The Red Mansion Big Liar

It’s not that he has to be patient and deal with Xue Pan.

However, Jia Zhen's recent series of actions were quite strange. Zhang Yun逸 was afraid of alerting the enemy, so he did not dare to test him with words. Now that he saw that Xue Pan's attitude had changed and heard that he was looking for Jia Zhen, he decided to ask him indirectly to see if he could get any useful information.

Although Aunt Xue had warned him, Xue Pan was still a little angry when he was questioned by Zhang Yunyi. He said angrily, "Who calls you a brother? I thought you were someone I could make friends with, but I didn't expect you to do such sneaky things behind my back!"

Zhang Yunyi felt that something was wrong, so he got off the carriage and asked with a smile, "Tell me, what sneaky things did I do?"

"Still pretending! It's just a little money. Even if you just said you were paying off Brother Zhen's debt, I wouldn't refuse. Why bother playing all this nonsense?"

"What money?"

"What? Have I wronged you? We are all relatives. If you have a problem, just speak it out. Why use the title of King Zhongshun to pressure others?"

After hearing this, Zhang Yun逸 understood.

"Where did you hear this from?"

"What else can you say? Are you blaming both Brother Zhen and Mother?"

Uh……

I originally thought that only Jia Zhen was causing trouble, but unexpectedly Aunt Xue was also involved.

Seeing Xue Pan finished speaking, no longer paying attention to him, and turned to leave, Zhang Yunyi smiled and said, "The innocent are innocent, but since Wenlong said so, do you dare to accompany me to the Zhongshun Palace?"

He knew Xue Pan's character. With this suspicion, he was afraid that he would not want to talk to him more. He still had many doubts and had to ask him for answers. It would be better to provoke him than to persuade him.

"What is there to be afraid of?" Xue Pan stopped when he heard that.

Zhang Yunyi was at ease just now, and he ordered towards the second gate: "Go and ask my sister-in-law to bring the banknotes from Prince Zhongshun's mansion!"

During this period, because of that monk and the Taoist priest, Jia Zhen was not the only one who was delayed.

He took leave for several days in a row and only went to the yamen two days ago. He didn't have time to check the caustic soda revenue for this quarter.

I took this opportunity to send it over, to prove my innocence and to find out some details.

……

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 218 Behind the Scenes

When he heard that he was ordered to get the banknotes and take him to Prince Zhongshun's Palace, no matter how stupid Xue Pan was, he understood that there was another hidden story.

Although he acts impulsively and has bad habits that are hard to change, he is also a straightforward person.

Thinking of what he just said, he couldn't help scratching his head and said embarrassedly: "Could it be that Brother Zhen wronged you? He kept saying that you said it yourself..."

"It's a long story, let's talk about it slowly in the car!"

Zhang Yun逸 was not in a hurry to explain. He waited until Youshi arrived and handed over the silver note before he and Xue Pan got into the car.

Xue Pan had been holding it in for a long time. As soon as he got in the car, he couldn't wait to say, "It was all my fault just now. If there is any misunderstanding, I will explain it to my mother when I get back!"

"Seeing is believing, hearing is not. Wenlong will be able to tell the truth in a moment."

Zhang Yunyi changed the subject and said, "But I'm wondering why he would tell you these irrelevant things."

Xue Pan did not hide anything and told the whole story.

"Then why does Auntie suspect my brother? Did she also hear it from my cousin?"

Xue Pan thought for a while before muttering, "That doesn't seem like it. Whose idea was it that my mother asked me for money..."

Zhang Yun逸 asked about the details of what happened and had a rough idea in his mind.

I guess Aunt Xue became suspicious because I suddenly came up with this excuse and didn't let the Xue family participate in the gift-giving.

He couldn't help but sneer in his heart, thinking that the Xue family was ignorant of the current situation.

Originally, because I was relying on the Xue family's connections, I didn't mind taking them for a share of the profits, but I didn't expect that I would end up with a grudge for a favor.

He pondered for a while, but Xue Pan could no longer bear it.

"I've been talking for so long, what's going on? If Brother Zhen is lying and accusing you, I'm going to go and argue with him right now!"

Zhang Yun逸 naturally knew Xue Pan's character. Once he found out that he was wronged, he would probably go to confront Jia Zhen.

However, he had already prepared a countermeasure so as not to expose his suspicion.

"My cousin didn't lie, but you know that things in the mansion are not the same as before. He has always spent money like water. I did it for his own good, to prevent him from getting used to spending lavishly and spending more than he earned. I made up an excuse, but I didn't expect it to cause such a misunderstanding. I didn't think it through, and I have to trouble Wenlong to help cover it up."

