The Concubine Wushuang of Red Mansion

Chapter 156
The Xue family began to rescue Aunt Xue. The doctor at home injected needles and pinched her again, and then Aunt Xue slowly woke up.

As soon as she saw Baochai, Aunt Xue burst into tears and grabbed Baochai's hand, "Your brother is in prison and has suffered a lot!"

Baochai's eyes were also bright red. She held her mother's hand tightly, speechless and silent for a moment, "Mom, why don't we go to Jia's house again and ask Mr. Cong how he and his brother are doing. What happened in between, it really can’t be done, mom bowed her head to him, I should apologize if I should!”

That man didn't even look down on the members of the Jia family. Even though they were relatives, who was not willing to give him face, so who could say no?
As for Xue Pan's beating of Feng Yuan, it was not in the eyes of the Xue family mother and daughter at all. After all, Feng Yuan was not dead. It's not a big deal, but I'll pay you a few taels of silver.

Therefore, the mother and daughter of the Xue family always believed that Xue Pan was imprisoned in the Jinling Mansion Yamen dungeon because of the previous quarrel with Jia Cong in Yanyu Tower, and that it was Jia Cong's personal revenge.

This misunderstanding also arises from this.

In the Jia family's villa, in the outer study room, two braziers were placed in the room to bake away the misty rain and moisture in the south of the Yangtze River. Five or six people were sitting on two rows of chairs on the floor. Jia Cong sat on the top, holding his hands. Holding a cup of tea in his hand, he silently looked at his subordinates who were having a heated discussion and joking with each other.

As the New Year is approaching, they don't expect any money from the court. Last time, Jia Cong fought against the five major families in Jiangnan. The cargo ship they used to lure the enemy and the material gold and silver on the islands outside were seized. Empty.

Jia Cong had no intention of repaying what he gained from this piece of work, and he did not keep it for himself.

Furthermore, when it comes to ransacking a house, most of the money goes to the palace, but the person who ransacked the house has to share some of it. The ransacking of Lin Anbo's house is another one. In this way, Jia Cong has a lot of money in his hands.

In terms of rewards for meritorious service, Jia Cong was not stingy with money. Except for the more than 5000 soldiers who died, each family of the 100 Jingwei soldiers under his command received a pension of 100 taels, and the rest received a lot of money.

Compared with the Zhejiang General Soldiers, who have not been paid for half a year, the sergeants on the Jingwei side have already celebrated the New Year in advance.

During the Laba Festival the previous day, Jia Cong had people buy a lot of beans, sugar, dozens of pigs, and several carts of wine, and sent them to the camp, where they cooked Laba porridge and slaughtered pigs. The camp was bustling for a whole day, even in the winter. Morale soared.

"I heard that there will be an imperial edict from the court. After the New Year, the court will probably transfer us back, and the Shenbing camp will definitely follow me. If you have any ideas, you can tell me in advance. I will also be here in the next few days. It’s a big deal.” Jia Cong said.

Participating in the discussion were the two deputy generals Guo Xun and Zhang Han on the Jingwei side, and Jiang Xiang, Yu Xinhai, Zhang Ding and Wu Weizhong on the Shenbing camp. When Jia Cong asked, the focus naturally pointed to Zhang Han and Guo Xun.

"What is the general asking? What's wrong with us following the general? Is the general going to kick us out?" Guo Xun pretended to be unhappy.

Jia Cong is not that old, but they have followed him for more than half a year, and not to mention the harvest, what he has done is the most satisfying thing in his life.

What people pursue in this life is satisfaction first, fame and fortune second, and wealth and wealth last. If you can use your talents to achieve your lifelong aspirations, who will take it seriously?

Since he joined the army as a man and arrived on the southeastern battlefield, among the Dashun soldiers, who wouldn’t want to expel the Japanese pirates and defend their homeland?
Kuang Guoxun and Zhang Han were originally from the south. Seeing their homes being ravaged and their fellow villagers displaced, they had no ambition to protect their homes and country, so they hated the Zhejiang General Soldier and General Donghai.

The arrival of Jia Cong turned the situation on the southeastern battlefield upside down. His strong style, bravery against the enemy, and flexible tactics gave every soldier under him the pleasure of leaping into the sea and flying into the sky.

Not to mention, he can share joys and sorrows with his subordinates. Whether it is generals or soldiers, although he is majestic, he never despises him, but makes people feel his gentle love.

