You can't only love the Qing Dynasty when you're eating the fruits of others' labor.

Chapter 81 The current struggle situation is changing too rapidly

Jiang Bei stared in disbelief at the huge splash of water that had been stirred up.

"Young Master Hong has drowned himself in the lake! Young Master Hong has drowned himself in the lake!"

Jiang Qingyun turned his horse around and looked at Hong Shiming, who was struggling in the depths of the pond, his expression changing repeatedly.

"Sir, should we save him or not?"

"Nonsense, of course we have to save them. Go, pull them up."

……

Hong Shiming's clothes were covered in mud, and his head was stuck with seaweed. He knelt down and vomited foul water for a while, looking like a dog.

Nevertheless, he still hugged Jiang Qingyun's boots, his face tilted upwards, tears streaming down his face before he could even speak.

"Godfather"

This trembling cry was filled with grievance, pleading, pity, and helplessness.

Jiangbei was so shocked that he trembled and his hair stood on end.

Zhou Cang walked straight out, trying to avoid the disgusting scene that might happen next. He was afraid that he would lose control of his nausea and vomit up the whole bowl of braised pork head noodles he had eaten that morning.

Jiang Qingyun also found it difficult to describe his feelings at this moment; in his 20-year career, he had never encountered anything like it.

If Hong Shiming were a beautiful woman, she would definitely take the house.

But he's Hong Chengchou's only son!

……

cough~
Jiang Qingyun composed himself and tried his best to be amiable.

“Hong Shiming, I understand how you feel right now. You feel helpless and wronged, right? I will try my best to help you, but I absolutely cannot accept the title of godfather. It has a very bad influence.”

"I can keep my godfather in my heart."

"You should go home and change your clothes first. We should think about our relationship in the long run."

"Then you have to promise to come to my house for dinner."

"well."

"Tonight."

“You live in the inner city, and when the city gates close at night, I can’t return to the south city.”

"Shenshi (3-5 PM), it must be Shenshi. Godfather, you must come. If you don't come, I will jump into Beihai Lake. I mean what I say."

"Okay, okay, I'll definitely go."

Hong Shiming carefully wiped the mud off Jiang Qingyun's boots with his sleeve before getting up.

……

Watching the guy's departing figure, Jiang Qingyun felt a mix of emotions—disgust. He'd run into a snot-nosed brat; he couldn't hit him or shake him off. It was a headache.

The only person in the household who could be consulted, Madam Wen, went to Tongzhou with Jiang Zhongcheng. The three wives and concubines came from humble backgrounds, lacked experience, and were not capable of consulting with him.

Jiang Qingyun sat on the recliner, closed her eyes, and rocked back and forth.

"Meow~"

The calico cat appeared as always, perched on my lap and swaying happily with me.

"Cat, the current situation is changing too fast. If I don't take concubines soon, I'll fall behind. The more concubines I take, the better and more powerful I can fight against the conspirators within the Eight Banners."

"Are you right?"

The calico cat remained silent, simply patting its leg.

In the Jiang family mansion, it was not a master, but a lowly servant, and it supported whatever its master said.

……

Not even three moments later.

Jiang Qingyun changed into casual clothes and quietly left the mansion.

"Zhou Cang, Jiang Bei, come with me into the city."

"Yes."

Twenty mounted guards followed closely all the way; this had become the standard configuration for Jiang Qingyun's travels.

The inner city differed from the southern city; there were more rules and more watchful eyes. When entering Xuanwu Gate, the guards deliberately kept their distance to make it appear less crowded, only converging after passing through the city gate.

The Hong residence was deserted and quiet.

Even the two stone lions at the entrance were dusty and gray.

Upon seeing the distinguished guest arrive, the gatekeeper hurriedly went in to announce their arrival.

……

Jiang Qingyun thought for a moment and then gave the instructions:
"Leave four people outside to watch the horses, the rest of you come with me into the mansion."

"Yes."

