The Second Master of the Red Chamber

Chapter 500 Goodbye Baoqin
The carriage stopped slowly, Daiyu stepped out of the carriage leisurely, glanced at the word "Xue Zhai" written on the black wooden door in front of her, and a strange look flashed in her eyes.

She had also heard that the Jia family, the historian's family where her grandmother belonged to, the Wang family from which Wang Xifeng was born, and the Xue family were collectively called the four major families in Jinling City.

When I went to Jinling yesterday and entered Gonghou Street, she had seen the grandeur of the Ningrong Second Mansion, even compared to the Ningrong Second Mansion in Beijing.

Originally thought that the Xue family's house, even if it was not as good as the Ningrong Second Mansion, it should be very luxurious.

Who knows, it looks very simple, not much different from the usual rich people.

Seeing Daiyu's surprise, Jia Lian smiled and said, "This is just your elder sister's second uncle's house. I have been to their ancestral house before, and it is much more solemn and luxurious than here."

Daiyu understood, but she almost forgot that although Baoqin was Baochai's younger sister, she was only a cousin. Presumably they separated long ago, so naturally they would not live together.

Earlier, under Jia Lian's leadership, she had wandered around Jinling City for half a day. When she was about to go back, Daiyu couldn't help being curious when she thought of Xue Baoqin that the sisters had mentioned in Rongguo Mansion.

One is that she doesn't believe what Aunt Xue and others said, that Baochai's cousins ​​are better than those born to Baochai, and the other is that when Xue Baoqin gave gifts to the sisters in Rongguo Mansion, even she had a share, which is more or less a friendship.Therefore, since we have arrived in Jinling City this time, we naturally want to come and see what this Xue Baoqin is like, and why everyone can praise her for her benefits!
It happened that Jia Lian also said that Aunt Xue sent a letter to Baochai's aunt when she went to Jiangnan, and they knew the address, so they came directly.

Following behind Jia Lian, he watched Jia Lian knock on the door.

"Who are you looking for?"

The small door opened, revealing a young servant dressed in blue, who looked at them warily.

"Please inform me that Jia Lian from Rongguo Mansion is here to visit Aunt Xue and brother Xue Biao!"

The boy glanced at Jia Lian and the group of people behind him, said yes, and then closed the small door with a bang, and then there were fast footsteps inside, obviously the boy went to pass the news.

Jia Lian touched his nose. Since he became a nobleman, no matter which house he visited, it was the first time that someone closed the door face to face.

But there is no way to get angry. After all, if you think about it seriously, they came here uninvited, and they didn't post a greeting card in advance.

Daiyu was also taken aback by the "closed door" in front of her, but when she saw Jia Lian's embarrassing expression, she burst out laughing involuntarily.

I thought that Lian's second elder brother must have thought that due to the relationship between the Jia and Xue families, there was no need to be too polite.Who knows, the doorman of Xue's family didn't know they were newcomers, didn't know Rongguo Mansion, or didn't hear clearly at all. In short, they have a business-like attitude. Before the master agrees, they will never give them a chance to break in the door!

For Zhang Yong and others, seeing their Lord Hou condescend to visit, the Xue family dared to be so rude, and they immediately became angry.But seeing that his master Hou didn't say anything, he didn't dare to make mistakes.

At this time, the main hall of Xue's family, a tightly closed inner hall, is full of clouds and smoke, and the spring is sultry.

The second wife of the Xue family, Mrs. Zhuang, was lying on the soft bed at this time, her jade back was horizontal, and there was a slight panting between her mouth and nose.

Not long after, a beautiful face with blue eyes looming, not like a Central Plains woman's face approached her ear from behind, and said with a smile, "Okay, how does sister feel, is it comfortable?"

Only then did Zhuang move his body sideways, looked at the woman in front of him, and said softly: "I feel much better, thanks to you."

"What are you talking about, my sister has been worrying about our family, she is tired and sick, and she is also very happy to be able to do something for her."

Zhuang looked at the woman who had not lost her beauty in the past ten years, but became more and more radiant, and thought to herself, no wonder her husband wanted to take her into his house as a concubine despite the family's opposition.

