It was already midnight in Xu House, and a lantern under the eaves swayed silently from side to side in the hot summer wind.
Jia Heng and Chen Xiao were led by the servants into the hall of Xu's house, where they drank tea and waited.
According to Xu Zhai's disciples, Xu Lu was recuperating in the back house.
Xu Lu came out in casual clothes. His face looked a little haggard, and his eyes were bloodshot. He stared at the two of them without exchanging greetings, and said, "I don't know why Duke Wei came to visit at night."
Jia Heng said: "Yesterday, according to the imperial edict, I went to the Procuratorate this morning to investigate the case of fraud in the imperial examination. I heard that Mr. Xu was ill, so I came over to have a look. I don't know how Mr. Xu is doing? Have you hired a doctor?"
Even if something happens, don't just ask about the matter when you come up, but about your health.
Xu Lu glanced at the young man, his face softened slightly, and he sighed: "To be honest with Duke Wei, Xu's illness is a heart disease."
Jia Heng put down the teacup and asked, "But is it because of the imperial examination fraud case?"
Xu Lu glanced at the girl in the flying fish suit who was sitting, with a trace of hesitation on her face.
Jia Heng said warmly: "This is my confidant. You can keep secrets with me. There is no need to hide anything."
When Chen Xiao heard this, his clear eyes moved slightly under his willow eyebrows, and he put down the tea cup, feeling a hint of sweetness deep in his heart.
"There is nothing to say about this case. According to the Holy Spirit's will, a thorough investigation will be carried out, but now it has come to the end of the case." Xu Lu's face was slumped, and his voice sounded ridiculing.
That is to say, if this fell into the ears of Jia Heng, but if it fell into the ears of other governors of Jinyi Mansion and reported to the palace, the emperor would have resentment, and it would become the cause of future disasters.
Jia Heng was silent for a moment and said, "Master Xu, the Holy One also has good intentions."
When Xu Lu heard this, he stared at the young man. Because his family was frugal, there was only one candle for light, but under his solemn brows, his eyes were still very bright.
Jia Heng said: "Master Gao strictly implements the one-whip method in Liangjiang. I also mentioned to the Holy One the three new policies of the new deal, which are to divide the land into acres, to return the fire to the public, and to abolish the two and change the yuan. These are the four new policies that will be piloted in Jiangsu and Henan. Your Majesty Planning for the great affairs of the imperial court, taking into account the overall situation, and planning for the big while considering the small. Did Mr. Xu ever know that the Holy One has managed the country and benefited the world, and worked hard to make a difference?"
Well, he will go back and write a statement later, which is the four new policies. Three of them were proposed by him. Obviously, when it is completed, he can take 70% of the credit.
And once this memorial comes out, the world will definitely be in an uproar, but the response will be like a political flag rising slowly, attracting people with lofty ideals.
Therefore, this credit may not be reflected in the improvement of the title, but the improvement in political influence is actually tangible.
Why did he intervene in government affairs and be active in the reform of the country? Because if he did not switch from the military to politics, he would be an ordinary general and would not create any political climate at all.
The power of humanity lies in gathering people.
You cannot bring out a political group, just relying on the status of military commanders is like duckweed without roots.
When Xu Lu heard this, his face was silent and speechless for a moment.
The governor of Liangjiang, Gao Zhongping, wrote a memorial the day before yesterday, in which he proposed a whipping method for the new policy. He has also read it and found that it is a good law and has been effective in Bashu. However, today's political affairs are complicated and frontier affairs are urgent. I thought we would discuss this matter later when government affairs were being discussed.
Unexpectedly, in just one day, there were four major new policies, and the person in front of me also proposed three new policies.
"What Duke Wei said about the four new policies is unknown. I would like to ask Duke Wei to elaborate." Xu Lu asked, sitting upright.
Jia Heng said: "I am going to draft a statement about this matter, and it will probably be sent to the General Affairs Department tomorrow, but I can briefly explain it to Mr. Xu."
If it weren't for the quarrel with Xianning and Chanyue, I would have stopped writing. Now I can only wait until I get back and stay up late to write.
Under Xu Lu's expectant gaze, Jia Heng briefly described the strategy of "dividing people into acres, returning fire to the public, abolishing the two reforms and reforming the Yuan Dynasty", and explained the purpose of the national policy and corresponding solutions.
