Prequel to the Red Chamber: I Am the Second Wife

In the evening, Jia's mother and son Li came back from the palace with everyone. Jia Zheng, Jia Amnesty and Jia Lian were all waiting in front of the door. When Jia's mother came down with a beaming face, Jia Zheng knew that going to the palace this time was a good thing.Jia Zhu supported Jia's mother and said to her father: "Good news, the Queen's Empress personally engaged in marriage, and betrothed Miss Shi to Baoyu."

When Jia Zheng heard this, a stone fell to the ground, and he said happily, "It's the queen's grace. Our family will repay the grace of heaven in the future. As for Baoyu, tell him to go to the study and I will talk to him."

Jia's mother gave her son a blank look: "You are not allowed to train him! Call the second wife to discuss Baoyu's marriage." Jia's mother said, pulling Zili in, and Yingchun waited for each of them to go back to rest without mentioning it.

Jia Mu called Zili, the eldest wife, Feng Sister Li Jin, and the family members who were in charge of the whole house. Jia Mu said to the congratulatory crowd with joy, "Everyone is happy. Get up and call Baoyu's mother." Come and sit down. You always say that I am partial to Baoyu, but now I am partial to him. Baoyu’s marriage does not need to touch the official affairs, so I will naturally give it to him. As for the marriage, I will leave it to Feng girl and Jin’er Do, you sister-in-laws treat Baoyu as your own younger brother, and when Baoyu gets married, ask his daughter-in-law to be filial to you, too." Sister Feng and Li Jinle liked Jia's mother, and they came together and laughed: "Mr. The madam told us to do our best naturally, the old lady just waits for brother Bao to marry a wife to come in."

Mrs. Xing was a little relieved when she heard Jia Mu's words, but she felt uncomfortable again. She was worried that Baoyu's marriage would take up too much money from the father-in-law.But when I thought that Jia Mu had a lot of self-esteem and asked Baoyu to take advantage of it, I felt uncomfortable.

However, everyone present was so happy that no one paid any attention to Mrs. Xing's complexion, but Zili noticed Mrs. Xing's strangeness. She said with a smile: "The old lady is partial to Baoyu. I will help the old lady." A bowl of water is flat, I will give the second girl 1000 taels of silver to add makeup, it is her private money, waiting to get married, the aunt must have some consideration in her hands, so that she can be calm in her husband's house and not be looked down upon by others .”

After hearing this, Jia Mu said with emotion: "After all, you are thinking about the second girl in your heart. People change people's hearts. You always complain about others being mean but don't think about your own actions. Forget it, I will give 1000 taels to the second girl. Add makeup." While talking, Jia Mu glanced at Mrs. Xing: "You should go back and save your master from seeing you." Mrs. Xing listened to Zili and Jia Mu's words, thinking that she could buy less dowry for Yingchun, and also He happily resigned and left.

Mrs. Xing left, Mother Jia sighed and the smile on her face disappeared. Sister Feng hurriedly persuaded: "Old lady, although the second sister has lost her mother, she is lucky to have the old lady and the second lady caring for her. Baoyu today To save face, our whole family is honored, I asked someone to prepare a tender pheasant, and now it’s ready, let’s set the meal.”

Jia Mu smiled and said to Zili: "You stay here, let's figure out how to arrange the marriage of the second girl first, and then the marriage of Baoyu and the fourth girl."

Here Zili stayed to have dinner with Jia Mu, waiting to go back to the room at night, Jia Zheng was waiting for Zili to come back.Seeing the disgrace on his wife's face, Jia Zheng said, "What is the old lady asking you to do? I'm afraid she is discussing Baoyu's marriage. You are satisfied with this meeting."

"What are you talking about? Could it be that the master has a better candidate? You think I don't like Yun girl, but I am actually worried that our family's Baoyu will delay other girls. Although Yun girl has no parents, she has been in front of us since she was a child. Growing up, I know everything about my character and character. How could I not like Yun girl, she is heartless and straightforward, anyway, our family is not the kind of family who fights endlessly, and she will not be affected if she is our daughter-in-law. Wronged. Just looking at Baoyu, I am only worried that girl Yun will suffer with Baoyu in the future. Can we still raise Baoyu for the rest of my life?" Zili sighed and said worriedly to Jia Zheng: "We have to arrange a long-term arrangement for the children. plan."

You're right, but it's just not there yet.Let's spend a few years in peace and enjoy our grandchildren.Baoyu doesn't like to be an official, so he can just ask him to work and study with peace of mind.It's getting late and it's time to rest.Jia Zheng looked at Zili tenderly under the candlelight, urging him to rest.

