Chapter 879 Jia Heng: Not by the plum blossoms, but by the willows
Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall
At this time, Xue Jun led Xue Biao to greet Jia Heng. With a prosperous smile on his elegant face, he said, "Ziyu, I haven't seen you for ten months. How are you doing?"
After arriving in the capital, I heard that the young man in front of me had been awarded a first-class title for his meritorious service. He was also the Minister of Military and Aircraft, and his future was limitless.
Jia Heng's eyes were gentle and he said with a smile: "Uncle, I haven't seen you for a long time."
Now the Xue family is helping him run a business in the south of the Yangtze River, and then transport goods to Nanyang countries to earn profits from maritime trade, and Xue's father is the host and can be said to be his helper.
It's just that Xue's father has not been in good health in recent years. Because he traveled on the sea, traveled to foreign countries, and slept in the open air, the root of the disease fell on him. Mrs. Xue's family suffered from phlegm, so Xue's father inevitably wanted to arrange a marriage for Bao Qin earlier.
.
At this time, Xue Biao also hurriedly approached, with a slightly embarrassed look on his face, and called softly: "I've seen you, brother."
Jia Heng chuckled, took Xue Biao's hand, and said softly: "Brother, you don't have to be so polite."
Baochai, who was sitting next to Aunt Xue, took Baoqin's little hand, held it with two soft and greasy little hands, and said: "Sister, are you cold?"
Bao Qin said: "Sister, I'm not cold."
Why does my sister say the same thing as Brother Heng?
The two sisters chatted about their daily life.
However, Baochai's eyes were wandering, and from time to time she would cast her gaze on the young man wearing a python suit and a black crown. He could not suppress the feeling of pride deep in his heart.
Bao Qin also peeked at the young man with a pair of moist apricot eyes, feeling extremely embarrassed and pursed her pink lips.
Why did Brother Heng kiss her like that just now?
And how will she tell her second sister about this in the future?
Jia Heng sat down, picked up the tea cup, took a sip, and said, "Old lady."
Jia Mu asked, "It's almost the New Year. Brother Heng, should Baoyu forgive him for once?"
Even though the psychic gem was half broken, Jia's mother did not love it any less. There is always a sunk cost in relationships.
Jia Heng asked: "Old lady, Baoyu is still kneeling in the ancestral hall?"
Jia Mu sighed: "No, I have a grudge against him. It turned out that two children were playing around, and they were kneeling in the ancestral hall. The punishment was too severe. Baoyu Niang is now accompanying her in the ancestral hall.
Yes, the snow is starting to melt today and it’s extremely cold.”
Xue Jun, who was sitting on the pear-backed chair below, listened to what Jia Mu said, picked up the teacup, and sipped the tea quietly without any surprise in his heart.
Among the four major families of King Jia Shi and Xue, Baoyu was famous for his naughtiness from childhood to adulthood. It was not just a speech by Leng Zixing of the Rongguo Mansion who regarded being born with jade as an anecdote.
Jia Heng thought for a while and said: "There is still some time before the New Year. Baoyu will kneel for two more days and copy the Four Books and Five Classics. A small punishment but a big punishment will be enough."
He said why Mrs. Wang was not holding the prayer beads now. It turned out that she had gone to the ancestral hall. After all, the weather was cold and mosquitoes and flies did not breed.
Then let Baoyu kneel in the ancestral hall for two more days.
Mother Jia was surprised and said: "You have to kneel for two more days?"
Jia Heng said: "It's also because of the Chinese New Year, the affairs in the house are complicated, so be careful not to cause any trouble. It's okay to let Baoyu kneel down, or just wait a few days."
Seeing Jia Heng's insistence, Jia Mu's lips twitched, and finally turned into a sigh, and then said: "It's such a big deal for you to become a marquis, I asked Feng Yatou to invite a theater troupe, and there is a lot of excitement at home these days.
,what do you think?"
"The old lady and Sister-in-law Feng will make the decision on this matter." Jia Heng said casually and said softly: "Actually, there is something I need to talk to the old lady."
Jia Mu asked in surprise: "What's the matter?"
Under Sister Feng's willow-leaf slender eyebrows, the sharp and charming Danfeng turned her eyes and looked at the young man, with curiosity on her face.
Jia Heng said: "Last year, the historian asked me to transfer the son of Marquis Shi to the Military and Horse Department of the Five Cities in the capital. There happened to be a vacancy recently. I asked the old lady to inform the historian in the past two days."
