Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Mingze Lane, Jinling.

It was already bright in the sky and half past noon when the person in the main room, who was in a deep sleep, slowly woke up.

The embroidered bed gauze pillow, the ink-black silk, and the smooth silk quilt wrapped around the slender body show the undulating curves of her figure in the dim light.

The room was filled with my daughter's refreshing body fragrance, mixed with a slightly spicy medicinal scent.

The moment Zou Miner opened her eyes, she subconsciously looked towards the bed, but did not see Jia Cong, feeling slightly disappointed.

She wanted to struggle to sit up, but when she exerted a little force, it caused pain, so she continued to lie there with a frown.

Jia Cong had laid several layers of coarse linen cotton cloth from Songjiang under the bed, and on top of that he had laid a high-quality reed mat, which was very soft and cool to lie on.

Sometimes even Zou Miner felt puzzled. Jia Cong was born into a wealthy family of a duke, so he should have been living a life of luxury and not knowing anything about the daily necessities of life.

But he seemed to know all the details about the home, which made her feel a little strange, but more comfortable and comforted.

When the matter in Nanjing is settled, he will return to Shenjing to continue serving as the Earl of Weiyuan, and he will find a quiet place in Jiangnan to live in seclusion.

After all, my current identity makes it no longer suitable for me to return to the capital, and I am afraid that the chances of meeting you in the future will be few and far between. We are thousands of miles apart, and perhaps we will never meet again.

However, things have come to this point, which is the best outcome for her. She should not have any more delusions, so as not to cause trouble to others and herself...

The yard was very quiet. As it was not yet midday, not even the sound of cicadas could be heard. Only the occasional rustling of the leaves and branches of the phoenix trees in the wind could be heard.

Nor did I hear Lingguan's busy voice going back and forth, nor the moving tunes she hummed in her spare time.

She knew that Jia Cong had stayed in Mingze Lane last night, and he was still looking through documents in his room before she fell asleep.

Today is the government office's holiday, so he probably won't be going to the office. I don't know where he and Lingguan went.

After a period of recuperation, Zou Min'er's condition has become increasingly stable.

Zhang Youpeng is a famous doctor of the time. He knows very well that for seriously injured people, care is more important than treatment.

The prescriptions he wrote not only emphasized the principle of mutual assistance between the monarch and the ministers, and the method of regenerating flesh and replenishing Qi, but also included many herbs that could calm the mind and concentrate Qi.

In addition to applying external medicine, Zou Min'er also took decoctions every day. Zhang Youpeng's decoctions had a sleeping effect, so she would sleep after noon every day.

……

She was feeling a little bored when she suddenly heard the sound of the courtyard door opening, and then she heard the charming voice of Lingguan Cuili.

"Master San, the fish you picked is so fresh and lively that I can't hold it tightly."

"And this bunch of green vegetables is also very juicy, so green that you can squeeze out water from them."

"Third Master, don't you have a lot of people serving you in your house? You don't usually have to do these things. How come you even know the ins and outs of shopping in the market?"

Jia Cong's voice echoed in the courtyard: "What's so difficult about going to the market? It's much easier than reading and writing."

Naturally, he would not tell Lingguan about the bizarre world he had experienced. This experience of visiting the vegetable market was not worth mentioning.

Zou Min'er couldn't help feeling happy when she heard Jia Cong's voice, and then she heard the footsteps of Jia Cong and Lingguan walking into the inner courtyard.

Then I heard the sound of water and the clatter of pots and pans coming from the kitchen. It must be Lingguan who was busy.

Jia Cong had walked to the window, carrying a brand new bamboo lounge chair on his shoulder, with a warm and relaxed smile on his face.

He entered the room and said, "I calculated the time. You should be awake by now. I bought a recliner. You have been stuck in the room for many days.

The eaves under this corridor are very cool. You can come out and lie down to rest and enjoy the fresh air, which will be very beneficial for your recovery."

Jia Cong went forward and helped her sit up, then took out a pink double-breasted bodice from the closet, intending to let her put it on before taking her out of the house, after all, she could not withstand the wind after her injury.

