The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 391 Deathbed Entrustment
Let's say Xue Pan came out of Aunt Xue's room. When he reached the second door, Wang Ren had been waiting there for a long time. When he saw Xue Pan, he asked him, "Cousin Pan, what do you think? Has Aunt agreed?"

Xue Pan shook his head, threw the list back to Wang Ren and said, "My sister said these things are against regulations. If the court finds out, they will be convicted. It can be big or small, so I can't buy them for you. Either you change the specifications and dimensions, or you find someone else to buy them from."

Wang Ren frowned and said unhappily, "The dimensions have been fixed, how can you change them whenever you want? And if you change this, the work done there will be wasted. How much money will be wasted? The budget is limited, are you going to pay for the missing money? Besides, what can a girl like Bao know? Whatever she says is the truth. After all, we still have our aunt and your brother to make the decisions."

Xue Pan said with a somewhat unnatural look: "My younger sister has always been the one making decisions in our family."

Wang Ren mocked him, "You are useless. You are a man, and the eldest son, but you don't have the final say at home. You are wasting your time. You call yourself a bully outside, but you are useless at home."

Xue Pan was furious and said, "Stop talking nonsense, it's not that I don't care about things, I'm just too lazy to care about them. My sister is smart and capable. She has always been in charge of the family business, and she manages it in an orderly manner. What's wrong with her having the final say in the business? Don't stir up trouble here. It's all my fault that I lost my mind. I listened to your instigation and said things I shouldn't have said. I broke my mother and sister's hearts. They cried so hard that they were almost dead. I haven't comforted them yet. I regret it so much."

Wang Ren was moved when he heard this and asked, "What happened?"

Xue Pan angrily recounted the whole story and cursed, "It was all your bad idea. Although the Third Brother Huan is abominable, he is so capable that he will become a high-ranking official in the future. How could he covet the little wealth of our Xue family? Even if he is willing to marry into the Xue family, the old lady and my uncle will not allow it."

"I just said it casually. Who made you take it seriously and even went to my aunt and Bao Yatou to make a scene? But it's better this way to prevent trouble. Anyway, the Xue family's wealth must not fall into the hands of Huan Lao San." Wang Ren thought to himself, his eyes turned, and he said, "People die for money, birds die for food. Never underestimate human nature. I am only doing this for your own good. Think about it, you are the only child of my aunt, and now you... have that. If you can't leave a child, Bao Yatou will inherit the Xue family's huge family business. A woman follows her husband after marriage. If Bao Yatou marries Huan Lao San, the Xue family's family business will end up benefiting him."

This was even harsh to the ears, and Xue Pan said unhappily: "Are you cursing me for not being able to cure it in my lifetime?"

Wang Ren smiled and said, "That's not what I meant. Of course, I hope that you, cousin Pan, can be full of energy, but it's always better to be on the safe side. It's good that you've made a scene in front of aunt and Bao Yatou. Hehe, we must not let Third Brother Huan get away with it."

After Wang Ren finished speaking, he patted Xue Pan on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, cousin Pan. When you go to the capital in the future, my Wang family will mobilize all our connections to find famous doctors for you to ensure that you can regain your strength. If that doesn't work, I can also adopt a son for you to carry on the family line, so that the Xue family will not be left without a successor."

Xue Pan rolled his eyes and said, "Bah! You want to wipe out my entire family? That's wishful thinking. I have cousins. If anyone wants to adopt someone, it should be my brother Ke. How can it be your turn?"

Wang Ren was embarrassed. He didn't expect that Xue Da Silly would not be stupid on the key issue. He smiled awkwardly and said, "I was just joking. Don't take it seriously. No matter what, we can't let Huan Lao San get away with it. He is full of bad intentions. We can't let him harm Bao Yatou. Anyway, our Wang family will never agree to this marriage."

Xue Pan shook off Wang Ren's hand on his shoulder and said with a curled lip, "What are you shaking for? When did our Xue family say we were going to choose Huan Lao San? Hurry up and take your list."

