This year's Lantern Festival is as lively as ever, and there have been a lot of tourists since the afternoon. Mrs. Yao did not want to go out to enjoy the lanterns in order to raise her baby, but her husband had to go shopping with a few friends. At dusk, the Xu family wanted to watch the lanterns one after another.
When she went out, a woman suddenly came outside and left a post for Yao on behalf of her boss. She picked up the post and looked at it. The boss invited her to go to Fahai Temple to offer incense and pay her vows in two days. The signature was Qin Keqing.
Yao was stunned for a while after posting the post, and then wrote and thought for a long time. Finally, she put it down and ordered her maid to return the post to the old lady: "Just say thank you to her boss for inviting me. Fahai Temple is on Cuiwei Mountain, and the mountain road is rugged.
I am just pregnant with the fetus for less than two months and I don’t dare to go there. I might as well go there next time.”
The maid agreed, turned around and went out. Just as she opened the door, she shouted "Come back" again. The maid hurried back. Yao thought for a while and said, "Tell her boss that I am just pregnant and I only dare to walk around the city."
." The maid should say "yes".
The old lady went back after hearing the words, but came back after a while. There was another post, still written by Qin Keqing, asking her to go to Wanshou Temple with her in two days to fulfill her wish. Yao had made up his mind at this moment.
There was a "good" reply on the post. The mother-in-law came back for the third time and asked her when the cheapest time was, and also asked if it would be good to meet in the small side hall east of the Tianwang Hall. Yao thought for a while: "I don't get up early these days.
How are you now?" Then the agreement was made. None of the servants could read, and no one knew who posted the message.
Two days later, Mrs. Yao went to the Wanshou Zen Temple as scheduled. As soon as she entered the small side hall on the east side of the Tianwang Hall, she saw Qin Keqing sitting on a futon chatting with an old monk. The two greeted each other. Qin Keqing smiled and said: "Aunt Yao is really a
Refreshing people.”
Mr. Yao lowered his eyebrows and smiled: "I have an appointment with Mr. Qin's family. I dare not not come."
Wanshou Zen Temple was not accessible to ordinary pilgrims in the early days. It was just after the Lantern Festival, and the wives of wealthy families were busy packing their belongings and tidying up the servants, so there were few people there. Qin Keqing and Yao left the Tianwang Hall and entered the courtyard.
There is a bell and drum tower in front of it. In the bell tower hangs a big bell made in the Yongle year of the previous dynasty. In fact, both of them have seen it, and they went to take a look at it. Qin Keqing said: "This is the largest bronze bell in our country in the world.
, I plan to designate it as a first-class cultural relic."
Yao asked: "What is a first-class cultural relic?"
Qin Keqing smiled and said: "I can't explain it in a few words. If you are interested, I will tell you slowly later. Anyway, it is an extremely important thing and must be protected. Even if something happens in the temple and it needs to be sold, it cannot be sold.
Leave the country."
Yao looked at the bell and said: "When I was a child, I copied the Sanskrit text here and climbed up with a ladder."
Qin Keqing was surprised: "Can you understand Sanskrit?"
Yao's eyes flashed: "My grandfather understands."
Qin Keqing nodded: "Your grandfather is not pedantic and is willing to let you learn. In this case, he has another life-saving talisman."
Mrs. Yao hurriedly said: "Mrs. Liu, I didn't mean to tell you what I said."
Qin Keqing said with a smile: "You are such a child. I don't doubt that you said it on purpose. You don't know that we are short of professionals in Sanskrit." He paused and said, "Since you recognize Sanskrit, you must be familiar with Buddhist classics. Do you know that these are
What scripture?"
"I know." Yao said, "This is the famous sutra of Buddhas, Tathagata, Bodhisattvas, gods and monks. This is the Amitabha Sutra..." She then pointed it out to Qin Keqing. Qin Keqing really didn't understand this and listened carefully.
