Daiyu's wife in the Red Chamber

Chapter 144

Wei Yuan is the Chief Historian of Mingti County Prince's Mansion, and the Liu family is also very close to the Li family and the Qi family. Year after year, they are flattering and flattering. They have given countless rare things to Qi Shu people as gifts.She really wanted to be favored by Princess Mingti County, but it was a pity that Princess Mingti County hated her for making herself lose face in front of King Mingti County and Princess Jing'an. People from the side of Concubine Li are more displeased in their hearts, and their faces are also faint.

At that time, Princess Jing'an came to make trouble at the guard's house, not only Daiyu, but Princess Mingti also came to the door to apologize after hearing about it, saying that she didn't know the origin of the Firefox cloak and gave it to Princess Jing'an, causing Princess Jing'an to lose face and feel guilty Very.Fortunately, Princess Jing'an was understanding and reasonable, knowing that it was not the fault of Princess Mingti County, so she didn't blame her very much.

Wei Ruolan and Daiyu didn't expect things to take a turn for the worse, Wei Yuan instead took refuge in King Mingti in an upright manner, thinking that the Wei family would be safe, but it seems that they can't, but they are not Wei Yuan after all, so they can't point fingers , only avoid it.

After paying attention, Wei Ruolan found that Emperor Changtai was very clear about the movements of the princes, and watched them jump up and down to form a party with cold eyes.

Wei Ruolan's heart shuddered, and at the same time, she found that Emperor Changtai indulged the princes like this, but they were under the control of Emperor Changtai, and they also placed many people in the new palaces.Except for Jiang Hua, the twelve apprentices that Wei Ruolan trained for Emperor Changtai, as well as the people who were trained by those apprentices later, all performed their own duties. Half of them were doing what, where they were, and Wei Ruolan didn't know. Know.

Wei Ruolan didn't go into the details, he managed the affairs of the big camp in the suburbs of Beijing, and at the same time he was in charge of all the guards around Emperor Changtai. The former guarded Chang'an City, while the latter guarded Daming Palace.

Now that the frontier is stable, even if there are foreign invaders, they will all be killed with sharp weapons, making them frightened.

The same is true on the outside, and the same is true on the inside. Regarding the case of Prince Yizhong, Emperor Changtai purged the Qing court and promoted many poor children. Fu Quan and others haven't taken care of it yet, but at this time, it is a hundred times stronger than before, and there are many fewer vegetarians in the corpse.

Emperor Changtai worked hard to govern, and implemented several policies to benefit the people. Whether it was civil and military officials, or the common people, they all shouted long live the Mingjun, especially the latter. The new grain and vegetables, the grain yield is excellent, and the life is better than in previous years. I don't know the means of Emperor Changtai's vigorous and resolute.

In the past few years, Emperor Changtai sent people to open up mountains of gold and silver, and ordered soldiers from all over the country to farm to accumulate food. The people pay taxes.

Emperor Changtai was afraid that officials from all over the country would obey and violate, so he sent his confidants to monitor every year. How could the people not be grateful?

Peaceful inside and outside, Wei Ruolan is also very happy, even if he has nothing to do every day except training soldiers, he still thinks it is better, what he wants in his life is peace in the world and the well-being of the people.

This day, I came out from the palace to feast on the lanterns. Because it was the Lantern Festival, Wei Ruolan and Daiyu hadn't gone out for many days, and because of Wei Yuanliu's incident, I was very idle. Taking advantage of this festival, I went back to my house and changed my clothes. , Quietly out of the corner door, walked to Lantern Street.Wei Ruolan relied on her high martial arts skills and held Daiyu's hand all the time, so she only brought four eunuchs to follow.

These four eunuchs have been with Daiyu for almost ten years. Although they don't have the power of Dai Quan and Xia Shouzhong, the great eunuchs in the palace, they have no intrigue around Daiyu, and with Daiyu's permission, they all adopted their sons from the Yangshengtang , Don't worry about being poor in your later years.

The four saw Wei Ruolan and Daiyu walking slowly with the lights on, whispering to each other, just like when they were newly married, they unconsciously looked at each other and smiled.

Daiyu saw that the lanterns made by a family by the roadside were extraordinarily exquisite, especially the four-sided flat-angled white gauze lanterns painted with pictures of ladies. There were many buyers, so she couldn't help but stop and take a closer look. After thinking about it, she turned her head to Wei Ruolan and said, "Yuanfang, Does that lantern house look familiar to you?"

Wei Ruolan took a closer look, and said without hesitation: "It seems to be written by Brother Bao. Didn't he also give us twelve beauty lamps a while ago?" Somewhat accomplished, the flowers, plants and insects are ordinary, but the beauties in the past two years have been painted extremely well. Compared with Daiyu Xichun, it is far behind, but among the people, it is first-class.

