The Royal Merchant of the Red Chamber

Although Xue Pan was very reluctant to part with this second uncle who had just returned to Beijing, he had already made an appointment with the four princes to have a drink, and he had to leave Zhongxinhou's mansion before dinner.For this matter, Xue Zhiwen naturally expressed his understanding.Everything must be prioritized. Although he has just returned to Beijing, he has inquired about the current situation of the Xue family along the way.Naturally, I have also heard about the various methods of the Tong family.What's more, in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Xue Pan revealed intentionally or unintentionally that he had invited the four princes to have a drink and discuss...

Therefore, seeing that the time was almost up, Xue Zhiwen also took the initiative to urge him.

Seeing this, Xue Pan had no choice but to say goodbye in embarrassment, and then left the house with Jinbao.

At that time, it was the time when the lanterns were first lit.As the New Year's Eve approaches, every household is decorated with lanterns and festoons, and the huge lanterns emit colorful lights in the dark night, dazzling and brilliant.Xue Pan rode his horse all the way to the Fuyuan Pavilion, and entered the private room directly from the backyard.It was found that the four princes such as Tuju had already arrived.

Xue Pan immediately stepped forward, cupped his hands and said with a smile, "Look at me, the host is actually late. If nothing else, I'll punish you with three glasses of wine first."

As he spoke, he picked up the jug on the table and drank it in a glass, and when it was time for another glass, he was stopped by Tu Juan with a smile.

Tu Huang on the side also smiled and said, "I can't blame you for this. You were called to the palace during the bidding meeting, and we thought you had to finish your dinner to come out!"

Xue Pan immediately laughed and said, "How can that be? I told the Holy Majesty that I have reserved a table for the four princes tonight. How can you leave a meal in the palace?"

Tu Huang nodded casually, and said tentatively, "I heard rumors in the palace...you brought someone back when you left the palace today?"

Xue Pan nodded, and said casually, "That's my second uncle. He just came back from the sea."

The four princes looked at each other, and it was still Tu Huang who asked, "A sea merchant, why was he recruited by the Holy One to play in the palace?"

Xue Pan thought about it, and felt that this matter would not be kept secret for long.Then he smiled and said: "It's really good for your ears, let me tell you something new..."

As he spoke, he told the princes about the discovery of several islands and archipelagos in Oceania by the second uncle of the Xue family.During the period, it also emphatically described the various minerals and resources that are abundant in Oceania.

The four princes listened quietly for a long while, but it was Prince Zhongyu who asked first: "Listen to the meaning of the young master... In a few days, the people on the new island will go to Beijing with the caravan to offer their land and pay their respects." I, Dayong, swear allegiance?"

"Then the new island is really like what the young master said... it's full of gold?"

"In this way, our Dayong Dynasty won a huge territory without bloodshed. The Holy One has made great achievements, and his achievements are even better than those of Yao and Shun!"

"Since that new island has become the territory of my Dayong Dynasty, my Dayong Dynasty will naturally send officials to station on the new island. It's not far away, if it's just a barren and remote island, it's fine. It's really like the little prince. As rich and affluent as described... this matter should be discussed in the long term!"

Xue Pan looked at the four princes who were pondering thoughtfully, and licked the corners of his mouth with a smile.Picking up the chopsticks, he took a mouthful of food and put it in his mouth. He smiled for a while and said, "What is the situation? I think the Holy One will explain it to everyone when he goes to court tomorrow. And the caravan will only last three to five days." , and arrived at the capital. The gold, silver and jewelry from the new islands naturally came along with them. Don’t you all know it after seeing it with your own eyes?”

The four princes looked at each other.Although everyone didn't say it clearly, this banquet was originally to discuss the Tong family's affairs.Unexpectedly, Xue Pan had only wandered around the palace for a while, and then another incident occurred.That is a land that is wider than the land of the Great Yong Dynasty. I heard that there are rich gold and silver deposits and precious spices... If you manage it properly, you can also get a share of it.

Tu Huang made some calculations in his mind, and couldn't help laughing: "Pan'er said that it will take three to five days for them to go to Beijing...then it's just in time for the big banquet, this year is really lively."

