Chapter 946
Everyone Has Their Own Secrets
Chapter 946 Everyone Has Their Own Secrets
Beijing,
Rongguo Mansion,
The dusk was thick, and the afterglow of the setting sun shone through the carved window lattices of Rongqing Hall, casting patches of golden light, dyeing everything in the hall with a warm and soft halo.
In Rongqing Hall,
The lights have been quietly lit, and the delicate palace lanterns are emitting soft light, which is printed on the smiling faces of the people, adding a bit of warmth.
Yuanyang was in the flower hall inside the main hall, directing the maids to clean up the room and set up a large table of wine and food in the room, all of which were game offered from the farm below. It happened that the master was there today, and Grandmother Jia was happy, so she did not let everyone leave and set up a banquet together in the room.
After a while,
The tables, chairs and benches connected to the backyard. Sister Liu had already brought the food over, steaming hot, so she shouted;
"Madam, the banquet is ready,"
"Okay, let's go, let's have a good meal tonight, and celebrate for Baoyu."
Following a shout from Lady Jia, everyone moved and entered the flower hall. Yuanyang supported Lady Jia and sat down in the main seat. She was wearing a gorgeous brocade robe, which set off her dignified majesty. Although she was nearly seventy years old and her hair was gray, she was still energetic, and her eyes revealed a different look.
The second wife, Mrs. Wang, and the first wife, Mrs. Xing, sat on both sides of Lady Jia. They were over fifty years old, but the demeanor they had cultivated in the Rongguo Mansion was shining. Their current seats were also arranged by the old lady. Originally, the first seat in the east belonged to the second wife, but now it was replaced by the first wife, Mrs. Xing. Although the two did not say anything, Mrs. Xing was already very happy in her heart, perhaps because what she said in the past few days was to the old lady's liking.
The three maids, Yingchun, Tanchun and Xichun, sat in order, like three flowers about to bloom, each with its own charm. Further down was Lin Daiyu, who was sitting beside Xichun. Today, she had changed into a purple silk dress, with a nimble figure and a tranquil and trance-like charm between her eyebrows. Xue Baochai seemed to be clinging to Daiyu, sitting closely beside her, in a pink and white brocade shirt, with dignified manners and a peaceful expression. The trace of the merchant's worldly wisdom had long disappeared.
On the other hand, Shi Xiangyun, who had found a bright red gown and breeches from somewhere, showed her heroic character, playfulness and liveliness. Even Jia Baoyu, who had been a little depressed just now, was already smiling, with a face like the moon in the Mid-Autumn Festival and a complexion like the flowers in the early spring. She shuttled among the crowd, telling some jokes she had heard in the school.
The seat next to the eldest wife was reserved for Madam You, the daughter-in-law of the Zhu family, and Wang Xifeng. As for the two masters, they had already eaten in their respective courtyards.
"The old lady, the first lady, the second lady, Mrs. You and the great grandmother are here,"
Outside the curtain, a maidservant came into the house with a message, and saw the door curtain moving. Madam You and Grandmother Li Wan walked in. Madam You came from the East Garden of Ningguo Mansion, wearing a moon-white silk dress with almost no decoration. If it weren't for the high-quality material, you would have thought she was a lady from an ordinary family. Grandmother Li Wan, on the other hand, wore a brocade robe made of Sichuan brocade, which made her look a little heavy. However, the golden peony on the collar was gorgeous and dignified, and paired with her radiant face, she looked even more majestic.
As soon as the two entered the room, they bowed to Lady Jia, and Madam You said softly;
"Madam, I am sorry to have kept you waiting. There was construction on the road and I walked slowly. I hope you will forgive me,"
Grandmother Jia smiled and raised her hand, replying;
"We are all family, why say such polite words? It's a rare occasion for us to get together today, so we just want to have fun."
The eldest grandmother, Li Wan, smiled slightly. She was not as indifferent as before and handled it calmly.
"The old lady is so kind. I was thinking of coming here tomorrow to pay my respects to her. Many of my sisters have already come here."
Glancing at the table, except for Wang Xifeng who was a little dazed, everyone else was smiling. This Feng girl shouldn't be like this.
At this time, Madam You took Li Wan's hand and sat down in the empty seat. Coincidentally, Li Wan sat next to Wang Xifeng. When she sat down, she gently touched Feng's arm with her hand.
