In the Lixiang Courtyard, Mrs. Wang was talking to Aunt Xue about Baochai's marriage——
Grand View Garden, Hengwu Garden
The white snow in the courtyard has long since completely melted. Several plum blossom trees under the pavilion with red walls and black tiles are shivering in the cold wind. Their small and delicate pink petals are swaying in the wind, and they are extremely beautiful.
In the wing room, on a Kang couch next to the window, Baochai was holding Baoqin's soft little hand and talking. The two sisters had smooth muscles and bones and plump figures. One was wearing a honey-colored coat, and the other was wearing a red coat. Skirt, one is dignified and elegant, the other is charming and charming.
Baochai chuckled and said softly: "Baoqin, what did your brother Heng tell me?"
Bao Qin played with a strand of black hair in his hand, with a look of shame on his face, and said: "Brother Heng didn't tell me either. Dad said it's okay to wait for another two years."
She promised Brother Heng that she would never tell her sister what happened before.
Baochai just thought it was a shy girl, but didn't doubt it, but smiled and said: "When I was in Jinling, I lived with my sister. Later, my sister went out with her second uncle. I didn't want to live together again after so many years. "
Bao Qinfang's heart skipped a beat, her cheeks were slightly hot, and she felt a little weak in her heart.
If she follows Brother Heng, she and her second sister will probably live together in the future.
His big bright eyes flashed, he quickly changed the subject, lowered his voice and said: "Sister, why has my brother-in-law been in Beijing camp these days and never come to see my sister?"
After saying that, he added: "I didn't go to see Sister Lin either."
It’s true, Brother Heng, how can you be so busy that you don’t even want to go back to your home?
Baochai's moist apricot eyes flashed under her Cuiyu beautiful eyebrows, and she said: "He was busy with matters in the capital camp, and he didn't have time to come over. Didn't it say in the newspaper that he was going to prepare for the army?" "
As the third volume of Jia Heng's Three Kingdoms novel became a best-seller and Yang Guochang returned to his hometown as an official, public opinion in Beijing regarding the peace talks also began to turn.
Baoqin said softly: "Brother-in-law is really busy. I didn't see him for a long time when I was in Jinling. Now that I'm back in Beijing, I'm so busy that I can't see anyone."
Baochai said with emotion: "The past two years are a critical time. We have to fight with the North, so many things have to be put aside first."
Baochai said, and suddenly asked: "Isn't my sister still reading the Three Kingdoms dialect book these days?"
I don't know if it's her misunderstanding, but her cousin has been a little weird lately. She blushes in front of her every now and then, and her eyes are a little dodgey.
It's like...as if I've done something wrong.
A faint smile appeared on Baoqin's plump cheeks, and she said softly: "I just browsed through it casually. Brother-in-law's book is really well written. I heard that it sold for a lot of money at the beginning."
Baochai said: "He wrote this book when he was in Liutiao Hutong at the beginning. It was a little more difficult at that time."
She had certainly read the book he wrote, which meant that she saw the book a little late, otherwise...
At this time, the two cousins were talking, and Ying'er said, "Miss Lin is here."
When Baochai heard this, his expression was startled. He stood up, stared at the girl who walked in from the outside, and called out: "Younger."
Since yesterday, a group of golden hairpins moved in, today is Daiyu's first visit to the house.
Daiyu said: "Come and see sister, why didn't sister Baoqin go to the front yard to play with sister-in-law Heng?"
Xiangyun has been pestering Nona for the past few days to ask about leaving the capital. Tanchun and Zhenlan went to the front yard again, and Zhenxi followed Xichun to Caocui'an. For a while, only Daiyu was left, and no one was left. Xi Miaoyu's temperament does not allow her to go to Miao Xiu Yingxi's place.
After thinking about it, I came over to look for Baochai to talk. After all, the two of them were in the same boat.
Bao Qin said with a smile: "The scenery in this garden is so nice. I don't like playing mahjong."
In fact, Baoqin may not be as young as Daiyu, but now her elder sister and younger sister are screaming randomly.
While Baochai ordered Ying'er to pour tea, he said softly: "Why do you have so much free time now?"
"My Xiaoxiang Pavilion is very quiet. I usually don't see anyone coming, so I come here to talk to my sister." Daiyu's starry eyes were as bright as rainbows, and there seemed to be some slight resentment in her words.
In the past few days, she seemed to have experienced a little bit of the cold and lonely feeling. When he was not around, she was bored alone in the room, and there was no one to talk to.
It is the loneliness of suddenly seeing the willows on the street, regretting teaching your husband and son-in-law to seek a title, the loneliness of sitting alone with frowning, not knowing whom to hate.
