The Red Mansions

Chapter 699 Daiyu: You keep talking, I'm listening...

Beijing Palace
The summer is scorching hot, the sun shines on the earth, and there are occasional cool breezes in the air, gently blowing the light yellow curtains, and in the wing room, the sound of the piano is heard, floating in the wind.

Princess Zhenxue of Beijing was sitting in front of the window, under her beautiful eyebrows, her soft and watery eyes were dazed. The sound of the piano seemed to be a bit chaotic, and it was clear that the person playing the piano was not calm.

"Mother, godfather said yesterday that he is leaving today." Shui Xin raised her pretty face and said in a waxy voice.

Zhen Xue raised her eyes to look at her own daughter, her watery gaze was absent for a moment, and she said softly, "I'll see you again after a while."

When she went to pick up Xinxin yesterday, the man didn't show his face. It seemed that he really didn't want to see her. Did she do something wrong?Why do you treat her like that...

That's right, I've already taken advantage of her, I'm already tired of it.

Shui Xinnuo said: "Godfather told me a story before he left, and he hasn't finished yet."

Zhen Xue's crystal-clear jade face showed a lack of focus, her white teeth pursed her lips, she couldn't help stroking the ring she was wearing in her hand, even though she knew it was wrong, there was still a deep hatred in her heart.

Since it has nothing to do with it, what is the purpose of giving her this?I really want to take it down and throw it away.

Thinking of this, she lightly rubbed the ring on her hand, but the young woman Huaxin hesitated for a while, but finally did not move, and sighed faintly in her heart.

At this moment, the voice of the female official came from outside, saying: "Princess, Princess Chu is here."

Zhen Xueyu's face changed slightly, she put away the trace of disappointment in her heart, fixed her eyes, and said softly: "Go and welcome people in."

"Auntie is here." Shui Xin said with joy on her face, the little girl was worried that she would come and go quickly.

Not long after, Princess Chu Zhen Qing, accompanied by her nuns and female officials, entered the wing room. This beauty was wearing a red dress, gorgeous clothes, and even though her face was gorgeous and even seductive, although she did not wear heavy makeup, she could already see A little bright.

"Sister, why are you here?" Zhen Xue looked at Zhen Qing in surprise, and asked in a concentrated voice.

Zhen Qing said softly: "The news just came from Jinling that the old lady is not in good health."

"What... what's going on here? Isn't it better a year ago?" Zhen Xue asked anxiously, holding Zhen Qing's hand.

Zhen Qing sighed: "I'm getting old and not in good health, but now, according to the doctor, it seems that the weather is hot and humid, my heart feels stuffy, and I often can't breathe."

Zhen Yingjia's mother was not young, entered the palace when she was young, and suffered a lot. She had just passed her [-]th birthday, and when she got older, she began to have headaches and fevers. She had an old disease.

Zhen Xuexiu frowned, and asked, "Then sister, what should I do?"

Zhen Qing sighed, and said: "What mother means is that at the old lady's age, there are some things that are hard to say. The past two years have been more peaceful on the road. It is our sisters who took the children to Jinling for a visit. Grandmother, it happens to be summer and the weather is warm, can my sister go there?"

Sisters Zhen Qing and Zhen Xue were almost raised by the old Madam Zhen's side. Now that Mrs. Zhen's wife is not in good health, plus she misses her two granddaughters who are married to Shenjing far away, so she sent a letter to call her.

Zhen Xue sighed, and said: "My lord is still in Datong, or we can go back together."

Zhen Qing said softly: "My sister can't wait for my brother-in-law, this time the prince can't get away either, so I just want to go to Jinling, sister, the old lady loves us both a lot, and I didn't go to visit last year. It’s time to go back and have a look this year.”

Zhen Xueli nodded, and said softly: "Sister said the same thing, but I have to talk to my mother-in-law about this."

In fact, she also wanted to go home and have a look. In this noble and luxurious palace, she just felt like a cage where she was not allowed to be free.

"Prince Concubine Bei Jing will definitely agree, this is the most reasonable principle of filial piety." Zhen Qing smiled sweetly and said softly: "Then I have prepared the boat and selected some guards, and I can return to Ning Jinling someday."

Shui Xin blinked her big black grape-like eyes, and said softly, "Mother, we can go to the south together on godfather's boat."

