Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 368: Beautiful Face Hit the Flow

Earl's Mansion, Jia Cong Courtyard.

Last night, there was a drizzle that lasted for most of the night, and the air was filled with a fresh and moist scent.

The sky outside the window is pale, and the soft morning light shines through the translucent glazed windows, leaving soft light and shadows in the room.

There was a sweet and fragrant aroma floating in the room. On the couch next to the bed curtains, there was a thin cotton quilt embroidered with magnolia branches, which wrapped up the slender figure. At the end of the quilt, a pair of snow-white and delicate feet were revealed.

On the jade-colored gauze pillow, dark-black hair was piled up in a myriad of strands, with a few strands hanging loosely to the edge of the couch.

Zhishao was sleeping sweetly, her cheeks were rosy, her breath was lingering, and her breasts were slightly heaving.

Outside the thin cotton quilt, her neck is curved, her arms are jade-like, and her skin is as white and smooth as jade, looking charming in the morning light.

As the sunlight on the glazed window gradually rose higher, the tip of the light gradually shone on the bed, and the bright and watery eyes slowly opened.

Rubbing her eyes slightly, Zhishao lifted the quilt and stood up, stretched her slender waist slightly, and quietly got down.

There was silence inside the bed curtains, except for the sound of slow and steady breathing. Zhishao heard it, smiled slightly, and went behind the screen to put on her clothes.

She had just finished dressing and washing when she heard light footsteps in the corridor outside the main room, which continued into the main room next door. Jia Cong also woke up and opened the bed curtains.

A new day begins...

In the main room, Yinglian was arranging bowls, cups and porcelain plates, but the number of them was much greater than usual.

Wu'er and Qingwen went to the kitchen and brought back two food boxes, which were filled with various breakfasts stacked in layers, and there was boiling water at the bottom to keep them warm.

After Zhishao helped Jia Cong to wash and dress, they went into the main room and asked the maid to call all the girls to come for dinner.

Qingwen looked at Zhishao behind Jia Cong, her eyes full of envy and her words tinged with sourness.

Said: "Sister Zhishao is doing well. She followed the Third Master to the south. The Third Master is too partial and didn't take us with him. We went to Jinling once last year, and I'm still thinking about it now."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "I will only be gone for two months this time, and the round trip will take more than ten days.

I took Zhishao to visit her master because her master was old and had not been in good health this year. I sent her to Gusu Panxiang Temple and went to Nanjing to do some business. I picked her up on my way back.

Why do you have to run around? Wouldn't it be better to stay at home with your second sister and the others?"

After hearing this, Qingwen's eyes sparkled and she said, "Then Third Master is going to Jinling alone, and there is no one to take care of him. You should take me with you. I will serve you."

Yinglian said, "Take me with you too. I can accompany Sister Zhishao to Gusu and not delay the young master's work. Master Xiushan and Sister Miaoyu are both very kind to me. I miss them too."

Wu Er laughed and said, "Last year, when the Third Master went to Jinling, he was not an official, but was just copying scriptures for the Queen Mother, so he could naturally take us with him.

Now the Third Master is different. He has a great reputation and is an official appointed by the imperial court. Many people are watching him. He is following the imperial edict to do official business, and he has several maids with him. This is too conspicuous and will cause gossip. "

Among the people in Jia Cong's room, Wu'er doesn't talk much and is not as lively and active as Qingwen, but she is always thoughtful and thoughtful, and her actions and words are reasonable.

After hearing Wu'er's words, Qingwen felt that they made sense, so she stopped talking, but her face looked a little discouraged.

Yinglian is usually well-behaved. Although she really wants to go to Jinling with Jia Cong, since Wu'er said it is not good to go, she gave up. Although she was reluctant, fortunately after two months, the young master returned home.

Jia Cong did not bring Wu'er and the others with him when he went south this time, and what Wu'er said was not the only reason.

The important thing is that he knows what he is going to do in Jinling. This trip to Jinling will most likely not be peaceful. In order to avoid unnecessary trouble, it is naturally better not to take them with him.

