The Red Mansions

Chapter 779 The east wind puts flowers and thousands of trees at night, and even blows them down, the stars are like rain...

Jinling, Wang's house

The orange candle flame stood on the candlestick, swaying with the wind, projecting several figures on a round table onto the beams and pillars.

Wang Shouqi listened to the servant's report, his old face showed seriousness, he was speechless for a while, and said in a worried tone: "Uncle Yongning went to Gusu to visit Guo Consort."

Yangzhou salt merchants have strong financial resources, and Jia Heng went south to Gusu. They also sent a lot of eyeliners to follow them secretly, and sent messages to Jinling by flying pigeons.

Jiang Tong, who was sitting next to him, also frowned, and said in a cang voice, "Brother Wang, did Concubine Guo reveal our details?"

"Even if it is revealed, so what, the original money was repaid to the Emperor of the Southern Tour through the Salt Transport Department. I am still wronged, and I have repaid a lot of family property." Huang Rishan said angrily.

Back then, if it wasn't for the emperor's repeated southern tours, would they be able to send money to the palace?
Of course, these salt merchants would not reflect on the fact that the monopoly power of other salt merchants relied on the trust of Emperor Longzhi.

Wang Shouqi said: "They are all old accounts, many of which are involved in the palace, so don't worry about it."

Xiao Hongsheng thought for a while, and said: "If Uncle Yongning wanted to investigate earlier, he would have taken the opportunity to implicate me in the case of the Ma family, and he would not wait until now to investigate some old accounts."

"Nephew Xiao Xian is right." Wang Shouqi's face paused, his eyes flickered, and he said in a deep voice: "If the imperial court really wants to drive us all to death, the so-called crime of wanting to be imposed, there is no excuse, and it will not be like this Trouble, besides, the imperial court has implemented the Ticket and Salt Law, and now all merchants in Huaiyang and other places, regardless of size, have gone to collect salt tickets and sell salt profits, so there is no need to worry about Huaiyan salt being unsalable, it is supposed to be more and more unscrupulous."

Jiang Tong said in a deep voice: "Although you say that, you can't help but be careful. I don't think the court is looking for wealth? I heard that Lao Ma and Lao Cheng's family confiscated a lot of property. This wealth is touching ah."

Wang Shouqi nodded and said: "We have to guard against it. Let me see, we still need people who study and become officials in our clan."

No one in court, no amount of wealth can only become meat on the chopping block.

In Gusu City, the moon is crooked, just reaching the tip of willows, and the misty night covers the high walls, alleys, covered bridges and archways, and the lanterns hanging under the eaves of the houses are swaying with the wind, and the hanging "Lin House" In the mansion with the two-character black oil paulownia wood plaque, the lights are sparsely lit.

In the southwestern courtyard, in a wing room shaded by a bamboo grove, Jia Heng walked into the room after dinner. The interior was elegantly furnished. There are many books, some of which are still rare treasures.

"Brother Heng." Dai Yu took her watery gaze away from the book, and looked at the young man in the green shirt and straight, Xiao Xuan's sparse posture.

After the girl woke up from her afternoon nap, she was thinking about how to serve her, but Zijuan hurriedly prepared hot water and washed it well. Who knows how Brother Heng will serve her?
Could it be that you are serving yourself to wash your feet?
Jia Heng turned his eyes, looked warmly at the girl not far away, smiled lightly, and said, "Sister, what book are you reading?"

"Xin Jiaxuan's collection of Ci." Daiyu said softly, "Xin Jiaxuan is capable of literary and martial arts. He has not only made bold and unrestrained Ci, but also has a lot of graceful Ci."

With a smile on his face, Jia Heng sat on the bed next to Daiyu, and said softly: "I like the poem by Xin Jiaxuan the most, but I like the one on the questionnaire, but I don't know if Haitang is the same. It's green, fat, red and thin."

When Daiyu heard this, under her smoldering eyebrows, her bright starry eyes bent into crescent moons, she covered her mouth and smiled lightly, "Brother Heng, these are Li Yi'an's poems."

Facing those warm gazes, he suddenly realized that the young man was teasing him, his eyes met, staring at each other with gentle waves, lowered his eyebrows slightly, and said softly, "Brother Heng."

Jia Heng's eyes fell on the beautiful face that has already become a peerless beauty, and he stretched out his hand to gently support Daiyu's round chin. The delicate skin contained a youthful and beautiful breath, and he said softly: "I am looking for you in the crowd." He searched thousands of times, and when he suddenly looked back, the man was in a dimly lit place."

