Red Mansion, Ningfu Scholarly Family

Chapter 209 Jia Rong: I am happy if you two are well

……

In Lixiangyuan, the wine is strong.

The wine made from aged osmanthus flowers was quite strong, and after Jia Rong drank two cups he felt tipsy.

Baoqin, who was standing beside him, had a blush on her face because she had taken a sip with Jia Rong.

Only Baochai was drinking tea with a normal expression.

"Rong'er, the autumn examination will be held in two months. Are you ready?" Baochai looked at Jia Rong and asked with a smile.

Jia Rong took another sip of wine and said with a little drunkenness: "I started studying at the age of five, and now it has been more than ten years. I can't say that I am completely prepared, but I have prepared everything I should prepare. The rest depends on God's will."

Baochai nodded seriously and agreed: "Man proposes, God disposes. Rong'er, you are still young. Although this exam is important, don't feel too burdened."

Given Jia Rong's current age and the Ningguo Mansion's current power, there is no need to rush. He can simply fail once and then twice, and then fail twice and then three times... Of course, Baochai would never say such unlucky words.

Jia put down his teacup, waved his fan and said, "I am not young. As the saying goes, every generation has talented people. I heard that Shuntian Prefecture had a prodigy who passed the imperial examination at the age of twelve. This year, he will also be in the autumn chamber. It really makes all of us scholars ashamed."

In fact, Jia Rong could have passed the college entrance examination when he was twelve, but he didn't want to be too prominent. The reputation of being a child prodigy was very stressful.

Now, he is seventeen or eighteen years old.

It is somewhat reasonable to pass the imperial examination.

Baochai smiled and said, "Don't belittle yourself. It's two different things to just barely pass the exam and to win the first place. If Rongge passes the exam this year, he will be one of the top one or two in our dynasty, and his name will be known all over the world."

As she spoke, Baochai looked at the somewhat drunk Jia Rong, and there was a strange look in her eyes.

Baoqin was a little drunk at this time. She stood up, covered her forehead and said, "Excuse me for a moment."

Baochai came back to her senses and quickly asked Baoqin, "Are you okay?"

Baoqin held onto the table and said with a smile, "It's okay. I'll go take a break. Brother Rong, you can talk to my sister first."

"Okay, slow down, sister."

Jia Rong felt a little regretful that he had just asked Baoqin to drink two cups with him.

I didn't expect she was so drunk.

The last time she was drinking with Daiyu, she didn't get drunk so quickly.

After Baoqin left, Baochai didn't talk much. There was a little awkwardness between the two. Jia Rong simply stood up and said goodbye: "It's getting late. I won't disturb Miss Bao to rest."

Baochai nodded and said with a smile, "Isn't she Aunt Bao?"

Jia Rong: "Sister Bao is pretty good."

Baochai: "Why don't you follow Baoqin and call me Sister Bao?"

Jia Rong: "That's impossible. How old are you?"

"I..." Baochai hesitated: "Fifteen."

Jia Rong smiled and said, "Look, I'm eighteen years old, and you still want to be my sister. Isn't that shameful?"

Baochai touched her temples and said with a smile, "But... I heard that you are going to get engaged to Baoqin. Then I will be your sister."

Jia Rong: "Sister-in-law?"

"Ok!"

Baochai suddenly became unhappy and nodded, saying, "Go back and have a rest. I'll take you there."

"No need." Jia Rong waved his hand: "I'm not drunk."

"Okay." Baochai did not force him and stopped after sending Jia Rong to the door.

It’s not that she trusts Jia Rong very much.

Instead, someone went to deliver it.

……

The moon is dancing and the breeze is blowing.

Xue Baoqin was wearing a light yellow brocade double-breasted jacket, a white satin skirt, and a moon-white silk sash tied around her waist. She stood under the tree looking fresh and full of energy.

He doesn't look like the drunken man he just was.

"Brother Rong!"

Watching Jia Rong walk out with no one following him, Baoqin hurriedly picked up her skirt and trotted forward.

"Sister Qin." Jia Rong was stunned: "Aren't you... drunk?"

Baoqin lowered her head and said shyly, "Brother Rong is so annoying. How could I come out to see you off if I didn't do this?"

Jia Rong was moved, and he took Bao Qin's hand and said, "Good Qin'er."

Baoqin struggled a little, but felt that Jia Rong was holding her very tightly, so she let him do it and walked forward with Jia Rong.

"Brother Rong must be very tired from studying recently." Baoqin tilted her head and looked at Jia Rong's profile. She felt that Brother Rong had lost some weight due to his tiredness recently.

Jia Rong smiled and said, "It's not that tiring. I've gotten used to it after so many years. How are you doing recently? Don't stay at home all day. Go and play with your sister Lin more often when you have time."

"I know." Baoqin nodded: "I often go to play with Sister Lin."

"hehe."

Jia Rong smiled foolishly.

"I'm happy if you two are good."

"Brother Rong is so annoying!" Baoqin said coquettishly with her eyes lowered.

Jia Rong's heart moved slightly. When he walked to an empty rockery, he stretched out his hand and gently held Baoqin in his arms.

"what!"