This is actually to sell Jia Mu a face, so that Jia Mu can be respected in the historian family.
When Jia Mu heard this, she couldn't help but feel happy, but she said reproachfully: "I told him several times before not to bother Brother Heng, but I don't want you to still remember it in your heart."
Jia Heng said: "It's just a matter of chance. Shi Shibo did a good job in Henan, and the Five Cities Military and Horse Division also happened to be short of people.
Jia's mother said: "Yes, we have sent officials from other provinces. It has been almost half a year. I wonder if they will return to Beijing this year?"
He secretly thought that if Baoyu could study well, he would be able to find an official position for him in the future with the help of Brother Heng. Now he could kneel down in the ancestral hall and suffer a little, and he would be able to speak easily in the future.
After Jia Heng finished speaking, he turned to look at Xue Yun and said: "Uncle Shi, I will go to the study in my house later. I still have a few things to talk to Uncle Shi."
Xue Jun smiled and said, "I'll go over there later."
Bao Qin, who was holding hands and talking to Baochai, frowned and her heart skipped a beat.
Brother Heng will talk to dad about her marriage later. Will he tell dad that he wants to marry her? Ah, what is she thinking? If she wants to marry, she should marry her cousin.
The girl thought about it, her cheeks warmed slightly, and she quickly looked away.
Baochai looked at the two people who were talking, and seemed to be aware of it. He looked at Baoqin who lowered his eyes and said nothing, and asked: "What is my sister thinking? But she is not feeling well?"
Baoqin no longer looked as charming as before, and said softly and gently: "Second sister, don't think about anything."
The warm smile on Baochai's white face continued to flourish. She felt Baoqin's slightly sweaty palms, and a trace of doubt appeared in her almond-shaped eyes.
Could it be that Sister Baoqin is because of the marriage proposed by her second uncle?
Jia Heng talked to Jia Mu for a while and was about to get up and say goodbye.
Sister Feng asked with a smile: "Brother Heng, all the furniture and furnishings in the garden have been placed. When will Brother Heng go and take a look?"
Since Jia Heng returned to the capital, he was first busy with court meetings, and then busy with presenting prisoners at the Ancestral Temple. He barely touched the ground and had no time to play in the garden.
Jia Heng said softly: "I'll have a look in the afternoon. I don't have any official business today."
With that said, he stood up to say goodbye to Jia Mu, and went to Ningguo Mansion with Xue Jun first.
The two of them walked along the long corridor. Xue Yun looked at the tall and upright young man beside him and said softly: "Ziyu."
Jia Heng asked casually: "Shibo, how is the sea trade business over there in Jiangnan?"
It has been a few months since the maritime ban was lifted, and I have also sailed once in Jinling, and only recently have I gradually received payment for my goods.
Xue Yun said: "The silk from Jinling is very popular in Nanyang. Some of the spices I brought are in Jiangnan. They are in short supply in the capital. Many dignitaries are buying them. Ziyu, I brought the account books this time."
As he spoke, he took out an account book from his sleeve and handed it over.
Jia Heng took the account book but did not open it and said: "Not only goods from Nanyang, but also porcelain, silk and tea from our Han Dynasty are shipped to Nanyang countries. The customs collect customs duties from them every year, which can also increase tax revenue for the country."
If the country's fiscal and tax sources are too single, mainly agricultural taxes, then the burden on farmers will be particularly heavy.
Xue Jun nodded and said softly: "Some time ago, the imperial court mentioned the peace negotiation and mutual market?"
Jia Heng pondered for a moment and said: "The Jurchens are different from Nanyang. Now the two countries are hostile. Our big man's trafficking of goods to the Jurchens is undoubtedly an act of supporting the enemy."
Xue Yun said: "I heard from some friends that Shanxi merchants were doing these illegal activities in private, but they were not caught by the imperial court. I thought the imperial court secretly acquiesced in this matter."
"That's smuggling. The previous pardon was punished and exiled because of this. This is a national policy of the imperial court. Although it is limited in manpower and Shanxi merchants have not been able to follow the national laws, the sky net is still sparse and not leaking." Jia Heng said in a deep voice.
Xue Yun is a businessman after all, so he naturally pays attention to profitable businesses, which is not surprising.
Xue Jun nodded.
While the two were talking, they came to the outer study of Ningguo Mansion and entered the small hall. The guests and the host were seated. Qingwen held a teapot and poured tea for the two of them.
