The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 224 Discovery
The southern part of the city can be said to be the place with the strongest festive atmosphere in the entire capital.

Even the poorest families, who can't afford clothes, will always buy their children a hair tie after a year of hard work.

As soon as Shen Ning's carriage entered the southern part of the city, she heard cheers from afar.

Huh?
Is it a fire hoop trick?
Shen Ning's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but lift the carriage curtain a little more.

The acrobats playing the monkey leaped and darted through one ring of fire after another, their movements becoming increasingly dangerous, drawing gasps of admiration from the audience.

"Oh no, did any of you bring copper coins?"

Shen Ning wanted to take a stroll, but her purse contained only gold peanuts and silver melon seeds.

Leaving these things exposed in a place like this will definitely attract thieves.

She came here looking for fun, and didn't want her good mood ruined by a thief.

"Madam, Qingping and I both brought them."

Qingzhu smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'll definitely have a great time."

"Yes, I have one too."

Wen Peilan smiled and patted her own purse.

"You have them all?"

Shen Ning happily reached out her hand, "Come on, lend me twenty copper coins each."

She was going to put all her golden peanuts into a secret bag.

If someone actually rewards others with silver melon seeds, that's just their luck.

So, before long, they had left their carriages behind, and with two guards, one in the open and one in the shadows, they blended into the crowd.

That stall belonging to Jia Zheng...

Because it's so remote, so far away from them.

Shen Ning originally wanted to watch the acrobatics, but at the stall she passed by, the woman's scissors danced nimbly, and soon the city gate tower of the south city, the buildings on both sides of the street, and even a few soldiers and pedestrians were cut out.

Wow, this skill...

"How much is it?"

When I was little, my grandmother would cut the paper-cut window decorations at home. Occasionally, she would cut out little rabbits or something to amuse me.

Unfortunately, at that time, besides going to school, her biggest interests were watching TV and reading novels, and later she was distracted by her mobile phone, so she never learned this skill.

By the time she realized how good it was, her grandmother was long gone.

Seeing such superb paper-cutting skills, how could Shen Ning resist?
"This requires a lot of paper and is quite troublesome to cut."

The woman was a little shy, but she tried her best to say, "Four hundred coins, is that alright, Madam?"

"……become!"

Four hundred coins, that's such a bargain.

Shen Ning nodded hurriedly, "Then please fold it up and put it away for me."

"Hey~"

The woman hadn't expected that she hadn't even haggled over the price, so she quickly and carefully folded it up.

"Will you be doing business here until the Lunar New Year?"

"Yes."

The woman nodded hurriedly, "What else do you need, Madam? Just tell me, I can cut anything."

"That would be wonderful! The south city is very lively today. Do you think we could use bigger pieces of paper and cut out more to make the streets even more bustling?"

At this point, Shen Ning readily took out two more silver melon seeds. "This is a deposit. Can I come back in three days to collect it?"

"Ok, Ok!"

Small paper-cut window decorations cost only one coin for three pieces.

It's difficult, but you can earn money from it!

The woman readily agreed.

The exclamations of children came from not far away. After Qingzhu put away the Nancheng paper-cuttings, Shen Ning looked over.

Good heavens, dough figurines!

Although this craft is not lost in modern times, she hasn't seen it for many years.

Wen Peilan followed closely behind.

The old man's fingers were nimble; after kneading the dough, it seemed to come alive. In no time, a small dough figurine that looked almost exactly like a child was freshly made.

A look of surprise flashed in Shen Ning's eyes. "Pei Lan, would you like to make one?"

Wen Peilan: "..."

She didn't know what to say.

This is something for little kids to play with...

"If Madam likes it, then Madam should make it!"

Wen Peilan said, "Father-in-law, make one for our wife."

What's there to be embarrassed about?

Do I have to tell her first?
"Then...make one for me!"

Shen Ning regretfully sent Jia Yue to Ningcui Pavilion.

but……

Thinking about the group of children who are not very old, she couldn't help but want to take this clay figurine master home.

She's difficult to manage, so we can have Jia Zhen come over and invite her tomorrow!

The only regret about Shen Ning now is that her clay figurines are not easy to preserve.

The sound of gongs and drums came from ahead, attracting the attention of all the children.

It turned out that a lion dance troupe had arrived.

Oh my, it's so good that you came today.

Just like her, Qingzhu and Qingping found everything fascinating, and of course, their hands were constantly reaching for money.

It includes all sorts of things like breaking rocks on your chest, breathing fire, stabbing swords into your throat, and walking on stilts.

They watched each one with great interest.

As they traveled along, the four of them had almost nothing left in their pockets.

"Madam, that's the Second Master..."

It seems they came here today mainly to see the Second Master.

Qingping tugged at Shen Ning.

