Dream of the Red Chamber: I can upgrade my entries!

Chapter 2 The Devastating News in Yangzhou, Emperor Yongping's Choice!

At 3:45 PM, in the afternoon, a burst of singing and laughter filled Ning'an Hall.

"Sir, have another drink."

"Good good!"

Jia Zhen lay on the couch wearing only a silk undergarment, with his two concubines, Pei Feng and Xie Luan, also dressed in light gauze, their snow-white skin partially obscured, creating an enchanting atmosphere in the hall.

"master."

Lady You seemed to be used to this and walked into Ning'an Hall as if no one else was there.

"How did you come?"

Upon seeing Lady You arrive, Jia Zhen sat up and scrutinized her.

“Just now, Jingzhe, the head maid who serves my second brother, came to tell me that starting tomorrow, the meals sent to the backyard must be changed to be more nourishing, with more beef, mutton, and eggs, and in larger portions.”

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, a look of surprise and doubt flashed across Jia Zhen's eyes.

"This will significantly increase backyard expenses."

Lady You stopped talking and stared intently at Jia Zhen with her beautiful, watery eyes.

According to this dietary plan, the expenses for the backyard alone amount to at least several hundred taels of silver per month, which adds up to four or five thousand taels of silver per year.

"Since Second Brother has brought it up, it's just some food anyway, let Lai Er take care of it."

"But this."

Lady You hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

"Do you know that everything about my second brother was arranged by the old man?"

Jia Zhen's eyes narrowed, his expression revealing neither joy nor sorrow, and he continued, "Don't even mention you, even I can't change it."

"The old man has become a Taoist priest. He seems so amiable, like a hermit who doesn't care about anything."

"If you really provoke him, he'll kill you."

'Thump!'

Yu's beautiful face turned pale, and she was terrified.

"For the sake of our marriage, I'll only say it once."

"Don't go to the backyard unless necessary, and don't be curious at all."

"Let him do whatever he wants. As long as it's not this Ningguo Mansion, we'll give it all to him."

After giving Lady You a deep look, Jia Zhen abandoned his usual absurd behavior and revealed a rare serious demeanor.

Others may not know who Jia Jing is, but as his own son and eldest son, he has a deep understanding of the world. In terms of cunning and ruthlessness, few in the city can compare to his father, a man who rose from a noble family to an official and passed the imperial examination.

Over the years, his younger sister Jia Xichun, born of the same mother, was sent to the Rongguo Mansion to be raised and enjoyed the company of Grandmother Jia. His second brother Jia Yan lived in the back courtyard for a long time and was unknown to others. Except for festivals and major sacrifices, no one could see Jia Yan at all. But this did not mean that Jia Jing did not care.

The four first-class maids were just the tip of the iceberg. Jia Zhen had no idea how many people were secretly protecting Jia Yan. He had a rough idea of ​​what Jia Yan wanted to ask for today; it was undoubtedly to learn martial arts, after all, Jia Yan was now fifteen years old.

"Yes, sir."

Madam You felt her heart pounding in her chest and left Ning'an Hall with heavy steps.

'Father, what exactly are you trying to do?'

Watching her departing figure, Jia Zhen's eyes turned unusually cold, and his whole body exuded an aura that kept strangers at bay.

From that day on, Ningguo Mansion increased the amount of food it purchased from outside, such as wild medicinal herbs like ginseng, deer antler, and lingzhi. Cattle and sheep were also freshly slaughtered and sent one by one into the backyard.

Coincidentally, news from Yangzhou reached the Rongguo Mansion that Jia Min, the eldest daughter of the second Duke of Rongguo, Jia Daishan, had passed away, and the Rongguo Mansion was filled with grief.

Qianqing Palace, Yangxin Hall.

"His Majesty."

Su Peisheng, the chief eunuch of the Qianqing Palace, rushed in hurriedly, wearing a bird-feather gauze hat with gold trim, a sunflower-patterned round-necked shirt, a red three-layered lining, a black horn belt, and blue horn boots.

