The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 141 Housework

Jia Lian, who had been extremely busy at the Rongguo Mansion, finally returned.

Wang Xifeng personally helped him wash up.

"Will you be home tonight?"

"I'm afraid not!"

Although Jia Lian was very reluctant to part with his wife, the matter that his aunt had asked him to go to the ancestral hall to think about that day had not yet been completed because the emperor had summoned the Ministry of War for a meeting. "Tonight I must go to the ancestral hall to think things through."

"...Is it about my uncle?"

Wang Xifeng hesitated for a moment, but finally asked the question.

"Yes, but not entirely."

My cousin, Shi, is also in the army.

The position of Armory Commander is too crucial; I'll inevitably be bound by personal relationships in the future.

"Second Master!"

Wang Xifeng hesitated for a moment, then said, "My aunt has already told me about what happened that day."

what?
A smile, like starlight, rose in Jia Lian's peach blossom eyes. He reached out and touched her face. "Now that you know, how does Second Madam plan to thank her husband?"

"...I'm being serious with you."

"I'm very serious!"

They are husband and wife, and everything they do is aboveboard.

Jia Lian chuckled, "Since it's still early, how about..."

"Oh, Second Master~"

Wang Xifeng grew anxious: "If you still can't come up with a satisfactory answer for your aunt after we enter the ancestral hall, have you thought about the consequences?"

This?
Jia Lian's little scheme, which had just begun to take shape, was quickly dispelled by fear.

When my aunt gets serious, she shows absolutely no mercy.

Did your aunt mention anything to you?

“No, my aunt called me over because you have a special status now and are being watched by many people. I don’t want to cause you any trouble, so I need to take a good look at the Great Zhao Law.”

Wang Xifeng didn't think there was a problem.

The eldest sister-in-law, Madam You, from the East Mansion, had also been studying the Great Zhao Code for some time.

"I also heard from Sister-in-law You that Brother Zhen has subscribed to two copies of the official gazette, one to be sent to the clan school and the other for them to read themselves, saying that this way they won't be completely clueless if something happens in court."

"Shall we order one too?"

"Yes, I'll have someone place an order as soon as I get back."

Wang Xifeng said, "Second Master, I read the official gazette today, and it was full of imperial edicts."

Jia Lian: "..."

He kind of understood.

Jia Lian couldn't help but hold his wife's hand. "These past few days I've been so busy with the officials from the Ministry of War that I haven't had a moment to breathe. Several times, the Emperor even summoned me to the Imperial Study for joint meetings of various ministries. The officials were arguing so fiercely that it gave me a headache."

If not careful, one could easily be led astray.

Jia Lian said, "But the Emperor always manages to grasp the crux of the matter. It is said that he will also summon some famous doctors from the prefectural cities to serve in Ningxia for a period of time."

This was a diligent and benevolent emperor.

“There are some things that we all think are feasible, but after a day or two, we hear that someone has complained to the Emperor Emeritus, and then it becomes unacceptable. Then the Emperor patiently works with us to find a solution that the Emperor Emeritus can accept.”

At this point, Jia Lian sighed, "Seeing the Emperor like that reminds me of the time I was in charge of the household."

His father wanted him to do this, and his second aunt wanted him to do that.

Although they didn't say it outright, he had to get it done.

If my second uncle takes out money today, his father will surely take out money tomorrow as well.

He could only try to find a way to provide them with the funds.

Jia Lian watched helplessly as the public funds dwindled, and he was tormented by the loss.

Therefore, seeing the emperor like that, he felt inexplicable sympathy.

"And I know that the time I spent in Jiangnan was also very difficult for you."

"..."

Wang Xifeng didn't speak, but followed Jia Lian's hand and nestled into his arms.

The young couple embraced quietly for a while before Jia Lian said, "Don't worry, I know who is good to me and who is not, what is right and what is wrong."

He wouldn't tell Feng'er about his decision.

It wasn't that he didn't trust Feng'er, but that he didn't want to put her in a difficult position.

If you don't know, then don't worry about it.

"Wait here, I'm going to find your aunt right now!"

He didn't want to go into the ancestral hall to see his second uncle anymore.

The officials in the imperial court are all very cunning, so his second uncle... should just stay at home!
Jia Lian strode away.

Not long after, Shen Ning saw him.

"Aunt, can I answer the question from that day now?"

"...What have you been doing these past few days?"

Shen Ning didn't answer immediately, but waved for the maids to leave before asking the question out of curiosity.

“Listen to the adults arguing, see how they argue,” Jia Lian said. “Listen to their words, observe their actions, and then implement the plan they came up with through their arguments.”

Shen Ning: "..."

