Uncle Lai in the Red Chamber

Chapter 418 Spreads
Negotiations with Shijia were handed over to Jia Lian, and Lai Shangrong focused on shipyard matters.

But in the capital, everyone's attention is on the handling of the Zhen family.

In fact, it is true that the Zhen family is very powerful in Jiangnan, but ordinary people in the capital know very little about it.

Therefore, instead of focusing on the Zhen family's case, it is better to focus on the reaction of King Beijing.

Recently, the story of King Beijing and Princess Qinse being in harmony and loving each other as husband and wife has been widely circulated.

Let this originally highly utilitarian marriage cast a different brilliance.

Sometimes rumors can also coerce people. The King of Beijing originally didn't care about the Zhen family's situation, but he couldn't stand his friends and friends touting their deep love as a couple.

Over time, he acquiesced to such flattery. Unexpectedly, something happened to the Zhen family suddenly, and he was a little embarrassed for a while.

He is already over the age of weak crown, but also has a prominent status, which is the best way to save face.

After much deliberation, he ran to the Daming Palace to beg for mercy and knelt for half an hour before he finally came to an end.

After all, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, during the funeral ceremony of Concubine Zhen, stood up for etiquette and righteousness, and they couldn't resist the emperor. What's more, the emperor still stood up to handle the case of the Zhen family?
Fortunately, the King of Beijing was just pretending. Although in front of outsiders, he had to complain for the Zhen family and didn't really care about the results.

However, these complaints of his were infinitely amplified by people with intentions and spread everywhere.

This is a later story.

Although King Beijing doesn't really care about the Zhen family, some people do.

The Zhen family's affairs are of personal concern, so there is no need to mention them.

Miaoyu, who was far away from the world in Mani Temple, was also thinking about this. She secretly put incense and prayed for the Zhen family.

It wasn't that she was really worried about the Zhen family, but Princess Beijing had been upset since the news came out. Where could she find the thought to worship the Buddha?
It’s been a long time since I came to Mani Temple, let alone money for sesame oil.

Without the support from Princess Beijing, Miaoyu's quality of life has also declined visibly.

Fortunately, the Zhen family's case has nothing to do with King Beijing, and it will not shake King Beijing. Although Mani'an is unwilling to spend money to support her, she does not dare to do anything to it.

However, the daily supply is not as good as before, making Miaoyu miserable.

"How's it going? What did the host say?"

Seeing that Qi Chen, who was sent by herself to ask the host for money, came back, Miao Yu hurriedly said.

Bichen, who was hit with a problem, did not complain, but said kindly: "Miss! Let's just bear with it! After all, three meals a day are not short, so we should save as much as we can on incense and other things!" "

"Bah! They are all those who try to take advantage of others. When the princess came, they didn't dare to treat me like this! Now even the people who sweep the courtyard are not here!"

Bichen complained secretly, if you didn't know how to control yourself, why would you have offended everyone.

He continued to persuade: "Today is no different than in the past. Fortunately, during this year, the young lady has also added a lot of clothes, and there is no shortage of clothes for the changing seasons. The servants can do the sweeping work themselves. If you can, don't bother them. ."

Facing the hard-working Bichen, Miaoyu couldn't help but regretted: "If I had known, I would have kept those two ungrateful people, and you wouldn't have worked so hard."

After a pause, he then said: "It's late autumn now, so it's unlikely that Princess Beijing won't come all the time. Why don't you pawn a summer shirt and buy a sweeper so that you can share the burden with me."

"Miss, you must not do this!" Baochen hurriedly advised: "Now that something like this has happened to the Zhen family, it is said that the family property will be confiscated. Even if the princess comes back, I'm afraid she won't be as wealthy as before!"

Although the Zhen family's property would not be confiscated, Princess Beijing's dowry would not be confiscated. However, if her natal family is confiscated, they will have to pay at least one or two subsidies, and it is foreseeable that the dowry will shrink.There is less in the pot, and naturally there is less in the bowl. Therefore, the money given to the sesame oil is not as good as before.

When Baichen said this, Miaoyu couldn't help but think of the smell of the coarse linen shirt last summer, and she couldn't help but shudder.

"That's all! It's just hard work!"

Seeing that she had been persuaded by him, Baochen hurriedly said: "Miss! I don't know what the situation is with the princess, so I have to make plans as soon as possible! Now is the time of national filial piety, and there are many dignitaries offering incense and praying, so why not The young lady is also helping Zhiyi Zhike. If we can make friends with two more official ladies and wives, even if something happens to the princess, we won’t lose hope!"

Although the national filial piety among the people has ended, those with official positions still have more than half a year left.

Living in a concubine's house is already difficult, but now she can't have banquets with music, or even sing opera and listen to music at home.

Burning incense and worshiping Buddha are not restricted, and you can take the opportunity to relax and relax, which can be said to kill two birds with one stone.

Therefore, even those who have a nunnery at home are willing to go out to pray for blessings. Temples and nunneries in and around the capital are also very lively.

Most of these people are the female relatives of official families. Although they are not as generous as Princess Beijing, they are still more generous than ordinary people.

Eggs cannot be put in one basket.

Now that the Mani nunnery is short of people and friends, you can also do your best for the nunnery, so that you don't just eat and don't work, which makes people hate dogs.

Baichen knew very well that Miaoyu's aloof and aloof demeanor was quite in line with these people's wishes, so he made this suggestion.

As long as he can make friends with one or two more people, he will have a future, and he will not put all his hopes on Princess Beijing.

There is nothing wrong with her idea, but the former is inconvenient to speak out to Miaoyu, and the latter is inevitably a little utilitarian.

Sure enough, Miaoyu listened to her suggestion and said displeasedly: "Sincerity is the most important thing in worshiping the Buddha. Doesn't your being so utilitarian taint my sincere heart?"

Seeing that softness is not enough, he can only use hardness. Bichen hurriedly said: "Miss, think twice! You have to prepare for a rainy day, be prepared for danger in times of peace, and think about what happened last year."

After a pause, he continued: "What if something happens to the princess and she can't come over again...what should I do in the future?"

After all, Bichen didn't speak out.

It's okay if Princess Beijing doesn't come for three or two months. If things continue like this, I'm afraid Miaoyu will be in Mani Temple and people will hate her. There's no question whether the host will kick people out.

Although she didn't say it explicitly, Miaoyu was still frightened when she mentioned what happened last year, and her face became uncertain.

After struggling in his heart for a long time, he finally compromised and said: "It is late autumn now, and winter is not far away. If after this winter, there is no sign of the princess coming, I will just follow you."

"Miss! There is a shortage of people in the nunnery now. It is the right time. If we miss this opportunity, how can others be willing to let us..."

Speaking of this, Qichen stopped suddenly.

Now that the nunnery is short of knowledgeable people, it doesn't matter if Miaoyu comes forward to share the burden. If there are too many monks and too little food, who would be willing to give up his achievements to others?
However, she was afraid that her choice of words would trigger Miaoyu's rebellious psychology, which would be counterproductive, so she could only stop talking.

Fortunately, Miaoyu was not stupid. He understood what she meant and said indifferently: "Don't the national filial piety end at the beginning of May? Isn't it delayed after winter?"

…………

(End of this chapter)