Jia Zhen, Uncle of the Red House

　　The old lady calculated for a moment, then smiled: "Okay, okay, I'll be back at the end of the month!" Everyone laughed.Sister Feng jokingly said: "We're just paying it back, there is only one person here who is more anxious than the old lady!"

　　Everyone looked at Baoyu.Baoyu's face was shallow and rolled into the old lady's arms.The old lady hugged him and said lovingly, "I've been thinking about your sister all day long, and when she finally comes home, you must not quarrel with your sister." Sister Feng glanced at his wife, and when she saw that she was smiling, she joked: "Don't worry about the old lady this time. Baoyu sees the frowning girl, and it's too late to rejoice, so why are you still bickering?"

　　Sister Feng meant something. His wife had a smile on her face, and she couldn't see anything different. Aunt Xue talked and laughed with her in a low voice, which seemed to have no effect at all.Only Tan Chun, who knew a little of the mystery, quietly glanced at the quiet Bao Chai.Baochai noticed her gaze and laughed lightly, "Just now, the eldest sister-in-law said that she got a rare item and invited us to her yard!"

　　Tanchun sat next to Baochai and asked, "What kind of rare thing is it?" Baochai shook his head, "The elder sister-in-law has always been mysterious lately, so I went to chat with my mother!" Saying that, Xichun also came over, "What did you say?"

　　Baochai told her again.Xichun suddenly smiled and said, "Have you noticed that sister-in-law wore a pomegranate red dress yesterday, so pretty!"

　　Baochai also pursed her lips and smiled, "Speaking of this, it's even more funny! My mother also made a skirt like that of my sister-in-law! She only wore it at home for a day and gave it to me."

　　Xichun clapped her hands and said, "Auntie is still young, she must look good in a dress like that!"

　　Baochai put her arms around Xichun, "I haven't worn that skirt yet. If you like it, I'll give it to you tomorrow, right? I don't usually wear such gorgeous ones."

　　Xichun shook her head, "A while ago my sister-in-law made autumn clothes and skirts for our house, and I haven't worn them yet!" Xichun blurted out.Tan Chun hurriedly tugged at Xichun's sleeves quietly, and Xichun explained with a smile: "Sister Bao, I mean, everyone in our house has something like this. Suddenly I saw that the elder sister-in-law here also has it, even my aunt. Yes, what a coincidence!"

　　Although Baochai didn't mind, he was secretly worried that his family was gradually wasting, and he was no match for others.Their Ning Guofu was on the rise, and the eldest brother over there was named a marquis, and they could not keep up.She glanced at Baoyu, who was still tired of the old lady's arms. He wasn't a good match either!

　　Baochai listens to Xichun talking about interesting things in their mansion.What Qingwen forgot to draw her eyebrows, Rong's daughter-in-law gave the wrong month money, and Xiangling was crazy and would fall in the aisle.In short, in the days when my brother was not at home, everyone seemed to have lost their souls, and Brother Rong was also ineffective, and there was almost chaos outside the home.If it weren't for my sister-in-law, and Sister Yindie, but with the support of Sister Keren, the dignified Ningguo Mansion would be about to disperse.

　　Tan Chun smiled and said, "How old is brother Rong? It's not that I speak ill of big brother. When big brother is so old, I'm afraid it will be the same!"

　　Baochai had also heard rumors from the elder brother before that he was even worse than Brother Rong at that time!

　　Xichun spoke for a while, Baochai covered her mouth and smiled, "Amitabha, it's a good thing Yun girl is not here, otherwise one of you likes to talk and the other likes to make trouble, I'm afraid you can write a show!"

　　Then, Tanchun pulled Yingchun over as well, and the girls whispered and laughed, completely unaware that Wang Yu and Li Wan had custom-made such a red dress.

　　At this time, the old lady turned to them and said, "What did your sisters say?"

　　Baochai smiled and said, "Back to the old lady's words, we are talking about the funny things from the past!" Baoyu heard that, and immediately sat next to Baochai, "Good sister, can you tell me too?" Baochai remained calm. He made a concession to Xichun, and then started talking.Baoyu was overjoyed to hear it, and said again and again, "Sister Lin is like this."