She hadn't expected that Jia Lian would have made so much progress in such a short time.

Shen Ning was very pleased. "Then tell me, when the Wang family benefits from you, how will you deal with it?"

"I don't need to deal with it."

Jia Lian said, "All I need to do is stand here with the Emperor."

That sounds so direct!

That was the answer she wanted.

But so direct...

Shen Ning looked at him and asked, "Anything else?"

"besides……"

Jia Lian was a little confused. Wouldn't it be fine if he just stood next to the Emperor?
He thought and thought, "I still have to appease the retired emperor."

"..."

Shen Ning frowned slightly.

The retired emperor is not someone who can be easily appeased.

Especially when your actions contradict his interests.

Or, to put it another way, you're just unlucky, and he's using you as an example to deter others.

The Jia family has already been used as a warning to others once.

The cost was too high, let's do it again...

"Lian'er, do you think you can appease the Emperor Emeritus? Are you more capable than your grandfather?"

This?
He definitely can't do it!

Shen Ning sighed, "You were suddenly promoted to the position of Director of the Arsenal. Did you feel a lot of pressure? Did you feel that some people in the court were looking at you differently?"

"...a little bit of both."

Jia Lian is very honest.

"Do you think Lord Wang can return to the Beijing Garrison?"

Shen Ning then asked another question.

"I think...it should be possible!"

"Tell me!"

How should I put this?
Jia Lian was overwhelmed by her questions, but he could only try his best. "In the eyes of outsiders, our Jia family is the Emperor Emeritus's people, and the Wang family is almost the same. The Emperor..." He paused, "...also needs the Emperor Emeritus's people to do things."

The emperor has his own people, but he cannot cultivate them vigorously at present.

"He has to put the Emperor Emeritus at ease."

Jia Lian lowered his voice, "Aunt, I remember Grandfather. He was very sad when he passed away."

Shen Ning: "..."

She felt somewhat reassured about him.

These past few days, Shen Ning has also been wondering whether it was right or wrong to push Jia Lian into the imperial court so early.

But now, she feels pretty good.

At least the emperor is still young and far from being senile.

As long as Jia Lian remains loyal to the country, there will be no trouble. "It's good that you understand," Shen Ning said. "Right now, the only time things seem a bit busy is when there's fighting in Ningxia. Otherwise, if you follow the rules, no one can say a word against you."

"Ok!"

Jia Lian nodded vigorously.

“In the eyes of outsiders, the Jia family is the Emperor Emeritus’s people, and the Emperor is quite good to them now,” Shen Ning said in a low voice. “If someone in the court makes things difficult for you, just choose a time when the Emperor is in a good mood and complain to him.”

This is equivalent to bringing the relationship closer.

As relationships deepen, loyalty naturally follows.

Just as Jia Lian said, the emperor needs the emeritus emperor's people to do things for him.

"My nephew knows."

Jia Lian finally understood why Brother Zhen felt that the Lu family's two hundred thousand taels of silver was too much to handle, and even went to ask the Emperor for advice. "Thank you for your guidance, Aunt."

"Your aunt doesn't have much to advise you on."

Shen Ning shook her head. "But some of the officials in the court are worth learning from. You should know that arguing is also a skill. You need to learn how to make someone jump with a single sentence and how to make someone laugh with a single sentence."

"Mmmmm~"

Jia Lian had already realized this.

He was the eldest son of the first wife, but grew up in the second wife's family. He didn't have any skills, so neither Brother Zhu nor Auntie would have been able to treat him well.

Although the latter might have been due to his second aunt's selfish motives, he still benefited from it!

"Then go!"

Shen Ning waved her hand, "The Wang and Jia families are at odds. Your second aunt can hide peacefully in the ancestral hall, but Feng'er has nowhere to hide. Although the old lady likes her, she can't stop her from having family members who hold her back." She'll definitely get some disdain. "When you get home, comfort her more. You're the only one she can rely on in this family. If you're not good to her..."

"My nephew will treat her well."

Jia Lian was eager to return home.

He felt heartbroken after what his aunt said.

The wife's parents passed away early. Although the Wang family did not lack her dowry and even gave her generous gifts, it was all for show.

No one truly cared for her.

now……

As Jia Lian walked back, he walked faster and faster!
Busy reuniting with his wife, he had no idea that in just half a day, his father, Jia She, had become famous in Yansui.

"My lord, my lord, it's not good."

At the General's Mansion, after a long day, Lord Tang had just finished drinking a cup of tea when the steward rushed in, saying, "The Jia family from the capital has arrived."

what?
General Tang frowned. "Who's coming?"

