The Overlord of the Red Mansion

Chapter 136 Eighth Aunt
It’s mid-August and the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching.

The girls were making rabbit lanterns with the children in the house.

Yuanyang came in from outside, took a look and then walked over to the girls.

"Sister Tanchun, do you know how to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival this year?"

Tanchun raised her head and said, "Ask Sister Feng about this. She is definitely in charge this year."

Xue Baochai's maid Ying'er gave up her seat to Yuanyang, "Madam Jin, please take a seat."

After hearing this, Jin Yuanyang said with a blushing face: "How come you are just as eloquent as Xiaohong."

Ying Er smiled and said, "Thank you for the compliment, Aunt Jin. I don't have the good fortune like Aunt Lin."

Xue Baochai didn't want to talk about this topic, and said, "Why is Sister Yuanyang asking about the Mid-Autumn Festival? Wasn't it always arranged by Sister Yuanchun and Sister Feng in previous years?"

The maids brought tea. Jin Yuanyang sat down and held the teacup and said, "Tomorrow is the festival. The old lady didn't show any intention of coming over today, so I asked her so that I can arrange the things I have in advance."

Xing Xiuyan joked, "You have something else to worry about right now, but what could be more urgent than getting pregnant?"

Shi Xiangyun and the others all looked at Jin Yuanyang, and Yingchun asked curiously, "Are you pregnant?"

Jin Yuanyang said shyly: "The master has only been back for less than half a month, how can it be so fast!"

Yingchun asked: "How long does it usually take?"

How could Jin Yuanyang say this to a group of girls? "You can ask Second Madam. Everyone in her courtyard knows about it. Ping'er and I went there to ask."

At this time Jia Yuanchun came down from upstairs.

"grandmother!"

Ning Mansion's eldest lady Jia Yuanchun came down from upstairs. The stairs in the hall were divided into left and right, but there was also a wide main staircase in the middle leading to the upper floors.

When Jia Yuanchun came down the four-meter-wide stairs with her eight maids, she was like the queen entering a banquet.

Family members also have to follow the rules. Jin Yuanyang stood up quickly, and Lin Daiyu and others also stood up.

Tanchun pulled Xichun up, but Xichun looked unwilling.

"Sister." The girls all greeted politely.

Jia Yuanchun smiled and said, "Sisters, sit down and play. Have you all eaten?"

Lin Daiyu and others replied, "We have eaten."

Jia Rong had to go to court in the morning and would not eat with his family.

Because the feudal ethics and rules in the family were as chaotic as the seniority hierarchy, Jia Yuanchun and Jia Rong did not go to greet Youshi or serve her meals, so naturally there was no need for the others to come and greet Jia Yuanchun.

Therefore, everyone came up with a compromise, which is to try to play in the hall as much as possible, which can be regarded as a family gathering.

Xichun used to be very well-behaved in the Jia family, but she has become lawless since she came back.

Xichun said directly: "Yuanyang just asked how to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, whether the east and west sides celebrate it together or separately."

Jia Yuanchun nodded and said to Yuanyang, "We will live separately this year and live our own lives."

After hearing this, Xichun asked curiously, "Didn't the Duke say he would pick me up when he came back a few days ago?"

That was what Jia Yuanchun said, Jia Rong didn't agree.

Jia Yuanchun said, "The master has gone to court and will probably be back in the evening. There are a lot of things going on at home these days. If you have any questions, go to Second Madam and ask her."

Jin Yuanyang said quickly: "Then I'll go ask about dinner tomorrow and other matters."

Jia Yuanchun sighed, looked at Jin Yuanyang and asked, "Has Xiren come to see you these days?"

Yuanyang shook her head. "I didn't pay attention to this matter. I've been busy recently. Qingwen is also busy managing the new maids. Ping'er and Xiaohong are also very busy. I haven't seen Xiren."

Jia Yuanchun said: "Xiren's mother died and she wanted to go back to stay for a few days, but the old lady asked her to continue to take care of the family's festival affairs. This morning she asked someone to tell me about this."

Yuanyang had nothing to say; he couldn't get a word in on such matters.

Jia Rong could say whatever he wanted, even scold the old lady with a smile, but that was Jia Rong.

