The Royal Merchant of the Red Chamber

Because of the Youshi two sisters, the atmosphere at the end of the meal was a bit dull and gloomy.Liu Xianglian somehow thought of his future with Yun'er.In fact, there was one sentence that he didn't say out of his mouth.That is, although he doesn't like Third Sister You's behavior, but in a certain way, this Third Sister You is somewhat similar to Yun'er.Both women have experienced men's teasing and the injustice of the world, but Third Sister You doesn't have Yun'er's tenacity and austerity, nor is Yun'er as lucky to know Xue Pan, a noble person who can help her change her destiny.That's why Yun'er was able to crawl and roll in the mud and finally landed by herself, but Third Sister You had to sink and corrupt in the mud of the world, and finally wiped out all the edges and corners of her body, and became rotten like a haggard wood.

Thinking of this, Liu Xianglian felt more and more fond of Yun'er.

And Jia Baoyu was even more self-conscious, and became more and more boring.After all, the tragic experience of the two sisters of the You family was caused by the men of Jia's mansion, and now the decline and decline of Rongning and Ning's second mansions are in sight.Even if the centipede is dead but not stiff, there are still eggs in the nest.This kind of cognition made him feel more urgent to plan the future.

Seeing the two people at the table suddenly quiet down, Xue Pan twisted his body uncomfortably, opened his mouth to break the suffocating silence, and asked with a smile: "By the way, how long can you stay in Beijing this time? Are you in a hurry to go back to Yunnan?"

Jia Baoyu came back to his senses, looked at Xue Pan and said with a smile: "It's almost the Mid-Autumn Festival. It's the day of family reunion. My master has been transferred to a foreign post, and it's hard to come back. I just worry about it, and I won't say anything." I can't leave at this moment. So I'm going to wait until the Mid-Autumn Festival is over before talking about other things!"

Xue Pan nodded and said with a teasing smile, "I just don't know if the one from Yunnan will wait so hard."

A blush suddenly appeared on Jia Bao's jade-like spring face, he glanced at Xue Pan with some embarrassment, lowered his head and did not answer.

Xue Pan laughed secretly in his heart, but he didn't continue to tease Jia Baoyu because he was worried about Jia Baoyu's low face.He just said with some regret: "Back then we were the best friends, wishing we could hang out together every day, as if we were inseparable as if we were alone. But now people are scattered around, and if we want to find a day to get together, we can't Easy."

Hearing this, Jia Baoyu sighed softly, and said with some regret: "Yes, in a short while, the big guys also dispersed, and went their separate ways. I don't know what happened earlier, when sisters, sisters, brothers and brothers gathered together. Sooner or later the days of playfulness will come back."

As he spoke, he shook his head bitterly, and sighed in a low voice: "I'm afraid that in this life..."

"It can last a lifetime." Seeing Jia Baoyu becoming obsessed again, Xue Pan quickly interrupted him, and persuaded him with a smile, "Don't think too much, in my opinion, as long as you have the heart We are close, even if we are scattered, it is as if we are together every day. If the heart is not close, even if we are together every day, what is the use of being in harmony with each other?"

Hearing Xue Pan's words, Jia Baoyu said with some emotion: "Brother, what you said is right, but I'm thinking about it myself. As long as we are close in heart, everyone's life will be better than before, so what's the point?" What about the sad ones?"

As he spoke, he glanced at everyone shyly, and rubbed his head in embarrassment. "When I came back this time, I heard from my ancestors that the second elder sister had already settled for someone else, and it was the Eldest Master himself. I'm afraid she will get married in less than a year or so. I was a little confused just now when I heard this letter. Just a few more words of exclamation."

Before Jia Baoyu could finish his sentence, Liu Xianglian asked curiously, "Why did you marry him so quietly? Which family did you match?"

Jia Baoyu sighed softly: "I don't know too well, I just heard that the old lady vaguely said that her husband's surname is Sun. I heard that my ancestor is from Datong Prefecture, and he has inherited the favor from our family earlier. Disciples can be regarded as family friends. Now, there is only one person in their family in Beijing, and his name is Sun Shaozu, who is currently in charge of the command. He was born at the age of about [-] years, looks burly, and I heard that he is also very skilled in bow and horse. Now there is a lack of promotion in the east."

