Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 766 The Rain Is Falling Again
A flash of lightning streaked across the sky, like a silver dragon swimming in the night.

Between the columns,
The shadows of the carved dragons and painted phoenixes appear even deeper in the dazzling light.

The rumbling thunder sounded, causing the palace to tremble slightly, as if the heaven and earth were resonating.

Then, heavy rain came down.

The palace is towering, and the glazed tiles are flashing cold light under the rain. The magnificent palace is looming in the rainstorm, as if shrouded in a layer of hazy water vapor.

The Cining Palace is located in the southwest corner of the harem. It has all the necessary palaces, pavilions, and a winding stone path leading directly to the Imperial Garden and Shanglin Garden. The palace is majestic yet elegant.
In the hall, beams, pillars, curtains and draperies were everywhere, and the jade steps were cool and bright, with light that could reflect a person's reflection.

Going around a screen and heading towards the inner room, the two of them stumbled.
There were several swan-shaped palace lanterns placed under the window, a purple wooden bookshelf stood on the southwest wall, and a large green porcelain urn next to the bookshelf contained scrolls. In front of the bookshelf, there were mahogany desks with pens, inkstones, and other items.

Near the desk, there was a three-legged animal head incense burner, with smoke rising from it.

Because it is next to the window, the palace lanterns are on a high platform, and the oil lamps are lit, the light shines in all directions, so it is not dim. If you feel that the light is too strong, you can draw the curtains or use a screen to cover it.

Behind the desk, Empress Dowager Lu was smiling, holding a letter in her hand, which said that the former crown prince Zhou Yongxiao had taken control of Linshan County and had an army of more than 200,000.

"Okay, there really is a letter. The secret letter says that Xiao'er has more than 200,000 soldiers. Is it true? Even if there are some soldiers, they are just the remnants of the Su family's Jingnan troops. There are only tens of thousands of soldiers. How can there be so many?"

Empress Dowager Lu was not old and blind. She had been in the palace all her life. Although she knew nothing about military affairs, she knew that it took money and food to support an army. With so many soldiers and horses, even the richest prince, Prince Zheng, might not have the strength to support them.

From the darkness, came the old voice of Eunuch Zhou.

"Master, you have a good eye. The prince doesn't have that many soldiers. But who can blame Yu Shiyuan, the governor of Jingnan, who is the prince's teacher? Linshan County City has 100,000 soldiers, plus the newly recruited young and strong, and the Linshan County Treasury and the imperial court's weapons, money and food are used to reorganize. A mere 200,000 soldiers are just a drop in the bucket. The secret guards reported that the prince has joined forces with the deputy leader of the Taiping Sect, Chu Yiyue, and the leader of the White Lotus Sect, Bai Shuiyue, to raise an army to encircle and suppress the imperial court's troops. I think it will be soon."

After hearing this, Empress Dowager Lu silently put down the secret letter in her hand, approached the oil lamp and ignited it. After a while, it burned to ashes.

"Master Yu, that old man actually dared to risk his life. I was right in choosing him. However, the Taiping Sect and the White Lotus Sect are ruthless and cunning. I am afraid that Xiaoer will suffer."

Her motherly expression was so loving that outsiders would be surprised if they saw it. Ever since the former crown prince disappeared, Empress Dowager Lu had lost her smile and was like a walking corpse. Even if she smiled, it was just a forced smile.

The look now is rare to see.
"Master, rest assured. There are many servants around Yu Shaobao. According to investigation, there are many talented people under the command of the prince. In this cooperation, the prince listened to Yu Shaobao's advice, took full benefits, assisted the two sects, and severely damaged the imperial army. Most of the troops went south and occupied Xiling County as a base. As far as I know, Xiling County should have been occupied by the prince."

After a pause, he continued:

"The same is true for the people from the two sects, Dongling County and Qiongshan County. There seems to be no news at all."

"Ahaha, this is really interesting. It seems that both the White Lotus Sect and the Taiping Sect have become smarter. So, the south of Beijing is a mass grave."

There was a flash of coldness in Empress Dowager Lu's eyes. Although there were many people in the area south of the capital, after several years of drought, locust plagues, and wars, no one was left. The ground was filled with bones, which must have been a mass grave or something else.

