King Xiang of the Red Chamber

Chapter 428: Sad sounds on New Year’s Eve
After Hou Jing and others left, the competition on the school field came to an end.

Hu Laosi, who asked the last question, actually won three first places. Not only did he win 60 taels of silver, but he also received a jar of royal wine and a sword gifted by Zhu Jinghong himself.

For a time, Hu Laosi became a famous figure among the guards, and everyone gathered around him to entertain him.

Zhu Jinghong had left the school grounds and came to Tongxin Hall where Baochai was.

As soon as he entered the hall, he saw Baochai sitting with a sad face, with a slightly sad look on his face.

"What's wrong? You look like someone owes you money?" Zhu Jinghong walked into the house and asked.

"It's really expensive to send this welcome and send it off. It cost more than 8000 taels of silver in a few days!"

Sitting next to Baochai, Zhu Jinghong just picked up the list on the coffee table and said: "Even so, you have also received a lot of gifts, so the two should offset each other without increasing or decreasing!"

"I did a simple calculation. I received 2000 taels as gifts in the past two days, and what we got back was more than 4000 taels. In fact, we lost 2000 taels!"

"This time I spent more than two thousand taels to reward the servants and guards in the mansion..."

Hearing this, Zhu Jinghong put down the order and said: "It means that it cost more than four thousand taels, which is not too much. How much money is left in the house?"

"Since you left the palace, your majesty and your empress have given you many rewards, which amounts to nearly 20 taels..."

The reason for the calculation is that in addition to the silver reward, the emperor and the empress also rewarded Lumi, silk and satin, as well as some gold and silver ornaments and valuable utensils.

These things, which are also the current hard currency, are all stored in the palace's warehouse.

"The income from the Imperial Mansion and the shops is 4 taels, plus the 27 taels of silver you have saved, the total is [-] taels!"

"And from the time you opened the house to now, in addition to daily expenses, various rewards, and recent expenses on favors, the house now has 24 in silver!"

After all, he had been helping his mother take care of family affairs since he was a child. When calculating the accounts, Baochai spoke clearly and clearly, allowing Zhu Jinghong to understand the general idea instantly.

"It's like saying that from the beginning of the government to now, the balance of income and expenditure is still less than [-]?"

"exactly!"

Baochai's expression was a little solemn. People who didn't know it would just think that the palace was in negative equity.

"We have lost [-] yuan in just over half a year, and almost [-] yuan a year. If we continue like this, won't we be sitting on nothing?"

After saying this, Zhu Jinghong immediately said: "It seems that we have to find a way to make money!"

"Making money?" Baochai was a little surprised.

"Can't?"

"I'm afraid it won't sound good if it spreads out!" Baochai was a little worried.

"It's not like I go there myself, I just need to send a capable person to handle it. When the time comes, the Xue family will help, and things will be settled!"

Hearing this, Baochai hesitated and said, "Do you want to get money from the Xue family?"

"I'm talking about making money!" Zhu Jinghong said extremely seriously.

"Actually, the palace is not really short of money. If it really reaches that stage... it's not impossible to borrow it from the Xue family!" Baochai said.

"Hahaha... It's really the water thrown by the married daughter!"

Picking up the tea cup, Zhu Jinghong said with a smile: "We haven't reached that stage yet, Princess, please rest assured!"

"By the way, when will we set off for the New Year's Eve family dinner tonight?"

"As long as it's not early or late!"

After hearing this, Baochai said angrily: "What you said is nonsense!"

The couple discussed for a while, made some preparations after lunch, and then went to the palace calmly in the afternoon.

"You said... if word of the lack of money spreads, will it be a good thing or a bad thing for us?"

In the carriage, Baochai's sudden question made Zhu Jinghong a little stunned for a moment.

"But... we are not short of money now!" Zhu Jinghong replied.

After straightening her clothes, Baochai said, "Be prepared for a rainy day... Anyway, my family is an imperial businessman, so it's normal to cry for money while asking for money!"

"One is reckless and brainless, and the other is greedy for money. They are a perfect match..." Zhu Jinghong said, stroking his hands.

He already understood Baochai's intention, which was to take a step further on the road of self-destruction. After all, Zhu Jinghong would make big moves next.

