The Royal Merchant of the Red Chamber

On the day of Baochai's great rejoicing, there was a lot of noise in the houses on several sides until around the fourth watch.

In the evening, Xue Pan and others returned to Zhongxinhou's Mansion, and the anger that had been suppressed was released unscrupulously.

"What's going on with the Jia family? Rao, our two families are not as close as they used to be, but we are still relatives. Baochai is very happy today. What does it mean that no male or female family member will come from their side? "

As Xue Pan spoke, he became more and more angry, and dropped the teacup in his hand to the ground with a slap, and said with a sneer, "Don't they think that the status of the Duke's Mansion is high, so they can't look down on the behavior of our mere Marquis Mansion? Are you going to stop doing this?" Not a relative?"

Xue Zhizhang sat on the top with a gloomy face, which did not stop Xue Pan's anger.

Even Mrs. Xue, who has always been smiling and not very theoretical, couldn't help complaining: "The behavior of the Ningrong Second House is really... This is Baochai's happy day, and it's like this once in a lifetime. Forget it, even Miss Tanchun and Xichun didn't come, it's really... Missing them for so many years."

Before the words were finished, a little girl came in with a nervous expression and reported: "I have seen the master, I have seen the wife, I have seen the uncle. Mrs. Sun is waiting at the door to see you."

Everyone was suspicious for a while, Xue Pan asked angrily: "Which Mrs. Sun, what are you doing here so late?"

"It's the wife of the commander of the Ministry of War, Sun Shaozu's family, who said that she has something important to see the master."

Everyone was taken aback, and blurted out, "Welcome Spring?"

Mrs. Xue was really angry, but she thought that Jia Yingchun must have something important to come over so late, maybe it has something to do with the reason why Jia's family was absent today.When he waved his hand, he immediately said, "Hurry up and welcome people in."

The little girl outside agreed, but after a while, she walked in with Jia Yingchun who was already dressed as a woman.

Jia Yingchun was dressed very decently today, and it looked like she had carefully prepared for the banquet, but at this time, her clothes were disheveled, her hair was disheveled, and even the pearls and hairpins on her head were missing.After entering the hall, he immediately knelt down in front of everyone, crying, "Uncle, Aunt, Big Brother Xue, please help us!"

Everyone was startled, Mrs. Xue got up and helped Jia Yingchun who was kneeling on the ground, helped her to the seat beside her and asked softly: "How did this happen? Embarrassed?"

Jia Yingchun burst into tears, her eyes were swollen from crying.Holding Madam Xue's hands tightly, she said hastily: "The mansion has been raided."

Everyone was shocked when they heard the words, Xue Pan blurted out and asked, "What did you say?"

"This morning, everyone was discussing that Hefu would come to marry Sister Baochai..." Jia Yingchun sniffed and recalled at a loss: "I arrived at Rongfu around Chenshi in the morning. At that time, the old lady , the wife and the girls in the house have already prepared, and they are ready to leave immediately. Suddenly, a group of imperial guards rushed in and surrounded the two houses. They rushed in like crazy, arrested people, and smashed things. What are you talking about ransacking the house according to the order. Now everyone in the Jia family has been locked up. Because I have married into the Sun family, I am not considered a member of the Jia family. My husband is now picking me up from the prison. He also said that today’s Baochai My sister is overjoyed and won't let me come over to cause trouble. I have to endure until now... Uncle, Big Brother Xue, you have to save us!"

"You said that no one from Jia's family came to Baochai's big wedding today because both the Rongning and Ning mansions were confiscated?" Xue Pan's eyes widened in disbelief, a bit dumbfounded.

"Big brother, I beg you to find a way to save our family." Jia Yingchun knelt on the ground and rubbed against Xue Pan, grabbed Xue Pan's clothes and said, "I know that big brother has the best relationship with the Holy Majesty. What you said The Holy Majesty will definitely listen. Now everyone in the mansion, big and small, is locked in prison, and the old lady is not in good health, so she can't stand it."

Xue Pan sighed softly, helped up the panic-stricken Jia Yingchun, and persuaded: "Don't worry! No matter what you say, our two families are relatives, and I won't just sit idly by. It's just that it's getting late now. , the gate of the palace is also locked, and the yamen is off work. I will go to do it in the morning."

