Lixiangyuan
In the side room, Aunt Xue was sitting cross-legged on the bed, holding an account book in her hand and checking the accounts by the orange candlelight.
Previously, Baochai did not lie in Daiyu's house. Since the Xue Pan case was discovered and the life-threatening lawsuit took place, the Xue family's business has inevitably been affected, mainly because the owner is in jail and the shopkeeper's people are uneasy.
Baochai walked to the courtyard, her face gradually recovered. She held her handkerchief, burying the wanton robbery in her heart for the time being. She took a deep breath, held her handkerchief, climbed up the steps to the eaves of the corridor, opened the curtain, and entered. Wing room.
"My dear, are you back?" Aunt Xue heard the noise and looked at Baochai in surprise.
"Girl." Ying'er stepped forward and helped Baochai untie her red cloak.
Baochai called softly: "Mom, it's so late, why aren't you sleeping yet?"
Aunt Xue raised her eyes to look at Baochai and chuckled: "Let's settle the score. I heard Ying'er say, have you met Brother Heng and Girl Lin?"
Baochai nodded and said, "Sister Lin has prepared a banquet, maybe because of Uncle Lin's affairs, she is entertaining Brother Heng."
According to seniority, Baochai and Mrs. Wang should call Jia Min sister-in-law and Lin Ruhai uncle, which is not inappropriate.
Aunt Xue put down her account book, with a complex look on her fair and plump face, and sighed: "Girl Lin, she's not easy either. I saw Brother Heng treating her like his own sister. Last time, he even invited the royal family from the palace. Doctors help with diagnosis and treatment.”
This is also the inherent impression that everyone in the Jia family has on the relationship between Jia Heng and Dai Yu. They love and care for each other very much, as if they were brothers and sisters.
Of course, it is also due to Jia Heng's upright and cold image in front of outsiders for a long time, coupled with the fact that he already has a family, and Daiyu is too young, so no one thinks otherwise.
Moreover, Jia Heng is not like Baoyu, who runs to Daiyu every two days. Companionship is a confession of long-term love (dog-licking).
Even for Baochai and Jia Heng, the same thing happened.
Apart from being here because of Xue Pan's incident, Aunt Xue hosted a banquet and would not have time to go to Lixiangyuan. In the eyes of others, there would be no other association.
Baochai Yurong paused, and the scene of the two of them walking before appeared in front of her eyes, and she said softly: "Brother Heng and Uncle Lin were officials in the same dynasty. I heard that they respected Uncle Lin in the past, but now because of the salt affairs, , so I take good care of Sister Lin."
However, how to listen to Baochai's words? Rather than explaining it to Aunt Xue, it is better to say it to herself.
Aunt Xue had a complex look on her face and said with emotion: "Brother Heng is now a first-class male, and he is also the deputy envoy of the Beijing Camp, and the governor of Jinyi, and is in charge of the Five Cities Military and Horse Division. I look at this posture now, It's even more amazing than when your uncle came... Lin Yatou is lucky to have such a brother to protect her."
Some things, such as drinking water, one knows whether it is warm or cold.
Jia Heng is young and has a high position. Aunt Xue is not a fool. What she sees is the envy of other people's children, which is almost uncontrollable.
In fact, the reason why Mrs. Wang is resentful and unfair is ultimately due to this, the imbalance of mentality caused by jealousy.
When Jia Heng was bullied by Jia Zhen, Mrs. Wang, who fasted and chanted Buddha's name, even felt some sympathy.
But now, Uncle Heng Weifu of the East and West Prefectures is for his own use, and his own treasures are gradually marginalized. No one can accept it.
This is human nature.
Baochai was silent as she listened to her mother's narration to the young man. She bit her lower lip with her teeth and felt that the man's warmth still seemed to remain on it.
Aunt Xue sighed with emotion: "Actually, Brother Heng is pretty good to our family. He helped our family with the business in Beijing. If it weren't for your brother, Brother Heng and our family..."
