The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

The river bank is in full bloom with pink peach blossoms and green willows, the water is clear and the sky is blue, the peach blossoms are bright, the willow branches are swaying, and both light and heavy makeup are suitable.

Li Hu spent a lot of money to "invite" peach trees and willow trees from Yangzhou's Slender West Lake, just to let Lin Daiyu appreciate the authentic long embankment willows in spring.

The peach blossoms planted among the green willows are as white as clouds, as pink as jade, and as red as rouge.

Lin Daiyu was walking alone on the river bank. She stopped under a peach tree and stared at the stone bench in a daze. Suddenly, the scene of this time last year emerged in her mind, when Li Hu held her in his arms and sat on the stone bench to rest.

After a long time, Lin Daiyu came back to her senses and sighed, "The ends of the earth may have their limits, but my longing for you has no end." When she said this, she suddenly reacted, looked around, and seeing no one, she breathed a sigh of relief, then blushed with shame, covered her face with her sleeves, and sat down on the stone bench.

At this time, a gust of wind blew and blew down most of the peach blossoms on the tree, covering Lin Daiyu's head and body with them.

Lin Daiyu stretched out her white and tender palm, and a peach blossom fell into her palm. She looked at the petal and said: "The peach blossom is blooming."

Lin Daiyu smiled bitterly and wondered what happened today?
Just as she was wondering, she heard someone behind her say, "You didn't find it anywhere, so you came here." Lin Daiyu turned around and saw Zijuan coming with a locked box in her hand.

Lin Daiyu smiled and said, "It's so hard for me to come out and relax by myself, but you come back again."

Zijuan looked at her with a smile, then glanced at the box and shook her head slightly: "In that case, I'll go back first." Then she turned and left.

Lin Daiyu said angrily: "Don't learn from Qingwen."

Zijuan smiled and walked over again: "A letter from Second Master." Then she put the box on the stone bench.

Lin Daiyu took out a small bronze key from the sachet at her waist and unlocked the door.

Zijuan leaned forward with a curious look on her face.

Lin Daiyu opened the lid of the box.

Zijuan was stunned: "Why did the Second Master just give me a piece of weed? And it's such an ugly weed."

Lin Daiyu was also stunned for a moment, then she looked at it carefully, and then sneered: "Read some books when you have nothing to do. What wild grass? This is Black Water Angelica." When she said this, she was also stunned, and slowly turned to look at Zijuan.

Zijuan also looked at her with wide eyes.

Their eyes met and Li Hu was about to come back.

Huang Jinzhong's urgent delivery was also delivered to the upper study.

Emperor Yongchang read Huang Jinzhong's urgent letter and said excitedly, "Good! Li Hu is great! Fu Kang'an defeated the Jurchen rebellion army, but failed to achieve a great victory. He could only barely gain a foothold in the southern grasslands of the desert."

Dai Quan handed a bowl of tea to Emperor Yongchang and said with a smile: "This is because the emperor is good at planning and appointing people to the right positions."

Emperor Yongchang took the tea bowl, took a sip, put it down, and then said, "Huang Jinzhong is right. After this defeat, the Jurchens will no longer be able to suppress the Mongols!"

At this point, he laughed: "What's the point of hoarding so much food? I can give it to you, or I can let you consume it all! By the way, how is the purchase of food from the rich households in Zhili going?"

Dai Quan: “It’s in progress.”

Emperor Yongchang: "Hurry up and ask Jia Lian to collect 50,000 dan of grain and send it to Henan as soon as possible."

Dai Quan: “Yes.” He answered but sighed in his heart. Fifty thousand stones, that’s not easy to handle!
Emperor Yongchang suddenly remembered: "Where are those Mongolian cavalry?"

Dai Quan thought for a moment and replied, "We should be able to reach the Yellow River ferry in a day or two."

Emperor Yongchang nodded and said, "With the help of these Mongolian cavalry, I believe that Prince Zhongshun will soon be able to wipe out the White Lotus rebels in Henan!" At this point, he suddenly remembered, "There haven't been any military reports from Henan for quite a while, right?"

Dai Quan: "Yes. Since Prince Zhongshun recaptured Kaifeng and other places, there have been no more military reports."