Realizing that most of the fatigue on her body was dispelled by her medicine and stones, she felt happy and reached out to touch her slightly sweaty face. She was about to say something when she heard the sound of the door curtain, and a servant woman came in.

Mrs. Zhuang quickly withdrew her hand, and said with some displeasure: "Didn't you say that the second lady is not allowed to come in and disturb me when she is doing acupuncture for me?"

"Ma'am, there is a message from outside that someone is coming to visit."

"Master's funeral has long been over. Who will come to visit our house again? It's those people in the clan again. I didn't mean it. As long as they come, they will say that I am sick and it is inconvenient to see guests."

"It's not a member of the clan, but a young man who is said to be from the Rongguo Mansion."

"Rongguo Mansion? It's still a young man, is he Jia Lian, Lord of Zhenyuan?"

Mrs. Zhuang turned over and sat up, and asked quickly. Seeing that the servant woman couldn't explain why, she didn't hesitate, and while getting up to change her clothes, she ordered: "Go and call Tiao'er, and ask Tiao'er to welcome you to the main hall! That's all, I'll go out and see for myself, too."

The Zhuang family originally wanted to let Xue Biao, the only male in the family, come forward according to the etiquette of dealing with big families, but thinking that Xue Biao was too young, he was afraid of neglecting the distinguished guests.

"Sister, is this Zhenyuan Hou Jialian, the person whom the master and Qin'er mentioned when they came back?"

"Exactly..."

When he came out of the outer courtyard, he saw the butler teaching the boy a lesson.

"Madam doesn't know, this kid actually shut the door of Lord Zhenyuan of Rongguo Mansion to blow the air. Fortunately, Lord Hou is generous and didn't care about him like him..."

Hearing what the housekeeper said, Zhuang's face tightened, but seeing the kid who made the mistake drooped his head and looked like he was listening to scolding, he couldn't say anything.

Walking through the hallway, he came to the outermost courtyard. Sure enough, his son was at the gate, talking respectfully to a young man.

"Last time, my mother said that the second brother Lian helped bring my aunt's family letter. I wondered if I could see the second brother Lian again. Who knew that after I inquired, the second brother Lian had already left Jinling City, so my younger brother and My sister was so disappointed.

Well now, my sister will be very happy if she knows that Brother Lian came to see her in person. "

On the way back from Anxi Mansion, although Xue Biao was not as active as his younger sister, he had a very good relationship with Jia Lian and Princess Zhaoyang.

Jia Lian also replied with a smile: "The last time I was in Jinling City, I was supposed to come to see you, but I had important matters to attend to and I couldn't delay, so I left that night, and I didn't have time to come and see my aunt in person."

"I see."

Xue Biao was relieved, no wonder he went to Rongguo Mansion on Gonghou Street the next day and didn't see Jia Lian.

"Xiao'er, why are you standing here, and don't invite the distinguished guests in before talking."

To be honest, Jia Lian's tall and handsome figure, as well as his power, especially those entourages and officers and soldiers outside the courtyard, brought a lot of pressure to Zhuang.

However, after tidying up her skirt, she still walked over with a solemn pace.

Xue Biao quickly turned around and bowed, briefly explained Jia Lian's identity, and then said to Jia Lian, "This is my mother."

Jia Lian glanced at her, and couldn't help giving a little praise, she is such a pretty young woman, no wonder she can give birth to cubs like Xue Biao and Xue Baoqin.

In front of everyone, Jia Lian naturally wouldn't be rude, just glanced at him and bowed his head to pay respects:

"Jia Lian met Aunt Xue's family."

"Don't dare to be such a great gift, it was supposed to be a concubine presenting the gift to Lord Hou..."

"Senior friendship should be based on seniority first. Auntie is being polite."

Although it was only a few short sentences, Zhuang already understood why her husband and daughter gave such a high evaluation to this young man when they came back that day.

Nothing else to say, just this appearance and self-cultivation, already surpassed most men in the world.

So he said: "Since my husband passed away, everything in the family has been chaotic, and I, a woman, can't handle it. So I have neglected my nephew before, and I hope my nephew will forgive me."

