[Red House] The First Imperial Merchant

Chapter 68 Ping Kangdi played a big game of chess

Mrs. Wang is worthy of being her own mother. It has been less than a year since the official construction of the garden for Jia Yuanchun started, but it has already reached a small scale. According to this progress, it should be no problem to wait until next year's New Year. According to Jia Huan, the garden was built three times in the previous life. Years, now it seems less than two years.Mrs. Wang loves to save face and is in a rush to make progress. She calculated that next year when the daughter comes back, the little prince will be almost one year old. I don't know if I can see him. For this reason, the number of craftsmen who are rushing to work has more than doubled, and the amount of money will naturally double. , The garden covers a large area, houses, bridges, corridors, rockeries, etc. Needless to mention the exquisite atmosphere, the rare plants and trees transplanted in the garden cost a lot of money.

This garden is like a bottomless pit. Mrs. Wang searched everywhere for money but couldn't fill it up. Seeing that the garden is half built and it will be completed soon, she can't let go no matter what. The desperate Mrs. Wang has thought of many ways to get money. At the beginning, she supplemented her own dowry, but when she saw the unsatisfactory posture, after Lai everyone's persuasion, she came up with the idea of ​​giving out profiteering money, but she didn't have any extra money on hand for her to use as capital. At this time, she thought of her sister Mrs. Xue Wang, the rotten boat still has three points of nails. Mrs. Wang doesn't believe that the three generations of imperial merchants still don't have any money left? !

Mrs. Xue Wang was still recalling the scene when Mrs. Wang talked to her at that time, sighed, and said: "It was the same way when we were in the boudoir. It doesn't matter whether it is food or clothing. We each have a share, and she uses it first." I bought hers, and then I thought about this one in my hand. When I was young, it belonged to my sisters. The small things in my hand were nothing. If I gave it to her, I would give it to her. ---Well, as I get older, I think of the past, and people's hearts become quicker, not to mention that we haven't seen each other for more than [-] years after we got married. Even if I give it, I won’t think of you, like our Xue family’s things should be offered with Baba’s hands to please her daughter..." Mrs. Xue came back to her senses and saw her tall and handsome son , the old things in my heart disappeared at once, and she smiled and said: "You see, my mother talked a lot. When I married your father, I was part of the Xue family. My brother is in charge of the Wang family's affairs! As for Jia It's not our Xue family's turn to intervene in family affairs."

These words completely put an end to the idea of ​​lending money to Mrs. Wang.

Xue Pan listened for a while, and then remembered what Xue Biao said about the family visitation garden, which now costs at least 100 million taels, and Mrs. Wang has to choose everything. On that day, Emperor Pingkang issued an order to favor and favor the concubines. Jia Yuanchun was not the only one. In the harem, there are only one queen, two noble concubines, four concubines and six concubines, and what Mrs. Wang is worthy of showing off is that Jia Yuanchun can enjoy the same treatment as two noble concubines and four concubines despite having only one concubine. This is the only one in the middle, so it is indeed very imaginative, especially when Jia Yuanchun is pregnant with the dragon species, it is inevitable that some people will want to wait for the birth of the dragon son, and the concubine is estimated to be promoted.

Among the seven visiting concubines, Jia Yuanchun is the last one. Mrs. Wang naturally wants to support her daughter. I am not as good as you, but my garden is bigger than yours and you are more luxurious!

In Xue Pan's view, this kind of concept is simply stupid. There are two noble concubines with princes, one of whom is the mother concubine of the prince, and her natal family is a powerful Cheng family who holds military power. Look at the family's family garden, which is dignified Looking at it is simple, at least the common people see it, and they can boast a few words, you have built a garden with one concubine than two noble concubines, aren't you spreading hatred for your daughter!After all, it's his own, so he won't spare any effort!

