Prequel to the Red Chamber: I Am the Second Wife

Coming out of the imperial study room, Jia Zheng was blown by the wind and felt that he was still alive. The eyes of the emperor just flashed across his mind, and Jia Zheng felt that his heart was about to stop beating.How did that get out?From ancient times to the present, there are always some implicit or explicit rules in engineering, but it’s nothing to say.Don't go too far if the higher-ups don't pursue the actions of the lower-level. Everyone just turned a blind eye to the past. Jia Zheng is busy repairing the mausoleum of the emperor and the late emperor.The emperor wants to be a filial son, so the garden for the empress dowager must be saved, and it cannot be built on such a grand scale as the budget.But you can't be stingy about building a mausoleum for the dead Lao Tzu.Be sure to show the emperor's filial piety and the memory of the ancestors.

But no one has a grudge against money. Although there have been no major disasters in recent years, the world is so big that there will always be floods and droughts in places throughout the year, and there are often small wars on the border.The emperor quietly told Jia Zheng that the first mausoleum had been in use for a long time, and the algae wells and painted paintings in the Side Hall and the Food Hall had to be re-pasted with gold leaf, and the doors and windows had to be repaired.As for the burial of the first emperor's mausoleum, it was not long, and the gold leaf, doors and windows would not be changed if they could not be changed, but the accounts were still kept as in the first mausoleum, and the saved money was put in the emperor's small treasury as the emperor's private money.Naturally, this matter must be carried out in secret, and there must be no leaks to label the emperor as greedy, extravagant and unfilial.

But this matter was discovered. Jia Zheng looked at the papers thrown down by the emperor and was already out of his wits. A censor impeached Jia Zheng for corruption in the renovation project and asked the emperor to investigate thoroughly.Jia Zheng only felt that he had a hard time saying it. If he really wanted to check the accounts, he couldn't hide the money, and the result would be that the emperor's small treasury was exposed.It doesn't matter if you label yourself as corrupt, anyway, the emperor will get him out and back him up, but if you implicate the emperor, you will die.At that time, Jia Zheng couldn't speak well, and he didn't have a whole sentence for a long time.Looking at Jia Zheng's appearance, the emperor just told him to go out, and said nothing else.

"Master Jia, what's the matter with you? Do you want to ask an imperial physician to take a look?" King Zhongshun stood behind him with a smile at some point, Jia Zheng wiped the cold sweat off his face and bowed his hands to King Zhongshun: "Thank you, my lord." , the humble job is a little tired."

Speaking of Jia Zheng's departure, King Zhongshun called to Jia Zheng: "I guess the old man doesn't know about it. The people who impeached you are all under someone's command. This matter is not known to the public." , you should be reprimanded by the emperor for not being able to keep a secret. Well, this king will stop here, and you will find out when you go back and check it yourself." King Zhongshun made a gesture of taking care, turned and left.Jia Zheng watched King Zhongshun walk away, and a huge question arose in his heart.King Zhongshun kept his secrets and always boasted that he didn't make friends with other officials, how could he suddenly say this to himself.Since he said it was someone close to him who leaked the secret, Jia Zheng decided to go back and check it out first.

The result made Jia Zheng very sad. He accepted the staff, his colleagues in the Ministry of Industry, any craftsmen who might be involved in this matter, his entourage, the masters outside, and even the girl serving tea at the house, all holding the sieve over and over again. After sifting countless times, I still have no clue.When Jia Zheng was depressed, the master in charge of the accounts reminded Jia Zheng: "I suddenly remembered something. A few days ago, the master brought the second master out to practice. He didn't avoid the second master when looking at the accounts. I think The servants around the second master may have heard something, and spread the word about it. Why don't you ask the master."

Jia Zheng suddenly remembered that he took Baoyu to the construction site some time ago to practice. Unfortunately, Baoyu is a greenhouse flower, so how can he bask in the sun and endure hardships on the construction site? The food is too rough.There was always something wrong, but Baoyu didn't dare to show anything in front of Jia Zheng, and just hid away sluggishly all day long, watching Jia Zheng get angry, if it wasn't for the deadline, he would take a whip to teach him a lesson He paused.Simply out of sight and out of mind, Jia Zheng blasted Baoyu away.

Seeing her precious grandson getting tanned and thin, Jia's mother felt very distressed.Now Baoyu is playing happily with her sisters at home.Suddenly called by Jia Zheng, Baoyu felt that something was wrong, and he walked up to Jia Zheng like a mouse seeing a cat. Jia Zheng was a little worried when he saw Baoyu, and reprimanded him with a straight face: "Depressed all day long, what do you look like, I ask you, have you read my account books?"

