Let's say that Rongguo Mansion has been quite rough recently. Both Jia Mu and Mrs. Wang are secretly selling their private houses in order to redeem the psychic jade as soon as possible; Jia Cong, Gong Kun and others are busy pretending to be antique dealers to cut off their things and take advantage of them, so they have no time to spare.
Jia Sheku left Ou Cheng to celebrate the New Year, playing with swords and guns with Jia Si, Ge Liu and others all day long; Sister Jia Lianfeng's heart was devoted to her son who was about to be born; Baoyu regarded the New Year as if it were nothing and worked harder and harder.
No one was in the mood for excitement during the Chinese New Year, and it was actually much more deserted than in previous years. Li Wan was just in time to greet the Spring Festival, with less things to do and they didn't have to work hard. Shi Xiangyun was bored and had no choice but to go find Xing Xiuyan and play with Er Li.
On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, all the Jia clan members went to Ningguo Mansion to worship their ancestors. Since the old year, when Jia Cong led his men to give Jia Rong a meal, the two of them had turned a blind eye to each other, and the same was true for the ancestor worship.
But today, Jia Rong came up and slapped him with a smile, which frightened Jia Cong so much that alarm bells rang in his heart. When he returned to the house, he thought about it and couldn't think of the whole story, so Gong Kun returned to Gong Sanyi.
I went over there, and no one was discussing it for a while, so I took out the chronology of major events in the Red Mansion that I had secretly written down in the early years because I was afraid that I would forget things. Suddenly I saw something written on it, "Before the Lantern Festival, the old lady moved into the ICU, and before the Qingming Festival,
Hang up." He couldn't help but rub his hands. Didn't he know that this might be a leaky news? He quietly told Gong Kun on the first day of the new year when he and Jia She went to the mansion in the south of the city to pay New Year's greetings to their uncles.
Gong Kun looked at him sideways: "How did the third master know?"
Jia Cong chuckled twice: "It doesn't matter how you know it, it's indispensable."
Gong Kun sighed: "We can't let anyone celebrate the New Year!"
He was really a model worker, and he went out to sell information on the third day of the first lunar month. The money came in very quickly this time, and although the clients were different from the last time, there were rumors about the old concubine's illness, so most of them believed it. Gong Kunben
He said that after the Qingming Festival, more than half of the money he received had to be given to him immediately. Because he needed cash at this time to go to Mrs. Jia Muwang's private room, he was not polite, so he took what was given, and he had nothing.
Wolf makes a fortune.
It wasn't until after the Lantern Festival that Ou Cheng packed up and went back. Jia Cong sat in front of Jia She's horse and reluctantly sent him out of Shili Pavilion. Ou Cheng looked at him, then looked at Jia She and sighed: "If the Duke is still here, the third young general will only
I'm afraid I'm going to make a fuss and go to the camp soon."
Jia She said in a low voice: "Moti, I'm afraid the one on the dragon throne won't agree."
Ou Cheng snorted: "Who the hell is he?"
Jia Cong trembled with fright and said quickly: "Uncle Ou, he is the emperor. Even if you are dissatisfied with him in your heart, don't say it with your mouth!"
Ou Cheng said with a smile: "You are such a little person that you like to worry too much, and there is no one else around at the moment." Then he turned his horse and drove away. Mr. Jia She and his father looked behind and stretched their necks.
Seeing that he was disappearing, Jia Cong turned around and asked, "Uncle Ou doesn't like Jin Shang?"
Jia She said: "Nowadays, I emphasize civil service over military affairs. I have never led an army. There are probably not many generals who agree with him."
Jia Cong curled his lips and said: "The saint is really... not very smart. All his brothers are not honest, so the army is more useful than anyone else. He actually values civility over military power at this time. It won't be too late to drink and release the military power after calming down.
.”
Jia She smiled and said: "If he values martial arts and pro-literacy, he will no longer be the Sixth Prince? How can the old sage give him that chair?"
Jia Cong thought about it, otherwise it wouldn't be his turn, so he nodded: "That's what dad said. I heard Mr. Gong say in the early years that the Jiedushi of Ping'an Prefecture belongs to the Sixth Prince."
Jia She was stunned: "How come I don't know?"
Jia Cong said: "I asked casually. You probably haven't asked him before. Besides, at that time, our family and the Gao family were drifting apart, so we didn't take it to heart."
