The Red Mansions

Chapter 1364 Jia Heng: It shouldn’t be acting.

Chapter 1364 Jia Heng: It should... not be acting.

Shenjing City, Ningguo Mansion, the hall of the back house——

At this moment, the hall was filled with skirts, hairpins, rings and jackets, and pearls and jade.

Qin Keqing, Youshi, You Erjie and You Sanjie were sitting and chatting in the hall. She lowered her eyes to look at the gift boxes held by the maids, which contained some gold and silver jewelry, pearl hairpins and jadeite rewarded by Kunning Palace.

Qin Keqing said: "It's really too dazzling."

Third Sister You said, "These were all made by the skilled craftsmen in the palace."

"They are all styles that I have never seen outside. They are dignified, elegant and reveal a sense of nobility." Yu Shi's gentle and graceful eyes seemed to be covered with a hint of moisture. Her eyes were bright and shining as she said with emotion.

Although she was nominally the wife of the former clan leader, she was now also considered a member of the Ning and Rong families' household and was able to choose a piece of jewelry to wear.

At this moment, You Erjie's eyes were bright and sparkling under her crescent-shaped eyebrows. Her crystal clear gaze moved away from the gold and silver jewelry that she was reluctant to leave and turned to Qin Keqing.

In fact, girls with much better looks and appearance like these glittering gold and silver jewelry the most.

Qin Keqing was living a life of luxury, and her face became more and more radiant with a smile. She said, "I heard that Sister Lin's father has entered the palace this time?"

Youshi asked curiously, "This cabinet minister is one level higher than the Shangshu, right?"

"So he was the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and also a hall official. He should be promoted this time. It's hard to say if he will be promoted to a higher position than the minister, but he will be promoted anyway." Qin Keqing said.

Third Sister You said, "Even if it's not because of Master Heng, it's probably because of Master's feelings."

"Third sister." Yu's eyebrows slightly raised, as if glaring at Third Sister Yu.

Some of the words are indeed true, but it is not nice to say them out loud.

Besides, the Lin family is already a cabinet minister, so such words would seem contemptuous and could easily create resentment.

Qin Keqing rolled her eyes at Third Sister You and said in a reproachful way, "We are all family, so don't say such estranged words."

Third Sister You also realized that she had said something wrong, and nodded repeatedly, saying, "That's what you taught me, sister."

I really spoke too quickly and without restraint.

Seeing the slightly awkward atmosphere in the hall, Qin Keqing chuckled and joked, "We don't have any children yet, so let's divide the property between you and me."

Third Sister You's beautiful and tranquil face was as red as clouds and brocade as red clouds. She said, "My belly is not doing well. It's been so long, but I still don't have a baby."

Qin Keqing's beautiful eyes were as bright as water under her willow-shaped eyebrows. She said jokingly, "What's the point of being ambitious or not? You've only been married for a short time. You will have children in the future after all."

Third Sister You hummed softly and said absentmindedly, "I hope so."

She also wanted to have a child so that she would have someone to rely on for the rest of her life.

Qin Keqing's beautiful eyes, which were as clear as water, showed a look of longing under her crescent-shaped eyebrows. She said comfortingly, "Let's talk about it when he comes back."

She wanted a second child, a boy at least, but her pregnancy didn't seem to be improving since her husband left.

……

……

At this moment, both the Ning and Rong mansions were extremely happy about the news of Jia Heng's great victory in Liaodong. Miaoyu in the Rongcui Temple was wearing a plain flowered dress, like a tall and pure white lotus without any branches or vines, with a slightly bulging belly, and was chatting with Xing Xiuyun.

As time passed silently, the beauty's belly gradually became visible and her face became plump again.

Xing Xiuyan said, "The people in the front yard said that Master won a victory in Liaodong, and the palace gave him a phoenix hairpin as a reward."

"Just pick two for me later. It's not convenient for me to move around." Miaoyu said, "You also know my preferences."

As the two of them got to know each other better, Xing Xiuyun became Miaoyu's best friend.

