The Red Mansions

Chapter 469 Concubine Duanrong: You know better than anyone else

Chapter 469 Concubine Duanrong: You know better than anyone else...

Hall of Martial Arts, West Pavilion

Seeing Princess Xianning making the bed and folding the quilt, Jia Heng had to get up, with a troubled expression on his face, and said, "Your Highness, how can this be done?"

At this time, Princess Xianning turned her head and looked at Jia Heng with bright and clear eyes, with a cold smile on her face, and said: "Sir, there is no need to do this, you should read the official documents first."

With that said, he got busy.

This princess was originally tall and slim, with slender legs, but she bent her waist slightly at this moment, as expected of a long-term dance practice, with a graceful figure and exquisite curves, her hands were stretched out, and the sheet "swept" and spread on the quilt superior.

The quilt was relatively large, so the girl tucked the quilt under the quilt, then took the pillow from the female officer's hand, put it on the head of the bed, and then smoothed the bed sheet back and forth with her jade hands, her movements were clean and neat, without any muddle.

Following the movement, the pearl hairpin pinned between the temples swayed slightly.

Jia Heng frowned and said, "Your Highness..."

Princess Xianning smiled and said, "Mister, do you think that in the palace, I don't work hard, don't know the five grains, boss me around, and are savage and arrogant?"

Jia Heng raised his eyes and looked at the pretty girl with beautiful eyebrows. Because of the lights, his icy skin and smooth face had soft lines. His eyes lingered on the tear mole on the corner of her eye. No such intention."

"When I first met you outside the city of Shenjing, sir, I'm afraid that's what you thought?" Princess Xianning stared at Jia Heng unwaveringly under her narrow and long phoenix eyes under her slender eyebrows.

I remember the first time I saw him, I felt that there was an unyielding arrogance hidden in the brows of the person in front of me, which left a deep impression on her, so what I said just now seemed like yesterday, and it was not a polite compliment.

Jia Heng was silent for a while, and said: "Your Highness is serious."

"Mr. has beautiful things in his heart, and he has good plans in his belly. At that time, Xianning didn't know about Mr.." Princess Xianning's clear phoenix eyes were shining, and her voice was clear, like broken jade falling on a porcelain plate, which was pleasant to the ear.

Jia Heng said: "Your Highness knows the book well, but Jia didn't know His Highness at that time."

When Princess Xianning heard the words, Yu Rong paused for a moment, suddenly felt a little ashamed for some reason.

Princess Xianning was silent for a moment, changed the subject, and said solemnly: "The princess of the Han Dynasty is no better than the former Ming Dynasty. There are often those who pamper you, and those who are arrogant and lawless are rare. As for this palace, I am not spoiled and spoiled. I am usually busy with my own work. What is my life's wish, I also imitated Princess Pingyang of the Tang Dynasty, who was able to fight outside and share the worries of her father, so she learned archery since she was a child, and she often showed her face in public. There is a Xia Houying in Chanyue's family, do you still know him?"

Jia Heng was thinking about these words, he was startled when he heard the words, nodded his head and said: "I know, I'm not very familiar."

Xia Houying is the bodyguard next to the eldest princess of Jinyang, and she is in command of Jinyi Mansion.

"I have been taught sword skills by her, and I have also practiced for two or three years. Although I dare not compare with the master's fast swords in the past, I also think that I am not a weak woman who has no power to restrain a chicken. It is just a pity that there is no place for her to use her skills." .” While Princess Xianning was speaking, there was a gloomy look on her pretty face.

Jia Heng said: "His Royal Highness doesn't like red makeup but arms, which really surprises me."

He really didn't know much about Princess Xianning before. His impression of this princess was that she could ride a horse and draw a bow, and she could dance.

Princess Xianning sighed: "But the world is too difficult for women. Although I often read military books and war strategies, I can't understand it, and there are no good generals who can teach me. Speaking of it, my master's Three Kingdoms is easy to understand. , study it often.”

