The Red Mansions

Chapter 1570 Jia Heng: We can’t avoid chess, right?

Chapter 1570 Jia Heng: We can’t avoid chess, right?

Palace Garden, Wuying Hall

Li Zan sat on a rosewood chair. He was tall with a resolute face. With his eyes lowered, he was reviewing memorials.

Other minor clerks, such as the cabinet secretaries, came and went, tiptoeing and not daring to disturb Li Zan who was reviewing memorials.

Just then, a Jinyifu guard came in from outside the palace and whispered, "Sir, the Jinyifu commander is here and said that there is some progress in the case of the Imperial College."

Li Zan nodded, his eyes flickered, and he said loudly: "Let them in."

After a short while, several tall Jinyifu agents were seen lifting a wooden box. Without saying anything else, they took a few quick steps and entered the hall.

"My humble servant greets you, Lord." Qu Lang looked respectful and bowed to Li Zan.

There are other etiquettes that must be observed.

Li Zan looked at the official in charge of the Jinyi Palace opposite him and said, "Get up."

Qu Lang thanked him and said in a gentle voice, "Sir, Lü Jiang, Lu Li and more than 30 students of the Imperial Academy have confessed. I have asked someone to deliver the files to you. Please review them."

Li Zan frowned, then relaxed his brows and said, "Is this evidence conclusive?"

Qu Lang said: "Let's verify each other's words. You can ask the old criminal officials from the three judicial departments to check it."

Li Zan did not comment, but just put down the file.

Qu Lang calmed down, bowed to Li Zan, and said in a clear voice: "In addition, there is one more thing. The former King of Wei and King of Liang have been missing recently."

When Li Zan heard this, his expression suddenly changed, and he asked in surprise, "Missing? Why is he missing?"

Qu Lang said: "Lord, it seems that he was kidnapped by the White Lotus Demon."

Li Zan frowned upon hearing this, nodded and said, "What are the people in Jinyi Mansion doing? With so many people guarding, someone actually managed to escape."

Qu Lang bowed and said, "Sir, it was my subordinates who were negligent and careless. I have already sent people to question them and punish them for their negligence."

Li Zan frowned, his eyes flickered, and he said in a deep voice: "Once these two people are used by the bad guys, they may cause a disaster in the local area. The Jinyi Mansion will be dispatched soon to search for these two people. We must not let them fall into the hands of the bad guys and stir up trouble!"

Qu Lang's expression paused slightly, then he bowed in response.

Li Zan thought for a moment and asked in a deep voice, "How are Lü Jiang and Lu Li doing in the imperial prison?"

Qu Lang quickly cupped his hands and said, "My Lord, the two are now in the imperial prison, well fed and well entertained, nothing else is unusual."

Li Zan was silent for a moment, and then warned: "Don't humiliate me."

After all, he was a successful candidate in two imperial examinations and had a great reputation, so he could not afford to be humiliated.

Qu Lang's face became serious, and he cupped his hands and said, "I really don't dare."

Li Zan pondered for a moment, raised his thick eyebrows, and his bright eyes flickered. He said in a gentle voice: "Now the public opinion in the capital is boiling with controversy over Prince Wei. The Jinyifu really cannot cause any more trouble."

Knowing that the person in front of him is a close confidant of Jia Heng, he can only persuade him to restrain his methods from the perspective of the risk to Jia Heng's reputation.

Qu Lang paused for a moment, bowed, and said in a low voice: "I understand."

Li Zan waved his hand and said, "Go out."

Qu Lang bowed, said nothing else, and turned to leave Wuying Palace.

Li Zan picked up the teacup on the small table beside him, and his dignified and old face showed an inexplicable gloom.

In today's capital, all the key departments are in the hands of Prince Wei's trusted followers. No wonder Lu Jiang and Lu Li are so terrified.

Just as Li Zan was in a state of uncertainty, a minor official from the inner cabinet came into the hall and whispered, "Lord Li, Lord Gao is here."

As he was speaking, Gao Zhongping came in from outside, with a thoughtful look on his resolute and dignified face.

"Lord Li, what is this?" Gao Zhongping looked at Li Zan in confusion and said.

