The Red Mansions

Chapter 1039 Duke Wei is in Henan

Chapter 1039 Duke Wei is in Henan

Shenjing City, Ningguo Mansion

Qin Keqing looked at Third Sister You, who was not far away with a look of disappointment on her face, and persuaded: "My husband told you to go, but you didn't go. It's the same when you come back and finish the ceremony."

Because Jia Heng left in a hurry, after all, he still didn't complete the concubine ceremony with Third Sister You. From the big wedding on May [-]th to the departure, there was no room for time in the middle of the itinerary.

"Yes." Second Sister You saw regret on her soft and quiet face, and said softly, "Third Sister has never been to Jiangnan, so she will accompany her for a walk. This time, Sister-in-law Feng has gone. It's the same when you go to Jiangnan to find time to finish the ceremony."

Third Sister You looked at Qin Keqing, and said softly, "I'm not worried about my sister being alone at home without taking care of me, the mansion is empty now."

Jia Heng's trip to the south of the Yangtze River can be said to have evacuated the two mansions of Ningrong and Rong.

Youshi said: "I'll just keep an eye on it here, you follow the uncle to go south."

In fact, she originally wanted to go there, but she didn't know why she should go south. Could it be the anniversary of her deceased husband?

Well, this...

Qin Keqing took Third Sister You's plain hand, smiled, and said in relief: "Okay, now who doesn't know that you are the head of Third Grandma You, your title has been decided long ago, it doesn't matter if you finish the ceremony earlier or later. "

Third Sister You Yanye's face was covered with a faint color, and she said: "I guess the uncle thinks it's boring to keep someone alone."

Qin Keqing: "..."

so what?What else do you want?

Third Sister You cast a pair of beautiful eyes on Sister You's face, her gaze was like looking at a treasure.

"What does Third Sister want me to do?" Second Sister You said in a shy tone, feeling a little uncomfortable being scrutinized.

Third Sister You said jokingly: "If you don't wait for the uncle to come back this time, the second sister will come with me and let the uncle accept it."

She felt that this must be the case, so the uncle delayed the matter of taking concubines again and again, and only when she and the second elder sister went into battle could the uncle be tempted.

In fact, she didn't pay much attention to this concubine wedding since she had been obsessed with the uncle several times. Just like Sister Qin said, who in the mansion doesn't know that she is Duke Wei's concubine?

Youshi's jade face changed slightly, Liu Mei couldn't help but raised her eyebrows, she saw annoyance on her crystal jade face, and said, "Third Sister, what are you talking about?"

Helping Zhang Luo's concubine's room is the job of the head wife, how can it be a big deal that a concubine's room can handle?

Second Sister You's tender, quiet and beautiful jade cheeks were already as red as a cloud of clouds, she might have been poked in her heart, and she said in embarrassment, "Third Sister!"

"How can I say this is nonsense? The second sister is not young, and she should have promised someone a long time ago, and she can't always wait around." Third sister You took second sister You's arm and chuckled Said next.

The marriage of Zhang Hua's family has been retired long ago, isn't it just waiting for Uncle Heng?

It's just that the second sister has a quiet and docile temperament, her admiration is hidden in her heart, but it's hard to speak.

Qin Keqing looked at Second Sister You with soft eyes, and said softly: "If Second Sister doesn't dislike it, it's also good to be company with Third Sister, and I agree with it."

The Youshi sisters in front of me are from humble backgrounds, but they are brightly colored, so they are most suitable to be her helpers.

When Second Sister You heard the words, she felt her delicate body go limp, a blush floated on her face, she stomped her foot and said, "I won't tell you guys anymore."

Saying that, shy and uncontrollable, he walked away.

After Second Sister You left, Qin Keqing stroked her swollen belly slightly, and said with emotion: "After my husband comes back, the child should be born."

Youshi looked at the resentful beauty, and said with relief: "You can take care of your baby, don't worry about anything else, he should be back by then."

Qin Keqing nodded with an "um" and said nothing else.

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall

Jia Mu was resting on an arhat bed covered with soft mattresses, with her eyes closed, and the mandarin ducks behind her helped Jia Mu pinch her shoulders.

"Why didn't you go to Jiangnan with Brother Heng this time?" Jia Mu said softly.

Yuanyang smiled and said, "It's not staying to serve the old lady."

"It's rare for you to be so filial." Jiamu said with a smile on Fansheng's face, "You and Brother Heng have been together for so long, and he didn't tell you when he will accept you?"

Yuanyang's subordinates paused slightly, squeezed their shoulders, and said softly: "The uncle said that it's okay for me to serve the old lady for two more years."

Mother Jia sighed and said, "You can't just keep waiting."

