The head of the Red Mansion

Just look at the collateral branches to see how sought-after the daughters of the Jia family were.

If a family has a ten-year-old daughter who is not yet engaged, it is all the matchmaker's fault.

It's not that the families they were betrothed to needed their support, but rather that the Jia family was truly prospering. Since the orphanage allowed girls from ordinary families to study there, several girls' schools had been established in the capital.

The Jia family naturally followed suit and built one as well.

What surprised the world was that the girls' school in the western suburbs was more than a hundred times larger than the Jia family's school. Madam Shen of Ningguo Mansion, as a first-rank imperial lady, took on the role of headmaster, and even the Empress was brought over to serve as an honorary headmaster.

With them around, the quality of the teaching staff is beyond question.

The teachers of the Imperial Academy would occasionally come with the eldest brother of the Shen family to take turns on duty.

Some cunning old foxes had already noticed something amiss; the Empress and Madam Shen were plotting something major to overthrow the Heavenly Gang.

They just wanted to object, but they didn't jump up and say they wanted to go to court.

Girls' schools taught classics, history, philosophy, and literature, as well as arithmetic, housekeeping, and so on.

They even hired two very famous embroidery masters from Jiangnan.

Although I really disliked this girls' school, I still followed my heart. I packed up all the daughters and granddaughters in my family who were not yet married and sent them over.

After all, everyone else has given gifts, and they haven't... what if it ruins the child's future?

While everyone was groaning in their stomachs, they smiled and sent the children to school with the money.

Yingchun and others naturally moved from Ningcui Pavilion to study here.

People established poetry societies, held art galleries, and showcased their embroidery...

Cooking and gardening are also among her specialties.

In some ways, Yingchun could be a little teacher.

Gentle, generous, and confident, she was not particularly famous for her poetry, but thanks to Jia Min's efforts, the noble ladies who occasionally came to give lectures all liked her very much.

Moreover, when Jia She returned to the capital, the emperor appointed him to be in charge of the tribute affairs of various countries, and his official position became more and more secure.

In addition, Jia Lian is young and promising. With such a father and brothers, who wouldn't want to take her home as their wife?
It was simply a marriage arranged by parents and matchmakers.

Madam Shen was not someone to be trifled with, so no one in the school dared to show any sign of it. They could only try to arrange a meeting with Madam Xing, or the men could directly ask Jia She.

Every time Jia She heard this, he was troubled and heartbroken.

He only has one daughter.

It was raised like a delicate flower, only to be taken away by someone else?
Jia She was in a bad mood and couldn't stand anyone.

"My lord! Lord Sun, who is waiting for a vacancy in the Ministry of War, has come again."

When the servant came to report, Jia She didn't pay much attention.

Firstly, Sun Shaozu was old, and secondly, the Sun family had always been protégés and associates of the Jia family.

It's perfectly normal for him to want a real position and try to find connections with the Jia family.

"……please!"

Out of consideration for their past friendship, Jia She couldn't very well turn them away.

After all, they had gotten along very well on the last few occasions, and he had even made some polite remarks, saying that he would treat him like a nephew.

People immediately started referring to themselves as his nephews and even went to the government office to find him.

Now that you're home...

Forget it, I'll find Old He from the Ministry of War to have a drink with him later and introduce him to someone. Whether he can get a real post depends on his own abilities.

Jia She thought Sun Shaozu was quite handsome and seemed to have some skills.

He was just unlucky, having to observe mourning periods one after another, which caused him to miss several major battles where he could have distinguished himself.

"uncle!"

Sun Shaozu, with his refined yet heroic appearance, bowed respectfully to Jia She upon entering.

"We're family, no need for formalities."

Everyone thought it would be a peaceful and harmonious day.

Sun Shaozu had also found out that the girls' school was closed today, and thinking that the second young lady would be at home, he dressed up and came over.

A position in the Ministry of War is very important, but if he marries the second daughter of the Rongguo Mansion, would he still be worried about not having a position?
I'm afraid he'll be promoted several ranks in just a few years.

Sun Shaozu is very confident in himself.

His grandparents and parents have all passed away, and now that the mourning period is over, all he needs is a daughter-in-law.

A woman who marries into the Sun family immediately becomes the matriarch of the household and doesn't need to follow any rules for anyone.

In the household, he was the eldest son, and his wife was the second eldest.

This is a great advantage for many women who stay at home.

Besides family background, this was the most important factor for those who wanted to arrange a marriage for him.

The Jia family has successfully transformed its business, but its connections in the military remain. Rather than discarding them, it's better to give them to this son-in-law of the Jia family.

Their partnership is a win-win situation.

Sun Shaozu is very ambitious.

The current Duke of Anguo, Wang Ziteng, rose to power thanks to the Jia family. Although the two families fell out along the way, the Wang family still managed to turn things around thanks to their previous accumulation of wealth.

Now it's the Sun family's turn.

His child will be the grandson of the Jia family.

Whether it's the Rongguo Mansion or the Ningguo Mansion, out of respect for the Second Miss, they would help him out whenever possible.

Sun Shaozu admired the Jia family's power and influence, so he naturally inquired about Yingchun's situation.

This lady, Madam Shen, not only won the favor of the Empress, but also received special treatment from many noblewomen in the court.

Moreover, almost all of her classmates at the girls' school were quite influential.

Marry her and bring her home...

Sun Shaozu was filled with excitement and kept coaxing Jia She into laughing out loud.