Sixteen guards, hands on their sword hilts, filed in. This was, by all accounts, quite rude, but Jiang Qingyun paid no heed. Hong Shiming, clutching the hem of his robe, jogged along.

"Godfather, Godfather, you're finally here."

He shouted very bluntly, not even trying to hide it from the servants in the mansion.

"Godfather, please walk this way, I'll help you."

Jiang Qingyun carefully observed the reactions of the servants from the Hong family around him; they seemed very real, not like acting.

"Shiming, let's discuss our relationship in the long run."

“You can call me whatever you want, but I have to call you Godfather.”

……

The Hong family was quite wealthy, and this banquet was extremely extravagant. The dishes were all rare and unusual, made from ingredients from the sky and the sea.

There was also a small opera troupe kept by the Hong family, consisting of 4 musicians and 6 dancers, all of whom were exceptionally beautiful.

Jiang Qingyun thought for a moment and then gave the instructions:
“The two of us can’t finish this much food. My brothers outside haven’t eaten yet. Come on, get some bowls and chopsticks and share some with them.”

"Yes."

Soon, each bowl and plate was half empty.

Hong Shiming's eyes were slightly red, and he specially took a large bowl to pour the wine.

"Godfather, I wish you good health, a happy mood, and happiness every day from now on."

He gulped it down in one go.

When people are hypocritical to the extreme, they become sincere. Jiang Qingyun was not in a hurry to drink and eat, but instead recalled some past events between himself and his father, Hong Chengchou.

Before coming, I was worried that the banquet wouldn't be very good, but it seems I was overthinking it.

"Godfather, it's stuffy outside, please take off your clothes."

Before Jiang Qingyun could even voice his opposition, the pretty and even more beautiful girls swarmed around him.

"Hey hey~"

"You~you~"

Logically speaking, acting without the man's permission is also against his will.

However, Imperial Censor Jiang was always magnanimous and unwilling to pursue the matter further.

……

Fine wine, delicious food, soft singing, and graceful dancing—18-year-old Jiang Qingyun was immersed in a pleasant and extravagant atmosphere.

In a nearby side room, the guard captain Jiang Bei inherited his father's cautious approach to escorting goods, dividing the guards into two groups: one to eat and the other to watch over them.

Zhou Cang ate with grease dripping from his mouth, grinning from ear to ear.

"Hey bro, this smells delicious, want some?"

"You go ahead and eat, I'm not hungry yet."

Jiang Bei smiled and shook his head, occasionally pricking up his ears to listen to the sounds outside, just in case something happened, to protect his brother-in-law.

However, Hong Chengchou's first wife, Madam Li, was in great distress. The sounds of stringed instruments and melodious voices filled her ears, but her face turned ashen, her breathing became uneven, and she could not suppress the anger in her heart.

She simply couldn't believe that her son could be so shameless. That one word, "godfather," brought back the shocking moment when she heard that her husband had defected to the Qing Dynasty.

……

Hong Shiming kept a low profile and was very careful.

"Godfather, you're having a good time. I can't stay any longer, so I'll take my leave now."

At this moment, Jiang Qingyun no longer cared about him. With a wave of his hand, Hong Shiming, as if granted a pardon, made a hasty escape.

The incense in the room had been spiked, but Jiang Qingyun was completely unaware of it. He felt relaxed all over, as if he had entered a fairyland, surrounded by fairies, with melodious fairy music playing. He was surrounded by beauties on both sides, and he was extremely happy.

Suddenly, a fairy in purple robes appeared on the table, her face glistening with sweat and her hair disheveled and green.

At 18, one should be carefree.

One can start a career again, but youth can never be regained.

Suddenly, Jiang Qingyun remembered the ancient saying that women should not sit at the table, so he reached out and pulled the man onto the carpet.

……

The outdoor corridor.

Hong Shiming stopped Li Shi, who was trying to rush in.

"Mother, you can't go in."

Li's eyes widened in fury as she stared at the demons dancing wildly in the room, illuminated by the candlelight.

slap~
She slapped her son hard across the face.

"That's your own sister."

(End of this chapter)