The Royal Merchant of the Red Chamber

The carriage slowly drove out of Dongping County Prince's Mansion.Xue Pan was wearing a fox fur cloak with a feather veil, lying in the soft brocade quilt, his pair of star pupils were half-opened and half-closed, and there was a hint of clarity in his bewitched eyes.

The probing move of the King of Dongping County today is too obvious, but it is not known what the King of Dongping County wants.Maybe it's surrender, maybe it's a false surrender.Tu Zhen's attitude towards the four kings with different surnames is similar to his attitude towards the barbarians. If he insists on a surname that is not ours, his heart must be different.

However, since the founding of the Great Yong Dynasty, there have been many kings with different surnames who were rewarded for their meritorious service.Although after so many years of reduction, the power of the king with a different surname is not as good as before.But now the situation is basically stable.Out of concerns about their reputation, the royal family will definitely not go too far.Otherwise, no one can bear the notoriety of "the cunning rabbit dies, the lackey cooks, the birds die, and the good bow hides".

Now surrounded by foreign enemies, Tuzhen himself has the will to expand his territory.Looking at the posture of sharpening the knife now, he will definitely send troops overseas in the future.If you want others to work hard for you, you have to lure them with money.So gradually, Tu Zhen's attitude towards the four kings with different surnames also changed from being hostile to eliminating to wooing and beating.After all, although the four kings with different surnames are not the main family of the Tu family, they have made great military exploits since their ancestors, and they are naturally good at fighting and leading troops.

I am afraid that the four kings with different surnames also vaguely realized the changes in Tu Zhen, so they started to move slowly.The first one who lost his temper was Dongping County King——

No, Xue Pan's head flashed, and he suddenly thought of Nan'an County King who has been very active recently.Immediately smiled knowingly, I am afraid that the king of Dongping County couldn't sit still after seeing the glory of the King of Nan'an County after he regained power!

That's why I took this opportunity to visit Zhen Baoyu...

When I was thinking about it, I only heard the carriage creak and stopped.Zhao Cai raised his voice outside and said, "Master, you're home. I'll help you out of the car."

Hearing this, Xue Pan subconsciously gathered his heavy cloak.

Zhao Cai opened the door of the carriage, and a gust of cold wind rushed in.Xue Pan got up and got out of the carriage with Zhaocai's support.Because it was getting late, the carriage went straight into the corner gate and stopped in the west courtyard.Xue Pan walked along the chaoshou verandah and directly entered the Ruirong Hall through two doors.Sure enough, I saw a bright light inside.

"Why did you drink so much wine?" The Xue family, who had been waiting for a long time, saw Xue Pan who opened the gorilla felt curtain and came in, and asked with a frown.

"At the dinner at the Dongping County King's Mansion, the Dongping County King persuaded me to drink a few glasses of wine, and I didn't pretend to be pretentious. I drank all of them." Xue Pan said, and greeted the Xue family: "I know that my parents may wait for you. When I came back, I hurried over to say hello without even changing my clothes. It's getting late, parents should go to bed earlier!"

Seeing that Xue Pan was so drunk, the Xue couple felt a little distressed.He hurriedly ordered the little girl to go to Wenrou Township to call Hongxiu and Tianxiang over, and take Xue Pan back to take care of him.Only then did I relax and wash my hands without mentioning it.

After a night of silence, when Xue Pan opened his eyes again, the sun was already rising.

There were occasional sounds of walking outside.A few girls who were on guard at night lowered their voices and spoke in a low voice, and they could vaguely hear some movement.Xue Pan stretched and sat up.He conveniently opened the well-covered Yuguo sky blue flower tent embroidered with lotus listening to the rain and hung it aside.Hong Xiu and Tian Xiang who heard the commotion outside walked in immediately.He said with a smile, "Master, you're up now. You haven't slept so well for a while!"

"Sleep really well. It's strange that some people like to drink and get drunk. It's really sweet to sleep after getting drunk. I haven't even had a dream. It seems that it's dawn when I open my eyes."

"It's not dawn." Tian Xiang said, looked back at the western clock on the shelf and said with a smile: "It's almost time now, I'm helping the uncle to wash up, and I'm still warming up the breakfast for the uncle in the small kitchen "Master, hurry up and eat some, don't starve to death."