Daiyu heard the words, her heart was a little ashamed, her head and moth eyebrows drooped even more, the lights were dyed like water, the immature girl, her beautiful cheeks were as red as a glow, and her two bends were like cages of Gusu clouds The bright starry eyes were gradually covered with a layer of hazy mist, and after a while, I saw that soft breath approaching, and the familiar intimacy was like a boat, almost obliterated in it.

It was late autumn in Suzhou, and the temperature dropped a lot at night. The slightly cold autumn wind was blowing an osmanthus tree in the courtyard. Among the dancing branches and leaves, there were a few small golden flowers interspersed, exuding a subtle fragrance and falling suddenly, as light as Nothing falls on the rolling stone steps of green and white autumn dew.

The quiet and soft moonlight cascades down like a flood, flowing like water on the glazed tiles on the roof ridge, returning back and forth.

The sweet-scented osmanthus falls in the garden, the night is quiet and the spring mountains are empty, what kind of thoughts and feelings does the poet express?

After a while, Jia Heng stretched out his hand to gently hug Daiyu's shaved shoulders, and whispered, "Let me take care of my sister."

Said, whispered a few words in Daiyu's ear to explain her doubts.

Under Daiyu's smoky eyebrows, Yiyi's starry eyes widened, and she said in a trembling voice, "This, this...how can it be done?"

However, before he finished speaking, he immediately looked at Jia Heng, who was bowing his head and bleating, already unable to restrain himself from shame, his clear eyebrows slowly lowered, and he caressed Jia Heng's shoulder.

The orange light halos circles of light, falling on the tasseled gold hooks of the curtains, reflecting shallow light and shadows, which are delicate and detailed, like mirrors and shadows.

It can be vaguely seen that Daiyu's head is slightly raised, the fine tassels hanging from a hairpin on her beautiful hair are swaying gently, her nostrils are humming, her willow eyebrows are slightly raised, and her starry eyes seem to be unopened.

The moonrise frightens the mountain birds, and the song sings in the spring stream. The poet used the line-drawing description technique to set off the stillness with movement. However, after hundreds of years, it carries the meaning of overwhelmed metaphor.

For a long time, the jasper tassel pinned to Daiyu's beautiful hair was originally swinging gently, drawing circles on the spot in a flash, but when it stopped, the circles were shining brightly, while a round of strings on the roof ridge outside the window The moon is also covered by clouds.

In Suzhou in golden autumn and October, there is heavy dew late at night, and the thin quilt is hard to withstand the cold.

Jia Heng looked at Daiyu, who was trembling and unable to take care of herself, and leaned into the ear of the girl with her starry eyes tightly closed, and said in a low voice, "The east wind puts flowers and thousands of trees at night, and blows them down. The stars are like rain."

Daiyu really deserves to be the Crimson Pearl Fairy, how could she...

Daiyu: "..."

Daiyu used to have a somewhat pretty face, a girl with rosy cheeks and crystal clear thoughts, suddenly understood the meaning of Jia Heng's words, her heart became more and more embarrassing, she opened her starry eyes, and shouted anxiously. Annoyed: "Brother Heng, you... You bullied people and even made fun of them."

How can you make fun of her like that, she was made fun of by him?

Jia Heng suppressed the sweetness between his lips and teeth, stretched out his hand to hug Daiyu's shaved shoulders, straightened Daiyu's skirt, looked at the girl's blush and peach cheeks, bright and charming face, gently stroking the shaved shoulders , said in a gentle voice: "It's not bullying, it's love. After all, I have wronged you."

Dai Yufang was still ashamed in her heart, she leaned her head against Jia Heng's arms, her heart was intertwined with shame, joy and sweetness, and there was also a trace of unreasonable sadness, she pursed her pink lips, and said in a trembling voice: "Brother Heng Don't say that, I have never felt wronged, not before, not now, and in the future...never will. "

Facing those bright starry eyes, Jia Heng was silent for a while, holding Daiyu's plain hand and embracing it in his arms, feeling a little heavy in his heart, and whispered: "Well, I understand my sister's heart."

The two were tired, and said in a gentle voice: "When the third sister and sister Yun come over, it will be inconvenient to get close to my sister."

This is to inoculate in advance, otherwise Daiyu will be left out in the cold when the time comes, no matter how miserable Daiyu is, or she will be speechless and choke when she looks at her tearful eyes with her hands in hand?
In fact, sometimes, he is not full of love and drinking water, but trying to subtly influence Daiyu's temperament, if he does not want to be like Baoyu, encountering a goblin.

