Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 900: The People in Guo's Mansion Regret
South of Nanshan,

It is the Three Mountains where the imperial mausoleum is located. There are royal gardens here, and the imperial guards who guard the mausoleum are stationed here. However, the entrance is set up on a high and low hillside in the north. The southern mountain is a barrier, so it is almost impossible to see each other.
However, if you go around the north side of Nanshan Mountain and reach the end of the mountain range, you can see the west side of the Three Mountains Enclosure, which can be said to be a panoramic view.
Hearing the warning from the personal soldiers, Zhang Jinyu's eyes condensed, and he quickly led his men to lie on the edge of the cliff, looking at the gentle slope on the east side. Sure enough, he saw many imperial guards and civilians digging something at the bottom of the gentle slope. It seemed that this was...
"Ningbyon, there are imperial guards here. What are they digging?"

Ning stretched his head and looked into the distance. The distance was too far, so he could only get a rough idea. According to the direction, it was on the east side of the Three Mountains. It seemed that there was a big carpenter in the Marquis' Mansion, so he whispered back;

"My Lord, that seems to be where the imperial mausoleum is. The emperor has always ordered the imperial guards to guard this place. The civilians and prisoners were sent there to build the underground palace, which is what Prince Zhongshun is in charge of."

At this point, Ningbian stopped talking.
Zhang Jinyu understood what was going on instantly. After the underground palace collapsed, there must be a remedy. Over the past few days, with the skills of Prince Zhou, it would have been smoothed out long ago. Moreover, he had never had a conflict with the palace, so he did not move. What were these people at the foot of the mountain digging after leaving the underground palace?
After watching it for a while,
But I saw that the route they dug was from the foot of the mountain to the gentle slope. It should be a water channel or something like that. It was very strange.
"They say that Prince Zhongshun is good at calculating. I don't know if it's true or not. Last time, I was afraid that Prince Zhou suffered a loss. Anyway, this place is a good place for Feng Shui. Ningbian, when Master Song is done with his work, we will raise their families in the mansion.
Become a craftsman in the mansion. After you are settled, stay here and build up the place. Add an annex. As for the front, let the nuns live there. All the offerings should be kept in the mansion. If you are careful, it may be of great use."

"Yes, Lord Marquis, what are your plans for the next step?"

Ningbian nodded. The view here is wide and the road is smooth. If it were outside the pass, a secret door beacon could be set up here.

"What else can I plan? Of course I want to go back home. No, I want to go to my father-in-law, Mr. Qin's house. I haven't been there for a long time and I miss him so much!"

With the Marquis's order, a group of people went straight back to the secret passage and retreated to the yard. Some people were left to guard the place, while the rest left the Taoist temple and rushed to the capital.

But after the cavalry rushed past this place, some of the slaves who stayed behind in the manor had a gleam of light in their eyes. Then, not long after, many carrier pigeons flew out from halfway up the mountain, and no one knew where they went.

The Guo family in Beijing,

It was the family home of Concubine Jing, Guo Mingyue. It was located on the east bank of Qinghu Lake in the north city. There was a large mansion there. Although it was not as good as the noble families, it was still outstanding among the civil servants. At present, the head of the Guo family, Concubine Jing's biological father, was still serving in Zhongshan County and had not returned to Beijing. Therefore, the person who received the news of the Concubine's visit was the eldest son of the Guo family, Guo Ziyi.

After receiving the letter from the palace, he went to the Ministry of Works to find someone and asked about the craftsmen. The feedback he got was that all the big craftsmen in the Ministry of Works had gone to the imperial mausoleum, and only one person under Lord Qin was responsible for the renovation of the residence in the capital. He sent people to inquire many times, but Lord Qin refused to release the person because of the tight construction schedule.

It's really puzzling.
In the backyard of the Guo family, the second son Guo Ziheng rushed into the main hall of the back house and asked anxiously;

"Mother, brother, I heard that my sister sent a letter from the palace. What did she say?"

inside the house,

It wasn't very quiet, let alone lively. I don't know when it started, but ever since the daughter of the Guo family entered the palace,
After being in the courtyard for a while, the enviable royal family felt a little uneasy and unsettled because the head of the family, Guo Baishan, was transferred to Zhongshan County as the governor, and Luo Yunhou entered the capital. No one knew why.
Mrs. Guo frowned, looking at the two sons' impetuous appearance, she couldn't help but feel distressed, her face tightened, and she said;

"Why are you in such a hurry? Come on, drink some water and take a break."

