. That's why the queen sent the maid over, saying that we Yiren stayed too long..."

These words were like a basin of icy water, instantly extinguishing Concubine Jia's high spirits of pointing out the country and planning the layout.

After a long while, Concubine Jia Gui said: "It's okay, I'll go and thank my master and empress for teaching me."

When they arrived at the central palace, the queen did not show up, and Concubine Jia was left hanging in the palace courtyard.Yuan Chun looked at a beautiful pomegranate flower planted in a vat, and thought to himself, the Holy One despises the harem and emphasizes the front court, as long as the Lin family, Cheng family, and Xue family are all his arms, and there are Wang family and Shi family, civil and military are two Li, with gold and silver as the bottom, don't worry about not being able to go straight to the blue sky; the previous dynasty is valued, and the grace will be there. As long as there is the grace, one's body has been taking care of it, and it may not be impossible to bear a prince.The emperor has few heirs, one prince is enough to make himself and the Jia family enjoy dignity.

On that side, Mrs. Wang's state of mind was completely different from that of entering the palace. Thinking about what the empress said, she became more and more aggrieved and miserable.Now Baoyu is the only one she has left, and she is trying hard to take him as the law, but she is born to find the most unsuitable daughter-in-law, just one, and the empress even points out two, when she doesn't know that Lin girl and Zhu girl are the best, What can these two do together to control Baoyu?

The more I thought about it, the sadder I became, and I wiped my tears in the sedan chair.After thinking about it again and again, when I returned to Rongguo Mansion and reported to Jia Mu, I finally covered up the words that the empress wanted to point Lin girl to Baoyu, and only said that the empress was afraid that the garden would be ruined, so she asked their sisters to live in it, and said a few words about the empress I value the Cheng family's words.

When Jia's mother heard the words, she didn't want to tell the truth first, but waited for the order from the empress.

On the sixth day of June, concubine Jia specially picked a good day, and sent eunuch Xia Shouzhong to Rongguo Mansion to issue an edict, ordering Daiyu Baochai and others to just live in the courtyard and Baoyu to go in with her to study.

Jia Zheng and his wife received the order and returned to Ming Jia's mother. Jia's mother liked it very much, and ordered their sisters to plan their own choices, and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, Long En, quickly send someone to invite Zhu Mama."

Underground Li Wan said with a smile: "Mother Zhu has gone to her house."

Jia Mu repeatedly ordered: "Call some women who are going out, and bring the embroidered girl." Then she said to Baoyu, Baochai and Xiangyun: "She is here, you must not underestimate her, and live in harmony. , I like it."

After hearing the oracle, Baoyu was already very happy, and hurriedly said, "Sisters who are the same, how can they treat each other differently?"

Xiangyun covered her mouth with a handkerchief and smiled lightly: "She and Miss Lin are the best, just ask them to live together. With Sister Lin here, if others treat her poorly, Sister Lin will not eat others..." Joking It seems to draw a long voice: "The old lady just don't worry."

On the first day of June, the Zhan family invited the most famous matchmaker among the official matchmakers, Lv Matchmaker, to solemnly come to propose marriage.This Lv matchmaker was so eloquent, he didn't talk about Zhan's family first, but he praised Zhu Xiu as extravagantly beautiful, unparalleled in the world, until Nanny Zhu and Uncle Cheng softened their expressions and grinned.Only then did he talk about the Zhan family's courtship, and after she said it, Zhan Dong was comparable to the grandson of the prince, not inferior to Pan An Songyu.

Zhu Xiu behind the screen covered her mouth with a handkerchief so that she didn't laugh out loud.

Nanny Zhu and Uncle Cheng took Ziqiao for a while before calling out Zhu Xiu.

Zhu Xiu followed what Nanny Zhu had taught her before, blushing and deeply blessed: "Mother and uncle are the ones who make the decisions in life."

After finishing speaking, he covered his face with a handkerchief and walked back "ashamed".

The matchmaker Lv knew that the two families had a tacit understanding, and this is the first time to see the girl from the Zhu family. He couldn't help but praise in his heart: what a beautiful and sensible lady.

The matchmaker Lv came to the door for the first time, and only did the beginning, and then came to the door every day for three or four consecutive days, explaining the situation of Zhan's family and Zhandong's character one by one, and Nanny Zhu and Uncle Cheng nodded.

At this time, the marriage is considered tentative.

On the sixth day of the lunar new year, it was the day when Zhan's family performed the Nacai ceremony. Only after the Nacai ceremony was the beginning of marriage.

In the ancient rites, wild geese were sent to accept food. People who were more particular in this dynasty still followed the ancient rites, but they didn't pay much attention to the ordinary ones.

In addition to Lu matchmaker, the Zhan family invited a respected elder in the family to be the officiant.At the Nacai ceremony, there were ceremonial objects prepared by Lv matchmaker Chen Zhan's family in Cheng's courtyard. The officiant received the letter and told the relatives, friends and guests who were watching the ceremony.

When everyone looked at it, they saw a majestic and vigorous wild goose at the head, with a red plate behind it: eight kinds of jewelry with auspicious styles such as phoenix and mandarin duck; eight kinds of bright silk and satin; There is no shortage of meat; at the end there is a pair of acacia bells, intended to acacia and Najib to keep blessings.There are a total of thirty samples, which is enough to show that the Zhan family attaches great importance to and likes this marriage.

"The geese that our uncle netted personally didn't lose a single feather." The young man from Zhan's family followed you proudly.

The matchmaker Lv came here, and arranged for his servants to give loose fruit boxes to the guests, and the atmosphere was even better for a while.

But Jia Mu sent someone to pick up Zhu Xiu, and she was stopped before she got close to the house. The woman pushing the cart saw that they were tall and straight, wearing arrow sleeves and riding whips around their waists, they looked like soldiers. Get out of the car and ask.

"Master Cheng's house is going to pass the six ceremonies ahead. There are a lot of friends and guests. I'm afraid your carriage won't be able to pass."

The mother-in-law smiled and said, "Is it Master Huangshang Cheng's house? Ouch, we are going to his house."

The two Wucheng soldiers were younger after all, they just thought they were late guests and hurriedly let Tong pass.

The carriage walked two or three hundred meters forward and was stopped again. The woman said, "What's the matter? Let's go to Master Cheng's house, don't ask any more questions."

The butler of Cheng's house outside smiled and said, "Is it my master's old friend? May I ask who is it?"

The two wives who pressed the carriage smiled and said: "It turns out that they are from Master Cheng's family. We are from the Rongguo Mansion, and we are here to pick up Miss Zhu by the order of the old lady."

Hearing this, the housekeeper smiled and said: "Our eldest daughter is discussing marriage, and today I will accept the ceremony. Please also thank Mr. Jia Laofeng for us. There are many people ahead, so I will send a few out to save money." You missed your business by blocking here."

Fortunately, the mother-in-law didn't get out of the carriage in time, the housekeeper waved his hand, and two of them came up, caught Jia's groom in the middle, drove the horse and turned around.No matter what the woman in the car said, it was only a matter of sending it out.