Finally, feeling he had said enough, he said, "Uncle, I'm so happy today. Seeing you is like seeing my father again." He paused slightly, as if saddened, and continued, "His greatest regret before he passed away was that I hadn't married and had children." "Sigh..."

Jia She sighed, "Speaking of which, your mourning period is over, it's time for you to get married." He asked with a hint of concern, "Have you found a girl you like?"

"……uncle!"

Sun Shaozu immediately knelt down, "I beg you, Uncle, to show me some kindness this time. I... I heard that the Second Miss of your household is still unmarried, Uncle..."

Seeing Jia She's face change color, he wished he could swear to the heavens, "My nephew is indeed a bit old, but older people are more caring, as long as you..."

"Come here, see the guests off!"

He's grown a beard, and he still dares to make a move on his daughter?
Jia She's expression changed drastically. "Nephew, for the sake of our two families, I'll pretend I didn't hear what you just said. But there's one thing I must tell you: before you speak or act outside, take a good look at yourself in the mirror at home."

As he turned and left, Lin Zhixiao, who had just arrived, quickly gestured for Sun Shaozu to come forward.

The second daughter is the master's Achilles' heel.

Because of the second daughter's marriage, the master and the old lady had a fight a few days ago.

This guy surnamed Sun...

Lin Zhixiao looked at Sun Shaozu, who seemed very heroic, with disdain in his eyes.

This person is observing mourning for his family members; who knows if he might be bringing misfortune to them?
Their second daughter is such a good person!

There are countless men in the world, and even if their master closed his eyes and pointed, he wouldn't point to the Sun family.

"Lord Sun, please!"

Sun Shaozu: "..."

Does he think he didn't see the butler's look?

But he wanted to glare at her, but he forced himself to hold back.

Sometimes it's easier to see the King of Hell than to deal with his underlings.

He is still waiting for a vacancy in the Ministry of War.

"Steward Lin, please tell my uncle." As Sun Shaozu stood up, he took a purse from his pocket, and with a light flick of his finger, it landed in Lin Zhixiao's sleeve. "I was impetuous today. I will come to apologize another day."

"If there's anything you need, sir, you should go to the yamen and talk to our master there!"

Lin Zhixiao tucked his sleeve into his pocket to prevent his purse from slipping down, saying, "This house probably won't be convenient anymore."

what?
He sent out a red envelope containing ten taels of silver, and all he got in return was this comment?
Sun Shaozu was furious. "Yes, yes, I'll take my leave!"

He lowered his head slightly and left quickly.

But after he left, Jia She was still very angry. When he returned to Rongxi Hall, Yingchun was there with Xing Shi. The mother and daughter talked about something and laughed very affectionately.

"Dad~"

Seeing her father's pale face, Yingchun quickly stepped forward to help him up. "Didn't you say you had guests? Are you angry with them?"

"I encountered something that is not a thing."

Jia She was still angry.

He hadn't taken a liking to any of the many talented young men, yet this guy surnamed Sun didn't even bother to look at himself in the mirror before daring to ask for his daughter's hand in front of him.
He's old and from a poor family, which is understandable, but he's the only one in his family who's all alive and well and in great health.

This is clearly a curse on relatives!
In his early years, he didn't really believe in this, but because of Yingchun's marriage proposal, he used the birth chart and other methods to refuse some people who were hard to refuse.

To avoid being laughed at for being a novice, Jia She even studied the Book of Changes.

"Forget it, that's all in the past. I won't let him into the house again."

Fearing that saying it would offend his daughter's ears, Jia She changed the subject, saying, "When I just got back, I saw from afar that your sister-in-law was having people move some really beautiful green chrysanthemums into the garden. I heard that your Lin sister wanted them. Are they going to admire the chrysanthemums and compose poems again?"

"……Yes!"

Seeing her father's expression, Yingchun knew that the person who came had probably brought up her marriage again. "Sister Lin wants to start a chrysanthemum club. My mother and I were just talking about it."

"Then you should go and have some fun too!"

Jia She said, "After her Chrysanthemum Society event is over, you can ask for those chrysanthemums, and I'll take a look at them too."

"Eh~"

Yingchun couldn't help but laugh at her father's words, "Lin Daiyu also got two pots of particularly fine black chrysanthemums. I'll ask you and Mother for one later."

"Alright, alright, then Dad will wait."

The sisters can fight however they want, but if he, as their uncle, tries to steal his niece's flowers, the fourth sister should personally come and beat him up.

"what are you talking about?"

Xing was amused by the father and daughter, "So, when Min-meimei calls, she won't come after you, huh?"

She wanted to admire the chrysanthemums, so we just coaxed the old lady to go with her.

"Haha, she will never make a fuss with me over a pot of chrysanthemums again."

Yingchun helps her father coax her stepmother.

When she was about to leave, she ordered Siqi to find out who had come today and why her father had been so angry.

When nothing else happened in the evening, Siqi carefully reported the information she had gathered.

Of course, she was also quite angry.

What kind of nobodies dare to covet those girls?

"Manager Lin said that the man surnamed Sun will not be allowed to enter the house again."

"..."

Yingchun nodded and instructed, "Let's pretend we don't know anything about this from now on!"

Sun Shaozu?
This is definitely the first time I've heard this name, but why does it make me feel so gloomy?

"When you meet Ping'er later, just tell her that Father and Mother were both very angry today."

This matter should be left to my second brother.

Wasn't he supposed to be waiting for a vacancy? Just wait! (End of Chapter)