The Second Master of the Red Chamber

Chapter 551

At that time, Mrs. You and Sister Feng arranged everything in the garden properly, and came to invite Yuanchun to visit you.

Jia Lian was about to leave, but Yuan Chun called him back and said, "I just heard from my grandmother and mother that when the garden was planned to be built, Brother Lian was solely responsible for it. I am more familiar with the profound meaning of the construction of various places in the garden. Therefore, I would like to invite brother Lian and Baoyu to enter the garden with me as a guide. I wonder if brother Lian can agree?"

Jia Lian laughed and said, "The eldest sister has a life, but my younger brother dare not obey."

The construction of the Grand View Garden was indeed supervised by Jia Lian from the time when Shan Ziye designed the blueprints.It's just that Jia Lian sent Princess Zhaoyang out of the customs first, and then was ordered to go south to the south of the Yangtze River to handle errands, which delayed the supervision and layout of the garden.

The reason why Yuan Chun made such a proposal was not to really ask Jia Lian to be her guide, but more to show everyone that she treated Jia Lian and Jia Baoyu with equal care, and there was no distinction between closeness and estrangement.Naturally, Jia Lian couldn't fail to see this, so he agreed.

So Jia Mu, Jia Lian and others supported Yuan Chun to get up and walk into the garden together.

In the early morning, I saw that among the lights and trees in the garden, all kinds of things were listed very well.

A group of people first started from "Youfeng Laiyi", "Red Fragrance and Green Jade", "Apricot Curtain in Looking at", "Hengzhi Qingfen", etc., went up to the towers and pavilions, waded through mountains and rivers, and wandered around with various views. The piles are decorated with novelty, which Yuanchun highly appreciated.But I couldn't help persuading him again, don't be so extravagant in the future.

Stepping into the palace from the west gate, when Fang entered, he saw a huge waterwheel lying across the pond, Yuan Chun looked sideways.

The waterwheel is not a rare thing, either for the convenience of irrigation by the farmers, or for the diversion of water to the high places in the manor, but they all need the turbulent water flow as the power to function.

The pool weir here is obviously dug by hand, the water flow is slow, and the waterwheel is placed in it, almost motionless, but I don't know what is the purpose?Not to mention Yuanchun, even Jia Baoyu, Jia Mu and the others were a little surprised for a moment. They looked at each other a few times and realized that they were not the only one who didn't know, and even more strange, so they all glanced at Jia Lian.

It turned out that from the day when the garden was to be built, in order to show respect for the noble concubine, Jia Zheng had sent special personnel to guard the plants and trees inside and outside the palace, preventing idlers from visiting.

Therefore, although Jia Baoyu and the others wandered around the garden every day, they knew very little about the layout of the palace.

In addition, the fortifications here were temporarily added after Jia Lian returned from Jiangnan and discussed with Jia Zheng, so even Jia Mu and some others didn't know about it.

Jia Lian bowed to Yuanchun, then pointed to a bright side corridor beside him and said, "This is a place for the nobles to bathe and change clothes in their spare time. As for this building and the nearby terraces, they are used to fetch water."

If Yuanchun realized something, "Since it is used to fetch water, how can the static flow drive it away?"

"It can be driven by human power."

Yuan Chun's face is clear, but in fact he has even more doubts in his heart. Since it is driven by manpower, it is fine to use wooden barrels, so why build such a large-scale fortification? Is it just for aesthetics?

Seeing Yuan Chun's thoughts, Jia Lian said with a smile: "This water wheel is slightly different from ordinary water wheels. Because it uses the technique of turning the shaft, even with only one person, it is easy to take the clear water from the pool to this high platform. Then pour into the turret.

There are several boilers in the turret, which can heat the water, and then use bamboo pipes and ditches to inject hot water into the large bath in the middle of the building to achieve the effect of human hot springs.In this way, even if it is cold, you can take a bath here, and you can enjoy yourself. "

Looking at the construction in front of him, coupled with Jia Lian's simple explanation, who doesn't understand the reason?

After a little thought about Jia Baoyu and the others, they became very interested.

It's not that people at that time didn't have the theory of pool bathing, but it was too laborious, expensive, and space-consuming, so they were not first-class enjoyment people, how dare they build pool bathing places?Just look at the Huaqing Pool in the Tang Dynasty, how many literati were competing to pass it on, it is also known.

However, considering that this place is specially built for the bathing of my concubine and sister, I probably have no chance to go in and try it.

Seeing something new, not only did Jia Baoyu and the others revive, but even Yuan Chun suddenly gathered his energy.

