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After thinking for a moment, Feng Ziying thought that it was because Xue Pan had offended the prince that the prince sent people to investigate, so Feng Ziying did not think much about it and agreed.
Shui Rong nodded with satisfaction upon seeing this, and sat down calmly to drink tea. He was quite interested in Xue Baochai, one of the two heroes in the Red Mansion, and was looking forward to it, hoping that she would not disappoint him.
As for Xiangling, he held the attitude of "saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda" and had no other thoughts. It was just that the original novel stated that Xiangling had the character of Keqing. Keqing was so charming and graceful, so Xiangling would not be much inferior.
Shui Rong is a prince, but he only has Ying Luo as his personal maidservant. It's too simple.
Chapter 65 The Xue Family Mother and Daughter Apologize
Beijing Prince's Mansion, study room.
Shui Rong sat at the desk, looking at the account book in his hand.
This year, the regular silver from various places has been delivered one after another, plus the fruits, vegetables, sable furs, deer antlers and the like, the total amount is worth 64,000 taels of silver, which is a little less than in previous years.
According to reports from his subordinates, there was too much rain this year, resulting in a poor harvest and poor business in all stores, so the standard silver was less. Shui Rong did not say much about this.
In addition, the palace spent 50,000 taels to pay the silver owed by the Ministry of Revenue, and now there are only more than 30,000 taels left in the account. If this amount of money was given to a wealthy family, it would be enough to live a worry-free life, but in the luxurious Palace of Prince Beijing, I am afraid it would not last even half a year.
There is no other way. With a large family and a lot of wealth, there are many places to spend money. Fortunately, Shui Rong had already made arrangements and had a business outside that was enough to support the luxury of Prince Beijing's Mansion.
Soon, Yingluo walked in with lotus steps and said, "Your Highness, the Xue family is outside and is waiting in the front hall. Please give your instructions, Your Highness."
Shui Rong's eyes moved when he heard this. The Xue family, that is, Xue Baochai and her daughter.
Thinking of this, Shui Rong nodded gently and said, "I understand. Let's go now."
As he spoke, Shui Rong placed the account book in front of the desk and was about to move to the front hall. When he raised his eyes, he saw Ying Luo pouting her lips, seeming a little aggrieved.
Seeing this, Shui Rong paused and asked, "Little slut, what's wrong with you? Which blind woman offended you?"
Shui Rong knew Ying Luo well. This girl was always sensible and generally wouldn't cause any trouble. The most likely possibility was that the people below her were not diligent and annoyed her.
Yingluo glared at Shui Rong and muttered, "Your Highness, you make it sound like I am the one with the worst temper."
As a maid, she has always been conscientious in doing her duties. How could she have a bad temper? The prince is wrongly accusing her.
Shui Rong chuckled, stretched out his hand to pinch Ying Luo's upturned nose, and scolded with a smile: "Muttering in front of me, isn't this called having a bad temper?"
Seeing this, Yingluo puffed up her nose, looking contented, with all her previous unhappiness gone.
Shui Rong couldn't help but laugh when he saw this. Isn't this just a cat that likes to be pampered?
With a light laugh, Shui Rong asked with a smile: "Then why are you pouting? If you have any grievances, tell me and I will take care of it for you."
Yingluo did not answer immediately after hearing this. Instead, her cheeks were slightly drunk. She bit her lower lip lightly, twisted the handkerchief in her hand, and became shy without saying a word.
Shui Rong raised his eyebrows slightly when he saw this, and looked at Ying Luo's little girl's posture, and felt a little enlightened.
Speaking of which, although Yingluo is Shuirong's personal maid, she has been somewhat neglected recently. I heard that if people who keep cats don't feed their cats, the cats will try to act naughty to attract your attention. Could it be that this little slut is feeling wronged by this?
Thinking of this, Shui Rong reached out and lifted Ying Luo's chin. Seeing her affectionate eyes, he understood immediately. After all, Ying Luo was the person closest to him. Even the way she addressed him was different from that of ordinary people. With such a relationship, Shui Rong knew that Ying Luo was abnormal.
