serious man in the red chamber

Chapter 280 February [-]th

On the twelfth day of the second month in the fourth year of Jianwu, it was only the fourth watch, and all the lanterns and torches inside and outside the Gongyuan were lit, and the light was as bright as day.

Under the high wall outside the gate of the Gongyuan, there are guards with guns and knives standing at three steps and one post. The surrounding streets are even more full of soldiers and horses. In the distance, there are guards and waterwheels from Shuntian Prefecture.

"Wake up. Don't sleep anymore, the second game will start soon!"

An invigilator beat a gong and walked past the test room, and then faint candlelight was lit in the test rooms.

In the duty room of the Gongyuan, Zhao Zixun was sitting on the chair in the middle with his eyes slightly closed. A lacquer tray was placed on the incense table behind him. The tube contained examination questions written by the emperor himself.

"Squeak!"

Jia Zheng pushed the door open, walked up to Zhao Zixun lightly, and called softly, "Old Zhao Ge."

"Huh?" Zhao Zixun slowly opened his eyes.

Jia Zheng: "It's almost time, we can break down the second exam questions."

"Oh?"

Zhao Zixun took out a gold watch from his pocket, took a look at it, then got up and replied: "No, just wait a little longer." He walked to the door and stood still, looking at the shining light in the night sky, and looked at it for a long time. He breathed a sigh of relief, "Brother Cun Zhou, after this big exam, you should be promoted to the Minister of Guanglu Temple. You are the third grade, how many officials with professional backgrounds can't cross the hurdle in their lifetime. This is all the grace of the emperor!" !"

Jia Zheng didn't answer, but turned his eyes to the gold watch in Zhao Zixun's hand, muttering in his heart: This looks familiar.I seem to have seen it somewhere!

Zhao Zixun turned his head to look at Jia Zheng: "Brother Cun Zhou?" Seeing him staring blankly at the gold watch in his hand, he was startled for a moment, and hastily put the gold watch into his pocket.

Only then did Jia Zheng come back to his senses, and smiled awkwardly: "I was distracted by what the old man said. Jia's family has received the emperor's kindness beyond words. Only be cautious and careful. Do your best to repay the situation with a picture."

Zhao Zixun stared at Jia Zheng for a while, and then said: "Mr. Ning Guo can't say such a thing." After speaking, he smiled and said to Jia Zheng, "Clean your hands." The copper basin went.

Zhao Zixun and Jia Zheng washed their hands in the copper basin, then bowed deeply to the incense table,
Stepping forward, he took down the small bright yellow paint tube in the middle with both hands. Zhao Zixun slowly took it apart, looked at it and handed it to Jia Zheng.

Jia Zheng took the test question with both hands, looked at it, and walked out quickly.

Watching him go out, Zhao Zixun went back to the chair and sat down, subconsciously touched the gold watch in his arms, and a wry smile came to the corner of his mouth. He took a few candidates with him, and when he thought of Jia Hu's promise to persuade the chief assistant to recommend him to help him preside over the cabinet, his heart immediately became hot.

The health of the first assistant is getting worse and worse. As long as he speaks, the emperor must give three points of face. Even if he can't compete with Wang Hetang in the future, he will be the second assistant. With Jia Hu's support, the power in his hand will not be lower than that of Wang Hetang. .

Thinking of Jia Hu's words again, Zhao Zixun's heart beat wildly. He definitely knew the exam questions in advance, so there was no need to guess, Dai Quan must have been involved.

Thinking of this, he sighed deeply, hoping that nothing unexpected would happen.

At this time, a bell rang outside the door, and the second exam officially started.

The sun is very good today, Ningrong Street is very lively, the street is still full of stalls, but this time people are crowded in front of Ningguo Mansion.

Jia Rong and Lai Sheng were leading the stewards and scattered copper coins stained with red paper, attracting onlookers to loot them.

Suddenly there was the sound of horseshoes and squeaking wheels, and a carriage turned into Ning Rong Street.

Jia Rong looked up, the carriage stopped on the street, the driver put on his whip, jumped down from the front of the car, opened the curtain of the car, and saw a boy with braids jumping out, followed by An old woman in a coarse cotton padded jacket is Grandma Liu and her grandson Ban'er.

Looking at the tall archway in front of her, Grandma Liu led the board and walked towards Ningguo Mansion, followed by the coachman driving the carriage.

Jia Rong had already recognized Grandma Liu and brought Lai Sheng to welcome her.

