The Red Mansions

Chapter 924 Jia Heng: What does Empress Song miss him?
Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall

Suddenly hearing that Jia Heng had returned from Jiangnan, Baochai and Daiyu looked at each other, seeing a look of surprise in each other's eyes.

When did he come back?I haven't seen you back in the Chinese New Year.

When Jia's mother heard the news of Jia Heng's return, she saw a kind smile on her old face, and said to the mandarin ducks beside her with a smile, "Go and ask Brother Heng to come over, I have something to ask him."

The mandarin duck responded with an "ah", and the white duck egg face with a few small freckles couldn't hide its joy, and walked away.

After a while, everyone looked at the young man in the python suit and stepped into the house.

In fact, when Yuanyang came to look for it, Jia Heng was about to go out, after thinking about it, he was not in a hurry to enter the palace, so he came to meet Jia Mu.

Jia Heng entered the hall, stood on the Persian carpet in the hall, met the eyes of all the hairpin skirts and jackets with different expressions, saluted Jiamu and said, "I have seen the old lady."

Jia Mu smiled and asked, "Brother Heng, when did you come back, and why are you so silent?"

Jia Heng said: "I rushed over last night, something happened in the court, so I was in a hurry to come back and have a look."

Jia Mu said: "You are really busy. You didn't come back during the Chinese New Year when you were in Jiangnan."

Sister Feng looked at the young man in the python suit. The python suit embroidered with the pattern of walking pythons was tailored very well. Wearing it on Jia Heng's body, he became more heroic and elegant, and the eyes under the firm eyebrows were as calm as an abyss. , suddenly Yun Yunmang.

If Sister Feng had seen Jia Heng's appearance in the past, she still had a somewhat normal attitude, but now after the skin-to-skin kiss last night, seeing Jia Heng again at this moment, she felt a little unspeakable joy.

Jia Heng sat down and said softly: "Because of the imperial court's errands, there is nothing to do now."

In fact, the previous trip to the south was mainly to visit Zhen Qing, Zhen Xue and Jinyang, apart from presiding over the affairs of Jiangnan Province.

Jia's mother smiled and said, "I heard that the Li family's old in-laws have been reactivated, and they have served as the governor of the local area, and they are the officials of the frontier."

As he said that, he turned his eyes to look at Li Wan, and said with a smile: "Brother Lan, Brother Heng has worked hard, thank you so much."

Li Wan's heart skipped a beat at this moment, she raised her head, her soft and beautiful cheeks blushed slightly, and said softly: "Old lady, I was just saying to thank Brother Heng, but he is often busy with outside affairs Son, there may not necessarily be time."

The last time Uncle Heng said it was the last time, he probably wouldn't come to her Daoxiang Village.

Mother Jia had a smile on her face, not doubting him, she turned to look at Jia Heng, and said with a light smile, "Brother Heng, is there any free time recently? Brother Lang has been back from school for a while, and his grandfather said to let him When I went to Jiangnan to study and study, my old man still said that Brother Lang and his mother said that Brother Lang was still young."

Jia Heng nodded, and said: "When I have free time, I will just talk to Sister-in-law Zhu about Lan Ge'er."

As he spoke, he looked at the beautiful woman with a beautiful face.

The joyful voice with a crying voice seemed to linger in the memory.

Li Wanfang's heart skipped a beat, and when she met the calm and gentle gaze, she clenched the handkerchief in her palm tightly, making her delicate body feel hot.

As Jia Heng said, he looked away, turned to look at Daiyu, and asked with concern: "Sister Lin, I heard that Uncle Lin has arrived in Beijing recently. I wonder if he has settled down?"

Daiyu nodded, looked at the young man, and said softly, "Thank you Brother Heng, everything has been settled."

Hmph, she doesn't even want to talk to him, now that she's asked about her father's situation, will she stop looking for her later?

"The palace granted a mansion, which is at the alley south of Xinglong Street." Jia Mu smiled and explained.

Jia Heng said softly: "When I come back from the palace, I will pay a visit. Sister Lin will come with me when the time comes."

Saying that, looking at the young girl with a young face, the starry eyes seem to be moistened with the scenery of lakes and mountains, which makes people unable to help but linger.

After another year, Daiyu has indeed grown up a bit, and the corners of her eyebrows and eyes have become more flavorful.

In other words, there has been no shepherd for a while.

But Dai Yu's starry eyes narrowed under her smoky eyebrows, and she looked at the young man with a little miss in her heart.

