The Red Chamber: Starting from Saving Xue Baochai

Chapter 69: Ningguo Mansion Jia Zhen and His Son

After leaving the yamen, Shen Yuan went home, changed into casual clothes, took two guards, and went to the pawnshop.

The wedding date with Baochai is approaching, and it is time to buy a house.

In fact, he could buy the Xue family courtyard he is currently renting. It is suitable in terms of location and size.

But if Shen Yuan asked, Aunt Xue and Xue Pan would most likely reduce the money, which would not be a good thing after all and would easily lead to criticism.

In ancient times, information was blocked and people who wanted to buy and sell land and houses would mostly choose to go to brokerage firms. A small number of people would release information through tabloids, but most people did not like this method of publicity, fearing that losing money would bring unnecessary trouble.

As soon as I entered the brokerage shop, a broker came to greet me.

"What do you need, sir?"

"Are there any houses for sale nearby recently?"

"How big a yard do you need?"

"Three or four entrances are fine."

"Okay, sir, wait a moment."

After a while, the broker brought a stack of paper and handed it to Shen Yuan, saying, "These are the houses that have been put up for sale in the brokerage shop recently. Sir, take a look and see if there are any that catch your eye."

Shen Yuan took it and looked at it. Each piece of paper contained a sketch of a courtyard, as well as its approximate area and price.

He quickly flipped through the pages and finally looked at a courtyard with three doors and four entrances.

“Why is this hospital so much cheaper than the others?”

The courtyard that Shen Yuan referred to was priced at eight thousand taels, while other similar types were basically priced at more than ten thousand taels.

"I don't know either. I just heard from other agents that the owner of this yard lowered the price three times within a month. Maybe he is in urgent need of money."

"It's not far from here, let's go there first."

"Sir, please follow me."

After the broker finished speaking, he led the way, taking Shen Yuan and others out of the brokerage shop and heading east.

After walking for about two quarters of an hour, a courtyard with three gates and four entrances came into view.

The broker was just about to go forward and knock on the door when suddenly everything in front of him went dark. He didn't know when several tall and strong men stood in front of him.

He was unable to retract his steps in time and bumped into it. It was clearly a flesh body, yet it was as hard as a wall.

"You bastard, don't you have eyes?" the dark and sturdy man shouted.

The brothel worker stroked his dizzy head, and after he came to his senses, he apologized repeatedly.

"It was I who lost my eyes. I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

After saying that, he planned to bypass the group of people and knock on the door.

But he saw another person blocking in front of him, jokingly saying: "This yard is not for sale, hurry up and get out of here."

Seeing this, the guard beside Shen Yuan was about to take action, but was stopped by Shen Yuan who raised his hand.

The broker was stunned for a moment after hearing this, and asked in confusion: "Why not sell it? The owner of the yard just came to our brokerage a few days ago to change the price."

"If I say I won't sell it, then I won't sell it. Why are you talking so much nonsense? If you don't get out of here, don't blame me for being rude."

Feeling that these dark and strong men were ready to attack at any time, the broker was frightened and quickly shut his mouth and retreated to Shen Yuan's side.

She said timidly, "Sir, look at this. Why don't we go somewhere else to watch?"

Shen Yuan nodded, took another look at the burly men and the house behind them, then left with the broker.

"If I had known such a thing would happen here, I would not have brought you here. I have just joined the brokerage business and I don't understand some things very well. I am really sorry for making you unhappy." The broker looked apologetic.

"It doesn't matter."

Shen Yuan could also guess that it was probably because the other agents were against newcomers and did not remind him of some things.

Compared to this matter, he was more concerned about the group of tall and strong men just now.

Inside the imperial city, at the feet of the emperor, there are people who dare to be so domineering. I wonder who is backing him?
He didn't take action at first, firstly because he didn't want to alert the enemy, and secondly because he felt that this matter was strange. After looking at a few more houses, Shen Yuan returned to the house where he lived in the west of the city.

In the city of Shenjing where every inch of land is valuable, buying a mansion is no small matter and it is impossible to decide on one in one day.

On the way back, Shen Yuan thought for a long time, and then instructed the guards around him: "Investigate the background of the group of people today, and the owner of the house."

"Yes, sir." Guard Zhou Ping took the order and left.

Qianqing Palace, Imperial Study.

