[Red House] The First Imperial Merchant

Chapter 48

But one day, Emperor Pingkang issued an imperial edict, and the eldest prince died suddenly.But Li Meiren, who was originally favored in the palace, went away for no reason, and all the eunuchs and maidservants who served Li Meiren's palace disappeared.

On the night when the incident happened, many people saw the First Prince coming out of Li Meiren's bedroom naked, the palace was full of gossip, even if Emperor Pingkang killed all the servants who witnessed that day, he could not stop the rumors.Fortunately, the ministers with many eyes and ears knew that they would not be disliked in front of Emperor Pingkang again, but the eldest prince Pingkangdi, who died of poisoning in vain, did not mention strict investigations, his face was very dark in those few days, and even the original respected concubine was also punished. Being implicated, I found a reason, from the noble concubine to the respected concubine, the palace was temporarily panic-stricken and lived in the shadows.

Xue Pan, the beauty of Li, has also heard of it. She looks like fifteen or sixteen. She is a newly recruited maid in the palace. She was originally a foot-washing maid who served De Concubine. Later, Emperor Ping Kang saw that she was still a maid at De Concubine. Li Meiren, after going back, broke the rules and directly mentioned the beauty's name. During those days, Concubine De was very angry, and the palace was full of people who praised the high and trampled on the low. Seeing this excitement, she did not ridicule De Concubine, especially Concubine Rui couldn't get used to Concubine De the most, and she had a straightforward temper. She would be sneering and sarcastic when they met. The queen who was sealed.

Since then, the women in the palace haven't given Concubine De good looks. They found such a puppet to seduce Emperor Pingkang. What a despicable trick!Concubine De, however, was suffering and couldn't tell. No one believed that she really didn't know. Although she entered the palace early, she had never met the empress. Naturally, she didn't know what Li Meiren looked like.On weekdays, all the concubines ridiculed her that she could only swallow the bitterness into her stomach, and she finally conceived a dragon son, but De concubine also held back and didn't say it until Li Mei's birthday.

The older Emperor Pingkang is, the better his face will be. The cuckold worn by this son for Lao Tzu, although there are many plots, his son's life is gone, but Emperor Pingkang doesn't want to do anything else, he only cares about protecting his own face. When his son is dead, he has nowhere to vent his anger It was implicated in De Concubine who heard the movement that night, because De Concubine was pregnant with a dragon seed, she couldn't be executed at the same time, so she had to deal with it indifferently, and it was clear that she was out of sight. De Concubine was also considered strange in the palace. Being favored is indifferent!

After Zhao Hongyi finished talking about what he saw with his own eyes, he could not blame himself. Xue Pan touched Zhao Hongyi's head and did not make a sound. The eldest brother is wronged.

"There is only one seat, but there are three people earning it." Xue Pan said.

"Master, I don't want to make money." Zhao Hongyi raised his red eyes and emphasized: "I didn't make money, and I won't deliberately not say it because of that---"

"Don't get excited, I know you don't fight, but in the eyes of some people, your father's compliment to you is that you are fighting." Xue Pan handed Zhao Hongyi a handkerchief, "Wipe your tears, your elder brother's death will kill you!" I am afraid that I understand it, but I just don’t want to think about it. The drought relief bank in Ludi was lost for no reason that day, and your second brother will be hunted down. All of this was not done by the Black Lotus Sect. Someone deliberately lured your second brother into it. Trap, your second brother underestimated the enemy and fell into the trap, causing his legs to be disabled, and now your elder brother lost his life, winners and losers have always been the same since ancient times."

Zhao Hongyi was not close to the two elder brothers himself, and when he heard Xue Pan say this, it was not because of the two elder brothers' sadness, but because of himself.

"Then master, will I be the next one after elder brother dies?" Zhao Hongyi had a trace of fear in his eyes, and then said: "If I tell second brother that I won't fight, will second brother let me go?" , bowed his head and felt that he was too naive.