"On Chinese New Year's Eve, I'm going to say I'm dead and alive." Daiyu can say angrily, "I'm going to say I'm dead, and I'm going to die right away."

Well, think about it carefully, it seems quite interesting?
Daiyu looked at the handsome young man, and said softly: "Brother Heng, Sister Yun and Sister Three are here, and this place can be much more lively."

The girl sighed in her heart, if that Princess Xianning came, Brother Heng would not be able to accompany her alone.

Last time Jia Heng had confessed to Daiyu about his past with Xianning, but he did not mention Baochai.

Of course, Daiyu didn't ask, or didn't doubt it yet.

Jia Heng said softly: "After the things in the south are over, let's go back to Beijing, and the garden has just been repaired. At that time, sister, sister Yun, sister three, and sister Bao will live in it, enjoy the scenery in the garden, and compose poems."

Why do men like to paint cakes?In fact, it is not men, but every corner of society is drawing cakes. High EQ, hope, is something as precious as diamonds in this era.

Moreover, painting cakes in exchange for false, temporary, advance pleasure and harmonious atmosphere, or to motivate employees, or to deceive feelings.

Of course, he is not painting cakes, but... A Dream of Red Mansions.

Daiyu snorted softly, her starry eyes were as bright as a rainbow, she couldn't help but said: "Brother Heng is hiding in the golden house?"

For some reason, Xu Shi's unprecedented intimacy made the girl complete a certain "change" in her mentality, at least she naturally revealed some "nature" in front of Jia Heng.

Jia Heng didn't answer, but said softly: "I was looking at the blueprint that day, and I was thinking, let someone plant a bamboo forest at the Tianyuan location of Yuju, and in midsummer, the green shade will become waves, and the bamboo shadows will sway. I want to live here It must be a pleasant and comfortable thing to be in the meantime, I can find a rattan chair at night and look at the Cowherd and Vega in the sky, I want to call it Xiaoxiang Pavilion, what does my sister think of this name?"

Xiaoxiang Pavilion?
That kind of tailor-made, painstaking, or mysterious correspondence seems to hit the soul directly, and the three words rubbed in Daiyu's heart, making the girl tremble, and murmured: "Xiaoxiang Pavilion?"

The position of Tianyuan, the Tianyuan of Go, is the center of the chessboard, for example, Beichen lives in it and the stars surround it.

So, this is for her?
Brother Heng...

In fact, there is no answer that can resolve Jinwu Zangjiao better than this sentence.

Flying flowers and picking leaves can hurt people, Jia Ziyu re-enters the land fairyland today!

Jia Heng smiled lightly and said, "My younger sister will live in the Xiaoxiang Pavilion from now on, and most of the plants around her are Xiaoxiang tear bamboos. My younger sister will be the concubine of Xiaoxiang."

As he spoke, he gently stroked the girl's delicate cheeks, and said softly: "My sister is just like Xiaoxiang's concubine, unswerving in her determination, pure and pure in character."

Daiyu's starry eyes moved slightly, and a hazy mist appeared, she gently leaned her head against Jia Heng's arms, and said shyly, "Brother Heng."

It can be said that Daiyu at this moment has been coaxed around by sweet words.

Jia Heng held Daiyu in his arms, and did nothing else, smelling the fragrance of the girl's beautiful hair, which was as blue as musk, and kept it for a while.

"Brother Heng, Brother Heng, please take this dress." Daiyu got up, suddenly felt her body was very soft, propping up a lotus arm, speaking in a soft voice, took out the autumn clothes from the bed, trembling He said in a low voice, "Brother Heng, let's see if it suits you."

Jia Heng took the autumn dress in his hand, the beautifully embroidered Su brocade gown, looked at the fine stitches on it under the dim light, raised his eyes to the girl who was looking at him expectantly, and said softly: " My sister's needlework is really more and more ingenious and ingenious."

These are all embroidered by Daiyu stitch by stitch, Yunying's unmarried girl sewed clothes for him, she really regards him as a beloved person who can be entrusted to her for a lifetime.

Daiyu's starry eyes are bright and shining, soft and moist, and they are already rippling with microwaves, she said softly: "Brother Heng, be careful not to catch the wind outside, I heard from Sister Zijuan that it is hot and humid in Guangdong, you need to add more clothes Woolen cloth."

"En." Jia Heng stared at Dai Yu, smiled and said, "My sister is really a good wife and mother."

Daiyu was listening to "Good Wife and Loving Mother", when suddenly under her beautiful eyebrows, her bright eyes widened, the misty starry eyes were as moist as water, but she saw the familiar breath approaching.