Jia Mu asked with a smile: "Brother Heng, why didn't the eldest girl come back from the south during the Chinese New Year this year?"

Jia Heng thought for a while and explained: "His Royal Highness the eldest princess of Nanbian'er thinks highly of Eldest Sister, and I still have some business that cannot be separated from Eldest Sister, when Nanbian'er is free in summer, Eldest Sister can return to Beijing. "

Mrs. Wang squinted her eyes when she heard the words, and looked at the young man, her heart moved slightly, but she was not easy to ask.

Sister Feng, Dan Fengyan, also secretly looked at the indifferent young man, folding the handkerchief back and forth in her hand.

Who would have thought that this man was serious now, but last night...he bullied her in different ways.

Jia Mu sighed: "The big girl is not young anymore, and she can't show her face outside every day. Brother Heng, when do you think you can help her find a good family."

In fact, I just wanted to ask Jia Heng, what does it mean when he said that the marriage of the eldest girl fell on him, and now it has been more than a year and he hasn't seen her yet?But it is more or less questionable, so I put it another way.

Mrs. Wang, on the other hand, stared at Jia Heng, holding the Buddhist beads tightly in her hand.

If it hadn't been for the uncle Heng in front of him who broke the marriage to the King of Chu, her eldest daughter would be the side concubine of the King of Chu now.

Jia Heng was silent for a moment, then said: "Old lady, big sister has some other ideas of her own."

Jia's mother was surprised and said, "What can she think?"

Jia Heng glanced at Mrs. Wang, and said: "Perhaps the elder sister was sent to the palace since she was a child, and she was lonely. When she grew up, she had the idea of ​​becoming a monk to escape from the world. She usually pays attention to books such as Buddhism, Taoism and Zen. "

As he spoke, he glanced at Baoyu who was staying in the corner, as quiet as a chicken.

"This..." Mother Jia was startled when she heard the words, as if she understood something, she asked, "Could it be that the big girl wants to become a monk?"

Mrs. Wang's complexion is not very good-looking either.

Jia Heng said: "It's not that far yet."

Jia Mu's complexion changed suddenly, and she said, "Brother Heng, what should I do? There is no such thing in our family, Baoyu's mother, did you know it before?"

The expression on Madam Wang's face also became flustered, her heart skipped a beat, and she said: "Old lady, the eldest girl has said this in the past, and I asked the third girl to persuade her more at the beginning. I was really moved."

In order to cover up the affair with Jia Heng, Yuan Chun had prepared some Buddhist books to read, which made Mrs. Wang worry for a while.

Aunt Xue said: "That's fine, what are you doing as a monk?"

Baochai pursed her pink lips, and looked at the boy in the python suit with bright apricot eyes. For some reason, she faintly felt that her man was not telling the truth.

It is also because I have been with Jia Heng often for a long time, and I know Jia Heng a lot.

Daiyu also frowned, her starry eyes showed a hint of thought.

The main reason is that when Yuan Chun was in Jiangnan, he did not show any special yearning for Buddhism and Taoism.

But both Chai and Dai are intelligent girls, and they faintly feel that there is another reason.

Jia Heng said: "Don't worry, old lady, I will persuade big sister in the future."

Perhaps, with more persuasion, it will be fine when you have a child.

When Jia Mu heard the words, her face was filled with sorrow, she looked at Mrs. Wang who was full of distress, sighed, and asked, "What should I do?"

Aunt Xue said with relief: "The old lady doesn't have to worry, it will be fine after a long time."

If it wasn't for her daughter to follow Brother Heng, I'm afraid that the situation she faces now will not be much stronger than that of her sister.

Jia Mu sighed, and said: "At the beginning when the eldest girl went to the palace, I thought it was not very good, but now I didn't expect to have such thoughts, brother Heng, you have to persuade him well."

Jia Heng said: "Old lady, don't worry, I'll go back and persuade big sister."

Jia Mu said: "Brother Heng, you came back late this time, and you didn't make it in time to worship your ancestors. When you have time these two days, go to the ancestral hall and tell your ancestors."

Jia Heng nodded his head, accepting the matter.

Sister Feng smiled brightly on her beautiful face and said: "Old Ancestor, Didn't Brother Heng say that he is going to the palace to meet the saint, and we will have dinner together when we come back at noon, and it will not be too late to talk."

As he spoke, he glanced at the boy in the python suit, and thought to himself, he's too busy talking, should he enter the palace to face the saint?
Jia Mu said with a smile: "What Feng girl said is, brother Heng, you should go to the palace first to consecrate, it's more important to get down to business."

