Chapter 783 Xue Baoqin: It’s all thanks to Brother Heng this time
Guangdong, Panyu
Listening to Jia Heng's questioning, the expression on Guangdong General Wu Tao's chubby face kept changing, and he looked unkindly at the scribe aside.
At this time, Xue Baoqin's face as white as snow showed excitement, his bright eyes flashed, and he agreed: "This gentleman is right, they are just taking the opportunity to extort money."
This person is absolutely right. People like the Guangdong Navy Navy did this intentionally.
Jia Heng looked at Xue Baoqin with gentle eyes, nodded, and asked, "Are you from the Xue family in Jinling?"
The Xue Baoqin in front of me does not have the facial features of a Western beauty, but her facial features are vaguely similar to Baochai's. She is wearing a bright red dress, of medium height, with delicate and picturesque eyebrows, especially her cheeks are almost pink.
Hearing the four words "Jinling Xue Family", Xue Baoqin's heart was shocked. He stared at it with surprise in his moist apricot eyes, and asked: "How does this sir know?"
At this moment, Wu Tao also understood. The Xue family where the girl in front of him seemed to be an in-law of the Jia family?
Damn it, the Wu family also has an old relationship with the Jia family. Isn't this the same family? If you had known it was the Xue family's ship, why would you have it impounded?
A smile appeared on Wu Tao's chubby face and he said: "Uncle Yong Ning, look at it, this is really a flood that has washed away the Dragon King Temple. One family no longer recognizes the other."
As he said that, he looked at the scribe on the side, his face turned gloomy, and said: "Why don't you return Miss Xue's ship and goods as soon as possible and apologize to her?"
The clerk responded as if he had been granted a general pardon, and then apologized to Xue Baoqin.
Wu Tao put a smile on his face, looked at Xue Baoqin, and said: "This is Uncle Yongning, the patriarch of the Jia family. I wonder which room of the Xue family in Jinling you belong to?"
At this time, Xue Baoqin also understood what several people were saying, and was surprised. He turned to look at Jia Heng and asked, "Are you Uncle Yong Ning?"
Along the way, she heard her father mention many times that the Jia clan had recently produced an extraordinary brother. He was awarded the title of earl due to his military achievements and was also the minister of military aircraft. She originally thought that she would not see him until she arrived in Shenjing, but she didn't want to see him now.
We arrived in Guangdong and just met.
Xue Baoqin couldn't help but look at the young man opposite. He saw that he was tall and tall, with a handsome face. He was dressed in a vermilion python suit and wore a mountain-shaped wingless crown on his head. His eyes were as if there was a divine light hidden in his eyes, and he was holding a hand on his waist.
A sword.
Jia Heng's expression became gentler, and he smiled and asked, "Sister Xue family, where is your father now?"
Xue Baoqin's father's name was Xue Yun. Because the Xue family was an imperial merchant, Xue Yun traveled to various countries in Southeast Asia to collect rare treasures so that he could pass through the Ministry of Internal Affairs. As a merchant, he traveled all over the country to do business.
According to the original records, Xue Baoqin followed Xue's father to many countries and gained more knowledge. Xue Xiaomei wrote ten poems about nostalgia for the past.
Jia Heng looked at the girl whose facial features resembled Baochai's, with green feathers and thin eyebrows, moist apricot eyes, and pink cheeks.
I secretly said that there was indeed a problem with the casting of the 1987 version of Dream of Red Mansions in the previous life, or there was a deviation in the understanding of Bao Qin, the original character.
Even considering Baochai's face, Mingyue shouldn't be given that kind of Western makeup. Unless Xue's father married a Western woman, what happened to Xue Biao?
"Father, he is staying at the inn in the county town. Because the ship was impounded by these officials, the housekeeper and I came over to take a look." Xue Baoqin's eyes showed joy and he said softly: "Are you Brother Heng? Father has often mentioned Brother Heng recently."
Jia Heng smiled slightly and said, "Sister Xue, I'll go visit Uncle Xue later."
At this moment, seeing Jia Heng talking to the little girl of the Xue family, Wu Tao took over the conversation and said: "The second master of the Xue family is also in Panyu City. My niece wrote a letter like this before, or sent someone to my house to say that it's over.
