Ningguo Mansion, in the front hall
The candle shadows are swaying, the figures are looking longingly, and the maid has lit incense to drive away the summer mosquitoes.
Lin Ruhai looked at the young man and asked calmly: "Zi Yu, why did the angel come to the house earlier?"
Jia Heng explained: "I submitted my resignation to the palace and resigned from the post of Jiedu Envoy in Beijing. The Holy Emperor did not approve it and sent someone to comfort me."
When Lin Ruhai heard this, he looked thoughtful and said: "I guess there are some objections in the court? These are inevitable things, such as military affairs are as urgent as sparks, and martial arts are noble for a while, but when the swords and guns are put into the warehouse, the horses are released to Nanshan At that time, martial arts officers were often ostracized by civil servants, but Ziyu was not a martial artist, and his ability to manage affairs was not as good as that of the prime minister, so don't pay attention to what they said."
Jia Heng nodded and said with a smile: "I don't really care."
Lin Ruhai said: "The power of the Han Dynasty has been growing rapidly in recent years, and ZTE is in sight. Ziyu is still young, so there is no need to think about retreating from the rapids."
Jia Heng said: "What my uncle said is true."
Jia Heng and Lin Ruhai were talking to each other. Unconsciously, it was getting late. They put down the tea cup and asked, "Uncle, why don't we just come here today, and we will talk in detail tomorrow."
Lin Ruhai said: "No, it wouldn't be a good idea to let anyone notice. I'll go back home and have a rest. I have to go to the Ministry of Finance tomorrow."
After all, they are in the civil and military field. If the contact is too close, it is easy for people with good intentions to become suspicious.
Then, Lin Ruhai looked at the dozing girl with her head tilted to the side like a chicken pecking at rice, and said with gentle eyes: "Yu'er, you should rest early. I'll see you again tomorrow."
Daiyu: "???"
Daddy came to see me? Didn't you come here to discuss political affairs with Brother Heng?
Jia Heng stood up as Lin Ruhai stood up and said, "Uncle, I will take you back."
After saying that, they looked at each other and Daiyu, and immediately sent Lin Ruhai away to the hall of Ningguo Mansion, turned back, turned to look at the pretty girl, looked into the crystal clear eyes, and said: "Lin Ruhai Sister, let’s go back to Xiaoxiang Pavilion first.”
Daiyu said "hmm" and followed Jia Heng towards the Grand View Garden.
A lush forest of bamboos shades a winding stone path, and the lanterns hanging on the verandahs on both sides cast a circle of orange light.
The two of them walked through the Moon Gate together. From time to time, a few frogs croaked from the pond. The warm summer wind blew through the leaves of the sycamore tree, making a rustling sound, making the garden even more quiet and unspeakable.
Jia Heng gently held the girl's delicate hand and whispered: "Sister, please slow down, be careful of the stones, and be careful not to trip your feet."
Under Daiyu's curved willow-leaf slender eyebrows, her bright starry eyes flashed, and she whispered: "Are the dangers that Brother Heng just told dad about?"
Jia Heng smiled and said: "It's dangerous, but not dangerous. Besides, the ups and downs of the officialdom, aren't they just that dangerous?"
Daiyu's face was calm and her tone seemed a little gloomy as she said, "Brother Heng, I don't understand what you and daddy said."
Just now I saw him talking happily to his father, and I couldn't even say a word.
She can't even help Brother Heng. Compared with the noble man Tianhuang who can help Brother Heng's career, she is still far behind.
Jia Heng said: "It's okay. I haven't seen my father-in-law for a long time. Let's exchange our views on the situation in the DPRK."
Listening to Jia Heng calling her father-in-law, Daiyu's starry eyes flashed, she rolled her eyes at the young man, and asked softly: "Brother Heng, tomorrow is the Dragon Boat Festival, how are you going to celebrate it?"
Jia Heng smiled and said, "How do you want to live, sister?"
I don't know if he can spare the time. Although he doesn't have to spend time with Xianning and Chanyue before the wedding, it's not easy to spend time with Daiyu with so many people in the house.