No, Brother Heng just now... ah, how could that be?

Jia Heng looked up at the girl with ruddy cheeks, and jokingly said, "Why does my sister still despise me?"

Daiyu: "..."

No, how can you say this about her, why is Big Brother Heng so... Bad, he clearly deliberately made a fool of her.

"Sister, I'll try this dress later." Jia Heng smiled lightly, and stopped being funny, hugged her in her arms, and got tired of Daiyu for a while, then took the autumn clothes and left Daiyu's place living room.

……

……

The next day, early in the morning, the morning sun was slightly dew, the autumn wind was blowing, and the sky was overcast, as if an autumn rain was brewing.

Among the followers of Jinyi Fuwei, Jia Heng went to the governor's yamen in the south of the Yangtze River where the office was stationed in Suzhou, the governor Zhang Yongchuan, the chiefs of the two divisions of the cloth and the prefect of Suzhou, and the prefect of Suzhou to inspect the coastal camps.

Chen Han set up a multi-level early warning and defense system in the important areas of river defense in Taicang Prefecture, such as camps, camps, camps, and guards. These defense settings are actually more to notify the Jiangnan Daying Navy in Weigang, Tongzhou, so that they can send troops to help .

In recent years, on the vast sea area, except for a few pirates who plundered passing merchants at sea, they have not landed and harassed along the river defense counties.

"Uncle Yongning, because the Jiangnan Daying navy often goes out to patrol the sea, the rotation of the soldiers guarding the beacon has been slack in these years." In the afternoon, with light rain, Zhang Yongchuan stood on the beacon tower and said.

Jia Heng withdrew his gaze and thought to himself, maybe the telescope can be made, the optical principle is not complicated.

Suppressing the thoughts in his heart, he turned his head to look at Zhang Yongchuan, and asked: "In the past few years in the Jiangnan Daying, Cao Haijun hasn't gone out to sea very much, except for the recent confluence of captives and bandits, who boarded a boat to harass, but there are other things. Alarm?"

Behind Zhang Yongchuan, governor of the south of the Yangtze River, Tao Zheng, the magistrate of Taicang Prefecture, put on a smile on his face, and said: "These years, there have been pirates who plundered at sea and caused disasters."

Jia Heng was silent for a moment, then asked: "Are they all locals, or are they foreigners? Has the local government ever received a report?"

Tao Zheng hurriedly said: "My lord, the imperial court originally strictly enforced the sea ban. Most of the ships sailing on the sea were smuggled, and the owners of some cargo ships, even if they were robbed, they would not dare to violate the imperial court's laws. Report to the officer."

Jia Heng frowned and murmured, "Hai Ban."

If there is no maritime ban, setting up customs ports in coastal ports, extracting tariffs from commerce and trade, and then using sea divisions to suppress smuggling can also open up financial resources for the court.

Zhang Yongchuan looked at the boy and frowned in thought, his eyes flickered, and a feeling of emotion surged in his heart.

This is the Minister of Military Aircraft, the Prime Minister, the Privy Councilor, and the word ban from the sea. He should be thinking about the national policy.

At such a young age, they are already important ministers of the country. How can they be embarrassing for scholars who are determined to serve the king and regulate yin and yang?
Jia Heng pondered for a while, and said: "In recent years, the imperial court's policy of banning the sea has been banned from time to time. Reconsideration."

In fact, at this time, I want to visit Shanghai County in Songjiang Prefecture. At this time, Shanghai has not yet opened a port.

When Zhang Yongchuan heard the words, his heart moved slightly. Didn't this Yongning Bo intend to open up the sea ban, but didn't he send troops to suppress smuggling not long ago, and sent four salt merchants in Yangzhou to jail?

Jia Heng looked calm, turned to look at Zhang Yongchuan, and asked: "Governor Zhang is the governor of a province, guarding the place on behalf of the emperor, and sits in the town. Today, Suzhou, Jiading and other prefectural guards, Mr. Zhang should also act vigorously and vigorously to supervise the training."

In fact, he can also intervene in the rectification of the local health center, but he doesn't have the extra energy to do everything himself.

Zhang Yongchuan cupped his hands and said: "Suzhou Wei, Taicang Wei, the lower officials will supervise and rectify it recently, please rest assured Uncle Yongning."

Jia Heng nodded. Surrounded by the government guards, he continued to inspect the Suzhou palace and received officials of the Suzhou government. He was busy for two days before leaving Suzhou.