　　The wife whispered to Aunt Xue, "They talked about it together." Aunt Xue saw that her daughter was not very interested in this matter. She tried her best to persuade her sister before, and it was also for the Xue family.Now that she has sacrificed herself and united the Xue family with the Jia family, there is no need to sacrifice Baochai's happiness.So the mind also faded.

　　However, the more my wife looked at Baochai, the more suitable it seemed.On the contrary, she is more active than Aunt Xue. |

　　Jinling Xue family.

　　Xue Pan dressed up and entered the city, then turned into his uncle's house.His uncle was seriously ill and bedridden at this time, and his aunt also suffered from phlegm, so there was a smell of herbal medicine in the house.

　　Xue Pan said his intentions in the future, and his uncle wanted to beat him as expected.Even Xue Tao glared at him.But Xue Pan was not afraid, and tried to reason with the truth. The Xue family was no longer moving forward, and the Wang family was unreliable. Now that the Xue family is still in the current situation, it is completely supported by Jia Houye.This time the Xue family offended him. If he didn't repair it, the Xue family would be in trouble in the future.Xue Tu said coldly: "Then why not your sister?" Xue Pan shook his head and sighed helplessly: "My sister is the daughter of the eldest house of our Xue family, if you marry eldest brother Zhen as a concubine, our Xue family will lose face. Gone!"

　　Xue Pan had to tell them heartily that Baoqin had to marry for the sake of the Xue family!

　　His uncle coughed for a while, and he coughed up blood on the handkerchief.He asked hard: "Is this what your mother meant?"

　　Xue Pan shook his head again and again, "My mother would never do this! This is all my nephew's own thoughts. Today, I'm just asking for your opinions in advance, and I don't really want to give Baoqin to him. If my uncle and aunt don't agree. , just act like your nephew talking nonsense after drinking." Xue Tao said, "You are talking nonsense! How can my sister be that Jia Zhen's concubine?"

　　"Father, mother, brother, just follow what big brother said!" At some point, Baoqin came to the main room with tears in her eyes.

Chapter [-]: Brother Rong is gone

In Shenjing Ningguo Mansion, You and Jia Zhen's concubines gathered at Hanbi Mountain Residence in Huifang Garden.This place was Jia Zhen’s usual residence. Since Jia Zhennan went, You and the others have used it as a conference room, entertainment room, lounge and restaurant. The small seven or eight rooms are so full that they seem to be in the Fangyuan Garden. The other palaces and pavilions that are extremely gorgeous are useless.

　　Qingwen leaned on the couch, put her head on a few cases, and sighed: "When will our master come back?" The third sister on the side habitually said: "When will the master return, I don't know, but I know if the master will return If you don't come back, your hoof will become a stone of hope!"

　　"Oh! You are talking nonsense! Who is Wangfushi? Am I the only one who thinks about it?" Qingwen jumped off the couch and went to tear the mouth of the third sister, and the two made a scene again.

　　The third sister snatched the book from Xiangling's hand and said with a smile, "Is there a master in the book you read?"

　　Xiang Ling's face turned red, and she spat, "It's not in the book, but I have it in my heart!" Then she chased and beat the third sister with Qingwen.

　　You Shi is embroidering according to the pattern, teaching the color screen to twist the thread.Cai Ping smiled and said angrily: "These three are not too noisy!" You Shi saw their crazy looks, and smiled: "Isn't your master used to it? It hurts." Cai Ping sighed, his girl is not a girl, The aunt is not the aunt's, how can I be qualified to say them?You saw what was on her mind and teased: "When the master comes back, I will arrange for you and the master to consummate the marriage, so that you don't have to worry about things and worry about your life." Although Cai Ping was very eager in his heart, he was broken by You, and he was full in an instant. flushed.Yindie also put down the rose dew in her hand at this time, wrote a few scribbles on the paper, and smiled: "I often tell her to rest assured, our master only has this advantage, and the things that come to the door will never be thrown away. Just don't be too impatient, at that time, the master was in a hurry to go south, which delayed you." "Exactly!" Renming took the account book, stepped forward and took the hand of the color screen, "Master is under the emperor's life, and when he arrives in the south, he will have to deal with profiteers again. Corrupt officials are fighting, and the rebellion must be quelled. The sword and arrow have no eyes, but if there is something wrong, the sky is falling. You also need to be more considerate." Cai Ping hurriedly said, "Sister Keren, I don't have..." Keren patted Her hand smiled and said, "I know. I just want to tell you that although our master has a reputation for being lecherous, he is actually very capable and wise, completely different from ordinary people. As his women, we help him look after him. Home, don't let him distract us." After speaking, she walked up to You Shi to watch her embroidery, "Madam's bright work! But for Brother Shu?" You Shi smiled, "I haven't moved in a few years. After I passed it, it was all wasted. I wanted to make him a bellyband, but the stitches were a bit poor, and it was always a piece of my mother's heart." Ke Ren praised: "Pity the hearts of parents in the world. Tomorrow I will also learn from my wife to give it to me. That girl is going to knit one!"

