The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 239 Want to Live

Chapter 239 Want to Live
What exactly went wrong?

Liu Yuan didn't know how he had been exposed.

Shuntian Prefecture seems to have a general idea of his location, but they don't know his specific situation, otherwise they wouldn't be searching house to house.

If I really get caught...

The emperor would not be grateful to him for defeating Prince Jin and his allies.

ho~
All he wanted was a place to rest close to his deceased family members, so why was it so difficult?

Liu Yuan was filled with grief and indignation.

In fact, when the Prince of Jin was killed, he vaguely knew that he was not safe either. He originally thought of renting a house outside the city so that he could visit the graves of his deceased family members during festivals. However, he did not expect that nowadays, he had to register with the government in person to rent a house. Especially for single men, regardless of age, it is said that they have to wash their faces with hot water first.

Liu Yuan dared not imagine the consequences of washing his face with hot water.

He could only continue emptying the chamber pot here.

now……

Liu Yuan hunched over and turned through three alleys, avoiding the soldiers searching ahead, before finally arriving at the old house where he lived.

There's a man who empties chamber pots next door; his manure cart has been parked in the corner for ages. There's only one possibility he's not home: he's checking on the soldiers.

How to do?
In a little while, the officials and soldiers from Shuntian Prefecture will surely come to investigate.

Liu Yuan's heart pounded like a drum as he searched everywhere for a place to hide.

But no matter how many times it was proposed, it was rejected.

As the noise outside grew closer, he had no choice but to put on a thick cotton coat, cover his head and face, stuff the loose silver and a few silver notes into his pocket, and crawl into the manure cart next door.

It stinks!

But compared to life, it's nothing.

Once Liu Yuan lay down, he dared not move.

He listened to the sounds outside, trying his best to slow down his breathing.

Where are the people in this house?

"The manure cart is back, so the person must be back. If they're not here... they've probably gone out."

Old Luo next door also helped the soldiers look for supplies.

"...When you came back, did the manure cart from this area return?"

When Chief Constable Lu asked this question, his eyes were looking around.

Ningrong Street has been sealed off. Getting in is easy, but getting out... requires a household registration certificate.

"not yet!"

Lao Luo quickly shook his head.

"How long have you been emptying chamber pots here?"

"This old man has been here for fifteen years."

Luo glanced at Li Shi'er, who was in charge of them.

"What about the person who isn't here?"

"Old Xin was even earlier than him, seventeen years ago."

Li Shi'er is in charge of this area.

He didn't have any oily hair from emptying the chamber pot, so he hadn't paid much attention to this area before.

Hearing this from inside the manure cart, Liu Yuan hurriedly prayed that Lao Luo would not speak.

But what you fear most is what comes to pass.

"Master~"

Old Luo said tremblingly, "You forgot, Old Xin broke his leg last year and went home to recuperate. Now, his nephew Xin Nian is living in his place."

Although emptying chamber pots smells bad and is hard work, you can earn about two taels of silver a year after food and drink.

So Lao Xin couldn't bear to give up this job. Since he couldn't do it himself for the time being, he let his nephew do it.

"what?"

When everyone looked over, Li Shi'er scratched her head and asked, "Is that so?"

He really forgot.

"How old is his nephew, Xin Nian?"

Chief Constable Lu glanced at him indifferently and then ignored him, only asking Lao Luo.

"...around thirty-something, I guess?"

"When did you start working here?"

"It seems to be around the 17th or 18th of the twelfth lunar month. Originally, it was Lao Xin's son who did it, but later his son went home, and his nephew took over."

Lao Luo didn't quite remember the specifics either. "Xin Nian was clean and didn't talk to me much, so I forgot the exact time."

"...Open the door!"

Chief Constable Lu gestured for Li Shi'er to open the door.

Li Shi'er glanced at Lin Zhixiao and quickly took his spare key to open the door.

Sure enough, although the room was cluttered with many items, it was arranged neatly and cleanly.

Chief Constable Lu touched the table with his hand, then glanced at the bed, his temple twitching involuntarily.

The blanket on the bed was very thick. He took a few steps forward, lifted the sheet, and confirmed that there was also a very thick blanket underneath. He already had some doubts in his mind.

The arrested men said that Mr. Liu was extremely suspicious, and they lost track of him several times.

Because they still needed him, they didn't dare to go too far, only knowing that he was probably in the Ningrong Street area.

Unexpectedly!

Chief Constable Lu let out a soft breath, seemingly casually restoring the bedsheet to its original position. "If he returns, have him make a trip to Shuntian Prefecture."

"……Yes!"

Li Shi'er responded loudly, "Yes."

The Xin family can forget about doing the job of emptying chamber pots.

They changed people again and again, and I haven't even given them any money as a tribute.

