Ningrong Street, the night is blurry, and the towering archway stands quietly under the catkins-like snowflakes.
"We're here, grandma." Ping'er outside said.
The carriage stopped immediately, and the horse pulling the carriage snorted. Hot air spurted out from its nostrils and the horse's mouth, shaking the horse's head, and a thin layer of snowflakes covering it shook to the ground.
"Sister-in-law Feng." Jia Heng stared at Sister Feng, who had a quiet face and lowered her eyes without saying a word.
Sister Feng said in surprise: "Brother Heng, are you here?"
Jia Heng said: "I'm going down first."
With that said, he opened the curtain and got out of the carriage, looked at the Zhaojun suit, the dress was bright pink, and said to Sister Feng: "Sister-in-law Feng, I'm going back to Ningguo Mansion first."
Sister Feng stretched out her hand to lift the car curtain, and a beautiful face with light traces of tears was reflected under the lantern. Her voice was distant and a little weaker than before, and she said: "Go."
After Jia Heng left, Ping'er came over holding an umbrella and said, "Grandma, go back to the house."
Sister Feng sighed softly, and with Ping'er's support, she returned to the mansion and entered the wing. As far as she could see, it was deserted.
Sitting on the bed, holding the handkerchief just now, he said: "When will this end?"
Ping'er said: "Grandma, wash your feet and go to bed early."
As he spoke, he took a basin of hot water and helped Sister Feng wash her feet.
Sister Feng took off her shoes and socks, put her feet in the copper basin, and her eyes were lost for a moment.
"Ping'er, go get that thing." Sister Feng said softly.
Ping'er said worriedly: "Grandma..."
It just stopped for a while some time ago, why did it start again?
Sister Feng sighed quietly and said, "Ping'er, it's okay."
I'm in the mood today, while the aura from just now is still there.
Ping'er had no choice but to prepare ice silk and musk, put down the curtains, blew out the lights, and the master and servant lay on the bed.
The next day, the sky was bright, and on the bed with the curtains down, Sister Feng raised a snow-white arm and stood up. She felt that her body was limp, her cheeks were as red as clouds, and there was a hint of helplessness in her open eyes.
Ping'er had already gotten up early. He looked at Sister Feng and said, "Grandma, the hot water is ready. Let's wash yourself."
I don’t know what happened yesterday. Grandma was like a mountain of blood. She was at a loss. Maybe it was because it had been too long...
Could it have something to do with that new handkerchief?
Well, Sister Feng at this moment is just like Jia Rui in the original work, sinking in the Feng Yue Bao Jian, but women and men have different physiques after all, and the latter's gun and oar were reduced to ashes.
Sister Feng didn't feel that much discomfort, but her cheeks were as red as a cloud and as bright as a cloud. She got up and said, "Help me up, take a bath, and go to the old lady to say hello."
These two days are Jia Zheng's birthday, and Sister Feng needs to help Jia's mother clean up.
Jinyi Mansion
Jia Heng and Chen Xiao came to the Yamen of Jinyi Mansion early in the morning. In the study room in the back hall, Jia Heng picked up the books on the desk, flipped through them, looked at Li Shu and asked:
"What news did Zhongshan Wolf send?"
Li Shu said: "Captain, Zhongshan Wolf has already established a relationship with the Qiao family in Datong, and the Qiao family wants to marry their eldest daughter to him. Now I am anxious to ask the governor what to do?"
In the words of the original work, Sun Shaozu said that he had a strong back, a handsome appearance, and served as the commander of the Datong Guards. During the process of contact with the Qiao family, he gained the attention of the old man of the Qiao family and promised his daughter to Sun Shaozu.
Jia Heng thought for a moment and said: "Tell him not to refuse in a hurry, agree first, and try to delay it for a month or two."
Li Shu cupped his hands and said yes.
Jia Heng said: "There is no news from Qu Lang?"
Li Shu said: "Captain, Qu Tongzhi is still in Shandong. Not long ago, he sent a flying pigeon message saying that he had found traces of Li Yanqing."
"It's almost the Chinese New Year. Let him come back to report on his work. Let's put Li Yanqing's affairs aside for now. I have more important things for him to handle." Jia Heng glanced at Chen Xiao, met a pair of cold eyes, and then hid. open.
He secretly thought that with Xiaoxiao, the White Lotus Saint, here, he might be able to investigate the news about Li Yanqing.