"Don't dare, it's my nephew who is good at building the Tan Mansion, so there are many disturbances."

Jia Lian didn't want to be polite to the woman again and again, so after saying a word, he turned to let Daiyu out and introduced: "This is my cousin Daiyu, the daughter of the late Master Lin of Lantai Ling. When she was in Beijing, He and Sister Baochai are the best sisters, and I also heard from Sister Baochai that she also has a younger sister named Baoqin who is knowledgeable in books and etiquette, and her appearance is even better than hers.

It just so happened that Sister Lin also came to Jinling with me this time, so I brought her to meet Sister Baoqin, and I hope you will forgive me for disturbing her. "

Hearing Jia Lian say that she and Baochai are the best sisters, Daiyu couldn't help but twitched her lips, but it was hard to say anything in front of Xue's family, so she could only acquiesce.After Jia Lian finished his introduction, she stepped forward and bowed obediently to Mrs. Zhuang, "Daiyu, I greet Aunt Xue."

Mrs. Zhuang was originally surprised by Daiyu's graceful and dexterous, but after hearing that she was a member of the Central Committee, she was even more serious.
Quickly helped Daiyu up, looked at her slightly, and praised: "What a handsome and well-behaved girl! Don't listen to what Baochai girl said, my Baoqin is not as good as she said, you will know when you see it later .”

After finishing speaking, seeing Daiyu turn her head away in embarrassment, she laughed again, and beckoned Jia Lian and others to go into the house, while asking Baoqin to come out.

As they walked deeper into Xue's house, Jia Lian and Daiyu also realized that although this is not Xue's ancestral house, there are also layers of layers inside.It's just that there are about three or four entrances in the front yard. The overall style is quiet and elegant, with many flowers, plants and trees. It is an excellent house, far from being as simple as the outside door looks like.

This is also in line with the customs of businessmen nowadays, low-key on the outside, luxurious on the inside, nothing more.

Before everyone could pass through the atrium, Daiyu saw a girl who was slightly older than Xichun appearing excitedly in the corridor.

At the end of the day, he slowed down, walked quickly to everyone, looked at Jia Lian and said with a smile, "Second Brother Lian, it's really you..."

Jia Lian also looked at the girl in front of her with a smile. Compared with half a year ago, she looked a little taller, but she looked thinner than before, and she didn't feel as lively as before.

However, it is also as cute and cute as the most exquisite porcelain doll.

"Sister Baoqin, long time no see."

"Um……"

Baoqin raised her head, and was about to speak, when she suddenly saw Daiyu behind Jia Lian, said "Huh" immediately, and blurted out, "Who is this sister?"

Xue Biao knew that his younger sister was more familiar with Jia Lian than he was, so he didn't interrupt.

Sure enough, Jia Lian smiled at her first and said, "She is the sister surnamed Lin that I told you about. After receiving the gift you gave her, she was very happy, so I came to see you specially today."

"Really, that would be great..."

Suppressing the thoughts in her heart, Baoqin stepped forward and exchanged salutes with Daiyu, then raised her head, opened a pair of beautiful big eyes, and looked straight at Daiyu
And Daiyu also had almost the same expression, looking at the girl in front of her.

When the two extremely beautiful girls, who are rare in the world, met for the first time, they were both a little surprised, as if they were thinking that there really is such a beautiful sister (girl) in the world.

"Okay, girl Qin, since your elder sister Lin is here to see you, you can take her for a stroll around the mansion. Remember, don't lose courtesy, go."

"Ok."

Baoqin took a look at Jia Lian and realized that in front of her mother and others, there was no room for her to speak, so she happily took Daiyu's hand and said with a smile: "Sister Lin, let's go, I will take you to see it first." The yard where I live!"

After Daiyu was taken away by Baoqin, the mother and son of the Xue family invited Jia Lian to the main hall, and after serving tea, they wentssip.

Naturally, Mrs. Zhuang couldn't help thanking Jia Lian for helping the Xue family and delivering letters when she was outside the Great Wall, and Jia Lian also politely replied.