　　At this time, the second sister came in from outside, holding a plate of new fruits in her hand, including apples, water chestnuts, kiwi, cut into slices, pomegranates and winter jujubes.

　　"Sisters, just now, Grandma Liu from the countryside asked someone to bring these. I saw that they were fresh and cute, so I asked someone to wash them. Come and eat?"

　　Before she finished speaking, the third sister ran over, hiding from Qingwen behind her, and picked up a date and put it in her mouth.The second elder sister said angrily, "Sister hasn't eaten yet!"

　　You Shi smiled and said, "Eat all of you!" Qing Wen came up and walked away with the dishes, and sent You Shi first, "Madam!"

　　You picked up a piece and put it in his mouth, "Their farmers have a heart, and the master took care of them at will, and they took it to heart.

　　Although these things are not worth anything, they are enough to make people miss you. "

　　The girls gathered around, eating and laughing.

　　Keqing carried the corner of her skirt, came in, and said with a smile, "I'm here, what's there to eat?"

　　You Shi also smiled and said, "It's rare that you have time to come here and let San'er serve you and eat a few!"

　　Ke Qing hurriedly declined, "How dare you? Be careful to break my birthday! If I let the master know, and I still haven't peeled off my skin?" During the conversation, the third sister came up and pulled Ke Qing with a blushing face, and sat down on the chair. Down, rolled up her sleeves, and fed her a piece of kiwi fruit, "Tell you to make fun of me!"

　　Unexpectedly, Keqing said: "Good auntie, you can feed me another pomegranate!" The third sister immediately didn't take it, and it didn't matter if she didn't take it.Qingwen teased on the side: "It's so stupid, grandma is teasing you!"

　　Ke Qing got up and let the third sister sit down, fed her a jujube himself, and said in his mouth: "Eat a jujube, have a precious son early, eat another jujube, and have both children!"

　　The third sister smiled and shoved a pomegranate into Keqing, "There are so many seeds in the pomegranate!" When Keqing thought of something, she immediately blushed.There is no shortage of laughter in Hanbi Mountain Residence, but the rest of Ningguo Mansion is quiet.

　　Jia Rong's courtyard.

　　Jia Rong took advantage of Keqing's departure and sneaked in to see her child, who was also his child in name.

　　Ruizhu held the child and looked at him nervously: "Master, what do you want to do?" What should he do if he wants to rob or kill?Jia Rong smiled and said, "I just came to see my son!" He pronounced the word "my son" very heavily.

　　Ruizhu walked over suspiciously.Jia Rong looked at the child in Ruizhu's arms, smiling and teasing him from time to time.

　　Suddenly Jia Rong asked, "Ruizhu, look, how much does this kid look like me?" Ruizhu was stunned, not knowing what to say.

　　"Like... very similar!" Of course, it's like, brother!Jia Rong nodded in relief, "It seems like! It seems like it! Others can't see it." Ruizhu almost screamed out when she heard it. The uncle already knew about it, and now he wants to expose the matter?She hugged the child tightly, stepped aside, and pretended, "Master, your son looks like you!"

