Ningguo Mansion, in the study
The lights were bright, illuminating the figures on a screen in the hall.
The beauty frowned her beautiful eyebrows and turned to look at Nan Ling aside. Facing Jia Heng's surprised gaze, she introduced, "This is Nan Ling. Come with me now. I will explain the reason to you in detail later."
"Nan Ling has met Duke Wei." Nan Ling raised her head and stared at the dreaming young man. Her fair and delicate face was already flushed. She bowed to Jia Heng in a polite manner and bowed her head. said the voice.
Jia Heng looked at the fair and thin girl, with a slightly indifferent expression on his face, and said, "Nan Ling, please get up."
I originally thought that after a few polite rejections, there would be no more interactions, but I didn't expect that Nan Ling would run to Xiaoxiao's side again.
Nan Ling quickly got up, but felt a little uneasy in her heart.
Duke Wei doesn't seem to like her very much?
I remember that when we first met, he was still Uncle Yongning. Suddenly, he was already a high-ranking Duke of Wei, and she was just a little orphan girl.
Jia Heng turned to look and said, "Where are you placing people now?"
Chen Xiao said: "It has been placed in Xikuayuan."
Jia Heng nodded and called out, "Qingwen, take Nan Ling to Xikuoyuan."
When Qingwen came in, she led Nanling to Xikuoyuan.
Jia Heng looked at Chen Xiao and asked, "What's going on?"
Chen Xiao said: "I went to see my senior sister and asked her for information. She entrusted Nanling to me."
A familiar figure couldn't help but appear in Jia Heng's heart, and his temperament was really unlikable.
He couldn't help but frown and whispered: "The ghost is really lingering."
Chen Xiao rolled his eyes at Jia Heng and said angrily: "How can senior sister be so annoying?"
When she got closer, the beauty frowned slightly and said angrily: "It's getting late, you have to take a bath, are you being poisoned?"
Jia Heng: "..."
What are Xiaoxiao saying?
In fact, it was also his fault. Li Wan should not have been allowed to develop such a problem in the first place. It almost became a conditioned reflex. Tears bursting down his eyes really confirmed that sentence. Ninety percent of tears are...
Chen Xiao ignored Jia Heng and went back to sleep alone.
But on the other side, after Jia Heng left the wing, on the bed surrounded by curtains, Li Wan quietly looked at the hibiscus embroidery on the curtains in trance, as if the thrilling and unforgettable memory still remained in his heart and could not be dissipated for a long time.
At this moment, light footsteps sounded. Ms. Cao walked around a glass screen embroidered with hibiscus and looked at the beauty with her cheeks densely covered with rose-red aura. She couldn't help feeling envious in her heart and said softly: " Wan'er, what happened just now?"
Hearing this, Li Wan opened his beautiful eyes slightly, and his charming charm flowed silently from the corners of his eyebrows. When he opened his mouth, his voice was soft and charming and unspeakable, and he said, "Aunt Cao, I have already told Brother Heng."
When Mrs. Cao heard this, she felt happy and asked quickly: "What did he say?"
Li Wan said softly: "Brother Heng said that it would not be too late to discuss marriage in two years, but he is not in a hurry. He probably agreed. He just thinks that the two sisters Wenqi are still young."
When Mrs. Cao heard this, she couldn't hide the joy on her face. She nodded and said with a smile: "In this case, I feel relieved. It would be nice to let Wen'er Qier stay with me for two more years of filial piety."
As long as Uncle Heng has that intention, the rest is just a matter of time.
But when the old man from the Li family comes back, she has to talk it through. She has to make the decision on the marriage of her two daughters.
Li Wan's cheeks were as red as a blush, and his voice was soft and greasy. He said softly: "Aunt Cao, it's getting late. You should go back and rest early."
She felt like she couldn't muster any strength now.
Ms. Cao took a deep breath, and suddenly a mixture of indescribable and unexplained auras came over her, making Ms. Cao almost trembled. She stood there blankly, her cheeks were as red as clouds, and she whispered: "Then I'll go there first. ”
Her niece now has a good support for her lower body, unlike her who will no longer be a widow.
After Mr. Cao left, Li Wan looked sad. He gently stroked his lower abdomen with one hand, his eyes were lost in thought, and he whispered in a low voice: "I don't know if it will happen if I go there this time."
At this moment, he had no intention of calling the maid to take a bath again. When tiredness came over her, the beauty slowly fell asleep.
So, there was no more talking all night.