Baochai turned around and said softly: "Mom, didn't Brother Heng say he would take care of his brother before? As long as Mom doesn't have any worries, Brother Heng will treat our family the same way as before. Besides, Brother Heng said he was gone for three years, but the life lawsuit , Mom saw this kind of treatment, why did she still let her come back to visit her relatives once in January?"
When Aunt Xue heard this, her expression changed and she let out a long sigh.
How could she not know that her daughter was right and she might have been kind to her, but she couldn't get over this hurdle in her heart.
However, reality also told her that she should not hold grudges, or even have the slightest feeling of resentment. Otherwise, if someone is dissatisfied, just move a finger, whether it is her son or the shop business, it will be in disaster.
It can be said that at this moment, Aunt Xue really had complicated feelings about Jia, including being annoyed, afraid, and...wanting to please.
Aunt Xue was quiet for a moment, then suddenly raised her eyes to look at Baochai and said, "I just heard from Ying'er that Brother Heng still calls you to talk about your brother?"
Baochai's heart skipped a beat, her expression remained unchanged, she frowned, her almond-shaped eyes filled with worry, and said: "Brother Heng said that he was in the Wucheng Army and Horses Division, and he wouldn't let him suffer. Mom, we are so big. All the officials have talked about this, and no matter what is good or bad... to be honest, they don't have much relationship with us."
Aunt Xue nodded, acquiescing to her daughter's words. To be honest, Uncle Heng from Dongfu was a branch of the Ningguo family, and he did not have many relatives with the Xue family...
There was just a faint flash of something wrong in my heart.
Baochai also realized that he had said too much, and for fear of being suspicious, he picked up the teacup beside him and said nothing.
The mother and daughter were talking, and suddenly the curtain opened. Xue Pan was leaning on a cane, with rosy cheeks, and said in a loud voice: "Mom, my sister is right, I went to the Wucheng Soldiers and Horses Division, it is better than losing my head." I have been lying in bed for the past few days, and I have thought about it and realized that Brother Heng is actually protecting our family."
Aunt Xue: "???"
He looked at his son's big head with suspicion and thought to himself, his son was beaten stupid?
Xue Pan came forward, sat on the embroidered pier beside him, and said, "Mom, how could it be such a coincidence that I would imprison the Five Cities Soldiers and Horses Division under his command?"
Aunt Xue frowned when she heard this and was silent for a while.
Xue Pan whispered: "Mom, if someone really wants to ignore us, how can he report it to the palace? Look, he is used a lot in the palace now. I heard that he was granted the title of baron a few days ago. I heard from Wen Xing that Heng Biao My brother has been promoted again and is in charge of the Beijing camp. Do you know how many thousands of people there are in the Beijing camp and how many military attachés there are? But they are all under his control."
Xue Pan followed Wang Ziteng to serve as an army guard in the Beijing camp for a period of time, and he saw with his own eyes how powerful and dignified the Jiedu envoy in the Beijing camp was.
Baochai's jade face was slightly different, her apricot eyes narrowed, and she stared at Xue Pan with a look like "Are you my brother?"
But after thinking about it, he somewhat figured it out. Xu's brother thought that by saying such words to that person, he would suffer less in the Five Cities Soldiers and Horses Division.
Aunt Xue was also stunned by Xue Pan's words. After a while, she said: "Pan'er, what you said is a bit like what your uncle said."
Jia Zheng's words of comfort were similar at the beginning, because he saw with his own eyes that Emperor Chongping treated Jia Heng with great courtesy, so he felt that the emperor must have shown mercy, and he also used these words to comfort Aunt Xue.
Baochai said: "What my brother said may be true. Mom, if people don't care about my brother, it won't affect him at all. Now my brother has suffered some hardships and is not in danger of his life. It can be said that blessings and misfortunes depend on each other."
Xue Pan smiled and said: "That's what I mean, but my sister can see it clearly."
Aunt Xue sighed and said, "Okay, it's rare that you two brothers and sisters persuade me like this. In two days, I will go to Dongfu to sit with Brother Heng's daughter-in-law."
