King Xiang of the Red Chamber

Chapter 16
[Monthly ticket, monthly ticket, monthly ticket~~]

"any solution?"

As if grasping at a straw, He Gujin immediately stood up.

Zheng Xianlin thought for a while, then shook his head again.

Seeing him like this made He Gu Jin extremely anxious.

"I said why are you hesitating, and say what comes to mind, what time is this!"

"Forget it..." Zheng Xianlin shook his head again.

Grabbing Zheng Xianlin's sleeve, He Gujin said anxiously: "If there is any way to come out first, let's discuss whether it's okay or not. Your and my lives are all tied to this!"

"Then I said so?"

"Say!"

"If we want to retreat in a comprehensive manner, we may be able to ask the Thirteenth Lord!"

Begging a child like Zhu Jinghong, Zheng Xianlin thought that He Gujin would scoff at him if he said it out.

However, the reality is that the latter is looking forward to him, obviously waiting for his next words.

"Go on?"

"Don't you think it's a joke?" Zheng Xianlin couldn't help asking.

Understanding the meaning of his words, He Gujin explained: "With the performance of the Thirteenth Master today, begging him is a trifling matter!"

Seeing that He Gujin thought the same way, Zheng Xianlin was sure that he was fine.

"The current mess in Jinling, to put it bluntly, will fall into the matter of suppressing the Japanese. If this errand is done well...we may be able to make up for it!"

"The Thirteenth Lord said that no matter whether the money and food are reconciled or not, they must be reported truthfully for use. It can be seen that he also believes that everything is focused on suppressing the Japanese, and such things as deficits can be released later!"

He Gujin nodded upon hearing such an analysis.

"That's why I said, you can ask the Thirteenth Lord to help mediate. After the Japanese suppression is successful, please remember our merits, and then slowly make up for the deficit!"

With a thoughtful expression on his face, He Gu Jin frowned and said, "If so, Prince Rui..."

The crown prince has completed the errand, Prince Rui, who is the opponent, must be unhappy, and it is easy to deal with the two of them to vent their anger.

At that time, will the prince protect them, can he protect them?
Zheng Xianlin said solemnly: "That's why I said I begged the Thirteenth Lord, not the Prince!"

"How do you know that the thirteenth master is more reliable than the crown prince?"

Zheng Xianlin picked up the tea cup, fiddled with the tea with the lid, and said slowly: "The crown prince is unreliable, but the thirteenth master may not be!"

In other words, the prince must be unreliable, but Zhu Jinghong is not sure, so he can give it a try.

For a dignified prince, it's a very sad thing that the people below him don't trust him so much.

Of course, this situation does not conflict with supporting Zhu Jingyuan as the prince.

On the one hand, it is dictated by traditional ideas, and on the other hand, it is practical interests, in which smart people can swing flexibly.

"Then give it a try?" He Gujin asked tentatively.

"How to try?" Zheng Xianlin asked back.

He only had a simple idea, and he didn't know how to operate it.

"Follow what you like first, hold a banquet, entertain women, give money, and bring the relationship closer..."

After straightening the cuffs, He Gujin continued: "Then take the opportunity to complain to me, and beg the Thirteenth Master to give us a few words of kindness, and the prince's heart will be softened, and the matter will be settled!"

After stroking his beard, Zheng Xianlin asked: "What about Prince Rui's side?"

"What else?" He Gujin's eyes flashed.

Zheng Xianlin smiled: "Of course we must flatter him wholeheartedly, let him know our difficulties and that we have tried our best!"

"En!" After taking a sip of tea, He Gujin didn't say much.

"This matter...you have to worry too much!"

Putting down the teacup, He Gujin looked calm: "What do you mean by that?"

Suppressing his smile, Zheng Xianlin said meaningfully: "What do you mean, Lao He, you know it in your heart, so you don't need me to clarify it!"

He Gujin really knew it well, so he didn't say any more, after all, they are both smart people.

From the beginning to the end, the two of them had their own little calculations, and now they really talked about it.

There was silence in the room for a while, and Zheng Xianlin just said: "The Thirteenth Master likes to dance with guns and clubs. If you want to match what you like, why not collect some high-quality weapons and then find some high-quality armor from the capital. What do you think?"