She has a cousin, who is the daughter of Uncle Zhou, she played with her when she was young, and she was fascinated by it, but later...

Jia Heng looked at Princess Xianning and saw the ecstasy on the girl's face, and felt a little bit sentimental for a moment, if it wasn't for her daughter, maybe there would be nothing wrong with King Wei, right?

As for the eighth son of the emperor, Chen Ze, he seemed to be born with intelligence, brilliance and wisdom, but what kind of character is the noble concubine Duan Rong who has raised a pair of children?

Ok?

Jia Heng hurriedly dispersed some chaotic thoughts, and asked: "Your Highness originally wanted to be a female general, does the Holy Majesty know His Highness's ambition?"

Princess Xianning smiled lightly and said: "I know it, my father encouraged me, and I couldn't help my brother Sanhuang and I were enthusiastic about martial arts, but my mother and concubine didn't think so."

Waiting a year or two to get engaged, these can only be imagined in a dream.

Jia Heng nodded and said: "Your Highness has such a heart, the Holy Majesty must be pleased. If His Highness is interested, why not go to the Beijing camp to experience it?"

It’s not easy to be a female general. I didn’t say it at the beginning of the founding of the country. The country has been established for a long time. For the sake of the royal family, Princess Xianning is not allowed to be a female general. Not to mention, the sword has no eyes, even if it is scratched a little Erpi can make Concubine Duanrong feel bad.

When Princess Xianning heard the words, her bright eyes shone slightly, and she said, "Sir, are you serious?"

Jia Heng thought for a while, and then said: "When there is a chance, I will talk to the Holy One."

Princess Xianning said happily: "Then, I will remember what you said."

Although he felt that he might not get an answer, it was rare for the person in front of him to have such a heart.

Jia Heng nodded and said no more.

At this time, Zhixia, the female official sent out earlier, has led a group of maids, carrying the quilt and the incense burner. Princess Xianning took the quilt and helped unfold the quilt.

Seeing this, Jia Heng was helpless for a while, so he could only let Princess Xianning take care of it. He sat behind the desk and read a book by the lamp.

And at this moment, Dai Quan entered the dormitory of the West Pavilion, and seeing Princess Xianning's busy scene, he couldn't help being startled, and hurriedly said: "Oh, my little ancestor, why are you still so busy?"

As he said that, he looked at the eunuchs and maids with a gloomy face, and said in a dark voice: "A group of things that have no eyesight, let Your Highness do it?"

Then he looked at Jia Heng, not without complaints, and said: "Master Jia, our family has only been out for a while, why... all this time?"

Jia Heng stood up and was about to explain.

Princess Xianning spoke first: "Eunuch Dai, I don't have anything to do in the palace, so I helped you out. Eunuch Dai doesn't think it's wrong, does it?"

Hearing this, Dai Quan couldn't laugh or cry, he winked at the inner eunuchs and asked them to wait outside.

Jia Heng paused for a moment, this was different from what Princess Xianning said just now as "clumsy", it was because she was worried about implicating the maids and eunuchs, and from this alone, His Highness Xianning has a kind heart.

"Your Highness is a man of heaven, how can you make it?" Dai Quan said with a smile.

Princess Xianning said: "On weekdays, I often come here by myself. It's a habit. There's nothing I can't do."

Hearing this, Dai Quan glanced at Jia Heng, and secretly said, good luck makes people jealous, so it's not good to say anything, or, just out of status, he should remind him when he sees it.

"Okay, I won't bother Mr. Chairman, just don't stay up too late." Princess Xianning finished packing, turned to look at Jia Heng, and said with a smile.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Jia Heng nodded, cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, go slowly."

At this time, Jia Heng took the stack of books that Dai Quan asked the inner prisoner to carry, and began to read them with the light on.

……

……

However, Princess Xianning left the West Pavilion of the Hall of Martial Arts and led the female officials to walk along the corridor in front of the palace. Her slender and tall figure stood out from the rest of the female officials. Said: "I just saw it, don't let it out, did you hear?"

