My uncle is going back to Beijing.
Xue Baochai couldn't help but feel a little irritated.
This year, she established three caravans.
Northeast China, Mongolia, and Annan are not empty when you go there, and they will not be empty when you come back.
Although commercial taxes and road and bridge taxes have increased, local governments are very concerned about the safety of caravans within their borders.
In the past, there was no such thing as having to pay protection fees to local tyrants.
Therefore, this year, although the Xue family's business has not yet fully regained its glory under her hands, it is not much different.
Xue Baochai seemed to have found the true meaning of life since her father's death.
But would her mother and uncle agree to her staying like this?
Yesterday, her second uncle, who had not been seen for a long time, came to see her mother. She didn't know what they talked about, but in her opinion, there seemed to be an extra calculation in her mother's loving smile.
What should I do? Could it be that she still wants to enter the palace?
Baochai was extremely unwilling.
The next day when she went to school, she hesitated and blocked Shen Ning on her way back from a walk.
"Baochai greets the aunt!"
"It's Baoyatou, aren't you in class yet?"
The weather was cold again, and Chen Ning got up a little later in the morning.
Judging from the time, Mr. Zhan’s class should have started by now.
"The class has already started."
Baochai said, "I am here specifically to wait for Auntie."
What? Shen Ning was stunned for a moment, then a smile appeared on her face, "This place is not far from Tianxiang Tower, so let's go for a walk together."
"Thank you, Auntie!"
Baochai bowed to her.
The two of them slowly walked towards Tianxiang Tower.
Xiaodong and the others knew that they had something to talk about, so they did not follow them.
The two of them quickly went up to the third floor.
"Aunt, please save me."
After making sure that there was no one around, Baochai asked for help on the spot.
In her mother's eyes, there are only her mother's family and her brother. Although her brother is not as naughty as before, he can't do anything for her because of the pressure of filial piety.
After much calculation, Baochai found that the only person who could save her and had the ability to do so was Aunt Shen.
She could clearly feel that she didn't like her.
But no matter how much she disliked him, she still gave him enough respect.
She had everything her sisters who went to school with her had.
Even when she gave away the private jewelry given by the Empress Dowager, she never left her out.
Baochai didn't know why she did this, but she knew that she was willing to show some goodwill to her.
"Hurry up, the ground is cold. If you have anything to say, please tell me."
Shen Ning hurriedly pulled her up.
She didn't dare to promise her anything immediately.
This girl is good at taking advantage of everything she can.
In the Dream of the Red Chamber, if the Jia family had not been confiscated, she would actually be the one laughing last.
"Aunt, my uncle is coming back." Baochai got up and said, "He and my mother may send me to the palace."
The Empress Dowager had such a good relationship with this aunt that Baochai felt that she would definitely stop her from entering the palace.
And since she took the initiative to propose not to enter the palace, perhaps she could get more help from her.
"Oh? You don't want to enter the palace?"
Shen Ning raised her eyebrows slightly and asked her back as if examining her.
“…I don’t want to!”
Baochai didn't expect her to be so calm, and hurriedly shook her head and said, "My uncle has always used our family, but my mother can't see through this. No matter how much we persuade her, it won't work. Please help me, Auntie. I really don't want to enter the palace."
"So...how do you want me to help you? Propose a kiss for you?"
Shen Ning frowned, she wanted to propose marriage to her.
The former Scholar Qian, now Lord Qian, was missed by You Erjie, so she sent him to her as soon as possible.
But she missed it too.
Today, Qian Ruchuan is already the chief clerk of the Imperial College, a seventh-rank official.
He is only twenty years old this year and has unlimited possibilities in the future.
Xianglian and his marriage has already reached the stage of accepting the betrothal gift, and they will probably get married next year.
The little girl, like Madam Feng, is a very introverted person.
As far as Chen Ning knew, Xianglian had made almost two hundred taels from selling embroidery this year.
Adding to the money earned by Mrs. Feng, the mother and daughter have saved up a lot of dowry.
"But you also know what 'parents' orders and matchmaker's words' mean. If your mother doesn't agree to your marriage, it's useless for outsiders to say anything."
"no!"
Baochai hurriedly shook her head, "No, auntie, I...I just don't want to enter the palace."
She doesn't dare to admit it, so you just say kiss me.
All we can say is that she doesn't want to enter the palace.
However, the best way to avoid entering the palace is to get married right away.
The entire Xue family relies on the Jia family for protection.