Jia Yingchun nodded indiscriminately. She was timid and cowardly, and today's affairs have already exceeded her load range.Hearing Xue Pan's promise, he felt relieved, and immediately fell unconscious on the ground.

The bluffing people were startled, Madam Xue immediately helped Jia Yingchun up on the ground, and shouted: "Second girl, second girl?"

He turned his head and told the servants: "Hurry up and bring people in, and put them in the guest room for the time being."

The little girl at the side agreed, and immediately supported Jia Yingchun to go down.

Everyone in the Xue family looked at each other for a while, Xue Pan scratched his head and said in embarrassment: "What is this called, it really adds to the confusion."

Xue Zhizhang was silent.In terms of the relationship between Xue Pan and Tu Zhen, Xue Pan said that he is the father-in-law, but he is also a courtier, so don't talk too much.

For a while, everyone dispersed and went back to their rooms to rest.

Early the next morning, Xue Zhizhang went to court as usual, and Xue Pan took advantage of this gap to get up early and go to the prisoner's place in the Yamen of the Ministry of Punishment.

Lord Wang, who was in charge of guarding the prison, saw Xue Pan coming in person, and immediately came out in a panic.After a short exchange of pleasantries between the two, Lord Wang personally accompanied Xue Pan to the place where the members of the Jia family were imprisoned.

As soon as Pu entered the prison, a damp, bloody and stinky smell rushed towards his face, making Xue Pan want to vomit.Lian Ying who followed immediately took out a stick of sandalwood from his arms and lit it, and handed it to Xue Pan.In his purse, he took out a silk handkerchief that had been smoked with spices overnight, and handed it to Xue Pan to cover his mouth and nose.

Xue Pan frowned in disgust. He was the most impatient with these artificial spices, but he had no choice but to endure it for the time being.

The garrison king who was following at the side bowed his body, apologized in fear and trepidation: "This place has held prisoners for many years, and the smell inside is really embarrassing. The next official suggested that the young master should go to the hall and wait. I immediately ordered someone to bring Jia Everyone in the family is going to see you."

Xue Pan waved his hand and said in a suffocated voice, "No need, I just want to see where they live now."

Hearing this, Wang Shoubei led the way with a smile on his face. After walking no more than a hundred steps, Wang Shoubei stopped, leaned forward and said, "The people of Jia's family are currently being locked in these two cells. Because they know that the Second House of Rongning and Zhongxin Because of the relationship with the Hou Mansion, when we came in, the next official ordered the two best cells to be vacated, and then tidied up, and then the people from Rongning Second Mansion were imprisoned to go in."

Xue Pan covered his mouth and nose and poked his probe in, and saw that the inside was still dark and damp, and the sanitation and lighting were indeed better than other places.The ground is also carefully paved with thick straw, and the toilet is cleaner than the other places.

Xue Pan nodded, smiled at Wang Shoubei and said, "Master Shoubei has a heart."

Wang Shoubei was overjoyed, knowing that this time he was right, he leaned over and smiled and said, "Although the crimes committed by the people of the Rongning Second Mansion this time are not small, but everyone is discerning and knows that the young master is in front of the Holy Majesty. I think that after the trial of the Rongning Second Mansion case, at most it will be the end of being deprived of the official position. This is just a favor for the next official."

Xue Pan glanced at Wang Shoubei in surprise, it's rare for someone in the officialdom to speak so clearly.But I like to speak clearly and neatly in this way, so as not to talk about a matter for 80 years without getting to the point.

Wang Shoubei lowered his eyebrows, but still paid attention to Xue Pan's every move, seeing Xue Pan's surprised but satisfied look, his heart was relieved again.This time, when the people from Rongning Second Mansion were imprisoned, Wang Shoubei immediately sensed the opportunity. He resolutely tidied up the cell and imprisoned everyone in the Jia family, and then inquired about the liking and disposition of the young master of the Zhongxinhou Mansion overnight...

Sure enough, hard work pays off.