Xue Pan's heart skipped a beat, but he said calmly: "It's this person, I have some impressions. If you talk about talent and ability, this person has some. But I heard the rumors in the world that this Sun Shaozu likes sex, The entertainment is flexible, and the temperament is very shameful. Although the family background is still matched, I am afraid that Er Yatou's wooden temper will not be able to subdue him. Why did your family choose such a person for Er Yatou? Could there be nothing better? Is it?"

Jia Baoyu shook his head helplessly, and sighed: "The old ancestor said the same thing. It's just that the old man went his own way, and even accepted the bride price. He also said that the second sister, a concubine, can Marrying into such a family is considered a blessing, and it is also a honor for the Rongguo Mansion. The old ancestor has no choice but to let him go."

"The poor second girl is so honest, I don't know what kind of abuse I will suffer!" Xue Pan sighed softly, and wanted to help, so he said calmly: "I have a young master who is familiar with me. Sun Shaozu is quite familiar with him. I heard what he meant. Sun Shaozu once said that the elder of the Rongguo Mansion owed him silver and could not exchange it, so he wanted to use his daughter to pay off the debt. I thought he was joking, but now that I think about it, your elder insisted Is it the idea of ​​marrying the second girl?"

Jia Baoyu was startled when he heard the words, and quickly grabbed Xue Pan's arm and asked, "Where did you hear that, big brother?"

Xue Pan frowned secretly, he didn't read it from the original book.It's just that I can't say that now, so I can only stammer and perfunctory: "You know, everyone is chatting at the wine table, and it was just a passing word at the time, how can I remember this? How about You go home and let the old lady send someone to inquire about it in private, maybe you can figure out the clues."

Hearing what Xue Pan said, Liu Xianglian also said hesitantly: "When the young master said this, I suddenly remembered that I had heard such a rumor. But I can't remember it clearly... It seems Brother Feng told me this, why don't you ask him about it. Everyone on the left and right is familiar with each other, and there is nothing to say."

At this point, Liu Xianglian hesitated for a moment, and said, "If you find it inconvenient, I'll ask you tomorrow."

Jia Baoyu nodded thoughtfully, and said softly, "That makes sense."

As he spoke, he stood up impatiently, cupped his hands and apologized, "It's about the second sister's life, and I don't dare to delay. Besides, there are a lot of strange things about this matter, so I have to inquire about it carefully. Brother Liu is very important to our family. I'm not very familiar with the things on the Internet, so I'll ask myself!"

As he spoke, he apologized with a smile and said, "Let's be like this today, I'm being rude, I have to go home first."

Xue Pan and Liu Xianglian naturally understood Jia Baoyu's warm heart, and it also involved a girl's lifelong event.Naturally, he wouldn't blame him, and immediately got up and said with a smile: "It's getting late, you really should go back. Why don't we just leave now. If we have free time in the future, let's come out and get together again."

Jia Baoyu bowed to the two gratefully, and hurriedly put down his clothes and turned around to go out.

As soon as Jia Baoyu left, Liu Xianglian naturally had no interest.And now he is full of Yun'er, seeing that the time is almost the time for the opening of Luxurious and Gold Fans, he can't sit still and say goodbye.

So everyone immediately made an appointment for the next reunion, exchanged a few gossips, and then dispersed.

Suddenly the building was empty, Xue Pan sat silently at the table, turned his head to look at the empty small courtyard outside the window, the autumn wind howled and blew the fallen leaves on the ground, whirling in the air, looking a little inexplicably bleak and few.There are still some traces of being messed up after being torn up in the yard.Presumably Mr. Wang's family was tired from fighting, so they also went into the house to negotiate.Immediately, I only felt that every family had difficult scriptures to recite, and I, who was the first to provoke, felt more and more boring.

Xue Pan sighed softly, casually took out a piece of silver from his purse to pay for the wine, went downstairs by himself, took the reins from Lian Ying who had been waiting at the door for a long time, put the saddle on the horse, and walked leisurely towards the palace. go.

When he arrived at Qianqing Palace, he had already held the lamp for ten minutes.The palace lanterns under the eaves emit warm candlelight in the dim night.Dai Quan was still waiting outside the palace gate.What surprised Xue Pan was that there was a thin but familiar figure kneeling at the entrance of the hall.

Xue Pan quickened his pace and passed people, turned around and saw that it was indeed Lin Mozhi, he couldn't help feeling suspicious, and quickly asked, "Why are you kneeling here?"