Just when he was about to call Lingguan in to help Zou Min'er get dressed, Zou Min'er saw his expression and knew what he wanted to do.

Her face turned slightly red and she said, "The little girl is busy, come and help me."

When she was first injured, even things like undressing and changing the bandages were done by Jia Cong. All the girl's reserve and defenses were broken.

Moreover, she knew in her heart that no matter their past, present, or future, she and Jia Cong would never be together.

As long as he finishes his business in Jinling, he will return to Shenjing. However, she is a woman whose identity cannot be seen in public, so the vague fate between them has come to an end.

Every day that passes, they have one day less.

Zou Min'er just felt an inexplicable impulse in her heart.

She wanted to throw away those shadows of sadness, the natural shyness and resistance of a girl, and just wanted a moment more intimacy and companionship.

Let the long and lonely time in the future have more comfort and sweet memories, even if it means betraying family affection and reason.

After hearing what Zou Miner said, Jia Cong was slightly stunned, but without hesitation, he supported her body and helped her put on the pink double-breasted vest.

Zou Min'er was seriously injured in the chest and abdomen and could not move herself, so he helped her tie the love knot.

The two of them got closer, Jia Cong felt the brush of black hair on his face, a soft and tingling sensation, and the intoxicating fragrance from Zou Min'er's body slowly surrounded him.

This made him feel an inexplicable impulse. He calmed himself down a little, found a thin quilt in the room, and spread it on the recliner under the eaves.

He entered the room again, picked up Zou Min'er who was leaning on the bed, and walked out of the room carefully.

Since being injured, Zou Min'er has never left the room.

She didn't know if it was the glaring sunlight outside or Jia Cong's embrace that made her feel a little dizzy. Her arms involuntarily wrapped around Jia Cong's neck and she leaned gently in his arms.

But the few steps from the house to the lounge chair on the porch seemed very long, so long that she hoped it would have no end, and yet seemed very short, as short as a fleeting erotic dream.

……

Lingguan was busy in the kitchen when she suddenly saw from the window that the Third Master was carrying Miss Zou out of the room.

She had probably never seen a man hugging a woman before, and her little face blushed involuntarily. And why was Miss Zou hugging the Third Master so tightly?
A thought suddenly popped into the little girl's head: If I get sick or injured in the future, will the Third Master hug me like this?

As soon as this embarrassing thought came to her mind, she was frightened. With a red face, she picked up the water scoop beside her and took a few gulps of cold water.

……

Jia Cong gently placed Zou Min'er on the recliner and said with a smile, "I've tried this recliner myself. The backrest is just the right size. You won't hurt your wound if you lie on it."

After hearing this, Zou Miner naturally understood what Jia Cong meant. He was not the one who knew exactly where his wound was.

He had tried it beforehand, so he naturally knew that this recliner was suitable. No wonder it was so comfortable to lie on it.

The sun in the sky gradually rose higher, and the corridor, which was originally a little dim, became bright.

Zou Miner's slightly pale face, under the sunlight, showed a hint of translucency, and gradually took on a pinkish color.

Jia Cong also moved a chair and sat down next to Zou Min'er. They were both silent, enjoying the carefree time in the courtyard.

The green tiles on the eaves drew a deep outline against the blue sky; the gaps between the branches and leaves of the sycamore tree were swaying in the wind, casting mottled sunlight on the bluestone slabs in front of the corridor.

Perhaps many years later, they can still recall this moment, and that they had unforgettable heart-warming memories with each other when they were young.

The sound of clinking and donging came from the kitchen, and the fragrance of steaming dishes wafted out, filling the entire courtyard with the warm atmosphere of home.

……

They waited until the sun was high in the sky. Jia Cong and Lingguan set up a table and chairs in the corridor and each brought rice and dishes. When the three were about to have lunch, there was a knock on the courtyard door.

Jia Cong went out and opened the gate. It was Jiang Liu who knocked on the door, holding a cowhide envelope in his hand.

He said, "Third Master, someone delivered a letter to the old house in Xinglongfang this morning, saying that they had received Third Master's instructions to forward an urgent letter from Gusu.

