Red Mansion, Ningfu Scholarly Family

Chapter 230 Strong desire to survive

……

With each autumn rain comes a chill, and before we know it, deep autumn has arrived.

Master Zhen's condition was sometimes better and sometimes worse. Sometimes he even didn't eat for several days. Sometimes he would suddenly get better, with a rosy face as if he were having a last burst of life, which made the whole family terrified.

"what on earth is it?"

"What did you guys tell me at the beginning?"

Jia Jing looked very unhappy and glared at the old doctors.

"We have tried our best. Maybe Mr. Zhen's health was already very weak, so the effect of the medicine was much less." Doctor Li said with a stiff face.

Doctor Wang also hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, this medicine is effective, but Master Zhen's body has already exhausted its potential, so... the Lord must be prepared."

Although Jia Jing was angry, he could do nothing.

You can't just take it out on the imperial doctors by beating them up.

"That's all."

Jia waved his hand and said, "You all go back."

"I will... take my leave."

Several old doctors, as if they had pardoned someone, quickly withdrew.

One of the doctors asked in confusion: "It shouldn't be like this. Is there something wrong with the medicine?"

"Ahem." Doctor Li said hurriedly, "Don't let your imagination run wild. We personally checked the medicine. What could be wrong? It's just fate."

Doctor Wang nodded and said, "That's right. After all, the same prescription can be different for different people."

The two old seniors from the Imperial Hospital said so, and the others could not refute it, and the matter seemed to have passed.

In the evening, at Prime Minister Ye’s residence.

Imperial Doctor Li and Imperial Doctor Wang were led into the study.

Ye Xiang was sitting on a chair drinking tea. Seeing the two of them coming, he smiled and said, "Two old doctors, please take a seat."

The two dared not sit down, and hurriedly bowed carefully and said, "No, no, the matter is settled."

"Oh? Did it work?"

Ye Xiang was delighted.

Revenge at last!
You made my son stupid, I want your son's life!
It has been so long since the incident happened, and I think even if Jia Jing is really an old fox, he would not suspect him.

Doctor Li assured: "It looks like it will only happen in the next few days. Prime Minister Ye just needs to wait for the news."

"well!"

"No one else knows about this, right?" Ye Xiangri asked thoughtfully.

Doctor Wang said, "How dare I let others know? Prime Minister Ye, don't worry. This matter is known only to heaven, earth, you and me. No one else knows about it."

Ye Xiang nodded in relief, and suddenly asked, "By the way, no one knows that you are coming to my house tonight, right?"

Doctor Li said, "Don't worry, Prime Minister Ye. We came here quietly today and no one knows."

Only then did Ye Xiang smile with satisfaction, and took out two brocade boxes from the box and handed them over: "Thank you for your hard work, the two imperial doctors. This is just a small gift, not a token of respect."

"This, this, I dare not, I dare not."

Doctor Li waved his hands repeatedly, indicating that he dared not accept it.

Doctor Wang understood very well, and pulled Doctor Li's arm, saying, "How can we refuse Prime Minister Ye's kindness? We'd better obey your command respectfully."

Ye Xiang smiled and said, "That's it."

Doctor Li also understood what was happening. He carefully accepted the brocade box and thanked him repeatedly.

Ye Xiang picked up the teacup and said with a smile, "Okay, let's call it quits. I'm busy with official duties, so I won't keep you any longer."

"I am resigning..."

As the two men left, the butler appeared silently in the hall.

Ye Xiang waved his hand.

"Do it cleanly."

"It seems that the remnants of the White Lotus Sect entered the city a few days ago..."

The housekeeper smiled and said, "Don't worry, sir."

……

"Cough, cough..."

Although Mr. Zhen was lying on his sickbed, dying, his eyes were full of hope.

"When will I be well?"

Jia Rong hurriedly said, "The imperial physician said that this winter, the disease will heal well by the beginning of next spring."

Pei Feng nodded beside him and said, "Yes, yes, Master, just rest assured and recover. You will get better soon."

Master Zhen really believed it and murmured, "Will it be next spring... What time is it now? How long will it take?"

Jia Rong hurriedly said, "Tomorrow is the Lower Yuan Festival, and in a few months it will be the beginning of spring."

"A few months, that's fast." Jia Zhen nodded: "Bring me the medicine quickly, I need to take it."

Strong desire to survive!
Jia Rong hurriedly gave the medicine left by the imperial physician to Master Zhen. Although he vomited out half of it, he still managed to drink some of it, so it should be of some use.

After drinking the medicine, Master Zhen fell asleep. Jia Rong gave Pei Feng some instructions and left the east courtyard.

I met Xiao Xichun who came to visit me at the door.

"Rong'er, how is Brother Zhen?" Xichun hurriedly stepped forward and asked.

Jia Rong comforted Xichun, saying, "It's good that you took all the medicine today."

