The Red Mansions

Chapter 339 Mother Jia: A White-haired Man Gives a Black-haired Man

Chapter 339 Mother Jia: A White-haired Man Gives a Black-haired Man

Kunning Palace

After Emperor Chongping warned Wei Wang Chen Ran, the originally cheerful and joyful atmosphere in the palace was somewhat stagnant. Empress Song smoothed things over and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, it's time to pass on the meal. The concubines are hungry right now."

Emperor Chongping nodded, and said to Chen Ran and Jia Heng, who was bowing in salute: "King Wei, get up, and Ziyu is also seated."

Wei Wang Xie En stood up and returned to his seat.

As Empress Song and Concubine Rong enliven the atmosphere, they became more or less cheerful.

Not long after, an older eunuch came outside the hall and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, empress, the Eighth Prince is back from school."

The noble concubine Duan Rong was originally sitting elegantly, with a face as indifferent as a chrysanthemum, when she heard the words, she looked happy, and said: "Zhier, go and have a look."

Not long after, I saw a young man with red lips and white teeth, surrounded by two young eunuchs, maids, and nuns, enter the hall, and saluted Emperor Chongping and Empress Song, who were sitting in front of them, "my minister!" Greetings to my father, queen mother, concubine mother, aunt, and two brothers..."

When Emperor Chongping saw the eighth prince Chen Ze, the stern and serious expression on his face was obviously warmer, and he smiled and said, "Ze'er, come to your concubine mother."

Compared with the attitude towards King Wei just now, which was as harsh as winter, the current Emperor Chongping treated the Eighth Prince like a spring breeze.

Seeing this scene, Wei Wang Chen Ran couldn't help showing envy in the depths of his eyes.

Liang Wang Chen Wei's expression was obviously worried, and he squeezed the teacup a little harder in his hand. He looked at the white and clean boy standing in the middle, and felt bored deep in his heart. To tell the truth, he was a little uncomfortable. I like this sweet-mouthed brother.

Chen Ze nodded towards Emperor Chongping, turned his head to look at Chen Ran who was beside him, and said with a smile on his face, "Father, today is the birth of Brother Sanhuang, and I haven't congratulated Brother Sanhuang yet." For the birth of a child, this is Wu Zi handwritten by my younger brother. It was originally a congratulatory gift for the third brother, and I only hope that the third brother will go out of the palace to open the mansion, make great achievements, make great achievements, and share the worries of the father and mother."

As he spoke, he took the wooden box from the maid at the side and handed it over.

"Wu Zi" was listed as the Seven Books of Wu Jing in the Song Dynasty, and it was a must-read book for military strategists. Wu Qi once served in the Wei State, and Chen Ze sent it to the King of Wei, which has deep meaning.

Wei Wang Chen Ran got up, made a solemn look, and said, "Thank you, eighth brother."

Jia Heng took this scene of brothers and sisters into his eyes, and thought to himself, the Eighth Prince Chen Ze is so smart, and he is favored by the emperor, so he doesn't know whether it is a blessing or a curse.

In particular, his biological mother, Concubine Duan Rong, and Empress Song are still a compatriot of the same mother. If there is a dispute for the heir apparent in the future, the sisters may turn against each other.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help taking a peek at Empress Song's expression.

On Empress Song's beautiful and heavenly face like a begonia blooming, she clearly saw Tian Ran's smile, and beckoned to Chen Ze: "Ze'er, come here quickly, let the empress see if she has grown taller."

Here, after Chen Ze congratulated the King of Wei, he responded with a smile and moved closer.

Empress Song asked what books Chen Ze had read in school, and the eloquent eighth prince answered her fluently, which attracted frequent praise from Empress Song, and the echoing voices of all the low-ranking concubines, making the atmosphere in the hall heavy, brisk and joyful.

Even Emperor Chongping had more smile lines on his face.

Only Wei Wang Chen Ran was bitter in his heart, but still had a forced smile on his face, this was his newborn son.

And just at this time, the palace servants from the imperial dining room also came to deliver lunch and dishes.

After lunch, Emperor Chongping seemed to know to stay here, and everyone didn't want to let it go, so he didn't stay any longer, and returned to Daming Palace to handle government affairs.

After Emperor Chongping left the main hall, all the people in the hall left their seats to go to the side hall to listen to the opera, and watch the puppet show arranged by Xia Shouzhong with the outsiders, as well as magic acrobatics and other programs.

The entertainment items in this era are lackluster, and the concubines such as Empress Song and Concubine Duanrong have to maintain their manners. It is impossible to engage in pot throwing and archery in front of juniors and foreign ministers. The interaction is too strong recreational activities.

In the meantime, Jia Heng took advantage of the convenience of coming out to talk to Princess Xianning about the Xue family in the House of Internal Affairs, and she made a statement to Queen Song on her behalf.

