The Royal Merchant of the Red Chamber

"Xue Pan, you are too deceitful!"

Tong Kecha's despondent roar resounded through the lobby in an instant, and the humming and whispering sound disappeared immediately.The merchants present and the servants and guards of Fuyuan Pavilion all looked at Tong Kecha with an expression of disbelief.This family dignitary, who has always been known for his elegant and gentle aristocratic demeanor, finally threw away his gentle coat under Xue Pan's casual provocation.

The originally handsome face was distorted by anger, and the delicate facial features lost their usual arrogance and calmness, and became a little ferocious and terrifying.A pair of hanging eyes showed a fierce light, and stared at Xue Pan viciously, as if he was a vicious dog that wanted to choose someone to eat.There is no magnanimity and generosity that a noble child should have at all.

Standing behind Xue Pan, Tu Tun and Tu Huang frowned in detail, looked at each other, and sighed softly.I'm afraid that as soon as today is over, rumors about the Guozhang Tong's family will spread throughout the capital.

At the same time, Xue Pan clasped his ears with his hands as if he didn't know what was going on, raised his head to look at the beams with a blank expression, and looked at the surrounding layout with some horror, and then he patted in relief. Patting his chest, he opened his mouth and said, "Mother, this tone is as good as the roar of the Lion in the River East. Thanks to our Fuyuan Building, we didn't cut corners when it was repaired, otherwise it would have collapsed after being shocked by the roar of your lion today." shop!"

As he said that, he patted Tian Yangsheng on the shoulder with a face full of reassurance, and said with a loud smile, "Where did you find the engineering team? They did a good job. Pass my word and send 100 taels of gold to the engineering team. Just say The second son of Guozhang Tong's family personally inspected the solidity of the project and was very satisfied. Let him continue to work hard!"

Tian Yangsheng on the side heard the words, and immediately responded with a serious bow.That look, that behavior can't be said to be serious and respectful, but this gesture always reveals a kind of narrow-mindedness, and everyone sees it, and can't help but smile.

Xue Pan nodded in satisfaction, very satisfied with Tian Yangsheng's clever cooperation.Then he smiled friendly at Tong Kecha and said, "If Second Master Tong doesn't dislike it, I have a proposal. In the future, when our Xue family completes the project, I will invite Second Master to come over and check it. But Second Master, don't worry. , with the business reputation of our Xue family, we have always agreed that we are paid according to work, and we will never let you do white work."

Looking at Tong Kecha, who was trembling with livid complexion, Xue Pan glanced at the black lacquered and gold-filled tray held by the servant with ill intentions, and said with a smile: "Check it once, and seal your 5000 taels of gold red envelope, how?"

When talking about 5000 taels of gold, Xue Pan especially emphasized his tone.The clear and crisp voice was soft and feminine with a deliberate elongation of the voice, coupled with the protruding behavior of looking at the silver taels on the tray from time to time, Tu Huang couldn't help laughing out anymore.

With his smile, the customers in the lobby who were suppressing their laughter couldn't help laughing too.For a moment, everyone roared with laughter, and the laughter resounded through the sky in an instant.The chariots and horses guarding outside and the servants of Beppu poked their heads and looked inside curiously, secretly guessing what everyone saw so that they could laugh so happily.

At the same time, Tong Kecha, who was teased wantonly by Xue Pan, had completely turned black.He knew that no matter how difficult it was to talk about Xue Pan, he didn't bother him anymore.He just glanced at Tu Huang and Tu Bian with embarrassment.With this glance, he naturally recognized the identities of the two princes.Guessing that Xue Pan's previous words, especially the part about empress dowager and empress, were likely to be heard by the two princes standing behind Xue Pan, Tong Kecha's face became even more gloomy.He sized up the two lords recklessly, with secretive eyes.

Seeing this, Tu Huang and Tu Chou didn't pay much attention.Let alone whether their mother and concubine and the queen mother are right or not, since the two princes went through Xue Pan's way and surrendered to Tu Zhen a few years ago, the world has dragged them into the camp of Xue's family.Moreover, the Xue family's bidding meeting was launched today, and the two borrowers did indeed accept Xue Pan's invitation to come to support the venue.So far, the two who have been going smoothly have no intention of turning back.Naturally, the Tong family, who had an enmity with the Xue family, would not be so polite.