, if you don’t understand something, ask for advice. After Mrs. Yao talked about the big bell, the two of them became a lot more familiar without realizing it.
After leaving the bell tower, the two women walked slowly and leisurely, talking about the objects and allusions in the temple while walking, until they walked to the Sutra Library at the back. It was quiet here and was inconvenient for many people. Qin Keqing then ordered the maids and women to stay downstairs, and the two of them
Go upstairs.
Yao's maid was worried and said, "Our grandma is pregnant."
Qin Keqing smiled and said: "Don't worry, I'm here. You might as well take care of people. I have raised children and I have experienced all these. She has only been two months old, and she is still busy."
Yao glanced at her, turned around and ordered: "Jinglou Jinglou, please be quiet. Mrs. Liu and I will go upstairs to read the Huizi Jing." The maid had no choice but to agree. Qin Keqing nodded secretly and helped Yao to climb up slowly.
stairs.
The two followed the monk who led the way and glanced at the bookshelf for a few times. The monk went downstairs. After turning two or three cubicles, they looked up at the terrace outside. There was a young secular man leaning on the railing. Qin Keqing glanced at Yao.
Yao lowered his head slightly, looked at her, then at the man, and walked toward the terrace silently. Qin Keqing took a scripture and sat down to read it.
I thought that the two of them would have to talk for half a day, but in less than two-quarters of an hour, Yao had already returned from the terrace. Qin Keqing was surprised. But she saw Yao smiling calmly: "I'm walking with Mrs. Liu all the way today.
It really benefited a lot.”
Qin Keqing also said with a smile: "Aunt Yao is also different from what I thought earlier." Then he returned the scriptures in his hand to the shelf and turned around to help Yao go downstairs.
On the stairs, Mr. Yao said leisurely: "I just told him that I have a girl who is sixteen years old and looks very similar to me. She has not yet been married to her."
Qin Keqing unconsciously stopped and stared at her for a moment: "If I hadn't recognized you now, I would have regarded you as an ordinary fool."
Yao sighed: "If this were not the case, he would never give up."
Qin Keqing nodded: "Now that you have made a decision, it is best if you cool him off."
Yao smiled bitterly and said: "At first, I thought that because of Mrs. Yiliu's closeness to Princess Jian'an and her repeated efforts to help him, he might have something to do with the regent. So I hesitated to ask him to intercede on my grandfather's behalf. Who knew?
He is actually the direct nephew of the waiter at Shenying. What Mrs. Liu told me that day in Meilin was very reasonable. My life now is really not that good. But would it be better if I followed Uncle Xiaolan? Not to mention that his mother was a widow in her youth.
He is too old." She stroked her belly, "It will be difficult for my child, male or female, to live peacefully in the Jia family."
"When a woman becomes a mother, she will inevitably think about having more children than herself. You are wise." Qin Keqing praised, "No wonder Xiangyun compared you to the Zhilan Yushu."
Yao shook his head: "President Shi is so complimentary."
Qin Keqing said: "I was entrusted by Brother Lan to say those words to you that day. In fact, there are a few more."
Mrs. Yao felt solemn and said, "Please ask Mrs. Liu."
Qin Keqing said: "You are living on Mr. Xu now. Your food and clothing are provided by the Xu family, and your monthly salary is also given by the Xu family. Even if you follow Brother Lan, don't you live on him again? Although he likes you and is willing to support you.
What if your feelings change one day?"
Yao thought for a moment, raised his head and said, "What does Mrs. Liu mean?"
Qin Keqing said seriously: "I have been organizing cultural relics in the Forbidden City in the past few months, and there are many Sanskrit books and utensils. If you are free in the future, I will send someone to ask you what you do? Anyway, you are bored at home raising a baby. Yes.
Expert fee.”
Yao said: "This is easy, I know everything and can tell you everything. What is the expert fee?"
"We ask you to be an expert, and we will give you money after consulting you." Qin Keqing said with a smile, "We can't let you work for us in vain, right?"