"The old lady, I'll go first." Jia Heng nodded, then got up, couldn't help but cast a glance at Chai Dai, and thought to himself, after returning from the palace, he would go to find Baochai and talk to Daiyu.

After Jia Heng left, Mother Jia looked at the people in the hall and said, "Now we are full of people. Tomorrow is the Lantern Festival. The whole family has to celebrate well."

Sister Feng said with a smile: "Don't worry, old lady, everything has been arranged in the house, and it will be kept lively."

Everyone chatted and laughed, and Rong Qingtang laughed and laughed again. After all, Jia Heng came back, and the biggest backbone of the mansion returned.

……

……

Daming Palace, Inner Study Room

Emperor Chongping is summoning Li Zan, a scholar of Wuyingdian, Shaobao and Minister of the Ministry of War, to inquire about the situation of regiment training in Beiping Prefecture and Hebei.

But it was said that Jia Heng delivered the sign to the palace, and the inner eunuch led him down to the study in the Hanyuan Hall of Daming Palace.

"I have seen the Holy One, long live the Holy One." Jia Heng entered the hall with small steps, bowed to the middle-aged emperor behind the case, and paid homage.

Emperor Chongping looked at the boy in the python suit with a smile on his face, and said, "Li Qing, Ziyu is back, you two discuss how to deal with the captives in the north."

Not far away, Li Zan, Minister of the Ministry of War, cupped his hands and turned his face to look at the boy in the python suit with gentle eyes, and said, "Jia Hou, long time no see."

Since he went to Beiping, many things have happened in the court. First, there was chaos in the Central Plains, and then the eastern captives harassed the southeast coast in a large scale, trying to disrupt the south of the Yangtze River, but all because of the rising young Marquis Wu in front of him. Once it was settled, there was no trouble.

And the young man in front of him also became an important minister of the military aircraft.

Jia Heng cupped his hands and saluted, and said: "Mr. Li Ge, I haven't seen you for a year. The demeanor of Mr. Ge is even better than before."

Emperor Chongping smiled and looked at the civil and military ministers under him who could rely heavily on him, and his gentle eyes fell on the young Qingjun's face, and asked: "Ziyu, is the Jiangnan side well-managed? , have you ever gone to the provincial government?"

Jia Heng said: "Returning to the Holy Lord, the original team of Zuo Si in the south of the Yangtze River moved to Anqing Mansion, and the chief of the general department, I thought that the judges who were familiar with the laws and regulations should be selected from the north, and the chief of the capital department was transferred through the Jiangnan camp. Can be selected from the men and horses of the Beijing camp."

Emperor Chongping nodded and said: "Ziyu is thinking about Zhou Xiang, so it's just right. I have issued an edict the day before yesterday to appoint Li Shouzhong as the left deputy capital censor and governor of Anhui. , but he didn’t have much experience in managing local areas before, and if he wanted to cure Anhui, he couldn’t do without the support of Jiangzuo Chief Secretary.”

Jia Heng cupped his hands and said, "The Holy Master has learned from you."

Emperor Chongping turned to ask again: "Ziyu previously said in Feige's biography that the Jurchens are about to move, and they seem to be heading westward, and need to be on guard immediately?"

Jia Heng said: "Your Majesty, I would like to go to Chahar Mongolia to discuss the plan of uniting Mongolia and resisting captives."

Hearing this, Li Zan stared at the young man with deep eyes, and asked, "Jiahou, is there any recent movement in Chahar Mongolia?"

"Chahar Mongolia also has the potential to unite with our big man." Jia Heng explained, and said: "My lord, this is the information delivered by the spy who went to Chahar Mongolia. Please read it."

As he spoke, he took out a light yellow bound letter from the armband, and handed it to Emperor Chongping.

Dai Quan hurriedly left the royal case, came to the front quickly, took the letter from Jia Heng, turned around, and delivered it to Emperor Chongping respectfully.

Emperor Chongping took the Zhazi and read it, thinking on his face, and asked: "Ziyu, since people have been sent to remind Chahar Mongols to pay attention to the invasion of the Eastern Captives, why does this Ezhe still have doubts? He still plans to let you go North negotiations?"

Jia Heng said: "Your Majesty, Chahar Mongolia may have doubts about the decisive battle between our court and the Jurchen, and is worried that I will take chestnuts from the fire. This is to test my court's determination."