"It's just the excitement of the Chinese New Year, I'm afraid it will be even more lively after the New Year." Xue Pan said, casually took a bite of food into his mouth, and said with a smile: "Think about it, there are countless gold and silver on the island thousands of miles away. Copper mines and precious spices. What’s even more rare is that the people there are uneducated, but they are very simple. If anyone goes there to become a prefect of a state and a big official in the frontier, he just waits for the court’s request every year The things I have delivered have been delivered, and the rest are not all..."

Xue Pan laughed twice, shook his head and remained silent.

The princes rolled their eyes, then smiled calmly, and began to ask Xue Pan over cups.It's just that from time to time, Zhuangruo asked a few things about Xindao unintentionally, but Xue Pan blurted them out.He just vaguely emphasized that after discovering those islands, he naturally knows which island has good things and which island has the most precious things.He also hesitantly mentioned that the Holy Master once said that the son of the apprentice family would fight the world, so naturally he couldn't stay in the capital all day and wait to die.As the so-called brothers in battle...

Just as he was talking, he heard two knocks on the door. Xue Pan was stunned for a moment, then raised his eyebrows and asked, "Who is it?"

A soft and soft voice came from outside, "If you come back to the master, the slaves are here to sing."

When Xue Pan heard this familiar voice, he couldn't help being even more dumbfounded.

It was Tu Huang who reacted first, and immediately raised his voice and asked, "Could it be Master Yun who is talking outside?"

A chuckle came from outside, the door was gently pushed open, and a charming woman dressed in red tulle palace attire and the most popular peach fairy bun came in gracefully.Followed by a few pretty little girls, Yun'er walked up to Tu Huang, and said with a smile, "Sixth Lord has good ears, you can tell it's me even through a door."

Tu Huang squinted his eyes to look around, tilted his head and smiled lightly, "As long as it's a beauty, even if I meet you once, I won't forget it."

As she spoke, she winked playfully at Yun'er, causing Yun'er to cover her mouth and chuckle.

After presenting the ceremony to the other three princes, Yun'er went up to Xue Pan and said with a smile: "I heard from shopkeeper Tian that the uncle and some distinguished guests are drinking here. I thought it would be boring to just drink. So I volunteered and came here to talk to Xue Pan. You guys are singing."

Xue Pan shook his head with a wry smile, and said with a smile, "It's up to you."

Yun'er hooked the corners of her lips, walked to the front and sat down, picked up a pipa and began to play and sing.

In an instant, there was the sound of silk and bamboo, singing and dancing, and the atmosphere gradually became more intense.

After drinking for three rounds, everyone gradually let go.Taking advantage of the drunkenness, Tu Huang put his arms around Xue Pan's neck, and the two heads chattered together, bringing the topic to the Tong family.

"... Big idiot Xue, your second uncle's return to Beijing this time, if what he said is true, he has made great contributions. Not to mention anything else, it is absolutely no problem to be named a Marquis. The Tong family I still want to compete with you, so I'm afraid I can't do it?" Tu Huang said, pouring a glass of wine for Xue Pan himself, and asked softly: "It's just that I don't understand, you are not a good-natured person Yes. Can you tolerate others stepping on your head and domineering you? The grand scene at the gate of the Nan'an County Prince's Mansion back then is something we will never forget! Now it's just a mere foreign relative, I don't believe it, you really Intimidated by them?"

Hearing this, Xue Pan glanced at Tu Huang with a smile, and then glanced lightly at the other people in the room.Then he sighed and said, "What can I do? If someone else told me, I might have some tricks. But that is the empress dowager's mother's house. I don't look at the monk's face and the Buddha's face. I just look at your majesty's face." , I have to endure it."

After a pause, he said provocatively again: "But I'm just a courtier, so I can bear it. What makes me most angry is that the Tong family really has shallow eyesight, and they have to stare at the bowl and look at the pot without that ability." Yes, I really don't want to give others a way out!"

Tu Huang subconsciously glanced at Prince Zhongyu and Prince Zhongli, and continued, "Isn't that right? Since ancient times, foreign relatives have not been in power, and the Tong family is really out of tune now. You say that the Xue family has made so many years of hard work, and we are all grateful." You can see it in your eyes, but now you are being squeezed by such a foreign relative, you can't get through from me."

