The Royal Merchant of the Red Chamber

A few days later, it was the celebration of the eighties of Jia Mu in Rongguo Mansion.Xue Pan's family are relatives and friends, so they naturally want to pay a birthday visit.

On that day, several people from Zhongxinhou's residence dressed neatly and rushed to Ningrong Second Residence in a carriage.When we arrived at Ningrong Street, the males got off the car in front of the gate of Ningguo Mansion, and the female relatives got off the sedan chair in the courtyard of Rongguo Mansion. Inside, the banquets and theatrical stage had been set up for a long time. The atmosphere was very hot for a while.

Jia Zhen took Jia Rong to the door and invited Xue's father and son inside. At that time, the four princes with different surnames and many princes and concubines had already arrived.Seeing Shi Shiran, father and son of the Xue family, coming up to the hall, he immediately smiled and came over to greet him.The father and son of the Lin family, who arrived one step earlier, also followed Jia Zhen and came up. Just as they were about to speak, the king of Nan'an County smiled and said indifferently: "It's been a while since I haven't seen you. The young master's life is getting better and better. It's just that I don’t know if you still remember those soldiers in the army back then? Now you are enjoying wealth and wealth in Beijing, while those soldiers of the same battalion are fighting on the battlefield. The changes in the world are really embarrassing.”

Xue Pan looked suspiciously at King Nan'an, wondering what he meant by saying this.

"The king of Nan'an's words are serious. I was originally a mediocre dude, relying on the favor of my parents and the favor of the emperor to run amok in the world. This is not a secret in Beijing. Why did the king of Nan'an say this today? Is there a strong acidity in it?"

The King of Nan'an laughed lightly, shook his head and said: "It's just a little bit of emotion. I haven't seen you for a few years, and the young master has not made an inch of merit and has already become a second-rank official. However, many heroes and warriors fought on the battlefield and risked their lives, but they still can't get a rank. Little official, it really is out of date!"

Hearing this, everyone looked at Xue Pan with strange eyes.The Holy Majesty personally named Xue Pan as Prince Shaofu, a second-rank official title.It's no secret.There are people in Beijing who are envious and jealous, but there are very few people who speak so bluntly to the King of Nan'an.

Xue Pan narrowed his eyes slightly, looked at the King of Nan'an County for a long time, and said with a smirk: "My lord's words really chilled me. Let alone other things, the reason why you were able to successfully form the artillery battalion back then was all because of me, Xue Pan. The money in the purse. Why did you forget it in a blink of an eye?"

As he said that, Xue Pan gave Nan'an County King a malicious look, and said pointedly: "This kind of behavior of the prince really reminds me of the fans who sell laughter on Zhangtai Street. They also coaxed gentlemen in every possible way when they didn't pay. , After getting the money, he immediately turned his face and refused to recognize anyone. The speed at which the prince changed his face is similar to that of these fans."

The gentle smile on Nan'an County King's face froze, he took a deep look at Xue Pan, and said with a cold smile: "Young Master still has sharp teeth and a sharp mouth, so eloquent."

Xue Pan also looked back at the King of Nan'an, snorted, and said with a smirk: "The face of the King of Nan'an is still the same!"

"How can it be as good as the young master." Nan'an County King replied tit for tat, seeing that Xue Pan still had the desire to speak sarcasm.Immediately changed the subject and asked: "I heard that the young master came up with a name for industrial and commercial miscellaneous taxes, which helped the court to collect a lot of taxes. No wonder the world travels through the young master. He is the little god of wealth who turns stone into gold. Seeing it now, it's really amazing!"

Dare to ridicule me for setting up a name and oppressing the common people?

Xue Pan glanced at King Nan'an, and the sharpness in his eyes was ready to come out. "My lord fights against the barbarians on the coast of the West Sea every year. It's like a prostitute visiting a brothel. It's a natural habit. But I don't think that wars cost money. If the court didn't think of ways to increase revenue and reduce expenditure, do you think that you are born with your own money? With a single 'gun', can the barbarians be repelled, and they will no longer invade my Dayong land?"

When everyone heard Xue Pan's colorful words, they couldn't help laughing out loud.Looking at Nan'an Junwang's eyes became more and more strange.

King Beijing shook his head.People in Beijing all know that Xue Pan of Zhongxinhou's Mansion has sharp teeth and a sharp mouth, and he doesn't shy away from meat and vegetables when speaking.He used to be a little skeptical.Seeing him today, it seems that Xue Pan's sharpness is not smoothed by the world, but that over the years, he has never met someone like Nan'an County King who made him sharp.

