The Royal Merchant of the Red Chamber

Before leaving the palace, Tu Zhen naturally sent someone to inquire about Xue Pan's whereabouts.So after leaving the palace, Tu Zhen went straight to the capital headquarters of the Taibai Poetry Association.But he forgot the most important thing - time.

Tuzhen goes to court at Yinshi every morning, and the time of his next court depends on the affairs of the court meeting.After returning to the palace, they had to review the important daily papers before they had time to go out or enter the harem.

So when Tu Zhen left the palace, it was already close to noon.

And with Xue Pan's personality of focusing on appetite.No matter what he does at this time, he must put down his work and eat.So it's not unusual for Tu Zhen to miss out on the Taibai poetry meeting.

According to this festival, Tu Zhen turned around, and Shi Shiran went to the direction of Fuyuan Pavilion in Xicheng.

At that time, Xue Pan was leading a large group of fellow Taibai Poetry Club members to eat wildly, and study the issue of newspaper distribution by the way.Zhuang Shaoyou sat in the first place holding a wine glass, watching Xue Pan coldly chatting with each other while holding the wine jug, but smiled and said nothing.

Xue Pan was pouring wine and food for people, while assigning tasks to everyone.This one is in charge of commenting on and analyzing overseas affairs, that one is in charge of instructing the court on new policies, this one is in charge of shaking up the experience of a certain corrupt official who has been dismounted, and that one is in charge of writing some gossip about the capital.As for the positions of the advertisements, the first issue of the newspaper advertised all the shops under the Xue family without exception.After seeing the effect, I believe that there will naturally be businessmen with a keen sense of smell who will come to give money on their own initiative.And on the main page of the first newspaper to be released, there is only one content - bidding.

The scholar Chang Yukun who was in charge of writing the pen couldn't help but frowned when he heard the words, and asked: "What I said before is understandable, but what does this bidding meeting specifically refer to?"

"The so-called bidding meeting means that we, the organizers..." Xue Pan thought for a while, and then explained the meaning and specific form of the later bidding meeting to Chang Yukun.At the end, he took a sip of sake and smiled: "You just need to explain the general meaning clearly, and then write down the specific time and place of the meeting in the newspaper. The most important thing is to hope that all powerful businessmen will understand this. matter, and then come to compete.”

Hearing this, Mr. Zhuang couldn't help frowning and asked: "Hasn't the Holy Majesty already handed over these tasks to the Xue family? Why do you have to create so many troubles?"

Hearing this, Xue Pan chuckled and said, "My Xue family is in business, and the most important thing is money. Although these businesses are entrusted to our Xue family by the grace of the Holy One, our Xue family does not need to eat money." It's so ugly. And if things go on like this, it may not be good for our Xue family's business. Why don't we take this opportunity to launch the bidding, one can bring businessmen from all over the world together to communicate, and the other is that the results of the bidding are better than Our own business is even better. As the saying goes, the court can get benefits, and our Xue family can use this to establish our position in Dayong Commercial Bank. As the so-called mutual benefit and win-win situation, wouldn't it be better?"

Seeing this, Mr. Zhuang pursed his lips in an indistinct manner. The reason why Xue Zhizhang took over all these businesses was because of the political considerations involved. Zhuang Shaoyou also knew a thing or two.But now that Xue Pan has made such a move, will it...

Suddenly there were two slamming knocks at the door, and the shop clerk stood outside and said cautiously: "Master, a young master wants to see you?"

Xue Pan frowned, put the jug in his hand on the table casually, raised his eyebrows and asked, "Who is it?"

The closed door was gently pushed open, a slender young man with a clean complexion stepped in with his hands behind his back, and said with a calm smile, "Me."

Xue Pan raised his head and saw this man's appearance, first he opened the corner of his mouth and smiled in surprise, "Why did you come out?"

After a pause, he felt that the meaning of this sentence was not good, and quickly added: "I mean, you are always busy with affairs, so why do you have the time to go out for a stroll?"

Naturally, Tu Zhen didn't have time to hang out.If it hadn't been for the fact that he hadn't seen Xue Pan for more than a month, Tu Zhen wouldn't have left behind a lot of business and trivial matters and ran out.But since he came out, he stopped thinking about those troublesome things.Immediately hooking the corners of his mouth, he chuckled meaningfully and said, "I don't have the time to go out for a stroll. Naturally, I have the intention to come out to find someone."

Because his voice was so soft and thin, others couldn't hear him clearly for a while.