In the evening, a round of setting sun shone on the majestic palace with vermilion eaves and green eaves, and there was a banquet in the palace.

Wei Wang Chen Ran and Liang Wang Chen Wei sent several people out of the palace gate on behalf of Song Queen.

At the gate of the palace, Song Jing smiled and said, "Zi Yu, how about having a few drinks at the house tomorrow?"

Jia Heng said: "Master Song, I want to see the results of the rectification of the Beijing camp years ago. I have to be busy with this matter recently. After two days, I will have some free time. I will be the host and invite Master Song?"

The younger brother of Empress Song clearly wanted to win him over.

Song Jing knew it well, secretly said a little too hastily, and said with a smile: "I forgot, Ziyu is going to train the army for the Holy Lord now, so we can't delay the business, wait until the end of the year when you are free, and then go to the mansion to talk about it."

On the other side, in the carriage behind, Song Jing's wife sent a nanny to call, and the carriage opened the curtain, and Song Jing's daughter Song Yan looked curiously at the young military officer who was talking to her father.

The girl has sculpted eyebrows and phoenix eyes, bright eyes, an oval face, fair complexion, and facial features a little like Queen Song.

"Mother, this General Yunhui doesn't look like much." Song Yan pinched a corner of her handkerchief and asked her mother Shen who was beside her.

Shen said with a smile: "It's not more than two or three years older than you, but now it's an important minister under Uncle Ni, so it's young and promising."

Song Yan smiled softly: "I think my father also appreciates him very much. Speaking of the Three Kingdoms script written by him, my daughter has read it."

This is actually a reflection of Jia Heng's current reputation in Shenjing City. Various deeds are one of them. In addition, because of the story of the Three Kingdoms, even if she is a boudoir girl who does not go out of the door, there are many girls who have heard of Jia Heng. Heng's name.

On Jia Heng's side, he exchanged some polite words with Song Jing, watched Song Jing get into the carriage, then rode on the horse, left Miyagi, and returned to Ningguo Mansion.

……

In Chu Wangfu, night fell, and in the study room, the lights were bright and warm.

Chen Qin, King of Chu, was dressed in a prince's dragon robe, sitting on a pear-blossom wooden chair, discussing matters with two confidants.

Chu Wang Chen Qin reflected the flickering flames on the candlestick, and asked with cold light, "Jia Heng entered the palace to give birth to Wei Wangqing, what do you two gentlemen think?"

Shi Liaoxian, the head of the palace, pondered and said: "My lord, don't worry too much about this. King Wei will go to Wucheng to watch the government after the new year. Jia Yunhui will enter the palace to establish a good relationship with him in advance, so that he can work together in the coming year. He is also a human being." common sense."

The chief bookkeeper Feng Ci also said: "I heard that the Palace of the Prince of Wei has been contracted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Industry, and the mansion will be married and moved in next year when the mansion opens."

The King of Chu nodded, with a complex expression on his face, and said: "I have been busy preparing for the military department to build a northern camp recently, but I have no time to take care of the situation in Beijing. This Jia Ziyu has become more and more trusted by his father after the Liwei Camp incident. , Jingying, Wucheng Bingmasi, and Jinyi Mansion, seem to be the confidantes of the father."

In the end, the mood is also urgent.

Back then, it would have been fine if he had wooed him before he made a fortune. When he had a conflict with Jia Zhen in Cuihonglou, he felt that this person was not a person who had lived under others for a long time, but he looked forward and looked backward, and waited until he was awarded the title of third-class general. Chances are still in doubt.

Of course, it's too late to say anything now.

Liao Xian seemed to see King Chu's thoughts, and comforted him: "My lord, don't be upset, Jia Yunhui is already a close minister of the emperor, and now he controls many important areas, the sage will not rest assured that he will get too close to any prince, even if Not even the King of Wei."

The king of Chu said: "Gu is not trying to win him over, but just to make friends with his Jia family, in preparation for the future...Mr. Liao, I feel that Jia Heng may not be so easy. The so-called tree is beautiful in the forest, the wind will destroy it, Now he is in the same situation as King Qi's mansion, and yesterday he heard that he had a conflict with Uncle Zhongshun. Of course, the two families have a long-standing relationship, and it is not in these two days. Some disciples are also dissatisfied with him, but thinking about it alone, he can't offend the clan and ministers to the end, he also needs friends."

As Jia Heng's influence on the Beijing camp gradually increased, King Chu's thoughts inevitably became vivid.

Feng Ci agreed and said: "My lord's words are not unreasonable, especially now that he and Mr. Li Ge are in charge of the Beijing camp, and General Yu has the final say in the adjustment, so the lord should not be too stranger to him."

