The Red Mansions

Chapter 714 Just close your eyes and stop looking
In the room
Jia Heng let go of Zhen Qing, let Zhen Qing tidy her clothes, then took Zhen Xue's hand, and asked with concern: "Why are you feeling uncomfortable?"

Zhen Xue pursed her lips, and said softly, "Xu Shi just arrived in Yangzhou, and he's a bit uncomfortable."

Jia Heng looked at the beauty's face, frowned, and said softly: "Have you hired a doctor?"

Zhen Xue seemed to be a little flustered by the warm gaze, and changed the topic: "Ziyu, you just said that the weaving bureau was short-lived, and it was left behind by the Supreme Emperor after his southern tour. This is a well-known fact." Son, it’s not about our family’s business, is it?”

Obviously, compared to Zhen Qing, who appeared to be indifferent on the surface, Zhen Xue cared a lot about what Jia Heng said just now.

Jia Heng said: "Although it is said that the Zhen family is doing business for the palace, how many of the Zhen family have used the banner of the palace to do greedy things over the years? Extravagance, the money depends solely on your father's salary, is it possible? In fact, I don't need to check it at all, even if it is an impeachment memorial from an ordinary censor, the sky will be furious, and the Zhen family will be in great trouble."

Compared with the reform of salt affairs, which involves salt administration and the division of powers and responsibilities, sweeping the salt merchants needs to slightly block the mouth of the world.

The three major weaving bureaus in the south of the Yangtze River are the property of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Zhen family is like a slave of the Chen Han royal family. As long as Emperor Chongping issues an imperial decree to let the Zhen family make up for the deficit over the years, the Zhen family will only be slaughtered by others, and they will not even be able to fight. stand up.

Zhen Xue was speechless for a while, and looked at the young man opposite with her beautiful eyes like water, her eyes were soft and delicate, and she said in a low voice: "Zi Yu, can you give our family an idea?"

Compared with Zhen Qing who is dubious and has a fluke mentality, Zhen Xue, who listened to "Jia Heng's Biography", regards some of Jia Heng's methods as gods and respects them as standard.

"Is Xue'er begging me?" Jia Heng looked at Wen Ning's beautiful and beautiful face, and asked with a chuckle.

Zhen Xue: "???"

Wen Ning's beautiful face was as beautiful as a cloud of clouds, she lowered her eyes slightly, and said softly: "Zi Yu, don't...don't make trouble."

Beauty is usually not talkative and submissive, especially in front of Jia Heng, Jia Heng has the final say.

Zhen Qing looked coldly at the boy with her own sister, and sneered in her heart, she was really considerate and considerate, like two different people.

"Actually, I have nothing to do." Jia Heng held Zhen Xue in his arms and said in a low voice: "The Zhen family still has to find a way to make up for the shortfall. Even if the wealth is not there, it doesn't matter if you think about it. The key is your sister. If the Zhen family is involved in the matter of seizing the heir, it will be the disaster of destroying the family."

Zhen Xue's head was lowered, her jade face was slightly red, and she glanced at Zhen Qing, whose face was as clear as frost. Her voice trembled, and she sighed softly: "I didn't care about this at all, and I usually persuaded my sister several times. , but she didn't listen very much, as if she was dazed."

Jia Heng looked at Zhen Xue who was very shy and had no place to rest her hands, and said in a low voice: "Xue'er has always been gentle and pleasant, and she is very honest, I know that."

After a while, Jia Heng looked up at her jade cheeks that were as red as blood, she closed her eyes slightly, and Zhen Xue, who was ashamed to see others, said in a low voice: "Xue'er, it depends on how the Zhen family goes, and it has nothing to do with you." What is the relationship, as the saying goes, if the married daughter splashes water, you should be your princess of Beijing, don't let your sister implicate you, what else can she do besides implicate you?"

Zhen Qing glared and scolded: "You bastard, shut up!"

He just provoked the relationship between her and the prince, and now he provokes the relationship between her and her younger sister, and it is so blatant.

Zhen Xue's delicate brows were slightly frowned, and she looked out of the window with weak eyes like water, sighed, and said, "The Zhen family raised me so big, I couldn't bear to watch that scene."

"Then close your eyes and stop looking."

Zhen Xue: "???"

However, seeing the shadow approaching, his lips softened, and a savage breath came over him.