If Yuanyang dares to say anything bad about the old lady, she will have no chance of staying in Ning Mansion.

The old lady's deterrent power is still there. Even though Jia Rong has done tricks on her many times, the old lady can still influence the fate of many people in Ning Mansion.

Yuanyang was the old lady’s former maid, and this relationship was like that of a son and grandson, which could not be washed away.

Disrespecting the old lady is ungrateful and a betrayal of your master.

Just as Jia Yuanchun and Yuanyang were thinking about how to solve the Xiren problem, a man walked in from outside.

Jia Rong!

It’s Jia Rong!
"Master!" Xue Baochai quickly stood up and greeted.

Jia Rong didn't like maids following him wherever he went, and he also didn't like the old woman and maids shouting to alert the people in the house when he went outside the girl's courtyard. So when he came back, the maids and servants in the house all kept quiet.

There's no need to shout in the yard or outside, and there's no need to say hello at other times. He's just such an unruly person.

Jia Yuanchun walked over to greet him, "Master, why didn't you come to court today?"

Jia Rong laughed and said, "I was halfway out of the house when I suddenly remembered that the emperor told me to wait until after the festival before going to court. Haha, I forgot! So I went out to eat breakfast at a roadside stall and came back only after I was full."

"When a person is busy, he tends to forget things, hahaha!"

Jia Rong was in a good mood. "I just happened to be free, so I went to Rongguo Mansion to have a look. Last time, the emperor allowed me to connect the two places, saying that other people's homes have large gardens, and asked me to build a garden as well. He said it many times, and I can't refuse."

Seeing that Jia Rong was in a good mood, Jia Yuanchun said, "Master, Xiren sent a message today saying that her mother had died and she planned to go back to mourn."

Jia Rong frowned, "What does this have to do with me? It's not me who did it."

Shi Xiangyun stood up and said, "Big brother, please help Xiren. The old lady doesn't seem to like her and won't let her go back."

"Go back, what are you afraid of?" Jia Rong smiled unhappily and said disdainfully, "Let Xiren go back to mourn for her mother. When she comes back from mourning for seven days, she can settle the matter with Jia Baoyu. How many years have been wasted on such a trivial matter!"

Shi Xiangyun smiled and said, "Big brother, think about whether you are like this."

Jia Rong was extremely shameless. "I have a lot of things to do. I have been very busy these days."

Jia Yuanchun said, "Master, we have almost spent all the money for the festival this year, and many people from the Zhen family have come here. We are in a bit of a tight spot now. Can you give us some more?"

Jia Rong said, "I heard from Xue Pan that Jia Baoyu should give at least two taels of silver to a servant boy after they get intimate with each other, but Xue Pan didn't have enough pocket money so he only gave one tael. As a result, Xue Pan's servant boy also wanted to follow Jia Baoyu, and the two guys almost got into a fight again."

Jia Yuanchun's face turned red. The reason why she was embarrassed most of the time over the years was all caused by those people in the west.

Xue Baochai, who had been planning to watch the fun, also felt ashamed at this moment.

Jia Rong simply cannot live a day without saying something bad about others, but it's his fault that Jia Baoyu and Xue Pan have done so many embarrassing things.

It is true that the story was exaggerated, but it is true that Jia Baoyu gave a tip to the servant.

Jia Rong continued, "I didn't believe Xue Pan's words at first. I think after so many things happened, your brother should understand some truth and be frugal."

"As a result, I sent someone to investigate and found out that your brother is really generous. Not to mention silver, he even gave away the handkerchiefs and sweat towels that Xiren knitted for him, and even his underwear. I have been in seclusion for four or five months now, and I wear the same pants as him... Forget it, I don't want to say it anymore."

Jia Rong didn't want to talk alone, so he waved his hand and said, "I'll go see how Huifang Garden and Rongfu can be connected to make a bigger garden. Jia Baoyu is now surrounded by men and women, and the beautiful maids from the Zhen family are accompanying him to kiss and feed him rouge. If it doesn't work out, send him back to Jinling to enjoy his life."

Jia Yuanchun suddenly thought this was a good idea. If Jia Baoyu went back to Jinling, the old lady and the wife would also go back, and then there would be peace and quiet.

"I'll go ask." The more Jia Yuanchun thought about it, the more it seemed like a good deal. Jinling was the Jia family's territory, so the old lady would definitely agree.

