The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 176 Disease

Jia Lian held the sealed wooden gun and clicked it for a long time. He then disassembled and reassembled it little by little, making sure it could still click, before turning to his elder brother and aunt who were waiting.

“There is a Lord Dai in the Ministry of Works.”

Jia Lian said, "He once made a repeating firearm, also called the 28-shot repeating firearm. The back of the gun is a magazine that can store 28 gunpowder pellets. There are two firing mechanisms that are connected to each other. Pulling one mechanism will cause the ammunition to fall into the magazine, and at the same time, the other mechanism will be released and fired."

"His name is Dai Zi?"

Shen Ning's heart couldn't help but beat faster.

In the original timeline, if Dai Zi had been given more important responsibilities, and if his repeating musket had still been available, there would have been no century of humiliation.

"Yes!"

Jia Lian nodded. "So you've heard of him, Auntie?"

He sighed softly, "It's a pity that Lord Dai passed away too early. That repeating firearm is now in the Ministry of Works, but there is only one master craftsman who can forge it."

died?

Shen Ning frowned slightly. "How did he die?"

"I don't know exactly how he died."

Jia Lian shook his head. "All I know is that since his death, the Ministry of Works has strengthened the protection of the firearms workshops. The master craftsmen there are people who can see the Emperor directly."

Shen Ning: "..."

She was beginning to understand what he meant.

"Auntie, are you planning to give this away?"

Jia Lian said, "I don't think it's feasible yet."

The retired emperor is still alive.

With two emperors in power, uncertainty is always present.

Moreover, although the capital city appears safe, in reality, open and covert battles have always been taking place.

The previous dynasty, the Qing dynasty that was driven out, the Tatars, the Japanese, and so on, have never had a moment of peace.

This is only the external situation; the internal situation is even more dire.

Otherwise, my grandfather and great-uncle wouldn't have died so depressed back then.

"Let's wait a few more years!"

Few of the retired emperors in history books met a good end.

Therefore, although their emperor emeritus has abdicated, he still firmly holds onto everything.

The fact that there are no major upheavals in the imperial court now does not mean that there will never be.

Especially as the victory in the north became increasingly certain, the emperor's power further increased...

“My dad went to Taixuan Temple a couple of days ago.”

Jia Lian said, "My uncle asked him to pass on a letter to me."

My uncle didn't even think of sending a letter to my aunt and my brother-in-law Zhen.

This made Jia Lian feel inexplicably guilty when facing the mother and son. "The letter said that if the north wins, the situation in the court may change. It's like two tigers cannot share one mountain. My uncle told me to be careful with my words and actions."

There was once a saying that two tigers could not share one mountain, but now the crown prince is gone.

Now, the retired emperor is even older, and what if his suspicions grow stronger? Meanwhile, the emperor, because of the great victory in the north, has lost his former composure...

Jia Lian was also quite afraid.

Therefore, he has always been very honest.

They work diligently and conscientiously.

When the adults are arguing and need him to provide data support, he can immediately pull out his little notebook.

Within the scope of his duties as the Director of the Arsenal, he did his best; as for other matters… just like he had been between his father and his second uncle, he was very slippery.

Jia Lian sometimes felt fortunate to have the experience of making a living between his second uncle and his father.

Otherwise, he might be sold out by some old foxes, and they'd still be happily gloating over it.

"Did you destroy the letter?"

Upon hearing that his father had sent word, Jia Zhen couldn't help but glance at the armory again, fearing that someone might be hiding there.

"destroyed."

When his aunt looked over, Jia Lian quickly nodded and said, "I had just finished reading it when my father grabbed a handful and burned it."

That's good.

Shen Ning let out a soft sigh. "Okay, you've already seen the items. If you think it's worth sending, then send it; if not, then leave it."

What's so special about her?

Lord Dai's repeating firearm is the most important.

"Lian'er, tell me about the Ministry of Works' repeating firearms!"

"I picked up that musket before; it was shaped a lot like a pipa (a Chinese lute)."

Auntie wasn't angry with Uncle, and Jia Lian's expression relaxed considerably. "However, it was made by several master craftsmen working together later. The one made by Master Dai was destroyed during the research phase. It's said that it hasn't been widely adopted yet because there are still many unresolved issues with the repeating firearm."

Using it on the battlefield might, in the course of battle, injure our own people.

There are too many problems to solve.

"……Yeah?"

Shen Ning didn't know whether she was more disappointed or regretful, "Did you ask the missionaries how they made their muskets?"

"Of course I asked."

My cousin Shi Ding has a skyrocket.

"They even have people helping us make cannons."

Jia Lian regrets that he has been extremely busy since entering the court and has not been able to inspect those workshops.

That night, he ate dinner there before returning to his residence.

This caused Wang Xifeng to be constantly worried.

