The Second Master of the Red Chamber

On the Yangzhou Canal Wharf, a large number of officials have been waiting here early.

The row of battles made people who have been living on the pier for many years couldn't help but goo, wondering which big man came to Yangzhou again.

Soon their doubts were resolved, and as the officials and outsiders gathered and stood, a huge official ship slowly approached on the river in the distance.

Just looking at the officers and soldiers who came down first from the deck of the official ship, and the black pink signs with the big book "Retreat" and "Silence" held up in their hands, the complexion of knowledgeable people can hardly hide their shock.

Another imperial envoy came to Yangzhou City!But I don't know why.

"The next official, Wu Zhirong, the prefect of Yangzhou, leads the officials of the Yangzhou government to welcome the imperial envoy!"

Straight on the road in the middle of the pier, I saw a person in official uniform coming down from the official boat. A middle-aged man of medium build with a slightly bulging belly stepped forward first, bowing down to salute.

It's been a long time since anyone responded, and just when Wu Zhirong thought that the imperial envoy was going to give him an insult, he heard a very warm voice about his age.

"Hahaha, it turned out to be Lord Wu, I have admired him for a long time, I have admired him for a long time."

Only then did Wu Zhirong stand up and look. He saw the person walking towards him. Although he was dressed in a civil official's uniform, he was only wearing a green robe, and his age was not right for him. Obviously, it couldn't be the famous Zhenyuan Hou Jialian.

Subconsciously glanced behind him, although there were two or three civil and military officials, they were all just insignificant officials.

The leading civil servant seemed to know what he was looking for, so he didn't urge him, just stood there with a smile on his face.

Wu Zhirong also reacted very quickly, immediately restrained his expression, and smiled at the person who came: "This is Master Yang, Mr. Yang, I have admired him for a long time."

"Don't dare, it's the next official."

Knowing that the imperial court sent people to inspect the salt administration, Wu Zhirong and other local officials, of course, must check the background of the main comers to be at ease.

After a few words of politeness with Yang Xun, Wu Zhirong still couldn't help but said: "I heard that the imperial envoy is coming down, and the officials and colleagues in Yangzhou have prepared a clean-up banquet for the imperial envoy. If you dare to ask Yang, I don't know where the imperial envoy is now." ?”

Yang Xun said with a smile: "Master Wu is bothering you, but the imperial envoy is not in Yangzhou right now, so the reception banquet will be skipped."

"Not in Yangzhou?"

Not to mention Wu Zhirong, even the few subordinate officials who had the right to speak in Yangzhou's officialdom couldn't help but look at each other when they heard the words, their expressions could not hide their suspicion.

Yang Xun naturally knew what they were thinking, he just said: "The imperial envoy has other things to do for the time being, so I entrust the officer to go to Yangzhou first, and my lord, he will arrive in a few days."

Anything else?
This statement is a little perfunctory.

The imperial envoy, the imperial envoy, was ordered by the emperor to handle a certain important matter, and there were other delays?

Dare it be, the imperial court is really serious this time, and the legendary imperial envoy didn't even bother to spend his time dealing with them, and went to various places to investigate and collect evidence when he came to Jiangnan?

This is an easy guess, so for a while, not only the general officials of Yangzhou were silent, but also those big and small salt merchants who stood behind and heard the news all showed worry and panic.

The imperial envoy didn't even let them meet, so how could their preparations be useful?

"I don't know if Mr. Yang may inform the imperial envoy where he is going? In this way, the lower officials can arrange someone to receive and serve him, lest some unscrupulous people offend the imperial envoy. That would be bad."

"Well, the lower officials don't know about it. The imperial envoy didn't talk to me. But Mr. Wu, don't worry. The imperial envoy said that he will go to Yangzhou immediately after finishing the trivial matters."

Seeing that there was nothing to ask from Yang Xun, Wu Zhirong didn't bother, he buried his doubts in his heart, and smiled and asked Yang Xun to settle in Xingyuan first.

Who knows, Yang Xun said that the imperial envoy was ordered to let him and his entourage live in the official residence of the Yan government to facilitate the investigation and retrieval of files.

This kind of straightforward and undisguised behavior made Wu Zhirong and others feel uneasy, so they arranged another dinner that night, and invited Yang Xun and a hundred households from Beizhen Fusi who accompanied him. I bought a lot of money.

The two of Yang Xun did not refuse, which undoubtedly made Wu Zhirong and the others secretly relieved.