Yao smiled and waved his hands and said, "No, I'm just passing the time."
Qin Keqing looked at her and said: "Since you have done something, how can you not give me money? Aunt Yao, you have real ability. You can make money to support yourself based on this ability. You don't have to rely on the Xu family or the Jia family for monthly income."
Mrs. Yao inhaled slightly, and after a while she said, "Yes." After a while, she asked, "Can I ask which big temple the Forbidden City is?"
"No." Qin Keqing smiled and said, "The Forbidden City is the Forbidden City." Yao's eyes widened. Qin Keqing stepped back half a step and leaned on the stairs, smiling and said, "How about it? Ms. Yao Jiazhen, do you dare to be this Sanskrit expert?
"
Yao also took half a step back, leaned on the stairs on the other side, and thought for a long time: "Is the Regent going against the grain?"
"Yes. It's serious." Qin Keqing said, "You don't have to rush to answer me. Wait a few more months. General Jarvis started to rectify the Royal Forest Army yesterday. If he succeeds, how about you reply again?"
Yao immediately said: "If he succeeds, won't my grandfather need to be imprisoned for his crime?"
"This matter is not within my jurisdiction." Qin Keqing said, "I only care about the Forbidden City."
Yao glanced at her quickly: "Do you control the entire Forbidden City?"
Qin Keqing nodded: "Right now, the entire Forbidden City is under my control."
Yao thought for a moment and said, "I don't dare agree to it right now. If Mrs. Liu can wait, she'd better wait until General Jia has finished reorganizing the imperial army."
"Okay, it's settled." Qin Keqing said confidently, "Then I will arrange the Sanskrit translation work after Jarvis is finished."
Yao was thinking. If Jarvis succeeds in reorganizing the imperial army, Jia Cong will be the current Zhao Kuangyin. According to his grandfather's usual words, he is probably a member of the King of Yan. These days are like the turn of the Zhou and Song Dynasties. My grandfather is alive.
As a confidant of the former royal family, Young Master Yao had no choice but to fall. If she could be used in the new dynasty, it would be considered as a talisman of peace for the whole family. She finally raised her eyes and said, "Okay." Qin Keqing nodded with a smile. Yao said again
, "Actually, I only know a little bit of Sanskrit, and my grandfather is a serious and capable person."
Qin Keqing smiled and said: "I know. If you don't understand, I will send someone to ask him for advice."
The two of them looked at each other and smiled, and Qin Keqing helped Yao up and went downstairs. Looking down, she saw that the maids and women brought by Yao all raised their necks and looked up - the two of them stood on the stairs and said something.
If it takes only half a day, won't you be impatient to wait for someone to die?
On the other side, Jia Baoyu was asking Lin Hai how to start a newspaper. In fact, there had been a newspaper run by the Jia family in the capital earlier, and it was the bimonthly "Yanjing Evening News" published by Zhonghua Book Company. However, this newspaper only published some ordinary poems and trivia about the city.
, few people bought it, so Jia Huan ordered it to be suspended. Now he wanted to make another serious newspaper, and he had to recruit new people. Lin Hai was familiar with these things, so he taught Jia Baoyu while watching his grandson. Others should give it up, Jia Huan said.
Zheng was overjoyed to learn that Baoyu was a student under Lin Hai. When Jia's mother was still alive, she had hoped that Lin Hai would teach Baoyu, and now he got what he wanted. He then bathed and changed his clothes and went to the memorial tablet of Jia's mother to announce the good news.
Baoyu was worried that Jarvis would find him unhappy, but he overthought it. Jarvis was too busy to stay at home. Although he had a reputation and overseas military exploits, he was still young. After entering Beijing, Jia Cong directly gave him the Beijing Camp Festival.
The envoy Da Yin jumped over a group of veterans to take over the power, and the local snakes were not convinced. Naturally, Jarvis was not afraid, and he went to Shenji Camp on the day after the Lantern Festival.