This kind of thing will never happen again. The flood really washed away the Dragon King Temple, and the whole family no longer recognized each other as one family."
At this time, the clerk ran over panting and said: "Sir, the ships and cargo have been spared."
Wu Tao ignored the scribe, but looked at Xue Baoqin and said with a smile: "If there is any damage or loss, just tell me and let them double the compensation."
Jia Heng looked at Wu Tao and thought to himself, this Wu Tao is indeed good at getting things done, or in other words, in the original work, the Wu family is just like this to please the Jia family.
Jia Heng suppressed his thoughts, looked at Xue Baoqin, and said: "Sister Xue, I have something to do here, so I can't accompany you to pick up the boat. If you have any questions, send someone to find me."
Xue Baoqin saw a smile on his face and said hurriedly: "Brother Heng, go and get busy first. I'll get the ship and cargo and come find Brother Heng."
Jia Heng turned to look at Chen Xiao who was standing aside, and said, "Xiao Qianhu, you accompany her to collect the ship and cargo, and go to the posthouse to rest first."
Chen Xiao nodded, cupped his hands, said nothing else, and then went to look for Xue Baoqin. Jia Heng's face was silent, speechless for a moment.
Wu Tao laughed along and said: "Uncle Yong Ning, this is really a misunderstanding, but it is a coincidence that we met the old Xue family."
Jia Heng pondered for a moment and said: "Whether it is a misunderstanding or a coincidence, General Wu and the Guangdong Navy should not extort merchants like this. If they fall into the eyes of Nanyang foreign countries, it will also damage the dignity of our great Han Dynasty and the saintliness of the emperor. This will not happen again."
"
When Wu Tao heard this, he breathed a sigh of relief and said quickly: "Yes, yes, I will keep this in mind."
Jia Heng glanced at the sky and said, "Let's go have lunch together. It's getting dark by now."
He didn't pursue him too hard. After having lunch with Wu Tao, Jia Heng led his retinue to the post house, preparing to inspect the Guangdong Navy in the afternoon.
And in the post house--
Xue Baoqin and his brother Xue Biao had finished lunch and were talking.
It turned out that Xue Biao, who was going to the drug store to grab medicine, heard the servant mention that his sister Bao Qin and the steward Ning Bo were going to the anti-smuggling officer's office of the Guangdong Navy. Worried about something happening, they quickly led people to look for Bao Qin. They didn't want to meet Jin Yi on the way.
My sister who was escorted by the palace guards.
The brother and sister met, briefly talked about what happened, and then followed Chen Xiao to the post house.
Xue Biao is a gentle and elegant young man, fourteen years old, with a handsome face and a simple blue shirt. He is still talking about his sister in a low voice, saying in a low voice: "Why is my sister so arrogant and arguing with those officials? She was framed by the gangsters.
It will be even more troublesome if he is imprisoned for the crime."
Xue Baoqin didn't care on his face and said softly: "Brother, the sky is clear and the sun is bright. They don't dare to mess around. Besides, if I don't go, I won't meet Brother Heng in the Guangdong Sea."
Xue Biao sighed softly and said: "I can't help you. In short, you can't be so reckless next time."
My sister has always had her own opinions. Sometimes her father is willing to ask her for her opinion, but he can't persuade her.
Chen Xiao was sitting aside, sipping tea, flipping through a volume of information in his hand, and listening to the conversation between the Xue brothers and sisters.
This pair of Xue brothers and sisters are much smarter than the pair in Beijing. Xue Biao said: "When you saw Brother Heng, what did Brother Heng say?"
Baoqin put down the teacup and said softly: "Brother Heng had a few words with the Guangdong general, and said that the imperial court had always said that passenger ships would be banned and the goods would be seized, and the ships were released not long after."
"This is the time we met Brother Heng. I don't think I can talk to him so nicely." Xue Biao whispered. Bao Qin nodded, and couldn't help but think of the boy in the python suit just now. Brother Heng didn't seem to be older than her.
How much?
At this moment, the uniformed servant under the eaves of the corridor said loudly: "The governor has arrived."
The two brothers and sisters who were waiting anxiously in the house were perked up after hearing this, and they quickly stood up and headed out of the courtyard to greet them.