Daiyu said softly: "Sister Yun said that there is a dragon boat festival in Qujiang Pool. You can go and see it. The house has prepared rice dumplings."
Jia Heng chuckled and said, "Then let's go take a look tomorrow?"
Daiyu frowned slightly, her bright starry eyes showed worry, and asked again: "Brother Heng, are you busy tomorrow?"
Jia Heng thought for a while and said with a smile: "Tomorrow seems to be the Queen's birthday. Let's go and say hello in the morning. I should be free in the morning or afternoon. Then we can enjoy the festival well."
This is what Xianning told him. Queen Song's birthday falls on May 5th, the Dragon Boat Festival.
While the two were talking, they entered the Xiaoxiang Pavilion where the bamboo forest was rustling. Zicuckoo lit candles in the room. Jiaheng took Daiyu's hand and entered the room to sit down on the soft couch. The bamboo shadows danced outside the window, and the two people cuddled up and talked in the wing.
Daiyu leaned her head against Jia Heng's arms, held Jia Heng's hand, and asked softly: "Brother Heng, will Sister Qin go tomorrow?"
Jia Heng said softly: "She is a little heavy, so it is best not to be too tired."
Daiyu raised her pretty face and whispered seriously: "Sister Qin will have a child in the future. Will she call me aunt?"
"At that time, I called my aunt, but I didn't call my aunt." Jia Heng corrected.
The aunt became a concubine, which was Daiyu's trick.
Daiyu snorted softly and said, "Brother Heng."
The two hugged each other for a while.
Daiyu's cheeks turned red with embarrassment and she said softly: "Brother Heng, I have nothing to do here. I'm not in good shape today and can't serve Brother Heng. Brother Heng should go and spend more time with Sister Qin and the others." .”
Although some asked him to spend more time with her, Sister Qin and the others were probably waiting, and she couldn't be too greedy.
Jia Heng turned to look at Dai Yu, gently touched her shoulders and said, "Well, sister, please rest earlier."
After saying that, he kissed the girl's pink cheek closely.
In fact, he never gets tired of being with Daiyu, or in other words, the "affectionate" Daiyu can always give him some sincere and pure experiences. If coupled with the narrow-minded shyness during intimacy, it will be even more... It's hard to put it down.
Instructing Zicuckoo to take good care of Daiyu, Jiaheng no longer lingered, but left the Xiaoxiang Pavilion and returned to the back house with a lantern. Suddenly, he was stunned when he saw someone holding a lantern coming from the Moon Gate. The girl who came.
The girl has a plump figure and is dressed in a pink dress. She has a plump face and bright, apricot eyes under her thin eyebrows.
"Sister Baoqin." Jia Heng asked in surprise.
In fact, it was only Xu Shi at this moment, the moonlight was like frost, the light was like a star, and the hustle and bustle of Ningrong and Rongfu during the day faded away.
Baoqin's plump face was happy at first, but then the joy faded away, but her voice was a little delicate, and she asked: "Brother Heng, did Brother Heng just come from Sister Lin's residence?"
Jia Heng said: "I'll talk to you, Sister Lin, for a while. Who is Sister Baoqin?"
"I came here from Sister Bao and was about to go to Qiu Shuangzhai to look for Third Sister and Sister Yun." Bao Qin said softly.
In the past month or two, Bao Qin and Bao Chai have not lived together, otherwise Jia Heng would not have had a skin-to-skin kiss with Bao Chai the day before yesterday.
Jia Hengxing came closer, held up his soft and delicate hands, and said softly: "Sister Baoqin, we are just on the way, let's go together."
I haven’t seen the little chubby girl like snow for a few months, and I miss her a little.
Bao Qin glanced around, Wanli looked shy, and whispered: "Brother Heng."
But he saw that the young man had already taken his hand, well, hugged it in his arms.
"Sister Baoqin, there's no one around at the moment." Jia Heng said softly, pulling Baoqin along the corridor and out of the rockery. It can be seen that there is a pavilion with flying eaves and hooked corners hidden among the rocks. It's Didicui Pavilion.
