Red Mansion, Ningfu Scholarly Family

Chapter 125 Jia Rong: I am the Junior Minister

……

With Jia Jing entering the cabinet, the power of Ningguo Mansion has undoubtedly increased a step further. Even in Shenjing where powerful and wealthy people are everywhere, it has reached the top ranks.

But Jia Jing understood very well.

The emperor just wanted him to come up and make money.

Because the Qingliu would never get money for the emperor. They would only restrict the emperor's spending, restrict the emperor's rights, and often risk their lives to make suggestions.

Those who make money for the emperor are treacherous ministers.

It must be recorded in history books.

"It seems that I will become a traitor."

Jia Jing laughed at himself.

All those present were Jia Jing's trusted aides, and they all laughed and said, "Why do you say that, old man? Speaking of treacherous ministers, Sun Xiaoye embezzled disaster relief grain, which led to the civil unrest in Shaanxi. He is the biggest treacherous minister in our dynasty!"

Ouyang Chi said: "How ridiculous that he is still the leader of the Qingliu Party!"

Nangong Lu sneered, "Everyone in Qingliu is a corrupt official, including Prime Minister Ye, who is not much better. It's just the pot calling the kettle black."

Dongfang Zi smiled and said, "That's right. Which high-ranking official in the six ministries doesn't have three wives, four concubines and a vast expanse of fertile land? They call themselves the nobles."

"it is good!"

Jia Jing slapped the table lightly and said, "Whether he is a traitor or a loyal minister, let future generations judge. Now that I have taken the position of the cabinet elder, I must share the worries of the emperor!"

"Notify Lin Ruhai, we can take action now!"

Let’s deal with the salt merchants first and send some money to the emperor.

In addition, the military pay for the nine borders was delayed by that group for another two months.

I really can’t put it off any longer!

"Sir," Dongfang Zi reminded, "The Lianghuai salt merchants have a close relationship with the emperor. When the emperor toured the south, several major salt merchants even funded to welcome him. They have considerable influence in the court. Your Excellency has just taken the position of cabinet elder...would you like to stabilize it first and wait and see for a while during the New Year?"

"No need." Jia Jing said calmly: "The so-called close relationship is just what those people think. What is the status of the emperor? How can he look at a few salt merchants in the eye?"

Nangong Lu agreed, "How dare a mere salt merchant try to establish friendship with the emperor? This is simply too arrogant. The emperor just lacks an excuse to punish them."

"Right now, Prime Minister Ye is in seclusion behind the scenes, Elder Wen doesn't have that much power for the time being, and the Emperor has delegated his power. It's the right time for the old man to join forces with Censor Lin to wipe out the Jiangnan salt merchants in one fell swoop!"

Jia Jing smiled.

It is not difficult to eliminate the scourge of salt merchants, but it is only a temporary solution and the next batch of salt merchants will not be much better.

It has been impossible for any dynasty to truly solve the problem of salt merchants.

but.

You can clear away the trouble and then support your own people.

Served Ningguo Mansion.

In the past, Jia Jing's wishes were simple.

It was nothing more than carefully cultivating Jia Rong to study for the imperial examination, and having both grandfather and grandson become Jinshi brought honor to the family.

After becoming a cabinet elder, he discovered his ambition...

It seems a little bigger.

He wants to take the position of Prime Minister.

……

The next day there will be a large court meeting.

There is an urgent matter that needs to be dealt with.

"Because my right-hand minister, Lord Sun, embezzled disaster relief funds, the civil unrest in Shaanxi has become a trend, and even the local government is unable to deal with it. Do you have any good ideas?"

The words of the retired emperor made many people pale, especially some people from Sun Xiaoye's faction. Although it was a cool morning in late autumn, they were still sweating profusely.

At this time.

Wen Ting, the deputy assistant of the cabinet, came out to help and said, "The Holy Emperor governs the world with benevolence. The people of Shaanxi have a reason for the unrest. I think we can send a minister to the court to recruit them."

As soon as Wen Ting finished speaking, the Minister of Personnel Liu Zhiyi hurriedly said, "I second the motion."