This girl won her heart. Now that she thinks about it, she was a little hasty in giving it to Brother Heng.

"Old lady, even if I marry the uncle, I will come to serve the old lady." Yuanyang said softly.

Just as Jia's mother was about to speak, Lin Zhixiao's family said, "Old lady, Second Master Bao is here."

While speaking, he saw a young man wearing a purple gold crown with hair tied on his head and red arrow sleeves, stepping into the hall, his face was like a silver basin, and his eyes were like bright stars.

Baoyu bowed and said, "The grandson has seen the old ancestor."

Jia Mu stood up, looked at Baoyu with kind eyes, and said with a smile: "Baoyu, you are back, let me take a look."

Baoyu sat nearby and said, "Why is it so quiet here today, my ancestor? Didn't you see Sister-in-law Feng and some younger sisters?"

Although all the sisters went to the Grand View Garden, sometimes Jia's mother would organize the gold hairpins to play around in the Rongqing hall, and Baoyu, who had left school, could also see a group of gold hairpins.

This is already one of the few beautiful colors in Baoyu's gloomy life, but it still has to be deprived of it.

What kind of persecution is this?

Mother Jia smiled and said, "It's not that your elder brother Heng went to Jiangnan. Your sister-in-law Feng, sister Lin and sister Xue also went there."

Baoyu paused when he heard this, and couldn't help but said, "What about sister Yun, second sister, younger sister Qin, and fourth younger sister?"

"Baoyu, I've followed you, Big Brother Heng." Jia Mu said with an uneasy expression on her face.

Baoyu: "..."

What does this mean?It's in the past?Not one left?Last time I went to Jiangnan, my second and fourth younger sisters were at home. Are they even gone now?

Baoyu's hands and feet were cold at the moment, and his eyes were blank.

At this moment, a nun entered the hall and said, "My wife and aunt are here."

Just as they were talking, Mrs. Wang, Aunt Xue and a nanny entered the room, bowed and said, "I've seen the old lady."

Mother Jia looked at the nanny in silk and satin in surprise, and asked, "Who is this?"

"Old lady, this is the mother of the Xia family, come here and talk to the old lady about Baoyu's marriage." Mrs. Wang smiled and introduced.

"I've seen the old lady." A prosperous smile appeared on the grandma's face, and then she looked at Baoyu as if she were seeing a treasure, and said with her tongue: "This is the brother who was born with jade in his mouth. Today I have met him." He is a real person, he is truly a talented person with a majestic appearance."

The smile on Mother Jia's face faded somewhat, and she glanced at Mrs. Wang.

Baoyu's mother is really confused.

Earlier, when Xia Shouzhong came to propose marriage, Jia's mother looked down upon her. How could she, a high-ranking prince, marry the daughter of a merchant?

The nanny smiled and said: "Old lady, my old lady was so happy when she heard about this brother in the house, she originally wanted to bring the girl to visit the old lady in person, but she knew that the noble family of your house didn't know what to do. Horrible and abrupt."

It can be said that the current Rongning and Ningfu prefectures have become the top five masters among the great Han Wuxun after Jia Heng was named the Duke of Wei, concurrently the daughter of the emperor and the daughter of the clan.

Sitting on the soft couch, Jia's mother looked at the nanny, smiled and said, "Our family's Baoyu is still young, so we are not in a hurry to make a decision on the marriage."

Then, he turned to look at Aunt Xue who came with Mrs. Wang, and said, "Isn't Pan'er in Wucheng Bingmasi, who is older than Baoyu? If the girl from the Xia family is suitable, why not mention it to Pan'er .”

Aunt Xue: "???"

And the smile on the nanny's face was a bit unnatural, but due to Jia's mother's extremely respected status as the Duke's wife, she could only listen obediently.

Mrs. Wang's face turned blue and white for a while.

Because it was Mother Jia who was slapping Mrs. Wang in the face through Aunt Xue.

Jia's mother said softly: "Pan'er's younger sister and Heng'er will also form a family in the future. They are all relatives, and Pan'er's family is also in business. It’s a good thing for Wangfu.”

Mother Jia is old and refined, and she has figured out the meaning of Xia's attachment during this period of time. Since it is attachment, there is no need to attach to her precious jade.

Not to mention Baoyu marrying a princess or princess, at least she must be the daughter of Marquis Wu, girl Yun is the most suitable, and girl Baoqin is also easy to give birth to, if she speaks well, she can be a flat wife.

Isn't this better than a merchant's daughter?

Mrs. Wang settled down, smiled on her fair face, and said, "Old lady, Mrs. Xia in the palace..."