Therefore, Guo Xun and Zhang Han never thought about leaving Jia Cong. Almost without thinking, Zhang Han said, "Boss, no matter where you go, we will follow you. If you let us go east, we will not go west! You are the one who was born." You are the one who will die!"

Jia Cong was so amused that a spring breeze-like smile appeared on his usually cold handsome face, and he joked, "I don't like this!"

Several strong men couldn't help laughing and punched Zhang Han in a playful way.

Just as he was talking, Kong An came in and said at the door, "Master Jiang, the Xue family has sent me a message. I wonder when I will be free. They want to come and visit!"

"Xue family? Is that the old pious woman who took 1 taels of silver notes to humiliate me last time? She is a target, she still dares to come? If I hadn't stopped me, I would have asked a few beggars to do it Her!" Yu Xinhai has a bad temper and exploded when he heard about the Xue family.

"Are you venting your anger? You are doing good to people. Think about the old widow who has been widowed for many years. She is still thirsty. It would be better for you to help others!" Wu Weizhong said angrily.

Zhang Ding didn't know what he was thinking of. He smiled and played with the handle of the knife at his waist. It seemed that he was not holding back anything.

Several people were filled with indignation. Seeing that Jia Cong didn't speak, they all looked at the young man's silent face. On his cold white cheeks, two sword eyebrows flew towards the temples, and a pair of starry eyes were calm. Even if they had been following him all year round, they could not easily do it. Aware of the young man's thoughts.

"I will be free after noon, let them come over!" Jia Cong knew that Aunt Xue was here again because of Xue Pan's matter, and she must have thought that he was complaining about Feng Yuan's matter. If he avoided seeing her, , but still fell behind. Let’s listen to what she has to say.

"If there is no decree from the palace, then you will come back to the capital with me. Today's meeting will end here!"

Jia Cong looked around and said, "The Shenbing camp should seize the time to overcome the current difficulties. If we can get the range and mobile device of this gun, we will solve the big problem in Liaodong."

He then said to Guo Xun and Zhang Han, "You must restrain the people under you. Don't cause trouble when you are free. Daily training must be strengthened. I will watch a military competition before the year. The top three of individuals and groups will be included." If the reward is too bad, I will eliminate it!"

The six people hurriedly stood up and saluted, "Yes!" The voice was sonorous and full of momentum.

Jia Cong was also very satisfied. He waved his hand and asked people to leave first.

When Aunt Xue got the news, she became nervous. After all, it was related to her son's life and death. She had always been a person who couldn't make up her mind. She asked her daughter, "Tell me, how many gifts should I give this time?"

When Baochai heard this, he felt strange and asked, "Among relatives, and mom is the elder. Logically speaking, if you go to Cong Sanye empty-handed, you won't care. Since you are bowing your head to others, mom will carry some." The usual snacks at home, a few bottles of good wine, let’s talk about our feelings.”

Aunt Xue took Baochai's hand and said, "My dear daughter, you don't know how greedy the man who killed a thousand swords is. When he was with Uncle Baoyu, he got into trouble with Uncle Baoyu just for a few hundred taels of silver. Make friends and drive people to death.

Last time, your brother was hung on the tower, and I spent 1 taels of silver to get him to let go and put your brother down.He is cheating on us! "

Speaking of which, it's really scary and infuriating. The Rongguo Mansion didn't say anything about it. How could the Jia family produce such a thing?
Baochai's pair of watery almond-shaped eyes widened, and she looked at her mother in disbelief, "Mom, you mean, when you went there last time, you gave him 1 taels of silver notes to let him go? "

Aunt Xue had no idea of ​​her own, but she only listened to the words of the steward around her and learned from her sister's evaluation of Jia Cong in her letter, so she began to despise Jia Cong and sent him away with a 1-tael silver note.

"My dear daughter, what's the problem?"

Baochai wanted to say that this was a big problem. She took a deep breath and asked, "Then Mr. Cong, has he taken the call?"

"Yeah, I didn't expect that he would pick it up."

Baochai closed her eyes, maybe because of the grudge between that man and her brother, she paid special attention to that man.

In fact, based on what that man did in Jiangnan, she couldn't help but not pay attention to it, whether it was the war against the Japanese, winning a battle, or whether he ransacked the Zhen family, and supported the Zhen Feng family to file a lawsuit to have Jia Yucun sacked. ; Whether it was the overthrow of the Zhejiang General Army or the destruction of the five major families in the south of the Yangtze River in his hands, it was widely spread.