"This move can avoid the need for war and defeat the enemy without fighting. Secondly, it can show the benevolence and grace of the Holy Emperor."

"I second the proposal."

"I second the proposal."

"..."

Wen Ting glanced at Jia Jing indifferently.

Jia Jing looked calm, nothing unusual.

half an hour.

Almost everyone agreed.

The emperor was also quite satisfied with Wen Ting's strategy, so he smiled and said, "In your opinion, who is the most suitable person to recruit?"

Wen Ting smiled and said, "The Minister of War He Yuanqiu can do the job."

The emperor thought about it and nodded: "Okay!"

Wen Ting smiled again and said, "Minister He can take 20,000 troops from the Beijing camp to put pressure on them, or fight a small battle to establish their authority. It should be easier to recruit them."

The Emperor smiled and said, "This is a mature and prudent statement. Minister He, just follow what Elder Wen said."

He Yuanqiu hurriedly accepted the order: "I obey your order."

After talking about military affairs, the emperor looked at Jia Jing again and said with a smile: "Lord Jia, the commercial tax reform concerns the country. I will give you full authority to be responsible for it. Let's put the rest aside for now."

Jia Jing bowed: "I obey your order."

as expected.

……

Am I a junior minister?

One day when he returned home from school, Jia Rong suddenly discovered that his identity had changed, but it also seemed that he had not changed.

The main reason is that Jia Jing's status is not high enough, he is just an ordinary cabinet minister. When Jia Jing climbs to the position of the cabinet's chief minister, he can be worthy of the title of a small cabinet minister.

But it's okay.

The road must be taken step by step.

After returning home, Lai Er bent over and walked forward to greet people with a smile as usual, but he was more respectful than before.

"Uncle, you are back."

"hold head high."

Jia Rong answered casually, and suddenly saw Pei Feng walking in front of him. He remembered that he had not shown filial piety to Master Zhen for a long time.

The main reason is that Master Zhen has been too quiet and low-key recently, and Jia Rong almost forgot that there is such a person in the mansion.

Jia Rong took two quick steps forward. Pei Feng didn't know what she was thinking. She just kept walking forward blankly, not noticing that there was someone beside her.

"Ai!"

Jia Rong frightened Pei Feng for a moment.

"what!"

Peifeng exclaimed and looked at Jia Rong.

"Uncle! You scared me to death!"

Jia Rong smiled and said, "What are you thinking about? Why are you so obsessed? I have been following you all the way."

Pei Feng: "I thought... I didn't think about anything!"

"What are you doing here, sir?"

Jia Rong said, "Look at the master."

Pei Feng laughed and said, "Oh, you finally remembered your master? I thought you had forgotten that you even had a master!"

Jia Rong smiled awkwardly and said, "The master is concentrating on practicing Taoism, and I am afraid of disturbing him."

"Humph."

Pei Feng lowered her head and said nothing.

"What's wrong?" Jia Rong asked.

Pei Feng said aggrievedly, "The master seems to be possessed. He has been refining the elixir all night long without sleeping, and he is also talking nonsense like a possessed person."

"return……"

Jia Rong: "What?"

"He also beat me and kicked me out."

Peifeng started crying as she spoke.

"Okay, okay." Jia Rong patted Pei Feng's shoulder and comforted her, "Come out if you want. Come to my place. I've said that I will be filial to you in the future."

"Bah, I don't want you to be filial!"

Peifeng glanced at Jia Rong.

You've been so filial to my master!
Do you still want to be filial to me?

"Then I'll have someone arrange a yard for you and give you two maids. You can live there peacefully for now. When the master changes his mind, you can go back to serve him, okay?"

"Hmm..." Pei Feng nodded.

"Go find Xiao Xiao and let her make the arrangements."

"I'll go see the master."

"Thank you, sir."

"Thank you for everything, family."

After settling Peifeng, he walked into Jia Zhen's yard.

A cloud of smoke blew towards him, choking Jia Rong and causing him to cough for a long time.

"Master, you are here."

A few servants dressed as Taoist priests were about to go out, but when they saw Jia Rong, they hurriedly bowed and greeted him.

Jia Rong asked, "What happened inside?"

