Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 680: Imperial Guards Accompanying

In Rongqing Hall,

The atmosphere was a little awkward. Grandmother Jia knew that she had gone a little too far just now, but fortunately, she managed to smooth things over.

Wang Xifeng turned her eyes and smiled at Sanchun girl.
"Look, it's just you guys making a fuss, otherwise there wouldn't be any such thing. Old Ancestor, let's not talk about this for now. I think it's time to have dinner, right? We have guests here."

Although they felt relaxed after a while of quarreling, outsiders who didn't know what was going on would probably say they had no manners.

Grandmother Jia smiled and nodded, and told Sister Feng and Lin Zhixiao's family to set the table, then looked at Meng Yueyun and said with a smile:
"Miss Meng, let me make fun of you. Baoyu has been naughty since he was young. His studies have caused a lot of worry to others in the mansion. The imperial examination is coming soon, and everyone is a little anxious."

This is a bit of a way of making amends and adding some nice words.

Meng Yueyun certainly knew what to say and what not to say. She raised her beautiful face and replied softly:

"Old lady, don't think like that. My father told me that Master Bao was born with a jade in his mouth. He was born with great fortune. He is free and easy by nature. Although he likes to play a little, he is also a little playful. Now that the special examination is coming soon, as long as he passes the provincial examination, he can try the imperial examination.
It doesn't matter whether I pass or not. I will wait for the next time. Once I start studying hard, I think in thirty or two years, I will be able to pass the imperial examination. Who knows, I may even get the top spot in the palace examination, which will bring honor to my family."

Not only were these words polite, they also touched everyone's heart. Grandmother Jia was smiling, and although Mrs. Wang's expression could not be seen, she was very happy inside. Looking at Meng Yueyun, her eyes softened a little. Thinking about this marriage, it was not a bad idea. The most important thing was that the woman was virtuous. Baoyu should marry a virtuous wife and take concubines who were beautiful.

The girl of the Meng family is worldly-wise and decent-looking. Her father is an official, which is enough for Baoyu. If Baoyu gets the top spot in the exam, enters the Hanlin Academy, and joins the court, with someone to help him, his future will be smooth.

"You are right, girl. Come and try this soup from Rongguo Mansion. It is called paradise on earth."

The second wife rarely brought an empty bowl and used a spoon to scoop out a small bowl of the so-called "paradise on earth", which was shrimp, tofu, and fish stewed in chicken broth. It was delicious and fragrant, and ordinary people could not eat it, but it was not a dish, just a soup.

After serving, he placed it in front of Meng Yueyun.
The girl from the Meng family quickly expressed her gratitude.

This scene,
Everyone else present understood that it seemed that the Second Wife had agreed to this marriage, and Grandmother Jia was even more pleased. She had not expected that the first meeting would go so smoothly. It seemed that they were really destined to be together.

"Okay, don't be polite. It's a family dinner, there aren't so many rules. It's just about having fun. Girl, this cooking skill is really not something that ordinary people can enjoy."

"Thank you, old lady."

Meng Yueyun thanked him and picked up the bowl with some curiosity. This was just ordinary tofu, which could be steamed, boiled, fried, or stewed. Why was it praised so much? She gently scooped a small mouthful with a spoon and put it in her mouth. With just this one mouthful, Meng Yueyun was surprised. This was the first time she had tasted such delicious tofu. It was delicious.

In other words, it was the heritage of the Duke's Mansion. An ordinary family dinner, before it was even served, was a soup, but it could be cooked to such a high standard. I had some thoughts in my mind.
but,

I glanced at Jia Baoyu, who was sitting at the table below, and saw that he looked a little silly and annoyed. What was going on? It seemed like he was worried about something. He was not that smart, and I always felt that he was a little stupid. I didn't know if it was my illusion. The thought made me uneasy, so I decided to wait and see.

Everyone ate their own food. Jia Baoyu, who was sitting at the bottom, looked listless. He could eat these snacks every day, so he was not interested in them. Thinking back to the past few days, he had been studying hard all day and had already used up all his energy.
And they don't like what they say.

As he thought about it, he had long lost his patience with the loneliness. After listening to Meng Yueyun's words, he was still a little angry, his face was unhappy, and his eyes were cold. Then he looked at the "beautiful lady" Meng Yueyun opposite him, and he couldn't help but sigh to the sky in his heart. Who would have thought that such a beautiful and quiet woman was also a worldly person who was eager for fame and fortune?
It's so vulgar. Fame and fortune are nothing to me.