…
…
The next morning, the morning light first appeared, and there was already some mist in the early winter sky. The sunlight poured down from the clouds and illuminated the entire eastern sky.
Jia Heng, Princess Xianning, Li Chanyue, Miaoyu, Xiuyan, and Xichun went to Suzhou Mansion accompanied by a large number of Jinyifu guards.
Suzhou Mansion is where the governor of Jiangsu is stationed. At this moment, Jiangsu Governor Zhang Yongchuan and Suzhou Prefect Shi Zihong are greeting Jia Heng's fleet at the ferry.
The Jiangnan New Deal is now in full swing in northern Jiangsu and Suzhong prefectures and counties. Only Suzhou Prefecture and Songjiang Prefecture, two wealthy places, have not sent officials to clear their heads.
The pressure naturally came to Zhang Yongchuan, the governor of Jiangnan.
After Shen Fang, the governor of Liangjiang, was demoted by the imperial court, Zhang Yongchuan was overjoyed and thought he could take over the post of governor of Liangjiang. However, he did not expect that the imperial court transferred Gao Zhongping from Sichuan to serve as governor of Liangjiang. This move naturally made Zhang Yongchuan Be happy first and worry later.
After the Jiangnan New Deal, Zhang Yongchuan basically started a messy mode. He cooperated with the New Deal on the surface, but actually responded passively.
"Master Futai, we are here, we are here." At this time, a fat servant came quickly and said with surprise on his face.
At this moment, Zhang Yongchuan was looking up and saw several ships coming along the river pond. They were surrounded by guards wearing flying fish suits and embroidered spring knives hanging from their waists to protect them. He said: "Everyone come up to meet them."
Afterwards, a group of officials from Suzhou Prefecture, big and small, came to greet him.
As the ship sailed into the ferry, a group of guards in Jinyi came down first, holding an embroidered spring knife on their waists, and guarding the guards on the shore.
Jia Heng and Chen Xiao got off the boat, looked at Zhang Yongchuan, and said with a warm expression: "Master Zhang, long time no see."
"I have met Duke Wei." Zhang Yongchuan took a few steps quickly with a respectful look on his face.
I vaguely remember that Duduo colluded with the pirates to invade the south of the Yangtze River. The young man in front of me was still just an earl. Now he is a first-class duke. Just like the duke Xiaorong, he is powerful and powerful all over the world.
But even Duke Xiaorong only relied on the shadow of his ancestors back then. How could he be like Duke Wei, who killed the slave chiefs, defeated Heshuote and Junggar, pacified Qinghai, and expanded the border with Guanxi...
Zhang Yongchuan had a warm smile on his face and said, "Wei Guogong, I haven't seen you for a long time. You are really more elegant than before."
Jia Heng smiled and said: "Master Zhang is also of extraordinary character and bearing."
The two exchanged greetings, and then talked with officials of all sizes in Suzhou Prefecture.
All Suzhou government officials also stepped forward to pay tribute to the young man.
After everyone had finished their greetings, they immediately headed towards the Suzhou government office in a mighty manner.
As for the boat behind it, it was escorted by Jinyi Mansion to a villa purchased by the eldest princess near Suzhou Weaving Yamen, with a deep garden and complete pavilions.
Coincidentally, that house was the house where the Suzhou weavers of the Longzhi Dynasty often visited.
Suzhou Governor's Yamen
Jia Heng talked with a group of officials from Suzhou Prefecture, big and small, and asked about the New Deal, "Sir Zhang, the New Deal is a national policy. Why is it that among all the prefectures under the jurisdiction of Jiangsu, Suzhou Prefecture is the most obstructive to the new policy?" serious?"
Zhang Yongchuan said quickly: "Gong Wei Guo misunderstood. In the entire Suzhou Prefecture, it can be said that Zhang is the most supportive of the New Deal. The New Deal in Suzhou Prefecture has not made any progress. I sincerely do not blame Zhang."
Jia Heng turned to look at Zhang Yongchuan, his face a little solemn, and said loudly: "Then who is causing trouble?"
Zhang Yongchuan defended himself and said: "The Duke of Wei also knew that many high-ranking officials had purchased land and houses in Suzhou, and many of them were highly respected senior officials from the Department of Science and Technology. Gao Zhidai also had a big headache over this."
Jia Heng said: "Mr. Zhang, although this is the case, as the governor of a province and the guardian of the country, how can he not know the importance of implementing the imperial government's national policy? Why don't you come forward to make things happen? Why do you keep delaying it until now? No news?”
