The Red Mansions

Chapter 519

Chapter 519

Beijing Palace, back garden

The greenness is provocative, and the willow trees that look like cages are surrounded by a lake with rippling blue waves.

Due to the recent warming of the weather, various varieties of flowers in the garden are either in bud, or in full bloom, colorful and colorful.

Bursts of fragrant fragrance linger in the courtyard, mixed with the scent of pines and cypresses, and being in the middle of it makes you feel relaxed and happy.

On the attic with the inscription "Fucui Pavilion" on a gold-painted black background, in the northwest corner, a four-and-a-half-foot-long window is set up. Looking down, you have an excellent view, and you can see the garden view.

On a small bamboo and rattan chair, a beautiful woman with a fragrant bun facing towards the clouds, wearing a sky blue embroidered long skirt, is rolling up half of her sleeves at the moment, holding the purple sand pot with one hand, and holding the lid with the other, her head tilted to one side, her eyes wide open. With the light lowered, he poured tea into the six teacups lined up.

Then he put down the purple clay pot and pushed two of them over.

The whole movement is gentle and intellectual, revealing a sense of pleasing to the eye.

Holding a teacup in her slender hand, she handed it to her lips. The two pink lips were pressed together, and the pink and snowy cheek skin seemed to be covered with a layer of gauze against the pale golden sunset in the afternoon.

Concubine Chu Zhen Qing was playing with the jade teacup in her hand, and suddenly said: "The palace delivered an order at noon, and the prince has now received the task of supervising the imperial mausoleum."

"This is a good thing, why is my sister still frowning?" Zhen Xue's soft voice sounded, and Wen Ning Wanli's eyebrows and eyes showed curiosity.

Because the King of Beijing went to the north to investigate the frontier, Zhen Xue, who is the concubine of Beijing, naturally did not get any news in the court hall, and she did not know about the disputes at the court meeting today.

"The problem is, it's not just the prince who is doing this job, but also the Duke of Qi." Zhen Qing's sleepy phoenix eyes under Liu Yemei's eyebrows flashed sharply, and her thin lips like rose petals held a trace of coldness. meaning.

This woman originally had slightly high cheekbones, slightly thin lips, and a pointed chin, giving people a sense of beauty and charm.

Zhen Xuexiu frowned, with a look of worry floating in her eyes, she said: "The Duke of Qi has always been absurd, and he is also generous in his actions, no wonder my sister is worried."

"The prince supervised the repair of the imperial mausoleum. There was no benefit in the first place. Instead, because the Gongling mausoleum was just collapsed by the earthquake of the earth dragon, there may be many risks. One foot, a good pot of gruel, and two people to share, no one will be full now." Zhen Qing Liu Yemei raised her eyebrows, pursed her thin lips, and said coldly: "What kind of idea does Duke Qi have? I can guess one or two, but it's just wishful thinking to regain the title of prince with this merit."

Zhen Xue was silent for a moment, then said softly: "After all, it's a credit, and it's not easy for Prince Chu to make that one special."

Zhen Qing sighed, and said: "Otherwise, what else can I do, now I can only do this, but I am worried that the prince will work with him, that thick-faced and dark-hearted, the prince will suffer another dark loss."

My husband doesn't have the face of that one, so he suffers not once or twice.

Hearing this, Zhen Xue spun the amber streamer cup in her hand, and sighed inwardly.

Fortunately, she married the Prince of Beijing, but she didn't have these troubles, it's just...who knows her troubles?

While the two sisters were talking, suddenly, a servant girl of the palace went up to the attic and said in a low voice: "Princess, Mrs. Wu from Zhao Shangshu's family is here."

Zhen Xue was stunned for a moment, and then suddenly said: "I think it's because of Mr. Zhao Ge's matter, sister, is there any clue about this matter at the court meeting today?"

"I heard from my lord that Zhao Shangshu resigned from the cabinet and returned to the headquarters under the decree from my father, so he kept his position as Minister of the Ministry of Industry." Zhen Qing put down the teacup and said.

"Oh?" Zhen Xue was surprised, and said: "That's okay. Although the cabinet ministers are dismissed, there may not be a day of comeback in the future. It's just that Aunt Wu said earlier that Zhao Shangshu will not be able to keep the official this time?"

