Red Mansion, Ningfu Scholarly Family

Chapter 331 Mrs. Xing: I want to caress it too

……

Rongguo Mansion, Mrs. Xing’s courtyard.

"Madam, the old lady is going to bring people back to Jinling. What a great news! From now on, you will be the old lady of the mansion!" Housekeeper Wang Shanbao was so excited that she jumped and danced like a shaman.

Mrs. Xing smiled as she sat above: "Will Crazy Wang follow us to Jinling?"

Wang Shanbao's wife laughed and said, "How could the old lady take her with her? I heard that she wanted to take Baoyu with her."

Mrs. Xing glanced at Wang Shanbao with a half-smile: "You can't bear to let go?"

"Madam, you, you know everything?" Wang Shanbao's face turned red, feeling a little embarrassed.

Madam Xing glanced at Xing Xiuyan beside her, waved her hand to let her go, and then smiled quietly, "Is Baoyu okay?"

Wang Shanbao smiled meaningfully: "Madam, do you also want to... Don't worry, I will arrange it right away!"

Mrs. Xing hurriedly called out, "Wait!"

Wang Shanbao turned around and smiled, "Madam, do you have any other instructions?"

Madam Xing looked around and asked, "Where did the master go today?"

Wang Shanbao smiled and said, "Don't worry, Madam. The master went to the old lady's place this morning. I heard that he had a quarrel with the old lady over the matter of Yuanyang, and he has gone out for a drink."

"Oh……"

Mrs. Xing nodded.

Jia She went out to drink and definitely won't go home at night.

Now you can rest assured.

Wang Shanbao assured again: "Madam, rest assured, I will do it quickly and will not let the master find out."

"Well, let's go!"

Mrs. Xing felt a little excited. Thinking about how Mrs. Wang usually caressed Baoyu, she certainly wanted to try it too.

Baoyu is about to leave anyway, and the master won’t find out anything just this time.

……

As for Baoyu and Qin Zhong, the two good brothers left the house today not for any other reason, but because they felt that after such a long time, the Jinyiwei must have relaxed their vigilance, so they prepared to return to the Qin Mansion to secretly take out the several thousand taels of silver that they had hidden.

"Don't worry, Brother Bao. My father hid the silver in a very safe place. I am the only one who knows it. Even my sister doesn't know it. The Jinyiwei bandits will definitely not be able to find it." Qin Zhong said confidently as he walked in front.

"it is good!"

Baoyu clapped his hands.

He has been troubled by money lately. In order to avoid having his pitiful monthly salary deducted, he even had to reluctantly play with Wang Shanbao's family...!
He's really had enough!
The main reason is that Wang Shanbao’s wife is too ugly.

"With this money, we don't have to worry about Wang Shanbao's threats. It's enough for us to go out and find a place to live a carefree and happy life like Brother Jiang!"

"No, no." Qin Zhong shook his head and said, "The Jinyiwei are rampant outside, how can it be safe inside the mansion? We can keep the money and eat delicious food in the mansion, and we don't have to worry about the Jinyiwei, isn't it good?"

Baoyu said: "That's good, but Wang Shanbao's wife..."

Qin Zhong said: "Just close your eyes and bear it, it will pass!"

Baoyu: "..."

The two of them had already arrived at Qin's residence while talking.

I saw that the door was closed and sealed.

Baoyu asked, "How do I get in?"

Qin Zhong smiled confidently and said, "Brother Bao, don't worry. I have my own way. Just follow me."

The two of them went to the back of the yard and saw a pile of grass in the corner. Qin Zhong went up and dug around, revealing a hole.

"Haha, how about that?"

"Brother Qin is really smart!"

"Come on, let's go in."

Qin Zhong took the lead, lying on the ground and crawling in, and Baoyu followed behind him.

All I see is desolation.

Weeds had grown in the yard, the doors and windows were broken, tables and chairs were lying in the yard with broken arms and legs, a flower pot was broken into several pieces and thrown aside, and an unknown flower in it had already died...

Qin Zhong went forward crying and picked up the withered flower, and pieced together the broken flowerpot piece by piece, crying, "This is my master's favorite flower. The first thing he does every morning when he wakes up is to water it, and he waters it again in the evening. Once I accidentally touched a flower, and my master spanked me..."

Qin Zhong kept muttering while holding the flowerpot. Baoyu looked at him with red eyes but didn't say much.

His master died, his sister was arrested, and his family was broken up. He understood Qin Zhong's suffering, but fortunately, his ancestors were in charge of his family and no one dared to move an inch.

Qin Zhong held the flower pot for a long time, and finally put the broken flower pot in the corner, then wiped his tears and said: "Brother Bao, please forgive me, let's go find some silver."

"Yes!" Baoyu nodded: "When we leave later, let's take the flower pot back to my house, so that you can think of your father when you see the flower pot."

"By the way, where is your sister's room? Is there anything she likes? We can take it with us as a keepsake."

"My sister, likes..."

Qin Zhong thought about it and didn't know what his sister liked. He only remembered that his sister had a jade pendant that she treasured very much and didn't let him see it. He didn't know if it had been searched by someone.