Grandma Liu let go of the board and rushed forward: "Greetings to Uncle Xiao Rong!"

Jia Rong stretched out her hand to help her, and said with a smile, "You are welcome. Why don't you send someone to let me know in advance, so that we can have someone go to Guang'anmen to welcome you."

Grandma Liu: "Wanping is just at the foot of the capital, and I will be there in a short time by carriage. How can I ask someone to meet me?"

Jia Rong glanced at the carriage behind her with a smile, and asked, "Why do you always get off the carriage on the street?"

Grandma Liu said solemnly: "Before coming here, Ban'er's father specifically told him that it would be disrespectful to ride in a sedan chair in front of Second Master's gate, so he got off the car and walked over on the street."

Jia Rong nodded with a satisfied smile, then looked at Ban'er standing aside, and said with a smile: "Hey! Ban'er has grown so tall? He has gained a lot of weight."

Grandma Liu smiled and said: "Thanks to the second master, life is going well now. There are two dry meals a day, and there are fish and meat. Everyone in the family has gained a lot of weight." Jia Rong: "In the first lunar month, the second master mentioned something when we had dinner at our house, and I kept it in my heart. I thought about coming to pay my respects to Miss Lin's birthday, and then to the old lady, wife, aunt and girls.

Nothing good, just a few side dishes I pickled, bad goose feet and duck letters, the second master said the taste was not bad, so I brought some.And some bolts of cloth that my daughter wove herself. "

Jia Rong nodded, and said to Lai Sheng: "Have someone send the things to the second uncle's yard, and arrange for the driver to eat." Then she smiled and said to Grandma Liu: "The old lady, the lady, they are all in the garden, I will lead you first." Always go to the meeting hall." After saying that, he gave up his hand and led Grandma Liu and Ban'er towards the door.

Green buds sprouted from the tree branches in the Grand View Garden, and the crabapple in Lin Daiyu's courtyard was revived. The two cranes were dancing under the tree, attracting the eyes of the busy maid.

There were bursts of talking and laughing in the main room. After breakfast, Mother Jia came over without taking a break. At this time, she was joking with Sister Yingchun and Li Wan and Wang Xifeng who came to serve.

While talking and laughing, Aunt Xue rushed over and smiled as soon as she entered the door: "The old lady didn't tell anyone today, she came here privately, and asked me to make a detour."

Jia Mu laughed and said, "I ate early today. I'm afraid I'll delay your meal, so I don't allow anyone to tell you to go."

Wang Xifeng was in the side hall watching the daughter-in-law in charge of the Ningguo Mansion counting the piles of birthday presents. Hearing this, she walked over with a smile: "Auntie also said that I went to invite you just now. It was a waste of time."

Aunt Xue said with a smile: "It's my fault, I let you go for nothing."

Wang Xifeng still wanted to talk, but Mother Jia said: "My aunt, sit down quickly, let's talk for a while, don't talk to her."

At this time, Mrs. Xing and Mrs. Wang came in, greeted Jia Mu first, glanced inside, and asked with a smile: "The eldest girl hasn't come out yet?"

Before he could say a word, he heard footsteps in the room, Yuanyang came out and laughed, "Miss Lin has come out!"

Everyone looked around.

There was a burst of talking and laughing, and then the Yingchun sisters came out surrounded by Lin Daiyu. Lin Daiyu was wearing a light purple embroidered plum blossom sleeveless jacket, a white collared jacket, and a white pleated skirt embroidered with green calyx plum blossoms. .There is a small hanging bun on her head, a white bead hairpin inserted in the bun, a small burnt blue phoenix, and a few small burnt blue flowers. She is very plain and quiet.

Mother Jia and the others were slightly taken aback. Isn't this how Lin Daiyu first entered Jia's mansion two years ago?

Mrs. Xing glanced at Lin Daiyu, then at Jia Hu who was following behind, then turned to Jia Mu with a smile and said, "Next year you should wear scarlet."

These words touched Jia Mu's heart, she gave her a glance of admiration, and then looked lovingly at Lin Daiyu who came over.

Wang Momo put a kneeling mat in front of Jia Mu, and Lin Daiyu came over with a shy smile, and knelt down to perform the birthday ceremony for Jia Mu.

Jia Mu smiled and said, "Get up quickly." Pulling Lin Daiyu to look carefully, she nodded in satisfaction, and then looked at Jia Hu: "Aren't you going to kowtow to me?"

Jia Hu was taken aback, it wasn't my birthday! ! !
(End of this chapter)