Only Xue Pan listened to it, and opened his mouth stupidly to Tu Zhen.Stretching out his hand and tugging at Tu Zhen's sleeve, he walked into the room, and arranged it directly on Mr. Zhuang's lower head for him to sit down.Then he introduced to all the scholars: "This is my friend, you can just call him Si Ye."

Then he introduced all the scholars to Tu Zhen one by one.All of you here are sharp-minded people with clear minds and quick wit.Seeing the unconcealable respect in Tu Zhen's behavior, and the respectful attitude of Mr. Zhuang next to him, I also had a three-point understanding in my heart.

It's just that since Tu Zhen came in disguise, it's hard for everyone to refute his interest.He had no choice but to pretend to be ignorant with a warm smile, showing what he was good at in front of Tu Zhen.

Naturally, Tu Zhen patiently acted like a corporal, and after a while, he turned around and asked Xue Pan, "Just now, I just listened to you asking for bids outside the door. What kind of thing is this? Haven't heard you mention it before?"

Xue Pan smiled and said, "It's not that I deliberately hid it from you, it's just that I only thought of it in the past half a month, and I haven't had time to tell you about it."

Tu Zhen nodded, and asked calmly: "Then you should talk about it now."

Hearing this, Xue Pan first poured a glass of water and wine for Tu Zhen, and then said: "The Xue family has made a lot of money these days. Among them, the business is as large as civil engineering, as small as pens, inks, papers and inkstones, but it is also messy. Very. I am afraid that things will get involved too much. The servants in the family will inevitably be inattentive for a while. Wouldn’t it be a great sin to neglect the nobles in the palace? So I thought about setting up a bidding meeting and delegating all these tasks to Merchants who successfully bid will ensure that they can complete the procurement tasks for the imperial court at the lowest cost and with the best quality."

Tu Zhen smiled warmly at Xue Pan when he heard the words: "Pan'er has a solution. In this way, not only merchants operate, but also repair rivers, dams and various ice and charcoal expenditures in the court. Naturally, bidding can also be used. form to solve it?"

Xue Pan twitched the corners of his mouth proudly, and smiled with his tail up, "Of course."

After a pause, he leaned into Tu Zhen's ear and said, "Not only that, but you can also sell seat ticket numbers, admission tickets during the bidding, and even charge some handling fees after the bidding is successful... Another silver profit!"

Tu Zhen looked at Xue Pan's complacent look, and pampered him on the head.The degree of its intimacy can be seen in the eyes of others, and it is inevitable to move slightly.

And Mr. Zhuang, who was calm and silent at the side, held a wine glass and watched the scene in his eyes, and he couldn't help sighing quietly.

If only in terms of publicity, Xue Pan's approach is the most appropriate, and his loyalty is naturally understandable.It's just that Xue Pan was so busy doing business, but he forgot that people's hearts are unpredictable.In this way, things are naturally done glamorously, but the rest of the merchants and the backers behind the merchants will even win over the Xue family in order to obtain these livelihoods.At that time, Xue's family, which only had so much effort to eat, will be full of people, and it will become a bustling bustle again.

At that time, I don't know how to worry about Xue Zhizhang who has been thinking hard.

Xu is that Mr. Zhuang's thoughts are too exposed, so Tu Zhen subconsciously turns his head to look at Mr. Zhuang.He snorted twice, but didn't speak.

Xue Pan didn't notice the "eyes to and fro" between the two of them, he only cared about the drinks and food at Zhang Luo's banquet, and told them the theories he knew about the newspaper.After all, the beginning of next month will be the first release of Fuxi Gossip. Although some things have been emphasized many times, it is better to analyze them several times before they officially appear on the stage.

Because he was busy with this matter, he unconsciously ignored Tu Zhen who was sitting beside him.After waiting for a while, Tu Zhen became dissatisfied.After a few quiet interjections, everyone saw the eyebrows with clear eyes and hearts, and then suppressed the enthusiasm in their hearts, shrugging off when they suddenly remembered something, and all bowed and said goodbye.

Because of Tu Zhen's sudden disturbance, Xue Pan lost the mind to play around with others.After everyone ate wine and dinner casually, they also dispersed.Seeing that it was still early in the sky, Xue Pan couldn't help but took Tu Zhen's arm and asked, "Did you bring someone with you when you came out today?"

Tu Zhen raised his eyebrows, and asked, "What, do you have something to do?"

Xue Pan scratched his head and said, "It's nothing important. However, the construction of the Zhuangzi outside has already begun. Although most of the exquisite work has not been completed, the back garden and hot springs have also been built. If you If I have time, I would like to take you for a walk too."

After a pause, Xue Pan said shyly, "After all, that's where the two of us belong."