Xing Xiuyan's eyes and eyebrows seemed to be as beautiful as the clouds, and they seemed to be covered with a hint of softness and brightness. She said softly, "Okay."

Miaoyu pursed her rosy lips and said, "He has been out for quite some time and hasn't come back yet."

Xing Xiuyan said softly: "I do have something to tell you."

"What?" Miaoyu asked in surprise, her cold eyes flickering under her curved eyebrows.

Xing Xiuyan pursed her lips and said, "I'm worried that if I tell you... you might get pregnant again."

Miaoyu was intrigued by Xing Xiuyan's words, and said, "Just tell me."

Xing Xiuyan sorted out her words and said, "It seems that the gambling houses in Beijing have already made your birth of a boy or a girl a bet, betting on a boy or a girl."

Miaoyu: "???"

She was obviously stunned, which was beyond the limits of Master Miaoyu's understanding.

"What's going on?" Miaoyu paused for a moment, stunned in her place, and then her beautiful face flushed red, her heart was angry and annoyed, she said: "Why does it become a bet whether I give birth to a boy or a girl?"

Xing Xiuyan said softly, "It's because he doesn't have a boy. In the past few years, there have only been girls in the mansion, not a single boy. Now people outside are saying all kinds of things. Maybe they want to make fun of him."

Miaoyu's face suddenly turned pale when she heard this. She snorted and said in a clear voice, "It's just gossip from some scoundrels after all."

Xing Xiuyan nodded and said, "Let's not talk about this anymore. They are indeed some scoundrels."

Miaoyu gently stroked her slightly bulging belly and whispered, "Maybe this baby is a boy."

As the saying goes, one daughter and one son is a good word.

At this moment, the wet nurse came over holding the little girl Momo. The little girl's cute, soft and tender face was as white and flawless as a piece of jade.

"Mom, mom, hug me~" the little girl called out, and then, held by the nanny, slowly walked into Miaoyu's arms.

Miaoyu's eyes softened as she said, "Let your aunt hold you."

Miaoyu was pregnant at the moment, so she was naturally cautious and did not hold the little girl.

Momo pouted her bright red lips unhappily. The little girl's rosy face looked so pink that it looked like water would come out if pinched.

Xing Xiuyan's eyebrows were curved, her eyes were smiling, she looked at the cute and soft little Lolita, and whispered: "Momo, what's wrong, don't you like your aunt anymore?"

Momo smiled brightly and said softly, "I like it."

As she spoke, the little girl hugged Xing Xiuyan's arm, her rosy face full of smiles, and said, "Mom has a child, why doesn't Aunt have a child?"

Xing Xiuyan: "..."

This girl, she really keeps talking about things that are not related to the topic.

Where does she go with her children?

Miaoyu couldn't help laughing and said, "This child, your aunt hasn't married yet, how can she have a child?"

Xing Xiuyan was also a little amused and pinched the little girl's rosy cheeks, saying, "This child acts like a little adult all day long."

However, after he comes back, she should get married.

The little girl's eyes, like black grapes, rolled around, bright and clear, and her voice was soft and sweet, and she said, "Is mom married?"

The smile on Miaoyu's flawless face froze in an instant, and there was a hint of melancholy in her eyes.

She is also a woman, so hasn't she ever thought about putting on her wedding dress and marrying him?

Xing Xiuyan gently rubbed a strand of lush hair on the little girl's forehead and said, "It won't be too late to ask your father when he comes back."

Miaoyu: "???"

Well, the original idea might have been a little naive, especially after she became pregnant with her second child. She felt that if she stayed in Longcui Temple all the time, she would have no name or status, and she was afraid that her child would be looked at strangely by others in the future.

But the words have been spoken, and it’s hard to take them back.

But maybe it's a solution to say it through a child's mouth.

Xing Xiuyan said, "When he is really crowned as a prince, he can ask the palace to confer the title of madam on my sister."

Miaoyu nodded and said "hmm" softly, with a hint of longing in her sparkling eyes.

……

……

Time is fleeting and the stars are changing.

