Red Mansion Huacai

Chapter 231 Relying on power

It was already the twelfth lunar month, but it was said that I would catch up with Xiu Mu on this day. Zijuan thought that she had not been home for two months, so she took leave from Daiyu and left Rongguo Mansion early in the morning to look for her home.

After coming out of Ningrong Street, I was about to hire a mule cart and go to Shiban Hutong in the outer city. After waiting left and right, no mule cart was seen passing by. Suddenly, a man pulling a strange-looking two-wheeled cart stopped in front of Zijuan.

The coachman was holding two long poles with both hands, and the carriage behind him was not closed, but there was a shed above his head to protect him from the wind and snow.

The driver bared his teeth and said with a smile: "Girl, do you want to take a ride? It's cheap!"

"What is this?"

"The rickshaw was built just last month by the Ministry of Industry's tool-making workshop."

Zijuan asked: "How much does it cost to go to Shiban Hutong?"

The coachman made some calculations and said: "Thirty cents...changed to a mule cart, at least eighty to one hundred girls."

So cheap? Zijuan's monthly money is only a drop, and she still has to leave some money to buy rouge and gouache, so she wants to be more frugal. Because he immediately agreed and got into the rickshaw carefully. The coachman shouted, raised the pole, then turned around and ran towards the outside of the city.

Zicuckoo held the small bundle and felt curious, but she felt that although the rickshaw was simple, it felt much more stable than a mule cart. Occasionally, we met a rickshaw like this when we were facing each other. When we passed by Zhushikou, we saw a few mule cart drivers fighting with a dozen rickshaw pullers...

The so-called selling mixed food is to mix dried fruits and preserved fruits together. A small bag costs three big bucks, and you can walk around the streets shaking a rattle, and earn nothing but hard-earned money. In comparison, greenhouse vegetables have a lot more potential, but how many ordinary people are willing to spend a lot of money just to have a bite of green vegetables in winter?

Just as they arrived at the south hall, they suddenly heard wailing sounds behind them. When they turned around, they saw the boy quickly walking into the corner door carrying the crying Jia Huan on his back.

The common people in the capital, a family of five, can live on with twenty or thirty taels of silver a year. Taking care of food, housing, and even a couple of silver coins. What other good things are there? Even a mother who knows nothing can earn a fortune if she helps in the kitchen... Zijuan suddenly felt something in her heart and asked hurriedly: "Mom, who is that noble person?"

Sister Shan said, "Grandma vaguely heard the children crying in the front yard and sent me to see what happened."

Zijuan frowned and said: "I thought it was wrong -" As she spoke, she hurriedly took out her purse from her sleeve and handed a few broken pieces of silver to her mother: "——Mother, this silver You can accept it to supplement your family income."

His mother sat cross-legged on the edge of the Kang and said, "I'm selling mixed food."

Ping'er smiled and said: "Where else can we go? My second grandma can't move around now, so I have to take care of her in the village? Have you just come from home? Yes, the person in charge said your father is here. I won’t come back once.”

Sister Shan smiled and said, "That's good, it saves trouble."

"It's the Laoshizi Steam Engine Factory in the south, the one that emits black smoke all day long."

The boy curled his lips and said, "Don't mention it. Mr. Huan was playing naughty with Jia Qin in the backyard. For some reason, a passing carriage was startled. By chance, Mr. Huan was hit."

Sister Shan opened the curtain and let Ping'er in. Ping'er turned around the hall and arrived at the Nuan Pavilion. Looking up, I saw Sister Feng with her right foot splinted. She was sitting at the Kang table, studying the accounts by candlelight.

Zicuckoo frowned and said, "Didn't I tell dad last time that there are also greenhouse vegetables this winter?"

This was not because of Ping'er's lies, but because Wang Xifeng saw that the Nuanpeng camp had a lot of money on its birthday, and the family of the Duke of Tuiguo couldn't bear it, so he thought of buying the Nuanpeng camp together.