Jia She frowned: "He and Zhen'er have been in contact for a long time."
Jia Cong smiled and said: "Don't worry, after all, the old saint still has some years to live."
They temporarily left the Sixth Prince behind.
A few days later, because Huo Sheng was going back to the camp with his father, he sent a letter to invite Jia Baoyu to a restaurant and asked him to take Jia Cong there. Baoyu was just an ordinary friend having a drink, so he sent Ming cigarettes to invite him.
Jia Cong. Jia Cong was so happy after hearing this that he didn't fall off the kang. He looked at Mingyan and said, "Can you say it again? Prince Nan'an, you want to invite Brother Baoyu to a drink, and you want to take me with you?"
Mingyan said proudly: "Our second master has been dating him for a long time, but we didn't know he was the Crown Prince of Nan'an until a few years ago."
Jia Cong shuddered, jumped off the kang and pointed at him: "Tell me quickly what's going on!"
Mingyan then told the story that Huo Sheng and Bao Yu had made friends in the academy and that she had gone to their house to visit Yuan Chun.
"Brother Baoyu, do you know if there is anyone else besides us and Crown Prince Nan'an?"
Mingyan said: "I heard that I still have one or two friends."
Jia Cong suddenly felt dark clouds coming over him: "I hope those one or two friends are just ordinary people and don't have any famous brands." He shook his head again, "I don't have any hope. I can even think about it with my toes."
Ming Yan asked curiously: "Wouldn't it be nice to meet more respectable men in the future?"
Jia Cong smiled bitterly and said, "It's not good at all." Then he sighed, "I can't help but think about it. I can't escape this time but not the next time. That's all. Just go." Then he sent Mingyan back.
Mingyan went back full of suspicion and told Baoyu what had just happened. Baoyu was just ignorant because he was ignorant, but he was a very smart person. After listening to Mingyan's words, he knew that there might be something else going on, but he couldn't figure it out after thinking for a long time.
I understood, and there was no one to discuss with, so I simply came to Lixiangyuan and asked directly: "Cong'er, is there anything wrong with Huo Sheng's invitation?"
Jia Cong was sitting cross-legged on the kang, thinking wildly. When he heard this, he curled his lips and said, "What do you think? He doesn't know me, so why would he want to see me for no reason? But I don't believe that you mention me to him every day and arouse his curiosity.
.”
Baoyu said: "Not really. I just thought that he mentioned last time that you and your uncle once met the emperor's white dragon fish suit on the street."
Jia Cong clapped his hands and said: "Wow~~ After the big fool, the second fool also seems to have had signs of enlightenment, which is gratifying." Nai said, "I said a few gossips that day, and the saint accidentally heard them.
It coincides with the saint's thoughts at that time." Then he talked about the matter of establishing the crown prince, "Those princes who want to be the prince are probably a little curious about me. I am afraid that among the friends of Prince Nan'an, there are cousins of the prince. Since ancient times, he has not been able to win the title of heir.
, we are not that kind of incompetent people, we can only make a fortune by betting on dragons."
Baoyu was stunned for a long time before he said decisively: "Huo Sheng is very good. We are good friends and he will never use me to plot against you."
Jia Cong snorted: "I'm afraid he doesn't think this is a plot against me. If he really took refuge with any prince, he might think it was a good thing."
Baoyu said anxiously: "What should we do?"
Jia Cong smiled and said: "Just pretending to be stupid, I can do this. I'm not that stupid."
Baoyu sighed: "It's me who has caused you trouble."
Jia Cong laughed even more: "It's good to know. Sooner or later, your temper will get me into trouble. The sooner you do, the sooner you understand."
Baoyu was sullen, and after a moment of embarrassment he said, "Bao Baoqi... Is he just an ordinary friend?"
Jia Cong rolled his eyes at him: "If he were an ordinary friend, would he be so anxious to see me before he leaves Beijing?" Yin suddenly clapped his hands, "Yes, this is too obvious, he is reminding me
Me, let me prepare how to deal with it?"
Baoyu originally thought that Huo Sheng was a good friend. He was overjoyed when he heard this and nodded repeatedly: "Yes, if he has intentions, you can make it more vague. In the future, wouldn't it be more appropriate to just say that the guest came to visit unexpectedly?"
