"Your Highness the Crown Prince? Mistress?" Jia Rong asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Everyone is just guessing. We don't know the details." Duan Yu quietly pulled Brother Wei and said with a wry smile: "The two palace ladies are already adults and married, and your Jia family has a new favorite. Both parties want to I'm trying to win over you. Brother Rong should know that sometimes people can't help themselves."
Jia Rong had a panoramic view of the movements of Duan Yu and Brother Zhu. He said calmly: "It seems that my Jia family is in danger."
Brother Wei smiled and said: "That's not so. Even if the two highnesses in the palace don't care about Concubine Jia's face, they still have to be wary of the four royal palaces in the southeast and northwest. Furthermore, although Wang Ziteng is not in Shenjing, it is not the case that the two highnesses can do whatever they want. Yes. It’s just that your Ningguo Mansion Tianwu’s property may not be safe."
Cement kiln factory?
Jia Rong thought secretly and replied: "That shouldn't be the case. Now that the palace already has a recipe for natural things, why target our cement kiln in Ningguo Mansion again?"
Brother Zhu said: "Because of this, the prescription was sent to the palace, but it only benefited the prince. A few days ago, Lingnan and Jilongshan sent a lot of Western rare artifacts to the palace. On that day, an oral edict was passed down After leaving the palace, I ordered the closure of Jilongshan and other southeastern coastal ports, leaving only Lingnan businesses to operate overseas. At the same time, it was forbidden for Western rare weapons to be privately circulated among the people, and other than Lingnan businesses, others were not allowed to have close contact with Westerners."
this……
Jia Rong was stunned for a moment, hearing that this meant tightening customs trade and cutting off people's communication with the West. Isn’t this a closed-door policy?
Why.
He couldn't understand that just one year after the sea ban was opened, several ports in the southeast were already closed.
Why keep the country in seclusion? This was the Manchu regime of a certain dynasty in the previous life, and it was not like the Ming Dynasty when they were harassed by pirates.
It doesn't make sense.
Duan Yu explained: "There has been a debate in the palace in recent days. If the Thirteenth Master does not turn the tide, otherwise the cement heavenly objects will become banned among the people."
"Is it so serious?" Jia Rong looked at Duan Yu and Brother De with some dumbfounded eyes.
"It's more serious than you think." Duan Yu whispered, "The governor of the Southeast Navy has reported that the benefits of nature endanger Dayan."
"How can a piece of cement endanger the imperial court?"
Brother Wei squinted his eyes and said contemptuously: "Why not? It usually takes half a year to build a heavy-duty road, but with your cement from Ningguofu, it only takes two to three months. Usually it takes a year or two to build a large port. , it only takes more than half a year to have cement.”
"This is a good thing." Jia Rong said.
"It's a good thing, but it's also a huge bad thing." Brother Brother sighed, "Now the officials are only worried that the more ports are built, the more Western ships will stop. The better the road to Shenjing is built, the more Westerners will be able to stop in the future. The faster the cannons hit Shenjing. The power of Western artillery..."
"Wait a minute." Jia Rong interrupted quickly and said in disbelief: "What does this have to do with it? Does the Western artillery have strong or not? What does it have to do with cement? What does it have to do with ports, wharves and roads? Besides, why? Can we be sure that the Westerners will aim their artillery at Dayan? The Westerners have strong artillery, so we can just learn their artillery skills. How can we close the docks and destroy the roads?"
Brother Zhu said angrily: "It's not what those people said. Westerners dare not act arrogantly in Dayan, but the countries of South and Siam have constant friction with us, Dayan. There is also a remnant of the Ming Dynasty and a bandit from Ping'an Prefecture. Everyone wants to regain the former Ming Dynasty. What Dayan needs is stability, as long as it can defend this country. It would be better for the world to be miserable and the court to be poor than to lay the foundation for disaster. I just can’t figure it out. Where is the chaos, leading the troops Just go and quell it. Just like how we went to ping Zhungeer now, calling in tens of thousands of troops to fuck his mother’s ass..."
Duan Yu tugged at Brother Lu's sleeves, and seeing that he couldn't stop him, he even covered Brother Lu's mouth. Said: "Say less, be careful that walls have ears."
Jia Rong also understood roughly and said with a smile: "You have to say less. My brother is still on duty in the Yamen. I'm afraid I won't be able to accompany the two eldest brothers and the brothers outside to Wanhua Tower today."
Duan Yu said cheerfully: "Nothing, all of us brothers will be waiting for Brother Rong to come over at Wanhua Tower tomorrow."
Jia Rong laughed helplessly as she sent everyone away from Qinghe. On the way back to the Yamen, she cursed several times with the word "fu", followed by words like "his mother, his sister, his sister".