As he said that, he put the wine glass heavily on the table with some righteous indignation, put his arm around Xue Pan's shoulder and said with a light smile: "Not to mention that you Xue Pan is a good brother whom Tu Huang has recognized seriously. If others bully you, it is bullying. As long as you have the heart... It's just a matter of one sentence. I will never shirk what I can help you with."

Xue Pan looked at Tu Huang's appearance, and took a sip of the wine with a smile. It was sour and sweet, really appetizing.

He had the earliest friendship with Tu Huang, and the entanglement of interests was also the deepest.Therefore, there are some things that Tu Huang can say to him, but others cannot.But Xue Pan guessed that what Tu Huang said today might not only represent his own attitude, right?

Thinking of this, Xue Pan quietly looked at the two old princes on the wine table who were shaking their heads and listening to the music, and said softly: "Everyone is so familiar, I don't want to be with you. Nonsense. What do you mean by this... Is it you who say so, or everyone else?"

Tu Huang hooked the corners of his mouth nonchalantly, and laughed in a low voice: "If it's all smooth sailing, then of course everyone is talking about it. If it's falling apart, that's what I'm talking about."

Hearing this, Xue Pan took a fixed look at Tu Huang.

Tu Huang returned him a very brilliant smirk.As bright as peaches and plums, as bright as summer flowers.Seeing this, Xue Pan narrowed his eyes in a good mood.

The two of them were gossiping in this group, and the other side also sat down and interjected with a smile: "What are you talking about, let me hear it?"

Xue Pan immediately laughed and said, "It's just a few gossips, I think Fifth Lord knows it well."

Tujue hooked the corners of his mouth, and said with a light smile, "Of course, my sixth brother and I advance and retreat together. This is something that the government and the public know about."

As he spoke, he took out a booklet from his pocket and handed it to Xue Pan.

Xue Pan took it and flipped through two pages, and found that it was all evidence from the fish and meat township that the Tong family relied on the names of the Queen Mother and Queen Tong to oppress the people in the past four or five years.With convincing words and solid evidence, I couldn't help but look at Tu Teng in surprise.

Tujue smiled lightly and said: "The centipede is dead but not stiff. Although my Tujue was crippled by the emperor, it doesn't mean that I have become a useless person. The Tong family is too bullying. I am just a little boy. It’s just a small reward.”

Xue Pan casually put the booklet into his arms, and asked casually, "Isn't this the prince who framed you?"

Tujue hooked the corner of his mouth, and said with a calm smile: "Don't worry, there are absolutely all human and physical evidence."

Xue Pan nodded.

Prince Zhongyu, who was silent for a long time, also sighed suddenly: "Actually...the empress dowager was a model of the country who is virtuous, virtuous, talented and beautiful. It's just that the reputation of my mother's family has ruined it in the past two years."

Xue Pan blinked his eyes silently when he heard the words.

Prince Zhongyu is the majesty of the royal family, and it is really important for him to say this sentence himself!

Everyone was silent for a while, and then there was a lot of excitement.

The banquet was very enjoyable, and it was not until the mid-heaven on the moon that the crowd dispersed with unfinished business.Xue Pan ordered the servant to arrange chariots and horses to send the four princes back to their respective palaces intact.Turning around, he looked at the smiling Yun'er in front of him with a very headache, and sighed, "What wind brought you here. Didn't the Holy One tell you not to stay in the capital recently?"

This is also for Yun'er's safety.After all, what Yun'er committed back then was also a serious crime of losing her head. It was naturally a good intention for Tu Zhen to arrange for her to go to the south.

"I have been wandering around the capital since I was six years old. My friends, my sisters, my family, my enemies, and even my lover are all in the capital. If you tell me to go outside, where can I go?" Yun'er also sighed After taking a deep breath, he turned to say: "What's more, if I don't tell you about that matter, if you don't tell me, just pretend it never happened. Who can know?"

Seeing this, Xue Pan couldn't help it.From a certain point of view, Yun'er is a very stubborn person.He and she are bold and outrageous, with wild personalities.In her eyes, even such a big event as entrapment of the emperor is nothing more than prescribing medicine to a bad benefactor.She won't say it casually, but she won't be affected by this incident to her normal life.Xue Pan didn't know how to evaluate Yun'er like this.