Ever since the eldest prince died suddenly, in order to cover up the scandal, Emperor Pingkang claimed that the eldest prince had died of illness, but the high-ranking people in the Palace of Truth knew it well in their hearts. For this reason, the beloved Li Meiren also died of illness for no reason, and the queen is even more vain now. It has its name, the door of Ningkun Palace has never been opened since the eldest prince died suddenly, the empress was placed under house arrest, and the right to take charge of the affairs of the harem was handed over to the two noble concubines, but the noble concubine Rou is the prince's mother concubine, Even though Concubine Rui has three princes, she is used to being indifferent to the world. As long as Concubine Rou doesn't move her bottom line, there will be nothing to earn. So whether it is the former court or the harem, the prince's party is a complete victory.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration flashed in Xue Pan's mind. He remembered what Zhao Hongyi said in the morning that Emperor Pingkang had a conspiracy to be nice to him recently. At first, he thought that the kid was thinking too much. The situation in the harem of the previous dynasty and the severe Qing that Emperor Pingkang had attacked had regained momentum. Isn't this just to suppress the prince's arrogance in the previous dynasty with the help of strict Qing? !What about the harem?Can the harem find out how many people can fight against Concubine Rou?The empress is defeated, and the rest of the family ranks are not divided, and only Concubine Rui has a son, but Concubine Rui is indifferent, and the only thing she cares about is the third prince, but Concubine Rou and the prince look down on the young third prince, Emperor Pingkang gave the third prince his arrogance. He was so gracious and gave the prince a sense of potential threat. Whenever Concubine Rou made a move, Concubine Rui would not be able to wait and tear her apart......

Emperor Pingkang why? !They are all his own sons. Could it be that the purpose of playing such a big game of chess is to watch his sons and women kill each other?

Xue Pan, a modern person, can't figure it out.

Asked Ann with Mrs. Xue Wang, Xue Pan went straight to Jia Huan's yard muttering, Jia Huan and Zhao Hongyi started bickering again in the room, Xue Pan was full of conspiracy theories now, and he was not in the mood to watch the two play monkey games, the two of them He also saw that Xue Pan's complexion was not good, before Zhao Hongyi asked, Xue Pan said directly: "If the Holy One wants to use your hand to suppress your second brother's momentum, what do you think?"

"Second brother never set eyes on me---" Zhao Hongyi frowned.

"What if your father gave you more power and favor than the crown prince?" Xue Pan said.

Zhao Hongyi's face suddenly became ugly, "Father really loves me the most." On that day, the elder brother died suddenly, but the father didn't investigate, and he didn't even give his son an innocence for his own sake, so he hurriedly After reporting the death of illness, Zhao Hongyi clearly remembered the indifference in his father's eyes that night, as if it wasn't the elder brother who died on the ground---maybe, his father didn't treat the three of them as sons at all.

Xue Pan understood immediately.The prince is always the prince, one day before becoming emperor, one day he will obediently bow down in front of Emperor Pingkang. In front of the imperial power, there is no father and son. Emperor Kang is also an extremely selfish person. The women and sons he loves in the entire palace are dead, and now he has power in his hands. Whoever dares to shake his power should be careful, not to mention that since ancient times, many princes After a long time, he had the idea of ​​forcing the palace to rebel.

Emperor Pingkang may have no great talent in governing the country, but his means of playing with power are extremely high.He was able to become the No. 6 champion that day, which is enough to show that Emperor Pingkang wanted him to balance someone's power. Later, this person followed the First Prince, and he advanced step by step. Later, the First Prince died suddenly, strictly clean Down, the second prince became the prince, powerful, Yan Yanqing came back again, but at this time Yan Yanqing alone could not suppress the prince, so as the master of the third prince, if the third prince fights with the prince, as the third prince Isn't the party going against the enemy camp? !Moreover, his family background is shallow, and he came from a business background. Even if he stands in the camp of the third prince, he will not turn to one side. He can fight for a long time, and he is not afraid of the power of the third prince.

In the court hall, one person should never dominate and threaten those sitting above. The emperor likes to see two or three checks and balances.

After Xue Pan figured it out, his heart sank a little. Although he did not conceit himself as a time traveler, he was also somewhat arrogant. Whether it was business or official career, he went very smoothly. Only at this moment did he realize that imperial power politics was not what he thought. It's that simple, but Ping Kangdi, who looks a little fatuous, is even more scheming and cunning. He has long been a pawn on the chessboard, and he was still debating whether to stand in line. I don't know it.

