Red House Shoufu

Chapter 395 Baochai's Marriage Makes Waves

Zhao Mingchuan's painting skills can be said to be difficult to describe in words, but the general appearance of the jade pendant can still be seen.

The square jade tablet had a dragon pattern on it. Lin Shu and Zhao Mingcheng looked at each other and their expressions became solemn almost at the same time, but they nodded in tacit understanding without explaining too much to Jia Baoyu and Zhao Mingchuan.

"You have to rot in your stomachs about this matter, and you can't tell anyone."

Lin Shu's solemn expression and stern warning made Zhao Mingchuan shrink his neck, and his head kept lighting up.On the contrary, Jia Baoyu still looked ignorant, Lin Shu thought about it for a while and whispered in his ear that someone wanted to harm the empress in the palace, and then he covered his mouth in horror and nodded.

The Panlong jade pendant is the standard accessory of the royal family. Regardless of whether the jade pendant is true or not, someone is provoking the relationship between the two martial arts and Princess Jiamin and the concubine Yuanchun. This matter alone is no longer up to Lin Shu and Zhao Mingcheng. .

The two sides made a simple agreement, and quickly left the West Market to find someone to discuss with each other.Not long after Lin Shu returned to Rongguo Mansion again, Jia Amnesty put on his official uniform and hurried to the palace.

However, he pretended to be angry and angry, and even complained to acquaintances he met on the road about the Qiyanghou Mansion.

As for what the emperor said, Lin Shu didn't know.But in the evening, Jia She sent someone to send a letter. While thanking Lin Shu for maintaining the reputation of Rongguo Mansion, he explained the information of this jade pendant at the end of the letter.

There are currently only two square dragon jade pendants, one worn on the body of Yizhong Prince Gao Wanjin, and the other hung on Qin Keqing's neck all the time.

As for the person who appeared in the restaurant, I don't know if it is true or not, at least there is no definite news yet.

……

"I can't take this dead cat. It actually put a dead mouse by my bed this morning!"

Lin Shu went home on leave after the morning court, and tomorrow was Wang Yuan's Jiji ceremony. After returning home, he inquired about the presents prepared by Daiyu's home, and then lay down in the yard basking in the sun.

As winter approached, Bai Jingjing regarded Lin Shu's stomach as a mat for her feet, and she lay down on his stomach to hold her hands as soon as she took off.

When Daiyu brought tea, Lin Shu was holding Bai Jingjing's neck and talking about the truth.

"My brother is messing around. What's the difference between reasoning with a cat and playing the piano with a cow?"

Lin Shu looked at Bai Jingjing's innocent round eyes, and flicked her forehead: "Bold monster, how dare you pretend you don't know! This clever ghost doesn't know anything, why didn't he let him eat my beef, why is he so early in the morning? Caught a mouse and fed it to me..."

Daiyu was so teased by Lin Shu that she almost spilled the tea in her hand on the ground.

Lin Shu put the cat on his stomach again, and asked lazily: "How is your opera business doing? I heard from Fuquan that even opera troupes from other prefectures and counties in Gyeonggi have come to buy opera books from you. Who is taking care of these things?"

"It's Sister Bao, basically operating through Xue's bookstore."

Daiyu handed a cup of tea to Lin Shu. It had been a long time since the two brothers and sisters had such a relaxed conversation.

"Brother, try my newly made scented tea."

There is a strong fragrance of flowers in the tea, and Qiuju used her petals to contribute her last strength to the flower fairy Lin Daiyu at the last time of winter.

Lin Shu tasted it and said: "Send some to my uncle and two sisters-in-law. The kang is burned in winter in the north, and it is easy to get angry. This chrysanthemum tea is suitable for clearing the fire."

"I've sent it over. Uncle has praised me for a long time."

Daiyu's smiling eyes were full of crescent moons, and she was fiddling with the tea tray on the stone table. The flame of the small stove licked the bottom of the kettle, and at the same time brought the warmth of late autumn to the siblings.

Lin Shu suddenly seemed to remember something, and asked Daiyu: "How is Miss Xue's marriage? I heard Brother Xue said before that Xue's family is being seen by the prime minister, is it settled?"

Xue Baochai is more than two years older than Daiyu, and is over sixteen this year.First, because of keeping filial piety for her father, and then because of Xue Pan, she had to postpone seeing her beloved. Every step was slow, and Daiyu was already engaged, but she hadn't found a suitable marriage yet.

Speaking of which, Lin Shu once imagined that the twelve beauties were sleeping together, but in the end he gave up this idea. Feelings are not cheap sympathy or pure desire. After choosing Wang Yuan, he has always maintained his love for this feeling. loyalty.

Of course, men still have a preference for admiring beauties. For a strange woman like Xue Baochai, Lin Shu hopes in his heart that she can have a good home.

This world is not the society where men and women were equal in the previous life. No matter how powerful Xue Baochai is, she cannot escape the fate of getting married after all.Maybe she can find a beloved man, give advice behind him, and help her future husband achieve a great career.

