The Red Mansions

Chapter 253 Jia Yucun: So It's Her!

Ningguo Mansion

The night was low, and in the inner hall, the lights were like daylight. Jia Heng sat on the chair with a peaceful expression, talking to Qin Keqing.

Jia Heng said: "Tomorrow, there will be a decree from the palace. I will lead the troops out of Beijing to suppress the bandits, and I will not be able to return for ten and a half months."

As soon as this remark came out, not only Qin Keqing was taken aback, but even You Shi, Second Sister You, and Third Sister You looked at the boy worriedly or curiously.

Qin Keqing frowned, and said softly: "It's approaching the end of the year, and your husband also wants to send errands?"

Jia Heng said softly: "Because the end of the year is approaching, everyone wants to win a good fortune next year. If the thieves in Sanfu, Gyeonggi can be wiped out, it will also be considered as an annual gift to the Holy Majesty."

I silently added in my heart that it is not only an annual gift for Emperor Chongping, but also an annual gift for him. If he can calm down the three assistant bandits, his title should be raised by one more.

I don't dare to talk about the fifth-rank nobles, but it should be no problem to raise one or two ranks from the third-rank generals.

In addition to retrieving the property of the Three Rivers Gang, the civil servants will not become resistance.

Qin Keqing sighed softly, and said softly: "The husband is going out to fight, and the sword and gun have no eyes, so be more careful."

You Shi also said: "Brother Heng, your status is different now, and you should miss your family a lot outside, so don't take too much risk."

Jia Heng took a deep look at Youshi, met those beautiful eyes that were hesitant to talk, and said softly: "Sister-in-law You, when I'm not at home, you and the two younger sisters should take care of Keqing for me."

In fact, Second Sister You and Third Sister You are a bit older than him, but they are not inappropriate to be called younger sisters.

You Shi responded, and said softly, "Brother Heng, don't worry."

Jia Heng gave a few instructions, looked at the manuscript on the small table, flipped through it, and asked: "This manuscript was written by the third sister, right?"

Third Sister You's eyes fell on Jia Heng's face just now, and she said in a charming voice, "I wrote it. Master Heng can help me correct it... correct it."

During this period of time, Third Sister You also frequently approached Jia Heng to inquire about the script, and she and Jia Heng gradually became familiar with each other.

Jia Heng smiled lightly and said, "I'll take a look at it when I have time, and if there is no problem, I will find someone to publish it for you."

Several people said a few words, Youshi smiled and said: "It's getting late, and my second and third sisters and I have also gone down to rest."

Jia Heng nodded, cast gentle eyes on Youshi, Second Sister, and Third Sister, and said, "Go."

When the three sisters of You family left, Jia Heng looked at Qin Keqing and said with a smile, "What's the matter, frowning?"

Qin Keqing sighed lightly, and said, "Husband, go take a bath first."

Jia Heng knew something was wrong, looked at Qin Keqing, got up, took the jade man's hands, and said: "You and I are of the same mind, if you have something on your mind, you don't have to hide it, just meet honestly, let's go together Take a bath."

Qin Keqing: "..."

A jade face like a hibiscus flower was blushing, and a charming and gentle voice sounded, as if trying to convince herself, she said: "I don't seem to have served my husband to take a bath."

Even if it is a couple, it is rare in this era to bathe together, but Qin Keqing is coquettish and coquettish, and has always been soft in front of Jia Heng.

……

……

Jinling Province

It was late autumn, and there was just an autumn rain last night. The bluestone-paved street outside the Jinling government office was washed spotless. The government servants in black and red clothes stood under the eaves of the corridor with a waist knife on their waists. He tightened his neck, complaining about the continuous rain and cold weather.

The south is already cloudy and rainy, and the climate is humid. When it comes to late autumn, you need to add more clothes.

In the rear yamen, in the flower hall, the morning light passed through the carved window and fell on a middle-aged man in a light blue Confucian shirt. I saw that the man had a wide mouth, a straight nose and cheeks, and a majestic figure.

