The Red Mansions

Chapter 1655 Lin Ruhai: Or is this the wheel of karma, retribution?

Chapter 1655 Lin Ruhai: Or is this the cycle of cause and effect, retribution?

Ningguo Mansion, Grand View Garden, Cuicui Temple

Jia Heng was chatting with Miaoyu and Momo, with a happy smile on his face.

As Jia Heng spoke, he stretched out his arm and gently embraced Miaoyu's slender shoulders. He looked at his cute and adorable daughter and said, "Don't be too harsh on our Momo. She is still young. She will be fine when she grows up."

Miaoyu's eyes were as bright as water, and she said shyly, "Just pamper her every day."

Her daughter is becoming more and more naughty, and she doesn't know what kind of person she will become when she grows up.

Jia Heng reached out and gently took Miaoyu's slender hand, saying softly, "This is my precious daughter. How could I not pamper her?"

Not far away, Xing Xiuyan was holding Jia Heng's son Jia Meng, her eyes and brows as if emerging from the clouds, revealing a hint of envy.

Jia Heng gently pinched Miaoyu's smooth and tender chin, moved closer to her plump and bright lips, held those lips, and captured the clear and sweet breath.

Miaoyu's beautiful eyes were soft and translucent under her emerald eyebrows. She said in a trembling voice, "The child is still here."

Jia Heng asked, "They are still young, what can they understand?"

Miaoyu pushed Jia Heng's hand away with a blushing face, groaned softly, and said indistinctly: "Don't teach the child bad things later."

On the other side, Xing Xiuyan's snow-white face turned red as clouds, and then she quickly walked out of the room holding Jia Mo, who was looking at her with wide eyes.

Jia Heng gently took Miaoyu's slender hand, and without saying anything else, his eyes were warm, and he whispered, "Let's go inside and talk."

As he spoke, Jia Heng took Miaoyu's slender hand and led her into the inner room.

In late autumn, the moon is bright. The white moonlight is like gauze or fog, shining on the earth. The autumn wind blows through the courtyard and corridors, and you can hear the lanterns whispering in the corridors.

……

……

Time flies, and before I knew it, half a month had passed.

As the new emperor ascended the throne, the imperial edict was issued to confer Jia Heng the title of regent, and Jia Heng's power in the entire court became increasingly prevalent.

For a period of time, the Rong and Ning mansions were crowded with people.

Jia Heng stood in an empty hall, stared at Chen Xiao, and asked, "The letter from the Ministry of Personnel has been sent to the Southern Province, and Li Shouzhong will be the Governor-General of Liangjiang to manage the affairs of the Southern Province."

Chen Xiao nodded and asked, "Has Li Shouzhong been appointed as the Governor-General of Liangjiang and the Governor of Anhui been finalized?"

Jia Heng shook his head, a thoughtful look appeared on his face, and said: "Let's take a look at the situation. We are still a little short of manpower here."

Although he was in control of the government, his foundation was still shallow, and the civil officials who came to him were not very useful.

Chen Xiaocui's bright eyes sparkled under her beautiful eyebrows. She said, "There is another vacancy in the cabinet now. In addition, the position of Chief Censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate is vacant. Who will take over?"

Jia Heng thought for a moment and said, "I don't have any suitable candidates right now. I'll wait for my uncle to come over and see if he has any good candidates to recommend."

Lin Ruhai had been in the officialdom for many years and was a formal scholar, so he should have some peers.

In fact, he still hasn't explicitly usurped the throne of the Chen Han royal family, and he hasn't lost his moral support.

He still can't get in.

Of course, any discerning person could see that with his power, it would only take him a thought to usurp the Han Dynasty.

Now it is time to make the governance of the Han Dynasty more prosperous and win the support and hearts of the people.

Use five to ten years to build up his popularity in the court, and then it will be a natural process to replace the Han Dynasty.

Just as Jia Heng was feeling uncertain, a beautiful maid entered the study and said, "Your Majesty, Master Lin is here."

Hearing this, Jia Heng looked at Chen Xiao beside him and whispered, "Xiaoxiao, my uncle is here. I'll go over to see him."

As he was talking, he left the beautifully decorated study and came to the flower hall in the front yard, then looked up at Lin Ruhai.

"Uncle." Jia Heng called out first, his eyes warm.