Tu Zhending took a look at Xue Pan, and the expression in his eyes became softer.He responded lightly: "Okay."

After driving out of Shenjing City along the north gate, I just feel that the autumn is refreshing, the clouds are light and the wind is light, even the breeze blowing through the hair is more refreshing than that in the city.In the field of vision is an endless golden rice field, some of which have been harvested by farmers, and some are placed in the field, blown by the autumn wind, rolling up waves of waves.

Xue Pan laughed loudly and said: "In fact, although the houses and dirt roads outside the city are not as prosperous and neat as in the city, they also have a special flavor. It makes people feel relaxed and happy. There are some disturbances, and they are slow. Slowly forget."

Tu Zhen nodded, and responded with a feeling in his heart: "That's true. In fact, the dignitaries look glamorous, but when it comes to talking about it, there are a lot of troubles. It's not as good as these bankers, who work at sunrise and work at sunset. And rest, eat enough and wear warm clothes, there is no other trouble. When Pan'er and I have the time to find a place to live in this wilderness, it will be a lot of leisure to work from sunrise to sunset comfortable."

Hearing this, Xue Pan couldn't help but smiled and shook his head again, and said, "Fourth Master's words are a bit leftist. Do you think the two of us can weave cloth and plow the fields or water and cook? What's more, as the saying goes, the Taoists There are scriptures that are hard to recite. Although the dignitaries of aristocratic families have a lot of troubles, they are better than worrying about food and clothing, prosperity and wealth. Although these peasants seem to be at ease, they still have to think about daily necessities, and they have to worry about whether there will be superiors. How can they be at ease easily if the officials and big households oppress them?"

Tu Zhen just sighed a little when he thought of himself.Hearing what Xue Pan said, he couldn't help but chuckled and said, "It sounds like Pan'er is a person with great wisdom, he can see clearly!"

Xue Pan shook his head disapprovingly, and said, "What is transparency? It's just contentment. Everything has both pros and cons. You think it's good on the outside, but people themselves may not be as good as you like. It's like a besieged city. People envy the outside, and the outside envy the inside. So I always feel that other people's life is better than my own. In fact, when I think about it, it's just a word of contentment. Envying others is always useless. You can only find ways to make yourself comfortable. That's right, it's legitimate!"

Tu Zhen nodded thoughtfully, looked at Xue Pan with a smile and said, "I think Pan'er must be the most comfortable person. But teach me."

Xue Pan hooked the corners of his mouth and said: "Actually, it's my own business to feel comfortable and uncomfortable. It's useless for others to say anything. The prosperity of the world is for profit, and the world's hustle and bustle is for profit. As long as you balance the desires, desires and interests of the majority of people so that most people can live in peace, you are the one who is safe. However, if most people have suspicions in their hearts, or if they feel that their fate is unfair, then they are restless If the mind is not calm, it is natural to feel uneasy even in the temple. Therefore, people’s hearts are contradictory, and they are all related to interests.”

Tu Zhen's heart moved, he took a fixed look at Xue Pan, and kept his mouth shut.

Sensing Tu Zhen's scorching gaze, Xue Pan turned his head and licked the corner of his mouth slightly at Tu Zhen.That look was clear with two points of understanding, and indifferent with two points of disdain.Asked Tu Zhen to read it, and felt very boring in his heart.

The two fell silent for a while, only hearing the sound of horseshoes beating on the official road, and occasionally the rustling of autumn grass when the breeze blows through, the atmosphere was peaceful and serene.It's just that Tu Zhen didn't have the comfort of just now, and felt sad, his heart was hanging up and down, and he felt that he was holding his breath in his chest, and he couldn't breathe.

After about half a day, Tu Zhen sighed softly, and said sullenly: "I just want to be nice to you, and I don't hinder anyone else."

What he said was so naive, it didn't seem like an emperor could say it.It's just that Xue Pan is familiar with Tu Zhen's temperament, and he is an extreme person who loves to live and hates to die.It was expected that he could do such a thing.It's just that due to a momentary negligence, the word balance was not considered.

Thinking of this, Xue Pan's sullen heart seemed to be pierced by an awl, and he never felt more deeply than at this time that his own strength was insufficient.If one of the two of them could reach the level of a wise master or a powerful minister, they would not be in such a situation today.

Xue Pan also sighed, and replied in a low voice: "It's because of the negligence of the two of us. Even when the emperor is around, he must always consider the civil and military thoughts of the court. Even favoring the harem has to be calculated. The rain and the dew are both covered, let alone you and me? So the emperor’s honor, a promise is guaranteed. It’s just a superficial pleasure after careful consideration. How can we be so arbitrary when dealing with government affairs or other things? "

Tu Zhen snorted coldly when he heard the words, and secretly vowed to grasp the power in his hands as soon as possible. After thinking about it, he still confessed Xue Zhizhang's actions in this paragraph.Finally, he looked at Xue Pan tentatively and said, "I have always believed in you."