This is not entirely false, it just changes the original intention.

After hearing this, Xue Pan suddenly realized what was going on and felt even more ashamed: "It's my fault. I shouldn't have believed everything I heard and doubted my brother."

"I said it myself, no wonder you misunderstood!"

Zhang Yunyi said this, but then he changed the subject and said, "However, when doing business together, we should trust each other. Now that my concubine is suspicious, there is no need to continue this business cooperation. From now on, we should just go our separate ways and make things clear."

"This..." Xue Pan's face turned pale and blue. He raised his hand and slapped himself twice, saying, "I shouldn't have doubted my brother's character..."

Zhang Yunyi was unmoved and continued to insist, "I'll have to trouble Wenlong to go back and tell his concubine. I won't get involved in the profits of sugar anymore. But to avoid suspicion, there is no need for us to be partners in the caustic soda business."

After all, the Xue family helped to open up the trade route. Although it is dispensable to him now, he has no intention of demolishing the bridge after it has crossed.

However, since he is so ignorant of the current situation, there is no need to indulge him. It is a good opportunity to take advantage of the situation and monopolize the profits of caustic soda.

The production of white sugar is simple. Although the imperial court has a monopoly on it, it cannot resist the temptation of profits.

Just like the smuggling of salt, some people have secretly set up black workshops, which are no longer as profitable as before. The profit in a year is less than the income in a quarter of caustic soda.

I took the opportunity to exchange these two businesses.

He controlled the sales channels, and Zhang Hua was familiar with the routes, so there was really no need to bring the Xue family along and dilute his own profits.

As for Zhang Dehui, if he was willing to serve, Zhang Yun逸 would not mind recruiting him for his own use.

Xue Pan was filled with shame, and he didn't really care about the business, so how could he have any objections?

Of course, the Xue family has no say in this matter.

If Zhang Yunyi did not want to be criticized, and the profit from sugar was becoming increasingly slim, even if he still occupied the land, the Xue family would not have the right to object.

As they were talking, the carriage had already arrived at Prince Zhongshun's palace.

Zhang Yun逸 led Xue Pan out of the car and met the Chief Secretary Zhao Lianggong in the side hall.

The relationship with the King of Qin was originally arranged by him.

"Something happened in the palace recently, which delayed last season's harvest. I would like to trouble Zhao Changshi to pass it on to His Majesty."

As he handed over the banknote, he said, "This is the young master of the Xue family who was originally our partner. Now that we have split up, he also got a share of the money from the past. We should bring him here. Otherwise, it would seem like I am the only one who has taken advantage of this favor."

Although Xue Pan misunderstood him, his evaluation of him saying one thing in front of him and another behind his back was not wrong.

He originally hoped that since he was in the inner court, he would be able to get the upper hand and then win over the Xue family by taking advantage of their own problems.

So that the Xue family would be willing to be driven at will by him.

Since the Xue family is ignorant of the current situation and insists on forcing him to resort to some means, he can only do as they wish.

He couldn't help but sigh in his heart. If everyone was like Jia She, with a simple mind, and could solve the problem as long as the money was in place, why would he have to go to so much trouble?

Therefore, although he did not take it as an offense on the surface, he secretly gave the Xue family some eye drops from time to time.

If soft tactics don't work, try hard tactics. Since they refuse to accept my toast, how can I make them submit to me if I don't drink some penalty wine?

Give him a chance to attack from behind with all his strength.

Zhao Lianggong was the chief historian of Prince Zhongshun's palace. He was entrusted with important tasks by Prince Zhongshun and all the affairs of Prince Qin were handed over to him to arrange. Naturally, he would not be a stupid person.

Zhao Lianggong was involved in arranging the review for the Xue family. This was also the reason why the Xue family was able to enjoy preferential treatment in terms of glass share.

Now, Zhang Yun逸 suddenly came with the Xue family, and mentioned with some hidden meaning that the caustic soda business had been broken up. Seeing Xue Pan's look as if he wanted to find a hole to hide in the ground, he knew clearly what the problem was.

He cupped his hands towards Zhang Yunyi and said knowingly, "Okay, okay! Don't worry, Master Zhang, I will tell the prince!"

Although he also called himself "Prince", he was not the same as Zhang Yun逸's "Prince".

Naturally, Zhang Yun逸 couldn't mention the King of Qin in front of Xue Pan, so he covered it up by saying the prince, while Zhao Lianggong hinted that he would tell King Zhongshun.

