Turning the tide in the Red Chamber

Chapter 23 [023] The Assassination of Huifang Garden
"Oh, sister-in-law Lou is here!" Wang Xifeng left Jia Chen behind, turned her hips and walked up to Mrs. Lou.

Lou is the granddaughter-in-law of Jia's mother's younger uncle, and she is closer to Jia's mother than Jia Zhen's daughter-in-law, Youshi.

Mrs. Lou often attends Jiamu's banquets. She is quick-tempered and eloquent, and is very popular with Jiamu.

Among the daughters-in-law of Jia's family, Jia Qin's mother, Mrs. Zhou, and Grandma Huang all circled around Youshi and Wang Xifeng, while Lou's circled around Jia's mother. It can be seen that this person has an unusual relationship with Jia's mother.

Wang Xifeng is a well-rounded, tactful and sophisticated person who is used to climbing high and stepping down. Lou's family is quite popular with Jia's mother and the elders of Rongfu, so naturally Wang Xifeng dare not offend her.

Mrs. Lou often brings food to Jia Chen, and Jia Chen is kind to Jia Chen. Jia Chen is a person who knows how to repay his kindness, so he hurriedly saluted Mrs. Lou, "I have seen Mrs. Lou."

Mrs. Lou glanced at the peanut cake Wang Xifeng was holding, and joked with something in his words:
"Feng Lazi, why don't you use this plate of peanut cakes to send our Brother Jiachen away?"

She deliberately raised the volume of the words "our family" a little.

How shrewd Wang Xifeng was, she immediately sensed Lou's implication, and said with a smile:
"Brother Chen is from my own family. I'm worried that he's hungry, so I want to give him a plate of peanut crisps first to cushion his stomach."

Lou taunted with a smile:
"Brother Chen, let's go quickly. You didn't see Feng Lazi digging and searching. There are so many good almond cakes and sesame cakes. I'll just give you a plate of cheap peanut cakes."

Wang Xifeng hurriedly put down the peanut crisps, grabbed Lou's shoulders, and said with a smile:

"Hey, what is Sister-in-law Lou talking about? How dare I embarrass Brother Chen? Who doesn't know that Brother Chen is like a brother and sister to you? Okay, sister-in-law Lou, calm down, my mouth If you have no way to settle down, you won’t be able to pay for it.”

Wang Xifeng was not willing to be low in front of Lou's, but because of Jia Mu's face, she was worried that Lou would wag his tongue in front of Jia Mu, tell tales and speak ill of her.

If Jia's mother took over her housekeeping power in a fit of anger, she would not be able to issue orders in Rongfu, nor would she be able to fill her own pockets, harm the public and private, and use the public's money to put usury and earn interest.

Mrs. Lou accepted it as soon as she saw it, and said with a smile:
"I'm joking with you. You still take it seriously. You're the only one who still settles down? Your aunt is thicker than my waist when she pulls out a single hair. Hurry up and don't delay Brother Rong's business."

Wang Xifeng smiled and said:
"Alright, alright, sister-in-law Lou, you take brother Chen to sit down and drink tea, and eat whatever you want, don't lie."

As she spoke, she instructed a maidservant next to her:

"Hurry up and serve tea to Sister-in-law Lou and Brother Chen, so I can take care of you."

After finishing speaking, he twisted his buttocks, walked to the middle of the maidservants and wives, and continued to boss around, yelling and drinking to hold a wedding banquet.

Lou greeted Jia Chen with a smile:

"Brother Chen, the banquet has not started yet, let's go for a walk in the garden outside."

If it was normal, Jia Chen would have agreed, but today there are assassins lurking in the dark, who may attack him at any time, he doesn't want to hurt Lou's family.

"Sister Lou, I'm going to the latrine, so I can't accompany you, please forgive me!" Jia Chen lied casually, then turned and walked away.

Ningguo Mansion has a large area. Behind the three buildings and five main halls, there are Huifang Garden, Dengxian Pavilion, Doufeng Pavilion and Tianxiang Tower.

