The Red Mansions

Chapter 264

Chinese Army Camp
Xue Pan brought two young servants into the camp, and was waiting to look around. When he looked up, he saw the calm and indifferent young man sitting behind the desk. With a smile on his face, he stepped forward and cupped his hands and said: "Cousin Heng, I'm taking the liberty to bother you, I hope you will forgive me."

These two sentences are the etiquette that Xue Pan asked the housekeeper for advice before leaving, so as not to be underestimated by Jia Heng.

Jia Heng nodded, and said lightly: "Brother Xue, sit down."

Hearing this, Xue Pan smiled, sat down on a chair beside him, and said, "Cousin, just call me Wenlong."

Jia Heng took a look at Xue Pan, and said calmly, "Brother Wenlong, are you here from Jinling?"

Seeing the young dignitary on the opposite side change his address, although his face remained cold, Xue Pan was still happy, and said with a smile, "I came all the way from Jinling, cousin Heng, you don't know, I brought my mother and younger sister all the way to Beijing, and encountered It’s an old crime, and I’ve been traveling hard, and finally entered the capital, and it’s snowing suddenly, and I’m not familiar with the place, and my eyes are smeared, so I’ve come here, I’ve met my relatives.”

Jia Heng said: "It's a long way from Jinling to this point. Fortunately, Shenjing is not far away. Wenlong, his aunt and cousin, have a good night's rest and go to Beijing tomorrow. It may take two days at most, or one day at least. You can enter the capital."

In Xue Pan's case, if you ask him for his suggestion, he will surrender himself to Yousi and strive for leniency, and he will not be sentenced to be hanged or beheaded.

But if the Xue family didn't ask him, he wouldn't take the initiative to intervene to help the Xue family clear the mines.

Moreover, this case itself is also an opportunity, which can be used as an introduction to attack Jia Yucun and Wang Ziteng.

Now that it has been revealed, the lethality to Jia Yucun is not bad, it is a big deal to bend the law for personal gain, to lose the official and dismissed, and it is impossible to say that in a few years, the imperial court will reinstate the old officials, and then reinstate them, and become officials in a different place.

As for the impact on Wang Ziteng, it was even more negligible.

At least wait for them to make a good deal, such as letting Xue Pan hang around in Shenjing City for a period of time, so that Wang Ziteng and Jia Yucun will be more involved.

There is a saying in later generations, raise a case.

There is another sentence, if you do many unrighteous actions, you will die yourself, and Zigu treats it.

"I don't even need to do it myself. Next year, the new Zuodu censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate will take over and rectify the bureaucracy. That is a sharp knife, and Wang Ziteng's incident will naturally invite Jia Yucun as his confidant and help him go to Beijing. It is also very possible that an official with a Jinshi background, after all, can transfer easily when he reaches that position, and if he makes a move at that time, if someone exposes the matter, he will be hit with a single blow."

Therefore, it is better not to act too hastily, and it is better not to publish it now.

At his level, even if you do good deeds, you must pay attention to methods.

Xue Pan rolled his eyes the size of copper bells, smiled, and asked, "Cousin Heng, it's almost Chinese New Year, aren't you going back to Beijing?"

Jia Heng said: "Teacher tomorrow."

This is not something that can be concealed, Xue Pan will know it after a little inquiry.

Xue Pan was overjoyed when he heard this, and said with a smile: "Cousin, that's really a coincidence, we're going to set off tomorrow, and we'll go to Beijing together, so we'll have someone to take care of us on the way."

Jia Heng's face was indifferent, and he said in a deep voice: "The army moves and moves, and keeps coming and going, so it's not good to accompany the female relatives."

Xue Pan felt a little disappointed when he heard this, but the smile on his face remained undiminished, and he said, "Cousin Heng, mother said that if cousin is not busy, we can meet up with relatives at the inn."

Jia Heng thought about it, and felt that as the patriarch of the Jia clan, the three members of the Xue family passed by each other, and it seemed a little unreasonable if they didn't even see each other.

Even if he didn't want to see Xue Pan, he couldn't make it too obvious.

And this famous post, if he guessed correctly, it was clearly written by Baochai, otherwise, would a rude person like Xue Pan understand this?

"I think it's because this woman who is ruthless but also touching has seen some clues. After all, I was quite indifferent just now at the gate of the city. It’s suspicious, come and test it out.”

He behaved politely and distantly, because he didn't want to let people like Xue Pan cling to him.

Jia Heng pondered for a moment, and said: "The departure is approaching, the military affairs are busy, and it is inconvenient to get out now, Wen Long will go back first, wait a while, and then visit the inn at about Shen's time."

Xue Pan heard this, with a smile on his face, he said: "Cousin, I didn't bring anything when I came to visit. I brought some candied fruit from Jinling, please try something new."

As he spoke, he called the boy outside the tent, and handed over candied fruit and preserved fruit wrapped in cowhide.

Jia Heng took a look and nodded.

Seeing the young dignitary staring at him in silence, Xue Pan felt ashamed for a while, mainly because he felt that he couldn't do anything, and he didn't know what his sister was thinking, she was too poor.