Daiyu said: "Although other people also draw pictures of ladies, no one except Baoyu only draws beauty lamps. Look at the row of twelve beauty lamps on the top, a total of four or five rows. Think of Baoyu painting so well."

Wei Ruolan said with a smile: "I thought Brother Bao was in a slump, but I never thought he would cheer up."

Daiyu sighed softly, and said: "He was not originally a man in the manuscript, but he was quite ambitious. Now that he has a house and land, he naturally thinks about how to support his family. Second Sister-in-law Bao is a shrewd person, and her life is not bad. .”

Although there is no glory and wealth, and he is worried about Jia Zheng and Mrs. Wang who are exiled in northern Xinjiang, but Baoyu has not experienced the desolate days of "choking in cold winter, surrounded by broken felts in snowy nights", and he is unwilling to rely on Baochai to do needlework and sell it for money. day, so every day besides serving Jia Mu, I do some elegant work at home. The rouge I make is sold in the rouge shop of the Wei family, and I also draw new patterns for the jewelry shop of the Wei family. The money I get is enough. Daily food, clothing, writing and other expenses.

For this reason, Baoyu allocated [-] acres of land in Zhuangzi, intending to plant flowers after the spring, and has ordered various flower seedlings, a single variety of flowers that can be used to make rouge and gouache, not only roses, but also any red that can be used to make rouge. He also grows fragrant flowers such as sweet-scented osmanthus that can be used as hair oil and face powder, and various flowers that can be used as bonsai.

Not long after Baoyu moved out of Jia Amnesty's house, he had a plan, but it was a pity that it was not a good time to plant flowers at that time, so he had to do it next year.

However, Baochai didn't want him to be willing to be lowly and make a living by doing this. He only wanted him to study hard so that he could turn around in the future.

Wei Ruolan also knew this, the osmanthus oil that Daiyu is using now was made by Baoyu Qiuqiu, so she shook her head and said: "Brother Bao's ambition is not here, why bother to force him? With his temperament, when he is rich, he will be a son and enjoy the glory , When you are down and down, just be an ordinary commoner who grows flowers and weeds, and lives peacefully under our protection, nothing else will do."

Baoyu was a criminal official who redeemed himself as a citizen. Although he could not take the imperial examination, he was able to join the army and donate to an official. It is expected that Baochai would have the latter's idea.

Daiyu sighed: "You and I both understand, but Second Sister-in-law Bao doesn't think so. Fortunately, we only gossip in private. If we talk about it in front of them, we will definitely say that we don't hurt our backs when we talk standing up."

She quietly looked at the bright and majestic beauty lantern, but she didn't know who the lantern seller was. After thinking for a while, she smiled and said, "Who did Baoyu entrust to sell his lantern? The painting is his, but the lantern is not made by him, could it be?" Is it impossible to cooperate with others? Or send the two servants assigned to him by the uncle to sell, which is like his temperament. He will never come forward to sell the things he makes. If you don’t want to change your temper, go up Come back to Xiaohong to give me presents, talking about Baoyu, he has reached such a point, he doesn’t care about food and clothing, but he uses the best lake brush ink, Duan inkstone rice paper, and the best pigments for painting.”

Thinking of this, Wei Ruolan couldn't help but smile, and said: "The temper that has been cultivated since childhood can't be changed in a year and a half. The set of Four Treasures of the Study you gave is enough for Brother Bao, and one Duan inkstone is enough. The pen, ink and paper are consumed, and the money he sells for making rouge is enough to cover the expenses. Although Brother Bao has a stubborn temper, he also has self-knowledge and is not very squandered."

After finishing speaking, I went forward with Daiyu and did not buy a beauty lamp. I was resting in the private room of the restaurant because I was tired. Second Master? Why are you so downcast?"

Wei Ruolan and Daiyu were startled, they opened the window and looked.

It was the Lantern Festival at that time, the streets and alleys were full of lanterns, and the front of the restaurant was also bright as day, I saw Baoyu wrapped in a half-worn gorilla felt cloak, holding a beauty lantern in his hand, being surrounded by several gorgeously dressed young masters. Children surrounded.

After Mingyan and her parents were bought by Qingwen and others, they married the son of the Ningguo Mansion who had had a good time with him. Although they had no life contract, they still stayed by Baoyu's side, and they were all anxious outside the crowd. Khan, he wanted to squeeze in and pull Baoyu away, but he was always blocked by the servants of those princes and brothers not letting him get close to Baoyu.

Under the light, Baoyuzi's face turned red, he immediately recognized that all the princes and brothers who taunted him in front of him were from the officials who flattered Jia's family before, none of them he didn't recognize.

