Red Mansion: Seizing Jiangdong, starting with pirates

Chapter 273, Slaughtering the New Year Pig
King Chungsun is very happy lately.

On the one hand, he became a Grand Councilor, further expanding his power, and attracting more officials to his side.

On the other hand, business is better.

After Cheng Fan's death, the price of grain became lower for the people, and they naturally had more money left over.

Prince Zhongshun quickly seized this opportunity and instigated Huang Wenzhou to raise the price of salt, making a huge profit!
People can't live without salt, so the little money saved from grain was quickly pocketed by King Chungshun.

On this day, King Chungshun was leisurely drinking fragrant tea and listening to music in his palace.

Suddenly, a guest arrived.

The post was submitted by Huang Wenzhou.

King Chungshun hurriedly went to greet him.

However, the person who came was not Huang Wenzhou, but a young man he didn't recognize who looked somewhat dull.

"you are?"

King Chungshun frowned and asked.

The young man spoke hesitantly, his words tinged with nervousness.

"Your Highness, my name is He Shi. Brother Bowen has been assigned to pick up foreigners, and I'm here to take over his business."

"Oh?"

King Zhongshun pondered for a moment, then looked He Shi up and down.

He has the image of an honest and simple young man, and he's a bit dark-skinned.

"Did Bowen tell you what to do?"

"King Chungshun inquired."

He Shi nodded hurriedly and said:

"Brother Bowen said that I should listen to the Prince in everything."

Upon hearing this, King Chungshun laughed.

He patted He Shi on the shoulder.

"Okay, sit down."

He Shi sat down with trepidation.

The actors on stage swayed their bodies and danced gracefully.

King Chungshun beckoned, and the actor came down from the stage.

First, they offered tea to Prince Chungshun.

King Chungshun gave him a look.

The actor then went to serve tea to He Shi.

The actress's slender waist bent slightly, revealing her round and perky buttocks.

He Shi hurriedly looked away, but his eyes kept drifting back to her.

The actress poured a full cup of tea, and with her slender fingers, she raised the cup to He Shi's lips.

The actor exuded a pleasant fragrance. He Shi hesitated, glancing up at the air as if he wanted to accept the offer but dared not.

King Chungshun had been observing He Shi's behavior, and upon seeing this, he smiled and said:
"Brother He, take it!"

He Shi then carefully accepted the tea.

During this time, He Shi's fingertips slightly touched the actress's, and he quickly let go as if he had been electrocuted.

King Chungshun observed this scene and then inquired about He Shi's background.

He Shi was completely innocent and spoke his mind without reservation.

He told King Chungshun that he used to be a refugee from Huaizhou, and that he had gained his current status only because he shared half a cake with Huang Wenzhou when he was begging for a living in Huang Wenzhou in his early years.

Upon hearing this, King Zhongshun nodded, a peculiar thought flickering in his eyes.

Not long after, He Shi took his leave.

King Chungsun summoned the actor to his presence and ravished him, asking as he did so:
"Qi Guan, do you think that kid was faking it or was he really?"

Enduring the humiliation, Jiang Yuhan, nestled in Prince Zhongshun's arms, responded to him, saying:
"Your Highness, this servant truly sees a virgin; she doesn't seem to be a fake..."

Meanwhile, He Shi left the Prince Zhongshun's residence.

The blank look on his face gradually faded.

His reaction just now was not fake.

This was his first time encountering a male prostitute.

However, he also lied.

He was not a refugee from Huaizhou, but from Shanxi. He had been fortunate enough to join a caravan sent by Fang Yong to trade horses while in Zhili. He followed the caravan to many places and gradually gained important positions.

Later, after the caravan returned from its last horse trade, He Shi joined Xue Ke in the army. Later, Xue Ke was sent to the grasslands, while He Shi remained in the capital to serve.

Even today...

In the days that followed, the capital was peaceful and tranquil.

Several more battles broke out on the grasslands, and Zhou Shuan won one after another. He not only reclaimed all the land lost by the Adier tribe, but also seized a large area of ​​grassland from the Abuka tribe.

However, Dore was somewhat worried. Although he had more and more land, it seemed that there were fewer and fewer cattle and sheep.

There were no major changes within the capital city.

Officials and nobles continued to frequent the Drunken Immortal Pavilion for enjoyment.

Some dismissed officials secretly worked to defame and tarnish Fang Yong's reputation.

Fang Yong seemed unconcerned, spending his days in the inner palace.

Yuan Chun always said it was against etiquette, but her body language betrayed her, and she always ate until she was quite full, half-heartedly.

Perhaps Fang Yong had been neglecting her lately, and Daiyu was a little jealous.

So one morning, Fang Yong carried Daiyu away from the crowd and took her alone to the roof of Qin'an Hall to enjoy the view of the Imperial Garden outside.

There, one could see painted railings and ornate pavilions; green pines and purple bamboos covered the path. Cleverly shaped rocks and mountain peaks, winding paths and secluded orchids, clear pond water, and fish moving in the wind.

Inside, jasmine and rosebuds are still in bud, while peonies and lilies are about to bloom. Hibiscus and peony branches are unfurling, and osmanthus and peach blossoms are lush and green.

A scene of early spring unfolds before my eyes.

"It's a bit chilly!"

Daiyu nestled in Fang Yong's arms and said.

Fang Yong pulled Daiyu closer to his chest and took her hand, saying:
"Give me your hand, little sister, so you don't get cold."

Daiyu hummed in agreement.

After a while, Fang Yong said again:
"Little sister, give me your feet too, so they don't get cold."

Daiyu glanced at Fang Yong and said:
"You're wearing shoes, so how could your feet be cold?"

Fang Yongdao:
"Then, little sister, take off your shoes."

Upon hearing this, Daiyu snorted and poked Fang Yong's waist, saying:

"I knew you had no good intentions!"

Even so, Daiyu still took off her shoes.

Her small feet, clad in snow-white socks, were exposed.

Fang Yong was afraid that she would get cold, so he held her in his arms and rubbed her to warm her up.

Looking at the scenery of the Imperial Garden, Daiyu said, "I have already seen this scenery with my sisters, but coming back with my brother today has a different feel to it."

Fang Yong asked, "How does it taste?"

Daiyu said, "Thin dew drips gently, light smoke shrouds the scene. The night rain is desolate and sorrowful, and I am timid and afraid of the autumn wind."

Fang Yong said, "Though my body is withered and frail, my innate nature is noble. Even a broken branch is lovely. What shame is there in the beauty of the colorless spring?"

Upon hearing this, Daiyu turned around and realized that he understood her meaning; her eyes immediately filled with affection.

Fang Yong kissed her.

Since that time He Shi went to see King Zhongshun.

King Zhongshun invited He Shi several more times.

At the same time, they secretly sent people to investigate He Shi's background.

The result was naturally without any problems.

Thus, King Chungsun's greed gradually became uncontrollable.

Just then, He Shi appeared to be clueless about business, so Prince Zhongshun took over the entire business represented by He Shi under the guise of helping to manage it.

The division of responsibilities remains unchanged. King Zhongshun knows that Fang Yong is behind He Shi, so the division will still be split 50/50.

But once the business is handed over to him, how much money is actually earned is entirely up to him.

At first, Prince Zhongshun only made some false accounts as a test and showed them to He Shi. As a result, there were no problems, and Fang Yong did not find out even after half a month.

King Chungsun then gradually began to intensify his greed.

Little did he know, Jia She had already secretly gathered almost all the evidence against him.

Once Fang Yong has completely severed ties with them, they will slaughter him like a pig.

(End of this chapter)