The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 38: Concave Crystal Hall

In the evening, I returned to Tuobi Villa and ran into Zhou Rui.

The servant behind Zhou Rui was holding a tray with two sets of clothes stacked on it. Zhou Rui said with a smile, "Master Xin, these are the clothes that Madam ordered to be made for you. Please try them on to see if they fit you. If they don't fit, I'll have someone alter them."

The fabric of the clothes was obviously good, and Wang Xin even felt embarrassed.

He ate other people's food, drank other people's drinks, and even wore other people's clothes. Everything was paid for. The money he brought with him had not been touched. Even when he traveled, he had a carriage to pick him up. He had no need to spend money at all.

But this is how a century-old aristocrat should behave.

However, I don’t know if it’s because I’m in Tuobi Villa where there are not many people, but I haven’t seen the snobbery of the servants in the Jia family. After all, when I first arrived in the capital, it really opened my eyes.

Thinking of this, Wang Xin didn't want to accept it.

If I meet someone blind again, wouldn't that give him something to talk about? I am not the helpless Lin Daiyu. Whoever dares to make me angry will definitely be slapped in the face.

"I brought a lot of clothes with me to the capital, enough for me to wear. The lady in the mansion is so kind. Please ask Butler Zhou to take them back and help convey my gratitude to the lady. I appreciate the lady's kindness."

Wang Xin laughed.

Zhou Rui was shocked and asked quickly, "Master Xin, if there is anything wrong with our hospitality, I hope you will be kind enough to tell me and give me a chance to make amends."

"No no."

Zhou Rui's attitude was really amazing. He was not an arrogant person. Wang Xin thought about it and decided to accept it because it would embarrass Zhou Rui. At worst, he would not wear it and just put it away.

Seeing Wang Xin accept the clothes, Zhou Rui breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhou Rui waited until the people from the main kitchen brought hot rice and dishes, and the servants placed them on the table. After Wang Xin came to the table, he said goodbye and left.

"Butler Zhou, who is this person inside?"

The person in the kitchen asked curiously.

Many people are curious about the five large kitchens at the southwest corner gate, which were originally used to serve Aunt Xue's family. Later, when the Grand View Garden was built, Aunt Xue's family gave up Lixiangyuan and moved to the northeast corner of the Rongguo Mansion.

Then Lixiangyuan was given to a group of actresses brought from Gusu. Later, Zhou Rui came in person to request it, and he would give strict instructions every time. No one knew who this Mr. Xin was related to, but no one dared to neglect it.

"Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask. Anyway, you should be polite. If you offend the master inside, be careful that the mistress will expose your skin."

Zhou Rui issued a stern warning.

No one dared to ask any more questions. Wang Xifeng was in charge of the mansion. She was very powerful and everyone was afraid of her, let alone Mrs. Wang. Ever since her eldest son Jia Zhu passed away, Mrs. Wang's temper had calmed down a bit and she started to eat vegetarian food and chant Buddhist scriptures. However, no one dared to make Mrs. Wang angry.

Four dishes and one soup.

After the meal, the servants took away the leftovers. Wang Xin couldn't help, and if he tried to help, the servants would be scared, so he could only go to the yard to practice sword. He didn't have much sword skills, so he learned a few moves from Liu Tong.

Liu Tong said that he practiced diligently. Ordinary people rarely come into contact with swords and guns, and even militiamen are just a means of coping. Therefore, he practiced every day, and it was no problem for him to deal with three or five ordinary people.

"Shhhhh."

Wang Xin practiced every move to perfection.

Liu Tong was born into a Shaolin martial arts monk family and held a high status in the temple. The thousand-year-old temple had accumulated a lot of good things, but it was not good for him. Although he had not personally fought and verified the eighteen moves taught by Liu Tong, Liu Tong was loyal to him and would definitely not lie to him.

"Master Xin, the master is here. He is at Ao Jing Pavilion. Please go and see him."

Halfway through sword practice.

Wang Xin was enjoying his training when a servant came.

Finally I can see Jia Zheng.