In the original work, this is where Baochai flutters at the butterfly.
Jia Heng said: "Sister Baoqin, let's go over and sit down."
At this moment, various houses in the Grand View Garden were already resting one after another.
Baoqin said "Yeah" and followed Jia Heng to the octagonal pavilion. The Qinfang stream under the covered bridge was flowing. A bright moon as bright as silver hung in the sky. The moonlight shone brightly and sparkled. .
As soon as he sat down and put the lantern aside, he saw the young man put his arms around her shoulders and came closer. Baoqin's heart skipped a beat and she closed her eyes slightly. The soft and gentle breath came over her, carrying a bit of wantonness.
Baoqin's delicate body trembled slightly, illuminated by a ray of light, her plump face was as red as rouge, and there was nothing else except the slight hum on her nose.
After a while, Bao Qin was panting slightly, her beautiful eyebrows were furrowed, her apricot eyes were as moist as water, and she said in a trembling voice: "Brother Heng, I haven't seen you for a while."
"Yes, my sister is one year older than last year." Jia Heng took Baoqin's soft, white hand and asked, "What is sister Baoqin doing at home during this time?"
Baoqin's voice was sweet and sweet, and she said: "I didn't do much. In the past few months, I have opened several poetry clubs in the garden to drink and compose poems. Unfortunately, Brother Heng is not here, so there is not much fun. "
Jia Heng put his arm around Bao Qin's shoulders, and Wen said, "I never had the chance to see you guys writing poems together."
Baoqin's watery almond-shaped eyes showed a look of obsession, and said: "Brother Heng is fighting in the north, so there is no need to take these poems and poems seriously."
Jia Heng asked: "Is Shibo in Beijing? The former man was talking about sea trade and was going to visit my uncle."
Feeling the strange things coming from in front of her, Bao Qin's delicate body trembled slightly, her cheeks were slightly red, and she said softly: "Daddy... is at home, brother Heng. It seems that daddy is talking about marriage to me again."
Hearing his father, Jia Heng's face paused, and the richness between his palms flowed out, and he asked: "Didn't I tell my uncle that time? There is no need to be too anxious about my sister's marriage."
Xue Yun had previously mentioned that Bao Qin should marry Mei Hanlin's son, but after some persuasion from him, the matter was dropped. Xue Yun should not mention the matter again.
But thinking about it, Bao Qin is not too young, has a youthful appearance, and has a somewhat precocious mind. It doesn't seem strange that he has decided to get married so early.
In other words, this era means early marriage and early childbearing.
In fact, as time goes by, the golden hairpins in the garden are getting older one by one, and they will start getting engaged in another two years.
Take Xing Xiuyan, if he hadn't intervened, would he have been engaged to Xue Biao like in the original novel?
Thinking of that indifferent and peaceful girl, her eyes were a little dazed.
She has a relaxed expression and a forest atmosphere... This is the demeanor of the daughter of Xie Gaomen, the king of Wei and Jin Dynasties.
In other words, Miao Xiu and Miao Xiu were originally from the same literary youth. If Baochai and Yuanchun are the fragrant, graceful and gorgeous peonies of the Tang Dynasty, then Miao Xiu is the herb of the Wei and Jin Dynasties.
Maybe you are too greedy...to see the beauty of the garden?
Bao Qin rested her head on Jia Heng's shoulder. Her rosy face, which still had a little baby fat, was as bright as clouds and as hot as fire, but it was hidden by the night, so there was no trace of shyness at all, and she said: "Brother Heng, the whole family knows about you and your cousin."
Jia Heng returned to his thoughts, leaned into the girl's ear, and asked in a low voice: "Sister Baoqin wants me to propose marriage to my uncle?"
He always felt a little embarrassed. Is it really the only one in the Xue family who is left alone? But it would be inappropriate not to mention it. Maybe it would be better to ask Aunt Xue to help.