Zhang Yongchuan was speechless for a moment when he heard this.
Jia Heng said: "No matter what, the New Deal is related to the rejuvenation of the country, and the performance of the relevant officials is in the eyes of the imperial emperor. When the New Deal is successful and rewards are given based on merit, Lord Zhang will do his own thing."
Hearing this, Zhang Yongchuan's heart tightened and he whispered: "I'm sorry to hear that the New Deal is indeed a policy that benefits the country and the people. Officials of all sizes in Jiangsu Province are looking forward to the New Deal like rain after a long drought. They will definitely do it in the future." We will work diligently to overcome the new policy."
Jia Heng did not continue to hold on and said: "In this case, after the banquet, Mr. Zhang will compile a detailed list of the land and people in each county, and I will take it back for detailed reference. In addition, the Governor's Mansion will To send officials south to clear the land, the Suzhou government should cooperate."
Zhang Yongchuan said: "Don't worry, Duke Wei. Your subordinates and colleagues in the Suzhou Prefecture will definitely cooperate with the imperial court in promoting the New Deal."
Then, at noon, Zhang Yongchuan invited Jia Heng to have lunch with him. During the dinner, a group of Suzhou officials accompanied him. Everyone drank and exchanged glasses, pushing cups and changing cups, and compliments came and went.
After Jia Heng and the officials of Suzhou Mansion finished eating, they returned to a mansion near Zhizao Mansion in Suzhou. It was the mansion purchased by Princess Jinyang in Suzhou.
In the house
It is early winter, the north wind is howling, and the cold wind is blowing the bare branches of the branches, gradually taking on a bit of a biting meaning.
In the hall, Chen Xiao directed several servants to light smokeless animal pattern charcoal. The steam was steaming, dispelling the chill outside.
Chen Xiao looked at the young man in python suit who walked in from the outside and said, "What do the officials of Suzhou Prefecture say about the banquet today?"
"What else can I say? It's just a matter of following the wind." Jia Heng looked calm, sat down, picked up a tea cup, and took a sip. The fragrance of tea overflowed in his mouth.
Jia Heng put down the teacup and asked, "Have Miaoyu and Xiuyan been settled?"
"Everything has been arranged. She is pregnant and cannot catch cold from the wind." Chen Xiao said softly.
Jia Heng nodded and said, "I'll go see her later."
"Where are Xianning and Chanyue? Why can't they be seen?" Jia Heng asked again.
Chen Xiao said softly: "As soon as the two of them came to Suzhou, they went to the Weaving Bureau to look through the account books. The two of them are now in charge of the three major weaving bureaus under Tirenyuan. As the New Year is approaching, they have to carry a lot of silk and silk. Weaving and embroidery are going to the capital, and there are a lot of things to do."
Jia Heng said softly: It's good that they can be busy with something. "
The provincial Xianning always took him to watch dances.
Chen Xiao said: "The news from Jinyi Mansion just now is that Li Shouzhong has arrived in Jinling now. I asked you when you will go back."
Jia Heng thought for a while and said: "Let Jinyi Mansion report the news. First, let Li Shouzhong consult at the Liangjiang Governor's Office about the New Deal promotion experience, and then go to Jiangning Mansion for on-site inspection. After I go to Jinling, we will discuss the Anhui New Deal together."
Chen Xiao nodded and said, "That's fine."
After Jia Heng finished his instructions, he got up and went to the back house.
The square courtyard is decorated with carved beams and painted buildings, and rockeries are stacked on top of each other. A cotton curtain hangs outside the wing. Inside, Miaoyu is playing chess with Xiuyan, while Xichun is watching the game. The three of them are originally quiet and indifferent. The tempers, gathered together at this moment, are a bit like hermits in the bamboo forest.
Miaoyu's face paused slightly, and suddenly she felt something strange in her heart. Liuye frowned, looked up, her eyes filled with joy, and asked, "Have you finished your business outside?"
"Well, I'm all done. Let's come and see you." Jia Heng walked closer, raised his eyes to look at the beauty, held the slender catkin in his hand, and said: "Miaoyu, I have sent people to search for the graves of my father-in-law and mother-in-law. went."
In fact, the former Suzhou weaver Chang Jin was wronged by King De Zhongshun and framed for rebellion, and the crime would not lead to death.
But if we look at some of Miaoyu's daily utensils, we can see that the Chang family's wealth accumulation was unusual.
