The Red Mansions

Chapter 687 Zhen Qing: She is really dazed, and she blames that bastard!
Kunning Palace

As night fell to the earth, the warm summer wind blew the curtains, and the hall was filled with heat. The candles flickered by the side of a crane-shaped palace lantern, flickering, and projected several figures on the transparent water-like floor.

Empress Song mentioned the Empress Dowager, immediately looked at Jia Heng, and said softly: "The Empress Dowager asked to see you by name earlier, and you will also come to Changle Palace tomorrow."

Jia Heng said softly: "The Holy Majesty has told me before that I will go to the palace tomorrow."

Empress Song nodded, smiled, and said comfortingly: "You don't have to worry, the Empress Dowager is kind and kind, you will know it when you see her."

The young man in front of me is not bad for the Feng family, but it is because the Feng family came to Beijing and mentioned Jia Ziyu to the empress dowager, and the empress dowager was not happy about him having a family and being able to match Xianning. No more.

Princess Xianning blinked her eyes, and said with a low laugh: "The relationship between Mr. and the Queen Mother is closer than mine."

Compared with her aunt at the queen mother's place, she was still a generation away after all.

Hearing this, Jia Heng's heart skipped a beat. He didn't know that Xianning was talking about the eldest princess of Jinyang. He glanced at Xianning with a wink and thought, how can this be so nonsense?If this made Empress Song and Concubine Duan Rong suspicious, would it still be possible?

When Empress Song saw the two people who were "winking", she felt a little funny. These little children were in love with each other, and it really seemed interesting.

In the words of later generations, it means seeing the two young couples loving and sweet, with aunt smiles on their faces from time to time, and Empress Song is Princess Xianning's aunt.

Listening to Jia Heng's talk about leaving for Yangzhou in the near future, Princess Xianning said softly: "Sir, when are you leaving?

Jia Heng said in a low voice: "Well, in the past few days, Jinyi Mansion has already prepared chariots and horses, and will leave after explaining the affairs in Beijing."

Princess Xianning looked at Jia Heng with bright eyes, and said in a low voice: "Wait for Mr. to get better, but you have to write to me, don't forget."

Apparently also worried that Jia Heng would leave herself behind.

Jia Heng agreed softly.

Xianning has become a little clingy now, or in other words, after making love to him, he wished to stick with him forever.

Concubine Duanrong glanced at the young couple who were talking in a low voice, her eyebrows frowned, and she said softly: "Ziyu is going south to Yangzhou?"

Jia Heng didn't want to talk deeply, so he changed the topic casually and said: "The errand assigned by the Holy Majesty will leave soon."

Concubine Duanrong thought for a while, looked at the boy in python clothes, and said: "That Ziyu must be careful when he is outside."

It is probably the concern of the mother-in-law for the son-in-law.

"I will always remember my mother's teaching." Jia Heng quickly thanked her.

"Mother's queen, mother's concubine, fifth sister." While the few people were talking, suddenly, a little boy ran away from a distance. It was the eighth prince, Chen Ze. Accompanied by the eunuch, he came to the palace talking and laughing. , bowed to Empress Song and Concubine Duan Rong, then looked at Jia Heng who was sitting beside her, and said with a smile: "Fifth brother-in-law, you are here too."

"Ze'er." Concubine Duanrong stood aside with a stern face, her expression frosted, and said, "It's not big or small."

Princess Xianning blushed into a glow, approached, twisted Chen Ze's ears, her clear eyes were smiling, and she said angrily, "Now you are so courageous, you dare to make jokes about your sister."

"Sister, don't screw it up, ouch, it hurts." Chen Ze cried out the pain, and turned to Queen Song, begging, "Queen Mother, save Ze'er."

In fact, not only Xianning but also Chen Ze should call Empress Song an aunt, and compared to Concubine Duanrong's strictness towards her children, Empress Song is undoubtedly much gentler and more generous to her two nieces and nephews.

Empress Song smiled and said, "Xianning, don't bully your younger brother, Ze'er, who did you call me just now?"

"The nanny next to the concubine said it." Chen Ze sat down, approached Qian Fan, and said politely.

Concubine Duan Rong's bright eyes flickered under her willow-leaf eyebrows, and a bit of coldness appeared faintly. These palace people were mouthbroken, and they started yelling before they even waved the word.

Empress Song smiled lightly, and said: "You can't spread this indiscriminately, it's not good for your sister anyway."

Chen Ze nodded and said, "Queen Mother, I know."

Concubine Duanrong said: "Sister, this child is also quite eccentric sometimes, he should study seriously for a few years."

"Didn't you say that you found a teacher for him earlier, who is he identified now?" Empress Song asked with her eyes fixed.