Li Zan said expressionlessly, "This is the file that Jinyifu just delivered. Lu Jiang and Lu Li have confessed that they instigated and encouraged the students of the Imperial College to go to Anshun Gate to cause trouble."

Gao Zhongping raised his eyebrows, his eyes were deep, and he asked in a gentle voice: "Have the two been tortured before?"

Li Zan shook his head, his eyes dim, and said, "How could there be no torture in the Jinyi Palace's prison?"

Gao Zhongping was silent for a moment, his eyes flickered, and he said softly: "In this case, what is going on?"

Li Zan frowned, his eyes were deep, and he said in a deep voice: "There is one more thing. The commander of the Jinyi Palace just reported that the deposed King of Wei and King of Liang were rescued from the capital by Chen Yuan, the remnant of King Zhao."

Gao Zhongping was surprised when he heard this, and asked loudly: "What's going on?"

Li Zan's face was gloomy, and he said, "I don't know, the Jinyifu's guards were lax, and the previous Jinyifu personal army commander has already sent people to deal with it."

Gao Zhongping shook his head, his eyes flickered, his face expressionless, and he said in a low voice: "If the King of Wei and the King of Liang leave the palace, I'm afraid they will cause chaos."

Li Zan shook his head and said, "It won't cause a big disturbance. The imperial army is stationed in the capital, and the local people have no internal troubles. Even if there is a little rebellion, it will be quickly quelled."

Gao Zhongping's heart moved slightly when he heard this.

……

……

The next day, the sky was bright and the scorching sun shone into the courtyard. After the rain, raindrops could be seen falling on the leaves of the lush sycamore tree in the courtyard.

At this moment, Jia Heng quickly got up from the bed, left Qichiyuan, and went to the study in the front yard.

Chen Xiao raised her beautiful head from behind the book, stared at the young man in the python robe, and said, "The King of Wei and the King of Liang have already left the capital, and Liu Jixian has sent spies from the Jinyi Mansion to keep an eye on them."

Jia Heng said: "Send someone to keep an eye on him."

Here, Gu Ruoqing paused for a moment and said softly, "Chen Yuan should have left the capital recently."

Jia Heng said in a cold voice: "The people should have left Shenjing City by now, and they are just waiting to start the incident."

If there really was a riot in Sichuan, that would be the time when all power would be completely monopolized.

Gu Ruoqing said: "Some of the sect's branches in Bailian are still in Bashu. These people are all former subordinates of King Zhao and are still under the control of Chen Yuan."

Jia Heng whispered, "Can your master control these people?"

Gu Ruoqing shook her head and said, "There are some things that Master cannot help himself."

Jia Heng remained silent for a while.

After talking with Chen Xiao and Gu Ruoqing in the study for a while, Jia Heng did not linger for long and went out.

……

……

Grand View Garden, Zhuijin Tower

Yingchun was wearing a lilac-colored dress and was sitting in front of a diamond-shaped dressing table with a bronze mirror on it. She stared at the face in the diamond-shaped bronze mirror. Her lips were red, her teeth were white, and there was a hint of cuteness between her eyebrows.

The maid behind him came forward and it was Qin Siqi.

He came forward and helped Yingchun hold her shoulders, saying in a clear voice: "The girl is not young anymore, it's time for her to be married."

Yingchun's face, which was as white as jade and as white as goose fat, was clearly red at this moment. She said with a hint of anger, "These are all handled by the eldest wife. How can a girl make the decision herself?"

Siqi said, "Last time, didn't the master promise the girl that he would help her arrange her marriage?"

Yingchun's eyes were as bright as water under her emerald eyebrows that looked like distant mountains. She flickered and said in a gentle voice, "Master is busy with official business outside and has no time to take care of my little things. That was how it was with my elder sister back then."

Siqi was silent for a moment, but didn't say anything else.

At this moment, the joyful voice of Xiu Ju, a maid from the outer room, came, her eyes were as bright as water, and she said softly, "Your Highness."

While Jia Heng was talking, he walked around a screen, entered the hall, and looked at the

Yingchun also stood up to greet him, looked at Jia Heng intently, bowed, and said, "Brother Heng."

Jia Heng smiled widely and said, "Second sister, I'm busy."

