The head of the Red Mansion

My uncle is going back to Beijing.

Xue Baochai couldn't help but feel a little irritable.

That year, she built three caravans.

The Northeast, Mongolia, and Annam—I never leave empty-handed, and I certainly won't leave empty-handed on my return.

Although commercial taxes and road and bridge taxes have increased, local governments are still very careful about the safety of caravans within their borders.

The practice of paying protection money to local bullies no longer exists.

Therefore, in that year, although the Xue family's business had not fully regained its former glory under her control, it was not far off.

Xue Baochai seems to have found the true meaning of life since her father's death.

But would her mother and uncle agree to her continuing like this?

Yesterday, her second uncle, who hadn't been seen for a long time, came to see her mother. She didn't know what they talked about, but in her mother's loving smile, it seemed as if there was an added layer of calculation.

How to do?
Could it be that she's going to have to go to the palace now?

Baochai was extremely unwilling.

The next day, on her way to school, she hesitantly blocked Shen Ning's path as she was walking back from her stroll.

"Baochai greets her aunt!"

"Oh, it's Bao'er. Hasn't class started yet?"

It's getting cold again, so Shen Ning gets up a little later in the morning.

Judging by the time, Mr. Zhan's class should have already started by now.

"Class has already started."

Baochai said, "I came here specifically to wait for my aunt."

what?
Shen Ning paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "It's not far from Tianxiang Tower, so let's walk around together."

"Thank you, Auntie!"

Baochai bowed to her.

The two of them slowly made their way to Tianxiang Tower.

Xiaodong and the others knew they had something to talk about, so they didn't follow.

The two quickly went up to the third floor.

"Auntie, please save me."

Once she was sure no one was around, Baochai immediately begged for help.

Her mother only had her own family and her brother in her eyes. Although her brother was no longer as mischievous as before, the pressure of filial piety meant that he couldn't do anything for her.

Among all the people Baochai considered, only Shen Bo Niang was the one who could save her and had the ability to do so.

She could clearly sense that she didn't like her.

But even though she didn't like it, she still gave her enough face.

She had everything her schoolmates had.

Even when the Empress bestowed upon her the imperial jewelry, she never forgot to give it away to everyone.

Baochai didn't know why she did this, but she knew that she was willing to show her some kindness.

"Get up quickly, the ground is cold. What's wrong? Tell me properly."

Shen Ning quickly pulled her up.

She didn't dare to agree to anything immediately.

This girl is good at using everything she can.

In the Dream of the Red Chamber, if the Jia family hadn't been raided, she would actually be the one who had the last laugh.

“Aunt, my uncle is coming back.” Baochai said, getting up as she did so. “He and my mother may send me to the palace.”

Given the Empress's close relationship with this aunt, Baochai felt that she would definitely prevent her from entering the palace.

And since she took the initiative to refuse to enter the palace, she might be able to get more help from her.

"Oh? You don't want to go to the palace?"

Shen Ning raised an eyebrow slightly, as if questioning her in a scrutinizing manner.

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

Baochai was surprised by her calm demeanor and quickly shook her head, saying, "My uncle has only ever used our family, but my mother can't see through that. No matter how much she tries to persuade her, it won't work. Please help me, Auntie. I really don't want to go to the palace."

"Then... how do you want me to help you? Find you a spouse?"

Shen Ning frowned slightly; she wanted to propose marriage to him.

The former scholar Qian, now the esteemed Master Qian, was sent to her immediately after being missed by Sister You Er.

But she missed it too.

Qian Ruochuan is now a seventh-rank registrar at the Imperial Academy.

He's only twenty years old this year, and his future holds endless possibilities.

Xianglian and his marriage has reached the betrothal stage, and they will be married around next year.

Like Lady Feng, the young girl is a person of exceptional inner beauty.

As far as Shen Ning knew, Xianglian had earned about two hundred taels of silver this year from selling embroidery.

With the money that Lady Feng earned, the mother and daughter had already saved up a considerable dowry.

"But you also know what 'arranged marriage by parents and matchmaker' means. If your mother doesn't agree to your marriage, no amount of outsiders' opinions will change anything."

"no!"

Baochai quickly shook her head, "No, Aunt, I... I just don't want to go to the palace."

She doesn't dare to admit it, so you just tell me you're related.

It can only be said that she didn't want to enter the palace.

However, the best way to avoid entering the palace is to immediately arrange a marriage.

The entire Xue family is under the protection of the Jia family.

As long as Madam Shen is willing to give this word, even if her mother is unwilling, she will give it more consideration.