Zhen Qing looked at Qingqing, me and me, her thin eyebrows frowned, feeling upset, she walked not far away to watch the wind for the two of them, thinking about how to deal with it.

Even if there is a shortfall, it's not something that the Zhen family wanted to create. Everything was done by the Chonghua Palace for pleasure. Even if their family sells all kinds of property to make up for the hole, how much can they make up?

Perhaps, Yanli had recovered too much money, and the court would not be too eager to start the weaving bureau.

What if Daddy could help the bastard clean up the salt business?Will the resentment in Father Huang's heart be reduced a lot?Let that bastard plead for mercy again, and this level will pass.

Zhen Qingyuan is quick-witted, since she can't beat her, then join in, why not marry the Jia family again?
Of course the daughter of the Zhen family cannot be a concubine. There is Baoyu in the second room of the Rongguo Mansion, maybe you can talk about it, whatever he does, it is a marriage.

Here, Jia Heng and Zhen Xue lingered for a while, but did nothing else, just talking, Zhen Xue was still a little shy, and answered without saying anything.

"Xin Xin is cute and smart, gentle and quiet, more like you." Jia Heng looked at Zhen Xue and praised her.

Well, one boast two.

When mentioning her own daughter, Zhen Xue's eyebrows and eyes beamed with joy, her greasy face was full of smiles, and she said happily: "Xin Xin has been naughty since she was a child, but she has gotten better in the past two years."

"It's also you, a mother, who taught me well." Jia Heng laughed.

Zhen Xue lowered her brows and eyes, dodging the "doting" gaze, and said a little embarrassedly: "Ziyu, you... you are too praised."

Jia Heng smiled, grabbed Li Ren's slender catkins, and asked, "Xue'er, is Princess Bei Jing still vicious about Xin Xin?"

The faint smile on Zhen Xue's face froze for a while, she lowered her head, the beauty was pale, she sighed softly, and said, "Xin Xin is a little afraid of her grandmother."

Jia Heng was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice: "After you go back, you can tell Dowager Beijing to let Brother Beijing accept the side concubine. At that time, Dowager Beijing will know who made the mistake and won't Don't miss you any more."

Jia Heng said, his eyes dimmed a little, but he felt that when the king of Beijing was mentioned, the beauty's delicate body trembled, and the plain hand she held was also a little trembling and cold, as if to Zhen Xue, her husband was still There is some guilt.

Seeing that Jia Heng had slightly closed his eyes and pressed his pink lips tightly, Jia Heng's face paused, but he didn't care, it was just a temptation.

The highest state of Niutou is not to occupy the body, but to pry away the heart.

But from the current point of view, both Zhen Qing and Zhen Xue are actually traditional women, and they still feel guilty.

It's just that Zhen Qing smashed the pot, she didn't care on the surface, she hid it deeper, while Zhen Xue hid it shallower, um, something seems wrong?
"Okay, it's none of your business. You'll be worthy of the Shui family after passing through the door. If your sister hadn't plotted against you, you wouldn't..." Jia Heng took Zhen Xue's hand and held Zhen Xue in her arms. He whispered: "I forced you later, it has nothing to do with you, you are just a victim."

Zhen Xueyu's face was pale, her eyes were dazed, and she said in a low voice: "Zi Yu, I, I am a bad woman."

If it's all the fault of my sister and him, but the fairy-like joy during those obsessions almost made her... can she really deceive herself all the time?

Jia Heng reached out and pinched the pink and smooth face of the young woman Huaxin, and said in relief: "Stop thinking about it, you are not a bad woman, you are just an ordinary woman."

Some things, it’s okay to be shameless, such as those with delicate thoughts and strong sense of morality, it is easy to get overwhelmed, and then commit short-sightedness.

Zhen Xue raised her eyes to meet that warm gaze, her depressed mood gradually suppressed, and she obediently let out a "huh".

Jia Heng embraced Zhen Xue's snowy shoulders, sniffed the fragrance of orchid grass in the ears of the beauty, and whispered in his ear: "Good Xueer, how about a consultation with you?"

"Don't shout..." Zhen Xueyu's face was dyed crimson, her bright eyes were as bright as water, and she said in a low voice: "What's the matter, just say it."

What a good Xueer, how can you call her so affectionately?

Jia Heng looked at the beauty's Wen Ning with a serious expression, and suddenly said: "Xue'er, Xinxin is so cute, you can give me a baby too."

Zhen Xue: "..."