"Ok?"

Emperor Yongping, who was writing furiously at his desk on the throne, looked up and glanced at him with displeasure.

"His Majesty."

"A letter from Jiangnan reports that Lord Lin's wife has passed away."

"what?"

Emperor Yongping's expression changed drastically, and he said urgently, "Ruhai and his wife are in the prime of their lives, how could this be?"

"His Majesty."

Su Peisheng lowered his head and replied, "The Embroidered Uniform Army reported several months ago that Madam Lin was bedridden, but we never expected the bad news to come so suddenly."

"Clap!"

The wolf-hair brush that Emperor Yongping was holding fell onto the table, and the ink stained the memorial.

For him, Lin Ruhai was not just a confidant, but also a nail, a nail embedded in the salt administration of Jiangnan.

The Southern Zhili province alone accounted for one-third of the nation's tax revenue, and during each imperial examination in the Great Qianlong era, half of the candidates from the Jiangnan region passed the examinations.

In the past, during the reign of Emperor Shunkang, the Crown Prince's faction and the Eighth Prince's faction vied for the Eastern Palace. The Crown Prince had the moral high ground, while the Eighth Prince controlled the important tax-producing area of ​​Jiangnan. The two were evenly matched. Taking advantage of Emperor Shunkang's northern tour, the two launched a massive battle in the capital. In the end, Emperor Shunkang's sons were reduced to only three: Emperor Yongping (the fourth prince), Prince Yizhong (the fourteenth prince), and Prince Zhongshun (the thirteenth prince).

Prince Yizhong was aligned with the Eighth Prince's faction and inherited their political legacy, including control over Jiangnan. This constantly threatened Emperor Yongping's position, making him feel like he had a thorn in his side. Therefore, at the beginning of his reign, Emperor Yongping had no choice but to send his most trusted advisor, Lin Ruhai, to Yangzhou to serve as the Salt Commissioner.

The Daqian dynasty inherited the legacy of the Ming dynasty and established the Censorate, which was in charge of impeachment and suggestions. It appointed Left and Right Censors-in-Chief, Left and Right Deputy Censors-in-Chief, Left and Right Assistant Censors-in-Chief, and thirteen Circuit Censors. The Salt Commissioner of Yangzhou was not a fixed official position. Although he was a seventh-rank official, he only had the authority to supervise the salt administration of Lianghuai.

There were only four salt inspectors in the entire Daqian Dynasty, namely Lianghuai, Liangzhe, Changlu, and Hedong. Lin Ruhai was originally a Grand Master of the Imperial Academy. The Imperial Academy was in charge of the National History Bureau and the National Compilation Bureau, and was in charge of the country's classics and books. It had one Minister of the Imperial Academy (a third-rank official) and two Grand Masters (fourth-rank officials).

The prefect of Yangzhou was only a fourth-rank official, so the importance of Lin Ruhai, the Grand Master of the Imperial Academy and concurrently the Salt Commissioner of Yangzhou, is evident.

More importantly, Lin Ruhai married Jia Min, the only legitimate daughter of Jia Daishan, the second-generation Duke of Rongguo. As the son-in-law of the Jia family, he should have been very successful in Jiangnan. In recent years, Emperor Yongping's treasury has been replenished thanks to Lin Ruhai.

Who would have thought that not long after, Lin Ruhai's wife would pass away, which meant that Lin Ruhai had lost a powerful ally in Jiangnan.

"Squeak! Squeak!"

The sound of wooden wheels scraping against the floor tiles echoed in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. A middle-aged man dressed in black with a pale face appeared in the hall, turning his wheelchair with both hands.

"His Majesty."

"There must be some hidden story behind Lord Lin's loss of his wife."

Wu Sidao, sitting in his wheelchair, spoke slowly.

"Does the gentleman mean that someone wants Jia Min dead?"

Emperor Yongping's eyes flashed with a fierce light, and he said in a cold voice, "Without the Jia family's connection, Ru Hai will find it difficult to move an inch in Yangzhou."