Listening to Jia Zheng's question, Baoyu denied it reflexively, insisting that he did not read Jia Zheng's account books.Jia Zheng didn't believe that Baoyu could do such a thing. Even if Baoyu read the account book, he would not be able to understand it.How did that incident reach Yushi's ears?When Jia Zheng saw that he couldn't ask anything, he told Baoyu to leave.Now that his son's suspicions were eliminated, Jia Zheng called Baoyu's servants and began to torture them.

Mingyan and the others tried their best to deny it. Jia Zheng looked at Mingyan with flickering eyes, and knew that this young man must have a ghost. After repeated questioning, Mingyan could only recruit him: "Second Master went to the Beijing Palace that day. Asked what the second master didn't do at home these days. The second master said that he would follow the master to help on the mausoleum. The prince praised the second master for his progress, and now he has learned how to do things. He casually asked about the interesting things about the second master on the construction site. The Lord said that there was nothing interesting, but he just basked in the sun every day, watching the craftsmen rest and repair the side hall and the food hall. The prince asked if he saw the craftsmen pasting gold leaf, and those carpenters were still working hard. The second master did not see him, and the prince did not Asked and said something else. Later, the prince took the second master to talk elsewhere, and the younger one could only stay outside without knowing what was going on inside. It was only later that the second master took advantage of the absence of the master to check the accounts at the accounting office. The rest I really don't know about the trivial things." Jia Zheng almost died of anger after hearing Mingyan's words.

Baoyu was called to Jia Zheng again. Seeing her father's frightening face, Baoyu realized that she was afraid.Baoyu could only talk about the matter in a stuttering manner. A clearer next to the king of Beijing begged Baoyu to see that there was still something unfinished on the mausoleum project. He had a relative who made gold colored paintings. There is no end to finding a way to get rich.Baoyu naturally agreed, thinking that if he went to ask Jia Zheng directly, he would definitely be taught that if he refused to learn, he would learn to install people first.So Baoyu decided to look at the accounts first, if those colored paintings were all completed, it would be impossible.So Baoyu looked at the accounts and found that the paintings and carpentry on the mausoleum had been completed, so Baoyu sent someone to pass the word.

"I don't know what's going on. I think our house and Beijing Palace are always on the move. If you can help me, I will help—" Baoyu was kicked down by Jia Zheng before he finished speaking: " You scoundrel, my wealth and life were almost ruined on you. Who told you to look at the accounts privately? I told you not to look at the accounts casually and not to tell the things on the mausoleum casually! It doesn't matter if you die, what will happen to this family! If someone just says something nice to you, you will be in a good mood, and you are playing with the lives of the whole family!" Jia Zheng asked someone to bring a board, and pressed Baoyu on the stool hard. He was beaten hard.

Seeing that Baoyu was beaten, the Qing guests originally wanted to persuade them, but they found out that it was because they dared not speak for anything, and they were all speechless in their hearts: "This young man is really a person who dares to poke a hole in the sky. Save your life and wealth to pave the way for others. That is to say, the master is usually cautious, if you put it on someone else, you will really be doomed." Jia Mu stopped when she heard Baoyu being beaten, and rushed over to stop Jia Zheng. Jia Zheng threw down the board She hid her face angrily and left, leaving only Jia Mu crying loudly.

Zili came back from the palace and listened to Jia Zheng's words, and heaved a long sigh. It would be biased to say that Jia's mother spoiled Baoyu. She and Jia Zheng worked hard on Baoyu's education, but they couldn't change Baoyu at all. "Could this child really want to repay the debt we owed him in the previous life? How could the King of Beijing be cruel to our family!"

"Where did you attack our family? It's just that the king of Beijing Jing realized that the emperor was afraid of their four kings with different surnames, so he wanted to fight the emperor with all his eggs in one basket. The emperor just wanted to be more generous in his hands, but he was caught by the king of Beijing Jing. The handle, I can only take it all down now and admit it!" Jia Zheng said helplessly that he would sacrifice his life for the Savior and take the initiative to be a target.

"If—" Zili didn't say a word, she was worried that the emperor would really sacrifice Jia Zheng by abandoning his car to protect the handsome man.Jia Zheng sighed helplessly, "I can only resign myself to fate! But I don't think it will implicate my family. My whole life is for our family. If I can give up for me, the safety of the whole family is worth it." . " Jia Zheng burst into tears as he spoke.Zili felt uncomfortable for a while, stretched out his hand to hold Jia Zheng's hand and choked up, "I'm the one who got you down!"