The King of Chu nodded and said, "You two gentlemen, how do you feel about the marriage between Gu and the Jia family?"

As soon as this remark came out, Liao Xian's face was obviously stunned, and he frowned and asked: "My lord, what do you mean by this?"

"Gu heard that Jia Zheng's daughter has come out of the palace, if Gu Ruo accepts her as a side concubine, marrying Jia's family will undoubtedly build a bridge." The wise light flashed in Chu Wang's eyes, and he said firmly.

Liao Xian hesitated: "This..."

In the blink of an eye, he grasped the king of Chu's mind.

Concubine Chu is the daughter of the Zhen family, president of the Jinling Provincial Institute of Physical Education, and one of the two side concubines is the daughter of Liu Zheng, a scholar in charge of the Imperial Academy. At the beginning, the daughter of the Naliu family won a lot of fame for the King of Chu among scholars. .

Now the king of Chu has clearly tasted the sweetness, so he repeats the old trick.

Liao Xian frowned, thought about his words, and said: "My lord, the daughter of the Jia family is the daughter of the Duke no matter what, if you become a concubine at the beginning, I'm afraid the Jia family will not be happy."

The King of Chu smiled lightly, and said: "Mr. Liao's words are wrong. The daughter of Jia's family is nearly double ten years old, and she came out of the palace again. It's hard to be a good family. It's not humiliating to be a lonely side concubine." Strictly speaking, the daughter of the Jia family is not a direct descendant of the Rong family's Jia She and Jia Zheng's sons."

Liao Xian was silent when he heard the words.

Feng Ci said, "My lord, you can give it a try."

The king of Chu looked sharply, and said with a smile: "Miss Jia is Wang Ziteng's niece. Although Wang Ziteng was implicated in the army reorganization and stayed at home, she is not incompetent. It was just bad luck before. Now He has committed a serious crime, and after a period of time, Emperor Father may restore this person again."

Liao Xian nodded and said: "What Your Highness said is very true, it is better to use it than to use it, Wang Ziteng has the ability to lead the army, and because of the reorganization of the army, he himself was cut off from the four kings and eight princes, the sage will not abandon it. "

The king of Chu smiled and said, "That's why Gu went to the palace to express his condolences in person yesterday.

It was precisely when the King of Chu came to the mansion yesterday to express his condolences that he caught a glimpse of Yuan Chun and thought of accepting her as a side concubine.

Of course, when the King of Chu visited Empress Song in Kunning Palace before, he had already met Yuanchun, who was acting as a female official.

The impression given to the King of Chu was that the daughter of Jia's family was dignified in appearance and gentle in temperament.

Liao Xian thought for a while, but he no longer objected, and asked: "Where is the princess? Will you object?"

The members of the Zhen family are not easy to mess with. Princess Chu Zhen Qing is the eldest lady of the Zhen family, and the second lady Zhen Xue is married to Beijing King Shui Rong.

Zhen Qing is two years older than the King of Chu. Although she looks beautiful, she has a strong temperament.

In "Dream of Red Mansions", six chapters, the Zhen family went to Beijing. In fact, it was mentioned that the Zhen family had five daughters, two young ladies married to the capital, and there were three other girls.

When mentioning the princess, the King of Chu looked a little unnatural, and said: "The princess has always been knowledgeable. After Concubine Liu passed the door, the backyard has always been harmonious. Besides, the two families of Zhen and Jia were old relatives. I have met Jia's daughter, although I am not talking about close friends in the boudoir, but I have met a few times."

Liao Xian thought to himself, at the beginning when Concubine Liu was accepted, there was quite a commotion, but now that Jia's daughter is accepted as side concubine, there may be some troubles.

The king of Chu liked literary and elegant things, so he married the daughter of Liu Zheng, a scholar of the Imperial Academy, and the benefits were real. From then on, he was known as a virtuous king among scholars.

But Concubine Zhen was not happy, there was a commotion in the back house, no one else knew about it, Liao Xian, the chief steward of the royal residence, knew it, and was afraid that Queen Chu's house would be restless, and even hurt the Zhen family.

Because the Zhen family is the pocketbook of King Chu.

The King of Chu smiled lightly, and said: "The matter is settled like this. In the first month, Mr. Liao will lead people to the mansion to propose marriage."

But Liao Xian hesitated again and said: "Jia Yunhui is the patriarch of the Jia Clan, should we check his words first?"

The King of Chu shook his head, and said: "This man is not slippery, if you talk about it, the matter will probably fail. The one who is asking to marry is the daughter of the Rong family. You don't need to ask him. If he resists, he will invite you blame."

A thriving Wu Xun who is highly valued by his father, how could he easily end up fighting for the heir apparent, but he can't do nothing, otherwise, even if the King of Wei befriends him, it will be fatal when the critical moment comes.

