The Overlord of the Red Mansion

Chapter 25 Discipline
That day, Jia Rong went to attend a study session at the Imperial College in the capital.

Not long after I went out, someone came to deliver a message.

The maid who delivered the message was the old lady's maid, Jin Yuanyang.

The one who came out was Baoqin, who was pregnant but looked no different.

Baoqin was followed by a beautiful little girl, who was Yinglian, the maid bought last year.

Jin Yuanyang looked at Baoqin who came out with her maid, and said with a smile: "Are Master Rong and Madam Rong in the mansion?"

Baoqin smiled and said, "The master has gone to study at the Imperial College, and the grandmother is taking care of the young master. What's going on?"

Although Baoqin was pregnant, she still had to do some work. She was still helping Jia Yuanchun and was busy taking care of adults and children.

Jin Yuanyang said, "It's Miss Lin, the girl the old lady has been waiting for day and night, who has come. I took the initiative to ask if anyone here is willing to meet Miss Lin."

Baoqin knew that Miss Lin was called Lin Daiyu, the daughter of Jia Mu's only daughter, Jia Min, and Lin Ruhai, the top scholar in the imperial examination.

Jia Rong had little contact with the Rongguo Mansion, and his relationship with Jia Baoyu was also very cold, and they basically never spoke to each other.

Baoqin smiled and said, "I know about this. The master told me a few days ago that we'll see each other after we get here. I think it will be the day after tomorrow. I'll talk to the master about this in the evening."

Jin Yuanyang joked, "Your master treats you well, right? Look at how beautiful you are~"

Baoqin knew about Jin Yuanyang's affairs, and said with a smile, "The master is really good to us. My daily work is much easier now, and I feel more comfortable than those aunts in Rongguo Mansion."

"The master told me to take one day off every five days. I can sleep whenever I want. I don't need to go to greet him. He also told me to combine work and rest. This makes me feel better and healthier."

"Since I got pregnant, they gave me an extra 15 taels of silver per month for food, saying it was money for my pregnancy and to buy me some sweet snacks that I liked."

"But there is everything in the mansion, so I don't have to worry about food and clothing. I will save the money and give it to my children in the future."

Jin Yuanyang felt envious when he heard this. He couldn't even laugh and his expression looked a little resentful.

Baoqin smiled and said, "Don't worry, the master is in good health. We are a big family here, so having three wives and four concubines is not considered too many."

"There are only three women in the mansion now, and the master is a man of his words. If he says he wants you, he will definitely want you."

Jin Yuanyang lowered her head shyly and said shyly, "But it's been a year and the master still hasn't spoken."

Baoqin smiled and said, "You haven't even entered yet, and you're already acting like a master?"

Jin Yuanyang blushed and said, "Don't laugh at me. Master Rong never said anything. I heard that Ping'er was the same. Also, there are two girls dressed coquettishly here who seduce Master Rong all day long. I also heard that many girls outside are also close to Master Rong."

Jin Yuanyang now thinks about getting married every night. Jia Rong is good to his wife and concubine. He is also ambitious and capable of both literature and martial arts.

The purpose of getting married is to enjoy life, but she is not the only one who is worried about this.

Now I can’t sleep every night when I think about this.

Baoqin consoled him, "We all got through this. You don't know how worried I was about this in the first two years. I got over it slowly."

Jin Yuanyang nodded and smiled, "I have to go back and talk to the old lady. Is your suggestion feasible? If Master Rong doesn't show up at that time, the old lady and Miss Lin will not look good."

Baoqin smiled and said, "Don't worry, the master won't lie to us. If he says he wants to see you, he must be willing. I'll have my servants come over to let you know tonight."

Yuanyang said: "Okay! That's it!"

Yuanyang left quickly, and Baoqin took Yinglian back to do things.

On the other hand, Lin Daiyu, who had just entered the Jia Mansion, also carefully got to know each of the relatives.

In the evening, when Jia's grandmother was having dinner with Lin Daiyu, Tanchun, Xichun and others, a maid came over to deliver a message.

"Madam, Master Rong said that he will come back very late today, so he won't disturb Miss Lin. The day after tomorrow, we will invite a troupe to perform in the Ningguo Mansion Garden. Then, please invite Madam, the wives, the grandmothers, and the girls to listen to the performance and liven things up."

After hearing this, Jia's mother said happily: "Good!"

Grandmother Jia smiled and said to Lin Daiyu who was sitting next to her:
"Jia Rong is the master of Ningguo Mansion and the patriarch of the Jia family. He is just eighteen years old this year. He passed the imperial examination two years ago and manages more than a thousand people in his family very well."