Xue Pan succinctly stated his deduction, and Zhao Hongyi was able to understand at a point, looking at Xue Pan with a little fear in his eyes, after all, he was a nine-year-old child, and his voice was trembling, "Master, I never thought about earning anything. .”

"I know." Xue Pan hugged the trembling Zhao Hongyi into his arms, his eyes showed determination, Jia Huan rarely felt sour on the bed, and his hand holding Yuzhu tightened.

"If you guess correctly, the Holy Majesty will make you king in a short time," Xue Pan said.

On this day, Zhao Hongyi lingered until it was almost dark in the afternoon before being taken back to the palace by the guards. Li Zi was driving the carriage. Just now, he saw that the third prince's eyes were red, and Tian Ma couldn't see clearly. At this moment, he lowered his attitude and asked cautiously: "Master, But have you been wronged?"

"So much nonsense!" Sitting in the carriage, Zhao Hongyi deliberately acted savagely, humming: "The Jia family really treats my little senior brother so well—I don't understand it even if I tell you!"

When Li Zi outside the carriage heard this, his eyes relaxed a little. It turned out that he was sad for that concubine Jia Huan. Such a third prince's character is innocent enough to cause trouble.

When Zhao Hongyi returned to the palace, Emperor Pingkang was talking to Concubine Rui. Concubine Rui waved her hands repeatedly when she saw her son coming back, wiped Zhao Hongyi's face with her handkerchief, and said distressedly: "It's so cold outside, you'll freeze to death if you go out for a day, Your Majesty Don't get used to him this time, you don't run around like a prince all day!" What he said to Emperor Pingkang was coquettish.

Emperor Pingkang laughed loudly, and patted Zhao Hongyi on the shoulder with his hands. Seeing that Zhao Hongyi was shivering, he asked concerned: "But it's cold? Why are you shivering?"

Zhao Hongyi made up his mind, nodded his head, and then he was depressed. Emperor Pingkang asked Lizi when he saw this, and Lizi said respectfully: "My lord, if we want to talk about this matter, we have to mention the apprentice Xue Master returned. It is Rongguo Mansion. Mr. Jia Zheng's concubine son, now the master went to Xue's mansion, followed him to Jia's mansion, and saw that Mr. Jia's concubine son was punished, the master was in a bad mood."

"Father, although Jia Huan is a concubine, he looks pretty and has a good temperament. His son likes to play with him. I went today, and the wives of Jia's mansion still want to coax me. If I don't ask the end, Brother Huan I'm afraid I'm dead already." Zhao Hongyi looked arrogant and protective.

Concubine Rui was afraid that Emperor Pingkang would be angry, so she deliberately reprimanded Zhao Hongyi, covered her handkerchief and lit Zhao Hongyi's small forehead, and said angrily: "Look at what you said, I went to school, how can I like people just because they look beautiful! I'm really ignorant child."

On the contrary, Emperor Pingkang laughed loudly, loving him tightly, and said protectively: "I see that Hongyi is very good like this, simple and straightforward, so he can protect his shortcomings. If he doesn't vent his anger, it's the same for Emperor Father to stand up for you."

"I'm young, so others don't regard me as a master." Zhao Hongyi said this somewhat like a child's anger.

Concubine Rui raised her eyebrows, and said defensively: "Who doesn't regard you as the master? You tell the concubine mother, and I will invite the wives from the Rongguo Mansion to come in for a chat some other day---" Thinking of Emperor Pingkang next to him, Rui The imperial concubine's sharp eyebrows lowered a little, and she smiled and said: "Don't mention this, hurry up and change your clothes, can you eat? Your father is waiting for you to come back and use it together, go!"

Zhao Hongyi nodded with a smile and ran out.

Concubine Rui stared at Zhao Hongyi's monkey-like back, and said angrily, "This child really has no rules."

"I see it so well, like a child, not like a prince, what else can I enjoy." Emperor Pingkang smiled lovingly.