In fact, starting from Huifang Garden, these latter buildings belong to the inner house, which is the area where the female relatives of Ningguo Mansion live, and outside men are not allowed to enter.

On the west side of the five main halls, there is a green hall, which is the other garden where Jia Zhen and his son usually eat, drink and have fun with their female relatives.

Today there are many guests and the space in the front yard is limited, so we had to open the doors of Conglvtang and Huifangyuan, mainly to entertain the old relatives and relatives of the four families of Jia Wang Shixue.

Jia Chen reckoned that the assassins arranged by Jia Zhen must be in ambush in a secluded and uninhabited place, and the front yard is crowded with people, but in the yard of Huifang Garden, there are many rockery and rocks, forests of flowers and trees, lakes and reeds. Congsheng is a good place to hide people.

"These assassins must want to strike while I'm alone. If that's the case, then I'll go find them, kill them all, and leave only one alive to testify against Jia Zhen, the mastermind behind the scenes."

Jia Chen made a plan, walked around the five main halls, headed north, passed through a hanging flower gate, and entered Huifang Garden.

The garden is full of yellow flowers and white willows across the slopes.The small bridge leads to the Ruoye River, and the winding path connects to the road to the rooftop.

The clear stream between the rockeries is turbulent, and the fence near the lake is fragrant.The red leaves on the tree heads are fluttering, and the sparse forest is picturesque.

Looking to the southeast, build several pavilions next to the mountains.Looking at the northwest, there are several pavilions facing the water.

Compared with Rongguo Mansion, this magnificent scenery is not inferior in the slightest.

Jia Chen clenched his long sword and walked into a dense pear forest.

This is the season when pear blossoms are in full bloom. Looking from a distance, the clusters of snow-white pear blossoms are like clouds, rolling and floating.

In the field of vision, large expanses of pear blossoms spread across the sky like brocade clouds. Under the warm spring light, they are as white as snow and jade, shining brightly and translucently.

There is a faint fragrance of flowers in the air, which hits people's lungs, making people feel like they are drunk with alcohol, light and dizzy.

Jia Chen had no intention of admiring the beautiful scenery in front of him. In this sea of ​​flowers, there might be a deadly murderous intent lurking.

Tightening the long sword in his hand, Jia Chen walked step by step into the depths of the pear forest.

There are dead branches and leaves scattered on the ground in previous years, paved with a thick layer, every step you step down, you will step on the dead branches and leaves, and there will be "crackling" footsteps.

The forest was extremely quiet, except for the occasional chirping of birds.

Suddenly, a sparrow fluttered its wings and flew into the air from a pear tree a few steps away.

Is there something wrong?
Jia Chen looked intently, and suddenly, a burst of wind fell from the sky.

not good!

There is an ambush!
In the blink of an eye, Jia Chen drew his sword and blocked it upwards.

"clang!"

Accompanied by a crisp sound, a strong force flowed along the sword's edge and rushed all over the body.

Even though Jia Chen had amazing strength, he was also hit by this brutal blow, causing him to bow slightly, and the soles of both shoes were caught in dead branches and leaves.

"Huh?" There was a sound of shock above his head, and then a figure turned somersault, landed five steps away, and stood facing Jia Chen.

Jia Chen looked forward with a horizontal sword in his chest.

This person covered his mouth and nose with a black cloth, was wearing a tight-fitting black suit, and held a mace in his hand.

The back of this knife is shaped like a wolf's tooth, and the back of the knife is straight but not curved. There is a crescent scimitar guard on the handle.

The masked man sneered and said:

"You kid, you haven't even grown your hair yet, but you are quite strong. It's unbelievable that you can still stand still after receiving a knife from me. If someone didn't ask me to take your life, I would be reluctant to kill you, a good young man who practiced martial arts. "

Without changing his face, Jia Chen asked coldly, "Say! Who are you instigated by?"

(End of this chapter)