One of them laughed and said, "Second Master Bao, where's your psychic jade? Take it out and show us!"

The young masters who came with him responded loudly, saying: "Yes, yes, take it out quickly and let's see, fall in front of us, and see if it is as people say, no matter how hard you hit it, you won't budge. .If you throw it to me, I will tell you to eat the rouge from the mouth of the old lady beside me!"

Hearing the word "eating rouge", everyone burst into laughter, and said with a laugh: "Brother Zhao, how can you say that about Second Master Bao? Second Master Bao is a phoenix egg, and he must be served by a young and beautiful girl. You hate the old woman with fish eyes the most. If you want to, tell him to eat from your maid's mouth."

Immediately, someone stepped forward and pulled, intending to snatch the psychic gem still hanging on Baoyu's chest.

Baoyu hurriedly dodged, staggered, and almost fell, although he dodged, but the lantern in his hand was snatched away, the person who snatched the lantern lifted it up and looked at it, and laughed loudly: "Beauty lantern, this is a good one." Lightweight beauty lamp! Second Master Bao, you don’t have a beautiful maid by your side, so you use a beauty lamp to look at the plum blossoms and quench your thirst, and it really lives up to the reputation from the past!” As he said, he threw the lantern on the ground and squashed it with his feet. The candle will naturally go out accordingly.

Wei Ruolan and Daiyu's faces were full of anger, Cao Cheng saw this, before they opened his mouth, relying on the kung fu he learned from Wei Ruolan, he jumped out of the window in a hurry, landed right next to Baoyu, and stretched out his hand to block Baoyu's push He lifted up Baoyu who had just fallen to the ground, and said sharply: "Let me see whose son this is, who is running rampant here!"

There were a lot of onlookers, but they were all watching jokes, and no one came to rescue Baoyu. Suddenly, a person jumped down from the upstairs, screaming and screaming, and his clothes and demeanor were not like ordinary people. Look at Cao Cheng.

The person who pushed Baoyu was startled and shouted, "Who are you? You have so many things!"

Cao Cheng used to buy a house and land for Baoyu himself, and he also had a lot of contacts with Baoyu. He glanced at him coldly, recognized Fu Shi's son named Fu Xing, and said with a sneer, "Who am I? The son of Master Zheng’s protégé, who used to be flattered by him when he relied on him as an official, but now he sees the Jia family’s downfall and comes to make trouble, it really is a good family style!”

Fu Xing's complexion changed, and he said, "Who are you?" Anyone who speaks in this tone must be an extraordinary person.

Cao Cheng sneered a few times, ignored him at all, turned around and looked at Baoyu's description carefully, seeing that although he was in a mess, but not injured, he felt relieved, and said: "Second Master Bao, the uncle is upstairs, I will send the second master up first , take the second master home in a while."

Mingyan managed to squeeze in front of someone while someone was leaving. Seeing that Baoyu was fine, she felt relieved and said with tears in her eyes, "Fortunately, I met my father-in-law today, otherwise the second master must have been like last time. Not only was he laughed at, but also You have to be trampled on by others, your head is broken, and you need to raise it for half a month. I don't know what the second master did to hurt the world.

Baoyu looked around at the people who were still laughing at him, and said to Mingyan indifferently: "The tree falls and the monkeys scatter, and the wall falls and everyone pushes it. This is the eternal truth, why don't you understand? Let's go up, it's a pity for this lantern. "

Baoyu knelt down to pick up the beauty lamp. It was already damaged beyond recognition, and all the skeletons inside were broken.

With Cao Cheng's protection, even if all the sons and daughters are trying to embarrass them, the other onlookers are very discerning. Just now they heard that Mingyan called Cao Cheng his father-in-law, so he must have come from the palace. Thinking of this, he shuddered and immediately coaxed And scattered.

When I got upstairs, I saw Daiyu sitting here, with anger still on her face, but she was even more provocative. Baoyu raised her eyebrows and smiled, leaving behind the grievance she had just suffered, and said, "Your sister is here too? When I was downstairs I was also thinking that today is the Lantern Festival, Yuan Fang is not at home with my sister, why did she come out alone, it turned out that she was with her sister."

Daiyu got up to give up her seat, and asked: "Second brother, tell me the truth, is it because you always go out and have such people make things difficult for you?"

Baoyu said nonchalantly, "It's all just once or twice, my sister, don't worry."

Mingyan said from the side: "Where is it only once or twice? In the past two months, the second master has been stared at when he goes out. The girl from Xiangyuan forced the second master to eat the rouge from the girl's mouth, but fortunately the eldest son of Uncle Wei's uncle's family passed by and relieved the second master."