"Listen to your Majesty, I will bear this bad reputation!"

Holding Baochai in his arms, Zhu Jinghong said: "I often tell people that I don't love money and have no interest in silver... If I suddenly love money, it wouldn't be appropriate!"

Baochai replied: "You still say you don't recognize beauties, but there are still warblers and swallows around you!"

The two of them chatted and laughed, and soon entered the imperial city, then got off the car and entered the palace through Donghua Gate.

When they rushed to Kunning Palace, his brothers and nephews were all there, except the fourth and sixth children.

"Thirteenth brother, you're finally here!" The third youngest, Guangyang King Zhu Jingrun, came up to greet him.

The eldest and second son passed away one after another. This one is the de facto eldest son of the emperor, but he has no sense of presence in the government and the public.

"Third brother, your face is glowing today. It seems that you have taken good care of yourself today!" Zhu Jinghong responded.

Although he said that, Zhu Jinghong was very suspicious that this guy was pretending to be ill in order not to attract attention.

After all, the abnormal deaths of the two royal brothers must have brought great pressure to him, and he knew that he had to be more honest if he wanted to live a stable life.

"Well... I take care of myself with precious medicinal materials every day, so I have to have some use for it... Ahem!"

"Thirteenth brother, the past two months in Shanglin Garden must have exhausted you!" The fifth Yunyang King Zhu Jingze stepped forward and said.

"Forget it...the old man doesn't like me, how can I still have a good life?"

With just these words, Zhu Jinghong chatted to death, leaving all the brothers present speechless.

At this time, Baochai complained: "You can't speak well in front of your brothers. If your father finds out... I'll live a good life with you!"

He was said to be an elder brother, but after all he was just a county prince. In front of Prince Zhu Jinghong, they really couldn't show off as an elder brother.

Ignoring Baochai, Zhu Jinghong looked around and asked, "By the way, why haven't the fourteenth and fifteenth brothers come yet?"

The third child, Zhu Jingrun, replied: "I arrived half an hour ago. My father said that I was disheveled, so I went back to Chengmingyuan to change my clothes!"

"The two of them are not in good shape!" Zhu Jinghong replied.

Seeing that this guy was going to have a long speech, Baochai reminded him from the side: "Your Majesty, go and pay homage to your mother first, and then talk about old times with your brothers!"

"That's right, that's right... I'll go in and see my mother first, and we'll talk later!"

"Thirteenth brother, walk slowly!"

Immediately, Zhu Jinghong led Baochai into Kunning Palace. His sisters-in-law and nieces were all inside, and Queen Yang Qingyin was asking her granddaughter about her calculations.

Of course, Yang Jingting was also with the queen at this moment, taking over the job of serving closely.

"Hey, the thirteenth brother is here!" Chen Zhi was the first to speak.

Yuanchun and the other princesses all looked at Zhu Jinghong.

"Son (daughter-in-law) pays homage to the queen!" Zhu Jinghong both bowed.

"You bastard, you came so late!" Yang Qingyin feigned anger.

Zhu Jinghong did not answer the question, but asked: "Mother, why are the fourth and sixth brothers missing?"

"Go and accompany your father to accompany the Emperor!"

"Brothers, we haven't seen each other for a long time. My son will go out to catch up with them first!"

After saying this, regardless of the queen's reaction, Zhu Jinghong turned around and ran out.

"This kid is still so dishonest. It seems he hasn't had enough hard work in Shanglinyuan!" Yang Qingyin said with great dissatisfaction.

At this time, Chen Zhi answered: "The Queen Mother did not mean what she said. She really asked the thirteenth brother to go to Shanglin Garden. How could you be willing to let it go!"

As he was talking here, Zhu Yunsheng squeezed in front of Baochai and asked in a low voice: "Sister-in-law Thirteen, Brother Thirteen is avoiding me and not even saying hello when he sees me!" "Uh... how could that be? , Third sister!" Baochai lied naturally.

"Sister-in-law, when will you take me out?"

Baochai didn't know how to answer for a moment, but Yuan Chun came over to help her out and said, "You girl, why do you always want to go out? Be careful if the queen finds out and punish you!"

"Third sister, your fourth sister-in-law is right, if you don't obey me... I will sue you!" Chen Zhi also came over to talk.