Baochai pulled Daiyu's slender hair, and he could understand Daiyu's state of mind, and said softly: "Sister, I just moved in. You can walk around and get familiar with the paths. By the way, this is not Laba today. You should drink it." A bowl of Laba porridge is the best, and it should be used to celebrate the housewarming."
Daiyu responded in a low voice, sat down on the Kang table, and said, "Sister Bao, he...he hasn't come back yet?"
Hearing this, Baochai's face, as white as a pear blossom, smiled slightly, and said softly: "Recently, the newspaper said that beware of the Jurchens being angry and raising troops to invade the south. Brother Heng should be reorganizing his troops in the Beijing camp at the moment. "
Daiyu sighed quietly, and there was a faint color in her bright starry eyes.
If asked in the future, what would it be like to fall in love with a G-level boss?
Then... you seem to have arrived in a wasteland where knowledge does not exist.
"Sister, don't be too clingy to him, he is busy with national affairs." Baochai said softly with a beautiful smile.
When Daiyu heard this, her cheeks turned red. Who was clinging to her?
He lowered his head and said softly: "It's just that I can't stay home for a few days."
It's not that the lamb is bleating, but it's deathly silence. For Daiyu, who values companionship, she feels increasingly lonely.
Baochai said: "I must have had some free time before the year. If we say we get together less and stay apart more, Sister Qin is the one. We used to get along day and night when we were in Jinling."
Daiyu said "hmm", raised her pretty face, and asked: "By the way, why did Brother Heng quit his job in the Five Cities Military and Horse Division?"
Baochai smiled and said: "Because he is concentrating on military affairs, or maybe there are other reasons. When Brother Heng comes back, my sister will ask him again. Recently I heard that the chief ministers of the cabinet have been changed."
Daiyu asked in surprise: "What's going on?"
She really didn't know this.
Baochai said: "Didn't my sister pay attention? A few days ago, there was a fierce fight in the court."
Daiyu's cheeks were slightly shy, her starry eyes were full of curiosity, and she said, "Sister, tell me."
Baochai asked: "Brother Heng usually doesn't tell his sister?"
"He...he never told me." Daiyu frowned, her tone a little embarrassed.
Every time I go to see her, I get tired of being intimate with her, and they talk about romance...
Bao Qin listened to Chai and Dai saying this, and felt flushed and uneasy. He stood up and muttered: "Sister, you two talk, I'll go back first."
"Well, let's go." Baochai nodded and said softly.
The two sisters, who share the same husband, talked about themselves, but the younger sister was not suitable to listen to them.
As soon as Baoqin left, Daiyu sighed quietly and said, "Brother Heng has been in the capital camp these days. He is at work all day and night. I don't know why he is so busy."
Baochai chuckled and said, "Sister, I'm going to post the next post. I just came here because I couldn't help it."
Not to be outdone, Daiyu said coquettishly: "Sister Bao, too."
If she did that, wouldn't it be a disaster for beauty?
Ying'er offered a cup of fragrant tea and said with a smile: "Girl, I heard from the grandma in the front yard that the uncle is back."
On the other side, Jia Heng, Zhen Lan, and Tan Chun entered the hall from the study. Facing the gazes of Qin Keqing and You Shi, they said warmly: "Ke Qing."
Qin Keqing said: "Husband, it's noon, it's time to have lunch."
Jia Heng nodded, sat down, and explained: "I have been busy with matters in Jingying for a while, but I have been a little leisurely these past few days."
Qin Keqing asked: "Husband, Sister Xue and Sister Lin moved into the garden yesterday. When will Husband go over and have a look?"
With so many people waiting at home, he could still stay outside. It seemed that there was really urgent and important military information.
Jia Heng said: "Well, I've had lunch and let's go take a look in the afternoon."
Sister Feng smiled and said, "Brother Heng, have you finished your work? It's almost the Chinese New Year and there are a lot of things in the house that need to be handled by Brother Heng."
Jia Heng washed his hands under the service of the maid and said, "I'm almost busy."
"Brother Heng, I have something to trouble Brother Heng." Sister Feng's eyes rolled under her eyebrows, but she hesitated to speak.
Jia Heng took the hand towel handed by Sister You, wiped his hands, and asked, "What's the matter?"
"He's not my brother yet. He wants to do some business in Beijing, but it's not official yet." Sister Feng said softly.
In these years, the Wang family's life has actually been like Wang Xiaoer's New Year celebrations, each year has been worse than the last. Especially after Wang Ziteng was dismissed from the Beijing camp and went to the Peking camp, the Wang family was even more affected.
Wang Ren is Sister Feng's brother. He does business in Jinling and Shenjing, traveling back and forth and making little money.