Wang Ren frowned and said, "My aunt is also surnamed Wang, and she is a descendant of the Wang family. Now the Wang family is renovating their ancestral tomb, and they don't even help with such a small matter as buying stones. Isn't that too disappointing?"

Xue Pan glared and said, "Don't give me that. It's not that my mother won't do it for you, it's that she can't do it. My sister said that the Wang family is repairing the ancestral tomb, and it's reasonable for mother to contribute. She asked me to give you three thousand taels of silver, but you have to deal with the purchase of stones by yourselves."

Wang Ren was delighted when he heard this and said with a smile, "You are so generous, little Bao. Okay, I won't bother you with this matter. I can handle it myself."

Xue Pan said contemptuously: "Your uncle Ren is also a person who is greedy for money. He was just talking about how great my sister is, but now he is praising me for taking three thousand taels of silver. Pah!"

Wang Ren was not angry either, he smiled and said, "I misunderstood just now, Bao girl is still as generous as usual, it's worth it that her uncle loves her so much."

"Okay, take the silver and get out!" Xue Pan immediately called the housekeeper, took out three thousand taels of silver and sent Wang Ren away.

Wang Ren took the money and went to find ways to purchase stones. As for changing the specifications and dimensions, he did not take it to heart at all. His second uncle was a second-rank official, the Minister of War, so what if he built a more luxurious ancestral tomb? There were so many civil and military officials in the court who built houses and tombs. Who dared to say that there were some minor deviations? If they all followed the specifications of the Ministry of Rites, how could it be considered decent?

…………

Besides, Jia Huan, Lu Xiangsheng and his party rushed all the way through the night and arrived outside Yangzhou city in the second half of the night. However, the city gates were closed, and they were extremely anxious.

At this moment, torches suddenly lit up on the top of the city wall, and someone leaned over and shouted, "Who's under the city wall?"

Jia Huan thought the voice sounded familiar, so he hurriedly said, "I am Jia Huan. I have urgent business to attend to. Who is the general on the city wall?"

The man on the top of the city wall was immediately surprised and said, "It turns out to be Master Huan San, wait a moment!"

Soon, the drawbridge of the moat was lowered and the city gate slowly opened. Jia Huan and others hurriedly rode into the city, only to see a centurion coming out with a team of men. It was Zuo Dashou.

"Greetings, Master Huan San!" Zuo Dashou knelt down and saluted. The soldiers behind him also hurriedly knelt on one knee, with a respectful attitude and admiring eyes.

Zuo Dashou was originally a centurion under the Yangzhou Guard. Ever since the incident with the guard commander Dai Li, the entire Yangzhou Guard was purged. Yi Hong was a ruthless man. He didn't care about anything. He confiscated the property of anyone who had any connection with Dai Li, even the soldiers. Zuo Dashou, a centurion, was also in trouble. Fortunately, Jia Huan came forward to plead for him, so he escaped. In the end, he was not only fine, but also able to continue to serve in the Yangzhou Guard. Therefore, Zuo Dashou and his brothers were extremely grateful to Jia Huan and respected him from the bottom of their hearts. Now when they saw Jia Huan coming late at night, they opened the city gate without hesitation to let him in. This shows their gratitude.

Seeing the soldiers kneeling on the ground, Jia Huan felt a little warm in his heart. He raised his hand and said, "Everyone, stand up. I am no longer leading the troops. You don't need to salute. It's not good to be seen by others."

Zuo Dashou and others stood up quickly.

"I have something urgent to attend to now. I will meet you all later."

"Does the Third Master need help?" Zuo Dashou asked hurriedly.

Jia Huan shook his head and rode away on his horse, heading straight for the Salt Inspectorate's Office. He soon arrived at the gate and saw that it was wide open and the lights were on inside.

Jia Huan and Lu Xiangsheng looked at each other, then quickly dismounted and rushed inside. The salt soldiers guarding the gate were about to stop them, but when they recognized Jia Huan, they were surprised and delighted and said, "Master Huan is back!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Bin, the chief of the salt soldiers, rushed out and said hurriedly, "Master Huan San has arrived just in time. The master is in the study. Come in quickly."