After hearing this, Xu Lu looked at the young man with a frown, and his heart was filled with shock.
Even if I just listen to it, I feel that it contains great feasibility of policy implementation, because this is a policy that has been truly successful in history.
People with knowledge will realize the beauty of it.
But this is a young man who is still young? Even if one is a scholar of heaven and earth, one cannot overestimate his talents in music and pipes.
It is truly astonishing that Duke Wei has such talent.
Xu Lu was not happy but worried. Such talent was not possessed by other ministers.
Emperor Chongping may have long been accustomed to Jia Heng's literary, Taoist and military strategies, so he only praised Jia Heng for his talent as a royal assistant. He was probably a little less shocked. It was mainly his son-in-law, and he couldn't say that he was looking up to him. After drinking a few more cup and fell into a deep sleep.
Just because...this cake is so delicious.
Jia Heng didn't know Xu Lu's suspicions in his heart, and said: "First implement it in Henan and Jiangsu in the north and south to see the results. Sir Xu, for all innovations and reforms, the central government should be united as one. The Holy One has good intentions for the great government."
"But the laws of the country are eternal and cannot be abandoned." Xu Lu said loudly with some hesitation on his face.
Jia Heng pondered and said: "The Holy One has promised to retake the exam, and the relevant bureaucrats will investigate and deal with it. It is estimated that after this matter is over, some people will reprimand him and leave the cabinet. I hope Mr. Xu will put the overall situation first."
Although the imperial examination scandal was hateful, it was actually unnecessary for it to cause a political uproar and affect the ongoing reform of the imperial court.
Of course, his butt determines his head. If he were a failed scholar, he would definitely expose the situation, lest the matter would not become a big deal.
Xu Lu was silent for a moment and sighed.
Seeing this, Jia Heng already knew that Xu Lu had compromised, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said: "Let's leave it like this in advance. The implementation of the New Deal cannot be separated from honest officials. It is also necessary for Mr. Xu, the chief censor, to help supervise the officials and curb them." Their actions are killing and harming the people."
Xu Lu looked solemn and said: "It's your responsibility, don't dare to neglect it."
Jia Heng nodded and said: "Master Xu, Jia will not stay much longer. He has to go back to his hometown to write a memorial."
Xu Lu cupped his hands to see him off and said, "Mr. Wei, go slowly."
Jia Heng said, looking at Chen Xiao, and then left the hall and returned to Ningrong Street.
At this moment, the bright moon was high and the heat wave was coming. Jia Heng was riding on his horse, looked at Chen Xiao and said, "Everything in the capital has been decided."
Chen Xiaomiao stared at the young man and said, "I just heard you mention the four new policies. They seem to be methods to enrich the country and strengthen the army. If implemented in the south, will there be any resistance among the gentry?"
He is indeed suitable for that position. Compared with him, the man in the palace only knows how to fight with his roommate, and is unkind and jealous. But... he also has one bad thing, he is too lustful and lustful.
The girl thought in her mind and sighed quietly.
Jia Heng said: "There will be resistance, but the New Deal will be a great success and will be gradually implemented nationwide."
When Chen Xiao heard this, he said "hmm", and there was a little yearning in his eyes. In this way, he would also be prestigious and popular.
Ningguo Mansion
Jia Heng returned to his mansion, and he and Chen Xiao finished their dinner gradually and returned to the study. At this moment, he did not go to the Grand View Garden to sleep with flowers and willows, but instead wrote a memorial on the desk.
There is not one memorial, but four. One is to patch up a whip method, Huo Xiaogui Gong, and the other three are to share the land with the family, abolish the two and change the Yuan Dynasty.
Chen Xiao was helping to grind and add incense to the side. When Jia Heng finished writing a letter, he looked at it under the light and read the words. He was even more surprised by the meticulousness of Jia Heng's national policy and the completeness of his implementation.
It can be said that it is a complete and mature plan that fully takes into account the problems existing in policy implementation.
At the time of Hai Zheng, Jia Heng put down his brush and waited for the memorial to dry.
Chen Xiao handed over the washed pears and grapes, looked at the tired young man with a somewhat distressed look, and said, "I'm done writing, let's eat some fruit."
