The Overlord of the Red Mansion

Chapter 166: Jia Rong's Little Official

Jia Rong went out and turned left, glanced at the old eunuch Wei who was standing beside the emperor, then looked at the Tongtian Avenue outside in silence.

Eunuch Wei walked over carefully.

"What does Duke Ningguo want to tell you?"

The guards and young eunuchs nearby couldn't help but look at him sideways.

But no one dared to speak.

Jia Rong said, "Go and check who accompanied the Empress to my Four Seasons Garden yesterday and took anything away. I am too lazy to punish them. Forget about the silver, but just hand over the rest of what was taken."

Eunuch Wei said softly, "This is not my business. It is the business of Dai Quan, the eunuch minister in charge of the Queen's Household Department. I wonder what Duke Ningguo has lost? I will send someone to ask, maybe we can find it."

"Dai Quan." Jia Rong narrowed his eyes, "Okay, I understand."

Jia Rong walked out, mounted his horse in front of the emperor's gate, and rode away in full view of everyone.

This is the imperial palace, and it’s the entrance to the Qianqing Palace where the emperor works!
Horse riding is generally strictly prohibited, and horses are banned throughout the Forbidden City.

However, there are people riding horses in the Forbidden City, but this is the only one whose horse is parked at the gate of the Qianqing Palace.

Eunuch Wei didn't say much. After all, the emperor didn't say anything when he saw Jia Rong tie the horse to the railing at the door.

Soon, Eunuch Wei brought the eunuchs in. There were rarely any palace maids around the emperor, and most of the time he was served by eunuchs.

At this time, the emperor was talking to the prince. When Eunuch Wei came in, he asked, "What were you talking about at the door just now?"

Eunuch Wei answered carefully, "Duke Ningguo asked me about something. He said that when the Empress moved to Ningguo Mansion, something was lost in the mansion. He suspected that it was the Empress's maids and eunuchs who did it, so he asked me to investigate."

The emperor looked at the white-haired old eunuch, squinted his eyes and asked, "How did you respond?"

The prince also looked at the ballless old eunuch with white hair.

Eunuch Wei had been in the palace for many years and he clearly felt that the gaze was not because of Jia Rong, but was directed at him.

Eunuch Wei bowed his head and answered very carefully, "This matter is not under my jurisdiction. I have always been serving the emperor and I don't know about this matter. I said it was the matter of the eunuch Dai Quan in charge of the palace, and said I would help to ask."

"Duke Ningguo seemed a little unhappy and left."

Eunuch Wei was testing carefully, and he had to figure out as soon as possible whether the emperor had a problem with Jia Rong or with himself.

The emperor showed a thoughtful look, quickly stood up and said: "Go and ask now, set up the imperial study, and call the ministers who attended the court today to continue discussing state affairs."

Eunuch Wei was sweating profusely. He quickly agreed and carefully made way for the emperor and the prince to leave.

Eunuch Wei only breathed a sigh of relief after the emperor went to the imperial study.

I became even more afraid of Jia Rong.

Jia Rong had already gotten off work and went home early, and went straight to Tianxiang Tower to hang out with the girls.

Xue Baochai was the first to greet Jia Rong.

"The master came back early today. We had just finished dinner and were thinking about how to kill time when we saw the master coming back."

When Xue Baochai smiles, she is not as reserved as others. She just smiles slightly, often with her teeth showing, with a happy and familiar expression that makes it easy for people to feel her sincerity.

Jia Rong smiled and said, "If you have nothing else to do, come back early. I have already eaten in the palace. Let's go in and talk."

"Okay." Xue Baochai happily followed Jia Rong inside and said to the girls who were playing in the room, "The master is back, hurry up and clean up."

"It's okay. I'll go inside." Jia Rong walked through the main hall and went to the side hall where the grandmothers usually played cards and chatted.

The side hall is not as big as the main hall, but it is bigger than two rooms in an ordinary family's home and can accommodate more than twenty tables.