Shen Ning looked up and saw Jia Zheng, who had once been very charming and seemed to be a dignified and prudent gentleman, now looked very old. However, his hand holding the pen was still quite steady, as if he was writing a letter to someone.

It's said that writing a letter costs twenty coins, which seems reasonable.

Jia Zheng in *Dream of the Red Chamber* longed for the idyllic life of Daoxiang Village, and now he has achieved his wish…

"Hmm, it looks pretty good!"

Shen Ning glanced at him and said, "Are you hungry after shopping for so long? Come on, I'll treat you to a bowl of noodles."

She stopped looking at Jia Zheng and headed towards the shop that advertised Yangchun noodles.

"Hmm, this place looks clean too."

The desktop is neatly organized.

The waiter's clothes were also clean.

Shen Ning went over to eat her noodles without worry.

She didn't notice the beggar passing by, but the beggar wanted to notice her.

The Prince of Jin had half a bowl of chicken noodle soup today, which made his stomach rumble even more, so he's been wandering around the noodle shops in the area.

He never begged from heartless men; he only targeted women.

Four of them suddenly appeared...

The Prince of Jin involuntarily crawled towards this side.

but……

Upon seeing Shen Ning's appearance, he was so excited that his whole body trembled.

Madam Shen of Ningguo Mansion?

she……

Although he hated her to death, he now had to rely on her.

"Ugh~, Ahhhhhh~~~~"

His voice was hoarse and a little sore, but Prince Jin didn't care at all. He tried his best to call out to Shen Ning.

He was a prince, and the Jia family were his subjects.

He may do things that are unfair to the Jia family, but when his subjects see him in his current state, they should still offer him assistance.

He was not the one who orchestrated the mutiny; he was innocent.

His leg was broken, his hand was broken, and he couldn't speak, but he could still use his mouth to hold a pen and explain things clearly.

In short, he refused to be a beggar, no matter where he was.

"Get out, get out, where did this beggar come from?"

The waiter hates beggars who bother customers the most.

If you stay quiet and behave yourself, the manager will let you beg for food here.

If there's any left over, we'll pour it out.

But this guy actually tried to climb into the store.

The waiter kicked the Prince of Jin out the door.

"Ahhh~ Ahhhh~~~~" Prince Jin wanted to shout louder to attract Shen Ning's attention.

But she was sitting with her back to the door. Although she turned her head when she heard the sound, the waiter blocked her view, so she quickly turned her head back.

She wanted to show some pity to the beggars, but unfortunately, the money in her purse was probably only enough for them to eat noodles.

The golden peanuts in the hidden pouch could be used to make a bowl of noodles for each beggar, but that would have to wait until she left and have the guards do it.

Shen Ning didn't want others to notice her.

Without the ever-watchful and determined Prince Jin who was determined to kill her, she would definitely go out shopping more often.

If people really notice it, it will be a troublesome matter.

By the time the plain noodles were served, Prince Jin had already been lectured by two old beggars who were also begging for food there.

If these beggars really disrupt the shopkeepers' business, what future will they have?
This person is ruining everyone's livelihood!

The Prince of Jin was kicked in the injured leg, and tears and snot streamed down his face from the pain, but he was warned not to howl. If he dared to howl...

He dared not howl when faced with someone's fist.

But I really cried.

She cried very sadly.

He was right here in the capital, a place he could easily ride a horse back to before, but now it felt like he was thousands of miles away.

Prince Jin had considered it; he crawled all the way back to the Prince Jin's residence.

But it's so far, and it's so cold. If we can't climb it in a day, what will we do at night?
If he were outside, he could freeze to death.

The Prince of Jin even climbed over the city gate, but few of the soldiers there had a good temper.

In his current state, if he is driven out of the city again, he will have even less hope for the future.

Prince Jin shed tears for a while in the shadows of the alley, then, counting that Shen Ning and the others would come out, he hurriedly climbed out again.

He didn't notice that a carriage had been stopped across the street for quite a while.

Accompanied by Chief Constable Lu, Dong Xiaoquan lifted a corner of the curtain and was looking at him.

"grown ups……"

"Shh~"

Dong Xiaoquan gently made a 'shh' gesture.

He had previously thought that the Prince of Jin was dead.

Holding onto a slim hope, they asked Constable Lu to investigate the beggars in the capital.

But I didn't expect to actually find it.

The Prince of Jin is not dead, but... it would be better if he were.

That Mr. Liu Yuan is trying to make him wish he were dead!

Unfortunately, this person lacked backbone.

Anyone with a modicum of backbone would have smashed their head against a wall and died long ago.

Today he received news that King Kang could not bear the hardship of relying on his own strength and hanged himself with a belt.

"Just let him be!"

After thinking it over, Dong Xiaoquan decided to "keep an eye on him and see if Liu Yuan will come back to see his masterpiece."