When Zhen Qing heard the words, her eyebrows condensed, her phoenix eyes looked at Zhen Xue with a gloomy face, and asked, "Sister, Uncle Yongning has also gone south?"

For the past two or three days, Zhen Qing was busy arranging things in Beijing, so she really didn't pay much attention to Jia Heng's movements.

Zhen Xue looked a little unnatural, and said softly: "I heard that I'm going to Yangzhou on business, I heard from Xin Xin's godmother earlier."

When Zhen Qing heard the words, a flash of understanding flashed in her eyes, and she seemed to ask casually, "Going to Yangzhou? What are you going to do in Yangzhou?"

Suddenly, before Zhen Xue could respond silently, a bright light flashed across Zhen Qing's heart.

That's right, not long ago, the archives of the Yangzhou Salt Transportation Department caught fire, and the public opinion in Shenjing was raging. It was also a sensitive period when the imperial court was rectifying the salt affairs. That bastard actually went to Yangzhou. Isn't Yangzhou facing an enemy ?

No wonder, no wonder... The old matriarch presumably sensed some rumors, so she sent a letter to her mother and asked her to go to Guining to visit relatives?
The so-called Prophet of the Spring River Plumbing Duck, the Zhen family has other information channels to spy on some thoughts and movements of Emperor Chongping in the palace. Of course, the old lady of the Zhen family is really not in good health. It is also the main reason.

"Sister, that matter should not be delayed, the sooner the better." Zhen Qing had this thought in her heart, but instead felt a little impatience. She had experienced the bastard's methods before, if she went to Yangzhou, she thought it would cause a stir Bloody.

Zhen Xue nodded, seeing the gloomy look on Rushuang Yurong, will she meet him when she goes south to her hometown in Jinling?There is also a considerable distance between Jinling and Yangzhou, and most of them cannot be touched.

Zhen Qing suddenly remembered something, looked at Zhen Xue with a half-smile, and said, "Sister, Uncle Yongning is in Yangzhou, so he will definitely go to the Jinling Household Department to investigate, and maybe we will see Xin Xin again at that time."

Zhen Xue: "..."

Shui Xin looked expectant and said, "Auntie, are you going to see godfather?"

Zhen Qing pinched the little Lolita's pink face, and said with a smile: "Yes."

Zhen Xue listened to the conversation between the two, and sighed inwardly.

……

……

On the river, the boats swelled slightly inflated sails, and sailed on the blue river surface, the surging river water "squeaked" on both sides of the boat, and the blue-white water flowed towards the distance. This road passed by Chen Hantai The canals dredged by the Zu and Taizong dynasties lead directly to Tongguan, and then they can turn the Yellow River and go south to Huaiyang.

Cabin, on the second floor—

Jia Heng raised the curtain and looked into the distance, looking at the sunset and the sunset that passed quickly beyond the boat. , a ray of setting sun spreads across the water, the radius is half river red."

Looking at the scenery, Daiyu said in a low voice, "The green hills are still there, and the sunset is red."

Jia Heng turned to look at the girl with beautiful eyebrows and eyes, and asked, "Why is Sister Lin singing this poem?"

Who said Daiyu couldn't talk?He talked about the setting sun, and then turned to the poem he wrote. This is the girl actively looking for a topic.

Under Dai Yu's smoldering eyebrows, her starry eyes are shining brightly, the setting sun shines on her soft and fair face through the bamboo curtain, a red rope is wrapped around her neck, and the sheep charm tied at the end is on the milky white lamb. It is soaked with sweat beads and powder.

The girl's pink lips parted slightly, and said softly: "I didn't know the artistic conception of this poem before, but today I heard the boat sailing on the river, with the soldiers guarding the left and right, I seem to have a deep understanding."

Jia Heng said: "That's when I wrote the history of the Three Kingdoms, and some of them felt so emotional."

Daiyu stared at the young man, with curiosity on her face, and asked softly, "How does Brother Heng know so many stories? I just listened to the story of Flowers in the Mirror, and it seems that I can read a storybook at any time."

Why do you have so many stories in your heart?It seems that I can't finish talking in a lifetime...Huh?

