The King of Beijing in the Red Mansion

Shui Rong saw Ying Luo smacking her lips, but he didn't think much of it. It was just a rosary. If Shui Rong wanted it, he could get it even if it was rare treasure. Ying Luo was just being surprised.

Upon hearing this, Yingluo said nothing more and carefully helped Shuirong undress, but her expression was a little hesitant, as if she was a little indecisive.

Shui Rong saw this and asked with concern: "What's wrong with you today? You seem absent-minded."

Yingluo looked up at Shui Rong after hearing this, and after a pause, she asked carefully, "My Lord, are you going to let Miss Zhen go?"

Ever since Zhen Hua entered the palace, everyone in the palace treated her as the future Princess Beijing. Even Yingluo was the same. Even though Shui Rong had told her clearly, the attitude of the Concubine Dowager made her have a preconceived idea.

Everything was fine, but suddenly today Zhen Hua went to the palace. For a moment, Yingluo was caught off guard and felt a little sad.

Shui Rong groaned for a moment, then said calmly, "My cousin has her own ambitions. As the saying goes, people with different ideals cannot work together. It's better for her to leave."

Zhen Hua's ambition is to be the Princess of Beijing, which is different from Shui Rong's positioning of her. If she cannot achieve this goal, she naturally will not stay. The truth that contentment is the key to happiness is not something that everyone can see through.

Yingluo became annoyed when she heard this. She scratched her head and said in confusion, "I don't understand."

She was just a servant, she didn't understand anything about the way things were.

Shui Rong chuckled at this and scolded, “Just do your job well and ignore the rest.”

As a maid, doing your job well is better than anything else. You don't need to understand the thoughts of those officials.

Seeing Shui Rong's perfunctory response, Ying Luo pursed her lips and muttered, "Isn't this just curiosity? Look, Miss Zhen has left. Who knows, one day the prince might get tired of me and drive me away."

You have to know that Yingluo is just a servant, not as good as the girl from the Zhen family. If the prince doesn't like her, the girl from the Zhen family in Jiangnan can leave at will. If the prince doesn't like her anymore, she won't be able to stay.

Shui Rong looked at Ying Luo when he heard that. No wonder the little girl was absent-minded today. It turned out that she felt "the ants mourn when the rabbit dies".

Thinking of this, Shui Rong reached out and touched Ying Luo's head, comforting her: "What are you thinking about? You are different from your cousin. If you serve me well, how can I chase you away?"

Zhen Hua is different from Ying Luo. As a maid, Ying Luo's position has always been clear. Shui Rong only needs to give her a little sweetness and this little girl will be very happy. On the other hand, Zhen Hua has a big appetite and is difficult to satisfy.

When Yingluo heard this, her cheeks were filled with joy and she looked at Shuirong with her bright eyes. She knew that the prince treated her differently, and her heart felt as sweet as if she had eaten honey.

Seeing Yingluo laughing foolishly, Shui Rong smiled and gave her another slap on the head, scolding: "I haven't finished what I'm saying yet. If you don't serve me well, I'll kick you out of the house."

Yingluo knew that her prince was joking, but even though it was a joke, it also reminded Yingluo that if he kicked her out of the house, it would be like asking for her life.

Thinking of this, Yingluo secretly made up her mind to serve him wholeheartedly in the future.

When Yingluo squatted down to tie her belt, she reached her hand to her thigh and felt something cold and wet again. This time she understood what was going on instantly without having to twist her hand.

Shui Rong looked calm when he saw this. It was just some cooking wine spilled from the spoon, nothing worth taking seriously. Anyway, he had a close relationship with Ying Luo, and she was already smoking, so there was no need to make a fuss.

Yingluo's almond-shaped eyes sparkled and she pursed her lips, raised her eyes and said, "My lord, I am hungry."

Shui Rong didn't take it seriously and said casually, "There are cakes on the table. Go eat them if you're hungry."

The little slut is acting like a spoiled child again. When she is hungry, she goes to eat cakes and no one is restraining her.

Upon hearing this, Yingluo couldn't help but glance at Shuirong, tapped lightly with her jade finger, and whispered, "That's not what I meant."

Shui Rong paused, lowered his eyes to look at Ying Luo, and saw that her jade-like cheeks were flushed, and her clear eyes were full of autumn light. He suddenly realized in his heart, my goodness, she is really a little slut, she is worth teaching.