She was afraid that he had gotten too cocky lately and would get scolded by his aunt.

"...I'm busy as a dog, how could I be so carefree?"

Jia Lian was speechless at his wife's behavior.

He is busy and happy.

After all, he once saw himself as someone who would protect his home.

Provide logistical support for Brother Zhu and Baoyu.

Unexpectedly, he was able to become an official and was even praised by the emperor and various ministers.

"Can't my aunt looking for me be a good thing?"

"Is this really good news?"

Wang Xifeng's eyes lit up immediately. "Then tell me! Let me be happy too."

Jia Lian: "..."

Can we just casually talk about that wooden gun?

"Wasn't the Hetao region recaptured?"

Jia Lian could only say, "Our Armory Division has put in a lot of effort in this war in the north. My aunt praised me for doing a good job and asked me about my cousin Lanzhi and my uncle Shi."

"Did Cousin Lanzhi really cut off several Tatar heads?"

Wang Xifeng still finds it hard to believe.

Of course, with each question, her admiration deepened.

"Of course, it's all written in the battle reports."

Jia Lian said, "She is the deputy commander of the women's army. Killing Tatars is nothing to her. The most important thing is that this time she led the left wing army to cut off the rear and joined forces with the central army to attack the Tatar reinforcements. She first used muskets to wipe out a group of their troops, which is why they were defeated so quickly."

As the grandson of the Duke of Rongguo, he also knew the difference between winning a moment earlier and winning a moment later on the battlefield.

How many fewer people could they lose here?

With high morale, their final charge would be much faster than that of the Tatars.

"Well... I heard that Uncle Shi is returning and will be granted a title, so what about Cousin Lan..."

Wang Xifeng wanted to ask her if she could also have a noble title.

"You've stumped me with that question."

Jia Lian laughed, "Those in court are all old foxes, while your husband here is just a pure white rabbit."

"You? A little white rabbit, huh?"

Wang Xifeng gave him a light punch.

Am I not fair-skinned?

Jia Lian's voice and gaze forced Ping'er and the other maids to quickly retreat.

"You're going to die, in broad daylight."

"Who said that? It's clearly black."

The couple laughed and joked around, while Ping'er and the others simply hid in the tea room, roasting chestnuts and chatting.

"Ping'er..."

Li'er looked outside and said, "Have you heard? My second aunt, who married into the Xue family in Jinling, is coming to the capital. She wrote to our grandmother today, saying that she wants to see the second aunt when she arrives."

“…When did it happen?”

Ping'er was very surprised.

“Wang’er brought the message in when you went to the main kitchen.”

"Then...didn't she write a letter to the second wife?" "She did, and asked our grandmother to pass it on."

Ping'er: "..."

"Grandma was annoyed by that letter for a while, and now it's lying in her makeup box."

Li'er sighed, "My second aunt's husband has passed away, and my second aunt is raising her two children alone. They say that the Xue family is bullying them a lot."

"Didn't the master just get appointed General of Zhennan?"

"They probably haven't received the message yet."

The maids were all part of the dowry from the Wang family.

She still felt a sense of protectiveness towards her former master's family, saying, "But it's better for Second Aunt to come to the capital than to stay in Nanjing!"

"..."

Ping'er glanced at them but didn't say anything.

With the eldest master gone, the second master is now in charge of the household. Even if the second aunt goes to the capital, it may not be as good as Nanjing.

But relying on this side...

Given the second wife's behavior, the old lady probably wouldn't be happy either.

In the end, it will be their grandmother who will be in a difficult position.

Ping'er sighed softly to herself.

……

In the Ningguo Mansion, at Shen Ning Courtyard, she left her daughter with her eldest son and continued writing her book.

At this point, she had already written up to the twelfth chapter, "The Dragon Regrets Its Ascent."

Qingzhu was served exceptionally well by her maids.

Their eyes were almost entirely fixed on her manuscript.

Although I've listened to many books with my wife, I never imagined that she could write books!
If this were printed...

Qingzhu and the others tried to keep their breathing as light as possible.

Shen Ning looked up and, wow, the table was surrounded by people.

"Come, come, Qingzhu, see that?"

She put down her pen, rubbed her wrist, and said, "Now I'll tell you what to write."

what?
"Madam, am I...am I alright?"

Qingzhu was very excited!

This is writing a book!
This is something she wouldn't even dare to dream of.

"What do you mean, 'Are you capable'?"

Shen Ning was speechless. "What's the point of practicing calligraphy every day?"

If it's not feasible to ask outsiders, then the only option is to force one's own maid.

Of all the maids, Qingzhu was the most composed and had the best handwriting.

"Hurry and take it."

Shen Ning shoved the pen into her hand, "It's okay if you make a mistake, you can just copy it again later."

She has no shortage of paper and pens here.