Jia Mu interrupted: "I have an idea in mind about Baoyu's marriage, so don't worry about it anymore."

Said, looking at Baoyu on the side, and asked with a smile: "Baoyu, what are you thinking now?"

Baoyu was in a daze at the moment, and said blankly: "I don't want to get engaged, I want to go to the south of the Yangtze River to find Sister Lin."

Mother Jia, Mrs. Wang, and Aunt Xue: "..."

On the contrary, the Xia family's mother-in-law's eyes flashed, as if her mind had been opened, and she planned to go back to the Xia family to have a discussion.

Just when everyone in Jia's Mansion in Shenjing City had different thoughts, Henan, Kaifeng City, Kaifeng Mansion's Back Hall——

Jia Heng and Song Xuan, the prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture, sat down to drink tea, and not far away was Princess Xianning dressed in a flying fish costume.

Since the beginning of summer, there have been many heavy rains in Henan, which have affected the harvesting and drying of summer grain. However, the heavy rain poured into the Yellow River, and the Yellow River embankment was safe and sound.

Jia Heng looked up at Song Xuan, and said softly: "During this period in the province, has the summer grain collection gone smoothly? How is the new policy implemented in Zhufu counties?"

"Summer grain collection is going well. Although there is a severe drought in Henan this year, there are many different degrees of harvest failures, but the storage of granaries in various places is still relatively good, and the people's expenses are still sufficient." Song Xuan said softly: "As for Qingzhang's farmland, because last year the It was implemented in Kaifeng Prefecture and Zhangde Prefecture, so there was no resistance, and because of the incident last year, many things were less constrained."

The young man in front of him has been out of control in just two or three years since the chaos in the Central Plains. He has been promoted from an ordinary general to Duke, and married his niece Xianning.

Jia Heng nodded, and pondered: "In this way, the implementation of the New Deal in Henan has fewer twists and turns than in Jiangnan."

At the beginning, the civil rebellion in the Central Plains had bloodbathed the gentry in the provincial capital. When Jia Heng led his troops to quell the rebellion, he suppressed the clans represented by the Wei and Zheng vassals, and later liquidated many evil gentry and powerful people in the evil places.

Several iron fists came down, and the obstacles to reform were basically cleared away.

In response to that sentence, the broom does not reach, and the dust does not fall.

Song Xuan pondered and said: "Recently, several houses are located in Qingzhang Tianmu. Everything is mostly in an orderly manner, and there are also resistances, but they are not as big as those in the south of the Yangtze River."

As time passed, the news of Jiangnan mobs killing officials has gradually spread through the mansion bureaucracy.

Jia Heng nodded and said: "According to Shi Hou's letter, since the trial implementation of the four new policies, prefectures and counties in various places have made steady progress, and the situation is generally improving."

The general situation of stability and improvement has not changed.

Song Xuan nodded and asked, "Has Shihou ever mentioned the dispute between the two divisions of Fufan to Duke Wei?"

Jia Heng was silent for a moment, then said: "Shihou has not mentioned this matter to me yet, where did the dispute between the two divisions start?"

Song Xuan pondered and said: "Not long ago, there was a severe drought in Nanyang Prefecture, and the people in the counties under the jurisdiction of the government were unable to receive them. Shi Hou proposed to transfer food from Luoyang Taicang for relief, and the chief envoy Peng Ye proposed to store it and deliver it to the imperial court. Distribute some sweet potatoes to Nanyang Prefecture to help the victims."

Jia Heng frowned and said, "Didn't Nanyang Mansion grow sweet potatoes last year?"

Song Xuan pondered and said: "Although sweet potatoes were good in the past, Nanyang Prefecture did not promote them. The original prefect of Nanyang Prefecture believed that sweet potatoes were difficult to survive. He was suspicious of this, but it delayed a lot."

Jia Heng said: "Where are the prefects of Nanyang now?"

The Nanyang Basin is an important grain-producing area, and it would be unacceptable to some officials if a large area was diverted to planting sweet potatoes.

Song Xuan said: "Shi Hou has already replaced him. Mr. Peng said that he will send a councilor from the Chief Secretary's Yamen to take charge of the relief."

Jia Heng's eyes flickered, and he said, "Then the prefect of Nanyang is from Peng Ye."

Song Xuan nodded, and said: "The prefect of Nanyang was originally a co-prefect of Weihui's mansion, and also a fellow of Peng Ye's hometown. He was recommended by him and went to Nanyang mansion to take up the post."

Ever since Peng Ye became the chief political envoy, because of his status as a civil servant, a group of civil officials who had graduated from the imperial examination quickly surrounded him, fighting against the governor Shi Ding.