Lin Ruhai said with a solemn expression, "Zi Yu, the Ministry of Revenue's three million dan of money and grain has been allocated to Taiyuan, and the disaster situation in Shanxi has been greatly alleviated."

Jia Heng nodded, and said cheerfully, "With this batch of grain and fodder allocated by the court, the disaster in Shanxi will certainly be alleviated a lot."

Lin Ruhai hesitated for a moment, and finally asked, "On my way to Beijing, I heard that Li Gelao of the Cabinet and Xu Zongxian of the Metropolitan Procuratorate were imprisoned for the dethronement incident?"

Jia Heng said, "Li and Xu incited the soldiers of the Beijing camp to riot, held Rong Fei's son hostage, and deposed Guangzong's son."

Lin Ruhai raised his eyebrows and asked, "Why didn't Ziyu let Guangzong's son do that?"

Jia Heng shook his head and said, "I just don't want to give people a chance to criticize me. Li Zan is a man of integrity and integrity, and he is known all over the country. Since they are using the excuse that Guangzong's son is not of Chen's bloodline, I will just choose a new emperor to avoid giving people a chance to criticize me."

Lin Ruhai frowned and said gently, "That way, it's feasible."

Now, within one or two years, the court has changed three emperors, which can be said to be a state of turmoil and unrest among the people.

Lin Ruhai's elegant face showed silence, and he said: "Zi Yu, the political turmoil in the court, will it make the local governors waver?"

Jia Heng was silent for a moment, then shook his head and said, "That won't happen. Although the central government is in turmoil now, its prestige has not decreased but increased."

Of course, this so-called central prestige is more about his prestige.

Jia Heng sorted out his thoughts and said, "Now the cabinet has Qi as the temporary head of cabinet affairs, and my uncle is the deputy assistant, handling the affairs of the local provinces with the cabinet members."

Lin Ruhai thought for a moment and said, "The cabinet is now short of a member, and we should fill that position now to assist in the administration of affairs."

Jia Heng thought for a moment and said, "I am also considering the candidates for the cabinet ministers and the chief censors. Does my uncle have any recommendations?"

Because Jia Heng is now the regent and can even exercise the power of the emperor, the appointment of such cabinet ministers does not require court discussion.

Lin Ruhai thought for a moment and said, "I do remember one person, Yu Xianmin, the governor of Jiangxi. During his tenure as governor of Jiangxi, he enforced the law impartially and received excellent grades in examinations."

Jia Heng asked: "Yu Xianmin?"

Lin Ruhai's face turned solemn, and he whispered, "He is my classmate, and he has been wandering around in the local area for many years."

Jia Heng thought about it, and his fair and delicate face was full of thought. He said, "If that's the case, we can let this Governor Yu serve as the Left Vice-Chief Censor of the Censorate first. After he is familiar with the inspection and impeachment in the Censorate, he can take charge of the Xiansi Yamen."

Lin Ruhai nodded, with an inexplicable look of joy in his eyes, and said, "Zi Yu is right."

Jia Heng said, "Uncle, the new emperor has just ascended the throne, and there is a lot of discussion in the court. Uncle, you should be in the cabinet and take care of the overall situation."

Lin Ruhai said: "Ziyu, don't worry."

After Jia Heng finished speaking about this matter, he did not say anything else and asked, "Who do you think should be appointed as a cabinet minister?"

Lin Ruhai twirled a few strands of beard under his chin, and a thoughtful look could be seen on his fair and elegant face. He said in a gentle voice: "There is still one person missing from the five cabinet members now. Zi Yu, you can leave the position vacant for the time being and select a provincial governor who has made contributions to the implementation of the new policy in the past to win the hearts of the people."

Jia Heng said: "Uncle Lin's words are reasonable. I have had this idea."

Lin Ruhai sighed and whispered: "Zi Yu is now in charge of state affairs, and he will achieve great things in the future."

Jia Heng said: "The future of the Han Dynasty still requires my uncle and I to work together sincerely and do our best."

It can be said that the Han Dynasty today is a test subject for literati to realize their political ideals.

Lin Ruhai also felt a surge of heroic emotion in his heart, and said, "Don't worry, Ziyu."

Jia Heng said in a clear voice: "Wait another two years, and when the imperial court has recovered its vitality, we can send troops to sweep across the Western Regions and Tibet, and spread the might of the Han Dynasty beyond the borders."

Lin Ruhai asked: "What about the land of South Vietnam?"

