The Red Mansions

Chapter 1005 Such a talent is not possessed by a minister

In Xu's house, it was already the right hour, a lantern under the porch eaves was swaying hoarsely from side to side under the hot summer wind.

Guided by the door servants, Jia Heng and Chen Xiao entered the hall of Xu's residence, sipping tea and waiting.

According to the people of Xu's house, Xu Lu was recovering from illness in the back house.

Xu Lu came out in casual clothes, his complexion looked a little haggard, bloodshot eyes were seen in his eyes, he stared at the two of them without exchanging greetings, and said, "I don't know why Duke Wei visited at night, why?"

Jia Heng said: "Yesterday, according to the imperial edict, I went to the Metropolitan Procuratorate this morning to inquire about the case of imperial examination fraud. I heard that Mr. Xu was sick, so I came to have a look. I don't know how Mr. Xu is doing? Have you ever invited a doctor?"

Even if there is something to do, you can't come up and ask about it, but ask about your health.

Xu Lu glanced at the young man, his expression softened, and he sighed, "I will tell you the truth, Duke Wei, Xu's illness is a heart disease."

Jia Heng put down the teacup and asked, "But because of the imperial examination fraud case?"

Xu Lu glanced at the sitting girl in the flying fish suit, with a look of hesitation on her face.

Jia Heng said softly: "This is my confidant, you can keep it a secret, there is no need to avoid it."

When Chen Xiao heard this, her clear eyes under her willow eyebrows moved slightly, and she put down the teacup, feeling a little sweetness in her heart.

"There is nothing to say about this case. According to His Majesty's wishes, we have thoroughly investigated and investigated, but now it's time to close the case." Xu Lu's face was gloomy, and his voice sounded sneering.

This is also in the ears of Jia Heng, but if it is changed to the ears of other governors of Jinyi Mansion and reported to the palace, the emperor will have a suspicion, and then it will become the cause of disasters in the future.

Jia Heng was silent for a moment, then said: "Master Xu, Your Majesty also has a lot of good intentions."

Hearing this, Xu Lu stared at the young man, because the family was frugal and only had one candle for lighting, but under the serious brows, his eyes were still very bright.

Jia Hengdao: "Master Gao enforced the one-whip law in Liangjiang, and I also mentioned three new policies to my sage, that is, the stalwarts will be allocated to the mu, the fire consumption will be returned to the public, and the two will be replaced by the yuan. These are the four new policies that will be piloted in Jiangsu and Henan. Considering the great affairs of the imperial court, taking into account the overall situation, seeking the big and giving up the small, did Master Xu ever know that the Holy Majesty has worked hard to save the country and help the world, and to strive for greatness?"

Well, he will go back later and write a report, that is, four new policies, three of which are proposed by him, and obviously after the completion of the matter, he will receive seven or eight out of ten of the credit.

And once this memorial is released, there will be an uproar in the world, but the response will be like a political banner, rising slowly, attracting people with lofty ideals.

Therefore, this credit may not be reflected in the promotion of the title, but the promotion of political influence is actually real.

Why did he intervene in government affairs and be active in the reform of the country, because if he doesn't turn from the army to the government, he is just an ordinary general, and he can't make any political climate at all.

The power of humanity lies in gathering the masses.

If you can't bring out a political group, just relying on your status as a military commander is like rootless duckweed.

When Xu Lu heard the words, his face was silent and he was speechless for a while.

Gao Zhongping, the governor of Liangjiang, made a memorial the day before yesterday, urging a new policy of whipping laws. He has also read it, and he believes that sincerity is a good law, and it has already been effective in the land of Bashu. Thinking about discussing this matter when the government affairs are under discussion.

Unexpectedly, in just one day, there were four new policies, and the person in front of him also proposed three new policies.

"What the Duke of Wei said about the four new policies, I don't know what they are? Please tell the Duke of Wei in detail." Xu Lu asked while sitting upright.

Jia Heng said: "I am going to write a report on this matter, and it will probably be delivered to the Secretary of General Affairs tomorrow, but I can briefly explain it to Mr. Xu."

If it wasn't for the quarrel with Xianning and Chanyue, I would have finished writing the book, and now I can only wait until I get back and stay up all night to write.