Concubine Chu Zhen Qing said: "When Aunt Wu comes over later, you can ask her. I heard that it is related to the Lord of Ning Kingdom's speech. I haven't heard the prince explain exactly what happened."

When Zhen Xue heard "Lord of Ningguo", she frowned, feeling suspicious.

While talking, the steward of the mansion has already led Wu Shi to the attic.

Wu quickly saluted the two princesses.

Zhen Xue also stood up to greet her, smiled, and joked: "Looking at the smile in Auntie's eyes, I guess it's Shibo who turned an owl into a dove and took risks like a barbarian?"

Sitting on the embroidered pier, Mrs. Wu said with a smile, "My concubine has good eyesight. Your Majesty is magnanimous, and with grace, my master is now returning to the headquarters to ask questions. Now the weather is finally over."

Chu Princess Zhen Qing's clear voice sounded like broken jade, and asked: "I don't know what's going on in the morning court? I heard from the prince, why is it that the Lord of Ning Kingdom helped Master Zhao to speak?"

Because the King of Chu did not go to court, he only relayed what happened in the early court from other people's mouths, and did not get a glimpse of the whole picture.

Wu said with emotion: "It's strange to say that I heard from the master that the Holy Majesty asked many ministers of the court for their opinions on how to deal with the master. Those people either impeached the master, or they kept silent and kept themselves safe until the Holy Majesty asked. When I saw the lord of Ningguo, I didn't expect him to speak uprightly, and said something fair, saying that although the master was responsible for negligence, it was the ghost of the two servants of the Ministry of Industry and King Zhongshun, and the master had nothing to do with this case, Your Majesty When I heard it, I felt that it was very reasonable, so I opened my eyes to the old man, only dismissed the cabinet members, and ordered them to return to the headquarters to rectify the affairs of the department. Thank God, this difficulty is over."

Zhen Xue was fascinated, she clearly listened attentively, she pursed her pink lips, and asked, "But that day he clearly refused."

"Master said that the lord of the Ning Kingdom has a good character and is unwilling to bend the law for personal gain. I thought about it, and he will say whatever he wants." Wu said with a smile.

When Zhen Xue heard this, her eyebrows frowned, and she said softly: "This man has the style of a famous minister."

Princess Chu, Zhen Qing, squinted her sleeping phoenix eyes, her heart was cold.

Secretly thought, this Jia Heng could not be said to be a favor but not a waste, and he was doing favors, I am afraid that the father did not really want to deal with Zhao Yi.

It's just that it's not easy to say these words in front of Wu Shi, the family member of the client, otherwise, he will be suspected of using the heart of a villain to judge the belly of a gentleman.

What, cooperating with you expecting something to happen to my master?

Moreover, why is it that there is no civil and military man in the Manchu Dynasty who is good at favors, but Jia Heng?

Princess Chu Zhen Qing thought about it, her eyes lowered, she looked at the teacup in her hand.

Perhaps, the chief judge of the imperial mausoleum corruption case speaks in person, and it is Jia Heng, who is just winning the holy family, who speaks, which is more weighty.

Thinking about it this way, I felt that the water inside was a bit deep, like looking at flowers through fog.

"This Jia Ziyu is versatile in both civil and military affairs, and he is good at figuring out what he wants... It would be great if he voted for the prince." Zhen Qing's thoughts flashed, and she suddenly thought.

But I also know in my heart that it is absolutely impossible, at least right now.

Because the lord gave too few bargaining chips, all the lord can give him is a promotion after succeeding to the throne, but the emperor has already given Juelu to him now, how can he stand by the lord?

But always find a way, people always have something to like, as long as they do what they like, it may not be impossible to win him over to the prince.

Zhen Qing thought about it, and felt that it would take a lot of effort.

At this time, Zhen Xuerou said: "Auntie, Jia Ziyu's outspoken words should be out of publicity, but he should also thank others."

"Hey, I told the master. Guess what's wrong with him? He's putting on the airs of Mr. Zhao Dage again, saying that civil and military affairs can't be communicated with." It has a unique charm.