Jia Baoyu's idea is that it is easy to change the country, but it is difficult to change one's nature. He even learned the Taoist practice of Master Jing, and he felt a little envious. He was not restrained by anyone, but he was a little resistant to the lack of women's company. He wanted to be a person who was attached to the mountains and rivers for the rest of his life, and he was rich and idle! Living with a woman who was his confidant, by the mountains and rivers, wouldn't it be a pleasure!
It would be best if Sister Lin was by my side. Thinking of Lin Daiyu, her eyes became a little blurry, and she murmured;
"It's just that Sister Lin still doesn't understand me."

Especially thinking of what Lin Daiyu had just said, Jia Baoyu felt a little pain in his heart. He looked towards Lin Daiyu again, but he saw Lin Daiyu holding a piece of mutton-fat jade and talking to Sister Xue.
This mutton-fat jade is extremely warm and has a superior color. It is a rare good jade, but it is much worse than mine.
Suddenly I thought of jade.

His jade was still in the house and he hadn't taken it away. No, wasn't that jade pendant given by Zhang Jinyu, Marquis of Luoyun? He had also seen it. Could it be that Sister Lin and Sister Bao really wanted to enter the Marquis's mansion to become his concubines? How could clear water remain innocent when it entered muddy mud?

For a time,

Jia Baoyu's heart was greatly shaken, and he just stood there in a daze, with his face looking at the full moon like the Mid-Autumn Festival, his expression frozen, and he seemed a little sad.

In the eyes of Lin Daiyu and Xue Jiejie, I no longer exist!
Wang Xifeng saw that the atmosphere in the hall was a bit dull. She looked towards Jia Baoyu and found that his face looked a little strange. She felt a little uneasy. Could it be that he was having hysteria again? She followed his gaze and saw that he was staring at Lin Daiyu. She felt angry. He looked so useless that he even despised a woman.
The people in the house,

You don't look at the ready-made unmarried girls, you don't look at the blind date, why are you staring at the concubine of the marquis's mansion? If your enemy finds out, who knows what will happen. After all, you have always been cheating on others, and now it's your turn to be cheated on.

No, we can't ruin the old lady's business, she said after greeting him;

"Hey, Baoyu, what are you doing? Come, come and sit over here. Take a look. Today, the old lady specially asked Sister Liu to make soup for you. Try it."

then,

Sister Feng reached out and took Grandmother Jia's hand, easing the atmosphere, and waved to the people around her.
"Grandfather, Miss Meng came to visit, so she should have a return gift. When I came here just now, I saw that she brought a lot of Jiangnan rouge and left it there. Isn't it a good thing to return gifts?"

Grandmother Jia smiled and nodded. She also knew what Feng Yatou meant and said softly:
"Feng girl is right. Well, we should be happy. Miss Meng, come here and sit next to me. I don't have any good things, so I have something for you."

finished,

Yuanyang behind her took out a green bracelet. The old lady took it and put it on Meng's hand without saying a word.

Meng Yueyun was not willing to accept it. It was still a long way to go.

"I appreciate the good intentions of the old lady. When I came here, my father told me not to accept anything the old lady gave me. It is too expensive and I cannot accept it."

Meng Yueyun was determined and the situation remained deadlocked for a while.

The old lady's intention was obvious as soon as she said this. In the past, it was Baoyu who sat next to the old lady, but now it was Shi Xiangyun and Meng Yueyun. Jia Baoyu was sitting next to the second wife. The other female relatives were used to it, so there was no need to be shy about it. As for Baoyu... he was almost regarded as an ordinary woman.

Wang Xifeng immediately stood up, took the bracelet and returned it to Yuanyang.

"Old lady, don't worry. After all, your family has given you a promise. There are still many days to come."

Wang Xifeng solved the problem, and Grandmother Jia just smiled and said repeatedly, "Okay."

Everyone was seated.
The maids and servants began to serve tea and water, and the dishes brought from the kitchen were also placed one by one. Baoyu didn't know if he was unwilling or not, and he was mumbling something in the corner of his mouth.
Although the others were smiling, their expressions were somewhat stiff. Even the eldest sister-in-law Li Wan and Madam You suddenly felt a little tired. After all, one was pregnant and the other was worried. They could only exchange glances in private.
Only Wang Xifeng spoke up to maintain the situation, and it was difficult for her.

"Come on, today is a big day. I didn't expect so many people would come today. Old lady, you pick up your chopsticks first."

This was said just to warm up the audience.

This kind of "awkward and stiff" atmosphere, even with Fengjie's "delicate heart", needs to be simmered over low heat and started to warm up with a sigh. If the existing facts are put aside and the subject is changed, the warmness of the atmosphere will be stiff and without level.