Before we knew it, it was already mid-November of the eighteenth year of Chongping in the Han Dynasty. The weather began to gradually turn colder, especially in the north. Ink-colored dark clouds were rolling across the sky, and a snowstorm seemed to be brewing.

After the Jiangnan Navy led by Jia Heng captured Gaizhouwei and Haizhouwei, Dorgon in Shengjing responded quickly and summoned a large number of officers and soldiers in Shengjing City to rush to Haizhouwei City for rapid assistance.

Just as Jia Heng expected, after Ajige and Oboi discussed it, Oboi led an army of 10,000 to stay in the capital of Korea to help the vassal army that was discussing politics before the new king of Korea, to hold the capital city and resist the sporadic troops that came to support the king.

Afterwards, Prince Ying Ajige led his troops back to Shengjing to provide support.

Liaodong, Gaizhou City——

In a bright and spacious office, Jia Heng was wearing a brocade suit with a flying fish pattern and a black cape. He looked down at the map and asked, "Xiaoxiao, is there any new information from North Korea in the past two days?"

Chen Xiao whispered, "On the Korean side, the Jurchens have already withdrawn their troops on a large scale. Only Aobai is in the capital with 10,000 troops to help the former Korean councilor Gui Sizhe to set up a pseudo-dynasty."

Jia Heng thought about it, nodded, and said, "The troops from North Korea who are here to support the king?"

Chen Xiao shook his head and said, "They are vulnerable and miserable. They have been defeated by Oboi several times. Now there are only three scattered troops. They are hesitant and dare not move forward. They seem to want to separate the Korean Wangjing's pseudo-dynasty from the Korean king's capital and rule across the river."

Jia Heng frowned, his eyes sparkling, and he snorted coldly, saying, "It's really vulnerable."

Isn't this just like in later generations, with North and South Korea confronting each other?

Chen Xiao looked at him intently with his handsome eyebrows, and asked, "The Jurchens have mobilized a large number of troops and are coming back again. What good strategy do you have to defeat the enemy?"

Jia Heng shook his head and said, "It's hard to say what strategy is right for defeating the enemy. Now we can only hold off the Jurchens' counterattack. Previously, the vanguard troops sent by Hebei Admiral Kang Hong fought against the Jurchens, but the two sides were evenly matched and have since withdrawn."

Expecting Kang Hong's 20,000 cavalry troops to enter Shengjing is nothing but a foolish dream.

The Jurchens had been in power for forty or fifty years, nearly half a century had passed, and it was not so easy to capture the Shengjing City. Even the storybooks did not dare to write that it was captured by just 20,000 border troops.

Chen Xiao said: "That means defend first and then attack."

"The weather is cold and it will snow soon. Our army must quickly build a defense line in Haizhouwei and Gaizhouwei. As long as we can stop the first round of counterattack by the Jurchens, we can transfer the Beijing camp troops to the border next year, and then we can wipe out the Jurchens in one fell swoop." Jia Heng raised his sharp eyebrows, his cold eyes were piercing, and he had already made up his mind.

Chen Xiao nodded, his eyes sparkling as water, and asked: "Then if we wait until next year, won't you stay here?"

Jia Heng pondered for a moment and said, "Leave this to Shui Rong and Wei Che, but before that... you can take over the Korean capital first."

While Jia Heng was speaking, he cast his sharp and clear eyes towards the capital of the Joseon Dynasty. Before that, he might first defeat Oboi's troops in the Joseon capital.

Gu Ruoqing, who was standing by, was listening to the couple's conversation, and there was a hint of daze on her beautiful face.

Jia Heng looked up at the sky and said, "You and Ruoqing can chat in the military tent first. I will go to see how the city defense is being repaired."

Chen Xiao's expression paused for a moment, and he said softly, "You go."

While Jia Heng was speaking, he left the military tent and went to inspect the military preparations of Gaizhou City.

Chen Xiao turned her head and looked at Gu Ruoqing who had remained silent. She chuckled and said, "Senior Sister, what are you thinking about?"

Gu Ruoqing's eyes were as bright as water under her willow-leaf brows. She said, "I'm not thinking about anything. Is the war over?"

