Red Mansion, Ningfu Scholarly Family

Chapter 292 Jia Rong: I Don’t Want to Be a Prince

……

Master Zhen's coffin was placed in the east wing, and someone from the Imperial Observatory checked the date and agreed to keep the coffin there for twenty-one days.

Jia Rong was very filial, and he found ninety-nine monks to chant sutras for his master, one hundred and eight Taoists to perform rituals, and another fifty enlightened monks to guide his master Zhen's soul to the Western Continent.

The scene was extremely grand.

From that day on, guests came to pay homage in an endless stream. The Palace of Prince of Beijing, the Palace of Prince of Nan'an, the Palace of the Duke of Zhenguo, the Palace of Marquis Shi, Jia Jing's colleagues, Xie Hanlin of the Hanlin Academy, etc.

As a filial son, Jia Rong stayed in front of Master Zhen's coffin and cried bitterly. After burning evening paper money at night, he stayed in the mourning hall to keep vigil. In a few days, he became very thin.

Several aunts felt very distressed when they saw this.

"Rong'er, the dead cannot be brought back to life, you should just mourn and accept the change." The gentle Aunt Yingchun felt very sorry for Jia Rong and handed her handkerchief to him to wipe his tears.

Tanchun was originally planning to hand Jia Rong a handkerchief, but seeing that her second sister had gotten there first, she could only silently hold it in her hand and comfort Jia Rong, saying, "We know you are sad, but your master's spirit in heaven wouldn't want to see you so sad. The dead are gone, and the living must cheer up."

"Thank you, aunts."

Jia Rong took the handkerchief and was very touched.

I really want to hug my second aunt.

Of course, this is just wishful thinking.

Otherwise it would have exploded on the spot.

Xichun said seriously, "Brother Rong, wait until this matter is over, and we will go out with you to relax. Anyway, you don't have to go to the Imperial Academy for a while."

Jia Rong: “…”

Aunt, it’s you who wants to go out and play, right?
Jia Zhen's death had almost no impact on Xichun. She had no feelings for her brother, who was far inferior to her nephew.

"It is said that the lotus pond over at Xiangguo Temple is very beautiful. Let's go there. Rong'er, you can ask the great monks there to perform a ritual for the master."

"it is good."

Jia Rong nodded and agreed. He had originally planned to take this opportunity to pray for the soul of Master Zhen, and the ritual at Xiangguo Temple was just the right place.

Xichun immediately smiled, but suddenly realized that it was not appropriate to laugh in such an occasion, so she bit her lip to hold it back.

"Wow, I'm so sad and upset and I want to cry. Let's go back." Xichun said, covering her eyes.

Everyone: "..."

You are really sad!

"Rong'er, we're leaving first. You must eat well and take care of yourself." Tanchun reminded him again.

"Don't worry, Third Aunt. I will."

As Jia Rong said this, he returned the handkerchief in his hand to his second aunt Yingchun.

Yingchun's face turned red unconsciously. She didn't understand why she had handed her handkerchief to Rong'er just now.

Anyway, she felt distressed when she saw Rong Ge'er sad.

Well, it’s the kind where elders care about the younger ones!
"Second sister, let's go." Tanchun and Xichun walked for a while and saw that Yingchun had not caught up yet, so they turned back and called out.

"Oh oh." Yingchun came to her senses suddenly, quickly picked up her skirt and took two quick steps to catch up with the two of them.

"What were you daydreaming about just now?"

Tanchun tilted her head and asked with a smile.

"Huh? No."

Yingchun was stunned for a moment and quickly shook her head.

Xichun: “Shhh…”

Tanchun: “Hehe…”

Yingchun: “You guys…”

Tanchun: "Ahem, let's stop laughing. It's not good if someone sees us."

Xichun: “Oh oh…”

……

Rongguo Mansion.

The Concubine Nan'an brought Yuanchun here in person. Because there was a funeral in the East Palace, it was not convenient for Yuanchun to hold a grand ceremony when she returned home, so she just went through the motions.

"My dear sister, your eldest granddaughter really touches my heart. She is filial and virtuous. Our Kang'er is lucky to marry her." Concubine Nan'an said with a smile.

Grandmother Jia was not aware of the situation. Although her son-in-law had not come, she did not doubt Yuanchun's happy face and smiled modestly, "What are you saying, Concubine Tai? Filial piety is a must, and being virtuous is even more of a duty. You don't have to spoil her so much. I won't care if you spoil her."

Concubine Nan'an laughed: "I just want to pamper Yuan girl and spoil her. I want to see who dares to be jealous in front of me."

Yuanchun lowered her head shyly.

Old thing, just pretending.

I won't buy that.

If you dare to harm me for the rest of my life, I will let you know how powerful I am.

However, she was still a little weak on her own, and the Rongguo Mansion was unreliable. She had to rely on the power of the Ningguo Mansion.

The plan was prepared last night.