Yingchun's marriage was done quite well, and Jia She and his wife were satisfied with their daughter's marriage this time. The first son-in-law was good, and he didn't lose face when he said it.Second, the most important thing is that they didn't spend money, not only did they not spend money, but they also made a fortune after careful calculation.Yingchun's dowry was paid by the public, so Mrs. Xing and Jia She naturally couldn't think of what to make up for their daughter's private money.Instead, a lot of silver was deducted from Yingchun's dowry. As a rule, the dowry of two thousand silver was given to the girls of Jia's family when they got married.Jia Amnesty actually cut down 1000 taels from inside.

However, the 1000 taels were actually made up by Jia Lian and Sister Feng. Zili and Jia Mu could only make up for it quietly when they saw what Jia She and his wife were doing. Around five thousand, he went out in a good manner.

After Yingchun's wedding was Xichun's wedding, luckily the East Mansion didn't intervene, Zili took care of it herself, and married Xichun in a lively and dignified manner.

After tossing about the marriage of the two girls, Zili couldn't breathe a sigh of relief. The historian over there came to discuss the marriage of Xiangyun and Baoyu again.

Shi Ding's wife came to the door in person, and Zili and Jia Mu discussed with her how to arrange the new house and how to live the Geng Tie.After talking for a while, Mother Jia got a little tired, and said to Zili, "You talk to Miss Yun's aunt, I'm getting older and my energy is getting shorter, I'm going to lie down."

Mrs. Shi Ding hurriedly stood up and helped Mother Jia with a smile, "The old lady is tired, I'm the one who made the noise. It's just that Yun girl is married and I can't wrong her anyway. I must discuss it with the second wife before I can rest assured."

"It hurts you to be your own daughter with Yun girl. As a parent, you have to do your best to handle the marriage of your children. You see, my second wife went out a few days ago, and it was our second wife who was busy planning. The second girl is not Her own, let alone the marriage between Baoyu and Yun girl. The most important thing for a person is to have good intentions, don’t think that the retribution of the underworld is fake, and if you plant melons, you will get melons, and you will get beans, and if there is a cause, there will be an effect.” Jiamu seemed Aware of Mrs. Shi Ding's coming, he intentionally provoked her with words.Mrs. Shi Ding's complexion really changed, she smiled sarcastically, and stopped talking as she supported Mother Jia.

Zili watched Mother Jia go in to rest, and said to Mrs. Shi Ding, "Let's go over and talk, don't disturb the old lady's rest." Zili took Mrs. Shi Ding to her new garden.

After waiting for the two of them to walk around the garden, Zili invited Mrs. Shi Ding to rest in the waterside pavilion. The two of them sat down, and a girl had already brought tea.Zili said to Mrs. Shi Ding: "Baoyu has moved out now. I am going to ask the craftsman to paint the yard where he used to live, and build a new house for the time being. Madam thinks it is okay. When do you want someone to come and measure it?"

Marriage is the same as in modern times. The man is responsible for the house, and the woman is responsible for the decoration. Zili needs to renovate and paste the new house. The Shijia sent people to measure the size of the new house and build new furniture. The preparations are neat, and even the furnishings in the house must be arranged together.Rich and noble families will choose precious wood with fine workmanship, but for poor families, the wood will be lowered, and the poorest will make a box out of it.

Unexpectedly, Mrs. Shi Ding looked distressed, she looked at the girls and women, and gave Zili a wink, Zili waved at the girls, and everyone in the room retreated. "Ma'am, just say what you have to say." Zili suddenly remembered that Shi Ding had recently been imprisoned and his account was short. He was afraid that the historian was short of money at this time and could not afford to arrange Xiangyun's marriage.

"I shouldn't have said that. The second wife must have known about our master's impeachment recently. Although it was suppressed, the family really couldn't afford the money to arrange the marriage for Yun girl, even her dowry— —Hey, I really have no face to face people, and I can’t collect a lot. I was thinking of selling a Zhuangzi to Yun girl to collect the dowry, but I discussed it with my master yesterday, but I was scolded for being confused. He said that now it’s full Everyone knew that he was short-lived in his tenure. At this time, the one who gave Yun girl a lot of trouble was not to give the handle to others! Therefore, Yun girl's dowry is only [-] liters, and the field and manor can't do it! Only A house, accompany her." Madam Shi Ding sighed guiltily, she took out a red slip from her sleeve and handed it to Zili.

Zili took the list and looked at it, and almost laughed out loud. Normally, seeing Shi Ding and his brothers pay back to Xiangyun, at this time, it was obvious that they were sincere.The title left by Xiangyun's father was inherited by Shi Ding. What about Xiangyun's mother's dowry and Xiangyun's father's family property, among other things, Xiangyun's mother's dowry was definitely given to Xiangyun.As a result, the historian was really ruthless, and swallowed them all at once.