His mother said, "I heard he is the manager of that factory."

Ping'er said: "Don't go, I happen to know."

Seeing that there was a boy accompanying him behind, Ping'er hurriedly asked, "What's going on?"

"Change your career?"

The two of them entered the Yimen while they were talking, and Ping'er said: "Yes, although the hot shed food is much cheaper now, it is still too expensive. But it's hard to say. I can't tell if it will last three to five years, even ordinary people will eat it. Can you afford it?"

After passing two corner gates and bypassing the pink screen wall, we arrived at Sister Feng's Children's Courtyard. Just as he was about to enter, he saw Sister Shan, the maid, walking out from inside.

Zicuckoo helped her mother with the housework. When her father came back with a load at noon, he saw Zicuckoo and immediately went out to cut some meat and came back with a dime of wine. Zijuan's family was happy that day, and when Shen Zheng passed, she reluctantly left the house and returned to Rongguo Mansion.

The woman curled her lips and said, "Stop talking about it, it's a bad idea. The vegetables in the greenhouse are very expensive. A bundle of spinach costs just over a pound. If you don't sell it for three cents, you won't be able to get your money back. Your father took it once, which is enough." It took three days to sell it. I didn't even make much money selling the mixed bag."

"I was still thinking that you wouldn't be back this month."

Zicuckoo smiled and asked, "Where is Sister Ping'er?"

Seeing Ping'er return, Sister Feng hurriedly asked: "What's going on at the other end of the greenhouse?"

Now Zicuckoo suddenly came to her senses even after another meal. The so-called noble man must have been sent by Fourth Master Jian. Fourth Master Jian... He really kept his word, but maybe you are busy with things, so you just remembered it now, right?

After paying the fare, Zicuckoo entered the alley and entered a large courtyard after walking not far. After chatting with the neighbor for a while, Zicuckoo stopped in a wing and called softly. The door was immediately pushed open, and the woman smiled and pulled Zicuckoo into the wing.

Maybe there were still few rickshaws, so after waiting for a long time, Zijuan didn't wait. Zicuckoo gritted her teeth and hired a mule cart, and returned to Rongguo Mansion just before the hour of You.

Zicuckoo sat on the edge of the kang and said, "The whole house is busy with the matter of visiting relatives. It's only now that we have some free time, so I hurriedly asked for leave from the girl... Where is my father?"

Ping'er said hurriedly: "Then go and call the imperial doctor quickly. It's hard to delay the injury."

"Hey, are you okay?"

Ping'er asked with a smile: "Grandma sent you on an errand?"

Due to the small size of the vehicle, the driver darted back and forth among the crowd like a loach. The journey that usually took less than half an hour took only two seconds to reach the destination.

After this happened, Ping'er thought to himself and lost interest in talking. They passed through the south hall and separated. Zicuckoo walked towards Jia Mu's courtyard, while Ping'er passed through the hall and took a detour. After entering the east courtyard, I immediately heard Aunt Zhao's screams and curses, as if she was killing a pig.

His mother rarely showed a smile, and lowered her voice: "It's not easy to talk to outsiders... Your father met a noble man last month while selling mixed food, and introduced him to a late-night job. He was responsible for food and housing, and he was paid one tael of silver per month. ." After a pause, he added: "I heard that there is still a shortage of people who can cook. Your father said that I should try it out then. I might be able to make a fortune in a month."

Normally, his mother would sigh but never refuse, but now she said, "You should keep the money. When your father sells the mixed bag, your father and I will find another way to make a living."

"factory?"

Sister Feng is very ambitious and wants to capture all the greenhouse businesses in the capital first, and then Taiyuan, Xi'an, Jinmen, Jinan... There are so many big cities in the north, and it is impossible to say that she can make a living just by making a living from the greenhouses. Millions of dollars in wealth.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he entered the corner gate, he suddenly heard a greeting from behind. He stopped and saw Ping'er leading a maid chasing him with a smile.