This person is Jia Yucun, the prefect of Jinling.

Jia Yucun was receiving guests, and a middle-aged merchant with a beard under his chin was sitting upright across a small table.

The person who came to visit Jia Yu Village was none other than Zhou Rui's son-in-law, Leng Zixing, who had traveled southward from Shenjing City to Jinling in the past few days. He remembered that an old acquaintance was an official in Jinling, so he handed over a name card and came to visit Jia Yu Village.

After the two exchanged pleasantries, Jia Yucun smiled and asked, "Brother Zixing came from Shenjing, is there any news in the capital?"

Leng Zixing said with a smile: "There is one thing, it's about the Second Mansion of Rongning and Ningxia, my brother's family."

"Oh?" Jia Yucun put down the teacup with doubts on his face.

Leng Zixing smiled and said, "It's the third-class Yunhui general Jia Heng."

Jia Yucun suddenly realized, and said in surprise: "It turned out to be him. I have often heard his name in the mansion newspaper recently. A letter of resignation was passed down from north to south, and then he was awarded the title of third-class general because of his achievements in suppressing bandits. For several months, I'm afraid that Jia Yunhui is the one with the most fame, right?"

Because Jia Heng's "Cijue Biao", the deeds of suppressing bandits and ennobling the third general Yunhui, etc. were all published in the mansion newspaper and traveled in various provinces. Jia Yucun, as the prefect of Jinling, could see it.

Leng Zixing said with emotion: "No, this lord is really amazing. Now he is the third-class general Yunhui, and he is in the middle of the capital to point out the five cities. The head of civil and military affairs in the Manchu Dynasty, this person became a large clan with a small clan, and now the patriarch of the Jia clan, the chief of Ningguo, established ethnology to educate the clan's children in civil and martial arts, and copied and seized silver from the thieves in the inner bag to make up for the shortfall in the public, so Planning and planning, I see that this posture actually has the appearance of revitalizing the Ningrong Second Mansion."

A few years ago, when Leng Zixing gave a speech on the Rongguo Mansion, he once said that the descendants of Jia's mansion were not as good as one generation after another, but now his words have changed.

When Jia Yucun heard the words, his heart moved slightly, and he said, "It's really great, but I don't know about the soldiers and horses in the five cities to wipe out the thieves and bandits."

On the mansion newspaper, only Jia Heng's "Resignation Table" and the suppression of bandits and feudal titles were mentioned, but nothing about the Qing Dynasty's suppression of the Sanhe Gang in Dongcheng.

Leng Zixing said with a smile: "Brother Yucun, with this person in the Jia family, it is impossible to say that they will be rich and prosperous for several generations."

Jia Yucun smiled when he heard the words, and said: "There is a saying in the ancients that in a family of good deeds, there must be Yuqing. In this family of Zhongming Dingshi, as long as there is a child with outstanding talents, it will be able to protect the lintel from falling."

Leng Zixing said with a smile: "Brother Yucun's words are very kind. Brother Yucun has very close relations with the Second Rongning Mansion. Has there ever been a clue about that matter?"

"I wrote a letter a month ago, but there is no further information on this matter. Brother Zixing's Dong Weng is working in the Rong Mansion, do you know why?" Jia Yucun asked.

He sent a series of letters to the second master of Shenjing Rong Mansion a month ago, but it was like a stone sinking into the sea. It seems that this matter will not be done for the time being.

However, with his Jinshi background, he took the initiative to connect with the Jia clan and borrowed momentum from each other, so he shouldn't have received such a cold reception.

Forget it, next year I will report to the Ministry of Officials in Shenjing, and then go to Rongfu.

Jia Yucun looked deeply, thinking so.