Under Xu Lu's expectant eyes, Jia Heng briefly described the strategy of "sharing the tenements into the mu, returning the fire consumption to the public, abolishing the two and changing the yuan", the purpose of the national policy, and the corresponding solutions.

After Xu Lu heard it, he frowned and looked at the young man, his heart was filled with shock.

Even if you just listen to it, you will feel that there is a great possibility of policy implementation, because this is a policy that has been truly successful in history.

People of insight will notice the beauty of it.

But this is a young man who is not yet a weak crown?Even if you study heaven and man, you can't overestimate the talent of wind and music.

It is indeed astonishing that the Duke of Wei has the ability to master the world.

Xu Lu's heart is not happy but worried, such a talent is not possessed by a minister.

Emperor Chongping may have long been accustomed to Jia Heng's literary and military strategies, so he only praised Jia Heng's Wang Zuozhi's talent, which was less shocking. Cup, fell asleep.

Just because...the cake is delicious.

Jia Heng didn't know the doubts in Xu Lu's heart, and said: "Implement it first in Henan and Jiangsu in the north and south, and see the results. Master Xu, for any reform, the center should be united as one. Your Majesty has worked hard for the great government."

"But the laws of the country are permanent and cannot be discarded." Xu Lu said with some hesitation on his face.

Jia Heng pondered and said: "The Holy Majesty has agreed to retake the exam, and the relevant bureaucrats will also investigate and deal with it. It is estimated that some people will be dismissed from the cabinet after this matter is over. I hope Master Xu will put the overall situation first."

Although the imperial examination scandal is hateful, it is actually unnecessary for it to cause a political tide and affect the vigorous progress of the imperial court's reform policy.

Of course, his ass decides his head. If he is a scholar who has failed, then he will definitely smash the sky, lest there will be no big trouble.

Xu Lu was silent for a moment, then sighed.

Seeing this, Jia Heng already knew that Xu Lu had compromised, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and said: "Let's just leave it at that, the implementation of the new policy cannot be done without clean and honest officials, and Master Xu, the chief censor, is needed to help supervise the officials and curb them. Their deeds of harming and harming the people."

Xu Lu looked solemn and said, "Dare not to neglect your duty."

Jia Heng nodded, and said: "Master Xu, Jia won't stay any longer, and I have to go back to the mansion to write a memorial."

Xu Lu bowed his hands and said, "Duke Wei, go slowly."

As Jia Heng said, he also looked at Chen Xiao, then left the hall and returned to Ningrong Street.

At this moment, with the bright moon hanging high and the heat wave coming, Jia Heng rode on the horse, looked at Chen Xiao and said, "Everything in Beijing has been decided."

Chen Xiao stared at the young man and said, "I just heard you mention the four new policies. It seems to be the art of enriching the country and strengthening the army. If it is implemented in the south, will there be resistance among the gentry?"

He is indeed suitable for that position. Compared to him, the man in the palace can only fight with each other and is ungrateful, but... he also has one bad thing, he is too greedy and lustful.

The girl thought to herself, and sighed faintly.

Jia Heng said: "There will be resistance, but the New Deal will definitely be a great success, and then it will be gradually implemented nationwide."

Hearing this, Chen Xiao said "En", and there was a little longing in his eyes. In this way, he would also have great prestige and aspirations from the hearts of the people.

Ningguo Mansion

Jia Heng returned to the mansion, gradually finished dinner with Chen Xiao, and returned to the study. At this moment, he did not go to the Grand View Garden to linger in the beauty of cosmetics, but wrote memorials in the desk.

The memorial is not one, but four. One is to return to the public for the repair of a whip method, and the other three are to be distributed to the mu, and the two are abolished to change the yuan.

Chen Xiao was helping to grind and add fragrance to the side. After Jia Heng finished writing a letter, she watched it by the light and read the words on it.

It can be said that it is a complete and mature plan that fully takes into account the problems existing in the implementation of the policy.

At the time of Haizheng, Jia Heng put down the brush and waited for the ink to dry.

Chen Ling handed over the washed pears and grapes, looked at the tired young man with distressed eyes, and said, "I finished writing, let's eat some fruit."

