The Overlord of the Red Mansion

Chapter 160 The Busy Head of the Family
Last night, Jia Rong slept with his wife Jia Yuanchun and concubine Wang Xifeng, and simply comforted the eldest and second wives.

Early in the morning, Jia Yuanchun heard the sound of a door opening, and soon after, footsteps approached.

The candles in the house were relit, the incense in the bedroom was changed, and the windows were opened slightly for some fresh air.

Jia Yuanchun propped herself up, pushed Wang Xifeng away, and looked at Jia Rong who was sleeping inside, with a helpless look on her face.

At this time, the maid came over and whispered, "Master, it's time to get up and wash yourself."

When Jia Yuanchun heard the voice, she was startled all over. She quickly pulled open the bed curtain and looked outside, and saw Princess Jinling standing in front of the bed holding a basin of water.

"Princess! How can this be done? This was all done by the maid!" Jia Yuanchun quickly got up and put on a coat without caring.

Princess Jinling was furious, "Sister, why are you still like this? I just want to serve the master, but you're making excuses here, just like those bad mothers-in-law in the books who don't let the prince consort and the princess meet. You're always using rules to criticize others! You've ruined the good things between me and the master!"

Princess Jinling had just been with Jia Rong for a few days and had gotten used to the relationship. However, she was ignored by Jia Rong these days because of Jia Yuanchun.

Especially after everyone had dinner yesterday and agreed to it, Jia Rong still touched the two women instead of himself. The princess took the initiative to come over to serve Jia Rong and make a good impression, but Jia Yuanchun was talking nonsense here, annoyed the good-tempered girl.

Wang Xifeng and Jia Rong also stood up at this time, and Wang Xifeng looked at the scene awkwardly.

Jia Rong said with a smile: "Madam, please get up, and Jinling, come up and keep me company."

"Yes! Master~" Jia Rong has opened the door to a new world for Princess Jinling. From a lonely and helpless lady whose father had just died, she has completely stepped into the new world.

Jia Rong looked at the princess who was taking off her clothes and sitting on the edge of the bed, and then looked at Wang Xifeng who got out of bed and started to put on her clothes.

"By the way, you two go have someone clean up the yard, and tell the kitchen to prepare some good wine and food for tomorrow."

Jia Yuanchun looked at the shameless Princess Jinling and now accepted this matter.

"Okay, but please don't let anyone spread this matter around, so as to avoid any bad influence. We will naturally keep our mouths shut and no one will tell anyone."

Jia Yuanchun has already given in, and she is willing to cooperate as long as Jia Rong can control the situation.

Jia Rong said casually: "Of course, this matter is only known to me, this little hoof, and a few close confidants in the mansion. This little hoof is very serious outside~"

"Master~" Princess Jinling was not shy at all, but started to act coquettishly instead.

Her performance made Jia Yuanchun completely lose respect for the so-called royal nobles, and now she only felt fear for them.

Although I knew that most of the royal children were dissolute, and I was also aware that aristocratic families like my own were relatively chaotic, but for some reason I felt that the royal women must be chaste, well-educated and well-mannered.

After seeing the princess flirting beside Jia Rong's bed these days, I felt that this woman was no different from a prostitute.

Wang Xifeng put on her clothes and quickly asked, "Master, who is coming tomorrow? Is it a relative of the Wang family?"

"It's not the Wang family, it's the royal family." Jia Rong smiled.

Wang Xifeng frowned, "The surname Huang... Why can't I remember any relatives with the surname Huang in our family?"

Jia Rong saw Princess Jinling took off her clothes in a few seconds and got into bed. He patted the quilt and smiled, saying, "Your Majesty, the Queen and the Crown Prince will be here tomorrow, and there may be a Crown Princess as well. You just need to prepare today, clean up, and then watch over the preparations. Let Xichun wear a Taoist nun's clothes tomorrow, and unmarried girls should not come out tomorrow, otherwise they may be dragged out for marriage."

Wang Xifeng and Jia Yuanchun's hands and feet began to become uncontrollable.

"The Queen? How could she come to our house? Isn't this against the rules?"

Jia Yuanchun was still trying to reason.

Wang Xifeng stamped her feet anxiously, "Master! Why didn't you tell me earlier? It's too late in just one day. If you had told me last night, I would have given you instructions without even sleeping! It's too late!!"

Jia Rong was getting impatient, "You guys are so annoying! Go away! Stop bothering me!"

Jia Yuanchun and Wang Xifeng could only leave in a hurry. They no longer cared about Jia Rong and Princess Jinling, and hurried back to Tianxiang Tower to arrange things.

