I'm in the Red Mansion

On the first day of the New Year, Jia Cong was busy for most of the day and hadn't slept all night. He was extremely tired.

Therefore, he did not visit any of the concubines in the afternoon, but went to bed early.

I slept until the next day before I regained my strength.

Fortunately, Jia Cong was the founding emperor, so he did not have that many relatives.

Without the clan members around, the New Year period isn’t that busy.

However, after the first day of the new year, Jia Cong still attended some social events.

First, he quietly took Queen Lin Daiyu to the Lin family.

After becoming the queen, Lin Daiyu was extremely cautious in her every move and every word.

Every time she went out, she would alert too many people - of course, secretly going out shopping with the emperor didn't count.

Therefore, since becoming queen, Lin Daiyu has never returned to her parents' home.

Of course, she could see her father Lin Ruhai often.

Moreover, her younger brothers and sisters were often brought into the palace to play, so they did not miss their relatives too much.

But in her heart, she still wanted to go back to her parents' home.

Jia Cong took her back to her parents' home.

Of course, Jia Cong did not make a big fuss when he went to the Lin family this time.

No one outside knew that the emperor and the queen had gone to the Lin family.

After returning to her parents' home, Lin Daiyu was in a very good mood.

A few days later, Jia Cong took the sisters Xue Baochai and Xue Baoqin back to the Xue family.

Compared with the Lin family, the Xue family is much more cautious.

After all, they don't have Lin Ruhai's identity.

Although the two families were old acquaintances, they were still very nervous when the emperor really came to their house.

At the Xue family, Xue Pan and Xue Ke came out to receive Jia Cong.

In front of Jia Cong, the two brothers did not dare to raise their heads and became timid.

Jia Cong asked a question and they answered it.

Since Jia Cong didn't ask, the two men didn't dare to say anything.

This made Jia Cong feel amused in his heart.

This guy Xue Pan was very arrogant when I first met him.

Later, I saved his life, and he never forgot my life-saving grace.

This guy has a carefree personality and is very generous every time he meets me.

Until later, when I became the top scorer in the imperial examination, this guy became less talkative when he saw me.

After he was conferred the title of Marquis of Champion, he spoke less and less when he saw him.

Now that he is the emperor, he simply has nothing to say.

Well, it’s just like Xun Ge’er and Runtu.

Jia Cong didn't make things difficult for him.

Jia Cong couldn't help asking, "I wonder if Brother Xue is married?"

Xue Pan hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, please don't call me Brother Xue. How can I be worthy of this? Why not just call me by my name?"

Jia Cong smiled and said, "We have known each other since childhood, so there is no need to have so many taboos."

After hearing this, Xue Pan had no choice but to give up.

Xue Pan added: "Your Majesty, the engagement has been finalized and we are just waiting for the beginning of spring to get married."

Jia Cong couldn't help but ask again: "Which family is the bride from?"

At this time, Jia Cong was a little curious and wondered if it would be Guihua Xia's family?
Xue Pan said, "She is the youngest daughter of the Song family. Her father is a deputy minister of the Ministry of Revenue."

Song family?

Ministry of Revenue Yuanwailang?
With Jia Cong's ability to remember everything he saw, he naturally knew Song Yan, the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Revenue.

Song Yan's youngest daughter is now eighteen years old, which is considered a grown-up girl in this era.

Moreover, she was born out of wedlock.

However, Song Yan was selected through the imperial examination.

These people usually look down on businessmen.

The reason why the Song family wanted to marry into the Xue family was probably because they were attracted by the power of the two imperial concubines of the Xue family and tried to establish a relationship with the royal family, right?

Jia Cong did not underestimate the Song family's intentions.

Most people in the world are like this. It is human nature to curry favor with the powerful and wealthy.

However, Jia Cong would not look up to the Song family because of this.

Jia Cong asked again: "Has the wedding date been decided?"

Xue Pan replied: "It will be on the sixth day of February."

February 6th?

In the blink of an eye, it is the Lantern Festival.

After the Lantern Festival, it’s already February before we know it.

The sixth day of February is coming soon.

After all, Xue Pan is the brother of Xue Baochai and Xue Baoqin.

And before I ascended the throne, we were friends.

When Xue Pan gets married, he will naturally show his respect.

After some consideration, Jia Cong had another banquet at Xue's house and then let them leave.