I felt Fang's heart beating wildly, and I didn't know whether it was sweetness or embarrassment, all came to my heart, a snow-skinned and beautiful face blushed into a glow, bright and moving, and said angrily: "You... What nonsense are you talking about?" .”

But for some reason in the heart lake, scenes of him embracing himself with a big belly and whispering in his ears emerged. Immediately, he knew that the young man was coaxing him to be happy, and his soft eyes traced the lines of the stern face. My heart is complicated and inexplicable.

Maybe it's just like what he said that day, if she's not married...huh?

Thinking of this, the young woman Huaxin felt her heart beating wildly, and hurriedly dispelled those terrible and bold thoughts.

Her body is already sorry for the prince, and her heart can no longer be sorry for him.

Zhen Qing looked at the two people who were tired of talking together arm in arm, her phoenix eyes flickered coldly, her heart felt restless, and immediately, a sneer appeared on the corner of her mouth.

If you were able to give birth, then Qin's stomach wouldn't be silent now.

It's ridiculous enough to act like an animal every time, but in the end, I don't even see a child.

However, it also allows her to feel free from uneasiness... Well, it's either because of this, or if she has a child, it will indeed be a big trouble.

Saying that, she let go of Zhen Xue's hand, and asked Zhen Qing some details about the two envoys of the Salt Transport Division before and after, and then let the two of them leave the hall and head towards the flower hall of the back house.

Jia Heng planned to take a bath to wash away the dust, and prepared to go to Huanhualou to attend Wang Shouqi's banquet at night.

Just as she was heading towards the wing room where she lived, she saw Chen Xiao in a long blue dress at the moon gate, standing pretty, her gaze paused, and she asked, "Where are you going?"

Under Chen Xiaodai's eyebrows, she looked at the young man opposite. Just now she heard that Jia Heng was talking with Princess Chu and Princess Beijing. She was curious about what the two sides were talking about, so she used the lightness technique and took the girl on the eaves. He got off the tile and watched, and was almost shocked when he saw the scene of the two concubines entangled.

This bastard actually has an affair with Princess Chu and Princess Beijing, and it seems that the two have been dating for a while.

"Why are you looking at me like this?" Jia Heng asked with a frown as he looked at Chen Xiao who had a strange expression.

Just now he faintly felt that someone was spying on him, but he didn't expect it to be Chen Xiao.

Chen Xiao suppressed the weirdness in her heart, a slight blush floated on her clear and frosty cheeks, and said coldly: "It's nothing, you let me watch the Jurchen news, and now I have some eyebrows."

Hearing this, Jia Heng put on a facelift, pulled Chen Ling's sleeves, and said in a low voice, "Let's talk in the room."

Being pulled by Jia Heng, Chen Ling felt uncomfortable. It seemed that the young man's hand was stained with a lot of fragrance just now. She stepped back slowly, let the young man's gaze away, and said softly: "Those people want to If I want to assassinate you, I'm afraid it will be in the near future, so you should pay more attention in Yangzhou."

Jia Heng frowned deeply, thought for a while, and asked: "If it is recently...then I will go to Huanhualou later, will I be assassinated by these people?"

Thinking appeared in Chen Xiaoqing's eyes, and after a while, she said in a low voice: "Places like Huanhualou are bustling with people, and there are all kinds of religions and schools. If those people want to assassinate you, they will definitely not let go of this opportunity, and they can even blame you. Salt merchants in Yangzhou can achieve multiple goals in one fell swoop.”

Hearing this, Jia Heng looked up at the flickering lights on the candlestick, nodded and said: "You are right, I will arrange it later."

After saying that, she asked the mother outside to call Liu Jixian, planning to make arrangements.

Chen Xiao looked at the boy who had gone and returned, and said, "Are you planning to lure the snake out of the hole?"

Jia Heng nodded and said: "Since they are assassinating, then I will give them this chance to bring less guards later, this is also a chance for me."

If he was assassinated while going to the salt merchant's banquet and happened to have an excuse to attack, then the method of investigating the salt merchant could be a little more radical.

After making up his mind, Jia Heng's complexion turned dark again, he stared at Chen Xiao, and said: "I'll go to Huanhualou later, and you take good care of Sister Lin at home, and protect her well."

