serious man in the red chamber

Chapter 333
The wild geese are coming, spring is blooming, the weather is getting warmer, and green buds as big as beans are sprouting from the branches outside Beijing.

Ningrong Street was very lively at this time.

A row of boys stood on chairs, using long poles to hang big red ribbons with flowers.

Brand new red lanterns were also put on in front of the Ning and Rong mansions.

In front of the west corner gate of Beining County Prince's Mansion, a horse-drawn carriage and mule cart filled with large and small boxes and various baskets stopped for a long time.

Lin Zhixiao asked the boy to move things inside. A large basket was opened, and inside were large cabbages.

At this time, several boys carried two more large bamboo baskets over, containing several colorful pheasants that were jumping around and full of vitality.

Lin Zhixiao spoke: "Send them to the courtyard to sew the wings, feed them with concentrated feed, and slaughter them tomorrow when they are used." Then he pointed at the other boys and scolded: "You bastards, be careful, that box There are sturgeons raised in ice water, there are only two in total. Hey, the live deer are not for eating, they are for the fourth girl to paint, and they are sent to the garden."

While talking, Jia Rong, accompanied by Lai Sheng and others, walked out, looked around, and asked Lin Zhixiao, "Are you all ready?"

Lin Zhixiao replied: "If I want to answer Uncle Xiao Rong, I will send you fruits and vegetables from the south."

Lai Sheng quickly replied: "I'm about to go back to you. The ship from the Chamber of Commerce has arrived at the dock. It will deliver the banquet in the afternoon without missing tomorrow."

Jia Rong nodded: "Everyone has snacks. Tomorrow not only the Princess of Nan'an and several family friends will come, but Princess Yongchang and several other royal relatives will also come."

As they were talking, Lai Sheng interrupted: "Uncle Wang is here."

Jia Rong looked up and saw a dozen personal guards carrying swords walking over to protect the prince in official robes.

Behind him, several officials from the Ministry of Rites escorted more than a dozen cart drivers to drive a dozen large carts.

Jia Rong: "It should be the birthday gift given by the Ministry of Rites according to the regulations." After saying that, he quickly walked forward to greet him.

The prince stood up and dismounted, handed the reins to his guards, and walked forward with a smile: "This is the first time in the Zhou Dynasty's founding for more than a hundred years that I have caught up with you. The wedding has not yet been held, and the Ministry of Etiquette will give birthday gifts according to the regulations. ." With that said, he took the gift list from the official of the Ministry of Rites and handed it to Jia Rong.

Jia Rong took the exhibition with both hands and saw one handle each of gold and jade, one hundred pieces of "Wealth and Changchun" palace satin, one hundred pieces of "Longevity and Longevity" palace silk, four gold and jade rings, two new imperial books, and two precious ink scrolls. Box, 1000 taels of silver.

After reading the gift list, Jia Rong held it in both hands and raised it above his head, bowed in the direction of the imperial city, then handed it to Lai Sheng, and then said to Wang Ziteng: "Uncle Fan, please come in and have a bowl of tea."

"No!"

Wang Ziteng smiled and waved his hand, took a step forward and said, "The Japanese delegation is coming to Beijing today. I want to go back and keep an eye on it."

Jia Rong's eyes flashed. There were rumors a few days ago that Japanese people came to Beijing to ask for help. Unexpectedly, it was true. She suppressed her thoughts and said to Wang Ziteng: "I haven't congratulated my uncle on the birth of his son. Congratulations!" "

Wang Ziteng smiled: "Thank you very much. You have to come during the Hundred Days Banquet!"

Jia Rong: "Definitely."

Wang Ziteng smiled happily.

There was a sound of horse hoofbeats, and a group of more than [-] horses galloped towards this side.

Jia Rong's eyes lit up, and she realized that it was Jia Hu who had brought Lin Daiyu a birthday gift from outside the customs, and she quickly stepped forward.
In the Grand View Garden, Wang Xifeng and You, accompanied by a group of steward wives, looked around and directed everyone to arrange the place.

Tomorrow is the birthday of Lin Daiyu and Ji, and because Princess Nan'an, Princess Yongchang and others are all here, Jia Mu will discuss with Jia She, Jia Zheng and Jia Lian to clear out several large places such as Jin Pavilion and Jiayin Hall in the Grand View Garden. A place for temporary rest.

Originally, the birthday banquet was planned to be held in Tianxiang Tower, but Yuanchun ordered the eunuch to deliver birthday gifts and send a message to the side hall of Grand View Garden for the birthday banquet.

Since the tenth day of the second lunar month, there has been an endless stream of people giving birthday gifts.

In addition to relatives and friends near and far, all the families of civil and military officials of all sizes from the DPRK, Central and Central Government came to visit. Even the guild halls of various provinces in Beijing sent birthday gifts.

A large table was set up in Ning'an Hall, a red blanket was spread on the floor, and birthday gifts were placed on the table and floor, and this was only a small part.

People were coming and going in Lin Daiyu's courtyard, and the mother-in-law of Lin Zhixiao's family brought the birthday gift selected by You's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law to Lin Daiyu to see.

Yingchun, Tanchun, Xichun, Xiangyun, Xingxiuyan, Baochai and Baoqin are all here, sitting around the big round table eating fruit and laughing.

Baoyu is on vacation today and has also come here. At this moment, he is chatting and joking next to sisters Li Wen and Li Qi.

The hall was filled with various birthday gifts sent by people.

