The famous book tour starting from the Red House

Chapter 31 First Entering the East Palace

Sitting in the carriage, Lin Daiyu looked at Mu Xu on the horse through the curtain of the carriage, somehow reminded her of the first time she came to Beijing.

At that time, I had just left my father, and I was always careful not to take a wrong step. Now it has been more than two years, but my mood is very different from that time.

Zijuan has always been calm, sitting quietly with her young lady.Xueyan was younger, looked at the street outside the carriage, and asked curiously, "Girl, do you know what the palace looks like? This is the first time I've been to the palace when I grow up."

Lin Daiyu was not annoyed when Xue Yan's words interrupted her thoughts. After listening to her innocent words, she smiled and said, "You have been with me since you were a child. You have never been there. Can I still go there?"

Seeing Xueyan's curious look, she explained, "I have read the history books of the founding of this dynasty, and those mansions were built there."

Seeing that Zijuan was also listening carefully, she simply explained the differences between the palaces and the palaces to the two of them.At the end, he added, "Thinking about it, the Dongping Palace is roughly the same as the Rongguo Mansion, but the regulations are higher."

While talking, the carriage stopped.Only the voice of Mu Xu ordering his servants to open the side door of the palace came from outside.Lin Daiyu remembered that when she first entered Jia's mansion, she walked through the corner gate, and she was both moved and sad.

What was touching was that Mu Xu was able to take into account his own identity and opened the side door of the palace.What's sad is that, as his own family's natal family, he let a lady from an official family walk down the corner door where people come in and out.

It would be fine if the Jia Mansion had strict rules, but when Xue's family went to Beijing, they opened the front door to greet them. You must know that the door of the Duke's mansion is usually only opened when receiving the emperor's imperial edict.

But the Rongguo Mansion let the relatives from outside the eighth road go, but let their serious relatives go to the corner door, which made their Lin family feel so embarrassed.Of course, she also understood in her heart that this matter had nothing to do with her grandmother, and she knew very well who did it.

Lin Daiyu was sensitive and was thinking wildly when the carriage had already arrived outside the second gate of the palace.

Mu Xu came to the side of the carriage and said, "Sister Shi, I have arrived at the second gate, please come down and take a sedan chair."

Look at Lin Daiyu, supported by Zijuan and Xueyan, got out of the carriage, and got into the sedan chair again.Mu Xu asked Hongxiu who was next to him to pick up the guests, "Where are you going?"

Hong Xiu replied, "Go directly to the concubine, the concubine is already waiting there."

After the sedan chair came to the inner courtyard, I got off the sedan chair, walked for a while, and arrived at Songhe Hall.

Since the little girl opened the curtain, Lin Daiyu followed Mu Xu into the room.

Looking up, there is an old lady with silver hair sitting on the couch above, and a noble lady in a palace dress sitting on the side seat under the couch.Lin Daiyu thought to herself, this is the dowager and princess of Dongping County Prince's Mansion.

She didn't dare to be negligent, and stepped forward to salute, "Ms. Lin has seen the concubine, the concubine."

Concubine Zhang is also well-informed, it was the first time she saw a little girl with such a mark, and she immediately fell in love with her, and before Princess Changning could speak, she said repeatedly, "Yo, what a pretty little girl, hurry up stand up."

When Lin Daiyu got up, she asked Chuntao to help her and sit beside her.Holding Daiyu's hand, she said to Princess Changning, "I haven't seen such a beautiful little girl for many years, just like a fairy girl walking out of a painting."

Princess Changning said, "Mother can see that a newcomer is better than an old one. When Miss Lin came, she forgot about us."

Lin Daiyu said shyly, "The concubine is absurd."

Concubine Zhang said to Princess Changning with a smile, "You are not shy, now you are having dry jealousy with a little girl, and you are not afraid that Xu'er will laugh at you."

Princess Changning cast a glance at her son who was sitting upright, and said with a smile, "If you brat dares to laugh at his mother, let me see if I don't pull his ears."

Hearing what she said, Mu Xu hurriedly covered his ears.

Seeing their mother and child interacting like this made Concubine Zhang and all the maids laugh, and Lin Daiyu felt relieved.

Then Concubine Zhang asked Lin Daiyu, "How long have you been in Beijing?"

Lin Daiyu replied, "It's been two and a half years."

Concubine Zhang asked again, "Are you still used to the weather in Beijing?"

Lin Daiyu replied, "I wasn't used to winter when I first came here, but it's much better now."

Looking at her slightly thin body, Princess Changning also asked concerned, "Last time I heard Xu'er say that you are not in good health, how are you doing now?"

Lin Daiyu bowed back and said, "I would like to thank the princess for sending the imperial doctor to treat me last time. I am much better now."

Princess Changning waved her hand, "You just call me aunt, your mother and I are handkerchiefs, you just feel free in our house."

