Prequel to the Red Chamber: I Am the Second Wife

Yesterday, Zili learned about her sister's awkwardness after hearing some inside information after the rain. She smiled and said to Jia Min: "She has always been like this. My sister was born with the wrong gender. If she was a man, what would happen to her?" It must be the hard-working window with the head hanging on the beam and the buttocks. How can I sit down and listen to the opera with my temper. In her opinion, these are all a waste of time and delay her study. Don't worry, if You take a book and ask her about it, and she promises to talk to you all night."

Listening to Zili's words, Jia Min pursed her lips and said with a smile: "It turns out to be like this. Thank you sister for enlightening me. I'm fine. Sister Zun's temperament matches my second brother quite well. They are both people who like to study. What do they hate most about going out to socialize?" Listening to plays and eating wine." As he spoke, Jia Min looked up and smiled slightly.

Listening to Jia Min's words, Zili couldn't help but think that she really is a girl with a heart, and that she is indeed the sweetheart of Jia's mother.The Jia family decided to marry the Wang family.Just now, I was worried that Ziqian would suddenly leave and leave Jia Min behind, making the guests look bad.Zili's words were only half-truths and half-false for the sake of Yuanchang.Unexpectedly, Jia Min said it loudly on purpose.Why Ziqian and Jia Zheng have the same personality.It was clearly for the old ladies and ladies above.How could someone as shrewd as her fail to notice that Ziqian wasn't very interested in the members of Jia's family?I don't worry about marrying an unwilling second sister-in-law to go home. Their sister-in-law has conflicts?

The old lady of Jia's family above deliberately pretended to be dumb, and she deliberately asked Jia's mother, "What did Min'er just say?"

Mother Jia smiled and said, "Just now the second young lady of the Wang family said that her elder sister likes to read. She doesn't like to eat, drink and have fun. She just likes to read books to learn the way of sages." Min'er smiled and said that she is not the same as the one in our family. This child is neither serious nor serious, ma'am, please don't laugh at me. This child is born to spoil me." Madam Tang had a bad face because of Ziqian's departure just now.While complaining about her daughter's capriciousness in her heart, she said with a smile: "I am laughing at the old lady. My eldest girl has a rigid temper. She always behaves like Mr. Daoxue in everything she does and speaks. Please also ask the old lady and Mrs. Jia not to talk to her." Common knowledge of children."

"I like steady children. Ever since I saw the big girls in the house, I like them from the bottom of my heart. Although the little girls should like to talk and laugh, they look lively and cheerful. But people can't be children forever Yes, the girls will know how to be shy when they grow up, and they should be more prudent, the eldest girl in the house is the oldest, and she is the most prudent in handling things." The old lady of the Jia family made a final decision, she likes grandsons and daughter-in-laws who are quiet and pleasing to the eye.Her daughter-in-law looks dignified and virtuous, but she is actually a bit too lively at home. The daughter-in-law was spoiled and spoiled since she was a child, and she likes to have fun and loves to talk and laugh.In the eyes of the old lady of the Jia family, she felt a little uncomfortable. She came from a hard life, and the family business was hard-won, so she always saved what she could to live.Even for the sake of face and ostentation, she always murmured when she made all kinds of ostentation.

Enjoying the days of serving slaves and maidservants every day, the old lady of the Jia family always feels uneasy in her heart.Therefore, deep down in her heart, she always disapproves of her daughter-in-law's loose attitude and enjoyment-loving personality.

When I came to Hangzhou to meet the eldest daughter of the Wang family, the old lady had the feeling of seeing a bosom friend when she saw Ziqian for the first time.Ziqian's calmness and restraint are very in line with the temperament of the old lady.

Jia Min's face was expressionless in response to her grandmother's words, while Jia's mother still had a pleasant smile on her face, but there was no trace of warmth in her eyes.Zili winked at her younger sister, and the two of them pulled Jia Min and said, "It's boring sitting here, let's go out for a walk." Mrs. Tang listened to Zili's words, and wanted to send the children out. , the adult spoke very quietly: "Alright, what are you little girls doing listening to these nonsense. Watching the theater is just for us to be idle and bored, to pass the time. Send a few more people to follow, don't go to the water, grandma You follow them and take care of them."

Wang Ziteng's daughter-in-law set up an empty seat under Mrs. Tang, but how dare she sit down? She has been taking care of the old lady and mother-in-law. When Mrs. Tang asked her to accompany her sister-in-law and Jia Min to go out, she knew it was Tang Madam told her to take a rest.Mrs. Zhang hurriedly agreed and took the three girls away.