The boy said, "I'm afraid I may have hurt my arm."

The boy agreed and hurriedly chased after the leader.

Zijuan hurriedly said annoyance: "This is my fault. The supply of vegetables in this greenhouse exceeds the demand. Unexpectedly, the people in the market still think it is too expensive. My father bought it once and it took three days to sell it out. Calculate, it is more expensive than You can’t make a lot of money selling mixed food.”

Ping'er took off his outer cloak, and Sister Shan hurriedly took it. Ping'er smiled and said, "What else can I do? Yesterday I went to see Hongyu for half a day, and today I went again. I don't think the leader dared to neglect it." "

Wang Xifeng frowned and said: "Don't dare to underestimate it. Who spread the news last time? It's still unclear. This banker looks at his duty as an honest man, and he can do anything for a man with three melons and two dates. Talk about it. Go around and patrol more often to avoid being neglected by the people below."

Seeing that Sister Shan was still there, Wang Xifeng asked, "Have you heard this?"

Sister Shan looked at Ping'er, and Ping'er said: "I heard Mr. Huan crying when I first entered the house, but he was hit by a frightened horse while playing on the street. I looked at him, but I was afraid that my arms would no longer have the strength."

Wang Xifeng hummed and was speechless. If it were in the past, Wang Xifeng would have had to seek out descendants such as Jia Rong and Jia Qiang to avenge herself. But it's different now. It's such a big business, with hundreds of households in the greenhouse, and dozens of newly hired nurses.

Wang Xifeng spent twenty taels of silver, and one of his men found Qingpi Lagu to take care of the matter. Hearing that Jia Huan only had a broken arm, Wang Xifeng felt relieved. At this critical moment, it was not Jia Huan's fault. Why was she trapped on the kang unable to move?

I don’t know how many things have been delayed here and outside.

Ping'er had something to say, so he turned around and told Sister Shan: "It's none of your business, go down and take care of things."

Sister Shan agreed and resigned. After he walked far away, Ping'er said: "Grandma, don't dare to be so reckless in the future. Those green-skinned lagu are not serious. If they kill someone, they will be involved in a lawsuit! At that time, those green-skinned lagu will definitely be killed." Surrender grandma."

But Wang Xifeng didn't care at all, and only said: "I can only satisfy my hatred by hitting him to death! Like mother, like son, so Aunt Zhao is not a worry-free person. Looking at Brother Huan, I'm afraid she's not as good as Aunt Zhao .”

Ping'er didn't know how to persuade him. At Jia Huan's age, it was the time to be a naughty child. Every day, the family is being naughty and causing trouble.

While talking, the mother-in-law said something, but it was Jia Lian who came back.

Ping'er stood up hurriedly, opened the curtain, and Jia Lian walked in casually.

"Are you feeling better today?" As he spoke, Jia Lian came over and reached out to touch Sister Feng's calf.

Wang Xifeng had quick hands and quick eyes. She reached out and twitched her hand lightly, frowning and said: "This is more work for us? It will take a month or two to see improvement." After sniffing, he said again: "Where did you go to drink yellow soup? He smelled of alcohol. Smoke someone to death."

Jia Lian then said: "Brother Zhen is having a banquet today, and Brother Rong and Brother Qiang are fooling around, so I drank two more glasses."

Wang Xifeng wondered: "What kind of wine did Brother Zhen invite for no reason?"

Jia Lian smiled and said meaningfully: "Today, Mr. You Lao'an led the second and third sisters to the door."

"Come again?" Since Qin Keqing passed away, Second Sister You and Third Sister You have gradually grown up and become more and more beautiful. Madam You often brings her two daughters to visit her to catch the autumn breeze.

Wang Xifeng originally thought that You Lao Niang wanted the second sister You and the third sister You to marry Jia Rong, but there were rumors in the Ningguo Mansion that Jia Zhen actually joked with the second sister and the third sister, and there was a hint of flirting.