Baoyu wanted to interrupt him, but when she saw Daiyu glaring at her, she had to swallow the words she was about to utter, and heard Daiyu say to Wei Ruolan: "Morrow, please pay attention to who is following the second elder brother Bao?" .”

Wei Ruolan said in a deep voice, "Don't worry."

Daiyu said to Baoyu again: "Since there are always people staring at my brother, my brother will not go out for the time being. Tomorrow I will send two nursing homes there, and I will lend them to my brother's sister-in-law for the time being. When I come out, one person will guard the door, and the other will follow my brother, so as not to cause those people to live." thing."

Baoyu wanted to decline, he didn't care about his own life or death, but he thought that Baochai was a woman, and there were two maids by his side. I was worried about disturbing Baochai, so I agreed to Daiyu's proposal and said, "I will pay all the monthly expenses."

Because of Wei Ruolan and Daiyu, few people made trouble for the Jia family, including Baoyu, of course. After inquiring, I found out that those dudes were eyeing Baoyu for fun.

Daiyu hated it deeply, because after the Shangyuan Festival, she would have a New Year's wine, so she temporarily put aside this matter, and only ordered people to tell Baoyu not to go out.But when treating her to New Year's wine, she did not forget her uncle's family. Although Jia Amnesty no longer has a title, he is a close relative, so she should invite her here.

Jia Amnesty's family and Baoyu's couple are all listed here. Mrs. Duxing has not yet arrived to serve Jia's mother at home.

After the banquet, Daiyu told Baoyu to keep Xichun and Baoqin as companions at her home. One was that Xichun had not agreed to a proper marriage after retiring, and the other was that the four families of King Xue of Jia Shi had lost power. Baoqin's marriage is a little unstable, and Daiyu is quite worried about the two of them, and they can't be too forceful about the accidental marriage.

Xichun said indifferently: "My sister doesn't have to choose a marriage for me in the family of the good friend. Our family has no title, family and wealth, so how can there be a choice? Only others choose mine, and I don't choose others. I don't want to marry into a family of high officials and dignitaries. After entering the door, I don't have to be angry. Besides, I retired again. Even if it was said that our family was self-aware, the Zhang family didn't make irresponsible remarks. People are unwilling to accept the words of the second sister-in-law, so it has been delayed until now, and it has caused my sister to worry."

Daiyu sighed, and said: "Let's just wait and see. There are no such people as you said, but there are many people who value your character and appearance but despise your family status. You have not yet come to fate. There is a good relationship." Xichun is one year younger than herself, and she has it this year, Daiyu said that she is not in a hurry, but she is very anxious in her heart, fearing that she will be wasted, and she will not be able to talk about a good relationship.

Xichun grinned, nodded and said: "I also comforted my wife and second sister-in-law in this way yesterday. Our family is so poor, we should value character over family status. I don't feel wronged myself, but my wife and second sister-in-law replaced me. I'm sorry."

Baoqin pursed her lips and said with a smile: "Based on my sister's character, who doesn't feel sorry for her? I heard from my sister-in-law that the Eldest Master plans to let this matter pass the wind in two or three years, and use the money to donate a false job to Lian's second elder brother, or to take care of it." If Lian's second elder brother can be reinstated as an official, the family can be called an official family again, and it will also benefit my sister's marriage by then."

Xichun said: "Don't rush to talk about me, what is your plan? With my lessons learned, you should also understand what kind of people the Mei family is, and everyone is respectable." She remembered that Mei Hanlin had a good relationship with Jia Zheng in the past, and she expected her temperament Quite similar.

Baoqin sighed: "What can I do? I would like to imitate my sister's courage and ask my brother to find a matchmaker to come and withdraw the marriage, lest they find a reason to withdraw the marriage, which is even worse. Who is delaying to be 19 like me? But my mother forbade it. Every year when my elder brother came back to Jinling, he would bring my mother’s words with him, saying that the Mei family had difficulties, but it’s unknown. We’ll wait until we’re 19. What’s the reason for their family? It's a prosperous career, and I want to withdraw from this poor and humble marriage, so that I can marry a high-ranking family. In the past, relying on the power of the Rongguo Mansion, they dared not withdraw their marriage, and now they are probably already thinking about how to withdraw their marriage."

As Baoqin expected, the Mei family sent a matchmaker to Xue's family to withdraw from the marriage just after the first lunar month.

Mei Hanlin's family has dragged on for six or seven years. Seeing that their son has reached the age of weak crown, they were already in a hurry. Last year they wanted to propose to withdraw from the marriage, and the accident happened to Jia Shi Wang Xue's family. If they did that, they would inevitably make things worse. Meaning, due to the hindrance of reputation, it was changed to this year. I have already arranged a perfect marriage for my son in private, and I am waiting to leave this place to propose marriage there.