After a pause, Shui Rong gently soothed him, "Be good, wait until I'm done with my work before we talk."
Since they are our own relatives, we naturally need to show more care.
Upon hearing this, Yingluo's cheeks turned as red as blood and she nodded slightly. She didn't say anything. It was the prince who asked for it himself.
After comforting Yingluo, Shui Rong walked away and went towards the front hall, and Yingluo hurriedly followed him.
Walking through the hallway, Shui Rong stepped into the front hall and saw the mother and daughter of the Xue family standing in the hall. He asked in a clear voice, "Are you Xue Pan's mother and sister?"
The amiable Aunt Xue quickly responded, "It is indeed the common woman."
At this time, the mother and daughter of the Xue family were both very worried. Yesterday, Feng Ziying asked them to come to the Prince of Beijing's Mansion to apologize. They immediately realized that Xue Pan had offended the Prince of Beijing's Mansion. They were shocked for a moment. No wonder Feng Ziying said earlier that the Duke of Rong's Mansion could not afford it. It turned out to be the case.
But now that things have come to this, for the sake of their son and brother, the Xue mother and daughter can only prepare generous gifts and go to the palace to apologize in the hope of appeasing the anger of Prince Beijing's Mansion.
Shui Rong saw the Xue mother and daughter looking down, or to be more precise, looking at Xue Baochai.
She had a black lacquered bun on her head, and was wearing a pink peony round-necked robe with exquisite peony embroidery on the collar. She was wearing a white cross-collared middle shirt inside and a purple horse-faced skirt underneath.
Didn’t Xue Baochai wear plain clothes? How did she become so gorgeous?
After thinking about it carefully, Shui Rong also understood that when meeting an important person, how could he dress simply? Wouldn't that be a taboo for others? Who knows, maybe there are other thoughts behind it.
Looking up slightly, Shui Rong saw a pair of apricot-shaped eyes, large, bright and moist, the contours of the cheeks were full and soft, and the skin was shiny and glowing.
"Her face is like the bright moon, her radiance is like the morning sun, her complexion is like lotus flowers, and her skin is like condensed honey." She looks so bright and charming. Cao Gong really didn't lie to me.
After a moment of silence, Shui Rong's expression remained calm, and he said in a clear voice, "I didn't expect that Xue Pan, who looks like that, would have such a romantic sister. It's really strange."
Xue Pan is plain-looking, but his younger sister is pretty and charming. Is she his biological daughter? Perhaps we should ask Aunt Xue.
Baochai heard this and her cheeks were slightly drooped with a light rouge. What did the prince mean by praising her? And her brother is not bad either!
Without thinking too much, the person in front of her was the Prince of Beijing County. Since the prince was talking to her, Baochai naturally could not be rude, so she bowed and said in a clear voice: "Commoner Xue Baochai greets the prince."
Shui Rong nodded slightly upon hearing this, and without saying anything more, he walked towards the main seat in the hall and sat down.
Aunt Xue's eyes lit up when she saw this. Could it be that this was the good fortune of her beloved son?
Thinking of this, Aunt Xue's heart moved slightly. She pulled Baochai's sleeve implicitly and signaled in the direction of Shui Rong with her eyes.
Mother and daughter are connected by heart. Baochai understood immediately. Although it was inappropriate, she was helpless. She pursed her lips, took a step forward, and said politely, "My brother was confused for a moment and offended the prince with his words. It was really wrong. Please forgive him and forgive him this time."
As she spoke, Baochai took the gift list from Aunt Xue, held it up with both hands and said, "This is a small gift from the Xue family. Please accept it, Your Majesty."
Shui Rong found it quite amusing when he heard this. What kind of gift is this? Isn’t it just an apology?
Shui Rong chose to ignore Aunt Xue's little trick. After all, he praised Xue Baochai intentionally. It was obvious that Aunt Xue fell into the trap instantly. As for the big tree of Prince Beijing's Mansion, Shui Rong didn't need to say much, people who wanted to enjoy the shade would naturally come over.