Chen Xiaoying's thin eyebrows revealed a thoughtful look in his cold and clear eyes. He said, "It's over for now. In the near future, we still have to actively prepare for the battle."

Gu Ruoqing nodded and said, "Then you should take more rest during this period of time."

Chen Xiao paused for a moment and said, "I need to take a break, and so does Senior Sister."

Gu Ruoqing didn't know if she felt guilty, but her beautiful face turned red with shame. She felt that her junior sister's words seemed to have a hidden meaning.

……

……

On the other side, Jia Heng, accompanied by the Jinyifu guards, was inspecting military affairs in the Gaizhou city wall.

At this moment, as time passed, the streets in the city had taken on a brand new look, and in front of the densely packed houses on both sides of the streets, soldiers were often seen patrolling on guard.

The officers and soldiers on both sides saw the young man in the python robe, who looked calm and at ease, surrounded by the Jinyi Guards.

After the previous bombardment of Gaizhou City, the city gate tower had been blown away in the artillery fire, a section of the city wall had been blown open, and many places needed to be repaired in order to cope with the subsequent attacks by the Jurchen troops.

At this moment, the Han army soldiers were already moving earth and rocks to fill the gaps in the entire city wall.

Jia Heng was on his inspection when he happened to meet King of Chu Chen Qin and King of Beijing Shui Rong, who came together.

During these two days, the King of Chu was in charge of supervising the repair of the city, while the King of Beijing Shui Rong was in charge of the maintenance of the warships of the Jiangnan Navy.

The King of Chu and the King of Beijing Shui Rong came forward and said in a gentle voice: "Zi Yu, you are here?"

Prince Beijing Shui Rong also stared at the young man in the python robe, and there was a hint of surprise in his sinister eyes.

The day before yesterday, in the military reports and memorials that Jia Heng delivered to Shenjing, he actually praised the King of Chu a lot. After the King of Chu read them, his morale was immediately boosted.

I have been working hard these days to help Jia Heng with everything.

Jia Heng nodded at this moment, looked at the King of Chu, Chen Qin, and asked, "My Lord, how is the repair of the city wall going?"

The King of Chu looked solemn and said, "Zi Yu, Gaizhou City was severely bombarded by the Red Barbarian Cannons and needs major repairs. I don't know if it can be completed before the Jurchens attack."

Jia Heng nodded and said, "Your Highness, don't worry. When winter comes, we can pour water on the city walls. When they freeze, the walls will be solid and there is no need to worry about the Jurchen troops attacking us."

During this little ice age, the weather was extremely cold. By the twelfth month of the lunar calendar, the temperature was below zero and the sky was frozen.

When the King of Chu heard this, his eyes lit up and he said softly, "Zi Yu, this method is very wonderful."

He thought to himself, he is truly an expert in military affairs, he can come up with such strategies as easily as plucking flowers and leaves from the sky.

At this moment, Beijing King Shui Rong looked at the young man in the python robe with an infatuated look, and was deeply impressed by his demeanor.

He had not thought of such a timely strategy just now. Zi Yu was truly an ingenious man.

Jia Heng turned to look at Prince Beijing Shui Rong and asked, "Lord Shui, how is the inspection of the warships and cannons going?"

Prince Beijing Shui Rong smiled and said, "Zi Yu, the warships didn't suffer much damage in the previous battle, but the cannons used in the siege were a bit damaged, and we are asking the craftsmen to repair them."

Jia Heng turned his head to look at Beijing Prince Shui Rong and said, "Your Highness, I'll need it after a while."

If the royal capital is captured, it would be cheaper to use the navy for a surprise attack than to use military force on land.

Beijing Prince Shui Rong nodded and said, "Don't worry, Zi Yu, I will speed up the supervision of the craftsmen in the next few days to restore the transportation capacity as soon as possible."

After Jia Heng said this, he did not say anything else, but continued to inspect the city defenses under the escort of the Jinyifu guards.

……

……

Until the evening, the sunset glowed obliquely and the setting sun was as red as blood.