"He is capable and it is normal for him to be full of vigor and energy. You should call him nephew, but he is a man who cares about his reputation. He doesn't like others to call him nephew, nor does he like to be called a junior."

"You are not familiar with him, so don't make fun of him with others. He sometimes has a bad temper." "He is young and arrogant, but he is not a bad person. He looks cold but has a kind heart. You can just call him Master Rong when the time comes."

Lin Daiyu has a general image. She is a kind-hearted young person with a little temper but great ability.

Jia Xichun listened to what the two said and said proudly, "When I called him nephew, he happily called me aunt and gave me delicious food."

Wang Xifeng, who was standing by and serving, joked, "That's to shut you up~"

Everyone started laughing soon, except Jia Xichun, who was being laughed at.

Soon Wang Xifeng and others went back to rest, and Lin Daiyu and Jia Mu continued to chat after dinner.

Not long after, Jia Baoyu came back. When he saw a pretty girl, he started to chat and joke with her. Not only did he give her a name, but after a few words he started to get crazy and made a fuss before going back to sleep.

Jia Rong returned to Ningguo Mansion for dinner.

Jia Yuanchun, Qin Keqing and Baoqin sat down and waited, and only started to eat together after Jia Rong picked up his chopsticks.

The place for dining was Jia Yuanchun's room. Usually, Qin Keqing didn't have to get up early in the morning to pay her respects. They could just meet at noon or in the evening for dinner.

The two children were sitting in the next room, held by their nanny, which was separated from here by only one door.

Usually, they would go back to their rooms after dinner. Qin Keqing's residence was in a nearby yard, only about thirty meters away.

Baoqin already has her own courtyard, and the backyard where Youshi lives is not the backyard near the back door. It is actually the yard behind Jia Rong's residence. It only takes two or three minutes to get there.

Ningguo Mansion is now bustling with activity. Even after giving birth to a child, Jia Yuanchun mainly stays in Ningguo Mansion and is less and less willing to go to Rongguo Mansion.

Jia Rong's family lived near the east front gate, about a hundred meters away from the main gate. In front of them were the servants' rooms, study and stables. Going straight west was the main hall of Ningguo Mansion, and continuing west was the Jia family ancestral hall. Going further west and climbing over the wall was a street, and continuing across the street and climbing over the wall was Jia She's courtyard in Rongguo Mansion.

The eldest son lives in the east house. Logically, he should live in the middle courtyard in the east, which is where Youshi lives.

Yu Shi was to move to the west, which was similar to the location of the Empress Dowager of the West Palace.

But Jia Rong obviously did not take Youshi seriously and did not allow her to live in the west courtyard like Jia Mu, which in itself was an attitude.

Large families have a rule that they only start talking after finishing their meals.

Jia Yuanchun drank her tea quietly, while Baoqin took the opportunity to tell Jia Rong about what had happened today.

"Yuanyang said something to me when she came over today. I guess she wanted me to ask the master when he would be willing to do me the honor of asking her to come over."

Jia Rong already knew about Lin Daiyu's affairs. When he heard Baoqin talking about Yuanyang, he thought for a few seconds.

"Originally, I wanted Sister Feng to speak, but she has too many things on her mind."

Jia Rong complained to Wang Xifeng and said, "The old lady needs someone to take care of her. You can tell Yuanyang to discipline the other maids first before coming over."

"This way, I can rest assured that the old lady has someone to order her around. Secondly, she can help me discipline the girls when she comes over."

"There are too many people and things to do in the government office now. After I take the imperial examination in two years, I will be busy with government affairs. You can't handle the family affairs, so it would be better to share some of them with you."

"At present, apart from the aunt who manages the maid, we are still short of someone who is smart, capable of managing the accounts and trustworthy. I haven't seen anyone suitable yet."

Qin Keqing said, "Sister Yuanchun is very good at managing the accounts, isn't she?"

Jia Rong casually said, "That's because I've been watching and helping to correct it. In fact, she can't manage it well."

Jia Rong looked at his wife and said, "Yuanchun, you should just take care of the children and teach them. It's too tiring to take care of too many things. If they don't learn well like your brother, how can I be assured of the future of this mansion?"

When Jia Yuanchun heard her husband talking about her brother like this, she said helplessly, "Yes, I understand what the master said."

Jia Rong taught him, "You'll have more children so they can have a bright future. Otherwise, some of them will be greedy for money and lustful, while others will be idle and useless. We can't leave such a huge family business to prodigal sons."

Jia Yuanchun nodded, "Yes."

As a woman, Jia Yuanchun felt that this was true.

(End of this chapter)