"This is a memorandum. I haven't finished writing the rules and regulations. I'll write it tomorrow. Let's stop here today." Jia Heng nodded, took the peeled Sydney pear, and took a bite of the white and juicy pear. Sweet and delicious, he smiled lightly and said, "Don't tell me, I'm really thirsty."

Chen Xiao frowned slightly, with a look in her clear eyes, and asked softly: "Has the palace asked you about my origin recently?"

Jia Heng ate the pear in two or three bites, and said: "It seems that there is not yet, maybe I haven't found it."

Chen Xiao's eyes flickered, and she said in a low voice, "Sooner or later."

At that time, she might have to go to the palace to meet the Queen Mother and the Supreme Emperor.

Under the girl's annoyed eyes, Jia Heng pulled Chen Xiao to sit in his arms, took a grape, peeled the skin lightly, and said in a gentle voice: "Xiaoxiao, don't worry, I'll peel a grape for you."

As he spoke, he peeled the grape in his hand and fed it to Chen Ling's mouth.

"I'll do it myself." Chen Ling took a bite of the grapes, and immediately his cheeks turned red with embarrassment. He cast a white look at the young man, and pretended to be fierce, and said, "If you mess around again, I'll bite off your fingers."

This man deliberately abused her again.

Jia Heng withdrew his fingers resentfully, and pressed the moist feeling between his fingers to the bottom of his heart, and asked: "Xiaoxiao, in seven or eight days, we will be married. Are you ready for your wedding dress? Have someone make a wedding dress for you." Set, it will come in handy on the day of the bridal chamber."

That day in Xianning's bridal chamber, he hoped that Xiaoxiao could also wear her wedding dress, so that they could become a real husband and wife.

Chen Ling didn't want to talk to Jia Heng, she blushed and said coldly, "You are really ridiculous."

When she thinks about it, she finds it absurd, how will she face Xianning at the night of the bridal chamber?When he was a child, Xianning was both respectful and afraid of her, but when he saw her, how could she have the majesty of an older sister?

Jia Heng put his arms around the girl's shoulders, and said in a warm voice: "This is a story of sisters who are united in one heart, and their strength cuts through gold."

"Nonsense." Chen Ling snorted coldly, but saw that the young man had moved his cheek close to his lips, and immediately the familiar attack came, so he had to close his eyelashes slightly, and let him do whatever he wanted.

While the flickering candle flames reflected the harsh and glamorous faces like an artistic scroll, the bamboo shadows on the window screens swayed, and the atmosphere in the room became hotter and hotter.

Jia Heng held Xiaoxiao in his arms for a while, and whispered in the ear of the dizzy girl, "Xiaoxiao, why don't I wait on you again."

He forgot that when he came back, he asked Xianning for two pairs of socks, and he didn't know what Xiaoxiao's long legs would look like when he put them on, but Xiaoxiao's jerky appearance really made people feel tempted.

Chen Xiao's beautiful jade face, which was as beautiful as flowers and trees and piled with snow, was full of blush, and she wanted to hum coldly, but suddenly became tired, and said mockingly: "It's almost midnight now, I don't know where you come from every day These spiritual heads."

Serving her while talking, won't you be trampling her later?

This is because I was suffocated in the war in the north, and when I came back, I indulged in sensuality.

Jia Heng said: "I don't have anything to do tomorrow anyway, and I haven't been with you for a long time."

When I was at the border, because of marching and fighting, I didn't actually have much intimacy.

Chen Xiao snorted coldly, neither responded nor refused, just looked down at the young man who was eating pears and peeling grapes again.

Chen Xiao snorted softly, raised her neck like a swan, supported the young man's shoulders, closed her eyes slightly, her curved eyelashes trembling non-stop.

After a long time, the two embraced and headed towards the inner room.

……

……

Qichiin

It was midnight, and Zhen Lan was wearing an off-white dress, sitting behind the desk, holding a book and reading, for some reason, she sighed faintly, and said, "Why hasn't Brother Heng come back yet?"

Didn't he talk about coming to live in Qichi Courtyard for the past few days, and he didn't see anyone, so he didn't care about her and his sister every day.

"Third Sister, Brother Heng must be busy." Zhen Xi held an earring and compared it to the bronze mirror, and said, "Sister, which one do you think I look good on?"