"Okay, let's get started!"

Shen Ning said, "Huang Rong cursed, 'Hong Qigong originally said you were a wicked person and that he would kill you today. Fortunately, my brother Guo was kind and pleaded for you for a long time...'"

It's so great to have someone write for you!

Shen Ning hoped that she could be freed from this situation.

At the same time, just as the Emperor Emeritus, who had soaked his feet, was about to turn around and go to sleep, Dai Quan hurriedly entered and said, "Emperor Emeritus, Consort Zhen's condition has worsened."

what?
The retired emperor paused in his steps.

Over the years, he has seen many people pass away.

Lady Zhen was the concubine who spent the most time with him in the palace and was the one who won his heart the most.

Compared to him, she's incredibly young; how could she have grown so much in such a short time...?

"Show off!"

Without hesitation, the retired emperor decided to go and see.

Mrs. Zhen has always been in good health.

How long have you been in the Buddhist hall?

Or……

Thinking of the Prince of Jin leaving the capital and her entering the Buddhist hall, the Emperor Emeritus suddenly suspected that someone had mistreated her because of his attitude.

Or rather, someone simply wanted to harm her.

It's not impossible.

Too many people died in this palace because of his negligence.

Even the Crown Prince...

The retired emperor was very anxious.

Fortunately, the two palaces are not very far apart.

As soon as I entered, I heard Consort Zhen coughing.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

"The Emperor Emeritus... cough cough~ cough cough cough~~~~"

Consort Zhen bowed on the couch, but she seemed afraid of catching the illness from the Emperor Emeritus, and said anxiously while coughing, "Emperor Emeritus, please don't come in, cough cough, it would be bad if you caught the illness."

When the Emperor Emeritus saw that she was coughing into the bed, and that her concern for him seemed genuine, he couldn't help but sigh, "How did you get so sick? Where is the imperial physician? Didn't you call one?"

“Yes, it was called out the day before yesterday.”

Consort Zhen's face could not hide her sadness. "Ahem, but this illness comes on like a landslide and goes away like pulling silk from a cocoon. How can it be so quick?"

She did not inform the Emperor Emeritus as soon as she developed a fever.

"Your Majesty, I am getting old."

She had been researching how to make herself look pale, weak, and beautiful while ill for many years, and had always done a good job.

Consort Zhen, coughing and wheezing, said, "Prince Jin is leaving the capital..."

After confirming that the Emperor Emeritus did not frown, she continued, "He is my only son in my entire life. He has never left us, and now he has gone so far away..."

As she spoke, tears streamed down her face. "I don't know if I'll ever see him again. Cough cough... cough cough cough..."

The earth-shattering cough startled the retired emperor.

The empress was like that before.

Coughing and coughing...

Consort Zhen suddenly covered her mouth, and a drop of blood fell onto the handkerchief, which she quickly covered up.

But the retired emperor had already seen it.

"You want the Prince of Jin to return?"

His voice was unusually soft.

"……Can?"

Consort Zhen's eyes were brimming with tears, yet they seemed to overflow with anticipation.

"It was only because of your imperial decree that he was sent to the south..."

She seemed reluctant to put the Emperor Emeritus in a difficult position, saying, "Fine, let him go!"

The Emperor Emeritus: "..."

The son travels by horse-drawn carriage, covering about a hundred miles a day.

It's so slow it's infuriating.

The retired emperor had long regretted appointing him as the so-called "Guan Nan Envoy".

Especially with Wang Ziteng working at full speed.

If Prince Teng arrives, and the Prince of Jin hasn't even covered a quarter of the distance, then the father of the Prince will be laughed at.

"What counts?"

Just then, Consort Zhen gave him this perfect excuse: "Dai Quan, immediately send someone by fast horse to bring Prince Jin back to attend to the Consort's illness."

The Emperor Emeritus looked at Consort Zhen with concern, "You should focus on recovering and not worry about anything."

With the Prince of Jin at home, the emperor's son has to be on his guard.

Although the retired emperor was very happy that the emperor had helped him avenge his previous humiliation, his feelings became increasingly complicated precisely because the emperor had helped him avenge his previous humiliation.

He was worried because his son was not as good as him.

My son is so capable...

Sometimes it can be really frustrating!
Regardless of how it will be recorded in future historical records, just looking at the present, the retired emperor clearly felt that some court officials were now more inclined to side with the emperor's son.

This is something that drives him crazy.

His health is still good, even though he is the retired emperor.

How long has the Longevity Festival been held?

The fact that the war in the north is going so smoothly is clearly because he is supporting it.

But those people only cared about the emperor…

After the Emperor Emeritus confirmed that Prince Jin would return, he felt relieved. "I'll take care of everything! I'll keep an eye on things, and Prince Jin will be back in a few days."