serious man in the red chamber

Chapter 318

Heavy snow is falling down one after another.

Ningrong Street is still very lively, with people coming and going. There are sheds and umbrellas set up beside the street. There are vegetable vendors, grocery sellers, wonton stalls, sesame cake stalls and steaming steamed buns. There are shouts one after another.

Everyone passing by Ningrong Street will subconsciously glance at the majestic five-room animal-headed gate.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, Yang Jian, the right minister of the Ministry of Industry, personally supervised the work and spent a month building this magnificent gate.

The south side of the palace has five rooms and three doors, with two more side doors than the Duke's palace. The middle door is closed tightly, and the side doors on both sides are open during the day. They are guarded by eight soldiers to maintain the majesty of the palace.

The officer on guard was walking around in front of the gate with a sword in hand, looking back and forth from time to time.

The sound of horse hooves and squeaking wheels came from the street corner.

The officer on duty quickly cast his gaze away.

A blue-topped carriage drove up the street, followed by a large cart with boxes and cages.

There was a woman and two teenage girls sitting in the carriage. The woman had a dignified posture and the girl had delicate features. The three of them sat there quietly.

At this time, the girl sitting in the north couldn't help opening the thick car curtains, and a gust of cold wind immediately blew a lot of snowflakes in.

The mother and daughter were all shivering and looked at the heavy snow falling outside the carriage.

The girl spoke: "Mom, this is the palace of the prince! Isn't my sister's house the palace of the Duke of Guo?"

Looking at the five characters "Beining County Prince's Mansion" on the plaque, the woman was slightly startled. She had been to Rongguo Mansion in the early years. At that time, it was still Ningguo Mansion next to it. Could it be that the success had been defeated?
Just as he was thinking about it, the carriage arrived at Rongguo Mansion, and the woman spoke: "This is your sister's house."

The girl looked at the five characters "Edict to build Rongguo Mansion" on the plaque, thought for a while, and then asked: "Why don't we go to my uncle's house instead of my sister's house?"

The woman sighed, how could she, a widow, take her daughter to seek refuge with her uncle?
Besides, her brother-in-law is a rotten scholar and is very indifferent to his family, and his sister-in-law is not a warm-hearted person either. The couple may not keep their mother and daughter here forever.

Her niece is not bad, and the Mrs. Rongguo Mansion is a gentle and kind elder, so she will definitely leave them orphans and widowed mothers.

In addition to visiting relatives and friends, she had another most important reason for going to Beijing this time. Her two daughters were approaching their prime years, so she took them to Beijing to see the world and find marriage.There are also many princes and nobles in the Jia family. As long as you are not greedy, there will always be someone suitable.

The carriage stopped in front of the west corner gate of Rongguo Mansion. The boys looked at it, but for a moment they couldn't tell where the other party was coming from.

The driver was an old man. He jumped down from the front of the car, brushed off the snow on his body, stepped forward and said with a smile: "Can someone please help me pass a message to the Madam?" After that, he took out a bag from his sleeve. The greeting card is presented with both hands.

At this time, an old man inside the door recognized him: "But someone from the Li family in Jinling is here?" He said and walked out quickly.

The old man smiled quickly and replied: "Yes. Come and see my aunt and young cousin." Then he looked at the carriage again.

The old man understood, took the greeting card, and said to the servants: "This is Grandma Zhu's mother's house, please open the door quickly." Then he turned to the old man, "I will ask someone to send the greeting card to the old lady's room. "After that, he walked in quickly.

After hearing this, the boys quickly helped drive the carriage in.

This mother and daughter are Li Wan's aunt and cousin.

A burst of crackling sounds came from Lin Daiyu's courtyard, making the courtyard even more empty and silent.

A few sparrows were looking for food on the snow in the courtyard. A handful of rice was scattered on the snow not far away. There was a bamboo basket upside down, held up by a small wooden stick, and a rope was tied to the wooden stick. The rope was very tight. Long, extending all the way to the bottom of the plantain.

After autumn, Lin Daiyu asked someone to build a nest for the two cranes and placed them under the plantains.

At this time, Xiangyun was squatting under the plantains, wearing a white fox cloak and a snow cap on her head, staring closely at the sparrows, while the other end of the rope was held in her hand.

Cuixi on the side was holding a green silk oil umbrella and staring at the sparrows.