Thinking of this, he smiled and said: "That's what my younger sister meant, saying that cousin Heng has never tasted Jinling's food, so he picked out a few dim sum from various colors, and gave him a taste of something new."

Jia Heng nodded and said, "Cousin has a heart."

Now it is basically certain that Xue Pan's visit was really his sister Baochai's idea.

"This way of dealing with people is more than a bit better than his brother. Sending specialties from his hometown to eat is much more natural than giving gold, silver, jade, antique calligraphy and paintings as soon as he comes up, and he doesn't have to worry about being rejected and losing face. "Jia Heng thought for a while, and felt that this Lord Hengwu, who was tied with Concubine Xiaoxiang at the top of the Twelve Beauties, had a somewhat decent character.

Seeing Jia Heng accepting the "poor" gift, Xue Pan beamed with joy, and said, "Cousin Heng, then I'll go back and prepare the food and wine to entertain my cousin."

It was hard for Jia Heng to say, he would just sit and talk for a while before leaving, he just nodded to Xue Pan, and sent Xue Pan out of the camp with his own soldiers.

When Xue Pan left, Jia Heng picked up the name card in his hand, his eyes fell on the beautiful handwriting on it again, and he fell silent for a while.

But Xue Pan happily returned to the inn, went up to the second floor of the inn, and entered the wing room.

Seeing Xue Pan returning, Aunt Xue asked, "What did your cousin Heng say?"

Xue Pan smiled and said, "What else can I say? He said he is busy with military affairs now, so he will come back later, and I will order someone to clean up some banquets."

A look of thought appeared on Baochai's face, and she asked softly, "Brother, should Cousin Heng take those preserved fruits and preserves?"

Can't help thinking, is she thinking too much?

Xue Pan laughed and said, "I've taken them all. Cousin Heng even praised you for being caring."

Baochai:"……"

She let her brother go over and co-authored to tell others the details of her family?
Seeing Baochai's expression changed, Aunt Xue's smile froze for a moment, and she asked, "My dear girl, but what's wrong there?"

Her daughter was very careful when she was a child, so Xu could see something was wrong.

Baochai raised her bright and clear apricot eyes, met Aunt Xue's questioning gaze, and said softly, "Mom, this cousin Heng seems to me to have a cold personality."

Aunt Xue heard the words, just smiled and said: "What should I be? Yes, let’s talk about this kind of people, they are used to paying attention to ostentation outside, laughing and laughing every day, and they can’t restrain the people under them.”

Xue Pan smiled and said: "I see it's okay, I guess I don't know my brother and I'm a bold person. After staying with me for a long time, I will know."

Seeing the eager looks of her mother and elder brother, Baochai shook her head secretly, but she didn't want to pour cold water too much.

At this moment, Yinger, Tongxi, and Tonggui came in with eight-treasure porridge, spared a mountain and river screen.

Aunt Xue said with a smile: "Okay, let's have some porridge to warm up."

Baochai also took a bowl of porridge at this time, and said softly to Xiangling who was sitting curled up at the end of the bed, "Xiangling, come and drink the porridge."

Xiangling raised her head, with a little rouge between her brows, first glanced at Xue Pan, then met Li Rui's face with a faint smile, gave a soft "hmm", and came over to take it.

Xue Pan had just received the porridge bowl from Tong Xi's hand at this time, seeing this, his eyes rolled, and he said with a smile: "Xiang Ling, come here, I can't finish this bowl, let's have a bowl together."

Xiangling's small face turned pale with fright, and she murmured: "I... I'm not hungry."

As he said that, he shrank towards the end of the bed.

But it was because seeing Xue Pan instigating his servants to fight Feng Yuan, his heart had been shadowed.

The smile on Baochai's face faded a bit, and she glanced at her elder brother, without saying a word, lowered her almond-like eyes, and gently evened the eight-treasure porridge in the porridge bowl with a spoon. The girl's cheeks were white and greasy like snow, with a slight With a little bit of baby fat, she has a gentle temperament and elegant manners.

Aunt Xue said helplessly: "This girl is a bit timid, Pan'er, don't scare her."

Xue Pan shook his head like a rattle, and said: "From now on, she has been afraid of me, how can this be possible? I bought her here, and let her serve me."

Aunt Xue said angrily and funnyly: "After two years, she will be older, understand some things, and know hot and cold, but now she is just a child."

Xue Pan snorted, took the porridge bowl without a spoon, and drank it like a cow's drink.

"My son, iron carefully." Aunt Xue called out hastily.

Xue Pan wiped his mouth with a smile, and said heartlessly: "It's not hot, this porridge is delicious, let's have another bowl."

Seeing her son's delicious food, Aunt Xue smiled and said to Tong Xi who was beside her, "Hurry up and fill another bowl."

On this side, Xue Baochai also handed the porridge bowl in his hand to Xiangling, because there was no Xue Pan to "act as a demon", this time, the little girl took it, and she was also hungry, like a little hamster, timidly, For fear of making a sound.

Baochai, on the other hand, had a pale face, took a bowl from Yinger, and used it spoon by spoon, without rushing or slowing down.