Moreover, after the death of Qin Keqing, Jia Zhen took in several concubines and indulged in sexual activities all day long. The reputation of Ningguo Mansion was very bad. Because Wang Xifeng felt bored, she frowned and scolded: "Don't go to the east anymore. If you drink too much yellow soup, you can't do such shameless things!"

"Oh, do you know?" Jia Lian leaned over and whispered in his ear. Wang Xifeng was immediately shocked.

He looked at Jia Lian in shock: "How can it still be like this? Brother Zhen, Brother Rong and the others..."

Jia Lian felt itchy in his heart and felt envious, but he said, "We have nothing to do with Dongfu's affairs. Hey, please don't spread the word."

"I was shocked when I heard it. Who would spread such terrible things!"

Jia Lian said again: "Brother Rong said just now that the boy from Lai Sheng's family has come to work as a boy in Brother Jian's house?"

"Is there still such a thing?"

Jia Lian then said: "Brother Rong said that this guy's hands and feet were unclean, and he taught him a lesson twice. Maybe he was afraid, so he begged Brother Zhen to release him. Tsk, tsk, I didn't expect to run to Brother Jian's house again. "

Wang Xifeng immediately became concerned and said, "I have to speak to Hongyu when I get back, Ping'er, I'll take note of this."

"Hey, I remembered it, grandma."

Jia Lian said: "I'm afraid that not only are my hands and feet unclean, Brother Rong is so jealous when he mentions that guy. He also said that when we meet him someday, we will give him a good son."

The couple chatted briefly for a while, then Jia Lian smiled and said: "Feng'er, it's been more than ten days, look at me -" As he spoke, he turned to look at Ping'er.

Ping'er knew what he meant and immediately turned his head away in shame.

Wang Xifeng sneered and said: "I think the second master is so kind and wants to talk to me, so he comes to try to defeat Ping'er again. Anyway, in that case, Ping'er can sleep with the second master at night. . How about I go outside and make room with you?"

"Well, what you said-"

Jia Lian was rubbing his hands before he finished speaking when he heard Ping'er say: "This is unfortunate. Tiankui has just arrived today, so the second master should sleep in the study by himself."

Wang Xifeng burst into laughter, Jia Lian blinked, and suddenly became angry with embarrassment. He stood up, flicked his sleeves, said "bad luck" and left in frustration.

As soon as he left, Wang Xifeng said: "Allow him to have a sweet treat even if he is out of time. Otherwise, he won't be full and he will always be thinking about the outside world."

Ping'er said, "Grandma, I just told the truth, now I'm really here."

Wang Xifeng smiled and said nothing, but how could she believe it in her heart?

The next day, just after breakfast, Wang Xifeng was explaining matters to several housekeepers, and Laiwang's wife came to report: "Grandma, the boy next to Uncle Li came to give grandma something."

"Objects?" Wang Xifeng was puzzled as to what Li Weijian had given her, so she quickly asked: "Are they all given to me, or are they all given to me alone?"

Laiwang's wife smiled and said, "This time I'm sending it to grandma alone." As she spoke, she called back: "Bring it in quickly."

The curtains were opened, and two maids carried a chair on wheels in. Wang Xifeng scanned it and saw narrow tires on both sides. It was made of half iron and half wood, with bird and animal patterns carved on the backrest and armrests.

Wang Xifeng thought for a moment and then thought of the use, and immediately smiled and said: "What kind of explanation is this?"

Laiwang's daughter-in-law smiled and said, "The boy said that Fourth Master Jian was thinking that grandma had difficulty moving, so he ordered someone to build this wheelchair. He said that he could move around by sitting on it and being pushed by others."