After all, no matter how good her uncle was, her mother knew she couldn't rely on him completely.

Moreover, as long as Madam Shen is willing to act as a matchmaker for her, her brother will fully support her.

With so many of them, they'll definitely be able to defeat my uncle.

This was the only solution she could think of.

Of course, the most important point is that Madam Shen rarely goes out to socialize. The only people she can talk about as relatives are those she knows in her daily life.

For example, the Shen family...

As long as it's the Shen family, even the uncle wouldn't dare to object anymore.

Lord Shen was promoted before the new year, and his two sons also passed the imperial examination. Although they are now just county magistrates in remote areas, the future of the family is full of promise.

Shen Jia is the eldest son of the second wife and the grand-nephew of Madam Shen.

They will inevitably have to enter officialdom in the future.

Baochai hoped that she would bring it up herself.

"Please, please help me."

As she spoke, tears streamed down her face.

Shen Ning: "..."

The beauty's tears are truly beautiful.

She sighed and said, "In the past year or so, I've heard that the business you've been managing for the family has been doing very well?"

"……Yes!"

Baochai didn't know why she was saying this.

“These past two years, the palace has been taking in mostly young maids,” Shen Ning seemed to change the subject again, “and they’re all from extremely poor families. Baochai, do you know why?”

why?
"Is it... that Her Majesty the Empress takes pity on these people?"

As far as Baochai knew, those who went to the orphanage after leaving the palace, although they could not compare with Mr. Zhan, were still skilled in a variety of things.

They taught the children there to read and embroider, and if they found any with special talent, they would send them to the palace.

Baochai admires those people, but that doesn't mean she wants to become like them.

Even if the current orphanage has one official of the eighth rank and two officials of the eighth rank, she is unwilling to waste a few years in the palace and then go to take care of a bunch of snotty-nosed children.

"Yes, Her Majesty the Empress is very kind-hearted."

Speaking of the Empress, a smile appeared at the corner of Shen Ning's eyes. "If your family wants to send you to the palace, there's a high chance you'll be selected as a concubine, just like Yuan Chun."

This is what Baochai fears most.

The retired emperor is old and has suffered a stroke in recent years. If something were to happen to him, the emperor would have to observe mourning.

Moreover, through various means, Baochai always felt that the Emperor would not, like the former Emperor Emeritus, open up a large harem.

He wanted to be a wise ruler. And he was always on the path to becoming a wise ruler.

“The Emperor Emeritus is not in good health,” Shen Ning said, looking at Baochai. “In order to pray for his health, the Emperor will probably not take any new women into the harem for the next two years. So… Lord Wang probably won’t lose his mind and insist on sending you into the palace.”

"But my second uncle went to see my mother yesterday."

Baochai really cried. "As long as they can enter the palace, whether it's the grand election or a minor election, it's probably all the same to them."

They had confidence in her beauty and intelligence, but she herself did not.

Putting everything else aside, none of her schoolmates were any less impressive than her.

Moreover, they have better family backgrounds.

What you said... is also possible.

Shen Ning frowned and said, "However, entering the palace..." She thought for a moment and said, "The Empress values ​​talent. On her side, there are three fourth-rank, six fifth-rank, nine junior fifth-rank, and twelve sixth-rank official positions specially approved by the Emperor."

Baochai: "..."

For some reason, her heart started pounding wildly.

"As you know, the highest-ranking official in the orphanage of the prefectural city has been appointed to the seventh rank. In the past year or so, orphanages in various places have developed very well, but the main source of income for orphanages is still donations from various places."

This is very unreliable.

They want government funding, but the government treasury isn't exactly flush with cash.

Today there's drought here, tomorrow there's flooding there; disaster relief is needed for both.

Therefore, even if there are government treasury allocations, the amount will be pitifully small.

Shen Ning and the Empress had been looking for a way to solve the problem once and for all.

This era is too harsh on women.

Therefore, Shen Ning also cherishes Xue Baochai quite a bit.

If she could, she thought that even the exceptionally intelligent Baochai would not want to be a parasitic vine dependent on others.

"The operations of the Sales Bureau were already disrupted for a long time due to donations. So..."

Shen Ning extended an invitation to her, "Would you be interested in becoming a lady-in-waiting to the Empress, overseeing merchant caravans?"

Baochai: "..."

She was completely stunned.

To become an official myself?

She couldn't help swallowing.

She looked down on the officials of the orphanage who held the eighth or seventh rank, but...

Baochai didn't quite remember how she came down from Tianxiang Tower, but she knew that her heart had been moved.

Next, we'll see if her uncle and mother really send her to the palace.