Jia Cong was so happy that he hit him on the shoulder: "That's right! Brother Baoyu, you are really smarter. If you continue to become smarter like this, I hope you can have one more person to discuss business matters in the future!"
Baoyu lowered his head and sighed: "It's just an ordinary banquet, but you can think of so many things."
Jia Cong said with a smile: "I won't praise you anymore, lest you become proud."
Baoyu smiled bitterly.
Two days later, the two brothers followed Huo Sheng's invitation and went to a banquet in a restaurant. As expected, they saw a smiling young man sitting at the table. Jia Cong understood at the first glance that this boy was very noble.
I couldn't pay for it with a few silver coins, so I had some rough thoughts in my mind: I am afraid that this master is named Situ. I was secretly glad that when I coaxed Baoyu that day, I only said that he might be the prince's cousin. Baoyu is a cousin.
Honest people, if you guess that this is the prince, you will be exposed.
Huo Sheng hurriedly smiled and greeted the two of them to sit down, then pointed at the young man and said, "This is Mr. Qu."
Baoyu Jia Cong just met him as an ordinary friend for the first time and called him "Second Brother Qu".
Originally, Huo Sheng intended to make them acquainted, and did not want Baoyu to remain as usual. Although Jia Cong was clever, he was always talking about the situation, and he was a little confused.
After drinking for three rounds, the second brother Qu suddenly asked: "I wonder what the two Jia brothers think about the government now?"
Baoyu and Jia Cong were stunned. Jia Cong was afraid that Baoyu was talking nonsense, so he pointed at his nose and said, "Ask me?"
Brother Qu smiled and said, "Just say a few words."
Jia Cong curled his lips and said: "There is heavy snow covering the sky in the north of the Great Wall, and the sun is shining brightly in the south of the Lingnan. What does it have to do with me!"
Brother Qu said: "If you live high in the temple, you worry about the people; if you live far away from the rivers and lakes, you worry about the king. I heard that although you are young, your ambition is not small."
Jia Cong hurriedly stretched his neck: "Where did you hear that? What do you mean by the king? The people are governed by the king, and the king has ministers and assistants. Second brother, please let me go. I'm still a child! I finish my homework every day and go out for a walk without causing trouble.
That’s all, what is ambition worth eating?”
Brother Qu smiled softly: "You practice martial arts every day, don't you want to be a general and guard the territory?"
Jia Cong's heart thumped, and he thought in his heart, what a good boy, you really know how to pinch three inches. If this young master hadn't been wearing clothes, I'm afraid he wouldn't be able to stand the temptation. He waved his hand: "I like it, I like it, how can I dare to take it seriously?
Going to the battlefield? Besides, my father won't agree to it. What if something happens to me? Besides, I'm not bad at studying, but I'm a little less talented. If I work hard for a few years, I won't be afraid of failing the examination."
Brother Qu couldn't help but look at Huo Sheng and wondered: "Why do you want to take the imperial examination? I heard that Duke Shen also loves martial arts and even opened a bodyguard agency."
Jia Cong smiled and said: "That's to support his old soldiers. How can those gangs of soldiers and bandits have the ability to make a living? The entire account is hung in our house, otherwise it would have been closed down long ago." Yin turned to look at Baoyu and said
, "Second uncle also raised Qingke, so it's even."
Baoyu hurriedly said: "My uncle is kind-hearted, so it is appropriate to take care of the old soldiers."
Jia Cong laughed again: "I'm just teasing you. I know that Brother Baoyu is very generous and he won't be unhappy." Nai added, "I practice martial arts just for fun and not to suffer losses in fights. My father is a Ye Gong who loves dragons.
It’s just a matter of practicing at home, but he wouldn’t be able to bear it if he sent his son to the battlefield.”
Huo Sheng hummed: "If it weren't for those soldiers fighting in the battlefield with blood, how could you have a peaceful life?"
Jia Cong hurriedly cupped his hands and said: "I heard that the prince is going to the military camp in a few days. I admire you very much. I know that without the blood and bones of soldiers, we would not have our tea and wine. It's just that everyone has his own ambitions. I really have some late-blooming poetic talents. Second
Ten years later, the envoy arrived at the fortress and saw the majesty of the prince's army, and he was able to recite a famous poem like 'The solitary smoke is straight in the desert, and the sun is setting in the long river'."