Grandmother Jia also sighed, realizing that she had just acted too hastily;

"Yes, I haven't seen Xiangyun for many years. This is the first time that the maid from the Meng family has come to visit us. Daiyu has only been here for a month. The top families in each family are trying to make ends meet. Every family has its own problems.

Even I, an old woman, followed the Queen Mother to the North Mountain to pay homage. Who could have thought that we would encounter an ambush by bandits in the capital? Even the brave Marquis Luo Yun was wounded by an arrow. So today, I also wanted to invite the people from the Marquis' Mansion to come and thank you, but unfortunately it's not the right time. "

"What, you're injured? Is it serious?"

Daiyu and Xue Baochai cried out in dismay, their faces filled with worry. Li Wan and the other three also looked disfigured.
When Lady Jia saw this, she realized that she had not explained it clearly, and she said "Pooh" several times.
"Pooh! It's all my fault. I didn't say it clearly. It's just a minor injury. If it was more serious, I wouldn't be able to take the exam at Hanyuan Palace. That's my intention. Feng girl, please find some time to go to the Marquis' Mansion. You must talk to Madam Wang."

"Oh, I see, old lady. I was scared to death when you said that just now. Luo Yunhou led 10,000 elite soldiers and was injured. If it was a woman, wouldn't she be a burden?" Sister Feng changed the subject and said with a smile:

"He is on imperial errands, worrying about state affairs, the bumps and bruises in the relationships with the old relatives in the mansion, and the trivial matters at home. It is right for him, Marquis Luo Yun, to worry more about them."

After hearing Grandmother Jia's explanation, all the women at the table breathed a sigh of relief, especially Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai. They looked at each other with some worry in their hearts. They decided to find a chance to go over and take a look.

Grandmother Jia looked at the women in the room, both young and old, and smiled:

"With such a person in our family, we should be careful when speaking and doing things, even when we are outside. What Feng girl said is true. After all, he is the Marquis, so let him do more work if he is capable."

Wang Xifeng immediately echoed:

"What our ancestors said is true."

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement. Sanchun also had a smile on her face. Li Wan and others were no longer panicked. The atmosphere suddenly became bright and entered a light and joyful rhythm.

Those involved in the matter are often confused, while those who are watching the situation can see things clearly. Meng Yueyun, who was sitting next to Lady Jia, took a deep look at the second wife in the mansion and said to herself, what a powerful woman she is. Even in that atmosphere just now, she could still say such words.

Li Wan, who was sitting next to Lin Daiyu, moved her cherry lips. This young lady had a golden hairpin pinned between her luxuriant hair. Her elegant and graceful oval face was still unpainted. Especially in recent days, she had been eating well and looked radiant.
He chuckled and said:
"That's what Feng girl said just now. Marquis Luo Yun is a high-ranking official with great abilities. He doesn't take many things to heart, but he is concerned about the old lady, Yu'er, and Baochai. Today, the old lady went to pass on a message, but the gift arrived before the person did. It shows that the old lady is very generous. I've heard Master Zheng say before that every man is responsible for the fate of the country. Aren't the affairs of one's own in-laws also state and family affairs?"

Everyone looked at the eldest sister-in-law Li Wan. It seemed that she had indeed said this, but the explanation was a bit far-fetched. Shi Xiangyun looked even more surprised and asked;
"Sister-in-law, is this the only sentence that Marquis Luo Yun said about the rise and fall of a country being ruled by its own rules?"

At this moment, Daiyu, Tanchun, Yingchun, Xichun and Meng Yueyun on the side all turned their eyes over.

Facing the gazes of many people, Li Wan felt a little shy and flustered. How could she have let it out? Her smile froze slightly, and she tried to explain by saying:

"Yes, I do. I don't understand. It was when he came to Daiyu's courtyard that he borrowed two books from Lang Ge'er. I took Suyun to Daiyu's courtyard to look for the books and found them. It seemed to be about the rise and fall of the country, the responsibility of every man, and the rise and fall of the country, the man is innocent."

Wang Xifeng had just glared at her sister-in-law, and when she heard Li Wan add a paragraph about how she knew that, as if she was proving her innocence, she couldn't help feeling anxious, wondering why she thought of saying all this.

But on second thought, he also felt a little sympathy for his eldest sister-in-law who was a widow at home. If he didn't tell her the whole story, some people might hear it and make up a story about her.

"Oh, that's what happened. I remember it happened last month. I saw my sister-in-law holding a few books, and Daiyu went back to rest first."

Hurry up, Sister Feng smiled and interrupted.

Now, there was both witnesses and evidence, and Lin Daiyu nodded.

