Red Mansion: Seizing Jiangdong, starting with pirates

Chapter 282, Qin Keqing Enters the Palace

The Wenyuan Pavilion is located within the Forbidden City, not far from the Wuying Hall where Lin Ruhai usually edited books.

Lin Ruhai frequently borrowed books from Wenyuange.

Through persistent efforts, Lin Ruhai has now completed the compilation of "On Agriculture" and "On Industry".

These are two basic agricultural and industrial books. The former teaches people how to cultivate crops and prevent agricultural disasters and pests. It also emphasizes Fang Yong's agricultural policies to prevent some petty officials from taking advantage of people's lack of knowledge of the policies and exploiting them.

The second book, "On Crafts," is more comprehensive, containing various basic handicraft techniques.

For example, the simplest skills include basket weaving, straw sandal weaving, fishing and hunting, and then there are basic carpentry, rammed earth construction, textile methods, and so on.

While learning these skills cannot guarantee that you will become rich and powerful, at least you won't have to worry about making a living.

Fang Yong has already ordered the two books to be secretly printed and tested in select townships and counties. If the results are good, they can be promoted on a large scale in the areas under his control.

At that time, Fang Yong asked Lin Ruhai to help compile six books: "Elementary Learning", "On Scholars", "On Agriculture", "On Crafts", "On Commerce", and "On Military Affairs".

However, fearing retaliation, Lin Ruhai dared not compile "On Scholars" and "On Military Affairs," and thus only compiled four books: "Elementary Learning," "On Agriculture," "On Industry," and "On Commerce."

Among them, "Elementary Education" was the first to be completed, and it has already trained many people to read and write for Fang Yong, with very good results. Now "On Agriculture" and "On Industry" have also been completed, leaving only "On Commerce".

Compared to the earlier Treatise on Agriculture and the Treatise on Industry, the Treatise on Commerce was undoubtedly more difficult to compile.

Lin Ruhai consulted some professionals, such as Xue Da Quezi and Shen Tu, and received some valuable advice, but there is still a great distance to go before the book can be compiled.

Fortunately, the Wenyuan Pavilion contained a large number of imperial books, many of which were related to commerce. Lin Ruhai often went there to browse and learn from them.

As the consul of the Wenyuan Pavilion, Wu Feng was in charge of managing the Wenyuan Pavilion.

That day, Lin Ruhai came to borrow books again.

When Wu Feng saw Lin Ruhai approaching from afar, he immediately slumped over the desk, bowing his head and weeping.

As soon as Lin Ruhai entered, Wu Feng hurriedly stood up, trying to hide his panic and wiping away the tears in his eyes.

"Ruhai, you've come!"

Lin Ruhai glanced at Wu Feng, and although he sensed something strange about the other man, he didn't investigate further. Instead, he said:
"Senior Wu, may I borrow a copy of 'A General Overview of Land and Water Routes in the World'?"

"General Overview of Water and Land Routes in the World" is a commercially banned book written during the Kangning era. It records in detail the transportation routes of waterways and land routes throughout the world, as well as local customs, products, forces, underworld slang, and so on.

This was originally a precious book, but because the descriptions were too detailed, including the personalities and preferences of some local officials, and even the exploitative and oppressive policies they privately implemented, it was completely banned shortly after its completion. Currently, there is only one copy in the Wenyuan Pavilion.

When Wu Feng saw Lin Ruhai come to borrow the book, he immediately looked troubled.

Seeing this, Lin Ruhai asked:
"Senior Wu, is there something amiss?"

After hesitating for a moment, Wu Feng said:

"There's nothing wrong with it, it's just..."

As he spoke, he picked up the book on the table, which was none other than "A General Overview of Land and Water Routes in the World".

However, when Wu Feng brought the book over, Lin Ruhai noticed that the surface of the book was soaked with water.

"This is?"

Lin Ruhai asked in confusion.

Seeing this, Wu Feng's eyes welled up with tears, and he said:

"I couldn't hold back my tears, which have soiled the books. I apologize for making you laugh, Ru Hai."

Since things had come to this point, Lin Ruhai naturally followed up by asking:

"Senior, may I ask why you are weeping?"

Wu Feng lowered his head and said:
“I am already in my eighties, and lately I have felt increasingly weak and powerless, and I feel that my days are numbered. Birth, aging, sickness and death are the natural order of things. There are many unworthy children and grandchildren in my family, and I have no worries about them, except for my granddaughter…” At this point, Wu Feng shed tears again.

“It has been fifteen years since she entered the palace before she reached marriageable age, and we have never met during that time. I fear we will never have the chance again. I am saddened by this thought and thus I weep.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Ruhai said:

"I see. This is not difficult. I will help the old senior to fulfill the bird's request."

Wu Feng had been waiting for these words, and immediately asked impatiently, "Ru Hai, how do you plan to help me?"

Lin Ruhai said, "It's simple. Senior, come with me to see the Prince and explain this matter. The Prince will surely allow you to see your granddaughter."

Wu Feng: ...

Nonsense, if he dared to go see Fang Yong himself, would he need to beg you?
Suppressing his inner turmoil, Wu Feng said:
"Your Highness is busy with countless affairs of state; how could I dare to bother you with such a trivial matter?"

Lin Ruhai stroked his beard and nodded, saying, "Hmm...that's true, I didn't think things through." Wu Feng was waiting for him to continue, but Lin Ruhai sighed and said, "In that case, it seems I can't help you much, senior. I'm ashamed, truly ashamed!"

With that, Lin Ruhai walked away without looking back.

Wu Feng: ...

With Lin Ruhai's plan to help failing, Wu Feng had to find another way.

In fact, in terms of distance alone, Wenyuan Pavilion is not far from Yangxin Hall.

However, the inner court had a strict access control system, and was guarded by layers of guards. In particular, the place where Emperor Longqing was imprisoned was surrounded by layers of guards, making it extremely difficult to get close.

Wu Feng originally intended to use the excuse of seeing Consort Wu to ask Lin Ruhai to take him in and see if there was any opportunity to get in touch with Emperor Longqing.

But Lin Ruhai was truly ruthless, and the plan was stillborn before it even began.

On the other side, Lin Ruhai reported the matter to Fang Yong almost immediately after leaving.

As the salt commissioner who once single-handedly restrained eight major salt merchants in Yangzhou, Lin Ruhai was no less vigilant. He sensed the problem as soon as Wu Feng spoke, but he didn't expose it on the spot.

Imperial Room.

A graceful figure was busy inside.

Her light-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) swayed gently with her steps, cinching her slender waist and showcasing her perfectly proportioned hips. Every gesture she made exuded a natural, breathtaking allure.

Qin Keqing scooped up a spoonful, tasted it lightly with her red lips, and revealed a satisfied expression.

Outside the imperial kitchen, several palace maids waiting inside watched the scene unfold and whispered among themselves:
"She won't stay at home, but runs to the palace insisting on making some kind of rock sugar lotus seed soup for the prince. Ha, what a slut!"

"I think she's just trying to seduce the prince!"

"is not that right!"

"Hey, stop talking, she's out!"

Qin Keqing came out carrying a bowl of rock sugar lotus seed soup, and all the palace maids shut their mouths and said no more.

However, Qin Keqing could still discern some clues from the expressions of the others.

She sighed inwardly.

If she could, she wouldn't want to come here.

But what could she do when her father-in-law was pressuring her?
Seeing that Sister Feng was going to the palace more and more frequently, and that Jia She and Jia Lian were rising step by step, it would be strange if Jia Zhen didn't have any suspicions.

That's why Qin Keqing was forced to enter the palace with Sister Feng.

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(End of this chapter)