The admiral of the Shenji Camp, Zhao Changsong, was very powerful in his youth. The old general had just lost his son a year ago, and he had no idea how he died. Because the assassin's musket had a very long range, Zhao Changsong had no doubts about the soldiers and horses brought by Jia Cong from the south. Above him, the person who called his son out of the camp was a monk, and his son was obviously very familiar with this monk. Mr. Zhao did not tell others who this monk was, or where they were going to do something. He left in a hurry. The monk seemed more suspicious. Zhao Changsong had people check for a long time, and they only found out that the monk had become a monk in Wanshou Temple. The master was the Master Wenfa who cuckolded the uncle of the regent. Wenfa and Jia Cong showed up. They were not all in the same group. There was a total solar eclipse that day, and the Maitreya Cult caused trouble. Early in the morning, the Five City Soldiers and Horses Division arrested Wenfa, and the Jinyi Guards arrested Yao Qiming. Zhao Changsong thought again, if Jia Cong wanted to arrest his son, he would probably have to send him away. Jin Yiwei is the one, so why do they want to do the murder? Thinking about it this way, it seems that Wen Fa and his accomplices are also suspected. Maybe Wen Fa is a member of the Maitreya sect. Just guessing like this. There is a funeral in the house, and Nian will naturally Didn't pass either.
It was just after the Lantern Festival, and Jarvis arrived. Zhao Changsong led the people with a smile on horseback to welcome him out of the camp gate, followed by a group of lieutenants, all wearing helmets and armor, and carrying muskets. Jarvis was wearing the dark green military uniform of the Taiwan government, calmly He jumped off the horse. Zhao Changsong deliberately waited a moment slower than him before dismounting. Then he stepped forward, cupped his fists and said with a smile: "I am getting older, and my legs and feet are not as bright as those of young people."
Jarvis didn't mind at all and returned the salute with his fists raised. Then he raised his right hand and performed a military salute. The soldiers following him also saluted with military salutes. Zhao Changsong asked curiously: "General Jia, what does this mean?"
Jarvis put down his hand and said: "This is a military salute. The Prince Regent has ordered that from now on, soldiers will no longer perform the fist-clenching salute, but will all perform this military salute."
Zhao Changsong frowned and said, "I'm afraid brothers are not used to it."
"No problem." Jarvis smiled, "It only takes forty days to form a habit. You can get used to it in less than a month and a half."
Zhao Changsong said: "We will discuss this matter in the long run."
Jarvis waved his hand: "There is no need to wait too long, implement it immediately." He looked at the generals and said loudly with a smile, "I am here today to discuss with you the increase in salary for the generals and the increase in pay for the soldiers."
The generals were overjoyed: "Seriously?" "How much?" "Prime Minister Lin really keeps his word."
Zhao Changsong said with a smile: "Yes, Prime Minister Lin is the wife of General Jia. Oh, I hope General Jia can speak kindly to the Prime Minister on behalf of our brothers!"
Jarvis smiled and said: "Of course." Zhao Changsong and others laughed. Jarvis continued, "It's a pity that the wind from the pillow can't blow into Prime Minister Lin's ears." The laughter faltered, and everyone suddenly didn't know whether to laugh or not. Jarvis said loudly, "She is a just person and never shows favoritism. Therefore, the salary increase this time is because the generals received too little before, and the soldier pay is increased because our brothers in the Imperial Guard deserve higher soldiers pay. I hope you all I will train my troops well in the future, and I deserve to have my military pay doubled."
Everyone was suddenly surprised and said: "So many!"
Jarvis said: "Not much. There will be more in the future. It's just that training is more difficult than before." He glanced over and saw that everyone had ecstasy on their faces. The warriors were still serious. After a pause, he shouted loudly , "Everyone, if you increase the money, you will also have to do more errands. Are you willing?"
The generals shouted in unison: "I would like to——"