And when Jia Yucun was planning, outside the yamen of Jinling Mansion, when a few yamen servants were shivering in the cold wind, they suddenly heard a commotion from far to near, and saw an old man in gray robes with several Domestic servant, before coming to the drum, take the drumsticks from the rack.

"Dong dong..."

The sound of the drums was as dense as raindrops, and accompanied by the old man's cry of grievances, it sounded in front of the government office in the early morning, and it also woke up Jia Yucun, who was thinking in the back hall.

Leng Zixing asked in surprise, "Brother Yucun, is this someone beating drums to appeal for grievances?"

Jia Yucun nodded and said, "Brother Zixing, excuse me, I have to go forward to ask questions."

Leng Zixing smiled, a little curious in his heart, and said: "Brother Yucun, if it's cheap, can I go to the yamen to sit in on the trial, and see how Master Qingtian sees every detail."

This is a compliment.

The two have been close friends for many years, as said in the Dream of the Red Chamber: "Yu Cun praises this Leng Zixing as a man of great ability, and this Zixing borrows the name of Yu Cun's gentleness, so the two are the most compatible."

When Jia Yucun heard the words, he also wanted to show his ability and power in front of the old man, pretending to ponder, and said: "Brother Zixing can go to the back hall to wait for you. After the trial is over, we will talk about it."

After the two of them talked, Jia Yucun went to the inner room and was served by the maids and servants. He changed into the official uniform of a fourth-rank civil servant, wearing black black gauze on his head, and went out of the inner room. He smiled and said, "Brother Zixing, please."

Leng Zixing saw Jia Yucun's fourth-grade scarlet official uniform, endured the sudden fear in his heart, smiled more and more, bent down and stretched out his hand to invite, "Brother Yucun, please first."

Seeing Leng Zixing's flattery hidden under his smile, Jia Yucun felt both uncomfortable and complacent.

The so-called, riches and honors do not return to their hometowns, such as traveling at night in brocade clothes.

Showing off in front of strangers, how can "farewell for three days, and look at you with admiration" in front of acquaintances better satisfy people's vanity?

It had been several years since Jia Yucun had parted with Leng Zixing last time. At that time, Jia Yucun had just been dismissed by the bureaucracy. He traveled in Huaiyang and suffered setbacks in his official career.

"Let's go together." Jia Yucun said with a smile on his face, but he took the first step, while Leng Zixing was half a step behind, and followed Jia Yucun to the front with envy in his heart.

When it came to the lobby, Jia Yucun sat upright behind the arched table. After plastic surgery, he patted the gavel and looked down at the kneeling old man in gray.

The two sides sent officials a row of water and fire sticks: "Mighty!"

"Injustice..."

The gray-haired old man, as soon as he entered the lobby, knelt on the ground, held up the pleadings, and kept shouting for grievances.

"Who is kneeling! Why are you crying for injustice!" Jia Yucun slapped the gavel and drank heavily, perhaps because there were acquaintances in the back hall. This deep drank was full of air, and the sound shook the roof tiles. The "mirror hung high on his head "The plaque seemed to have a few dust shakes off it.

The old man in gray cried: "Master Qingtian, the little old man is from the Feng family. My young master was beaten to death by the Xue family. He fought to buy a girl and was beaten to death because the girl was abducted by a kidnapper. The kidnapper I got my family's silver first, my master said that the third day was a good day, and then took it. I didn't pick up the girl for a while, but I never thought that the kidnapper would turn around and sell it to Xue's family. My young master went to Xue's house to reason, but The Xue family is the tyrant of Jinling! Xue Pan, the young master of the Xue family, let a group of powerful slaves beat my little master to death! Master Qingtian, please make the decision for my little master!"

As he spoke, he handed over the pleadings.

Jia Yucun read the pleading paper, read it, and after a while, his face was ashen, and he said angrily: "One maid sells two families, and slaves beat people to death. There is such a fart in the world. Come here, and arrest Xue Pan and the kidnapper immediately. Bring to justice!"

