Picturesque Rivers and Mountains in the Red Chamber

Chapter 226 4.22 Second sister is so happy to take me back to the province for a day

Volume Four

4.22 How happy is the second sister, pick me up for a day

On July [-]th, the gate of hell opens, and every household burns paper to worship their ancestors, and Rongguo Mansion is no exception. However, this is all men's business, and the women do not need to participate. It does allow them to take the opportunity to have a good rest.

"Sister-in-law, the second sister has been gone for more than half a month now, and I don't know how she is doing." In Li Wan Courtyard, Tan Chun complained uneasily while working as a female escort, "It's true, Your Highness Yongchang, that a girl's family actually She also wants to talk about being on duty or taking a break just like the men who are officials. Is it possible that she still has official business to deal with?"

"Stupid girl, we didn't use it originally, but it's not like you didn't know what happened that day." Li Wan's words made Tan Chun and Xichun blush, "Fortunately, everyone present at the time was from my own family. Otherwise, if it really spread, We are afraid that we will not live anymore.”

"Brother Bao, hum!" Xichun said dissatisfiedly, but still did not dare to say more.

"Sister-in-law, how could Dongfang Qianhu be like this?" Tan Chun blushed in shame and said in a small voice, "That way? The second sister just went to the princess's house to serve, and there is such a shameful thing. ?Then if you enter the palace, will you still be alive?"

"Don't you think so?" Li Wan said softly, "Fortunately, under the ancestral system of this dynasty, selection in the palace is not a mandatory requirement. Only interested families will arrange for their daughters to enter the palace. I heard that during the Qing Dynasty, the selection process in the palace was not mandatory. All the daughters of officials and gentry had to participate in the election, and each family even hired a nun from the palace to teach them this kind of knowledge.

On the day of the election, no matter which noble family they belong to, they are free to choose like servants and slaves. The inspection is so meticulous that it is almost insulting. All beautiful women have to remove their clothes and check whether there are obvious birthmarks, disabilities, etc., and even Even body odor and hair have to be compared. The matter of chastity is related to the life and death of the whole family. If it happens, well, it is not a joke that the whole family will be wiped out. "

"Isn't this the case in this dynasty?" Tan Chun and Xichun were obviously frightened.

"I've never heard of this." Li Wan shook her head. She really didn't know. "Even when I was a girl at home, I only heard about the palace selection. My father directly rejected it; sister Yingchun just arrived. Serving His Highness Yongchang, there is still a chance to come back, and we can always see her; Sister Yuanchun has been in the palace for so many years, and I still don’t know what’s going on.”

"Humph, it's not like there's no one at home, so I can only let the eldest sister." Xichun complained dissatisfiedly.

"Fourth sister, be careful what you say!" Li Wan gave her a helpless look, "That's how it is for women from this family. After enjoying the wealth and honor of the family, they must contribute to the family when necessary, not to mention the palace, even the princess of the royal family. How about it? Let’s just talk about His Highness Yongchang, how beautiful he was when he got married. Grandmaster Huang Xu was a great scholar, and his consort was a great talent. Who would have thought that it would lead to what it is today?”

"Why, His Highness Yongchang and the Consort are still at odds?" Tan Chun asked strangely.

"It's more than just discord." Li Wan shook his head and told the story about Princess Yongchang and the consort Huang Sheng, which stunned the two girls. "Now that His Highness lives in his own house, it is inconvenient to go out on weekdays. I chose my second sister when I was lonely. If it were normal, how could a princess choose a girl who had not left home to accompany her after getting married?"

"Anyway, the second sister is also a person with an official status. There will definitely be benefits in getting married in the future."

"Okay!" Tan Chun quickly stopped her, "Besides, he has suffered a lot these days. It's okay for the master to go to the Yamen every day. But whenever he is in the house, he is almost always urged to study and improve. If he is slightly dissatisfied, he will He was immediately scolded and even slapped twice on the hand. His left hand was swollen from the blows, but the master didn't care at all and forced him to continue practicing calligraphy with his right hand."

"Huh, he's an uncle. He can't even compare to nephew Lan in reading. It would be strange if the master didn't beat him." Xichun just thought about the experience of that day and felt ashamed and angry. He didn't care about Jia Baoyu being beaten. "Now, master It’s just that I’m in a hurry, I think it will be fine after some time.”

"I'm afraid it's hard to say." Li Wan was very satisfied with his son's study, especially after he won praises from Jia Zheng several times. "My wife has been sad every day these days, almost in tears. She comes to school almost every day." My ancestors were crying and complaining that when I beat Baoyu again the day before yesterday, weren’t they scolded by my ancestors?”

"In my opinion, Second Brother Bao's progress in his studies this time may not be able to last for a few days." Tanchun said helplessly, "It's not that I criticized the elders behind the scenes, Baoyu is young, so he should move forward Are you running? If you don't let him study and make progress, what will happen in the future? Now that the second brother Lian has been released as a county magistrate, what will happen to the government when he is promoted and returns to Beijing? "

"Third girl, that's not what you should say." Li Wan glared at her and gently dissuaded her, "If it spreads out, you'll have to suffer—well, we shouldn't talk about elders, but That Dongfang Qianhu, I’m afraid my wife will hate her to death.”