This is a matter of position, and it's not that they look down on Tongjia or Tongkecha just by borrowing two people.

Therefore, the two of them just nodded reservedly at Tong Kecha, their expressions alienated and indifferent.But Tuju smiled at Xue Pan: "It's getting late, you and Young Master Tong have been chatting away for half a day, but you are very cheerful, carefully delaying the serious business of the bid opening meeting."

The utterance of this sentence can be regarded as a faint reminder of Xue Pan's other plans, which quickly forced the Tong family to jump over the wall, delaying the main business.Although the stand was on the side of Xue's family, it was secretly helping Tong Kecha out of an embarrassment.

After all, the Tong family is the mother's family of the Empress Dowager, and can be regarded as the royal family of the Yong Dynasty.Tong Kecha behaved so embarrassingly today, although it was his own fault, but it also lost the face of the royal family.As a direct descendant of the Great Yong Dynasty, naturally he couldn't sit idly by.

Xue Pan glanced at Tu Tun appreciatively.No wonder the world praises Prince Zhonglian for his long sleeves, good at dancing, and exquisite appearance.Just this sentence, its exquisite mind can be seen.

But the frustrated Tong Kecha didn't think so.Empress Dowager Tong was at odds with Concubine Yi and the others.This is pretty much a well-known fact.At this moment, he borrowed two and blatantly sided with Xue's family to fight against him.Because of Concubine Yi's natal family's power, Tong Kecha didn't dare to do anything to Tu Huang.However, it is not so polite to face the fact that the influence of the foreign family is equal to zero, and he has been tossed and tossed by the emperor's disdain, and has been suppressed several times in succession, and even the prince's family status cannot be preserved.

He looked at him with disdain, and said with a quick sneer, "Prince Zhonglian has always prided himself on being a noble gentleman, why did he forget the rules this time, and he also learned the tricks of a scumbag? I don't know how a gentleman behaves, is it inappropriate to listen to it, or to look at it inappropriately? Or...Prince Zhonglian is originally a mediocre person who is chasing fame and fortune?"

After a pause, he said in a tone of sudden realization: "That's no wonder. After all, the emperor once said that Prince Zhonglian has no king and no father. He has a cunning personality and a traitorous nature. It seems that the emperor's eyes are still very bright. "

As soon as this remark came out, not to mention Xue Pan and Tu Huang, who were not very good-tempered, even Tu Teng, who was always gentle and amiable, couldn't help but sink his face, and looked at Tong Kecha with cold eyes.

As the saying goes, do not expose your faults when you swear, and do not slap people in the face when you hit them.Being deprived of the prince's ancestry is the most taboo thing in Tu Chou's life.At this moment, it was publicized by Tong Kecha in public.Looking at the people around him suddenly shrinking their heads, avoiding them in fear.A wave of anger rose from the bottom of my heart.However, because of his natural forbearance, even if he was unhappy, the upbringing of the nobles all the year round would not allow him to yell like a shrew.It's just that the smile on his face could no longer be maintained, and he stood aside with his hands clasped behind his back, his eyes flickering.

Tu Huang became angry on the spot, pointing at Tong Kecha's nose and cursing: "I'll fuck you, a coward who eats soft food, you are such an unworthy thing, you dare to point fingers at men's behavior. Don't say that men stand What are you doing here, just listen to your words, let me see how you handle the crimes committed next time!"

Xue Pan also lost his smile for the first time.Looking at Tong Kecha with sarcasm and disdain, he taunted without hesitation: "Tong Kecha, you can be regarded as the son of a family in Beijing after all, if you can't say it, just admit it. If you lose openly, you are considered a man. Why do you gossip about others like a woman cursing the street? Besides, what is your status? Prince Zhonglian is the Prince of Dayong, let alone what crime you committed from a mere sixth-rank official Yu Yin, even if In view of the fact that Prince Zhonglian has worked so hard for the court for so many years, there is no reason for him to be taught a lesson by you, a dude?"