"The master is making the elixir, it will be ready soon..."

The young Taoist priest hadn't finished speaking.

"Oh!"

A sound.

The whole house was filled with smoke.

"broken!"

"The master's furnace exploded!"

Several young Taoist priests ran in in panic.

"master!"

"master……"

"Master, are you okay?"

Jia Rong: “…”

"How could this be?"

"how so!"

Half of Jia Zhen's hair and beard were burnt, his clothes were torn, his face was completely black, and smoke was coming out of his mouth and nose.

"How did you come?"

Jia Zhen suddenly looked at Jia Rong at the door.

"I...my son came to see the master and pay my respects to him."

"Nonsense!"

Jia Zhen stretched out his left hand, calculated silently, frowned and said: "I was wondering why the alchemy was not going well today, it turns out that you, this evil creature, caused the trouble!"

"Leave quickly!"

"I am already a person from the outside world. Sooner or later, I will ascend to the immortal world. Please don't disturb my cultivation anymore."

"..."

This Bu Lingzi has some abilities!

It's a talent!

Jia Rong walked out of the door silently, pulled a Taoist boy and asked in a low voice: "Where is Bu Lingzi?"

The little Taoist boy hurriedly said, "Master Bu said he was going out to save two people with spiritual roots, and he has been out for more than half a month."

"Tell him to see me when he comes back."

"Yes……"

The little Taoist boy quickly agreed.

……

"Old Xiaoge."

"Aunt Baochai is joking." On the way home, I happened to meet Baochai and was teased by her.

Baochai smiled and said, "In our Jinling, the brother-in-law of the prefect is called the little yamen. The master is the cabinet elder, so you are the little cabinet elder, aren't you?"

"Old Xiaoge."

"No, young master, it makes me uncomfortable."

"So what do you want to hear? Brother Rong?"

"Ok, Ok."

"hehe!"

A person suddenly walked out from the Chuihua Gate.

"But I heard it!"

"Baochai's niece?"

Baochai blushed slightly.

I felt bad luck in my heart.

Lin Daiyu actually caught him red-handed.

Lin Daiyu shook her head and smiled, "I just came here, I didn't mean to eavesdrop."

Baochai recovered quickly and said with a smile, "I was just talking about Rong'er, what's wrong? Is there anything wrong?"

Lin Daiyu: "Humph, you still don't admit it!"

Xue Baochai: "Okay, I admit it."

"Aunt Lin."

What does seniority matter?
Her last name is not Jia.

And Baoqin is in front.

Lin Daiyu was stunned.

Obviously, he didn't expect Xue Baochai to be so...

"well!"

"Brother Rong, you are really good!"

Lin Daiyu narrowed her eyes slightly and glanced at Jia Rong.

Some unknown anger.

Jia Rong: “…”

What does it have to do with me if you two are playing around?

And you won, you got a niece.

You don't lose out.

"Aunt Lin, I'd like to invite you to tea. I just got a few ounces of top-quality Longjing tea the other day." Baochai said as she pulled Lin Daiyu out.

Jia Rong breathed a sigh of relief and returned home.

He didn't take what happened just now to heart.

The confidence comes from his status as a junior cabinet minister.

He now needs to plan a lot of things, especially things that make money.

He needs a lot of money.

It's a pity that he doesn't know how to make perfume.

For some reason, he suddenly thought of Jia Baoyu.

Do you want to cooperate with Jia Baoyu and open a rouge shop?

You never know, you might be able to make money!
Just as I was thinking about the layout of the rouge shop, Lin Daiyu came!

She has a stern face and looks like an aunt.

"Say!"

"When did it happen to you?"

Jia Rong was suspicious for a moment.

"Who? What's going on?"

Lin Daiyu sneered.

"I've been called Brother Du Rong, and you're still playing dumb?"

"Oh."

Jia Rong smiled faintly and said, "She followed Baoqin in calling me Brother Rong, which seems reasonable?"

Lin Daiyu: "Are you stupid or am I stupid?"

Jia Rong: "Of course you are stupid."

"Aren't you happy that you have so many nieces who are filial to you?"

