The Lady of the Red Chamber

These days in Yangzhou are always overcast and cloudy. The pattering rainwater hits the tiles and falls down the eaves. The crisp sound is not pleasant to the ear, but disturbing for no reason.

Lin Ruhai was sitting on the yellow rosewood chair behind the desk, holding a secret letter in his bony hands, pinching a corner of the letter paper with his slender fingers, looking carefully at the faint candlelight, the good letter was crumpled. Out of the creases.

As the situation in central Beijing became more and more uncertain, the muddy waters in the south of the Yangtze River were becoming more and more polluted by the struggle for power and profit in the imperial city.

The affairs of the salt government have always been cut constantly, and the reason is still chaotic.

Not to mention that these salt merchants are now backed by the prince, and they are colluding with the Yangzhou salt transport envoy officials, smuggling salt, and are so bold that they are fearless.

Even though he is the censor of salt inspection, he is powerless in the face of this awkward situation.

In order to win him over, the Zhen family and the Chen family even sent many people to present generous gifts, even the eleventh prince came to the door in person to honor the corporals.

My sister even sent countless letters, trying to persuade him to change his mind.

On the one hand is His Majesty who has been loyal for many years, and on the other is the younger sister who has been loved since childhood.It's not that he doesn't know what his sister is worried about.

It's just that he is a man with no heirs to cigarettes, and his only daughter has already arranged a way out, so what is he doing to make money for that illusory future?

Lin Ruhai put the secret letter into the incense burner, watched it burn to ashes, and sighed deeply.

Now the Zhen family has started to act mischievously again. Relying on the Second Prince and Concubine Zhen behind their backs, they have become so arrogant in the south of the Yangtze River.The murder case at the wharf a few days ago had an inexplicable relationship with their house.

But the sage loves Concubine Zhen Gui, and he doesn't know what the Yangzhou government is thinking about this matter?

Can't figure it out, just don't want to, Lin Ruhai picked up the teacup and was about to moisten his throat, and he heard Yunhao knocking on the door of the study room and said respectfully outside the study: "Master, my aunt and my aunt have written."

Lin Ruhai rubbed between his brows wearily: "Bring it in."

Of course he knew the contents of the letter from his sister and brother-in-law, but it was a family letter after all, if he didn't read it, it would be unkind.

Yunhao put the envelope on the table, looked at Lin Ruhai's face, thought of what the Yun family had said, and said, "Master, the sender told you to read the letter from my aunt first, and then read from my aunt."

"Oh." Lin Ruhai became a little interested, and stretched out his hand to take apart the letter paper: "The couple are very interesting, and they read the letter in order. Could it be that there are some regulations in it?"

Thinking that the letter from my sister was just gossip, Lin Ruhai unfolded the letter paper and scanned it nonchalantly to persuade her.But after reading the contents of the letter, his expression changed instantly.

"Snapped--"

Lin Ruhai slapped the letter paper on the desk heavily, no matter how good-tempered he was, he couldn't help raising his eyebrows and bristling with anger.

Rongguo Mansion is too deceptive.

Yunhao was taken aback by Lin Ruhai's appearance, thought of the Yun family woman who was waiting outside, and said tremblingly: "Master, the nanny from Yun's residence also said that if you read the letter from the aunt and the aunt , please see me next time. She still has some words from her aunt who she wants to recount personally."

Lin Ruhai took a deep breath, picked up her sister's letter again with her trembling right hand, and scanned it over and over again, hoping that her old eyes were dim and misread the content.

However, no.

No matter how many times he re-read it, the words on the letter paper still remained unchanged, and it was still talking about how the stolen goods in Rongguo Mansion were dirty and messy, and how it humiliated Yu'er's reputation.

Lin Ruhai's heart beat like a drum, his eyes darkened, and he slumped down in his chair.

Yunhao took two steps forward and stretched out her hands: "Master, are you alright?"

Lin Ruhai waved his hands weakly: "Go, please come in, Madam."

Although Yunhao was worried about Lin Ruhai, she didn't dare to disobey the master's order, so she hurriedly withdrew and rushed to the front hall.

Lin Ruhai suppressed the uneasiness and fear in his heart, and wanted to continue to open Yun Zhengran's envelope, but his whole body trembled unconsciously. He tried several times, but failed to tear open the ordinary envelope.

The somewhat cloudy eyes that had always been moody and angry were faintly dripping with tears.

Not surprisingly, Yun Zhengran sent a letter to persuade him to take refuge in the Sixth Prince.

If it was in the past, facing this kind of persuasion, he would definitely reply, thank you for not being sensitive.

But Yun Zhengran said again, if he is doing his best now, after a hundred years, who will be able to protect Yu'er and earn her a bright future?

He has been an official for many years, so it is not true that he is indifferent to fame and wealth, it's just that he didn't have the motivation to make a fool of himself before.