Chen Xiaoxiu frowned, with a trace of worry in her eyes, she said: "There are guards of the Jinyi Mansion outside the Salt Court, and they don't need to be taken care of by anyone. I'll go there with you. You may not be able to deal with these tricks of the rivers and lakes. They may not be able to poison you." , if it is a hidden weapon such as the Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle, you will not be able to resist it."

Hearing this, Jia Heng turned her eyes to look at Chen Xiao, sized her up for a moment, then smiled and said, "Then thank you Xiaoxiao."

As he spoke, he stretched out his hand and couldn't help pinching the cold and jade-like cheek, but when he remembered something, he patted the girl's shoulder instead.

Chen Xiao snorted coldly, but didn't knock off Jia Heng's hand again.

At this time, Qingwen came from the outside, and as soon as she entered the wing room, she looked at Chen Xiao unkindly, and said, "My lord, the hot water is ready, it's time to take a bath."

Jia Heng nodded, and said softly: "Qingwen, go and give the clothes I usually wear to Mrs. Xiao, and ask her to change into them. I have something to do later."

Then he looked at Chen Xiao, who had a cold face and said nothing, and said softly, "This will be more convenient."

Qingwen was surprised, glanced at Chen Xiao, and hurriedly responded.

……

……

In the evening, Huanhualou is brightly lit, and the sound of silk and bamboo orchestras spreads far away in the night.

This brothel, built in Chongping ten years ago, is five stories high. It is located on the banks of the Xiaoqinhuai River, with a front building and a back garden.

At this moment, a string of red lanterns is hung on the tall wooden flagpole and the eaves of the corridor. Perhaps it is summer, and some brothel women in bright clothes and light gauze and thin skirts are leaning on the railing to entertain guests, with their red sleeves stretched out, and green shirts and straight skirts underneath. , a scholar wearing a blue scholar's square scarf, with a few friends, went to the brothel to have fun.

In the pavilion next to the lake, Wang Shouqi had been waiting for quite a while, accompanied by seven other salt merchants, including Jiang Tong, Huang Rishan, Huang Cheng, Cheng Peili, Ma Xianjun, Bao Zuhui, Xiao Hongsheng and others.

At this moment, hearing that the servant was trotting all the way and came to tell Jia Heng that he had arrived outside the building, several salt merchants left the room to greet him.

"Uncle Yongning, you're here." Wang Shouqi smiled eagerly and greeted the young man in green with only five or six followers.

A string of red lanterns on the flagpoles on both sides swayed with the wind, casting ambiguous light in circles. Eight wealthy merchants from Yangzhou greeted each other, and attracted the attention of many women on the railing.

Everyone greeted each other, entered the box, and took their seats one after another.

Jia Heng wore a brocade robe with a round collar of Su brocade, and stood tall. He raised his eyes to look at several salt merchants, his gaze paused on Wang Shouqi's face, and asked, "Master Wang, I don't know what it means for me to solemnly send an invitation card?"

Wang Shouqi had an eager smile on his face, and said: "It's not that I heard that Yongningbo is reorganizing the military equipment of the Jiangbei camp, and there is a shortage of food, salaries and ordnance. After I heard about it, I intend to donate part of the money to support Yongningbo's reorganization of the camp's military equipment."

Hearing this, Jia Heng looked surprised, smiled and asked, "Where did the news come from, Mr. Wang?"

He just talked about the food, salaries and ordnance with the generals of the Jiangbei camp this morning, and said that he would go to the Jinling household department and the military department to ask for it, but Wang Shouqi received it at night.

Of course, I didn't intend to hide it.

Wang Shouqi smiled and explained: "Uncle Yongning, don't get me wrong. How can I not pay attention to the court ministers like Uncle Yongning coming to Yangzhou? As for the Jiangbei Daying, doing business in Yangzhou, I also hope that the ground is safe and peaceful. I didn't say it earlier. , Now Yongningbo is in charge of the Jiangbei camp, we local folks, we have to do our part."

Several people on the side echoed.

Jia Heng said: "It's hard for me to talk about the donation of the salt merchants. It's better to go to the Yamen of the Salt Court and tell the story to the court."

"Uncle Yongning, it takes a lot of time to go back and forth like this, and it is easy to hold back layer by layer. How about not bothering the two masters with one thing, and let Uncle Yong accept it directly?" At this time, one of the salt merchants in Yangzhou Huang Rishan smiled and said.

Bao Zuhui smiled and said: "Yes, Uncle Yongning is now in charge of the Jiangbei camp. Whether it is training or setting up the military academy, money is inseparable. These funds are some of our admiration. Please don't refuse Uncle Yongning."