"I don't feel hungry at all." Although Xue Pan said so, he still got up.

Immediately, a little girl came in with clean water, fragrant soap, bamboo salt and other washing things.Xue Pan had just finished grooming under the service of Hongxiu, when he saw Tian Xiang walking in carrying a black lacquered food box carved with patterns of Jiangnan landscapes.From it came out four plates of stir-fried vegetables, two plates of fresh red oil side dishes, a bowl of boiled glutinous glutinous rice porridge, and a plate of sweet and delicious yam cake. Xue Pan was quite satisfied with the food .

He had just had dinner in this room, and there was a report from a boy outside that the uncle of the Zhen family had come.

Xue Pan subconsciously said: "It's too much to be idle, why don't you hurry up so early!"

After finishing speaking, he felt that this was inappropriate, so he immediately said, "Please come in quickly."

The little girls in this room had just cleaned up the dishes when Zhen Baoyu came in.He opened his mouth and said: "I knew you just got up, and you came here after staying at home for a long time."

"It's just a joke, why don't you be so active!" Xue Pan shook his head, stood up and said, "The group of rehearsals are all listening to Yuxie, let's go there now!"

Zhen Baoyu was taken aback, and said, "Don't you have to wait for those two princes?"

"They will come whenever they want, why wait for them!" Xue Pan said casually, and then led Zhen Baoyu towards Ting Yuxie.

When I got there, I saw Liu Xianglian leading a group of actors to rehearse, and Yun'er and Jiang Yuhan were there.Xue Pan let out a little "Huh" in surprise.

Liu Xianglian walked over and said with a smile, "I haven't been here for a while."

"How are they doing?" Xue Pan asked.

"It's okay, it's a model. Now let them continue to practice, and we'll talk about it on the Longevity Day!"

"Why both Yun'er and Jiang Yuhan stayed?" Xue Pan raised his eyebrows and asked.

"I really think both of them have good singing skills and good looks. There is a female ghost in "A Chinese Ghost Story", so I let Yun'er play it." Liu Xianglian replied with a smile.

Xue Pan nodded, expressing his understanding.Zhen Baoyu at the side looked strangely, listened to the sound of silk and bamboo, watched the dancing sleeves fluttering, surrounded by carved beams and painted buildings, pavilions and waterside pavilions, and the sparkling lake, it felt a lot easier for a while.

But after a while, a kid came over with Prince Zhonglian and Prince Zhongrui.

Xue Pan immediately greeted him and said, "I have seen the two princes."

All the singers and musicians also hurriedly stopped what they were doing and knelt down and said, "I have seen the two princes."

Prince Zhongrui didn't pay much attention to everyone, but Prince Zhonglian said with a warm smile: "Everyone, get up quickly. We will get along for a while, so there is no need to be so polite."

A few simple words, coupled with a spring-like smile on his face, made him more cordial and pleasant.

Xue Pan couldn't help sighing, wondering why everyone said that Prince Zhonglian was as gentle as jade, and this kind of demeanor alone was not something others could have.Many people can do it, but he has never seen anyone who can really do it, except for Prince Zhonglian.There was also a slight change in the way he looked at Tu Zun at the moment.

Because they want to flatter the emperor, Tu Huang and Tu Chou need to arrange additional scripts and venues.As for the performers, it's very simple, just find a few men with good martial arts and good figure in the troupe.

Simply Xue Pan had figured out the script and the corresponding things before, and now he only needs to explain it to the two princes.Everyone is a person with relatively good comprehension, and they can understand everything in a short time.

Xue Pan divided Tingyu Pavilion into two parts, rehearsing "A Chinese Ghost Story" on the side close to the lotus pond, and rehearsing "Singing Songs" on the other side.Except for Tu Huang, who appeared on the stage in colorful clothes and entertained relatives, the rest of the people were still leisurely, and they even had time to chat.

"You are the eldest son of the Zhen family, right? I heard that you took part in the imperial examination this year, how do you feel?" Tu borrowed a gentle smile.

"Naturally..."