Jia Heng picked up the teacup and said softly: "I have been fascinated by my ears and eyes since I was a child. I heard that there are many books, and I will compile them. If I didn't join the army, I'm afraid I would have to write books for a living."

Daiyu raised her eyes to look at the young man, her starry eyes twinkled, and she said softly: "Even if Brother Heng is not a general, he can be famous all over the world if he wants to write books."

Jia Heng smiled lightly, shook his head and said, "One who is useless is a scholar, perhaps he is unknown and unknown."

Daiyu said softly: "Brother Heng is extremely talented, he is in the bag, and he sees it immediately."

As a young man who witnessed the young man in front of him from the wicker alley in Ningguo Mansion to the commoner today, Daiyu's heart is not less than ordinary people, but she didn't pay much attention to it before, but after she paid attention to it, she would feel that it was a legend in her life.

Since the founding of the country, there have been such characters when the country was founded.

Jia Heng cast a pair of warm eyes on Daiyu, and joked with a smile: "I'm not used to listening to my sister complimenting others like this."

Talking with Daiyu, I have done it before, but being alone like this is indeed much rarer, the young girl of the cardamom age is not as fierce as Lin Lin in the past.

But how to put it, women are born actors, who knows what kind of work will be after the mystery dissipates over time?
When Daiyu heard this, she couldn't help feeling ashamed, Ruyu's cheeks flushed like a glow, her hands hidden under her sleeves twisted the handkerchief lightly, and said in a low voice: "Brother Heng's words are like my usual Used to be bitter and mean, and the eyes seem to grow on the forehead."

In the heart of the person in front of him, is she the one who is playing tricks on her?

Jia Heng smiled, and said softly: "The one with eyes reaching to his forehead is Erlang Shen."

Daiyu still has that smell, but he is him after all, and Daiyu is still restraining her temperament, and it is unlikely that she will use that kind of petty temper like a girlfriend.

Dai Yusu held the handkerchief in her hand, looked at Jia Heng with starry eyes, and said angrily, "Brother Heng can make fun of people."

Jia Heng said softly: "Sister Lin has a straightforward temperament. I have always known that, although she sometimes speaks straightforwardly, she has a kind heart, which is as clear as crystal. I remember the first time I saw my sister..."

Hearing this, Daiyu clenched the handkerchief tightly in her sleeves, turned her head slightly, and turned her shy face to the young man, while the jade earrings on her earlobe were shining brightly, with a look of "you continue to talk." , I'm listening."

No one is curious about other people's evaluation of him, especially Jia Heng, the patriarch of Ningrong and Rongfu.

This is not even related to youthful and ignorant romantic thoughts, but determined by Jia Heng's current status in the arena.

Just like Liu Xianglian's surprise in the past: "I don't think Duke Ming knows my name?"

Seeing Jia Heng's silence, Daiyu pursed her pink lips, but couldn't hold back after all, and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong with the first time we met?"

Jia Heng said: "My younger sister looked at the worry hidden between her eyebrows, she frowned and her eyes were gloomy."

Daiyu was silent for a while, staring at the young man with bright starry eyes, slightly frowning her delicate brows, and asked, "Brother Heng said... was it the first time Brother Heng went to Rongqing Hall?"

She remembered that the first time she saw him was at that time, the young man in front of her was like a clanging sword, preferring to bend rather than bend.

Jia Heng said softly: "No, it must have come back after suppressing the rebellion. At that time, the old lady introduced some younger sisters."

Picking up the teacup, he took a sip, how did he talk about it, talking about this with Daiyu?

But sometimes young men and women gossip together, just like this.

"Who would have thought that I would be disliked by a poor tongue and tongue, let Brother Heng down." Daiyu lowered her eyebrows, pursed her lips lightly, and said in a pretty voice.

She has heard a lot of bad things from the mother-in-law and maidservants in Ningrong and Rongfu's mansions, and even compared her with Sister Bao.

Jia Heng said: "Why did my sister say that?"

Daiyu gently stroked a strand of braid under her neck, looked at the bamboo curtain beside her, and said in a low voice, "It's not as good as Yun girl and Sister Bao who can talk, and it's not as smart as Third Sister."

These are the people in front of him who usually like to hang out, especially the third younger sister, who is quite in his heart.