A few people were talking, and saw a young servant carrying a brocade box.

Jia Heng glanced over a group of salt merchants with eager expressions on their faces, smiled, and asked pretendingly puzzled: "This is it?"

"The bank note, 30 taels of silver note, is used as military supplies and rations. Uncle Yongning, please don't refuse." Wang Shouqi said with a smile.

It is said to be food and salaries to support Jiangbei Daying, but in fact it is more like bribing Jia Heng's stolen money.

Seeing this, Jia Heng was not in a hurry to accept it for a while, he seemed hesitant, and muttered: "Now that the imperial court is rearranging its armaments, the Jiangbei camp urgently needs food, salaries and armaments. With the 30 taels of silver, Master Wang really relieved his urgent need."

As he said that, he gave Liu Jixian a wink and asked him to accept it.

Sugar-coated cannonballs, eat the sugar-coated cannonballs and hit them back again.

Seeing this, most of them were overjoyed, secretly thinking, if they collect money, at least they can talk.

Did they want to make a difference before this?This person is much easier to deal with than Qi Kun, and Mr. Qi Ge really doesn't like oil and salt.

Ma Xianjun and Cheng Peili looked at each other, but they could see some doubts and seriousness in each other's eyes.

Jia Heng raised his eyes to look at Wang Shouqi, smiled and said, "Master Wang and all the charitable merchants have such a deep understanding of righteousness, which is really admirable."

Wang Shouqi smiled and said, "Uncle Yongning, you are being polite. If there is no smooth and peaceful land in Yangzhou, we will not be able to do business properly. This is what we should do."

He said, pointing to the high platform covered by the curtain not far away, and said with a smile: "Huanhualou is the No. 1 building in Yangzhou. A few years ago, I bought some girls from Wuyue. You can take a look at my Yangzhou Fengyue."

As he spoke, he clapped his hands, and slowly opened the curtain on the building where the curtain was originally placed. Accompanied by the sound of silk and bamboo orchestras, groups of women in bright clothes and cloud hairpin skirts danced lightly on the building, crisp, round and snow-white , Zhuhuiyuli.

At this moment, in a courtyard with cornices and corners in the backyard of Huanhualou, there are tall beams and columns, curtains and heavy buildings, only the lights are faintly visible, and in the inner courtyard, a graceful figure is projected on the screen.

Gu Ruoqing, the newest oiran of Huanhualou, sat on the dressing table in front of the window, looking at the mirror to do her makeup.

This woman is twenty-nine years old, with a slender figure, a standard oval face, a high nose bridge, a slightly red mouth, and black eyes under the curved willow-leaf eyebrows. She has a charming face as beautiful as peaches and plums. , Eyebrows and facial features seem to show a heroic spirit.

She used to be a famous prostitute in Jinling City. Because she was friends with the owner of Huanhualou, she came to live in Huanhualou temporarily. As soon as she entered Yangzhou, she was chased by Liu Shengzao, the transshipment envoy of the two Huaihe Rivers.

"Sister Gu." At this moment, a girl in a red dress, petite and exquisite, with a bright and clean forehead painted with flowers, came up and said softly.

"Nanling, didn't mother tell you to accompany that Uncle Yongning, why haven't you gone yet?" Gu Ruoqing gently touched the gold hairpin jewelry in her hair, raised her eyes to look at the innocent girl with a slight smile.

Compared with Gu Ruoqing, she was slightly taller, and the girl named Nanling was a little petite. At that time, the ethos of the scholars in the south of the Yangtze River was to admire the thin white Yangzhou horses, and they mostly paid attention to the pigeons that were too full to hold.

Seeing helplessness on Nanling's pretty face, the girl who had just reached Ji said softly: "Come over in a while, and say that I will sing a song for Yongningbo, if you don't like it, then forget it, I don't know for sure Look at me."

As a lean horse raised since childhood, it is proficient in various musical instruments and means of pleasing men. It was originally a commodity given to dignitaries by some merchants in Yangzhou.

At this moment, the servant girl from the outside came in and said, "Miss, Mr. Liu sent someone over to ask Miss to go to the Slender West Lake for a boat trip."

"It's about this time." Gu Ruoqing frowned, her voice was like broken jade like water, and said, "Tell the visitor, it's too late, I'm going to bed, I won't go."

(End of this chapter)