Bao Qin lowered her head, pursed her slightly pink lips, and said softly: "Brother Heng, it's not impossible."
Jia Heng: "..."
Really a scheming girl?
He now suspected that Bao Qin had deliberately come to Xiaoxiang Pavilion to create a chance encounter in the encounter just now. He had met Lin Ruhai before, and he should go to Xiaoxiang Pavilion next. It was not difficult to guess.
Jia Heng hugged Bao Qin's plump waist and sat in his arms. The incense of the little fat girl and the fragrance of crispy snow overflowed between his nose. Because he was prone to sweating in the summer, a layer of sweat formed on his neck. The glistening beads of sweat seemed a little sticky when the two of them hugged each other.
Bao Qin's plump face, which looked like the petals of a pear blossom, was already flushed with alcohol. She gently pressed Jia Heng's hand and whispered: "Brother Heng, can't you?"
Jia Heng leaned close to Bao Qin's ear and whispered: "Sister Qin, I will talk to my uncle in a few days, but the time is not ripe to propose marriage. Does Sister Qin want to be my concubine?"
I just got married to Princess Xianning and Li Chanyue in mid-May, so it’s not easy to cause any complications.
Baoqin raised her moist almond-shaped eyes, pursed her pink lips, and said softly: "When will Brother Heng and sister get married? Sister is not young anymore."
Jia Heng said: "I told your cousin before that it will only be a year or two."
"Then when the time comes, I will... also marry Brother Heng." Baoqin said softly, her face flushed, her voice suddenly trembling slightly.
Both Brother Heng and her were in this situation, and she had no other choice but to marry Brother Heng.
Jia Heng chuckled lightly and said, "Don't worry, I will also let my sister marry me when the time comes."
Baoqin felt a little happy, her plump jade cheeks were rosy, she bit her lower lip with her teeth, and said in a trembling voice: "Brother Heng, sister...she doesn't seem to know about you and me yet."
Jia Heng thought for a moment, hugged Baoqin, who was like a big white goose, and said, "Then don't tell her yet."
Is this the Xue family's style? What a bitch.
Baoqin: "..."
Now if you keep it secret, you can give your sister a surprise someday, right?
The two of them sat in the Didui Pavilion for a while, until Jia Heng said, "There are a lot of mosquitoes here, why don't we go back and rest early."
No way, there are just a lot of mosquitoes in summer.
Hearing this, Bao Qin also said angrily, "I just wanted to say that you bit me several times."
Just now, I could only let Brother Heng be intimate, and it was difficult to say anything.
"Let me take a look." Jia Heng took the girl's hand, made a cross mark with his nails on the bulging bag, and said, "Sister, go back and apply some aromatherapy orchid juice to avoid itching at night."
"When I went to sea in the past, I was often bitten by large mosquitoes. I'm used to it." Being treated dotingly by the young man, Baoqin's eyebrows were filled with joy, and her heart was filled with sweetness. She said "hmm" and said softly. Said: "Brother Heng, it's getting late, let's go back first."
The two of them talked and didn't spend much time in Didui Pavilion.
Jia Heng got up, took Baoqin back to Qiu Shuangzhai, and then returned to the back house of Ningguo Mansion.
Keqing was pregnant, so it would be better for him to spend more time with Keqing, so he went to Daoxiang Village overnight and quietly knocked on the widow's door.
…
…
In the house where Qin Keqing is located, several red candles are lit indoors, projecting a plump, slender and frail figure on the window lattice. Under the exquisite cloud bun, there is a graceful face. There is no powder, but she is as beautiful as clouds, especially the maternal charm of a new mother lingering between her eyebrows and eyes.
As soon as Jia Heng approached the wing, he heard two people talking.
In the side room, Third Sister You spread her needle and thread in her hands, holding the soles of her shoes. Her beautiful face was soft and beautiful under the light of the lamp, and she said, "Sister, I'm going to meet Mr. Lin in the front yard."
Qin Keqing put down the needle and thread in her hand, took the tea cup from Ruizhu, and said softly: "My husband, he is quite busy these days."