Jia Heng said softly: "Everyone has different temperaments. The so-called one kind of rice raises all kinds of people. The world is full of variety. People are like spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums, each with its own temperament. If everyone is the same, it's meaningless? Besides Sister Lin's mind is pure, with the utmost love and sex. I see that Xiangyun and her sister are very close, and Sister Xue and Sister Lin are also like sisters. I know my sister's character like gold and jade. I actually know her temperament. As for Others, there is no one in the world who can make others like you."

Women generally talk about their own shortcomings, not waiting for you to "yes", and then what should you do, how to do a rational analysis, but to seek comfort, of course, at this time, it is reasonable to hit the emotional needs, that is to say It has reached people's hearts.

Daiyu's heart trembled when she heard the words, under Chunshan's black eyebrows, starry eyes shining like water looked at the young man, and said in a low voice: "Brother Heng..."

Pure in mind, sincere in love?She seems to be like this. It's not that she can't do it, but she just feels that she can't do it. She always feels that she obviously can't... It's somewhat hypocritical and unreal.

Jia Heng looked at the girl who was lost in thought. In fact, compared with Baochai's sophistication, Daiyu's reputation as a servant in the mansion is indeed not high.

It's not that he discriminates against servants, but that servants who want to gain Daiyu's approval must be different from ordinary people.

Baochai, he has a deep understanding of Baochai, and he is indeed very good at talking. Maybe in the original book, there is a bit of Baoyu's strictness towards Baoyu, but in front of him, he is as gentle as water, and even a little cautious. , in his eyes, there is probably nothing to hide, and even a little cute.

Daiyu, who is also the number one among the Twelve Beauties of Gold Hairpins, is still a little uncertain about her temperament. Whether she feels like a goblin remains to be seen.

Jia Heng suppressed the thoughts in his heart, and said softly: "Brother Heng, not everyone loves it, but I don't know how many people hate it."

For some reason, I suddenly thought of Princess Chu Zhen Qing, who always looked like she couldn't bear the humiliation and gnashed her teeth at him, and most of her heart wished to eat his meat raw, and let Zhen Qing taste it if she had the chance.

Listening to the young man's comforting words, Daiyu felt overwhelmed with embarrassment and joy, and said in a low voice, "Brother Heng is arguing with others because of important national affairs, which is different from the usual affairs in the back house."

Jia Heng smiled lightly, his eyes were deep, his voice was soft, and he said slowly: "Actually, it's not the same. National affairs are often limited by emotional disputes, and the impeachment of the officials of the Kodao is almost like a shrew swearing at the street."

In fact, this is political vulgarization.

Daiyu looked at the smiling young man, especially the clear and handsome face of the young man and the eyes that hid the beautiful mountains and rivers, forming a strong contrast that she couldn't even describe.

The girl has never talked so much with Jia Heng as she does now. She used to be cared by her elders and lacked some breath of life. Playing around, but now it just happened to be off the altar, and some of the aura has faded.

And the charm of a mature man with a successful career, that kind of self-confidence and calmness from the inside out, or the tone of a man, is itself a fatal danger.

If you happen to be young and promising, abandoning the barrier of the Appearance Association, even the imperial daughters of the clan will find it difficult to stop this kind of behavior, leaving half a lifetime and returning with the demeanor of a teenager.

Jia Heng said softly: "So my sister doesn't have to think about what's there. I'll be able to go home and see my uncle soon. Isn't my sister happy?"

Daiyu frowned slightly, and said quietly: "I am more timid near the hometown, and dare not ask people."

Jia Heng: "..."

Seeing the speechless expression on the young man's face, Daiyu didn't know why, she couldn't help laughing, covered her mouth and chuckled, and quickly turned her head away, like a shy lotus.

She wasn't sad for the spring and autumn, the willows were piled up with smoke, and the gloomy eyebrows and eyes were vaguely in front of her eyes...

Jia Heng looked at the girl under the smoldering brows, who had a wavy cut of autumn water, and said with a chuckle, "How nice is my sister? When I smile, I still have a dimple."

Daiyu lowered her head slightly, her hands in her sleeves clenched her handkerchief tightly, her heart rippled slightly, and she said softly, "Where are there dimples? Sister Yun has dimples when she smiles."