By the time the two of them rushed to Tianxiang Tower, it was already past eight in the morning, and the girls were having breakfast there.

Lin Daiyu saw the eldest and second wives coming in anxiously and was careful not to speak.

The others also saw the eldest and second grandmothers running in in a hurry, and they felt as if something big had happened.

"Qinyun! Send someone to call the old lady over! I have something to ask! And the old lady from the Zhen family, come over here too! All of them, come over here! All the maids, come over here too!"

Jia Yuanchun quickly called out to her maids.

Qin Yun, who was eating, stood up quickly, "Yes! Grandma! I'll go right away!"

Xichun asked curiously, "It's not too urgent to go after dinner, right?"

Jia Yuanchun glared at Xichun, "Go immediately! No one is allowed to visit relatives today. Qingyun, send someone to tell the gatekeeper that relatives scheduled to come in the next few days are not allowed to come! All the maids and servants in the mansion, stay home and work. If anyone makes a mistake, the whole family will get out!"

Jia Xichun didn't dare to say anything anymore, as Yingchun, who was standing next to her, blocked her mouth with a steamed bun.

Wang Xifeng also looked around anxiously, "Mrs. Zhen, go back to my courtyard and call all the maids and servants over. Leave a few of them to look after the children, and the rest to clean the courtyard. Then clean the whole house again as you would do during the New Year!"

The second grandmother of the Zhen family stood up and said, "Don't worry, second grandmother, I will take care of this. I just don't know what happened. Let us have some peace of mind."

Jia Yuanchun scolded, "I don't know what your master is thinking. He didn't tell us before, but suddenly told us this morning that the Empress and the Crown Prince will come over tomorrow. Stop asking and go invite the old lady of the Zhen family who has taken over the imperial throne!"

Wang Xifeng called out again, "Xiaolu, go and invite the Madam Tai over. Yinglian, go and wait for the master. When he's done, invite him over. The master will tell you what to do next."

"Yes!" Xiaolu and Yinglian stopped eating and started to work quickly.

Wang Xifeng said quickly, "Eat first! Only when you have a full stomach can you have the strength to work. We may be busy until very late tonight. Just ask the kitchen to make some noodles and steamed buns for lunch and afternoon. Use your free time to prepare food for tomorrow and the day after tomorrow!"

Jia Yuanchun also nodded, eating was indeed important.

"Eat quickly! Stop talking nonsense and making trouble! Baoqin, take the children to the courtyard over at Rong Mansion to read and write today. Don't let them make trouble here!"

Jia Yuanchun added, "Have Lin Zhixiao's wife notify each household to send over a few capable wives and old women to help, and then go to the storehouse to withdraw 30,000 taels of silver for backup."

Wang Xifeng said, "The master knows the seriousness of the matter. We are anxious but there is nothing we can do. We should send someone to ask the uncle about this matter so that we can get a reliable answer."

Jia Yuanchun nodded.

Xue Baochai said quickly, "My brother is in charge of the stables in the front yard. He can ride a horse and is familiar with the residences of the gentlemen in the city. Let him go."

Jia Yuanchun said quickly, "Okay, Sister Baochai, follow me today and take a look from the entrance to the garden. We also need to redecorate Tianxiang Tower."

Jia Yuanchun looked at Xichun and the others again, "Girls, go back quickly after eating. Those who are not married should not come here tomorrow. Xichun, the master wants you to wear nun clothes in the Taoist temple tomorrow. If you come out to make trouble, you will be sent outside to be a nun!"

Jia Yuanchun had to be strict with the willful Jia Xichun.

Jia Xichun soon became obedient. Seniority does not mean everything. Xichun was still very afraid of this older sister who was a dozen years older than her.

Soon, Lady Jia, Mrs. Wang, Mrs. You and others came over in a hurry to give orders, and the party was even more lively than the Chinese New Year.

Lin Daiyu and Shi Xiangyun stood in the corner, and Lin Daiyu whispered to Shi Xiangyun, "Look, now he is very energetic."

Shi Xiangyun couldn't help laughing, then quickly lowered her head and looked at Lin Daiyu with a reproachful look, blaming her for telling a joke that made her laugh.

Lin Daiyu said softly, "Let's go quickly. No one is watching us two poor little kids."

Shi Xiangyun found that the place was indeed very busy, and Jia Rong instructed that unmarried girls should not come tomorrow to avoid being forced into marriage arrangements.

"Where are you going to play? We are all cleaning now. Everything is a mess. The maids have all been borrowed to do the work."