"Hey, the world is difficult nowadays, and everyone is putting on airs for others to see. Thinking about the past, don't talk about the beauty of the old lady, but compared with our aunt and wife, Yun girl and the others are bound to be comparable. The second girl and the fourth girl went out, and the old lady said with emotion how beautiful it was when Yu'er's mother got married, but now the girl is like a little ghost. Baoyu is the grandson that the old lady loves the most. Back then, the queen empress pointed out girl Yun to Baoyu. The old lady came back happily and summoned all her subordinates, saying that she would handle the wedding by herself. Now—" Zili sighed and stopped talking.She didn't directly question the dowry left by Shi Ding's wife, Xiangyun's mother. As the second wife of the Jia family, her status as the birth mother of the crown princess did not allow her to be so straightforward.

But Zili explained clearly the stakes and interests of the matter. Xiangyun's marriage was not decided casually. The darling of the old lady of the Guofu, I, a mother, can't have the final say on his marriage.Since the Jia family values ​​it so much, historians must also show sincerity.

Shi Ding's wife naturally understood Zili's words. She blushed and said with an embarrassed smile: "Although I didn't see the grand occasion of the old lady's marriage back then, I heard it from the old people at home. It was very lively. Really Ten miles of red makeup. It’s because we juniors are useless, but it’s just that such a big family business is just empty. I’ll go back and discuss with the master, Yun girl has no parents, so she should be more pained than others.”

"In fact, it doesn't need to be extravagant. The gold and silver mountains need to be guarded by the younger generations. Everyone has difficulties. In fact, everyone is the same. Baoyu's marriage was arranged by the old lady with her own body. Lively and beautiful. Yun girl is a lovely person, she has a straight temper, but she treats uncles and aunts just like her own parents. It is not easy for you to raise her, just think that it is your uncle and grandma watching over your daughter in the spirit of heaven They can feel at ease after finishing the marriage of Yun girl." Zili said and handed a fruit to Mrs. Shi Ding: "Everyday, no one picks on your love for your children. Well done, it's thanks to your two aunts. Since you have bowed three times and kowtowed nine times, let's try our best at the last trembling. I discussed with the old lady. The old lady should help her mother's family whenever she can. "

After listening to Zili's words, Mrs. Shi Ding breathed a sigh of relief: "Please also ask the second wife to deal with the old lady. We are juniors in the past. Please don't take it to heart."

Zili sent Mrs. Shi Ding back, and sure enough, she saw someone from Jiamu's side coming. Amber smiled and said, "The old lady asked the second lady to come over."

Zili arrived at Jiamu's room, and Jiamu was leaning on the couch thinking about something, she sat up when she saw Zili coming: "It must be Xiangyun's uncles and aunts who want to swallow Yun girl's things with their hearts. Really. ——Knowing people, knowing the face, not knowing the heart, I usually see that they can still tolerate Yun girl, thinking that although Yun girl has a hard life, she will have a good result in the future with her uncle and aunt. Such a moth. The face of the poor ancestors of the historian has been lost by these two useless things." The more Jia Mu spoke, the more angry she became, she slapped the pillow heavily, her face flushed.

Zili and Yuanyang were busy persuading them, and Zili repeated the conversation: "I heard from Baoyu's father that Shi Ding was really in trouble, and was impeached for his account deficit. It also cost a lot to calm the turmoil. Regarding the girl’s dowry, our family is not a powerful family, it depends on how much the new daughter-in-law’s dowry is. If the bride’s dowry is rich, it is because her family loves her. If the dowry is thin, as long as the person is good, there is no need to worry about it. The old lady is just sad It's Yun girl who suffers, I think Yun girl was pitiful before. When she married, we loved her well, which made up for her previous ups and downs. Why bother about those things outside of the body. The things that Yun girl's parents left for her back then The purpose is to hope that Yun girl will live well. Why does the old lady put the cart before the horse, whether there is one or not has nothing to do with Yun girl's future life, so why bother to get angry."

After hearing Zili's words, Jia Mu's face softened. She asked Zili to sit down beside her, afraid of her hand, and said, "I didn't like you very much before, but now I like you more and more. Why did you and you never meet before?" Your mouth is like a gourd, and you don’t speak when you are stuffy, even if you speak, it doesn’t suit my heart. I still muttered in my heart, why Zheng’er’s daughter-in-law is against me. I never imagined that in the past few years, you have said everything My heart is gone. The most important thing is that Yun girl and Baoyu can live a single-minded life. Our family does not lack any dowry. As long as Yun girl is well, her mother will feel at ease in the sky. You and Yun girl’s aunt said The dowry of Yun girl, don't need their brothers to worry about it, they are worthy of Yun girl's father to bring up Yun girl safely. I have a sense of self here, you take it to buy Yun girl's dowry. Just follow the second girl and the others It would be nice to add some more examples. I see what face her two shameless uncles and aunts have!"