After Li Shu left, Jia Heng sat down, picked up the book and flipped through it twice. He stood up and came to Chen Xiao. He took the girl's hand and asked, "Xiaoxiao, was it in Shandong that rescued Li Yanqing?"
Chen Xiao said: "Li Yanqing is a good general. In fact, he was forced to rebel by the imperial court. I am wondering if you can regain this person in the future."
Jia Heng was silent for a moment and said: "Although this is true, after all, he is a wanted criminal by the court, and this kind of person is originally a public servant. He has lost confidence in the court and is not easy to subdue."
In the parallel time and space at the end of the Ming Dynasty, it was not that there were no rebel generals who were ordered to peace by the Ming court, but many of them surrendered and rebelled again. Of course, this was related to the great loss of the central government's prestige. Those who surrendered halfway were definitely not as determined as the martial arts they had cultivated at the beginning.
Chen Xiao said: "He should have been rescued by Master's men. By the way, how do you decide to deal with the affairs in Datong and Taiyuan?"
Jia Heng said: "First call Qu Lang over and make arrangements in advance. Before that, I will go to Jiangnan. The edict of Jiangnan Province has been issued. I should go south in a few days."
Speaking of which, I haven't had a good time with Miaoyu yet. I really don't have time to go to Shitai these days. Speaking of which, I also want to eat White Tiger Steamed Buns.
Chen Xiao snorted coldly. While shaking off Jia Heng's palm, he also pulled back Jia Heng's somewhat obsessed thoughts and said coldly: "The eight Shanxi merchants are located in Datong and Taiyuan. There is no evidence that they colluded with the Jurchens. , it’s not easy to catch them all in one go.”
She already had other ways to help him get into that position.
Jia Heng nodded and did not hold Chen Xiao's hand again. His style in Jinyi Mansion was quite decent. After returning to the desk, he said: "This time is different from the one in Jiangnan. These Shanxi merchants are close to the frontier. Most of them are private soldiers, I'm afraid they won't be able to catch me without mercy, and once they see me in Taiyuan, they will be ready to prepare for me."
The Shanxi merchants were much more courageous than the salt merchants. The southeastern gentry had an inherent weakness. However, the Shanxi merchants were originally engaged in the business of beheading, and they also participated in the seizure of heirs in the early years. They were very aware of the cruelty of court struggles. .
Chen Xiao asked with concern: "What should you do?"
Jia Heng said: "I have some plans in mind, but they still need to be perfected."
Instead of continuing to chat with Chen Xiao, he picked up a piece of information and started reading it.
Jia Heng and Chen Xiao stayed in Jinyi Mansion until nearly noon, then returned to Ningguo Mansion.
Grand View Garden, Daoxiang Village
Li Wan sat in the side room and whispered to Mr. Cao beside him: "Auntie, how should I entertain you? Should I prepare a banquet outside, or make other arrangements?"
Such a first-class Wuhou is very different from the last count. Now he really can't wait any longer.
Jia Lan lives in the courtyard where Li Wan originally lived, not in Daoxiang Village.
Mrs. Cao thought for a while, then looked at her elegant and beautiful niece, and said with a fair face and a smile: "If it doesn't work, just cook a house full of good food and invite him."
She thought to herself that her brother Nanbian was almost strictly on guard against her remarriage, for fear of losing the face of his Jinling Li family.
To be honest, she wanted to make her a set of chastity locks. She was curious about how her daughter would look if she broke the rules and stole someone.
When Li Wan heard this, his eyes lit up and he said: "This is good, it is convenient and more generous."
Cooking in this way not only showed her sincerity, but she could also save some money to buy some good calligraphy stickers for Lange'er, so that he could practice good calligraphy. In the future, in the examination room, the handwriting on the roll paper would be able to impress everyone. The examiner took a high look.
Ms. Cao smiled and looked at Li Wan, whose beautiful eyebrows were filled with joy, and her heart moved slightly.
Secretly thinking, Wan'er's face was white and rosy, her brows and eyes were full of charm, her earrings and bellyband were all in rich colors, she didn't seem to be willing to be lonely, and she often went to play mahjong with Qin's side. .
Thinking about it, she knew very well what it felt like to be widowed in youth.
Li Wen and Li Qi put down the copybooks in their hands and looked at their mother and cousin.
Ms. Cao chuckled and said, "Wen'er and Qi'er, don't stay in the house all the time. Go hang out with the sisters in Ning Mansion. Aren't they all going to Qichi Courtyard today?"