How could such a young man, who was capable of turning everything upside down and making the whole Jiangnan look on his eyes, care about a 1 tael banknote.Her mother took the 1 taels of silver notes, which was obviously a humiliation!
As for why he wanted to be humiliated, Baochai didn't ask, but he knew it clearly in his heart. It was just to share the same hatred with his aunt who was far away in Shenjing.

If not for Jia Cong's sudden attack, the title of Ning Guofu would have gone to Baoyu. For this reason, her aunt often wrote letters to complain to her mother. The words in her words were nothing more than looking down on Jia Cong, the bastard, and expressing her disdain for Jia Cong. He was filled with resentment for taking away Baoyu's good deeds.

Baochai said to her heart, no wonder that person was angry. If it were her, she would probably hold a grudge.

"Mom, since I am my aunt's cousin and not an outsider, when mom goes there this afternoon, I will go with her!" Baochai said.

The main reason is to prevent her mother from talking casually and offending people to death. With her here, she can also make up for it at critical moments. The first thing is to get her brother out first.

Thinking of her brother, Baochai also felt sad. She was sad and distressed, but she also felt that her brother should be taught a lesson.

After having some lunch, the mother and daughter each took a sedan and came to the Jia family courtyard.

As soon as they entered the street, they heard the rapid sound of horse hooves not far away. The old man followed him and hurriedly asked the person carrying the sedan chair to step aside to let the person on horseback pass first.

There were ten people in the group, all riding tall horses and wearing official robes. Naturally, the Xue family couldn't figure out which yamen they were from.

Seeing this group of people stop at the gate of the Jia family's courtyard, the Xue family's sedan had to stay aside. The man who dismounted from the horse, wearing a bright red turban and an official hat on his head, stepped forward and said to the Jia family's disciples. , "The imperial edict from the capital has arrived. Please ask your General Zhaoyong to come out and receive the edict!"

The middle door had been opened, and Jia Cong came out to greet the angel.

Baochai secretly opened the sedan curtain outwards a little, and looked forward with his paint-like eyes. His eyes fell on the young man, and he saw that he was wearing a flying fish suit, a beam crown on his head, and a smile on his handsome face. He has a compelling heroic spirit and a calm demeanor. He has a Yue Zhi Yuan Ting-like aura and high spirits.

Thinking of such a person, whose mother used 1 taels of silver notes to hit him, Baochai couldn't help biting her pink lips, and fell into deep thought for a while, not knowing what to say after meeting.

The voice of "The emperor is destined to be blessed by heaven, the edict is here" sounded, Baochai opened the curtain again, looked over there, and saw the young man lifting the hem of his robe, kneeling on the ground like a jade mountain falling, listening respectfully to the angel's announcement, waiting for Baochai couldn't help being stunned when the will came into his ears.

Super grade marquis?

Young Lord?

My aunt said in her letter that when this Third Master Cong succeeded the Duke of Ning, he inherited the title of General Mingwei of the fourth rank and made many military exploits. Now he is a Marquis of the highest rank?
The person who came to announce the decree was Song Hong's godson Wu Ji. He had interacted with Jia Cong before when he was a companion in the palace. At this time, Jia Cong accepted the decree, stood up, and greeted Wu Ji again, "Cong has not seen this for many years. I'm back in Beijing. I wonder how Eunuch Song is doing? I see Mr. Wu looks fine, but it must have been extremely hard to come here all the way!"

"How are you doing, godfather? I always talk about the young hero of the Marquis! Our family has not been out of Beijing for many years. This time, we have taken advantage of the Marquis and made this foreign trip!" Wu Ji said with a smile, He moved a step to the side and let out the Jin Yiwei commander Jiang Xian behind him.

Jia Cong and Jiang Xian are also strangers. When they were in the capital, the two worked together. Jia Cong was not surprised that Jiang Xian came in person. After all, the wealth of the five major families in Jiangnan, if copied well, would be worth The imperial court had paid taxes for nearly a year, and only the emperor's own army could handle this matter to reassure Emperor Taiqi.

"Commander Chiang, it's been a hard journey!"

Jiang Xian didn't say anything, but took a step forward and patted Jia Cong on the shoulder as if he were his own nephew. Since it was a business meeting, Jia Cong couldn't call him uncle, but Jiang Xian treated his best friend's disciple. Extremely satisfied.