"Master is right. The Taiping Sect and the White Lotus Sect are passing through the border like locusts, leaving no grass behind. Which of them is a good man or a woman? Now there are a large number of refugees. It would be better if all the counties along the river were sent out of the pass. If they stay as before, it will always be a disaster."

Eunuch Zhou was still hiding in the dark, where the firelight could not reach. He only learned about these things yesterday, and the time of receiving the news was just right. Even so, the court was still unaware of these things. Wang Ziteng's life was in danger.

A moment of silence,
The hall seemed a little eerie.

Empress Dowager Lu stood up and waved her hand.

"Now that everything is ready, just wait for the result. As for Yu Shaobao's family, find a way to send them out of the capital first and hide them in my imperial farm. Let's see what the south says. As for the rest of the officials, select some and send them out as well. Be careful in everything."

After saying this, he returned to the inner hall to rest.
"Yes, Master, I will obey your order."

Eunuch Zhou responded in a low voice. In a flash, a breeze blew behind the screen and the figure disappeared.

Only the gloom of the harem still shrouded the outside of the Cining Palace.

The rainy night in Beijing was still full of storms. From time to time, a flash of lightning would streak across the sky and remain in the night sky, instantly making it as bright as day.
The residence of the eldest princess in the capital,

In the main house in the backyard,
The bright firelight illuminated the attic that had not been occupied for a long time. Maids and servants were coming in and out of the attic.
Inner hall and back room,

There was a folding screen with a picture of mountains and rivers printed on it, and behind it was a high platform with green gauze curtains hanging all around. Inside was a round bathtub and a steamer with flower petals scattered inside.

Suddenly, a graceful figure broke out from the water. Her soft skin was like crystal clear jade and her dark hair was scattered in the water. It was like a beauty emerging from the bath. However, it was shrouded in mist and blocked by a veil, so it was not clear.

outside,

Liu Yue waited carefully outside the green gauze curtain. At some point, she pulled out a piece of paper from her sleeve, held it in her hand, and asked quietly,
"Your Highness, are you feeling better?"

This evening, perhaps due to the cold wind and wet rain, His Highness felt unwell when he returned to the mansion. Liu Yue quickly took the medicine box and felt His Highness' pulse. He must have caught a cold, so he took a hot bath in the mansion.

"Yeah, it's really better. The capital is not like the North Mountain. A little wind and rain will make you feel damp and cold. I haven't been back to the capital for a long time, so I'm a little uncomfortable."

The current eldest princess, Zhou Xiangxue, had already sneaked into the capital from the palace in Beishan. She returned to the princess's mansion and cleaned up inside and outside. When she was walking around the garden, the weather outside suddenly changed. In an instant, it was windy and rainy. She felt the coldness of the wind and rain.
That's why he decided to stay overnight and take a bath. He thought that after the imperial examination was over, he could return to the Beishan Palace openly. But he didn't know when his sister Princess Yongcheng would come. And her husband He Yisheng, although weak, was still a man after all. If Yongcheng was dissolute and found a man, how could the husband tolerate it?

In the early years, I saw that although this person was well-behaved, he was strong inside and very tolerant. Although he was handsome, he was also talented. Because of this, I was unwilling to
Unexpectedly,
Yongcheng had taken action at that time, which actually helped them. Nowadays, things are different from before. There are many gossips and handsome men in the capital. If one of them is dazzled and something goes wrong, the rest of them can just watch out.

Thinking of this, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly and asked;
"Is there any movement in the capital now?"

Liu Yue bowed and replied respectfully;
"My Lord, there are quite a few things. Concubine Wei sent me a secret letter. One of the things in it involves the affairs of the Marquis of Jingnan's Mansion?"

"Oh, what could be the matter with Jingnan Marquis Mansion?"

The princess raised her eyebrows and asked in a low voice, there are not many people left in the Su family in Jingnan. Except for a part of the forces of Jingnan Marquis' Mansion, the rest of the troops are all in her hands. Could it be that those who disappeared at the beginning, such as the chief steward of the Su Mansion, Su Qinghe, were the only one who had the ability to take them away, and there was no news about where they went? Liu Yue carefully took the note in her hand and took a look at it, and then replied;

"Master, it's not about the things in the south of the capital. After our men were withdrawn, only some spies stayed there. They said that the governor Yu's whereabouts were mysterious and the deployment of the city's troops was not in accordance with the rules. I don't know what they mean. In the capital, Sister Wei said that when the special examination began, a student named Su Wenliang who claimed to be a member of the Su family knelt down and kowtowed three times and nine times to enter the examination room, but was stopped by the inspector. If it weren't for Marquis Luo Yun letting him in, he would have been kicked out."