"I heard that the old lady was holding a banquet today. This is a rare event. As soon as I heard the news, I hurried over. It turns out that I am still late."
Madam You deliberately interrupted the conversation, drawing everyone's attention to her, but it was considered unnoticeable.
"Look, this table full of dishes must have been made by Sister Liu herself."
Just a few words brought Wang Xifeng back to her senses. Seeing her sister-in-law's worried look, she felt touched and nodded secretly.
"You, I hope you feel better. Come back and eat more. Take good care of your baby. Don't worry about the affairs of the mansion or the two of them."
Today's dinner was specially arranged by Grandmother Jia, so that everyone could gather together and ask about the affairs of Ningguo Mansion.
Speaking of taking care of the fetus, the three of them were the only ones in the room to shudder. Madam You smiled awkwardly and nodded.
"What the old lady said is true. I always feel a little tired all day long. So, I just stay in my yard. With Li Wan accompanying me, I am not bored."
"Well, that's good. There's nothing serious going on in Ningguo Mansion. You two can live in peace in the courtyard. By the way, Zhu's wife, is Brother Lan back?"
Jia's mother changed the subject and turned the conversation to Li Wan and Lang'er, all for the recommendation quota of the Imperial College.
Li Wan was slightly startled. What was going on? She glanced at Feng Yatou secretly, only to see her nod slightly. Knowing that it was nothing serious, she smiled.
"Thanks to the old lady, Brother Lang has been on duty at the Imperial College these days, leaving early and returning late, and everything has gone smoothly."
The Imperial College students left early and came back late, or sometimes did not return at all. After all, many students and scholars stayed overnight and needed officials to supervise them. This is how the night watch came into being.
"Well, that's good. It's your blessing. Since the establishment of the Dawu Dynasty, no scholar has ever been granted an official position. Lang Ge'er ranked third on the list of top scholars. His literary talent is not to be underestimated, and his luck is also first-class. In the future, we will take good care of him. You also have a way out."
These words were a bit harsh. Li Wan's expression was surprised, but it did not change.
"What the old lady said is absolutely right. My granddaughter-in-law is also a person with no hope. She only wants Brother Lang to succeed. Now that her wish has come true, it is a great favor to the old lady. I will definitely not forget it."
What he said was sincere and heartfelt, which made Wang Xifeng feel very strange. If this was not expected, then what about her?
"Well, there is something. Today, the Imperial College announced the results, saying that the Imperial College is recruiting supplementary students. All officials of the Imperial College have recommended places. Baoyu did not pass the exam this time, which must be due to stage fright. So, Baoyu's study is about..."
Grandmother Jia paused for a moment and looked at Li Wan, the Second Madam and Lady Xing. Li Wan felt relieved. It was all about reading. Thinking of the Second Madam's arrogance at that time, she couldn't help but have some strange thoughts.
"Old lady, from what you said, we are all family, how can we be polite? It is a good thing for Baoyu to go to school. At that time, uncle and nephew will serve in the same court, which is also a good story. However, I don't know about this matter. If it is true, this place must belong to Baoyu, and it will definitely not be promised to anyone else."
The second wife, Mrs. Wang, could stop her, but she must not interfere in the affairs between the old lady and Baoyu. She could see clearly that the most important thing in the Rongguo Mansion was the affairs between Baoyu and the old lady.
Grandmother Jia's face was full of joy. This was what she wanted, or a promise. Perhaps it was some rumors inside that she had heard. But no matter what, they were all from the same mansion, so how could she keep it in mind?
"Well, the daughter-in-law of the Zhu family is still filial. Come on, Yuanyang, bring those dishes over."
After Grandmother Jia gave an order, Yuanyang led a group of maids, carrying food boxes in their hands, and walked lightly into the house. It turned out that the last few dishes were served last. When the food boxes were opened, a waft of tempting aroma was placed on the table.
First of all, there were several famous dishes. One was "braised bear paws," which were offered from the manors outside the Great Wall. They were bright red and shiny, and you couldn't tell they were bear paws. They were also garnished with some soup. "Come, have a taste. This is a rare dish that you can only find twice a year. The border is bitterly cold and the population is sparse. It's God's blessing for a good hunter to kill a blind bear. Not to mention, it's very difficult to transport a blind bear from outside the Great Wall to the inside because the Jurchens blocked the way."