Xichun nodded and comforted Jia Rong: "Don't worry, Brother Rong, Brother Zhen will definitely get better."

Jia Rong: "My aunt is right."

"Don't you have class today?"

Xichun smiled and said, "Yes, but the teacher was feeling a little unwell today, so the get out of class ended early."

Jia Rong asked, "Feeling uncomfortable? Is it serious?"

Xichun thought for a moment and said, "It probably doesn't matter."

Jia Rong smiled and said, "That's good. If anything happens, remember to tell me. We can still invite an imperial physician to see her. If she finds it inconvenient, we can invite a female physician from the Imperial Hospital."

There were female doctors in the Imperial Medical Bureau, who mainly treated concubines in the palace, as well as the daughters of officials and wives of noble families.

But ordinary people can’t afford to hire such a female doctor. Only the top wealthy and powerful people are qualified.

Xichun: "Yes, I know."

The two of them talked as they walked and arrived at Jia Rong's residence.

Xichun sat down on a chair under the window and said with a smile, "We started a poetry club the other day and named the various scenes, attics, and courtyards in the garden. Sister Lin and Sister Bao took them back to polish them. They said they would be finished in the next two days."

Jia Rong said, "That's not a rush. Winter is coming soon, and the newly built house is cold. It won't be too late to move in next spring."

"Uh-huh."

Xichun nodded happily and said, "I've picked a place that's next to a waterside pavilion. In the summer, I can see the lotus flowers from the window, and in the fall, I can enjoy the moon in the water!"

"Little aunt chooses first, they definitely won't compete with you."

Jia Rong knew that place was indeed a good place to enjoy the rain in summer, but the frogs at that time were a bit annoying and could croak all night long.

Xichun said, "We all like different places. Sister Lin likes Xiangfei bamboo and has her eyes on a courtyard in the west. Baoqin likes the pastoral style and is clamoring to farm. Sister Bao hasn't said where she's going to live yet. And Sister Two, Sister Three, and Sister Yun are all very modest."

Jia Rong said, "Then invite him more times." After thinking for a while, he said, "If he really doesn't want to come, there's no need to force him."

"Know it."

"By the way, has Rong found a place to live in there?" Xichun looked at Jia Rong and asked.

"I won't get involved with you guys." It was originally for the ladies in the mansion to live in, and he would cause a scene as soon as he moved in.

Xichun pouted and said, "Okay, but you can live in the big yard next to the garden, so we can be closer."

"it is good."

The aunt and niece talked for a while, and Xichun left in the evening.

Jia Rong had been busy with Master Zhen's affairs recently and had written fewer articles. Now that he had some free time, he quickly opened a book and read for a while, and wrote two articles.

I had just put down my pen when I suddenly noticed someone next to me.

"Lin, sister." "When did you come?"

Jia Rong said in surprise.

Lin Daiyu smiled and said, "I have been here for quite a while, and I saw you writing."

"Now your handwriting is getting better and better. Someday, please write a copy for me so that I can copy it." Lin Daiyu looked at the handwriting of Jia Rong and praised.

Jia Rong said, "Are you making fun of me?"

Lin Daiyu smiled and said, "No, I really mean it."

Jia Rong said, "Don't try to fool me. I can clearly write my own words. I can barely read them."

Lin Daiyu covered her mouth and laughed, "Brother Rong, you are being modest again."

Jia Rong felt itchy and pulled Lin Daiyu over. Just as he was about to speak, Lin Daiyu raised her hand and put it on Jia Rong's mouth, saying, "Don't say anything. I know what you want to say."

"you know?"

Although Lin Daiyu's little hand was placed on Jia Rong's lips, it did not affect Jia Rong's speech at all. It was just that the tip of his tongue inevitably touched Lin Daiyu's little hand when he opened his mouth.

Lin Daiyu blushed, took back her hand and said, "Of course, don't you just want to call me aunt?"

"You were the first to call me Rong'er," said Jia Rong.

"Ah."

Lin Daiyu lowered her head and responded lightly, "I like to call you Rong'er."

Jia Rong: "I also like to call you... Lin girl."

"You, hum!"

"so rude!"

Lin Daiyu gave Jia Rong a cold look.

"hey-hey."

Jia Rong smiled, looked at the beautiful red lips in front of him and wanted to get closer, but he felt that the girl was still young, so he held back.

We’ll talk about it next year.

"Master, I'm fine."

Seeing Jia Rong's strange expression, Lin Daiyu didn't think much about it, but just asked in a gentle voice.

Jia Rong said, "Don't worry, the master will be fine."

"Ah."

Lin Daiyu nodded and leaned in Jia Rong's arms.

Jia Rong rubbed the beauty's slender waist and smelled her intoxicating fragrance. For a moment, he had no bad thoughts. He just wanted to spend every day in the future quietly.