"Your eldest brother just went. Although your father is angry now, he is his own child after all. After he calms down, he may investigate strictly. If your second brother did it, your second brother may be very good during this time." I won't attack you, and besides, isn't there a lady in the palace who is pregnant with a dragon child?" Xue Pan laughed and said: "You are still young, and your second brother's strong enemy has already been eliminated. In my eyes, these days you have to study hard, what you learn is your own, anyone may betray you, but only you will not."

Zhao Hongyi nodded, the fear in his eyes just now dissipated, and the remaining traces of determination slowly solidified.

Xue Pan nodded, "When you went out to play that day, did anyone follow and see the matter of the maid and the eunuch?"

"I don't think they are bothering me." Zhao Hongyi said.

"That's enough for class, I'll let you read it with me." Xue Pan smoothed his robe and said, "Today I will tell the third prince a story."

So at the end of August, Lord Liao Ying's murder case was attributed to Yan Yanqing with many doubts, but no evidence could be found. Carrying his head to investigate the case.Since the eldest prince left, the eldest prince's party has completely extinguished his arrogance, especially at this time, the power in Strict Qing's hands has been slowly eroded by the three cabinet elders, and he bears the title of murdering important ministers, and the court is shrouded in haze for a while.

In the past few months, the situation in the court has changed turbulently, and the office and business are all cautiously adhering to the rules. It is not an exaggeration for the ministers to walk on thin ice.In mid-September, Emperor Pingkang took the second prince to sacrifice to heaven, and within two days he named the second prince the crown prince. The direction of the wind changed, and there was a lot of excitement. Uncle Yuanyang, who had no clue at all, also found new evidence. It was found that the murderer of Liao Ying was a young man who sneaked in, and that young man used to come from the mansion of the eldest prince.

The boy confessed that he was ordered by the eldest prince to give a full account. Liao Ying framed Mr. Yan, and Mr. Yan and the first prince were in the same camp...

Even Zhao Hongyi didn't believe this kind of nonsense, the court minister knew it clearly in his heart, congratulated the second prince on the face, who wouldn't say that the second prince is very powerful in his heart? !The eldest prince is dead, and all the dirty and smelly feces and urine basins are poured on the eldest prince's head. There is no way to refute the bullying of the eldest prince. For a while, the reputation of elegance and benevolence that the eldest prince gained during his lifetime was completely ruined. Emperor Pingkang seemed to be completely It's like forgetting that I have a boss. After death, Yudie will be removed and adopted by an emperor's uncle.And Yan Yanqing returned to the temple, but this time is already the era of the second prince, Yan Yanqing's status is obviously different from the past, even Emperor Pingkang, who used to value Yan Yanqing very much, is also indifferent to Yan Yanqing.

Xue Pan's heart is really chilled by such a family who doesn't care about family affection.

Early October, autumn.Emperor Pingkang took the princes and ministers and concubine Rou to Qiuji, the third prince just passed away due to a serious illness, and the affairs of the palace were left to Concubine Rui to take care of.Xue Pan was not invited because of his rank, so it happened to be a long vacation. He went to the Yamen for half a day every day and rested in the afternoon, which was exactly what Xue Pan wanted.

On this day, Jia's mansion sent someone to send a message, saying that Mrs. Xue Wang was invited to go to Jia's mansion to watch a play. Mrs. Xue was bored and went with Baochai and Baoqin.When they arrived at Jia's mansion, they saw horse-drawn carriages parked at the door one after another. It seemed that the invitation was not only for their family, but Jia's mansion seemed to have something good to send the post.

"Mom, what a good day today?" Xue Pan asked.If someone's birthday is celebrated, it will be much uglier for them to come empty-handed.

Mrs. Xue Wang shook her head, wondering: "The post only said please watch the show and nothing else. I thought it was the same as before, the girls chatting and watching the show. I didn't expect---" I happened to see the slowly approaching carriage getting on and off Mrs. Xue recognized a lady and said, "Isn't this Mrs. Yuan from Beijing?"

Xue Pan lifted the curtain and looked over. Mrs. Yuan was wearing a veil and she couldn't see clearly, but the sign on the vehicle showed that she was Yuan Xiujin's wife. "I didn't expect that the Jia family still had contact with the second prince..." No one in the car could hear the words clearly.