Normally, most of the tables are put away, and wooden screens and a small number of tables and chairs are placed on the ground. There are also carpets, vases, lamps, clothes hangers, potted plants, lounge chairs and other furniture on the ground.

Jia Rong sat down on a sofa-like chair, and Xue Baoqin and Xing Xiuyun came over to pay their respects.

"master."

The two greeted each other.

Jia Rong said, "Sit down and talk. I'll ask Daiyu to ask you what you have lost. Have you finished the count? Write a table for me to see."

Xue Baoqin smiled, "Sister Daiyu may have fallen asleep. Xiangyun and Yingchun went to the front yard to look for her, and they were inevitably fighting again. As for what the master said, we didn't see Daiyu and didn't count it."

Jia Rong took out his gold watch to check the time. He had been away from home for just over six hours, and Lin Daiyu seemed to be still asleep.

Xue Baochai advised, "Master, if something is lost, it is lost. Don't worry about such a small matter. When we made room to entertain guests, we should have packed up the important things. For example, I left mine with Sister Feng."

"If you ask me, they were just too careless in this matter. Let's not pursue it."

Jia Rong patted the empty seat beside him and said, "Okay, let's not pursue it. Daiyu thought that our servants were dishonest. I think you knew who was dishonest from the beginning."

Xue Baoqin and Xing Xiuyan sat on the chairs opposite each other and asked curiously, "Who stole it?"

Xue Baochai shook her head and didn't want to answer.

Jia Rong, however, was not so cautious. When Baoqin asked, he said directly, "It must have been the maids and eunuchs around the Queen and the Crown Princess. Maybe the Seventh Prince also took a lot."

Xue Baoqin instantly understood why Xue Baochai and Jia Yuanchun didn't want to discuss this matter.

Xing Xiuyan took the initiative to say, "It's not a lot of things that were lost, and it's nothing, so don't make trouble."

Qingyun came over with tea and said, "Master, Madam has already said that she will buy some more things to make up for the loss. Why is Miss Lin telling you this again?"

Jia Rong took the tea and put it aside. "She didn't dare to suspect that it was the Queen's people who did this. She thought that someone in the palace was dishonest. Seeing that the others were unwilling to speak out, she came to me."

"That's true. If you encounter problems, who else can you turn to if not me?"

Xue Baochai said, "I'm afraid this kind of thing will cause trouble for the master."

Jia Rong smiled and said, "I don't know how many times I have told you that as long as you don't bully others, it's fine. If others dare to bully you, no matter whether it's inside or outside the mansion, just tell me."

Xue Baochai sat next to Jia Rong and said with a smile, "What if we are bullied by the master?"

Jia Rong put his arm around the beautiful girl and said, "I only love you. Have you ever seen anyone I have bullied in the past ten years of marriage? I was reasonable with Yuanchun and said a few words at most. You have heard a lot of things from the outside world since you were a child. Have you ever seen a man who celebrates his wife's birthday every year and takes a few days every month to accompany his wife?"

Xue Baochai nodded, with a sincere expression in her eyes, "I have only met the master. Usually, after being married for many years, men wish their wives were dead and don't even want to see them. Some people say that men like to get promoted, get rich, and kill their wives. It is hard to find a good man like the master."

Jia Rong smiled and said, "Something happened on New Year's Day this year, so I didn't have time to go. I'll go and accompany Yuanchun in the evening. Husband and wife don't need gifts. Sleeping on the same bed and talking is better than those meaningless gifts."

Xue Baoqin looked at Jia Rong with envy. Becoming Jia Rong's woman was simply the best choice in this world.

Xue Baochai saw the look in Xue Baoqin's eyes, so she smiled and said, "Master, Baoqin and Xiuyan have been here for several years. Isn't it time?"

Jia Rong smiled slightly, "Then let's do it tomorrow. It just so happens that you and Miss Li are both here on the same day. Although I want to do it on the same day, girls are very particular about this day. Let's do it one by one. I'll accompany Yuanchun today, then Baoqin tomorrow, Yan'er the day after tomorrow, and then Li Wen and Li Qi. That's five days!"