Thinking of this, the king of Beijing County hooked the corners of his mouth, took a step forward, interrupted the smoky conversation between the two, and said with a smile: "I haven't seen you for a few years, but the words of the young master have become more and more sharp. Let Xiao Wang I vaguely think of the past. If you don’t give up, let’s find a day to get together and have a drink.”

After a pause, he teased Xue Pan again and said, "It's just that the young master's drinking capacity will not be the same as before - just pour three glasses?"

Xue Pan turned his head, looked at the King of Jing in front of him, frowned, and said with a smile, "Where are you going, how about getting drunk with money?"

The King of Beijing deliberately glanced at Lin Mozhi who was sitting beside him, shook his head and said, "No, no, this king is a gentleman, how can he go to such a place?"

Xue Pan and Lin Mozhi looked at each other, and said with a smile, "Unexpectedly, after seeing each other for a few years, the prince has changed his temper and wanted to be a gentleman. Could it be that you still want to be Liu Xiahui?"

As Xue Pan said, he smiled and said: "I heard that the Prince of Beijing Jing dismissed all the concubines in the mansion in order to marry the younger sister of the Lin family. Now the day of engagement is coming soon, when I I want to go to your house with Mo Zhier for inspection."

King Beijing glanced at King Nan'an, laughed loudly and said, "Follow the young master's wishes. At that time, the door of Xiao Wang's house will be opened wide, and welcome the young master."

"Don't make it sound right now, I'll have to check it myself when the time comes." Xue Pan said, then smiled at Dongping County King next to King Beijing, "How is Sister Zhen recently?"

"Of course it's good, but I always talk about you and Baoyu. I always tell me that the child is old and I don't know how to visit my sister, so she wants to know some information about you and has to ask others." Dongping The king of the county said while looking at Zhen Baoyu beside him and said with a smile: "See if you have time to go to the mansion to see your sister. I have loved you for nothing for so many years."

Zhen Baoyu begged for mercy with a smile on his hands, "Isn't there a lot of court affairs?"

"No matter how many matters there are in the court, the Holy Majesty has given you a day to rest." Dongping County King said, reaching out and knocking Zhen Baoyu a chestnut. "Don't use the matter of the court to evade it, don't I know what the court has every day?"

Zhen Baoyu covered his forehead and smiled.Winking and making faces at Xue Pan.

Xue Pan also responded with a big smile, and exchanged greetings with the rest of the hall, and then got up with Zhen Baoyu and Lin Mozhi and walked out of the hall.

In the golden autumn, the sky is bright and the air is clear, the wind is high and the clouds are light.Xue Pan stood on the porch, holding a kumquat that was brought along from the table in his hand, and while peeling the skin, he asked Zhen Baoyu, "I haven't seen you for a while, what have you been up to lately?"

"I am a writer in the Imperial Academy. What else can I do besides drafting some documents and edicts on weekdays?" Zhen Baoyu shrugged his shoulders and said, "On the contrary, you are so busy that you don't even see anyone. I heard that you You have been living in the palace for a few days. The Holy Majesty specially granted you the Nuan Pavilion in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. But is this really the case?"

Xue Pan nodded, and said uncomfortably, "Let me be the prince's young master, playing around with the two Douding every day."

Lin Mozhi heard the words, glanced at Xue Pan who was blushing, and showed a tacit smile.

Zhen Baoyu looked at Xue Pan's slightly swaying appearance, and smiled lightly: "This is a good job. Now the ministers in the court are rumoring that the emperor intends to train the two princes, and at this juncture, you can become the prince's young master, so it can be seen Holy Grace."

As he spoke, he looked at Lin Mozhi with admiration, and said, "What I admire more is the brother of the Lin family, who served as the crown prince and tutor at a young age. He even got the unanimous approval of the old ministers of the court. .The reputation of Lin’s elder brother’s profound knowledge has spread throughout the government and the public.”

Lin Mozhi shook his head and smiled softly: "I'm just a small Hanlin scholar, how can I catch their eyes. They are all looking at my master's face, so it's not easy to make arrangements for me."

"Brother Lin's family is too modest. Your deeds of being the number one scholar in the three subjects have already spread throughout the north and south of the river, becoming a model for all scholars in the Yong Dynasty. Who among the students entering school today has never heard of Lin Mozhi's name? So let the brother of the Lin family do it." Prince Taifu, definitely lives up to his name."

Lin Mozhi shook his head and stopped talking.

Xue Pan casually threw the orange peel in his hand into a flowerpot placed beside him, and changed the subject: "By the way, you are writing in the Imperial Academy. Do you know what the court has done recently?"

Zhen Baoyu shook his head disapprovingly, and said softly: "It's like this every year, what new moves can there be?"