The dimples are indeed cuter and more romantic, and the person in front of him often pinches Sister Yun's cheek.

Jia Heng said softly: "Although there is no dimple in the smile, the smile is still like a flower."

From a closer look just now, it should be the shallow dimple formed by the apple muscle at the right corner of the mouth, and it is indeed not a dimple.

Daiyu was ashamed when she heard the words, Xia Fei's cheeks and lowered eyebrows moved back and forth, but she didn't know how to answer the words.

Zijuan was listening, with a brisk smile on his face, the uncle really looked at the girl differently.

Yuanyang looked at the two of them quietly, and their eyes were also on the young man, thinking thoughtfully on his greasy duck face.

Jia Heng picked up the teacup, took a sip with downcast eyes, couldn't continue teasing Daiyu, turned to look at the rivers and mountains outside the window, and said to Qingwen: "Go and get the chess, I will play with sister Lin." One round, we will have dinner in the evening."

Qingwen responded in a low voice, glanced at the picturesque eyebrows and eyes, the charm resembled her own girl, and hummed softly in her heart, she was as young as Miss Lin, and the young master liked her so much, it was rare, And teach her to read and write?When I was older, I held her in the shower.

Hmph, it's just Ai Wu Ji Wu, Wan Wan Leiqing...

Seeing Jia Heng drinking tea in silence and looking into the distance, Dai Yu looked at the stern face, under the sword eyebrows, there seemed to be a cold light in her eyes, as quiet as a statue.

It was a kind of "people are in front of my eyes, my heart is in the sky", with a sense of melancholy in loneliness, a feeling that a girl has never experienced before, or in other words, the young girl with a young face has never been in contact with other men.

One moment he was still chatting and laughing, the next second he was thinking about national affairs, not the last second he was smiling hippie, the next second he was throwing psychic gems.

Daiyu was silent for a moment, then asked softly: "Brother Heng is thinking about Yangzhou?"

Jia Heng nodded, and said slowly: "Uncle has been in Yangzhou for several years, and the people there dare to murder, what else are they afraid to do?"

The salt merchants in Yangzhou raised the dead and acted as pawns. The danger of destruction was added to his body, so he would inevitably take risks. He was thinking of a breakthrough.

"Daddy is in Yangzhou, did you receive our letter to go south?" Daiyu asked after thinking for a while, her eyebrows slightly frowned, and her eyes fixed.

Jia Heng said softly: "I have sent Feige to pass the letter to Yangzhou. When we are on the way, Yangzhou will receive the letter."

"Does Brother Heng find the matter in Yangzhou difficult?" Daiyu thought about her words, looked at the young man with a calm face, and said with worry in her eyes.

Both his father and he went to Yangzhou to handle this matter, and there were many dangers hidden.

Jia Heng turned to look at Daiyu, smiled and said, "Fortunately, let's stop at Luoyang and Kaifeng mansions to replenish some rice, grains, fruits and vegetables."

Some things have to be prepared in advance, the southern soldiers are not necessarily reliable, and the guards of the Henan provinces can send troops to support them when necessary.

Daiyu looked at the young man with a calm face, and said softly, "Brother Heng has gone to Yangzhou, so you should be careful."

Jia Heng nodded and said with a smile: "When we get to Yangzhou, sister Lin, a local, has to do her best to be a landlord."

Daiyu said softly: "Brother Heng, I didn't remember much when I was young, but I can take Brother Heng to visit some famous places of interest."

While talking, Qingwen came over with chess, and the two of them played chess, talking briefly, the summer was long and hot.

The boat with its sails full of wind blows along the sparkling water waves, rides the wind and waves, and sails towards the east like an arrow leaving the string in the bloody setting sun. On the sky, the sky is high and the clouds are light, a gray pigeon flies by The blossoming white clouds, like cotton, flew towards the south.

The dome of the sky reflected on the distant river surface like Yanhe willows and emerald green hills can be seen like the stars and herons rise up under the setting sun, the sun and the moon turn suddenly, and the light and shadow intertwine. Looking back suddenly, it is several days later, Yangzhou thousands of miles away ——

On the bank of Slender West Lake, a manor with green walls and green walls, brackets and cornices, stands in the misty rain in the south of the Yangtze River. In the manor, there are pavilions, terraces and buildings, jagged rocks, pines, cypresses, and phoenix trees covered with beautiful paintings, which become more and more lush in the misty rain and fog. depressed.