"I'll have people clean up the wing and come out. Lord Wu and Commander Jiang will freshen up first. Later, I'll arrange a banquet to cleanse you all!"

Wu Ji smiled and said, "Master Hou, everyone knows now that the richest place in my Dashun is Jiangnan, and the person with the most money in Jiangnan is Master Hou. If Master Hou cleans up the dust for us, we will not be polite." !”

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Master Wu is joking. I am just a temporary keeper of wealth. The money will eventually be collected from the national treasury and used for the people. Do you think Master Wu came here this time for this errand?"

Wu Ji shook his head, "Commander Jiang is on this mission, and our family is on another mission. We may not be able to stay here in the south of the Yangtze River in the future, and we need to ask the Marquis to take care of us!"

Jia Cong guessed that it was because of the shipping incident. He couldn't help but think of the textile factory he built. If it was for safety's sake, he should have asked the emperor to work together. After all, it would have a huge impact on the entire textile industry.

If this is the case, then we need to have a good discussion with Wu Jiji, but there is no rush for the time being.

After Jia Cong arranged for Jiang Xian and Wu Ji to settle down, he heard that the Xue family's mother and daughter had arrived.

"Lead them to the West Flower Hall!" Jia Cong went to put the imperial edict away, and then led Daniel to the West Flower Hall. When he entered the door, he saw that the person serving tea was not the former servant, but a woman. His eyebrows looked very familiar.

Who is it if it’s not Yinglian?

Jia Cong paused and turned to look at Daniel, who scratched his head and said, "Sir, I'd better go get twenty military sticks!"

Hearing these words, Yinglian raised her head and looked towards Jia Cong with tearful eyes. There was a bright spot of rouge between her eyebrows. She held a plate in her hand and stood with her hands down, looking timid and shy, weak and helpless.

"You go down first!" Considering that there was a girl from the Xue family in the room, Jia Cong dismissed Daniel first. As for Yinglian, Jia Cong nodded to her and went straight to the front seat to sit down.

Yinglian seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, bit her lip gently, and stood with her eyes lowered.

"Aunt, Sister Xue!" Jia Cong greeted her lightly, which was considered a courtesy.

Baochai's eyes fell on Jia Cong again. The young man was sitting on the chair, his knees slightly apart, as straight as pine trees. The knife makes people afraid to look directly at it.

Baochai hurriedly looked away, a hint of almost invisible surprise flashed in her moist, apricot eyes. She had never expected that Mr. Cong was so young and so calm, with an awkward and unfathomable look in his eyes.

Hearing such a call, Aunt Xue breathed a sigh of relief, and a smile appeared on her fair and loose-skinned face, "Brother Cong, you also know that I brought you Sister Xue here today because of my evil deeds. We are all in front of relatives, and I don’t want to say polite words. Your brother Xue is not suffering in prison. Tell us what you want. No matter if it is 10 taels of silver or how much silver, as long as we can afford it. Come on, we are all willing to help!"

Baochai's peony-like face suddenly flew up to two pieces of red clouds, like burning clouds, which were reflected on her skin as white as mutton-fat jade, which made Jia Cong think of the Er Qiao he had seen in the past, who was as gorgeous as the others. Bright and beautiful.

Her face is like a silver basin, her eyes are like apricots, her lips are not dotted but contain red flowers, and her eyebrows are not painted but are horizontally green. She wears a light pink origami peony embroidered round-neck robe, and a golden pleated skirt with flowers on the bottom. Embarrassed and nervous, her legs were tightly together, and her hands were unconsciously twisting a snow-white embroidered red plum handkerchief, with slender hands and ten fingers as green as green onions.

Jia Cong looked over calmly, glanced lightly, and then looked back without any trace, his eyelids drooped, and he smiled softly, "I don't know what Aunt Xue said? Brother Xue did offend me before, My aunt sent me money to make amends, and I hung him on top of the city overnight, so that our grudges were eliminated. Whatever happens to Brother Xue, it has nothing to do with me."

Jia Cong raised his eyes to look at Aunt Xue and saw the astonishment on her face, "I don't know, where did Aunt Xue start from?"

Aunt Xue opened her mouth wide and couldn't close it for a long time. For a moment, she didn't know what Jia Cong meant when he said these words. Her son was still in prison, but Jia Cong was good at pushing the two away. Don't you care about relatives at all?

(End of this chapter)