After a pause, he said again: "As expected of the family of the head of the country, which relies on women to establish the world, it also behaves like a woman, messing around and messing around. It's not cheerful at all." Tong Kecha heard it in his ears. , snorted twice disapprovingly.It's not like he did it once or twice to borrow the apprentice as a raft.Tuju's biological mother, Yang Shi, was originally a maidservant of the lowest status, but she was very outstanding in appearance and gentle and docile in character, which was why she was favored by the emperor for once.But later, Yang became pregnant, but the emperor felt that Yang's status was too humble, so he didn't like the newly born apprentice.As a result, when he was a child, Tu Tun was stared at in the palace, even ordinary decent court ladies and eunuchs could treat Tu Ting with contempt, let alone Tong Kecha, one of the most promising direct descendants of the Tong family, the head of the country?

Therefore, when Tong Kecha was a companion to the prince, he often insulted this taciturn and docile student. Even if he became famous later, Tong Kecha relied on his own power and did not pay much attention to him. inside.What's more, Tuju was completely disgusted by the emperor later.

Therefore, while Tong Kecha was in embarrassment today, it was only natural that he subconsciously vented his anger with an excuse.

But Tu Huang is different.Tu Huang's mother and concubine is Taifei Niu, who has a sharp personality and speaks quickly. Even in the harem's intriguing circle, she is very popular, and everyone praises her.In addition to his clever means, his family power is naturally as bullish as his surname.Although Concubine Yi's rank is not as high as that of Empress Dowager Tong, the three older brothers in Concubine Yi's family are all high officials in the frontier that the emperor relies on.Although these brothers are usually silent, they are very low-key.But no one in the palace would really take these three gourd-like mountains seriously.Therefore, even if the Tong family had the support of the Queen Mother Tong, they would not dare to go too far with the Niu family, whose family power can be called solid.

The reasons are tortuous and long-winded, and naturally Xue Pan, a purse minister who only cares about money, can understand.It's just that no matter how you say it, Xue Pan invited him here, and Tong Kecha abused him like this, so he naturally couldn't hold back his face.Immediately waved his hand, and commanded with a cold expression: "It seems that Mr. Tong is clearly here to find fault. Well, although I am not afraid of you, I don't need to stir up a pot of good soup for a rat droppings. Come on, Drive Ergong Tong out to me, and throw out these boxes intact."

Tian Yangsheng and the others next to him immediately said yes, stretched out their palms and struck twice, and immediately a group of ten men with big arms and round waists came out from the lobby, and without saying a word, inserted everyone from the Tong family including Tong Kecha.

Tong Kecha was held up with his feet off the ground by two rude men, as if he was about to throw himself out.Can't help but feel a little flustered.Immediately opened his mouth and shouted: "Xue Pan, don't you dare, I paid the entrance fee——"

Xue Pan said coldly: "Throw out the 5000 taels of gold too, our Xue family does not lack these two coins."

Seeing this, Tong Kecha couldn't help but panic even more.This is a bright day and a big crowd, if he is really thrown out of the Fuyuan Pavilion by the servants of the Xue family, he will have no face to hang out in the capital from now on.

The people waiting in the lobby were also quite startled, they quickly stood up and looked at this side, all of them quietly did not say a word.

The situation took a turn for the worse, and Tong Kecha couldn't bear it anymore and said softly: "Forget that I offended Prince Zhonglian by a slip of the tongue, Tong Kecha is here to make amends. Xue Pan, the aristocratic families in Beijing have always treated each other with courtesy. , are you really going to tear yourself apart with our Tong family? Aren't you afraid that the Queen Mother Fengyan will be furious?"

"Wait a minute!"

Everyone followed the prestige, but saw that the one who spoke was Prince Zhonglian who was also shot while lying down.