Emperor Chongping thought for a while, and found it reasonable, and said: "There is no need to doubt my determination to fight the captives. Before beheading the Jurchen prince and all the captive soldiers and generals, it has long been at odds with the Eastern captives! Then how will Ziyu deal with it?"

The young man in front of him had to go from the central plains to fight the captives in the south of the Yangtze River, from the south of the Yangtze River to Shenjing, and now he had to go to the northern grasslands. It was indeed a lot of hard work.

But there is no other more suitable person around who can replace Jia Heng.

"Your Majesty, I have told you before that I will lead tens of thousands of troops to Taiyuan and Datong Army Towns to inspect and rectify the border affairs, and then go to Chahar Mongolia to discuss with the Great Khan Ezhe of Mongolia the plan to jointly resist the captives. "Jia Heng's voice was like a clank of gold and stone, resonant to the ground.

Emperor Chongping heard the words, looked at Li Zan at the side, and said with a smile: "Old Li Ge, I said that after Ziyu came back, he would definitely go to the north in person, and it really is."

Li Zan also looked at the young man at this moment, what is the dry city of a country?That's it.

When he was in Beiping, he was inexplicably shocked by the pacification of two chaos in a row, but now looking at the young man, most of the doubts in his heart were immediately resolved.

Jia Heng cupped his hands and said, "Serving the country is the duty of the minister."

Emperor Chongping nodded slightly and said: "Ziyu must be careful in everything, and don't take risks rashly."

"My humble minister, thank you for your instructions." Jia Heng said hastily.

Emperor Chongping pondered for a moment, then suddenly said: "Today, the right deputy capital of the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate impeached Shen Bing, Governor of Liangjiang. Bin has a close relationship with the river embezzlement case, Ziyu, you have been in Jiangnan for so long, do you know how Shen Fang is?" Emperor Chongping paused, and asked suddenly.

When Jia Heng heard the words, his face showed some thought, and he said: "Shen Zhitai's official voice, I dare not speak nonsense."

Secretly, Zhang Yongchuan has already exerted his strength at this time, but he found another Kodao speaker, who is still a capital censor.

"Ziyu is a privy secretary of the military, so it's okay to speak frankly when talking about the virtuous and foolish officials of the frontier." Emperor Chongping said.

"Ms. Shen Jie, I have not worked with him for a long time. In terms of talent alone, he should be an old official, but sometimes it is inevitable to be greedy for merit." Jia Heng thought for a while, and said carefully.

Li Zan's face paused when he heard what the young man said, and all kinds of speculations filled his mind.

Emperor Chongping pondered and said: "At the beginning when he rectified the Jiangnan camp and appointed brothers Zhen Zhu, the Jiangnan Navy suffered a major defeat. Ziyu also witnessed this whole process. The blame was due to greed for meritorious deeds. Ziyu's words are pertinent."

In a word, I want to improve too much.

Jia Heng said: "Your Majesty's candle shines thousands of miles away, and my ministers respect you."

Some words don't need him to add embellishments, but to tell the truth, it is a fatal blow.

Moreover, the emperor clearly had some decisions in his mind.

Emperor Chongping pondered for a moment, and said: "Shen Bing has been in Liangjiang for a long time, and in recent years, he has become more and more indolent and negligent in his official duties. I don't think it is appropriate to be the governor of Liangjiang and supervise the local area."

Jia Heng's face was calm, but it was difficult to respond to these words.

Sure enough, this is the emperor's further suppression and weakening of the Zhejiang Party.

Li Zan was listening on the sidelines, his face was like water, but he was thinking about the reason why Shen Fang was impeached.

Ordinarily, at the time of dismissal and retention, this kind of impeachment should not be, unless it is a strife within the Zhejiang Party. Could it be that this impeachment was done by officials in Jiangnan and other places.

Before Li Zan could think about it, Emperor Chongping suddenly broke the silence and called out, "Li Qing."

"My minister is here." Li Zan replied with a respectful expression and cupped his hands.

"Li Qing went to the cabinet to draw up an order to impeach Shen Fang, the governor of Liangjiang, for being greedy, cruel and cunning. He had previously dismissed the governor of Liangjiang for the crime of misleading the army in the Jiangnan camp. Now he will be punished for both crimes and demoted to the right servant of the Nanjing household department. Now the cabinet Ke Daoting will recommend the candidate for the governor of Liangjiang."

Hearing this, Li Zan felt a turmoil in his heart, he didn't dare to think too much, he hurriedly bowed his hands to Ying Shi, took his leave, and went to the cabinet to draw up an order.

