The Second Master of the Red Chamber

Chapter 585 Ping'er's Request

In an inner hall of the Daming Palace, the three of Jia Lian went in for a meal under the guidance of the eunuch.

Eighty-nine meals, although all were exquisite, were all small dishes and snacks, which did not appear extravagant. Obviously, Emperor Ningkang was considered frugal in normal fashion, and he was not a person who indulged in pleasure.

"Why don't you eat?"

The fourth prince was really hungry, he ate a few mouthfuls after sitting down, and then saw that neither his imperial sister nor Jia Lian moved their chopsticks.Not only did they not move their chopsticks, but the two of them were still looking at me and I at you, expressing a message with their eyebrows.

Jia Lian cupped his hands when he heard the words: "Princess please first."

Princess Zhaoyang was not too polite, and immediately picked up the silver chopsticks, put a piece of bamboo shoots in her mouth, then nodded and said: "The royal chef in the palace is very good at cooking, this fried meat with autumn bamboo shoots tastes good, Zhenyuan Hou will also try it .”

"Really, let me try."

The fourth prince stood up and opened his chopsticks and wanted to pick up vegetables. Princess Zhaoyang frowned when she saw his vulgar behavior, and calmly picked up the fried venison with autumn bamboo shoots, put it in front of Jia Lian, and smiled at Jia Lian.Turning around to see the astonishment on the fourth prince's face, he conveniently picked up a chicken leg from the soup and put it into his bowl.

"Humph."

The fourth prince was like a little daughter-in-law who had been wronged, dared not speak out, sat down and picked up the chicken leg with bare hands, and bit it fiercely.

Jia Lian watched coldly from the sidelines, and it was not easy to express what he was thinking on his face, so he could only sigh secretly that the siblings were indeed enemies.These four princes were not afraid of anything, they dared to lash out at anyone they saw, but they were helpless against Princess Zhaoyang, and Jia Lian alone had seen him beaten up in Princess Zhaoyang's hands several times.

In order to prevent the fourth prince from being jealous of him because of a small dish, Jia Lian did not pick up the dishes to taste immediately, but thanked Princess Zhaoyang, and then changed the subject: "This time, Your Highness the Princess took the initiative to invite Ying to talk about the clan, courage and filial piety. It is admirable. Dare I ask, what good strategy does Your Highness have in mind?"

Sure enough, when the fourth prince heard Jia Lian asking about this matter, he was no longer angry, and turned his eyes to look at his imperial sister.

Although he didn't care much about political affairs, he also knew that those in the clan were conservative and philistine, and it would be very difficult to get them to obediently cooperate with the court in paying the land tax.

Princess Zhaoyang tasted the dishes unhurriedly, and then Fang Xiao asked Jia Lian: "Master Zhenyuan, do you not believe in the little girl's ability, are you worried that I will mess up this matter?"

"No, I have known about His Highness's bravery, determination, resourcefulness, and determination. If Her Royal Highness is unable to take on this task, I'm afraid there will be no one who can relieve His Majesty's worries."

"Hehehe, Master Hou is still so good at talking... But, I really don't have a good plan, but I just deal with this matter first.

On the contrary, Marquis Zhenyuan has always been very resourceful, if he has any strategy to teach me, the little girl will listen attentively, and she will surely reciprocate in the future. "

"Hey, can you two stop bragging about each other like this? I can't stand it anymore!" The fourth prince always felt that Jia Lian was there, and his sister's words were weird. How should I put it, hypocritical!
"I said, old lady, you are also the same. Since you are not sure, why did you take on this thankless job just now. There are so many capable ministers and generals under the father's hands, and it will be fine if you just send one to do this job. You have to be brave, regret it now."

The fourth prince's tone was slightly mocking.

Princess Zhaoyang took a look at him, and felt that she and Jia Lian couldn't understand something because of this bastard, so she gave Jia Lian a look, stopped talking, and concentrated on eating.

……

After dinner, Jia Lian was summoned by Emperor Ningkang again.

What I did was just to ask about the progress of firearms, and...

"It is rumored that your Jia family's two mansions are located in the north and the south, with thousands of hectares of fertile land, which also exceeds the limit of [-] mu per mansion for the duke's house set by the imperial court. Is this rumor true?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, it is indeed true. Since the Taizu, my Jia family has been favored by the emperor, and the holy family is Youlong. The ancestors of the past generations did not know how to manage the family business better. If they had savings, they used them to buy fields and land. Today, together with the rewards from the sages of past dynasties, my Jia family owns nearly 30 acres of mountains, forests and farmland. Even after deducting the clan sacrifice land, there are still more than 25 acres."