As long as Mrs. Shen is willing to say this, her mother will consider it more even if she is not happy about it.
After all, no matter how good her uncle is, her mother knows that she can't rely on him completely.
What's more, as long as Madam Shen is willing to matchmake for her, her brother will fully support her.
By then, with so many of them, they will definitely be able to defeat my uncle.
This was the only solution she could think of.
Of course, the most important point is that Mrs. Shen rarely goes out to socialize with people, and the relatives she can talk to are only those she knows.
For example, the Shen family...
As long as it's the Shen family, even my uncle would not object.
Lord Shen was promoted a few years ago, and his two sons both passed the imperial examination and became Jinshi. Although they are now only county magistrates in remote areas, the family has a bright future.
Shen Jia is the eldest son of the second wife and the great-nephew of Mrs. Shen.
It will be necessary to enter the officialdom in the future.
Baochai hoped that she would take the initiative to bring it up.
"Please, help me."
As she spoke, her tears fell one by one.
Shen Ning: “…”
It's really beautiful to see a beauty shedding tears.
She sighed and said, "Over the past year or so, I heard that the business you helped run for your family has been doing very well?"
"……yes!"
Baochai didn't know why she said this.
"In the past two years, the palace has only accepted young maids," Shen Ning seemed to change the subject again, "and they are all from very poor families. Baochai, do you know why?"
Why? "Is it... the Queen's pity for these people?"
Anyway, as far as Baochai knows, those who leave the palace and go to the Charity Bureau, although they cannot compare with Mr. Zhan, know a little bit about everything.
They taught the children there to read and embroider, and if they found any with special talents, they would send them to the palace.
Baochai admires those people very much, but that doesn't mean she wants to be that kind of person.
Even though the current Charity Bureau has one eighth-rank official position and two eighth-rank official positions, she is unwilling to waste a few years in the palace and then take care of a bunch of snotty-nosed children.
"Yes, the Queen has a kind heart."
Speaking of the queen, Shen Ning's eyes were stained with a little smile, "If your family wants to send you to the palace, nine times out of ten, you will be selected as a young girl like Yuanchun."
This is what Baochai fears the most.
The emperor is old and has suffered a stroke in recent years. If anything bad happens, the emperor will have to observe mourning.
Moreover, through all these things, Baochai always felt that the emperor would not expand the harem like the retired emperor did in the past.
He wants to be a wise ruler.
He has also been on the path to becoming a wise ruler.
"The emperor is not in good health," Chen Ning looked at Baochai and said, "In order to pray for his blessing, the emperor will probably not take anyone into the harem in the next two years. So..., Lord Wang probably won't lose his mind and insist on sending you to the palace."
"But, my second uncle came to see my mother yesterday."
Baochai really cried, "As long as they can enter the palace, it may be the same for them whether they are elected in the general election or the minor election."
They had confidence in her beauty and intelligence, but she did not.
Not to mention other things, none of the sisters who went to school with her felt worse than her.
Moreover, they have better family backgrounds.
"What you said... is possible."
Shen Ning frowned and said, "But entering the palace..." She thought for a moment and said, "The queen values talent. She has three fourth-rank officials, six fifth-rank officials, nine fifth-rank officials, and twelve sixth-rank officials specially approved by the emperor."
Baochai: “…”
For some reason, her heart started beating loudly.
"As you know, the highest official position in the Salesian Bureau of the prefectural city has been awarded to the seventh rank. Over the past year or so, the Salesian Bureaus in various places have developed very well, but the main source of income for the Salesian Bureaus is still donations from various places."
This is very unsafe.
If they want funding from the national treasury, the national treasury isn’t that rich.
There is drought here today and flood there tomorrow, and both require disaster relief.
Therefore, even if there is funding from the national treasury, the amount will be pitifully small.
Shen Ning and the Queen have always wanted a permanent solution.
This era is too harsh on women.
Therefore, Chen Ning also cherishes Xue Baochai very much.
If possible, she thought that even the extremely smart Bao Sister would not want to be a dodder that depends on others.
"The operation of the Salesian Bureau was suspended for a long time due to donations. So..."
Shen Ning invited her, "Are you interested in serving as the female official in charge of the caravan beside the Queen?"
Baochai: “…”
She was completely stunned.
Be an official yourself?
She couldn't help swallowing.
She looked down on the eighth and seventh rank officials in the Charity Bureau, but...
Baochai didn't quite remember how she came down from Tianxiang Tower, but she knew her heart was moved.
Next, it depends on whether her uncle and mother really send her into the palace.
