The Overlord of the Red Mansion

Chapter 7 Marriage Discussion
Jia Rong quickly concentrated on the exam.

I took the exam at the age of fourteen, but failed.

I took the exam at the age of fifteen, but failed.

He took the examination at the age of sixteen, passed as a tongsheng in February, passed as a xiucai in April, and failed in September.

It’s so difficult to get into the capital!
When I returned from my hometown in Jinling on the day I failed the exam, I saw my butler Lai Sheng waiting for me at the door as soon as I arrived home.

"What's the matter? There's no wedding money to be given out today." Jia Rong said jokingly.

Lai Sheng quickly reported, "I dare not mention this matter. The grandmothers from Rongguo Mansion came over and were chatting with the eldest lady in the room."

"Okay." Jia Rong walked in and said, "There is still some time before the New Year. If you have nothing to do, you can take three or four people to visit the farm. As long as the harvest this year is more than last year, I will give you the extra money as a reward. I have been busy with exams in recent years and have paid less attention to family affairs."

Lai Sheng said quickly, "Yes! Thank you very much, sir! You are kind-hearted and talented, and you will definitely pass the exam next year!"

Jia Rong smiled, walked in and said, "Okay, get busy."

"Yes!"

When Jia Rong arrived outside Jia Yuanchun's room, a maid went in to inform the others.

When Jia Rong entered, he saw Mrs. Wang, Jia Yuanchun, Li Wan, Jia Lian, Wang Xifeng and others were all there, along with eight-year-old Jia Baoyu and his six-year-old aunt Jia Xichun.

"Mr. Jia is here!" Jia Lian greeted Jia Rong with a smile.

Wang Xifeng also greeted him warmly, saying, "Master scholar, come and sit down. If you don't pass the exam this time, then forget it. We can take it again next year."

Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng had been married for a long time. After Wang Xifeng's relationship with Jia Rong failed, she decisively chose to become the young lady of Rongguo Mansion.

After taking charge of the household, he didn't want to pay attention to this side for a while. However, since Jia Rong passed the examination for a student and then for a scholar this year, his attitude immediately became friendly.

Jia Lian smiled and said, "For example, you are already a third-class nobleman. Why do you still want to take the imperial examination? Even if you pass the imperial examination, you will only be a minor official. It would be better to donate money to become an official directly."

Jia Rong inherited his father's title of the fourth-class General Feng'en. His ancestor was once the first-class General Shenwei. Now the hereditary minimum title is more like an honorary title of the military region.

It is also the last level of hereditary nobility, which is exactly five generations of nobility. Logically, it will not be downgraded any further.

"Uncle is right, but the honor of our ancestors belongs to us after all, and the imperial court has not said that we cannot take the imperial examination."

Jia Rong walked to the bed and sat down next to Jia Yuanchun.

There was a table in the middle of the bed. On the left was Mrs. Wang, and on the right was Jia Yuanchun. Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng stood on Mrs. Wang's side, while Li Wan, Jia Xichun and Jia Baoyu stood on Jia Yuanchun's side.

"I am just thinking about making a name for myself, earning more connections and reputation for Ningguo Mansion, and becoming an official with my own strength."

Mrs. Wang praised and said, "This is the ambition that the descendants of the Jia family should have. You can't be like your uncle, who has no future."

At this time, the child Jia Baoyu broke away from Li Wan and said, "What's the good of being an official? It's better not to be an official!"

Mrs. Wang scolded her, "You are talking nonsense! Your father will definitely beat you if he finds out you said that!"

Mrs. Wang didn't want the child to make trouble, so she quickly asked the maid to take the troublesome child out to play.

Jia Rong looked at his grandfather Jia Jing's youngest daughter Jia Xichun and asked, "Aunt, how is life in the Jia Mansion?"

Mrs. Wang and others were looking at the little girl.

Jia Xichun nodded and said carefully, "All is fine."

Jia Rong looked at the clothes Jia Xichun was wearing and said, "I'll have someone send you some beautiful flowered jackets, cotton-padded boots, and cloaks. We've also left a clean house for you at home. You can come back anytime you want to play."

Jia Xichun was somewhat unfamiliar with this nephew, but she knew from many people in Rongguo Mansion that this nephew had always cared about her and brought her food and drinks.

"Okay." Jia Xichun nodded, "Thank you, Master."

Jia Rong laughed, and the others followed suit.

The seniority of both parties is quite troublesome, so it's a bit awkward to call them anything.

It would be great if I were a high-ranking official or an emperor. The title would not be a problem at all, and seniority would not be a problem either.

Jia Rong said: "From now on, you can just call me by my first name Jia Rong, so that others will know who you are talking about."

Jia Xichun nodded happily, "Okay!"

