serious man in the red chamber

Chapter 328 Spring Festival
It's a new year in the blink of an eye. According to court etiquette, on the first day of the first lunar month every year, all officials in Beijing should go to Fengtian Hall to pay homage to the emperor.

However, on the day of the Empress Dowager's funeral on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month last year, the spirit was allowed to enter the imperial mausoleum 21 days after it was laid in Ningshou Palace. It took ten days to get back and forth from the imperial mausoleum to the capital, and the spirit had to be parked at the imperial mausoleum for several days before entering the underground palace. After all, the emperor could not return to Beijing until the Lantern Festival on the 15th of the first lunar month.

Jia She and Jia Rong protected Jia Mu, Mrs. Xing, Mrs. Wang, Youshi, Wang Xifeng and Qin Keqing and followed the funeral procession to the imperial mausoleum.

Since both the north and the south were at war, Jia Lian, the newly minted left minister of household affairs, had no way to take a vacation. He went out before dawn every day and came back very late at night.

Fortunately, Jia Zheng was not awarded a title by the emperor, so he did not have to go to the imperial mausoleum. Otherwise, the Jia family would only have Jia Jing as the chief worshiper this year.

This year, Jia's mother was away, so Lin Daiyu was forced to go to the store and lead the Jia family's female family members to worship Ning Rong and other ancestors in the main hall.

Before leaving the capital, the emperor issued an edict that no banquet music should be allowed in the first month of the first month for anyone with a title.

Jia Jing and Jia Zheng discussed that Ning and Rong Mansion should close their doors and have a peaceful and peaceful Spring Festival!

In the gray sky, snowflakes were scattered and scattered.

The doors of Ning and Rong's mansion were closed tightly. Only a few white gauze lanterns with blue letters on the front were blown by the snowy wind, swaying from side to side.

The west corner door of Beining County Prince's Mansion opened with a click, and several servants came out with brooms and began to clean the snow in front of the door.

A boy put down his broom, rubbed his hands in his arms, and kept breathing: "It's already the New Year, why is it still so cold?"

Another boy: "It's much better in the city. Yesterday I heard from my relative who is the steward of Liangxiang Manor that a heavy snowstorm in 29 years ago destroyed a large area of ​​houses and killed many people!"

Another boy said: "Didn't it say that the imperial court allocated hundreds of thousands to Shuntian Prefecture to help people outside the city strengthen their houses?"

At this time, the manager came over and said with a smile: "You know nothing! The national treasury allocates money to Shuntian Mansion, and Shuntian Mansion then allocates it to the county government. Officials at all levels have to handle it. In the end, there will be two If [-]% is used on the common people, it will become Amitabha Buddha.”

After hearing this, all the boys looked at each other and were stunned on the spot.

The steward looked up at the sky, and then said: "Look at the weather, there will be heavy snow in the past two days. I guess those officials will regret it!"

A boy asked: "Will there be a big case in the court?"

The steward didn't answer. He stretched out his hand to catch the falling snowflakes, looked up at the sky, and said, "Stop talking so much. Let's clear the snow quickly. I'll go to Manager Lai later to collect my purse."

"Yo!"

After hearing what he said, everyone's eyes lit up and they looked at him: "How much?"

The steward smiled faintly: "Look at your worthless looks. In the past two years, the family has become richer and richer, and you have also received a lot of reward money. Are you still short of these? Tell me, I will give you two months' salary for each person below the steward. More than three months.”

A boy smiled and said: "Miss Lin is still generous. Grandma has only been in charge of the house for a month."

Another servant said with a smile: "How can it be the same? Grandma helps the housekeeper, and Miss Lin is the head of the house."

The steward hurriedly scolded: "I am tired of living! Talking about the master behind his back is a serious crime. If Manager Lai finds out, I will have your mouth smashed!"

The two quickly shut their mouths.

At this time, the sound of horse hoofbeats was heard, and everyone looked up.

A group of more than twenty riders came running towards this side.

The steward's eyes lit up: "The prince has a letter!" After saying that, he hurried forward to greet him.

Lin Daiyu's house was large and empty, with carved wooden boards, so it was very cold in winter.

After living in the capital for three years, Lin Daiyu was still afraid of the cold. She ordered people to use sandalwood to burn open fires in the outer rooms and halls. She also added two incense cauldrons to the bedroom, and also used sandalwood to burn open fires at night.

Zicuckoo put on her clothes, tidied them up randomly, then walked into the bedroom, added some sandalwood to the incense pot, and blew on the open fire, making the bedroom as warm as spring.

I washed my hands in the copper basin on the side, then stepped forward to open the curtain and close it, saying: "The master said, there is no need for the girl to get up early to say hello. After a busy year, the girl should take advantage of this period. Take some rest."

A hand wearing a gold-set Dongzhu ring lifted the curtain of Babu's bed.