After hearing Lin Shu's question, Daiyu looked over curiously: "Brother always avoids things about my sisters as much as he can, why did he take the initiative to ask Sister Bao today?"

Lin Shu gave her an angry look, and said leisurely: "Second sister and third sister are our close relatives. If we get closer on weekdays, no one will say anything. But Miss Xue is an outsider after all. If I have nothing to ask about other people's affairs, why don't I ask?" Didn't you give others an excuse to talk? I'm fine, but what about Miss Xue's reputation?"

"When Sister Bao came to our house for the first time, I remember my brother collided with her in the garden..."

"so what?"

"At that time, I thought that my brother would fall in love with her at first sight, and I was worried that my brother would do something to my sister Yuan!"

Lin Shubang flicked Daiyu's forehead: "Talk about things that don't matter! Am I that kind of person?"

Daiyu covered her forehead and glared at Lin Shu.He pouted angrily and said, "Xueyan told me that you stared at Sister Bao for a long time without blinking!"

"If you are hit hard by someone, you will be dumbfounded!"

Of course, Lin Shu would not admit that he was really tempted at that time. If Daiyu, a black-hearted little padded jacket, really revealed the throbbing in her heart today, she would definitely secretly report to Wang Yuan.

He patted Daiyu's forehead again and asked: "Okay, don't say that these are all gone, tell me, can Xue's family look good for Miss Xue?"

Covering her forehead, Daiyu snorted, and then replied seriously: "Mrs. Xue originally asked Sister Feng to show Miss Xue's family, but the family has been hanging on to this matter and has not given a definite answer. Xue Qianhu almost knocked on the door, but in the end it was nothing. Cousin Lian said, wait for the next spring, and take a look at the exams in Beijing."

"Oh? And this matter? Which family is it? Brother Xue is now a fourth-rank official and a fifth-rank real-time military officer, and he is also the confidant of His Royal Highness. Which family dares to treat Miss Xue so lightly?"

"Brother also thinks it's novel, and I almost dropped my jaw when I first heard it."

Daiyu explained to Lin Shu: "It's the Zhou family of Taichang Temple. The youngest son of Zhou Sicheng is about the same age as Sister Bao. Sister Feng knows his wife. On weekdays, she often makes appointments to go to the temple to offer incense... It's a pity. ..."

"Zhou Bo, the Prime Minister of Taichang Temple?"

If someone else was mentioned, Lin Shu might not be able to remember who it was.But there is a girl in the Zhou family who is one of the popular candidates for the preliminary election.It is very likely that she will be the concubine of the fifth prince Gao Wanxuan. Of course, I don't know if she is the main concubine or the side concubine.

Daiyu nodded and continued: "Sister Feng guessed that the Zhou family disliked the Xue family's original status as an imperial merchant, and Sister Bao's reputation in the capital has not been very good in the past two years. After all, she often has to deal with family business. Come on, go in and out of shops and restaurants frequently every day..."

Although Daiyu didn't explain it clearly, Lin Shu still felt inexplicable disgust towards the Zhou family.Anyone interested in inquiring about the situation of the Xue family would praise Xue Baochai.

Her brother was a bit of a jerk before, so she had to be the leader of the family to manage the business in an orderly manner.Later, Xue Biao brothers and sisters came to Beijing, so they seldom go out and take care of widowed mothers and younger sisters at home. To be honest, if such a girl hadn't delayed the best time to get married, how could she be a little sixth-rank Taichang Temple Prime Minister? Climb up.

Still disgusted?
Taichang Temple, one of the five Dachu Temples.

There are one Qing, Shaoqing, and Cheng of Taichang Temple, four doctors, and one chief secretary, Xie Lulang, Fengli Lang, and Taizhu.

Qing is in charge of rituals and music, suburban temples, shrines, altars, and mausoleums. Shaoqing is the second, and the prime minister participates in it.There are five names of rites: auspicious rites, guest rites, military rites, honorable rites, and fierce rites.All are in charge of their institutional ceremonies.There are large temples and small temples for worship.The sacrifices, coins, jade, wine, recommended offerings, and utensils and clothes are all distinguished; the rhythm of the music, music and dance, and music are based on the system of fixed palace frames and special frames, and the sacrifices and enjoyments are divided into music and sequenced.

According to the functions of Taichang Temple, the officials of Taichang Temple really have no sense of existence except for the rituals and music of sacrifices.But I can't stand some high-minded people who always look at people with special eyes.

Zhou Bo, Lin Shu, knew a little bit about him. At the age of fifty, he was still sitting on the bench of the sixth rank of the Taichang Temple.

His wife, Niu Shi, is the concubine daughter of one of the Eight Dukes, the first-class uncle Niu Jizong of Zhen Guogong's mansion. At that time, Zhou Bo's original wife was newly mourned. married.