Seeing Lin Daiyu nodding, Princess Changning asked again, "I heard Xuer say that your birthday is the Flower Festival?"

"Yes, it's the Huachao Festival." Lin Daiyu responded, and cast a slight glance at Mu Xu, wondering how he knew my birthday?

Mu Xu saw Lin Daiyu glance at himself, and his heart was in a daze. When did I tell my mother this, why don't I remember.

Princess Changning ignored her son and started talking to her mother-in-law and Lin Daiyu.

Mu Xu couldn't bear to listen to a group of women gossiping, so he sank his mind and began to observe the orb in his mind.

Suddenly felt someone tugging on his sleeve, turned his head to look, and saw Luliu standing next to him, and couldn't help but look at her curiously.

Concubine Zhang and the others burst into laughter seeing his bewildered look, and even Lin Daiyu covered her mouth and laughed.She also didn't expect that this seemingly serious son would have such a side in private.

Seeing everyone laughing, Mu Xu became more and more puzzled, and it was Luliu who helped him out with a smile, "My lord, the princess asks you, do you still have to go to the yamen tomorrow?"

After hearing this, Mu Xu came to his senses, and said to his mother, "You don't need to go there for a few days, the yamen building over there is a bit dilapidated, it's being repaired for a few days, I've ordered someone to watch it, so there's no need to go there."

Princess Changning nodded, "That's fine, you escort me and Miss Lin out of the city tomorrow morning, to Chong'en Temple, and light a lamp for Min'er."

Mu Xu nodded and agreed, "Yes, I understand."

Seeing that Lin Daiyu was wiping her tears with a handkerchief, and thinking of her mother again, Mu Xu hurriedly persuaded, "Lin Shimei, it's better not to be too sad, I think Aunt Jia also wishes you to be safe and happy in the spirit of heaven."

Lin Daiyu thanked with tears in her eyes, "Thank you for your concern."

When Mu Xu heard her calling her son again, she couldn't help saying, "Didn't I say it last time, you just call me brother, don't be so polite."

Watching Mu Xu talking to Lin Daiyu, Concubine Zhang slightly nodded to Princess Changning.Princess Changning also responded with a smile, watching Mu Xu and Lin Daiyu being polite.

Mu Xu and Lin Daiyu talked for a long time, and found that everyone was silent and looked at the two of them.Feeling that the atmosphere was a bit weird, Mu Xu coughed and sat up slightly.Lin Daiyu also blushed slightly, turned her head away.

Seeing that the two were a little embarrassed, Concubine Zhang took the initiative to make a rescue, "Chuntao, go to the kitchen and see if lunch is ready?"

Then he said to Daiyu, "I know you grew up in Yangzhou, and there happened to be a master who can cook Huaiyang cuisine in the mansion. If you try it later, will you still be authentic?"

Daiyu was really moved, and she quickly thanked Concubine Zhang and Princess Changning.

While talking, Chuntao came to report that the lunch was ready, and Concubine Zhang ordered it to be served now.

After several people had a meal of Huaiyang cuisine together, Princess Changning saw that Daiyu looked tired, and immediately ordered Hongxiu to take Daiyu's master and servant to Qingyi courtyard to rest.

Fearing that it would not be good for her to go back and take a rest, she told Daiyu, "Don't take a nap for now after dinner, just walk around the yard slowly."

Daiyu was very grateful.Then, under the leadership of Hongxiu, went with Zijuan and Xueyan.

When Daiyu left, Mu Xu also took his leave, leaving Concubine Zhang and his mother-in-law to talk.

Watching Mu Xu walk out of the room, Concubine Zhang took the tea from Chuntao, took a sip, and said to Princess Changning with a smile, "From today's perspective, Xu'er treats Miss Lin a little differently."

Princess Changning asked, "What does mother mean?"

Concubine Zhang thought for a moment, then said, "I also like this little girl very much, she is handsome and polite, but she is a little weaker."

Hearing what her mother-in-law said, Princess Changning nodded slightly, "I don't have any objection if Lin girl is assigned to Xu'er, but I still have to talk to his father."

"As for her body, it's a problem. I'll see the imperial doctor in a few days and see if she can be recuperated."

"Very true, but don't be in a hurry, first try Xu'er's tone before speaking." Concubine Zhang paused, then said,

"But I'm not at ease with the Jia family."

Princess Changning naturally understood what her mother-in-law meant, she thought for a while, and said, "This is easy to handle, last time that little Wang came to our house, didn't mother like her very much?"

"At that time, I will say that my mother wants to talk to her and invite her to come to our house. We will know as soon as we ask."

Concubine Zhang had some doubts, "If we ask her like this, will she tell the truth?"

Princess Changning nodded firmly, and said with a smile, "Did Mother forget that Jia Lian is working under Xu'er now?"

Concubine Zhang was stunned, and said with a smile, "Then do this."

Then the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law wentssip again, and Princess Changning left after Concubine Zhang went to rest.

(End of this chapter)