　　Jia Rong smiled bitterly and said to herself, "Yes, this is my son, I can't have a son anymore, he must be my son! Hahaha!" The crazy Jia Rong, for fear that he would hurt the child, slipped away along the wall while he was not paying attention.However, Jia Rong stopped Ruizhu and instructed: "Tell you grandma, take good care of our child, and when he grows up, let him inherit his grandfather's title!" Ruizhu looked at Jia with fear. Rong, nodded hastily.

　　Only then did Jia Rong smile: "That's good, that's good!" After speaking, he stretched out his hand and asked eagerly, "Let me hug him, okay?"

　　Ruizhu hesitated, but seeing that Jia Rong didn't look like she planned to hurt the child, she carefully handed the child to him.Jia Rong took the child and said softly, "Yu'er, I'm your father, you must respect your mother and your grandfather in the future!" Ruizhu listened to him, as if she was explaining something, so she smiled: " Brother Tu will also honor his father in the future! You are the person he is most grateful for!" Jia Rong was stunned, and looked at Ruizhu with a deep meaning, "I didn't want to be confused but had to be confused, but now I want to be confused but I can't pretend to be confused. It's hard! Dad can go to the south, but I have nowhere to hide, what should I do? What can I do? Instead of suffering every day, it's better..."

　　Ruizhu was about to lose his mind when he heard it, Uncle Rong looked like he was bitter and hated, and he would do something stupid if he didn't, either hurting himself or hurting others.Depending on the situation, the former may be bigger!In fact, Ruizhu sympathized with Uncle Rong. She summoned up her courage and said something she shouldn't have said: "Uncle is still young. When he becomes a master in the future, there may be more children in the future!"

　　Jia Rong smiled and said, "You are a good girl!" Then she stopped talking and went straight out.

　　Ruizhu felt uneasy in her heart and came out to find Keqing with the child in her arms.Entering the garden, I happened to meet Keqing at the intersection of Shijing.Seeing that there was no one around, Ruizhu quietly told Keqing what happened to Jia Rong just now.Keqing frowned, "It just stopped, what the hell is he going to do?" Ruizhu had to persuade: "Grandma, I don't see the uncle's situation well! It's not the way to always be like this."

　　Ke Qing said disdainfully: "What else is wrong with him? He is in charge of such a big family. Who said nothing?"

　　Ruizhu whispered: "Grandma, the slave is talking about that! He hit a wall with you, and bothered Xieluan and Peifeng's aunts..." Keqing wondered: "Do you want me to find a woman for him? "

　　Ruizhu nodded and said, "My servant said something unpleasant, no matter what man you and the master have to do with you, you can't stand it, and you have a sigh of relief in your heart. You have to find a way to vent this anger."

　　Keqing pondered for a while, and spat: "Why are Xieluan and Peifeng so useless?" Ruizhu said deliberately next to them, aren't they the same as you?But Ke Qing finally agreed, and found one for him in a hurry.

　　It's just that the selection must be carefully considered, it can't be stunning, if it surpasses her, that person is coveted again, and it can't be too ordinary, first spend thousands of eight hundred taels to buy a seventeen or eighteen, and put it in his room .The idea has been made, only to give him a surprise when it is done.

　　However, Jia Rong hadn't returned home until evening.You must know that since Jia Zhen went south, he always came back early.what happened?You found the servant in front of Jia Rong, "Where's your uncle Rong?" The servant replied, "Today, the uncle went outside the city to see the grandfather, and then went to see the uncle Feng and the others for a drink. I don't want to get drunk. Now, go to Zhao Jingchen's place. We will send it there, and the uncle will drive us back. "

　　You Shi said angrily, "You bastard, if something happens to the uncle, I will break your legs!" The young servant hurriedly replied, "Don't worry, ma'am, Director Wu will send someone to watch. The little ones will go and invite the uncle. go home."

　　Seeing the servant rushing out, You Shi was still worried, and sent someone to pick him up... Suzhou Admiral Yamen. "This uneasy bastard!" Jia Zhen almost went berserk when she received Xue Pan's letter.In fact, the letter didn't say anything, only after a nonsense call, he mentioned in the last paragraph that he would take his cousin to Suzhou to play in a few days, and wanted him to be sure to receive Yunyun.Did he really deceive Baoqin?How could he do this?Do you still need moral integrity?Jia Zhen is like holding a hot potato at the moment, unable to eat it, and reluctant to throw it away.It really gave him a dilemma.