Zhen Xueming stared blankly, nodded and said: "Uncle, he has always been straightforward, straightforward, and aboveboard. It's not surprising to say that."

Mrs. Wu shook her head and snorted softly: "What kind of honesty is upright? It's just pedantic. If he wants to return to the cabinet in the future, he needs to find a way out. He is now a famous person in the palace, and he will make great contributions in the future. , it was even more extraordinary, at that time I had a few words to Qianer in the palace."

Zhen Xue nodded.

Wu Shi smiled and said: "He doesn't care about these things, so I'll take care of it for him. The concubine said, how about I walk around Mrs. Rong Guotai's house these two days?"

Because the Wu family and the Zhen family are family friends, and the Zhen family and the Jia family are family friends, if the Wu family visits the door rashly, they are separated by one floor, and they are not close enough.

Zhen Xuexiu frowned slightly, thought for a while, and said: "I heard that the wife of the lord of the Ningguo Mansion has just been conferred a first-rank imperial order. Why don't you prepare a gift later and go to the mansion to congratulate her."

Listening to the conversation between the two, drinking tea and smiling from beginning to end, Zhen Qing, who was inexplicably thinking, suddenly said: "I haven't seen the Ningguo Mansion sending invitations, maybe it's because I don't want to make too much publicity. I don’t know if people think so, it’s a bit abrupt.”

Previously, because Jia Heng’s corruption case in the imperial tomb had not yet been closed, it was difficult for Jia Heng to spread invitations and feast guests so as not to attract people’s envy. Now that the criminals related to the imperial tomb’s corruption case have been dealt with, the King of Beijing and the King of Chu took the initiative Come to the door, but there are many taboos.

However, Zhen Xue smiled and said softly: "Sister, people say that when you stretch out your hand, you don't hit someone with a smiling face. Our two families are old relatives. If you don't know it, it's fine. Now that you know it, it's okay to come to the door to congratulate and keep in touch. .”

Zhen Qingshui narrowed her phoenix eyes slightly, looked at her younger sister who didn't have much scheming, thought for a while, and said with a smile: "Alright, I'll go and have a look later."

Wu Shi hurriedly said: "Then I'll go back and prepare some presents."

Zhen Xue smiled and said, "Auntie, don't bother going back and forth, just pick a few from the storeroom and go there together."

"This is so embarrassing." Wu Shi said embarrassingly.

Zhen Xue said softly: "It's nothing, at the beginning of spring, Zhuangzi sent a lot of wild ginseng, and there are rewards from the palace, and no one will use it in the treasury. Auntie will just pick a few and send them over."

As he spoke, he ordered the mother who was serving at the side, and said, "Mother Wang, lead my aunt over there."

Seeing this, Mrs. Wu thanked her and agreed.

From this we can also see the closeness of several families.

However, just when the few people were about to leave, it was a coincidence that the nurse in charge of the front yard came from the outside and said: "Wangfei, Princess Nan'an is here."

Zhen Xue frowned, with a surprised expression on her face, she exchanged glances with Princess Chu who was beside her, and said, "Sister."

"It's okay to meet."

Not long after, Princess Nan'an came to the attic, surrounded by nuns and maidservants, and led by a nun.

Concubine Nan'an not only came by herself, but also brought her granddaughter-in-law Zhou Shi, and beside Zhou Shi there was a woman in a water-green dress. , Pear blossoms with rain, lovely and moving.

Looking closely at the outline of the facial features, it is somewhat similar to the Zhou family. She is Zhou's younger sister, who is now the wife of Yu Congdian, the doctor of the Tuntian Qingli Division of the Ministry of Industry.

"Old concubine, why are you free to come over today?" Zhen Xue asked politely with a smile on her face.

Concubine Nan'an sighed: "Princess, the imperial edict has just been issued, and the relevant officials of the Ministry of Industry are all punished. Now the government is not only going to confiscate the family property, but also arrest the female relatives and send them to the Jiaofang Division. I am here to discuss with the concubine. ,What can I do."

Although the imperial decree issued by Emperor Chongping did not deal with the wives of the offenders, according to the usual practice, the wives of the offenders may die or be exiled, and most of the wives will serve as the Jiaofang Secretary.