Jia Heng said: "This is the old land of the Han and Tang Dynasties, and we must also recover it. From now on, our Han army will sail along the sea border, escort the passage of sea trade routes, and have a place to anchor."

Lin Ruhai looked thoughtful and asked, "Zi Yu, didn't you say earlier that the navy would set up an independent unit?"

Jia Heng said, "My uncle is right. The Jiangnan Navy and the Denglai Navy can be expanded separately. The Yuehai Navy can also be changed into a naval force to conquer the countries in the South Seas. In addition to the six ministries of the court, a navy department should be added to the naval forces."

Lin Ruhai nodded and said, "We need to set up a special office to coordinate and dispatch the entire Han navy."

Jia Heng said, "That's what I was thinking. After the nine northern border troops are disbanded, the court can save on military expenditures and invest them in the establishment of a navy."

Lin Ruhai nodded.

He is an official in the Ministry of Revenue, so of course he has to be deeply involved.

Jia Heng was silent for a moment, then said, "Uncle, I have another piece of good news to tell you."

Lin Ruhai's fair and elegant face showed a look of surprise, and asked, "Zi Yu, I don't know what's going on?"

Jia Heng said with a hint of inexplicable joy in his voice, "Uncle, Sister Lin is pregnant."

Later, he needed supporters in the civil service group, so he could not do without Lin Ruhai, or in other words, he needed a cabinet of civil officials like Lin Ruhai to help him handle state affairs.

And is there any relationship that is more intimate than this one between father-in-law and son-in-law?

When Lin Ruhai heard this, he was struck by lightning and asked excitedly: "Zi Yu, is this true?"

Jia Heng said, "Uncle, the Imperial Hospital diagnosed it yesterday, and it is undoubtedly a pregnancy."

Lin Ruhai could not wait to get up and said, "I'll go to the backyard and take a look."

Jia Heng smiled, stood up, led the way, and took Lin Ruhai to the back house.

Grand View Garden, Xiaoxiang Pavilion

At this moment, Daiyu was sitting on a bed covered with a mattress, leaning against the side of the bed, holding a thin book in her hand and flipping through it gently.

Xiangyun and Baoqin were standing across a chessboard from each other. Their plump, lovely faces were flushed, as bright as peaches and radiant as a beacon.

Xiangyun joked and asked, "Sister Lin, have you prepared clothes for the child in the past few days?"

Daiyu snorted and said, "What clothes are you preparing? I want you to sew them for me."

Xiangyun pouted slightly and said, "I can sew it, but I may not know whether it is a boy or a girl."

Daiyu's face, as white as snow, was blushing like a rosy cloud.

At this moment, Xiren walked quickly into the hall and said, "Miss, Master Lin is here."

As soon as these words came out, Daiyu's crystal clear heart was startled. She looked in the direction of the voice and saw the young man in the python robe, and said, "Brother Heng is here, huh? Daddy?"

Lin Ruhai had a kind smile on his face and said, "Yu'er, I heard from Ziyu that you are pregnant recently?"

Daiyu was asked so bluntly that her jade-like face flushed red as fire, and she whispered, "Daddy, the imperial physician has confirmed that she is pregnant and has been pregnant for more than a month."

"Okay, okay." Lin Ruhai said happily.

Daiyu said, "Sister Feng has made all the arrangements."

Lin Ruhai calmed down and said, "Yu'er, you have been weak since childhood. You should take good care of yourself in the next two days."

Daiyu bit her pink lips with her pearly teeth and said, "Everything has been arranged for Sister Feng."

Hearing this, Jia Heng looked at the father and daughter chatting non-stop, his eyes flickered slightly, and he felt a little happy in his heart.

Lin Ruhai gave Daiyu many instructions and warnings for a while, then hurried out with a look of unfulfilled desire.

Afterwards, Jia Heng and Lin Ruhai came to the hall and sat down. Xiren brought a blue and white porcelain teacup. Steam was rising from it and the aroma could be seen curling up.

Lin Ruhai couldn't hide the smile on his elegant, fair face, and said, "Zi Yu, you have to take good care of Yu'er."

Jia Heng smiled slightly and said, "Don't worry, uncle. Now that Miss Lin is pregnant, I will definitely take good care of her."

Lin Ruhai nodded, his eyes dazed, and murmured, "If Yu'er's mother knew that Yu'er is pregnant now, she would be so happy."