"Go and have a look."

Qin Zhong walked into the house.

"it is good."

Baoyu hurriedly followed him inside.

The room was in a mess, worse than after a burglary. Tables, cabinets, clothes and bedding were scattered all over the floor. The rouge box on the dressing table was tilted in the corner, the lid had long been missing, the rouge inside had long dried up, and spider webs had formed on it.

Qin Zhong looked at it, shook his head and went out. Baoyu hurriedly took the rouge box in the corner and sighed: "I don't know where your master is. I will take you in first."

As he said this, he hid it in his arms.

"Baoyu, come quickly!"

"What's wrong, Brother Qin?"

"Look!" Qin Zhong pointed to a floor tile in the corner under the bed.

Baoyu asked in confusion: "There's nothing here?"

Qin Zhong smiled slightly: "That's why it's a safe place, just watch me!"

"Crack!"

With a sound, the floor tiles were lifted up.

Qin Zhong smiled and said, "My father's money is hidden here, only I..."

Baoyu asked in confusion, "But there's nothing inside? Could there be some secret mechanism?"

Qin Zhong: “…”

"Woo, it's over!"

"The money is gone... woo, woo, I won't live anymore!"

"Brother Qin, it's okay." Baoyu comforted him, "Anyway, there is a monthly allowance at home. If we spend it frugally, it will be enough for the two of us."

"Hey!"

Qin Zhong sighed deeply.

He stood up slowly and looked around.

Thinking about his father, thinking about his sister, thinking about his current appearance, he suddenly raised his hand and slapped himself hard!

"Snapped!"

Baoyu was startled, and hurried forward to pull Qin Zhong and asked, "Brother Qin, what's wrong with you?"

"I am fine."

Qin Zhong shook his head and spat out a mouthful of blood, with a tooth also sticking out. It was obvious how hard the slap he had just given was!
Baoyu's eyes turned red and he said distressedly, "You are doing this for a good reason? Why do you have to humiliate yourself like this?"

Qin Zhong shook his head: "I understand!"

Baoyu was puzzled: "What did you understand?"

Qin Zhong said seriously: "I don't want to live in such a muddle-headed way anymore. I want to study hard and become an official in the future... to avenge my father and save my sister!"

"Ah!" Baoyu was stunned: "Brother Qin, why do you have such an idea? You actually want to be a parasite?"

"Of course I don't want to be a parasite! It's just..." Qin Zhong pointed at the messy house and said, "In the past, you and I both thought highly of ourselves and believed that we were smarter than the rest of the world, but... Look at me now and you will know. My house was ransacked, my father died with regrets, my sister was kidnapped, and I can only run to your house like a stray dog ​​to seek refuge!"

"But..." Baoyu thought for a moment and said, "You are a criminal now, how can you take the imperial examination?"

"I want to ask Jia Rong to help me." Qin Zhong said, "His grandfather is a minister. As long as he says a word, it won't be difficult for me to take the imperial examination!"

Baoyu said with tears in his eyes: "If you want to find him, go ahead, but we won't be friends anymore!" "Baoyu!"

Qin Zhong patted Jia Baoyu on the shoulder and said earnestly, "I often can't sleep at night recently. I've been thinking about how Jia Rong's grandfather was a minister. He could have lived a carefree life like us, or even lived ten times better than us. But why did he study hard for ten years? Is he just a parasite as you said?"

Baoyu: "If it's not parasites, then what is it?"

Qin Zhong said: "I think it is... Heaven is vigorous, and a gentleman should constantly strive for self-improvement; Earth is in a low position, and a gentleman should carry all things with virtue."

"Brother Bao, I really want to go to Jinling!"

"Reform yourself and start over!"

Baoyu asked hurriedly, "How are you going to Jinling?"

"Let's go!" Qin Zhong looked up to the south and clenched his fists: "Even if I die in a foreign land, I will give it a try. I don't want to live in mediocrity like this anymore!"

After saying that, Qin Zhong walked out of the yard firmly.

Instead of crawling out through the dog hole in the backyard, he opened the door and tore the seal on the door to pieces.

Read the error-free version at 69shuba! 6=9+shu_ba is the first to publish this novel.

"Brother Qin!"

"Brother Bao, see you later!"

"Brother Qin!"

Baoyu caught up with Qin Zhong, took out a piece of jade from his clothes and said, "Brother Qin, the journey to Jinling is long and the mountains are high. We can't make it without money. You can use this as travel expenses. Consider it as our brotherhood."

"I wish you success!"

"Brother Bao, how can you do this?" Qin Zhong held Baoyu in his hand, unable to believe it.

Baoyu smiled faintly: "It's just a piece of stone, it's nothing. If I can help Brother Qin pass the imperial examination and save my sister, it will be worth it!"

Qin Zhong squeezed Baoyu and said with tears in his eyes: "Brother Bao, we will always be the best brothers!"

"Yes." Baoyu nodded and said self-deprecatingly: "Even if you really become an official, I will still recognize you as my brother, but you must not despise my humble status when the time comes."

"Don't worry, I definitely won't!"

The two of them said goodbye reluctantly, and Baoyu did not return home alone until the evening.

