The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

Chapter 379 News from Henan, Xue Family's Plan

When the old empress dowager passed away, all the imperial edicts and other documents were brought to the court to observe the mourning period according to their ranks and ranks.

In the Ning and Rong mansions, except Li Wan, Jia's mother, Lady Xing, Lady Wang, Wang Xifeng, Youshi and Qin Keqing all had imperial edicts and were required to attend the court sacrifices every day and return after noon.

In addition to attending the court sacrifice, Jia Mu and others also had to accompany the emperor to the ancient tombs.

In the original novel, there was no one in the Ning and Rong mansions, so they reported Youshi's childbirth and left her to manage the affairs of the two mansions. Now the grass on Jia Zhen's grave has grown several times, so it is naturally impossible to report Youshi's childbirth. It is no secret that Wang Xifeng cannot have children. Qin Keqing is a member of the royal family, and the clan mansion has medical records, so there is no way to fool her.

So Li Wan had to lead the sisters Jia Yingchun and Jia Tanchun to manage the affairs of the two mansions, and asked Aunt Xue to help look after them.

Few of the servants in Rongguo Mansion were without background. As an outsider, Aunt Xue had no control over them. She just went there to fulfill the occasion and act as a clay Buddha every day.

After waiting for a long time for Lady Jia to come back, he chatted with her for a few words and then left on the pretext of not disturbing her rest.

As she entered the front yard, the sound of a tea bowl breaking made Aunt Xue stop in her tracks.

It came from Xue Pan's study.

Aunt Xue turned to look at the maid on duty outside the courtyard gate and asked, "Is your master home?"

Mother-in-law: "To answer Madam, the master just came back."

After hearing this, Aunt Xue went to Xue Pan's study with her joy and gratitude.

Before she even entered the study, Aunt Xue's face changed. Drinking during the national mourning period is a serious crime!
Aunt Xue gritted her teeth and cursed, "Damn you evil creature!"

At this moment, there was a "bang" sound, followed by the sound of cups, plates and bowls falling to the ground and breaking.

Aunt Xue was startled and hurried in.

The table was turned upside down, and the floor was littered with smashed cups, plates, bowls, wine and food.

Xue Pan, whose face was red from drinking, stood there gasping for breath!

Aunt Xue pointed at Xue Pan and said, "You damned bastard, what the hell are you doing?"

Xue Pan came back to his senses: "Why is mom here?"

"Do you know what time it is? Ah!"

Aunt Xue burst into tears and pointed at Xue Pan: "You damned bastard, why don't you learn your lesson?"

Xue Pan panicked when he saw his mother crying, and said hastily, "It's all Wang Ren's fault, that bastard. Yes, it's all his fault!"

Aunt Xue was stunned for a moment and asked anxiously, "What happened to Wang Ren?"

Xue Pan: "I was planning to go out of the city to have a drink with Qi Guan. Well, that guy, on the way, I met Feng Ziying who was returning to Beijing from Xianling. I heard from him that Wang Ren, that son of a bitch, had made military achievements again and is now a guerrilla general, with two or three thousand people under his command. My uncle is really getting old and confused."

Aunt Xue: "What nonsense are you talking about!"

Xue Pan looked unconvinced.

Aunt Xue: "Did your uncle win another battle?"

"Victory? It's nothing but a massacre of civilians."

Xue Pan had a look of disdain on his face. Seeing that Aunt Xue was about to get angry, he hurriedly said, "Feng Ziying is right. I heard from Feng Ziying that my uncle mentioned many times in the official documents he sent to the court that his generals massacred prisoners of war and civilians." At this point, he spat, "Wang Ren, that bastard, must have gained his military merit by massacring civilians!"

Aunt Xue glared at him and said, "Don't talk nonsense. There are always casualties in war."

Xue Pan snorted and said, "The more we suppress the White Lotus rebels, the more they are defeated. Most of it is due to their efforts. This is also what Feng Ziying said."

Aunt Xue sighed: "What's going on with your uncle?"

Xue Pan: "We have won battle after battle, and have routed the White Lotus rebels. I heard that the vanguard has already entered Nanyang Prefecture."

Aunt Xue was curious: "The White Lotus rebels were so easy to defeat, why did Anhui suffer such a terrible defeat?"

Xue Pan became excited: "Mom, you asked the right person!"

Aunt Xue: "You know?"

Xue Pan looked around, stepped forward, and lowered his voice: "Prince Zhongshun is nurturing the enemy to protect himself."

Aunt Xue was surprised: "Who told you that?"

Xue Pan: "Feng Ziying! He said that there are people in the government army in Anhui who are colluding with the bandits and provided information to Shui Rong!"

Aunt Xue: "Then why do you say that 'Prince Zhongshun keeps the enemy at bay'?"