One must know that even her Fengzao Palace did not have a pool bath.The entire imperial palace seems to be the Chonghua Palace of the Supreme Emperor, which has pool baths. According to rumors, every time the Supreme Emperor takes a bath in the pool, hundreds of eunuchs and court ladies are required to serve at the same time...

This can be seen.

It's not that the royal people don't know how to enjoy themselves, it's just that the rules of the palace are strict, every plant, every tree and every brick are more noble than other places, if there is no emperor's will, who would dare to move lightly?

But in the Royal Manor, there is no such concern.Even the manor with hot springs, the royal family does not know how many there are.

It's just a concubine in the harem, how can she go out of the palace to enjoy it easily?

Therefore, Yuanchun has never experienced pool bathing until today, but he does not want to set up a pool bathing place in his own home, in the palace built by his family.

Although I haven't gone in to watch it yet, I can guess what's going on inside just based on Jia Lian's words.

"It just so happens that Eldest Sister is going home today, and she must be exhausted. Why don't you go to this building to take a bath first. I have prepared a banquet and several viewing programs for Eldest Sister. After Eldest Sister takes a bath and changes clothes, I will come to watch it Not too late." Jia Lian suddenly bent down to ask for instructions.

"This……"

Yuan Chun showed hesitation, glanced at Jia Mu and the others, and said: "That's all for tonight, let's talk about it when we have a chance."

She rarely goes home, and wants to spend more time with her relatives, and doesn't want to waste time on bathing.

Jia Lian gave Sister Feng a look, and Sister Feng, who had long been unable to hold back her quarrel, knelt down and begged, "Your Majesty, don't worry too much. The servants and others have already arranged the building properly, and hot water has been poured into the pool. It won't take much time for the empress to enter the palace to rest and take a bath."

Jia Mu and others also saw Yuan Chun's clear intentions, and they knelt down and begged, "Please come to the palace to rest and bathe."

Yuan Chun had already supported her mother, seeing everyone was so earnest, she nodded and sighed: "Since that's the case, let's do as you wish."

In order to welcome Yuanchun's relatives, everyone in Jia's mansion hardly slept last night. How could it not be the case for Yuanchun?
But there are many rules in the palace, and there are many nobles, and today is the Mid-Autumn Festival.Therefore, after she woke up early in the morning, she first went to the empress, empress dowager, and concubine to pay her respects, and then went to Baoling Palace to worship Buddha, and then went to Daming Palace to receive a banquet, and then she could invite orders to leave the palace.

She was eager to return home, so she never rested for a day, and was so tired all day, especially when she visited the garden for more than an hour accompanied by Jia Mu and others, she also felt a little sweaty. Feel.

It's true, although she changed her clothes several times, at most she just changed her outer clothes.

Seeing Yuan Chun's promise, Zhao Rong and others behind her immediately ordered the accompanying attendants to file into the hall to arrange bathing matters.

Yuan Chun also nodded with Jia Mu and the others, took a special look at Jia Lian, then turned around, and stepped into the hall with gentle steps.

After Yuanchun left, Mother Jia and other female relatives relaxed a little, and finally dared to talk to each other and express some opinions.

"This place is another idea you came up with, right?"

Daiyu walked up to Jia Lian at some point and muttered in a low voice.

Jia Lian turned her head to look at her, saw that she was smart and cute, and wanted to touch her head, but then she remembered that this was not the right time and place, so she held back and just looked at her with a smile.

Daiyu felt a little embarrassed, glanced at him, and wanted to leave.

Jia Lian suddenly saw half of the jade beads slightly protruding from her wrist, so he took her small hand and asked, "This string of beads is very beautiful, where did you get them?"

As soon as Jia Lian finished speaking, Li Wan, who had been observing them by the side, laughed: "This is just now in the old lady's room, and the concubine concubine gave it to her, the implication... The lady said, this is a gift for her in advance. ..."

Li Wan spoke with a smile, but Dai Yu had already blushed.

She snatched back her little hand and hid behind Baochai beside her.

Jia Lian smiled, even though Li Wan didn't explain it thoroughly, Jia Lian understood.Come on, the meeting gift from the future eldest sister to the future brother-in-law.

Seeing Daiyu wearing it herself, Jia Lian was very happy.

But she remembered that Daiyu was the one who really looked down on the rich and powerful.The bead strings bestowed to Jia Baoyu by the King of Beijing, Jia Baoyu regarded them as treasures and kept them specially for Daiyu, but Daiyu threw them away like garbage.

No, she didn't feel disgusted with the gift Yuan Chun gave her. In Jia Lian's heart, he attributed all the internal causes to himself, thinking that Daiyu cared too much about him, so he accepted Yuan Chun's blessing.

Daiyu escaped, but Jia Lian didn't pursue it, but opened his eyes and looked at Li Wan.But seeing Li Wan's beautiful face and clear eyebrows, he suddenly felt that he was quite different from his previous "dead wood and ashes" image.