The smile on Siqi's face was more enthusiastic.

Yingchun lowered her eyes slightly under her beautiful eyebrows and said softly, "Why is Brother Heng here?"

Jia Heng's eyes were warm and smiling, and he said, "Come and see my second sister."

As time passed, Yingchun's facial features gradually matured, and on both sides of her fair face, there was a blush, making her look bright and charming.

Jia Heng sat down and took the teacup from Siqi. A thoughtful look appeared on his face. His eyes were warm and he whispered, "This time I came here not only to see you, but also to ask you, have you thought about what I asked you last time?"

When Yingchun heard this, her snow-white face flushed like fire, her eyebrows and eyes were filled with a hint of charm, and she said in a trembling voice, "Brother Heng, I don't know either."

How can she, a girl, decide her own marriage? It all depends on the first wife and elder brother Heng.

Jia Heng smiled, looked at Yingchun intently, and said, "Second sister, have you not made up your mind yet?"

Yingchun said softly, "I'll leave it entirely to Brother Heng and the First Madam to decide."

After hearing this, Jia Heng did not ask any more questions. He sat down, looked at Siqi beside him, and whispered, "Go get the chessboard. I will play two games with your daughter."

Siqi said "Hey" with a smile on her face, then turned and left without saying anything else.

Jia Heng sat down, stared at the girl with drooping eyebrows, smiled and said: "Second sister is grown up now, and knows how to be shy."

At this moment, Yingchun lowered her beautiful head like a waterfall. It was obvious that the wooden-headed girl in the past now knew a little about shyness.

Yingchun's eyes flickered under her beautiful eyebrows, and she called out, "Brother Heng."

At this moment, Siqi came over with an apricot-yellow chess pad, with a bright smile on her plump and lovely face, and said, "My Lord, Miss."

He used to be tall and strong, but now he has a plump and graceful figure.

At this moment, Jia Heng picked up a black chess piece and dropped it on the apricot-yellow wooden chessboard with a "click", looking calm.

Siqi turned around to serve tea to the two of them. After a while, a hint of secret joy appeared on her plump and fair face.

Jia Heng nodded, his eyes flickered, and he whispered, "Second sister's chess skills are getting better and better."

Yingchun, on her side, hummed softly and secretly glanced at the fair face of the young man in the python robe, feeling inexplicably shy in her heart.

She didn't know why, but compared to the past, when she looked at Brother Heng, she felt inexplicably shy.

As the saying goes, a girl's feelings are always poetic. Yingchun is not young anymore, so it is natural for her to have some longings for love.

As the most perfect man in Ningguo Mansion, Jia Heng naturally became the irreplaceable fantasy object of the young girl during her youth.

Yingchun's eyebrows were as green and beautiful as the distant mountains, slightly frowned, and there seemed to be a hint of inexplicable shame and anger in her bright eyes.

Jia Heng picked up a slightly smooth and shiny black chess piece and placed it on the chessboard. A thoughtful look appeared on his calm and resolute face.

"Second sister, your chess skills are truly superb." Jia Heng praised with a smile.

Yingchun said in a gentle voice: "Brother Heng is concerned about national affairs at the imperial court, so he doesn't pay much attention to such trivial matters. That's why."

Jia Heng nodded and whispered, "There are no major national events right now, so I can rest at home for a while."

Yingchun hummed softly. She was not a talkative person.

At this moment, Siqi came over and handed over a pot of hot tea.

Jia Heng picked up a blue and white porcelain teacup and took a sip of the tea, which tasted delicious.

Siqi then slowly stepped back, leaving space for the two of them.

Jia Heng's expression paused slightly, his eyes softened, he stared at Yingchun not far away, and whispered: "Second sister, if there is someone you like."

Yingchun lowered her beautiful head with a bun on her head. Her plump, bright face was blushed on both sides. She said in a low voice, "Brother Heng, I will."

Jia Heng's expression paused slightly, and he looked at Yingchun, who seemed a little silly, feeling somewhat helpless.

Not very good at teasing...

Jia Heng thought for a moment and said gently, "Second sister is in the room. Besides playing chess, what else does she usually do?"