Xue Baochai smiled and said, "Master, you are too busy!" Xue Baochai smiled at the others and said, "But everyone is happy~Haha~"

Xue Baoqin and Xing Xiuyan felt a little embarrassed, a little nervous, but also very relieved. Finally, a good time was set.

At this time Lin Hongyu ran in from outside.

"Is the master here?"

"In the wing."

Lin Hongyu walked in quickly under the guidance of her maid, with a serious expression.

"Master, Lord Wang Ziteng and his wife came to pay New Year's greetings. Lord Wang asked if you are free to meet him."

Jia Rong said casually, "Please come in. Qingyun, go and call Yuanchun, then call the old lady and Mrs. Wang over, and then ask someone to call the second wife over."

Xue Baoqin stood up and said, "Then let's step aside and have dinner at Four Seasons Garden tonight."

Jia Rong said, "Jia, Shi, Wang, and Xue are all old friends. It would be nice if they stayed and had dinner together. But tomorrow is your day. You and Yanmei should go back and prepare for the day after tomorrow with Miss Li. It's your own wedding. Of course, you can design the wedding room yourself. You can also ask Qingwen and Yinglian to help."

Xue Baochai smiled and said, "My mother and I will go over to help tomorrow. Today, I will meet my uncle first. I haven't seen my uncle and aunt since I came to the capital. I can't miss them."

Xue Baoqin understood very well, and quickly went with Xing Xiuyun and a dozen maids to prepare, and also called Miaoyu to participate in the design.

After a while, Jia Zheng brought three members of the Wang family into Tianxiang Tower.

Wang Xifeng and Jia Yuanchun were also ready to go out to greet them, as were a few girls who had just switched from playing around in their boudoirs to being ladies.

Jia Rong walked out and looked at Wang Ziteng and the other two who were approaching the door.

"Sir Wang, it's been a long time since we last met. Please come in."

Wang Ziteng, who was in his forties or fifties, said respectfully to Jia Rong, "Greetings to the Duke of Ningguo."

"No need to be so polite." Jia Rong smiled and went into the house and sat down with everyone else.

Jia Rong, Jia Zheng and Wang Ziteng were sitting at the same table.

Mrs. Wang, Jia Yuanchun, Jia Yuanchun's mother, the old lady, Aunt Xue, and Youshi were at the same table, a total of six people.

Too many people makes it seem crowded.

Miss Wang was at the same table with Wang Xifeng, Xue Baochai, Shi Xiangyun, Jia Xichun, and Jia Tanchun, also six people, making up the four families of Jia, Shi, Wang, and Xue.

Jia Tanchun's mother was Aunt Zhao, but Aunt Zhao committed a capital crime and died. Tanchun was raised by Lady Wang since she was a child, so she is naturally Lady Wang's daughter. Jia Xichun belongs to the Ning Mansion and has no contact with the Wang family. However, since Jia Yuanchun and Jia Rong are accompanying Lady Wang and Wang Ziteng respectively, it is natural that a legitimate daughter of the Ning Mansion should accompany the legitimate daughter of the Wang family.

Lin Daiyu, Yingchun and Li Wan sat at the same table. Yingchun's background was not good. Her father was the criminal Jia She, and her mother was a concubine who died early. Besides, there was no room for everyone at the other tables.

When it comes to allocating seats, the importance of blood relationships and seniority naturally becomes apparent.

While the maids were serving the dishes and the others were reminiscing about the past, Lin Daiyu whispered to Jia Yingchun, "Second sister, we are being left out in the cold."

Yingchun smiled and said, "I'll let you know how it felt to be on the bench before!"

Lin Daiyu said coquettishly: "Good sister~ I will definitely take care of you more in the future, let's go out more often~"

Since Lin Daiyu entered the Jia Mansion, especially in the Ning Mansion, she has always been given a grand reception. This is the first time she has sat in such a marginal position.

In comparison, I realized how Yingchun was treated in the past.

Li Wan said nothing, just smiled.

Yingchun asked curiously, "Sister Zhu, why didn't Baoyu come?"