Emperor Yongchang frowned, picked up Huang Jinzhong's urgent letter and read it, saying, "We selected some people from the Northern Pacification Office to go north to collect intelligence on the Luosha people. They were able to easily defeat the Eight Banners Army. Their fighting power should not be underestimated!"

Dai Quan: “Yes.”

"And Li Hu, since he wants to come back, let him come back." ".Yes."

".Say hello to my 'new favorite', don't think about stepping on anyone to leave your name in history. Do something down-to-earth and earn my reputation, otherwise people outside will think I am a tyrant who favors treacherous people."

"Yes." Dai Quan was slightly stunned. Did he take the wrong medicine?

Emperor Yongchang wanted to say something, but the eunuch on duty at the Meridian Gate rushed in like a gust of wind, raised the express in his hand, and panted: "He, Henan, 800 miles, express delivery."

Emperor Yongchang stood up suddenly.

Dai Quan snatched the express package, glanced at the lacquer seal on it, tore open the seal, and handed it over.

Emperor Yongchang hurriedly unfolded the letter and his eyes suddenly widened. The hand holding the letter could not help but tremble slightly.

Dai Quan suddenly felt something was wrong.

After a long while, Emperor Yongchang came back to his senses, and his tone lost its usual calmness: "Quick, summon the Minister of War Niu Jizong, Marquis of Zhongjing Shi Ding, the governor of the Beijing camp and several generals, and have them rush into the palace. The crown prince is also one of them."

Dai Quan walked out quickly.

Emperor Yongchang looked at the eunuch on duty at the Meridian Gate and asked: "Where is the express messenger now?"

The eunuch on duty at the Meridian Gate said: "Your Majesty, I have detained him in the Meridian Gate's duty room."

Emperor Yongchang: "Detain him, give him good food and drink, and don't let him see anyone."

The eunuch on duty at the Meridian Gate said: “Yes.” He bowed and walked out.

"Waste!" Emperor Yongchang could no longer suppress his anger. He grabbed the tea bowl and smashed it hard on the brick floor in front of the imperial desk!

Green trees reflected on the window, birds chirped, and the third prince lay on a bamboo lounge chair. He turned over, turned the book in his hand toward the window, and continued reading in the light.

The butler came in excitedly, greeted the Third Prince, and then handed a letter to the Third Prince with both hands: "Your Highness, this is a letter from Xuzhou."

The third prince was startled and hurriedly put down the book, sat up straight, took the letter, tore it open and read it.

The housekeeper said, "There is another piece of news. The emperor hurriedly summoned the Minister of War Niu Jizong, Marquis Zhongjing Shi Ding, the governor of the Beijing camp and several generals to the palace. It should be the urgent message from Henan!"

After reading the letter, the Third Prince stood up, walked to the window, pondered for a while, and then said: "Send more people to infiltrate Shui Rong's army, provide accurate intelligence to our people, fight several battles, seize military power as soon as possible, and sideline King Zhongshun."

Butler: "Yes."

The Third Prince thought for a while and said: "Send them more money and try to win over those Mongolian cavalrymen."

After a pause, he said, "I have to admit that the soldiers led by Li Hu are indeed capable of fighting tough battles."

Before he could finish his words, the voice of the captain of the guards came from outside: "Your Highness, the Queen in the palace sent someone to bring you some cakes."

The third prince looked out the window and saw the eunuch in charge of Concubine Shu's palace already standing in the courtyard with a food box in hand.

The third prince waved his hand towards the eunuch in charge.

The eunuch in charge came in carrying a food box, bowed to the Third Prince first, and opened the lid of the box. Inside was a plate of exquisite pastries. He smiled and said, "This is the new pastry made by the Imperial Kitchen. Your Majesty thinks it's good, so I asked this old servant to send it to Your Highness to try."

The third prince turned his gaze towards the butler.

The butler understood, took the food box and left.

The eunuch in charge stepped forward and lowered his voice: "I accidentally heard the Queen and the Queen talking, saying that the Emperor went to the Daming Palace after nightfall. The Emperor has been staying in the old concubine's palace chanting scriptures and praying for blessings."

Did the emperor go to Daming Palace, or after nightfall? The emperor and the empress dowager did not live in Daming Palace, so he could not have gone to talk to the emperor's concubine, right?
Thinking about this, the Third Prince's eyes flashed. Could it be that the Second Prince was hiding in the Daming Palace?! (End of this chapter)