"I'm looking for it. It's Lu Li, a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy. He has a lot of knowledge. Previously, the concubine wanted to find Liu Yuzhong, the sacrificial wine of the Imperial College, but his studies were too rigid. Besides, he was old and lacked energy. Yan Hong, Secretary of the Imperial Academy, is also suitable, but His Majesty refuses." Concubine Duanrong said softly, obviously caring about her son's education.

Jia Hengyuan was sitting at the bottom, hearing this, the teacup in his hand paused lightly, ripples swayed in the tea water, and his mind was inexplicably ups and downs.

Lu Li...how could the Eighth Prince's teacher be Lu Li?

But after thinking about it for a while, it is quite normal. Lu Li was born as a number one scholar. He has studied in the Imperial Academy for a long time, and his knowledge and literary talent are also very outstanding. It is reasonable and reasonable to be the teacher of a young prince.

just such a person...

"What are you thinking, Mister? Why are you so preoccupied?" Seeing Jia Heng stop his cup to think, Princess Xianning leaned closer to her face, staring at the young man with deep eyes.

Jia Heng smiled and said, "It's nothing, I just remembered an old thing."

Said, took a sip.

Although the two kings of Wei and Liang were born by the queen, no matter how bad the king of Wei is, there is still the king of Liang, but the eighth prince is talented and intelligent, and it is difficult to guarantee that Lu Li will not be cold-hearted, and needs to be observed again.

At this time, Princess Xianning did not doubt him, but looked at Empress Song and Concubine Duanrong, and said softly: "Mother, mother concubine, last time my brother clamored to let me teach him how to ride horses and archery. When the day gets bigger, lead the troops to fight against the Eastern Captives, and share the worries of the father and the emperor."

Empress Song smiled and said, "Is there such a thing? Ze'er, you want to be a general?"

Chen Ze's clear, childish voice sounded a little immature, and said: "Father is worried about the war, and he can't sleep well every day. When the son is older, he will lead the army to share the worries of the father."

Empress Song listened, gently pinched Chen Ze's cheek, looked at Concubine Duanrong, and said softly, "Sister, listen, it's really rare for Ze'er to have such filial piety at such an age."

Concubine Duan Rong frowned, and said softly: "He is still young, so he doesn't know the dangers and hardships outside, just wait until he is older."

As a mother, I naturally hope that my children can grow up healthy and happy, and wielding knives and guns is out of shape.

Princess Xianning said in a clear voice: "It's good to read some military books when I was a child. I think my younger brother has already started looking for some, and usually pesters me, asking me to tell him the master's Three Kingdoms script."

Empress Song looked at Jia Heng who was listening silently, and said with a smile: "If Ze'er wants to learn how to march and fight, you can learn from Ziyu. If you have time, Ziyu, you can also teach Ze'er military tactics."

Chen Ze looked at Jia Heng and said, "Brother-in-law is very famous in Henan, but you have to teach me."

Jia Heng quickly responded: "If the official duties are not heavy, the minister will."

Afterwards, Jia Heng and Princess Xianning were talking in a low voice, listening to the empress and concubine discuss some family issues, such as whose family's imperial wife had another child this year, such as which family's daughter married the son of a noble official , when women get together, they like to talk about these things.

Jia Heng listened quietly, talking to Xianning in a low voice, after a while, a voice from the inner prison came from outside the hall, "Your Majesty is here!"

Everyone in the hall stopped talking and laughing one after another, got up and greeted him outside the hall, and saluted Emperor Chongping.

Emperor Chongping came in strides, looked at the crowd, saw a smile on his cold face, and said, "Please forgive me."

Welcomed by Empress Song, she pulled Emperor Chongping to sit on the soft couch, and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, my concubine asked the palace servants to prepare meals."

Emperor Chongping nodded and said, "It's quite hot today, so I don't have much appetite."

As he said that, he looked at Jia Heng and asked softly: "Ziyu previously suggested to take advantage of the severe drought to build water conservancy projects, but now the officials in the Northland have given a lot of memorials to build water conservancy projects. I think there will be some good harvests in autumn this year. gone."

Because Jia Heng was in the Central Plains, Jianghuai built dikes and weirs, and won the lottery in flood fighting and flood preparation. In addition, Emperor Chongping urged local governments to pay attention to water conservancy, so now northern officials have a wave of building water conservancy.

Jia Heng pondered for a moment, and seemed to hesitate to speak.

Emperor Chongping said with a smile, "If Ziyu has something to say, he might as well speak up."

Jia Heng said: "Your Majesty, I'm afraid that local officials will take credit for this, promote construction and distribute corvees, so that the people will suffer from river work and complain a lot."

"Oh?" The smile on Emperor Chongping's face froze, and he asked seriously. He was obviously puzzled by Jia Heng's "contradictory" words. "Shu", and now it is said that the river engineering can make the people suffer from corvee and resentment.