"What's this called? Without you, I'm afraid I'm just dawdling all day long. When I was young, I was also wandering and confused. Every day I didn't do business and only yearned for the days of idyllic poetry and wine. Only after I married you did I know that as a People have responsibilities as well as obligations. These years have been bitter and sweet, and now looking back, every day is worth it. It’s a pity that Zhu’er’s child has not yet been born, and Yuan girl, she is the last thing to worry about now! You have to comfort her well and don’t Tell her to be anxious. And Baoyu, it seems that he can't be used as a tool. It's better to ask him to complete my dreamland of idyllic poetry and painting. Give him more rural Zhuangzi, and don't let him fool around in the flashy world of the capital. Three Girl, I believe you won't treat her badly." Jia Zheng held Zili's hand to arrange the funeral.In fact, he had already drawn up a confession document, admitting that he was perfunctory, and that he was perfunctory in renovating the mausoleum of the late emperor, which is not a small crime.If the emperor intentionally released the water, he would be a fool at most, and the dismissal would be over if he died.If someone took the opportunity to add fuel to the flames, Jia Zheng's failure would be a crime of deceiving the emperor, and even if his life was saved, it would be a crime of exile.

Listening to Jia Zheng's words, Zili felt that her future was uncertain, so she put her arms around Jia Zheng's shoulder and cried.It may be that Jia's mother knew the seriousness of Baoyu's actions and did not do anything special to protect her shortcomings this time. She just said to Zili and Jia Zheng: "The child is not sensible, and he was instigated by villains. When the time comes If there is any crime, I will go out and get it myself, and I will definitely not implicate you."

Everyone in Jia's family was in a state of panic. Jia Zheng handed over the letter of pleading guilty, and waited for the sharp sword hanging over his head to come down.That day Daiyu received a letter from her father. Daiyu read the letter in silence for a while before instructing Zijuan to grind it. She picked up the pen and quickly finished writing the letter and handed it to the messenger of the Lin family to take it back.Zijuan brought tea and asked, "Young lady, why are you so depressed after reading the letter? But what's the matter?"

Lin Ruhai said in the letter that she would send someone to take Daiyu back, but Daiyu and her father made it clear that she could not go home immediately at this time.Although Lin Ruhai was worried about her daughter, in Daiyu's opinion, wouldn't her aunt and uncle feel cold when she left?When I came to my ancestral home in the capital, my grandmother really loved her, and the basic necessities of life were the best, even better than the Jia family's own girls.My aunt took her as her own daughter and taught her wholeheartedly. Daiyu is a smart person, and she knows who really loves her.Grandmother just loves her and has no long-term plans for her. Instead, her aunt raised her and taught Daiyu to understand some principles of life.Daiyu respected Zili as her biological mother in her heart.Now that her uncle was busy, who would she be if she left without making a sound, and what face would she have to see her grandmother and uncles and aunts in the future?

Hearing Daiyu's words, Zijuan was also silent: "It stands to reason that Mrs. Lin also has his own concerns. After all, he is the girl's biological father. He is naturally anxious when he hears some rumors. If the girl thinks so, it is not in vain for the old lady to hurt the girl a lot." field. But yesterday I heard someone outside say that what happened to the master should be safe and sound, so please rest assured, girl."

Zijuan hadn't finished speaking when she saw Xueyan coming in happily: "Buddha bless you, I understand the matter of the second master." Daiyu was relieved and asked, "What do you say? Is the news reliable?"

"The housekeeper Lai said it himself. I just went to get things from the old lady. I heard it with my own ears. The emperor only reprimanded the second master for being lazy. There is no other involvement. The old lady was very happy when she heard it, and said that this is the best result. Everyone in the family came to the old lady to congratulate her." Jia Zheng was dismissed, and everyone in the Jia family celebrated with their foreheads and hands. , sounds a bit ironic, but the world is so elusive.

Daiyu was busy ordering to change clothes and go to Jiamu's side, when she saw Baoyu coming over excitedly: "Sister Lin, I have something nice to tell you. I thought we should have nothing to do at home all day, how about starting a poetry club—— Daiyu looked at Baoyu with a carefree face, and suddenly sank her face: "Why doesn't the second elder brother go to the old lady?"

"The old lady has spoken, don't tell me to go out, my sister is going to the old lady's place to say hello, so I can help you with it." Baoyu sat down, and then told Daiyu the idea of ​​the poetry club.

Daiyu looked at Baoyu's innocent and carefree face, and suddenly felt that Baoyu was strange.Is this person really the elder brother Bao who cared for her?Daiyu sighed in her heart and saw Baoyu's eyes no longer had the enthusiasm and intimacy before. She supported the girl and said to Baoyu, "Second brother, you are not young. It is true that you caused trouble this time, and now you should It's all changed."