The two whispered in whispers, waking up all the members of the Jia family who had been terrified all night until daytime.Jia Zheng woke up in a daze, saw Xue Pan outside the prison door, rubbed his eyes in disbelief, and immediately rushed up and shouted: "Pan'er! Pan'er, save me!"

Xue Pan didn't care about listening to Wang Shoubei's flattery at this moment, and immediately stepped forward and asked, "How are you doing now? I heard Yingchun girl tell you about your house being raided last night, do you know On what charge is he impeached?"

Jia Zheng sighed and shook his head, and said at a loss: "colluding with foreign officials, making money in foreign posts, taking over lawsuits, extorting money privately, seeking wealth and taking lives...there are so many crimes. It's easy to lose your head."

Xue Pan knew it well, and comforted him, "Don't worry about it for now. My father and I are currently moving around and will do our best."

At this moment, Jia Amnesty, Jia Zhen and even Jia Lian and Jia Rong also woke up.Everyone gathered around the cell door, and Jia Zhen said bitterly: "The other big brothers can take it easy for now, there is only one thing, I beg you, brother, please help me."

Xue Pan looked at Jia Zhen who was full of hatred, and asked, "What's the matter, Brother Zhen, please tell me?"

"That Jia Yu Village is ungrateful, betraying the Lord, seeking glory, and adding insult to injury, despicable and shameless..." Jia Zhen's eyes were red with hatred, and she said viciously: "If he hadn't defected at a critical moment and helped Prince Zhongshun detain some of our family All the important things have been searched, and our charges will not be like this."

Xue Pan didn't want to see Jia Yucun's speculators for a long time. It's just about Tong's family before. The Holy Majesty had ordered Jia Yucun to be demoted and exiled. Stepped on it again when the house was raided?

When this matter was asked, Jia Zheng and Jia Zhen didn't know about it, but Jia She said vaguely: "I heard that he followed the path of Prince Zhongshun..."

Xue Pan looked at Jia She meaningfully, but didn't say much, just nodded and said: "Don't worry, this person won't have good fruit."

A few more gossips, the main thing is to ask about the impeachment of the Jia family outside, and consciously understand it, Xue Pan then said: "I will go to see the old lady and the others. I am afraid that all the weak women in the family will be imprisoned." I'm too scared."

Jia Zheng and others responded in a hurry, probably meaning that Xue Pan would come back and tell them about his life after reading it, so that they could rest assured.

Xue Pan nodded, and walked towards the women's prison under the guidance of Wang Shoubei.

The men's prison with many inmates must be, but the women's prison seemed a bit more spacious. When everyone arrived at the cell where the members of Jia's family were held, this time Xue Pan directly ordered Wang Shoubei to open the cell door, and walked in by himself to a piece of withered grass where the old lady was lying. In front of the pile, they exchanged in low voices: "Old lady? Old lady?"

The mandarin duck on the side heard the sound and cried: "The old lady hasn't woken up since she was escorted in yesterday, how can this be good?"

Xue Pan sighed softly, held Jia Mu's withered and thin palm, reached out and touched Jia Mu's forehead, feeling a little hot, Xue Pan turned to Wang Shoubei and said, "The old lady is old, and now she is sick again. , The environment in the prison is too bad, there is not even a bed. Can I arrange for an imperial doctor to come in for diagnosis and treatment, and move some beds over by the way?"

Wang Shoubei pondered for a moment, then immediately bowed and said with a flattering smile: "Follow the orders of the young master."

Xue Pan looked at the prison environment again, it was almost the same as the men's prison, and sighed again: "The women's family members are no better than the men, at least they should have something to wash. Although they are imprisoned now, they have never confessed their crimes. After all, it is a family order. Madame, you should also give the imperial court and the Holy Majesty some face."

Wang Shoubei obediently agreed, and immediately promised that it would be done.

While talking at this moment, Mother Jia also woke up in a daze. Seeing this, Xue Pan immediately went up to comfort him and said, "Don't worry, old lady, when the meeting is over, I will immediately go to the palace to ask the Holy One, and try my best to help you." Evacuate you female relatives first."

Mother Jia nodded weakly, her lips were moving. Xue Pan leaned over to listen carefully, but saw Mother Jia kept shouting: "Baoyu, Baoyu..."

