The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

Chapter 436

The window was wide open. The queen stood by the window, looking at the dead leaves falling outside, and sighed softly. Although she had expected the result and was mentally prepared enough, she was still a little disappointed.

The eunuch in charge stood by with his head down, waiting quietly for the queen to speak.

Finally, the Queen spoke: "Are the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Rites, and the Imperial Observatory ready for the ceremony?"

The eunuch in charge said: "It's being done."

Queen: "Hurry them up and tell them to do it right away."

The eunuch in charge said, “Yes.”

Queen: "You go to the Imperial Observatory in person and ask them to choose an auspicious date today, send it to the study for the emperor's review, and then send it to the Li family immediately."

The eunuch in charge said, “Yes.” and walked out.

The queen also went out and asked the lady-in-waiting standing outside the door, "What is the prince doing now?"

The female official said: "In reply to the Queen, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince seems to be listening to a few teachers' lectures at the moment."

Queen: "What book?"

The female official said: "I heard that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has been reading Zhu Xi's book recently."

The queen frowned and said, "Go to Yuqing Palace and wait. The masters have left. Ask the prince to come here immediately."

The Queen was not the only one in a bad mood. Heshen was also in a bad mood at the moment.

The sedan stopped in front of Huitong Hall. Before Liu Quan could lift the curtain, Heshen lifted the curtain himself and walked out of the sedan.

"Hold the sedan chair! Hold the sedan chair!" Liu Quan shouted hurriedly.

The two Jurchens carrying the sedan chair at the back quickly raised the poles, and the pole in front fell to the ground. Heshen was still standing inside the poles, looking up at the imperial city, his eyes full of unwillingness and resentment.

Just now, Dashun signed a contract with the Qing Dynasty. From that day on, Dashun would cut off all support for Fukang'an.

Although he knew that the Dashun Emperor could tear up the contract at any time, Heshen was still very angry.

"This boy is not worthy of being my advisor!" Heshen said this and walked straight into Huitong Hall.

At this time, a burst of hurried horse hoof sounds came over, and everyone looked over.

Heshen also stopped.

A Jurchen woman in a tightly-dressed uniform came galloping towards this side on horseback. When she reached the sedan chair, she pulled the reins hard and jumped off the horse, shouting, "He Zhongtang!" while running towards Heshen.

Heshen's eyes flashed, and the Jurchen had already run to him and knelt down.

He Shen looked at him and asked, "What's the matter?"

The Jurchen took out an urgent letter and panted: "Mo, Mobei."

Heshen snatched the express package, tore open the seal and took a look. His eyes suddenly widened!

Liu Quan was stunned by his expression and stared at him with wide eyes.

After an unknown amount of time, Heshen came to his senses and burst into a violent coughing fit.

Liu Quan immediately patted He Shen on the back: "Master!"

He Shen recovered and sighed, "Fu Kang'an has been defeated!"

Liu Quan was surprised: "How could it be?"

He Shen: "They are Mongolians. Agui took advantage of the Mongolian nobles' greed for wealth and used money to buy them off. He also took advantage of the internal conflicts among the Mongolians in Mobei and adopted a strategy of division and disintegration to win over some Mongolian nobles who were dissatisfied with the Jasaktu Khan and others. Taking advantage of the internal strife among the Mongolians, Agui led his entire army to attack Fu Kang'an, who was defeated and fled westward."

Liu Quan seemed to understand and asked tentatively: "Were we deceived?"

He Shen smiled bitterly and replied: "We were deceived by His Majesty!"

Liu Quan was silent for a moment: "So what should we do now?"

He Shen was also silent for a moment, then said, "Wait."

Liu Quan: "Wait?"

He Shen: "Yes, wait! Wait for news from your Second Master."

Liu Quan nodded, and Erye and Lin were appointed deputy commanders of the Han army of the Zhenglan Banner, and followed the chief military minister Agui to fight against Fukang'an.

Heshen suddenly laughed.

Liu Quan was puzzled.

After laughing, He Shen said, "I wonder how the Han emperor will react when he hears this news."

Liu Quan laughed and said, "He will definitely go crazy."

"He deserves it! I don't know how he got the throne. He doesn't have the spirit of an emperor at all. He is just an ordinary citizen with no ambition!"

Heshen spat, and then sighed: "I hope Fukangan can fight for his dignity and not lose the entire Mobei, otherwise all the investment will be wasted!" After that, he walked straight to his residence.

Looking at Xue Pan who kept looking back every few steps, Li Hu waved his hand unhappily, closed the car door, and the car slowly drove forward.