"Yes!"

This is using the Prince of Jin as bait.

Chief Constable Lu nodded immediately.

"What he wants to do is none of your concern; in short, you know nothing about it."

Dong Xiaoquan said, "Coming here often is your own interest."

"Yes!"

I like this kind of official.

Chief Constable Lu couldn't help but smile.

The Prince of Jin's desire to prove his identity was nothing but a pipe dream.

Don't even mention his appearance; few people would recognize him anymore. And even if they did, how many would be willing to go to great lengths for him?

When they searched the Prince of Jin's residence, they found quite a few things.

What's the point of verifying your identity?
He's no longer a prince.

It would be better to leave it here and let them search for Mr. Liu, who is elusive and rarely seen.

"Ahhh~~ Ughhhh~~~"

Prince Jin grabbed a stone and tapped it on the ground, trying to make noise to attract Shen Ning's attention.

Shen Ning was indeed attracted for a moment, and when she looked at him, Prince Jin's eyes were full of excitement.

He held the stone, trying his best to draw the character "晋" (Jin) on the ground.

"Madam~"

Wen Peilan sensed something strange about the beggar and stepped forward cautiously.

"Madam, please have pity on this old man!"

The old beggar who had just hit the Prince of Jin was afraid that he would steal his business, so he hurriedly stepped forward. In his withered hands, he held a bowl with a missing tooth, which attracted Shen Ning's attention.

"Madam, please give us something to eat! We haven't eaten for three days."

Shen Ning: "..."

She glanced at the guards who had followed her.

The guards rushed forward and gave each of them two coins.

His aim was sharp, and two gleaming copper coins accurately struck the slightly upturned body of the Prince of Jin.

Shen Ning quickened her pace and left the area swiftly.

Dong Xiaoquan noticed that she hadn't noticed the Prince of Jin, so he lowered the curtains. "Let's go!"

The carriage quickly departed, but halfway there, just as Shen Ning was about to instruct the accompanying guards to get some food for the beggars, she suddenly remembered something.

She quickly turned her head and looked at the beggar who was trembling as he picked up two copper coins.

wrong!

Shen Ning's heart suddenly started beating faster at that moment.

"Madam, what's wrong?"

Wen Peilan followed her gaze.

"nothing!"

Shen Ning reacted quickly and pulled her along, "Let's go!"

Whether he is the Prince of Jin or not, it has nothing to do with her.

But because of this person, Shen Ning gave up the noodles she originally wanted to give as charity.

"If you want to play, come out tomorrow."

She decided not to investigate.

If it really were the Prince of Jin, it shouldn't have been reported by her or the Jia family.

That Mr. Liu in the shadows might still be watching him.

She's better off not provoking them, since they can outmaneuver the royal family.

Shen Ning quickly made up her mind and strode away.

At the same time, three carriages loaded with valuables were also heading towards Ningrong Street.

The Zhen family's convoy has entered Beijing.

The carriage with its clan emblem worn away went unnoticed by anyone.

The Rongguo Mansion had three carriages, the Nan'an Prince's Mansion also had three carriages, and similarly, the Shi family of Baoling Marquis also had three carriages.

The old lady of the Zhen family had a good idea. Although these three families were related to the Zhen family, they were not that close.

Similarly, these three companies are not ones that the government can investigate at will.

Based on their old connections, if the Zhen family really falls, any of these three families could recover even 10% of the assets, which would be enough for their descendants to live on.

When she was planning her escape route, that's what she was thinking. But she never expected that the Prince of Jin would fall so quickly, and the Emperor Emeritus wouldn't even be able to say a word.

Wang Xifeng was quite surprised when she received the visiting card from the Zhen family.

"Who is this?"

"Two housekeepers."

Ping'er hurriedly said, "They look very flustered. Lin Zhixiao's wife said she wouldn't see any guests, but they are still begging not to leave."

"...Send it out."

Wang Xifeng's face changed color. "What are you all good for? What relationship do we have with the Zhen family?"

They've been enemies for a long time.

The eldest uncle of the East Mansion has lost his life.

Although it was Prince Jin who did it, are the Zhen family any good?
How much silver did Yuan Chun, the eldest sister-in-law, spend while she was in the palace?

Her aunt took her home, and Consort Zhen even sent palace servants to sow discord between them.

Why didn't the Zhen family stand up for the Jia family back then?
Now let's...

They're trying to drag their whole family down with them!
"Hurry up and get them out of here right now. If they don't leave, tie them up and report them to the authorities."

Wang Xifeng remembered that her aunt from the East Mansion almost lost her life as well.

"Go, go, go!"

As Ping'er dashed out, Wang Xifeng, still worried, hurriedly went to find her father-in-law, Jia She.