Lin Mozhi raised his head, glanced at Xue Pan with guilt in his eyes, and said in a low and painful voice: "Pan'er, I'm sorry for you, I hurt you."

Xue Pan became more and more at a loss when he heard Lin Mozhi's endless words, and asked incredulously, "What are you talking about? How could you harm me? Didn't you have a fever and your brain became confused?"

Lin Mozhi shook his head sadly. "It was indeed I—"

"Lord Lin, Young Lord." Dai Quan came forward suddenly, and said with a smile, "The Holy One ordered you to enter the palace immediately."

It's just that Xue Pan was keenly aware that Dai Quan's attitude towards Lin Mozhi was strangely alienated.

Xue Pan looked at Dai Quan inexplicably, took two steps forward, and leaned over to help Lin Mozhi who was kneeling on the ground.Probably because of kneeling for too long, Lin Mozhi staggered to the side when he got up.Xue Pan quickly grabbed his arm and said worriedly, "Your condition doesn't look very good."

Lin Mozhi shook his head silently, stretched out his hand and pushed Xue Pan away, and slowly walked into the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Xue Pan turned his head to look at Dai Quan, only to see that Dai Quan shook his head silently, with an obvious worried look on his fair face.Xue Pan's heart tightened, and he didn't ask any more questions, and followed Lin Mozhi into the hall.

At night, the Hall of Mental Cultivation was illuminated by palace lanterns, brightly lit like daytime. Tu Zhen, as always, crouched at his desk to review papers. The goose yellow candlelight poured on his body, which further highlighted his delicate features and calm demeanor.

Xue Pan looked worriedly at Lin Mozhi who was kneeling in the center of the hall silently, and then looked at Tu Zhen who had been chopping his hand as if he hadn't realized it. He sighed softly, walked forward, and stretched out his hand to take away Tu Zhen's hand. Zhu Bi asked softly, "What's the matter?"

Tu Zhen raised his head, glanced coldly at Lin Mozhi who was kneeling on the ground, and said coldly, "The news that I want to abolish the harem and marry Pan'er was leaked by Taifu Lin."

Xue Pan was startled, and said in disbelief: "This is impossible, the ink will not harm me. There must be something wrong."

Before Tu Zhen could speak, Lin Mozhi said in a low voice: "The Holy Majesty is right, I leaked this news to Prince Zhongshun."

Xue Pan was taken aback, and looked at Lin Mozhi with a worried look, and said firmly, "Even if you said it, I believe you didn't do it on purpose."

Lin Mozhi looked up at Xue Pan in surprise, and was stunned for a while before he smiled wryly, "Thank you for still trusting me."

"The two of us are good brothers for two lifetimes. I don't believe who you believe." Xue Pan said casually, then looked at Lin Mozhi with more worry, and said softly: "Did he use you? You... All right?"

Lin Mozhi bowed his head and did not speak.

Tu Zhen, who was silent for a while, said, "Based on your current situation, it is no longer suitable for you to continue to be the commander of the sticky pole."

Lin Mozhi clenched his palms curled up in his sleeves into fists. For a long time, he silently took out a token from his pocket and raised his hands above his head.Dai Quan, who was watching at the side, immediately took the token and put it on the dragon table respectfully.

Xue Pan looked at the people in the hall at a loss, touched Tu Zhen lightly, and whispered, "Don't do this! Mo Zhier didn't do it on purpose."

Tu Zhen looked a little cold, looked at the confidant who was kneeling on the ground, and said calmly: "This is not the first time he has made a mistake. Assuming the position of commander of the hidden guard at the sticky pole requires a calm head and careful thinking The current Taifu Lin has lost this point."

After a pause, looking at Lin Mozhi who was in a daze, he added with some unbearable: "However, I can promise that when you consciously regain your senses, I will use you again."

Lin Mozhi silently kowtowed, and said in a low voice, "Thank you, Lord Long En."

Seeing Lin Mozhi's current appearance, Xue Pan moved his lips in distress, and said in a low voice, "Mozhi!"

Seeing Xue Pan's distressed look, Tu Zhen rubbed his brows tiredly, waved his hand at Lin Mozhi and said, "Go home and recuperate for a while. I think you need to sort out your thoughts and think about it carefully." Think about it, what exactly is what you want. The ancient sages said that you should never stop being disturbed by it. Even if you put aside the righteousness of the monarch and ministers, you and I have known each other for many years, and I don’t want you to be immersed in this forever..."

