Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 253: Storm is brewing, Xiangling takes the initiative
"This number is far from enough to convert rice to mulberry in Hangzhou alone. Suzhou must put it on the agenda and change it."

Zhen Yingjia was full of energy and explained the current situation to the other two.

"We know we need to change, but how to change is the problem." Qian Shiyuan couldn't help but say, "Last year, Hangzhou changed from rice to mulberry, and there was a shortage of food. It was the six surrounding counties that provided assistance, which prevented the price of food in the city from soaring and the people from starving to death."

"Now, something like this has happened in Suzhou again, how can we change it?"

Zhen Yingjia narrowed his eyes slightly, "Minister Qian, changing rice to mulberry is a national policy. If it fails to achieve benefits, how can you and I explain to His Majesty? You will have to return to the capital to report on your work next year."

"Besides, it's up to you how to change it. I just want to produce 300,000 rolls of raw silk. I'm not here to listen to your complaints!"

Qian Shiyuan sighed and said, "You have to have fields first, then mulberry trees, and then you can have silk. Things have to be done step by step, and meals have to be eaten bite by bite."

"Suzhou has not had a disaster in the past two years. One mu of land can sell 50 dan of grain. If the big families were allowed to buy land and produce raw silk, the cost would be too high. No one would be willing to do it."

Zhen Yingjia frowned and said, "So what? There are too many people eating. They eat up all the food one bite at a time. What's the point of changing it?"

"Don't worry, you have to wait for another opportunity."

After comforting Zhen Yingjia, Qian Shiyuan looked up at Prime Minister Zhao Deyong again, and seeing him nod slightly, he stopped talking, leaned his body with contentment, and waited in the recliner.

Seeing that they were calm and composed, Zhen Yingjia laughed in anger, "Okay, no hurry, if you can't pay the silver, I will have no choice but to write a letter to His Majesty and tell the truth."

At the right time, Zhao Deyong finally spoke in a muffled voice, "You two are loyal ministers of our Dachang Dynasty, why are you arguing with each other? It's all about money. Can the land of Jiangsu and Zhejiang still lack money? Let the people below tighten their belts, and that will be enough."

Zhen Yingjia did not argue with him. After all, he was making money from selling goods, and it was not his responsibility if there were no goods.

"Today, Prime Minister Zhao summoned me here. What is the matter?"

Zhao Deyong said slowly: "Wait for news."

"information?"

Qian Shiyuan added, "It's news from the capital. Before Zhu Zhifu died, I don't know what he had planned. He sent a map to the capital. Your Majesty has already known that the conversion of rice to mulberry in Jiangsu and Zhejiang is not good, so it's time to make arrangements."

"You guys are still hiding this from me?"

"I'm not hiding it from you, but it's useless to tell you now. Let's see what news comes back from the capital."

Not long after, a servant brought two items into the hall and placed them on the desk in front of Zhao Deyong.

One was a scroll, which seemed to be a painting or calligraphy for appreciation; the other was a brocade box, a square nanmu box with ordinary carving, which was not very eye-catching.

Seeing this, Zhen Yingjia laughed and said, "I don't understand the tricks of you scholars. You don't write words when delivering messages, but you have to use objects to express your meaning. What if I guess wrong?"

Neither Zhao Deyong nor Qian Shiyuan responded to this. They first opened the brocade box to see what was inside.

Contrary to expectations, the brocade box did not contain a fixed utensil, but was filled with two things, the left half was tea leaves and the right half was refined salt.

Qian Shiyuan frowned and pondered, "Tea, salt, check the salt? Your Majesty wants to check the salt policy?"

Zhen Yingjia asked, "Don't you read the plaque from right to left? Shouldn't it be strictly checked?"

Qian Shiyuan's old face turned red and he looked at Zhao Deyong.

Zhao Deyong thought what Zhen Yingjia said made sense, and nodded, "The second master of the Zhen family is so smart, it won't be a problem for the Zhen family to pass on for another three generations."

Zhen Yingjia felt happy and said, "You scholars' works are quite interesting. Let's take a look at the painting again."

When the painting is unfolded, it becomes even more ordinary. There is nothing novel in terms of conception or brushwork.

The painting shows Shuiyue Temple on the Western Hills outside the capital, a very dilapidated nunnery, nothing special about it.

In front of the nunnery, there are dense brambles, which makes people feel that there is less incense.

Qian Shiyuan said, "I am not familiar with the affairs of the capital. Is there any story behind this nunnery?"

Zhen Yingjia had only been to the capital a few times. Although he had been to the Western Hills to burn incense and worship Buddha, he had also been to Tiekan Temple and was not familiar with Shuiyue Temple.

Both of them couldn't help but look at Zhao Deyong.

Zhao Deyong then spoke frankly, "Brainthorn only grows in desolate places. Shuiyue Temple is outside the western hills of the capital. There are dense shade trees and willows there. Brainthorn will not grow there at all."

"So this bramble has a meaning?"

The two of them pondered over this again. Qian Shiyuan suddenly had an idea and said happily, "An and Jing, together they mean 'Anjing'. Speaking of Anjing, the only person who is famous in the world at this time is Marquis Anjing. So the meaning of the two objects is that Marquis Anjing is coming to investigate strictly?"

Zhao Deyong pinched a handful of salt grains, rubbed them carefully, and tasted them on the tip of his tongue. "This salt is Changlu salt, it should be correct."