Emperor Ningkang asked casually, but Jia Lian answered all the specific numbers immediately.

I don't know if I expected him to ask this question, or if he really serves the emperor and is loyal and sincere.

But even if he had expected him to ask such a question, it was considered candid to be able to answer it so crisply.

After all, if someone like King Zhongshun can only hesitate and haw and haw, how dare he come up with a specific number?
"Oh? If that's the case, what do you think of the new tax law revised by the imperial court?"

"Naturally, it is a great achievement for thousands of years, and a good recipe for a hundred generations. On behalf of the family, I would like to fully support the imperial court in achieving the great success of reforming the tax law."

Jia Lian has studied political books, so he dare not say anything else. As for the high-level speech skills, most people in this era who want to flatter can't match it.

"Really? If according to the new policy, your Jia family's extra [-] mu of land will be expropriated by thousands of stone grains every year, which will be equivalent to your ten-year lumi. complain?"

Jia Lian said solemnly: "A gentleman likes money, and he gets it in a proper way. Don't say that my Jia family enjoys the most favorable treatment in the country. The people of the world are benefiting, and the Jia family should also give their full support.

A family is the smallest country, and a country is the largest family. If there is no big country, how can we have a small family?
Therefore, Your Majesty does not need to worry about the humble ministers, not to mention that there are no such ignorant people in my Jia family, even if there are, the humble ministers will teach and control them, and I will not dare to let them become the slightest obstacle to Your Majesty's New Deal! "

Thousands of stone grains are indeed worth his ten-year salary and Lumi.However, when calculated, it was only a few thousand taels of silver!

How can Jia Lian hesitate to choose between several thousand taels of silver and the favor of Emperor Ningkang?

Moreover, although the Jia family's two prefectures exceeded the limit, Jia Lian did not believe that the tax rates for fertile land, forests, and manors would be the same!If the fertile land is included in the quota and the forests and manors are used to pay taxes, the number will be greatly reduced on this basis.

Besides, if others don't know, doesn't he know that Emperor Ningkang promised to make up for this part of the loss of the clan's honors from the annual reward.

In other words, Emperor Ningkang did not intend to snatch benefits from the clan and honored relatives. What he wanted was to let the clan and honored relatives no longer be the protective umbrella of the small and medium landlords underneath, and become the hiding place for thousands of small and medium landlords. , A haven for tax evasion.

It is conceivable that if Emperor Ningkang's matter can be done, not to say that it is completely done, even if it is simply implemented, from the clan and relatives down, the aristocratic families, the nobles, and the masters will eagerly pass on those "origins" in their hands. Unknown" donated land, throw it back...

Come to think of it, this is the big head that Emperor Ningkang and those courtiers really care about.

Although Jia Lian felt that once the royal family and relatives paid taxes, perhaps the palace would make up for the loss in the first few years, but as the matter has become a foregone conclusion, the so-called subsidy is definitely difficult to guarantee...

Perhaps, Emperor Ningkang originally planned this way, otherwise why didn't he write down this regulation, but just asked the lobbyist to promise on his behalf.In this way, even if he doesn't fulfill his promise in the future, he can still evade it, alas, my poor princess, she will be sold by her father again at that time.

Alas, if you want to take the blame, you can take the blame. If you want to get power from the emperor, if you don't help to take the blame, how can you say it? Isn't he the same?
So Jia Lian said very bachelorly: "So, if your majesty needs it, the humble minister can even take the initiative to act as an example among the ministers. After the implementation of the new tax law, he will be the first to declare the land property and pay taxes in full every year. Be the vanguard of His Majesty's New Deal!"

Emperor Ningkang looked at Jia Lian, and said for a while, "If all the people in the world are as loyal to the monarch as you are, why worry about the world being in trouble and the government not clear! I can also relax a lot..."

Uh, Your Majesty, you are dreaming, let alone with you, even in the next 3000 years, the world may not be able to achieve what you said.

Moreover, I dare not tell you, as long as there are more people who travel like me, let alone the world will not be peaceful, the government will not be clear, the mountains and rivers will be broken, and the people will be ruined, it will be a matter of time.

Emperor Ningkang didn't know Jia Lian's fucking thoughts, he was very satisfied with Jia Lian's words, encouraged Jia Lian a few words, and let him go out of the palace.

……

Back to Rongguo Mansion, perhaps because of the distance, the farce on the long street did not bring any turmoil to Jia Mansion.

But in the study of Dongkuayuan, Hu Yuanyao sent a message from Princess Zhaoyang, asking him to meet outside the city tomorrow.