Tu Zhen sighed softly, but didn't say the rest.

Lin Mozhi promised in a low voice, and slowly exited the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

When Lin Mozhi's figure disappeared completely, Xue Pan couldn't help but threw himself on Tu Zhen's body, tugged at his skirt, and asked threateningly: "What's going on? Why does Mo Zhi'er look so sad? , Prince Zhongshun deceived him?"

Tu Zhen sighed softly, and said, "Ziyu did disclose to Prince Zhongshun that I wanted to abolish the harem and marry Pan'er, but he didn't intend to reveal it, but he was too emotional and accidentally said it out." .”

Xue Pan was stunned, and he listened to Tu Zhen's account of the cause and effect of the matter.

It turned out that after Tu Zhen secretly decided to abolish the harem and only establish Xue Pan and made substantive actions, the first person to know was not Xue Zhizhang, but Lin Mozhi, Tu Zhen's most trusted confidant.From collecting the criminal evidence of the four kings and eight princes to secretly arranging the retreat of the concubines in the harem, Tu Zhen naturally entrusted Lin Mozhi with full responsibility for the specific implementation of all these matters.

Lin Mozhi was secretly ordered by Tu Zhen to prepare for this matter, while secretly lamenting Tu Zhen's sincerity towards Xue Pan.On the one hand, I am also happy for my hair.Because of his close relationship with Xue Pan, and because of his official position, Lin Mozhi saw Xue Pan's loyalty and devotion to Tu Zhen with his own eyes.He has been worried that Tu Zhen sees through this and uses Xue Pan.Lin Mozhi is very pleased to see that Tu Zhen can make such a decision now.At the same time, I have become more and more inferior to my own obsessions, and I am a little self-defeating.

And at this moment, Prince Zhongshun, who had been pestering Lin Mozhi for a long time, blocked him on a secluded path leading to the outside of the palace in a fit of anger because Lin Mozhi had avoided seeing him for a long time.And bluntly pressed each other, hoping to restore their previous relationship and be a couple of lovers in private.Lin Mozhi refused to agree, and said that unless Prince Zhongshun made up his mind to give up everything in Beijing and leave with him, otherwise he would not bother him again in the future.Prince Zhongshun was also a little annoyed when he heard the words, saying that Lin Mozhi didn't really love him, otherwise he would not understand his current situation, and said that he could not leave his concubine mother, nor let her concubine down. The concubine had no choice but to love Lin Mozhi Yunyun the most.

After experiencing Tu Zhen's sincerity towards Xue Pan, it is naturally difficult for Prince Zhongshun's sweet words to impress Lin Mozhi.And this seemingly reasonable but selfish justification made Lin Mozhi more disheartened and more indignant, and accidentally revealed that Tu Zhen wanted to abolish the harem and only married Xue Pan.

"In the final analysis, the prince is just fond of pomp and glory, and is reluctant to part with the worldly fame and fortune. So you want a high official and rich salary, you want to be famous, you want a good wife and beautiful family, and you want to have both children. Everyone is like this, so there is nothing wrong with the prince's choice. But Since you have made such a choice, why bother to provoke me? Could it be that you are a precious person, and you cannot let go of everything. I, Lin Mozhi, are doomed to be lowly, and want to fool around with you?"

"My lord is now full of glory and wealth, and he is full of beautiful wives and beautiful concubines. The natural scenery is so beautiful. In this way, you can forget what happened back then. Why do you still have to get involved?"

"You said that you had no choice but to be forced to do nothing. But in detail, you are nothing more than an idle prince. As a sage, you are willing to abolish the harem for the one you love, and only one person is allowed. If you really say it , wouldn’t such a situation be even more treasonous? But your majesty is the lord of a country, and you can do this to Pan’er, you, a prince who is on the edge of the government, what excuse do you have to prevaricate me?”

"Although I, Lin Mozhi, am not a good person, and my status is not as noble as the prince's, I am not so cheap as to work with a woman. You keep saying that you like me and that you want to protect me. But everything you have done today is the ultimate Things that insult me."

"Since then, you and I will be on the same page. The sky is big and the earth is big, you take your sunny path, and I will take my single-plank bridge. Don't involve anyone anymore..."

