The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

Chapter 166 Thunder
The third prince was the one who suffered the most in the past few days. The shock had just passed, but the consequences of this incident were far from over. Bai Hongzhi disappeared with all his savings, and it happened that the third prince's mother, Concubine Shu, would celebrate her birthday next month. Not only did he have no money to buy birthday gifts, but he also had a tight budget at home. He didn't dare to let outsiders know, so he had to pawn some things and scrape together some money.

After solving the current difficulties, the Third Prince learned another piece of bad news. Several small salt merchants who had come to him were all Bai Hongzhi's men. If the emperor knew about this, it would be disastrous. To make matters worse, he was already sick due to anxiety. If it were in the past, he would have been recuperating at home, but the Ministry of Works had a lot of things to do, and they were all under the emperor's scrutiny, so he could only work while sick.

It was daybreak. The third prince, dressed in casual clothes and with a wide ribbon tied on his head, came out of the living room supported by two maids with a gloomy face. The sedan chair with eight bearers in the yard immediately tilted there and the curtain was lifted from the side.

The third prince was supported and walked slowly to the sedan chair. At this time, the captain of the guards on duty ran in from the gate and whispered quickly in the third prince's ear.

The third prince raised his head and his eyes suddenly widened.

At this time, the two maids withdrew.

The captain of the guards said: "Those ruffians have seen the carriage of the Fourth Prince's mansion before, there is no doubt about it."

The third prince nodded.

Captain of the Guards: "The man surnamed Bai must have been hidden by them!"

"What has Uncle Zhongshun been busy with these days?" the third prince suddenly asked.

The captain of the guards was stunned for a moment, then replied, "I heard that Prince Zhongshun has been in a bad mood these days, drinking heavily, and beating and scolding his servants."

After hearing this, the Third Prince's eyes rolled around, and he whispered, "Show this news to the people in Prince Zhongshun's Palace."

The captain of the guards understood: "Yes."

The Third Prince: "Send more people to Yangzhou and keep a close watch on them."

The captain of the guards responded loudly, "Yes."

With a sneer, the third prince got into the sedan chair.

"Second Master is here."

"Greetings to the master of the house!"

Amid the greetings of the maids and old women, Li Hu walked into Lin Daiyu's courtyard.

When they saw Li Hu, several little girls rushed to open the felt curtains and reported to the inside: "The Second Master is here."

When Li Hu entered the room, only Zijuan was in the small dining room watching the maid setting the table. He then turned and went into the warm room. There was no one there. Just as he was about to enter the inner room, Lin Daiyu came out.

Today, Lin Daiyu not only changed into some new clothes, but also put on light makeup, which was rare for her. She dressed up like Chang'e who had descended to the mortal world.

As soon as Lin Daiyu came out, Li Hu's eyes lit up and he looked at Lin Daiyu carefully from head to toe.

Lin Daiyu was somewhat unhappy with his gaze: "What are you looking at?"

Li Hu looked at her with a smile: "Of course I'm looking at you."

Lin Daiyu pursed her lips, not wanting to pay attention to him, and was about to go out.

Li Hu hurriedly pulled her and said, "I have something to tell you." Then he pulled her to sit on the edge of the kang.

Lin Daiyu then realized that Li Hu was holding a scroll in his left hand behind his back and asked, "Is it the drawing sent by the Ministry of Works?"

"Just delivered."

Li Hu spread the blueprints out on the kang table and said, "Basically, they are modified according to your ideas. The people from the Ministry of Construction said that as long as the materials are available, it can be completed before the summer of next year."

Lin Daiyu said "hmm", and quickly glanced over. Then she was slightly startled, and then looked at Li Hu: "Why is there an extra theater?"

Li Hu slapped the table and said, "Look at me. I was so happy yesterday that I forgot about this matter. When I came out of the Ministry of Works, I met Jia Lian. He said that Jia Qiang was going to Suzhou to hire a teacher, buy girls, and buy musical instruments. He asked me if there was anything I wanted, and he asked Jia Qiang to buy it for me.

I thought that sooner or later our family would have to support a group of young actors, so I asked Jia Lian to tell Jia Qiang to buy a group of young actors for our family. If we have a troupe of actors, we will naturally need a theater.”