She was also puzzled as to how a relative of Marquis Jingnan suddenly appeared. You know, after the Marquis Jingnan's Mansion was convicted, almost no one escaped. If the princess hadn't acted quickly to save some people, the entire Su family would have almost been killed. Now a Su Wenliang suddenly appeared. How strange.

Only the eldest princess squinted her eyes, the figure in her mind became increasingly blurred, almost invisible. In the haze, she opened her eyes and looked carefully. Suddenly, Su Yuankui's figure suddenly changed into the appearance of Luo Yunhou. Her body softened, she lost her strength, and her face flushed with shame. This was considered springtime.
As for the Su family relatives Liu Yue mentioned, it's a joke. The incident back then was arranged by himself. Not many people were able to be rescued alive. This person's behavior is just that of a mean person. If he really has the ability, why didn't he stand up at that time? Why did he come out during the special examination, seeking fame and reputation, with ulterior motives. I don't know whose man is trying to test him. I think my brother is still in the dark. It's interesting.

As the chief examiner, Luo Yunhou didn't know what the rules were.
"Su Wenliang, the name is okay, but I don't like it. He said he is a relative of the Marquis's Mansion. So he must be a relative of the Marquis's Mansion. Have you checked it out?"

"Your Highness, I checked and found that this person's ancestral home is indeed from Linshan County in the south of Beijing, but it is not written at the back. He can come to Beijing for the exam because he is a student of the Jiangnan Bailu Academy. He currently lives in Yueluofang in Jinling City, not in the south of Beijing. He has two concubines and his mother is still alive. He owns a cloth shop, a wine shop, and two manors outside the city."

After receiving the letter, Liu Yue quickly arranged for the people in the Princess' Mansion to begin tracing Su Wenliang's background, and even where he came from. Although this person did not have any great talent, he was a good businessman. In just over ten years, he had accumulated a lot of wealth. However, no one knew where the money came from in the beginning. Could it be, as he said, that it was given by his son-in-law Su Yuankui?

"Well, he does have some means. It is said that people in the south of the Yangtze River are rich, but no one says that people in the south of the Yangtze River are the best in the world in business. Since he has such means, he is also a capable person. Unfortunately, after the division of the clan, he is no longer considered a relative. I think when this person started his career, he used the money of the Su Mansion. It seems that Su Qinghe, the chief steward of the Su family, did not disappear for no reason. I just don't know who he is working for."

The princess sighed. The rain outside the window was getting heavier and heavier, interweaving with lightning and thunder. She felt irritated by the sound.

"Come in, help me change my clothes, and then go back to rest."

"Yes, Master,"

He replied hastily, interrupting Liu Yue who was still thinking, and walked hurriedly to the inner room, took a soft brocade cloth, stepped onto the jade steps, wiped the body of His Highness, and then put the robe on His Highness to cover his graceful figure.

The princess heaved a sigh of relief, wrapped herself in her robe, took Liu Yue back to the east room, and got on the kang.

Liu Yue followed behind him, covered the quilt for His Highness, and poured a bowl of hot tea for the master to warm his body.

"Your Highness, please drink some hot tea to warm yourself up. I will ask the kitchen to prepare some ginseng and lotus seed soup for you. It will take some time."

After a pause,
Thinking back to what Your Highness had just asked, Su Qinghe, the chief steward of the Su family, led troops to stop the raid when the house was being confiscated, but was defeated and fled into the mountains with the remaining troops and many people, and disappeared. Afterwards, Your Highness secretly sent people to look for him, but found nothing. It seemed that he did it on purpose.
"Your Highness, don't worry. In the early years, the power of the Jingnan Marquis' Mansion had long been taken over by the master. Even if Su Qinghe was still alive, he would not be the master's opponent."

"Look at what you said. What's the point of being an opponent or not? I have fulfilled my oath and I don't owe the Su family anything. It doesn't matter if he is alive or dead, as long as he doesn't stand in my way, I will follow him. If he really doesn't know how to live or die, I will not show any mercy. I think the one who can recruit him must be the one from the past."