Yingluo moved closer, took the gift list, and looked at the mother and daughter of the Xue family in front of her with her almond-shaped eyes. What a shitty Xue family, they actually offended their own prince. The master was humiliated and the minister was dead. Yingluo naturally did not have a good face. If the prince had not spoken, she would have spit in their faces.
But why was the prince praising someone? Yingluo couldn't help but look at Xue Baochai once or twice before taking the gift list.
Shui Rong saw this and said nothing. He took the gift list handed to him by Ying Luo and started to look at it.
After a while, Shui Rong put the gift list on the table and said calmly, "I've heard that the Xue family in Jinling has pearls as valuable as dirt and gold as valuable as iron. I was skeptical at first, but now it seems that it's true. The Xue family is really generous."
The list of gifts sent by the Xue family included jewelry, antiques, silver coins, such as pearl bracelets, white jade Guanyin, silver ingots, etc., which were very valuable and were indeed generous.
Xue Baochai, who had lowered her eyes and remained silent, was slightly shocked when she heard the words. Was the prince's words a clear compliment or a sarcastic remark? She didn't know what he meant. Involuntarily, Baochai raised her head slightly and carefully observed the prince's expression. However, when she raised her almond-shaped eyes slightly, she happened to meet a pair of clear and bright eyes. She quickly lowered them again, feeling uneasy.
Chapter 66: Xue Baochai's Insightful Thoughts
Shui Rong looked at Xue Baochai who lowered her eyes and smiled without saying a word. He picked up the fragrant tea on the table and sipped it calmly, then began to think about something in his mind.
Xue Baochai is very beautiful, and it is worth Shui Rong's effort.
After thinking for a moment, Shui Rong put down the teacup and said in a clear voice: "I will accept the white jade Guanyin statue, and you can take the rest back!"
Since he had taken a fancy to Baochai, Shui Rong's behavior changed accordingly. Although the gift list was valuable, it was not absolutely necessary. After all, since he had accepted her into the mansion, it was impossible to be without some gifts.
However, since it is an apology, I still have to accept some things, so the white jade Guanyin is a good choice. It just so happens that Concubine Beijing likes to worship Buddha, so I might as well lend her flowers to offer to Buddha, as a daughter-in-law showing filial piety to her mother-in-law.
Xue Baochai was slightly stunned when she heard this, and returned the gift list, but accepted the white jade Guanyin, which meant that she accepted the apology. This made Baochai feel relieved. After thinking for a moment, she bowed and said, "Your Majesty, since the gift has been given, there is no way to return it. This is just a small gift from the Xue family. I hope Your Majesty will accept it."
Upon hearing this, Shui Rong glanced at Xue Baochai. In the original novel, Baochai was a well-connected and versatile person. During the time she lived in the Jia family, she was highly praised by everyone in the mansion. This shows that Baochai is good at dealing with people.
But we have to say that the precocity of the ancients was indeed extraordinary. It is rare for Baochai, who is only a young girl, to have such thoughts.
If you think about it carefully, although the Xue family is an imperial merchant family, it is also a family of merchants. His father died early, and the orphan and widowed mother depended on each other for survival and managed the entire Xue family. How could they survive without learning the ways of the world?
Just like the apology gift this time, Shui Rong can refuse to accept it, but the Xue family cannot refuse to give it, and they have to show their attitude of apology.
"I accept your kindness, please take the gift back!"
Shui Rong pondered for a moment and decided that it would be petty not to accept the gift, and these mundane things were not his goal.
Seeing Shui Rong's insistence, Baochai stopped talking and asked carefully, "Then my dear brother..."
Now that the kindness has been accepted, Xue Pan’s problem should be solved. This is the purpose of the Xue family coming to apologize.
Shui Rong did not answer after hearing this, but glanced at the maid standing beside her. She had a pretty face, lips like cherry blossoms, eyebrows like ink paintings, and a rouge mark the size of a grain of rice between her eyebrows made her look even more charming and enchanting.
No wonder Xue Pan was so obsessed that he didn't hesitate to beat someone to death. Such a character is truly rare.
After a pause, Shui Rong looked serious and asked in a questioning tone, "Where is the maid Xue Pan forced to buy?"