At that time, Zhou Bo was over 25 and six, and his eldest son was seven or eight years old. He married Niu into his family, and with the help of the Duke of Zhenguo, he moved from the eighth rank to Taichang Temple, one of the five temples.

If it was someone else, a Yue family like Zhen Guo Gongfu would naturally stick to the Niu family, not to mention flattering the Niu family, but getting along well.But Zhou Bo didn't know that his nerve was wrong, and gradually he felt that he was born as a Jinshi, how could he be attached to the Wuxun family, and his relationship with the Niu family was gradually alienated.

Moreover, when Niu was pregnant with Liujia, Zhou Bo kept his concubine outside, and the old man almost didn't let the old man lead someone to beat him to death.If it weren't for Niu's scruples about the two children, he would have reconciled with them long ago.

Because it was related to Gao Wanxuan's marriage, Lin Shu specially sent Wang Lun to investigate the Zhou family.To be honest, he still knows Guochao Qingliu very well. Although most people are not good at practical affairs, they are still quite good in moral conduct.

The only thing I dislike is Zhou Bo, who looks so lofty but is actually full of thieves and prostitutes.

Lin Shu once told the prince Gao Wancheng about the Zhou family, and questioned why Zongzheng Temple would choose him as the princess of the fifth son Gao Wanxuan if the girl of the Zhou family had such a father.

Gao Wancheng once told him that it was Niu Jizong who begged the emperor himself, which gave the Zhou family a place in the general election.Otherwise, Guang Zhoubo's reputation would not have given him the possibility to become the prince's father-in-law.

Lin Shu briefly explained the situation of the Zhou family to Daiyu, and concluded that it might be a good thing for the Xue family not to marry the Zhou family.Otherwise, with people like Zhou Bo acting as father-in-law, Xue Baochai would have vomited to death.

Daiyu nodded in agreement: "I heard Mammy talk about this, and I also persuaded Sister Bao in the same way. Sister Bao didn't have much reaction to this unconsummated marriage. She said that it would be better to stay alone than to marry into such a family." Feel comfortable at home."

This is in line with Xue Baochai's character, and Lin Shu suddenly thought of a good candidate: "Yu'er, do you think Brother Lin and Miss Xue are suitable?"

"Didn't it mean that Lin's elder brother's father appointed a girl from the Bai family in Jinling for him?" Daiyu asked suspiciously.

Lin Shu sighed: "Because of helping our family, the Lin family had a great conflict with the Zhen family. The Bai family is an ally of the Zhen family, so Brother Lin's marriage has long been cancelled."

Speaking of it, Lin Deze is absolutely benevolent enough. In order to help Lin Shu use the "kylin auspiciousness" to design the Zhen family, he not only recruited a lot of people, but also completely offended the Zhen family and the Bai family, and even lost his engaged fiancée.

Originally, Lin Shu planned to find an opportunity to repay Lin Deze, but unfortunately he has been busy for more than a year, and it has been delayed until today.

Although the Lin family was not as wealthy as the Xue family, but Lin Deze was born in the top tier, and he was a good match for Xue Baochai. If the two could be matched, it would be a very good marriage.

Of course, this matter depends on the fate between Xue Baochai and Lin Deze!
After listening to Lin Shu's explanation, Daiyu frowned and said: "The Lin family is also a wealthy merchant in the south of the Yangtze River, so naturally they don't dislike the Xue family's background as a businessman. The elder brother of the Lin family is indeed a man with both ability and political integrity, but..."

"But what?"

After hesitating for a moment, Daiyu sighed and said: "My sister, Guanbao, seems to have a lover in her heart, and she is quite resistant to marriage."

"There is such a thing? Who is it?" Lin Shu asked in surprise.

Daiyu nodded: "Nine times out of ten, although I haven't really asked, but sister Bao... I can't say anything about it, brother, don't ask."

Daiyu suddenly glared at Lin Shu, stopped the topic and said nothing more.Lin Shu thought it was Daiyu who didn't want to talk about her sisters. Although she regretted the fate, she also cared about Daiyu's emotions, so she found an excuse to change the topic.

After Xueyan said that the clerk of the Ministry of Industry had come to invite Lin Shu to go to the Yamen, he handed Bai Jingjing who was snoring on her stomach to Daiyu, got up and went to the room to change into an official uniform and went out.

Xueyan hesitated for a moment and asked, "Why didn't the girl make it clear to the uncle?"

Daiyu stroked the cat in her arms, and replied decisively: "What are you talking about? Compared with Sister Bao, I am naturally more inclined to Sister Yuan. My brother obviously had a heartbeat that day, but later he suppressed his desire forcibly."

She sighed: "Besides, it's not like you don't know your brother's character. When will you change your mind about what you have decided? Brother Lin is a close friend of brother. If you really match up sister Bao and brother Lin, will you be happy in the future?" So let the elder brother have a conflict with the elder brother of the Lin family? Lin family, we still have to use it!"

(End of this chapter)