Red Mansion, Ningfu Scholarly Family

Chapter 343 Jia Jing: I must go to rescue the emperor!

……

"Okay, I'll try it!"

Baoqin nodded and ran to the kitchen.

Yuanchun's guess was correct. The palace was not a place for growing vegetables or raising livestock, so people had to go out to purchase meals every day. Especially the Concubine Nan'an liked to eat fresh duck intestines, so she had to go out every day to buy live ducks and kill and cook them on the spot.

"Auntie Wang, our grandmother's rouge is out of stock. She is not used to the ones we bought at home, so she asked me to go to the market and buy some."

Baoqin said this and quietly handed over a few gold ingots.

Aunt Wang’s eyes widened at that moment.

This is enough for half a tael of gold!

It is said that the second wife comes from a prominent family and is the most gentle and generous, which is indeed true.

Just enough to save for his son to get married!

"Don't worry, Miss Baoqin. I'm going out to buy the dishes ordered by the Concubine Dowager, and I need someone to help me. You can just follow me... But you can't tell anyone else about this, otherwise, if Butler Liu blames us, we will be in big trouble."

Baoqin knew that the matter was settled, and smiled sweetly: "Don't worry, Auntie, I know how serious it is. I will go back and change my clothes, and then say that I am your niece and go shopping with you."

Aunt Wang's eyes lit up, and she looked at Baoqin and said, "My dear daughter, you are so good. If I had a niece like you, I would be blessed for eight lifetimes. Miss Baoqin, let me tell you, my son is a few years older than you. He is also very good-looking, obedient, filial, and can even read..."

Aunt Wang began to talk about her son nonstop. Baoqin lowered her head and listened shyly for a while, then stamped her feet and said, "Auntie, I'm going back to change my clothes..."

"Haha." Aunt Wang laughed and said, "Look at me, I actually forgot about the important things. Just go ahead. I'll be waiting for you here. When you've changed your clothes, come find me. We'll go out shopping together."

After she left with the zither in her arms, Mrs. Li came up to her and said with a giggle, "What are you so happy about? Tell me, I'm happy too."

Aunt Wang smiled proudly and said, "I want to find a matchmaker to talk to Second Madam about Miss Baoqin and ask her to be my daughter-in-law. What do you think?"

"what?"

Mrs. Li was stunned for a moment, then quickly smiled and said, "Miss Baoqin is naturally a good girl. Not to mention her appearance and figure, she is also efficient in her work. Following the Second Madam is both respectable and rich. Who would not be so happy to marry her that they would not be able to sleep for three days?"

"only……"

Aunt Wang was very happy to hear this and asked with a smile, "Just what?"

Mrs. Li smiled and said, "However, your son is just a rough warrior, is he worthy of her? My son is more like that. I will talk to Second Madam tomorrow."

"Pah." Aunt Wang spat, jumped up and cursed, "You Liu Po, what's wrong with my son? Isn't he a hundred times better than your lazy and greedy son..."

"My son is a hundred times better than your son!"

"my son……"

The two broke up unhappy.

Baoqin had changed into an inconspicuous outfit and embroidered shoes. She came over with a basket and said coquettishly, "Auntie Wang, let's go."

"Okay, let's go."

Aunt Wang glanced proudly at Mrs. Liu in the distance, which made Mrs. Liu so jealous that she almost threw the plate.

"Miss Baoqin, take these gold ingots. I don't want them. It's not easy for a girl like you. Take them to save up for your dowry."

"Auntie Wang, I don't need it..."

"Just take it if I tell you to take it!"

Aunt Wang stuffed the gold ingot back into Baoqin's hand without saying a word.

Baoqin looked helpless and had no choice but to accept it.

For the first time, the money was not sent out yet.

The two walked to the west corner entrance, where there were indeed more than a dozen soldiers surrounding the place. All of them were wearing armor and looked very powerful.

"stop!"

A leader said in a cold voice: "The prince has ordered that no one is allowed to go out in the next two days!"