Third Sister You said: "My uncle has just returned from the war, so he can't rest. I heard that the angel in the palace has just come again. I don't know what orders he has given me, especially if he has to go there on business again."
It has been almost half a year since I originally agreed to take her as my concubine. Of course, those ceremonies are not indispensable, but thinking about the wedding in the middle of the month, it is inevitable that I feel a little sour in my heart.
Qin Keqing turned to look at the beautiful girl, seeming to catch the shy and anxious look on her face, and said softly: "I am busy with the wedding these days, so I shouldn't send foreign missions."
She is not in good health right now. Even if her husband comes, she will not be able to take care of her. It is better to find her third sister to take her place.
Third Sister You called: "Sister Qin..."
"Uncle." At this time, the maid's voice came from under the eaves, cutting off Sister You's words.
The two people in the room looked at each other, with surprise in their twinkling eyes. Yinglian's hand that was sewing the sachet at the side also paused, raised Qiongli's face, and looked at the sound.
While talking, Jia Heng entered the side room, met the delighted eyes of Qin Keqing and Third Sister You, and said with a smile: "It's so late, you haven't rested yet?"
His eyes glanced at Zhen Yinglian who was standing aside.
Qin Keqing stood up and said, "My husband is back?"
The beauty has a swollen belly, and her movements are a little clumsy and slow, but her face is plump and white, like a delicate rose.
Jia Heng quickly came forward, stretched out his hand to support the pregnant beauty, and said warmly: "Uncle Lin has returned to Beijing. I talked to him for a while, but since you are heavy, please don't be so tired. Don't sew at night." It was mended and mended, and my eyes were broken."
"I couldn't sleep for a while either." Qin Keqing said with a smile.
Jia Heng said, holding Qin Keqing's hand, and sat down on the bed. He turned to look at Third Sister You aside and said, "Is Third Sister making shoes?"
"Make two pairs of shoes for the uncle." The gloomy look on Sister You's eyebrows disappeared, and her face was filled with a beautiful smile.
You's twin girls were always beautiful, but at this moment, hairpin-headed phoenixes surrounded her temples, and the pearly light shone on the beauty's face, making her look even more gorgeous.
Jia Heng smiled and said, "Let me take a look."
After saying that, he took the packed sole from Sister You, looked at it, and praised: "This is quite good, I can't believe that I have put so much effort into it for you."
Qin Keqing looked at the young man with a smile and said: "During this period, I am not very well. My third sister helped me a lot with all the clothes and hats. She also helped me a lot in the house."
Jia Heng smiled and said: "You have found a good helper, so naturally you will save more worry and effort."
Then he looked at Zhen Yinglian (Xiang Ling) aside and said, "Yinglian is here too?"
Under the soft candlelight at this moment, except for the rouge mark the size of a grain of rice on the center of the girl's eyebrows, the girl's eyebrows are almost similar to those of Ke Qing. In a trance, there is a slight tendency of two lotuses side by side.
Zhen Yinglian (Xiang Ling) put the needlework in her hand into the bamboo basket. Under Jia Heng's gaze, she felt shy and almost blushed, and whispered: "Brother-in-law."
Jia Heng nodded and said warmly: "Long time no see, I've grown taller again, and I've become a big girl."
When Zhen Yinglian (Xiang Ling) heard this, the blush on her cheeks became more intense, and she could only say "hmm" softly.
Qin Keqing looked at this scene with a smile. In fact, Yinglian was not young anymore, and she served her husband when she was inconvenient. People in the family said that Yinglian's character was somewhat like hers, so it was appropriate for her to accompany her husband. .
After all, the beauty of the orbs and auspicious pearls in the Grand View Garden, which is full of beauty, is really hard to get rid of, making people unable to go down...
The marriage of Princess Xianning and Princess Qinghe to Jia Heng gave Qin Keqing a sense of crisis.
Jia Heng said: "It's getting late, but don't be too busy, Qing. Please rest early."
It is already the time of Hai Zheng, and the night is actually quite dark.