Jia Huan and Lu Xiangsheng hurriedly walked through the main hall and went straight to the study in the back house, only to find Feng Ziying and Tiehu were both outside the door, along with another woman, who was the female pirate leader Qin Hongyu.

"Third Master (Brother Huan)" Tiehu and Feng Ziying hurried forward when they saw Jia Huan. The latter put his hand on Jia Huan's shoulder and said in a deep voice: "Brother Huan, you finally arrived. Lord Lin has been unwilling to die and has been waiting for you for a long time. Hurry!" After saying this, his eyes were slightly red.

Jia Huan and Lu Xiangsheng rushed into the study and immediately smelled the smell of medicine and blood in the air.

Lin Ruhai was seen lying quietly on the bed, skinny and bony, like a dead wood, his eyes closed, his throat trembling slightly. It was his last moments, but he refused to take his last breath.

Jia Huan could not help but feel grief-stricken, tears streaming down his face. He staggered to the bedside and cried out sadly, "Uncle, Huan'er is late!"

thump!
Jia Huan knelt down beside the bed like pushing a golden mountain or overturning a jade pillar, and Lu Xiangsheng also knelt down on the other side.

Lin Daiyu's eyes were red and swollen like walnuts. She had been lying on the bed in a daze, as if she had lost her soul. When she heard Jia Huan's voice, she sat up subconsciously. It took a moment for her eyes to focus. When she saw clearly that it was Jia Huan, tears welled up in her eyes: "Huan--brother! You are here!"

Ping'er, Xueyan and others couldn't help but wipe away their tears secretly.

Lin Ruhai had obviously heard Jia Huan's voice at this time. He tried hard to open his dull eyes. His throat made a gurgling sound and his lips moved. He seemed to want to say something but couldn't.

Jia Huan quickly put his ear close to the words and said softly, "Don't be anxious, Uncle. Talk slowly. I'm listening!"

"Yu...Yu!" Lin Ruhai said with difficulty, obviously trying to leave a last word to Jia Huan, but he was unable to do so.

Jia Huan felt as if his heart was being cut by a knife, and he tightly held Lin Ruhai's left hand. The latter took a few quick breaths, and his eyes suddenly turned to Lin Daiyu, with his right fingertips trembling as if he wanted to reach out.

Lin Daiyu hurriedly grasped her father's right hand and called out in a sad voice, "Dad!"

Lin Ruhai was unable to speak at this moment. He just looked at his daughter and then at Jia Huan.

Jia Huan immediately understood, nodded, and promised solemnly: "Don't worry, uncle, I guarantee with my life that I will take good care of Sister Lin and will not let her suffer any injustice."

Lin Ruhai let out a long breath, the light in his eyes gradually dimmed, and finally he closed his eyes in relief, but his hands were still holding Jia Huan and Lin Daiyu respectively, as if he wanted to bring their hands together.

"——Dad!" Lin Daiyu let out a heart-wrenching cry and tears flowed like rain.

The master passed away. As soon as the news spread, the whole backyard of the Lin Mansion was filled with crying sounds!

Jia Lian had originally come to take Lin Daiyu back to the Jia Mansion on the orders of Jia's grandmother, but unexpectedly he encountered Lin Ruhai who was critically ill. At this moment, standing behind Jia Huan, he saw that Lin Ruhai was still holding Jia Huan and Lin Daiyu's hands tightly after his death. In addition, the look in his eyes before his death showed that he wanted to entrust Lin Daiyu to Jia Huan. He couldn't help feeling quite uncomfortable.

In terms of status and seniority, I am the eldest grandson of the first branch of the Rongguo Mansion. In terms of age, I am much older than Jia Huan. Lin Ruhai did not turn to me when he entrusted his son to others before his death, and he kept waiting for Jia Huan with all his might. It can be seen that he did not trust me. In his mind, the third brother Huan was the one worthy of trust!
(End of this chapter)