For a moment, Shui Rong's eyes flickered. Yingluo was indeed hungry, and as her master, he should let her eat a full meal. But with Yingluo's appetite, if he fed her too much, wouldn't that be asking for his life?

This little slut is worthy of death

Chapter 52 A loving mother and a filial son

In the capital, the cold wind was howling. The northwest wind blew through the treetops. The leaves on the trees had all fallen off, and the biting cold wind made people shiver.

During this cold winter, the imperial court was actively collecting the silver owed by the Ministry of Revenue.

Upon hearing the news, all the princes and nobles in the capital did not take it seriously. After all, it was not the first time for the Ministry of Revenue to demand payment of overdue silver. It was nothing more than a lot of noise but little rain, and in the end it would all come to nothing. What was there to be afraid of? Some even prepared to watch the joke.

But when Prince Beijing's Mansion responded to pay the owed silver, for a moment, the other mansions suddenly became at a loss, thinking about the attitude of Prince Beijing's Mansion and hesitating whether to follow the footsteps of Prince Beijing's Mansion.

Shui Rong ignored the disturbance outside.

In the Ning'an Hall of Prince Beijing's Mansion, the heating has been turned on. Although it is cold outside, it is warm as spring inside the hall.

Concubine Beijing leaned on the brocade couch, her face slightly pale, her jade hand stroking her forehead, her brows frowned, as if she was feeling a little unwell.

Shui Rong sat on the brocade cushion below, holding a jade bowl in his hand, and said softly: "Mother, you should take a dose of medicine, so that you can get better faster."

The weather suddenly turned cold, and if you are not careful, it is very easy to catch a cold. This is obviously the case with Concubine Beijing. As a son, Shui Rong naturally serves her with medicine to fulfill his filial piety.

But the frail appearance of Concubine Beijing added something more than before, which made people's hearts skip a beat.

Concubine Beijing felt warm in her heart when she heard Shui Rong's caring words. However, when she looked at the medicine Shui Rong brought over, her fair cheeks couldn't help but droop. Her bright eyes flickered as she said, "Didn't the imperial physician say that it's okay if you don't want to take it?"

Shui Rong couldn't help but laugh when he heard that. What do you mean it doesn't matter if you don't take it? Isn't it just because you are afraid of the bitterness of the medicine?

Ever since Concubine Beijing felt unwell, the palace immediately invited the imperial physician to take her pulse. The imperial physician said that Concubine Beijing had no other illness, just a slight cold, and it didn't matter whether she took medicine or not. She just needed to eat a lighter diet and keep warm recently, and she would be fine.

When Concubine Beijing heard that she could avoid taking medicine, she naturally chose not to. Shui Rong originally thought that medicine is partially toxic, so he let Concubine Beijing do as she pleased. However, after two days, the cold did not get better, which made Shui Rong worried. You have to know that medical care in ancient times was backward, and an ordinary cold could be fatal.

After thinking it over, Shui Rong still advised: "Mother, good medicine tastes bitter but is good for the disease, how can you just follow your temper?"

If you are sick, you have to take medicine to prevent the condition from getting worse.

Upon hearing this, Concubine Beijing's willow-like eyebrows curved, and she did not respond to Shui Rong's words. She had her own thoughts in her mind. She refused to take the medicine. Firstly, she was afraid of the bitterness, and secondly, if she took it well, how could she enjoy her son's filial piety.

Shui Rong felt more helpless when he saw this. He didn't want anything to happen to his loving mother, but Concubine Beijing was in a bad mood and it was not easy to force her. After thinking for a moment, he scooped a spoonful and drank it himself.

For a moment, Shui Rong's mouth was filled with bitterness and he felt strongly nauseous, which was quite intoxicating, but Shui Rong still forced himself to swallow it.

Seeing this, Concubine Beijing became anxious and said, "What are you doing? Why are you taking medicine if you are not sick? Don't take medicine that will damage your body."

All medicines are poisonous to some extent. How could Concubine Beijing not know this? She enjoyed Shui Rong's filial piety but had no intention of harming Shui Rong.

Shui Rong didn't care and said in a clear voice: "Mother didn't want to drink it, so I drank it for her. The medicine has been boiled, and we can't waste it."

You think he takes medicine because he has nothing to do, but it's just his mother's temper. Although he takes medicine without any illness, it doesn't matter if he tastes it. What's more, he is young and in good health, so there will be no problem.