……

Besides, when Jia Lian was about to enter the boundary of Yangzhou, he let Yang Xun and others walk slowly, and he himself took Daiyu and others to enter Yangzhou mansion first.

Just when Yang Xun and others entered Yangzhou City, he had already taken Daiyu across the entire Yangzhou, heading towards Suzhou.

At this time, he seemed to have no idea of ​​the entire Yangzhou Mansion, and was disturbed by his disappearance.

Fortunately, he asked Zijuan and others to set up the teacher's chair, set up a fruit plate, and took Daiyu to blow the air on the deck of the blessing boat.

Daiyu was sitting on the high stool beside Jia Lian, with her feet on the leg rings of the stool, a little joyful, but also a little speechless, tilting her head to look at her, lying on her back on the grand master's chair, asking Xiangling to peel grapes for him to eat, while Jia Lian who straightened her legs and asked Xue Yan to beat her legs!
"Zijuan, you're the laziest? Didn't you see that your girl was crying, and why didn't you peel some fruit and feed her?"

Zijuan stood behind Daiyu and looked at Jia Lian helplessly when she heard this.

Why didn't I find out before that Second Master Lian had such a side?In her eyes, although the former Second Master Lian treated others kindly, he was also very serious. Except in front of the old lady and others, he was also a serious person.

How should I put it, it's just a little self-indulgent.

But ever since he asked to marry his own girl, especially after he got on the Fuchuan, as his relationship with the girl became more intimate, Second Master Lian became more and more lazy in front of them.

I don't know if he has such a temperament in the first place, or if he deliberately behaved like this in order to get closer to the girl.

When Daiyu heard Jia Lian's joke, her face flushed a little, but she didn't show much.

For more than half a month, she has been with Jia Lian every day, and she has a clearer understanding of Jia Lian's personality that she did not know before.

She was also like Zijuan, and one guessed that Jia Lian was pretending to be so close to her.But no matter what, in the past half a month or so, she has indeed lived happily, and it has indeed reduced a lot of alienation from Jia Lian.

Of course, what also decreased at the same time was the respect for Jia Lian!
Daiyu even felt that Jia Lian used to deliberately put on airs of his cousin in front of her, but now he is the real him!
Although I feel a little cheated, but who told Lian's second elder brother to be so kind to her, even if he was cheated, he could only admit it.Anyway, compared to the previous Jia Lian who cared and cared for her like her father, she liked this cousin who was like her peers and would tease her from time to time or tell her a new joke.

Therefore, she didn't really mind Jia Lian ordering her maid, but she tilted her head and asked, "Second brother, if you don't go into Yangzhou City, come with me to Suzhou first, will you really be fine?"

Daiyu grew up with rich clothes and good food, and her parents were first-class romantic figures. Even when she came to Jia's house, although she was not very happy at times, in terms of material, Jia's mother always gave her almost the best.As a result, she was raised to be a little ignorant of the sufferings of the world, and she would write poems such as "There is no hunger in a prosperous age, why bother with farming and weaving?"

Install the latest version. 】

But it doesn't mean that she is exactly the same as Jia Baoyu, completely ignorant of common affairs.

On the contrary, Daiyu is very intelligent.She has some knowledge about common affairs and even social officialdom, but she doesn't bother to reveal it.

After all, she is the daughter of Lin Ruhai, and she has been able to know many rules that others don't know through her ears and eyes since she was a child.

Of course she knew that Jia Lian was here as an imperial envoy with the emperor's order, but now he left most of his entourage to accompany her to escort his father's coffin to Suzhou.Will it delay Jia Lian's decision? Don't tell me in advance, if someone finds out, wouldn't it be a crime to impeach him in front of the emperor?
"No, what trouble can I have if I escort my uncle for a ride? Or do you not believe in your husband's ability, and worry that I will not be able to handle the emperor's errand with only two or three days left?"

"What nonsense, what Lang... Jun... frivolous~!"

When Daiyu heard Jia Lian claiming to be her husband, her face blushed and she gave Jia Lian a vicious look.

For her now, this title is still too embarrassing for her.Unless, after the real marriage, it's almost...

Regarding this situation, Zijuan smiled and said nothing, Xueyan, who was kneeling on the futon on the ground, stared blankly at the two masters, was kicked by Jia Lian's feet, and continued to massage Jia Lian's calf .