Lin Daiyu nodded.

Li Hu coughed and said with a smile: "I didn't discuss this with my sister. I'm here to apologize to her." Then he cupped his hands.

Lin Daiyu rolled her eyes and looked at the drawing carefully again.

Li Hu smiled, looked at Lin Daiyu's flawless face, and asked, "Are you going to the old lady?"

Seeing that Lin Daiyu ignored him, Li Hu blinked and deliberately prolonged his voice: "Oh~~ I understand, you are dressing up specially for me, women dress up to please themselves. I understand! I will eat an extra bowl of rice later."

Lin Daiyu rolled her eyes at him unhappily, then poked Li Hu's face with her slender, white fingers and said seriously, "It's really thick! Thicker than the city wall!" She couldn't help laughing. Li Hu was startled at first, then he pressed Lin Daiyu on the kang and tried to twist her face.

Lin Daiyu smiled and begged, "Good brother, please forgive me!"

After playing around for a while, Lin Daiyu turned over and sat up, combing her hair and saying, "Ms. Yun, come over after dinner."

Li Hu suddenly remembered: "Marquis Baoling was promoted to the commander of the military department, and we should send him a gift of congratulations."

Lin Daiyu: "By the time you remember, the daylily will be cold."

Li Hu smiled.

At this time, Nanny Wang came in with a piece of paper.

Nanny Wang: "Miss, this is the menu prepared by the kitchen." Then she handed the menu to Lin Daiyu.

Li Hu sat up and leaned his head forward.

Lin Daiyu glanced at the menu and said to Nanny Wang, "Change the wine to osmanthus wine, and prepare some cakes, especially more osmanthus cakes and sugar-steamed cheese. Miss Yun likes them, so bring some back to her." Then she handed the menu back to Nanny Wang.

Nanny Wang: “Yes.” She answered and walked out.

Li Hu: "I took a look and saw that they were all delicious. You are cooking for me behind my back."

Lin Daiyu curled her lips and said, "You are the only one allowed to attend the banquet, but I am not allowed to invite my close friends to the banquet!"

Li Hu was happy and took her hand: "Okay, okay, I was wrong. Let's go and have dinner." Then he pulled her out.

Hall of Mental Cultivation, West Warm Pavilion.

The imperial desk was piled high with memorials, and Emperor Yongchang was reviewing them with his hands moving non-stop.

Dai Quan walked in quietly and said softly, "Your Majesty, it's time to eat."

Emperor Yongchang did not raise his head and continued writing quickly: "Not much left, I will talk after I finish reviewing it."

Dai Quan didn't dare to say anything more and stepped aside with his head down.

Finally, Emperor Yongchang raised his head, put down his pen, stood up and stretched.

Dai Quan had already wrung out a hot face towel and handed it over.

Emperor Yongchang wiped his face and said, "Let's have our meal here."

Dai Quan: “This”

Emperor Yongchang: "Four simple dishes, a basket of steamed buns, and a bowl of porridge will be enough."

Dai Quan: “Yes.” He walked out quickly.

After a while, Dai Quan came in with a few eunuchs holding food boxes, and placed a bowl of porridge, four vegetable boxes and a tray of steaming dumplings on the couch.

Emperor Yongchang sat down on the couch, picked up the spoon in the bowl, scooped half a spoonful and brought it to his mouth.

"It's hot. Your Majesty, drink slowly." Dai Quan instructed.

Before he could finish his words, a red-robed eunuch from the Imperial Household Department rushed in like a gust of wind.

Dai Quan's face turned pale with fear, and he quickly scolded: "How dare you! Do you know the rules?"

The chief eunuch also reacted and knelt down: "Your Majesty, the clan house has sent news that the Second Prince has been poisoned."

Emperor Yongchang's mind buzzed with a sound: "What? What did you say?"

The chief eunuch: "News came from the clan house that the Second Prince was suddenly poisoned!"

Emperor Yongchang stood up suddenly and ran out quickly.

"Your Majesty!" Dai Quan chased after him with a look of panic on his face.

(End of this chapter)