Li Hu sat down on the couch, picked up the letter on the low table and began to read it, then snorted coldly. Although Qi Guan only heard one sentence, he already understood that the mad dog King Zhongshun was planning to assassinate someone at the martial arts examination.

This mad dog can't be kept alive! Thinking of this, Li Hu's eyes flashed with a fierce and cold light. Autumn hunting is an opportunity to send him to see God!

With a "hum", Li Hu slowly closed his eyes.

At this moment, Wang Daniu's voice came from outside the window: "Marshal."

Li Hu opened his eyes: "What's the matter?"

Wang Daniu: "A letter from Kong Qingxiang."

Li Hu opened a corner of the window, took the letter handed in by Wang Daniu, opened the seal and read it, and laughed after reading a few lines. Then he folded the letter and found out that Zhen Fu was colluding with King Zhongshun. He really underestimated this kid.

Thinking about it, Li Hu suddenly remembered the person who secretly supported the group of fake monks. He was sure that it was not Prince Zhongshun. Prince Zhongshun did not have that brains.

After thinking for a moment, Li Hu closed his eyes again. He had made all the necessary preparations and was just waiting for the other party to fall into his trap.

After an unknown amount of time, the front fender of the carriage was hit with the sound of a knife handle knocking "dong, dong, dong", followed by the voice of a personal soldier: "Marshal, we're home."

Li Hu opened his eyes and replied, "I understand."

After a while, the carriage slowly stopped.

Li Hu opened the car door and walked out.

The personal soldiers and servants at the door all saluted.

Li Hu smiled and nodded, then walked straight in.

As he approached the backyard, Li Hu suddenly remembered something and turned to walk towards Lin Daiyu's yard.

Along the way, maids and servants bowed to them one after another.

The maid had already opened the curtains, and Li Hu walked into Lin Daiyu's main room. A burst of laughter came from the bedroom.

Li Hu tilted his ear and listened quietly. Xue Baochai and Xue Baoqin came again, and there was another familiar voice, but he couldn't remember it for the moment.

At this time, Xueyan came over with a plate of cakes and said with a smile: "Second Master, the osmanthus cake newly made by the kitchen is delicious!"

"If it's delicious, eat more." Li Hu smiled and patted her head, pinched her cheek, nodded to the maids of Xue Baochai and Xue Baoqin who came over to pay their respects, and suddenly caught a glimpse of a stranger, "Who are you? Whose family are you from?"

The little girl lowered her head in a hurry and dared not answer.

Xueyan smiled and said, "She is Miss Xing's maid."

Li Hu: "Miss Xing? Where did Miss Xing come from?" When he said this, he suddenly realized that it was Xing Xiuyan.

Xueyan: "Miss Xing was invited by the young lady to talk."

At this time, there were voices of many people talking and walking coming from the bedroom.

Then, a group of embroiderers came out talking.

When the group of embroiderers saw Li Hu, they immediately stopped talking and bowed to him one after another.

Li Hu smiled and nodded.

The housekeeper's wife led them out.

These embroiderers were here to make clothes for Lin Daiyu, clothes for her wedding.

There was another sound of footsteps, and Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai came out chatting and laughing.

Xue Baoqin and Xing Xiuyan followed out.

When she saw Li Hu, Lin Daiyu's smile widened: "You're back."

Li Hu: “I’m back.”

Xue Baochai then took a step forward, bowed slightly, and said softly, "Duke."

Li Hu said "hmm" and looked her up and down. He had to admit that Xue Baochai was indeed beautiful, white and plump.

Xue Baochai blushed and hurriedly retreated behind Lin Daiyu.

Xue Baoqin and Xing Xiuyan bowed to Li Hu together.

Li Hu smiled and nodded, then said to Xing Xiuyan, "When you have nothing to do, you can come over and sit with your sister Lin."

Xing Xiuyan bent her knees and said, "Yes."

Li Hu walked up to Lin Daiyu and said with a smile, "Everything has been cleaned up in the other courtyard. You can go take a look sometime. If there is anything wrong, I will have someone fix it."

Lin Daiyu thought for a moment and said, "Maybe tomorrow."

Before he finished speaking, Nanny Wang came in with a letter and said to Li Hu, "Second Master, it was sent from Kunning Palace."

Li Hu took the letter, tore it open, and read it. Then he said to Lin Daiyu, "The auspicious date for the ceremony has been decided."

Lin Daiyu: "When?"

Li Hu: "The day before the martial arts exam."

(End of this chapter)