On the other hand, Xiangling looked at Daiyu who was blushing and more beautiful than peach blossoms, and thought to herself: Miss Lin is more beautiful than flowers when she becomes shy.A beauty like Miss Lin can only be matched by the second master!
Originally, Xiangling didn't know about Jia Lian and Daiyu's affairs, but after so many days of close service, watching Jia Lian and Daiyu's growing relationship, no matter how dull Xiangling was, she would still see some problems of.

Finally one day, when I was serving Jia Lian to take a bath, I couldn't help asking Jia Lian, and only then did I know the truth.

For Daiyu, Xiangling is very grateful.When she was just rescued from the kidnapper by Jia Lian, she was taken care of by Daiyu who was only eight or nine years old. When she arrived in Jia's mansion, Daiyu became her tutor under Jia Lian's help.

For Xiangling, being able to study is one of the happiest things she feels, second only to following Jia Lian.

Therefore, Daiyu's position in Xiangling's heart is very lofty.Therefore, when she knew that Daiyu would become Jia Lian's second wife in the future, Xiangling didn't feel jealous at all, but was secretly happy.

Because in this way, in the future, she can repay Jia Lian's kindness and show filial piety to Daiyu at the same time, without worrying about the inability to have both loyalty and filial piety.

After all, Daiyu didn't care much about mundane affairs. Seeing Jia Lian's confidence, she let go of her worries.Anyway, she is the happiest that Jia Lian is willing to let go of other things and go to Suzhou with her first.

Before that, she was worried that if Jia Lian disembarked in Yangzhou, would she stay in Yangzhou and wait, or go back to Suzhou first.

Now this is the best result for her.

Feeling grateful for Jia Lian's benefits to her, Daiyu couldn't care about Jia Lian's words of taking advantage of her.It's just that she was shy because of being heard by the maids, and she didn't like Jia Lian's cozy appearance, so she wanted to get up and go back to the house.

Who knew that Jia Lian just peeled a grape by herself, leaned up, handed it to her mouth, and said with a smile, "Zijuan is too lazy, she won't even peel a grape for you. I really don't know My little girl, how did you treat her as a treasure? You have to do it yourself, Lord Ben Hou."

Daiyu rolled Jia Lian's eyes, but she was used to Jia Lian hating Zijuan.If it's not too much, she also likes to watch Jia Lian hate Zijuan, who is called Zijuan because she is someone sent to her by Jia's mother, and she is always in charge of her, like an old lady.

After hesitating for a while, he still didn't want to waste Jia Lian's thought, so he bowed his head, slightly opened his small mouth, and put the tender white grape pulp from Jia Lian's fingertips into his mouth, and began to chew.

Although she doesn't usually like to eat grapes very much, but at this moment, she feels that the one Jia Lian peeled for her is extraordinarily sweet, so she can't help showing a slight smile.

But she soon regretted it.

As if Jia Lian had found something fun, she stopped letting Xiangling serve him, sat up and concentrated on peeling grapes for her.After peeling one, feed her one, and when she showed an expression that she didn't want to eat, he coaxed her gently.

But Daiyu is Daiyu after all, even if Jia Lian coaxed her with good words, after eating the third one, she still stubbornly turned her head and firmly rejected Jia Lian's kindness.

She was even a little angry.

Perhaps it was because she had fed the gluttonous little squirrels, she probably guessed why Jia Lian did this.Because she used to catch two little squirrels and kept feeding them food with her own hands.

Just because, watching the little squirrel eat, the mouth is round and round, very cute.

She suspected that Jia Lian treated her like a small animal.

Of course, every time she takes food from Jia Lian, her lips tend to touch Jia Lian's fingers, which makes her a little embarrassed.

"Hahaha……"

It is true that Jia Lian did this because she saw that Daiyu's way of eating was very flattering, but seeing that Daiyu didn't cooperate, she didn't force her.

Just at this time, Ah Qin and the stairs walked over. Although they didn't speak, their expressions indicated that something was wrong.

Jia Lian threw the fruit in his hand into Xiangling's small mouth, stood up and said with a smile, "Sister Lin continues to watch the scene here, I'll go down and have a look."

In front of Xiangling and others, Daiyu can be more casual.But when others were around, Daiyu was stingy in showing her intimacy with Jia Lian, so she nodded slightly, which was regarded as a promise to Jia Lian, and she watched Jia Lian go downstairs.