Jia Heng picked up the chopsticks, looked at Sister Feng, and asked, "What business does he want to do?"
Sister Feng looked a little unnatural and said: "My brother doesn't want to open a gambling shop in Dongcheng. The Wucheng Bingma Division needs to buy a brand. If there is no brand, they will not let the gambling shop open."
Jia Heng frowned and said, "Open a gambling house? This is a business that harms people. Can't we do other businesses?"
The big man couldn't help but bet that when he took office in the Five Cities Military and Horse Division, he had wiped out the Sanhe Gang and severely cracked down on gambling houses, mainly rogues who harmed the people.
But it didn't take long for the dark field to flourish, and the ban continued.
In other words, even the maids and maids of the Jia family played dice in private, drank wine and made money. In this era of barren entertainment projects, many people regarded gambling as a pastime.
Therefore, Jia Heng and Fan Yi discussed countermeasures and decided to relax at the right time, and issued regulations mainly to restrict the forced rape of girls into prostitution and the sale of children and girls.
Then, the taxes paid by the gambling house can be regarded as generating income for the Five Cities Soldiers and Horses Division to a certain extent.
It's not that Jia Heng has never thought about the lottery, but he feels that the time has not come yet, or that the specifications of the Five Cities Military and Horse Division are not enough. At least the Ministry of Household Affairs or the Ministry of Internal Affairs should handle this matter.
In fact, the reason why King Wei was eager to take over the Wucheng Bingma Division was because he valued the income brought by the Wucheng Bingma Division.
Jia Heng pondered for a moment and said: "Opening a gambling house is a side business, and it can easily breed disputes. Let him think of a serious business."
It's not that he has a moral obsession, but if Wang Ren is allowed to open a gambling house, he will probably bully men and dominate women, and act unscrupulously, and maybe even act under his banner.
Wang Ren, in the original work, was a cruel uncle who was able to betray Sister Qiao. Of course, there is no Sister Qiao now, but it shows that this person has such despicable conduct that he has to be on guard against him.
"That's what I mean, but since they can do this business, there's nothing wrong with us doing this for a living, right?" Sister Feng's smile on her beautiful face froze for a moment, and she said softly.
She didn't know why. She knew that given his temperament, she would probably disagree, but she couldn't help but want to see what he would do.
Thinking of the generous support she had received from her brother earlier, Sister Feng suddenly felt a sense of shame in her heart, and her cheeks were as hot as fire.
While Sister Feng was feeling sorry for herself, Jia Heng said: "Now the Five Cities Military and Horse Department has been handed over to His Highness the King of Wei. Sister-in-law Feng, let him do something else to make a living, whether it be opening a pawn shop or a restaurant. It’s better than these immoral businesses.”
Concern was visible on Youshi's Wen Ning jade face, and she said softly and gently: "Girl Feng, what Zi Yu said is that these are all activities that are harmful to nature and cause trouble."
Being rejected by Jia Heng, Sister Feng pursed her pink lips, feeling a little unspeakably aggrieved. She pinched the washed white handkerchief in her hand and said, "Then I'll talk to him and let him think of a better career." .”
She didn't know why, but she always felt sour in her heart, but this kind of anger arose in her heart, but she felt that there was not much reason for it.
She was never his.
Who is she? She was just a widow, and when others pitied her and said a few words of concern, she lost her mind and thought she didn't have much dignity in front of him.
Seeing that Sister Feng was no longer as glamorous as before, Qin Keqing turned around her hibiscus jade face, which was as bright as a peach and plum, looked at Jia Heng, and said softly: "Why don't you, husband, follow Sister Feng to meet Wang Ren? It would be easier to give him a few words." He has the idea of acting under the guise of his husband again."
Hearing this, Jia Heng nodded, stared at Sister Feng, who cast a pair of sad eyes, and said, "Sister-in-law Feng will introduce you to me in the next two days. I'll see if I can find a regular job for him."
Once you meet Wang Ren, it means helping Wang Ren find a way to make money, but before that, you need to do some hard work.
In fact, as he became a first-class marquis, invitations from relatives became inevitable.
When Sister Feng heard this, she felt happy and said with a smile: "The day after tomorrow, I will invite my brother to come out and have a meal together."
Jia Heng nodded and said, "Sister-in-law Feng will arrange it."
Sanjie You glanced at Sister Feng and felt a sense of emotion in her heart.
There is no man behind a woman, and no matter how strong-tempered she is, there is nothing she can do if something goes wrong.
Qin Keqing looked at the young man in the python suit and said softly: "Husband, the Chinese New Year is coming soon, and Qing Jing is also on vacation from school. When will you come back to your parents' home with me?"
