The Red Mansions

Chapter 1512 Jia Heng: Yingchun, he seems not to have visited her

Chapter 1512 Jia Heng: Yingchun, he seems not to have visited her...

Shenjing City

Jia Heng and the two sisters Zhen Lan and Zhen Xi quietly returned to Ningguo Mansion in a carriage.

Zhen Lan nestled her delicate head in the arms of the young man in python robes, her long and narrow eyes slightly closed, as if she was resting, and said in a delicate voice: "Brother Heng, you and Big Sister are too naughty."

She felt that the scene just now was a little dangerous. If the King of Chu's brother-in-law came back halfway, it would be no joke.

Jia Heng gently took Zhen Lan's slender hand and said, "It's a little dangerous. It's not your elder sister who insisted on pestering me."

However, all the resentment he had suffered from the King of Chu was indeed swept away.

Zhen Lan blinked her sharp eyes under her willow-shaped eyebrows and said, "Why did I see it was Brother Heng holding Sister's hand just now? He took the initiative to let Sister serve him?"

Jia Heng looked a little unnatural, and said, "It's something we both agreed on, but you can't say that."

As he spoke, he gently pinched the girl's smooth and silky chin. As he spoke, he suddenly moved closer and held those two slightly sparkling petals in his mouth, taking in the sweet and rich fragrance.

Zhen Lan let out a moan, and the sides of her delicate face seemed to be lightly flushed. Her curved and dense eyelashes gently covered her beautiful eyebrows, as if she was immersed in the intimacy and love of the young man in the python costume.

After a while, Zhen Lanxiu's bright eyes sparkled softly under her beautiful eyebrows. She gently moved the hands of the young man in the python robe who was constantly making trouble and said, "Brother Heng, stop making trouble. Wait until we get home."

Zhen Xi's graceful eyebrows and eyes were as lively as a stream, and her bright eyes seemed to be moistened by soft ripples. Her jade-like cheeks, as soft as water, seemed to have two faint blushes, a charming rosy red.

Jia Heng gently took Zhen Xi's slender hand and said, "Xi'er, come here."

Zhen Xi's face was shy, and there seemed to be a hint of anger in her bright and sparkling eyes.

Brother Heng, really...didn’t you have enough fun with big sister just now?

I saw the rumbling of horse-drawn carriages, rolling over the bluestone-paved streets, while the houses lined up on both sides gradually disappeared into the distance, and the first day of the first lunar month of the first year of Jianxing seemed to be quietly fading away.

……

……

At this moment, in the outer study of Ningguo Mansion, Chen Xiao and Gu Ruoqing were playing chess across an apricot-yellow chessboard, passing by a brocade screen with a rosewood base.

Hearing the footsteps outside, Chen Xiao stood up, turned around, looked at the young man in the python robe, and said, "You're back? What did you say after entering the palace?"

Gu Ruoqing also turned her beautiful head with long black hair and looked at him intently.

Jia Heng nodded, walked closer to the table, and said, "In a few days, there should be some action."

Chen Xiao frowned, a thoughtful look appeared in his eyes, and he asked in surprise: "Why are you so hasty?"

Jia Heng was silent for a moment, then said, "It won't take effect suddenly, but it's a slow-acting poison. From the outside, it won't be a big problem."

Chen Xiao frowned, his eyes gleaming with wisdom, and said, "That's fine too. If he died suddenly, it would definitely cause the government and the public to look around in confusion, and it would cause unrest."

Gu Ruoqing listened to the two people talking, a thoughtful look on his face.

If the new emperor also dies, who will be the next emperor?

Jia Heng said, "Let's not talk about this anymore. I'm going to take a bath."

Chen Xiao rolled his eyes at Jia Heng and thought to himself that he was probably going back to the palace to hang out with that Mopan again.

Jia Heng chatted with Chen Xiao and Gu Ruoqing for a while, and didn't say anything else. He called the maid to prepare hot water for a bath and changed into a simple robe.

At this moment, a maid from the outer room came into the room, bowed to Jia Heng, and said, "My lord, Second Madam Lian sent Miss Ping to invite my lord to go and worship the ancestors."

Jia Heng gathered his thoughts, left the side room, came under the eaves, raised his eyes and saw Ping'er.

Ping'er said softly, "Your Majesty, the old lady has been waiting for quite a while."

Jia Heng said, "I'll be there soon."

While the two were talking, they did not waste any time and went to the Jia Family Ancestral Hall together.

On both sides of the ancestral hall, there are evergreen pines and cypresses, which are lush and green in the winter.

At this moment, the ancestral hall was crowded with men, women, old and young from the Jia family. The male members of the Jia family who held official positions wore official robes of different ranks, while the women wore heavy makeup as if they had been ordered to do so.