After a pause, he opened his mouth and said, "There is one thing related to Nan'an County King. The Holy One has approved the Nan'an County King's invitation to fight, and he plans to let the prince return to Xihai Yanzi to lead the navy in two months!"

Speaking of this, Zhen Baoyu asked suspiciously again: "I really don't know what medicine the king of Nan'an took wrongly today, why would he deliberately stop you to find fault."

Xue Pan chuckled softly in his heart, and said secretly: "What reason can I have, I think the time is ripe, and today is not what it used to be, and my status is incredible!"

It's just that this kind of thing can't be said to Zhen Baoyu.Therefore, Xue Pan could only shake his head pretending to be blank, and said in bewilderment, "I don't know either."

Lin Mozhi looked at Xue Pan's excellent singing and acting, and couldn't help but shook his head again.But he also greeted him and said: "In the past few years, Pan'er has had no contact with the Nan'an County Prince's Mansion. Who knows what the Nan'an County Prince's fuss is about?"

Zhen Baoyu believed it was true, shook his head and sighed: "In short, the king of Nan'an County holds the military power, and the Holy Majesty relies on him very much now. You should avoid it if you can, don't care about it like him."

As he spoke, he persuaded him earnestly and earnestly: "A good man doesn't suffer from immediate losses."

Xue Pan nodded, expressing his understanding.

Zhen Baoyu continued: "However, Uncle Xue is now in charge of the preparations for the army's food and grass logistics. I think the Nan'an County King will not make things difficult for you. When the Nan'an County King goes to Xihai Yanzi with the army next month, you will not be afraid. .”

Xue Pan felt contempt for Nan'an County King's actions in his heart, but said calmly on his face, "Are we going to fight again?"

"Isn't it!" Zhen Baoyu sighed, and said a little irritably: "Those old men who are neither human nor ghost have to come to Xihaiyanzi to make trouble every year. It's nothing new. "

"That's true." Xue Pan agreed casually, and said leisurely: "Every year along the West Sea, there is a war, and every year the king of Nan'an County is sent to supervise the battle. In my opinion, the king of Nan'an County is not very good. Otherwise, I would have been afraid of beating the barbarians, so why would it be so troublesome like it is now?"

Before he could finish a sentence, someone behind him laughed and said: "Young Master's words are wrong. Xiao Wang dare not agree."

Xue Pan frowned, looked back at the Nan'an County King with a relaxed face, and said, "Nan'an County King's tutor listens to the corner behind others' backs, and then interrupts at will?"

The King of Nan'an laughed dumbfounded, and said softly: "Young Master has a very strong prejudice against this King."

Xue Pan snorted coldly, and said, "I've said it many times. I'm not prejudiced against you, but a prejudice."

Speaking of this, Xue Pan scratched his head pretending to have a headache, and said with a troubled face: "I said, can you stop hanging around me all the time. Every time I see your face, I feel upset, and I really want to beat you up." people."

"But Young Master is definitely not the king's opponent." Nan'an County King shrugged like Xue Pan, and the words in his mouth became more and more unbearable.

Xue Pan frowned and glared at Nan'an County King, then took Zhen Baoyu's hand and walked towards the backyard with Lin Mozhi.

Today, all the prominent female family members in the mansion went to Rongguo Mansion to entertain guests, and Ningguo Mansion seemed a little deserted for a while.In the golden autumn of August, chrysanthemums are in full bloom.Xue Pan, Zhen Baoyu, and Lin Mozhi randomly found a gazebo and sat down, looking at the chrysanthemums everywhere, feeling refreshed.

"You still don't like to chat with people, even if you are attending a banquet at someone else's house, you have to be lazy and run out." Zhen Baoyu shook his head and sighed with nostalgia, and said softly: "I still remember when we were in Jinling, every year at home When setting up a banquet or attending a banquet, you dragged me out of the lobby like today. Then wait until the banquet is almost over before going back."

Zhen Baoyu said, looking seriously at Xue Pan in front of him, and sighed: "After so many years, you haven't changed at all."

Xue Pan raised his eyebrows in dissatisfaction.He opened his mouth to retort: ​​"How can there be no change? People live in this world, there are changes every minute, how can I be an exception?"

Seeing this, Zhen Baoyu couldn't help chuckling and said, "Yes, you have become more arrogant and unruly."

As he spoke, he stretched out his hand and tugged at Xue Pan's ear, persuading him, "With Uncle Xue and His Majesty backing you, you are paying less attention to others now. What kind of person is the king of Nan'an County holding the military power? How dare you do that?" Don't give him face. Be careful of him looking for you behind your back."

"I'm afraid of him?" Xue Pan curled his lips in disdain, "It's just a prince with a different surname who has no ability to speak face to face, but only knows how to do things secretly. I was not afraid of him when I first came to Beijing, and I am not afraid of him now. Afraid of him."