At this time, Brother Rong really understood something, or saw the essence clearly.
Whether it is seclusion or locking down the country, these are all methods used by the court to maintain stability. But this method...the timing of using it is wrong. All the officials in the imperial court are still dreaming of the heavenly kingdom. During this time of seclusion, what is closed is not the outflow of Dayan's pioneering technology, but the road to scientific and technological exchanges with the world.
He still had the last fantasy in his heart, which was that he hoped that Emperor Xiande would not hide advanced Western technologies in the palace as interesting toys like the emperor of a certain dynasty in his previous life, instead of studying those technologies that could bring benefits to the court, the country, and the country. What a difference people bring.
Jia Rong felt unsure.
Whether the emperor would treat the Western wonders as personal toys or let the Ministry of Internal Affairs secretly study them, he really didn't know.
All day long, Jia Rong was depressed.
The consequences of something like this happening would not only affect the Jia family, but also the entire people of Dayan. Could it be that the humiliation of a certain dynasty in the previous life would be repeated in the future in the Great Yan Dynasty?
"It's late at night, please take a rest early." Xiangling brought a robe and put it on Jia Rong who was sitting at the desk. She turned on the lamp again to make the light in the room brighter.
Uncle Rong sat there, holding a brush in his hand, motionless. The pen stained with ink has long since dried up, and the ink on it drips through the white paper on the desk.
He was struggling inside.
Jia Rong knew that if the Jia family wanted peace now, all they had to do was obey the emperor. With the merits of controlling floods and opening rivers, as well as the good fortune in the palace, as long as the Jia family does not participate in the rebellion, the royal family will never do anything to the Jia family. Ningguo Mansion now has enough money to make up for the money owed to the Ministry of Household Affairs, and even Rongguo Mansion can make up for it.
but……
Are you just going to follow this trend?
Jia Rong was unwilling.
This feeling is more uncomfortable than having all the money from the Ningguo Mansion confiscated, or having the cement kiln given away to the royal family for free. If possible, he hoped to use all the money and property in the Ningguo Mansion to exchange for the palace's policy of abolishing seclusion.
Western artillery is already stronger than Dayan's, and Western merchant ships can already travel to Dayan. In the future, Western artillery will become more and more powerful, and Western ships will become faster and faster.
If Dayan doesn't learn their skills, he will be beaten sooner or later, even hard.
He only hated himself for being ignorant and ignorant in his previous life. Knowledge is very important. I regret not reading more.
a long time.
Just do it, even if it means preparing an extra escape route for the future.
Uncle Rong wrote the first word on the paper - West, the second word - Go, the third word - E...
After Jia Rong wrote the letter, she stayed up all night, with various emotions such as tension and contradictions swirling in her thoughts.
The next day, when I arrived at the yamen, I was also completely listless. In the afternoon, he returned to the back house, picked up Xiangling, boarded the carriage and drove quickly towards the sacred city.
Jia Rong broke the appointment and did not go to Chengwanhualou. He only called Chang Sui Shi De to come over.
"woke up?"
When Jia Rong opened her eyes, she saw Qin Keqing's concerned expression. He asked: "What time is it now?"
"It's time." Qin Keqing chuckled and carefully arranged Uncle Rong's hair.
Only then did Uncle Rong realize that there was no maid waiting around in the room, only candlelight accompanying the two of them. And he was resting on Qin Keqing's lap, covered with a thin blanket.
"Why didn't you wake me up?" Jia Rong got up quickly and blamed half-heartedly, "Your legs must be numb. Come down and walk around to let the blood flow."
Qin Keqing also thought about it, and after moving a little, he frowned.
After being pressed for so long, my legs were already numb and I couldn't move. Although she tried very hard to lift it, she only felt pain in the muscles between her hip bones, and there was no other feeling except numbness and pain.
Jia Rong leaned down and kneaded Ke Qing's big hands. He felt distressed and said, "You must be suffering now."
Qin Keqing's frown slowly relaxed, and a smile appeared on her face again. Looking at Uncle Rong's face, which has darkened a few degrees, although it is not as handsome as before, it has a lot more masculinity. Amidst the rough masculinity, gentleness remains the same.
Uncle Rong's movements were very gentle and careful. Qin Keqing, whose legs were numb, didn't feel anything at first, but gradually felt the warmth of Uncle Rong's hands, which gradually became hot.
"Thank you, uncle."
Qin Keqing's gentle little hands touched Uncle Rong's face, and she noticed that the place where the uncle's warm hands were kneading came closer and closer, and a half-spring of spring blossomed in the smile on her face.
Uncle Rong smiled and said: "Who asked me to marry such a stupid wife like you? Now I can only suffer the consequences."