However, because of his status as Marquis of Wu, Shi Ding was a provincial official in the local area, but in terms of local civil affairs, he was mostly constrained by Peng Ye. In other words, Chen Han's system design was originally controlled by the governor and the vassal.

Worried that Jia Heng felt that he was not capable enough, Shi Ding did not mention this in his letter.

Jia Heng said: "Nanyang's summer crops failed due to the drought, why didn't Henan's report report to Beijing?"

Song Xuan explained: "Last year's sweet potato harvest was bumper, and the central government issued a reward. Officials from all over Henan won the lottery. They also asked the northern provinces to plant sweet potatoes. Kaifeng Prefecture sent several county magistrates to Hebei to promote planting."

Jia Heng thought about it for a moment, and immediately understood the reason.

Still the same sentence, I don't want to report to the top to be blamed, and the prefect of Nanyang is mostly Peng Ye's people, so the two reached a tacit agreement on this matter, not to report the bad news to the top.

In fact, this is also the standard operating procedure of local officials. When they encounter something, they immediately "cover the cover".

Jia Heng said: "Is the disaster situation in Nanyang more serious? Did the victims starve to death?"

"The situation of the disaster should be controllable. The governor's office has already planned to exempt Nanyang from this year's annual tax. All prefectures and counties are actively dispatching food for relief." Song Xuan said.

Hearing the word controllable, Jia Heng's eyes were fixed, and he said in a deep voice: "In the past few days, I will first take a look at Kaifeng Mansion, and then go to Nanyang Mansion. It is better not to lie about the locality, otherwise it will be difficult. It's all the people."

Song Xuan nodded, and said, "Last time, I mentioned this to Shi Hou indistinctly, but he didn't take it seriously."

Jia Heng said: "This matter is really difficult. I will write a secret letter to express my feelings to the Holy One later."

He really understands the difficulty of the leader of one faction. Sometimes the members of the same faction make mistakes. Do you guarantee it or not?

Everyone will make mistakes. Some mistakes are bad things done with good intentions, and some things are human nature to seek good fortune and avoid evil. If everything is true, even the emperor will become a lonely person.

For example, what Shi Ding did was a bit stupid. If it was him, he would have to report to the superiors and pull Peng Ye down. Of course, the price would be that he would also be disgraced in Beijing.

But now he and Peng Ye chose not to report to the capital in tacit agreement. Firstly, he felt that he could bear it;

Because the bureaucrats are only responsible for the source of power, after reporting their concerns, they may lose their jobs.

In fact, it is a bad sign, and Shi Ding needs to be reminded.

It's still the most fun to be a lonely minister, but the core essence of humanity is to gather people, and if you don't form cliques, you won't go far.

Seeing the boy lost in thought, Song Xuan called softly, "Zi Yu, Zi Yu?"

Jia Heng turned around and said, "I'll go see Shihou later."

Under Princess Xianning's curved eyebrows, with a smile in her clear eyes, she said in a clear voice: "Uncle, sir, it's already noon now, it's time for dinner."

Song Xuan smiled and said, "Then let's have lunch first."

Song Xuan's wife, Yue Shi, also came out with a smile. A young Huaxin woman in her 20s, dressed brightly and coquettishly, greeted, "Xianning, sit here."

Everyone sat down around a table and ate their meals.

Yue asked with concern: "Xianning, how is your mother in Beijing these few days?"

Princess Xianning said softly: "Go back to Auntie, everything is fine."

"I heard that Yan'er is back this time too?" Yue said with a gentle smile on his brows and eyes.

Princess Xianning smiled lightly and said, "Should arrive the day after tomorrow. The boat they take should take a little longer."

"Yan'er is not young anymore, have you promised someone? I said tell her about the marriage." Yue Shi suddenly smiled and said.

Princess Xianning said softly: "Sister Yan'er is still young, besides, Third Aunt also has some ideas."

As he spoke, he glanced at the boy in python suit who was talking to Song Xuan.

But he said that the governor's office in Henan

The sound of "da da" sounded at the end of the street. Several fast horses stopped in front of the gate of the governor's office. A middle-aged official in a bullfight uniform got off the saddle and handed the reins to his subordinates. At this moment, a The little official greeted him and said: "Lord Futai, Duke Wei has arrived at Kaifeng Mansion, and went to Kaifeng Mansion Yamen to meet Lord Song."

Shi Ding nodded, stepped over the threshold with a pair of black Chaoyun official boots, and said, "This Marquis changes clothes, and I will go to the Song Mansion later."

Entering the hall, Shi Ding's wife Zhou quickly greeted her with a smile and said, "Master, you are back."