In the courtyard, a young man in python clothing, accompanied by a group of royal guards in royal robes, walked down the steps of the second door and followed the path paved with blue bricks to the courtyard.
Xue Biao immediately walked a few steps quickly, bowed his hands towards Jia Heng, and said with a respectful expression, "Xue Biao has met my brother."
"Brother, you're back." Xue Baoqin also came over to salute, but compared to Xue Biao, this girl was a little more reserved. This girl with fair skin and moist apricot eyes spoke in a more friendly and natural tone, curiously looking at the python suit opposite her.
juvenile.
Jia Heng first cast his eyes on Xue Biao, and in Baoyu's words, "He looks like sister Bao's biological brother.
At first glance, he is indeed elegant in demeanor and has delicate features.
He was wearing a slightly thin blue shirt, and his hair was fixed with a wooden hairpin. He had a handsome appearance and a temperament as gentle as jade.
Jia Heng quickly reached out to support him and said with a smile: "No need to be too polite. When I was in Beijing, my aunt often mentioned that there is a nephew in the family who likes to read and is polite to others. I can see it today."
Counting from Baochai's side, Xue Biao can also be regarded as his brother-in-law. If he is worthy of training, he may be taken as his own.
As he ascended to a high position, the problems of his shallow foundation and lack of manpower were also exposed, and the young children of the Xue family could be cultivated as long as they were useful.
Under Xue Baoqin's curved eyebrows, her moist starry eyes looked at the boy in the python suit with sparkling eyes.
Seeing that the high-ranking "cousin" opposite had an enthusiastic attitude and no pretense, Xue Biao's nervousness was relieved a lot, and he said humbly: "I don't dare to praise my brother. I don't know. Auntie, she is in Beijing with her brother and sister.
How is it?"
When the Xue family of three arrived in Beijing in their middle years, the letter had been sent to Xue Yun of Nan Province earlier. Jia Heng smiled and said, "Everything is fine."
It's hard to say that Xue Pan is already in prison, but actually he's fine in prison now.
Jia Heng said: "Okay, let's go into the room and tell me. Sister Baoqin told me what happened just now." After that, he and his brother and sister sat down in the flower hall.
Under Xue Baoqin's beautiful eyebrows, her apricot eyes blinked, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of suspicion in her heart.
No? It seems that she didn't tell Brother Heng her maiden name just now? Could it be that her aunt in Beijing told Brother Heng?
The two parties were seated separately.
Xue Biao sighed and said, "I have walked this route in the past, but I didn't expect to encounter something like this. My father even fell ill because of it."
Hearing this, Jia Heng put down the tea cup and asked with concern: "Have you ever invited a doctor? Is it urgent or not?"
Xue Biao said: "Brother, thank you for your trouble. I have asked the doctor to take a look. He said that it was a sudden attack on the heart. There is nothing else serious. I just took a few medicines."
"That's good." Jia Heng said softly and asked, "What's going on?"
"The ship was detained by the officers and soldiers, and all the goods on the ship were confiscated. Many travelers traveling with me have been talking about this in the past few days. My father rented a ship from a local friend. He originally came to redeem the ship with some money, but he didn't want me to
While she was on her way to pick up the medicine, she went straight to the Guangdong Navy Navy's official office at the port." Xue Biao explained.
Jia Heng glanced at the girl with fair complexion and energetic spirit, secretly said "Hu Niu", pondered for a moment, and said with relief: "The Guangdong Navy just said that the ships and cargo will be released, and nothing will happen."
Xue Biaomu said with gratitude: "Thanks to my brother. If my sister had not met my brother, I really don't know how much effort it would have taken."
"General Wu Tao of the Guangdong Sea was once a general in the Rongguo Mansion and had a close relationship with our family. My uncle had written a letter like this before, or visited him with a famous assassination. I thought he would not be disrespectful." Jia Heng chuckled.
After pausing, he looked at Baoqin and said, "My sister is really brave. She led her family to get the boat."
Of course, the relationship between people and people is somewhat tortuous, and the brother and sister may not be able to realize it in their eagerness.
