The Overlord of the Red Mansion

Chapter 184: Xichun
Li Wan looked at herself in the mirror and found herself beautiful and charming.

Although she was clearly forced by Jia Rong, there was no sadness on her face. Instead, she showed an involuntary joy.

"Grandma."

Li Wan heard the sound outside the door and quickly said, "Come in."

This is Tianxiang Tower. It is already night and the girls have all gone home.

Soon Caixia and Caiyun came in.

Caixia lowered her head and said, "Grandma, Great Grandma and Madam asked us to follow Sister Li and serve her from now on."

When Li Wan saw that it was Caixia who had followed Lady Wang just now, she knew that she wanted to help keep the secret.

"Okay, follow me from now on, I won't treat you unfairly."

Caixia Caiyun said quickly: "Thank you grandma!"

Li Wan was smart and careful. She asked Caixia, "Did Grandma tell me how to address me?"

Caixia replied, "Madam has just told the girls and maids that the generations in our family are getting more and more chaotic now, with two surnames and three families, it's hard to call them all. From now on, we will focus on the prince's side."

"An old lady is still an old lady. You can't call her an ancestor."

Li Wan nodded quickly. Now that Jia Rong was a prince, the old lady could only be the old lady. Calling her ancestor would be an offense to the royal dignity.

"The East Court Lady is still the Madam."

Youshi's status did not improve. Firstly, she was not Jia Rong's biological mother, and secondly, she was a member of the Jia family, not a member of the royal family.

"The former eldest wife is now Xing's mother."

Li Wan quickly understood that Mrs. Xing was only allowed to stay because of Yingchun's relationship as a stepdaughter, and had nothing to do with the Jia family. She no longer acknowledged any of that and only recognized her relationship as Jia Rong's woman.

"Madam can be called Madam. Master Zheng will be promoted to Minister of Works in a while, a third-rank imperial lady."

Li Wan now understood why Mrs. Wang had helped to cover for her. Now, they all prosper together and suffer together.

Li Wan didn't know that Jia Baoyu's hope lay with Jia Rong, otherwise she would understand why Mrs. Wang remained silent.

Caixia continued, "Grandma is the princess."

There is nothing wrong with calling Jia Yuanchun. Jia Rong is a prince with a national surname, and Jia Yuanchun is naturally a princess.

"The second madam and the other madams haven't been decided yet. The princess said that we have to wait a few days and ask the people from the former Prince Xiaoqin's mansion after we bring them over. She also said that we should bring Princess Jinling over first and address her as Princess. She will be our prince's cousin."

"What the prince means is that no matter if she is a maid or a young lady, she should at least be given the status of a concubine, especially if she has children. She will not be just a favored maid, and will not let down any beauty who shares the same bed with her and gives birth to children."

Li Wan was relieved. She didn't care about her status. She just wanted to know that Jia Rong would take care of her.

In fact, it is not a good idea for a son to have the surname Jia, and Li Wan really wants Jia Lan to take the Duke’s surname.

But this is probably not possible. Even if you adopt a son, you cannot change his surname. There are rules governing the royal family, and only the emperor can grant a surname.

Unless you are a biological child, don't even think about taking the royal surname.

Caixia continued, "Miss Xichun is now a young lady, and Miss Tanchun and Yingchun are concubines. Usually, you should still call her Miss. When explaining things to others, you can call her by her name, and you don't have to rank her in order of two or three. From now on, Miss will only refer to Miss Xichun."

"Close the door and call yourself whatever you want in the yard. We haven't decided yet, so just take your time."

Li Wan nodded, "That's right."

Caixia came over and said, "Grandma, let me comb your hair."

"Okay." Li Wan naturally felt close to this maid who knew her own business, and would definitely arrange for her to guard the door or deliver messages in the future.

Caiyun also came to help, and after seeing the marks on the bed, she instantly understood a lot of things.

