The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 275 Southern Xinjiang
February 11th, Minor Snow.

While waiting for lunch after class, Yingchun chatted with Baochai and watched her younger sisters, who were wearing thick fur cloaks, building a snow pile on Mr. Fatty's dog outside.

Fatty probably knew what they were going to do, and he wagged his tail and happily circled around them.

Amidst the laughter and occasional barking of dogs, Shen Ning, who was approaching with an umbrella, was in a very good mood.

"Huh? What are those chubby eyes made of?"

Baochai caught a glimpse of it and couldn't help but smile.

Yingchun sensed something was wrong and immediately jumped up. Qin Keqing, quick as a flash, shoved her babbling aunt, who was crying and wanting to go out, towards her.

"Aah~"

When Jia Yue saw her second sister catch her steadily, she pointed outside with her little finger, still wanting to go out.

"You can not!"

The house has underfloor heating, but it's really cold outside.

Yingchun dared not let her younger sister go out, saying, "Be good, we'll watch from inside."

She could already see the little snow dog's eyes.

hum~
She used two black jade beads given to her by her father.

"Xiuju, keep a close eye on them, don't let them lose my black jade bead."

This is something her father has been working on for a long time.

Although they weren't perfectly round due to his skill level, they were still his first ten practice pieces after he became fascinated with seal carving.

Because of these black jade beads, she and her mother made up their minds to work together to make her father fall in love with wood, and also to get help from outside jobs.

I don't seek to make money, I just hope not to cause harm.

After all, the jobs he could take on were only worth one or two taels of silver, at most five taels. If he really messed it up, he would only have to pay five taels of silver in compensation.

But the items in the house are all exquisite pieces carefully selected by our ancestors. If they are damaged, it would mean a loss of tens, hundreds, or even thousands of taels of silver.

"Eh~"

Xiuju happily agreed and actively participated in building a kennel for the snow dog, Pangpang.

When Shen Ning arrived, Snow Dog's chubby little kennel was almost finished.

"Auntie~"

Daiyu exclaimed in surprise, "What have you brought us this time?"

Xiaodong and the others were all carrying food boxes.

"Auntie!"

"Auntie!"

"Mrs!"

"Madam Shen..."

Everyone bowed, and even Baochai came out of the house.

"Hmm, I got a new piece of venison."

Shen Ning glanced at her daughter, who was being held down in the room by Yingchun, and said with a smile, "It's for Mr. Zhan. If you want it... you'll have to ask him!"

Her hand injury hadn't fully healed, so she couldn't enjoy the venison.

But Shen Ning still remembered that the young girls in the Dream of the Red Chamber all loved to eat.

Perfect timing! It's snowing today, let's gather around a fire, roast some meat, and maybe even exchange a few poems...

After glancing at her daughter who was still crawling, Shen Ning could only swallow this fantasy.

"gentlemen!"

"Sir, sir..."

When Zhan Xue came out to greet them, she was surrounded by a group of girls and could only say, "Okay, okay, we'll grill it later."

She bowed to Shen Ning and invited, "Madam, please join us!"

This often happened last year when my wife was in good health.

A cup of tea, a plate of snacks, and basking in the sun together.

Everyone got along very comfortably.

Therefore, it was only natural for Zhan Xue to extend the invitation.

"Venus meat is not safe to eat for now!"

Shen Ning declined with regret, "Wait until I feel better."

"Is that so?"

Zhan Xue felt sorry for her, blinked, and smiled, "Then I'll eat a few more pieces for you."

“Mmm,” Shen Ning nodded with a smile, “I asked Aunt Li to prepare a few more seasonings. Whichever one you like best, we’ll make that next time.”

They have similar tastes.

"...I knew it!"

Bringing venison when you can't eat it is definitely not a good thing.

Zhan Xue smiled at the group of stunned children, "Come try the new product with me!"

Aunt Li is indeed a very skilled cook, but her occasional flashes of brilliance can be quite deadly.

The last few times I made pomelo chicken, it was absolutely awful.

Although it has been improved time and time again, Zhan Xue still doesn't want to see chickens now.

"Pfft~"

Seeing Daiyu's worried face, Shen Ning couldn't help but laugh. "Good girl, be more enthusiastic. Aunt Li is waiting for your feedback."

There are only a few kinds of barbecue seasonings, and in her opinion, even the worst ones wouldn't be that much worse.

Shen Ning and Zhan Xue were happily having lunch with a group of children and doing a barbecue, unaware that rumors of her having an affair with her brother-in-law were spreading throughout a small village.

……

Yuanjiang City, the Zhennan General's Mansion.

Wang Ziteng stared at the map, his mood not very good.

The capital city has produced a revolving musket that can fire six shots in a row, but he doesn't have a single one here.

"grown ups!"

Wang Jin rushed over, saying, "I just received news that the Prince of Nan'an may be returning to the capital."

what?
Wang Ziteng wanted to scoff, "Is he going to desert again?"

"no!"

Wang Jin's breathing became somewhat rapid. "It is said that he received a letter from the capital, requesting to return to Beijing and relinquish his military power."

The right to surrender troops?
Back to Beijing?
Wang Ziteng's expression changed drastically, "Really?"

"The message was sent by our secret guards in Guangnan Prefecture."

Wang Jin wasn't sure, but he said, "It's probably also because of that revolver musket that can fire six bullets."

The Prince of Nan'an was afraid.

But if he retreats now, it won't be in their best interest. *Thump*
Wang Ziteng slammed his fist on the table.