Seeing this, Jia Heng sighed deeply in his heart.

Several years have passed, and the orphan girl who went to Beijing at the age of five is now going to be a mother.

The father-in-law and son-in-law were talking to each other.

At this moment, Zijuan entered the hall and said, "My Lord, Master, the young lady has prepared a sumptuous dinner and invites My Lord and Master Lin to sit down and eat together."

Upon hearing this, Lin Ruhai nodded.

At this moment, Daiyu, supported by Xiren and Xueyan, has sat down at a red lacquered round wooden table, and around her are Xiangyun and Baoqin, one in a scarlet dress and the other in a plain white dress, with skin whiter than snow and as bright as clouds.

Daiyu was sitting not far away. Her eyes sparkled with a smile under her emerald eyebrows. She stretched out her hand and said, "Father, Brother Heng, come and sit over here."

Jia Heng nodded, without saying anything else, and came closer. At this moment, Xiren tactfully handed him a pair of chopsticks.

Jia Heng smiled and joked, "Sister Lin, why don't you lie down on the bed and rest for a while?"

Daiyu rolled her eyes at Jia Heng and said, "I'm hungry here too, and I can't stay in bed all the time."

Besides, this is not as bad as having a big belly that makes it difficult to walk.

Jia Heng nodded, picked up a pair of bamboo chopsticks, picked up the food in the bowl, and gently handed it to Daiyu's bowl, saying, "Sister Lin, use some of this to nourish your body."

When Daiyu heard this, her face, which was as white as snow, blushed like a rosy cloud. Her bright eyes, as bright as rainbows, sparkled brightly under her dark eyebrows.

After Jia Heng finished his meal at Xiaoxiang Pavilion, he followed Lin Ruhai out of the wing room, and the two walked along the corridor towards the front yard.

In the light of the vermilion and green painted corridor, Lin Ruhai glanced at the young man in the python robe and suddenly said, "Zi Yu, are you interested in taking over the Chen family?"

Jia Heng was not surprised at all when he heard this, and asked, "Why do you say that, uncle?"

Lin Ruhai stood beside the octagonal pavilion with double eaves and looked straight at Jia Heng, saying, "Zi Yu, isn't it?"

Jia Heng's face was solemn, and he raised his sword-like eyebrows. He said, "My uncle has seen it. However, Chen Han has been established for a hundred years, and its grace has spread all over China and abroad. There are countless people of high ideals inside and outside the court, and most of them are loyal to Chen Han. It will take time to replace the Han Dynasty."

Lin Ruhai said: "Zi Yu, it's good to know what's going on."

Jia Heng said: "It will take five to ten years to cultivate people's respect and gradually conquer the world."

In other words, he was not in a hurry to usurp the throne, and the current new emperor was originally his illegitimate son.

Lin Ruhai frowned and asked, "If it is delayed for too long, how will the world view it?"

Jia Heng said, "No, in five to ten years, I will definitely cultivate my confidants and recruit many followers. By then, most of the officials in the court, the government, and the prefectures and counties will be from the Jia family, and they will respond to my call."

Lin Ruhai said: "But if this is the case, how will people in the world view Ziyu?"

After all, the late emperor had been very kind to Jia Heng.

Jia Heng nodded and said, "Before that, I will restore my original surname when the time is right."

Lin Ruhai asked in surprise: "What's your surname?"

Jia Heng said calmly, "I am not from the Jia family."

Lin Ruhai: "???"

As Jia Heng said this, he told Lin Ruhai his entire life story.

When Lin Ruhai heard this, his expression changed and he remained silent for a long time.

Jia Heng said, "Uncle."

Lin Ruhai suddenly realized what was going on. He looked at Jia Heng fiercely and said, "It turns out that Ziyu is the son of the general who guarded the deposed crown prince during the Longzhi Dynasty."

Jia Heng was silent for a moment, and then he said with a nostalgic tone, "Yes, my father was implicated in the case of deposing the crown prince, and his entire family was executed."

When Lin Ruhai heard this, a hint of reminiscence appeared on his face, and he said, "There is such a thing."

So the Zi Yu in front of us is the descendant of Su Ming, then is his usurpation of the Chen Han throne today also some kind of destiny?

Lin Ruhai frowned, looked down, and couldn't help but sigh softly in his heart.

Or is this the cycle of cause and effect, retribution?