It looks particularly gorgeous and dusty.

After a closer look, he realized that it was probably due to his makeup. Thinking of today's occasion, it was normal for Li Wan to change his usual plain makeup style, so he didn't think much about it.

This little episode fell into Jia Baoyu's eyes.He looked lonely, and turned to look to the north... The north is the sloping building where Yuanchun bathed. Inside, there were flickering figures and bright lights.

Mrs. Wang also saw it, but couldn't understand it, so she said to Jia Mu: "Old lady, let's go to the back hall and wait for your mother."

"Alright."

So a group of people bypassed this building and went to the main building behind the main hall.

Naturally, Jia Lian couldn't follow the ladies, so he turned around alone and went to the front yard to look for Jia Zheng and others.

……

In the inclined building, Yuan Chun came in under the guidance of Sister Feng, and he really got to see the style and appearance of this place, which is a different world.

Yiying's decoration and layout are not much different from other palaces, except that in the middle, there is an extra three-foot-long and one-foot-wide bathing pool made of white jade.

Seeing the large pool here, Yuan Chun finally understood why it was necessary to use a water truck to fetch water, supplemented by such a project.If we simply use wooden barrels to fetch water, I am afraid that just filling the pool with water will require the exhaustion of countless people.

At this time, the water mist in the pool was lingering and rising, covering the entire hall like a fairyland.

He heard the sound of gurgling water again, but upon closer inspection, he found several streams of steaming water flowing out from the west wall of the pool and falling into the pool.Judging from its location and the bamboo pipes that come out of the water, it can be seen that it was drawn from the west turret that Jia Lian said.

No wonder such a severe cold weather can make the whole hall so warm and fragrant. It turns out that there is a continuous supply of hot water.

Seeing Yuan Chun's satisfied expression, Sister Feng immediately flattered her and said, "Your Majesty doesn't know. At the beginning of the construction, it was only used as a side hall. Later, our Lord Hou came to have a look and said that there is still a lack of a bathing place for your Majesty in the palace. Palace, so choose to build here.

Even the construction plan was designed by him himself.Because it was not far from the date of Empress' return to the province, in order to come up with the plan as soon as possible, he didn't sleep for several nights in a row, just to build this place before Empress visited her relatives..."

Sister Feng is deliberately asking for credit. In fact, as long as there are people with money and the site is ready, it is really easy to build such a project, and it will be completed in less than ten days.

It's just that Yuanchun heard it, and really felt more and more sentimental in his heart, because he glanced at Sister Feng and sighed: "Brother Lian is a man of knowledge and talent. You can marry him, which shows that you are also blessed."

When Sister Feng heard it, she suddenly remembered that she had made a fool of herself in the palace, Yuan Chun was also fully aware of it, her heart felt empty, she shrank her neck and retreated.

Speaking of which, as Mrs. Wang's niece, Sister Feng and Yuan Chun are direct cousins.

He is only two or three years younger than Yuanchun, so he was familiar with him when he was young.

It's just that time has changed, Yuan Chun is now a noble concubine, and Sister Feng is most in awe of authority, so she can't help being a little cautious in front of her.

However, Yuan Chun didn't intend to rule over Sister Feng, he just sighed from his heart.

Seeing her like this, I didn't have much to say, so I just said: "Brother Lian's love for me, I appreciate it, you turn around and thank her for me. Okay, you step back."

After finishing speaking, Yuan Chun, led by Baoqin, came to the edge of the pool, stretched out his slender arms, and four palace ladies stepped forward to undress Yuan Chun.

The gorgeous robes are untied from the noble and beautiful body one by one, and every scene is like a scene in the world.

Sister Feng was never an honest person, before she retreated into the outer room, she couldn't help but glance back, but seeing this, her heart skipped a beat.

Xin said that fortunately, those who had no conscience could not see this scene, otherwise...

Bah, bah, bah, what was I thinking about, as expected, I was getting more and more useless, why did I think about him for all good things?

Laughing secretly, Sister Feng sighed again, I don't know when, I will be able to act like Yuan Chun, showing the ultimate grace and luxury?
Shaking her head, Sister Feng still has self-knowledge, don't say that she can't achieve Yuan Chun's status in this life, and say that she herself is not suitable for taking the elegant route.

If you really want to forcibly imitate, to put it in an unconscionable way, the general idea is: imitating others?
Bah bah, even if I'm not as good as her, I'm not "Dong Shi". In terms of appearance and figure, I shouldn't lose to her... right?

After thinking forcibly, Sister Feng retreated into the outer hall to wait quietly.

(End of this chapter)