King Xiang of the Red Chamber

Chapter 578 Mid-Autumn Festival Banquet
"Nothing?"

Baoqin read it again. Now she only felt confused, and even thought she heard it wrong.

"Brother-in-law, you are the emperor's legitimate son, and you are now crowned a prince, and are trusted by His Majesty, commanding so many troops...how can you have nothing!"

Baoqin is a normal person, so she made a correct judgment. This is the first time she questioned Zhu Jinghong.

Zhu Jinghong said these words just for fun, so he didn't mind Biao Biao's acting skills at the moment. After all, this kind of skill would become rusty if not practiced for a long time.

Zhu Jinghong sighed and said with a bitter smile: "Girl...many people and things in this world are not as simple as they seem. You look at my appearance, but you don't know that I am sad in my heart!"

Looking back at the pond again, Zhu Jinghong's tone was even hoarse as he said, "No one in this world understands my pain!"

Baoqin looked suspicious and asked after thinking: "Not even the princess?"

You girl, why don't you follow the path? Why don't you open any pot? Zhu Jinghong complained in his heart.

"Princess...well...she also has her own difficulties!"

"Going to a banquet?"

"So the princess...does she know about her brother-in-law's difficulties? Isn't she your confidant?" Baoqin then asked.

After thinking for a second, Zhu Jinghong replied: "I don't know!"

Speaking of this, Zhu Jinghong stood up from his chair, walked slowly towards Baoqin, and said: "So... even though I am the emperor's legitimate son, even if I am named a prince, no one knows that I understand me..."

Baoqin does have some secrets of his own, but since he doesn't want others to know, how can he feel embarrassed to tell them at this time.

Everyone has secrets, and Baoqin is no exception, so she will jump into this trap.

Zhu Jinghong smiled warmly, took two steps forward again, then bent slightly, put his face in front of Baoqin, and said, "Now that you know my heart, you can be considered my confidant!"

Although she didn't answer, her expression showed that she agreed.

Zhu Jinghong struck while the iron was hot and said, "I told you what was in my heart, and you should tell your secret too. This is only fair!"

Bao Qin was about to say something when Yu Hai walked in from outside and stopped again when he saw the two chatting.

In this era, it is normal for women to stay at home and stay at home. Even if families communicate with each other, the number of people they can see and experience is extremely limited.

"there is nothing?"

If it was an emergency, Yu Hai would definitely come over at this time, so Zhu Jinghong judged that it was nothing important.

"Brother-in-law, I...don't..."

"Brother-in-law, I want to ask you something!"

"External objects are foreign objects after all. I am lonely inside... but in fact I have nothing!"

Although she still felt something was wrong, she was too nervous at the moment and had no time to think, so she was still led astray by Zhu Jinghong's train of thought.

"Oh... there just isn't any!" Bao Qin acted rogue.

Zhu Jinghong sat back on the chair, looked at the calm pond water, and said, "What can I help you with?"

Bao Qin came close to Zhu Jinghong, pulled his sleeves and stamped his feet: "Oh... you are a great hero, you can't be as knowledgeable as me!"

Does this make you a confidant? Isn’t it said that a close friend is rare? This doesn't seem to be difficult... Baoqin's heart was even more confused.

I actually know my brother-in-law better than my sister... Bao Qin felt more and more strange in her heart, so much so that the way she looked at Zhu Jinghong changed.

After saying this last sentence, Zhu Jinghong walked up to Bao Qin, his tall figure covering the girl.

"You should have something on your mind, and it's not enough for outsiders to tell you, right?" Zhu Jinghong asked back.

"Brother-in-law, does my sister know these secrets of yours?"

"Brother-in-law... I was wrong. I didn't know the pain in my heart, so I just made a mistake!"

"You're cheating on me and you still want to ask me to do something?" Zhu Jinghong asked, pretending to be surprised.

Zhu Jinghong wanted to seduce Bao Qin, but this girl always dragged Baochai into the conversation, and it was impossible to continue the conversation that day.

Feeling the strong pressure from the man in front of her, Bao Qin became extremely nervous for a moment, so she naturally took two steps back.

The coquettish appearance showed the liveliness of a girl, which made Zhu Jinghong move his index finger, but fortunately, he did not pursue possession in time.

"I...I want to go to the banquet!"

"no!"

"what?"

"what……"

"Girl...do you have a confidant?" Zhu Jinghong changed the subject directly.

"You have your own secrets, and I have my own pains. None of these are known to outsiders!"

"The Mid-Autumn Festival banquet...it's so lively, I want to go see it too!"

So he continued to look at Baoqin and reminded: "Girl, if you have anything to say, just say it, we are close friends!"

The topic suddenly turned to herself. After Baoqin thought about it carefully, she realized that she really didn't seem to have any close friends.

