Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 190 He's after my daughter!

Lu Jie stayed for dinner, and afterwards he recited several poems and essays he had recently written and gave them to Yan Song and his son for their appreciation. He then critiqued several of Yan Song's calligraphy and paintings before the gathering ended.

Yan Shu personally saw him off to his sedan chair, and then hurriedly returned to Yan Song's room.

As she stepped through the door, she brushed past the maidservant beside Madam Jiang.

Yan Shu watched the maid's retreating figure, then entered the room and asked, "Why has the maid of the Jiang family suddenly come here?"

Yan Song said, "The eldest daughter of the Lu family has indeed been quite a handful these past few days since she returned to the manor."

Yan Shu immediately understood that while the father and son were meeting with Lu Jie, Yan Song had already quietly sent someone to the Jiang family to inquire about Lu Jia.

He said, "Who cares about her? As long as she has the status of the eldest daughter of the Lu family, nothing else matters. She has no one to rely on anymore and can only obey the orders of her biological father and stepmother."

"The Lu family and the Shen family are a perfect match. By sending Lu Jia to the Shen family for marriage, we can firstly bind the Shen family to us, and secondly, we can keep the Shen family's movements under our control."

“But this girl does seem unreliable,” Yan Song said slowly. “After she entered the manor, she clashed with Mingyi many times. Stepmothers and stepdaughters are not close, and she has been away from home for many years. Whether she was provoked or resentful, in short, whether it is Mingyi’s side’s words or Lan Chu’s words about her, she does not seem to be the kind of person who can do things for us.”

Yan Shu paused for a moment: "That little girl is too arrogant because she is the eldest daughter of the Lu family. Let her suffer a bit and learn her lesson, and she will behave herself."

Yan Song chuckled: "You call her a little girl, but she already knows how to ask her father to take care of her adoptive mother's business."

He pushed over Liang Jun's case file, which Lu Jie had left behind, and said, "Lan Chu just begged me to release Liang Jun. He said it was that girl's idea."

Yan Shu frowned after reading it: "This girl is not simple. But in this way, I feel even more..."

“There’s no need to ‘feel’ anymore.” Yan Song paced back and forth, hands behind his back. “She grew up in a merchant family, so her perspective is ultimately limited. We can’t let someone like that take risks, because it’s very likely that she’ll be taken advantage of by the other party.”

Yan Shu looked thoughtfully at the ground and did not argue further.

Yan Song slowly continued, "Liang Jun's case isn't that closely related to Yang Chengfang's. It was just to eliminate any potential threats, so they were arrested."

"Now that so much time has passed and the Yang family line has long since died out, there's no point in keeping them locked up any longer."

"To this day, the person who spyed on the grain ship has not been found. It's always troublesome to keep that batch of grain; it really should be disposed of."

"But we still can't hand it over to the Liang family."

He glanced at Yan Shu.

Yan Shu said, "After all, Lan Chu asked for a business deal. If we refuse him like this..."

“That’s easy,” Yan Song said. “The grain will be handled by the Xie family, just don’t let the Liang family get involved.”

"Also, don't bother with any more trouble, just release them."

"First thing tomorrow morning, have someone draft a memorial and submit it to the Grand Secretariat, and I will present it to the Emperor. Let's get this over with quickly, so as not to embarrass the Lu family."

……

Yang Bonong brewed tea at Zelan Hall, east of the Lu family's residence.

As soon as Lu Jie entered, he immediately put down the teapot and went to take his cloak.

Lu Jie sat down beside the incense burner, warmed his hands, and said, "This trip wasn't so smooth after all."

Yang Bonong was stunned, then poured a cup of tea and stepped forward: "With you, sir, how could anything not be accomplished?"

Lu Jie took the tea, his face turning cold: "They seem to be after my daughter."

Yang Bonong realized the gravity of the situation and dared not delve too deeply into it. He changed the subject: "What about Lord Liang's matter?"

Lu Jie took two sips of tea and then said, "He's not in serious trouble. I suggest that they hand over the grain from Tongzhou Wharf to the Liang and Xie families for them to handle first."

"If the Liang family succeeds, then we'll release Liang Jun as a matter of course."

"Of course, I said it was Jiajia's idea."

After hearing this, Yang Bonong suddenly realized: "The Liang family was innocently implicated and suffered thirteen years in prison. Even if he is released, how can Grand Secretary Yan believe that the Liang family can still be used for his own purposes?"
"But he can't directly offend the adults, so he might just release the person to gain favor."

He breathed a sigh of relief at this point: "In that case, they probably won't try to take advantage of the young lady anymore. They probably wouldn't even look at the young lady that the adults are talking about."

Lu Jie twirled the cup in his hand: "I can only say, I hope so."

……

Although Lu Jie maintained close ties with the Yan family, he was actually very busy with official duties and rarely visited them in person. Most of the time, they met at the yamen (government office).

According to past practice, the couple should have gone together to present the Laba Festival gift this year, but he claimed that he was busy with other matters and that Mrs. Jiang went alone.

So when he suddenly went there yesterday, Madam Jiang couldn't help but be curious. Not long after, Yan Song sent someone over to ask about Lu Jia's recent situation after returning to the mansion.

How could Chiang Kai-shek not reveal everything?
Fearing that the messenger might not convey the message clearly, he specifically called over his maid to give instructions.

However, the maid returned without bringing any news.

After breakfast, she casually examined the wedding dress that Lu Ying had sent over for her to see, when Longxiang came in through the curtain.

"Madam, the Yan family has come to see the master."

Jiang asked, "What are you doing?"

Longxiang stepped forward: "It was Lord Yan who sent this message to Master. I was standing outside and only heard the gist of it. It was that the person Master asked to be released at the Yan family yesterday has been released. It was also said that the task of finding the eldest young lady's foster mother has been handed over in the same way. He asked if Master was satisfied?"

Jiang paused for a moment: "Did he go to the Yan family yesterday because of Lu Jia?"

Longxiang nodded.

Jiang's expression immediately darkened. "I asked him to come with me to the Yan family to deliver gifts, but he wouldn't go. That girl just said one word, and he went there like a puppy."

She pursed her lips and took a deep breath: "What kind of job did he ask the Xie family for?"

"The Yan family didn't say."

Jiang paused for a moment, then waved for her to leave.

After sitting for a while, she stood up again: "How's the matter I asked Guo Lu to handle a while ago going?"

The maid outside the door didn't dare ask any more questions and immediately turned around and went out to find someone.

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Guo Lu arrived, covered in mud and water, his shoes half-soaked.

Jiang frowned: "What's the matter with you?"

Guo Lu wiped away the sweat that had broken out in the cold weather: "Replying to Aunt, I have been keeping an eye on Yanzi Hutong these days, but the guards hired by the Xie family are really powerful. Not only can I not enter their residence, but I can't even get within a few dozen steps of their gate!"

Jiang stared intently: "Where did a small merchant family get such powerful guards? I think you're all a bunch of useless trash!"

"Madam!" As soon as she finished speaking, someone called from outside the door, "Madam Yan has sent someone to invite you to the mansion for a chat."

(Ask for monthly ticket)