Caiyun said carefully, "Grandma, I accidentally spilled tea on the bed. Can I wash it with the rest of the clothes later?"

Li Wan blushed and remembered that these two maids had served Jia Rong and were both sensible people.

"Okay, there's still time to wash tomorrow. Is the prince still in Tianxiang Tower?"

Caixia smiled and said, "The old lady is sleeping downstairs these days, and the princess is pregnant. I guess the prince is playing with Qingwen and the others in the front yard now, or maybe he's going to play with Miss Tanchun or Madam Qin."

Li Wan remembered that she didn't live here, so she hurriedly said, "Let's go back to Four Seasons Garden. Whose room is this?"

I just came in with Jia Rong and didn’t pay attention to whose room it was.

Caixia explained: "This is the guest room. Grandma used to live here. How come you forgot?"

Li Wan then remembered that she used to live in a guest room close to the toilet, which was also a public toilet for maids and young ladies.

"Go back." Li Wan stood up. It would be better for her to live with her two cousins in the future. It would be more convenient to meet Jia Rong.

Li Wan quickly went back secretly. It was already midnight when she got back, but the yard of the girls was still very lively with constant laughter and joy.

The next morning, the girls who had sang happily until three or four o'clock last night were forced to get up by the maids.

"Miss, it's time to pay your respects."

Xueyan walked into Lin Daiyu's boudoir, sat down and rocked Lin Daiyu who was sleeping soundly.

Lin Daiyu was dazed, "Still sleeping...I don't want to eat anymore..."

Zijuan, who was standing next to her, squinted her eyes and climbed up, looking at Xueyan who couldn't see clearly, "What's wrong?"

Xueyan said to Zijuan, "Sister Zijuan, you can continue to sleep. I will help the young lady get up and go to pay respects to the old lady."

"Oh..." Zijuan lay down again in a daze.

Last night a group of girls were making noise until three or four in the morning. Xueyan was young and didn't understand poetry, so she went to bed early.

Zijuan played with Lin Daiyu until very late and was now very sleepy.

Xueyan quickly shook Lin Daiyu again, "Miss, hurry up and get up. It's time to go pay your respects to the old lady. It's been almost two months since you last went."

Lin Daiyu covered her head, not wanting to hear this. Xueyan persevered and soon helped the dazed Lin Daiyu up.

Several maids came over and quickly helped Lin Daiyu, who looked like she was about to die, to a chair.

Soon a maid came over with a hot towel, and more than a dozen maids served together, calling Lin Daiyu's soul back to her.

Lin Daiyu looked very haggard and unhappy, and her delicate temperament of a weak willow in the wind appeared again.

Lin Daiyu soon burst into tears of grievance, obviously because she was very sleepy.

"Why doesn't Zijuan have to get up, but I have to get up early?"

Lin Daiyu felt very aggrieved.

Zijuan fell asleep.

Xueyan explained: "The old lady is not Zijuan's relative, but you are, Miss. Besides, today is Zijuan's day off, so it's my turn to be on duty."

Lin Daiyu just wanted to drag Zijuan into the water, and said aggrievedly: "She is still the old lady's person!!"

Xueyan argued, "But once you come in here, you belong to the master."

Lin Daiyu looked at Xueyan, frowned and said, "You have grown up! You are still stubborn now!"

Xueyan said happily: "I am no longer a little girl now, can I be a big girl? I also want a raise."

Lin Daiyu smiled and said, "No! You are still a little girl! Who made you little?"

Xueyan became unhappy, and Lin Daiyu became a little happier.

Soon Shi Xiangyun was also driven out by the maid. With her eyes wide open, unable to be opened by the glare of the sun at seven or eight o'clock in the morning, she was surrounded by a group of maids and old women as she went down to pay her respects to the old lady.

Xue Baochai didn't have to go. In addition to Shi Xiangyun and Lin Daiyu, among the three sisters of Spring, except for the pregnant Yingchun, Xichun and Tanchun were also sent there.