Xue Yun put on a facelift and calmed down her expression, and said: "Actually, I have one more thing to do when I come to Shenjing, and I want to entrust it to Ziyu."
"That's Baoqin. She's quite old. After the New Year, she's almost at the age of hairpin. I want to help her settle a marriage as soon as possible. However, the situation in Shenjing has been turbulent in recent years. I want to consult with Ziyu.
Opinion." Xue Yun asked.
In fact, this is not surprising, because compared to the Jia family's declining popularity in the original novel, Xue's father naturally will not listen to the Jia family's opinions.
But what is the situation now? Jia Heng is the Minister of the Ministry of War, the Minister of Military Aircraft, the Privy Council of the dynasty, a first-class Wuhou, and the Commander-in-Chief of Jinyi. He can be said to be powerful and high-ranking.
Generally speaking, if there is an official in a family, this person's opinion will be asked on many matters in the family, not to mention that the Xue family is to some extent a vassal of the Jia family.
Jia Heng put down the tea cup, suppressed the sweet feeling of intimacy with Bao Qin just now, and said softly: "What kind of family does uncle want to find for sister Bao Qin?"
Xue Jun smiled and said: "That girl Baoqin is a little more out of the ordinary. I'm thinking of finding a scholar for her. It turns out that I had some friendship with Mei Yong, the Imperial Hanlin in Beijing, in his early years. He has a child who hasn't yet decided to get married, but he still has a child.
Somewhat unsettled.”
Jia Heng muttered: "The Hanlin Academy is a pure civil servant, which is said to be good. However, in recent years, many civil servants in Beijing have been involved in party struggles, and it is difficult to predict whether good or bad fortune will happen. Baoqin is still young now, so uncle might as well wait for another two years to have a good time."
Choose a good son-in-law."
When Xue Jun heard this, he couldn't help being shocked and asked, "I wonder what kind of thing it is?"
Could it be that the Mei family cannot survive in the long run?
Jia Heng was silent for a moment and said: "Now in the imperial court, the position of the East Palace has not been determined. I don't know how much trouble Hanlin Qingliu will cause. I heard that Mei Hanlin is also a person who likes to talk about things. It is difficult to say what will happen in the future."
In fact, his words were not false, because the poem written by Bao Qin revealed her future destiny: "Not by the plum blossoms, but by the willows."
With just this sentence, Xue Jun was startled and muttered: "Ziyu, this..."
Jia Heng said: "Actually, uncle, there is no need to worry. Sister Baoqin is still young. It's not too late to wait another year or two."
If he hadn't been unable to control himself on the carriage just now, he wouldn't be in such a dilemma.
However, he also likes Bao Qin's cute and soft temperament, but it's not because of Baochai. Maybe he doesn't have much immunity to this kind of fat one?
"Don't I know this truth?" Xue Yun sighed and said with emotion: "I have been running around all these years, but I don't know if my body can last until that day."
Jia Heng said: "Uncle, please invite more famous doctors for diagnosis and treatment, and take good care of yourself. Now the Xue family really cannot do without my uncle."
Hearing this, Xue Yun's face showed a trace of sadness and said: "Destiny has given me a destiny, and I don't know what to do."
Jia Heng comforted him and said, "Uncle, just relax and find some good doctors these days. Nothing will happen."
While they were talking in the study, Tanchun entered the small hall of the study. Under Jia Heng's surprised eyes, he said softly: "Brother Heng, the captain of Jinyi Mansion sent someone to send a message to brother Heng."
Seeing this, Xue Jun said quickly: "Ziyu, don't worry about me, go and get down to business first."
Jia Heng said: "Uncle, wait a moment, I'll be back soon."
After saying that, he left the study and came to the moon door. His eyes first glanced at Zhen Lan who was following him under the eaves of the corridor. He nodded to her, then his eyes fell on Tan Chun's face again and asked: "What's wrong with Third Sister?"
Already?"
Tan Chun said softly: "Brother Heng, the captain from Jinyi Mansion came over and said that Mr. Yang Ge sent a letter to the Secretary of General Affairs, and everyone in Beijing is discussing this matter."
The girl was often by Jia Heng's side, and she had a keen eye on the changes in the court situation.
When Jia Heng heard this, he was stunned for a moment and said, "What did I think it was? It turns out that this is what happened."