"When I heard the news of Xue Shishu's death from my aunt in Beijing, my nephew felt very sorry. I thought that after I went to Jiangnan this time, if I had the opportunity, I should come to pay homage to him. But after I arrived in Jinling that day, I found out Uncle Xue has been buried safely, and he thought that his aunt and brother Xue must be sad, so he never dared to come to disturb him.

This time, the things in my hands are almost done, so I took the liberty to come here, thinking that it would be good if I could pay respects in front of Xue Shishu's spiritual throne, and I would like to ask my aunt and Brother Xue for permission. "

"It's rare that you have such a heart, we are all grateful, there is nothing to grant or not.

Scorpio, you can take your second elder brother Lian to worship in front of your father's spiritual throne.You can be relieved that your father knows that Master Hou is so affectionate. "

Zhuang said, with a slightly sad meaning.

So Xue Biao and Jia Lian both stood up, bowed and left together.

"elder sister……"

The second wife of the Xue family came out from the back hall, Zhuang turned around and realized that she must have eavesdropped on their conversation from behind.

I didn't really care, I just offered to sit down.

Seeing Zhuang's sad and lonely expression, the second lady was worried that she would become ill, so she persuaded: "Sister, you should relax, you still have a tadpole, and he is still so young. If you really fell ill, what should he do?" what.

He no longer has a master, and if you have any troubles, he will be even more helpless. "

Hearing her comfort, Zhuang was silent for a while.In fact, it's not that she can't let go of her husband's death at all, she just feels tired.

When her husband was there before, she complained that he was away from home all the year round and neglected them. Now that her husband is gone, she realized that even if he is away from home all the year round, as long as he is still alive, he is their reliance.

Now that he died, everything in the family depended on her to resist, and she felt a little overwhelmed.

It's no wonder that not long after his uncle died, her aunt moved with her family and went to join her sister.

But she doesn't have such a tyrannical natal family to turn to, and she can only carry it by herself.

Sighing, looking at the sisters in front of her, she suddenly remembered something and asked, "What do you think of the Marquis Zhenyuan who just visited?"

The second lady thought for a while, and replied: "Although I didn't see the front clearly just now, but only from his demeanor and speaking demeanor, it can be seen that he is not an ordinary person."

Mrs. Zhuang looked at her a little mysteriously, and then said seriously: "Do you remember what I told you before, in his aunt's letter. They have been in Beijing for almost two years, and the Mei family has never been there. Proactively contacted and greeted.

In addition, before we sent people to Beijing to deliver the obituary, the Mei family's response was also very perfunctory. I guess, the Mei family may have the intention of regretting their relationship. "

"Ah, what should we do? Could it be that they really dared to do something shameless and treacherous when they saw our Xue family's decline?"

"There is no way around this. I heard that the eldest son of the Mei family has already passed the examination as a scholar. Seeing that his future is boundless, they naturally want to form a good marriage and gain a great future in the future!"

Zhuang sneered.

The second lady was so sad that she didn't know what to say.

"However, I suddenly thought of a way. As long as it can be achieved, maybe the Mei family will not dare to regret their relationship."

"What is it, sister, tell me quickly."

"I heard from his eldest aunt that Jia Lian is very good in Beijing, not only is he a very high official, but also has the trust of the emperor, he is a first-class dignitary in Beijing.

At least, not that little Hanlin can offend.

It just so happens that he came to worship the master this time, if we can ask him to help, then the Mei family will definitely not dare to do anything to repent. "

The second lady made sense when she heard it, "That's it, but how can we ask him to help? Ask him for help with money?"

"I'm afraid it's not right. You forgot that the master said that when he helped him back then, the master rewarded him with thousands of taels of silver, but he didn't even want it. Thinking about this kind of person, ordinary things of gold and silk are hard to impress him. .”

"What does sister mean?"

Mrs. Zhuang smiled slightly, looked at her jokingly, beckoned her to come closer, and whispered a few words in her ear.

The second lady blushed immediately, glared at her, and scolded: "It makes no sense, why don't you go?"

"Me? One is that I don't have the beauty that my sister gave birth to, and the other is that girl Qin was not born to me, so what should I do with my heart?"

The second lady didn't know how to refute, she glared at Mrs. Zhuang bitterly, but her heart moved a little bit.

(End of this chapter)