Accompanied by Lady Wang and Lady Xing, Lady Jia was dressed in gorgeous clothes, with pearls and jade on her head, and leaning on a cane. She stood under the eaves of the corridor with a kind smile on her face. When she saw Jia Heng, she said in a reproachful tone, "Brother Heng, why did you come back so late? I was waiting for you."

Jia Heng walked quickly to the front, bowed to Lady Jia, and said, "I just went to the palace to see His Majesty. His Majesty stayed for a while to have dinner, so we talked."

Grandmother Jia nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

This is a great favor from the Emperor, not inferior to that of the previous Emperor. It is a good thing.

At this moment, Jia Heng stood in the middle, looking at the portraits of Lords Rong and Ning on the altar in the hall. Although the portraits at this time were more freehand, some simple outlines could be roughly seen.

Because Jia Heng was conferred the title of a prince, it was an honor to the family, and on the altar were the imperial edict conferring the title and the red-lettered certificate.

With the oldest scholar in the Jia family presiding over the ceremony, the ancestor worship ceremony came to an end at 9:00 p.m.

The members of the Jia clan dispersed, and Jia Heng returned to the living room of the Jia family and sat down. He just picked up the teacup, lowered his head to take a sip of the fragrant tea, and thought about the political situation.

At this time, a servant entered the hall and reported to Jia Heng, "Your Highness, there is a man outside who calls himself Xu Kai. He has sent a name card to the mansion and wants to see Your Highness."

It turned out that Xu Kai was an official in Runing Prefecture, Henan Province, and was later transferred to Taiwan as the governor. Many years had passed, and this former Hanlin lecturer had gained considerable experience in the local area.

While Jia Heng was talking, he stood up and left the hall, heading towards the ceremonial gate of Ningguo Mansion. At this moment, he looked at Xu Kai and greeted him, "Brother Xu."

Xu Kai stood up, clasped his fists and bowed to Jia Heng, saying, "Greetings, Prince Wei."

Jia Heng looked at Xu Kai, who was elegant and graceful, and said in a gentle voice, "Brother Xu, long time no see."

Xu Kai raised his eyes to look at Jia Heng and said with emotion: "Prince Wei, after so many years, you are even more charming than before."

After exchanging pleasantries, the two were led into the hall and sat down. The servant served them fragrant tea and then bowed and left.

Xu Kai said: "This time I went to Beijing to report to the Ministry of Personnel and wait for a vacancy."

Jia Heng thought for a moment and asked, "What does the Ministry of Personnel mean?"

"He is probably the successor to the post of Governor of Taiwan, a second-rank official, assisting in civil affairs." Xu Kai calmed down and said, "Mr. Feng has retired and returned to Fuzhou to recuperate."

Because the former governor of Taiwan and former governor of Fujian, Feng Zheng, who was also the nephew of Empress Dowager Feng, was too old and had health problems while in office, so he retired to the court. This gave Xu Kai the opportunity to replace him.

Of course, this is also because Taiwan is a newly conquered land, not a big province.

Jia Heng asked, "What is the recent civil affairs situation in Taiwan and other places?"

"Since the immigrants from Fujian settled here and built a seaport, ships and boats, loaded with commercial goods, have been coming and going frequently." Xu Kai said.

Jia Heng nodded and said, "Taiwan is China's outpost towards the ocean. In the past, pirates occupied Taiwan, which greatly harmed the country's maritime trade. As the governor of Taiwan in the future, you should take good care of the people and escort the country's maritime trade."

Xu Kai nodded, with an inexplicable look in his eyes.

Xu Kai hesitated for a moment, as if he was considering his words, and said, "Prince Wei, I heard that the emperor was furious because of the rebellion of the Wei and Liang clans, so... Is this true?"

Because Xu Kai was an outsider, he didn't know much about the changes in the capital.

Jia Heng nodded and said, "The King of Wei was confused for a moment and actually forced the King of Liang to abdicate and plot treason. I was quite shocked at the time."

Although it was with his instigation that the King of Wei was able to succeed in forcing the emperor to abdicate, Xu Kai obviously cannot be blamed for this.

Xu Kai frowned and remained silent for a while.

Jia Heng said, "The late emperor has already dealt with the rebellion of the Wei and Liang vassals. Besides, the new emperor has already ascended the throne. It is not appropriate for you and I to discuss the final decision."

Now it is the first year of Jianxing. As time goes by, the ups and downs of the Chongping period will gradually be hidden in the mist of history.

While the two were talking, they went to the side hall to chat together.

Xu Kai sat down and said, "Your Highness, I came all the way here. After the new policy was implemented, the local prefectures and counties paid taxes in silver. However, there was a shortage of silver in the local area, so the people often looked for merchants to exchange it. As a result, silver was expensive and grain was cheap, which hurt farmers."