In fact, she has some speculations about her own two children. No matter what people think, Dongfu is so powerful now that she always hides her feelings and hates others so much that she gnashes her teeth. It is a disaster for her Xue family rather than a blessing.
Originally, Pan'er and his uncle were still outside to support him, but now... the Xue family can only count on the Jia family.
Xue Pan chuckled and said, "Mom is right to think so. I think Brother Heng is a good person. I don't blame him this time."
Aunt Xue was a little angry and funny, and said: "You, the scar has just healed and you have forgotten the pain. Okay, you can rest earlier. Your sister and I still have something to say."
Xue Pan said with a playful smile: "I can't sleep, come here and listen to mom talk for a while."
Aunt Xue looked at that honest big head and felt a little helpless in her heart. Fortunately, she didn't hide the matter of going to Beijing to be elected, and even helped him handle it. She turned to look at Baochai beside her, Asked: "What did your aunt say?"
This is a matter of asking Mrs. Wang to test her tone.
Baochai looked hesitant and didn't want to say anything, but under his mother's gaze, he said softly: "Mom, I don't care about Brother Bao... at all."
Aunt Xue was not annoyed and said softly: "I think Baoyu is doing well."
Xue Pan was listening on the side, but his face changed drastically, and he said anxiously: "Mom, do you want your sister and Baoyu to..."
Aunt Xue's face turned pale and she scolded angrily: "Keep your voice down, you are yelling so randomly in the middle of the night."
Baochai frowned and glared at his brother, feeling ashamed and annoyed.
Xue Pan quickly reached out to cover his mouth, but there was a sad look on his big face, and he whispered: "Mom, Baoyu... He can't even win in terms of title, and he doesn't look like an official in the imperial examination. Aren't you pushing my sister into the fire pit?"
We are not afraid of not knowing the goods, but we are afraid of comparing goods.
With peers like Jia Heng standing by to support him, even Xue Pan would feel uncomfortable looking at Baoyu.
It wasn't that Xue Pan had any intention of marrying the girl to Jia Heng, but he unconsciously raised his sights.
In addition, accompanied by Jia Heng, I went to Dali Temple for a while, and I saw the powerful appearance everywhere I went. Only if I am not a real fool, I can tell the difference between high and low.
The problem is that Jia Heng is not as bearded as Jia Zheng, but is as old as himself.
Aunt Xue said angrily: "It's not you who has harmed your sister. What else can you do now? You can only pick the general among the cripples..."
"Mom." Baochai turned pale and called urgently.
Aunt Xue also realized that she had made a mistake, opened her mouth, and sighed: "That's it, that's all, no more."
Xue Pan shook his big head and whispered: "My sister's appearance is not as good as that of Brother Heng, but she must at least find a noble official. How can Baoyu do that? Do you think the title of Xifu can fall to someone like that?" On his head? Like me, he doesn’t like reading, so how big of an official can he be? "
When Baochai heard Xue Pan's words, her eyebrows skipped a beat and she felt so ashamed.
Aunt Xue glanced at Baochai, who was sitting on pins and needles, and said angrily: "You still say that."
How could she not know that Baoyu was not the best.
As a mother, could she help Bao Yatou find a young, promising, powerful person, but she couldn't find him even with a lantern?
Who wants to marry the daughter of a merchant who has a brother who is in jail?
Brother Dongfu Heng, a character who only appeared every few years, let alone a married woman.
If Brother Heng is not getting married, she will definitely agree. It is a match made in heaven, but is this not a marriage?
Being a concubine is obviously not possible, even if you are an equal wife... no, absolutely not.
Aunt Xue dismissed the throbbing thoughts in her heart.
Baochai had a gloomy look on his face and couldn't sit still, so he said, "Mom, you talk to your brother, I'm going to have a rest."
Seeing Baochai's leaving figure, Aunt Xue let out a long sigh. With her daughter's appearance...how could her life be so miserable?