"This is the memorial. I haven't finished writing the articles of association. I'll write it tomorrow. That's it for today." Jia Heng nodded, took the peeled snow pear, and took a bite of the white and juicy pear. It's sweet and delicious. He chuckled and said, "I'm really thirsty."
Chen Xiao frowned slightly, with a clear look in his eyes, and asked softly: "Has the palace asked you about my origins recently?"
Jia Heng ate the snow pear in small bites and said, "It seems not yet, maybe I haven't noticed it yet."
Chen Xiao's eyes flashed and he said quietly: "Sooner or later."
By then, she might have to go into the palace to meet the Queen Mother and the Supreme Emperor.
Under the girl's angry gaze, Jia Heng pulled Chen Xiao and sat in his arms, took a grape, peeled it gently, and said warmly: "Xiaoxiao, don't worry so much, I'll peel a grape for you."
As he spoke, he peeled the grapes in his hands and fed them to Chen Xiao's mouth.
"I'll do it myself." Chen Xiao took a bite of the grape, and immediately his cheeks turned red with embarrassment. He cast an angry look at the young man, and pretended to be fierce and said, "If you keep messing around, I'll bite off your fingers."
This man deliberately abused her again.
Jia Heng retracted his fingers angrily, and pressed the moist feeling between his fingers deep in his heart, and asked: "Xiaoxiao, in seven or eight days, we will be husband and wife. Are you ready for your wedding dress? Have someone make it for you. It’s a set, it’ll be useful on the wedding day too.”
During the bridal ceremony in Xianning that day, he hoped that Xiaoxiao could also wear wedding clothes and that the two of them could become a real couple.
Chen Xiao didn't want to talk to Jia Heng, his face turned red, and he snorted: "You are really ridiculous."
She thought it was ridiculous when she thought about it. How could she face Xianning when the wedding night came? When he was a child, Xianning was both respectful and afraid of her, but when he saw her, how could she have the majesty of an older sister?
Jia Heng put his arms around the girl's shoulders and said warmly: "This is a story about sisters working together to cut through metal."
"Nonsense." Chen Xiao snorted coldly, but saw that the young man had already brought his cheek closer and pressed his lips together. Immediately, a familiar invasion came over him, so he had to close his eyelashes slightly and let it happen.
And as the candlelight flickered, the stern carvings and cold face were reflected like an artistic painting. The bamboo shadows on the window screens swayed, and the atmosphere in the room became increasingly hotter.
Jia Heng hugged Xiaoxiao for a while, then leaned into the dizzy girl's ear and whispered: "Xiaoxiao, how about I take care of you again."
He forgot to ask Xianning for two pairs of socks when he came back. He didn't know what Xiaoxiao's long legs would look like after putting them on, but Xiaoxiao's raw look really made people think.
Chen Xiao's face, as beautiful as flowers and trees and piles of snow, was flushed with red. She wanted to snort coldly but suddenly turned into a snort. She said sarcastically: "It's almost midnight now, I don't know where you come in every day." These mental heads.”
He said that he would serve her, but later he wouldn't do it to her?
This is because I was so exhausted from fighting in the north that I started to indulge in sexual activities when I came back.
Jia Heng said: "I have nothing to do tomorrow anyway, and I haven't been with you for a long time."
When we were at the border, we were marching and fighting, so we actually didn’t have much intimacy.
Chen Xiao snorted coldly and neither responded nor refused. He just lowered his eyes and looked at the young man who was eating snow pears and peeling grapes.
Chen Xiao snorted softly, raised her neck like a swan, supported the young man's shoulders, and closed his eyes slightly, his thin and curved eyelashes trembling.
After a long time, the two of them hugged each other and headed towards the inner room.
…
…
Qichiyuan
It was midnight. Zhen Lan was dressed in an off-white dress. She was sitting behind the desk, holding a book and reading. For some reason, she sighed quietly and said, "Why hasn't Brother Heng come back yet?"
In the past few days, it was said that he was coming to live in Qichiyuan, and no one was around, so he didn't pay attention to her and her sister every day.
"Third sister, Brother Heng must be busy." Zhen Xi was comparing an earring to a bronze mirror and said, "Sister, which one do you think looks better on me?"
"My sister looks good in whatever she wears." Zhen Lan came closer and said with a smile: "My sister wants to ask, which one does Brother Heng like more?"