Jia Heng said: "My lord, building water conservancy to prepare for drought and flood is what should be done. However, my lord, if I have something good, I must follow it. Local officials think that my lord attaches great importance to farming and water conservancy, so they focus on Concerned about political achievements, there are many officials who do not think carefully, build large-scale construction projects in the jurisdiction, and spread the people. It may not be suitable for the local area to dig aqueducts. , the people complained."

When Emperor Chongping heard the words, his face was solemn, thinking about a possibility.

If others say this, they will be unhappy, but Jia Heng, a minister who once vigorously stated the necessity of water conservancy construction, and used the Central Plains and the Jianghuai area to prove the truth that "water conservancy prospers and crops prosper".

Then these words of "changing the course" naturally caused the emperor to think deeply.

Jia Hengdao: "That's why, I think that if the government raises money and grain for the construction of water conservancy projects, it should be reported to the Water Superintendent of the Ministry of Industry. The pros and cons of dikes and dams, and it is not allowed to apportion corvees to the people, and it is not allowed to force donations, and at the same time, it is included in the matters of the Metropolitan Procuratorate's inspection of places."

Before a large-scale project is launched, it is necessary to carry out evaluation and demonstration, and the local officials in the Northland are likely to toss the local people for the sake of political achievements.

This is what officials who adhere to the school of Huang Lao said, rest with the people, lightly pay and pay less, don't mess around, and make the best use of the situation, the system can automatically run smoothly, and it is easy to be unrealistic when combined with ambition.

As long as the common people are not disturbed, the common people will develop themselves, and whether it is a small-scale peasant economy or a commodity economy, they will gradually prosper, which is the so-called free economic theory.

In many cases, it is really better to be still than to move.

In this way, it is certain that some fake imperial courts will pay attention to the name of farming and water conservancy, and the greedy and cruel officials who search for wealth will have doubts, and the waves will wash the sand, leaving only capable officials who are willing to do practical things.

It is precisely because once you control it, you will die, and as soon as you let it go, it will cause chaos, so you have to be careful about the heat.

Emperor Chongping looked thoughtful, his eyes were bright, he nodded and said: "What Ziyu said is true. The king of Chu is so thin, and he starved to death in the palace. If the local officials overhaul the water conservancy, it will not be effective, but will make the people suffer unbearably." Tomorrow, I will ask the cabinet to order the local government to act cautiously, and after Ziyu returns, he will also draw up a statement and submit it to the military aircraft department."

Jia Heng said softly: "I obey the order."

Under the slender eyebrows of Empress Song, her crystal clear eyes were rippling, and she said angrily, "Your Majesty, why are you talking about government affairs again?"

This Jia Ziyu had promised her just now, but now he is talking about government affairs with His Majesty.

Concubine Duan Rong also stared at the young man in the python suit, looking at the calm young man, she also saw a little appreciation in her eyes, she is one year younger than Xianning, but she is the minister of the prime minister who governs the country and the country by His Majesty's side .

Princess Xianning also looked at Jia Heng with a pair of clear eyes that were full of water, and the eyes seemed to be shining like lacquer.

"Your Majesty, the dinner is ready." At this moment, a female official entered the palace and reported.

Empress Song smiled and said, "Your Majesty, dinner is ready."

Everyone sat down and began to eat.

Jia Heng accompanied the three empresses and concubines after dinner, but also left Kunning Palace, walked along the corridor of the palace with Princess Xianning, headed towards the garden, and walked to the covered bridge.

The summer night is hot, with a bright moon in the sky, a few stars hanging in the sky, blinking, the cool wind blowing on the face, under the alternating light and dark of the octagonal palace lanterns, halo circles of magnificent light and shadow.

"Sir, why don't sister Chanyue and I go to Yangzhou too, so we won't delay your business." Princess Xianning held Jia Heng's hand and said softly.

Jia Heng said: "The situation in Yangzhou is getting more and more serious, didn't we agree?"

Princess Xianning pursed her lips and said, "But Mr. Lin said earlier that Miss Lin can also go to Yangzhou."

Jia Heng said softly: "She is reuniting with her father to have a family reunion."

"Then I am walking hand in hand with my husband, we are in the same boat." Princess Xianning said in a low voice with her clear eyes shining like flying stars under her willow-leaf eyebrows.

Jia Heng: "..."

For a moment, he felt that what Xianning said was very reasonable, but he had nothing to refute.

Seeing Jia Heng's silence, Princess Xianning seemed to still refuse, she sighed lightly, and said: "Okay, since Mister feels inconvenient, then I won't go."