They are all foxes with a thousand-year history, so they know the tricks to each other tacitly.

Only Xue Pan, the dull bully, thought that Zhang Yunyi was trying to win favors for his family, and felt increasingly ashamed.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Zhao!"

There were many things that were difficult to say in front of Xue Pan, so Zhang Yun逸 just went through the motions and after finishing his business, he stood up and said goodbye.

"I'll see you off, sir!"

Zhao Lianggong escorted him all the way to the door.

Zhang Yun逸 did his best and taught Xue Pan a set of white lies in the carriage so as to avoid being exposed in front of Jia Zhen.

After arriving at the inner palace, he asked Xier to send Xue Pan back to Rongfu.

……

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 219 Making up for the situation before it is too late

Rong Mansion, the Xue family courtyard in the northeast corner.

Aunt Xue and Baochai have been waiting for a long time.

Because he was not sure whether Jia Zhen's debt collection was instructed by Zhang Yunyi, he asked Xue Pan to find out the truth before leaving.

The two residences were separated by only a wall. Seeing that it was almost noon and he hadn't come back yet, she couldn't help feeling anxious.

Just as he was about to send someone to the East Palace, he saw Xue Pan walking in dejectedly.

Aunt Xue hurried forward and grabbed her son, saying, "My son! What happened?"

She just thought that Xue Pan had an unhappy mood in the East Mansion, so he had this expression, and her heart couldn't help but skip a beat.

"Mom..." Xue Pan wailed upon hearing this, "We have wronged Brother Yi!"

Aunt Xue's heart trembled, and she asked quickly, "What did you wrongly accuse him of? Did Zhen'er tell you something?"

Xue Baochai frowned slightly, her dark eyes suddenly narrowed, and she said in a deep voice: "Brother! Did you meet Brother Yi?"

Aunt Xue was extremely anxious, but she grasped the key point at once.

When Xue Pan spoke up for Zhang Yun逸, he used the word "all", and I'm afraid that his words also included Jia Zhen.

"you do not say!"

When Xue Pan was asked this question, he also started talking.

He recounted how he met Zhang Yunyi in the East Palace in the morning and what happened afterwards.

However, he had no rules to begin with, and he felt ashamed, and Aunt Xue was urging him on, so he would often complain three times for every word he said.

When Aunt Xue heard that Zhang Yun逸 knew that she also suspected him and embezzled money under the name of Prince Zhongshun, she sat down on the kang.

He kept beating his chest and stamping his feet, lamenting, "You evil creature, you really don't have any precautions. Just say it's Zhen Ge'er, how can you say it to his face? Our family has also become suspicious."

Fortunately, Xue Baochai had a clear mind and was able to remain calm. After repeated questioning, she finally figured out what had happened.

"You damned evil creature, you always bring trouble to our family. I am so angry that my heart aches!"

Upon hearing that Zhang Yunyi wanted to cut off ties with her family and no longer be a partner in the caustic soda business, Aunt Xue couldn't help but cover her chest and rubbed the pair of gifts in front of her again and again, squeezing them so hard that they were deformed.

"What should we do? How can we survive in the inner court in the future?"

Xue Baochai's quiet face also revealed a trace of worry. She glanced at the two people who were in a state of dismay, pursed her lips, and said with a forced smile: "Now that things have come to this, it's useless to complain, mother. We should think about how to make up for the loss."

Aunt Xue trembled and lamented, "He has even said that the bridge is the bridge and the road is the road. How can we make up for it?"

Xue Baochai glanced at Xue Pan, thought for a moment, and then said in a deep voice: "Since Brother Yi is still willing to send a car to take my brother back, he probably doesn't mean to blame my brother. The situation can't be too bad!"

"Right, right, right!" Aunt Xue seemed to have just woken up from a dream, and she quickly agreed, "Your brother also believed what Zhen and I said, so it's understandable. I believe Yi didn't vent his anger on him, so there is room for maneuver."

Upon hearing this, Xue Pan felt even more ashamed.

Aunt Xue had already started to think, pointing at Xue Pan, and said, "You are the one who caused this trouble. I will prepare a generous gift for you to give it to him in the evening and apologize sincerely. Don't say anything nonsense this time."

"If I hadn't believed you, how could I have doubted Brother Yi's character? Now I am so ashamed that I don't even have the face to..."

"Don't worry, mother!" Xue Baochai interrupted them and said, "You have to know how to make amends. If you act too hastily, it will only backfire."