Baoqin was startled.

"Brother Rong!"

He quickly looked around and whispered, "There are people here, this won't work."

Feeling the girl's struggle in his arms, Jia Rong loosened his hand and said with a smile: "Then you take me back? There's no one at home, no outsiders."

Baoqin pouted and said, "Brother Rong is a bully. I will only send you to the door. My sister is still waiting for me at home. I can't go far."

"Ok."

The two of them walked very slowly, but the road was too short. After a few steps, the corner gate of the backyard of Rongguo Mansion was already in front of them.

The two gatekeepers had disappeared, but a small room next door was brightly lit, and there were faint shouts coming from it...

"I'm the banker tonight."

"Why hasn't Zhang Cai's family arrived yet?"

"Never mind her, let's gamble a little..."

"..."

It's a mess here.

If anyone from Ningguo Mansion dares to do this, his hands will be chopped off.

Go out of the back corner door and walk through the aisle.

It was indeed quiet here. The two old soldiers guarding the gate of Ningguo Mansion stood there, like two door gods.

"uncle."

The two saluted.

As for Baoqin who was following behind, the two of them acted as if they didn't see her.

"Ah."

Jia Rong nodded and smiled.

"Lao Shun, Lao Li, you two are on guard again tonight. You should give the younger ones more exercise."

The two were a little flattered. They didn't expect that Jia Rong knew them and spoke to them so "kindly".

Lao Shun hurriedly explained with a smile: "When you are old, you sleep less and don't wake up at night. Young people sleep more at night and are easily confused."

"Ok."

Jia Rong entered the mansion with a smile.

Baoqin followed obediently behind.

Soon they were outside Jia Rong's yard. Bao Qin stopped and said shyly, "Brother Rong, I, I'll go back first."

"it is good."

Jia Rong found a maid in his own courtyard and told her, "Go and see Miss Baoqin off."

"Hey." Nanny stepped forward and assured, "Master, don't worry, I will definitely send Miss Qin back safely."

Soon, the two returned to Lixiangyuan.

Baoqin said, "Thank you, Madam Li. Madam Li, please come in and have some tea."

Nanny Li smiled and said, "No, hurry back and report to the envoy, so that our master won't worry."

As he spoke, he walked back.

Baoqin didn't force it. She went into the yard and quietly walked towards her room.

"Ai."

"what!"

Baoqin exclaimed, turned around and said angrily: "Sister! You scared me to death!"

"hehe."

Baochai took back her hand, smiled and said, "Tell me, what have you been doing? Why do you look so guilty?"

Baoqin smoothed her temples and smiled nonchalantly, "I didn't do anything. I just went out to get some fresh air to sober up."

"Oh?"

Baochai smiled and said, "It was just the wind blowing? Did it blow to the East Palace?"

Baoqin's face turned red.

Has Sister Bao been following you all the time?

Have you ever seen Jia Rong hug her...

"Sister, I..."

Baoqin lowered her head and began to stammer.

"Ugh."

Baochai sighed, pulled Baoqin, and said earnestly: "Don't do this again in the future, or you will be laughed at."

"I know." Baoqin said obediently, "I will never dare to do it again in the future."...

Let’s talk about Jia Rong returning home.

The maids were all still doing their own things.

As for Xiao Xiao, she continued to practice martial arts, and was responsible for protecting Jia Rong closely when he went out on weekdays.

Qingwen was concentrating on her needlework.

Although she was only responsible for her own clothes and Jia Rong's clothes, it was also a very tiring job for her.

Xiangling... has been studying very hard recently.

The one who worked the hardest was Ping'er.

He had to take care of the accounts of Taizhou Trading Company and Xue Ke's side. He also had actual control over several emerging large salt merchants and the sales of honeycomb coal in several provinces.

The business is growing.

There are also some trivial accounts at home.

Fortunately, Caiyun and Xiaxia are both good at accounting and have the indentures in their hands. They are considered to be Ping'er's family members who know her well and can help Ping'er manage some less important accounts.

"My Lord is back."

As soon as Jia Rong returned home, several maids dropped their own work and ran over to serve him.

"Master, have you had some wine?"

“Where did you eat?”

"Tsk tsk, I heard he went to Lixiangyuan..."

"Meet Miss Baoqin... Hehe."

Several people started chattering.

The news that Jia Rong was going to marry two wives had spread throughout the two mansions. Everyone was envious but felt that there was nothing wrong with it.

With Ningguo Mansion’s current status and power!

Jia Rong’s current identity.

It is reasonable to marry two wives.

of course.

There must be one who is the eldest son of the Ningguo Mansion and will inherit the title of Ningguo Mansion in the future.

The other one is the second house of Ningguo Mansion...

Even the second branch of Ningguo Mansion was extremely wealthy.

"Cough cough."

Jia Rong coughed lightly, interrupting the laughter of the others, and said seriously, "Stop making trouble. Go and get me a bowl of sobering soup. The old osmanthus wine has a strong aftereffect. I feel dizzy."

"Yes, my Lord."

Ping'er went downstairs with a smile and told Caixia to cook some sobering soup.