"Your sister looks good in both." Zhen Lan approached and said with a smile: "My younger sister wants to ask, which one does Big Brother Heng like better?"

Hearing the words, Zhen Xi's aura-like pupils were filled with misty shame, and said angrily, "Sister, what are you talking about?"

Zhen Lan smiled lightly, and said: "Recently, it was reported in the mansion newspaper that Gao Zhongping from Jiangnan wants to try out a whipping method in Jiangnan. I just looked up a whipping method and found that it is to hand over the land tax for silver. I feel that this method Although it can put an end to treacherous officials, it is not without disadvantages. For example, the collected broken silver will consume one-tenth or two cents of the fire when it is melted into official silver. The price of silver is driven up by machine, and so on, this method may not be a good method.”

Zhen Xi glanced at Zhen Lan in surprise, and said in a clear voice: "Sister, let Brother Heng take care of these extravagant affairs, what is Sister so caring about?"

Zhen Lan raised her brows and said softly: "How can I not care, I still want to help Brother Heng."

"My younger sister is used to being carefree, but how many people are like my younger sister in this mansion? In the future...you will know the benefits." Zhen Lan glanced outside, seeing that there was no one else, said solemnly.

"What about the future?" Zhen Xi asked in surprise.

Zhen Lan said in a low voice: "Brother Heng has so many people around him, how can he have the time to take care of them all in the future? If our sisters don't help him, he won't pay attention to our sisters."

Zhenxi's jade cheeks were flushed, and her voice trembled slightly, she said, "Sister, why are you thinking about... competing for favor?"

She thinks it's too complicated, doesn't brother Heng often come to accompany her and sister?

A gloomy look flashed in Zhen Lan's eyes, and she said in a concentrated voice: "Brother Heng will be even more busy when the princess and princess marry and come in, and then he will have no time to take care of my sister and me."

Zhen Xi frowned delicately, and said: "Sister, it's not very good now, if no one is in charge, then no one is in charge."

At the end of the girl's speech, she was also a little disappointed.

No one is in charge, I'm afraid that person won't come again.

"You'll know when you're older, anyway, I shouldn't be the green leaves of the red flowers." Zhen Lan saw a hint of stubbornness on the somewhat icy snowy face, took Zhen Xi's hand, and said: " Didn't you realize that after he came back, apart from the Duke and Madam, he first looked at the two girls, Chai and Dai, and then came to us after two days?"

Zhen Xi said softly: "They have spent a little longer with Big Brother Heng, so we should see them first."

Under Zhen Lan's slender eyebrows, there are narrow and long phoenix eyes that resemble Zhen Qing's eyes, and she said in a clear voice: "Our sisters were originally descendants of famous eunuchs in the south of the Yangtze River. Sister, are you willing?"

It can be said that the Zhen family in Jinling has been prosperous for decades. After the family fortune fell, the two daughters committed themselves to one person, and none of them had the status of official wife.

Zhen Xi's nimble eyes widened slightly, she looked at Zhen Lan in surprise, and said, "Why would my sister have such an idea? But my sister feels wronged by following Brother Heng?"

The third sister has always had a strong temper. Could it be that she felt wronged that she couldn't be a regular wife?

Zhen Lan's cold and beautiful face, which resembled Zhen Qing, was covered with a layer of sadness, and she said softly: "I don't feel wronged, it's just that I met him too late, I didn't meet him earlier, wait for me When he came, there was only a small corner of his heart."

If she had known Big Brother Heng early on, she would have never looked back after just seeing him. She would definitely not be like that Sister Qin who almost broke up the engagement because she disliked the poor and loved the rich before she passed the door.

How is this move different from the Fang family?

Such an outstanding person who has not been seen in the country for a hundred years should belong to her Zhen Lan. A woman who only touches mahjong in the mansion, looks like a vase, and is already the wife of the country without doing anything. How can she be worthy of Brother Heng? ?

The other two, Xue Lin, younger sister Lin was born as a marquis, and she is extremely noble, but the older sister of the Xue family who is in charge of the Grand View Garden is from a businessman. According to her inquiries, he has promised to give her the position of wife, and he will invite her if he has meritorious service. Feng Gaoming Mrs.

He certainly did what he said.

What about her and her sister?No promises during this time?When he hugged himself and kissed him non-stop last night, he didn't say anything?