The female officer Zhi Xia lowered her head and replied: "Yes, Your Highness."

At the same time, Dai Quan gave almost the same order.

Princess Xianning returned to the palace where she lived - Shuyu Palace. Before entering the palace, she saw two beauties in luxurious clothes and embellished emerald decorations, sitting and talking to each other under the bright lights in the palace.

Princess Xianning's heart skipped a beat, and she asked the female officer at the side in a low voice, "When did the Queen Mother and Concubine Mother come?"

"When the maid took the quilt, she didn't see it." Zhi Xia whispered.

"En." Princess Xianning breathed a sigh of relief, stepped into the hall, and called: "Mother's Queen, Mother's Concubine."

Empress Song lifted up the hibiscus jade noodles on the face of peach shame and apricot, and asked with a smile: "Zhi'er, have you been sent to the Hall of Martial Arts?"

It turned out that not long after Jia Heng left, Emperor Chongping said a few words to Empress Song, and without staying longer, he went straight back to Daming Palace to review the memorabilia. Empress Song thought about it, and came to the palace where Princess Xianning lived. Every time I meet Concubine Duanrong.

"It has been delivered." Princess Xianning said softly, "The queen mother is so late, why doesn't she rest?"

Empress Song smiled and said: "I can't sleep for a while, so I came to see you, just in time to see your mother and concubine coming, Zhi'er, come and sit."

Princess Xianning let out a "hmm" and sat down quietly.

Concubine Duan Rong glanced at her daughter, this snow-white beauty, her eyebrows and eyes resembled that of Princess Xianning, but there was a little more of the charming charm of a young woman in Huaxin at the corners of her eyes, and the beautiful eyes of Wuzhu Gupan turned to Empress Song, Said softly: "Sister, the lady from the Wang family in Nan'an County, the concubine met yesterday. Although she came from a family of martial arts, she has read poetry and books and talks elegantly. She is indeed a good match for Ran'er."

Generally speaking, daughters of honorable nobles, after genetic optimization through the ages, are often not too ugly, but it's hard to say if they don't read books.

The king of Nan'an County obviously attaches great importance to the education of his daughter. Maybe he has plans for a long time ago, but he doesn't know.

Empress Song nodded, and said with a smile: "However, the matter must be settled, and Ben Gong's heart is also half settled. After that, it will be Wei'er's matter."

As he spoke, he glanced at Princess Xianning and said with a smile, "Speaking of which, Zhi'er is not young anymore, what does my sister think?"

Although she is the lord of the Six Palaces and Zhi'er's aunt, she still has to ask her own sister, the biological mother, for her opinion.

Princess Xianning frowned while listening to the two discussing their own marriage, she felt restless for a while.

Duanrong noble concubine said softly: "Sichuan governor Gao Zhongping's imperial wife, Mrs. Zhou, wrote a letter the day before yesterday, saying that her family's Saburo had reached the age of marriage, so she asked the concubines what they meant. Speaking of which, they were together at the beginning. I grew up, but later the Gao family settled in Sichuan, and the younger generations had less contact with each other, maybe they became a little stranger."

Gao Zhongping, governor of Sichuan, has three sons. The eldest son and the second son are married, while the third son Gao Yong is [-] and still unmarried.

Empress Song smiled, noncommittal, turned to look at Princess Xianning, and asked, "Zhi'er, you are usually generous, and there are no outsiders here, and your mother and concubine are here, what do you think?"

As Wei Wang Chen Ran's marriage is settled, Princess Xianning's marriage proposal will also be raised.

Princess Xianning's jade face was as cold as frost, she shook her head and said: "My mother, my son has never had any other intentions for Gao Jiasanlang. Kuang, I have talked to my mother before. Now that the northern border is not peaceful, my father is worried about it. My son If you marry, you have to marry someone who will share the worries of state affairs for the father and emperor."

"You might as well just call out their names." Concubine Duan Rong said calmly with a slightly cold expression.

In addition to Jia Heng, there are others in the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty.