Always believe in you.

What Xue Pan said was warm in his heart.It's just that he still noticed that this you is a single quantifier, not you.

Therefore, it is Xue Pan who Tu Zhen really trusts from the beginning to the end.As for the Xue family, although they have not made it clear now, in the eyes of Tu Zhen, without Xue Pan's entanglement, it would be nothing more than a sharp weapon to check and balance the court.

Xue Pan thought for a while, looked at the expressionless Tu Zhen and said, "Fourth Master, although I am not proficient in temple calculations, I just react slower than others. It doesn't mean I can't understand. Father's actions, although It's a bit abrupt. But from a long-term perspective, it's safe. If you're worried about something, you can tell me clearly. But you can only worry about one thing. If you believe me, I will certainly believe you Yes, it has nothing to do with the imperial court's advancement or retreat, or the country's major affairs. I only trust this person, Tu Zhen."

Hearing what Xue Pan said, Tu Zhen felt that the pent-up resentment in his heart deflated like a leaky balloon.He curled his lips sullenly, and said: "I don't care if the loyal prince believes me or not. After all, the emperor is ruthless. Since ancient times, there are not one or two examples of cunning rabbits dying, and lackeys cooking. Out of self-protection, the loyal prince Such a move is also reasonable. What's more, the Xue family has eight households. Seriously speaking, apart from your family and the Xue Biao family mentioned in the new class, I may not trust others. It's just Mr. Xue This move will inevitably make me more passive."

After a pause, he said extremely aggrieved: "It's just that since ancient times, the Ming emperors have always been magnanimous, generous, benevolent, knowledgeable, and appoint people on their merits. Now that I have just sat firmly on the dragon chair, I haven't taken a breath yet. It should be the effort to win people's hearts and be sympathetic to his subordinates. At this time, Zhongxin Hou is wise and safe, does it mean that I, Tu Zhen, is born to be ungrateful, indifferent and repetitive? I can't tolerate good heroes and generals, and even my own confidants are jealous. Look at it In the eyes of others, do you think that I am narrow-minded and difficult to tolerate? After all, your Xue family has been planning for many years and contributed the most to my enthronement. If I am still so suspicious, will the officials of other aristocratic families feel panic in their eyes? , Can’t sleep at night? After all, they don’t have much credit for me, and even most of them are sorry for me!”

Xue Pan looked at Tu Zhen's expression of "I'm sad, I'm wronged, I'm wronged, I've been shot in the knee, begging for a tiger to touch and beg for support", and sighed softly. He knew that Tu Zhen didn't really care about these things. At this moment, this scene said He said these words because he was afraid that he would have a grudge in his heart.He cleared his throat immediately, stared at Tu Zhen with a half-smile, and said, "When the Holy Majesty said this, I immediately felt that my father's sins were serious, and ten thousand deaths could not atone for his sins. Then what do you want? How about I Xu, it can be regarded as compensation for you."

Xue Pan just said it casually, but Tu Zhen's eyes lit up when he heard it.Looking at the direction of Zhuangzi on the road ahead, he asked meaningfully: "Pan'er just said that the hot springs on Zhuangzi are ready?"

Xue Pan's face darkened, and he didn't know what to say.

Tu Zhen persisted and said: "For a while, I have been busy with going to Japan every day, and I haven't relaxed for a long time. I just feel sore and tired. It's okay to go to Zhuangzi now, soak in the hot spring pool, It's refreshing and relieves fatigue. What do you think of Pan'er?"

Xue Pan cleared his throat, and said awkwardly: "The things on the village haven't been built yet!"

Tu Zhen waved his hands nonchalantly, and said, "So what, isn't part of the hot spring pool ready?"

Seeing Xue Pan's embarrassing expression, he immediately said vigilantly: "You said it was done, I heard it."

A trace of shyness flashed across Xue Pan's face, as well as a bit of shyness and apprehension.He pursed his lips and looked at Tu Zhen who was riding a horse with a comfortable expression beside him, his lips buzzed for a while, but he couldn't say a word.

Tu Zhen smiled, leaned forward, turned over and sat on Xue Pan's horse, stretched out his arms around Xue Pan's flexible waist, kneaded it suggestively, and said in his mouth: "The weather is so dry, Pan Don't you want to soak in the hot spring pool?"