If Wang Jin could think of a problem, how could he not?
The Emperor summoned him here for two reasons: first, to restrain the Prince of Nan'an, and second, to deter the small foreign countries that were eager to covet the territory of the Great Zhao.

Now that things have calmed down in the north, they've also quieted down.

After the Prince of Nan'an left, he...

Wang Ziteng's mind was racing.

He has always been a man of great ambition.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to take advantage of their brother-in-law Jia Zheng's ignorance to so extensively consolidate the Jia family's influence in the army.

now……

What if he goes to Guangnan Prefecture first and takes over the military power from the Prince of Nan'an on behalf of the Emperor?
He was, in fact, the emperor's representative.

There shouldn't be any problem with taking over the military power from the Prince of Nan'an, right?
Wang Ziteng was extremely envious of what that person was holding.

But another voice in my head was trying to stop me.

Without the constraints of the retired emperor and Prince Jin, the emperor will no longer be as tolerant as before.

The Prince of Nan'an's mansion, passed down from his ancestors, still had to relinquish power; he...

"Wang Jin, go to Guangnan Prefecture in person and meet with the Prince of Nan'an. Tell him that I want to borrow troops to teach that guy surnamed Ruan a lesson."

"grown ups……"

Wang Jin swallowed hard. "What's the reason for sending troops?"

After the people in the north became obedient, they became exceptionally obedient.

The Prince of Nan'an was just as clear about this as they were.

"...Didn't some elderly people from Lijiazhuang come to file a complaint last year?"

A ruthless glint flashed in Wang Ziteng's eyes. "Now that the New Year and the festival are over, it's time to send troops to take revenge."

"What if the Prince of Nan'an disagrees?"

Wang Jin had to ask clearly.

Their adults have bad tempers and ruined his important plans; his life might be in danger immediately.

"Ho~"

Wang Ziteng sneered, "If you disagree, then ask him for me, what is 'Nan'an'?"

Emperor Taizu initially enfeoffed his ancestor as the Prince of Nan'an to guard the southern border.

They have the responsibility to defend the territory.

However, after his grandfather and father passed away, he lived a life of ease in Guangnan Prefecture, losing many places in the process.
In the past, the imperial court was too far away to know, but now... just how much has he uncovered?
He wants to reclaim it for the Great Zhao Dynasty. If the Prince of Nan'an dares not cooperate, he can expect to be impeached ten times!

Did he think that if he behaved himself and relinquished power, the emperor would let him go?
dream!

"Go!"

"Yes!"

Wang Jin left in a hurry.

Wang Ziteng picked up his sword and drew it with a clang. "Men, prepare the horses and head to the military camp."

He was on his way to mobilize troops, unaware that the emperor had already learned through secret channels that the Prince of Nan'an was going to the capital to hand over power.

He was pleased to see this.

Those who are willing to be honest will be treated with respect, out of consideration for their ancestors and the great contributions made to the Great Zhao by the previous two generations.

A few days later, the Princess Dowager of Nan'an received a handwritten letter from her son; he was really coming back.

With her hair turning quite white, she finally got a good night's sleep.

The next day, he went to see Grandmother Jia of the Rongguo Mansion to catch up with her.

As soon as she left, the old lady had someone invite Shen Ning to her residence.

"...The Prince of Nan'an wants to relinquish military power?"

Shen Ning was quite surprised.

In the novel *Dream of the Red Chamber*, the Prince of Nan'an was ultimately defeated in the southern border region and had to send a foreign ruler to marry a foreign ruler.

The Princess Dowager of Nan'an couldn't bear to part with her own daughter, so she chose Tan Chun instead.

"Yes!"

Grandmother Jia felt quite sad.

They are all descendants of founding heroes, and their ancestors all had connections. Now, one by one...

"You haven't seen it, but the Princess Dowager of Nan'an looks quite old now."

"...Separation from one's own flesh and blood is never a good thing."

Shen Ning breathed a sigh of relief.

With the Prince of Nan'an's return and Prince Teng's abilities, surely he wouldn't be so defeated as to have to arrange a marriage alliance?

hiss~
Unfortunately, this person has a close relationship with the Jia family.

In the Dream of the Red Chamber, the Jia family's property was confiscated...

Shen Ning has been thinking a lot lately, and she feels that it's mainly related to Wang Ziteng.

When Yuan-chun was made a concubine, the Jia family not only gained no benefits, but also emptied their coffers to build the Grand View Garden.

Such a family has long been no threat to the royal family.

But Wang Ziteng is different.

In truth, he was also helped up by the Jia family.

He rose through the ranks step by step, and was finally about to reach the capital when a certain medicine ruined his life.

What a coincidence!
"With the Prince of Nan'an back, the Dowager Princess of Nan'an is at ease, and things will gradually get better."

"Yeah, I think so too."

Grandmother Jia nodded, but she also had concerns. "That's right, the Prince of Nan'an is back, and I'm afraid Prince Teng's official position will be promoted again."

The old lady was unhappy about Wang Ziteng being promoted.

Because of him, her second son is still suffering outside.

“If his official rank were any higher, I’m afraid Wang Zisheng would have stood up for his sister.”

It's infuriating that the Xue family is still living in their house.

It's been so long, and this family still hasn't moved out.

The old lady, who had lived to such an old age, knew very well that the Xue family was taking advantage of the Jia family's influence.

"...Take a look!"

If things really get out of hand, they're not to be trifled with.

Shen Ning actually hoped that Wang Zisheng would cause some trouble.

That way, if something happens to the Wang family, it won't implicate the Jia family.

"If Wang Ziteng is to be promoted again, he will most likely restrain Wang Zisheng for the sake of his own future."

Wang Ziteng is no fool.