Lin Daiyu walked out with her hair disheveled, wearing only a small red silk cotton-padded jacket. Zijuan hurriedly picked up a mink fur coat hanging on the hanger and put it on her.

"I'm so cold!" Lin Daiyu sat down in front of the mirror and said with a smile: "Pour a bowl of tea first."

Zijuan smiled and replied: "The old lady, madam, and grandma are not at home. Our master is devoted to practicing Taoism. The second master of Xifu ignores secular affairs. Grandma Zhu is a Buddha. The second girl has a weak character. The third girl is good. It's a pity. It's a temporary administration, and it doesn't have enough dignity. If the girl hadn't come over from time to time, what would it have been like! If the girl didn't get sick again, it would be even more difficult for the family."

As he spoke, he first poured half a bowl of warm water and took a large gargle. Lin Daiyu rinsed a sip, then poured half a bowl of tea and handed it to Lin Daiyu to eat. She also rinsed and ate half a bowl of tea. .

Lin Daiyu put down the tea bowl: "Don't worry about it. Help me get dressed first. Someone will come to celebrate the festival later."

Zicuckoo came over to comb Lin Daiyu's hair and said with a smile: "Girl, don't worry. I told Mrs. Lin and the others last night to come over later."

Lin Daiyu smiled towards the audience and said, "I wonder why it's so quiet outside this morning. It turns out it's your little hooves that's to blame!"

After hearing this, Zijuan also smiled in the mirror and said: "There is nothing important so early in the morning. They can just take care of some small things. Why trouble the girl again."

Lin Daiyu smiled and said: "I don't see these housekeepers and wives still listening to you."

Zijuan: "Young lady, what you said is wrong. This is called a rule. Just like holding a piano next to the empress in the palace, even the old ladies and madams must be courteous. I am the girl's maid, don't talk about these in-charge wives. , even Second Grandma Lian wants to give me some face."

"What a big rule." Lin Daiyu joked.

Zijuan smiled and said, "I have taken advantage of the girl."

Just as he was talking, Qingwen and Xueyan came in to help Lin Daiyu wash up.

Zicuckoo walked to the bedside and opened the wardrobe. She carefully took out a round-neck brocade robe trimmed with red gold silk and helped Lin Daiyu put it on.

Looking at the large peonies embroidered in green, purple and blue colors on the clothes, and at the graceful colorful butterflies, Xueyan turned his attention to the auspicious decorations and asked Qingwen: " Sister, is this a cloud dragon pattern?"

Qingwen laughed and scolded: "Bah! Those little hooves seeking death are the Tuan pattern. In the whole family, only the second master's formal auspicious suit has so many cloud and dragon patterns embroidered on it."

"You" Zicuckoo smiled and nodded at the snow goose.

Xueyan stuck out her tongue hastily.

At this time, Xiao Hong came in excitedly with a letter in her hand and said to Lin Daiyu: "Girl, there is a letter from the prince!"

Lin Daiyu took the letter, tore it open and read it. She smiled to herself as she read the letter. After reading the letter, she thought about it and said to Zicuckoo: "Bring me the ruby-encrusted ring given to me by Princess Nan'an."

"Yes."

Zijuan walked into the compartment, quickly came out with a brocade jewelry box, and opened the lid.

Inside the box was a ruby ​​ring as big as a thumb.

Lin Daiyu: "Take this and wear it."

Xiaohong waved her hands quickly: "How dare you take this?"

Lin Daiyu smiled: "Lin San knows. Just accept it with confidence."

Xiao Hong seemed to understand, "Thank you, girl." She received the brocade box and continued, "Aunt Lai and the others are waiting in the meeting hall to congratulate the girl on the festival."

Before I could say a word, I heard the chirping outside, and a group of girls came in with a smile. It turned out to be Siqi, Shushu, Ruhua, Cuilu, and the older girls from each room came over with a smile and said: "Let's give it to the girl." Happy holidays!”

Just after I finished speaking, Yingchun, Tanchun, Xichun, Xiangyun, Xingxiuyan, Baochai, Baoqin, Li Wen and Li Wan also came.

Lin Daiyu hurriedly came up to greet her and said with a smile: "What are you doing here so early in the morning? Zicuckoo, please bring us some good tea."

Just as he was talking, Ping'er also dressed up beautifully and came with Sister Qiao in his arms: "Our eldest sister is here to celebrate the festival!"

After a while, it was dark and crowded with people. Tan Chun said with a smile: "I can't stand anymore when people come. Let's go to the flower hall of Ning'an Hall."

Xiangyun immediately answered and said: "It just so happens that Sister Lin is not busy, why don't we all gather together to relieve our boredom and write poems. What do you think, Sister Lin?"

Lin Daiyu nodded: "You go to the flower hall and wait for me first. I'll go to the ancestral hall to lay incense sticks and come over." After that, everyone walked to the East Mansion together.

(End of this chapter)