Jia Heng raised his eyes to look at Xu Kai and said, "In this matter, the previous new policy of abolishing the two-yuan system and changing the yuan system to paper money Tongbao in the market may alleviate the problem of the lack of silver in the local tax offices."

Among the many new policies proposed by Jia Heng at the time, abolishing the two-yuan system and changing the yuan system was the national policy that was most difficult to implement, because in the agricultural feudal era, financial means were limited by the technological conditions of the time.

Xu Kai nodded and said, "I don't know about other places, but in Henan, the paper money Tongbao is not widely used."

Jia Heng said in a gentle voice: "In Jiangsu and Zhejiang, it is widely used, and that is also where commerce is prosperous, the gentry is wealthy, and paper money Tongbao is circulated among merchants."

The southeast has been a prosperous place since ancient times, with thriving business, so silver is used more frequently.

Jia Heng nodded and said, "Nowadays, the mining of local gold and silver mines can replenish the relevant silver, make more silver dollars, and alleviate the shortage of silver."

Xu Kai said: "Your Majesty is absolutely right."

Jia Heng said, "After serving as the deputy governor of Henan for another year or two, you can go to the local areas to serve as an inspector. You should transfer and gain experience in the local areas, and then go to the capital in the future, where you will be of great use."

Xu Kai was born into a Hanlin family. After serving as a prefect, he was transferred to the position of deputy governor, which was considered a relatively fast promotion. He was then transferred to the position of provincial governor, and it would be natural for him to be promoted to governor in the future.

In the future, when he is in power, he will bring Xu Kai to the cabinet.

Xu Kai nodded, and the two chatted for a while.

Xu Kai said goodbye, Jia Heng watched Xu Kai leave, stood silently for a long time, and planned to go to Nuanxiangwu to see Xichun.

Grand View Garden, Nuanxiangwu

The courtyard is filled with red Polygonum flowers, the water is clear and the wind is cold. In the evening, the sky is dim, but the lights in the rooms are on early, and from a distance, there is a warm home atmosphere.

Behind a hanging blood-red felt curtain, a warm fragrance wafted across one's face, refreshing one's heart. Xichun, wearing a light red long dress, sat behind a desk. Her wrists were as white as snow, and she was holding a brush, painting on rice paper.

In the sunlight shining through the window, the girl's gentle and graceful face occasionally revealed a hint of shame and annoyance. It was obvious that she was in a state of confusion and had difficulty putting pen to paper.

Xichun sighed softly, placed the paintbrush in her hand on the pen holder, her beautiful eyes slightly sparkling.

Ever since Brother Heng was intimate with her that day, she has never seen him come to Nuanxiangwu again, and she doesn't know what happened.

For a young girl who has reached the age of marriage, this is the time when she is in love. The confirmation from Jia Heng has already made Xichun feel emotional and worried.

The girl painted for a while, but she felt uneasy. She sat down, a look of melancholy on her pretty face, and she was filled with resentment.

Since that day, Brother Heng hasn't come to see her for a few days.

The maid Ruhua was sitting on a soft couch under the window, sewing the soles of her shoes.

However, at this moment, Jia Heng's voice sounded from outside the corridor: "Is the fourth sister in the room?"

Xichun was daydreaming when she suddenly heard the voice of her beloved lover. She turned her head and looked at him with an inexplicable joy on her face. She called out in a low voice, "Brother Heng."

As they were talking, the sound of footsteps was heard and Jia Heng came quickly from outside.

Xichun raised her eyebrows, and an inexplicable joy surged in her heart. She asked, "Brother Heng, why are you here?"

Jia Heng walked quickly forward, looked at the young Xichun, his eyes were warm and gentle, and said with a smile: "Come and see you, Fourth Sister is painting again."

The cold little girl from the past now has a little more smile on her face.

Xichun's face was bright and beautiful. She pursed her lips and said, "It's okay to be alone in the room."

Jia Heng nodded and asked, "Why didn't you go play with your sister Lin and sister Xue?"

Xichun said: "There is no past."

Jia Heng came forward and immediately grabbed Xichun's slender hand. He held it in his hand. The hand was soft and smooth. He whispered, "Fourth sister, it's so cold today. Are you cold?"

Xichun's jade-white face suddenly flushed with two faint blushes. With her eyebrows drooping, she said in a trembling voice, "Brother Heng, I'm not cold."

Brother Heng, just hold my hand as soon as you come over.

Immediately, the girl felt her delicate body being suddenly brought into the boy's arms, and their breaths were similar.

Xichun's heart couldn't help but beat wildly, and half of her body seemed to be softened.

Jia Heng nodded and said softly, "Fourth sister, let's go over there and talk."

As he spoke, he pulled Xichun's delicate hand over, came to sit on the chair behind the desk, and said, "Is this a painting of a snowy garden?"

Xichun's eyebrows were curved like black ink, her bright eyes were shining, and she said softly, "Brother Heng, it snowed the day before yesterday. I walked around the garden and saw the beautiful snow scene, so I painted a picture."