Tu borrowed his thoughts, and said with the corners of his lips curled slightly: "Today is the first time Xue's family held a bidding meeting. According to the rules of merchants who greet and send money to make money, it is natural that the visitor is a guest. How can Pan'er do it for Xiao Wang?" Broken the rules of your Xue family. Since Second Young Master Tong spent money to buy tickets, he can naturally enter the door to participate. If not, let him go out and spread the word, saying that the rules set by the imperial merchant Xue family are nothing more than the same, as long as If I offend you, there will be no so-called fairness and rules at all. At that time, it will be reported that the Xue family has no rules and no distance, wouldn't it be Xiao Wang's crime?"

Xue Pan sneered at the words of the borrower, he curled his lips disapprovingly, and said: "The rules established by our Xue family are naturally implemented on the premise that our Xue family looks pleasing to the eye and behaves comfortably. Otherwise, all provocative and hostile families will run away. When you come to me, you want to be fair, you want benefits, and you still have an attitude that I look down on you and I look down on you. I am full and talk to him about fairness. In a word, when dealing with friends, we talk about rules. When dealing with enemies, What we say is that the big fist is the last word."

Saying that, he gave Tong Kecha a contemptuous look, and said, "Don't apply those hypocritical and polite hypocrites to me. In front of our Xue family, all living beings are divided into two types—friends, enemy."

"When friends come, there are fine wines, and when enemies come, there are cannons. If you are not convinced, come up and try. I won't let you know why the flowers are so popular. I'll take your surname."

After finishing speaking, he waved his hands and said impatiently: "What are you doing in a daze, don't throw it out for me."

What my uncle said was "throw it away", so the guards who took people's money naturally obeyed.When Dang Shi tried his best to turn the Tong family members around twice, he was about to let go when Tong Kecha screamed like a young woman raped by mobs: "Xue Pan, you dare, I am the second son of the Tong family. An official from the sixth rank. If you treat me like this, the Empress Dowager will definitely not spare you—"

"Wait a minute!"

Xue Pan rolled his eyes helplessly, looked at the apprentice who called to stop again and waved his arms, a group of servants immediately stabilized the bodies of the Tong family members, turned their heads and looked at Xue Pan with burning eyes - if there is anything to say, you can't hold back After finishing talking, it's tiring to always beat people like this.

Seeing the righteous appearance of Xue family members, Tuju almost laughed out loud.He cleared his throat, calmed down his emotions, and then said: "Don't look at the monk's face and look at the Buddha's face, even if it is for the empress dowager's sake, please think twice."

As he said that, he leaned closer to Xue Pan's ear and whispered: "I see that your previous attitude seems to have buried a lot of holes for the Tong family to jump. Now you have easily let the Tong family go, and you have to Wouldn't it be a pity to take the risk of ruining Xue Pan's reputation?"

Xue Pan looked at Tu Teng with disdain.He said that he didn't really look like a kind person like a saint.Sure enough, this kid is full of bad water!

Very much to my liking.

Xue Pan looked at Tu Tun with a smile, waved his hand and said, "Put him down."

A pair of feet finally set foot on the ground from mid-air, Tong Kecha still felt a little terrified.He swallowed reluctantly, and licked his lips dryly.Walking up to Xue Pan frivolously, he said tremblingly, "You, you..."

Xue Pan smiled lightly: "Point at me again, and I'll break it for you."

Tong Kecha quickly withdrew his arm, glanced at the sneer in Xue Pan's eyes, and said angrily, "Xue Pan, my Tong family came to participate in the tender held by your Xue family this time, and everything I said and did was true. It conforms to the rules of your Xue family. Now you are so insulted by your Xue family. You not only insulted my Tong family, but even the face of the empress dowager and empress in the palace was swept away by you. Today If you don't give me an explanation, even if you sue the emperor, my Tong family will not hesitate."

Xue Pan chuckled and was about to speak.Tian Wenjing, who was in charge of the bidding process, stepped forward and whispered something in Xue Pan's ear.Xue Pan frowned, glanced regretfully at a big wall clock hanging in the middle of the lobby, and said solemnly: "In the opinion of Second Young Master Tong, how should we deal with this matter?"