Only by binding relatives first, and then wooing and currying favor later, will there be a bond.

Hearing this, Liao Xian nodded and agreed.

But Jia Heng didn't know that the king of Chu had Yuan Chun's idea behind his back. He returned to the Duke's mansion, and just entered the flower hall, almost on the front and back.

Jia Zhen is gone.

In the past, Jia Zhen was pampered and indulged in wine and sex for a long time. She was exiled to Lingnan all at once.

The corpse was still in Lingnan, and Jingzhao Yamen asked if it would send the corpse to Shenjing for burial.

But the ancestral home of the Jia family is actually in Jinling.

Jia Heng was silent for a moment, then said: "Jiao Da, go to the Grand Master's Courtyard of Xifu to inform Brother Rong, and ask him to report the funeral to Master Jing at Xuanzhen Temple, and then ask someone to report to the Grand Madam's Courtyard."

The so-called, once dead, it is not easy for him to hold on to his past grudges at this time.

Of course, the Ning Mansion will not have too much honor for Jia Zhen.

Jiao Da responded, and quickly ordered the servant to go.

Jia Heng returned to the inner hall. At this moment, Qin Keqing, Daiyu, Xiangyun, Tanchun, Yuanchun, You Shi, Second Sister You, and Third Sister You have received the news that Jia Zhen died of illness in Lingnan.

Everyone couldn't help but sighed, comforting Youshi and Xichun.

After all, they have been husband and wife for many years, Youshi is also shedding tears at this moment, and although Xichun did not shed tears, her cold and jade-like little face showed sadness.

Seeing Jia Heng coming in, Qin Keqing stood up to greet her and said, "Husband."

Jia Heng nodded, looked at Xichun, who was sad on his small face, and turned to Youshi who was wiping away tears, and asked: "I just asked from the Jingzhao Yamen whether the body will be sent to Beijing for burial, what I mean is It's not easy to travel all the way, so you might as well let Brother Rong go to the nearest ancestral home in Jinling for burial."

Theoretically, You Shi is still Jia Zhen's wife at this moment, so you need to ask what she means.

As the son of man, Jia Rong must go south to help the spirit.

But Youshi's eyes were dim, and he said: "It's up to the patriarch to make the decision. It's just a husband and wife. I want to go south to see him off for the last time."

Jia Heng nodded and said: "It should be, but in recent years, the roads have been unstable, so I sent a few people to go south with them."

You Shi said: "Thank you, Patriarch."

Jia Heng spoke briefly, then turned to look at Xichun, and said: "Sister, I have traveled thousands of miles, my sister can worship in Beijing, find an eminent monk to perform rituals, and just save her."

At this time, Tanchun said: "Brother Heng, Zen Master Miaoyu from the Muni Academy has come to the mansion. He is superb in Buddhism and lives in the nunnery in the back garden of the West Mansion. You might as well invite him."

Jia Heng said: "Then I will go to the West Mansion to invite you later."

Later, he might have to go to Rongguo Mansion to meet Jiamu.

And as the news of Jia Zhen's death came from the East and West, it still stirred up some disturbances. After all, it was the former Uncle Zhen, the patriarch of the Jia clan.

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall

Accompanied by Sister Feng and Li Wan, Jia's mother was talking, when she heard Lin Zhixiao's family enter the hall to report, her face changed suddenly, and she said anxiously: "What's going on? Brother Zhen is only in his 30s. Why is this gone?"

She originally thought about waiting three to five years before asking the East Mansion to let Jia Zhen return to Jinling to live in another residence. She didn't want to think that it didn't take long for her to disappear.

Mother Jia narrowed her eyes slightly, and a suspicion surged in her heart.

Is it...

No, probably not, Brother Heng is not that kind of vicious child who cut grass and roots.

In fact, it was not only Mother Jia who had some private speculations in her heart, but Sister Feng, who was sitting by the side, had a change in her appearance, and Danfeng also had a little fear in her eyes. Ancestor, I heard that the land in the South of the Five Ridges is a land of smog, and it is cold and humid in winter, Brother Zhen is used to enjoying it in the mansion, but suddenly, he fell ill."

Lin Zhixiao's family also said: "Old lady, Uncle Heng said that this is a letter sent by the Jingzhao Yamen, that after Uncle Zhen arrived in Lingnan, he was not acclimatized, vomiting and diarrhea, and fell ill not long after. There is a lack of medical care and medicine in the Exiled Lands, so this is gone."

Mother Jia supported her forehead, sighed, and asked, "Where is Brother Rong, did you know?"

Lin Zhixiao's family hurriedly said: "Uncle Heng has sent someone to the old man's courtyard to inform Brother Rong, and asked someone to report to Xuanzhen Temple."

Jia Mu sighed again: "The white-haired man is sending the black-haired man."

(End of this chapter)