As for other concubines, they did not receive such treatment.

Well, the woman who followed Jia Cong in the early days.

Apart from these women, there are only a few maids left.

Among those maids, Hongxiu was a family-born child, while Qingwen only had a brother who knew how to drink all day long.

Xiangling has a miserable life. Her biological father Zhen Shiyin became a monk and his whereabouts are unknown.

There is only an old mother left at home, who lives with her parents.

After Xiangling was made a concubine, Jia Cong sent people to the south of the Yangtze River to bring Zhen to the capital, and gave her a house and money.

Jia Cong also felt sorry for Xiangling, so maybe she could go home to visit her mother.

However, Jia Cong couldn't go back with her.

There was also a Qin Keqing, and now only a younger brother, Qin Jingqing, is left.

There is no need to go back.

Furthermore, there are several girls who were recently selected from the talent show, and their families are not from the capital.

It was even more impossible for Jia Cong to accompany them back to their parents' home.

Before we knew it, it was the Lantern Festival.

The Lantern Festival is naturally busy.

After the Lantern Festival, everything began to get back on track.

It has been more than half a year since Jia Cong ascended the throne.

During this past six months, I have achieved some small results.

For example, the promotion of several new agricultural crops is already on the right track.

It will take less than ten years to fully promote it.

By then, it will be able to feed more people.

China no longer has to worry about not having enough food.

There is also the work of land measurement, which has now been completed in all places, and the accounts of the completed measurements have begun to be reported to Beijing.

The following autumn tax will also be levied according to this figure.

How much autumn tax can be collected also affects the evaluation of local officials.

For this reason alone, I am afraid that all places will conceal the facts.

Jia Cong also asked Ni Er to secretly send the Jinyiwei to investigate.

Measuring the land is a huge project. Even local officials need to spend more than half a year and a large number of people to get a rough inventory.

It is a pipe dream for the few people in the Jinyiwei to investigate thoroughly.

However, they did not need to personally inspect the land. It was enough for them to secretly investigate the people who measured the land and find out whether they had concealed or concealed any information.

They can also start with local officials in various places.

The Jinyiwei are professional in doing these things.

The Embroidered Uniform Guards had been investigating these matters for more than half a year, and Jia Cong estimated that they must have found out something.

After they have gathered the information, the next step is to take action.

Time passed unknowingly and it was already February.

The Xue Mansion also began to get busy.

Because in six days, the eldest young master of their family, Xue Pan, will be getting married.

And the Xue family is now the imperial concubine’s family.

The entire Xue Mansion was already decorated with red and green and lights.

Soon, it was the sixth day of the New Year.

The Xue family became more and more lively.

Not only was the house bustling with people, but there were also buffets set up on the streets.

No matter whether the visitor was an ordinary citizen or a beggar, as long as he said a few auspicious words, he could sit down and enjoy the feast.

You can also get a gift before leaving.

Soon, the auspicious time arrived, and Xue Pan rode his tall horse straight to the Song family to pick up the bride.

On this day, Xue Pan knew that he was a commoner, so he specially invited Feng Ziying and Jia Huan to accompany him.

Well, Xue Pan and Feng Ziying were originally good friends - drinking buddies are also friends.

Feng Ziying didn't want to offend Xue Pan, so he had to take leave and rush over.

As for Jia Huan, he had no connection with Xue Pan before.

However, Jia Huan also knew that Xue Pan and the emperor were very close.

The two families were real relatives, so Jia Huan also came along.

With these two people accompanying him, no one in the entire capital can afford to offend him.

Soon, Xue Pan picked up the bride from the Song family and returned to the Xue family.

However, although the Song family is noble, they are not a wealthy family.

The bride's dowry consisted of only thirty-two sets.

In fact, for an ordinary official family, a dowry of thirty-two tai is already quite a lot.

However, for a top merchant family like the Xue family, a dowry of thirty-two units would be a bit disrespectful.

But the Song family is very noble, and that is enough.

The marriage between the Xue family and the Song family was based on their mutual needs.

The Song family values ​​the Xue family's money and their imperial concubine's family relationship, while the Xue family values ​​the Song family's elegance and nobility.

After the bride enters the house, the next step is to worship in the hall.

Just after the wedding ceremony, the bride was sent to the bridal chamber when the emperor and the imperial concubine suddenly arrived outside.

This immediately made the Xue family panic.