When he came to the bow cabin, his personal guards, his deputy, and others, as well as Lin Youquan, were all here.

Although he didn't bring all the more than 50 personal guards with him on this trip, he did bring Zhang Yong, the leader of the team, Zhao Sheng and Liu Xianglian, the deputy team leader.

Of course, Aqi was originally the deputy team leader, but she only protected Jia Lian personally, and didn't care about the affairs of the personal team.

Even so, Zhang Yong and the others respected Sister Aqi.Not to mention that they can follow Jia Lian all the time, but the fact that His Royal Highness Princess Guochao canonized the two of them as third-class bodyguards in the Princess Mansion also spread in the Jia Mansion.

A person with a decent official status naturally has an unusual status.

In addition to his own personal guards, there were three small boats behind Fu Chuan, and there were dozens of Imperial Guard officers and soldiers in them.This is the Clippers hired before the boundary of Yangzhou in order to deceive people.

"Second Master's predictions were right. We were discovered after all. Just now, news came from the brothers of the Forbidden Army that a sneaky fast boat was found trying to follow us, and it had already been dispersed."

As soon as he entered the door, Zhao Sheng was the first to speak.

When Jia Lian heard this, she frowned slightly.

The power of Yangzhou salt merchants is famous all over the world.It's not uncommon, money can make ghosts turn the clock, every year at least tens of millions of taels of silver are guarded by Li Lan, which is divided up by those [-] or [-] companies. It's no wonder that the power of those salt merchants is not big.

So it's not surprising that he can be found so quickly.

But he wasn't worried at all.The reason why he split up with Yang Xunbing was naturally to accompany Daiyu to Suzhou and help her settle Lin Ruhai's funeral.The second point is to put a smoke bomb on Yangzhou officialdom.

After all, something really went wrong in Yangzhou's officialdom. After such a long time, the other party must have dealt with it long ago. They wouldn't just wait for him to investigate.So arriving in Yangzhou one day earlier is the same as arriving in Yangzhou one day later.

It's better not to go to Yangzhou, the base camp of salt merchants, maybe other nearby state capitals, there may be more accurate news.

That way, it's easier to open up the situation.

Even if you know his whereabouts, it's nothing.Originally, he never thought of being able to conceal his whereabouts. Lin Ruhai lived in the second rank of the official residence, and the coffin going south is considered a major event. It is very easy for others to really want to investigate.

This is his second smoke bomb. Those people are not sure whether he really left to escort Lin Ruhai's coffin to Suzhou, or to avoid them and check their sore feet.

The imperial court sent people down to investigate the case in such a high-profile manner, and the people in Yangzhou Prefecture must go all out for investigation.

At this time, the more unreasonable the cards are played, the more it will make the people of Yangzhou Mansion feel guilty.As long as they are not sure about him, or about the true intentions of the court, over time, those who really have problems will get confused and show their flaws.

As for how to solve the two matters of Yangzhou Yanzheng and An Siyuan's death, Jia Lian had already had some concerns when he was in Beijing. Right now, as long as the matter is done as well as possible within the time limit set by the emperor, that is, up.

After the death of her parents, Liu Xianglian began to wander north and south. She also visited Yangzhou and experienced the prosperity of Yangzhou.

Because of his own ability, he also made friends with some Yangzhou celebrities and knew something about Yangzhou officialdom.

Seeing that Jia Lian seemed to be taking the matter of the salt government lightly, Liu Xianglian couldn't help reminding: "Master Hou, this subordinate has been to Yangzhou before, and even met Wu Zhirong, the prefect of Yangzhou, so he knows a thing or two about the affairs of Yangzhou.

Because the Lianghuai Salt Administration was established in Yangzhou, Yangzhou has already become one of the most affluent and prosperous state capitals in the entire south of the Yangtze River.

Among them, the most famous ones are naturally the major salt merchants, especially seven of them are the most famous.

Rumor has it that these seven salt shops all have profound backgrounds and astonishing influence.

Since Lord Hou was ordered by the emperor to inspect the salt administration this time, he should be more cautious in everything. "

Liu Xianglian said, looking at Jia Lian's expression.

Although Jia Lian took a fancy to him and took him under his command, he still had to judge Jia Lian's ability and means from Jia Lian's reaction and actions on major events.Based on this, we can judge whether he should work hard for his loyalty in the future to fight for a great future, or make a fool of himself and pass through these three years in peace and stability before leaving.

82 Chinese Network