He immediately asked the maid to bring a bowl of tea to him. The second son took it and drank it all. The eldest son of the Guo family, Guo Ziyi, had a sad face. It was true that he didn't know how expensive firewood and rice were until he ran a household.
After his father left, he was responsible for all the family affairs. He thought everything was going smoothly and normal, but he didn't expect that he had no idea about his sister's visit.

"The letter has arrived. Please read it later. I asked you to find out what is going on at Rongguo Mansion."

It was said to be inquiring, but in fact it was just a rumor. When I returned to the mansion, there were rumors among the people that Rongguo Mansion had already started recruiting workers, and they were paying them first and asked them to clean up the yard.

Obviously,

There was some action, but I don't know if it was just a feint or if they really invited a master craftsman. After all, there was only one master craftsman in the capital.

If Rongguo Mansion wanted to take the person away, what would Guo Mansion do? Thinking of the two letters from his sister, he hesitated in his heart. After all, his father did not agree with the implied meaning of Uncle Zhang.

Thinking of Marquis Luo Yun's current momentum and his elite subordinates from the competition at the beginning of the year, it would be a lie not to say that he regretted it. If he had married into the Zhang family back then and Mingyue had become the first wife of Marquis Luo Yun, then the Guo family would not be like this now, stuck in the middle.
"Brother, I went to Rongguo Mansion early this morning. The housekeepers of the Duke's Mansion are now recruiting workers outside. The starting salary is three taels of silver a month. I heard that Rongguo Mansion has already hired a master craftsman and started drawing the blueprints for the renovation. I don't know if it's true or not."

Guo Ziheng was helpless, and he himself could not explain it clearly. It was clear that the only one left in the Ministry of Works was still directing the construction of the house in the north city. He didn't know where the Rongguo Mansion found him, or whether he just found a random craftsman to fool around.
Guo Ziyi's face was somewhat gloomy. He knew that Marquis Luo Yun was close to Rongguo Mansion, but there was only one master craftsman, so how could he arrange it?
"You should ask clearly whether it really happened or was just released casually."

"Well, big brother, if you put it that way, I don't know."

Guo Ziheng curled his lips. He really didn't know about these things. Besides, his mind wasn't on this. Looking at his elder brother's sad face, he said;
"Brother, since my second sister wrote a letter, she must have mentioned this matter. How did she arrange it?"

My second sister has always been opinionated since she was little, but my eldest brother is sometimes stubborn and doesn't listen to others' advice, which is why there are so many things going on. Now we are just repairing a garden. Although the Guo Mansion is not big, it can be simply renovated.
"It's easy for you to say that. All the families and mansions in the capital are eyeing this place. Among the concubines in the harem, there is also our Guo family. We are weak, but you are right. This is a letter from your second sister, saying that it is for Marquis Luo Yun. You can deliver it to him at night when no one is around."

"Uh, big brother, let me go. I am not familiar with Luo Yunhou. When you were a child, weren't you good friends with Luo Yunhou? Wouldn't it be more appropriate for you to go?"

Guo Ziheng was somewhat puzzled and surprised. Why did his elder brother hesitate at the critical moment? What was the reason?

"I told you to go, so go ahead. Why are you wasting time? The envelope is unopened, so you must keep it safe."

With a cold snort, Guo Ziyi placed the letter from Concubine Jing on the table. Without waiting for his third brother and mother to speak, he left with a cold face. The whole inner hall suddenly became quiet, leaving Guo Ziheng confused.

"Mother, what is this?"

"Well, if I ask you to go, then go. We shouldn't talk about what happened back then, but you insisted on saying that it was because your elder brother and your father disagreed that your second sister finally went to the palace. Who would have known that these years would be like this?"

Mrs. Guo did not regret it in her heart. She had no intention of going to the border to suffer when she could enter the royal family. However, she did not expect that after so many years, she would not have any offspring. Even if she did not know the secret, she had to keep it secret, otherwise the consequences would be unpredictable.
"Mother, this is a story for later. Who knew that the Zhang family and Marquis Luo Yun had such courage? I said at the time that since we are old friends and my second sister is willing, we can go outside the Great Wall. Why would we talk about entering the palace? And the money spent on building the garden is like a sea. How can our family have so much money?"

