The filial son of the Red Mansion

The ladies and girls in the inner house rarely appeared in the outer house. Even if they did, they usually rode in a sedan chair carried by servants, accompanied by old women and maids, and sent them to the hanging flower gate.

These are the rules and etiquette of a prefecture.

In addition to these etiquette rules, there are also human ethics. The younger generation must get up early and go to bed late every day, and they must go to the elders to pay their respects. However, there are also differences in paying respects, because the men usually have external affairs, most of the time it is just the aunt to pay respects to the grandmother, and the daughter-in-law to pay respects to the wife, and then they all go to the wife's room to listen to the teachings and set rules.

So every morning, Grandmother Jia's room was the liveliest.

Yu's room seemed deserted. But today was different. Qin Keqing led Feicui, Feng'er, Ruizhu, Baozhu and a group of maids into Yu's room, and they were all surprised.

I only felt that Youshi's spirit today was completely different from before, and her skin was moist and shiny, like a dead tree coming back to life. Her white face was rosy and full of vitality, and she looked a lot younger.

Qin Keqing had become increasingly familiar with Youshi recently, and after greeting her, she couldn't help but ask, "Is there any happy event in the mansion?"

Youshi was in a good mood and said, "Today is your great-aunt Xue's birthday. You will all follow me to the west first and then to Lixiangyuan to celebrate her birthday."

Everyone was puzzled. Aunt Xue and Madam Xue had seldom interacted with each other in the past, so why was Madam Xue so happy about her birthday?

Little did they know that Youshi had been a widow not long after entering the mansion, and that she was so radiant because of the love she received yesterday.

Everyone from the East Palace went to the West Palace, and the ladies in the West Palace were also amazed at Youshi.

Yu Shi used the excuse that she was in high spirits when something happy happened, and her happiness also came from the old lady's favor for Rong Ge'er, so she was happy in her heart.

The people in the west did not doubt it.

Wang Xifeng secretly kept a secret in mind, thinking with a gloomy face: Why is this taciturn girl so charming? Could she have hooked up with a man outside? I need to ask Feng'er to investigate carefully, so as not to ruin the reputation of the East and make Rong'er be ridiculed in the future. If this is the case, don't blame me for disregarding our past friendship.

Jia Rong, on the other hand, inquired about external affairs outside, sent back a few visiting cards, and privately asked Shi Hui whether she had arranged for a reliable person to check the news. After finishing all the things, he returned to the inner house and learned that Youshi, Keqing and others had all gone to the West Mansion, so he secretly went to the porch with joy.

"The old lady of the You family is gone?"

"Yes."

"Where have they gone?"

It turned out that in a few days it was Old Lady You's mother's birthday, so Old Lady You took Second Sister You and Third Sister You to celebrate the birthday and would not be back for some time.

Depend on!

Jia Rong cursed inwardly and felt very regretful.

Two days later, one day, Lin Daiyu was offended by Baoyu for some reason, so she went to Ningguo Mansion alone in anger. Unexpectedly, she found a purse on the bed with the word "Rong" embroidered on it.

"How did Rong come to my room?" Lin Daiyu frowned, feeling sick and wanting to throw the purse away. When she called Zijuan over, she felt reluctant to leave and put the purse in her arms.

"Nothing. I saw that the bed seemed a little dirty. Maybe the doors and windows were not closed properly at night, so wild cats and dogs sneaked in. Sister went to find Feicui and asked her to send someone to bring a new set. Now let's have everyone wash all the dirt on the bed."

Zijuan couldn't help laughing when she heard this and said, "Young lady, you don't consider yourself a guest when you come to the east."

Lin Daiyu was slightly startled. It seemed that they did not treat her as a guest. She blushed. She said, "In the east, I am the elder, so they naturally respect me." As she spoke, Daiyu also laughed.

Zijuan smiled as she opened the cabinet and said, "Don't bother with the jade. There are still a few quilts here that can be used. Just ask the maids to wash the old ones."

Lin Daiyu frowned and said, "Who knows who slept with her? I don't want to."

Zijuan had no choice but to do as she was told, leaving Xueyan in the room to serve the girl, and went to the East Courtyard herself. Unexpectedly, as soon as she reached the door, she saw people coming and going inside, what a big scene. Confused, she entered the courtyard, only to see several maids guarding the room, and the curtains in the room were all drawn.

When I looked carefully, I found that there was an imperial physician in the room talking to Xiao Rong's wet nurse, accompanied by Lai Sheng's wife, Shi Maode's wife and other housekeepers. In the side room behind the curtain, there were also the voices of Zhen's grandmother, Feicui, Feng'er and others.

"Is Grandma Xiaorong pregnant?"