"I was talking to Sister Jin Chuan'er in the yard the day before yesterday. I heard from her that my wife has sent a message to the government. Unless it is absolutely necessary, this Dongfang Qianhu will never be allowed to come to the door again." Xichun snorted coldly and said, "If Brother Bao can be as capable as Brother Zhou, so why should we worry about this?"

"Speaking of Brother Zhou, it is thanks to his recommendation to His Royal Highness Yongchang that Second Sister got an official status this time." Tanchun said enviously, "I heard that he and Dongfang Qianhu are very close anyway. When I visited Dongfang Qianhu that time, I even said that I would take care of my feelings, but only for a little while. I didn’t even take off my clothes.”

"That's you two. Anyway, you don't have to serve His Highness Yongchang." Li Wan said angrily, "Otherwise, do you think it took so long for the second sister to come out? Also, from now on, in front of my wife, even your Brother Zhou, don't even mention it, so as not to worry about it accidentally." "I don't know how happy the second sister is when we go out this time!" Tan Chun said softly, "Brother Zhou must take care of her."

"Huh?" Li Wan was stunned for a moment, "Third girl, what did you say?"

"It's nothing." Tanchun's expression changed, and then he said nonchalantly, "I mean, apart from talking with His Highness Yongchang, Second Sister should be very relaxed on weekdays, right?"

"I think so." Li Wan glanced at Tan Chun with a strange expression. Of course she heard what the third girl just said and had a faint suspicion, "Okay, finish what you are doing, and in two days Sister Yun is coming over, so I have to help her out."

At the same time, Ningguo Mansion and Tianxiang Tower.

"I've seen the young mistress!" The three women, who looked like people in the world at first glance, knelt down side by side and saluted Qin Keqing, who was sitting upright on the throne.

"Get up." Qin Keqing nodded and motioned for them to get up, "Since you are here with me, you must have made an explanation before coming, right? Is there any problem?"

"Young mistress, Miss Zhao told me before I came here, I'll give it to you."

"What's your name?" Qin Keqing interrupted her directly, "Forget it, I don't care what your names were before, it's better not to expose this matter this time, because it's not only good for you, but also for your family. In addition to money, There is no benefit - in this way, the three of you will change your names to Lanzhu, Hongzhu and Lvzhu from now on, and follow Baozhu's arrangements on weekdays.

Also, from now on, you will all call yourself 'slaves' in front of the master of this mansion. Except for me and Baozhu, no matter who asks you about your identity, you will always say that you are from the palace. You must have heard about my identity, right?It's okay if you don't agree, it's still too late to go out now. "

"Slave, I understand!" The three female bodyguards looked at each other and agreed with an unaccustomed salute.

"Well, since the three sisters are here, there are of course some benefits." Baozhu smiled and took over the conversation, "I really want to thank you. These days, it's really hard for me to stand alone. Grandma, why don't you do it from now on?" There are two of us in one shift, and we ensure that there is at least one group of people around grandma at all times to avoid any accidents.

The three sisters remember that no matter who wants to go upstairs in the future, as long as grandma has not given instructions in advance, they will be blocked out. , you just speak in the name of the palace. In short, except grandma, you don’t need to care about anyone’s face in this palace! "

"Slave, I understand!" The three female bodyguards were much more skilled this time.

"Okay, sister Ruizhu, you take the three sisters to change clothes, they will be your own sisters from now on." Baozhu said with a smile, "Also, you don't have to worry about the weapons, you will have better ones in two days Sent."

"I can feel more at ease now." After watching the four people go to the inner room, Qin Keqing breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Fortunately, it's just the beginning. Otherwise, it would be difficult for you to cope alone this month."

"Grandma, there is no way to go on like this." Baozhu said with a wry smile, "Now that there is nothing in this mansion, we can still pull the flag and pull the tiger's skin under the banner of the prince. If the prince comes into contact with the prince, everything will be lost." They are all torn apart, even the three just now dare not say that they are still reliable!"

"Unless we can completely stop relying on things over there, no one dares to mess with this house." Qin Keqing said lightly, "I'm afraid it's not enough to rely on you alone. I need more people - Baozhu, please go out in person. Tomorrow happens to be a month since I entered this mansion, so I was told to take me back to the province for a day."

"Grandma, let's not mention that we need to say hello a few days in advance about returning to the province. Even if Mr. Qin's servant comes to talk about it, I'm afraid there will be no results." Baozhu said anxiously, "Not to mention him I also hope that the house here can take care of Master Zhong; let alone the prince, maybe he will."

"You just need to say it." Qin Keqing gritted his teeth and said, "Baozhu, you have to remember that you are my girl first, and then the palace. Also, you know where I mean to say it. , He has people and money in his hands!"

"." Baozhu was silent for a moment, then knelt on the ground respectfully, "Grandma, don't worry, I understand!"

(End of this chapter)