A sentence in righteous indignation, even Lin Mozhi himself forgot after saying it.In the end, it was recorded by Prince Zhongshun, who had a heart, and together with Prince Nan'an, who had already had a different intention, planned the previous forced palace.He even persuaded his mother and concubine De Taifei to lobby the two clan elders, Prince Zhongyu and Prince Zhongli, to unite with them to put pressure on Tuzhen.I thought that Tu Zhen had to give in for the sake of the country's great plan.But I didn't expect that Tu Zhen's temper would be so strong that he would rather be broken than whole.Faced with the persecution of most forces in the court, Tu Zhen resolutely chose to resist and defend Xue Pan head-on.And such a move by Tu Zhen also made him feel jealous, hoping to use the power of the court to force Tu Zhen to make concessions, and also let Lin Mozhi know that the loyal prince, who is always the first in the royal family, made a wrong calculation.

What he didn't even expect was that he blocked Lin Mozhi in a corner outside the Lingxiao Pavilion, and the conversation with Lin Mozhi was accidentally overheard by the eldest prince Tuxuan, and then after the situation expanded, the first Thinking about it for a while, I told Tu Zhen about it.At the same time, he was also forced to expose his potential power to Tu Zhen.In an instant, Prince Zhongshun, who had always been mediating in the dark, was entrusted to the light, and he was in a stalemate.

As the saying goes, losing his wife and losing his army is referring to the current situation of Prince Zhongshun.

Xue Pan quietly listened to Tu Zhen's words, shook his head in disbelief and a little funny, and exclaimed: "This Prince Zhongshun is a standard person who can't eat grapes and thinks grapes are sour. He actually made such a big mess for such a small matter." It’s really a sickness, Mo Zhi’er is right not to choose him.”

Seeing Xue Pan muttering so indignantly, Tu Zhen shook his head amusingly.

Of course he would not explain to Xue Pan the sinister intentions of Prince Zhongshun's move.I am afraid that making Lin Mozhi realize the reality is just a matter of convenience, and the most important thing is the word "force the palace".

In the situation of that day, once he was the first to be weak and give in.Then it is not only one's own interests that are damaged, as the so-called emperor's promise is a golden word.Tu Zhen's every move as an emperor, even if it is not announced, cannot be easily changed.Otherwise, what is the power of the emperor if the order is changed from day to day?

Furthermore, if Tu Zhen was forced to give in by the court ministers that day, what should he do with everything he promised Xue Zhizhang?At that time, the most trusted confidant will be separated from him, and the snipe and the clam will fight with each other. The only one who benefits is the loyal prince lurking in the dark.

Three, the mothers of the concubines in the harem already knew the emperor's hostility towards the harem, to be precise, towards them.How could these officials, who were so devoted to the court's fame and fortune, just sit and wait for their death?Their alliance with Nan'an County King is just the first step. Tu Zhen believes that their obstacles will continue to emerge in the future, until he confirms that he admits defeat and has to lower his body to accept them.Or he insisted on going his own way and wiped them all out, making sure that their existence or disappearance would no longer threaten his authority and will.

And Tu Zhen would not take half a step back, even if it was just for Xue Pan.Therefore, this is another endless situation.

Four, in order to fight head-on against the intransigence of the officials in the court, Tu Zhen had to release the news of Nan'an County King's deliberate rebellion in advance, in order to fight for the master control of this battle.It seemed to have the upper hand, but in fact it disrupted all the planning behind him and pushed himself to a resolute position.It even inevitably caused the precariousness of the four princes and even the generals in the army.People's hearts are unstable, which is another trouble.

Fifth, it is the attitude of the clan.Although these old guys have no disobedience, their extremely stubborn and outdated ideas are also the most troublesome.For these elders who, although they have their own little thoughts, really care about Da Yong Jiangshan and themselves, Tu Zhen feels that dealing with them is the most powerless move.

Because you can't convince them with your own reasons.The so-called generation gap exists. Since ancient times, parents and children have always had conflicts of one kind or another. Although they are not life-threatening, they are entangled and disturbing.

The sixth is the attitude of hundreds of millions of people in the Yong Dynasty.Although the masculinity of the Dayong Dynasty was strong, no one was as blatant as Tu Zhen, who wanted to announce it to the world and take action.

So how will the billions and billions of people deal with this?

Seventh...

There are too many disturbing things, and Tu Zhen doesn't want to mention them to Xue Pan.Now he had no choice but to suppress the worries in his heart, put his arms around Xue Pan's supple body, put his chin on his neck, and said in a soft voice: "Pan'er is right, this old twelve is really not something."