Zijuan was stunned for a moment, then she heard the laughter of Madam Zhen inside, and saw Lai Sheng's wife giving silver to the imperial physician as a reward.

Really happy?!

The fact that Xiaorong, the eldest grandmother of Ningguo Mansion, was pregnant was definitely a big deal. The Ning and Rong Mansions of the Jia family had not had any new offspring for many years, and what was even worse was that the Ningguo Mansion had only one heir for several generations. This event would surely shock and delight both mansions.

At this time, Jia Rong still didn't know that Qin Keqing was pregnant.

In front of him was a woman who had just become pregnant. She was the Imperial Concubine Zhou of the current dynasty.

Weird, weird, Concubine Zhou and Zhou Yang don't look alike? But she is indeed beautiful, dressed in embroidered clothes, and has a special gentle aura.

Seeing him secretly looking at the imperial concubine's face, Xiao Kun tugged at Rong Ge'er's sleeve in fear.

Jia Rong knew the rules, so he quietly lowered his head. However, the guard captain Zhou Yang was called to the imperial concubine's side to whisper something, but no one knew what he was talking about. Zhou Yang nodded and glanced at the faces of the guards.

Chapter 135: The Assassination Case of Shenwumen [asking for monthly ticket]

Obviously, what Concubine Zhou and Zhou Yang said must be good news.

Zhou Yang's face became more and more delighted, and the fierceness in his eyes softened a lot. He seemed to realize that he had acted too much, and quickly turned around, turned his back to the guards and continued to listen to the imperial concubine's teachings.

After a while, the imperial concubine entered Shunzhen Gate in a sedan chair. Zhou Yang's eyes were fierce again, sharper than before, and radiant.

The guards of Shenwu Gate relaxed a little and ignored Zhou Yang's expression.

Jia Rong held Xiao Kun and said with a smile, "Brother Kun, Chief Zhou has been punished so badly. How come none of us, as colleagues, are happy for him?"

Xiao Kun glanced at Zhou Yang like he was a fool, and then glared at Jia Rong unhappily. "Why don't you go and congratulate him?"

Jia Rong chuckled and said with emotion, "I have been trying to get close to him, but he ignored me. I can't keep trying to please him. I have to save face, too."

Do you still have any shame?

Is this a shameless expression?

Xiao Kun quietly rolled his eyes. It was time to change shifts. Seeing another shift of guards coming to change shifts, the two of them finished the handover, and all the guards who were replaced went to the public toilet. He frowned and looked at Jia Rong, "Why are you holding me?"

Seeing that the other guards had already entered the public toilet, Jia Rong immediately asked with a gossipy look on his face, "Brother Kun, what good job do you think Zhou Yang got?"

"What a good job?" Xiao Kun looked at Rong Ge'er with a smile on his face and asked, "Do you know what His Majesty said about Zhou Yang in the past?"

I know shit!

Jia Rong cursed in his heart and asked quickly, "How did you say that?"

Xiao Kun led Jia Rong to the patrol rest area at the corner of the wall, sat down and said, "It is said that Zhou Yang looks very much like an old friend of Your Majesty, so Zhou Yang was transferred to the Dragon Guard as an exception. Zhou Yang is just as Your Majesty expected, never interacting with others privately, and concentrating on watching over the north gate of the Forbidden Palace for Your Majesty."

"So what?"

"How? Do you know how your Majesty's old friend died?"

"I don't know."

"That man died while blocking the sword for Your Majesty."

hiss~

Jia Rong was not without brains. As long as things were explained clearly, he could understand. So Concubine Zhou was probably not giving Zhou Yang a good job just now, but rather bringing the Emperor's "unintentional" praise for Zhou Yang in front of Concubine Zhou.

No wonder Zhou Yang is so excited.

This is the emperor trying to motivate Zhou Yang!

Xiao Kun then looked at Jia Rong seriously, and said quietly, "It seems that you are not completely stupid. Some things are better to understand in your heart. Smart people see through but don't speak out." He suddenly frowned and paused, wondering, "Why are you so happy?"

"I'm happy for Zhou Yang. I think he will be promoted soon." Jia Rong lied with his eyes open.

What the emperor wanted was for Zhou Yang to concentrate on Shenwu Gate.

The Shenwu Gate is a good place. It is closest to the bedrooms of His Majesty and the concubines. His Majesty and the concubines often go in and out of the Shenwu Gate.

Isn't this good?

"Aren't you worried that I'm telling you this on purpose?" Xiao Kun asked doubtfully.

Jia Rong waved his hand, patted Xiao Kun on the shoulder, and said with a smile: "Don't worry. Brother Kun and I have a sworn brotherhood, and Brother Kun will never harm me. Besides, if just telling Zhou Yang's past can harm people, then the person who kills the most people in the world must be the storyteller."