Jia Heng held Xianning's hand, and said in a low voice: "Xianning, there is no inconvenience, it won't be too late for you to follow Jinyang when things get more stable over there, first they poisoned Uncle Lin, and now they set fire to it Yu Yan Yunsi, it can be seen that in order to protect himself, he is almost insane and lawless."

When Princess Xianning heard the words, she turned her pretty face and said worriedly: "Then you should be careful when you go south."

Jia Heng nodded, spoke softly, looked around, and said in a low voice: "By the way, there is one more thing I want to tell you, Princess Chen Xiao, the daughter of King Zhou, do you know her?" "

"This... you mean Fourth Sister?" Princess Xianning said in surprise, suddenly realized something was wrong, and quickly lowered her voice, saying, "Fourth Sister disappeared a few years ago, why did you suddenly mention her?"

For a while, he didn't expect Chen Xiao to appear in Jia Heng's residence, and thought that Jia Heng, as the governor of Jinyi Mansion, found out about Chen Xiao's whereabouts.

Jia Heng whispered in his ear: "Xianning, she is in my residence now, and she has joined the White Lotus Sect. After you celebrate the Queen Mother's birth tomorrow, come and see with me."

Princess Xianning's clear eyes were inexplicably shocked, she couldn't believe it, and said: "Since the fourth sister disappeared...how could she vote against the party?"

Jia Heng said softly: "I don't know either. When you come with me to meet her tomorrow, you can ask her what happened, and by the way, persuade her to go to your aunt's house. By the way, she has been living in the world all these years, and her ideas are a bit extreme."

Xianning Princess Qingyu paused, and said in a low voice: "Don't worry, sir, I'll go to the mansion to persuade her, and I haven't seen her for many years."

Thinking of her heroic, martial arts elder sister, Princess Xianning also misses her a little bit.

Jia Heng was talking to Princess Xianning, and said: "Xianning, then I'll go back first."

"Then I'll send you off to Mr. Xianning." Princess Xianning said softly, because she still has to worry about some influence in the palace.

"En." Jia Heng said, leaving the palace while being sent off by Princess Xianning.

……

……

The night is like water, and the moonlight is like mist and light gauze, covering the vast and deep garden of Chu Palace. The lanterns on the corridors and pavilions are gently swaying with the wind, and sometimes there are a few maidservants holding lanterns, whispering, walking through And pass.

In the back house, in the wing room, a beauty in a light yellow low-cut long dress has a graceful figure and a beautiful face. The large snow-skinned skin on her neck and chest is as white as jade, but the bronze mirror on the dressing table reflects her temperament. She had somewhat cold and glamorous, sharp willow eyebrows and phoenix eyes, while Xian Xianyu was holding a comb in her hand.

Concubine Chu Zhen Qing gripped the comb, her narrow and clear phoenix eyes saw a trace of anger, it has been several days, and the strangeness has not subsided, and yesterday she had a nightmare, being ravaged and trampled by that bastard in every possible way, wishing she could humiliate her kill her.

"Princess, the hot water is ready." At this moment, the female officer entered the wing and said to Zhen Qing.

Xu is that the weather is hot recently, and the body is prone to sweating. The princess has to take several baths a day for the past two days.

Zhen Qing snorted coldly, put down the mahogany comb in her hand with her gorgeous jade face with a bit of meanness, and gently swayed the floral diamond hairpin pinned between the lush clouds, from the seat padded a finger high Get up.

Zhen Qing removed Luo Sha's clothes, stepped on the bamboo couch, and entered the tub of water.

Zhen Qing hugged her snowy shoulders with both hands, and gently scrubbed the sweat off her neck.

In the past few days, the princess has frequently bathed. It seems that this non-stop bathing can wash away the shame and humiliation of that day.

Zhen Qing pursed her pink lips and stroked them gently in the warm water. After two days, the burning pain had been relieved by [-] to [-]%, but there was still a slight pain, so she spat in a low voice, "Bastard! "

She was scrubbing lightly, and suddenly her expression froze, and for some reason, perhaps in the looming pain, an unspeakable feeling suddenly surged deep in her heart, um, it was more like the humiliation and strangeness of being conquered and abused.

Zhen Qing frowned, her gaze was absent for a moment, she quickly suppressed the strangeness in her heart, and cursed someone with vicious words in her heart, where the uncleanness is, how could that bastard be so unscrupulous?
At this moment, a female official's voice came from outside: "Princess, the prince is back."

Because tomorrow is the birth of Empress Dowager Feng, King Chu naturally returned home.

Zhen Qing couldn't help being startled, but she withdrew her restless index finger like an electric shock, her cold and beautiful face was filled with shame and anger and a hatred of blaming someone.

She was really stunned, and she blamed that bastard!
What that bastard did to her, she must repay double!
　Happy New Year's Eve everyone!
　
(End of this chapter)