"Fourteenth Brother has really gone to great lengths. Should I say he's incredibly audacious, or that he's a master strategist?"

"The Jia family has two dukes. If it were known that the eldest daughter of the Rongguo Mansion was plotted against and killed, how would the world view me and the imperial family?"

Apart from Prince Yizhong, he couldn't think of anyone else who would dare to do this, or who would be capable of doing it.

"The extravagance of Yangzhou salt merchants was unparalleled in the world; those with less than a million were considered small merchants."

"The national treasury probably doesn't even amount to the wealth of the eight major salt merchants in Yangzhou. Prince Yizhong only needs to give it a gentle push."

"Since ancient times, wealth has been a powerful motivator, regardless of past grievances or personal relationships."

Shaking his head slightly, Wu Sidao said meaningfully.

"Well done, Old Fourteen."

Emperor Yongping was furious. Prince Yizhong's actions left no room for anyone to find fault with him, yet they achieved the goal of eliminating the emperor's supporters.

"His Majesty."

"The most urgent matter is Lord Lin's safety."

"With Madam Lin gone, Lord Lin has lost the power to control them."

"Over the years, Lord Lin's efforts to rectify the salt administration in Lianghuai have made him a thorn in the side of those people."

"They dared to lay a hand on the eldest daughter of the Rongguo Mansion, so what is it to deal with a mere Grand Master of the Imperial Academy and Salt Commissioner of Yangzhou?"

When this was mentioned, Wu Sidao solemnly said, "As long as Lord Lin is in Yangzhou, Prince Yizhong will always be a thorn in his side. His Majesty's treasury will continue to receive income. Moreover, Lord Lin himself is outstanding in talent and comes from a family of marquises for four generations. The Lin family of Suzhou is highly respected by scholars."

"Given time, Lord Lin may very well become a key minister in the court and a pillar of His Majesty's court."

"I understand."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yongping's eyes shifted repeatedly, his mind filled with countless thoughts.

Although he had been on the throne for six years, all the important officials in the court, such as Chen Tingjing, Yu Chenglong, Zhang Tingyu, Zhou Peigong, and Tian Wenjing, were promoted by the retired emperor. The twelve battalions guarding the imperial city and Shenjing were all in the hands of the Yuan Cong noble lineage. He, the emperor, was just a figurehead.

Of all his trusted confidants, only Lin Ruhai was qualified to enter the cabinet. How could he be willing to die in Yangzhou like this?

"Su Peisheng."

"Immediately dispatch the Blood Droplets to protect Lin Ruhai at all times."

Emperor Yongping immediately made a decision.

The Embroidered Uniform Army has been infiltrated by countless people, its internal structure riddled with holes. To protect Lin Ruhai, he has no choice but to trust the forces he has cultivated in secret – the 'Flying Guillotine'.

"Yes."

Su Peisheng, the chief eunuch of the Qianqing Palace, immediately turned around and left the Yangxin Hall.

After he left, Emperor Yongping could not suppress his anger and roared, "What is Father thinking? Allowing the Fourteenth Prince to act like this? She is the legitimate daughter of the Rongguo Mansion, which has two dukes. If this matter is exposed, the founding line will surely regard the royal family as an enemy."

"Your Majesty, be careful with your words."

Wu Sidao quickly offered his advice.

"Mr. Wu."

Emperor Yongping stared intently at him and said, "Have you ever seen an emperor like me?"

"After six years on the throne, he had to consult the retired emperor on everything, and not a single official in the court obeyed his orders."

"If he's so unwilling to relinquish power, why not let him sit on this throne until he dies? Why give it to me?"

"His Majesty."

Wu Sidao continued to reassure him, "Be patient, wait a bit."

"Your Majesty is in the prime of life, while the Emperor Emeritus is already very old."

"call!!!"

Emperor Yongping took a deep breath and continued reviewing the memorials.

(End of this chapter)