The princess suddenly had a figure in her mind and sat up abruptly. Thinking of all the strange things in Jingnan, this person's face was clearly visible. It was her good brother, the former crown prince Zhou Yongxiao.
Yu Shiyuan, the governor of southern Beijing, was the prince's guardian and also my eldest brother's mentor. Back then, I had guessed that with my eldest brother's caution, how could he not leave a way out? But the tragic death of the son-in-law Su Yuankui made people worried. In the entire palace, no one except the emperor knew what had happened to the crown prince. Even if they knew, with my father's cruelty, those who knew would probably be almost all dead.

"Master, I can't remember who it is. Su Qinghe has always been aloof and will not live under someone else's roof."

Liu Yue came over and poured more tea for His Highness. Then she thought to herself, besides her master, who else could the people from Marquis Jingnan's Mansion turn to? She couldn't think of any, so she shook her head and replied.

Zhou Xiangxue smiled, her beautiful face was still stunning without any makeup. What Liu Yue said was right. If she hadn't just woken up suddenly, she would have been in a state of confusion. In this way, the probability of proving that her elder brother was still alive was even greater.
"Liu Yue, tell Wei Shuyun to send capable people to Linshan County to keep an eye on Yu Shiyuan, the governor of Jingnan. See who the old man is in contact with and see if there are any unusual people in Linshan County. Don't alert the enemy. Also, pay attention to the movements of Wang Ziteng, the chief of the imperial army. I guess that even if the imperial army reaches Jingnan, it will not last for a few days."

"Yes, Your Highness,"

A hint of surprise flashed across Liu Yue's face. How could her master be so sure that the imperial army would be defeated? According to information from spies, those soldiers were no worse than those in the Beijing camp. Wang Ziteng was also an expert on military affairs. How could they be defeated so easily?

"This matter is extremely important. Wei Shuyun must send a capable person. I guess that the situation in the south of the capital will change soon. At that time, Your Majesty will have to use Marquis Luo Yun. However, if the court loses the initiative, it will all depend on Marquis Luo Yun to save the situation. After all, the princes of various places are watching."

As I was talking, I felt lazy and a little sleepy.

In the outer room, a maid's voice came,
"Palace Shang, your Highness's ginseng and lotus seed porridge is ready. I have brought it here."

"Well, bring it in!"

"Yes, Shang Gong."

As soon as the voice fell, a group of maids in palace dress came in in a line, with their heads down, carrying food boxes in their hands, and came to the screen. Seeing this, Liu Yue waved her hand, and several people came over carefully and put the food boxes on the table.
"Okay, let's go down first."

"Yes, Shang Gong!"

The maids bowed in response and slowly retreated.

As soon as the people left, Liu Yue stood up and opened the food box. Plates of cakes were brought out, as well as ginseng and lotus seed soup. She carefully filled a bowl and slowly brought it to His Highness.

"Master, drink some soup to nourish your body. I cut a few roots of the old mountain ginseng that Marquis Luo Yun gave to your Highness and put them in the soup. I also used the red dates grown in our North Mountain and boiled it over a slow fire. Come, have a taste!"

Then, I stirred it with a spoon, and a fragrant aroma of lotus seeds wafted out, which whetted my appetite.

"You, that old mountain ginseng is life-saving, and you're just stewing it now."

Zhou Xiangxue sat up straight, vaguely feeling a little hungry. She took the porcelain bowl and took a sip. She immediately felt refreshed. It was indeed a good thing. She picked up the spoon and finished it in a few bites.
"Your Highness, don't worry. Even if we finish eating, we still have the Marquis' Mansion. There is a shortage of this rare thing inside the pass, but outside the pass, old mountain ginseng is everywhere."

Zhou Xiangxue handed the bowl over, pinched a piece of cake and put it into her mouth. She regained a lot of strength and said with emotion,

"You, even if there is no shortage outside the Great Wall, it is not everywhere. Scarcity makes things valuable. Otherwise, who would care about this? By the way, apart from these things, what else is unusual in the capital?"

Liu Yue took the porcelain bowl, served another bowl to His Highness, and replied,
"Master, it's true. When we first entered the mansion, we saw a group of people from the palace going to Ningrong Street. I sent someone to check and found that they had entered Rongguo Mansion!"

"what?"

(End of this chapter)