serious man in the red chamber

Chapter 315 Mid-Autumn Festival

It's the Mid-Autumn Festival again. This year's Mid-Autumn Festival is a bit embarrassing. The emperor has died, or two of his sons. All the officials seemed to have agreed upon it and did not make any big plans.

In the past few years, the imperial court has been deploying troops in the north. Jia Hu almost always led troops on expeditions in spring and summer, returning home in the twelfth lunar month, and never celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival at home.

This year, Jia Rong is still in charge. The watermelon mooncakes were delivered early in the morning and are now being distributed in the front yard to all the brothers in Beijing.

At this moment, Lai Sheng rushed over excitedly and said hello to Jia Rong, "Sir, it has been spread outside. Before his death, the chief assistant advised the emperor to make the head of the family the king of Beining County!"

Jia Rong was delighted: "Is there such a thing?"

Lai Sheng smiled and replied: "Lin Zhixiao went to the Grand Master's Courtyard to inquire about the news."

Before he finished speaking, Lin Zhixiao hurried over.

Jia Rong asked Lin Zhixiao anxiously: "How is it? What did the lord say?"

Lin Zhixiao gasped: "The eldest master is out."

Jia Rong: "."

Lin Zhixiao continued: "It just so happens that Second Master Lian came back from outside to announce the good news. The cabinet has already drafted the imperial edict for the promotion. We are just waiting for the Qianqing Palace to use the seal."

"Don't tell me sooner."

Jia Rong glared at him, then turned to Lai Sheng: "You watch here. I'll go in and report the news." After saying that, he quickly ran towards the second door.

At this time, dinner was being served in the backyard of Ning'an Hall.

There were more than a dozen bowls of various dishes on the ebony dining table.

The main seat was empty, Lin Daiyu and Xichun sat on the left, Xiangyun, Baoqin and Xing Xiuyan, who came to deliver mooncakes to Lin Daiyu, sat on the right.

The big maids such as Zicuckoo, Xueyan, Ruhua, Cuixi and others stood aside to serve.

In the distance, a maid is holding a whisk, a bowl, and a handkerchief.

The housekeeper's wife and maids were standing outside, but not even a cough was heard.

Without Jia Hu, everyone just acted like ladies and ate in silence.

After a while, Lin Daiyu put down her chopsticks, and Xiangyun, Xichun, Baoqin, and Xing Xiuyan also put down their chopsticks.

After waiting for a moment, Zijuan winked at the maids.

The little maids brought tea in small tea trays. Lin Daiyu took the tea and rinsed her mouth. Then she washed her hands and said, "Let's go to the Nuan Pavilion to talk." Then she said to Zicuckoo, "You should take advantage of the opportunity and eat some too. The taste is still good. good."

Zijuan responded with a "yes" and asked the little maid to put the food on the small dining table in the side hall.

While joking, a few people came to the Nuan Pavilion, and saw a jade strip basin in the Nuan Pavilion, with a circle of sweet-scented osmanthus planted in it. The fragrance was sweet and refreshing.

Baoqin smiled and said: "Can this flower be planted like this?"

"It's warm in this house and the sun is good. If you pour some water, it will take a few days to get wet." As she said this, Lin Daiyu sat down on the chair where she usually sat.

Xiangyun said with a smile: "Where there is no chance of defeat, Mrs. Lin will bring people to replace it with newly picked flowers before dawn."

Lin Daiyu listened and said with a smile: "You are so used to telling these truths, which makes you smart." Everyone who spoke laughed.

Xichun pulled Lin Daiyu to the side and said, "Sister Lin, how will you celebrate this festival this year?"

Lin Daiyu: "The mandarin ducks came here early in the morning. We went to the garden to have dinner with the queen, and in the evening we watched the moon in Jiayintang." Turning to Xiangyun, "You are not allowed to light lanterns this year, let alone set off fireworks."

After hearing this, Xiangyun was greatly disappointed and said, "The prince in the palace has passed away. Why can't we celebrate the festival in a lively way? This is too overbearing!"

Xing Xiuyan, who was drinking tea silently on the side, spoke up: "Sister was born in Hou Mengong's mansion, how could he know the cruelty of this world. A low-ranking official can destroy a family with just one word or look, let alone the head of a country. .Be careful and you won’t make a big mistake!”

Baoqin smiled and said: "This reminds me of something. My brother wrote a letter, and they returned to Jinling from the west coast. On the way back, they witnessed a naval battle. The Guangdong navy and the Xiyi people The navy started fighting on the sea."

Xiangyun became energetic and asked urgently: "Who won?"

Bao Qin: "Of course the Guangdong Navy won."