The banquet was placed on the waterside pavilion in the backyard of Wang’s house. Across a pool of clear water was a stage with upturned corners and cornices. When they came out from the corridor beside the four waterside pavilions, Zili smiled and said, “I didn’t eat properly at the banquet, how about The Wanhe Songfeng we went up the mountain, where is it at a high place, we can enjoy the scenery of the West Lake outside, and it would be nice to have some snacks by the way." Miss Zhang was grateful for her sister-in-law's thoughtfulness, and she stretched out her hand and gently squeezed Zili's hand: "How can there be If you are a guest like this, don’t ask Miss Min what she means, but talk about it yourself first.”

When Jia Min heard that he could see the West Lake, he was naturally happy: "I really want to see the West Lake. When I came here, I heard people say that this house is next to the West Lake. It's a pity that we can't go out and see it with our own eyes. We can see it from a distance through the wall. It's good too."

"I can always find an opportunity to ask you to take a trip to the West Lake. It's better to have a look at the distance first, so as to get a glimpse of the leopard. I have a foundation in my heart. When I go to the lake, I won't have to worry about it. Let's try some exquisite boat dishes. Let's try something new first." Zili pulled Jia Min up the mountain.Along the veranda and wide stone steps built along the mountain, they arrived at Wanhe Songfeng on the hill in a blink of an eye.

A girl had already gone up to open the doors and windows first, lit the stove to make tea, and opened the table to welcome them.Zili pointed out the scenery in the garden, and at the same time came along the mountain road with Jia Min, and the little girls easily established an intimate relationship.When Jia Min was at home, she was very well protected by her mother. Although she had two sisters with the same father, they were both born of concubines. Naturally, there was a little distance between Jia Min and Jia Min's much-loved first-born daughter.Suddenly came to Hangzhou, someone was willing to play with her, Jia Min quickly got to know Zili well.

"I'm still wondering why a rockery is still built in the garden. It turned out to be to see the West Lake. It's really enviable to live by the West Lake. You can enjoy the scenery of the West Lake without going out. I live in the painting every day of the year. Inside." Jia Min admired the scenery inside the garden, standing on tiptoes halfway up the mountain, wanting to see the scenery of Huguang outside.

"It's natural that you feel fresh when you first come here, but it's only mediocre after a long time. We're almost there. In fact, Wanhe Songfeng was newly built. In the past, the water surface in the garden was very small. It was because my grandfather liked the high mountains and small moons, which made people feel uncomfortable. Dig a lake, pile mud into a mountain, it’s the best place to enjoy the moonlight outside the wall on the night of the full moon.” Zili pulled Jia Min in, and there was a girl who came in with a food box, and opened it to see that it was full of exquisite Hangzhou. side dishes.

Mrs. Zhang was still standing with chopsticks to give way. Zili wanted to pull Mrs. Zhang to sit down, but she saw that Jia Min was still there.Poor daughter-in-law, not only has to dress up her in-laws and husband, but also take care of her sister-in-law and uncle. If there is no one at home, Mrs. Zhang can sit down and have dinner with Zili and Zimeng.It's just that there are guests in front of her, and Mrs. Zhang is also shy, so she definitely doesn't want to be rude in front of others. She didn't have time to eat at the banquet just now, so there is absolutely no reason for her sister-in-law to be hungry here.

Zili saw that Jia Min was not in the mood to eat, and said with a smile, "I just escaped from the banquet and sat on the table, but I can't stand it anymore. There are deer on the back mountain, let me take a look. "Jia Min heard that there was something to play, so she stood up and said, "I'll go too." Zili pulled Jia Min and left: "Sister-in-law, look at Zimeng, she doesn't like eating raw at the banquet, she must be hungry at night." It's over." He gave Zhang the opportunity to rest and eat.

The two of them were playing in the back mountain for a while, and they met a nun who was repairing the yard. One of the nuns was very dexterous, holding various flowers and weaving them into various flower baskets and small boxes with tender green willow strips, such as small cages. , put flowers to make the two delicate girls happy.

Zili also needs to learn how to weave baskets, and Jia Min also likes to play, leading the maids to pick flowers and break willows, the two of them spoiled a lot of flowers, soon a thick layer of willow leaves fell under their feet residual flowers.When she was having fun, she saw Osmanthus fragrans next to Mrs. Tang approaching. Seeing Zili and Jia Min, she smiled and said, "The second girl came here and told me to climb the mountain and come down for nothing. The old lady's play broke up there." Let's call the girls over."