Her two decent-looking daughters will be her support for the rest of her life.
Li Wen said softly: "Mother, Sister Yun has said that she wants to form a poetry club these days. She said that the plum blossoms in Huifang Garden are blooming, so she will build a plum blossom poetry club, and she invited me and my sister to participate."
The original Haitang Poetry Club in the original work has become the Plum Blossom Poetry Club due to the completion of the Grand View Garden a year ahead of schedule and the arrival of many golden hairpins in advance.
Li Wan pursed her pink lips and said softly: "Sister Yun told me that day and invited me to join the club together. I'll tell you to Feng Yatou when the time comes."
While several people were talking, the maid Suyun outside said: "Grandma, Uncle Heng has returned from the front yard and went to Qichi Courtyard."
Qichiyuan
This is the first time Jia Heng has come here except for the first time he came here with Bao Qin. Usually, sisters Zhen Lan and Zhen Xi live here. In the eyes of everyone in the Grand View Garden, they are all the Zhen family, the daughters of two convicts. The two sisters are Jia Heng's personal maids.
It has been snowing outside, the west wind is brisk, the sky and the earth are white, the jagged rocks and pavilions in the courtyard are covered with snow, but bursts of laughter can be heard in the main hall of Qichiyuan where orange-red cotton quilts are hung with curtains.
As soon as Jia Heng approached Qichi Courtyard, he heard cute and laughing voices, and he couldn't help but be startled.
He secretly thought, with so many girls, this is Qichi Courtyard, not Yihong Courtyard.
Jia Heng was a little surprised. When he entered the hall, he saw Chai Dai, Lan Xi, Yun Qin, Tan Chun, Ying Xi and others all in skirts and coats, but they were surrounded by two girls.
Zhen Xi is painting in the room with a brush. The girl's painting skills are very superb and she is painting seriously.
The fourth eldest daughter of the Zhen-Jia family is both good at painting, but compared to the Jia family, the four sisters Yuan Ying Tan Xi are good at playing music, chess, calligraphy and painting.
As for the four Qingxue and Lanxi members of the Zhen family, Zhen Xue is good at calligraphy, while Zhen Lan is good at playing chess. The second, second and third sons were swapped.
Contrary to Jia Xichun's cold and arrogant character, Zhen Xi is a bit soft and weak, following Zhen Xue's gentle temperament.
Xichun, on the other hand, had some complicated thoughts about sister Xi'er, who was just as good at painting as she was, but was already serving Jia Heng.
But looking at the calligraphy and painting today, I couldn't help but be secretly convinced.
Jia Heng looked at the group of beaded and beautifully decorated hairpin skirts and coats. He felt that everything was blooming in front of his eyes, like flowers in bloom, and asked: "Why is it so lively today?"
At this moment, everyone looked at the young man, their expressions overflowing with joy.
Daiyu's starry eyes under her smoky brows were as bright as a rainbow. She looked at the young man, covered her mouth with a handkerchief and said with a smile, "This is sister Xi'er's son. Brother Heng, doesn't he know?"
She also felt lively, but it was so lively.
I'm afraid Brother Heng will be dazzled by what he saw.
In Qingxuelanxi, Zhenqing and Zhenlan were both born in the summer, while Zhenxue and Zhenxi were both born in the twelfth lunar month.
Zhenxi falls on the twelfth day of the twelfth lunar month, the day of Double Twelve, while Zhenxue falls on the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month, which is New Year's Eve.
Jia Heng looked at the pair of eyes that were as spiritual as a stream, and caught the hint of shyness and panic in the eyebrows that resembled Zhen Xue, and said to Daiyu: "Sister Xi'er gave birth today, and she didn't tell me either. , it would be nice to have a lively show at my house."
He did not know about Zhen Xi's birth, but he knew about Daiyu's birth, and so did Daiyu.
Although one cannot favor one over another, people's hearts do sometimes have weights and distances.
The twelve beauties of Jinling have their first and second names. Of course, their first and second names are not based on appearance, temperament or even status, but on feelings.
Perhaps in the future, she will have a strong relationship with Zhen Xi, who has the gentleness and shrewdness of a Jiangnan girl, and it is unknown whether she will enter the twelfth book.
He has also been trying to let every girl who has experienced it be included in the official list, and suddenly look back and compose a song "Dream of Red Mansions".
But the energy (writing) is always limited. Even Cao Gong cannot cover everything for everyone, and he also has to take into account the achievement of achievements (the main line).