Princess Xianning blushed slightly, lowered her eyebrows and said, "I don't know what my mother and concubine are talking about."

"You know better than anyone else, but you pretend to be confused." Concubine Duanrong said quietly.

Princess Xianning's heart skipped a beat when she heard the words, her cheeks were hot and she said, "Concubine Mother..."

"Zhi'er, you go back to the bedroom and rest first, I will talk to your concubine mother." Seeing this scene, Empress Song couldn't help laughing.

"The minister there will leave." Princess Xianning got up gracefully, led the female officials, and went to the apse, but after thinking about it, she went back and hid herself behind the beams and pillars, eavesdropping on the conversation between the two.

Empress Song looked at Noble Concubine Duanrong, and said softly, "Sister, Zhier has grown up and has her own ideas."

Concubine Duan Rong frowned and sighed: "What ideas can she have? In the past, whether she went hunting or dancing, she was always at her whim, and I didn't bother to care about her, but now she I'm getting older, and my mind is getting heavier, and I'm holding the Three Kingdoms book every day, and I was in front of the Queen Mother last time... I've heard some gossip in the past two days, and if I let it go like this, I'm afraid that in the future... alas."

Princess Xianning mentioned Jia Heng's Three Kingdoms to Empress Dowager Feng earlier, which naturally fell into Concubine Rong's eyes, and then she asked the female officer about her daughter's situation, and she had some doubts.

"My sister is serious. Although Zhi'er often goes hunting with the noble children, she knows what she knows, and there is Ran'er taking care of her." Queen Song said softly.

It means that he has never exceeded the etiquette, and has never done anything that would damage the face of the royal family.

Concubine Duan Rong sighed, and said, "Sister, you are too used to her."

"I don't have a daughter under my knees, so I do love her more." Empress Song took Concubine Duan Rong's hand, and said with a sweet smile, "Besides, His Majesty has already made an idea about Zhi'er's marriage, so my sister can just relax."

Concubine Duanrong was slightly surprised, and asked: "Sister, what does it mean, Your Majesty already has someone he likes?"

Empress Song nodded.

When Guifei Duan Rong heard the words, her heart moved, and she asked: "Which family is it?"

Empress Song winked at the nuns beside her, and immediately, the maids who were serving on the left and right retreated slowly, moving a little further away.

Empress Song whispered: "Actually, it's the person my sister mentioned earlier. Let me tell my sister in advance. This matter is undecided, so it's not easy to spread it."

"This?" Concubine Duanrong's jade face changed suddenly, her mouth slightly opened, and she said in a low voice: "He is a married man, how can he do it? Unless... someone divorces his wife?"

"It's not about divorce. Your Majesty said there is a way to solve it, but I don't know how to do it." Empress Song frowned and said, "Maybe it's a gift of marriage? But he needs to make great contributions, so wait for a while. It’s not good to spread the word.”

Concubine Duan Rong pursed her pink lips when she heard the words, and while her mind was turning, she somewhat understood her husband's mind and used her daughter to win over important ministers.

For a while, I felt a little uncomfortable.

On the other side, Princess Xianning was listening secretly. Seeing the maid retreating and biting her ears, she knew that she must be talking about a critical point. It was very puzzling, and finally saw that the two stopped talking and could only go back to the bedroom, feeling restless.

……

……

Prince Zhongshun's Mansion, study in the backyard

In front of a mahogany desk, candles were brightly lit. King Zhongshun was behind the desk, buried in his official documents, his old face showing a bit of concentration.

Due to the injury on his buttocks, he has not yet fully recovered, King Zhongshun, who is in charge of the Clan Mansion and the House of Internal Affairs, is basically "working from home" now.

At this moment, a thin figure was reflected from long to short on the screen with the pictures of ladies. Zhou Changshi entered the study room, stood on the tribute carpet from the Persian Kingdom, and said with cupped hands: "Your Majesty, Mr. Pan from the Ministry of Industry and Mr. Luo The doctor came to pay respects to the prince."