This was also expected, Jia Lian went home after agreeing.

It was September in September, and it was cold at home, but under the eaves, Jia Lian saw a lot of fruits and vegetables, such as pumpkins and eggplants, there were quite a few samples!

Jia Lian glanced at it twice, but didn't pay much attention, and went straight into the room, and saw Ping'er sitting in the room alone, doing needlework. "The second master is back."

Ping'er always had such a peaceful appearance, when she saw Jia Lian entering the room, she was neither indifferent nor coquettish, if she hadn't been more warm and considerate than her master's grandmother in the bed, Jia Lian would have doubts sometimes, this Ni Did Zi commit himself to him simply because of etiquette?

Jia Lian said "Yes", walked to Ping'er's previous seat and sat down, picked up her needle and thread and looked at it, it was a tube top, golden silk yellow.

"Your own?"

"I made it for the second grandma. My grandma burned two old ones. I was afraid she wouldn't have enough to replace them, so I specially made two new ones for her."

Ping'er stood beside Jia Lian, explaining in this way.

Jia Lian pulled her to sit on her lap, stroking her hands into her arms, and said seriously after a while: "There are so many maids in the yard, it doesn't matter who does it for her. Look, your own is not old, Why don't you know how to make two new ones for yourself?"

Ping'er, whose face was already flushed by Jia Lian's touch, explained earnestly after hearing the words: "Second Grandma is not used to wearing clothes made by others, and besides, I'm so old, I made this dark green one half a month ago. What about the upper body..."

Women in this era are basically female workers, so, except for outer clothes, which are not too demanding, their own personal belongings are basically made by themselves.

The people in his courtyard are no exception.

It's just that Sister Feng usually doesn't have much free time, and she's too lazy to handle such small things.Therefore, most of her underwear is done by Ping'er.

And like Jia Lian, most of the details on him are Qingwen's masterpieces.The female worker in Xiangling is not very good. She likes to read books.

Having said that, when Jia Lian heard Ping'er's words, he immediately asked curiously, "The dark green one? Let me see if you're lying or not?"

Seeing that Jia Lian really wanted to take a look at her neckline, Ping'er was both helpless and funny, because he held his chest and persuaded: "Second Master, don't make trouble, there are guests here today, don't let people catch the joke?"

"Oh? What guest?"

"It's not really an expensive guest, he's a countryman, he's old with Second Grandma, I visited Second Grandma once in that year, Second Grandma didn't treat her badly, and promised her some money.

Now Xu Shi's life is better, and he brought a lot of vegetables to visit the second grandma.I don't want the old lady to hear it, so I must let you go and have a look. The second grandma also followed, and she hasn't come back yet.

I originally planned to sit down for a while and take a look, but the second master came back. "

Jia Lian put her arms around her concubine and said with a smile, "Oh, this guest is surnamed Liu?"

"It's Grandma Liu, how does Second Master know?"

Ping'er sat upright, a little curious.If she remembered correctly, that year Grandma Liu came to play the autumn wind, and the second master was obviously not at home.

Jia Lian smiled and said nothing, and never took this matter to heart.Ping'er, who was seventeen or eighteen years old, was as delicate and beautiful as a flower. He couldn't help but want to do something bad after holding her for a while.

Ping'er couldn't persuade her left and right, and Jia Lian's heart was provoked, so she pressed Jia Lian's hand to untie her clothes, brushed her hair, and her eyes were clear.

"Second Master still remembers that he owes Ping'er a promise."

"Oh, when did it happen?"

Jia Lian didn't think about it seriously. Seeing that Ping'er wouldn't let her take off her clothes, she turned to kiss her neck, thinking that this little girl has a good appearance, and once she is tempted, she is also an interesting person.

"I knew that the second master didn't take this matter to heart, and he kindly reminded the second master. The first time Grandma Xiaorong came over, the time the second master succeeded, she helped you lie in front of the second grandma, and the second master said I promised someone one thing."

Only then did Jia Lian remember that it was true.

"There is such a thing, what do you want?"

Jia Lian let go of Ping'er and sat on the stool, looking a little unhappy.Ping'er never asked him for anything, and he mentioned this at this time, probably to persuade him to give up.

Ping'er stood up straight and saw Jia Lian like this, so he couldn't understand Jia Lian's mood.

She smiled knowingly without explaining, and continued to brush the hair that was messed up by Jia Lian, put her ear on Jia Lian's side, and said with a smile: "Second Master still remembers that year, before Second Mistress entered this door... ..."