"So I say, many things in this world are not what they seem!"

"Brother-in-law, I..."

Human nature naturally pursues freedom. The tighter the ethics and ethics are, the deeper people's yearning for freedom becomes.

That's why Bao Qin wanted to attend the banquet and see the excitement of the state banquet.

"The Mid-Autumn Festival banquet is of great importance. It's not appropriate for you, a little girl, to go there!"

Bao Qin nodded, and then said: "It's not appropriate. It would be more appropriate if you ask me to pretend to be a little eunuch!"

Zhu Jinghong smiled, then he looked up at Bao Qin and said, "It seems that you are well prepared and have thought of everything for me!"

"I'm also afraid that my brother-in-law will be embarrassed!"

"Then I have to thank you?" Zhu Jinghong almost laughed out loud.

"That's not necessary. I just hope that my omnipotent brother-in-law can help me with this little favor!"

"Hahaha..." Zhu Jinghong laughed out loud.

For him, because of the pressure to win the heir, the nature of life is very depressing, and it is rare to be able to laugh sincerely.

Bao Qin is an interesting little girl. The most important thing is that she is fresh, so he likes her very much.

Since I like it, of course I can readily agree to this small request.

"Brother-in-law, please say something!"

"Tea……"

"I'll pour it for you!"

Baoqin transformed into a hard-working little bee, grabbed the teapot from the little eunuch on the side, and then poured a cup for Zhu Jinghong himself.

"Brother-in-law... uh no... please have some tea, Your Majesty!"

Having said this, Bao Qin imitated the behavior of the young eunuch and knelt directly in front of Zhu Jinghong.

Taking the tea cup, Zhu Jinghong signaled Bao Qin to get up, and then took a comfortable sip.

"Brother-in-law, my sisters..."

"Stop it... you alone are enough, but don't push yourself too far!"

In fact, Zhu Jinghong could arrange it with a few more people, but he was not interested in those girls, so of course he didn't want to arrange it.

"Okay then!" Bao Qin looked disappointed on the surface, but was actually extremely happy on the inside. The request she made was indeed outrageous, and it would not be an exaggeration to say it was nonsense. However, Zhu Jinghong agreed to the request, and could even be said to accompany her in the nonsense.

Brother-in-law is so nice... This is Baoqin's only thought at the moment.

"Brother-in-law...you take your time and play, I'll take my leave first. I still have to explain to the sisters!" Baoqin said solemnly.

She didn't want to explain at all, but to share the joy with the little sisters, or to put it more bluntly, to show off.

Looking at Yu Hai waiting in the distance, Zhu Jinghong, who was in a comfortable mood, also knew that business was important, so he nodded to Bao Qin.

After saying goodbye to Zhu Jinghong, Bao Qin left happily, while Yu Hai came to Zhu Jinghong's side in time.

"Your Majesty, I just got the news that Ye Hemingen had a conflict with the Crown Prince of Joseon!"

Zhu Jinghong sent special people to monitor the Jurchen tribes and Koreans, and any situation would be reported to him immediately.

"What caused the conflict?"

"According to the people from Jinyiwei, the conflict arose because Ye Hemingen flirted with you because of your beauty, the Crown Princess of North Korea!"

"Tell me the details!"

"Yes……"

Yu Hai told Zhu Jinghong in detail what he learned about the situation, and restored a rough outline of the situation at that time.

This also made Zhu Jinghong realize that the North Korean prince Li Xuan had some abilities. Such a person who was determined to go against the Ming Dynasty would cause great harm.

Therefore, we have to find a way to get rid of him... Zhu Jinghong thought.

Of course, as a country in the Yangtze Kingdom, things must be done openly and above all, and methods such as assassination must not be used at the moment.

In fact, it cannot be said that it cannot be used, but this method is the worst of the worst. Once used, it will have a very bad international impact and is not conducive to the stability of Ming Dynasty's relations with various vassal countries.

Therefore, this matter must be considered in the long term.

"Come to think of it...the Crown Princess of Joseon is really extremely beautiful?"

"This..." Yu Hai didn't know how to answer.

"If the prince likes it, I will order him..."

Before Yu Hai finished speaking, Zhu Jinghong looked at this guy in surprise. He almost thought it was Deng An standing in front of him.

"How about ordering someone? Bring her here? Why did you learn from Deng An..."

In fact, what Zhu Jinghong said is wrong. No matter Deng An, Yu Hai or other eunuchs, their only code of conduct is "to be charming".

There are differences between Yu Hai and Deng An, but they are essentially the same.

"Your Majesty, this slave made a mistake!" Yu Hai immediately accused him.

If it were Deng An, this guy would definitely not take it seriously, and would try every means to get Jin Youyan into Zhu Jinghong's bed.