Shui Rong’s attitude is now clear. If Concubine Beijing doesn’t want to drink the medicine, then he will drink it to see if Concubine Beijing is willing to do so.

The Beijing Concubine frowned upon hearing this. What do you mean by waste? This is something that can be saved. This monkey, what a paradox.

Shui Rong patiently advised, "This medicine isn't that bitter, mother, just drink a few sips!"

Shui Rong was really worried about his bad-tempered stepmother. However, Concubine Beijing was already so old, but she still threw tantrums like a little girl. What could Shui Rong, her son, do?

When Concubine Beijing saw Shui Rong trying the medicine on himself, she was deeply touched. After all, he was a caring person, and her pain was not in vain. But looking at Shui Rong's slightly frowned brows, Concubine Beijing found it funny. The medicine was obviously bitter, but he insisted on saying it was not bitter. He was really hypocritical.

Shui Rong naturally didn't know what was in Concubine Beijing's heart, otherwise she would be very angry. Shui Rong didn't even think about who he was holding on for. However, Shui Rong's attention was on coaxing Concubine Beijing to take the medicine. Seeing that Concubine Beijing's attitude had softened, Shui Rong scooped a spoonful, handed it to Concubine Beijing's lips, called her mother softly, and said no more.

At this time, could he still refuse Concubine Beijing?

Concubine Beijing looked at the spoon with a loving gaze, a little hesitant, but thinking that it was her son's filial piety, she thought again and again and finally moved forward with her red lips slightly opened.

When the medicine went into her mouth, Concubine Beijing frowned and wanted to spit it out, but Shui Rong put on a hopeful look and forced her to swallow it down.

This is a life-threatening thing. Forcing her to drink this disgusting thing is really a sin.

Shui Rong heaved a sigh of relief upon seeing this. The stepmother in front of him was really difficult to please and was even more pretentious than Keqing.

Keqing was also calm at this time, and hurriedly handed over the candied fruit to help Concubine Beijing relieve the sour and bitter taste in Tan's mouth, and also gave one to Shuirong.

Bei Jing Toffee chewed the candied fruit, and her beautiful eyebrows relaxed. Wait, Shui Rong seemed to be testing medicine with this spoon just now. Isn't this...

Thinking of this, Concubine Beijing's cheeks were lightly rosy, and her heart was beating strangely. She looked at Shui Rong with her rosy almond eyes, and seeing that he was calm and composed, she couldn't help but spit in her heart. Her son was so sincere, and it was wrong for her, as a mother, to have such wild thoughts.

Shui Rong naturally had no idea of ​​what Concubine Beijing was thinking, so he scooped another spoonful of medicine and handed it to her. Upon seeing this, Concubine Beijing opened her mouth and drank it even though she was reluctant. She was willing to accept her son's filial piety even if it was a bit bitter.

At this time, someone came in and reported: "Your Majesty, the Divine Martial General Feng Tang and his son Feng Ziying are outside the palace asking to see you."

Shui Rong raised his eyebrows slightly when he heard this. It was fine if Feng Ziying came, but even Feng Tang came. He couldn't be idle here!

Thinking of this, Shui Rong ordered: "Let them go to the front hall first, I will go there later."

The visitor responded and then retreated. Concubine Beijing looked at Shui Rong and said in a clear voice: "If you have something to do, go first. With Keqing here, you don't need to serve me."

A son has a filial piety, and a mother must be considerate.

Shui Rong raised his eyes to look at Concubine Beijing, and seeing the cunning hidden in her eyebrows, he sneered in his heart. He thought that Concubine Beijing thought he was easy to fool, and was afraid that once Shui Rong left, the medicine would disappear.

As for Keqing, do you think someone like her who has hidden secrets would expose the little tricks of Concubine Beijing? I'm afraid the two mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are conspiring to fool him.

So Shui Rong stirred the jade bowl with a spoon to cool the medicine down, and said with a smile, "It's okay. I guess it's because the Ministry of Revenue is asking for the money owed. Let me serve you the medicine first. There's no need to rush."

Shui Rong would not feel at ease unless he saw the Dowager Concubine Beijing drink the medicine with his own eyes. The Dowager Concubine Beijing should not try any tricks. As for the Feng family father and son coming to visit, it was just to urge the payment of the outstanding silver. There was no need to rush.