Qin Keqing's beautiful eyes were smiling, and she said softly: "Husband, it's too late today, why not let the third sister be here?"
She always makes her husband suffer. I guess he won’t stay with her next time.
Jia Heng was silent for a moment and looked at Third Sister You, who was wringing her handkerchief and lowering her eyebrows.
Secretly, Keqing really hired a good helper.
Zhen Yinglian (Xiang Ling) lowered her blushing face slightly and said weakly: "Sister, I'm going back first."
Qin Keqing did not ask Yinglian to stay overnight, but said: "Ruizhu, go and see her off for me."
Ruizhu stood up, came over, took Yinglian's hand, and said with a smile: "Miss Zhen, go back and rest."
Yinglian said goodbye to Jia Heng and Qin Keqing and left the wing.
…
…
The night is deep and everything is silent.
Occasionally, a few dogs barking could be heard on the street, making the night even more peaceful. In the study, from the incense cage with sandalwood and orchid grass, green smoke curled up, and a calming aroma silently dissipated.
Han Huang put down the book in his hand, frowned and asked, "Are those censors you are looking for?"
Yan Hong looked a little unnatural and said: "There are also some people who are sparse on their own."
Han Huang picked up the tea cup, put it down again, and said: "It's too conspicuous. Today, the emperor's Zhu Pi has no doubts about Jia Ziyu. With the emperor's temperament, he will definitely find out who instigated it."
Yan Hong felt a little scared when he heard this, his face changed slightly, and he asked: "Brother, what should I do?"
Han Huang shook his head, looking at the scenery in the courtyard outside the window with a somewhat deep look, and said: "It won't help to talk about this now, but the palace will not use this to make trouble. Don't target Duke Wei in the near future."
Yan Hong felt a little unhappy when he heard this, but at this moment he had no choice but to agree.
Han Huang picked up the tea cup, took a sip, and said, "How are you doing over there in Jiangnan?"
Yan Hong said: "Gao Zhongping's persecution has become more and more urgent recently. The people he brought from Sichuan have been distributed in prefectures and counties, and they have been implemented in northern Jiangsu. Many government officials have gone to prefectures and counties to clear the land for this year's summer grain. Pay according to the amount.”
In the past, the imperial court basically "fixed taxes" for Jiangnan, so it gave the governors of Liangjiang and Jiangnan the space to change their duties from governors to governors and prefecture and county officials. But it is different now. Taxes are collected directly, which eliminates the intermediate process and reduces waste.
This move will naturally significantly increase the amount of taxes collected on summer grain this year.
Han Huang looked solemn and said, "What should we do in the south?"
Yan Hong shook his head and said, "I don't know now."
Han Huang pondered for a moment and said slowly: "It's better not to cause trouble, otherwise things will be difficult to deal with."
But in fact, I also know that this is impossible, because Gao Zhongping has a strong and decisive temperament. He came out of the town of Jiangnan just to rectify the bad government in Jiangnan, so it is impossible not to go to war.
"What are you worried about, brother?" Yan Hong asked worriedly.
Han Huang whispered: "If Duke Wei goes south to intervene and echo Gao Zhongping...and now Gao Zhongping himself is taking advantage of Duke Wei's victory."
"Compared to Gao Zhongping, although Wei Guogong had previously oppressed the officials and gentry in the south of the Yangtze River, it had not spread as far as this and destroyed people's foundations." Yan Hong frowned and sighed in a low voice.
The Jiangnan gentry, or small and medium-sized landowners, relied on land for their survival, especially in Jiangsu Province. The land was rich, farming and education were passed down, and the name Jiwa would be the best in the country even for future generations.
Clearing the father-in-law's land will undoubtedly destroy the foundation of the Jiangnan gentry.
Han Huang suddenly asked: "Where is Zisheng?"
"In the past few days, I have made appointments for study tours, talks, and visits with the room master and the seat master. I have been so busy that my feet have not touched the ground." Yan Hong said.
Han Huang nodded and said nothing more.
(End of chapter)