After Jia Heng said this, a faint blush appeared on Xue Baoqin's white cheeks. He was obviously a little embarrassed and said: "Father, he fell ill and we were so angry that we didn't think so much."
Jia Heng nodded and said with a smile: "Forget it this time. Sister Baoqin should not be so reckless next time. People in the government are used to being arrogant and sometimes it is difficult to deal with."
The first impression this Baoqin gave him was that of a tiger. Perhaps it was also because he followed Xue's father to travel all over the country, traveled around the country, and interacted with many people, gradually developing a cheerful and fearless temperament.
Hearing this, Xue Baoqin became even more shy, lowered his head, and whispered: "Brother Heng, my brother was still talking about me just now. It's all thanks to Brother Heng this time."
Jia Heng's eyes were warm, he changed the topic and asked: "You brothers and sisters, take me over to see my uncle."
Xue's father fell ill here. As the head of the Jia family of his in-laws' house, he had to ignore it and went to visit him no matter what, in order to comply with the etiquette between relatives.
"Brother, come with me." Xue Biao said softly with grateful eyes.
While talking, Jia Heng, accompanied by Xue Biao and Xue Baoqin, led the Jinyi Palace Guards to an inn called "Tianya" in Panyu County.
Not long after the trip, a large group of people came to the inn. The innkeeper was fiddling with his abacus behind the counter. I heard that the waiter was in a panic and said that the official in uniform was coming.
The shopkeeper looked at the group of handsome and angry guards who came in. His face turned pale with fright, and he thought he had committed something. He said in a trembling voice: "Several adults, they are responsible for running a small shop. They have never been like girls."
It's a crime, I don't know..."
Jia Heng's voice was gentle and he said comfortingly: "There is no need to panic, shopkeeper. I am just here to find a friend and have no official duties."
After saying that, he waved his hand and asked Li Shu of the Hundred Households in Jinyi to lead a dozen or so guards in Jinyi to guard the outside. At this time, Xue Biao quickly stepped forward to explain the situation to the shopkeeper, and the shopkeeper nodded doubtfully.
On the second floor of the inn, in the wing room, there is a bed with a mosquito net hanging by the window.
Father Xue is lying on the bed with pillows and quilts. This middle-aged man, who is over forty years old, has a fair complexion and an elegant demeanor. However, he has a sick look on his face and frowns at the moment. He is worried about going to Panyu Weigang.
My own daughter.
Suddenly, I heard the commotion below, and I was about to tell my servant to check the situation. The servant had already entered the side room and said, "Master, there are many royal guards here."
Xue's father's expression suddenly changed, and he said in shock: "Why is Jin Yi Tiqi involved?"
He just brought some goods with him, so why did the Jinyi Palace Guards come to arrest them? Calm down, the Xue family is an imperial merchant, and as long as they go to Southeast Asia to purchase rare treasures for the palace, it shouldn't be a big problem.
No one expected that they would meet relatives of the Jia family in Guangdong, thousands of miles away. The servant said: "Master, that Jinyi Tiqi seems to be a friend of the young master and the young lady."
When Father Xue heard this, his face was stunned for a moment, and then a bright light suddenly flashed in his heart.
Not long after, he saw an upright and calm-looking young man in a python suit entering the wing. Father Xue quickly raised his body with one hand, got off the bed, looked at the young man in a python suit opposite, and tentatively called out: "Uncle Yongning.
?”
Jia Heng hurriedly stepped forward to help him and said with a smile: "Uncle, my family doesn't need to be so polite. If you don't want to abandon me, just call me Ziyu."
Xue's father thought to himself, and sure enough, he couldn't help but look at the young man opposite, and his eyes fell on the faces of Xue Biao and Bao Qin beside him.
Xue Baoqin looked at his father with a worried expression and explained: "Dad, Uncle Ning and I went to Wei Harbor to ask for a ship. We happened to meet Brother Heng. The ship and the goods were already coming back."
Father Xue's face paused slightly, and he couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart. He said reproachfully: "You, you are not afraid of encountering any danger. Fortunately, I met your brother Heng, so nothing happened."
Xue Baoqin's cheeks turned red with embarrassment, she stuck out her tongue and said softly: "Brother Cai said the same thing just now."