Wang Xin put away his sword, wiped the sweat off his body, changed his clothes, and followed the man to Aojing Pavilion.

Aojing Pavilion is the opposite building of the villa. It is hidden in a low-lying area near the water below the villa. It has beautiful scenery and is very quiet. It is surrounded by lakes on three sides. The lake water is drawn from the outside, so it is green and translucent.

In the past, there was no one there and it was already pitch dark. But now, because of Jia Zheng's arrival, light can be seen in the distance.

The servant held a lantern, and Wang Xin followed behind.

Entering the house, there was a man sitting in the main seat in the hall. He looked to be about fifty years old, wearing a black silk hat and a navy blue satin robe, with a serious face.

Jia Zheng glanced at Wang Xin.

The young man was in his twenties, tall, with a pale complexion. He was neither humble nor servile, and had a good demeanor and a heroic air. Jia Zheng sighed inwardly and smiled.

"I've long heard of Wang Dusi's reputation. It's truly an honor for our Jia family. Please take a seat."

Jia Zheng stood up to greet him.

He walked forward and pulled Wang Xin to his side. After Wang Xin sat down, he ordered someone to serve tea.

Wang believes it or not.

If Jia Zheng was sincere, he wouldn't have something to do after not seeing me for half a month, and he wouldn't have been away for so long, which means there must be a reason that I don't know. But why did Jia Zheng call himself Dusi just now?

Wang Xin asked curiously, "Why does Master Zheng call me Dusi?"

Jia Zheng nodded. This man was indeed very clever. He said, "Do you know what Chen Yan, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of War, has said?"

"I'm new to the capital and don't know anyone."

"Brother, I met Chen Yan, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of War, at the government office today. He asked about your affairs, whether you had arrived in the capital, and when you would report to the Ministry of War. The regulations sent by Yingtian Prefecture have already been registered with the Ministry of War."

After hearing this, Wang Xin was a little curious.

Jia Zheng was also very curious.

Lin Ruhai's arrangements were clearly stated in the letter.

Official documents from Yingtian Prefecture to the capital city of Shendu usually take one month, but express delivery reduces that to half a month.

Jia Zheng has always been paying attention to official affairs.

Although the official documents from Yingtian Prefecture had arrived in the capital, given the speed of the Ministry of War, even if he went there in person, it would take at least ten days to half a month to go through all the regulations.

As a result, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of War went to ask my eldest brother and told him that the procedures had been completed.

Finding his elder brother means that Chen Yan knows the relationship between Wang Xin and the Jia family, and even knows that Wang Xin has arrived in the capital and is living in the Jia family.

Lin Ruhai's manipulation of Wang Xin was not a taboo in the officialdom.

It's just a stepping stone.

However, Jia Zheng sensed something unusual in the performance of Chen Yan, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of War, today, and Wang Xin's efficiency in handling the matter. Now, after hearing Wang Xin's reply, he realized that he really had no connections in the capital.

Then this matter deserves further investigation.

"Now that the matter of Yingtian Prefecture has been settled, and you are now a military commander, you can report to the Beijing Camp tomorrow. But have you thought about which area of ​​responsibility you will be in?"

Jia Zheng felt that the Jia family was of no help, so he decided to take action on other matters.

Favors must be owed.

The Jia family had long lost its real power, but the reason they still have the status they have today is because of their connections and their center of interests. So even though he was dissatisfied with his wife's behavior, Jia Zheng did not express his dissatisfaction to Wang Xin, and was even very considerate after they met.

"It's best to lead troops."

"Leading troops?"

"Although I'm just a passer-by in the capital and will only stay for three years, I still hope to lead troops instead of just gaining experience." Wang Xin explained that it would be a pity not to lead troops in his system.

"It's good to do practical things. I didn't expect that although Wang Dusi is young, he is a man who can get things done. He is very good."

Jia Zheng praised him a few words.

In the past, when Wang Ziteng was the governor of the Beijing Camp, or when the governor of the Beijing Camp was still in the Jia Mansion, such a small matter was just a casual order. Now Jia Zheng couldn't guarantee it, so he could only try his best.

(End of this chapter)