At this time, Zhen Lanming's eyes were shining, and she carefully looked at the young man's expression, and asked: "Brother Heng seems to have expected something?"
Jia Heng nodded and said: "Okay, it's not a big deal. You go back to the back house first, and we will go play in the garden later."
Lixiangyuan
After Jia Heng left, Xue Baochai led Bao Qin to Lixiangyuan. The two sisters whispered, but Bao Qin was obviously absent-minded.
It’s no wonder that the girl’s mind is not in her right mind. She has grown so old just now, and now in front of Baochai, she feels shy and a little guilty.
However, he forced himself to calm down.
"Why did you come back with your brother Heng?" Baochai asked softly.
Baoqin said softly: "Sister, when I went to see Nona, I met my brother-in-law who had just come from the weapons prison."
"Ordnance Supervisor? Heng Da...huh?" Baochai said softly, her plump and fair face turned as red as rouge, her moist apricot eyes looked at Baoqin, and she said angrily: "You...what are you talking about?
?”
What kind of brother-in-law? This Baoqin talks openly.
Bao Qin chuckled and said delicately: "Sister, Brother Heng told me that you are a couple. Besides, on the ship, my sister cooked for her and knitted clothes for her.
"
She was embarrassed to say that when they were on the ship, Brother Heng often went to the cabin where his sister lived, and the two would kiss each other. That day Ying'er seemed to have gone to relieve herself, and she happened to see it that day.
Oops, why is she thinking about this again?
When Baochai heard this, two blushes appeared on her snowy jade face, and she said in an angry tone: "Sister, just call me in private. Don't call me randomly when others are in front of me."
Bao Qin said softly: "Sister, don't worry, I won't yell randomly."
In fact, if it were Zhen Lan who was scheming, she would just pretend that she didn't know. In the future, she could even say that she didn't know about her sister and Jia Heng, and that she didn't mean to steal the man.
But Bao Qin is silly and sweet, and has no scheming intentions.
Baoqin turned her pretty face around, and suddenly her voice became a little deeper and she said, "Sister, daddy wants to marry me."
Baochai said: "My sister is not young anymore. It's normal to make promises to others. I didn't tell you about it last time, so why are you bringing up such a thing again?"
Baoqin said quietly: "After I have a family, I will definitely not be able to travel around like I did in the past few years. I will be restrained by the rules of three obediences and four virtues, and I will no longer be able to do so freely."
Baochai looked at her sister for a moment and said, "Sister, would you like your sister...brother Heng to help you talk to your second uncle?"
"Dad, listen to Brother Heng. Besides, Brother Heng must have a solution." Bao Qin said charmingly.
Baochai was speechless for a moment, and looked at the girl with determined eyebrows. For some reason, a strange feeling appeared in her heart, but she didn't know where it came from, and she no longer believed it.
Bao Qin's distant eyes drifted out of the window and murmured: "The mansion is so lively now, it doesn't matter if we wait another two years."
Seeing this, Baochai reached out and pinched Baoqin's pink cheeks, and said in a doting tone: "How old are you? You know how to play every day."
Baoqin's mood became brighter again, and she said with a chuckle: "Second sister, let's go to Dongfu, it's more lively over there."
Baochai gave a soft "hmm", guessing that Baoqin wanted to ask about the outcome of the conversation later, so he was not in a hurry, took Baoqin's hand and headed towards Dongfu.
Jia Heng chatted with Xue Yun for a while, said goodbye to Xue Yun, and also headed towards the inner hall of the back house.
In the hall, the earth dragon is burning, the heat is rising, and the warmth of the room is melting. There is a bamboo, wood and mica screen with a picture of a lady.
Mrs. You, the second sister You, and the third sister You are sitting on the embroidered pier beside Qin Keqing. Both Mrs. You are wearing gorgeous clothes and exquisite make-up. They look like a pair of red and white peonies, competing for their beauty and beauty.
You's dress, on the other hand, is more elegant, and her gentle and gentle face shows a calm and composed attitude.
Sanjie You followed Jia Heng's advice and did not comb her hair up into a bun. Although she looked pretty, her girlish look was a bit tacky.
At this moment, Sister Feng and Ping'er were leading Nona over to see Qin Keqing. A group of warblers and swallows were talking in the hall, and their laughter could be heard in the distance from time to time.
Qin Keqing looked at the girl with blue eyes, amazed in her heart, and said: "This..."