If he were to find out, the Rongguo Mansion was really as bad as his sister said, and even worse, even if he didn't care about his dead wife's face, he would definitely go to the Rong Mansion to ask for an explanation.

The eleventh prince, Situ Jin, spent more than half a year in Jiangnan recuperating from illness, and finally healed and returned to Beijing.

After entering the palace to pay respects to the father and the two concubines, and being held by the concubine for a long time, he was finally freed from the claws of the concubine's love and teary eyes, and rushed to the Sixth Prince's mansion without stopping to meet the many concubines. Unseen brother.

The sixth prince and concubine always loved Situ Jin very much. When she learned that he was entering the mansion, she quickly ordered someone to prepare dried meat and fruits and sent them to the study.

The eleventh prince sat upright in his seat, looking at the sixth brother without looking sideways, as if the snacks on the table next to him were not attractive to him.

Situ Ying raised his eyebrows and glanced at Situ Jin, looking at his well-behaved younger brother, he couldn't hold back a smile despite his usual cold face: "Stop pretending, eat it quickly. I know you love dried meat, you six When my sister-in-law found out that you were coming back, she specially cooked for you."

Situ Jin smiled, warm and moist, spotless, stretched out her white fingers to twist a piece, took a bite lightly, and chewed gently.

After a piece of jerky was completely eaten, Situ Jin wiped her lower lip with a brocade handkerchief, and praised with a faint smile: "Sister-in-law's skills are really getting better and better."

Situ Ying shook her head: "You, I went to Jiangnan for a trip. Others haven't learned it, but the rules have become more and more strict. Those who know say you are sensible, but those who don't know think that we are brothers."

Situ Jin was a little embarrassed: "Brother, it's the critical time now, and we can't make mistakes in every move. If the second brother finds out, it's not just us, but also Concubine Hui and Concubine Mu."

Situ Ying smiled and gave Situ Jin a look, and said with a little blame when she spoke again: "You also know that I didn't blame you, so why bother to make such false explanations?"

Situ Jin looked at the sixth prince.

He was clearly in his prime, but because of the daily intrigues, he couldn't hide the deep fatigue and hard work on his face.Even so, when he was sick, he still took great pains to take care of himself, sought out famous doctors all over the world, and even became a vegetarian and worshiped Buddha, just to hope that he could recover.As for myself, I can't even do a little thing well, and I can't help but feel sore: "Sixth brother, I'm sorry."

Situ Ying looked at her younger brother who had been in love with her since she was a child, and said gently, "A Jin, Lin Ruhai has always been reticent. I can't blame you."

Situ Jin will always be a perfect prince in front of outsiders, a gentleman, as gentle as jade.Only in front of my brother would he show his rare temper: "Lin Ruhai's younger sister is the aunt of the sixth brother. Not to mention that it will come naturally, I thought that after a year in the south of the Yangtze River, he would have to let go of his mouth for the sake of Mrs. Yun Er. But never To think he is such a stubborn person."

Situ Ying smiled, but the smile made people feel cold: "So what if the second aunt is Lin Ruhai's younger sister? His wife is the aunt of the Rongguo Mansion. The four families have always been in the same spirit, and Jiangnan Zhen The mansion has always been close. Not to mention that Wang Ziteng's first daughter is the second concubine's side concubine. Not to mention that he is loyal to his father, as far as their Lin family's messy in-law relationship is concerned, it's hard to say which side they belong to. Stand up and take off clean."

Speaking of this, Situ Ying shook her head, as if she didn't want to continue talking about this topic. Instead, she looked at Situ Jin and said slightly teasingly: "I heard that when you were in the Lin Mansion, you met Cousin Qingxu."

Situ Jin thought of the little girl with a puffy red face who looked at her with aggrievedness, her warm eyes couldn't help but a slight smile: "Cousin Yun is very nice, very cute."

"Really?" Seeing his younger brother's appearance, Situ Ying raised his eyebrows: "You should know what Concubine Mu and Concubine Yi mean. If that's the case, then I'm relieved."

"Ah." This time it was Situ Jinmeng's turn. After realizing Situ Ying's meaning, he hurriedly waved his hands, and a blush flashed across his handsome face: "Sixth Brother, what are you talking about? I just treat Cousin Yun as my younger sister." You and Concubine Mu really think too far."

Situ Ying was very happy to see Situ Jin marry the Yun family's daughter.He doesn't want to use his younger brother's marriage as a bargaining chip in exchange for power, even if he knows everything about it.

Seeing Situ Jin's rare look of being at a loss, he smiled, bent his fingers, and tapped on the table: "Don't be too nervous. What the concubine mother means is that feelings can be cultivated slowly. It just so happened that the second aunt brought her cousin Qing Ran today As a guest in the house, you might as well go see him too. Hong'er also said that she hasn't seen my uncle for a long time, and she misses her very much."

Situ Jin wanted to refuse, but when he thought of the apple-faced little girl with a bun, he changed his words somehow: "Then everything will be arranged by Sixth Brother."