Chapter 235: No Close Friendship
“The palace in front and the market behind” comes from “Zhou Li. Kaogongji”, which is a layout method for the planning of the dynasty’s capital. There must be a large trading market behind the palace to meet the needs of court life.

Gulou Street, located behind the imperial city, is undoubtedly a very lively back market. It has been the most lively place since the Yuan Dynasty, with all kinds of businesses gathered here. On the first and fifteenth day of the lunar month or during festivals, Gulou Street is even more lively.

Such a busy and prosperous street, but at this moment, a strange scene appeared. The crowds kept away and the road was empty. Only a young man in the uniform of a general was riding a horse slowly in the middle of the street, followed closely by a group of patrolling soldiers.

Looking closely, the young man was Mei Hanlin’s son.

Master Mei looked at the crowd on both sides carefully, and seeing the fear on their faces, he felt very happy. He was no longer a commoner, but the captain of the infantry battalion of the Infantry Commander’s Office. Although his rank was not high, he held military power and was also responsible for patrolling the streets, putting out fires, compiling and checking the militia, issuing bans, and arresting people, etc. He had considerable power.

Master Mei whipped the horse hard and it rushed forward like an arrow.

A group of patrolling soldiers followed on horseback.

Mr. Mei suddenly caught sight of something and pulled the reins.

The whole group stopped.

Mr. Mei turned around and saw the large plaque with the words “Heng Shudian” shining brightly in the sunlight.

Heng Shudian? Isn’t this the business of the Xue family’s eldest wife?
Thinking of this, Master Mei rode his horse towards Heng Shudian. The crowd that had just dodged to avoid the crowd now moved aside again, making way.

When he reached the door, Master Mei stopped the horse, raised his head slightly, and looked at the plaque on the lintel of the pawnshop nonchalantly.

The pawnshop owner strode out, followed by his clerk.

The shopkeeper raised his hand to Mr. Mei and asked, “Who are you?”

Master Mei still kept his head raised, as if he didn’t hear anything.

An officer beside him replied, “This is our new commander, Lord Mei!”

Newly appointed? The shopkeeper understood that this was a way to extort money. The Xue family was backed by the Jia and Wang families. He did not take a captain seriously. However, the Zhongshun Palace and the Jia family were not on good terms. It was better to have less trouble than more. He just gave them some silver to get rid of them!

Thinking of this, the shopkeeper turned to the clerk next to him and said, “Look, how much cash is left in the counter? Take it all out and treat the soldiers to drinks.” As he said this, he winked.

The clerk understood, turned around and walked into the counter, took out a small bag of silver, and walked up to the shopkeeper: “Shopkeeper, here it is all, a total of twenty taels.”

The shopkeeper said: “Don’t think it’s too little, give it to everyone to have a drink.”

The clerk handed over the silver.

The officer smiled, dismounted from his horse, and reached out to take it.

Master Mei whipped the hand back with a whip, turned around and said to the shopkeeper with a smile: “We are family, there is no need to do this.”

Our own family?!

The shopkeeper was startled and looked at Master Mei.

Mr. Mei smiled and said, “My last name is Mei, and my father works in the Hanlin Academy.”

Mei? Hanlin Academy? The shopkeeper remembered and bowed with a sigh: “I didn’t know Mr. Mei was coming. I’m sorry for not welcoming you.”

Master Mei got off his horse, walked up to the shopkeeper and asked, “Is your master here?”

The shopkeeper said: “In reply to Master Mei, our master hasn’t come here yet.”

Mr. Mei: “When will you come?”

The shopkeeper: “It’s hard to say.”

Master Mei nodded and asked, “When will Xue Ke come back?”

The shopkeeper said: “Our Second Master has returned.”

Master Mei was delighted: “Xue Ke is back?!”

The shopkeeper said, “He came back the other day.” Mr. Mei laughed and said, “It’s good that he’s back, it’s good that he’s back!” He said to the shopkeeper, “Go and tell your uncles and uncles that I’m waiting for them here and I’m inviting them to dinner.”