Even if the children in the capital are not humble on weekdays, they still have to pretend to be modest in front of outsiders they meet for the first time. Who has seen such a shameless one? Several people were stunned for a while. Huo Sheng actually laughed first and stood up and said: "I'm sorry, kid."
Brother Jiyan, I will drink this cup to the fullest, and if you use tea instead of wine, I respect you!"
Jia Cong hurriedly stood up and raised the tea cup and said: "Let's use tea instead of wine. In a few years, when I grow up, I will return this glass of wine to you!"
The two of them clinked their glasses together and made an agreement.
Brother Qu stroked his palm and said, "It's so refreshing!" Then he smiled and said, "Why don't you also play a song now?"
Jia Cong was a little angry. He thought to himself, I have been pretending to be stupid all the time, and you have been chasing me all the way. Is the emperor’s son so good at ideas? He can’t even turn a corner? I can’t see that I don’t want to play with you.
What? Because I thought about it for a while, I said sincerely: "I don't have the ability to play with words just yet, why don't you give Prince Huo a few more days of grace? I'll go back and think about it slowly."
Huo Sheng and Brother Qu both laughed. Huo Sheng said: "Very, very! How about you send it to me before I leave Beijing?"
Jia Cong nodded heavily: "Okay!"
The second brother Qu immediately opened his eyes after hearing this. He was even happier than Huo Sheng. Huo Sheng hurriedly served a round of food and drinks. They ate and drank for the rest of the day. Seeing that Baoyu was a little tipsy, Jia Cong hurriedly pulled him away.
He said goodbye and went on his way.
The two of them had only been out for a while when Huo Sheng said, "Your Highness is a little more anxious today."
Brother Qu said with a smile: "This boy is very slippery. If you don't force him a little, I'm afraid he won't be able to show his true skills."
On the other side, Jia Cong sent Baoyu back to the house and immediately turned around and headed straight for Feng Ziying's house. Feng Ziying was not at home, so he insisted on waiting and walked around the house anxiously. Feng Ziying had already arrived.
The young man at home saw him and was afraid that he had something important to do, so he quietly went to where Feng Ziying was having a banquet and told him. Feng Ziying missed him a lot and heard that he was so anxious, so she hurried back on horseback.
Jia Cong was anxious at that moment. When he heard someone shouting "Uncle is back" outside, he immediately ran out: "Brother Feng, you are here!"
Feng Ziying didn't even change her clothes. She took off her cloak and asked, "Why are you so anxious?"
Jia Cong quickly took his arm and whispered: "Huo Sheng, the prince of Nan'an, somehow got to know my brother Baoyu. Today he coaxed brother Baoyu to take me out for a drink. There are still some people at the table.
Little brother, I can tell at a glance that he is either a prince or a young prince!"
Feng Ziying was startled: "How do you know you are the prince?"
Jia Cong hummed: "The eyes, a very straight nose and the shape of the face are all very similar to Brother Xian Wang! He is Brother Xian Wang's biological brother, and he probably looks quite similar. Anyway, he is either the son of a saint or a Xian King.
My brother’s son.”
Feng Ziying stayed for half a day: "Is Bao Buqi someone who happens to look similar?"
Jia Cong pouted: "It's not such a coincidence, okay? You happen to recognize Prince Nan'an? Do you believe it's such a coincidence?"
Feng Ziying hurriedly asked: "What did they say?"
Jia Cong told him everything that happened at the table one by one, and then complained: "I have to write poetry! I don't have any poetic talent in the first place! Only brother Baoyu can write poetry! Why don't you let him write?
!" Then he stamped his feet again, "He was the one who caused this matter today. Let him write it for me."
Feng Ziying thought about it for a long time and said with a smile: "No matter how talented you are as a poet, you have to accept others' requests or do well yourself. How big of an idea do you have? No one will laugh at you if you don't write well."
Jia Cong muttered, "It's very embarrassing if it's not well written." Nai stamped his feet again, "I knew these princes wouldn't let me go. I'll go back and discuss with dad and go south to find Uncle Lin."
Feng Ziying hurriedly waved her hands and said: "Even if you want to avoid it, this excuse is really not good."
Jia Cong also thought for a while, curled his lips and said: "I can't think of any good excuses for the moment, that's all. I'll go back and ask my father if he has any ideas. Three cobblers can always stand up to Zhuge Liang." Nai stroked his chest and said with a smile.
, "It feels much better to say it!" Yin left with a smile.