Xiao Kun stopped talking and stood up to go to the public toilet. Apparently this guy couldn't hold it in any longer, and when he was about to enter the public toilet, he suddenly walked with big strides.

Jia Rong smiled.

It turns out that it is better to have more sworn brothers, no matter if they are sincere or not. After Xiao Kun discovered the clues, he came over to hint at them, and then the sworn brotherhood was not in vain.

I really don’t want to bury such a good brother.

In the following days, Jia Rong was always on duty with trepidation, and even secretly put on the golden soft armor. Unfortunately, after six days, everything inside and outside the Shenwu Gate was calm.

In mid-June, the north officially enters the baking season, with about five days of extremely high temperatures at this time of year.

The heat in the north is different from that in the south. The south is hot and stuffy, like being in a sauna. The north is hot and dry, like the sun shining in the desert.

In the past half month, Emperor Longtai, the Empress, Concubine Zhou and others have all been spending the summer in the newly built Wanyuan Garden in the northern suburbs. All official business of the court is also reported to Wanyuan Garden. Jia Rong, Xiao Kun, Zhou Yang and other Dragon Guards also mostly travel between Wanyuan Garden and the imperial city.

Generally, the Garden of Ten Thousand Gardens is on duty for four days, and the Imperial City is on duty for two days.

It's really uncomfortable to be on duty in this weather.

When Jia Rong was not on duty at home these days, he also hid in Conglutang day and night, and didn't even want to go to the inner house. There was really no way to be on duty, and the only thing that could comfort himself was that when on duty in the Garden of Ten Thousand Gardens, the guards of Shenwu Gate and Shunzhen Gate could occasionally catch a glimpse of the concubines in the harem from afar.

Zhou Yang was called over by Concubine Zhou again!

Jia Rong's eyebrows twitched. Concubine Zhou's belly was becoming more and more obvious, and her face had a more maternal temperament.

I looked at Qin Keqing carefully a few days ago, but I couldn't see any signs of illness. It was just that Qin Keqing was becoming more and more tired and sleepy.

When he saw Zhou Yang coming back with a sweaty face and an excited look, he didn't go up to him to chat with him.

The weather is too hot and I really don’t want to leave the gate where I’m guarding.

“It’s so hot!”

In a tavern in Shenjing City, Chen De pawned his clothes for a few copper coins, bought a pot of wine and some side dishes, and complained to his fellow villager Huang Wufu. "Life is unbearable."

Huang Wufu grinned and took a sip of the wine, fearing that he would not be able to hold back and finish it all at once. He looked at Chen De's decadent look and consoled him, "You have a skill and are strong, so are you afraid that you won't be able to find a job?"

Chen De sighed.

"My wife died last month, leaving me with an 80-year-old mother-in-law and two young children. The Meng family thought that there were too many people eating at our house and too few people working, and they drove us away without caring about the lives of my family. These officials didn't show any mercy at all. After all, my wife and I had worked for them for five years."

It turns out that Chen De, Huang Wufu and the Zhou family are all from Shandong.

After Chen De's parents died, he had no livelihood in Shandong, so he had to return to Beijing to live with his cousin and lived in the home of his nephew in Nengren Temple in Xicheng. Fortunately, he learned good cooking skills in his early years, and later sold himself to work as a cook in the home of an official in the Ministry of Internal Affairs through the introduction of his nephew's relatives.

Since Chen De was from Shandong, he cooked Shandong cuisine. The master of the Ministry of Internal Affairs found out that Chen De and the rising Zhou family were from the same county, so he took the initiative to send Chen De's family there to build a relationship.

When he first arrived at the Zhou family, he was quite popular. The authentic hometown dishes made the Zhou family master extremely happy. Later, the Zhou family's daughter was made a concubine. Chen De also went to the palace with Zhou Yang twice, just to let Concubine Zhou taste a little bit of authentic hometown specialties.

Unexpectedly, when Mr. Zhou later went to take up the post of Jiedushi of Jining, Guard Zhou found an excuse to sell his entire family for twelve taels of silver.

The more Chen De thought about it, the angrier he got. He complained, "I've begged and pleaded for the past few days, but no one is willing to hire me. The Zhou family is shameless. They sold our whole family to the Meng family for twelve silver coins just because we didn't make them happy with a dish. They spend dozens of taels of silver for a meal, but our whole family is not even worth a meal for an official."

Huang Wufu was so scared when he heard him complain about the Zhou family that he almost spit out his wine. He turned his head and glanced around, and said hurriedly: "The Zhou family has changed in the past few years. Not only did they have a governor, but they also had a queen. Those who know that we are talking about our fellow townsmen, those who don't know will think that you have evil intentions."

"So what if you have evil intentions?"