For some reason, Xue Pan felt sour, sniffed, and comforted him softly: "Don't worry, old lady, I'll send a letter to Baoyu, asking him to come back immediately."

Mother Jia nodded in relief and said something else before falling asleep in a daze.

There was no brocade quilt in the cell, and it was Yuanyang Huber and the big girls who took off their coats and covered Jiamu's body.Seeing this, Xue Pan frowned and said, "Although it's May now, it's still very cold in the morning and evening, no matter what, we should lay out some quilts."

Wang Shoubei grunted and agreed.

In short, when Xue Pan left the prison of the Ministry of Criminal Justice, Wang Shoubei carried the bed, table, chairs and washing utensils in according to Xue Pan's instructions.Later, I don’t know how many children from aristocratic families were imprisoned for crimes or other reasons. In order to please these noble masters, Wang Shoubei simply set up two "upper class" cells in the men's prison, which attracted the applause of many aristocratic dandies Praise, this Wang Shoubei has also become a man of the hour in Kyoto. Later, the Holy One got excited and transferred this Wang Shoubei to the prison to serve as a guard, and he called it "make the best use of people".

This is a later story, so I won't mention it for the time being.

Let's say that Xue Pan quietly got up and took two steps back. Mrs. Wang took this opportunity to apologize and said: "I thought Bao girl was very happy yesterday, and we also went to send a wedding to join in the fun. Who would want to bring you trouble. Tomorrow It's a good day for you to enter the palace again, don't worry about us for now, we'll talk about it after tomorrow."

Xue Pan sighed after hearing the words, after all, she is a senior woman of aristocratic family, although her internal methods are more or less unsightly, but she will not make people jump out of the wrong place in social communication, which is also gratifying.

Xue Pan shook his head, and comforted him, "Auntie's words are outrageous. What is our relationship? Is it possible for me to allow you to suffer here?"

After a pause, he said again: "Let's not talk about other things for now, no matter what you do, you have to mess with the environment in the prison, just to be serious."

As he spoke, he instructed Wang Shoubei: "Women like to clean their homes, so you should find a way to separate the toilet from the resting place."

Wang Shoubei groaned in his heart, if he followed Xue Pan's order, this would not be a prison of the Ministry of Criminal Justice.But it didn't show at all on the face, and he responded respectfully.

Xue Pan wentssip a few more words, probably to comfort the female family members of the Jia family not to be in a hurry. Seeing that it was almost time for Tu Zhen to go to court, he bid farewell and left the cell.

When he was about to leave, he was stopped by Tanchun and Xichun. Tanchun turned his back, opened the extra-dark clothes, took out a pair of embroidery, handed it to Xue Pan and said with a smile: "I was planning to go today." I added makeup to Sister Bao, but this incident happened, and the things in the house were basically sealed by the Imperial Guard. I only hid this one in a hurry, and it was my heart. Big brother gave Sister Bao Send it over!"

Xue Pan looked at the exquisite embroidery in Tanchun's hand, sighed silently, took it and put it in his arms.

Tanchun on the side also took out a scripture and handed it to Xue Pan, and said tenderly: "This is the "Psychic Bodhisattva's Vows" copied by myself. .”

Xue Pan took it silently, pondered for a moment, and said as if promising: "You stay here at ease for the time being, and I will definitely rescue you out."

Tanchun and Xichun nodded obediently, and said: "Tomorrow when big brother enters the palace, we had prepared gifts for big brother, but Prince Zhongshun took them away. We didn't have time to hide them."

After all, there was a lot of people at that time, and the two maids were boudoir girls, so it was considered affection to think about hiding something for Baochai, how could they be so thoughtful.

Xue Pan heard that it was Prince Zhongshun who robbed him of his belongings, and hated his teeth so much that he muttered a few words about why it was him again, nodded and smiled at the two girls: "Don't worry, I'll go get it back later, We must not let the two of you work for nothing."

Wang Shoubei on the side whispered that it was getting late, Xue Pan had no choice but to comfort him, then turned and left the prison.

Inside the prison, many female family members looked at Xue Pan's slowly leaving figure, and hugged each other helplessly.