Xue Wang asked what she said, Xue Pan shook his head and said, "Mum and sisters, go in quickly, before it's too late."

The female relatives watched the play in the backyard, and the men chatted in the front yard. As soon as Xue Pan entered the front yard building, he saw Jia Baoyu with a listless head and Jia Huan with a calm expression on one side.Xue Pan first greeted Jia Amnesty and Jia Zheng, and Jia Huan said obediently when he saw him, "Greetings, master."

Jia Zheng nodded in satisfaction, and complimented Xue Pan: "Brother Huan paid homage to a good teacher. He didn't like reading at first, but after being taught by Pan'er, he became more sensible and well-behaved."

Xue Pan heard that Jia Zheng called Pan'er disgusting all of a sudden, it was too nasty, but from the point of view of affection, he was his uncle, and it was not wrong for him to call Pan'er to be kind because he was a generation younger.

"Brother Huan has a good talent, but his temperament was not correct before, and now he is sensible and well-behaved because of his uncle's influence." Xue Pan laughed.

Jia Zheng was naturally happy when he heard that, and he came to Jia Baoyu, pointing to Jia Baoyu who was trembling, and said: "My son is not good enough. He doesn't study hard all day long. I want to entrust Baoyu to Pan'er to teach him."

It turned out that there was something to say.It stands to reason that Jia Baoyu and him are serious cousins. He accepted a concubine as his apprentice, so he definitely couldn't reject Jia Zheng in a crowded place. This was not to sweep the face of the Wang family, but also to appear reckless.

"I took brother Huan as my apprentice back then and took many school exams. Since Baoyu wants to study with me, come and try first. If I don't fear the hardship, I will accept him as an apprentice." Xue Pan said.

Jia Zheng pointed at Jia Baoyu and scolded: "Thank you, Big Brother Xue! From now on, learn from your Big Brother Xue. If you mess with me again, I won't break your leg!"

Jia Baoyu drooped his head and nodded reluctantly.

Xue Pan just smiled and didn't take it seriously.Jia Huan next to him glanced at Jia Baoyu and didn't say anything, but a gleam of light flashed in his eyes.

During the half-cup of tea time, many gentlemen came to the front yard one after another. Jia Baoyu saw that there were so many people and his father didn't see him, so he slipped to the backyard to play.When they arrived in the backyard, Jia Baoyu was babbling and singing on the stage. Jia Baoyu, who had been sluggish at first, suddenly regained his spirits when he saw many sisters, and greeted Jia's mother. Jia's mother couldn't love her. Said: "Look at you, a spiritless adopted son, but your father said you?"

Jia Baoyu muffled: "Father asked me to study with Big Brother Xue."

"Study well, your big brother Xue is very capable, but if you won the first prize, you should be obedient, the old ancestor will wait for you to take the scholar exam in two years!" Jiamu said happily.

Mrs. Xue Wang was sitting beside Mrs. Wang, leaning against Jia Mu. Hearing that Jia Mu praised her son so much, she was naturally very humble.As soon as Mrs. Wang heard it, she liked it, and told Jia Baoyu a few words along with Jia Mu's words, nothing more than to study hard, Jia Baoyu frowned again.Seeing this, Jia's mother said distressedly: "Okay, let's stop talking, let's watch a show with our ancestors first!"

Mrs. Wang shut up and stopped talking.Jia Baoyu took advantage of the opportunity to sit beside Jia Mu, and Madam Yuan happened to be next to her. When Madam Yuan saw Baoyu's appearance, she praised: "You are really handsome, and it is really beautiful to be raised by the old lady's side."

When Jia's mother heard this, she smiled and said, "Baoyu is a devil king, and Mrs. Yuan praised her."

"How old is it?" Hearing Baoyu say fourteen, Mrs. Yuan raised her eyebrows and said, "It's not young, it's a year older than my sister."

Xue Wang's subordinates sat Baochai, Daiyu and Baoqin. When Daiyu, who was listening to the opera, heard Mrs. Yuan's words, her hands under the table tightened, and the handkerchief was stirred up.

The author has something to say: Good night.