Yingchun's bright eyes, under her beautiful eyebrows, were as bright as rainbows. She whispered, "Look at the chess manual."

Jia Heng: "..."

We can’t avoid chess, right?

Jia Heng paused, looking surprised, and asked, "Besides chess?"

Yingchun's face was flushed and she said hesitantly, "Read a book."

After hearing this, Jia Heng didn't want to keep asking.

What a homegirl.

Jia Heng sat in the side room for a while, without saying anything else, he left the Zhuijin Tower and walked quickly to the outer room.

After walking a short distance, he thought for a while and decided to go to the Rongcui Temple to see Miaoyu first.

Cui Cui'an

Miaoyu was wearing a plain dress with wide sleeves, leaning on a soft couch, her eyes fixed on her son not far away.

Miaoyu's once cold and beautiful face is now bright and charming, and her skin, as white as jade, seems to be covered with a layer of maternal sweetness and love.

Not far away, Xing Xiuyan was holding a thin book in her hands, reading intently. Her beautiful and bright eyes, which seemed to be as beautiful as a cloud, seemed to be filled with a hint of thought.

The cold-hearted nun back then has now become exceptionally gentle and kind.

Just then, Susu's voice came from outside.

"Uncle, I'm coming." There was a hint of excitement in Susu's cute voice.

At this moment, Jia Heng opened a curtain and entered the side room. He looked at Miaoyu who was leaning on the bed and said, "Miaoyu, are you playing with the child?"

Miaoyu's beautiful face seemed to be filled with joy. Her bright eyes were as bright as water under her beautiful eyebrows. She said softly, "The child has grown a lot in the past few days."

Jia Heng came forward and sat down on an embroidered cushion. He looked at the baby boy who was still in the cradle and reached out to hold the soft little hand.

At this moment, Jia Heng couldn't help but stretch out his hand and pinch the baby's rosy and chubby face, his heart full of love and doting.

Miaoyu's bright eyes were as bright as water under her beautiful eyebrows. She couldn't help but scold him in a low voice, "The child is still young, don't be too rude."

Jia Heng nodded and said gently, "I have many children, don't I have any experience?"

When Miaoyu heard this, her green and beautiful eyebrows, her charming eyes, were as bright as water, and she said in embarrassment, "You are still proud of yourself."

At this moment, Xing Xiuyan was watching the two people bickering like an old couple, her clear eyes shining like water, filled with a hint of inexplicable envy.

When she has a child, the prince will pay more attention to her.

Jia Heng teased the child for a while, then turned to look at Xing Xiuyan and asked, "Xiuyan, what are you doing now?"

Xing Xiuyan's eyes were gentle and charming. She whispered, "I just found a book to read. There's nothing else."

Jia Heng said: "Xiu Yan is not young anymore, it's time for her to consider having a child."

When Xing Xiuyan heard this, her white and jade-like face flushed and she seemed to respond softly.

Miaoyu snorted and said, "By then, the house will be full of children."

Jia Heng said, "I have a high salary and my family can afford it."

Miaoyu responded softly, just rolled her eyes at the young man in the python robe, and didn't say anything else.

……

……

Let’s not talk about the city of Shenjing for now. The two of them were talking about a place hundreds of miles away from Shenjing—

The King of Wei and the King of Liang rode on a horse with a maroon mane and galloped towards the outside. It was midsummer and the road was muddy. The sound of horses' hooves could be seen splashing mud everywhere.

But in the evening, the rain was heavy and the sky was dark, it was clearly already evening.

Ruan Yongde, who was accompanying him, said, "After we pass the pass ahead, we will reach Bashu."

King Wei Chen Ran nodded and said, "Does the Shenjing know that we went to Bashu?"

Ruan Yongde said: "Don't worry, Your Highness. I have already sent several decoy troops. If the Jinyifu Tiqi from the Divine Capital starts chasing them, they will definitely lead them to another place."

King Wei Chen Ran nodded and said softly, "That's good. Otherwise, with the speed of the Jinyi Tiqi, it would only be a matter of time for them to catch us along the road."

"Your Highness, it's getting late ahead. We should find a house ahead to let the horses rest for a while." Ruan Yongde paused and said softly.

Then, a group of people rode their horses quickly towards the distance.