Jia Heng listened quietly to the conversation between father and daughter and asked with concern: "Uncle, where are you coming back from? Are you going back to the ancestral home in Jinling?"
"Coming from Zhenzhen Kingdom, I plan to go to Jinling first and then to Shenjing. I want to bring some Western things to send to the old lady in Beijing and Ziyu's house." Father Xue invited Jia
Heng sat down and whispered softly, finally sighing and saying: "I don't want to encounter such a thing."
As he spoke, he sighed.
Jia Heng comforted him and said: "Uncle, the ships and goods have been retrieved. There is no order to be followed to seize the goods on the other side of the Guangdong Sea."
Father Xue nodded, thanked Jia Heng again, and then asked curiously: "Why did Ziyu come to Guangdong if he is not in Beijing?"
Jia Heng was the Yong Ning Bo and the leading military minister. The news had already reached Jinling, and Xue's father also heard Jia Heng's name mentioned in letters from the Xue family and friends in Beijing.
Jia Heng said warmly: "I came over to the Guangdong Sea on business and went to Panyu to inspect ships. I didn't want to run into Sister Baoqin all of a sudden."
Father Xue smiled and said with emotion: "That's really a coincidence."
I secretly sighed at my daughter's good luck. If I hadn't met this important court official from my in-laws' family in Beijing, I'm afraid that the ship would have been impounded, which wouldn't have been easy to solve.
Jia Heng looked at Father Xue, who looked a little weak, and asked with concern: "Uncle, what did the doctor say just now?"
Xue's father said, "The doctor said that he was overworked and had an acute attack on his heart. It would be fine if he took a couple of medicines to recuperate his condition. I have been traveling all year round, and headaches and brain fever are common. These are not big things."
Jia Heng nodded and said: "If anything happens to my uncle, you can send brother Xue Biao to tell me that there should be no outsiders among relatives."
Father Xue nodded heavily, with gratitude in his eyes, and said, "Then there's Lao Ziyu."
In the past letters, whenever I mentioned this Yong Ning Bo, he said that he was one of the best young men of the Jia clan in recent years. He was very similar to Ning and Rong. When I saw him today, he was indeed as magnanimous as he was.
Jia Heng sat and had a conversation, and said with a smile: "It's getting late, uncle, take good care of yourself. I have official duties to deal with later. I've left a few guards in royal robes here. If anything happens, uncle, I'll take care of myself."
Speak to them."
"Ziyu is busy with official duties." Xue's father heard this and said quickly.
Jia Heng nodded, then stood up and headed outside. When he left the inn, it was already afternoon.
At this moment, a horseman came from the end of the street, and a captain in golden clothes got off the saddle, cupped his hands and said: "Captain, Haojing's Bugalu sent an envoy to ask to see the governor."
Carlos, the Bugal Road envoy, originally planned to go to Guangzhou to visit Jia Heng, but after arriving in Panyu, he heard that Jia Heng was inspecting officers and soldiers in the Guangdong Navy. He was overjoyed and diverted to Panyu.
Jia Heng looked silent and said in a deep voice: "Let him go to the post house, I will meet him there." Upon hearing this, the captain in Jinyi bowed his hands.
At this time, Bao Qin who came to see him asked: "Brother Heng, why did the Governor of Haojing Fo Langji come to see Brother Heng?"
The girl had obviously heard the name of Governor Haojing Bujialu, and had even met the family members of Governor Haojing before. After hearing Jin Yi's report, she was filled with surprise.
Xue Biao frowned and said, "Sister."
As he said that, he looked at Jia Heng apologetically and said, "Brother, my sister is reckless and rude, please forgive me."
Jia Heng smiled and said: "Sister Baoqin is innocent and outspoken. It doesn't matter. Besides, they are all relatives."
Bao Qin also looked apologetic and explained: "Brother Heng, I have met the governor's wife and young daughter Nona. I just heard the name, and I was so moved. I hope Brother Heng can forgive me."
Jia Heng's eyes were fixed, but his heart moved slightly, and he smiled and said: "How does my sister know Bugalu's wife and daughter?"
Xue Baoqin said softly: "In the past, when my father was doing business in Haojing, I met Mrs. Hailey and Nona by chance. I even went to their home as a guest."