So when Ke Qing should play mahjong, he can only play mahjong. Otherwise, if everyone has a lot of sex scenes, there will be a risk of not being able to write the next forty chapters.
Otherwise, Grandma Liu will try Yun Yuqing for the first time, the second time, the third time, and the hundredth time? I really need to go to Haitang Poetry Society.
No sex scene? When there is clearly no life left, you have to force yourself into extra drama, which is probably bad work like secretly exchanging children between the east and west palaces, singing a song outside the window, and so on.
So, if there is good work, take your time, it is still coming.
"This is also the son of my second uncle in Xifu. The theater troupe in the mansion is busy." Daiyu's starry eyes flashed, she looked at the boy in the python suit and said softly.
Baochai then picked up the teacup in his hand, took a sip of tea, looked at Daiheng and the two of them and spoke.
Jia Heng said: "No wonder I heard opera coming from Xifu today. Sister Lin and Sister Xue went to Xifu to pay their birthdays."
"Thank you. My uncle doesn't like the excitement. At noon, he went out with his colleagues to enjoy the snow and drink. Sister Bao and I chatted with him and came back when we were waiting to talk." Daiyu said softly. .
Because it was Jia Zheng's son, Jia's mother asked Sister Feng and Mrs. Wang to prepare it, and then called Baoyu and Jia Huan to celebrate.
Jia Zheng was originally not interested in these things and didn't really want to celebrate, but he couldn't help Jia's mother's joy. He had a few drinks with him in the morning, and then went out to enjoy the snow with his visiting colleagues.
Jia Mu originally found a reason for everyone to have fun, but Jia Zheng was there, but the whole family felt uncomfortable, so they simply agreed and let Baoyu relax.
Of course, Aunt Xue, Baochai, Baoqin, and Daiyu also went to sit for a while, and then ran to the Grand View Garden at noon.
Jia Heng nodded and asked, "Why are you celebrating?"
Zhen Lan chuckled lightly and said, "I know that my sister is very skilled in painting, so a group of sisters are planning to let her draw one as the opening picture of the Plum Blossom Poetry Club."
Sometimes he wouldn't know it without looking at it, and he would be shocked when he saw it. The girl in this room was in Qichiyuan. No wonder he didn't have time to pay attention to her.
Jia Heng said in surprise: "Poetry club?"
Xiang Yun said with a smile: "Brother Heng, this was suggested by the third sister. She said that the plum blossoms in Huifang Garden smelled of cold fragrance, so she suggested setting up a poetry club."
Bao Qin glanced at the boy in the python suit, pursed his pink lips, and was confused.
Jia Heng said in surprise: "Plum Blossom Poetry Club?"
He remembered that the original book was Haitang Club, but now it has become Plum Blossom Club. This is really...
Tan Chun said softly: "That's not all. Sister Yun said that there are different types of flowers blooming throughout the year. Winter is called the Plum Blossom Poetry Club. If the best flowers of the four seasons are selected, it will be named the Poetry Club, and then you can enjoy flowers in all seasons. Make poetry.”
It can be said that today's Grand View Garden has reached its heyday. In addition to Chadai, Yunqin, Wenqi, Sanchun, Xiuyan and others, there is also the Zhen family's Lanxi, which serves as the background in the original Dream of Red Mansions. It can be said to be a collection of Red Mansions. The essence, all the golden hairpins in the world are in the Grand View Garden.
Xiangyun had a red, apple-shaped face and said softly: "It's not like I open a poetry club every day. That way I won't be interested in poetry. If I force myself to do it, I won't be able to produce good poems. I open a poetry club once a month."
Jia Heng smiled and said, "What flowers did you choose?"
Tanchun said with a smile: "There are peach blossoms in spring, lotus flowers in summer, begonias in autumn, and plum blossoms in winter. That's it. We just happen to have everything planted in the garden. Then we can enjoy the flowers and write poems."
Jia Heng nodded and said: "There are flowers to enjoy all year round, and this season is just right."
It is indeed a unique move to take the name of the poetry club from these four scenes.
In other words, Jia Heng's Grand View Garden opened a year earlier than in the original work, providing a carefree and pastoral environment for a group of little girls without being disturbed by outside wind and rain.
There are two battlefields in Ningguo Mansion here, Grand View Garden and Ningguo Mansion Qin Keqing.