"Go down!"

"Yes!"

Yu Hai turned back shortly after leaving. It turned out that it was the prefect of Jinzhou who asked to see him.

Zhu Jinghong didn't want to move at the moment, so he asked Yu Hai to ask about the situation, and then he learned that Li Xuan had "reported the crime" and hoped that the government would punish Ye Hemingen for his disrespectful behavior.

This made Zhu Jinghong dumbfounded. He secretly thought that the North Korean prince was a bit interesting, and he actually thought of using this level of strength.

"Tell Magistrate Su to comfort Li Xuan, and then greet his wife for me!"

"As for Ye Heming'en...Yu Hai, go and take a trip and tell them not to go too far!"

"Yes!"

After receiving the order, Yu Hai turned around and left, and then he was busy.

Half an hour later, Yu Hai appeared in front of Ye Hemingen. He came on behalf of Zhu Jinghong.

"General Ye He, do you understand what the prince said?"

Ye Hemingen, who had always been unruly, said very kindly at this time: "Eunuch Yu, there is an old saying that you don't need a heavy hammer to ring a drum. I have remembered what the prince said!"

"That's good...I'll take my leave!"

"Father-in-law, let me see you off!"

Ye Hemingen was stunned and sent Yu Hai out of the door, and then walked back to the house.

"Don't go too far... I mean, you can bully that kid, but you can't go too far!"

Thinking of Jin Youyan's beauty, Ye Hemingen felt itchy again. What he couldn't get was the best for him.

"Forget it, it's indeed too much to seize a wife... I'm afraid His Highness Prince Xiang won't tolerate it!"

"But... if it's just teasing, it's not too much... right?"

When Ye Hemingen was conflicted, the prefect of Jinzhou was also sent out of the house by Li Xuan.

Although he was comforted, Li Xuan was still in a bad mood because after all his troubles, he still couldn't see Zhu Jinghong.

"My lord, come in and have a rest. It's time for dinner soon!" Jin Youyan walked out of the house and came to Li Xuan's side.

At this time, she had changed her clothes and redressed herself. Her complexion was much better than before, and she also added a lot of charm.

If Ye Hemingen were to see it, he would probably not be able to sleep all night.

"Let's go!" Li Xuan sighed and entered the courtyard with his wife.

In the blink of an eye, two more days passed, and it was August 15th, which was already the Mid-Autumn Festival.

In the past two days, Zhu Jinghong still did not see Li Xuan. Instead, he met with generals from the Yan and Liao capital divisions and the Andong Xing capital division.

His military orders to control the troops of Yan and Liao had been sent to all ministries a few days ago. Now that the north is basically in a wartime state, Zhu Jinghong can deploy troops according to needs.

For example, part of the army of the Yanshan Dusi had received his order to move north into Liao, while the troops of the Liaodong Dusi were also moving eastward, threatening to press towards the North Korean border.

At the same time, the related allocation of military supplies and weapons is also proceeding in an orderly manner.

These things are simple to say, but actually very complicated to operate, so Zhu Jinghong has been very busy these days, and taking time to fish is really to relax.

At noon on August 15th, there were still three hours before the dinner, and Zhu Jinghong was having lunch at this time.

Those dining with him were Zhen Qin and Nuo Min, while Zhang Xiaoyue stood aside.

Don't think that standing here is humiliation. Zhang Xiaoyue's ability to stand here from the stage is already a transformation of the carp leaping over the dragon's gate.

"Xiaoyue, have you prepared everything I asked you to do?"

Zhu Jinghong's sudden question made Zhang Xiaoyue suddenly nervous, but fortunately she was well prepared and calmed down before replying: "In reply to the prince, all the songs, dances and dramas have been carefully rehearsed to ensure everything is perfect!"

The program of this Mid-Autumn Festival dinner was "directed" by Zhang Xiaoyue. Because it was arranged by Zhu Jinghong himself, the girl put a lot of thought into it.

"That's good!" Zhu Jinghong smiled lightly.

Although Zhang Xiaoyue was the director, Zhu Jinghong also gave some opinions during the period, so the programs to be performed were completely arranged according to his preferences.

This is Zhu Jinghong's training for Zhang Xiaoyue. Only after the girl is well trained can he have programs to watch, adding color to this ancient life that lacks entertainment.

After lunch, Zhu Jinghong was still meeting with generals and officials. All the generals of Qianshi and above, as well as the senior officials from the Chief Secretary and the Inspectorate, would attend the banquet together tonight.

The banquet will be held at a school ground in the city. This place is spacious enough and the terrain is appropriate.

The sun was gradually setting, and the venue had already been decorated. There were heavy troops guarding the outside, just waiting for the distinguished guests to arrive for the banquet.

(End of this chapter)