Li Wan replied, "He went to visit Prince Beijing's mansion. Your master has no contact with Prince Beijing. Prince Beijing couldn't invite your master, so he invited Baoyu to visit and reminisce about the past. Master Zheng entertained Master Wang and called us to come and join him."

Lin Daiyu and Jia Yingchun both nodded.

Soon Yuanyang and Ping'er came over and sat down.

Ping Er smiled and said, "The master was afraid that you would be lonely, so he asked us to come over from the front yard to join you."

Lin Daiyu held Jia Yingchun's hands with both hands, leaned against Jia Yingchun and said with a smile: "Yingchun's lover is really caring~"

Yingchun blushed, "Behave yourself, why do you seem to have become a different person recently, you have become stupid!"

Not long after, Baoqin also came over, making a total of six people.

Lin Daiyu asked curiously, "Aren't the second and third sisters coming?"

Ping Er smiled and said, "They don't like to join in the fun. Sister Qin and they ate by themselves in the room."

Lin Daiyu asked curiously, "Where are Baoqin and Sister Yan? And why didn't Sister Li come?"

"Oh, sister Daiyu, you have so many questions." Ping'er said with a smile, "Master said that tomorrow I will accompany sister Baoqin, the day after tomorrow I will accompany sister Xiuyan, and the next two days it will be sister Li. The four of them have gone back to eat. I have to go over to help decorate the courtyard later. Madam Zhu should also go over to have a look, to make it more lively."

Li Wan said happily: "This is a good thing! I will definitely go and help!"

Jia Yingchun looked at Lin Daiyu and said, "Now you are the only one left."

Lin Daiyu laughed and said, "There is also Miss Shi!"

Jia Yingchun retorted: "She is a grown-up girl, so you are a little girl? You are one year older than her!"

"I'm just a little girl~" Lin Daiyu was very thick-skinned and pretended to be young.

At this time, Baoqin said to the others, "Grandma asked you to keep your voice down."

Lin Daiyu and others quickly behaved themselves and hastened to resume their ladylike behavior.

Especially Lin Daiyu, who lowered her head and held the bowl and chopsticks in both hands, looking as if she had been bullied by someone, looking weak and pitiful.

When Jia Yingchun saw this, Lin Daiyu also raised her head and looked at her. The two of them almost couldn't help laughing, and then they quickly lowered their heads to eat.

After they quieted down, the old lady stopped talking to Mrs. Wang Ziteng to cover for him, and she no longer had to cover up for Lin Daiyu and Jia Yingchun's rude jokes.

Once both tables were quiet, they could naturally hear the conversation at the main table.

Wang Ziteng said at this time: "During the time I was away from the capital, I was very grateful to Duke Ning for speaking for me in the capital. Otherwise, I would not have been able to live in peace, and I would not have been appointed as the inspector of nine provinces by the emperor."

Jia Rong said: "I didn't say anything. It's all Lord Wang's own credit."

Jia Xichun whispered to Jia Yuanchun, "What official position is this? How high is his rank?"

Jia Rong answered directly: "He is a first-rank official, and there are only ten of them in the entire court."

Jia Yuanchun frowned and looked at Jia Xichun, but she didn't know how to get angry.

Jia Xichun is both her sister and her aunt, and in the Ning Mansion she is an aunt who is older than her in generation. She cannot speak ill of this elder in front of outsiders, otherwise it would seem unruly.

At this time, an old woman came quickly outside.

The old woman said quickly, "Master, there is a eunuch outside the door who said he is the godson of Wei, the chief secretary of the Imperial Household Department. He brought a cart of things and said that the things were returned to their original owners. He is still waiting outside."

Wang Ziteng stood up quickly and wanted to greet him, but saw that Jia Rong had not stood up yet.

Fortunately, Jia Xichun looked over here and asked, "What official position is this Wei, the Minister of Ceremonies?"

Jia Rong smiled and said, "He is just an old eunuch who is here to deliver messages. Just accept the gifts and let him go back."

Wang Ziteng said quickly: "Duke Ningguo, shouldn't we go out and take a look?"