Xue Biao was a little surprised when he heard what his sister was saying, and asked: "Sister, when did this happen?"
How come he doesn't know?
Xue Baoqin said with a smile on his face: "It was the summer before last. My brother went to help his father transport goods. In Uncle An's shop, he met Ao Du's wife and daughter. They went shopping and the guards called out.
Later, I chatted with Nona for a few words, and then met a few more times and became good friends. Later, I went to her house twice."
The Uncle An whom Xue Baoqin refers to is also a Portuguese, called Andrew. He once formed a friendship with Xue's father during business in Siam, and some of the goods carried by the Xue family into Haojing for sale were all handed over to Andrew.
Sold to the Portuguese.
Jia Heng stared at Xue Baoqin and said with a smile: "I don't want my sister to recognize Bugalu's wife and daughter."
"Brother Heng, why don't you take me to have a look?" Under Xue Baoqin's curved eyebrows, her moist apricot eyes blinked. Because she was worried that Jia Heng would disagree, she quickly explained: "Brother Heng
, I know some of their languages and can translate for Brother Heng."
Jia Heng looked at the girl with fair complexion and plump face, and joked: "Sister, I have to translate it later. If the translation is wrong, it may cause diplomatic disputes."
The Portuguese do not speak English, but speak Portuguese. Of course, the Portuguese nobles and officials must be proficient in English, but when signing leases and memorandums, most of them are in two languages, Chinese and Portuguese.
As for Xue Baoqin, he has a really down-to-earth and generous temperament and is not timid. However, if he is really familiar with the family members of Aodubugalu, maybe it can also play a role in easing the tension?
Seeing that Jia Heng's face was silent and his eyes were thoughtful, Xue Biao said: "Brother Heng, my sister is young and doesn't know the importance. She doesn't know much Yi language."
Nowadays, all the discussions are about the country’s diplomatic affairs. How can my sister participate in it? Xue Baoqin said charmingly: "Brother, don’t underestimate me. I can speak several barbarian dialects?"
Jia Heng smiled at Xue Biao and said warmly: "Sister Baoqin can indeed help me a little. Let me talk to your father when I get back."
Chen Xiao glanced at Xue Baoqin and then at the boy in the python suit, thinking non-stop. Jia Heng said on the side, and returned to the second floor of the inn with Xue Baoqin and planned to talk to Xue's father.
At this time, Xue's father had just drank the boiled herbal medicine and was leaning on the pillow. He was obviously much more energetic. Mainly because he had asked for all the cargo, and his heart felt heavy.
He was holding a copy of the travel notes of his predecessors in his hand and was looking at it. Suddenly he saw Jia Heng and his two children who had left and returned. He looked surprised and said, "Zi Yu didn't go to deal with official business, why?"
Jia Heng simply explained the reason and said: "My uncle will be raised here for a while. Why don't we let brothers Xue Biao and Bao Qin stay by my side to help me with some business matters. If my uncle is not in a hurry,
When things get settled here, we can return to Jinling together."
He probably won't be able to stay here for long, and Father Xue may be able to help him with some matters of purchasing firearms.
Xue's father was so surprised that he turned to look at his daughter and asked doubtfully: "Ziyu is busy with official duties, can the two of them still help you?"
Jia Heng smiled and explained: "During this period, I have to deal with the Hongyi people in Haojing. I heard that sister Baoqin speaks some Hongyi language, and my uncle seems to know a lot about the Hongyi people in Haojing?"
When Xue's father heard this, he suddenly felt enlightened and said with a smile: "I did some business there in the past few years and I know a lot about it. Ziyu also knows that the Guangdong government sometimes sends officers and soldiers to restrict the sea ban, but Tao'er and Baoqin can help Ziyu."
Yu, then you might as well follow Zi Yu first."
Jia Heng nodded, turned to look at Xue Baoqin, smiled and said: "Then there will be sister Lao Baoqin later."
Xue Baoqin's soft voice was charming, and she was filled with joy. She chuckled and said, "Brother Heng, don't worry."
After the matter was settled, Jia Heng left the Tianya Inn without spending much time, and went to the posthouse with Xue Baoqin under the retinue of Jinyi Mansion Guards.