Jinling City, Jinyifu Town Fusi
Jia Heng sent Daiyu and Zhenxi back to Ningguo Mansion, and asked the guards of Jinyi Mansion to send someone to inform Wang Shouqi and others about the deficit in the accounts of the Huaidu Transshipment Department.

"The official document delivered by the express horse in Beijing has dismissed Jiang Sucheng and Meng Guangyuan, the servants of the Ministry of War, and sent Zhang Zhi, the right deputy capital censor, to investigate the case of the depletion of the Ministry of War's arsenal." Chen Xiao said softly. , delivered an official document and the residence newspaper, and said: "The residence newspaper has published part of your memorial."

Jia Heng took the official document and the mansion newspaper, looked through it, and said: "The two servants of the Ministry of War were sent south, and the affairs of the Ministry of War must not be messed up. Let the Jinyi Mansion investigate the officials' voices and deeds. I think it is useful, and I will first assist in the affairs of the Ministry. .”

At this moment, it was the time when all the officials of the Nanjing Military Department were in danger and panic all day long, so he also needed to pick one or two people to work.

"The two were investigated by the imperial envoy, and the undercurrent in Jinling City will calm down for a while." Chen Xiao said softly with her eyes flickering under her beautiful eyebrows.

Jia Heng looked gloomy, picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said, "I hope we can calm down while we're away."

At this moment, a school lieutenant in Jinyi from the outside strode into the official hall holding Xiu Chundao, clasped his fists and said, "Commander Wang Shouqi, Jiang Tong, Huang Rishan, and Xiao Hongsheng, general merchants of salt affairs in Yangzhou, are here."

Jia Heng said indifferently, "Please."

Not long after, the four Yangzhou salt merchants walked into the official hall nervously under the guidance of Jinyi Fuwei.

At this moment, Wang Shouqi's old eyes secretly looked at the guards of the Jinyi Mansion who were coming and going in and out of the two poor rooms around Zhenfusi, and he felt a bad feeling in his heart.

Compared with restaurants and boats, the meeting place is in Zhenfusi. Does this mean anything?
I can't help but think of the four salt merchants of Cheng, Ma, Huang, and Bao when I was in Yangzhou Baihusuo. Because of an assassination, two of them disappeared.

At this moment, Xiao Hongsheng frowned slightly on his young and handsome face, thinking about the reason.

Jia Heng looked up at Wang Shouqi, pondered for a moment, and said, "Master Wang, long time no see."

Compared with the rudimentary office of the Baihusuo in Yangzhou, the Fusi of Jinyifu Township in Nanjing was built according to the regulations of the government office of the Ministry, and the five-bay lobby looks much more magnificent and dignified.

On one side is a heavy arched table, on which there are sign holders, inkstones, pen holders, etc., and behind the chair is a brass relief, engraved with a fierce tiger, which is lifelike and majestic.

At the bottom are two rows of chairs and tea tables, only the thirteenth Taibao of Jin Yiwei who is sitting in straw coir raincoats and hemp shoes.

Jia Heng is now wearing a python suit with vermilion base material and a crown with the word "Wingless Mountain" on his head. Because it is autumn, he is wearing a black cloak. Sunlight poured down on a green emerald buckled in the middle of the black crown, casting a cluster of shadows beside the bridge of the nose. His face was half-bright and half-dark, only his cold eyes were like electricity.

Chen Xiao pressed the knife aside, her brows were heroic, her eyes were as sharp as lightning, and she looked at the salt merchants.

Jia Heng looked at Wang Shouqi, Jiang Tong, Xiao Hongsheng and other salt merchants, and waved his hands. The surrounding guards of Jinyi Mansion bowed their hands towards Jia Heng, and slowly exited the lobby.

Wang Shouqi bowed his hands and said: "Uncle Yongning, I don't know how to call the old man and others to come, what can I teach you?"

Jia Heng's expressionless face, white as jade palm, picked up a book that had been transcribed by the book seeker, lightly tossed it, and threw it on the ground with a "click", and the pages of the book were flipped open immediately, and said in a deep voice: "Mr. Wang, Mr. Jiang, you can take a look at this."

This time, it is commensurate with the general business, and it is business-like, with the majesty of a military minister.

Seeing this, Wang Shouqi's old face changed slightly, and his heart skipped a beat. Under the watchful eyes of the guards of the Jinyi Mansion who were pressing their knives, cold sweat gradually oozes from his back.

And Jiang Tong was also pale, his eyes were fixed on the book, and he also had a bad feeling in his heart.

Xiao Hongsheng's face was pale, and his heart was also filled with inexplicable fear.

(End of this chapter)