Xue Pan spread his hands and said, "Isn't this obvious? Those people are subordinates of King Zhongshun. They all listen to King Zhongshun. Naturally, King Zhongshun asked them to do this."

Aunt Xue laughed angrily: "Don't talk nonsense!"

After a pause, he said, "You can just say this at home, but when you leave the house, shut your mouth!"

After hearing this, Xue Pan blinked his eyes wildly.

At this time, a happy voice came from outside the door: "The girl is here." Xue Pan's face changed: "Mom..."

Aunt Xue said unhappily: "You are afraid of someone too!" Then she took out a handkerchief and wiped the corners of her eyes.

Xue Pan blushed and then smiled awkwardly.

Xue Baochai walked in, twirling a round fan between her fingertips. She glanced at the mess on the floor and then looked at Xue Pan.

Xue Pan looked at Aunt Xue for help.

Aunt Xue coughed and said to Xue Baochai, "Please forgive your brother this time."

Xue Baochai: “Mom”

Aunt Xue quickly changed the subject: "Weren't you visiting the maid's room? Why are you back?"

Xue Baochai then remembered: "The news just came that Anhui won a great victory, and the Marquis won another victory."

"I'll go prepare the congratulatory ceremony right away!" Xue Pan ran out as fast as he could.

Xue Baochai sighed: "Mom should also control this. If this gets out, he will be sent to jail at best, exiled at worst, and the Rongguo Mansion will be implicated."

"You can't blame your brother entirely for this," Aunt Xue told Xue Baochai the reason.

Xue Baochai was stunned, her fingers tightly gripping the handle of the fan.

Aunt Xue: "Well, it's all over." She was silent for a moment. "Even if God is blind, the eldest wife will not let him go. The retribution is still to come."

Xue Baochai came back to her senses and said, "Yeah." Then, she smiled lightly, "I just remembered the news I heard from Ping'er. Henan needs too much grain, and the Ministry of Revenue is recruiting caravans to help transport the grain. Our family is not short of money now. With this contribution, brother can ask uncle or uncle to help donate an official position."

Aunt Xue's eyes lit up.

Xue Baochai: "The national mourning will last for nearly two months. Mother knows my brother's temper. Instead of being on guard against him, it is better to let him leave the capital. No one will care about such things because the emperor is far away. Besides, my brother has grown up and is neither a scholar nor a warrior. Although he does business, he has never held a scale or an abacus. He doesn't know the local customs or the roads. It's time for him to go out and experience real business. He is transporting grain for the court. No one dares to deceive him."

Aunt Xue hesitated for a moment and said, "Henan is in such a mess, what if we run into the White Lotus rebels?"

Xue Baochai: "Don't worry, mother. I have inquired about it. It's not the Yellow River."

Aunt Xue felt relieved when she heard this: "That's good, that's good"

Xue Baochai: "I will go to the Li family in person later and discuss with Miss Lin to select a few good fighters from the caravan to protect my brother on the road."

Aunt Xue: "Transfer a few more people and pay them double the wages. Don't rush back, stay there tonight, talk to Miss Lin and let Baoqin go with you."

Xue Baochai said "hmm", turned around and walked out.

There was peace in Yuqing Palace.

Looking at the sleeping grandson, the queen smiled kindly, picked up the thin quilt on the couch, and gently covered the grandson with it.

The queen stood up, picked up the rosary on the table, smiled and nodded to the crown princess, then turned and walked out.

As soon as he walked out of the palace gate, a sedan chair came in from outside the Yuqing Palace.

The Queen stopped.

The curtain of the sedan chair was lifted, and the prince came out and bowed to the queen: "Mother is here."

Queen: "What do you mean?"

The prince was a little excited: "Father not only approved the resignation of the general of the five military camps, but also ordered Prince Zhongshun to return to the capital, so that Li Hu will no longer be constrained. In addition to the existing troops, Li Hu was also allowed to expand the army by 30,000. After the war, these 30,000 troops will be reorganized into garrisons in Xuzhou, Lianghuai, and Anhui."

The queen nodded and glanced around.

The palace maids and eunuchs understood and bowed and retreated outside the palace gate.

The queen asked again, "What do you think of what happened today?"

The prince was silent for a moment, then replied, "Father must have figured it out."

The Queen was silent for a moment, and then said, "As long as we don't confer the title of Crown Prince, we must not take it lightly."

Prince: "Yes."

Queen: "Has Wang Ziteng written to you recently?"

The prince: "Yes, but my son has never written him a letter in reply."

The queen nodded with satisfaction and said: "People like Wang Ziteng and Jia Yucun can be used, but they cannot be trusted."

Prince: "Yes."

Queen: "Tell Li Hu what happened today." She glanced around and lowered her voice: "Tell him to find a way to send someone to keep an eye on the second brother."

(End of this chapter)