The Ning and Rong mansions are both in different places. The Ning mansion has only one son, and Jia Zhen was once assassinated. Given that there are people in the Rong mansion, it's unlikely that he would travel so far to help a concubine's aunt.

Rongguo Mansion, huh...

Jia She was a shut-in.

Although Jia Zheng was a sinecure official, he still had to perform duties.

Jia Lian is probably extremely busy right now, so it's even less likely he'll come over.

It seems that only Jia Zheng's son, Jia Zhu, is left.

However, I heard that he is studying at the Imperial Academy, and his parents probably wouldn't want him to take leave in the sweltering heat to come here.

So, whoever came is probably the manager.

He has already given Min Tai all the advice he needed to.

If he were even slightly smarter, he would have clung to his wife's coattails, and the Jia family wouldn't have done anything to him.

He's not smart... well, there's nothing he can do about it.

"First-Class General, Jia She!"

what?
General Tang stood up abruptly. "Are you sure? You're not mistaken?"

"Oh dear, my lord, there's complete chaos outside."

The steward wiped his sweat. "I heard that when Lord Jia arrived at the Min family, Min Zhong's wife and children had just knocked Mrs. Jia unconscious. When he went in, he saw his sister unconscious and his niece beaten pitifully, and he immediately exploded."

General Tang swallowed hard.

He spent a year in the Beijing garrison, so he knew exactly what Jia She had done.

That's something no one can stop.

Famous bastard.

"They immediately ordered their men to beat Min Tai severely, and then they pinned Min Zhong's entire family to the ground and beat them one by one."

The steward said, "Now, not a single man from the Min family in Yansui has escaped; they've all been found and beaten."

General Tang: "..."

I'm really impressed!
"My lord, Consort Guan's sister is crying in the mansion right now, you..."

"Hurry up and get it out there."

General Tang was startled. "Hurry, hurry, slow down! If Jia She comes to the General's Mansion again, I'll be in big trouble!"

"But Aunt Guan..."

Just then, the sound of crying came from the inner courtyard. His concubine, Guan, came running in, sobbing, "Master, you must do justice for me!"

To take the lead?

Be a shit!
"Someone, lock her in the small Buddhist shrine to calm her mind."

General Tang shouted, "Get all her relatives out of here!"

Aunt Guan: "..."

She was completely stunned.

The Min family wielded considerable influence in Yansui, and her family had taken good care of her. How could they be so easily swayed by a dilapidated Rongguo Mansion...?

"My lord, my lord, Qingniang was wrong, please forgive me, please forgive me!"

"What are you standing there for? Hurry up."

While the servants were still stunned, General Tang glared at them and said, "Lock her up for me."

He can't afford to mess with that scoundrel Jia She.

Six months ago, he really didn't care much about the Jia family, but things are really different now.

The Ning and Rong mansions were about to be remembered by the retired emperor, and the emperor also had the idea of ​​using the Jia family again.

Jia She...

General Tang thought for a moment, "Go, prepare some medicine in your wife's name and send it to Min Tai's wife."

He did want to cultivate a relationship with Jia She, but Jia Wen had suffered so much in Yansui over the past few years…

General Tang feared that if he went there, Jia She would go mad again.

"Sir~"

The butler hesitated for a moment, "If the Jia family makes such a blatant scene and we don't intervene, wouldn't it look bad to outsiders?"

Although the Min brothers did not hold high-ranking positions, they were all in the military and were considered local strongmen in Yansui, wielding some influence.

Despite being beaten like this, the General's Mansion remained silent...

"Who thinks it's bad?"

General Tang sneered, "It's a family matter for them to stand up for their sister. The Min family didn't even report it to the authorities. Why are you meddling in their business?"

Min Tai indeed did not dare to report it to the authorities.

If they really report it to the authorities, there will be no way for him and the Jia family to turn things around.

The Jia family stood up for his wife and beat up his entire family; that was a private matter between the two families.

In Yansui City, there are many cases of wives' families attacking their husbands' families.

Those with bigger fists have a natural advantage.

Did you see anyone report to the authorities?

Aren't we all just having a drink after a lesson, still good in-laws and getting along just like everyone else?

Min Tai's only surprise was that his brother-in-law arrived so quickly and attacked so ruthlessly.

And a daughter...

She actually asked her eldest uncle to beat up all her uncles, brothers, and cousins ​​who were over thirteen years old.

This means... she hates him, she hates the Min family!

Min Tae was very flustered.

If the daughter is like this, what will the son be like?

He's their biological father!

How come they have absolutely no sense of compassion?

What did the Min family do to wrong them?

We fed them, we gave them water, and we raised them to adulthood.

"Quickly, tell the young lady that I am dying and to bring her here to me."