As for taking Zhishao to Gusu, it was because Miaoyu had written to her several times, saying that Master Xiushan was old and ill, which made Zhishao uneasy and often worried.

Besides, there was nothing wrong with Zhishao going to Suzhou to visit her master and Jia Cong doing business in Nanjing.

Gusu and Jinling belong to two different places. Even if something happens in Jinling, it will not affect Gusu.

Master Xiushan was a famous person in Gusu, and the magistrate of Wu County respected her very much and often took care of her, so there was naturally no problem.

Seeing that Qingwen was unhappy, Jia Cong knew what she was thinking and said with a smile, "You all should be well at home. There are many new and interesting things in the south. I will bring you whatever you want to eat or play with."

There were footsteps at the door, a red shadow swayed, and Xiangyun's crisp and flexible voice came: "Third brother, if you want to bring anything delicious or fun, don't forget my share."

……

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

Yesterday, Prince Beijing sent someone to invite Baoyu to his house to meet friends. Baoyu spent most of the day in Prince Beijing's house. When he returned home, the sun had already set. When he returned to his room, he heard that Shi Xiangyun had come.

Before Daiyu came to the Jia Mansion, the young Xiangyun was raised together with Baoyu by Grandmother Jia. The two of them always got along well, even better than other sisters.

Although Xiangyun asked Baoyu to learn from Jia Cong and experience more official career and economic affairs last time, Baoyu was upset and the two had a quarrel.

However, Baoyu has always been obedient to his sisters at home and did not bear grudges after the incident. When he heard that Xiangyun had come, he wanted to go to Grandmother Jia's room to meet her.

But Xiren stopped him, saying that it was late now and Miss Yun had grown up, so it would be inappropriate to go in rashly, and it would be better to wait until tomorrow morning to see her.

Baoyu also felt that there was some truth in what he heard.

The next morning, Baoyu was in no mood to eat the breakfast that Musk Moon brought, so he went to Grandmother Jia's room to find Xiangyun.

Now that Daiyu and Tanchun have moved to the East Palace, Baoyu is feeling very uncomfortable. Shi Xiangyun happens to come, and he can just play with her.

Just as I arrived at the corridor outside Jia's mother's room, I saw Yuanyang coming over with a food box, ready to serve Jia's mother her meal.

Baoyu asked, "Sister Yuanyang, is Sister Yun in the old lady's room?"

Yuanyang smiled and said, "Miss Yun visited the old lady yesterday, and then went to the East Palace to look for the girls. She also stayed at the second girl's place last night, and she hasn't come here today."

Baoyu was extremely confused when he heard this. What on earth was Jia Cong making a fuss about? First it was his second sister, then it was Sister Lin and the third sister, and now even Sister Yun had been coaxed into it.

How could these sisters not find him boring and vulgar, a pedantic and corrupt person like him? They have been ruined by him and all of them have been deceived by him. I really have no place to complain...

He came into Lady Jia's room. Lady Jia was delighted to see him coming so early in the morning, so she asked him to sit down and have breakfast with her.

Baoyu couldn't eat anything. He just asked why his sister Yun went to live in the East Palace, and acted coquettishly, asking Lady Jia to call her back as soon as possible.

Grandmother Jia had such thoughts about Xiangyun in her heart and was eager for her to get closer to Jia Cong, so she would never force her to come back. So she used some nice words to coax Baoyu.

Baoyu couldn't understand the situation and felt helpless, and couldn't think of any way to deal with it.

He suddenly recalled the scene of "Parasite Grass" he had listened to in Prince Beijing's Mansion yesterday. There was a section in the song "Naked, I come and go without any worries", which must have been referring to himself. He could not help but feel filled with grief and indignation.

He had no choice but to complain to Xiren, hoping to get some warmth and consideration from a girl, and relieve the burden in his heart. It would be worth it even if he died...