It is worth mentioning that Baochai's title of wife and imperial wife are passed on by Aunt Xue's intentional indulgence of her maid in Rongning and Ningfu these days.

As for the purpose?I understand everything, I'm afraid that Jia Heng's words are not worth it, let's start with the rumors, the Duke of Wei cares about my daughter, but he promised to be his wife at the beginning.

Originally, this kind of promise might be a bit abrupt, but the excuse given to outsiders is the "every vow" that a man coaxes a woman in bed. After all, how can one person have two regular wives?

But after both the princess and the princess were married off at the same time, the golden mouth that Jia Heng opened at the beginning has a special persuasive force.

And Aunt Xue also told Mrs. Wang in private that if it wasn't for the marriage gift from the palace, Jia Heng would probably marry her own girl and girl Lin when she came back. …

Of course, Aunt Xue was also a little timid, lest this word would reach the ears of the princess and princess who were about to pass through the door, and she would let her daughter stand by the rules in the future, and then she would change her words later.

But this afternoon it reached the ears of Zhen Lan, who was loved by Jia Heng just last night, and she naturally felt psychologically unbalanced in the deepest part of her heart.

Zhen Xi frowned, looked at Zhen Lan worriedly, and asked with concern: "Sister, what are you going to do?"

Zhen Lan saw the bright color on her beautiful face, and said softly: "I don't do anything, but we sisters can't admit defeat, we must make him unable to leave our sisters."

Saying that, she took Zhen Xi's plain hand, and under the thin brows of willow leaves, she looked at her sister with bright and bright eyes.

It's just a matter of shouting out that sisters are of the same heart, and their profits cut through gold.

Zhen Xi's aura-like eyes also saw thinking, and said: "Sister, brother Heng is fine, he has only been back for a few days, didn't he just come to see us the day before yesterday."

Zhenxi's jade face was frosty, her eyes were dark, and she said in a low voice: "What about the future? When we have his child, when all the girls in the garden are married? Sister, we are concubines, and the child has no title inheritance, let alone, When a child grows up, he doesn’t know how many stares he receives.”

"Sister, you...you think too far." Zhenxi's jade face was pale, and her pink lips were biting gently with cherry teeth, and said softly: "Sister Qin, Sister Xue, and Sister Lin are all very good. No one underestimated us, besides, Big Brother Heng should treat everyone equally."

Although Big Brother Heng has become a little lecherous, and even bullied the eldest sister and second sister, but he shouldn't like the new and dislike the old.

"No one despises us, but you don't understand. After ten or eight years, they will all have children, and there will be more people in the backyard. How are we different from those concubines from small households or even maids? Brother Heng It’s also impossible to stare at them all the time.” Zhen Lan spoke up to this point, and said softly: “At that time, our children were only born to concubines, sister, do you know how the children born to concubines at home lived? My sister forgot Is something wrong?"

At the end of Zhen Lan's speech, Yu's face was pale, and a strong sense of unwillingness was born in her heart.

Her Zhen Lan's fate should never be like this!It shouldn't be the same as those concubines who were born as maidservants, waiting for Big Brother Heng once every ten days and a half months, and even not being able to look for him confidently, lest he get angry.

She wants to be a woman who is inseparable by his side, just like that Miss Xiao, she longs for Brother Heng to hug her often, whisper in her ear that he likes her, pampers her, and asks her to be ordered.

In the future, after becoming the king of the county, she will be made a side concubine!

Thinking of this, the girl's heart stirred up waves, and she felt an unspeakable sourness intertwined in her heart. For a while, the circles of her eyes even turned red, and her eyes were a little moist.

She, Zhen Lan, cannot be reduced to a plaything for Israel's servants!

Hearing the words, Zhen Xi seemed to be touched by the scene constructed by her sister's words, she was silent for a moment, the soft candlelight reflected her pink and jade face, she pressed her pink lips tightly, recalling the past of her childhood.

The Zhen family in the south of the Yangtze River is also a well-known family, and the second eldest Zhen Shao and the fourth Zhen Xuan of the four Zhen family brothers also have many concubines.