Naturally, the old lady didn't need to be served by Jia Rong's wife, and the girls were the ones who came to serve her.

Jia Yuanchun came to serve and ate with them, while Mrs. Wang and Li Wan ate at home separately.

Rules are about inheritance. Jia Yuanchun will have daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law to serve her in the future, so these rules must be maintained.

Xue Baochai, Wang Xifeng, and Qin Shi are non-heirs. Even after their sons get married, they still live in the palace, so they don't have to maintain these boring rules.

There are no rules in You's own yard. She can sleep whenever she wants.

Perhaps because of something, both Qin Keqing and her second and third sisters Wang Xifeng handed their children over to Jia Yuanchun's care, just like sending them to a nursery.

The old lady looked at the sleepy girls around her and frowned.

"No wonder the princess always says that you guys are spoiled by the prince. I think you have all been spoiled beyond recognition!"

The old lady scolded several people.

It is usually not easy to go against Jia Rong, but this time Jia Rong took the initiative to let her take charge of these people. In the old lady's view, this is a big problem that must be corrected in time!

All of them were the old lady's juniors, so how could they dare to argue with her? They all accepted the criticism obediently.

"Everyone, stand up! Stand aside!"

Shi Xiangyun, Lin Daiyu, Tanchun and Xichun stood up obediently like students being punished or like aggrieved wives.

The old lady looked at Yuanchun again, "Madam, you should pay more attention to them. Look at them, they are making trouble all day long until the middle of the night, and they don't care about the hierarchy of seniority! If this gets out and people find out, they will definitely laugh at the prince and the palace!"

Yuanchun sat down to eat with the old lady and nodded, saying, "It's time to take care of her. She's been going crazy these past few months and doesn't look like a lady from a noble family at all."

Shi Xiangyun looked at Lin Daiyu and signaled her to think of a solution quickly.

Lin Daiyu didn't dare to talk back and lowered her head to admit her mistake.

After the old lady finished her meal, Yuanchun said to her, "Grandma, let's go see Jia Ben and the others, and let the sisters go back to eat."

The old lady looked at Lin Daiyu and the others, "Why don't you thank the queen!"

Shi Xiangyun was pardoned.

"Thank you, ma'am!"

Jia Tanchun blurted out, "Thank you, sister!"

Lin Daiyu quickly realized the problem and quickly shouted: “Thank you, Princess!”

Seeing this, Xichun followed the good girl Lin Daiyu and said, "Thank you, Princess!"

The old lady frowned, "Daiyu, go back to eat, Tanchun, go find your mother, Xichun, accompany us for a walk, Xiangyun, stay here for half an hour before leaving!"

Shi Xiangyun realized her mistake and hurriedly shouted, "Sister Yuanchun, I have to go play with my big brother in the afternoon..."

Lin Daiyu felt that Shi Xiangyun had learned bad things. She even imitated her usual speaking tone and even added hints and flattery. It was really embarrassing.

Yuanchun nodded and said with a smile, "Go back quickly."

"Thank you, sister~Aunt. Xiangyun will go back first." Shi Xiangyun squatted down happily and saluted, then ran away quickly.

Daiyu also said goodbye.

Tanchun didn't understand what she had done wrong, but she went to find her mother, Mrs. Wang.

Xichun was the most innocent and had no idea what was so complicated. Fortunately, after being reminded by Jia Yuanchun's maid, she knew that she should call her "Empress".

Jia Xichun's surname is Jia, but Jia Rong's surname is no longer Jia. Although the seniority is still there, when you see Jia Rong, you have to call him "Prince", and when you see Jia Yuanchun, you have to call her "Madam", because they are outsiders of the palace.

Instead, Yingchun and Tanchun became their own family.

Those who were once the most orthodox insiders have now become the most embarrassed outsiders.

(End of this chapter)