"Are you...jealous?"

"Bah, I'm eating you, you jealous bastard!"

Lin Daiyu picked up a few books on the desk and threw them at Jia Rong.

Then he returned to his yard angrily.

Lying in bed.

baffling!

She herself is confused!

What's wrong with her?
He is the eldest nephew.

It seems like I shouldn’t be angry?

Put yourself in Xichun’s shoes. What would happen if she saw such a scene?

I will be very happy and very happy!
I am...

No wonder Rong Ge'er looked shocked, he misunderstood that she was jealous.

Ouch! I am so embarrassed!

At this time, Zijuan brought the teacup.

Putting the teacup on the table, Zijuan asked in confusion, "What happened to the girl just now? She suddenly became unhappy."

Lin Daiyu waved her hands weakly: "Nothing, I just bumped into you."

Zijuan: “…”

Lin Daiyu jumped up from the bed.

No, she had to explain.

Otherwise, if Rong Ge'er misunderstood that she was jealous, it would be all over!

She is the aunt, how could she be jealous of her nephew?

Absolutely impossible!

Soon Lin Daiyu came to Jia Rong again.

Jia Rong is studying another plan.

Honeycomb briquettes.

Winter is coming and the price of firewood is soaring.

Now is a good time to use honeycomb briquettes.

Jia Rong is writing and drawing.

Lin Daiyu reached out and knocked on the table.

"Brother Rong."

Jia Rong: "Aunt Lin?"

Jia Rong was a little suspicious about Lin Daiyu coming again.

Did you just leave in anger?

"Well..." Lin Daiyu said awkwardly, "Aunt was just joking with you just now, don't take it seriously."

"Auntie is actually very happy."

Jia Rong nodded.

"I know, I didn't take it personally."

"That's fine, that's fine."

Lin Daiyu breathed a sigh of relief.

She was afraid that Jia Rong would misunderstand.

"What are you drawing?"

"Honeycomb briquettes can replace charcoal in winter, and they are much cheaper than firewood."

Lin Daiyu: "Are you short of money?"

"Auntie, there's still some here."

Jia Rong: "No shortage."

Daiyu: "Then what do you do?"

Jia Rong: "Serve the country."

Daiyu admired him: "As expected of you, you are the young minister!"

……

"Second Master!"

"For your wife's sake, please bear with me."

"Now only Rong'er can plead with Grandpa, and Madam can leave the small Buddhist temple."

Xiren persuaded earnestly.

Jia Baoyu was full of reluctance.

He had never liked Jia Rong, the parasite, let alone the fact that he was so rebellious as to want to marry his aunt.

"Second Master, everything is for my wife!"

"it is good!"

Jia Baoyu finally gritted his teeth.

“I’ll go again!”

"Yes, yes." Xiren advised: "Remember to humble yourself, but don't act like an elder. We can't afford it now."

"I know, I know!"

Jia Baoyu nodded and went to the East Palace reluctantly.

Halfway through the journey, Jia Baoyu's eyes lit up and he ran forward a few quick steps.

"Sister Lin!"

Lin Daiyu stopped and said, "Second Brother Bao."

Baoyu said excitedly: "Sister Lin, listen to me! Hurry up and leave the East Mansion and come to the old lady."

Lin Daiyu: “?”

Baoyu said, "Let me tell you, the last time I saw Rong'er, he was absolutely rebellious!"

"He said he wanted to marry my aunt!"

Lin Daiyu: "..."

"Master Bao, stop talking nonsense!"

"Brother Rong is not that kind of person!"

Baoyu stamped his feet anxiously.

"I mean it!"

"I swear……"

"Sister Lin, please don't leave..."

Seeing that Lin Daiyu had disappeared, Jia Baoyu returned to the yard in a daze.

"Second Master? Has he arrived?" Xiren asked.

Jia Baoyu: "What?"

Xiren: "What did the Second Master do just now?"

Jia Baoyu: "I just met Sister Lin, and I told her..."

Xiren: "Second Master, are you still concerned about Miss Lin? Madam is still in the small Buddhist temple!"

Jia Baoyu: "..."

……

(End of this chapter)