In fact, Jia Heng should have accompanied his wife to visit his father-in-law for ten days after returning to Beijing, especially after he was granted the first-class title of Wuhou. However, he was really busy before, so it was understandable.
Jia Heng said warmly: "Then it will be tomorrow. It just so happens that I have something to discuss with my father-in-law."
It was also about the supervision of the manufacture of firearms. The Ministry of Industry organized a group of military craftsmen to study iron smelting. In addition, coal from Henan was to be transported to the capital in large quantities to provide heating for the soldiers and civilians. In addition, he planned to work hard to make coal available to ordinary people. available fuel.
Of course, such as smokeless charcoal, there is also animal charcoal carved with birds and insects, called auspicious gold beasts, which are used by dignitaries for heating.
Qin Keqing's beautiful eyes under her slender eyebrows seemed to cast an angry glance at Jia Heng, and said, "Whenever my husband goes back, he must talk to his father about business matters."
Jia Heng smiled, gently took the beauty's hand, and asked: "Being in a temple, it is inevitable after all. By the way, when will Jingqing enter school?"
Qin Keqing's face turned red, she struggled slightly, and said softly: "He just started studying literature this year. When he plans to take the county and government second examinations next year, he will give it a try first."
Jia Heng nodded and said, "Then let him study hard. I will ask him about his homework later."
Sister Feng said with a smile: "Speaking of going to school, Sister Zhu asked me to send a message to Brother Heng, saying that Brother Lang should be almost ready next year?"
Jia Heng nodded and said, "Brother Lan can give it a try next year. I'll discuss it with Sister Zhu later. Is their school on vacation?"
There is no idle time in Jingying, and there are all kinds of things to do when I get home.
"It's holiday, after the Lantern Festival." Sister Feng looked at the boy in the python suit with full eyes and said with a chuckle.
Then, everyone sat together and started having lunch.
After finishing the meal and sipping tea and talking, Jia Heng heard his grandma report: "Master, Xiao Qianhu from Jiangnan outside wants to see you."
Jia Heng looked at Qin Keqing and said, "You guys just play, I'll go take a look."
When the emperor mentioned that he would appoint an old man in Jinyi in Fusi, Jiangnan Town, to investigate the case, he sent someone to send a message to Feige in Jinling. Now Xiaoxiao is finally here.
Ningguo Mansion, outer study room
Wearing a brocade Feiyu suit, a slender girl sat on a chair not far from the desk, holding a cup of tea in her hand and taking a sip. Her face was as dark as water, and there were some bloodshot eyes under her beautiful eyebrows. .
As familiar footsteps came from the eaves outside the screen, Jia Heng raised his eyes to look at the tired girl with a tired face, and called out: "Xiaoxiao."
Chen Xiao put down the tea cup, raised his clear eyes, looked at the young man opposite him with full eyes, and said, "Why did you suddenly send me Fei Ge a letter asking me to come over? Fei Ge said something vague in the letter."
Jia Hengxing came closer and explained: "The palace sent an old man in Jinyi to investigate the case. I'm worried that he will find something."
Chen Xiaoyurong paused slightly, her eyes flashed, and asked: "You said that the former commander-in-chief Shang Yong?"
Jia Heng nodded and said: "The emperor has entrusted him with the matter of the remnants of King Zhao. By the way, how about the case in Nan Province? Is there any trace of the remnants of King Zhao?"
Chen Xiao shook his head, his eyes were scrutinizing and cold, and said: "What else can we do? Everything is the same as before, and the three of you are starting to show their pregnancies."
Jia Heng: "..."
After a while, a serious look appeared on Chen Xiao's cold and jade face, and he whispered: "Chen Yuan has left Jinling."
"Come back to Shenjing?" Jia Heng frowned and asked.
Chen Xiao's eyes were dark and incomprehensible, and he said: "I probably didn't come to Shenjing, but went somewhere else."
"Let's not worry about it for now." Jia Heng said, taking the girl's somewhat cold jade hand, and said warmly: "Are you tired from this journey?"
A faint blush appeared on Chen Xiaoyu's face, and she said coldly: "If you don't touch me, I won't be tired."
Jia Heng automatically ignored these words, pulled the girl up, hugged her in his arms, and said, "I'm really not used to not being around you during this period."
Chen Xiao originally gently broke away from Jia Heng's restraints. When he heard this, his delicate body suddenly softened. He just snorted coldly and said sarcastically: "There are thousands of beauties in this house, all kinds of beauties. What else do you have?" accustomed."
Jia Heng found a chair, pulled Chen Xiao to sit in his arms, squeezed the girl's shoulders, and said, "But there is only one Xiaoxiao."
"Funny words." Chen Xiao sneered and stopped struggling, bursts of sweetness welled up deep in his heart.
(End of chapter)