Ping'er immediately said happily: "Grandma, try it quickly." At that moment, Ping'er and his mother-in-law helped Wang Xifeng get off the kang and sit in a wheelchair. Ping'er pushed it himself and walked back and forth in the room. Wang Xifeng suddenly giggled non-stop: "Hey, look at Brother Jian's thoughts. I saw that the wheelchair can be used if my legs and feet are injured. It will also be used when I get older. If you set up a factory and build it, even if you don't get rich, You are rich, but you can't run away if you make a small fortune."

After a pause, he hurriedly asked Laiwang's wife, "Can the young man leave now?"

"Go back to grandma, she's still waiting for a reply outside the ceremony gate."

Wang Xifeng said with a smile: "Go ahead and tell me to thank Brother Jian. When I recover, I will definitely come to your door to thank you."

When Laiwang's wife agreed, Wang Xifeng said again: "It's time to stop being stingy. Go reward that boy with a drop of money for a drink."

Ping'er went inside and took out a bunch of money and gave it to Laiwang's wife, who then resigned and left.

Wang Xifeng became interested now and hurriedly changed her clothes and ordered Ping'er to push her out. The flat ground was okay, but it was a bit difficult to cross the threshold. Later, Ping'er thought of a way and found two boards to build a bridge when crossing the threshold. In this way, he pushed Wang Xifeng to Mrs. Wang's courtyard.

Let’s not talk about it for now, but let’s talk about Wang’s daughter-in-law coming out of Deyimen. She talked to the boy with a smile and rewarded her with a bunch of money. Suddenly she felt that the boy looked familiar, so she asked: “Look at the boy. My brother looks familiar, could he be from around here?"

Lai Shangwen laughed and said, "Why did you forget, I am Lai Shangwen."

"Blind! I almost forgot, are you on errands at Fourth Master Jian's house now?"

"Exactly. It's getting late, come back, auntie, I have to go back too."

Laiwang's wife agreed, and when she saw Lai Shangwen walking out of the corner door, her face suddenly sank. He secretly scolded Lai Shangwen for his bad luck. He had just been forced out of the Ningguo Mansion, but the second child went to the Fourth Master Jian's house. Anyone can see that Fourth Master Jian's place is a hundred times better than Ningguo Mansion.

But he said that Lai Shangwen came out of Rongguo Mansion and wandered towards Ningrong Street. It was still early for me to think about it, so I thought of finding a gambling stall to try my hand at. Unexpectedly, as soon as I left Ningrong Street, I met a carriage approaching. The man inside lifted the curtain and was looking outside. Suddenly he caught a glimpse of Lai Shangwen and immediately shouted: : "Lai Shangwen? Stop the car!"

The carriage stopped suddenly, Lai Shangwen shrank his neck in fright, and ran away in a panic. As soon as he ran out a few steps, he was surrounded by the smiling servants accompanying him.

"Brother Lai, where are you going?"

"We haven't seen each other for a while, but we brothers are very close."

At this time, Jia Rong jumped down from the carriage gloomily, took a few steps and kicked Lai Shangwen on the waist. Lai Shangwen screamed and suddenly became a gourd on the ground.

"Lai Shangwen, do you still know your uncle Rong?"

Lai Shangwen said with a mournful face: "Uncle Rong, the money has been paid back. You——"

"Bah! It's a thousand taels, and you only paid back a hundred taels. What about the remaining nine hundred taels?"

"what?"

"Don't believe it?" Jia Rong took out the IOU from his pocket, spread it out and approached Lai Shangwen: "Hey, open your dog eyes and take a closer look. Is it a thousand taels or more?" One hundred taels?"

Lai Shangwen looked at it carefully and saw that it was indeed written one thousand taels. He is a rooster and a dog thief, so why don't he know that he is following Jia Rong's ways? Without knowing it, the amount of the IOU must have been written with ink ink. After he signed and stamped it, he re-wrote the amount of one thousand taels with pen and ink.

Plop——

He took back the IOU and kicked Lai Shangwen in the chest: "It's written in black and white, even if you go to the Yamen, you are still the boss and I have my reasons. Tell me quickly, when will the debt be repaid!"