Being a high-ranking female official by the Empress's side seems glamorous, but the future is full of uncertainty.

Therefore, she told Madam Shen that she would see what her uncle and mother would choose; if they really sent her to the palace, she would be willing to go to the Empress's side.

on the contrary……

Then forget it.

There seem to be countless paths in life, but in reality, we don't have that many to choose from.

Let fate decide everything!
She still held a sliver of hope for her mother.

The Xue family is large and powerful; her brother can't manage the family business, but she can.

It's better for the Xue family to have her at home.

Of course, if she stayed at home, she could marry a promising scholar, or even a capable assistant from her uncle's side.

Baochai believed that she could manage her future life very well on her own.

She was distracted at school all day.

But unusually, Shen Ning was in a very good mood.

When she saw the Empress again, she mentioned Xue Baochai to her.

"...The Xue family!"

The Empress couldn't help but laugh, "A descendant of the Ziwei Palace Attendant?"

"Exactly!"

Shen Ning smiled, "If she really enters the palace..."

"Go ahead and use it!"

She's willing to use anyone who's talented.

Just as the Emperor said, there is no one in this world who is unusable.

It depends on where it's used.

For example, he was very pleased to appoint Prince Teng, who was known as the "Butcher," as the general who led the expedition against the Japanese pirates.

"As long as she is truly capable."

The orphanage was also a source of great anxiety for the Emperor.

Even in peaceful times, things are this difficult; one can hardly imagine what would happen if a major natural disaster struck.

“I have already spoken to the Emperor,” the Empress said. “The caravan will select some retired veterans.”

As long as they aren't severely disabled, and can handle knives and guns, she thinks it's fine.

"That's a good idea."

Unfortunately, the national treasury is still too poor; otherwise, Shen Ning would have suggested providing more benefits to disabled veterans.

The only benefit the Great Zhao provides them now is a twenty-year exemption from their own land taxes.

"I've already thought about this first caravan."

A special light gleamed in the Queen's eyes. "Let's go to the Rakshasa Kingdom."

The missions that had traveled from the Rakshasa Kingdom to other countries sent back their travel routes.

People from those countries have loved their porcelain, tea, silk, and so on since ancient times.

Traveling further and learning more about that area would be entirely beneficial for Da Zhao.

"Let's go to the Rakshasa Kingdom!"

Shen Ning was very tempted.

She wants to go for a walk around!

pity……

Thinking about her cough, which hadn't fully healed since the beginning of winter, she could only sigh and give up.

"If I were ten years younger, I would definitely go there on behalf of the Empress."

"Hahaha~"

The Empress laughed, “No wonder we are sisters. When I told the Emperor that we were going to form a caravan to the Rakshasa Kingdom, I also said that if I weren’t the Empress, I would definitely go there myself.”

It's a pity we can't leave.

She has more responsibilities.

Moreover, as the emperor's power and prestige grew, she had even more to worry about.

Of all the virtuous empresses in history, very few were able to die peacefully.

In particular, the emperor has not yet appointed a crown prince.

However, she couldn't say these things to this Sister Shen.

First the orphanage, then the Dazhao Academy—it was almost all initiated and led by this Sister Shen.

The Empress felt that she had been preparing for this for a long time.

Saying more would only add to her worries.

The Empress only reported good news, not bad news. Shen Ning came happily and left in high spirits.

A few days later, after returning to the capital, Prince Teng had a deep conversation with the emperor. Sure enough, he casually mentioned his niece Xue Baochai. Just as he was about to say how wonderful his niece was, Xiao Sanzi, at Liu An's prompting, rushed over and said that the retired emperor was in a bit of a crisis.

Wang Ziteng kept quiet, feeling very regretful.

He hoped that the retired emperor could live a few more days; otherwise, the emperor would have to observe mourning, and how could he easily visit the harem?
Before returning to the capital, Prince Teng had someone inquire about the situation and found that the Emperor's harem still consisted of the same few women.

The number of princes and princesses was far less than that of the retired emperor.

This means sending Baochai to the palace...

He saw his niece on Baishui Street yesterday; the little girl resembled Yuan Chun in some ways.

But in terms of talent, judging from what my younger sister said, she surpasses Yuan Chun.

Wang Ziteng felt that he had wisely accepted the title of 'butcher' and had now pleased the emperor. The emperor would not cause him any trouble, but there was no guarantee that the emperor would not settle scores with him later.

Sending his niece in, hoping she'll bear him a son or daughter, will surely bring prosperity to both the Wang and Xue families, for the sake of the children and for his status as a capable and upright official. (End of Chapter)