There is also the Rongguo Mansion in Jinling. Although it has now become the Jia Mansion, it is actually Jia Baoyu's home.

Soon Jia Yuanchun told the old lady about this.

The old lady also heard some of the things Jia Rong said about Jia Baoyu.

"Alas, Baoyu is still a child who has not grown up." The old lady complained, and then said, "It's better to go back. The Jia and Shi families are both in Jinling. We should have gone back a long time ago. Let your father continue to live in the Jia Mansion. When the Duke helps your father get an official position, he can take up the position as soon as possible."

Jia Zheng and his companions are now living in the Lai family's mansion, which is quite large for a family of several people, but it is indeed very uncomfortable to live in.

Madam Wang said, "It is indeed better to go back. The Jia, Shi, Wang, and Xue families are all in Nanjing. Your master is now a duke. We have to be careful everywhere in the capital. It is better to go back and have more freedom."

Both the old lady and Mrs. Wang, as well as Jia Zheng and Jia Yuanchun, agreed with this matter.

Jia Baoyu disagreed, but there was nothing he could do.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, Xue Pan escorted Jia Zheng, Jia Baoyu, and old lady Wang Fu-ren back home.

When they left the capital, they were drugged on the first night. When they woke up the next day, their money and valuables were gone...

In the end, he could only sell some jewelry and rely on the money left by the old lady, his wife and other female relatives to barely return to Jinling.

When Jia Rong, the governor of the Beijing camp, learned about this, he was furious. It took him only three hours to find the stolen goods. He then sent someone to send Hua Xiren back to Nanjing for a reunion.

As autumn approached, Jia Rong suddenly felt much more bored after the people from the west left.

Autumn is a season that easily brings sadness. Jia Rong remembered that the Minister of Rites seemed to have offended him.

These were all things that happened a long time ago, but anyone who could pass the imperial examination and become the top scorer must have a good memory.

It was a dark and windy night, and Jia Rong, who hadn't exercised for a long time, felt a long-lost burst of blood.

Almost half a year later, the dark assassin who frightened the emperor appeared again!

Jia Rong returned home and took a nap. The next day, when he was busy collecting bribes in the Imperial Hospital, he was called over by the Emperor again.

"My dear Lord Jia! The assassin appears again!" The emperor was a little scared.

Jia Rong wondered why the emperor was so scared. He suddenly remembered that the last time the assassin appeared, some were killed and some were injured. The emperor was a heavyweight victim, so it was normal for him to be scared.

Jia Rong smiled and said, "Your Majesty! This is a happy event! According to my observation, the assassin is now old and weak, and it takes several months for him to act again. Now that he has come out in August or September, we can rest easy for the next six months!"

The emperor was surprised and asked, "Really?"

Jia Rong immediately became cautious. "I'm not sure, but the assassin seems to have been doing this for the past ten years. As for why he attacked the Minister of Rites this time, I want to investigate and see if there are any commonalities between the cases. Maybe I can find the assassin's motive for committing the crime."

Seeing how professional Jia Rong was, the emperor immediately felt much more at ease.

"allow!"

***
Jia Rong went home early.

As soon as he returned home, Jia Yuanchun and Wang Xifeng, who were busy checking accounts and counting assets in the front yard, came out.

"Master, why are you leaving court so early today?"

Jia Rong sat down in the room, and Qingwen came over to bring him water.

Jia Rong leaned back on the cushioned chair and sighed, "The emperor suspected that the Minister of Rites had a problem and asked me to go over and investigate. He might confiscate his property again. It's not easy to be an official in the capital this year. Many people died and many people had their property confiscated."

Jia Yuanchun and Wang Xifeng always had a strange feeling, as if all the court ministers were working with their brains on edge.

Wang Xifeng said quickly, "As long as our family is fine, it's fine. Master, you have worked hard. Have some tea."

Jia Rong took the tea and put it aside. "I'm not thirsty. We should keep a low profile and not care about outside affairs. You must get my consent before accepting money. You can accept money from officials, but don't care about those small families, and don't accept money from them."

"Being an official is all about having a stable career and connections. If something goes wrong, it's not a big deal. If small people come to me and give me money and beg me, then I have a lot to do. I don't know if these people are good or not, so I don't want to help them."