The joy of solving the mystery was fleeting, and the smiles on Qian Shiyuan and Zhen Yingjia's faces quickly disappeared. They then slowly became stunned, with their eyes wide open.

"What? Marquis An Jing is coming to Jiangsu and Zhejiang? Didn't he just stir up trouble in Cangzhou and kill a bunch of people?"

Qian Shiyuan was shocked and spoke, his face looked as if he was facing a great enemy. Zhen Yingjia also slapped the table anxiously and said, "You said you were not in a hurry, but now it's okay, right? A living King of Hell has come. If Your Majesty allows him to do what he wants, he will come to the government office with a sword and chop you up. Will you go and reason with the King of Hell?"

"Hurry up, change whatever you want to change, don't delay the important matter!"

"When he comes, everything will be a done deal. Even if he continues to suspect, there will be no evidence."

Zhao Deyong and Qian Shiyuan originally wanted to find out what backup plan Governor Zhu had and whether there was someone else causing trouble in Suzhou, but now they had to compromise.

Zhao Deyong sighed and said, "Okay, but we have to be careful. We can make more use of the dead. The dead can't defend themselves. What the second master of the Zhen family said just now is not wrong..."

……

Outside Gusu City, there is an inn.
After seven days of traveling, Yue Ling finally arrived outside Gusu City with Xiangling late at night.

But because the city gate was closed, I had to stay outside the city for one night and then go back into the city tomorrow.

"Shopkeeper, please give me two guest rooms, close to each other. They don't have to be too big."

The shopkeeper glanced at Yue Ling, then at the pretty little girl with her head down behind him. He immediately understood and smiled, "I understand." He started to make up a story, "You may not know that Suzhou is a very prosperous place, so there are no two guest rooms next to each other. Although our shop is small, our business is booming. Now there is only one room left. Can you make do with it?"

"It's not easy to find an inn outside Suzhou. It's getting late now, so don't delay your rest."

Yue Ling turned around to seek Xiang Ling's opinion and asked, "What about you?"

Xiangling nodded repeatedly. In order to hurry along the journey, she had been sleeping in the open air these days. It was not easy to find a place to stay. Many times she slept on the grass in the wilderness. Any temple she came across was a good place. How could she be picky?

Besides, as a little maid, what could she do to complain? She could only follow instructions.

Xiangling is a submissive person and has been like this all the way.

Yue Ling said nothing more, handed over a few pieces of silver, and said to the shopkeeper: "Bring some more wine and food, the wine should be shochu, the stronger the better. Feed the horses with good food, please send someone to take care of them."

The shopkeeper took the silver, and seeing that he was also given the benefit of adding fuel to the fire, he happily agreed to it, with a smile on his face becoming brighter, thinking that Yue Ling was a man who knew the ropes.

"Please come in, sir. I'll ask someone to get some wine and bring it up to you."

Yue Ling walked back into the inn, Xiang Ling tightened her little bag and followed closely behind.

I hadn't walked far when I heard a new customer coming in from behind, "Shopkeeper, are there any rooms available?"

"Yes, sir. How many rooms do you want?"

Xiangling: "..."

Although Xiangling is dull, she is not stupid like Xueyan. In this situation, she knows what is going on.

She looked up at Yue Ling and saw that he was thinking about something and didn't pay any attention to what was happening after his death. Xiangling couldn't help but blush, with mixed feelings in her heart, not knowing whether to be happy or sad.

After entering the room, I found that it was indeed not big. There was only a table under the wooden window and a bed next to it, which was just big enough for two people to sleep.

But Xiangling was also content. After all, she had a place to shelter from the wind and rain, and she could also wipe her body with hot water.

Perhaps it would be more comfortable if Yue Ling was not in this room.

Yue Ling pushed open the wooden window and let out the foul air in the room. He turned around and looked at Xiang Ling, and saw that her cheeks were red and even her earlobes were pink and tender. He couldn't help but ask in confusion, "What's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?"

Yue Ling raised the back of his hand and touched her forehead. Fortunately, she was not too hot. He then realized that perhaps it was because they lived in the same room with each other, and the girl was shy.

"It's okay, we're just staying together for one night. We traveled a long way, and even I don't have the energy to do anything out of the ordinary to you."

Yue Ling smiled casually, but Xiang Ling, who was teased, felt even more embarrassed and lowered her head, not daring to look at Yue Ling.

Yue Ling changed the subject again and said, "This Gusu City is too big, and it is divided into two counties, Wu County and Changzhou. We are going to Wu County, and we will be there once we enter the city gate tomorrow morning."

"I've been asking around, and it seems that the Shen family is a well-known family with a fair amount of wealth. I hope your recognition of your relatives will go smoothly."

It seems that Xiangling's background is not bad. Her mother is also a lady from a gentry family, so her sister's marriage must not be bad.

If it weren't for the misfortune, Xiangling might still be the apple of her family's eye.

"Do you have any proof of your identity?"

Yue Ling asked Xiang Ling again.

Xiangling looked up in surprise and looked at Yue Ling.

Seeing the red spot on Xiangling's forehead, Yue Ling chuckled, "I am stupid. It is difficult for others to imitate your rouge mole. What token do you need?"

Xiangling lowered her head again, muttering, "My Lord, you have taken very good care of me. It is not a big deal even if we sleep together..."

(End of this chapter)