Lai Shangwen simply lay down and said with a sad face: "Uncle Rong, even if you crush the little bones and dregs, they are not worth a thousand taels."

"You're so damn poor. Your uncle's family spent 70,000 to 80,000 yuan to build that garden. Do you think I don't know?"

"This...that's uncle, what does it have to do with me?"

Lai Shangwen is really broke. Wu Haining had made a mockery before, and Lai Shangwen saw Wu Haining stealing snuff bottles and selling them, so he naturally became interested. However, Li Weijian's study room was too plain, and there were countless books and pens. Lai Shangwen only took the opportunity to steal two Hu pens, but they sold them for three hundred yuan, which was not enough to fill his teeth.

Seeing someone watching in the distance, Jia Rong pursed his lips, and a few boys dragged Lai Shangwen away, arriving at the corner in a moment.

Jia Rong said sadly: "If you dare to touch your uncle Rong's woman, uncle Rong will teach you to behave. There are nine hundred taels left, not a penny less. After half a month, don't worry about me calculating your profit." "

Lai Shangwen kowtowed and begged for mercy, but he said that he really had no money.

Jia Rong was annoyed: "How many things have you stolen from me? Now that you've gone to Li's house, won't you follow the same example?"

Lai Shangwen said: "I am running a study room. There are many things in it. Where is the oil and water?"

"Idiot!" Jia Rong scolded, and suddenly her heart moved: "How much do these things cost? Are the things in the study really valuable!"

Jia Rong blurted out, and the more she thought about it, the more excited she became!

Who is Li Weijian? The recognized God of Cai Li! When the man named Li was still a scholar, he would go to his study every day to write and draw. The water affairs, Xishan coal mine, cement industry and steam engine factory may all have been figured out at that time.

By the way, there is also the greenhouse, which looks inconspicuous, but only costs 40,000 to 50,000 yuan a year!

Ning Guofu seduced Qin Keqing and almost emptied the family fortune. Jia Zhen is very sensual and sensual, but poor Jia Rong, the legitimate son of Ningguo Mansion, only has twenty taels per month. What is twenty taels enough for? I went to Jinxiangyuan to meet a girl and have tea.

Jia Rong doesn't have any extravagant hopes for water or cement services. She just needs to make a living like a greenhouse, and she will be satisfied.

The more she thought about it, the more excited she became. Jia Rong rubbed her hands and leaned over and said in a low voice: "Idiot, listen carefully. The writing paper in Li's study is valuable! If you steal something useful, the nine hundred taels will be lost." Cancel it off with one stroke. Our matter is now over!"

Lai Shangwen said doubtfully: "Really?"

Jia Rong sneered and said, "Me? Will you be a slave to me?"

Lai Shangwen said nothing, only stared at his sleeve. Jia Rong's face turned red, he coughed, and changed his words: "Isn't this a lesson for you guys? Stop being so verbose, do you want to do it?"

............................................................

Li House.

On a leisurely day, after breakfast early in the morning, a little maid chirped, and the wintersweet bloomed in the side garden. It happened to snow last night, so Qingwen and Xiangling discussed taking a walk in the garden. Xiu Ying naturally agreed. Fu Qiufang was the oldest and was now twenty-two. She was embarrassed to play naughty with Qingwen and others. Hongyu was busy taking care of the greenhouse, so Li Weijian led Qingwen and others. Xiangling, Xiuying, and Bitong went to the side garden to play mischief.

After wandering around for a while, he saw a few women building a snowman, so Li Weijian put his hands up and wandered around by himself. Suddenly he saw Wu Haining coming from afar, and Li Weijian walked closer.

Wu Haining bowed in salute and said, "Master, I really made you guess. There is indeed a spy in the family."

"Watching Qu Si, yesterday Xiu Mu had a secret meeting with someone in the teahouse. Brother Ding stared at that person and almost lost him several times. Finally, he saw that person enter the Criminal Division."