"go!"

Chief Constable Lu waved his hand and said, "Go to the alley at the west end."

The footsteps gradually faded away, and Liu Yuan, inside the manure cart, finally relaxed.

He's afraid to go out now.

Since Dong Xiaoquan has become suspicious of this area and has made such a big show of it, he won't retreat anytime soon.

Rather than going out now and being questioned, he'd rather wait until tomorrow and leave the city under the pretense of delivering manure.

He endured the hunger and thirst, slowly waiting for time to pass.

Sure enough, the noise gradually subsided, the sky grew dark, and time continued to tick by.

Once he was sure Lao Luo was asleep and there were no other noises around, Liu Yuan carefully climbed out of the manure cart.

He was filthy.

But now is not the time to worry about that.

Under the moonlight, Liu Yuan was about to take off his cotton-padded clothes and turban, which were stained with excrement, when he froze.

Three other long shadows stretched out beneath his feet.

Ruined.

Liu Yuan looked up and, sure enough, Chief Constable Lu and two constables were staring at him coldly.

"Mr. Liu, our master requests that you make a trip to Shuntian Prefecture."

As Chief Constable Lu leaped down from the wall, his voice was very low, "Please—go ahead!"

Liu Yuan: "..."

What else could he do?
"May I change my clothes?"

"...Don't worry, we adults won't mind!"

This person is so intelligent he's almost supernatural.

Their parents said that if they caught it, they should take it back.

Chief Constable Lu didn't want any unnecessary trouble.

After all, adults need to live.

So, not long afterward, Dong Xiaoquan met the smelly Liu Yuan.

This is truly unexpected.

"Let's take a bath and change our clothes!"

As fellow scholars, Dong Xiaoquan greatly valued talent.

In fact, if it weren't for the Prince of Jin's incompetence, Liu Yuan would most likely have passed the imperial examination back then, given his abilities.

pity……

"Thank you!"

Liu Yuan stood upright with his back straight and his hands slightly clasped.

"Thanks are unnecessary."

Dong Xiaoquan sighed inwardly, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "I have mentioned you to the Emperor, and the Emperor greatly admires your talent. He asked me to inquire whether you would be willing to bring back your family's ancestral tablets and whether you would be willing to contribute to the Great Zhao Dynasty."

Liu Yuan: "..."

He desperately wanted to believe Dong Xiaoquan, but the royal family...

"Sir, there is no need to worry."

Dong Xiaoquan said, "His Majesty's use of you is conditional."

"…Tell me about it."

"His Majesty requires you to learn Manchu and Mongolian languages. If possible, it would be even better if you could also learn the languages of Russia and Japan." Liu Yuan: "..."

He began to understand the Emperor's intention in having him learn these things.

"Of course, if you are unwilling, the Emperor has also given you another way."

what?
Looking at Dong Xiaoquan, who seemed open and honest, Liu Yuan felt a stirring in his heart.

"His Majesty said that if your hands cannot be used for the Great Zhao, then they will have to be discarded."

Dong Xiaoquan looked at him and said, "His Majesty is a benevolent ruler. I am enduring your stench to speak to you now because I do not want you to commit suicide, nor do I want you to bury your talents."

"...I don't want to die!"

Liu Yuan's voice was hoarse; he hadn't eaten or drunk anything all day. "Please, sir, prepare hot water and hot meals for me."

He had actually learned almost all of the languages of the Tatars and the Jurchens.

The Prince of Jin aspired to the throne, while he... later aspired to become a renowned minister.

The Tatars and the Jurchens were his main subjects of study.

He wanted to use his own two hands to withstand 100,000 soldiers for the Great Zhao.

Liu Yuan was once very ambitious.

pity……

"happy!"

Dong Xiaoquan smiled, "I'll be waiting for you."

Although he was getting older and had to attend court early in the morning, Mr. Liu, whom he had been longing for for so long, was right in front of him, and he was willing to wait.

Watching Liu Yuan being led away to bathe and change clothes, Dong Xiaoquan beckoned to Chief Constable Lu and said softly, "Report this to the palace."

The emperor is also very tired these past two days.

However, Dong Xiaoquan believed that he would be happy to hear news about Mr. Liu.

So, in the middle of the night, the emperor, who was sleeping in the Kunning Palace, was woken up by Liu An.

"Your Majesty, Lord Dong has captured Mr. Liu."

"Well, let them arrest me then!"

The emperor was in a daze, and was only angry that Dong Xiaoquan had arrested someone and then had to come to him to fart.

"Your Majesty, it is Mr. Liu from the Prince of Jin's residence."

what?
The empress regained consciousness before the emperor. As she sat up abruptly, the emperor's eyes snapped open as well. "That Liu Yuan?"

"Yes!"

"Good good!"