Jia Rong said nonchalantly, "No need, I'll just tell Eunuch Wei tomorrow."

Seeing this, Wang Ziteng had no choice but to sit down and continue eating.

Jia Zheng didn't dare to speak, and he felt his hands getting a little nervous.

The old lady couldn't help but said, "Why don't you give them some money? They made a special trip in the middle of winter."

Jia Rong said casually, "Okay, Xiaohong will go out for a while and ask the storehouse to give him ten taels of silver."

"Yes!" Xiaohong quickly went out to pass on the message.

The old lady wanted to say a few more words, but was pulled to sit down by Lady Wang and Jia Yuanchun.

Wang Xifeng felt strange and asked in a low voice: "What rank is this official?"

"Fourth rank." Jia Yuanchun replied in a low voice.

When Wang Xifeng heard this, she laughed and said, "It's not a big deal."

Wang Ziteng's wife and daughter both looked at this uneducated woman from the Wang family.

Although Wang Xifeng was uneducated, she was not stupid. She quickly realized that she might have said something wrong, so she quickly used her elbow to ask Jia Xichun for help.

Jia Xichun was quite clever, and quickly asked Jia Rong, "Is this fourth-rank official powerful?"

Jia Rong smiled and said, "You are just a small official of the fourth rank. Don't let your imagination run wild. Just eat your food. You don't need to worry about the affairs of state, and don't talk about them."

Not long after, Wang Ziteng and his wife quickly took the girl away, leaving behind eight large boxes of gifts.

Jia Rong took Wang Xifeng and the maids into the house to open the boxes and choose gifts, and then distributed gifts to the girls and wives and concubines.

Jia Xichun got an ivory-carved bear.

Xue Baochai asked curiously at this time: "Sister, what's the matter with the young official that the master just mentioned? Why did my uncle and the others become absent-minded after hearing about it?"

Jia Yuanchun sighed, "He is the emperor's eunuch who writes for him, who reviews memorials and writes documents to make corrections. He can be said to be the eunuch in the palace, with great power in the court."

In fact, he is equivalent to the emperor's secretary, and an experienced eunuch who has followed the emperor for more than 20 years.

Except for Jia Rong, no one else dared to be so arrogant towards this eunuch.

Many first-rank officials in the imperial court have died. Even though Wang Ziteng is now a first-rank official, he dare not stand up straight in front of Eunuch Wei.

Wang Xifeng smiled and said, "We have even received the Queen in our home, so what are we afraid of?"

The grandmothers of the Zhen family were silent at this time. Their previous generation had received the emperor several times, but they still could not escape the fate of having their property confiscated.

Jia Yuanchun learned her lesson this time. Even though she was nervous, she still comforted the old lady and Mrs. Wang not to talk to Jia Rong.

It’s no use trying to persuade him.

Shi Xiangyun and others quickly found their lost items in the carriage that came in from the yard.

Except for the silver, most of the rest was returned.

Shi Xiangyun took her gold lock and handed an embroidered bag to Lin Daiyu.

"Daiyu, I remember you spent half a month embroidering this embroidery bag. I give it to you."

After Lin Daiyu took the cloth bag, she threw it directly into the fire altar in the yard.

"I don't want my used things stolen by some filthy person even if they are returned to me!!"

Lin Daiyu was very angry at this time and didn't even look at the carriage.

Jia Rong was checking the lost items. He checked the carriage and found some handkerchiefs, teacups, plates, small antiques and the like.

After leaving the rest of the work to Yuanyang, Jia Rong said to the angry Lin Daiyu: "Sister Daiyu, go and have a rest. You are angry and stay up late and have irregular sleep and rest. Look, you have taken all the blame. Go back and look in the mirror. There are dark spots under your eyes."

"Really?" Lin Daiyu no longer cared about being angry and quickly covered her face with her hands to prevent Jia Rong from seeing it.

Soon Lin Daiyu was sent home by Jia Rong to sleep, while Jia Rong and Jia Yuanchun went back to their room to sleep.

(End of this chapter)