Jia Heng's complexion paused, his eyes were fixed, but a chill surged in his heart.

The Son of Heaven didn't demote early or late, but when he came back, he demoted Shen Bing, which actually had a different meaning.

It can be said that both he and Li Zan were calculated.

The chief assistant of the cabinet has been pending for a long time, obviously using this as a carrot to hang the Zhejiang Party, and to dismantle the Zhejiang Party little by little, so as to better control the government.

Perhaps the emperor has already seen the strife within the Zhejiang Party. The governor-general dispute behind the impeachment may have the intention of forcing Han and Zhao to fight again for the post of governor of Liangjiang?

Now even if Shen Fang, governor of Liangjiang, was relegated, Han Huang, who was eagerly waiting for the position of chief assistant in the cabinet, could only wait patiently.

Because there is another Li Zan watching from the sidelines, in case the emperor uses him as the chief assistant, no matter how much resentment there is, he can only swallow his anger now.

It's just that this dazzling set of political tactics... is really thoughtful and has deep intentions.

If he deals with himself in the future, he may really be unable to stand up.

In other words, he has no power to fight back without a basic disk.

Jia Heng's face was as flat as a lake, his eyes were downcast, but a cold wind blew through his heart.

Emperor Chongping looked at the young Marquis Wu who was waiting respectfully, and said with a smile: "Ziyu, it's been a long time, follow me to Kunning Palace, for the new year, the Queen and Concubine Rong, Xianning and Chanyue are all thinking about it." you."

Jia Heng bowed his hands and said yes.

Xianning and Chanyue were thinking that he could understand, but... what did Empress Song think about him?
Well, it's just the polite words of the emperor.

The cabinet was on duty, and Han Huang learned of Li Zan's will, his expression was gloomy and difficult to understand, and he looked at Zhao Mo, the cabinet minister, with a serious heart. , signed his name, looked at Han Huang, Zhao Mo, Qi Kun and others, and said, "Colleagues, please write and countersign."

Han Huang nodded, and then stepped forward to write his name. Zhao Mo and Qi Kun did not refuse, and wrote their names one after another.

Zhao Mo looked at Li Zan and said, "Old Li Ge, who wrote the impeachment memorial?"

Li Zan said: "If Mr. Zhao Ge is curious, he can look for the playbook from the Secretary of General Administration. These are not secret, and maybe we can still find them."

Han Huang glanced at Zhao Mo, but frowned even deeper.

On the other side, Jia Heng followed Emperor Chongping towards the Kunning Palace. On the long palace road paved with red bricks, the sunlight in the near noon of spring came, casting the figures of Weng and his son-in-law on the beams and pillars. Above the vermilion door.

Emperor Chongping suddenly asked: "Zi Yu, Jiangnan Guozijian caused disturbances due to the division of provinces, can you find out who is behind the scenes?"

Just now, in front of Li Zan, the emperor was obviously not easy to ask.

Jia Heng said: "There are two things behind this matter. One is Fang Yaochun, the former Guozijian, who wanted to invite his name, and the other is... Shen Fang, the governor of Liangjiang. Incitement, its meaning is unclear."

Emperor Chongping's face was gloomy for a moment, and he said in a cold voice, "Abandon the public for personal reasons."

In fact, it is almost the same as his previous guess. This is also the reason why he dismissed Shen Bing. He was dismissed as a crime, and he was disrespectful to serve his superiors. He still appeared in the matter of dividing provinces. Frontiers on one side.

"Your Majesty, calm down." Jia Heng said hastily.

Emperor Chongping nodded, and said: "Now that the internal affairs are settled, the rest is the matter of foreign captives. The Beijing camp has not been rebuilt for a long time, and I am still a little unsettled."

Jia Heng said: "Your Majesty, don't worry, the soldiers of the Beijing camp are ready to fight, and they are not afraid of the barbarians."

While talking, the monarch and his ministers came to the palace where Kunning Palace was located.

In the Kunning Palace, Empress Song is talking with Concubine Duanrong, welcoming Song Jing's wife, Shen Shi, and daughter Song Yan.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty and the Marquis of Yongning have arrived." Xia Shouzhong approached with small steps and said back to Empress Song.

When Empress Song heard the words, she looked at Concubine Duanrong who was also delighted, and said, "Let the kitchen prepare dinner, and go to Tangli Palace to call Xianning and Chanyue over."

Xia Shouzhong went as ordered.

(End of this chapter)