Picturesque Rivers and Mountains in the Red Chamber

Chapter 491 6.62 Tanchun: How Courageous is Brother Zhou?
Volume VI

6.62 Tanchun: How courageous is Brother Zhou?
I wish all the gentlemen a happy Chinese New Year and a happy family!
On the seventh day of April, early morning, in the garden outside Zhou Mansion.

Under the flower stand that has just begun to turn green, Yingchun leans lazily on a specially brought couch. He holds a book of the Lotus Sutra in his hand and flips through it page by page. From time to time, he looks at the wall that is connected in a row around it. In the jasmine bushes on all sides, these yellow flowers with the same name were blooming in full bloom, making the spring atmosphere in the garden a bit more intense. But soon, he turned helplessly to look at the main house, because a familiar voice had already come out.

"Third sister, please let me sleep a little longer." Xichun tightly wrapped herself in the quilt with an aggrieved look on her face, begging for mercy from Tanchun who had a straight face in front of her, "It's still so cold outside, it's still early, and I'm not hungry when I get up. , we might as well sleep for a while; anyway, Brother Zhou is not at home, and it is not our turn with the princess."

"You, do you want to be driven to the study by the princess to memorize the "Female Ring" again?" Tan Chun ignored his sister's "pleading", pulled off the brocade quilt and threw the clothes away, "Don't say it was in Rong. When I was in the government, I had to get up before dawn every day. Even when I first got here, I didn’t see you having the guts to sleep until midnight, right?"

"Why should third sister be so worried?" Yingchun entered the bedroom with a smile, and kindly helped Xichun, who looked aggrieved, get dressed and get up. "When we were in Rongguo Mansion, how could we have the courage to sleep for a while? If anything was a little inappropriate, those The old and immortal thing can't wait to spread the news throughout the capital, who in this mansion dares now?
The last time the princess arrested the fourth sister for making trouble, it was because she was having a fight with Girl Qin and accidentally broke the glazed dressing mirror that Prince Jinghai had just given. Although Sister Qin didn't care about it, it was still a valuable thing after all. , The princess just pretended to let her copy "The Female Ring" in the study alone, but we sisters still don't know, this girl just slept all afternoon? "

"Second sister!" Xichun blushed now.

"Well, yesterday afternoon, eldest sister followed Brother Zhou into the palace to visit the Queen Mother. She was probably favored to stay overnight again. According to the usual practice, she will definitely come back this morning. Is it possible that you still want to be blocked in the bedroom by eldest sister?" Tan Chun Helplessly, he twisted the fourth sister's ears and helped her get up with Yingchun, "Get up quickly."

After a while, Xichun, who had packed her clothes, was forced to wash by herself. Yingchun just breathed a sigh of relief, but found that Tanchun's face was a little serious, even nervous. She first looked at Xichun who was still on the dressing table, and then pulled Tanchun went out of the room and went back to the flower stand where he was resting just now.

"Third sister, what did you think of just now?" Yingchun asked with a smile while sitting down with her sister in her arms.

"Second sister, you just said that the eldest sister entered the palace with Brother Zhou yesterday and was kept overnight?" Tan Chun's obviously nervous tone made Yingchun's expression stiff, "Little sister is not sensible, and she also knows the past dynasties. As long as the palace is a little more particular, there is no reason to stay with the ministers' family members, let alone with Brother Zhou, isn't this?"

"Silly girl, what are you thinking about?" Yingchun smiled and hit her sister lightly, "I just said that Brother Zhou might be staying overnight. You must have forgotten that there is Yongchang Highness's yard? Maybe it's him Were the two of us taken away by His Highness? If you hadn't reminded me, I would have forgotten that there are no female relatives staying overnight in the palace."

"Second sister, do you still remember what happened when Sister-in-law Zhu came over two days ago?" Tan Chun sighed softly, leaning into his second sister's arms and said, "We were here that time too, and she mentioned something. The second sister was also in this yard back then, and it was the first time that she was captured by Brother Zhou."

"What are you doing, Third Sister, bringing this up?" Yingchun shamelessly hammered Tanchun and said with rosy cheeks.

"Second sister may have forgotten that Brother Zhou had just been appointed an official at that time, and he hadn't even taken office yet? Compared to the Rongguo Mansion, what kind of status does he have? But he dared to secretly occupy you, a young lady from the Duke's Mansion." Tan. Chun smiled bitterly and said, "Now, Brother Zhou is already a high-ranking official in the imperial court. My younger sister didn't think much about it before. It wasn't until today when my second sister mentioned it that I suddenly remembered something. When my eldest sister was in the palace, She has been serving as the Queen Mother's personal female officer.

However, do you still remember that when she returned to Rongguo Mansion for the first time, she directly brought the Queen Mother's marriage decree?Don't forget that when we four sisters returned to this courtyard together, you and the eldest sister had already put away their wedding scarves. Presumably the eldest sister had already served Brother Zhou before, or when she was still in the palace. ?Doesn't that mean"

"Third sister, let's stop asking so many questions." Yingchun had a wry smile on her face and reluctantly interrupted Tanchun's speculation.

"Sister, how brave is Brother Zhou?" Tan Chun curled up in the arms of his second sister, "Sister-in-law Zhu and sister Suyun, second sister-in-law Lian plus sister Ping'er, His Highness Yongchang and sister Dongfang, and even His Highness Yongjing and Sister Bao can also be counted. Since the eldest sister is now with us, I’m afraid the Queen Mother.”

