Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 399: Shanglin Fu, Shanglin, Fu?

"Come and sit down. I'm just about to ask someone to call you to dinner."

Lin Daiyu brushed past the chair beside her and called out to Sanchun and Shi Xiangyun who had just walked out of the door.

"Now that we have finished our meal, we can get down to business."

Glancing around at the ladies at the table, Lin Daiyu asked again, "Have you all received your pair of cards?"

"I have received it."

"At that moment, everyone should do their own job and don't panic."

"it is good."

Tanchun and the other girls also took their seats. They looked at the people at the table and found that they were slightly different from the dinner the day before.

Qin Keqing, who was supposed to sit next to Xue Baochai, was not at the table, and Xing Xiuyun took her place instead.

This made Tanchun very strange.

Xing Xiuyun had lived in the Jia Mansion for a year and a half. Although she stayed in the East Courtyard, she often came to chat and have fun with her sisters.

Moreover, when they were together in the past, they often talked about Marquis Anjing, and were amazed at the close relationship between Xing Xiuyan and the Marquis.

But today they came to the Anjing Marquis' Mansion together. When they met again, Tanchun couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed and just nodded slightly to show her goodwill.

"Sister Lin, where is Sister Qin from yesterday?"

In order not to attract attention, Tanchun put aside her thoughts and asked Lin Daiyu.

Lin Daiyu pouted and said, "She is not feeling well and is still lying in bed lazily."

"uncomfortable?"

"Well, don't bother with her anymore."

Tanchun suddenly recalled that when she closed the door for the last time, she seemed to hear Lin Daiyu name a few people and ask them to help the Marquis take a bath. Considering the custom of the Marquis of Anjing's Mansion, Tanchun immediately thought of what it was going to be and couldn't help but lower her head in shame.

I glanced down secretly and saw that there was indeed an empty seat on the maid's desk.

But for some reason, Zijuan was sitting there eating her meal safely, and even looking after the maids around her from time to time.

"Is it not what I thought?"

The more she thought about it, the more she thought about it. She recalled that she seemed to have talked in her sleep last night. If it was really Marquis An Jing who had returned and was standing next to her, then wouldn't he have heard the unbearable words she uttered?

The more Tanchun thought about it, the hotter her face became. With chopsticks in her mouth, she stared blankly at the porridge in the bowl.

"Eat more, what are you thinking about?"

Lin Daiyu and Tanchun put some dishes in their bowls and asked with concern.

Tanchun raised her head suddenly and said, "No, it's not that I didn't eat... No, I ate, I ate."

Seeing her reaction, the other girls burst into laughter. Shi Xiangyun couldn't help but joked, "Third sister, maybe you haven't woken up yet and are still dreaming? In your dream, you were caught cheating?"

Tanchun secretly raised her eyes, glanced at Lin Daiyu, and said with an embarrassed smile: "How could such a thing happen? I am not greedy. Eat quickly, and you can help Sister Lin after you finish eating."

Lin Daiyu was very pleased with this well-behaved and sensible sister. She nodded with a smile, gently stroked her back, and comforted her: "Don't worry, you just need to do as I said before and tidy up the room. There are not too many things..."

……

"call."

Tanchun let out a long breath.

After a tasteless breakfast, Tanchun went into the room and leaned back in the recliner, her mood gradually relaxing.

Sipping the fragrant tea poured by Yingchun, Tanchun looked around and still felt that the inner residence of Marquis Anjing was too frugal.

Although it was a mansion bestowed by the emperor, there was not a single luxurious furnishing in the room, and there was no indication of his preferences.

The children of noble families usually like to collect antique paintings and calligraphy, as well as fans, in order to improve their accomplishments and show off their financial resources.

It is obvious that Marquis Anjing is not an ordinary person, and Tanchun respects him very much for this.

However, if there was one thing that was the most numerous in this mansion, it was the girls who were coming and going in the courtyard, making constant noise and chattering, which made Tanchun feel a little embarrassed and annoyed.

"Sure enough, the Marquis's preferences are actually laid out in the open?"

"Hey, come and see, there really is something here."

Shi Xiangyun, who was already lively and active, had an excuse to rummage through the cupboards and cabinets in the room after being assigned by Lin Daiyu.

At that moment, a box of books was moved out from the bookcase behind the desk. It seemed that it had been lying there for a long time and had not been turned over.

Blowing away the dust that had fallen on it, Shi Xiangyun untied the wooden lid, reached out happily, and pulled out stacks of rice paper.

Hearing her call, Yingchun and Xichun followed her and looked at the book box she had opened, one on each side.

"What is this? Do you want to send it out and take it away with you?"

Yingchun poked her head out and asked.