But then again, because King Zhongshun fell in love with Chang Jin's wife, the operation of exterminating the family was too treacherous and evil.
Miaoyu's curved eyebrows lifted a little, and the look on her beautiful face softened a little, and she said in a clear voice: "I know where the person is, I'll go there too."
Jia Heng said softly: "When everything is basically settled, let's go there again. Don't get pregnant."
After saying that, he sat down and the maid Susu on the side quickly served him tea. As the heat rose, the fragrance of tea rose up.
Xichun listened to the conversation between the two and looked at Jia Heng, her pale and pink face looking blank.
At this moment, Princess Xianning was dressed in a sky blue dress with a slender waist and a high waist. She came from outside with a look of curiosity on her beautiful face. She said softly: "Sir, all the officials of Suzhou Prefecture have seen it, right?" .”
Miaoyu looked at the noble man from Tianhuang, her clear and bright eyes cast a shadow, and she felt a little strange in her heart.
She is a monk, but now she is pregnant. I am afraid that the imperial daughter of the clan does not know how to laugh at her, right?
Jia Heng said warmly: "I've seen you. I've been inspecting the new policy matters in the local prefectures and counties in the past few days. After I finish my work here, I have to return to Jinling."
Princess Xianning nodded and said sadly, "I can't stay here for more than a few days in Suzhou, and I don't have time to visit the places of interest in Suzhou."
Li Chanyue said softly: "Cousin, I will accompany you."
"No sir, what's the point of accompanying me?" Princess Xianning took Li Chanyue's hand and said with a chuckle.
Xing Xiuyan, who was not far away, looked at the two people chatting and joking, with a look of ecstasy on his eyebrows as if he was out of the clouds.
In fact, after getting along with each other for the past few days, it can be seen that these two daughters of the clan do not have the slightest air of domineering.
Jia Heng said warmly: "After finishing the work, see if you have time to go out."
Miaoyu listened to the conversation between the two, and a look of thought appeared on her peaceful and beautiful face.
Jia Heng then went to the study and began to pick up the books delivered by the governor's Yamen and read through them.
There were probably many gentry families in the counties below Suzhou Prefecture, and they all recorded detailed information on their fields.
Jia Heng read through them one by one, and gradually got a good idea of the situation of the fields in Suzhou Prefecture.
As the two of them talked, Jia Heng and Miao Yu rested together without mentioning it.
The next morning, the wind was sunny and the scenery was beautiful.
Jia Heng and Miao Yu rode a carriage to the mass grave five miles outside Suzhou City. At this moment, the guards of Jinyi Mansion had already taken out the relevant bones and placed them in a coffin. They were going to put them in the Xuan Tomb Panxiang Temple for the time being and asked the monk to make a funeral. A water and land ceremony was held, and then it was relocated to the Chang family’s ancestral tomb.
Ordinarily, the Chang family was once involved in a counter-insurgency case and the whole family was executed, so they shouldn't be so ostentatious. However, with the fall of King Zhongshun and Jia Heng's current power, no one said this in a shameful way.
And some caring people can see that the Chang family case may be retried.
Some old people in Suzhou Mansion secretly commented that the Chang family had given birth to a good daughter.
Miaoyu wore a moon-white dress, elegant temperament, and a fox fur cloak. Her graceful and bright face looked quietly at the coffin placed on the carriage, her expression showing sadness, and she didn't know. At some point, my eyes were dim with tears, and two lines of clear tears silently flowed down my face.
Jia Heng took Miaoyu's hand, handed it a handkerchief, and said comfortingly: "Okay, don't cry."
Miaoyu responded choked with sobs, raised her eyes to look at the young man, her eyes were wandering, and there was an indescribable touch in her heart.
She is now bringing her children and husband to see her parents.
Jia Heng said: "Let's send you two off and go to the Xuan Tomb Panxiang Temple where you used to practice."
With that said, he and Miaoyu went to the Xuan Tomb Panxiang Temple located outside Suzhou City. This place has blue bricks and black tiles, surrounded by green vines and ancient cypresses, and is lush and dense. There are wooden buildings standing around it, which is antique.
Jia Heng entered a monastery, looked around, his face paused slightly, and said with emotion: "Back then, you and Xiu Yan lived next to each other. It was really a happy life in poverty."
Miaoyu said warmly: "I have been here since I was a child, and I am very familiar with every plant and tree here."
Jia Heng said, looking at Xing Xiuyan who was looking around with interest, and asked: "Where does Xiuyan usually live?"