Concubine Nan'an had been carefully watching Yuanchun, but not Baoqin. After the girl returned home, she quietly went to the East Palace and found Xiaoxiao.

"Sister Xiao Xiao!"

"Miss Baoqin? What are you doing in such a hurry?"

Baoqin said, "I have something urgent to discuss with Master Rong."

Xiao Xiao asked: "Is it urgent?"

"Yeah!" Baoqin nodded vigorously: "It's urgent!"

"Okay then." Xiao Xiao said helplessly, "I'll go to the front and ask you if you're free."

Although Jia Rong told her to try not to disturb him, Baoqin looked like she really had something urgent to do, and it would be bad if she delayed something important.

Xiao Xiao quickly settled Baoqin down and went to the front to find Xiao Zhuzi: "Go inside and tell me, there's something urgent."

Xiao Zhuzi: "What's the emergency?"

Xiao Xiao glared and said, "Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask. Go quickly."

"Okay, let's go."

Seeing that Xiaoxiao looked like she was about to get angry, Xiao Zhuzi quickly went inside to call for help.

After a while, Jia Rong, dressed in mourning clothes, came out.

"What's the emergency?"

Xiao Xiao hurried forward and whispered a few words in Jia Rong's ear.

Jia Rong's face was solemn.

If it wasn't something extremely important, Aunt Yuanchun would never have let Baoqin come to see him at this time.

"Tell Baoqin to wait for me in the study."

"it is good."

Jia Rong went back, changed his clothes and walked into the study. Baoqin was walking back and forth anxiously in the room.

"The girl holding the zither."

"Uncle Rong."

Baoqin hurried forward and saluted.

"No need to be so polite. What's the urgent matter?" Jia Rong asked.

Baoqin quietly took out a letter from her sleeve and said, "This is from the young lady to you. You will know after you read it."

Jia Rong took the letter, glanced through it first, frowned slightly, read it again carefully, and slammed the table hard.

"The Concubine Nan'an is going too far!"

Baoqin said: "Master, there is no turning back for our girl now. If she returns, her reputation will be ruined and she will bring shame to the family, so..."

"I understand." Jia Rong nodded.

If Concubine Nan'an wants to play with fire, then play with her.

"I already know about this matter. Go back first and remember to be careful with your daughter and don't let anything slip. I will discuss this with Master."

Baoqin nodded: "Don't worry, sir. The young lady and I have been in the palace for seven or eight years. We are very careful and cautious in everything we do. We will not be caught doing anything wrong."

"I'm naturally relieved when my aunt does things."

After taking the zither back, Jia Rong did not dare to neglect it and quickly told Jia Jing about the matter.

"what!"

Jia Jing was also surprised.

Surprised and delighted.

What was shocking was that Concubine Nan'an dared to openly bully the daughter of the Jia family and did not take him seriously.

The good news is that Yuanchun is so capable. If this plan can be successfully implemented, the Nan'an Palace will be in the hands of the Jia family in the future.

You know, the Nan'an Palace controls an army of 100,000 in southern Xinjiang and is close to Southeast Asia. If the Jia Mansion gets it, it will be like adding wings to a tiger.

We must help Yuanchun take over Prince Nan'an's Palace!

"The Concubine Nan'an has gone too far and must pay the price. You should immediately find a reliable person to contact Yuan Yatou and tell her that I will do my best to help her get to the top."

The Grand Room of the Nan'an Palace...

sorry.

Although you have served the country in southern Xinjiang and made contributions to the country, weapons are brutal and you could get caught accidentally.

The second wife will help you to support this family.

"Someone, please ask Mr. Ouyang to come over."

Not long after, Ouyang Chi strode into the study. "Sir, what do you want me to do?"

Jia Jing dismissed his attendants and asked, "Are there any of our men among the Prince of Nan'an's subordinates?"

Ouyang Chi said: "Yes."

"Okay, now I will assign you a task. This task must succeed and not fail!" Jia Jing said seriously.

Ouyang Chi was cheered up.

"My lord, please give me your instructions!"

……

After coming out of Jia Jing's study, Jia Rong felt a little heavy-hearted.

Jia Jing's plan just now was not hidden from him, and Jia Rong had a new understanding of his grandfather.

It seems that the grandfather is playing a big game of chess.

On the surface, he has severed ties with the border troops, but in fact, he has made backup plans. In addition, the Lianghuai Navy and the Penglai Navy have also said that they are all his people...

Are you harboring any rebellious intentions?
So scared!

I don't want to be a prince. I just want to be a carefree little cabinet minister.

"Uncle, Feng Ziying, Liu Xianglian and others are here to pay their respects. Would you like to go and take a look?" Xiao Zhuzi ran over and asked.

General Feng Tang of the Shenwu General's Mansion is also an old friend of the Ningguo Mansion, but they have not been in contact for the past few years. I don't know if Jia Jing is deliberately distancing himself from him or has other plans.

"I won't go. You can go and say hello for me and tell them that I've been too sad lately and not feeling well, so I've gone to bed."

"it is good."