Upon hearing this, Concubine Beijing glanced at Shui Rong, and was helpless about the dangerous Guai'er in front of her. Although there was a sense of coercion, Concubine Beijing did not blame him in her heart, and even felt warm. After all, this was also Guai'er's filial piety.

After taking another sip of the medicine, the exquisite face of Concubine Beijing suddenly became tense. Seeing this, Keqing thoughtfully handed her candied fruit, which made Concubine Beijing feel relieved. Her son is filial and her daughter-in-law is considerate. Isn't this the ideal "old age" life?

After a while, Concubine Beijing remembered the debt Shui Rong mentioned. She couldn't help but glare at Shui Rong and said with a hint of resentment, "The debt is not our family's business. You took the initiative to pay the debt first."

When the Ministry of Revenue came, Shui Rong took the lead in paying the owed silver. He originally planned to use the silver he earned himself, but thinking that the purpose was to use the Beijing Prince's Palace as a model, he withdrew the silver from the palace.

Shui Rong listened to what the Beijing Concubine said about it not being a family matter, and he understood in his heart that the reason why it was so difficult to collect the debts owed by the Ministry of Revenue was that, after all, the princes and nobles in the capital had reached a private agreement, and the Beijing Palace, as the top one in the capital, was naturally among them.

But we cannot just look at the surface of this matter. Shui Rong thinks that the attitude of Concubine Beijing is very unwise. The Beijing Prince's Mansion seems to be following the trend, but once the payment is demanded, the first to bear the brunt will be the Beijing Prince's Mansion, which has attracted much attention. If you think about it carefully, it is like being used as a target, which is not a good thing for the Beijing Prince's Mansion.

Shui Rong couldn't be blamed for this. After all, women of this era mostly focused on the backyard and paid less attention to things outside. It was understandable. It was the case that women with long hair had little knowledge.

Thinking of this, Shui Rong said seriously: "It is only natural to pay back debts, and it is not a good thing to keep delaying."

Hearing this, Concubine Beijing sighed and said leisurely, "Brother Rong, I am not blaming you. You are the master of the palace, and the money in the palace is originally yours. You have the final say on how to withdraw it. However, the palace has suddenly spent 50,000 taels, and we will have to live a tight life next year.

Shui Rong looked at the slightly sad face of Concubine Beijing and understood in his heart that the palace originally had only 20,000 to 30,000 taels of silver in cash, but as the end of the year approached, the interest from various manors and shops began to flow into the palace one after another, so when the time came to pay the debt, the palace had enough cash to repay it.

However, all that cash was to be used for the palace's food expenses for the coming year, as well as the regular pay for maids and servants. Now that the arrears have been paid, the palace is short of cash, and there will definitely be a fiscal deficit next year. It is normal for Concubine Dowager Beijing to be worried.

Thinking of this, Shui Rong comforted her, "Mother, don't worry about the money. I can handle it and it won't bring shame to the palace."

He has a business that makes a lot of money every day, so how could he not be able to maintain the finances of the palace? He is confident and has a strong backbone.

Concubine Beijing was not happy to hear that. She knew Shui Rong's situation very well. How could she do anything? She could only rely on her own salary. She had originally hoped that Shui Rong's double salary could reduce the finances of the palace, but now it seemed that she could only live a "tight" life. If it really didn't work out, there were many things in the warehouse that were squeezed out, so she could just pawn a few of them. But she must not let anyone know, otherwise it would lose the dignity of the palace.

Shui Rong didn't say much when seeing this. It was better not to let Concubine Beijing know about the affairs of the guild hall, otherwise she would definitely say something. Well, let Concubine Beijing live her own peaceful life in confusion. Isn't it good for a mother to be loving and her son to be filial?

PS: Regarding the readers' request to write about the characters in Dream of the Red Chamber as soon as possible, the author actually wants to do so as well. However, since the protagonist is not from the Jia family, there has to be a suitable entry point if I want to write about the Jia family. There is nothing I can do about it. But don't worry, the foreshadowing has been almost done, and we are almost at the stage of the plot related to the Jia family. Feel free to give any suggestions.

I would also like to add that since this is a fan fiction of A Dream of Red Mansions, there will definitely be more garden scenes and court affairs. The author’s writing skills are not good enough, so just bear with it!

Chapter 53: Removing the Branches and Leaving the Trunk

Prince Beijing's Palace, front hall.