The emperor was now fully awake. "Where was he caught?"

"He was emptying his chamber pot on Ningrong Back Street."

What?
The emperor's lips twitched slightly. "Where is he now? Tell Dong Xiaoquan that I want to see him in person."

This person needs to be guarded against, but also utilized.

It's simple to guard against him: just send more people to watch him.

The emperor dared to use him and wanted to use him because he had been persuaded by Dong Xiaoquan for a long time.

He returned and complained to the Empress, who then tried to persuade him.

In the Empress's mind, he was someone who indirectly helped the couple.

You can't reward them, but you absolutely can't take their lives either.

The emperor had no way to deal with the empress, and after thinking about it, he figured he could spare her life, so why not use her?
"Yesterday, to avoid being captured, he hid in a manure cart. Now he is bathing and changing clothes at Lord Dong's place. It shouldn't be long before Lord Dong takes him to the palace."

"Did anyone else notice when they arrested him?"

The Empress couldn't help but ask Liu An.

"no!"

Liu An quickly shook his head, "It was Chief Constable Lu who personally took charge."

"That's good."

The emperor was very satisfied and stood up, saying, "It's still early. You can sleep a little longer. I'll come and talk to you after court."

"Fine!"

The Empress was somewhat disappointed. Just as she was about to lie down, she remembered something and hurriedly said, "Wear something thicker, and put on a cloak." She winked at the Emperor, "Later, when you're in a good mood, give the cloak to Mr. Liu."

Ok?
The emperor understood, patted his wife's hand, and said, "I know. Shall I send him a cloak?"

"Haha, Your Majesty understands me best."

The empress lay down with a smile.

In the matter of the Prince of Jin, Liu Yuan collaborated with some self-proclaimed remnants of the previous dynasty.

Many decisions are made hastily.

otherwise……

The Empress felt that if there were two more people among them who were as intelligent as Liu Yuan, they could have handled things more meticulously.

Besides, what did Liu Yuan do wrong?

The evidence he delivered to Shuntian Prefecture also helped the couple capture Prince An, Prince Kang, and others.

As for those people who were murdered in the Sinners' Village, it was done by certain members of the imperial family of the Great Zhao Dynasty.

Those people are trying to snag a bargain.

Compared to Liu Yuan, these so-called relatives are truly despicable.

The Empress was originally very patient.

She is willing to wait.

She held the emperor's hand and waited with him until the retired emperor grew old.

Year after year, she only worried that one day the emperor would lose his patience and follow in the footsteps of the crown prince.

If that happens, that family will be left destitute.

now……

The Queen still had patience, but she was no longer willing to give it to someone with a repulsive face.

"I'm waiting for your good news!"

Sometimes even emperors are like children; they need to be praised.

Perhaps because no one praised her when she was young, she can praise anything she wants.

The Empress was willing to praise him.

She doted on her husband and would never miss an opportunity to praise him.

"Hahaha, just you wait!"

With Liu An's assistance, the emperor dressed and strode out.

The palace quickly quieted down again.

The Empress, clutching the blankets, couldn't help but roll around on the bed.

These are the good days now.

She will go and offer incense to the Bodhisattva tomorrow.

She was sleeping happily there, while Liu Yuan, having eaten and drunk his fill, followed Dong Xiaoquan in a carriage all the way to the palace.

Emperor!
Who could have imagined that the throne would fall to him?

They all thought that the Crown Prince had fallen and that the Prince of Jin's ascension to the throne was a sure thing.

"Your Majesty... what do you like?"

As he was about to enter the palace, Liu Yuan felt uneasy.

He wants to live.

If I survive, I can realize my ambitions, which would be even better.

"I like money."

Dong Xiaoquan smiled and said, "You know, the emperor has always been poor, and he can't stand seeing his subjects being richer than him."

Liu Yuan: "..."

"Don't be fooled by the fact that the national treasury has money now. People who have been poor for a long time are usually reluctant to spend money and want to be like the mythical creature Pixiu."

Dong Xiaoquan looked at him and said, "The Russians have reached Heihe, and they need money from all sides. Do you have a way to make the Emperor make another fortune?"

"……No!"

Liu Yuan shook his head.

He handed over everything he knew.

“But we have no silver, while those golden men do.”

Ok?
Dong Xiaoquan stroked his beard. "You mean, the ones they robbed from the Central Plains back then?"

"Not bad!"

They plundered the Central Plains, taking far too much with them.

Liu Yuan said, "Didn't they want us to provide some support? Here you go, but they have to give us silver in return."

"...Well, when you see the Emperor, just say that!"

They also mentioned this point on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

We need to keep those Jurchens at bay, to prevent them from bringing the Tatars with them to join the Russians.

But helping them... makes me feel really uneasy.