Being a high-ranking female official beside the Queen Mother seems to be very glorious, but the future is also full of uncertainty.
So, what she told Madam Shen was that she would see what her uncle and mother would choose. If she was really sent to the palace, she would be willing to be by the side of the Queen.
on the contrary……
Then forget it.
There seem to be tens of millions of paths in life, but in reality, there are really not that many choices.
Everything... just let fate decide! She still held a glimmer of hope for her mother.
The Xue family is large and powerful. Even though her brother cannot manage the family business, she can.
She is at home, and it is better for Xue's family.
Of course, if she stayed at home, she could also marry a promising scholar, or simply a capable man from her uncle's side.
Baochai believed that she could manage her future life very well on her own.
She was absent-minded in school all day.
But what was rare was that Shen Ning was in a very good mood.
When she met the queen again, she told her about Xue Baochai.
"...Xue family!"
The queen couldn't help but laugh, "The descendant of Ziwei Sheren?"
"Exactly!"
Shen Ning smiled, "If she really enters the palace..."
"Use it!"
She is willing to use anyone as long as they are talented.
Just as the emperor said, there is no one in this world who is not useful.
Just look at where it is used.
For example, he was very proud of letting Wang Ziteng, known as the "butcher", become the general who conquered Japan.
"As long as she is really capable."
The Charity Bureau is also a concern for the emperor.
Even in this peaceful time, it is so difficult. I dare not even think about what would happen if we were to encounter a major natural disaster.
"I have already told the emperor," the queen said, "the members of the caravan will be selected from some retired veterans."
As long as the disability is not too serious and the person can hold a knife or shoot a gun, she thinks it's fine.
“That’s a good idea.”
Unfortunately, the national treasury is still too poor, otherwise, Shen Ning would like to suggest giving more benefits to disabled veterans.
The only benefit that Dazhao can give them now is to exempt their own land tax for twenty years.
"I have already thought about this first caravan."
There was a special light in the queen's eyes, "Let's go to Rakshasa Country."
From Rakshasa Kingdom, they visited the envoys of other countries and sent back their routes.
Since ancient times, people in those countries have deeply loved their porcelain, tea, silk, etc.
Going there more often and learning more about it will be of great benefit to Dazhao.
"Go to Rakshasa Country!"
Shen Ning was very moved.
She wants to follow along for a walk!
pity……
Thinking about the cough that had not yet been fully cured since the beginning of winter, she could only sigh and give up.
"If I were ten years younger, I would definitely go there on behalf of the queen."
“Hahaha~”
The queen laughed, "No wonder we are sisters. When I told the emperor about forming a caravan to Luosha Country, I also said that if I were not the queen, I would definitely go there in person."
It’s a pity that I can’t leave.
She has more responsibilities.
And as the emperor's power grows, she has more to worry about.
There are so many virtuous queens in history, but not many of them had a good ending.
Especially since the emperor has not yet appointed a crown prince.
It was just that she couldn't tell these words to this Sister Shen.
First it was the Charity Bureau, and later it was the Dazhao Library, almost all of which were hosted by her at the instigation of Sister Shen.
The Queen felt that she had been preparing for a rainy day for her.
Saying more would only make her more worried.
The queen only reported good news and not bad news. Shen Ning came happily and left happily.
A few days later, Wang Ziteng returned to the capital and had a deep talk with the emperor. As expected, he mentioned his niece Xue Baochai in a casual manner. When he was about to say how good this niece was, the third son, at the signal of Liu An, hurried over and said that there was some crisis on the side of the retired emperor.
Wang Ziteng shut up with great regret.
He hoped that the emperor could hold on for a few more days, otherwise, the emperor would have to observe mourning, and how could he easily visit the harem? Before Wang Ziteng returned to Beijing, he had someone inquire about it, and the emperor's harem still had the same few people.
The number of princes and princesses is even less than that of the emperor.
This means sending Baochai to the palace...
He had seen this niece on Baisui Street yesterday. The little girl was somewhat similar to Yuanchun in some ways.
But in terms of talent, according to my sister, she is better than Yuanchun.
Wang Ziteng felt that he had knowingly accepted the title of "butcher". Now that he had satisfied the emperor's wishes, the emperor would not cause him trouble, but there was no guarantee that he would not be held accountable in the future.
Send the niece here, as long as she gives birth to a child, for the sake of the children, and for the sake of his ability and dedication, the Wang and Xue families will both rise. (End of this chapter)
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