Zhen Baoyu stood aside and chatted with Tu Tun, while Xue Pan lay on the railing and watched the rehearsal of the play boredly. After a while, he felt starry-eyed and became more and more astringent.Just when he was about to close his eyes, he heard a boy preaching: "Master, Second Master Bao of Rongguo Mansion is here."

Xue Pan raised his head, yawned and said, "Didn't he go to study at home, why did he come here all of a sudden?"

Before he could say a word, he heard Jia Baoyu, who was following behind, sighed and said: "Stop talking, I'm very disappointed."

"What's so frustrating about studying?" Xue Pan said with a teasing smile: "You always said that you should study hard, and in the future you will be the number one scholar in the exam to make your ancestors look good. Once you go now, you should be famous in two or three years. What? Are you disappointed?"

"It's fine if they laugh or flatter me. Why don't you make fun of me." Jia Baoyu shook his head and said, "At first, I thought I would meet a decent brother. We would study together and discuss articles and poems from time to time. It can also benefit a lot. Unexpectedly, there are really some nasty and annoying people in that school, and we don’t have to arbitrarily exclude people, which will only cause trouble.”

"Hey, from what you mean, are you still suffering?" Zhen Baoyu also interjected with a smile: "You phoenix egg can be said to be the second ancestor in Rongning Second Mansion, who dares to provoke you?" , this is impossible, right?"

"I'm nothing. It's just a piece of rotten wood wrapped in brocade gauze, and a dung and mud ditch filled with fine wine and lamb. If he oppresses me, that's all. Do your best to humiliate others." Jia Baoyu said here, and sighed: "It's really the word rich and noble, which kills people."

Seeing Jia Baoyu's appearance, everyone couldn't help but look at each other.Even Tu Huang, who was holding back his temper and rehearsing, stopped.Turning over and jumping down from the corridor, he said with a smile: "Which family is this, I have never seen it before."

Jia Baoyu raised his head and looked at Tu Huang, who looked more and more seductive and exquisite after dressing up. His eyes lit up, and he praised: "This sister has a pretty face, and she really looks like a fairy. It seems like I have seen it before—"

Everyone's face darkened.He got along very well with Jia Baoyu, Xue Pan naturally knew that this sentence was probably Jia Baoyu's catchphrase, similar to the classic plot of flirting with dudes in later generations.It's just that this is used on Tu Huang...

Xue Pan immediately cleared his throat and introduced him. "What did you say, let your father hear your skin carefully. This is Prince Zhongrui."

Jia Baoyu immediately bowed and apologized: "I'm really sorry, I was caught by the prince's demeanor for a while. I... I will kowtow to you."

Saying that, not allowing everyone to react, he immediately knelt down and kowtowed three times, then got up and asked, "Are you not angry with me?"

Tu Huang's face was black and black, and he held his breath in his chest and couldn't vent it.He glared at Jia Baoyu bitterly, snorted twice, then ignored him.

Xue Pan said again: "This is Jia Jue, the second son of the second wife of the Rongguo Mansion, whose baby name is Baoyu."

Prince Zhonglian said with a smile: "But the brother who was born with a jade title that was rumored in the past?"

Xue Pan nodded.

Prince Zhonglian asked curiously: "Is there really such a baby?"

Before he could finish a sentence, Jia Baoyu, who was very used to it, immediately took the psychic gem from his clothes and handed it over.

Tu borrowed it in his hand and looked at it carefully, even Tu Huang who was standing beside him came over curiously.Carefully recite the handwriting engraved on the psychic jade, one to get rid of evil spirits, two to heal diseases, and three to know fortune and misfortune.After looking at it for a while, he raised his eyebrows and asked, "Is it really so effective?"

Jia Baoyu said with a smile: "I don't know if it is so, but everyone said so. Word of mouth, it seems to be true. In fact, there is no such effect, Zuo is just an object to play with."

The two of them nodded, and returned the jade to Baoyu. After seeing him take it, they asked in a friendly manner, "What books have you read now?"

Jia Baoyu used to dislike others asking about the matter of fame and fortune, but most of the nonsense he said was in private, and when it spread, it spread.The etiquette on the surface is not bad at all.In terms of admiration for Prince Zhonglian Wen Run, Zhilan Yushu.Immediately lowering his head slightly, he said respectfully: "The Book of Songs, Book of Books, Four Books, Erya, and the eight great masters of ancient literature have all been read roughly. I read less history books, and sometimes I read ideas books."