Tong Kecha only saw Tu Tun mentioning the empress dowager, Xue Pan put himself down.Naturally, no matter how arrogant Xue Pan is, he still has scruples about Queen Mother Tong.Immediately puffed out her chest proudly, raised her head and said, "Naturally, you have to apologize to me. Otherwise, I will sue the Queen Mother tonight."

Tong Kecha deliberately raised his voice when he said this, so many people in the lobby and people in the private rooms with open doors on the second and third floors naturally heard this sentence.In a private room facing the lobby on the second floor, an elegant middle-aged man frowned dissatisfiedly, and a fair-skinned man next to his age stroked his beard, as if carelessly He laughed and said, "This Tong family... has been arrogant for too long."

The middle-aged man with elegant temperament nodded silently and did not speak.

Xue Pan didn't have time to pay attention to what everyone was thinking after hearing this, Tian Wenjing just stepped forward to remind him that the time for the bidding meeting is coming soon.In order to avoid delaying the auspicious time, Xue Pan did not want to continue to entangle with Tong Kecha.After all, there are tens of thousands of people present waiting to do business!

However, Xue Pan had to temporarily let Tong Kecha go for the smooth progress of the bidding meeting, but Xue Pan would not let Tong Kecha get too proud, so looking at the arrogant Tong Kecha in front of him, Xue Pan asked again with a smile : "Apologize, are you sure?"

This time Tong Kecha raised his head higher and higher, he didn't even look at Xue Pan, and replied softly: "En!"

Xue Pan hooked the corners of his mouth, and then walked three steps away from the front of Tong Kecha with a serious face, and said seriously: "Second Master Tong, this disturbance is really because my Xue family has to forgive others, it's too much." To be honest, you don’t understand hypocrisy and politeness, so that your Tong family’s reputation has been ruined. But the ruined reputation can’t come again, please be sorry.”

As soon as the sentence was finished, Zhaocai on the side immediately sang loudly: "One bow——"

Xue Pan bowed straightly to Tong Kecha, the ninety-degree gift was as sincere as it could be.

Tong Kecha curled the corners of his mouth proudly, and was about to speak.I heard Zhaocai continue to sing: "Two bows——"

"Three bows—"

"Incense!"

Sure enough, a young servant came up with a tray filled with black lacquer and gold.On the tray is an exquisite pin gold incense burner, and three sticks of incense are placed beside it.

Tong Kecha pointed at Xue Pan with trembling fingers, almost holding back his anger.

Even Tu Tun and Tu Huang, who were equally angry, couldn't help covering their cheeks with their raised hands.Not to mention the many merchants in the lobby.Everyone held their stomachs and wanted to laugh, but they were afraid of the power of the Tong family and dared not laugh out loud, not to mention how uncomfortable it was.

But everyone cheered in their hearts, just watching this scene, even if there is no gain in today's bidding meeting, it is still worth it.

These 50 taels of admission tickets were indeed not in vain.

Even the two men in the private room on the second floor couldn't sit still and went to the railing to look down, and whispered, "This Xue Pan...is really cramped!"

Let's talk about Xue Pansan bowing, and then looked back at the big wall clock on the wall.Sure enough, the time is coming.At the moment, he didn't have the heart to continue chatting with Tong Kecha, so he casually ordered a boy to take Tong Kecha to sit in the lobby, and he led Tu and Tuhuang to the Tingtao Pavilion on the second floor.When passing by the corridor, I happened to meet two elegant men leaning over to watch the excitement.Tu Ju and Tu Huang shouted in surprise: "Uncle Three, Uncle Four?"

Xue Pan glanced at Tu Tun inexplicably, and Tu Tun immediately introduced, "This is my third uncle, Prince Zhongyu, and my fourth uncle, Prince Zhongli."

Then he introduced to the two emperor uncles: "This is the young master Xue Pan who is loyal to the Hou family."

Hearing this, Xue Pan immediately stepped forward to salute and bow, and then heard Tong Kecha downstairs shouting sadly like a young woman raped by thugs: "Xue Pan, you are too deceitful!"