"I followed Second Mistress to the mansion here, and arranged a room for Second Mistress in the mansion. Er Ye hurried to find Second Mistress, but it was a pity that Second Mistress went to see his wife, and I was the only one in the house at that time. inside."

"That year, I was only 13 years old..."

Ping'er's soft words easily brought Jia Lian's thoughts back to his memory.

Flipping through the messy and bullshit memories of his ex, Jia Lian could remember them vaguely.

At that time, Jia Lian was only sixteen or seventeen years old, and the two families happened to be discussing marriage for him and Sister Feng, so Sister Feng, who used to come to play often, hadn't been to Jia's mansion for a long time.

Just when he came over that time, Jia Lian excitedly ran to find Sister Feng.

I didn't find Sister Feng, but I saw a well-behaved maid sitting in the room with red lips and white teeth, clear eyebrows and handsome eyes.

Of course he knew that she was one of Sister Feng's personal maidservants, and if he waited for nothing, he would not dare to have evil intentions.

But at that time, he knew that Sister Feng, the great beauty, would most likely fall into his hands. Once Sister Feng married, as long as he thought about it, this little beauty would most likely belong to him.

Thinking about it this way, Jia Lian became more courageous. He didn't even look for Sister Feng, so he just stayed in the room. ".

It was easy to understand what he was thinking at the time, as long as he succeeded at that time, under that background, Ping'er could only obey if he wanted to, and at most he asked for her to be given a title in the future.For this, Second Master Jia can still afford it.

Who would have thought that this little maid looks weak, so she is really not easy to coax.The other party was not as pushy as he imagined the other girls were, but instead threatened that no matter how disrespected she was, she would call her out.

Just when Jia Lian was furious and unable to get off the tiger, his maid came to find him, and relieved him, and left angrily.

Afterwards, he was still afraid, but after inquiring, he learned that Ping'er did not tell what happened that day, which made Jia Lian respect and fear Ping'er in the future, but made his heart itch even more.

It's a pity that Wang Xifeng is a powerful wife. After marrying in, she was not allowed to touch the people around her, so that someone later took advantage of it.

But Jia Lian didn't know why Ping'er mentioned this at this time. Could it be that he deliberately wanted to shame him?

If so, she might have made a wrong calculation, and she did not do such embarrassing things by herself.If it was him, anyway, it was the same that day, how can there be any reason to give up halfway?In a word, Yuan Jia Lian is still too cowardly!
Ping'er saw Jia Lian smiling without saying a word, knowing that when he recalled what happened back then, the smile on his face was even bigger.

"I said this for no other reason than to ask the second master, but are you still annoyed by what happened back then?"

Now that the matter has come to this, what can Jia Lian say?He could only say sanctimoniously: "No, you were too young back then, and Jia could have such thoughts. Jia is really not a thing!"

Obviously, the Jia here refers to the former Jia.

Ping'er giggled, and said as if reminiscing: "No, later Ping'er asked himself, if he hadn't stopped the second master that day, wouldn't Ping'er have already been the second master's woman? No need...you don't need to wait a few years later..."

Ping'er said, blushing, but Jia Lian was a little upset.It took more than a year after he came to this world to take Ping'er down.

Ping'er said that he had waited for several years. Obviously, there was an element of that womanizer in it.

So he hugged Ping'er's waist and couldn't help tightening it up, "Now we are talking about what to do, haven't we already achieved a good result."

Ping'er originally wanted to express her love, but how could she know that the complexity of it was far beyond her imagination!Noticing that Jia Lian's arm was straining, she only thought Jia Lian liked her body, so she let out a "hmm" and whispered in her ear, "If Second Master doesn't annoy others, Ping'er would like to ask Second Master, would you like to give it a try?" , If no one came to interrupt the second master that day, what kind of scene would it be..."

"Um!!"

Jia Lian's reaction was not slow, she suddenly came back to her senses, and looked at Ping'er inexplicably in shock.

His quick reaction also made Ping'er more determined to play the game, because he slipped out of Jia Lian's arms with a smile, and explained softly: "The second master will go out in a while, and then come back in a little while, as if Ping'er is still just the second grandma." A little maid beside her. And Ping'er, he will only think of the second master as the second master of the Jia family. If the second master wants to do something to Ping'er, Ping'er will not agree, he will resist, and even yell, what can he do? What, it depends on the second master's own ability.

This is what Ping'er asked Second Master to do, would Second Master be willing to play around with Ping'er for a while? "

Jia Lian calmed down, gave Ping'er a thumbs up, then got up without saying a word, and went outside.

(End of this chapter)