Shi Xiangyun unfolded a piece of rice paper, glanced at it, and said, "Hey, it looks like a masterpiece, like the calligraphy practiced by the Marquis or Sister Lin in the old days."

Xichun also touched the scroll in front of her and said, "The handwriting on the scroll you held is vigorous and powerful, and each stroke is like a sword or a spear. It must have been written by the Marquis. The scroll I held looks like it was written by Sister Lin, and the handwriting looks much more beautiful."

"calligraphy?"

Tanchun doesn't have many hobbies, but calligraphy is her favorite.

Originally, one thought that Marquis Anjing, who came from a military background, might not be good at writing, or might have only dabbled in it a little. But now, she is able to appreciate his handwriting. How could this not be a blessing for Tanchun?

The image of the idol seems to have become more complete because of this.

Tanchun quickly stood up and went over to hold Shi Xiangyun's arm. She put aside her previous mixed thoughts and began to appreciate it carefully.

"The strokes are majestic and magnificent, and the ending is like thunder falling to the ground. The iron painting is silvery, and it really has the style of a master. What Fourth Sister said is true."

"Could it be that the Marquis is a man of both civil and military talents? How could there be such an all-knowing and all-powerful exiled immortal?"

Holding the copybook, Tanchun, who had seen many calligraphy works by great masters, couldn't help but be amazed.

The more she looked at it, the more she liked it. She kept taking out the pictures from the box as if she couldn't let them go.

"But what does this say?"

Shi Xiangyun looked at him in confusion and asked a question unconsciously.

"If one disregards the interests of the people, ruins the government of the country, and covets the spoils of pheasants and rabbits, then a benevolent person will not do that..."

Xichun read it silently, and then suddenly realized: "This should be the Shanglin Fu, right? It is the second famous poem handed down by Sima Xiangru of the Han Dynasty, and the sister piece of Zixu Fu. The two long fu have no similar words. Sima Xiangru is really talented."

Tanchun also confirmed: "Yes, it is "Shanglinfu"."

"Shang Linfu?"

There were four people in the room, and suddenly a fifth voice appeared.

The four girls looked behind them at the same time and saw Xueyan standing in the room, looking at them with a puzzled look on her face?

Tanchun couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong? Is there something wrong with the 'Shanglin Fu' written by the Marquis?" Xueyan shook her head, "I don't understand what the third lady is talking about. The Marquis can just write Shanglin Fu, but why does he need to write a Fu?"

"what?"

The four girls looked at each other in shock, and for a moment they couldn't react to what Xueyan was saying.

But when they figured it out, their cheeks turned red with shame and slowly drooped.

An awkward atmosphere spread in the room, and the four girls were so embarrassed that no one asked Xueyan why she came.

The situation remained deadlocked, and soon Lin Daiyu walked into the room.

Seeing the two groups of people standing in the room, he stared at them in confusion and looked at them from top to bottom.

"What's going on with you guys?"

"Xueyan, didn't I ask you to tell the sisters to wait in the carriage first? What are you doing here?"

Xueyan was about to answer, but Shi Xiangyun turned her back and covered her mouth.

Shi Xiangyun smiled awkwardly, stuck out her tongue, and said guiltily: "It's okay, it's okay, we didn't do anything."

Lin Daiyu blinked, unable to understand what they were hiding from her.

It's obvious that they are not that familiar with each other, so why are they playing together now and making it seem like they are trying to cover up something.

When she glanced at the table and walked a few steps closer, she realized that what was spread out on it was the straw paper that she and Yue Ling used to practice calligraphy when they were studying together. It turned out that it was all saved by Yue Ling.

Holding up the slightly yellowed paper, the words on it are still clear.

Lin Daiyu stroked it gently, recalling the past, and said, "So you found this. This is the calligraphy we wrote together when Brother Yue taught me to read when I first came to the capital."

"This is the 'Shanglin Fu'. At that time, Brother Yue only lived in a small courtyard, which was less than half the size of this courtyard."

"At that time, the imperial court once again advocated the spirit of frugality, so Brother Yue and I wrote this "Shanglin Fu" together as an article for the day's practice."

"Now that I think about it, eight years have passed. I really miss it."

Lin Daiyu raised her head slightly, recalling the time when they sat by the window, holding books together, leisurely and comfortable.

Yue Ling treated her with such meticulousness that it was like peeling silk from an onion, which allowed such a sensitive girl to adapt to life away from home so quickly.

Moreover, it seems now that every word and every stroke of the pen at that time were treasured very well by Yue Ling, and sealed in a wooden box, which should have been sealed together with the memories.

Lin Daiyu nodded slightly, feeling quite happy.

But when I turned around, I saw that my sisters were all looking at me strangely, as if they were trying hard to hold back their laughter.