As he said that, Xue Pan raised his head arrogantly, and snorted: "Now my father is in charge of the army's logistics, and he is in charge of all the food, grass and military preparations. If he dares to provoke me, I will pester my father and not give him enough money." Liangcao, what do I think he should do?"

Zhen Baoyu was dumbfounded, "The more you talk, the less there is a charter. War is such an important matter, how can you allow you to play house like a child, and do whatever you want?"

As he said that, he couldn't help but said in a long-winded way: "You should be quiet, don't let Uncle Xue be scolded by the world for your own selfishness."

Xue Pan waved his hand casually, and said casually: "That's all I said, and you take it seriously. Don't you think the king of Nan'an County really dares to mess with me?"

While the two were talking, Jia Rong from the Ningguo Mansion hurried over, arrived in front of the two, bowed and smiled and said, "Greetings to the two little uncles. My father said, please follow me and wait." The Rongguo Mansion kowtows to the old lady."

When Xue Pan heard the words, he immediately got up and followed Jia Rong to Rongguo Mansion.

When everyone arrived at Rongguo Mansion, they found that all the juniors had arrived.They are kowtowing to Jia Mu sitting at the top row by row.Mother Jia smiled today and said hello again and again.Except for looking out of the mansion from time to time, with a somewhat absent-minded expression, the rest are fine.

Xue Pan's heart darkened, and he naturally knew that Jia's mother missed Jia Baoyu.It's a pity that Jia Baoyu is in Yunnan, so he may not be able to make it back.

When Xue Pan and Xue Pan arrived, they took a step forward and stood side by side three steps away from Jia's mother. They bowed and said, "Greetings to the old lady. May the old lady be as happy as the East China Sea and live longer than Nanshan."

When Jia Mu heard this, she got up and helped the two of them up, and said with a smile: "Okay, okay. You guys can play as you like, don't be cautious."

Xue Pan bowed his head three times in response.

I heard someone next to me say: "You are Xue Pan from Zhongxinhou's Mansion?"

There was an indescribable hostility and disgust in his tone.Xue Pan was dumbfounded, and looked up at the man.However, he saw that the man was wearing a standard imperial concubine-level palace attire, with a phoenix flying in the sky and golden steps on his head, his face was indifferent, and his expression was arrogant and indifferent.

Jia Mu immediately said, "This is Princess Nan'an."

Suddenly, Xue Pan pulled Lin Mozhi and the two of them down the hall without paying attention.

But Concubine Nan'an snorted dissatisfiedly, and said, "This is the tutor of the Zhongxinhou's Mansion? It really is a merchant pariah, very unreasonable."

Xue Pan raised his eyebrows and scolded Concubine Nan'an, "Are you out of your mind?"

As soon as this remark came out, everyone was shocked.Everyone in the hall immediately stared at Xue Pan dumbfounded, speechless.

Concubine Nan'an was trembling with anger, pointing at Xue Pan and said, "You are so brave, what is your identity, to talk to me like this..."

"What kind of person do you think you are to dare to talk to me like that?" Xue Pan waved his hand impatiently, "I ignore you because you are old and give you some face. I really thought I was afraid How are you? Besides, if you don’t have a tutor, I don’t know who raised you, a vulgar person who speaks wild words but has no manners or knowledge at all. Thanks to you, you are still a dignified concubine. Openly provoking and spoiling the situation at the Xun birthday banquet, where is the majesty of the royal family? Sure enough, people with different bloodlines have different qualities. Even if you occupy the seat of "Wang Taifei", what else would you do besides barking around to express dissatisfaction? ?”

Concubine Nan'an heard the words, her eyes were cracking with hatred, her teeth were itchy, she suppressed her anger and said in a cold voice: "Sure enough, you are an uneducated person. The old lady of Rongguo Mansion is also considered your elder. You are so domineering, in front of her At his birthday banquet, he made a fuss—"

Xue Pan glanced contemptuously at the ashen-faced Concubine Nan'an, curled his lips and said, "That's exactly what you said. You think you're spitting on me at someone else's birthday banquet, so I'll give you three points and eat it." A secret loss? You don’t even look at whether you have the capital. If you are shameless, don’t think about relying on others not to give you face. Don’t say that today is the old lady’s birthday banquet, even if it is the empress dowager’s birthday banquet. , I will never leave you for a moment."

Xue Pan suddenly sneered when he said this: "Back then I was able to make a big fuss in Nan'an Palace because I didn't pay attention to you. Today is the birthday of the old lady of Rongguo Mansion. I didn't want to make trouble. But if you insist on not wanting to In terms of face, I don't mind rubbing your hands twice."