Xue Pan fiddled with the reins uncomfortably, his ears were red, his neck was itchy, his back was straight, like a heavily guarded kitten.He pursed his lips, pondered for a while, and suddenly felt embarrassed: "Your Majesty has patronized and complained to me all this way. I haven't said anything yet. Your mother's family also contributed to the injustice of your Majesty. Your Majesty How can we only pursue our Xue family's Mingzhe protection, but ignore the Tong family's evil intentions?"

Tu Zhen paused slightly when he heard this, and asked in surprise, "How do you know that this matter has something to do with the Tong family?"

Xue Pan snorted dissatisfiedly, glared at Tu Zhen and said, "Don't say that their family is jumping up and down, and they are in trouble with our Xue family's shop all day long. Just talk about the news I got from Xuedizi, although there is nothing clear about it. evidence, but all the clues point to their Tong family."

Tu Zhen suddenly realized.Naturally, he also remembered the relationship between Mr. Shi and Xue Pan.He sighed softly: "I also find it strange that you say that! The Tong family has been relatives since the Taizu. Over the years, most of the Queen's mother came from the Tong family. Therefore, although the Tong family does not have any outstanding males in the court Being an official, but they have always been rich and prosperous, with the same scenery. Especially the girls of their family, I heard that the civil and military men of the Manchu Dynasty are flocking to them. Speaking of the Tong family, the female family members of their family are much better than the male members of their family. "

Having said so many words, there is only one meaning, that is, the Tong family, the head of the state, has always been low-key and mediocre in the court, and Tu Zhen couldn't figure out why his family would jump out at this juncture to oppose the Xue family.

After all, everyone in the world is aware of the Xue family's favor and Fuyao appearance.

Seeing Tu Zhen's inexplicable look, Xue Pan sneered and said, "There's nothing you can't see. In the final analysis, it's nothing more than people's hearts. You are not the son of the Queen Mother Tong, and now the Queen Mother Tong is in front of you I'm not proud either. The Tong family didn't take a good position on the issue of the emperor's return to power. Now that the emperor has officially delegated power and honored the foster care, the Tong family is also in disarray. I'm afraid that you, the adopted son, don't take the Tong family lineage seriously. It's just jumping up and down, trying to get your attention. It's a pity..."

Xue Pan shook his head, and said disdainfully: "He chose a dangerous stepping stone, so he is not afraid that the stone will be unstable, and he will accidentally scratch his foot. It's just a bunch of fat pigs raised by women's skirts. , even if it's a jumping joy, I'm afraid it will die soon!"

Seeing this, Tu Zhen burst out laughing.

Earlier, I heard people say that Uncle Xue's teeth are sharp and his words always poke people's hearts.He hadn't seen it before, so naturally he didn't care.But today I heard Xue Pan clearly and plainly, and he said it so bluntly, tearing off the gorgeous coat without any scruples to reveal the unbearable and dirty inside, and what he said was so vivid.As soon as people hear it, such a scene immediately appears in front of them.Lin Daiyu in the Grand View Garden used to say something sharp and bitter about a female locust, but today Xue Pan's line about a dead pig is full of sarcasm.

It's just that I don't know if everyone in the Tong family will have their nose crooked after hearing this.

Tu Zhen hooked the corners of his mouth, and couldn't help but want to laugh, but looking back, Tong's family was also his grandfather's family, so it was too disrespectful to laugh outright like this.

He cleared his throat immediately, and said to Xue Pan sullenly: "You have sharp teeth and a sharp mouth, and only you, an ordinary boy, can say that Cheng Guogong ranks among the meritorious deeds?"

Xue Pan tilted his head, twitched the corners of his mouth, and said with great embarrassment: "If you say I'm disrespectful, aren't you just laughing all the time?"

Hearing this, Tu Zhen shook his head helplessly.Holding Xue Pan's body in his own arms with both arms, and resting his chin on Xue Pan's neck, he sighed in a low voice: "I am also for your own good. As the saying goes, misfortune comes out of your mouth, you now The position is too low, and you are a junior, and you speak so vitriolicly that people will inevitably say that you are not."

"What others think of me has nothing to do with me. Is it possible that it has become the opinion of others, and I can't live anymore? Everyone sweeps the snow in front of the door, don't ask others to spread the frost. I have always followed my own path Let others envy you! But if you really annoy me, be careful and I will go the way of others, so that others have no way to go." Xue Pan snorted coldly and said arrogantly.

Seeing this, Tu Zhen pondered for a moment, and the fox asked: "Shouldn't you follow the path of others and let others ride on horses?"

Xue Pan: "..."