Zili threw the things in his hands: "The banquet is over? I didn't expect it to be so soon!" "The old man is back, it seems that the master and the young master are also coming back one after another, it seems to be something important." The adults are back, the children Stop playing too.Zili and Jia Min exchanged glances, born in such a family, they are both naturally sensitive.

Waiting for Zili to go to the front, the banquet was already over, so Jia Min naturally went back there with Jia Mu. Here, Mrs. Tang pulled Zili and asked, "Where did you go? The sweet-scented osmanthus went out for a long time and couldn't find it." you?"

"We went to the mountain. The third girl of the Jia family really wanted to see the West Lake." Zili said truthfully.Mrs. Tang naturally knew what her daughter had done. She stroked Zili on her body: "That's fine. It's a good thing for you to care about my sister-in-law. That's what I meant when I asked her to go out with you. You should take care these days and stop messing around." , I specially asked the nanny to teach you the rules of meeting the queen mother and empress. Your grandfather and father got the news that the emperor's holy car has arrived on the ground in Jiangsu. The holy car will arrive in Hangzhou in a few days." The emperor asked Come on, a thought popped into Zili's mind, is the palace supervised by Master Wang repaired?

Old man Wang Changchun has already repaired the palace, he hasn't been home for a few days, now that he got the news, old man Wang Changchun heaves a sigh of relief.Fortunately, the construction of the palace has been completed, he checked it again and again, and finally there are no mistakes, so he is willing to go home and rest.After taking a bath, the old lady looked at her husband and sighed deeply: "I haven't seen you for a few days, how come you have lost weight? The people who followed are all idlers? How do they serve you!"

"It's okay, it's hard to buy a lot of money to grow old and thin. I used to feel that I was full and had nothing to do all day long, and I was going to gain weight. You see, I am a lot leaner now. I have been coming and going on horseback these days. If the Mongolian would dare Come to die, I can go to the battlefield and hack them to death. The family is okay, the Jia family is here, and there are a lot of things at home." The old man lay down on the recliner comfortably, and stretched his feet comfortably: "The marriage of the two families , what do they mean?"

"Of course they are willing. They also said that they have wronged the big girl. What do you think of their little brother? I heard from people in Jia's family that their little brother is pretty good. He is well-educated and likes to study. Willing to make progress." The old lady murmured a little as she thought about the performance of her eldest granddaughter at the banquet today.

"I think that kid is okay, but he is a little pedantic, and he is made stupid by books. But if you give me some pointers, it will be fine. Why do you seem to be worried?" The old man and the old lady have been married for many years, He could detect every subtle change in his wife's expression.

The old lady sighed and said today's matter: "...I didn't expect the big girl to have other thoughts in her heart. It almost made the girl feel uncomfortable, but Zili came out to smooth things over and diverted the conversation. No wonder Ziteng My daughter-in-law is partial to Zili, she thinks that her sister-in-law will set the rules wherever she goes, and she takes her out especially to let her have time to eat and make love."

"You see what I said is right, that girl Zili knows how to be a man, and she has a good heart. Everyone saw Ziteng's daughter-in-law serving the elders in front of others and had no time to eat. She was the only one thinking about it, and asked her to take a rest." Be a human being, you have to stay behind in everything. In the future, this family will not belong to Ziteng. At that time, they were already married as girls, and the relationship with their natal family depends on the way they left when they were girls. Listen. You said, I found that Ziqian seems to be too eager for quick success. Her temperament still wants to enter the palace, and she puts everything on her face. Not to mention being in the palace, I am very worried even if she gets married and goes to her in-law's house. In fact, she married The Jia family is good, the two families are similar, and the in-law’s family will not make things difficult for her because of our face. Tell her to be quiet, and you ask your wife to persuade her.” Old man Wang Changchun sighed, closed his eyes and fell silent. .

As for how Mrs. Tang persuaded Ziqian, Zili didn't know, but Zili was shocked when she saw her eldest sister the next day.It was as if Ziqian fell ill overnight, and his whole body became listless.

It's a pity that no one in the whole family paid attention to Ziqian's discomfort. She seemed to be sluggish for a few days and then everything was back to normal. When the emperor's sage arrived in Hangzhou, the entire Wang family was overwhelmed by the tense anticipation of the emperor's coming to Hangzhou.

For the past few days, Zili and her sisters have been studying palace etiquette with an old lady.This old nanny served the former Empress Xiaoyi in the palace. She was not like ordinary nanny who chattered, always snobbish and vulgar.This old nanny gave off the feeling of an orchid in an empty valley. When Zili saw her for the first time, a thought came to his mind.This woman must have aged gracefully.