……

……

Jia Heng inspected the affairs of the Guoyong camp. After lunch, he checked the preparations for the commendation meeting. At Shen Shi, he also rode a horse and headed for the county seat under the retinue of his own soldiers and Jin Yiwei.

Leaning on the inn mentioned by Xue Pan, he got off his horse, handed the reins of the horse in his hand to the soldiers at the side, and hadn't spoken to the servant of Xue's family who was guarding the door.

When the servant of the Xue family saw Jia Heng coming, he stepped forward and said with a smile: "Master Heng is here, my wife told me that he is waiting in the room right now, sir, come with me."

He had already met face to face before, and this young dignitary in Huayin County was the only one in Huayin County, so he was not worried about identifying the wrong person.

Jia Heng nodded and said, "Lead the way ahead."

Following the servant to the second floor, after a short walk, he entered the entrance of a small hall. The servant backed away and was greeted by the woman. The creases on his face were all smiles, and even the smile was a little flattering. screen, and said: "Master Heng sit down first, the wife, young master, and miss will come out right away."

Because of the relationship between the two families, as well as Jia Heng's status as the patriarch of the Jia clan and... and the addition of power, it is an impression in the Xue family's subconscious, and it seems that there is no need to avoid it.

If Jia Heng is white, well, this...

As soon as the words fell, Xue Pan stepped out from behind the screen with a smile and said, "Cousin Heng, you are here."

Not long after, the rings were tinkling, and the fragrance was strong. Several people came out from the inner wing room, a group of maids and women surrounded a woman with silk and satin, fair skin and a smile.

The woman is also holding a plump and elegant girl on her arm.

On the other hand, Xiangling, who has not seen the rouge between her eyebrows, is perhaps afraid of strangers?

Baochai is wearing a honey-colored padded jacket, a scallion-yellow silk cotton skirt, and a vermilion flower cape embroidered with large peony flowers. She has a faint smile on her face.

Aunt Xue said with a smile: "Brother Heng."

This is the name that Aunt Xue thought about for a long time before she finally decided on it.

Since relatives meet, it's not good to be too outlandish in terms of address, after much deliberation, Brother Heng seems to be closer.

Baochai also called out "Cousin Heng", and then quietly looked at the young man opposite.

Compared with what he saw when he passed by on a steed at the beginning, when he looked straight at the moment, he saw a young man in a three-tier exquisite brocade military officer's robe, wearing a mountain-shaped crown hat, tall and tall, with a clear face and calm eyes.

It's just that the temperament between his brows is slightly cold and clear, as if he is serious in speech, and in his manner, there is a calm and majestic aura that is calm and majestic.

Looking at her eyes, Jia Heng's face remained calm, and his voice was a little gentle, and said: "Aunt, cousin."

Calling, she raised her eyes and looked at Aunt Xue and Baochai. Needless to say, Aunt Xue had a rich face and a smile. Due to proper maintenance, her skin was fair, but the crow's feet were faintly visible at the tip of her eyebrows and at the corners of her eyes.

Baochai on the side has a face like a small moon, delicate features, slightly plump and soft face lines, white and greasy skin like a pear pistil, under willow-leaf eyebrows, curved eyelashes, almond-shaped eyes are bright and clear, under a small and delicate nose, Red lips are bright red and full like peony petals.

Because the skin is better than snow, and the white jade is flawless, this color composition of red and white contrasts with each other, showing the vividness of a red plum tree in the white snow.

Because the eyes were cold and not lingering, no one felt any difference, but when their eyes met, Baochai lowered her eyes slightly, and couldn't help avoiding the shining eyes.

Aunt Xue said with a smile: "I often hear about Brother Heng in letters, he is a good-looking talent, he is the most outstanding child of this generation of the Jia family, looking at it now, it is really better to meet him than to be famous."

Jia Heng said: "Auntie is absurd."

Xue Pan laughed and said, "Mom, sister, don't just stand and talk, sit down."

Aunt Xue smiled, and took Baochai to sit down. Looking at the handsome young military officer sitting opposite him, she thought to herself, what kind of scene would it be like to wear this official uniform on Pan'er?
Thinking about it this way, he secretly glanced at Xue Pan, and his smile faltered.

However, Xue Pan was sitting crookedly on the chair at the moment, with a simple and honest smile on his big face, whether he was sitting or not.

On Jia Heng's side, he exchanged some pleasantries, asking about how many months he set off, did he come by boat or horse-drawn carriage, and whether he was used to daily life and diet?
Although this kind of greeting is formulaic and has little nutrition at all, it is necessary.

After asking, Aunt Xue smiled and said, "Brother Heng, is the old lady still in good health?"

Jia Heng nodded, and said slowly: "The old lady is in good health. My aunt is in Beijing, but she often sits in the old lady's room."

When the Xue family arrived in Beijing, they probably wanted to live in Lixiangyuan.

"That's kind, I haven't seen her old man for some years." Aunt Xue smiled lightly, and asked while speaking: "Brother Heng, I heard from Pan'er that you want the teacher to return to Beijing tomorrow."

When asked this question, Baochai, who was originally smiling and silent, dignified and demure, listening to the narration, also stared at the young man.

(End of this chapter)