Lin Daiyu rolled her eyes and said quickly, "Let's go feed the ducks. Brother Rong gave Xichun three white flying ducks. Xichun kept them in the house. Let's go and take a look while she is locked up in the nunnery."

"Okay!" Shi Xiangyun and Lin Daiyu quickly took advantage of the time when Xichun was pulled away to copy scriptures to secretly play with her pet duck.

On the other side, Jia Yuanchun and others also moved to the front yard and began to preside over various matters. They sent away all the relatives who came today and asked some people not to come.

Xue Pan rode his horse and stopped at the door. He ran into the east corner gate and saw Aunt Xue and Mrs. Wang waiting there. Aunt Xue asked quickly, "How is it? Is it true?"

Xue Pan replied, "It's true. He said he will leave the palace tomorrow afternoon and go to visit his uncle's family first. He may stay here overnight and return to the palace to celebrate the fifteenth day of the lunar month after breakfast the day after tomorrow."

Mrs. Wang asked anxiously, "Why don't you live with the emperor's uncle instead of with us? Isn't this against the rules?"

Xue Pan replied, "He said he was going to visit Princess Jinling on the orders of the Emperor, and that the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess would also come with him."

Mrs. Wang continued to ask, "What else did you say?"

Xue Pan said: "They said they would let our family entertain them well. They are also asking for details, but they only found out about it yesterday."

Mrs. Wang asked Aunt Xue to watch here and she hurried back to Jia Rong's front yard to report.

As soon as they entered the yard, Grandmother Jia came out of the house directly and walked to the door with the support of Yuanyang and Amber.

"What happened?" Grandmother Jia asked for further details.

Mrs. Wang repeated what Xue Pan had said, and confirmed that it was true. Moreover, the situation was more serious than what Jia Rong had said without making any distinction between the seriousness and the severity. There was a possibility that he would have to stay overnight, which meant that the amount of things to do increased by one or two times.

It's like realizing on the last day of summer vacation that you haven't finished your homework, and when you're scrambling to make up for it in the middle of the night, you suddenly find several pounds of test papers in your schoolbag. It's simply driving you crazy.

The old lady said anxiously, "The Duke has gone to work at the Imperial Hospital and hasn't come back yet. If he still has to go to work tomorrow, who will entertain His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?"

Mrs. Wang hesitated for a moment and asked, "How about calling Baoyu over?"

Jia Yuanchun was also sitting in the room giving orders. After hearing this, she frowned and thought for a while, then nodded and said, "Okay, let Baoyu get ready first, pack his clothes and luggage, and we'll talk about it after the master comes back in the evening."

When it comes to receiving important people, Jia Baoyu is quite good and he also knows princes and nobles like Prince Beijing.

Wang Xifeng sighed, "The master is the only man in our family who can be of use. The next generation is still young. We have to wait at least another ten years before we can relax."

Li Wan joked, "Just ask your master to have more children. He was pregnant with several babies last year. Now that nothing has happened this year, if you have ten or eight more, you will have enough people in the future."

Jia Yuanchun and Wang Xifeng now both feel that Jia Rong does have too few women, and the Jia family is now lacking women who can give birth to children.

Jia Rong left work early and went home at two o'clock in the afternoon, as usual not taking the organization's rules seriously.

It's because the organization doesn't take his off-get off work time seriously and often asks him to work overtime at night. Who can stand this?

When Jia Rong returned to his home and got out of the carriage, people quickly surrounded him.

"Master! The grandmothers are waiting for you in the front yard. The mansion is busy preparing for things today, but it's still too busy."

Jia Rong felt very annoyed. After entering the yard, he found that his home had changed. It was not so lively even during the Chinese New Year.

"master!"

The maids borrowed from each room were waiting in the front yard, ready to convey the grandmothers' various orders at any time.

These maids were all young and beautiful girls. Most of them were old maids in their early twenties who did not want to get married. There were also older girls of sixteen or seventeen, as well as many pretty little girls of twelve or thirteen.

Jia Rong quickly came into the room and sat down.

"That's about it. Just clean up the outside and give the Four Seasons Garden where the girls live to the Queen, the Crown Princess and other female relatives. Don't move the things inside."

After hearing this, Jia Yuanchun quickly said, "Why don't you live in Tianxiang Tower? Isn't Tianxiang Tower better?"

Jia Rong looked at her speechlessly, "The Queen lives in Tianxiang Tower, where should I live in the future? Should I build another tower?"

Jia Yuanchun defended herself, "I heard that the emperor's uncle had built a large garden for the queen's visit to her parents, and several imperial concubines in the palace also built gardens. But I heard that none of them stayed overnight when they returned to visit their parents. Is it in accordance with the rules to stay overnight at our house?"