Although Zhenxi's mother is not a concubine, her mother died early and she grew up with Zhen Zhu's wife, her growth trajectory is a bit like Xichun, but because Mrs. Zhen loves her and her sisters take care of her, she is not so cold-hearted meaning.

Zhen Lan said: "Sister, we have to tie his heart. Doesn't my sister want him to spend more time with you? I know my sister actually likes him."

In fact, the two sisters hugged and kissed Jia Heng, and even slept on the same bed. They had long been attached to each other and regarded themselves as Jia Heng's woman.

Of course, the relationship may not be as deep as Chaidai, Xianning, and Chanyue because of the short time they get along.

When Zhen Xi heard the words, she was ashamed, her cheeks blushed, and she said angrily: "Sister Hun said, who...who likes him."

Girls at this age are shy about who they like, even though they have kissed Jia Heng several times.

"I don't know who is talking in my sleep at night, and hugging me at night." Zhen Lan snorted, stretched out her hand to gently hold Zhen Xi's face, and said softly: "My sister was born with a beautiful Zhong Ling, with the gracefulness of Jiangnan. Her demeanor is no worse than that of the younger sister of the Lin family, I think he also liked it, but the younger sister came later than the younger sister of the Lin family."

Her fourth younger sister was born soft and gentle, with a simple temperament. She felt that she was much better than the usual sour-spoken younger sister of the Lin family, and since she was a child, she had always kept herself aloof from the world, so she didn't have to worry about competing for favor with her.

Zhen Xi raised her eyes like streams of aura, and there seemed to be misty mist, she was silent for a while, finally pursed her pink lips, and sighed faintly: "Sister, there are some things that cannot be forced, Big Brother Heng..."

Brother Heng just likes Xue Lin and the others. She and her sister were originally forced by the elder sister to Brother Heng, and they didn't want her at first.

Thinking of this, the girl felt sad in her heart.

She is not as good as Sister Lin, no, she thinks she is not bad, but Brother Heng...doesn't look for her and sister much.

Perhaps as my sister said, they came late, and they didn't know each other for as long as sister Lin and the others.

"Sister, don't worry. We are no worse than Xue Lin. When he becomes the county king, he will have four side concubines. We sisters still have a chance." Zhen Lan whispered to Zhen Xi.

Zhen Xi was startled, and said in a low voice, "Jun Wang?"

"He is now a third-class prince, and there are still many opportunities to make meritorious service in the future. It will be a matter of time before he becomes the county king. At that time, the county king will have four side concubines, Xue Lin will occupy two." Zhen Lan said softly .

Donglu had just suffered a defeat and hadn't been completely wiped out. With his ability, it would be a matter of time.

Once he becomes the king of the county, she and her younger sister must occupy the positions of two side concubines.

As for Princess Xianning and Princess Qinghe, Zhen Lan didn't think about it.

Because the two Tianhuang nobles are the main wives of Ningrong and Rongfu, and the side concubine belongs to the status of ordinary wives, but the county king's side concubine is not inferior to the regular wife of an ordinary duke, even if it is weaker than the duke's wife , but not too weak.

Zhen Xi was silent for a moment, then tremblingly said: "Sister, this... I don't care about these titles."

"I know my sister wants him to play with you every day, pamper you, and treat you as the apple of his eye, but my sister also needs to be valued and liked by him." Zhen Lan said with a chuckle, but there was a trace of coldness in the depths of her eyes.

People don't take you seriously, how can they share their hearts with you?

She couldn't remind her sister of some words. She was worried that her sister would be afraid. If she became that person's plaything, she would be left behind in a short time.

Hearing this, Zhen Xi's delicate and soft face blushed into a glow, her eyes flickered, and she said in a trembling voice: "Sister said so too."

In fact, she still has a trump card. She helped to keep the intimacy between Brother Heng and the eldest sister and second sister a secret. Brother Heng would not treat her badly, would he?

This... Well, I still don't tell my sister, my sister is too thoughtful, if I threaten Brother Heng with it, it will be self-defeating.

At this moment, I heard the "squeaky" sound of the door, it was Jia Heng who came back from the outside and returned to the Qichi courtyard to stay.

Apparently, they didn't expect that a pair of sisters in the Qichi Courtyard would be the first to wake up, ready to compete for favor, and they had already planned for Jia Heng's future concubine after the county king.