This is the old lady's feeling. Those manors outside the Great Wall were once the golden nests of the Jia family. Now only one manor of Ningguo Mansion is left there. It is no longer worth it.
Li Wan's eyes flickered, and no one knew what she was thinking. However, everyone at the table looked at her curiously, stretched out their chopsticks, picked up a piece of meat, and put it into their mouths to taste.
It was indeed delicious. Li Wan took a bite, but felt a little disappointed. Thinking of the topic discussed by students outside the capital, which was what Lang Ge'er brought back, she turned around and asked;
"I wonder if Miss Lin knows what's happening outside the Great Wall?"
This question was abrupt. Lin Daiyu put down her chopsticks and shook her head.
"I don't know, but I have heard from the Marquis that life outside the border is bitterly cold and difficult."
There was confusion in his eyes. Why would the sister-in-law ask these questions?
Wang Xifeng didn't understand it either, and fearing that her elder sister-in-law would say more and make more mistakes, she interrupted:
"Oh, why are you asking about Daiyu? If you want to ask, ask me. The Forbidden City is in the north. Everyone in the capital knows what the situation is like in the north. The north is bitterly cold and the food is scarce. Many people starve to death all year round. In addition, the foreign races are rampant. It is not a place where people can stay."
As if he had thought of something, Luo Yunhou was just outside the pass, so he quickly shut up.
"You, you talk too much,"
Li Wan rolled her eyes at Wang Xifeng. How could she not know what she meant? Seeing this, Madam You also smiled.
"Feng girl also has good intentions. The north is bitterly cold. I have also heard these words. In the past few days, the entire capital's scholars have spread the news that His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin and Marquis Luo Yun had a detailed discussion in the carriage before they went south, which aroused a lot of discussion."
Although Madam You is not good at speaking, there are only a few people in Ningguo Mansion now, and Lai Sheng is concerned about it. He reports the situation outside the mansion every day. If Madam You doesn't want to listen, she will tell Yindie. In this way, how can You Shi not know what is going on in the mansion? Of course, many people are like this because of the precious gold in their stomachs.
The reason for the conversation also piqued everyone's curiosity. Even Wang Xifeng was confused. What was Sister You talking about? She had never heard any discussion of students in or outside the mansion. Maybe she was too busy these days and ignored it.
"That's great. It's a rare opportunity for Sister You to speak. Since everyone is here and gathered together, let Sister You speak properly. What's the matter that can cause scholars to argue? It can't be about the imperial examination again, right?"
Wang Xifeng had never been to school, and the Wang family had no habit of letting girls study. They all went to the clan school and occasionally attended a few private schools. She knew a few words, but she couldn't recognize more than that. Fortunately, the people around her were smart, so she remembered a lot. But because of this, she felt that the imperial examinations were really boring. If it weren't for Baoyu and Lang Ge'er taking the imperial examinations, who would still think about these things?
But the others were different. Sanchun was a smart girl since she was young, and she had learned a lot from the private school. Shi Xiangyun was also the eldest daughter of the Marquis's mansion at that time, and she had also read a lot of books. Not to mention Daiyu, who came from a scholarly family and had been influenced by her since she was young, and was already comparable to a scholar. Even if Baoyu didn't learn anymore, it wouldn't be a problem for him.
So, besides Wang Xifeng, there was also the first wife at the table. The second wife didn't like these things, and Baoyu was a little depressed. Fame, wealth and status were nothing but dirt in the world.
"Then tell me, Sister You, what is the matter that can still cause students to argue? Isn't the imperial examination a thing of the past?"
The person who spoke was the maid Xichun. After Master Jing passed away, the lively Xichun seemed to have grown up a lot. Later, after Jia Mu and Daiyu acted as guarantors and she entered the Marquis's mansion and established her status, she gradually changed back to normal. This question was asked in a clear and crisp voice.
Daiyu smiled, she actually liked Xichun's look.
"Sister-in-law You, this shouldn't be about the imperial examination. It's been so long since the results were announced, and we've asked all the questions we should ask. I wonder if there are any more interesting things happening in the capital."
Lin Daiyu's deep voice brought everyone at the table back to their senses. They looked at the lovely girl who seemed to be out of this world. She had recovered from her illness and seemed to be reborn. She was radiant and bright. Even the women were dazed when they saw her, not to mention Baoyu, who had been stunned for a long time.