With a warm smile on his lips, he asked softly, "Whose article do you like the most?"

Jia Baoyu looked up at Tu Tun, then lowered his head and said, "Zhuangzi."

For the Confucianism and etiquette in the world, what Jia Baoyu likes are all unorthodox things.Tu Tun nodded, understanding.Originally, he was a little curious about the psychic Baoyu who had been rumored for a long time in Beijing, but now it seems that he is just an ordinary dude.When it comes to secular economic means, it is far inferior to Xue Pan.

At the moment, with a smile on his face, he said two words of encouragement, such as "study hard", "the future will shine on the lintel, and the young phoenix is ​​as clear as the old phoenix".Then the topic turned to Xue Pan.

"I just saw that you were so sleepy that you almost fell asleep. Although the weather is much warmer now, it's windy and cold outside. Just be careful not to get cold."

Xue Pan nodded in agreement, then turned around and asked Jia Baoyu, "You haven't finished talking just now. It's just a trip to the family to study, that is, one or two months of work, why are you so angry. "

So Baoyu then told the truth about Jin Rong's slander of others and the disturbance in the school.In the end, he said bitterly: "It's all these damn things that oppress people. It's not enough to divide people into different classes, we have to make up a good one. It's really an unconscious thing."

Xue Pan heard it familiarly, and couldn't help asking, "Who do you think is the brother who is in harmony with you?"

Jia Baoyu said without hesitation: "Accordingly, you also recognize this person. He is Qin Zhong, the younger brother of Rong's daughter-in-law."

Tu Huang suddenly interjected and asked, "The grandma Xiaorong you are talking about in Ningguo Mansion, but the son-in-law of Qin Ye's family?"

Jia Baoyu replied in surprise: "Exactly, does the prince also recognize it?"

Tu Juan smiled lightly and said, "It's just that I've heard of it."

On the contrary, Xue Pan looked suspiciously at the two princes.Remembering that people who studied Hongxue in later generations had guessed that Qin Keqing's real identity might have something to do with the palace, he couldn't help but ponder.

"...Brother Xue, what are you thinking?" Jia Baoyu called out several times, but Xue Pan didn't respond, so he couldn't help asking.

"It's nothing." Xue Pan came back to his senses, shook his head and smiled. "It's windy and cold, what are you doing outside, let's talk inside."

So several people filed into the small flower hall.The clever little girl had already brewed good tea and brought it up.Tu Jue lifted the tea cover and felt a burst of mellow aroma, and couldn't help but praise: "Good tea, but it's the new Longjing tea last year."

"Exactly." Xue Pan said with a smile.

Tu Huang on the side said in distaste: "Sure enough, the royal merchant Xue's family is very rich. Even the palace may not be able to share such good tea with everyone. When it comes to your house, it becomes a place to entertain guests at will."

"I don't dare to say that. Although my family has set up several tea gardens, the tea used by the queen has always selected the best tea to enter the palace. Of course there are other tea leaves that are rewarded to our family, but our family has never been drunk. Today It's just that the two princes came to visit, so they took the best tea and offered it." Xue Pan said, holding up the milk tea at the side and said with a smile: "It's only because of the honor of the two princes that these two precious jades can drink it. !"

Tu Huang looked at Jia Baoyu who was frequently looking at the milk tea next to Xue Pan, and said with a sneer, "Come on, all the dignitaries in the capital know that you, Xue Pan, don't like tea, so your family naturally has little tea supply. In my opinion , you brought the best tea, but they may not appreciate it!"

As he said that, he said to Jia Baoyu who was grimacing: "If you want to drink milk tea, you can do whatever you want, and don't think that we two brothers will make you drink this bitter juice."

The term "kuzhizi" naturally comes from Xue Pan's description of tea.

Jia Baoyu pursed his lips in embarrassment, and said to Xue Pan: "Actually, I just feel that my mouth has no taste recently. I like sweet and fragrant things, so I don't drink much of this tea."

Hearing this, Xue Pan winked at the little girl who was waiting on the side.After a while, the little girl came over with another cup of milk tea.