Although it was just an angry remark, he was not very sure in his heart. Uncle Zhang left with a cold face that year, and before leaving the capital, the two families did not have much contact during that period of time. Therefore, it is still unclear whether Marquis Luo Yun will recognize the Guo family now.

"You two brothers can handle the money issue. I am a woman and I cannot control it even if I want to."

Mrs. Guo sighed, feeling somewhat confused as to where her future would lie.

After all,

She called the maidservant beside her and went to the back hall, leaving Guo Ziheng alone. Looking at the envelope on the table, he reached out to take the envelope back, put it in his arms, and returned to his own yard.

East house in the front yard,

Guo Ziyi returned to the house with a gloomy face. He took the other letter in his hand and read it carefully again. As his second sister said, the visit was a grace from heaven and should not be neglected. However, there was no need to make a big fuss about the mansion. He could just find a master craftsman to renovate it. This would not only give an explanation to the palace, but also save his own face.
But for such a simple villa for visiting relatives, the Guo family couldn't even find a master craftsman, how could they have the face to do so? In the end, they had to go to Luo Yunhou for help in private. Alas.
"My dear, why are you so sad? Why are you hiding in the house alone on such a happy day?"

A clear voice came from outside, and Mrs. Guo came into the room with two maids. She saw her husband alone in the room without a servant. It was obvious that he was worried.

"It's nothing, just a small matter."

Guo Ziyi shook his head. It was useless to regret many things now. If he had known this would happen, why did he do it in the first place?

"It's good that nothing happened. I asked the steward to buy the best food from the interior today. You can have one more drink today. As for matters in the mansion, just listen to your Majesty."

Mrs. Guo knew how difficult it was for her husband. Some things could not be forced, so it was better to keep things simple and listen to the queen's instructions. "Yes, madam is right,"

A faint voice came, as if accepting fate, which made Mrs. Guo stunned. What is this, my husband?

"Hurry up, hurry up,"

Galloping all the way,
Zhang Jinyu hurried back to the capital with his personal soldiers, and headed straight to Qin Ye's mansion from the south gate.

Not long after, we passed Youlai Inn and turned the corner to the Qin Mansion's courtyard.

"call"

"Master Hou, we're here."

Looking at the door in front of him, which was still the same as when he came here, Zhang Jinyu got off his horse, walked up to it and knocked on the door.

"Boom boom boom!"

The door knocked three times, and a female voice came from inside and asked;

"Who?"

The familiar voice made Zhang Jinyu smile slightly and replied;

"The son-in-law of the Qin family,"

"Oh, it's the Marquis who's here."

With a cry of surprise, the door opened randomly. The person inside was none other than the woman named Liu who served Qin Ye. The clothes she wore now were very different from before. They were all the finest Jiangnan Su brocade. It seemed that she had taken them into the room.
"It's Aunt Liu. How are you these days?"

Zhang Jinyu saw the door open, said something polite, and walked in with his people.
"Thanks to the Marquis, he is naturally living a good life. Come in quickly. The master is drinking tea in the flower hall, and Young Master Qin is also here."

Aunt Liu pointed to the main hall and replied.

Zhang Jinyu walked faster. Qin Zhong was there too. He wondered how this kid was doing with his studies.

Walking along the small courtyard and the winding corridor, the carved window panes are conspicuous, and the green bamboos are swaying gently in the breeze.
When I walked outside the main hall and around the screen, I heard the crisp sound of chess pieces falling on a board from inside, like pearls falling on a plate, echoing in this quiet hall. I couldn't help but slow down my steps and walked in slowly.

In the flower hall,
Qin Ye and Qin Zhong, father and son, sat opposite each other at the chess table. Qin Ye's face was full of smiles and his face was slightly red, which added a sense of intimacy. Qin Zhong, wearing a black robe with dark patterns, sat upright, with a hint of childish calmness in his every move. At this moment, he was slightly lowering his head, staring at the chessboard, holding a black piece in his hand, thinking about how to place it.

Zhang Jinyu did not disturb the two of them. He moved a chair and sat on one side of the table, looking at the chessboard. It was obvious that the black pieces had nowhere to go. Zhongyuan had lost and there was nothing he could do to save the situation.

After a while,

Qin Zhong put down the black piece and said;
"Dad, my son lost."

"Ahahaha, victory and defeat are common in the military. Why are you so obsessed with this? Why is Jin Yu here today?"