"Actually, there is one thing you didn't pay attention to. Once when the sisters were talking together and the issue of the Zhou family's heirs was mentioned, His Highness Yongjing said that Brother Zhou insisted that there was absolutely nothing wrong with him." Yingchun said with a bitter smile, " Although His Highness later said something more, Brother Zhou has consulted several imperial doctors for confirmation, but how can there be any certainty about this kind of thing? Unless——"

"You mean, the Queen Mother." Tan Chun was obviously frightened, "How is this possible? What if -" "Third sister, second sister, why are you lying here? Although it is not so cold now. , you should be more careful after all." Just as they were talking, a familiar voice from the direction of the courtyard door made the two sisters tremble, and they saw Yuanchun walking over with a smile on his face, "I just want to lie down in the courtyard, at least I can find it. Cover with a thin blanket."

"That's what the eldest sister said." Yingchun and Tanchun looked at each other, and both chose not to say more, and both greeted him with a smile, "Where's Brother Zhou?"

The main courtyard, the back house, and the living room.

"You're back?" Princess Yongjing, Baochai and Daiyu, who were sitting and talking together, all stood up and greeted Zhou Yang who had just entered. Her Royal Highness the Princess took the windbreaker and handed it to Sister Bao to hang it up. "Yesterday, the emperor Sister came over and said that you have been very busy in Miyun these days, but now you are settled?"

"Rong'er has been here?" Zhou Yang was slightly startled, "She is quite busy. She discussed things with the Queen Mother in the morning, and came to you again in the afternoon - don't worry, I will arrange all the military affairs, within the capital. Since she is here to handle it, with intelligence and military strength, how can a little clown be able to turn the world upside down?"

"Brother Zhou, Xue Yan mentioned something when he came back from his father's house the day before yesterday." Lin Daiyu poured a cup of hot tea from the tea tray and placed it in front of Ai Lang, "This year's enke was organized by the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel. Hosted, the number of people admitted to the examination is [-]% more than in previous years, we are just waiting for His Majesty to come back to organize the palace examination and confirm the list of top three."

"I almost forgot about this." Zhou Yang patted his head and took a sip of hot tea, "Master Lin mentioned to me that places like the Inspectorate, Hanlin Academy and even the Imperial College, this time because of the 'Beijing Inspection' incident , a group of wastes who have nothing but empty talk and incompetence have been severely eliminated. It seems that this time the admission will be [-]% more. On the one hand, it is certainly because the new emperor has ascended the throne to benefit the world, and on the other hand, it is also to make up for the vacancies."

"Brother Zhou, I heard that not all the scholars who passed the imperial examination can be promoted to officials. Every year, many people are unable to be promoted to officials due to various reasons. They can only spend their time in places such as the Hanlin Academy and the Inspectorate. Why? Why don't you select a group from here?" Xue Baochai asked curiously, "Anyway, they are all talented people who have passed the imperial examination, and when they are used, it will look like the emperor's grace is great?"

"If the imperial brother is still here, what Sister Bao said is not bad." Princess Yongjing sighed softly and said with regret, "It's a pity that my sister has forgotten that there has been a rule in the court of 'one emperor, one courtier' since ancient times. , Now that His Majesty has ascended the throne, these people will never be able to come forward in the future. The reason why 'Enke' became the custom for the new emperor to ascend the throne is actually to select 'one of his own'."

"Girl, why are you so brave to say it now?" Zhou Yang was obviously taken aback, "If it were in the past, wouldn't you have lectured me a few words about 'I can say it but I can't say it' or 'I can say it but I can't do it' 'What? Why today.'"

"Can I be braver than you?" Princess Yongjing rolled her eyes at him. She obviously knew something, but she changed the subject without saying a word. "Last night, Sister Li sent someone to send an invitation, saying that you Go when you have time, Rongguo Mansion needs your help if there is something, and she even said it was the old lady's request."

"Oh?" Zhou Yang was stunned for a moment and took the invitation from Xue Baochai, "It turned out to be a post from Second Uncle Zheng? He said it so politely, what about 'discussing something if you have something to discuss' and 'please tell me about it', this This time was not as polite as him, and he didn't let Lian's second brother take the title—Sister Lin, I happen to have time tomorrow, so let's go there together?"

"Why don't you let Sister Bao follow? Anyway, there are not many people in the mansion, and you can't find anyone to talk to if you go there." Lin Daiyu gently pulled Xue Baochai over and said with a smile, "As for the four sisters in the outer garden, you don't have to ask. No, they won't be interested."

"It's really a skill to be able to make a family live like enemies." Zhou Yang shook his head speechlessly, "Okay, then the three of us will go there tomorrow, and don't mention anything about invitations or anything like that, just say I'm just taking you to visit relatives. This old lady is used to not going to the Three Treasures Palace for anything, so I don't know what else is going on."

"Since the Li family sister mentioned it, and now the Wang family sister is also with her, I think it won't be a big deal." Princess Yongjing looked at someone speechlessly and said, "You are quite thick-skinned. There are three young ladies of the Jia family. Even though we have entered your yard, you still have the guts to come to your door and continue to call me 'Second Brother Lian'."

"This... is actually more complicated than you think." Zhou Yang thought for a while and recounted as much as he could about the "deal" with Jia Lian, but he couldn't avoid the "strange relationship between men and women" and the like. Said, "Coupled with the current decline of the Wang family, it is actually the best outcome for Feng Lazi to come to my place."

Princess Yongjing, Lin Daiyu, Xue Baochai:.
(End of this chapter)