Aunt Wang stepped forward, holding Baoqin behind her, and glared at her, saying, "You are blind. I went out to buy things for the old ancestor, the concubine. Can the prince's rules be more important than those of the old ancestor, the concubine?"

When everyone heard that it was the Concubine Dowager, their momentum immediately weakened a bit. Filial piety is the most important thing in the world, and of course the prince has to listen to the Concubine Dowager.

"Then...you guys go ahead."

The leader let the two out reluctantly, and quietly called over a trusted guard, whispering, "Liu Zhongwu, change your armor and quietly follow them. If there is anything unusual, catch them directly!"

"Yes!"

The guard named Liu Zhongwu had loyalty in his eyes and followed the two quietly.

Aunt Wang in front had no idea that she was being watched from behind. She said with a smile, "Miss Baoqin, go to the place where ducks are slaughtered later. The Concubine wants to eat the intestines of a hundred ducks at a time, so there are some to kill."

Baoqin smiled slightly: "Thank you very much, Auntie."

Aunt Wang waved her hand and said with a smile, "Why thank me for such a small thing?"

As they were talking, they had already arrived at the entrance of the market, where the ducks were being slaughtered.

"Go ahead, I'll wait for you here."

"Uh-huh."

Baoqin nodded and left quietly.

The loyal Liu Zhongwu behind him frowned slightly and followed quietly.

It was a gorgeously decorated rouge shop. Baoqin paused slightly at the door and turned in.

Liu Zhongwu frowned slightly, hesitating whether to go in, and suddenly found a piece of gold shining on the ground at the door. Is it... gold?
Liu Zhongwu hurriedly trotted up and looked around. Fortunately, no one noticed him. He squatted down and pretended to put on his shoes, and put the gold into his sleeves.

It must weigh two taels!
This is more than his annual military salary!
Liu Zhongwu was excited.

When I have time to go home, I will go to a gold shop and make a gold bracelet for my mother to make her happy.

Just after I finished all this, before I could think about it, Baoqin came out with a basket, muttering to herself, "Strange, where is the two taels of gold that grandma gave me? Why is it gone?"

"It's over. I'm going to be scolded when I get home!"

As he spoke, he stamped his feet and looked around.

Liu Zhongwu subconsciously took a few steps away from Baoqin and tilted his head to look to the other side.

I act as if I don’t know you and I haven’t seen the money. It’s none of my business if you lost the money, so don’t ask me.

"Come back so soon?"

Aunt Wang looked at Baoqin strangely.

"Yeah." Baoqin nodded unhappily: "The store is out of stock, so I didn't buy it."

"Oh, come back tomorrow then."

Aunt Wang comforted Baoqin with a few words, and soon the ingredients were ready. Aunt Wang took Baoqin back to the mansion.

"How is it? Is there anything unusual?" asked the leader of the guards.

"No, everything is normal!" Liu Zhongwu said confidently. "That's good." The head guard nodded: "You continue to guard the door, I'll go take a rest."

Everyone: "..."

……

Ascension Pavilion.

There were only five people in the huge hall.

One was the retired emperor, one was the old prime minister Dai Quan, one was the commander of the Dragon Guards Qiu Shian, one was the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guards Zhao Quan, and the last one was the old imperial physician in the palace.

At this time, the old imperial physician in the palace was taking the pulse of the retired emperor. After a while, the old imperial physician nodded slightly and said, "The Holy Emperor's body should be fine for the time being."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they heard this.

The Emperor smiled slightly and said, "I have lived for sixty or seventy years and have seen all kinds of storms and waves. How can a mere Tartar want to...haha!"

"Those monsters outside should be unable to hold back this time, right? I am waiting in the palace for them to jump in one by one! Are the Dragon Guards and the Embroidered Uniform Guards ready?"

Qiu Shian and Zhao Quan knelt on the ground and said confidently, "Report to the Holy Emperor, the net has been laid!"

"Good, very good!" The emperor smiled and said, "I want to see who will jump in first!"

"By the way, how are the arrangements going with Ye Xiang?"