……

Daiyu and Tanchun had heard Yingchun say that in the East Mansion, there was a custom of eating breakfast at the same table every morning. The girls and maids sat together, without the false formalities of the West Mansion. It was lively and fun. They had moved to the East Mansion for a few days. Seeing that Daiyu and Tanchun had just moved in, Jia's mother was worried that her two granddaughters would not be used to it, so she asked the West Mansion kitchen to deliver breakfast several times. It was not until Yingchun went to talk to them that they stopped.

Early in the morning, Jia Cong asked Juan'er and Si'er to invite them. It was their first time in the East Palace, so naturally they came with full of curiosity.

When Jia Cong saw them coming and heard what Xiangyun had said, he asked, "Did Sister Xiangyun sleep well last night?"

Yingchun smiled and said, "How could Sister Yun not be used to it? She even talked to me so much yesterday that I couldn't sleep because of her. But she fell asleep as soon as she touched the pillow and even stayed in bed this morning."

Daiyu and Tanchun both laughed, but Xiangyun didn't care at all. She just saw that all kinds of food had been placed on the round table in the main hall.

Stalked rice porridge, yellow rice steamed bread, nine-steamed pickled cucumbers, dried eggplant, tofu skin buns, and two bottles of boiling filtered milk.

Everything is steaming hot and fragrant, which whets your appetite.

Although these foods were considered exquisite, Daiyu, Tanchun, Xiangyun and others had lived a life of luxury since childhood, so they were not too surprising.

But eating together like this was completely different from their previous upbringing and habits. It exuded a pleasing intimacy and warmth, and the food seemed to taste unusually delicious in their mouths.

Daiyu usually doesn't eat much, and this was the first time that Jia Cong accompanied her for breakfast. She actually finished a bowl of rice porridge with a smile and ate two tofu skin buns.

He seemed to be still unsatisfied and wanted to get a yellow rice steamed bun, but Zijuan persuaded him to stop because she was worried that her daughter could not bear to eat too much.

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Sister, you are growing up now. It is not enough to just walk around the room. Tomorrow I will make you a shuttlecock so that you can kick it in your own yard.

This thing is the best way to exercise your eyes, feet and legs. Once your body is healthier, you don't need to be too restrictive about eating.

Xiangyun on the side said: "Now I envy my second sister the most, she can live with my third brother in the East Palace, you see her, she lives such a carefree life.

There are no elders to control us, we can do whatever we want, even breakfast is so unique and lively, I envy you so much. "

Tanchun smiled and said, "Then you don't have to go back. Just live in the East Mansion and let your third brother take care of you."

Xiangyun smiled and said nonchalantly, "That's great. I won't leave from now on."

Tanchun couldn't help but burst out laughing when she heard this. Daiyu also realized what was happening. Seeing that Xiangyun didn't seem to notice, she glanced at Jia Cong again and couldn't help laughing out loud. The atmosphere at the table became more lively.

Only Yingchun smiled and said nothing.

When Xiangyun saw Tanchun's strange smile, she suddenly realized that something was wrong. She was being teased by the third girl, who asked her to let her third brother raise her, and she agreed without any shame.

Her pretty face flushed and she glanced at Jia Cong secretly. Seeing that he looked normal, he didn't seem to have heard anything unusual.

He glared at Tanchun fiercely, but although Tanchun was aloof in nature, she was not stupid, so she pretended not to know and concentrated on the yellow rice steamed bread in her hand.

……

Yao's Wine Shop in Xinghua Lane, East of Jinling City
Last night, it rained all night, the air was unusually clear, and the bluestone slabs in the alley were shining with a moist light.

In the bedroom on the second floor of the wine shop, sitting opposite Zou Min'er was a young woman in her twenties, with a graceful figure, beautiful eyebrows and eyes, and her every frown and smile was charming and captivating.

Zou Min'er had just arrived in Jinling yesterday, and today she found this inconspicuous wine shop according to the list of spies from the China Railway Company that Du Qingniang had obtained.

But the proprietress of this wine shop was too conspicuous. Zou Miner felt a little resentful in her heart. She thought that if such a person was the proprietress, was she here to buy wine or smiles?