Jia Heng chuckled, held the beauty's slender hand, and said, "Sister, you are becoming more elegant and graceful."

As he spoke, he gently pinched the little lotus that had just shown its pointed corners at Xichun's collar, and suddenly felt the soft and elastic tenderness between his palms and fingers, moving back and forth inch by inch.

Xichun's delicate and graceful body trembled violently, her gentle and graceful eyebrows drooped, and her bright eyes, as bright as rainbows, were filled with a hint of shyness.

Jia Heng nodded, leaned close to her ear, and whispered softly, "Fourth sister, have you missed me these days?"

Xichun felt the heat and wetness beside her ears, and a sense of shock surged in her heart. Her face flushed, and she said in a daze, "I do."

Jia Heng listened to the girl's coy words, turned Xichun's thin shoulders, and now looked into the girl's eyes. He met her shy eyes and called softly, "Fourth sister."

Xichun's eyebrows were curved, her eyes were as bright as water, and she said in a trembling voice: "Brother Heng, um~"

But the young man in the python costume suddenly came closer, and a warm breath rushed towards him, as if drowning him like a river.

Xichun's face flushed, her curved and dense eyelashes trembled slightly, and her delicate and graceful body had become half soft, like a ball of mud.

Xichun's maid Ruhua, with a blushing face, had already left the room and walked toward the outer room, where she stood at the door.

Jia Heng gently put his arm around Xichun's slender shoulders, feeling the girl's heart beating, and a sense of love welled up in his heart.

After a while, Xichun's fair face turned red, her tender pink lips were slightly soft and moist, her bright eyes were sparkling, and she looked shyly at the young man in the python costume.

Jia Heng looked solemn at this moment, and quietly looked at that bright and beautiful face, and said in a trembling voice: "Fourth sister."

Xichun said in a scolding tone, feeling both happy and ashamed, she said in a trembling voice: "Brother Heng only knows how to bully people."

As soon as he came over, he knew he was flirting with her.

Jia Heng said dimly, "Then I won't bully Fourth Sister next time."

Xichun: "..."

Did she mean it?

But a warm breath came to her nose and hit Xichun's face all of a sudden. Immediately, a light blush appeared on both sides of her fragrant and fair face.

Jia Heng gently embraced Xichun's slender shoulders, and pinched the girl's smooth and round chin. When he looked into her soft and bright eyes, he couldn't help but feel a little fond of her.

Immediately, he moved closer again.

I felt the rich fragrance coming over me, so soft and mellow.

Xichun's curved eyelashes trembled, and when she lowered her eyes, she saw the young man in the python costume attached to her clothes, rolling around in the fragrance of rouge and powder. The girl's face was flushed, and she said in a trembling voice: "Brother Heng..."

Immediately, the girl's delicate body trembled slightly, and mist could be vaguely seen in her bright eyes under her willow-leaf eyebrows. She reached out and gently hugged Xichun's shoulders.

The girl raised her delicate head slightly and stretched her slender neck, like a swan.

After an unknown amount of time, Jia Heng looked at Xichun, whose cheeks were already red all the way to her earlobes, and asked, "Did the old lady send anyone to mention your marriage?"

Xichun's face was flushed, and her voice was full of tenderness and charm as she said, "I'm in the East Palace, and my marriage was originally decided by Brother Heng."

After a moment, Jia Heng looked at Xichun with a twinkling gaze from under his sword-like eyebrows, and said, "Fourth sister, I will come over to accompany you more during this period of time."

Xichun uttered a "hmm", her beautiful face flushed red, and in her heart, she felt both embarrassed and annoyed, yet inexplicably happy.

Duoduo comes over and flirts with her, right?

Jia Heng thought for a moment and said, "Okay, wait a few years, and I won't let my fourth sister be without a name or status."

Since he is not a member of the Jia family, when he returns to his ancestral home in the future, Yuan Ying and Tan Xi will give him a status.

Well, Yingchun, he doesn’t seem to have gone to see her.

When Xichun heard what Jia Heng said, her delicate body trembled violently. Her bright eyes blinked under her fine eyebrows, and her heart was in turmoil.

Status? How could she and him be legitimate?

Even if he was a prince, it was impossible for him to give her a title.

Thinking of this, the girl felt a sense of loss.

Jia Heng pinched the girl's chubby face and said with a smile, "Well, you will know in the future."

Xichun suppressed her surprise and gently straightened her messy clothes. Her beautiful face seemed to be covered with a layer of blush, which became even more beautiful under the light. She said, "Brother Heng, it's getting dark."

Jia Heng had a warm expression on his face. He put his arm around Xichun's shoulders and said with a chuckle, "Then let's have dinner together. We're both a little hungry now."

Xichun responded softly, her heart filled with joy.