Hu Bo was taking Qingwen and Xue Yan to count, when he saw that Lin Zhixiao's family had sent two more large boxes and cages, and said with a wry smile: "Why are two more large boxes sent? There is almost no room for them here!"

The mother-in-law put the box and cage in the house and then left.

Lin Zhixiao's family smiled and walked to the box and opened the lid: "These are sent by Mr. Lee Myung-bak, the former Yin of Shuntian Prefecture. Grandma asked them to be sent to the girl for inspection."

Xichun came over quickly: "What good things are they? Why are they all books?"

After hearing this, Yingchun and others came over one after another.Tan Chun picked up a book and flipped through it, his eyes suddenly lit up: "This is the Song version of the book, or the Suzhou version of "The Collected Works of Li Taibai"."

Xing Xiuyan smiled and said: "This is the Shu edition of "The Collection of Mr. Tang Liu"."

Bao Qin shook the book in his hand: "My book is "Meng Haoran's Collected Poems"."

Soon, everyone sorted out all the books in the two boxes and cages. They were all Song Dynasty books, some were printed by the supervisor, some were printed locally, some were in volumes, and some were isolated copies. They were all very precious.

Everyone looked at each other in confusion, sending such precious books in two large boxes, they must be asking for something.

Thinking again about the words of Lin Zhixiao's family, the former Shuntian Prefecture Yin, everyone understood that this person came to seek an official position.

Silence fell in the hall.

At this time, Lin Daiyu changed into a loose scarlet brocade robe and came out, with only a red bead hairpin on her head. Seeing that everyone was silent, she smiled and asked, "What's wrong?"

Xiangyun and Xichun ran over quickly, lying in Lin Daiyu's ears one on the left and one on the right. They told each other what happened just now.

Lin Daiyu smiled lightly. Li Mingbo was also unlucky. He was expected to be promoted to the Sixth Ministry as Minister in one year, but he was dismissed by the emperor and is now on the waiting list. How ironic, he was the former chief minister of the Song Dynasty. Cheng Liang's student and confidant, the Song family's only official supporter.

Regardless of Song Chengliang's past achievements, even if Lee Myung-bak has worked diligently and accomplished a lot of practical things for the court and the people of Shuntian Prefecture in the past two years, he should not be deprived of his official position just because of an oversight and let him go back to wait for election.

There is nothing better than this when people take tea to cool down.

The emperor's actions vividly illustrate the emperor's ruthlessness!

During these days, Lee Myung-bak had many relationships, but unfortunately they all came to nothing.

Thinking of this, Lin Daiyu asked Lin Zhixiao's family: "Where is the person who gave the gift?"

Lin Zhixiao's family replied: "Grandma arranged to have dinner in a side hall in the front yard."

Lin Daiyu nodded: "Go tell him and ask him to tell Li Mingbo that I know."

Lin Zhixiao's family: "Yes." He answered, turned around and walked out.

Baochai put down the poetry collection in his hand and said with a smile: "These two boxes of Song Dynasty books are worth a lot of money. How much is Li Mingbo's annual salary?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone was shocked. They all raised their heads and looked at Lin Daiyu.

Lin Daiyu looked at Baochai with a smile: "This Li Mingbo once served as the prefect of Yangzhou. What kind of place is Yangzhou? The salt merchants there are so rich that they can squeeze out oil from the dirt under their feet. As the old saying goes , thousands of miles to serve as an official just for wealth. This sentence is not said casually. "

Baoyu snorted: "These people are national thieves and cowards. Our family cannot associate with such people."

Lin Daiyu glanced at him sideways: "Do you think the land rent of those manor fields outside the city can support so many people in Rongfu? Take you as an example, your daily expenses are enough for an ordinary family for a year."

Baoyu's face turned red.

At this moment, Xiao Hong rushed in excitedly, with several women behind him carrying two sheepskin bundles.

After greeting Lin Daiyu, Xiaohong handed the two letters to Lin Daiyu with both hands: "Girl, this is a letter from the second master and Lin San."

Lin Daiyu was overjoyed, picked up the letter from Jia Hu, tore it open and read it, with a smile showing at the corner of her mouth. Then she folded the letter and stuffed it into her sleeve. She then took Lin San's letter, opened the seal and read it, only reading a few lines. , couldn't help laughing.

Xichun was curious: "What's so funny?"

Lin Daiyu held back her laughter and said, "Someone is setting up a honey trap for your brother." As she spoke, she covered her mouth and laughed.

After hearing this, everyone was shocked.

Xiangyun couldn't help it anymore: "Sister Lin, can you show us?"

Lin Daiyu laughed so hard that tears came out: "You, just watch."

Xichun grabbed the letter and everyone except Baochai gathered around it.

Lin Daiyu glanced at her with a smile, looked at the two sheepskin bundles, and said to Zicuckoo: "Open it and take a look."

Zijuan: "Yes." She answered, took the small silver scissors handed over by Xueyan and opened the bundle. The contents were wrapped in leather, and she carefully unwrapped it. It was a huge ugly stone, but the stripes on the surface looked like Just like noodle balls.

Then he cut open another sheepskin baggage, also wrapped in leather. When he opened it, he saw that it was a jade bowl.

Zicuckoo was startled for a moment, then suddenly remembered, she put the ugly stone into the jade bowl, held it up with both hands, and shouted to Lin Daiyu: "Girl, the second master gave me a bowl of longevity noodles!"

Lin Daiyu is so smart. She guessed it when she saw the ugly stone. Looking at the bowl of "longevity noodles", her eye circles suddenly turned red.
(End of this chapter)