The shopkeeper gave a few instructions to the waiter, then said to Mr. Mei, “Mr. Mei, please come in and have some tea.” Then he extended his hand.

Master Mei smiled and nodded, then glanced at the people and vendors who were watching the excitement, and said loudly: “Listen everyone, if anyone dares to come to Hengshudian to cause trouble in the future, I will make his family destroyed and his whole family die in misery!”

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd dispersed in all directions.

The shopkeeper gave a bitter smile and said, “Mr. Mei, please come in!”

Master Mei said to the officer, “Leave two people here, and you lead the others to continue patrolling the streets.” After that, he turned and entered Hengshudian.

Like the Xue family, the Zhen family also has its own property in the capital, and it is located in Xicheng.

Zhen Yingjia sent people to Beijing to clean and tidy up the house a few months ago, so the family settled down quickly.

After seeing Xia Shouzhong off, Zhen Yingjia changed his clothes and returned to Old Lady Zhen’s yard.

“What a shabby place! It’s so cold! Old lady, let’s go back to Jinling!” Zhen Baoyu’s voice came from inside the house.

Zhen Yingjia stopped.

Old Lady Zhen: “This will be our home from now on.”

Zhen Baoyu: “I don’t like it~ This place is shabby and small! The bedroom is not even as big as the step-out bed I sleep in. There’s not even a lake in the back garden, just a stinky ditch. How can I row a boat?” His voice was full of dissatisfaction.

Old Madam Zhen sighed and said, “I can’t go back. The property in Jinling has been mortgaged to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.”

Zhen Baoyu: “Why? They are robbers.”

Zhen Yingjia’s face turned pale with fear and he yelled, “Damn little beast!” Then he opened the door curtain and rushed in.

With a slap in the face, Zhen Baoyu staggered and fell to the ground.

Old Madam Zhen was startled at first, then she shouted angrily: “What are you crazy about?!” She hurriedly pulled Zhen Baoyu up, hugged him in her arms, rubbed his slightly red cheeks, and whispered: “My darling, does it hurt?”

Zhen Baoyu came to his senses and was about to cry, but suddenly he saw Zhen Yingjia staring at him fiercely. He hurriedly closed his mouth, but tears started to flow.

Old Madam Zhen was furious: “Is that little bastard spreading rumors in front of you again? You just can’t stand seeing my Baoyu doing well. You, you get out of here!”

Zhen Yingjia: “Mother! This evil creature is outspoken.”

Old Lady Zhen interrupted him directly: “How did you promise me?! Ah!”

Although Zhen Yingjia was furious, he had to say, “Just don’t hit my son in the future.”

With a humph, Old Lady Zhen said, “Go away, and leave me alone.”

Just as Zhen Yingjia was about to take a step forward, he suddenly remembered: “My son has something to discuss with his mother.”

Old Madam Zhen continued to rub Zhen Baoyu’s cheeks: “What’s the matter?”

Zhen Yingjia: “My son has thought about it and decided to ask the people in Rongguo Mansion to introduce me to visit the Zhongyong Marquis’ Mansion.”

Old Lady Zhen: “The Li family? He is the prince’s man. He is on the prince’s boat.” She shook her head.

Zhen Yingjia: “No one can predict what will happen in the future. The loyal and brave earl holds the military power. How should I put it? The advantages outweigh the disadvantages.”

Old Madam Zhen thought for a moment and said, “We can’t make close friends. Let someone send some Jinling local products over first, and then we can just pay him a visit the day after tomorrow.”

Zhen Yingjia: “I heard from the Minister that Earl Zhongyong is not in the capital. He went to the West Mountain to hunt.”

Old Madam Zhen nodded and said, “You can decide for yourself. By the way, send someone to Beijing Prince’s Mansion to see what’s going on with the second girl? She didn’t reply to my letter.”

(End of this chapter)