Xiangyun's eyes lit up: "So awesome!"

Baoqin smiled and said: "Otherwise, why do you think our ship can go to the coast of the West China Sea to do business? When I was eight years old, I followed my father to the coast of the West China Sea to buy foreign goods, whether they were local natives or Xiyi people. People from the Zhou Dynasty must be courteous when they see us. My brother heard someone say that because the officers and soldiers of the Xiyi Navy extorted our merchant ships, the Guangdong Navy went south to fight with them. This is called overbearing!"

"When did your brother return to Jinling?" Lin Daiyu suddenly asked.Baoqin: "Twenty last month. What's wrong?"

Lin Daiyu didn't answer, just nodded.

At this moment, Wang Xifeng's laughter came from outside: "Sister Lin, sister Lin, I'm here to congratulate you!" As he said this, he walked in.

You and Qin Keqing's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law also came.

Wang Xifeng came over and pulled Lin Daiyu: "Good sister, how should you thank me for such a happy event?"

Lin Daiyu smiled: "Where do you start talking about this?"

Qin Keqing smiled hurriedly and said, "If Auntie doesn't tell me, I will."

Youshi also smiled and said: "That's almost enough. Qian'er shamelessly ordered baskets of mink skins, and he's still not satisfied!"

Wang Xifeng glanced at her and smiled at Lin Daiyu: "Promise me something and I will tell you."

Lin Daiyu smiled faintly: "You tell me first and see how I feel."

Wang Xifeng: "It's not a big deal. It's my birthday on the second day of next month. The old lady said she wanted to celebrate my birthday. I want you to help me."

After hearing this, Youshi smiled and scolded: "You are not afraid of losing your life."

These words made everyone confused and looked at Wang Xifeng.

Wang Xifeng cleared her throat and said: "Second Master Lian just came back to announce the good news. He said that before his death, the chief minister advised the emperor to make our second master the king of Beining County. The cabinet has already drafted the imperial edict for the promotion, and we are waiting. The Qianqing Palace has used the seal."

At this moment, the loud sound of firecrackers rang out in the front yard!

Everyone was startled for a moment, then came to their senses and understood that the imperial edict had arrived.

"Ah~"

Xichun became excited, "My brother has made me the king, and I am the sister of the county king." Then he said to Lin Daiyu, "Sister Lin, you will be the princess from now on!"

Before he finished speaking, Lai Sheng's family hurried in: "Miss Lin, the second master has been crowned king. The imperial edict has arrived at Ning'an Hall, and Manager Dai is waiting for you to receive it!"

"I" Lin Daiyu was so shocked that she couldn't believe her ears.

Youshi came to her senses and said hurriedly: "Your name is on the ancestral certificate of the clan, and you must be sent to receive the order." Then he asked Laisheng's family, "Where is the old lady?"

Lai Shengjia: "I've already gone to invite you."

Youshi nodded: "Let's walk slowly and wait for the old lady to come with us." Then he turned his eyes to Wang Xifeng and said, "Let's come together."

Wang Xifeng smiled and said, "Okay. I'll go and help you gain courage and see the world along the way." After saying that, he and You helped Lin Daiyu and walked out.

Contrary to the sunny Beijing, Qiqihar is covered with dark clouds.

A huge military camp appeared outside Qiqihar Tucheng, and bursts of cheerful music came from the camp.

I saw the soldiers sitting in huge circles, and several Mongolian girls in costumes were dancing in the open space in the middle.

To the cheerful tune, the girls danced Mongolian dance, which dazzled everyone.
In front of the Chinese military tent

Accompanied by Eunuch Zhao and others, Jia Hu sat cross-legged on a tiger-skin mattress. The low table in front of them was filled with large plates of beef and mutton, horse milk wine, and food captured from the Rakshasa people.

Several luxuriously dressed Rakshasa ladies were performing ballet, either "Swan Lake" of course, or European classical dance.

After the dance, Lin San, who served as the temporary host, shouted loudly: "The following is Nicholas, the Governor of Eastern Siberia!"

Everyone looked at it, and a fat man wearing a wig and robe walked over, and then started twisting along with Qule.

Eunuch Zhao spat a mouthful of kumiss on the ground, and then burst into laughter.

Everyone laughed except Jia Hu.

A glimmer of cold light quickly flashed in Nicholas's eyes, and in an instant he returned to his smile and twisted even harder.

Jia Hu saw it and just smiled.

Three days ago, the Zhou army broke through Qiqihar, killed more than [-] Rakshasa bandits, captured more than [-] people, and captured Nicholas, the governor of Eastern Siberia alive.

Some people followed Ivanov and fled into the Greater Khingan Mountains.
(End of this chapter)