As for the queen, she has her little granddaughters pestering her, and all the princesses want their daughter to perform well and be valued by the queen and be given a title.

The three sisters-in-law were huddled together talking, and Zhu Yunsheng himself found it boring, so he naturally slipped away.

"Baochai, now that you have received the treasure and are in charge of the affairs of the house...how do you feel?" Chen Zhixiao asked.

At this time, Yuan Chun also spoke: "Welcoming and sending things are complicated, and you are still young...you have to be more careful, and don't let the minions fool you!"

Baochai naturally knew that some of the servants in the royal palace were unclean. The reason why he had not yet resigned after receiving the title was simply because the Chinese New Year was about to come and he didn't want to cause trouble.

Of course, Baochai also gave repeated instructions to the people below to do things with integrity and self-cultivation, hoping that some people could correct their evil ways and return to the right path.

Faced with the words of the two sisters-in-law, Baochai first sighed, and then said: "It's okay to welcome and send off, but it's hard for a clever woman to make a meal without rice!"

"What do you mean by this?" Yuanchun was very confused.

"Nowadays, money flows out of this house like water every day. He is also a lavish person, and he often gives things to the people below. This family is really difficult..."

Shaking his head, Baochai said anxiously: "Just after we returned home, our savings have been reduced by tens of thousands taels. If we continue to live like this... sooner or later we will have to go out to beg for food!"

"To be honest with you two sisters-in-law, I am a princess and I am thinking about how to make money every day. If I tell anyone, I will be laughed at!"

There is no doubt that Baochai has naturally started to create such a thing.

But her words resonated with Chen Zhi. After all, the financial situation of Prince Rui's Mansion was also difficult.

Of course, the so-called difficulty is only in relative terms. The current turnover of Prince Rui's Mansion is several times that of Prince Xiang's Mansion. It can definitely be called a big family and a big business.

Only the East Palace, because there are less welcoming and sending things, and there are fewer places to spend money for Zhu Jingyuan, so the library is relatively abundant.

Based on this, Yuanchun replied very proudly: "If it is really difficult, there is some money in the East Palace. I can inform the prince and get some for you to use!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhi became uneasy.

But as Baochai said before, it's hard for a good woman to make a living without rice, and Prince Rui's family has a great business and doesn't have much money left, so it's hard to be brave enough to borrow money at this time.

"The fourth sister-in-law is really thoughtful. When I get back, I will also tell my sister-in-law that since the fourth sister-in-law has a caring heart, she should complain to her brother if she has any difficulties!"

Speaking of this, Chen Zhi said with a smile: "Don't favor one over the other when the time comes, helping Thirteenth Brother but not us!"

It means that as long as the East Palace sends money to Prince Xiang's Mansion, Prince Rui's Mansion will also have to borrow money. I don't understand that favoring one thing over another is aimed at Prince Rui's Mansion.

"I heard that you can go to the house with your money, so why bother pretending to be poor here..."

The conversation between the three sisters-in-law was going on amidst the noise. Although it was nerve-wracking, time passed quickly.

Half an hour later, everyone rushed to the Chonghua Palace. Other royal princes, some generals, and relatives of the nearby royal family arrived.

The royal family banquet is, to put it bluntly, a political event. To truly enjoy it from the bottom of one's heart, it can only be seen in ordinary people's homes.

For example, at this time, the Rongguo Mansion was already decorated with lights and colorful decorations for a night banquet.

The two masters of the Jia family went to the palace to attend the banquet during the day, so the family banquet could only be held in the evening. This was the case for most civil and military officials in the capital.

Because she is a guest in Beijing, Lin Ruhai was also invited to Jia's house today. She is chatting with brother Jia She in the living room. The formal banquet is still a while away.

Jia Lian and others inserted a few sentences from time to time in the next chapter, including Jia Baoyu, who had entered school.

Although Baoyu is an unusual person, I have to say that he is indeed smart. Even if he holds his nose and reads a book he doesn't like, he is still very perceptive in learning.

Lin Ruhai quizzed him on a few sentences today, and Baoyu's answers were even and even, but there were still new ideas, which really made Lin Tanhua look at him with a high gaze.