Zhao Quan, commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, reported to Emperor Yuanzhen as usual on important developments of court officials, including Shen Yuan.

After hearing about Shen Yuan's situation today, Emperor Yuanzhen was quite surprised.

"I didn't expect that Huaizhong actually made the hot air balloon. It only took about ten days since he proposed the idea. I am really impressed by him." Emperor Yuanzhen couldn't help but sigh, looking very pleased.

Shen Yuan's ability made him more trusting and he had higher expectations for the young man.

Looking back, Jiang Zhongnian made a statement in the memorial, saying that this boy had the talent to assist the king. At that time, although Emperor Yuanzhen attached great importance to the people recommended by his trusted ministers, he felt that it was mostly an exaggeration.

However, everything that happened recently, whether it was preparing for a rainy day during the heavy snowfall, or showing strategy when making comments in the imperial study, or winning the title of martial arts champion with a crushing momentum, and today's realization of manned flight, all of these prove what Jiang Zhongnian said.

Shen Yuan never let him down once. Perhaps the young man really had the talent to be a king's assistant.

Many people in the court were puzzled as to why he was so kind to a young man who had not even reached the age of twenty, because those people did not understand how much he longed for a minister who could govern the country and assist him in realizing his dream of reviving the Great Zhou Dynasty, and he saw hope in Shen Yuan.

"Your Majesty, is it time to close the matter on the three Duke's Mansions?" Zhao Quan asked.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yuanzhen was silent for a moment, then said thoughtfully, "Don't move for now. Since Huaizhong didn't move those people, he must have noticed something. I want to see how he will deal with it next."

This is a great opportunity for a test. If Shen Yuan can pass this test, he will no longer have any doubts about the young man.

Ningguo Mansion.

Jia Zhen had just returned to his house after drinking wine in Zui Xiang Lou when he saw You Shi looking through a wooden casket. He asked casually, "What is this?"

"Bao girl from the West Mansion got engaged some time ago. This is the gift Aunt Xue sent today, saying it's for everyone's congratulations." Yu said with a smile.

Jia Zhen glanced at him. As the patriarch of the Jia family and the head of the Ningguo Mansion, he did not take this small favor seriously.

Mrs. You, who was standing by, was quite interested and pretended to be mysterious, "Master, do you know who Bao's fiancé is?"

Jia Zhen glanced at the beautiful woman beside him. Although the woman had delicate features, curvy figure and fair skin, perhaps because he had seen her day and night, he was tired of seeing her. He could not arouse the slightest sexual interest in such a beauty. He said impatiently, "If you want to talk, then say it. If not, stay away. Why keep us in suspense?"

Listening to her husband's scolding, Youshi's delicate body trembled slightly, as if cold water was poured on her head. However, the secret had already been revealed, and if she remained silent at this time, it would only make Jia Zhen more impatient.

She pursed her red lips, tightened the pink handkerchief in her hand, and whispered, "Bao girl's fiancé is the new champion of martial arts."

"It turns out to be this person."

Shen Yuan's name has been widely spread in the capital recently, and Jia Zhen has naturally heard of him.

Seeing that the master's anger had subsided, You Shi asked timidly, "Aunt Xue said that the wedding date is set on the Dragon Boat Festival. What kind of gift should the East Palace send then?"

"You go and get ready first, and report back to me." After Jia Zhen said this, he walked towards the inner hall.

After taking a few steps, I saw a man in fancy clothes who was also drunk walking towards me.

When Jia Zhen saw the visitor, he angrily scolded him, "You evil creature! You don't take good care of your good daughter-in-law. You spend all day in debauchery. When can you do anything useful?"

The man in gorgeous clothes was Jia Rong, the son of Jia Zhen.

Jia Rong couldn't help but shudder when Jia Zhen yelled at him. He shrank his neck and secretly said, "You haven't done anything serious, but you're still thinking about your own daughter-in-law."

Of course, he didn't dare to reveal a word about this matter.

When Jia Zhen saw Jia Rong's sly expression, he became even angrier and was about to kick Jia Rong.

Yu Shi looked at the father and son from the side and couldn't help but sigh in her heart.

The recent chapters are just the prelude and will soon reach the climax.

In addition, within a few chapters, the protagonist should be able to enter the garden and connect with the other golden hairpins.
I hope you guys will read and comment more.
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(End of this chapter)