"Hey, Second Master, where have you been? The old lady has been sending people to look for you!"

"Old lady looking for me? What for?"

"Second Master, don't you know? The old lady wants to take you back to Jinling."

"Ah? Going to Jinling?"

Baoyu had a dumbfounded look on his face. He had been staying with Qin Zhong recently and had not paid much attention to the ancestors, so he didn't know about this yet.

If I had known this earlier, why would I have let Qin Zhong take the risk alone?

I must go back to find Brother Qin!

"Quick, saddle my horse!"

"Go tell the old man that I have to go out for something urgent and will be back soon!"

Baoyu took two servants and rode out of the city on horseback, but there were so many people and it was getting dark. Where could they find anyone?
"Second Master, I'm afraid it's hard to find her. The old lady is still waiting for you at home. Why don't we go back first and look for her tomorrow?"

"Yes, Master, if you don't go back so late, the old lady will definitely be worried again..."

The two servants who followed him tried their best to persuade Baoyu to go home. Grandmother Jia had been waiting for half the night and had fallen asleep long ago.

Baoyu could only go back to his own yard to rest.

"Second Master."

"Sister Wang..."

Baoyu suddenly felt a headache.

It’s really that Wang Shanbao’s appearance is too... ugly, especially when he smiles, it’s really unbearable to look at him.

Wang Shanbao laughed and said, "Second Master, Madam wants you to come over. She has something to discuss with us."

Baoyu was puzzled: "What's the matter, Madam?"

Wang Shanbao smiled and said, "Second Master will know when he goes there."

After saying this, she pulled Baoyu into Mrs. Xing's yard without saying anything.

"Madam, Master Bao is here."

Wang Shanbao knocked on the door and led the person into the house.

Mrs. Xing smiled and called Baoyu, "Baoyu, come and sit down."

Baoyu did not suspect anything and stepped forward and asked, "Madam, what's the matter?"

Mrs. Xing pulled Baoyu over and began to caress him all over.

Baoyu blushed: "Madam, don't..."

Mrs. Xing smiled charmingly and said, "Don't be afraid, Baoyu. I always saw your mother caressing you like this. Can't I caress you now? Just treat me as your wife."

Baoyu: "..."

……

Daming Palace, Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Emperor Anping has cultivated more and more spies recently, and they have been arranged in almost all the homes of court ministers, and places like Ningguo Mansion and Rongguo Mansion are especially indispensable.

"Your Majesty, the eldest son of the Ningguo Mansion is carrying a coffin back to his hometown today, accompanied by several young ladies from the Jia Mansion. In addition, the eldest wife of the Xue family is also going to Jinling as well." A spy from the East Depot said cautiously.

Emperor Anping thought for a moment and said, "His father has passed away, and carrying the coffin back to his hometown is the main business. Is there anything else?"

The spy said hurriedly, "The rest is about the Rongguo Mansion. The old lady of the Rongguo Mansion is preparing to take the second wife back to Jinling to live in retirement because of her advanced age."

Emperor Anping frowned slightly.

In this case, wouldn't the Jia family leave Beijing and go to Jinling?

Could there be a conspiracy?

"Where is the eldest wife in Rongguo Mansion?"

"Your Majesty, there is no movement from the first room for the time being."

Emperor Anping nodded and said, "Send an order to Jia Zheng of Rongguo Mansion to appoint him as a member of the Ministry of Works. He must take office on a chosen day without any mistakes."

He couldn't do anything if the old lady wanted to leave.

Jia She and Jia Zheng want to leave? No way!
"Also, send an imperial decree to urge Jia Jing to say that the cabinet has a lot of things to do and that he should return to Beijing when the commercial tax reform is almost done. The follow-up matters will be handed over to local officials to continue."

"Yes……"

Xia Shouzhong quickly agreed respectfully.

……

"what!"

At Rongguo Mansion, Jia Zheng felt like good luck had fallen from the sky.

After being dismissed from office for three years, he was in despair, but he never expected to be reinstated one day?
Then why go south?

Is it more comfortable to go to Nanjing than to be an official in Beijing?

"Mother, I am an unfilial son and cannot go south with you."

"No defense."

Grandmother Jia waved her hand and said with a smile, "I won't go south for the time being."

I heard that the imperial court has stabilized the northwest and has successfully repelled the Tartar's offensive, so it doesn't matter whether it goes south or not now.

Of course, once news of another defeat came from the court, she would still have to go to the south to retire. She is so old now and just wants to spend her later years in peace and stability, but does not want to encounter war.

……

The residence of Prime Minister Ye.

It was not as easy as Ye Xiang had imagined for him to regain power and even reach the peak of his power.

The situation in the northwest seems to be stable, but in fact it is full of crises.

The Tatars may move south or east at any time, and either direction will be enough to cause great trouble.

This is the serious consequence of losing Yulin Town. The Tartars can attack wherever they want and take complete control of the initiative, while he can only defend passively. Moreover, there are too many places to defend. Once one place is lost, it is easy to lose the whole game!
“It’s hard to get off a tiger.”

"We shouldn't have lost Yulin!"

……

(End of this chapter)