Baoyu gained face today and gave Jia Zheng some face, so his restraint on him became lighter.

When he mentioned New Year's Eve and had not yet paid his respects to his ancestors, Jia Zheng let him go.

After Baoyu went to the Imperial College, his knowledge and behavior improved. Jia Zheng saw this and now naturally relaxed his control over him.

After Baoyu left the living room, he rushed all the way to Jia Mu's courtyard. Mrs. Wang, Mrs. Xing, Wang Xifeng and others were all there, talking and joking around Jia Mu.

So before entering the courtyard, Baoyu heard laughter coming from inside. Compared with the living room, this place was much more relaxed and happy.

When Baoyu entered the room, everyone's eyes were focused on him, but this guy glanced at Daiyu.

But now he knew how to restrain himself. He first went to Jia Mu to salute and said some auspicious words before stepping aside.

Then casually, Baoyu came to Daiyu's side. At this moment, several people who were exploring the spring and welcoming the spring were also there.

"Second brother, why aren't you outside?" Tan Chun raised his head and asked.

"I came here specifically to pay my respects to my ancestors!" Baoyu replied.

Looking at Daiyu who was talking to Yingchun intently, Baoyu finally couldn't help but ask: "How is Sister Lin always good?"

Daiyu turned around and looked at Baoyu carefully, and found that he was indeed different from before, and he seemed much more mature and steady.

"I'm fine in the palace. Thank you, Brother Bao, for remembering me!"

They used to call me "Second Brother", but now they call me "Second Brother Bao"... Thinking of this, Baoyu felt that his heart was about to break.

"Sister Lin, when you come back this time...are you going to stop entering the palace?"

Daiyu calmly replied: "The princess was granted leave years ago. After the Lantern Festival, she has to enter the palace to serve the princess!"

"Now that my uncle has arrived in Beijing, you already have a place to go, so you can quit your job as a student!"

Hearing Baoyu's words, Daiyu didn't know how to reply for a moment, because normal people wouldn't say that.

In fact, Baoyu also acted stupidly in front of Daiyu. He also knew that what he said was a fantasy, and there was no way for a minister to resign from the royal family.

"By the way, Sister Lin... I've made some more rouge paste. Will you come with me to have a look later? Just pick some if you like them?"

If it were in the past, Daiyu would be happy to go, but now that she also knows the principle of great defense between men and women, it is impossible for her to accept Baoyu's invitation again.

More importantly, the scorching sun-like man was so dazzling that Daiyu was completely indifferent to Baoyu, who was too rosy and pink.

"Princess Zhenfen has given me a lot, so I won't bother Brother Bao anymore!"

Baoyu was hurt for a moment, but his sadness didn't matter. At this moment, the room was still talking and laughing.

Wang Xifeng, in particular, humorously told the story of being summoned to the East Palace to meet the Crown Princess a few days ago, which made everyone smile.

And among them, Mrs. Wang was the happiest, even though she was trying hard to stay calm.

"Old ancestor, now Yuanchun has been granted the title of Crown Princess, my brother has been sent by Your Majesty to take charge of Anxi, and Bao Yatou has become Princess Xiang again..."

After a pause, Mrs. Wang continued: "So many things have happened in just one year, and my wife finds it incredible..."

Of course it's unbelievable, but it's true for Mrs. Wang to show off.

All this indicates that things are going well, and the Jia family's revival lies entirely on her.

As for Mrs. Xing, Mrs. Wang has completely despised her and doesn't bother to argue with her.

Mrs. Wang's thoughts could not escape Jia Mu's discernment, but at this time she also agreed with her daughter-in-law's judgment, so she said: "Yes... now that good times are coming, we must act more cautiously in the future to keep this situation in front of us." That’s the benefit!”

At this time, Wang Xifeng interjected: "Thanks to the great blessings of our ancestors, our family will only get better and better in the future, and you will still have endless blessings when the time comes!"

Mrs. Wang nodded slightly, with a look of satisfaction on her face.

While everyone was talking flattering words, a little girl ran in from outside, panting, which was rare.

Wang Xifeng immediately turned cold, but still suppressed her anger and asked, "What's going on?"

"Reporting to Second Grandma, Uncle Dongfu Zhen...is dead!"

(End of this chapter)