Hearing this, Zhen Xi's eyes, as spiritual as a stream, were filled with misty and quiet shame, and she said angrily: "Sister, what are you talking about?"
Zhen Lan chuckled lightly and said: "Recently, it was reported in the Di Di newspaper that Gao Zhongping from Jiangnan wanted to try out a whipping method in Jiangnan. I just looked up a whipping method and found that it was a whipping method handed over by Orita Fu for money. I feel that this method Although it can prevent cunning officials from taking advantage of them, it is not without its drawbacks. For example, if the broken silver collected is melted into official silver, it will cost one-tenth and two percent of the fire. If local officials retaliate hypocritically, it will be like kicking and fighting. To drive up the price of silver, and so on, this method may not be a good method."
Zhen Xi glanced at Zhen Lan in surprise and said in a clear voice: "Sister, just let Brother Heng take care of these foreign affairs. Why is sister so concerned?"
Zhen Lan raised her eyebrows and said softly: "How can I not be concerned? I still want to help Brother Heng."
"My sister is used to being carefree, but how many people in this house are like her? We'll know the benefits in the future..." Zhen Lan looked outside and said solemnly when she saw that there was no one else.
"What will happen in the future?" Zhen Xi asked in surprise.
Zhen Lan whispered: "Brother Heng has so many people around him, how will he have time to take care of them all in the future? If our sisters don't help him, he won't pay attention to us sisters."
Zhen Xi's cheeks turned red and her voice trembled slightly as she said, "Sister, why are you just thinking about... competing for favor?"
She thought this was too complicated. Didn't Brother Heng often come over to accompany her and her sister?
A dark look flashed in Zhen Lan's eyes, and she said in a serious voice: "When the princess and the princess come to marry, Brother Heng will be even busier, and will have no time to take care of my sister and me at that time."
Zhen Xi frowned her delicate brows and said, "Sister, it's not very good now. If there is no one to take care of it, then there will be no one to take care of it."
The girl felt a little sad at the end.
No one is taking care of it, I'm afraid that person won't come back again.
"You will know when you are older. Anyway, I don't want to set off the green leaves of the red flowers." Zhen Lan saw a hint of stubbornness on her somewhat cold snowy face, took Zhen Xi's hand, and said: " Didn't you notice that after he came back, apart from the Duke's wife, he first looked at the two girls, Chai Dai, and then looked for us two days later?"
Zhen Xi said softly: "They have been good friends with Brother Heng for a longer time, so it is right to see them first."
Under Zhen Lan's fine eyebrows, her long and narrow phoenix eyes looked a little like Zhen Qing's, and she said in a clear voice: "We sisters were originally from a famous eunuch in the south of the Yangtze River. We came from a scholarly family and were well-educated and sensible since childhood. Now we are committed to him, almost like concubines. Sister, are you willing?"
The Zhen family in Jinling could be said to have been prosperous for decades. After the family fell into decline, the two daughters were committed to one person, and neither of them had the status of a head wife.
Zhen Xi's spirit-like eyes widened slightly, and she looked at Zhen Lan in surprise and said, "How could sister have such an idea? Does sister feel that she has been wronged by following Brother Heng?"
The third sister has always had a strong temper. Could it be that she feels aggrieved that she cannot be a real wife?
Zhen Lan's cold jade face that resembled Zhen Qing's was covered with a layer of sadness, and she said softly: "I don't feel wronged, it's just that I met him late and didn't meet him earlier. Wait for me When he came, he only had a small corner in his heart.”
If she had known Brother Heng early and had never looked back after just one glance, she would never have been like Sister Qin, who almost broke the engagement before they got married because she disliked poverty and loved wealth.
How is this move different from the Fang family?
In this way, the most outstanding figure in the dynasty who has not been seen for a hundred years should be her Zhen Lan. A woman who only plays mahjong in the palace and is like a vase and has become the wife of the Duke of the country without doing anything. How can she be worthy of Brother Heng? ?
Among the other two Xue and Lin, sister Lin was born in a feudal lord and was extremely noble, but the sister of the Xue family who was in charge of the Grand View Garden was a merchant. According to her inquiries, he had promised her the position of head wife, and she would also be asked for merit. Conferred the title of Madam.
He definitely means what he says.
What about her and her sister? No promises during this period? Last night when he hugged her and kissed her, he didn't say anything?