King Zhongshun put down his writing brush, rubbed his wrist, and said: "This king thinks that the two of them should come here too, let them come in."

Not long after, Pan Bingyi, the left servant of the Ministry of Industry, and Luo Chengwang, the construction secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, entered the study together, and bowed to King Zhongshun who was sitting on the teacher's chair, and said: "I have seen the prince."

"Sit down." King Zhongshun waved his hand, looked at Pan Bingyi, and asked, "Master Pan, why don't you see Master Lu?"

Pan Bingyi was in his early forties, with a short beard under his chin, and with a smile on his face, he said: "My lord, Lao Lu is not feeling well these days, so let the officials come with you."

King Zhongshun frowned and said, "Bring Zhazi here."

Pan Bingyi took out the letter from the armband and said: "I brought it, please read it, my lord."

On the other side, Luo Chengwang also took out the letter from the armband, handed it over with both hands, and said: "My lord, please check the business letter for the first half of the year."

Generally speaking, why do corrupt officials have such things as account books, because there is an open account and a hidden account, and if there is no accounting, I don't know how much money I have been corrupted.

Supervising the construction of the imperial mausoleum is a large-scale project involving the three government departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Industry, and the Ministry of Households.

The Ministry of Households approved the money to the Ministry of Industry, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Industry undertook the construction. They did not make separate letters for verification.

King Zhongshun took the letter and said: "Let's put it here first, and I will let the accountant make a pair."

Pan Bingyi said: "Now we are short of the share of the household department."

Luo Chengwang, the construction secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, said: "My lord, Mr. Liang has gone to Yangzhou."

"Scholar Qi is not going to Yangzhou, these two will come back soon, and it won't be too late to wait for another month to reconcile and destroy the account." King Zhongshun said in a low voice.

As he said that, he looked at Pan Bingyi and said, "Last time, what is the progress of what this king asked you to do?"

"Go back to your lord, now Jia Zheng has been sent home." Pan Bingyi's expression changed, and he said, "The one who invited the imperial censor to investigate last time was sent away by the subordinate officials."

Zhongshun Wang said: "Where is Qin Ye? This person is now in charge of the repair department, so he should take care of it by the way."

"Qin Ye is old, and he is also under investigation this time, but he has asked for leave, which seems to be his intention to resign." Pan Bingyi said in a low voice.

"Resign?" King Zhongshun's eyes flashed sharply, and he said, "Master Pan, see if you can find any mistakes in him, and it's best to go to prison and ask for punishment."

Jia Amnesty didn't cut him to death with the knife, so naturally he couldn't let go of his hatred, so he chopped the second knife on the son's father-in-law.

Pan Bingyi looked hesitant, and persuaded: "My lord, this son-in-law is the one from the Ningguo Mansion, so it's fine if he is dismissed from office, and if he falls into death again, is it too tight?"

Be a human being and keep a line so that we can meet each other in the future, whether it is Qin Ye or Jia Zheng, if they are all just dismissed from office, then they will try to recover in the future, and now they will be punished to death, and I am afraid they will never stop.

Zhou Changshi smiled and said: "Master Pan is not ignorant, the Jia family is the enemy of our prince, and now it is just taking advantage of Jingcha to take down Qin Ye. Besides, Master Pan did not say last time that the Ministry of Industry Years ago, the account books were not correct, which caused Zhao Ge to get very angry, and it happened to fall on Qin Ye's head, shouldn't this be difficult for Mr. Pan?"

Pan Bingyi's face was uncertain, and he said: "It's not difficult, but the prince, if we attract revenge from the Jia family, we will not end well."

King Zhongshun said coldly: "It's okay, this king is the elder brother of the emperor, where is he going to take revenge? Besides, he is also a grasshopper after autumn, he can't jump far."

Pan Bingyi was helpless for a while, so he could only respond: "My lord, then I will go back and think of a way."

　Happy Mid-Autumn Festival everyone!

(End of this chapter)