In the four-pillar and octagonal gazebo, with a "click", on a chess board, a black horse kicked off the red cannon, and the word "jiang" sounded.

Wang Shouqi, who was dressed in a silk uniform, withdrew his hand, reached out to pick up the teacup on the stone table beside him, lowered his head to sip the tea, but the old eyes under his pine and thin eyebrows were still looking at the young man playing chess on the opposite side .

Xiao Hongsheng frowned, hard thinking appeared in his eyes, and for a moment, he saw helplessness on his young and elegant face, he cupped his hands and said: "The old man is very skilled in chess, this game is lost by the younger generation."

Wang Shouqi put down the teacup, smiled, and said: "You didn't eat that rook just now, and you won't lose so fast. The most taboo in chess is to be greedy. If you are greedy for a momentary profit, you will lose everything."

Xiao Hongsheng thought about it for a while, his eyes were a little more serious, and he said in a low voice: "The junior is taught."

Wang Shouqi saw a smile on his old face, and said: "Okay, let's go down here first, why are you here looking for the old man?"

Xiao Hongsheng's face was solemn, and he said in a deep voice: "The news from Jinling, the old lady of the Zhen family has heard that there will not be many good days."

Hearing this, Wang Shouqi suppressed the smile on his face, sighed, and said: "Time is not forgiving, so many years have passed in a flash, and it is not enough to be old."

Xiao Hongsheng asked: "Mr., there is no stopping in Jinling."

Wang Shouqi smiled, and asked casually, "What new trick did Grand Master Qi think of?"

"The clues to the account books at the transport depot are broken. There is no movement of Qi Dashi at present, but in the previous case of reselling official food, the relevant officials of the Nanjing household department have been questioned. The assistant minister of the Nanjing warehouse and the doctor have been interrogated." Xiao Hongsheng lowered his voice.

Wang Shouqi frowned tightly, and his old face was also full of seriousness.

At this moment, a butler from outside quickly ran over and said, "Master, Master Cheng is here."

Wang Shouqi's complexion changed slightly, he looked at Xiao Hongsheng, and said, "Follow the old man to welcome you."

Entering the flower hall, he saw Cheng Peili get up, with an anxious expression on his face, and said in a low voice: "Old man Wang, there is news from the middle of the capital that the governor of Jinyi and Bo Yongning Jiaheng have gone south."

Wang Shouqi was shocked when he heard the words, and asked, "When did you hear about this?"

Wang Shouqi also had a secret channel, but now it was delayed for some reason, and it was not delivered in time, but Ma Xianjun's subordinates got the news first.

Cheng Peili said: "It's Feige from the middle of the capital who sent the letter. Yongningbo Jiaheng went south a few days ago. I don't know what kind of errand he has to do, but he leads a large number of guards in Jinyi, most of them are here for Yangzhou."

Upon hearing this, Wang Shouqi exclaimed in shock, "Do the others know?"

Cheng Peili said: "Lao Ma and Lao Huang know it, and they both feel that the visitor is not kind."

Wang Shouqi paced back and forth, and after a while, looked at Cheng Peili, and said in a low voice, "Calm down, even if it's aimed at us, don't act recklessly. Let people get together to discuss it later."

Seeing this scene, Xiao Hongsheng felt a haze in his heart, he was really afraid that something would happen, that Uncle Yongning really went south to rectify the salt affairs.

Just when the Yangzhou salt merchants went south for Jia Heng's official business, it seemed that they were facing a big enemy, and Jia Heng's ship also came to Luoyang City smoothly.

The officials of the Henan government stationed in Luoyang city also got the news that Jin Yi Tiqi brought the former governor of Henan, the great man Yongning Bo Jiaheng, to transit.

Needless to say, such important privy officials must have imperial orders.

The Henan military administration was headed by Meng Jinwen, governor of the Henan government, and Zhou Dong, the commander of the Henan Guard. The latter was a general from the Beijing camp.

In fact, after the Central Plains Rebellion, the entire Henan Capital Division Guards were basically all of the Guoyong Camp of the former Beijing Camp after they were rectified.

(End of this chapter)