Actually, Concubine Nan'an didn't necessarily want to save her relatives, Yu Congdian, the minister of Qing officials in the village, who was separated by one floor, was mainly caused by the psychology of decent people, and her granddaughter-in-law brought her sister to ask for help. Can't do it.

This is the same as what the old nun Jingxu said to Sister Feng, in the eyes of outsiders, people think that the family's power is not very good.

Zhen Xuening frowned, and said hesitantly: "Old concubine, this is the imperial court's proposition, and the female relatives of offenders must serve as the secretary of the Ministry of Rites."

Concubine Nan'an nodded, and said: "I'm going to think of a way, anyway, the officials in the Ministry of Rites won't be too ugly."

Zhen Xue was not easy to persuade, thought for a while, and said: "If the officials of the Jiaofang Division are easy to talk, it is also good to use some money to keep the family small."

"Lao Shen originally had the same idea." Concubine Nan'an nodded, echoed, and suddenly said: "How do you think this Jia's family is set up? Princess, let's talk about what we have in front of our own family, Lao Shen But I heard that he spoke to Mr. Zhao Ge, a civil official, in the court. This Mr. Zhao Ge was going to be dismissed from office. Friendship, don't say a word."

There is no harm if there is no comparison. When Princess Nan'an heard about the early court incident, she held a sigh of relief in her heart.

He was sternly refusing that day, but now he is helping civil servants instead of Wu Xun?

Hearing this, Zhen Xue opened her mouth, about to say something, but suddenly she was taken aback, and looked at the person behind the screen.

Originally, Wu Shi, who had already picked out the gift, went back and forth, and when he heard this, his expression was not worried.

Mrs. Wu said indifferently: "What the old concubine said, the lord of Ningguo helped my master out of righteousness, not because of favoritism, and he doesn't care about the relationship between relatives."

Concubine Nan'an: "???"

Hearing a familiar voice suddenly, he couldn't help being startled, and looked towards the prestige, and saw Mrs. Wu walking out with a nanny, with an ugly expression on her face.

Anyone who hears someone talking about their husband's right and wrong behind his back will be displeased.

Concubine Nan'an's old eyes flashed unnaturally, she forced a smile, and asked, "Why is Mrs. Wu here?"

There was a faint smile on the corner of Zhen Qing's mouth, looking like she was watching a good show.

Xindao, the moment he said something bad about someone behind his back, he was blocked right away.

"I originally came to see Princess Beijing, but I didn't expect that as soon as I turned around, I heard Princess Dowager talking about my master." Wu Shi chuckled.

Her family is a family of officials, so there is no need to give face to the martial Concubine Nan'an, let alone the other party's fault first.

Concubine Nan'an's complexion changed, and she said: "Madam Wu, what are you talking about? I just said that there is such a thing. It's not that the Jia family is not speaking out of justice, but that they don't talk about relatives at all."

Wu's tone said lightly: "Old concubine, she is out of public interest, and besides, my master is not involved in the case, so naturally he will not be implicated."

Seeing the anger of the two people arguing, Zhen Xue quickly said something to smooth things over, smiled and said: "Auntie, the concubine has no intentions, are we going to Rongguo Mansion later? Are the gifts ready? "

At this moment, Concubine Nan'an's old face was a bit unbearable, and she said: "Since the concubine will go out later, I don't bother you, I will come to visit another day."

It was not easy for Zhen Xue to keep her, so she could only see off Princess Nan'an with her mother.

Concubine Nan'an came and left in a hurry because of Wu's sudden appearance, but failed to tell the story.

Zhen Qing sarcastically said: "Concubine Nan'an is also a very old person, instead of enjoying blessings at home, she shows her face for a grandson's concubine and stirs up trouble."

Because the king of Nan'an County married his daughter to the king of Wei as his concubine, and she will be married soon, Zhen Qing naturally didn't have any intention of getting close, but continued to fight, or to win Wu's favor.

Zhen Xue frowned, and persuaded softly: "Sister, you are all old relatives, so it's not good to say that, and we don't care about other people's affairs, let's go to Rongguo Mansion now."

Several people said, packed up the presents, and went to Rongguo Mansion.

(End of this chapter)