Two cranes were hiding in their nests, tilting their heads and looking at Xiangyun with their four small eyes like fools.

After a while, two sparrows finally came to eat under the bamboo basket.

"Girl, pull it quickly!" Cuixi reminded in a low voice.

Xiangyun did not look back: "Don't worry, I will catch them all!"

Cuixi pursed her lips: "Yesterday you said you would catch them all, but in the end you didn't catch any of them."

Xiangyun blushed: "Shut your crow's mouth!"

Cui Wei: "Oh. Hey, we're in, we're all in."

Xiangyun's eyes lit up.At this time, the courtyard door was pushed open with a bang.

Xiangyun and Cuilu raised their heads in shock.

Jia Lan rushed in excitedly and shouted: "Aunt Lin, my mother asked me to bring you something." He walked to the bamboo basket and paused, "Who puts a basket in the courtyard? What if someone trips? good?"

"Ah! Lan Xiaozi~"

Only then did Xiangyun come back to his senses, then he opened his eyes and walked over step by step.
Jia Lan subconsciously took two steps back, then reacted, turned around and ran out, "Aunt Yun, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do it."

Xiangyun smiled and said: "Run slowly, be careful if you slip and lose your teeth."

"Ouch~" Jialan's scream came from outside the door.

"Boy Lan!" Xiangyun was startled and ran out in a hurry.

It turned out that Jia Lan panicked and bumped into Su Yun.

Suyun held Jia Lan's hand and called several women to come over carrying two boxes and cages.

Xiangyun glared at Jialan and asked Suyun, "What are you doing?"

Su Yun let go of Jia Lan, walked up to salute, and replied with a smile: "Our grandma's family has a visitor. This is a gift brought from Jinling. Grandma ordered me to accompany Lan Geer to deliver it to Miss Lin and Miss Lin."

Xiangyun smiled and nodded, "It's windy outside, sister, please go in first."

Without saying a word, Lin Daiyu walked out surrounded by a group of steward wives and asked, "Why do you say Brother Lan fell down?"

Jia Lan quickly replied: "Aunt Lin, I didn't fall!"

Xiangyun smiled and nodded at him: "I love you in vain. Your mother will punish you tomorrow. Don't pretend to be pitiful."

Jialan blushed and was about to speak.

Suyun continued: "Our grandma has taken my cousin to visit the empress. She will be here soon."

Lin Daiyu smiled slightly: "Here we come."

Everyone looked around and saw Li Wan walking with the woman on his arm, followed closely by the two girls.

At this moment, another group of housekeepers' daughters-in-law came out of the courtyard. Some people hugged Lin Daiyu in fox fur cloaks, some handed Lin Daiyu a hand stove, and some opened oilcloth snow umbrellas to block the wind and snow. In just a moment, the surrounding area was surrounded by wind and rain. .

Li Wan, Xiang Yun and others have long been accustomed to it.

However, the Li family's mother and daughter's eyes widened.

Li Wan led the Li family's mother and daughter to Lin Daiyu and introduced them with a smile: "This is my aunt and cousin."

Lin Daiyu smiled and nodded, and gave Aunt Li a slight blessing.

Aunt Li heard about Lin Daiyu's identity on the way, the daughter of the Governor of Liangjiang, the precious granddaughter of Jia's mother, the mistress of the Beining County Prince's Palace, holding the financial power of the Jia family in her hands, and the last person the Jia family could not provoke.

One word can decide whether their mother and daughter will stay or go.

Not daring to show any slightness, Aunt Li quickly returned the gift and smiled apologetically: "Please greet Miss Lin!"

Lin Daiyu raised her hand: "You're welcome."

Li Wan waved to Li Qi and Li Wen again: "I haven't met your sister yet."

Li Wen and Li Qi came up and said, "Sister."

Lin Daiyu took a closer look and smiled at Li Wan: "It looks good, like two green onions. By the way, what did the old lady say?"

Li Wan smiled and replied: "Of course I will stay for two days and then go back."

Lin Daiyu smiled and nodded: "It's windy and snowy outside, let's go in and talk." Then she said to Aunt Li: "Auntie, please."

Aunt Li hurriedly said: "I don't dare, girl please first"

Li Wan pushed Lin Daiyu and said with a smile: "Let's invite together." After saying that, they walked in together.
(End of this chapter)