Xiao Zhuzi quickly agreed and went out to pass on the message.

……

Outside the city, in an unknown manor.

Two middle-aged men in their forties were playing chess and drinking tea.

"The second brother is dead. Was it Prince Beijing who did it?"

"good."

"Did you arrange it?"

"No, he took it upon himself to contact the White Lotus assassins."

"Prince Beijing doesn't listen to you? Does he have other intentions?"

"He's not that disloyal. He has no way out after killing the second brother. However..."

"what?"

"I'm afraid your ambition is a bit too big!"

"But I don't care if he has ambitions, as long as he can be used by me... How is the process of winning over the generals in the Beijing camp going?"

"Not bad, 20% are willing to pledge their allegiance."

"Not enough, far from enough!"

"Keep trying to win me over. Money, beauties, whatever you want! I've already failed once, I won't fail again this time!"

……

Jinyi Mansion.

Jinyiwei commander Zhao Quan is angry.

"A bunch of trash!"

"Can all the White Lotus members escape? Even if I have to dig deep into the ground, I must find them!"

"Yes Yes."

The people below nodded in obedience, but sneered in their hearts: What the hell, there are so many high-ranking officials in Kyoto, how can you catch them if they just sneak in? Search every house?
Seeing the looks of the people below, Zhao Quan became even angrier, but there was nothing he could do.

How to catch people?
There's no way to catch it.

The newly-appointed scholars who had attended the poetry competition that day had all been interrogated, and no one admitted it, so there was nothing to do but to let them go.

As for torturing these newly-minted scholars, he would never dare to do so, as Emperor Anping would not be able to protect him by then.

In addition, several sons of dukes and marquisates also attended the poetry gathering. It was even more difficult to investigate because if we did, we would offend a large group of people.

Bitterness.

No wonder the three judges lost so easily.

But the three judges can be abandoned, but he can't.

Emperor Anping would be the first to dismiss him.

How to do it?

If there is really no other option, I can only... find a few unlucky egg white lotuses.

"Somebody come!"

"My subordinate is here!"

"You are so and so..."

Zhao Quan whispered a few instructions into the ears of his trusted men.

"Don't worry, sir. I understand."

"Well, go ahead."

Just as the man was about to leave, someone suddenly ran in and said, "Sir, we have found traces of the White Lotus bandits!"

"Oh? Where?"

"It's in a yard in the south of the city."

"Is the news reliable?" Zhao Quan asked in surprise.

"The Axe Gang's Qing Lao Er said that he accidentally discovered it while drinking with others..."

Zhao Quan was very excited after hearing this. He waved his hand and said, "Go and capture him for me immediately! Remember, I want him alive!"

"Yes!"

The Jinyiwei rushed to the courtyard in the south of the city and surrounded it.

Soon, Zhao Quan came over on horseback.

"How is it? Did the person escape?"

"Don't worry, sir. Not even a fly escaped."

"good very good."

Zhao Quan nodded slightly and gestured to the side, "Let's start. Remember, I want to live."

The man nodded immediately and shouted to the inside, "Listen, everyone inside, you have been... Puff!"

A crossbow arrow flew out and pierced straight into the neck of the Jinyiwei cannon fodder soldier who was shouting.

Zhao Quan was overjoyed!

It turned out to be a Jinyiwei bandit!

As for the death of my subordinates... just recruit new ones.

"Quick, protect the adults!"

Everyone went up and surrounded Zhao Quan.

Zhao Quan sneered: "Go in and capture them alive!"

The Jinyiwei burst into tears on the spot.

The enemy has bows and crossbows, and they want us to attack and capture them alive! Why don’t you attack and capture them alive yourself?

The key point is that the money you give is not enough to support the family, so why would I work for you?

Seeing his men hesitate and dare not step forward, Zhao Quan shouted: "What? You don't obey my orders?"

"But sir, they have crossbows..."

"puff!"

A head flew up.

Zhao Quan put away his sword and sneered, "This is what happens if you disobey military orders!"

At this moment, I heard: "Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Several more crossbow arrows flew out, and everyone dodged, exposing Zhao Quan.

What the hell!

Zhao Quan cursed inwardly and quickly tilted his head to avoid a crossbow arrow. He almost followed the Jinyiwei cannon fodder soldier in front of him.

It seems that I will have to train my own soldiers in the future!
If you point at these bastards, you will die sooner or later.

"Charge in, catch the White Lotus bandits and get a reward of 100 taels, and be promoted three levels!" Zhao Quan shouted.

Everyone was overjoyed.

Wouldn’t it be better if you said this earlier!

Everyone rushed into the yard with knives in hand.

Soon after.

Five bodies of Jinyiwei were carried out from inside, one White Lotus bandit escaped, one died, and one was captured alive.

Although Zhao Quan was not very satisfied, it was acceptable.

After all, the Jinyiwei has gone through many twists and turns, and has been disbanded and reunited, and its strength is not as strong as before.

……

(End of this chapter)