Li Weijian: "..."

He couldn't help but wonder to himself, why would the Division of Punishment target him? Could it be that he has the same virtue as the former Ming Jinyiwei, and that there are spies in the homes of ministers in both the government and the public?

He didn't want to do anything wrong, so he simply said: "Ignore this person. Is there anyone else?"

"Yes." Wu Haining added: "Then Hu Accountant walked around the imperial city three times, and then went to the Zhongshun Prince's Mansion. He stayed for less than half an hour and came out."

Li Weijian was happy: "I just thought that King Zhongshun would not be honest."

Since his previous defeat on the stock exchange, King Zhongshun has had a bad year. Not to mention Chang Shi, following the Yangzhou Salt Case, most of his wealth was completely cut off. The Saint, King Zhongyong, and even Yan Xiyao, King Zhongshun did not dare to provoke Li Weijian. After all, Li Weijian's foundation was not stable, so King Zhongshun set his sights on Li Weijian.

Regardless of whether he made a mistake or stole the recipe, it was a profitable business. Because although Xin Changshi found the accountant, he was personally visited by King Zhongshun every time. However, after two years, Li Weijian had not made any mistakes or omissions, and Accountant Hu couldn't even enter the study, so he could only say nothing.

At this moment, Wu Haining hadn't figured out what Li Weijian was thinking, so he said casually: "Sir, let alone the head of the Shenxing Department, is Accountant Hu... looking for a way to get rid of him?"

"Why did you throw it away? It will be of great use if you keep it."

As time passed, Wu Haining bowed and accepted the order without asking any questions.

Li Weijian turned around and asked: "Ba Duoming, do you have any confidence?"

Wu Haining said: "Brother Ding said yesterday that Xiyi likes to hang out near the Military Academy when he has nothing to do. He often sits in the teahouse for most of the day."

"Hmm." Li Weijian paced and thought for a while before saying, "I turned around and got word that I left a lot of pictures behind when I moved away from Rongguo Mansion."

"Yes, I'll do it later." He paused and then said: "Master, just now Lai Shangwen came back with a bruised nose and swollen face, and he kept scolding Jia Rong. What a cliché, the guy said, Jia Rong is playing tricks. It's a scam, I tricked him into signing an IOU for a thousand taels. I see that kid's eyes are wandering, and he must have some bad ideas."

Li Weijian smiled even brighter. OK, great! The blueprints were stolen, Lai Shangwen was the one who stole the things, Jia Rong was the one behind the scenes, and King Zhongshun was the one who got Xin'er to report. King Zhongshun has a grudge against the Jia family. If he gets this opportunity, he will definitely kill the Jia family!

From the beginning to the end, he, Li Weijian, stayed out of the matter, and no one could find fault with him.

"Very good, go down and finish the things I told you first."

Wu Haining took the order and left. Li Weijian stopped by the bamboo forest and thought about the details secretly, when he suddenly saw Wu Haiping walking quickly to look for him. When he got close, he said: "Master, I just got the news that King Zhongyong has led Wuyi Town to cross Xiangshan Mountain."

Li Weijian wondered: "Didn't you say there is still another day? How come it's so fast?"

Wu Haiping said: "I was afraid that the soldiers from the Beijing camp were eager to return home, so they hastened their horses and stepped up their pace."

Xiangshan is not far from the capital, and it takes more than half a day's walk. The army of the Western Expedition is about to return like an arrow, and I am afraid that it will reach the capital before long.

King Zhongyong is Li Weijian's thigh, no matter what, he will go out of the city to welcome him. Li Weijian immediately returned to the inner house and explained to Fu Qiufang. Fu Qiufang hurriedly moved the full set of dresses out of the box.

An hour later, someone from the Xiaohuang Gate came to tell them that the Western Expeditionary Army had returned in triumph. The saint went out ten miles from the city to welcome him personally. He also surrendered prisoners at the Ancestral Temple and offered sacrifices to his ancestors. Afterwards, he posted an edict on the Meridian Gate to the world.