Although the Xue family was once one of the four major families, they were no better than the other three.

Their family has absolutely no experience in receiving guests.

Under the guidance of the accompanying eunuchs, they managed to complete their mission and brought in the emperor and the empress.

Jia Cong gave many gifts, sent blessings, drank a cup of tea, and then left with the imperial concubine.

Xue Pan was once Jia Cong's friend and also his father-in-law's brother. When Xue Pan got married, Jia Cong came in person to offer his blessings.

But staying any longer would make everyone feel uncomfortable.

Therefore, Jia Cong just drank a cup of tea and left.

However, the Xue family became more and more lively after the emperor and the imperial concubine left.

Needless to say, the masters were very surprised.

Even the servants felt proud of it.

The Xue family is truly a family of flourishing wealth and prosperity.

Not only are they wealthy enough to rival a country, they are also the imperial concubine's family.

Now that their eldest master is getting married, even the emperor and the imperial concubine have sent their blessings.

Some of those who came to attend their wedding this time were Xue Pan's close friends.

At this time, Xue Pan was praised even more to the sky.

However, Xue Pan had been through a lot after all, and his status was more respected now, but he was more stable than before.

Even though the corners of his mouth were almost stretched to his ears, he still managed to keep himself under control and didn't brag about it.

Soon, the banquet began.

As the groom, Xue Pan had to toast to his relatives and friends.

And this time, he drank too much.

Before drinking, he still had some composure.

But once he drank too much, he would return to his old ways and wouldn't control his words.

He was quick to boast.

"You don't know that before the Emperor ascended the throne, he and I had a life-long friendship. We had a very good relationship!"

"When the emperor was expelled from the Rongguo Mansion and driven out of his home, I helped him and gave him a house to live in, and also sent him many things."

Upon hearing this, Jia Lian, who came to attend the banquet, as well as Jia Zheng and other former Rongguo Mansion people, all turned grim-faced.

Even Jia Huan looked unhappy.

This fool Xue has no control over his words after drinking.

Is it really okay to expose our shortcomings in front of us?
Xue Pan, however, suddenly became unaware and continued to say:
"I was so angry at the time that I cursed the Rongguo Mansion for what they did. If I were not a relative of theirs, I would not have been able to say anything nice about it!"

"After the emperor recovered the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, he wanted to vigorously develop the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, but suffered from a lack of merchants."

"The emperor once said that without agriculture there is no stability, and without business there is no wealth! Therefore, my Xue family took the initiative to go to the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun and develop business in Yanyun."

"Do you know how much money my Xue family spent in Yanyun in the early days?"

"Of course, the emperor will not treat us unfairly. In the end, we will earn it back naturally."

"Why did the emperor take a fancy to my Xue family? Of course, it's not just because of my friendship with the emperor, nor is it just because of the imperial concubine."

"It's my Xue family, which has made great contributions to China!"

"Your Majesty is a man who values ​​love, so he will certainly not mistreat his meritorious officials..."

Xue Pan talked a lot and drank several bowls of wine. By this time, he had fallen to the ground drunk and unconscious.

The guests couldn't help but laugh and hurriedly called someone to send Xue Pan into the bridal chamber.

At this moment, Jia Lian and Jia Huan looked thoughtful.

They felt that this big fool Xue might not really be drunk.

Even though he was drunk, he was not drunk to the point of being unconscious.

The drunken words he just said were not spoken by someone who was truly drunk and unconscious.

Naturally, the two of them knew more than others.

They also knew some things about the Imperial Concubine, including that she had personally delivered food to Yan Yun Shiliu.

There are also the thoughts of the imperial concubine when she came to the Jia family, etc.

But Xue the fool didn't say any of these.

Is this fool Xue really stupid?

Jia Lian and Jia Huan felt that this might not be the case.

This big fool probably took advantage of being drunk to say these things on purpose.

He didn't say a single word that might damage the reputation of the Emperor and the Imperial Concubine.

His friendship with the Emperor, as well as the Xue family's loyalty, are clear as day!
……

In the bridal chamber, the bride was shyly wetting a towel with warm water and wiping Xue Pan's face.

At this time, Xue Pan opened his eyes.

The bride exclaimed, "Husband, you, you are not drunk?"

Xue Pan laughed and said, "If I didn't pretend to be drunk, how could they let me go?" (End of this chapter)