But it is said that Jia Heng returned to Ningguo Mansion. Under Qingwen's service, he took a shower and changed clothes, and then came to the wing where he lived.
A few days later, the blood stains on his back had faded, and the relatives of Keqing's family had also left.
Qin Keqing seemed to have just taken a bath. Her black hair was randomly tied into a bun, and she wore a light red cross-collared jacket. Her hibiscus-shaped face was not painted with makeup. Compared with the gorgeous and gorgeous makeup in the past, it was as fresh and natural as hibiscus.
It has a bit more of a girly innocence.
Qin Keqing was leaning on the pillow, covered with a pair of mandarin duck brocade quilts. She was reading to herself with a book in her hand. Her beautiful eyes were as bright as water. When she saw Jia Heng, she smiled lightly and asked, "Husband, this is Sister Cong Lin." Are you back then?"
Jia Heng sat down on the bed nearby, took off his shoes and socks, and said softly: "Well, I chatted with Sister Lin for a while. The cook from Xifu cooked a table of Huaiyang and Suzhou dishes."
Qin Keqing chuckled and joked: "Husband, please take me to try it next time."
Jia Heng said warmly: "Then it's better to invite the cook over and cook the food here. It's the same thing."
Qin Keqing smiled, put the book in his hand on the small table beside him, leaned against the bed, and unbuttoned his coat, revealing his round and white shoulders and a plain coat embroidered with peonies. Color bellyband.
Jia Heng took off his clothes, lifted the quilt, and lay on the bed. Following the two maids Baozhu and Ruizhu, they lowered the golden hook and slowly lowered the curtain.
Not long after, the young couple's exchanges came from the bed.
…
…
next day
The morning light of the seventh day of the first lunar month fell on the courtyard of Ningguo Mansion. After Jia Heng had breakfast, he went to the inner study and reviewed the official documents sent by the Wucheng Army and Horses Division in the past few days.
Qingwen was looking at the copybook in the outer hall and suddenly called out softly: "Sir, the third girl is here."
Jia Heng looked stunned for a moment, looking at Tanchun who was not far away from the outside.
The girl wears a light blue round-neck robe embroidered with colorful folded chrysanthemums, a white cross-collar jacket on top, and a long beige skirt. She has handsome eyes and eyebrows, and a beautiful face.
Jia Heng nodded and asked, "Third sister, have you had your meal?"
Seeing the calm tone of the young man opposite, Tanchun's expression remained as usual, like the tinkling sound of a mountain spring, with a trembling voice in the clear air, he said: "It's time to have breakfast. Come over and see if there is anything you need to say to Brother Heng." ?”
Jia Heng smiled and said: "Third sister is here just in time. You can collect these official documents with seals according to time. And these, also help with the accounting books of the east and west cities sent by the tax department..."
Tan Chun listened to the instructions and felt happy. He said "hmm" and came to Jia Heng's side to get busy.
Jia Heng didn't talk to Tanchun anymore. He picked up the pen and ink to write official documents or used seals.
Time flies so fast, and in the busyness, it’s already half noon.
"Young Master, the old lady sent someone to call you. She said that a visitor from the West Mansion has come. We will have dinner together in the afternoon. Do you want to go over to see the young master?" At this time, Qingwen entered the study and said softly.
Jia Heng put down his brush and asked, "Did you tell me which company it was?"
At this time, Tanchun also stared at Qingwen.
Qingwen said: "I heard that it's uncle Wang's house. The whole family and the female family members are here to see the old lady and the master."
Wang Ziteng finally came. Worried about being rejected in the East Mansion, he first went to the West Mansion to visit Jia Zheng and Jia Mu.
In fact, when Jia Mu saw Wang Ziteng coming with her son and daughter-in-law, she finally felt relieved after having been depressed for more than ten years.
Jia Heng thought for a while, his face paused, and he guessed some of Jia Mu's thoughts, and said, "Third sister, are you here, or are you going to meet me with me?"
Tan Chun said softly: "I'll go with Brother Heng."