"Sister, what are you talking about? I'm just doing my friend a favor. Who knows that the world is dangerous, there is a clean place in this world, and the city is filthy everywhere. I die for those who know me, and I am willing to die for those people." Yes. I don’t ask for wealth and honor, I just ask my sisters to joke around and live together, and when I die, I will be sent to a place where there is no smoke. Wouldn’t it be clean if I fade away with the weather.” Baoyu said so foolishly One sentence made Daiyu's face flushed with anger, and she kept coughing.

Although Jia Zheng was dismissed and went home to think about his mistakes, the dark clouds hanging over Jia's head completely dissipated. Everyone knew that the worst outcome did not happen. Sun, the emperor still does not reward.Maybe Jia Zheng's official position will be bigger by then.

Mother Jia was relieved, she was also worried day and night these days, and quietly asked someone to make arrangements.Today finally came to fruition, thanks to the blessings of the ancestors, the Jia family escaped unharmed.Sister Feng's belly was obvious, and Mother Jia felt sorry for her and told her to sit down and talk. "Don't worry, old lady. Our family has always been doing good deeds. In the officialdom, the second master has never caused trouble and never made enemies. Our family is in trouble. Those old relatives and friends will help. Thanks to the emperor's grace, our family is safe."

Mrs. Xing sneered when she heard Sister Feng's words: "It's just that I ruined my job. I'm just sorry for the second master. My son's years of official career were ruined by my son." Jiamu immediately pulled her face down and swept away coldly. Glancing at Mrs. Xing, she sprayed it directly on her face: "Hmph, you also know that the second master has worked so hard to earn this career. If someone hadn't harmed him, why would there be such bad things. I only advise you to do good deeds on weekdays. What do you think in your heart, what do you do, the Bodhisattvas in the sky are watching. Only the second master who can harm the seriousness of Baoyu loses his official position? He is also a poor man who supports a large family by himself. Those who are sensible, and those who have a dark heart will destroy him behind! I would like to ask you, what good will you get if he dies!" Mrs. Xing was scolded by Jiamu and she just lowered her head and dared not make a sound.

"It's not good, Grandma Zhu is about to give birth!" There was a commotion outside, and Qiufen who was beside Zili came in and replied, "Our wife was going to come over to greet the old lady, but the grandma suddenly started, and the wife can't come over to call the servant girl Talk to the old lady." "Isn't it three months before the birth? Why is it brought forward?" Mother Jia remembered that Li Jin's due date was after Yuanchun, so why was it suddenly brought forward.What Li Jin was carrying was her first grandson.

"Grandma has been worrying about the master's affairs for the past few days. She often can't sleep at night and eats less. The prescription prescribed by the imperial doctor doesn't work. I really can't hold on until today!" Qiufen looked sad. answer.

"I'll go and see Jin'er, this child is so pitiful. If there's anything wrong between her and the child, I'll forgive you!" Mother Jia gave Xing Fu a fierce look and helped the girl away.

Li Jin finally gave birth to a boy safely, and Zili burst into tears watching the nanny bring out the newborn baby.Although Jia Zheng lost his position temporarily, he was very satisfied with his grandson. He was at home all day, either teasing his grandson, reading books, chatting with Zili, and his life was very comfortable.

When Tian Zili came back from the palace, he saw some small dishes on the table and asked in surprise, "Who sent this?"

"I made this, do you like it or not?" Jia Zheng came out of the house in homely clothes.Zili looked at the small dishes on the table, and his eyes widened in disbelief. Jia Zheng blushed at the sight of Zili. He took a piece of cucumber with chopsticks and brought it to her mouth: "You worked hard in the palace to take care of the princess. I'm fine, I'm free, thanks to you for taking care of me, now it's time for me to serve you."

Zili subconsciously opened his mouth and ate the cucumber that was brought to his mouth. Suddenly, he felt the warmth of an old husband and wife who have lived together for decades: "You, a gentleman, are far away from the kitchen. If people know about you, you don't know what to say."

"I'm afraid of gossip, I'm only living for myself and you now!" Jia Zheng stared at Zili with shining eyes, his deep eyes were like a black hole trying to suck her in.

Just when the atmosphere between the two became ambiguous, there was a sudden voice: "Master Lin is here, and Master Shixiang is back!" The ambiguity that had just sprouted disappeared without a trace, and Jia Zheng reluctantly threw down his chopsticks and said to the outside : "Master Lin, don't come here to take my niece home!"

"Uncle is wrong, but Uncle Lin is here to announce the good news!" Shixiang opened the curtain with a smile and came in to greet Jia Zheng and Zili: "My father has already proposed marriage to Uncle Lin, and Uncle Lin is here to marry our daughter." Seeing Shixiang's smug face, Zili knew that this boy had got his wish.