Jia Rong and Jia Xichun rarely see each other, only for a while during the New Year. Usually, he is busy with various things and has no time to talk to children. Today, he happened to be free, and he also saw the sensible Jia Xichun, so he naturally took care of her.

"You don't have any maids? I'll find you four maids, and the money will come from Ningguo Mansion."

Before Jia Xichun could say anything, Mrs. Wang hurried to explain herself.

Wang Xifeng was quick to speak, and she said with a smile, "You don't go to Rongguo Mansion often, so you don't know! Xichun has maids around her. In addition to the wet nurse, there are four maids to teach her. In addition to the two maids who take care of her hairpins and bracelets and wash her face, there are five or six other little maids who clean the house and do chores."

"This time we brought her here to see you. There are adults taking care of her, so we didn't bring a maid with us. Next time we come, let the nanny and the maid bring her here. She can come whenever she wants. We are all family, so how could we treat her badly?"

Mrs. Wang nodded in approval.

Li Wan also said, "Everyone in Rongguo Mansion dotes on Sister Xichun. They are teaching her to read and write these days. She will be a well-educated and well-mannered girl in the future."

Jia Xichun didn't say anything, but she could feel that everyone around her was careful of Jia Rong, and that Jia Rong was concerned about her.

Jia Rong said to Xichun, "Then you should study and play well in Rongguo Mansion. I have to go to school every day, and there are no children of your age at home to play with you. You will inevitably feel lonely when you come back."

Jia Xichun nodded and said, "Okay."

Wang Xifeng smiled and said, "You two have a good relationship, which is really enviable. Xichun has people who love her both inside and outside the mansion. It's really great."

Jia Yuanchun said at this time: "Sister Feng, what are you talking about? Aren't you doing well?"

Wang Xifeng smiled and said, "My son is not a good person. He just doesn't know how to study hard. When I discipline him too strictly, he even says that I force him."

Jia Lian didn't like this topic, so he just smiled and didn't respond.

At this time Wang Xifeng glared at him.

Jia Lian quickly became serious and said to Jia Rong in an embarrassed tone, "Now that you have passed the examination for a scholar, it won't be difficult for you to pass the imperial examination in the future. Isn't it time for you to get married?"

Jia Rong smiled and said, "Of course I should. I'll find a good time to do it later."

Jia Yuanchun said at this time: "I have thought about it carefully, and this is still not a good thing."

Jia Rong frowned, "Why not? My grandfather and your father are already five generations apart from your great-great-grandfather, and our generation is even further apart. Why do you care about this?"

Jia Yuanchun remained silent and felt uncomfortable.

Jia Rong said quickly, "Since our ancestors, the two dukes of Ningguo Mansion and Rongguo Mansion are brothers, which means they have two clans. We are not breaking the law, so what are you worried about?"

"Besides, the people won't report this matter, and the officials won't investigate it. As long as we don't invite the princes and nobles, the emperor won't even intervene in such a small matter. How can our Jia family be considered a noble family? We are just a middle-class family."

This middle-class family made Mrs. Wang sigh.

Wang Xifeng said openly, "We weren't worried about this originally. It's just that since you passed the imperial examination this year, we felt that it would be bad for people to gossip about you when you become a high-ranking official in the future. Besides, we are already a family, so there is no need to make the relationship closer."

"We thought that you would study and become an official in the future, so it would be great if you could marry a lady from a scholarly family like Li Wan."

Seeing that the topic had been brought to her, Li Wan also took the initiative to say, "I have two cousins, both of whom are well-read and come from good families. They are also pretty, but a few years younger than you."

Li Wan's father was the chief academic officer of the Imperial College, in charge of education and had many students. Marrying into the Li family was just right for Jia Rong, who had failed the exam.

Jia Rong smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, you are chaste, indifferent, elegant and dignified. I believe in the good man you recommend. However, Yuanchun and I have waited for three years together. Can you bear to separate us?"

Li Wan said helplessly: "Okay, then I won't say anything."

Jia Rong also liked this beautiful widow. "Sister-in-law, there are people from the Li family studying in the academy, and I know quite a few of them. If you have anything to convey, just let me know. I can also build relationships with the scholars from the Li family."

Li Wan said happily, "Okay."

Mrs. Wang said at this time: "Since you have made up your mind, we won't say much. How do you plan to arrange this wedding?"

Jia Rong quickly said, "Weddings should not be extravagant. After all, I know everyone's considerations. I think this wedding should be low-key and fewer people should be invited. But it will be unfair to Yuanchun."

Jia Yuanchun said, "It's okay, just keep it down."

Jia Rong quickly negotiated the marriage with Lady Wang and others.

Jia Rong and Jia Yuanchun got married in a low-key manner and entered the bridal chamber.

(End of this chapter)