In the list given by Du Qingniang, the owner of the wine shop, Xu Qinnan, was specially marked, and Zou Miner was asked to contact this person first after arriving in Jinling.

The other five people on the list can all be contacted through Xu Qinnan.

Zou Min'er went to Nanjing this time, ostensibly on the orders of the Ministry of Rites, to be sent to the Nanjing Jiaofangsi to select female musicians and singers from Jiangnan.

It is not convenient to let more people know about her identity as a train driver. Jinling City is a mixed bag and the power conflicts are difficult to distinguish. Having Xu Qinnan contact other people will provide an extra layer of insurance for Zou Miner.

Since Du Qingniang specifically named Xu Qinnan, I guess this person must be a little different.

Xu Qiniang said, "Three days ago, I received a message from Du Dangtou asking me to obey Miss Zou's orders. I wonder what Miss Zou wants me to do."

Xu Qinnan is much older than Zou Miner and is a more experienced person. She also seems to have more experience in the China Railway Company than Zou Miner.

And Zou Min'er looks like a young girl who is not very worldly-wise.

But Xu Qinnan did not show any contempt or laziness towards her, and the charming and seductive expression on her face was also restrained.

She had been in Jinling for many years, so she naturally knew what kind of person Du Qingniang, the carriage driver, was. The fact that this girl was valued by her must mean that she had something extraordinary about her.

Xu Qinnan has been selling wine for many years and has seen countless people coming and going. Naturally, she has some ability to judge people.

Although this Miss Zou was young and pretty, she dared to come to Jinling alone and found this place by herself.

The two assistants in his shop were both first-rate fighters with fierce looks. They were originally there to protect his house and prevent any playboys or high-ranking figures from coming to cause trouble.

But the little girl was not afraid at all when she saw it. She looked calm and went straight into the inner hall, pointing out her name and asking herself to come out to meet her.

Just now, Xu Qinnan talked to her for a while, and then checked the secret words of the carriage driver and the inspection token.

I found that Miss Zou's every word and action was meticulous, without any loopholes or secrets, and her fragility revealed an indescribable ruthlessness.

I don’t know where Du Qingniang got such a strange woman from.

Zou Miner said: "This time, Du Dangtou sent me to Jinling to track down Zhou Zhengyang's whereabouts, and I need to use the connections of the CRRC in Jinling.

Chen Kuishan, a centurion stationed in Jinling Guard by the Zhongchesi, was promoted by Zhou Zhengyang, from a small flag officer to a centurion within four years, according to secret files. He had a close relationship with Zhou Zhengyang.

I want to ask him about Zhou Zhengyang's whereabouts or any related information."

Xu Qiniang said: "Before Yang Hongbin from the Dali Temple came to Nanjing to arrest him, Zhou Zhengyang escaped and took more than a dozen of his confidants with him.

Seven other garrison officers and soldiers were killed within a few days. It is estimated that these seven people were in cahoots with Zhou Zhengyang or knew his background.

Before Zhou Zhengyang escaped, some people might have been killed by Zhou Zhengyang to silence them, perhaps because they were unwilling to follow the coercion or for other reasons, but Chen Kuishan was not among the seven bodies.

Chen Kuishan also disappeared from that day on, so the most likely possibility is that he and Zhou Zhengyang fled together out of helplessness, voluntarily, or for other reasons.

I have sent people to investigate for several days. Someone saw Zhou Zhengyang in a small fishing village east of Zhenjiang four days after he fled. Since then, there has been no news of him. "

Zou Miner asked, "What is the name of that fishing village?"

Xu Qiniang took out a map from the cabinet, spread it out on the table, pointed to a place and said, "It's called Haishanzhu."

Zou Minger looked at the location where Xu Qinnan's finger pointed. Haishanzhu was located in the eastern corner of Changzhou, at the junction of Changzhou and Gusu, close to the entrance of the river and the sea.

From here, go east along the river, passing Changzhou, Gusu, Songjiang along the way, and further east is the vast ocean...

(End of this chapter)