……

The northwestern border.

This is the front line of the war with the Tatars. People die in battle every day. The land under the city wall has turned dark brown. The heavy city gate is covered in blood and is dented and convexed by artillery shells. It is already a little shaky.

The soldiers on the city wall were patrolling carelessly, looking listless and yawning.

"Damn it, we haven't been paid for two months. We can't even get enough food and you still want us to patrol the city! What a stupid city to patrol!"

"That's right, we can't live like this anymore! Let's go and make trouble!"

"Hush, Captain Song led his men to protest for pay a few days ago and was beheaded. Do you want to have a taste of the guillotine too?"

As they were talking, they saw an officer in armor approaching from a distance, so they quickly stopped talking.

The officer approached, looked at everyone and cleared his throat: "Everyone, pay attention. Anyone who dares to be confused will be punished with fifty military sticks!"

"Yes."

Everyone responded quickly.

The officer made a round inspection, went back, drank two bowls of wine, and went to sleep soundly.

In the middle of the night, there was a sudden shouting and screaming, and the officer thought he was dreaming again.

Iron horses and frozen rivers came into my dreams.

When I wake up...

……

Urgent news from the border!

He rushed to Beijing at an accelerated speed of 800 miles, shocking the government and the public.

Yulin, an important town in the Nine Frontiers, was captured by the Northwestern Tartars. The Jiedushi was defeated and killed, the Governor was captured, and the Minister of War He Yuanqiu led Niu Jizong, Shi Nai and other remnants of the defeated army to retreat to Yan'an Prefecture...

In the court, Emperor Anping's face was so gloomy that it seemed as if water could drip from it.

He had not yet displayed his civil and military skills when the Tartars unexpectedly gave him a heavy blow!
"Minister Jia, how is the preparation of military pay in the northwest going?" asked Emperor Anping.

Jia Jing said seriously: "It's all ready and we can set off at any time."

Even though he had prepared for a rainy day, he was still a step too slow.

Fortunately, we were prepared, so we didn't get flustered for a while.

"it is good!"

"This time the Northwestern Tartars have invaded our borders, and we will not let them off easily. Now that the military pay is sufficient, do you have a suitable candidate to lead the troops and go and defeat the enemy?"

Everyone in the court immediately became active.

The reason why the Tartars were able to break through Yulin and move south was entirely because they were caught off guard and the border troops were caught off guard. At most, they looted there and then retreated on their own.

The general who leads the troops can gain considerable merit just by pretending to do something.

Under such circumstances, the various forces in the court were busy competing with each other.
Emperor Anping was very happy to see such a scene, thinking that everyone was willing to devote themselves to Daxia until their death.

After a while, Ye Xiang emerged victorious and nominated one of his disciples to lead the troops.

It has now become the norm for civilian officials to lead troops.

Of course there are military generals, but they are only responsible for killing enemies on the battlefield. All strategies and tactics are naturally decided by civil officials.

"Your Majesty, I think that if we mobilize 20,000 troops from the Beijing camp and dispatch another force from Datong Prefecture to cooperate, it will be enough to drive the Tartars out of Yulin."

Emperor Anping nodded.

The 20,000 soldiers of the Beijing Camp are neither too many nor too few. They will not cause any losses to the Beijing Camp, but can also serve as the absolute main force to kill the enemy. The sense of proportion is just right.

As for the need to mobilize troops from Datong, it was because since the Tartars had launched a surprise attack in Yulin and were heading south, they would naturally not bother to attack Datong again. It was reasonable to transfer part of the Datong garrison there.

Prime Minister Ye is indeed mature and prudent!

"Just follow what Lord Ye said."

After saying that, he looked at Jia Jing and said, "What do you think, Lord Jia?"

Give Jia Jing enough face.

Jia Jing bowed and said, "Your Majesty is wise."

He had no intention of interfering in the affairs of the Nine Frontiers, so he handled the emperor's tests with ease.

Emperor Anping nodded.

Obviously he was very satisfied with Jia Jing's attitude.

"There is no time to lose. After Prime Minister Ye returns, this matter must be settled immediately. Also, which army should Datong dispatch to support Yulin?"

Ye Xiang thought for a moment and said, "It would be enough for Wang Ziteng to lead 5,000 troops to provide support."

Emperor Anping was slightly delighted.

This time, Ye Xiang has finally made his way into his heart.

Wang Ziteng had already promised to be loyal to him, and was worried that he had no excuse to transfer him back to Beijing to serve.

After he has made some achievements in the Northwest this time, I will promote him when he comes back so that he can compete with Jia Jing.

This is the way to balance.

……

After a while, the court was dismissed.

Jia Jing called all his staff and Jia Rong into the study, and ordered his personal soldiers to guard the door, not allowing anyone to get close.

(End of this chapter)