Zhao Quan stepped forward and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. Lord Ye has already ordered the Third Prince to lead the Beijing Camp to stop the enemy. The First Prince of Pingyang is also rushing to the capital. The two of you will work together to attack from both the east and west. Even if we can't completely annihilate the Tartars, at least we can injure them so badly that they won't dare to invade Daxia easily again."

"Well, that's right!" The emperor nodded. "Although the boss fell into the Tartars' trap and lost Xi'an, if he can make up for his mistake this time, I will forgive him the punishment."

No one dared to speak.

The emperor closed his eyes and began to rest.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Just waiting...

……

Daming Palace, Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Emperor Anping was in a coma for a whole day and gradually woke up the next day.

The first thing I do when I wake up is...

"Yucun, how is the Tartar?"

He had a dream that Kyoto was conquered by the Tartars, and he and his father were treated like sheep, being led along the ground and eating grass!
Jia Yucun hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, rest assured. The Third Prince has already led the Beijing Camp to stop the enemy, and the First Prince of Pingyang is also chasing after the Tartars, forming a two-sided attack. Now it is the Tartars who are in a worrying situation!"

"call!"

Emperor Anping breathed a sigh of relief.

Jia Yucun hurriedly took out a handkerchief and wiped the cold sweat from Emperor Anping's forehead.

Emperor Anping was very satisfied with Jia Yucun's service. He looked outside and asked, "How long have I been unconscious?"

Jia Yucun said carefully, "Your Majesty, you have been unconscious for a whole day. The Emperor has entrusted all the important matters in Kyoto to Prime Minister Ye, and has also summoned Zhao Quan, Qiu Shian and others. No one outside knows what specific instructions he gave."

"Oh……"

Emperor Anping shook his dizzy head, stood up and said, "I'll go over and take a look..."

"emperor!"

Jia Yucun hurried forward to support him and said, "It might be dangerous outside. You should take care of yourself first!"

"Dangerous? What do you mean?"

Emperor Anping frowned.

Jia Yucun whispered, "There may be traitors who will take advantage of this opportunity to rebel. The palace has already laid a net of heaven and earth."

Emperor Anping: "So, it was arranged by... the Emperor Emeritus?"

Jia Yucun: "Probably..."

Emperor Anping thought for a while and said: "Then I'll wait here!" To be honest, he was a little too embarrassed to see the retired emperor now.

He was actually frightened to death by the Tartars.

I feel ashamed of my father and ancestors!
……

Ningguo Mansion.

Jia Jing held a note in his hand and frowned for a long time.

After a while, I finally made up my mind.

He must go to rescue the emperor, even if it means exposing his strength. He cannot let those people mess around!
"Somebody come!"

"Immediately gather all the servants and housekeepers in the two mansions. As long as they are men, between fifteen and seventy, and can walk, come here immediately!"

"Yes!"

At Jia Jing's words, the servants of the two mansions immediately took action. Among them, Lai Da, who had just returned, was the most active. When he heard that the master of the East Mansion wanted to use servants, he did not hesitate and came to the door of Jia Jing's study in Ningguo Mansion.

"Grandpa, I will go through fire and water without hesitation," Lai Da said firmly.

"Ok!"

Jia Jing nodded and praised: "You are very good, you will be the leader of the team later!"

Lai was overjoyed, he finally caught the eye of Lord Jia! Wouldn't he be able to rise to prominence in the future?

"Master, what are you doing, leader?"

"You'll know then."

……

"There's something unusual happening in the Jia Mansion!"

"Gathering servants... no, probably personal soldiers!"

"Hurry back and report to the master!"

"Yes!"

Soon, the news spread to the palace.

The emperor laughed loudly: "The old fox finally couldn't bear it anymore, cheer up, I want to see how the old fox rebels!"

"Yes!"

A group of people hurried down and gathered around the Jia Mansion. Anyone who dared to show up in the Jia Mansion would be killed immediately!

However, the servants from the Ning and Rong mansions gathered in front of the main hall of the Ningguo Mansion. After half a day, they showed no intention of taking any action. As the sky was getting dark, everyone dared not to be negligent and became extremely alert!

(End of this chapter)