Sister Feng smiled, her melon-seed face was unreasonably gorgeous, and her voice was as charming as ever: "But Qing, her eyes were born like this."
Qin Keqing's face showed astonishment like a hibiscus blooming on her jade face, and said with emotion: "The world is so big, and there are all kinds of wonders."
Zhen Yinglian (Xiang Ling) on the side also stared at the girl, with a look of novelty in her childish and delicate eyebrows.
Nona was drinking tea at the side, feeling a little strange in her heart. She didn't want to live like this in Ningguo Mansion, always being watched.
At this time, Daiyu and Zhen Xi were talking in a low voice. The two of them spoke softly, and they didn't know what they said.
After leaving the Rongguo Mansion, because Baochai was far away, Tanchun often went to the study with Zhen Lan to help Jia Heng with his pen and ink. For a while, Zhen Xi and Daiyu were the only two people who had the most interesting conversations.
As for Xiangyun, he went to the ancestral hall to visit Baoyu.
Although he was annoyed by Baoyu's previous troubles, Xiangyun was kind-hearted after all. He knew that Baoyu had gone to kneel in the ancestral hall, and no one was talking to relieve his boredom, so he still wanted to go and visit.
At this moment, the grandma outside said: "Grandma, uncle is here."
Everyone who was talking fell silent and looked around, only to see a young man coming from outside the corridor, it was Jia Heng.
"They're all here." Jia Heng looked at the crowd of warblers and said softly.
Qin Keqing asked: "Husband, did you not go to the Yamen today?"
Jia Heng said: "I have nothing to do in the afternoon. Just now, Sister-in-law Feng said that we should go for a walk in the garden and have a look together. We will sign a plaque and we can move in in the next two days."
Qin Keqing smiled and said, "I was telling my sisters this just now."
Sanjie You looked at the young man at this moment, her gleaming eyes falling on that Qingjun face, and a feeling of resentment arose in her heart.
Yesterday, Uncle Heng didn't come back at night, and I don't know where he went.
Jia Heng said: "It's getting late now, let's go take a look together."
After two days, the snow has actually melted a lot. Compared to the thick snow, which completely obscures the view of the garden, the garden is now half-melted and covered with white snowflakes, but it has a graceful appearance as if it is half-covered by a pipa.
Sister Feng smiled and said: "Brother Heng, and several other girls, come with me."
Jia Heng said softly: "Ke Qing, don't forget to call your fourth sister."
Qin Keqing smiled and said, "Don't worry, husband, I've just called you."
Jia Heng said softly: "Let them all wear cloaks, don't freeze, and dress warmly."
Nowadays, there is still a bit of the connotation of white snow and red plum blossoms in the glazed world.
The garden was originally built on a piece of wasteland in Ningguo Mansion, and the water of Qinfang River was brought to the garden. The garden opened a gate in Huifang Garden of Ningguo Mansion, leading to the garden.
Everyone first went to Huifang Garden and before arriving at Tianxiang Pavilion, the plum blossom trees next to the river were already in full bloom. As far as the eye could see, the pavilion seemed to be hidden in the snowy ridge.
On the Fengyao Bridge, Sister Feng had already ordered the snow to be swept away. Except for the crenellations on both sides of the covered bridge, which were slightly covered with snowflakes, the bridge surface was spotless.
Accompanied by the nanny and the maid, everyone walked along the Bee Bridge and saw the opened vermilion paint door.
Sister Feng smiled and said: "Brother Heng, this is a gate specially reserved in Huifang Garden. In addition, there are two convenience doors for easy passage."
Jia Heng nodded and said: "It's still winter now. Is it cold to live in there? If it doesn't work, it won't be too late to move in next spring."
In the original work, the Lantern Festival was celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, and when the grass grew and orioles flew in February, and the spring flowers bloomed, an edict was issued in Yuan Chun to prevent the garden from being abandoned and to allow a group of girls to live in it.
Of course, this does not mean that we must live in the spring. A group of girls also lived in the garden in the winter, writing poems in Lu Xueyuan and eating venison.
Sister Feng said with a smile: "The servants have arranged it well. They have laid the floor early and put in brand new bedding. It is warm inside."
The northwest is quite cold in winter, and some people in northern Shaanxi even dig cave dwellings with heated kangs, well, the big Northeastern kangs.
Jia Heng said warmly: "Look inside."
This was the first time I went to the Grand View Garden in my past life, and I didn’t know how beautiful and elegant it was as described in the original text.