He also said that the wine shop had a new batch of wine, and asked the Third Master to take a look at the new wine when he had time. Jia Cong's eyes lit up when he heard this, knowing that the Central Carriage Division had received the information from Gusu and sent someone to present it to him.

The group of people assigned to Suzhou by Jia Cong this time was led by Jiang Xiaoliu, the former head of the Firearms Battalion, and was accompanied by an officer from the Jinling Vehicle Division.

He opened the letter, read it quickly, and couldn't help feeling pleasantly surprised.

Jia Cong had been in Nanjing for quite some time. Not only did he go to Gusu to investigate in person, he also sent a large number of personnel together with the Central Vehicle Division to search the states along the Yangtze River, but nothing was found.

But the efforts were finally not in vain. The letter said that the group of people sent to Suzhou found traces of Zhou Zhengyang in a brothel called Pan Xianglou in Gusu.

At present, the states along the river are under strict inspection, and the Jinyiwei troops in various places have blocked the main waterways. Zhou Zhengyang will definitely not be able to escape into the sea, and he is very likely still hiding in Gusu.

Jia Cong excitedly entered the inner courtyard and told Zou Miner the news.

Zou Min'er was seriously injured and faked her death to escape. She had originally taken over the mission of CRRC Corporation Limited, but now it has nothing to do with her.

However, as long as Zhou Zhengyang is caught, the inside story of the major case of the Water Supervision Bureau will be revealed, and the knot that has weighed on her heart for many years will be resolved.

Therefore, she was very excited when she heard the news.

But suddenly it occurred to me that now that Zhou Zhengyang's whereabouts were known, with Jia Cong's ability, it would not take long to bring this man to justice.

By that time, the matter of Nanjing would probably be settled soon, and he would probably return to the capital soon to report to the emperor. He couldn't help feeling a sense of loss.

The sudden arrival of the news stirred up waves of turmoil in the originally warm and peaceful atmosphere of the house in Mingze Lane.

Jia Cong ate very busy during this meal, while Zou Min'er ate a little absent-mindedly.

Only Lingguan was simple-minded and didn't notice anything. She enjoyed her own cooking slowly.

It was just a little regretful to see Jia Cong eating without blinking his eye. He didn't know if he could taste the food or not. He had put a lot of effort into making this dish especially for him.

……

After a quick meal, Jia Cong returned to Zou Miner's room and carefully read through the intelligence reports she had collected from Gusu at different periods, as well as the local maps and information on Gusu.

He planned to go to Xinchun and ask Qu Hongxiu to activate Feiyu to pass the message to the personnel assigned to Zhenjiang and Changzhou.

Let the twenty people originally assigned to these two places gather in Gusu as soon as possible to increase the manpower in Gusu, hoping to find Zhou Zhengyang's specific whereabouts as soon as possible.

The two female disciples trained by Ellie brought a group of trained flying birds to Jinling. With the financial support of Xinchun, Feiyu's strength has been growing steadily.

As Xinchun began to set up branches in various prefectures in the south of the Yangtze River, Fenyu also set up branches in various places following Xinchun.

Feiyu usually communicates the trade route information of branches in various places with the highest efficiency;
At the current juncture, it transmits information on personnel assignment and transfer.

According to his estimation, with the speed of Feiyu transmitting information, the people from Zhenjiang and Changzhou could reach Gusu in less than two days.

He will also transfer his own personnel from Jinling to add weight to Gusu.

He also had to go to Yao's Wine Shop in Xinghua Lane again.

The messenger said that the shop had new wine and asked him to go and see the goods. This was Xu Qinnan inviting him over to meet her, so there must be something to discuss.

As the commander of the Jinling Guard, Zhou Zhengyang has served in Jinling for many years and has complex connections in the officialdom.

Not to mention that Zhang Kangnian and Du Hengxin had served as his colleagues, no one could tell how many obscure connections he had in the major government offices in Nanjing.

Whether it is the Jinling Jinyi Uniform Force or the government offices closely related to this matter such as the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Justice, and the Yingtian Prefecture, it is hard to say that there are no spies who leaked the information.