　　"You're really going to find trouble for me!" Jia Zhen smiled bitterly.Even though his conscience has been almost eaten by dogs over the years, he still maintains the lowest bottom line vaguely. People can't go too far, or they will be struck by lightning!For example, he immediately received another letter with three chicken feathers inserted, from Shenjing Ningguofu.When Jia Zhen opened the letter, her face changed greatly!

　　Just when Jia Zhen was hesitating whether to take Baoqin in or firmly reject it, Xue Pan was on the road to Baoqin to spread Jia Zhen's anecdotes and made great achievements.Baoqin's beautiful face showed no joy or anger, and she responded lightly.Xue Pan said with a smile: "When you enter the door, his house has a very large garden, and it is said to be resplendent!" Baoqin chuckled, "Gardens are all about elegance and sophistication, how can there be any resplendent? It's too vulgar to endure, and it has fallen into the inferior position. It can be seen that Jia Zhen is nowhere near elegant, only in the world, the vulgar can no longer be a vulgar person."

　　She mourned her own fate involuntarily, and improvised a poem.It's a pity that Xue Pan didn't know anything, and was deaf, so it wasn't reported. It's a pity!The three brothers and sisters, uh, are naturally accompanied by Xue Tad.Xue Tao was taciturn all the way, hating Xue Pan for doing nothing, hating Jia Zhen for bullying others, and hating himself for being weak and incompetent, so he could only send his sister into the fire pit, helpless.

　　He glared angrily at Xue Pan, but Xue Pan smiled and said, "Brother Tadpole doesn't need to look at me like this. Do you think Baoqin is here to suffer? We are talented in Baoqin's appearance, and we will definitely be the first in Brother Zhen's house. Wouldn't it be better to be favored by him than to marry some poor Hanlin family?"

　　Xue Tao retorted: "A bad old man..." Xue Pan smiled and said, "You haven't seen him, so you say he is a bad old man? Tell you, Brother Zhen is handsome, talented, and both civil and military. Baoqin did it just now. Poetry, although I can't hear the good or the bad, but this kind of poetry is often done by Brother Jane."

　　Baoqin's originally desolate eyes flashed with a certain look, "If it's true, it's not too boring." Entering Suzhou, Xue Pan and Xue Tao rode with Baoqin's carriage to the Admiral's Yamen.Xue Pan smiled and said, "We're here!"

　　Xue Ta said, "Sister, it's still too late for us to go home now."

　　Baoqin got off the carriage lightly, and smiled at her two brothers: "Since everyone has come, it is natural to go in and meet the legendary Marquis of Ningyang. Let's see if he is worthy of me, Xue Baoqin! Otherwise, I will Even if I die, I won't agree!" It turned out that Baoqin did not object to being a concubine to Jia Zhen, but only if she wanted to meet Jia Zhen in person.

　　So there was a line of brothers and sisters.Xue Pan got off the horse and supported her: "You will like it. Maybe Brother Zhen will even have the dowry ready by now."

　　But when they went in, they saw Jia Zhen roaring furiously: "Timur, the court has approved, let's go back to Beijing immediately!" It turned out that more than half a month ago, You's letter from Beijing said that Jia Rong suddenly Suffered from violent disease, it is incurable.

　　Jia Zhen was about to go back immediately, but was stopped by deputy general Shen Xin. Returning to Beijing without a court order was a capital crime for treason.I had to rush to report to the imperial court for [-] miles. It was only today that I got the approval from the Ministry of War, so I hurriedly set off.

　　They rushed to the door and happened to meet Xue Pan and the others who came in.Jia Zhen saw a pretty girl staring at him, "You are Baoqin, right?" Baoqin saw that the person who came was indeed Yingwu, so she was sure to be Jia Zhen, and said Wanfu deeply, "Master Hou!" Jia Zhen Jane lifted her up with both hands and said straight: "I'm in a hurry to go back to Beijing, so I can't take you back with me. You stay here and help me take care of the Admiral's Yamen." After speaking, she stepped forward and hugged her, " If you need anything, just go to the firm with my order and do it yourself. I have already explained it to them."