"Brother Heng, it's over there." Xing Xiuyan pointed to a thatched house in the distance and said, "I have lived there for seven or eight years."
Miaoyu said softly: "Xiuyan was nearby back then, and the sound of reading was vaguely like yesterday."
"Let's go over and take a look later." Jia Heng said softly, and suddenly asked: "Oh, by the way, Master Tai, where is the plum blossom tree in Xuan Tomb Panxiang Temple where you collected snowflakes?"
Since I came to Xuan Tomb Panxiang Temple, I wanted to see the plum tree in the original work.
Miaoyu said: "It's in the back mountain, it hasn't bloomed yet."
Jia Heng smiled and said, "Let's go see it together later."
With that said, he took Miaoyu's hand and walked towards the courtyard first.
The furnishings in the house back then had accumulated a light layer of dust because no one had cleaned them, and the tables and chairs could still vaguely see their original appearance.
The accompanying abbot of Xuan Tomb Panxiang Temple, an old nun in plain clothes, looked at the young man with awe on his face.
Jia Heng asked: "Master Tai, how many years has it been since your temple was built?"
"Amitabha, it's more than one hundred and thirty years ago." The old nun glanced at the python suit on the young man, stood up with one hand, and said.
Jia Heng looked complicated and said with emotion: "It's really rare. It has not been destroyed by war for more than a hundred years. It is really a good place to be repaired."
The old nun glanced at Miaoyu, clasped his hands, and said: "This place is indeed the place where the Qing Dynasty is cultivated. Miss Chang worshiped under the apprentice of the poor nun sister, practiced and recited sutras, and was influenced by Buddhism here for more than ten years. Only then did she become the Duke of the country. This fate."
Jia Heng met the beauty's angry gaze, gently held Miaoyu's slender hand, and said softly: "Yes, everything is fate, so I have to meet Miss Chang."
Even if you are a monk, you will inevitably be affected by some secular powers.
Because money can only mobilize people's enthusiasm and mobilize others to do things they don't like, but power can prevent others from doing things they don't want to do.
Miaoyu pursed her pink lips and said softly: "Master uncle is old and has inconvenient legs and feet. Just go and rest first. I will follow him around."
The old nun clasped his hands together and slowly left.
Jia Heng said in surprise: "What's wrong? Did I say the wrong thing?"
Miaoyu rolled her eyes at Jia Heng in annoyance, with a somewhat quiet look on her face, and sighed: "Back then, the guards of Jinyi Mansion and the army inspected this place and almost brought a catastrophe to the temple. Master, she I was deeply impressed that today a large number of Jinyi palace guards came and carried my father and mother’s coffins.”
Jia Heng said thoughtfully: "In this way, it is really a fate."
He held Miaoyu's plain hand tightly and said, "Master Tai, I will protect you two for the rest of our lives."
Miaoyu heard this, her heart was filled with sweetness, and she softly said "Hmm".
After following Miaoyu for a while, he came to the place where Xing Xiuyan lived again. He naturally took Xing Xiuyan's hand and said, "It's really wonderful to give birth to a girl like Xiuyan, who is so beautiful and indifferent in nature, in such a thatched cottage." A treasure land of Feng Shui.”
Xing Xiuyan glanced at Miaoyu secretly, her cheeks were as red as snow, and she said softly: "Brother Heng is too praised."
Jia Heng turned to look at the girl with soft and caressing eyes, and asked: "Xiuyan, how do you feel about visiting the old place again now?"
Xing Xiuyan said softly: "But it's like sweet-scented osmanthus carrying wine together, but it's not like a young man traveling together."
Jia Heng looked at the girl with a sad look on her face and said, "You and I are still young, and there will be a great time in the future, just like the sun in the morning, so there is no need to say such sad words."
Xing Xiuyan nodded, with a thoughtful look on his face.
It was indeed a long-awaited fate for her and Sister Miaoyu to meet Brother Heng.
In fact, according to the immortal theory of human destiny, Jia Heng's destiny is far beyond ordinary people. He is nourished by the destiny of the prince and changed the Qi of Xing Xiuyan and Miaoyu.
The two of them accompanied Miao Xiu and sat for a while in Xuan Tomb Panxiang Temple. Jia Heng was worried that the surrounding environment was too quiet and cold, so he did not agree to Miao Yu's idea of staying in the temple to chant sutras and achieve salvation, so he returned to Ningguo Mansion in Jinling by carriage.
(End of chapter)