"Oh, Yu'er knows it clearly. Feng girl, you too, when was the imperial examination? Why are you still mentioning it? Wasn't it a few days ago when the army was marching south that someone from the Prince of Jin's mansion posted a notice in the capital, saying something. It seemed to be, what was it?"
In her haste, Madam You almost forgot. She didn't like these things and didn't remember them well. However, she didn't know that her words made Grandmother Jia and the two ladies prick up their ears.
"Don't be in a hurry, take your time. The Prince of Jin's Mansion, that is the Grand Prince. I heard that he followed Marquis Luo Yun to the south to suppress the rebellion."
Grandmother Jia opened her mouth and knew all these things that were obvious.
"Well, what the old lady said is true. I heard that the prince and Luo Yunhou talked about it on the way. It was about a soldier in the border army. The border was bitterly cold and he was often troubled by the daily meals. So, it was true."
I wonder if Madam You remembered it again and repeated the story of the border soldier in the capital.
"In the end, the man died at the border city, leaving behind a line: If the sky has feelings, it will also grow old. The woman waited in the village. A matchmaker came to persuade her to remarry and asked if she was willing. The woman also wrote the first stanza. She left the second stanza unwritten. The palace paid a large sum of money and asked the woman to choose the second stanza that matched the two above."
She could remember and speak these things, but she was not proficient in poetry and songs. Although the poetry was good, it was like a quatrain. At the end, the woman had to decide whether to leave or stay.
The whole room was silent. Sanchun's beautiful eyes were slightly red, and she was filled with emotion. Lin Daiyu kept saying, "If the sky has feelings, it will also grow old." It was as if she and Luo Yunhou met in the misty rain of Jiangnan. As for the others, they were silent, as if they were talking about the past. Jia's mother was no exception. When the old Duke was alive, she was nostalgic.
"What a pair of star-crossed lovers! The border is bitter and cold, and everyone knows that the people in the north have a harder time than those in the south. The troubles caused by foreign races are also a problem that the previous dynasty has not solved. How could Marquis Luo Yun not know about this when he was enfeoffed outside the border? Your Majesty's question is about the hearts of people all over the world."
With a deep sigh, many thoughts flashed through Grandmother Jia's mind. Could it be that Marquis Luo Yun has already set his sights on His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin? The road to winning the throne is full of thrills. In the end, if one bets on the wrong horse, everything will be over. How could Marquis Luo Yun be so unwise? After all, the Prince of Wei and the Prince of Chu are both well-known for their virtues. The Empress in the palace, huh?
The thought came to her mind, but she immediately suppressed it and dared not think about it anymore.
"Alas, it is fate after all,"
After hearing this, Li Wan looked miserable. She thought of Jia Zhu and the current Marquis. What else could it be but fate?
"Oh, look, you see, we are having a good banquet, but you are listening to all these nonsense. It has always been like this at the border. Even in the south, there was a lot of fighting. I am just worried about her, but it is also a way to fill my stomach."
This was said suddenly, and everyone looked up to see Wang Xifeng picking up the chopsticks and picking up a gold and silver roll. It was something that Sister Liu learned from outside. It was made by grinding white flour and corn together, adding some honey and beans, wrapping them together and frying them. One was yellow and the other was white, so it was called a gold and silver roll.
As for those things, which one can compare to Jia Lian's safety? Now that I have heard so much, it is always the same thing.
"You are the one who talks too much. You messed up a good story and turned it into something else."
Grandmother Jia deliberately complained and called on everyone to try the new cakes and dishes, "lotus leaf cake with meat, osmanthus sugar cake, rose shortbread, etc."
The rest of the people calmed down and started eating. The taste was refreshing and unique, and the depression they had just felt was swept away.
Only Jia Baoyu remained silent. After eating a sugar cake, his mood did not improve. He had always only heard a general idea about the border, so how could he really know what was going on there? Now this matter shocked Baoyu deeply. That woman and the soldiers at the border were also a pair of miserable people, pure and innocent, born in the mud. In this way, the woman should stick to it so that she can be remembered forever.
But Baoyu had different ideas in his heart. The most important thing was to survive. Only by surviving could he go to the border. However, these words were so contradictory to the teachings of the saints. He was so flustered that he could not eat this meal.
"Grandfather, my grandson is going back to study!"
(End of this chapter)