Nanny Qin is over sixty years old, and her temples are already stained with hoarfrost, but her eyes are still clear, and her whole body is tidy and uncluttered.What's even more rare is that Nanny Qin is not the gloomy old nanny who perverts in the deep palace, her face is always warm.Therefore, although there are many rules in the palace, it is really difficult to learn and remember, but with such a good teacher guiding him, Zili didn't find it difficult to learn the rules.

On this day, Mother Qin talked about meeting the Empress Dowager, "The Empress Dowager is an elderly person. Elderly people have bad ears, so they should not speak too softly, nor too fast. Slow down and don't pour out a string of nonsense words. Hearing Qin Nanny's words, Zili couldn't help feeling distressed. When she spoke, she was articulate when she said something nice, but too fast when she said something bad. If Mother Qin insisted on changing her speaking habits , she was really sick to death.

Nanny Qin then said something else. The queen mother was a concubine who was not very favored by the late emperor. She just served the late emperor longer than others. She was lucky enough to give birth to a prince. Afterwards, the situation became stable. There are more and more beauties of all kinds.The queen mother is not outstanding in appearance, has a gentle personality, and can't be coquettish, so she can only watch over her son to live.In fact, the queen mother did not expect that she could still be a queen mother. The current emperor is just an inconspicuous prince who was enshrined in a territory, so she just became a princess.Unexpectedly, His Majesty succeeded in the rebellion and kicked his nephew from the throne of the emperor, and the Queen Mother became the luckiest woman in the world.

Nanny Qin instructed the three little girls with a straight face: "The Queen Mother doesn't like people bringing up the past, do you know that!" Toes want to know everything.The queen mother was not proud when she was a concubine, and her son still usurped the power, so why would she like to mention the past?

After Qin Nanny finished speaking, she said to Zili, "It's good that the second girl has a sharp mouth, but older people don't have more or less deaf ears. When answering in front of the queen mother, the second girl must remember not to be as usual. It seems that the empress dowager can't hear clearly. It's different in the palace and outside, and it's disrespectful to ask the empress dowager not to hear clearly." The consequences are too serious!Zili suddenly felt a lot of pressure, she could only agree to Qin Nanny's request, saying that she would practice answering well when she went back, and went back with a lot of thoughts.

Ziqian seemed to be aware of Zili's depression and embarrassment, the two sisters walked side by side, Ziqian took her hand to comfort his younger sister: "Don't think too much, go back and practice according to Mother Qin's words."

"But the nature is hard to change. I can change the habits of more than ten years. You see, the holy car has arrived in Hangzhou, and my grandfather and father are too busy to pick him up. The empress dowager and the empress think it's because of the exhaustion of the journey. After a few days of rest, it’s time to see the wives and family members of officials in Hangzhou. How could I have time. Mother Qin is the same, why didn’t she say it earlier!” Zili couldn’t help complaining about Mother Qin’s afterthought.

"It's inevitable that she's getting old and confused. In fact, I have an idea. The queen mother doesn't have time to talk to us one by one. When the time comes, you just need to stay by the side and don't show yourself in front of the queen mother. You are pretending to be dumb. If you don't speak, you will always be dumb." It's okay." Ziqian came up with a way to fish in troubled waters.

"That's a good idea, but you can help me to be sloppy." Zili and Ziqian greeted each other. Seeing that her yard was in front of them, the two sisters broke up and went back to rest.

In a few days, the Queen Mother and the Queen really summoned the wives and officials' family members in Hangzhou. Zili was brought by Mother Qin to act in front of the old lady and Mrs. Tang the day before. The old lady and Mrs. Tang saw that there was nothing wrong Then she said to Nanny Qin with confidence: "Mommy has worked hard, the three children are so stubborn that Nanny has to worry."

Qin Nanny smiled and said: "The old lady is modest. The girls in the house are all very nice, and the second girl is smart. I told her to talk a little bit yesterday, and she corrected herself overnight."

Mrs. Tang looked at her second daughter in surprise, and the old lady looked at Zili thoughtfully: "She has always been chattering, and I am still puzzled today, why did she stop word by word?" Ziqian was searched by everyone. Her eyes made her feel uncomfortable, she stuck out her tongue mischievously, covered her mouth with her hand, and when she spread her palm, it turned out to be a small golden fruit.

"I can't speak too fast with it in my mouth!" Zili held his secret weapon

"No way, your child doesn't know, this raw gold will kill you if you swallow it!" The old lady was dissatisfied with her granddaughter's shortcut.