He could only shake his head, and changed the subject: "Then why did you think of coming to Fuyuan Pavilion today?"

"I heard that you're going to deal with the Tong family. I think you're interested in some news. So I wanted to tell you." Yun'er pouted while complaining, "I'm a loafer. , It’s not easy to go to your house and ruin your style. I sent a message to your servants asking you to come to me, but they probably didn’t pay attention to it. I really have no choice but to come to you in person.”

Xue Pan pursed his lips in embarrassment when he heard the words.

Although Yun'er said it easily, Xue Pan could also think that Yun'er must have sent messages several times but found that he hadn't received it, so he had no choice but to come to the door in person.After all... With Yun'er's current embarrassing status, it is certain that people who are loyal to the Hou Mansion don't want her to have anything to do with him.Xue Pan could even imagine that perhaps this order was given by Mrs. Xue herself.

It's just that Xue Pan couldn't explain this kind of thing, so he could only say awkwardly: "Maybe I'm too busy these days, and they haven't caught my shadow yet!"

"Okay, I didn't blame you, why are you so guilty." Yun'er shook her head, and said with a light smile: "Of course I know that a person like me is not welcomed by everyone's wives. They may not be in their eyes. I am happy with mine, and she hates hers. If this matter is not important, I will not come to you. "

Seeing this, Xue Pan could only shake his head and smiled, "Then tell me, what do you have against the Tong family?"

Yun'er walked to the door mysteriously, opened the door and looked around, Xue Pan couldn't help chuckling when he saw this, "What are you doing? This is my Xue family's territory, so it is naturally the safest, you Take it easy."

Seeing this, Yun'er had no choice but to turn around, and whispered a word in Xue Pan's ear.

Xue Pan was startled, and subconsciously asked, "How is this possible?"

"I saw this with my own eyes. If you don't believe me, forget it."

"It's not that I don't believe it, it's just..." Xue Pan frowned, but he still didn't quite believe it. "Such a big thing, if it is true, the Holy Majesty will not be ignorant."

"Although the hidden guards in the hands of the Holy Master are powerful, but the hidden guards are also human beings, so it is inevitable that there will be omissions. What's more, this kind of thing is not the same as the relationship between men and women, so it would not be noticed by others. If it weren't for me I saw it with my own eyes by chance, and I never doubted it?"

Xue Pan stared at Yun'er dumbfounded, and said again and again: "How is this possible, how is this possible!"

"Don't worry about this. I just ask you, do you want to take revenge? If you want to, as long as we plan properly...the palace meeting is our best chance."

"But this kind of thing is a scandal in the palace. I'm afraid that if it really gets out of hand, it will hinder the holy name."

"You're stupid! You won't talk to the Holy One yourself to see what he means? Don't blame me for not reminding you. If you make a good article on this matter, let alone the Queen Mother and Queen Tong, Even the Tong family, the head of the country, has completely lost the foundation of the world. At that time, the so-called noble daughters of the Tong family will become a complete joke. All the girls of the Tong family you cursed were abandoned by their husbands within a day It is unknown if it will become a proverb.”

Xue Pan looked at Yun'er uncertainly for a while, and finally nodded emphatically.

Yun'er was right, if you beat a snake to death, you will suffer from it, and now his Xue family and the Tong family have become sworn enemies.If Tong's family is allowed to continue, I'm afraid his Xue family will end up with nothing good to eat.That being the case, why not take this opportunity to shake off this scandal, then the reputation of the Tong family will be ruined, and I am afraid that they will have no face to make trouble in the court.

At the same time, in the resplendent and resplendent Shoukang Palace, the Empress Dowager Tong looked at her disheveled and disheveled niece, hugged her affectionately, and said softly, "Don't worry, Man'er, the palace has already made plans. , it’s just a grasshopper after autumn, it won’t be long to jump around.”

Tong Man'er wrapped her arms around Queen Mother Tong's neck in aggrieved manner, and said timidly, "Auntie, you want to help me avenge. I want Xue's family to be full, and I will die badly."

Queen Mother Tong patted Tong Man'er's arm comfortingly, and said with a light smile, "Don't worry! The Xue family is full of families, and none of them can escape."