Jia Rong didn't want to discuss whether there were rules or not. He couldn't say that things were rules just because they had to be followed, right?

"This is the emperor's intention, don't ask me." Jia Rong simply pushed it away, not thinking that he was the one who proposed this stupid thing.

Jia Rong's original intention was just to call the Queen over to save face for Wang Xifeng and let Wang Xifeng work honestly.

Seeing Jia Rong's attitude, Jia Yuanchun, the old lady and others were also helpless.

The old lady took the initiative to say: "Just follow the arrangements of the Duke. This is not a small family matter, it is a national matter. It is definitely right to listen to the Duke."

Jia Rong laughed and said, "The old lady is really good at judging people!"

The old lady was very embarrassed and didn't seem happy at all after being praised by Jia Rong.

Madam Wang asked carefully, "Duke, will you be home tomorrow?"

Jia Rong said, "The morning is the same as usual. In the afternoon, I will escort the Queen and the Crown Prince. I am not familiar with the Emperor's uncle. I will see if there is anything else with the Emperor tomorrow. If not, I will leave work early."

Madam Wang then asked, "If the master is not at home, who will accompany His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?"

Jia Rong frowned and thought for a moment, "Why does he need to accompany her? Isn't the prince going to be with the queen?"

The old lady of the Zhen family explained, "That's not the case. The queen should be led to the backyard by the women of the palace, the dowager lady and the eldest grandmother, while the prince should be led by the master and others, or they should chat and reminisce in the main hall, or visit the garden and study."

Jia Rong said helplessly: "Then I will come back early, and let the girls stay in my secluded place for a day tomorrow. Daiyu, Xiangyun, Baoqin, Qingwen, Yinglian, in short, all the pretty ones should hide away."

Jia Rong thought for a moment and said, "Keqing should also hide inside tomorrow. She is usually very beautiful and coquettish. It would be bad if she charmed the young men of the royal family who came with the crown prince. It could easily have a negative impact on the physical and mental health of the young people."

Wang Xifeng smiled bitterly and said, "Master! Stop telling jokes and settle things right now. If you are not here, can you let Baoyu come over to receive the male guests tomorrow?"

Jia Rong nodded and said, "Okay, Baoyu and Xue Ke will do. Forget about Xue Pan. That guy only speaks dirty words. If someone tells the queen, the Xue family will be finished."

Xue Baochai said hurriedly, "Master, don't worry. We will only assign him errands and tasks. We will never let him speak in front of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Jia Rong asked curiously, "Why not just ask for leave tomorrow? Why bother? He's not that busy at the Ministry of Works."

Jia Yuanchun nodded and said, "I have asked someone to tell him to take three days off. I have asked someone to prepare new clothes for my father and brother, and asked Baoyu to go to Prince Beijing's mansion to inquire about the specific procedures for welcoming the emperor."

"We always received the emperor before, but this time the empress is coming, it's really unprecedented, and I can't find anyone to ask about the rules."

Wang Xifeng said, "Tomorrow, all the men in the family should live outside. No one except those who work should stay at home overnight. No one is allowed to sleep in the house, not even lying down!!"

Seeing that they had made all the arrangements, Jia Rong said, "That's it. I'm tired after a day's work. You guys should also take a rest and have a meal. Don't tire yourself out."

Jia Yuanchun and others wanted to cry but had no tears, they just couldn't let go.

Wang Xifeng said with a smile, "Master, please go and have a rest. We are destined to be toilers! We cannot settle down if we don't do more."

As expected, Jia Rong went to rest.

The old lady said to Jia Yuanchun, "You should go and have some rest too. I saw you and Feng Yatou fainted from exhaustion a few days ago. What will happen if you get sick again?"

Jia Yuanchun was embarrassed. "I'm fine, but Yingchun is fine. When we're done with these things, let Yingchun marry in."

The old lady nodded and said, "That's fine. That poor child Yingchun can only live a good life if she follows a good man like your master."

Jia Yuanchun felt a little more at ease. Judging from the fact that the emperor sent the empress to visit her, he must have tacitly agreed to something.

However, Jia Yuanchun had no idea that the emperor and the empress had no idea that the princess had lost her virginity.

After all, the real Jia Rong has always been a well-behaved man who would wait for several years before taking a concubine. He is never impatient and never ruins the purity of a woman.

Unfortunately, no one has ever thought that Jia Rong would sometimes skip the emotional scenes directly.

Now that he has the ability, it is Jia Rong’s freedom to use it or not.

(End of this chapter)