Qin Ye smiled with relief and turned to look at Luo Yunhou beside him. He hadn't seen him for a while and his aura was becoming more and more majestic.
As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Zhong quickly stood up, bowed, and shouted;

"Brother-in-law,"

"Please sit down. It's been a while since we last met. Zhong'er is now a scholar. If your sister knew, she would be so happy."

Qin Zhong didn't know it when he was sitting. When he stood up, he was obviously taller, with a face as white as jade and bright eyes. The black brocade robe made his figure more upright. Not to mention, he was a standard "pretty boy" of aristocratic family. Tsk tsk, it seems that his father-in-law was also a suave man in his time.
"Thank you, brother-in-law,"

After bowing respectfully, he sat down calmly.

"Father-in-law, I came here uninvited today. One reason is to see how you are doing and if my brother Zhong is okay. The other reason is to discuss the renovation of the mansion by the Ministry of Works."

Zhang Jinyu's words were concise and shocking. He stated his purpose. Although the people in the Ministry of Works did not take any money, the people in the Ministry of Revenue were restraining each other. He had three million taels of silver for rebuilding the house. The people in the Ministry of Works were jealous of this and did not dare to cause trouble to him openly, for fear of embarrassing his father-in-law. So he had to ask himself.
"Don't worry, Jinyu. There is nothing difficult for me to do. Twenty houses in the capital have been renovated. Ten are in the south, three in the north, five in the east, and two in the west. After the houses are repaired, I will hand the signs of the repaired houses to Mr. Lou, the Minister of Works, and let him be responsible for the distribution. I will not take care of anything else. I will only focus on the construction of the houses."

He smiled slightly, waved his hand while sitting there, and the maid outside the curtain came in to clear the chessboard and serve tea.
Zhang Jinyu's heart moved, and he secretly praised that the old man was still cunning. His father-in-law's skills should not be underestimated. The money was in his hands, and the division of the house was handed over to the Ministry of Works. The many officials in the capital would definitely break down the door of Minister Lou's house.

"My father-in-law is very clever. With this, the eyes of the six ministries in the capital are all on Minister Lou. But why is there so much reconstruction in the South City?"

Zhang Jinyu just thought about it. There are ten courtyards built in the South City, and the West City has the least. Is there a reason for such construction?

But Qin Ye looked pleased, picked up the tea bowl and took a sip of tea, then said with a smile;

"Most of the officials in the capital don't have money. The courtyards in the South City are the smallest, but they also have houses and courtyards, and the rent is cheap, so we built ten mansions first to help those officials solve their urgent needs. As for the mansions in the other three cities, isn't it also a choice?"

Zhang Jinyu was surprised after hearing this. It turned out that his father-in-law had already made plans for the matter.
"So, father-in-law already knew everything. I admire you. If that's the case, I'm relieved. But, father-in-law, has the Ministry of Works called on that master craftsman?"

"No, there was someone from Prince Zhongshun's Mansion who came to the Ministry of Works to ask for someone, but Lord Lou refused to let him go. This person is still under my command. Many people have been looking for him these days, including many about the Empress's visit to her parents. How will you arrange it?"

As soon as Zhang Jinyu opened her mouth, Qin Ye knew what she was asking. The queen in the harem was coming to visit her parents and building a garden. However, there were several concubines in the palace and only one master carpenter. How should they arrange it?

"This matter is easy and not easy. Since they want to build a palace for the imperial visit, each prefecture wants to spend less money. In this case, they only need to renovate it. Therefore, when each prefecture wants people, they just need to ask the master craftsman to draw the blueprints, and then let each prefecture do it themselves."

Thinking about the Wu family coming first and the letter from the Guo family, I have to go to both of them.
"Tomorrow we will go to the Wu family first, and then go to the Guo family after we finish drawing the picture. As for the rest, as long as someone comes to visit and my father-in-law agrees, that's all."

There is nothing that can be done about it. If the master craftsman borrowed from the mausoleum never returns, there will really be no one in the capital who can paint.
"Okay, let's do as you say. Then Rongguo Mansion will be delayed."

Qin Ye readily agreed, but the Jia family of Rongguo Mansion had no chance to take the initiative. He didn't know that Zhang Jinyu had already made arrangements.
"Don't worry, father-in-law. Construction has already started on Rongguo Mansion. What's going on inside can't be explained in a few words. Come on, go to Youlai Inn and get some good wine and food. Today, I must have a drink with father-in-law."

"Yes, Lord Marquis,"

(End of this chapter)