Shi Ding nodded, and said: "Let the servants prepare hot water, Brother Heng is here from the capital, I'll go take a look after I take a shower and change.

While ordering the servants to prepare hot water and clothes, Mrs. Zhou said: "Brother Heng is very important now, he has been named Duke."

Shi Dingdao: "That's right, it's only been a few years, from being a commoner to being a Duke, and even marrying a princess and princess."

"It's really a blessing that I can't envy." Zhou smiled and said: "Brother Xin told me last month that he was trusted by His Royal Highness King Wei in Wucheng."

King Wei's inability to open a breakthrough on Jia Heng's side doesn't mean that he can't use his strength from the historians, and Shi Xin is in command of the Wucheng Army and Horse Division.

And Jia Heng has never communicated internally with the four major families, and has maintained a relationship with King Wei.

Shi Ding's eyes narrowed and he said, "His Royal Highness, King Wei?"

Zhou said: "Brother Heng is now marrying Princess Xianning's mother and concubine is King Wei's aunt, and the two families are much closer."

Shi Ding said: "I know about this matter, I will discuss it after meeting Zi Yu later."

There is one more thing I need to ask Ziyu, Peng Ye has repeatedly opposed him in Henan, and now Yang Guochang has long since resigned, can Peng Ye think of a way to kick him out of Henan.

Zhou said: "Last time I heard a letter from my sister-in-law saying that my brother went to Shandong from the military plane to serve as an admiral, and the whole family went to Shandong."

"I read that it was recorded in the mansion newspaper that my elder brother went to Shandong." Shi Ding said.

Mrs. Zhou smiled and said: "Brother Heng, I thought he was cold-hearted. He didn't have any trouble with the Wang family back then. I don't want him to treat the Wang family and us now that he has been favored by the royal family. Everyone lends a helping hand.”

Shi Ding twirled his beard under his jaw and said: "After all, they are relatives with bones and muscles connected."

"Sir, I'll say yes." Mrs. Zhou smiled and said: "Sir, I'm thinking that Girl Yun won't be too young in another two years. You said Brother Heng said that Girl Yun should stay in the garden of Ningguo Mansion. Yes or no?"

Shi Ding frowned, but didn't understand what he meant for a while.

Zhou said: "I'm wondering if Yun girl will promise to Brother Heng when she grows up."

Shi Ding said: "Zi Yu already has a wife, and she is also a wife of Sanmai, how can girl Yun be a concubine?"

If my elder brother's orphaned daughter becomes a concubine, I'm afraid his spine will be broken, but in case... Brother Heng really becomes the county king one day, side concubine is still okay.

At that time, it made sense for the daughter of the Shi family to be a side concubine.

But whether he can be crowned the king of the county, I don't know yet, let's see.

"Besides, what I mean by looking at my aunt seems to be leaving Xiangyun to Baoyu." Shi Ding said.

Zhou said: "Baoyu, everyone says that he is born with supernatural powers. Does the master know that his jade was broken in Beijing?"

Shi Ding frowned and said, "I don't know about that."

Mrs. Zhou smiled, and said: "I'm afraid that if you take it off when the grass falls and give birth to jade, it's just fooling the old lady."

It can be said that Shi Ding is Jia Zheng's peer, and the Zhou family is natural to Mrs. Wang, and these women love to gossip behind their backs.

Shi Ding paused, with a thoughtful look on his face, and Zhou narrated some of the ideas he had learned vividly.

"Master, the hot water is ready." A nun came in and said.

Shi Ding said: "Okay, let's not talk about these things that are not on the table, I will go to see Ziyu later."

"Then I'll help the master bathe and change clothes." Zhou said with a smile.

Shi Ding: "..."

He waved his hand, ignored Mrs. Zhou, and went straight to the wing room. After Shi Ding finished his bath, he didn't say much, and led several followers to the Song Mansion.

At the moment, Jia Heng and Song Xuan are talking about the current national policy, mainly talking about the four new policies.

Song Xuan asked: "Ziyu, the new policy of four stalls into the mu and one whip is now being tried out, and it can indeed reduce the hands of crafty officials. These days, I have calculated with a few staff members. The fire consumption alone can be used for a year. The imperial court collected [-]% more taxes."

Jia Heng smiled and said: "If the land is cleared, it won't be [-]%. It can be doubled. In addition, if the land is divided into acres, the money and food in the national treasury will increase immeasurably."

A simple whip method actually has limited effect, but if combined with strategies such as clearing the land and allocating the land, it is almost equivalent to a nuclear weapon.

At this moment, an outside servant stood outside the hall and said softly: "Master, Shi Hou handed over the greeting card outside the mansion."

(End of this chapter)