Xiao Xiao smiled and said, "I remember that drunk people said I wasn't drunk. It seems that I'm not completely drunk yet."

Jia Rong said, "About seven or eight points."

"Take a shower later to sober up."

Qingwen asked, "Isn't it to drink the sobering soup to sober you up?"

Jia Rong said seriously, "Drink the hangover soup first, then take a bath. You have to sober up quickly because you have to write two articles. You can't miss any of them."

The girls: "..."

Lord, you work really hard.

I will definitely pass the imperial examination this autumn!
……

Let’s not talk about how Jia Rong studied hard after taking a bath, but tonight, another letter arrived in Beijing in an express delivery of 800 miles.

Jia Jing, who was about to go to sleep, got the news first and had no time to sleep.

The Tatars from the northwest have really invaded our border!
Fortunately, the imperial court had made preparations in advance and sent 10,000 elite soldiers some time ago. Although it might not be possible to annihilate the enemy, it should not be a problem to hold the defense line.

The issue is……

Military pay!

And Lin Ruhai's side.

In the past, with Jia Jing's strong support, Lin Ruhai could rest assured and deal with the Dutch at a leisurely pace.

It definitely won't work now.

Fighting on two fronts, north and south, is too stressful for Daxia. Tomorrow morning someone will definitely write a letter asking Lin Ruhai to withdraw his troops!

The war in the South China Sea had lasted for nearly a year, and the court had allocated three million taels of silver in succession, but this was just on the surface. In fact, Jia Jing had already invested all the five million taels he had obtained in Taizhou last time.

If we withdraw our troops, we will be defeated.

Although it did not affect his position as a minister, it was still a heavy blow.

Ye Xiang, Wen Ting, Wu Nan and others were probably all waiting to see him make a fool of himself!

Old Lin!
Hurry up!
……

"Hahaha!"

"Jia Jing, you have come to this day!"

Prime Minister Ye’s residence, study.

Although it was late at night, the room was still brightly lit. Ye Xiang looked at the notebook in his hand and laughed three times towards the sky.

"Mr. Jia has been so popular recently that he is almost riding on your head, Prime Minister Ye. The old man has finally opened his eyes. Let's see how he ends this time."

There was not only Ye Xiang himself in the room, but also several of his cronies.

For example: Wei Shengfu, Right Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, Pei Zhen, Minister of the Dali Temple, Zhou Xianbo, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Shi Yifa, Censor, etc.

Several people sat together, looking relaxed.

The person who spoke first was Wei Shengfu, the Right Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate.

The Imperial Censor Shi Yifa thought for a moment and said, "Let's bring this up at the court tomorrow morning. Lin Ruhai's campaign in the South China Sea cost the people a lot of money and labor, and emptied the treasury."

"it is good!"

Ye Xiang clapped his hands and praised: "Shi Yushi is right. It is a waste of money and manpower, and the people are living in misery... conquering the South China Sea is an extremely wrong and terrible decision!"

"It is because the Northwestern Tartars saw this that they dared to invade the border!"

……

Wunan Mansion.

"Haha..."

A low laugh came from the study.

Cabinet assistant minister Wu Nan is nearly 70 years old, and his laughter is somewhat mixed with a strange hoarse sound.

In the pitch-black night, the sound was particularly eerie.

The guards and maids passing by the door were trembling.

"Jia Jing, let me see how you respond!"

"To fight with me, humph... you are still a little immature!"

……

Wen Ting Mansion.

Although it was almost three o'clock in the morning, Wen Ting had no intention of sleeping.

It wasn't because of the 'Eight Hundred Miles Express' that he couldn't sleep, but because of the row of singing girls in front of him.

Dancing gracefully, she is extremely charming.

Although Lord Wen is old, he is gradually becoming passionate in his heart.

"master."

The butler came in hurriedly.

Wen Ting frowned.

At this hour, the housekeeper must know not to come in and disturb.

unless……

Something big is happening!
"Tell me, what's the matter?"

The housekeeper hurriedly handed over a note.

Wen Ting picked it up, looked at it carefully, and then unfolded it.

"The Tatars from the northwest have actually invaded our borders..."

Wen Ting said calmly.

Just suppress the invaders, play as you should, enjoy as you should.

Then he threw the note away and waved to the butler: "You can go down."

……

Daming Palace, Hall of Mental Cultivation.

When Emperor Anping learned that the Tartars from the northwest had really invaded the border, he was shocked and angry!
You didn't come when the emperor was in power!

I had just sat on the dragon throne in the court when you jumped out.

Outrageous!

Deceiving too much!

He must win this battle, a big victory!
This is used to stabilize one's position.

As for the Emperor Retired...

He is no longer in any situation now.

It seems that the retired emperor was really obsessed with cultivating immortals, but he still held on to the Imperial Guard tightly in his hands, and he was constantly expanding the power of the Imperial Guard and investigating all officials.

It doesn't seem like I'm not obsessed with it.

The last time the Emperor Retired "came out of retreat" was a month ago...and after coming out, he didn't care about anything else but the treasury. He asked for some money from the Ministry of Revenue and bought a lot of precious medicinal materials and cinnabar, as if he was preparing to make an elixir!

……

(End of this chapter)