Hearing Jia Rong's words, Wang Xifeng quickly said, "Yes! The master finally understands!"

Jia Rong thought about something. After seven or eight seconds of contemplation, he raised his head and looked at Jia Yuanchun. "I've been under a lot of pressure these days. Let Yingchun come to accompany me in the evening."

Jia Yuanchun nodded and said, "Okay, I'll go back and tell her what to be careful about."

I already knew this day would come, and I also saw how hard it was for Jia Rong to be an official and how hard he was working to support the family.

Just by listening to it, one feels that being an official is too difficult. In order to make Jia Rong happier, Jia Yuanchun quickly called Tanchun and Yingchun into the room and told them how to comfort Jia Rong.

Although Jia Rong only asked Yingchun to come, when he saw Yingchun and Tanchun coming together, he was particularly satisfied with Jia Yuanchun!

After Tanchun entered the room, she smiled and said, "Master, my sister said that you have been under a lot of pressure recently, so she asked us to come over to drink with you to relieve your boredom."

Jia Rong sighed and said, "Yes, it's not easy to be an official. If I didn't have a big family to support, I really want to resign and even give up the title of Duke."

Yingchun came over and sat down, and said to Jia Rong who was sitting on the couch, "Let me rub your shoulders for you, Master."

Jia Rong nodded, "Okay, come behind me and help rub my shoulders. I've been very busy in the Imperial Hospital recently. I have to do a lot of things every day, and my shoulders and neck are very sore."

Tanchun sat on the other side and asked curiously, "Is it so tiring to attend court? But I heard that you often leave court very early, Master."

Jia Rong said: "Coming back early doesn't mean I have nothing to do. After I come back, I have to prepare things for the emperor the next day, and I have to think carefully about various things and try to figure out his intentions."

"You've all heard what happened to those ladies in the Zhen family, right? If I don't work harder, our family will end up like them. I often feel a lot of pressure, and sometimes I wake up suddenly in the middle of the night."

Jia Rong sighed, "You are not in charge of the family, so you don't know how many of my colleagues die every day, and you can't understand my sorrow."

Tanchun could already empathize a lot. Just from the young ladies of the Zhen family and the people in the Zhen family who had died, she could feel the despair.

After hearing what Jia Rong and Jia Yuanchun said, she said softly, "It's all because the men in our family are not good enough. The master is the only one in the family who can take care of things. I'm sorry that the master has been wronged. If there is anything that we women can do, please ask for it."

Jia Rong said with relief: "I will be satisfied if you can understand me a little. Go and ask Qingwen to prepare some wine, and we will have some fun here tonight."

Yingchun agreed: "Okay! We will stay here today!"

Jia Rong stretched out his arms and hugged the two graceful girls, "Let's have some fun tonight and play some games together."

It really was a game... Jia Rong, sixteen-year-old Yingchun, and thirteen-year-old Tanchun played a poetry chain game, and also rowed and skipped rope.

At night the two girls went to live with the maids, and the 24-year-old Jia Rong had another big fight with the 24-year-old Yuanyang and the 23-year-old Ping'er.

Yuanyang has been left out by Jia Rong since she was seventeen years old. She has been waiting anxiously for seven years!!!

Ping'er also waited for several years. When Fengjie was pregnant, she said she would give her to Jia Rong so that he could have a son. However, Fengjie's daughter was almost ten years old, and she still didn't make any move.

No matter whether you are one of Jia Rong's family or an outsider, it is not easy to get into Jia Rong's car.

Half a month later, Yuanyang and Ping'er successfully entered the starting line and both became pregnant!
They both started crying, tears of happiness streaming down their faces.

Following Wang Xifeng, Qin Keqing, Baoqin, You Erjie and You Sanjie, Jia Rong's sixth concubine Yuanyang and seventh concubine Ping'er successfully became mothers.

Qingwen, Xiaohong, Xue Baochai, Xing Xiuyun, the Li sisters, Zhen Yinglian, who is the eighth aunt?
There are at least hundreds of maids who want to be aunts. All the pretty maids in Ning Mansion are dreaming.

If Qingwen and others hadn't brutally suppressed those vixens, the battle would have only become more intense.

(End of this chapter)