After half a cup of tea, Xue Pan said with a teasing smile: "I heard that you and that young Mr. Qin are very close to each other in recent days. Why did you come to me today and didn't bring him with you. I want to see this too." She is handsome, shy and gentle."

Jia Baoyu sighed, and said: "Don't mention it. It's not the disaster caused by going to a private school. Rong's daughter-in-law has been in trouble for the past two months. She is lazy and doesn't like to move or eat. Brother Zhen, please A lot of doctors came to show me, but they didn't say that he was ugly. Now Jing Qing couldn't help but say a few words to her, and he and she felt ashamed, and became more and more angry. "

Before finishing a sentence, he sighed twice and shook his head in silence.

They were discussing the woman in the inner house, and the two princes listened quietly.Only Zhen Baoyu faintly felt that it didn't look like it, so he smiled and said: "If you are not healthy, just ask two more doctors to have a look. But there is still an imperial doctor on the left! Yining Guofu's face, please come and show me It's not a strenuous task. Why bother to be in the shape of a little girl here!"

Jia Baoyu nodded again and again, "Exactly."

As he said that, he looked at Xue Pan with hope and said, "Brother Xue has a wide network of people outside, so naturally he also knows many strange people, can you be careful to find a good doctor?"

The strange thing is that Tu Tzu and Tu Huang also looked at Xue Pan with some concern.

Seeing it, Xue Pan nodded and said with a smile, "It's just a little effort. I'll tell them to inquire later, and I'll tell you if I have any news."

Jia Baoyu was overjoyed when he heard the words, and immediately got up to thank him, "Thank you, Big Brother Xue——"

Before he could finish a sentence, he saw a well-dressed and pretty girl walking in from outside.After entering the flower hall, he said: "I have seen the uncle, and I have seen some distinguished guests."

Xue Pan said in surprise, "Ying'er, why are you here?"

Ying'er leaned forward and said, "Ms. Lin is here. She said that she hadn't seen the uncle for a while, and she missed it. The girl asked me to ask the uncle if you could go and have a look."

Xue Pan laughed out loud when he heard the words. "What a coincidence. I also said that I haven't seen her since the New Year. It's weird. I was planning to visit their house, and she came here. How is Sister Lin?"

Ying'er smiled and said, "Your complexion is much better, and you are much more lively and cheerful."

Jia Baoyu asked excitedly: "But sister Lin from my uncle's family, I may not have seen her for a long time. And sister Bao, who has never been to our house after the New Year, and the ancestors still talk about it in private. A few times. Why don't I go there with my big brother and have a look!"

Yinger hesitated for a moment.

In terms of closeness of status, Xue Pan is Lin Ruhai's adopted son, and naturally Lin Daiyu's elder brother.It is naturally within the etiquette for him to go to Wutong Garden to see Lin Daiyu.But Jia Baoyu is just a cousin...

Seeing this, Zhen Baoyu immediately smiled and said, "Miss Lin is here, is brother Ziyu here too?"

Ying'er nodded and said, "I'm talking to Master and Mr. Zhuang in Master's study!"

Zhen Baoyu immediately said to Jia Baoyu: "Why don't we also go over to say hello to uncle, and chat with brother Ziyu for a while by the way."

Then he said: "Didn't you say that you wrote two poems and two chapters last time and wanted Brother Ziyu to comment on it? Now that Mr. Zhuang is also in the study, if you can win his favor and play a few sentences on demand, it will be easier than thinking about it yourself for ten years." Stronger."

Jia Baoyu misses Lin Mozhi, who is stern and indifferent but has a gentle personality.But he was also a little afraid of the knowledgeable Zhuang Shaoyou, who couldn't make up his mind after thinking about it for a long time.

Zhen Baoyu was tired of seeing it, and decided on his own: "That's it! You and I go to the study to say hello to uncle, and let Pan'er go to Wutong Garden to talk to Miss Lin."

Xue Pan took advantage of the situation and said, "It happens that the two princes are still busy with rehearsals, and we have been disturbing you for a long time. Let them concentrate on rehearsals as well."

The two of Tu Huang felt awkward rehearsing the play, and they wished they could leave as soon as possible.