Aunt Xue was originally delighted to see that everything was going well, but when she heard Shui Rong's tone of accusation, she became uneasy again. After all, her son had beaten someone to death for the sake of that maid. Now that the prince mentioned this, could it be that he was unwilling to let that evildoer go and was planning to settle the score later?
But it was useless for Aunt Xue to worry. When she learned about this yesterday, she repeatedly warned Xiangling not to talk nonsense. As long as she didn't gossip, nothing would go wrong.
Baochai naturally knew the details, so she pulled the maid who was hanging her head over and said respectfully, "This is the maid my brother bought. Her name is Xiangling."
Xiangling was timid by nature. Seeing the high and mighty prince, she couldn't help but tremble slightly. She knelt on her knees and said, "Your servant Xiangling pays homage to the prince."
The voice was like a trickle of water, in the soft Wu dialect, very sweet and gentle, especially because of the helplessness, with a slight tremor, and a bit of fantasy.
Shui Rong coughed lightly and looked at Xiang Ling. She was wearing a black and red vest and a pink sweat towel around her waist. She didn't look like a maid's attire. It seemed that she was treated as a concubine.
"Xiangling, right? I heard that Xue Pan killed someone in order to force you to marry him. Please tell me the truth. If you feel wronged, I will help you."
Shui Rong had a serious look on his face, and asked about Xue Pan's forced purchase, acting as if he were a judge.
Upon hearing this, Aunt Xue and Xue Baochai became worried and looked at Xiangling who was kneeling on the ground. If Xiangling said something wrong, Xue Pan would be in trouble.
Xiangling paused when she heard this and began to explain in a trembling voice. Basically, the kidnapper was doing two businesses at the same time, and Xue Pan and Feng Yuan had a conflict. Feng Yuan himself had a disease, so it was not Xue Pan who beat him to death. He just paid some money for the funeral and that was the end of the matter.
Shui Rong felt nothing when he heard this. It seemed that what Xiangling said was half true and half false. If one did not know the hidden story, it would be difficult to tell the truth from the false.
This also reflects the cleverness of the Xue family. The case of Xue Pan was recorded in official documents, and Baochai failed in the selection because of this. This matter could not be concealed. Knowing that the Beijing Prince's Mansion had inquired about the matter, it was not good to cover up too much and only needed to cover up the most fatal key.
After tapping the table a few times, Shui Rong did not respond. Instead, he tilted his head to look at Ying Luo and asked, "Ying Luo, look at this girl. Does she look similar to Ke Qing?"
Yingluo, who was standing by, looked at Xiangling and nodded, "Your Highness, yes, I felt that she looked about 70% like Miss Qin. Could she be Miss Qin's sister?"
Shui Rong glanced at Ying Luo when he heard that. Regardless of whether she did it intentionally or not, this little slut was very smart!
Although Baochai didn't know who Miss Qin was, she guessed that she must be the prince's concubine. If not, how could a person with a different surname stay in the prince's palace?
The prince changed the subject, which was definitely not groundless. Thinking of this, Baochai's eyes lit up, and she had an idea in her mind. She said in a clear voice: "Xiangling is also a miserable person. It is her good fortune to be similar to Miss Qin. Since they are compatible, it would be a good thing to let Xiangling serve Miss Qin."
Upon hearing this, Shui Rong looked up at Xue Baochai and couldn't help but admire Baochai's intelligence. He only mentioned it briefly and Baochai understood it instantly. He even planned to make up a story of lost sisters so that he could get Xiangling here with a legitimate reason. Now he saved a lot of effort.
Shui Rong didn't need to say much to the wise man in front of him, so he didn't accept Baochai's suggestion, and said: "I will not pursue Xue Pan's matter. You Xue family should go to Shuntian Mansion to pick him up."
Now that the benefits have been accepted, it would be unreasonable to detain the person any further.
Xue Baochai was overjoyed when she heard this. During this period of time, her mother had been worried about her brother suffering in prison and had lost her appetite. She was worried when she saw this, and now she could finally bring her brother back.
Thinking of this, Xue Baochai bowed and said, "On behalf of my brother, I would like to thank the prince for his grace."