In comparison, the Jinling Zhongchesi, which is hidden in the dark, is the most trustworthy force because of its duty of supervising and spying on all officials and rarely has any disputes with the Jinling officialdom.

He would ask Xu Qinniang to deploy capable personnel from the Central Vehicle Department to rush to Gusu for assistance.

He planned to gather himself and the personnel of the China Railway Company and move into Gusu, and determine Zhou Zhengyang's whereabouts as soon as possible.

Only then would he pass the news to the Jinyiwei and Yang Hongbin of the Dali Temple, asking them to work together.

The reason for doing this is that once the information spreads, it is very likely to bring about negative consequences such as leaks.

The leak of information from the Dali Temple in Shenjing caused Zhou Zhengyang to escape early, which was a lesson for us.

But everything has two sides. If you keep things stagnant and want to get to the bottom of things in the confusion ahead, it will be difficult and hard to achieve anything.

Although beating the grass may scare away snakes, it can also help you find their traces.

Jia believed that he and the people of the China Railway Company had made arrangements in Gusu in advance, so he had more than 70% control over the situation in Gusu.

He went over the entire process in detail until he understood all the key points clearly and accurately.

He placed Zou Min'er back into the room and told her his idea again. The two of them discussed it again, checking for any missing details, and then he hurried out.

……

Zou Min'er leaned on the bed in a daze, thinking about what Jia Cong had just said.

He had just received the news and had a detailed plan in a moment.

Zou Miner vaguely felt that the pace of the whole thing was suddenly accelerated, and the final result seemed to be within reach.

Lingguan cleaned up the dishes outside, then went back into the room and carefully helped Zou Miner lie down to rest.

Seeing the pile of documents placed by Jia Cong on the desk, he started to sort them out.

When she saw a portrait among the pile of documents, her clear and bright eyes were filled with surprise.

Zou Min'er saw Lingguan holding a portrait, tilting his head to look at it from left to right, with his eyebrows slightly furrowed, as if he was thinking about something, and she couldn't help feeling curious.

Zou Min'er knew that Jia Cong treated Lingguan differently and was very doting on her. Since the little girl arrived in Jinling, Jia Cong had always protected her and she had never had to worry about anything.

It's rare to see her looking so puzzled.

Moreover, she recognized that the portrait in Lingguan's hand was that of Zhou Zhengyang.

That day, she discovered that the portraits used to capture Zhou Zhengyang were extracted from documents of the Ministry of War, and were very different from Zhou Zhengyang's appearance.

That specious portrait would greatly mislead the search and arrest of Zhou Zhengyang.

She even concluded that the reason Zhou Zhengyang disappeared without a trace and could not be brought to justice was largely due to this old portrait.

When Zou Miner noticed this loophole, she invited the best painter in Jinling.

Based on the descriptions of people who were familiar with Zhou Zhengyang's appearance, a new portrait was drawn with a very high degree of similarity and distributed to the states along the river.

She also left a portrait of herself for archive, which is usually placed together with her collection of documents.

Jia Cong and she were both so used to seeing this portrait that they had become somewhat indifferent to it.

But since Lingguan arrived in Jinling, she has been living in the Jia Mansion in Xinglongfang, so naturally she has never had the opportunity to see this portrait.

If Jia Cong had not taken out all the documents to look through, and had not been in a hurry to go out without bothering to pack them up, I'm afraid Lingguan would still not have had the chance to see it.

Lingguan said, "Miss Zou, the person in this painting looks very familiar. I think I have seen him somewhere before."

Zou Miner's eyes lit up slightly, and she recalled the scene when she met Lingguan in Jinbi Garden in Gusu that day.

At that time, Lingguan offended a guest and broke a valuable crown of the troupe, so the troupe owner punished her by making her wash clothes.

Zou Min'er asked tentatively: "When you arrived in Jinling, you lived in the Jia family's old house. If you have seen the person in the portrait, it must not be in Jinling.

Did you see it before in Gusu?"

After hearing this, Lingguan suddenly realized what was going on and said hurriedly, "I remember who he is!" (End of this chapter)