Zili laughed after hearing what Jiamu said, "It's a blessing for all of us that the old lady can see things openly. I'll send someone to talk to her aunt." Just as she was talking, Sister Feng came smiling.

"The old lady is so free. My wife is here too. I have something good to discuss with my wife." Sister Feng's eyebrows were beaming, as if there was a happy event.

"Happy event? Tell me about it." Mother Jia became interested and looked at Sister Feng.

"Lin Zhixiao went to the street today, and saw someone who often came to our house said that Aunt Zhao, the mother of the third girl, was sold by the Nan'an Palace, and now she is in his hands. Originally, Aunt Zhao was at her age, but for the third When she was a girl, the city was full of ups and downs. Who dared to want her. The man asked Lin Zhixiao if he wanted to buy her back. I thought about how Aunt Zhao was also the biological mother of the third girl. Why don't you buy it and put it on the Zhuangzi to raise it, but it's very disgusting, so just match it with anyone." Sister Feng asked Jiamu and Zili what they meant.

Mother Jia snorted coldly: "I don't want to see you again. You decide this matter. I just want to say that it depends on the kindness of the person. You can't be too kind to a black-hearted seed like her."

Zili hurriedly agreed, seeing that Mother Jia was also tired, so she quit with Sister Feng.Coming out of Jiamu's place, Sister Feng winked and said, "My wife has something good to do."

"What's the good thing? It's mysterious, what can't you say in front of the old lady?" Zili looked at Sister Feng and guessed what else she had to do.

"Listening to the news in the palace, Xue Cairen was reprimanded by the queen, and now she has no face, so she can only live in peace. In fact, Xue Cairen is my cousin, and I should treat her more than other sisters. Get closer. It's a pity that our temperaments are not compatible. Although Xue Cairen has lost face in front of the queen, he can still live a quiet life, which is not bad. Compared with Aunt Zhao, the situation is much better. The palace has fallen out of favor. Her concubine is either depressed and sick, or like a living dead, immortal. Although Xue Cairen is not happy with the queen, she still has the emperor's favor. How can she live in peace. It's just that Zhao What will Auntie do with her?" Sister Feng and Baochai are cousins, but for some reason, the relationship between Sister Feng and Baochai is not the best among the sisters.On the contrary, Sister Feng and Daiyu have a better relationship.

"You just need to know about the affairs of the palace. Why do outsiders see that the Xue family and us are also relatives. Her mother and elder brother are not in the capital, so we will put on a gloating face to make people think. Lian'er must have said this to you. Yes, you talk to him, just say what I say, no matter what you think, you have to live with face. Don't be stinging and stinging, and look like a complacent villain. As for Aunt Zhao, she made mistakes before, poor third girl, She is so far away by herself. Why don't you put her on Zhuangzi and match her with someone. It's just that she has gone through all this, and she may have already become ambitious. She may not be able to live in Zhuangzi with peace of mind. Ask someone to watch her Don't allow her to be Huqin." Zili had long expected that Baochai would fall out of favor. The harem is not the Jia family. After all, Baochai thinks too much of herself, thinking that she is the only smart in the world, and conceit will lead to arrogance. Those people in the harem are all Hidden, Baochai thought things too simply.

Sister Feng got Zili's order, so she went to ask Lin Zhixiao to arrange the affairs of Aunt Zhao. When Jia Lian came home in the evening, Sister Feng said what Zili had said. , I also mentioned Xue Cairen's words to my second uncle today, and my second uncle gave me a good meal. I dare not be frivolous anymore."

Sister Feng glanced at Jia Lian with a half-smile: "It's really a husband and wife. You think that when the second sister got married, the eldest wife's face, and the eldest master are really a couple made in heaven!"

"Oh, it's all in the past. Why do you still mention it? I understand that I have neither a mother nor a father. Look at Zhu'er and Baoyu, how the second master supported his son Look at me again, I don’t have good things to do, and ask me to do whatever bad things happen. My father even told me to go to Ping’an Prefecture.” Jia Lian simply lay half on the kang, and complained with Sister Feng. Jia She and his wife Not loving and sympathetic to the younger generation.

"Father asked you to go to Ping'an Prefecture for what?" Sister Feng wondered, what should Jia Lian do in Ping'an Prefecture?

"It's not about the bad things about my father. He didn't know how he reached out to the matter of reclamation in Ping'an Prefecture. Ten years ago, a flood flooded [-] hectares of fertile land in Ping'an Prefecture, and it has been abandoned until now. The emperor issued a decree for reclamation. Grain seeds are also tax-free for three years, isn’t this a piece of fat?” Jia Lian sighed and complained: “Father doesn’t know who he took advantage of, so he asked me to get through the joints of Shiyu, the governor of Ping’an Prefecture. I did it for someone. What about the wedding dress?"