As he spoke, his ring finger and middle finger picked up the red and black token in the lottery holder, and was about to throw it on the ground, but he listened, "Ahem..."

On the left side of the case, a slightly shorter doorman (guard) in the uniform of a yamen servant touched his nose and coughed.

Jia Yucun rolled his eyes left and right, knowing that there was a difference, he waved his hand and said, "Leave first."

The gray-white old man below was taken aback.

Leaving the hall, he led the messenger into the inner hall, just in time to meet Leng Zixing who got up from his seat.

Leng Zixing asked suspiciously, "My lord, is this? The previous case will not be tried?"

Because there are outsiders around, it's not easy to call him brother directly.

Jia Yucun smiled and said, "My dear brother, wait here for a while, and I will deal with official duties first."

As he said that, he led the door into the side room.

Although Leng Zixing was suspicious, he didn't want to ask too many questions, and just sat and sipped the tea.

In the wing
As soon as Yucun was seated, the gatekeeper came up to greet him, and said with a smile, "Master has been promoting officials and ranks. For eight or nine years, don't you recognize young people?"

"Looking... it looks familiar." Jia Yucun looked at the door, picked up the teacup on the side, and said with a sip.

With a flattering smile on his face, Menzi said, "Master, have you forgotten where the Calabash Temple came from?"

When Jia Yucun heard the words, the teacup in his hand trembled. He raised his eyes and looked at the door intently. After a while, he said pleasantly, "It's you? So it's an old friend!"

As he spoke, he beckoned Menzi to sit down, and Menzi leaned forward and sat on the chair.

"When did you do this?" Jia Yucun asked with a smile on his face.

Menzi replied: "Since the old man came to Beijing to take the exam, soon after, the calabash temple was blown up and half the street was burned down. The little one had nowhere to live, so he found a way out, went to the yamen to make soap clothes, and made a living. eat."

Jia Yucun listened, exchanged some pleasantries, and asked with a frown, "Why didn't you let me issue the signature just now?"

Menzi smiled and asked, "Master came to Jinling to be an official, didn't he copy an official talisman from this province?"

Jia Yucun frowned and asked, "What is an official protection talisman? Why copy this?"

The door smiled and said: "The official talismans are all powerful eunuchs and gentry in this province. If you don't copy the official talismans, how can this official do it in the long run?"

As he spoke, he took out a booklet from the armhole and handed it over.

Jia Yucun took it with frowned eyebrows, read it, and muttered involuntarily:
"Jia or not, white jade is the horse for gold.

Efang Palace, three hundred miles away, cannot live in Jinling for a single history.

The East China Sea lacked a white jade bed, and the Dragon King came to invite the King of Jinling.

In a good year, there is heavy snow, and pearls are like earth and gold is like iron. "

After reading it, he raised his head and listened to Menzi's explanation.

Wait for Menzi to finish the key points.

Jia Yucun looked silent, slowly put down the book in his hand, and said softly: "So it's his house."

His recommended host is the Jia family, and this Jia Shi Wang Xue is a family of in-laws, and he is connected with each other. Just now he heard that the Jia family has produced a great person, and the power is three points, this person... It is indeed not easy to take.

"Thinking about it, you also know where the murderer is hiding?" Jia Yucun asked after pondering.

Menzi laughed and said, "Master, I also know about the murderer, the kidnapper, the kidnapped person, and the buyer who was beaten to death."

As he spoke, he was telling the whole story.

In the end, Menzi said with a half-smile, "Speaking of which, the abducted one is still the master's great benefactor."

"Huh?" Jia Yucun frowned, raised his eyes in surprise.

"He is the daughter of Master Zhen who lives next to the Gourd Temple, nicknamed Yinglian."

Jia Yucun's face was shocked, and he said in horror: "It turned out to be her!"

Quickly asked the door what happened, and the door told the details. After listening, Jia Yucun's face was uncertain for a while, and his heart was entangled.

(End of this chapter)