Jia Heng changed into a black and red embroidered dragon robe and returned to the back hall of the government office. When he raised his eyes, he was suddenly stunned to find Gu Ruoqing standing alone in the room.

The beauty was wearing a flying fish dress. She had a slim and bright figure, her eyes and eyebrows were full of heroic spirit, and her gaze was full of spirit. Her rosy face was like rose petals, quiet, bright and beautiful, but also a little cold and beautiful.

At this moment, Jia Heng asked in surprise: "Ruoqing, where is Xiaoxiao?"

"Junior sister has gone to consult the Jinyi Guards about something." There was a hint of unnaturalness on Gu Ruoqing's cold and bright face. While speaking, she quickly closed the book in her hand and said in a low voice.

Jia Heng nodded, walked closer, and asked, "Ruoqing, are you reading a military book?"

Gu Ruoqing felt a little embarrassed for a moment and said, "I was just... flipping through it when I had some free time."

In fact, she had understood these things in the past, but when she came into contact with them in practice, she found that they were different from actual fighting.

When Gu Ruoqing was in Jiangnan, he often discussed military and national affairs with some scholars in Jiangnan, and naturally he also talked about military affairs. Of course, now it seems that it was just talk on paper, and he might not be as good as the military enthusiasts of later generations.

Jia Heng laughed and joked, "These things need to be learned in elementary school. It's a bit late to learn them now."

Gu Ruoqing: “…”

What does this person mean?

Just when Gu Ruoqing was stunned, Jia Heng had already approached and hugged the beautiful woman's plump and fragrant body. Gu Ruoqing had a slender and bright figure, and when he held her in his arms, her curves were well-proportioned and soft to the touch.

He gently held the beauty's waist and whispered in her ear, "Ruoqing, are you quite interested in these recently?"

Obviously, the beauty was feeling sad because she saw him and Xiaoxiao chatting lively while she couldn't get a word in.

Feeling the boy approaching, Gu Ruoqing's beautiful face flushed bright red as she said angrily, "You...what are you doing here?"

Jia Heng stared at the beautiful lady and said softly, "Ruoqing, I have been busy fighting during this period and neglected you."

Gu Ruoqing: “…”

Was she ignored? Why didn't she feel that?

He has taken advantage of her quite a lot these days.

Before she could finish, she saw the young man's warm breath coming towards her face. He moved close to her lips, pressed his lips against her two slightly pink lips, and began to plunder them wantonly.

Gu Ruoqing gently pushed the young man's body away. Her beautiful, crystal clear eyes beneath her curved willow-leaf brows gradually became misty. Then waves of shame and anger came over her heart. It was obvious that the young man had put his hand into her clothes again and was causing trouble.

Gu Ruoqing's plump and beautiful cheeks suddenly turned red and hot as fire. At this moment, she let out a soft moan, and her heart was filled with inexplicable shame and annoyance.

In the eyes of the beauty, the intimacy between the two of them was so beautiful, but the man was dishonest in every way and was flirting with her.

Then, feeling the young man's teasing, Gu Ruoqing felt her body go numb. Her beautiful eyes, beneath her willow-like eyebrows, showed a hint of shame and annoyance, and she began to push away the young man's restless hands.

This guy is really going too far.

How is this different from being a frivolous person like a lecher?

Jia Heng was immersed in it at the moment, constantly taking in the sweet and mellow scent of the older left-over woman.

Feeling the trembling of the beautiful woman's delicate body under his palm, his sword-like brows were filled with emotion.

Gu Ruoqing's actual response was quite clumsy, and one could sense that he was very inexperienced.

With his experience of meeting countless women, this should... not be an act.

How should I put it? When these high-quality older single women really meet elite men, or tall, rich and handsome men, their original attitude of "slow to warm up, depends on your attitude..." almost disappears, and they take off their pants faster than each other.

Jia Heng paused for a moment, and whispered, "Ruoqing, are you shy?"

"You...you've gone too far." Gu Ruoqing's beautiful eyes were sparkling and seemed to reflect a handsome and elegant figure, and a faint blush had appeared on both sides of her beautiful face, and her eyes were full of shame and anger.

(End of this chapter)