"Eh? What's wrong? It's the Shanglin Fu, for sure. It was written by Brother Yue."

The girls echoed, "Yes, yes, it's "Shanglin Fu"..."

……

Imperial City, Xuanwu Gate,

The sky was just beginning to turn pale, but the civil and military officials under the emperor's command had already been waiting for a long time.

Jia Zheng, who was awarded the title of fifth-rank official in Rongguo Mansion, had the minimum qualification to attend court, so he was also in this queue.

Although he was of the fifth rank and had to wait outside the hall even when he stood in line for court, the officials around him did not dare to look down on him.

Just because the Jia family did not produce any outstanding men, they did produce an excellent woman who became a royal relative.

"Father-in-law, how are you?"

Zhao, the head of the Ministry of Revenue, who often had dealings with the Ministry of Works, led several officials from the Ministry of Revenue and came forward to greet Jia Zheng warmly.

"Yesterday I went to the government office to look for the father-in-law, but I heard that the father-in-law was anxious to return home and rode away on horseback. But there is trouble at home, can you ask us for help?"

Jia Zheng smiled in a secretive manner and returned the greeting with a bow, "I am sorry to have caused your Excellency to worry. There is nothing serious in the mansion. Thank you very much, thank you very much."

Zhao stroked his beard and said with a smile: "The father-in-law is the father-in-law, how can you be so polite to us?"

Looking around, seeing that no one was paying attention to this, Zhao secretly took out a document from his bosom and handed it to Jia Zheng, "Here, this is the expenditure budget that the father-in-law wants, and it is planned for your family's other courtyard for visiting relatives. If you can save some money in the marked places and spend less than 100,000 taels, there is still a chance."

"My father-in-law, if you accept it, please don't let anyone know. Don't say that my Ministry of Revenue is involved in private affairs."

Jia Zheng's eyes lit up, and he quickly put it into his sleeve and thanked him, "How could I let Lord Zhao work so hard? Come to my house another day, and I will definitely host a banquet for you."

"Okay, okay, it's a deal then."

The officials from the Ministry of Revenue greeted Jia Zheng one by one. The officials from the other six ministries, including the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Rites, were not to be outdone. They surrounded Jia Zheng and asked about his well-being.

For a long time, there has been no good news in the capital.

Just because of the conferment of the title of princess, many officials wanted to establish relations with Jia Zheng because the Jia family had regained favor.

Jia Zheng is a man who cares most about his reputation, so of course he never refuses anything and calmly accepts the benefits that Yuanchun brings him.

"Marquis An Jing has arrived!"

Someone in the crowd shouted something, which startled all the officials who were talking and making a lot of noise just now.

Everyone turned around and looked over to see the famous Marquis Anjing, who was unmatched by anyone.

Jia Zheng and the people around him were no exception and all looked over.

There was only a plain-roofed sedan chair, nothing special about it. It was flying a banner with golden writing on it, with the word "Yue" painted on it, which looked quite imposing.

The footstool fell to the ground, the curtain of the sedan chair was opened, and a pair of white-soled court boots came into view first.

Then a man wearing a scarlet official robe, with an imperial sword hanging from his waist, and wearing both civil and military uniforms, came out.

His stern face and dignified demeanor made some officials lower their heads unconsciously.

This kind of pressure is real even though he does not yet hold the title of an important official in the court.

He walked past the officials step by step, and they were all silent. Although he wanted to make friends with them, he was not in the court, but he was notorious.

All the way south, he wiped out all the criminals and their entire families. Even the Zhen family, a behemoth in the eyes of officials, or Prime Minister An, who stood firm in the officialdom, all died in his hands.

Among all the civil and military officials in the court, how many of them have really clean backgrounds?
"Second Master?"

Suddenly, Yue Ling stopped in front of Jia Zheng, causing everyone to raise their heads and look over.

All the officials who had been surrounding Jia Zheng also retreated.

Looking around at the fiery gazes, Jia Zheng felt even more embarrassed. He bowed repeatedly and said, "I dare not be addressed as Master by the Marquis. You can just call me Cun Zhou."

A smile appeared on Yue Ling's face. "How can this be good? Isn't this a violation of etiquette?"

"You are Yu'er's uncle, how can we be friends as equals?"

"Don't you also call Lin Ruhai brother?"

Jia Zheng wanted to complain, but beads of sweat were already rolling down his forehead. He did not dare to look up and look at Yue Ling. He nodded repeatedly, "I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it. How dare I compare myself to the Marquis's elder."

Yue Ling chuckled, raised his hand, and patted Jia Zheng on the shoulder, "Okay, okay, it's up to you. I would like to thank Brother Cunzhou for taking care of Yu'er in Rongguo Mansion. I originally wanted to go to Rongguo Mansion again..."

(End of this chapter)