He Gujin immediately added: "There is no shortage of money. Calligraphy, painting, antiques, food, drink, and entertainment are everything. As for women... forget it!"

Sending a woman to Zhu Jinghong, once the emperor finds out, they will really lose their heads.

"Okay then, let's go our separate ways!"

"Farewell!"

Leaving Zheng's mansion, He Gujin also returned to the mansion because someone was waiting for him.

"Are the guests here?"

After getting out of the sedan chair, He Gujin asked calmly as he saw the butler coming out to welcome him.

The butler replied: "Master, I have been here for half an hour, and now I am serving tea in the front hall!"

"Ok!"

"Master, are you going to meet guests now?"

"Don't worry, change clothes first!"

Right now, He Gujin is still wearing an official uniform, so changing clothes is justified, after all, he is at home.

However, when the guests waiting in the living room learned that He Gujin didn't meet immediately when he returned home, his mood suddenly became bad.

Of course, this was just a trivial matter after all, so the man didn't show any dissatisfaction, but just waited slowly while drinking tea.

About a quarter of an hour later, when the tea reached the third cup, He Gujin appeared in the living room.

"Master He, you are finally here!"

In the living room, a man in his thirties, with a public face that was faintly ruthless, was looking at He Gujin expressionlessly.

"The yamen has been delayed, I'm really sorry!"

After straightening out his sleeves, looking at He Gujin who was sitting beside him, Ying Qiu said slowly, "Really? But I heard that when you came out of the palace, you went to Zheng's residence!"

How could He Gujin fail to understand the meaning of questioning inside and outside the words, which made him angry.

After all, he is an inspector from the third rank, and he can be regarded as a feudal official, so why should he be contradicted by a slave.

It's a pity that even if He Gujin is angry, he can only hold back at this moment.

"There are some business matters to be discussed!" He Gujin answered briefly without asking for too much explanation.

Of course, these things are not important, so Ying Qiu asked: "Master He, what do you say about the discussion?"

When talking about business, He Gujin said that he had been beating his belly on the way back.

"The Thirteenth Master said that the results will be seen within half a month, and whoever can't do it well will be engaged in military law!"

"Master Thirteen?"

"That's right, the crown prince asked him to preside over the discussion, and finally said such a result!"

Picking up the teacup, He Gujin said with a worried face: "The Thirteenth Master is vigorous and resolute, and two unlucky county magistrates have been dismissed from their posts and charged with crimes. The rain is about to come and the building is full of wind!"

"Half a month? Jinling's bad debts can't be sorted out at all. I'm afraid the Thirteenth Master will kill you all, but it won't help!" Ying Qiu sneered.

"Therefore, the officialdom in Jinling still needs more support from the lord. On behalf of my colleagues in Jinling, I will definitely remember the great kindness of the lord!"

"Is that what Zheng Xianlin meant?" Ying Qiu asked slowly.

"Naturally!"

Nodding his head, Ying Qiu said: "When it's time to reach out, the prince will definitely not stand back, you don't have to worry too much!"

Next, Ying Qiu said a lot more, mainly arranging how to do foreign work, and promised to report Zheng He's safety.

Seeing Ying Qiu away, He Gujin's face suddenly fell, the more he thought about it, the more angry he was, and finally he slapped the teacup flying and fell to the ground into pieces.

"A slave dares to show off in front of me, it's simply presumptuous..."

Even though he was in a hurry, He Gujin was very cautious and scolded in a very low voice.

Hearing the sound of throwing the cup, He Jiayan, who had been waiting behind the screen, came out. He was He Gujin's youngest son.

Compared with the previous elder brothers, this guy is also unbearably stubborn, so he was brought by He Gujin's side to teach him.

"Father, will Prince Rui really protect us?"

"You know it all?"

"My son heard everything you talked about before and after!"

"You also understand the danger?"

Before his son could speak, He Gujin ordered with a cold face: "Don't worry about it, don't you like to eat, drink, and have fun? Find something delicious and fun, and the weapons and armor should be of the highest quality!"

"Father, why are you looking for these places?"

"I asked you to do something, why ask so many questions?" He Gujin severely reprimanded.

(End of this chapter)