It is worth mentioning that Baochai's position as the head wife and the title of Madam Gaoming were passed down through the Rongning and Ning residences by Aunt Xue who deliberately indulged the maids in the past few days.
As for the purpose? I understand everything, but lest Jia Heng's words were not true, I first confirmed the rumors. The Duke of Wei was very interested in my daughter, and he had promised to be his wife.
Originally, this kind of promise may be a bit abrupt, and the excuse given to outsiders is the "everyday oath" of a man coaxing a woman in bed. After all, how can one person have two real wives?
But after both the princess and the princess were married, Jia Heng's words became particularly convincing.
And Aunt Xue also told Mrs. Wang privately that if the marriage had not been granted by the palace, Jia Heng would probably have asked to marry his own daughter Bao Yatou and Lin Yatou when she came back. It just so happened that one of the two houses of Rong Ning was married to the other. Who knew in the palace... …
Of course, Aunt Xue was also a little timid, fearing that these words would reach the ears of the princess and the princess who were about to marry her, and she would ask her daughter to behave herself and then change her words later.
But this afternoon, word reached the ears of Zhen Lan, a caring person, that Zhen Lan, who had just been loved by Jia Heng last night, naturally felt psychologically unbalanced in the deepest part of her heart.
Zhen Xi frowned, looked at Zhen Lan worriedly, and asked with concern: "Sister, what are you going to do?"
There was a bright look on Zhen Lan's beautiful face, and she said softly: "I won't do anything, but we sisters can't admit defeat. We have to make him unable to live without us sisters."
After saying that, he took Zhen Xi's bare hand and looked at his sister with bright eyes under Liu Ye's thin eyebrows.
Just shouting out "Sisters are of one mind" is as powerful as gold.
Zhen Xi's spiritual eyes were also filled with thoughts, and she said: "Sister, Brother Heng is very good. He has only been back for a few days. Didn't he just come to look at us the day before yesterday?"
Zhen Xi's face was like frost, her eyes were dark, and she whispered: "What about the future? When we have his child, what about when all the girls in the garden get married? Sister, we are concubines, and the child will not have a title. I don’t know how many looks the children will receive when they grow up.”
"Sister, you...you are thinking too far." Zhen Xi's face was pale, her pink teeth gently bit her pink lips, and she said softly: "Sister Qin, Sister Xue, Sister Lin, they are all very good. No one looks down on us, and Brother Heng should treat us equally."
Although Brother Heng is a little lecherous and even bullies the eldest and second sisters, he probably doesn't like the new and hates the old.
"No one looks down on us, but you don't understand. After ten or eight years, they will all have children. When there are more people in the backyard, how will we be different from those concubines who come from small families or even maids? Brother Heng It's impossible to keep an eye on it all the time." When Zhen Lan said this, she said softly: "At that time, our children were only born from concubines. Sister, do you know how those children born from concubines at home are alive? Sister, she forgot that she was a child. What happened?"
When Zhen Lan finished speaking, her face turned pale, and a strong sense of unwillingness arose in her heart.
Her fate, Zhen Lan, should never be like this! She shouldn't be like those concubines who were born as maids, waiting for Brother Heng once every ten days and a half, and not even being able to look for him confidently, lest he get angry.
She wants to be the woman who is inseparable from him, just like Miss Xiao. She longs for Brother Heng to hug her often, tell her that he likes her, pamper her, and ask her for a royal title.
In the future, after becoming the king of the county, she will be made a concubine!
Thinking of this, the girl's heart stirred up, and she felt an indescribable sourness intertwined in her heart. For a while, her eye circles even turned red, and her eyes were a little moist.
She, Zhen Lan, cannot be reduced to the plaything of an Israeli servant!
When Zhen Xi heard the words, she seemed to be touched by the scene constructed in her sister's words. She was silent for a moment. The soft candlelight illuminated her pink and jade face. She pursed her pink lips tightly and recalled the past of her childhood.
The Zhen family in Jiangnan is also a well-known family. The second eldest Zhen Shao and the fourth eldest Zhen Xuan of the four Zhen family brothers also have many concubines.
Although Zhen Xi's mother is not a concubine, her mother died young and she grew up with Zhen Zhu's wife. Her growth trajectory is somewhat similar to that of Xichun, but because Mrs. Zhen loves her and takes care of her sisters, she is not so cold-hearted. meaning.