　　By the time Baoqin reacted, Jia Zhen had already disappeared from her eyes. "This... give it to me?" Bao Qin held a gold medal in her hand.People from all over the house came to see the housekeeper and auntie.Baoqin blushed in denial, but Xue Pan had already made up his brother-in-law's seat and ordered someone to report to his uncle.It's done!Jia Zhen galloped all the way, and when he finally returned to Ningguo Mansion, the mansion was already covered with white flags.

Chapter [-]: The inescapable life

　　When Jia Zhen saw Bai Fan at the door, she suddenly felt a pain in her heart. Could it be that she came back late?

　　He immediately turned over and dismounted, and the servants of the Ning residence stepped forward and knelt down to greet him. "Speak! What's going on?" Jia Zhen grabbed someone and asked.The servant cried, "Master, the uncle is gone." Jia Zhen felt dizzy and put one hand on the stone lion at the gate, "Rong'er...how could he die?"

　　At this time, Jiao Da greeted him, knelt down in front of Jia Zhen and said, "Old slave welcomes the master back to the manor!"

　　Jia Zhen helped him up and asked in a deep voice, "Old man, what's going on?"

　　Jiao Da trembled and cried, "Master, Brother Rong is me..." "Impossible!"

　　Jia Zhen angrily said, "He has no reason!" But his heart was indeed full of guilt and self-blame.He pushed Jiao Da away and stepped up the steps.As soon as he entered the corner door, a sandalwood stench surged in his heart, and it suddenly spewed out of his throat.

　　"Master!" The person next to him exclaimed, Timur was quick-witted and supported Jia Zhen.

　　Jia Zhen pushed him away, "I'm fine!" Holding her chest, she walked forward slowly.

　　You waited for Zhi Jia Zhen to come back, and hurriedly came out to greet him. "Master!" She choked, "Brother Rong is gone!"

　　Jia Zhen still felt that the world was spinning, "He's always been fine, how can he not think about it?"

　　You Shi hesitated, "Master, let's go in and talk about it?"

　　Jia Zhen understood or had hidden feelings, so she went back to the main hall with her.Jia Zhen looked up and saw Jia Rong's coffin tablet in the main hall, and couldn't help feeling sad. "Rong'er! Dad is late!"

　　Everyone in the hall is there, and they have been separated for a long time, and their eyes are full of affection, but the timing is not right at this moment, and they are all in the heart.

　　Lingqian Keqing is full of filial piety, and the crying pear blossoms bring rain.Seeing Jia Zhen come in, she immediately led Luan Peifeng to kowtow to him, "Master..." Before she could finish her sentence, she burst into tears.Jia Zhen gave them a hand and asked them, "What the hell is going on here? How did Brother Rong get sick, what doctors did you ask for treatment, and why wasn't he cured?"

　　You stepped forward and sighed: "That day, Brother Rong didn't return in the middle of the night. I was worried that he had something to do, so I asked him the whereabouts of his accompanying servant and taught people to call him back. I didn't know that when they arrived at Zhao Jingchen's house, Rong'er would It was no longer possible. Wu Huai and the others immediately sent them back to the house, and they asked the imperial physician Wang for diagnosis and treatment. Using a hundred-year-old ginseng as a guide, it only took more than half a month, and finally went three days ago!"

　　Jia Zhen was speechless after hearing this.He seemed to understand the anguish and helplessness in Jia Rong's heart.He and Keqing, who was still crying beside him, seemed to be able to see the endless intertwining of anger and humiliation behind Jia Rong, who was always the only one, and the venting of extreme pleasure after indulgence.In this way, it is not surprising that he finally has this ending.Jia Zhen forcibly comforted herself so that she would not fall into the dual unease of morality and conscience.

　　Standing in front of Jia Rongling, he recalled the past between their father and son.At that time, although they could not talk about everything, at least the father was kind and filial.When did father and son become more and more strangers?From the day Keqing entered the door, right?Jia Zhen lit a stick of incense for Jia Rong sadly and prayed silently, "Rong'er, my father is sorry for you..."

　　The man is dead.