Tanchun frowned and muttered,

"Every man is responsible for the rise and fall of the country, but every man is innocent of the rise and fall of the country. It is written in a magnificent and yet contradictory way. I don't know what it means."

Only Meng Yueyun knew that these words were said by Marquis Luo Yun during the court meeting, shocking the court and the public, but she had never heard the second half of the sentence.

What they didn't know was that this statement was plagiarized by Luo Yunhou. It was divided into two parts, the external and the internal. It was both contradictory and not contradictory. Most people couldn't understand it, let alone these women.
"What's the point of understanding this? Men have their own business, women have their own business, and raising children is nothing more than ours."

Wang Xifeng was careless, Sanchun girl was just being pretentious,
"Although I don't understand, I also know that Confucianism often says that one should cultivate oneself, regulate the family, govern the country, and bring peace to the world. Marquis Luo Yun should take on this responsibility."

Tanchun's cheeks were rosy as she spoke softly.

When everyone heard this, they all felt it was impressive.

Baoyu, who was beside Mrs. Wang, glanced at Tanchun and sighed in his heart. Throughout the ages, only Luo Yunhou had said this. Baoyu didn't understand it before, but now that he has read books, he knows that this saying must be passed down through the ages. He suddenly felt a little disappointed. The three sisters were actually talking about someone who didn't come.
Outside the Chongwen Gate of the Imperial Palace,

Ever since Zhang Jinyu took office as the chief examiner of Hanyuan Hall, he liked to enter from Chongwenmen. One reason was that he was familiar with the road, and the other was that every time he passed by here, he could see the progress of the reconstruction of Hanyuan Hall. If the noise was gone, it meant that it was completed.

"By the way, where is Lord Chu Nian? Why can't I see him?"

Zhang Jinyu asked while looking at the captain of the imperial guards guarding the gate.

"My Lord, Master Chu is staying in Hanyuan Palace. The craftsmen from the Ministry of Works have all gone in and are under guard by the Imperial Guards."

The captain guarding the gate quickly replied that the people of the imperial guards were now afraid of seeing Luo Yunhou, the devil. They had also heard rumors about the Right Guard imperial guards. It was better to live a miserable life than to die, especially for those of them who were guarding the city gates and had an idle and comfortable life.

"That's fine. Come, buy some tea and cakes for the brothers as a token of my appreciation. Please take care of Hanyuan Palace."

Zhang Jinyu took out a hundred taels of silver from his sleeve and handed it over.

The captain of the imperial guards was overjoyed when he saw this, and hurried over to take the money. The marquis really lived up to his reputation, and he didn't even blink when given the silver.
He got on his horse, called out, and led Ningbian and the others toward the south city gate. The Anhu camp was still quite a distance away.

"drive!"

With a loud shout, a group of people quickly headed south.

When they arrived not far from the Meridian Gate, they saw Kang Mengyu leading 10,000 imperial cavalrymen waiting there.

"General Kang Mengyu pays respect to the Marquis."

: "Sigh"

Zhang Jinyu reined in his horse, still not understanding what was going on, why were the imperial guards gathered here?
"General Kang, why are you leading the army here?"

"My Lord, I will wait for you here and enter the Anhu camp together. I will go south with the army. This is what my father specifically ordered."

Kang Mengyu didn't expect that his father would give such instructions. How did he know that Marquis Luo Yun would definitely be here?

Zhang Jinyu's face darkened. It was obvious that His Majesty and Marquis Baoning had discussed this and were just waiting for him to enter the circle. Looking at Kang Mengyu's bright silver armor, he looked very showy.
"Alright, let's get the whole army together and leave. It's getting late. Did your father give you any instructions?"

Zhang Jinyu kicked his horse's belly and went ahead. Kang Mengyu followed with his personal soldiers, leaving his deputy general to lead the army.
"My Lord, my father said that when we are on the battlefield, we cannot rush in and attack recklessly. We must see the situation clearly and take steady steps."

Kang Mengyu was absent-minded. The imperial guards he brought this time were one of the Twelve Guards, the elite cavalry around his father. How could he be afraid of those rebels?

Anyone could see the perfunctory look. Zhang Jinyu just glanced at him and advised;
"That's good to know. As the saying goes, swords have no eyes. Even the most elite troops will be useless if they encounter a desperate situation. If you have a green mountain, you will never worry about firewood. If the thieves in the south of the capital don't have some skills, they dare to be so rampant. Although I haven't seen it, I also know that in war, it is not necessarily the number of people that matters, but more about the people's hearts. If the people's hearts are scattered, then it's all over."

"My Lord, what do you mean?"

Kang Mengyu looked at Luo Yunhou in front of him and didn't understand for a moment.

(End of this chapter)