Zhen Lan said: "Sister, we have to tie his heart. Don't you want him to spend more time with you? I know that I actually like him."
In fact, the two sisters hugged and kissed Jia Heng, and even slept in the same bed. They had long been attached to each other and regarded themselves as Jia Heng's women.
Of course, the relationship may not be as deep as that between Chai Dai, Xian Ning and Chan Yue due to the short time they spent together.
When Zhen Xi heard this, her heart was filled with embarrassment, her cheeks were red with embarrassment, and she said angrily: "Sister, who... who likes him?"
Girls of this age are inherently shy about the feelings of someone they like, even though they have been kissed by Jia Heng several times.
"I don't know who talks in sleep at night and hugs me at night." Zhen Lan snorted softly, stretched out her hand to gently hold Zhen Xi's face, and said softly: "My sister's child is beautiful, with the elegance of the south of the Yangtze River. Her charm is no worse than that of the Lin family sister, I think he liked her too, but she came later than the Lin family sister."
The fourth sister of her family was born soft and gentle, with a simple temper. She felt that she was much better than the sister of the Lin family who usually spoke sarcastically. Moreover, she had always kept aloof from the world since she was a child, so she didn't have to worry about competing for her favor.
Zhen Xi raised a pair of eyes that were as spiritual as a stream, as if there was a hazy mist. She was silent for a long time, and finally pursed her pink lips, sighed quietly and said: "Sister, there are some things that you can't force. Brother Heng..."
Brother Heng just likes Xue Lin and the others. She and her sister were forced on Brother Heng by the eldest sister, and they didn't want her at the beginning.
Thinking of this, the girl felt a sense of sadness in her heart.
She is not as provocative as Sister Lin. No, she thinks she is not bad either, but Brother Keheng... doesn't look for her and her sister very much.
Perhaps as my sister said, they arrived late, and they didn't know each other as long as Sister Lin and others.
"Sister, there is no need to be depressed. We are no worse than Xue Lin. When he becomes the county king, he will have four concubines. We sisters still have a chance." Zhen Lan whispered to Zhen Xi.
Zhen Xi was startled and whispered: "Prince?"
"He is now a third-class Duke, and there will be many opportunities for him to make meritorious deeds in the future. It is only a matter of time before he is crowned a county king. At that time, the county king had four concubines, and Xue Lin accounted for two." Zhen Lan said softly. .
Donglu had just suffered a defeat and had not yet been completely wiped out. With his ability, it would only happen sooner or later.
Once he is crowned the king of the county, she and her sister must occupy the positions of two concubines. If this is not possible, they must occupy one. Only by holding the title of concubine can everything be possible in the future.
As for Princess Xianning and Princess Qinghe, Zhen Lan has actually not considered them.
Because the two Tianhuang nobles are both the head wives of Ning and Rong, and the side concubines have a status similar to ordinary wives of ordinary families, but the side concubines of the county prince are not inferior to the head wives of ordinary princes, even though they are weaker than the wives of the princes. , but not too weak.
Zhen Xi was silent for a moment and said in a trembling voice: "Sister, this... I don't care about these titles."
"I know that my sister wants him to play with you every day, pamper you, and treat you as the apple of his eye, but my sister also has to make him pay attention and like you." Zhen Lan said with a chuckle, but there was a hint of coldness deep in her eyes.
If people don't take you seriously, how can they give you their heart?
There were some things she couldn't even remind her sister about, because she was afraid that if she became that person's plaything, she would be forgotten soon.
When Zhen Xi heard this, her delicate and soft face turned red with embarrassment, her eyes flashed, and she said in a trembling voice: "That's what my sister said."
She actually had another trump card. She helped keep the intimacy between Brother Heng and her eldest and second sister a secret. Brother Heng would never treat her badly, right?
This...well, I'd better not tell my sister. My sister is too worried. If I use it to threaten Brother Heng, it will be self-defeating.
At this moment, the "squeaking" sound of the door was heard. It was Jia Heng who had returned from the outside and returned to Qichi Courtyard to stay.
Obviously, he didn't expect that a pair of sisters in Qichi Courtyard would be the first to wake up and prepare to compete for favor. They had already planned to become concubines after Jia Heng was named the county king in the future.
(End of chapter)