Li Weijian immediately couldn't laugh or cry, that's all for the latter two. Hearing that the army returning from the east happened to be walking with the Bo Ni Kingdom's royal family, they could go ten miles out of the city to welcome them in person... Isn't this a bit too much?

King Zhongyong narrowly escaped death. Did Emperor Zhenghe feel sorry for his younger brother, so he made such a big show of it?

Having received the emperor's order, Li Weijian did not dare to neglect, changed into sacrificial clothes, and thought that it would be inconvenient to ride in a car, so he simply rode a horse and led the guards out of the city.

As expected, the road was extremely congested. Before the court came down, the officials and people who had received the letter were rushing to the west. They also bumped into many colleagues from the inner government on the road.

When they arrived outside the city, they waited for only an hour before the royal chariot and civil and military officials came in large numbers. Four thousand imperial troops accompanied him to protect him, and Han generals also lined up to travel. Wherever the royal chariot went, the people knelt on the ground and shouted, "Long live the mountains."

It took a full hour before we were greeted ten miles away. Hundreds of civil and military officials were lined up on both sides. From a distance, we saw a group of people coming from the official road to the west.

As the team approached, King Zhongyong dismounted from his horse. As soon as he raised his hand, Wu Yi Zhen knelt on the ground and shouted long live the mountain.

Zhenghe Emperor Long Yan was very happy. He personally brought a wine cup to drink with King Zhongyong. He also took off his armor with his own hands, and then took King Zhongyong's arms to the imperial chariot.

King Zhongyong was so frightened that he didn't know what to do and kept evading the offer. Only then did the saint stop his thoughts. Afterwards, the two teams merged into one team, the gongs were played to clear the way, and the imperial chariots walked around the city. They arrived at the Ancestral Temple at the time of Shen.

Not to mention the surrender and sacrifice of prisoners, sacrifices to the Ancestral Temple, and the unveiling of cloth at the Meridian Gate. By the time all the work is over, it will be dark now. The soldiers of Wuyi Town went to the capital camp to settle down. The saint gave them wine and meat early and ordered them to banquet for three days before stopping.

All civil and military officials returned home. Emperor Zhenghe really missed his brother, so he took King Zhongyong to the imperial city.

King Zhongyong felt helpless and thought that he should follow his brother, otherwise the saint might do something outrageous when he was overjoyed.

At this time, the sage said: "It's not Li Weijian who is wrong. The fourth child is in danger this time."

Thinking of everything that happened that day, King Zhongyong nodded repeatedly: "What the saint said is true. To put it harshly, I even wrote a suicide note. I didn't expect that I was saved by Li Fusheng's crooked idea."

The saint smiled and said: "Why should my fourth brother repay you?"

King Zhongyong just smiled and shook his head.

The saint then joked: "I think Mengqing will be old in two years, so why not——"

"No way!" King Zhongyong suddenly blew his beard and stared. He immediately realized that something was wrong, so he changed his words and said, "Didn't Li Fusheng have already arranged the marriage? Meng Qing can't be someone else's legitimate wife, right?"

The saint suddenly looked up to the sky and laughed, pointed at the loyal and brave king and said with a smile: "Fourth brother, fourth brother, I know your precious daughter is not so precious. With your temperament, could you leave Mengqing to remain unmarried for the rest of her life?"

King Zhongyong said sarcastically: "Li Fusheng is too romantic and inappropriate."

The saint stopped laughing and said: "No matter what, it is a life-saving grace. Well... I have a way to repay you a little bit."

"Oh? Please ask the saint to speak clearly."

Emperor Zhenghe said with a smile: "Lin Hai's daughter is now an orphan, I'm afraid her life will be difficult."

King Zhongyong thought about it for a moment, and then suddenly realized: "I see, I understand."

(End of this chapter)