Jia Heng took a sip of tea and said, "Just have fun and let your sister Bao and Tanchun know what the fees are."
Baochai is the oldest here, like a big sister, leading a group of young and beautiful girls, well, actually it's quite appropriate.
Baochai chuckled and said, "Sister Yun also asked Brother Heng to write more songs."
Jia Heng said: "I don't write poetry very much. Sometimes I am thinking about other things and I may not be able to write them."
It’s snowing season now, do you want to have spring snow in Shouqin Garden?
Qin Emperor and Han Dynasty were slightly less talented in literature, while Tang Zong and Song Zu were slightly less elegant?
In fact, it's not that you can't write poetry. You can still write one or two mediocre poems that don't fit the rhythm, but it would be a bit embarrassing if you have to let everyone brag and admire you. But if you are a copywriter, you can do it occasionally, then After going back and forth several times, he felt a little indifferent.
What is copied is, after all, copied.
Moreover, Jin Chai Wan's poems and drinking orders all have limited rhymes. If you don't study these chapters and excerpts specifically, it will be easy to fail if you keep doing them.
In fact, there is no distinction between superior and inferior. What he told the ancients about Newton's three laws, redox reactions, and the periodic table of elements... the ancients were also confused.
Because, in the education system of modern industrialized society, these pretentious words that cannot improve productivity have been removed.
This is after falling behind, being beaten, losing power and humiliating the country, traditional culture turned to modern science, while poetry only remained a literary and artistic hobby among the minority.
"Brother Heng was writing poetry before, but now he is getting busier and busier." Xiangyun sighed, with a bit of regret in his eyes.
Jia Heng smiled and said softly: "See if you are interested. Just write poems."
Thousands of years passed, Wei Wu whipped his whip, Jieshi in the east left a posthumous chapter, the bleak autumn wind is here again, and the human world has changed.
When he conquered Liaodong and faced Jieshi in the east, he might also copy a poem like this, and it would be immortalized together with his feat of conquering the Jurchens?
After all, poetry is the most appropriate way to convey one's achievements, and the notes of literati carry their achievements.
Tan Chunxing's eyes sparkled and he asked softly: "Brother Heng, there have been a lot of things going on outside recently."
Jia Heng said softly: "I've been quite idle these days. In a few days, I may have to go south to inspect the Jiangnan Camp."
Baochai's moist, almond-shaped eyes were filled with worry, and she said softly: "Brother Heng is going south again?"
How long have you been back in the capital and are you heading south to Jinling again?
The starry eyes under Daiyu's smoky eyebrows also looked at the young man with concern, and pursed her glossy lips. Although she didn't ask, she was worried in her heart.
Jia Heng nodded and said, "It won't take long this time. I may come back before the end of the year."
Baoqin's porcelain doll-like face showed worry, and she said softly: "Brother Heng is working too hard."
Jia Heng stared at the little chubby girl, her pink face with a bit of baby fat, and her eyes were a little lively. Maybe when they looked at each other, they were reminded of the time in Qichi Courtyard not long ago. , the two of them hugged each other and kissed until it was dark and breathless.
A blush appeared on Baoqin's face as white as snow, and she quickly averted her gaze, her heart pounding, her pink lips pursed, and she clenched the handkerchief in her hand.
Sister, there are so many people here, just flirting with her?
Jia Heng said: "It's been like this before and after. Okay, let's not talk about it anymore. Let me see how Sister Xi'er's painting goes."
After saying that, he got up, came to Zhen Xi, looked at a plum blossom tree, and said: "Sister Xi'er's painting is very good, and the paintings painted by the fourth sister last year are different in their own merits."
Xichun saw a blush on her cold face and said softly: "Brother Heng, I'm not as good at painting as Sister Xi'er."
Jia Heng chuckled and said, "If you draw more characters that day, you two can communicate more."
Zhen Xi listened to the conversation between the brother and sister, with a hint of shame in her spirited eyes, and said softly: "Brother Heng, the fourth sister is very focused and has more talent than me."
Jia Heng said: "You are also very powerful."
Later, when I return to Qichiyuan, I have to spend one night talking to Zhen Xi. After returning recently, she has been neglected a lot.
Afterwards, Jia Heng had a conversation with a group of girls. After lunch was served, he ate some briefly and then returned to the study room in the front yard.
Sometimes it's like this. When there are too many people, there is no thought of staying together. Instead, it would be less interesting to spend some time alone with Xiaoxiao.
(End of chapter)