So Sixia and Mei separated from each other.

Let's say that Xue Pan walked all the way into Wutong Garden along the chaoshou verandah, and before he entered the house, he heard bursts of laughter.Knowing that Lin Daiyu's knot in her heart was almost untied, she felt very comforted.He opened the curtain and said with a smile: "I heard you chattering in the yard. Don't you hear that the lady smiles without losing her teeth? It seems that you haven't done it."

Lin Daiyu turned her head, looked at Xue Pan and shouted with a smile, "Big brother is here."

Xue Pan only felt his eyes brighten. Lin Daiyu was wearing a long emerald green dress today, with two green bamboos embroidered with dark patterns on the hem and corners of the skirt.There is only an ordinary begonia bun on the head, and a white jade hairpin is inserted.Without makeup, with a plain face facing the sky, she looks more and more demure and gentle, with delicate flowers shining in the water, and a soft and weak body.The original melancholy that was frowning between the brows receded, and the innocence of a child was added. The bright smile hung on the face, making people's eyes almost straight.

Seeing this, Xue Pan nodded and said with a smile: "This is what a normal daughter looks like. How is your body recently? Are you still panting?"

Lin Daiyu shook her head and said, "No. In fact, after moving out of Rongguo Mansion, I lived with my father and elder brother. I didn't have to think too much about it, and it gradually got better. Ever since my elder brother found someone to write the prescription for me, it has gotten better. Not to mention chest tightness and dizziness in the past two months, even the cough is gone!"

Listening to Lin Daiyu's words, Xue Pan knew that this girl still had a grudge against what happened to the Rongguo Mansion.He didn't try to persuade her at the moment, but just smiled and said: "It's better to be in good health than anything else. If you're bored at home, just come here to play with your sister, lest your sister Bao is not very interesting at home by herself."

Lin Daiyu pouted and said, "Of course I want to be with my sister every day. It's just that the day of the draft is getting closer and closer. I really don't know how long we can have such unscrupulous play."

Xue Pan was taken aback for a moment, only to realize that Xue Baochai was thirteen this year.It's not about participating in the draft.

The sight swept over Xue Baochai who was holding Lin Daiyu's arm. The 13-year-old Baochai was much more mature than others, showing the fullness and grace of a woman's figure.With a beautiful face and a serene demeanor, she has become more graceful and magnanimous under the guidance of the teaching nun who came out of the palace this year.At this moment, she just casually wore a peach blossom bun, her upper body was wearing a honey-colored padded jacket, the rose-purple two-color silver mouse jacket, and her lower body was a scallion-yellow satin cotton skirt.The same color is half old and not new, but the demeanor of the whole body makes people look no less than the empress in the palace.

Seeing Xue Pan scrutinizing her carefully, Xue Baochai pursed her lips and said, "Why do you look at me like this, don't you recognize me?"

"It's said that women's colleges have undergone eighteen changes, but I don't recognize them soon." Xue Pan sighed as he said. "When I was in Jinling, not to mention getting tired of playing together every day. Now that I'm in the capital, I can't be together because of various things. After two years, you'll be out of the court in time. I'm afraid you won't have the time to play around. Really. It’s really getting together less and leaving more.”

Xue Baochai was stunned when he heard these words.It is now the end of February, less than a month away from the draft.Although after entering the palace last year, she had a vague understanding of her future.She even inquired about Prince Zhongchun's character and happy name in private.But in the end, everything was undecided, and she was still a little uneasy.Now listening to Xue Pan's words, it even caused inexplicable melancholy in my heart.This feeling was like drifting duckweed, and she couldn't settle down, and it even made her sleepless day and night.But the little girl's words in my heart were ashamed to say, so I could only hold back in my heart and think over and over again.I didn't feel crazy for a while.

However, she has always been quite deep in the city, but she turned back after a while in a daze.Looking at the sighing Xue Pan and Lin Daiyu, he laughed and said, "I don't understand how you said that. Sister Lin and I finally got together, and my brother didn't say anything funny to make us happy. On the contrary Say some desolate words to vomit us, but feel that the comments are too dull? People say that once the article is updated, they will leave a long comment. Why are you so embarrassed? It is serious to cheer and update. .”