Qin Keqing watched her hands move upwards, her body gradually softened, and she said shyly: "In front of the uncle, Ke'er is willing to be a stupid wife for the rest of her life."
This girl is really lovable.
When Uncle Rong heard such simple words, his heart couldn't help but tremble. When he looked at his wife, his eyes became softer, just like Keqing's body.
Qin Keqing shyly avoided his eyes and said softly: "Master, please carry Keer down from the collapse."
Uncle Rong understood the meaning and couldn't help but feel his blood getting hot. Fortunately, he didn't lose his mind yet and said with concern: "Come down and take a look first."
Qin Keqing nodded obediently, and was supported up and down by Uncle Rong before he took a step forward, but Keqing's legs and feet went weak.
"Look at how you look, I'll rub it for you again." Uncle Rong said thoughtfully.
When the little bird heard the noise outside, she hurriedly put on some clothes and opened the curtain. When she came in, she saw Uncle Rong supporting Grandma Rong as she walked cautiously in the room.
Her little brain can't figure out what she is doing? After observing, I noticed that Grandma Rong was having trouble with her legs, so she hurriedly and enthusiastically came over to help Grandma Rong.
Seeing that his alone time with Keqing was disturbed, Uncle Rong said angrily: "Where do I need your help? Go outside."
Xiaoqueer was stunned.
Keqing scolded and said, "Qier also has good intentions, why are you taking it out on her?"
"What makes her lose her eyesight at all?" Uncle Rong hummed.
Qin Keqing snickered and told Xiaoque'er in a good voice: "Go to the kitchen and see if the boiling water is still warm. Go get some hot water and bring it over."
The little bird just left with a pout, went to the outer room, and called Xiangling again.
Brother Rong listened to the commotion and said with a smile: "This maid is getting more and more arrogant at your place. If you can't control her, let me take her to the Shuili Yingtian Mansion. I will punish her for her unruly behavior."
Grandma Rong glanced at Uncle Bai and said calmly: "Little Que'er is not even fifteen years old anymore. I'll just wait for another two years."
"I was not making any calculations." Uncle Rong was speechless for a while. Who did this girl take herself to be?
Grandma Rong also laughed, "It's no wonder Ke'er misunderstood that the uncle is always flirting with women. Besides, it's good for Xiao Que'er to be like this. If she really becomes the maid next to Auntie, Ke'er will feel awkward." comfortable."
The aunt is naturally Li Wan, Grandma Zhu from Xifu. Uncle Rong heard this name, and in this situation, he actually thought of that night shadow. The flawless white back floated in my mind, as if it had touched some kind of taboo, and I couldn't help but feel my heart beat faster.
Uncle Rong asked: "What happened to the maid next to my aunt?"
Qin Keqing said helplessly: "Young master, when you return to the house, you don't know the situation at home. My aunt has always been low-key and undisputed, but she also has her own way of managing the house. A few days ago, a little maid in the aunt's room did not pay attention for a moment. As a courtesy, the aunt made the maid kneel outside all night, and she fell ill the next day."
It's not surprising that something like this happened around Li Wan. Each grandma's housekeeping methods are different. Li Wan is one of the representatives of strict imperial control, and none of the maids in her room are not afraid of her.
Qin Keqing said again: "I can't be like my aunt. The maids in the house kneel down to me at every turn. I can't stand this."
Jia Rong smiled and didn't comment much. Seeing that Keqing was slowly getting better, she felt increasingly angry in her heart. He whispered: "We can go over there now."
Qin Keqing smiled and said, "Ke'er still wants to be carried over by the uncle."
"You girl..."
The dead of night is the best time to fall in love.
Uncle Rong hugged Qin Keqing's body and asked softly: "How is our Ningguo Mansion doing lately?"
"Everything is fine." Qin Keqing groaned, twisted her waist, and couldn't help laughing again. She said: "Sister Feng is about to give birth these days, and the nuns in the palace are already ready. Sister Feng herself is also experienced, and those nuns are also veterans, so I don't need to worry too much about this matter."
Uncle Rong nodded and said with a smile: "With Ke'er here, I will naturally feel relieved."
Qin Keqing laughed, but suddenly remembered that Master Qin Ye was getting worse and worse, but in this situation, she could not speak out, so she kept the matter in her heart.
"Everything is fine." Qin Keqing groaned, twisted her waist, and couldn't help laughing again. She said: "Sister Feng is about to give birth these days, and the nuns in the palace are already ready. Sister Feng herself is also experienced, and those nuns are also veterans, so I don't need to worry too much about this matter."
Uncle Rong nodded and said with a smile: "With Ke'er here, I will naturally feel relieved."
Qin Keqing laughed, but suddenly remembered that Master Qin Ye was getting worse and worse, but in this situation, she could not speak out, so she kept the matter in her heart.