Dream of the Red Chamber: I can upgrade my entries!

Chapter 68 Aunt Xue is unwilling to accept this, and the impact of Wang Ziteng's return to Beijing!

In the main room of Pear Fragrance Courtyard of Rongguo Mansion.

Xue Baochai was sketching embroidery patterns at her desk when Aunt Xue sat opposite her, grumbling, "That Feng-ge is really something. Doesn't he know that his sister has a thorn in her side? Instead of using her own blood sister, he's gone after the Lin family girl."

"I heard from the maids and old women in front that those families of the Dukes are the ones who have made great contributions this time."

"mom."

Xue Baochai looked up at Aunt Xue and softly said, "Sister Feng did the right thing."

"My aunt can't tell what's important, and neither can you. You're just saying such nonsensical things to embarrass me."

"Bao'er."

Hearing this, Aunt Xue stopped talking, still feeling somewhat unwilling.

They traveled thousands of miles to live under someone else's roof, all for what? To find a powerful patron.

Xue Baochai claimed that she was sent to the capital to await selection by imperial decree, but in reality, she was taking the opportunity to find a good family in the capital to marry into, preferably a noble family. With this status, how could the Xue family's relatives and servants dare to arbitrarily seize the family property?

In recent days, Xue Pan has been using the names of the Jia and Wang families to intimidate others, spending money like water, all in order to cultivate relationships with powerful figures, thereby investigating his own business, punishing those disobedient servants, and preserving his family's wealth.

Right now, the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion, the Liguo Duke's Mansion, and the Xiuguo Duke's Mansion are all good choices. Which of their sons isn't a thousand or ten thousand times better than Jia Baoyu? If they were to form this marriage alliance, why would they be here pretending to be friendly with Lady Wang?

"mom."

"I know what you're thinking."

Xue Baochai put down her paintbrush, looked at Aunt Xue, and said seriously, "The business is the result of generations of hard work by the Xue family. My eldest brother is the only heir of the Xue family's eldest branch, so he should inherit it. Let alone if it falls into the hands of others, even these traitors deserve to die."

"But some things can't be rushed. If you rush and lose your composure, you'll end up doing something inferior for no reason."

"Do you think that everyone in this mansion is controlled by your aunt, and that no one cares about what she does?"

'Thump!'

Aunt Xue's expression changed slightly, revealing a solemn look.

"The mistreatment of Lin Daiyu and Fourth Sister is something everyone in the mansion knows about; it's just that no one wants to talk about it."

"Why did the master put Sister Feng in charge of receiving foreign guests? It was truly to share the burden with my aunt."

"It's only because of my second aunt's husband that I haven't called these things out on him."

At this point, a complex mix of emotions surfaced in Xue Baochai's bright, almond-shaped eyes.

As intelligent as she is, she has been staying in the Rongguo Mansion these past few days, never leaving the inner quarters, yet she has come to understand the intricate network of relationships within the Jia family. Her aunt, Lady Wang, is, in the end, only the first wife of the second branch, and Jia Baoyu, the legitimate son of the second branch, is not the rightful heir to the Rongguo Mansion.

The Jia family appears glamorous on the surface, but inside they are filthy and corrupt. Anyone with discerning eyes can see that their so-called power is nothing but a fleeting illusion.

"Bao'er."

"This"

Aunt Xue was a little scared when she heard this.

"mom."

Xue Baochai sighed and said bitterly, "Do you really think I'm the same as Lin Daiyu and Fourth Sister?"

Can the Xue family be compared to the Lin and Jia families?

"Sister Feng asked Sister Lin and Fourth Sister to greet the ladies and young misses of the Duke's Mansion together."

"The gifts given to Fourth Sister and the praise given to Lin Sister are all because of the Jia family, Ningguo Mansion, and the Lin family of Suzhou."

"Stop talking about me. Second sister and third sister have shown up. Have they received any respect?"

"We're here quietly, undisturbed. Why invite humiliation upon ourselves?"

"My son!"

Aunt Xue was not ignorant; she was simply blinded by her own judgment. Hearing Xue Baochai's analysis, she felt deeply saddened. Her daughter, in terms of talent, appearance, and character, could never be inferior to Lin Daiyu, yet she was disadvantaged in terms of family background.

"mom!!!"

"younger sister!"

Just then, a deep male voice came from outside, and a burly figure barged in. Who else could it be but Xue Pan?

"Pan'er".

"Where have you been gallivanting off to again, leaving your sister and me worried sick about you?"

When Aunt Xue saw Xue Pan enter, her eyes revealed a mixture of worry and doting affection.

"mom."

"I went to find my third uncle for a drink."

"I heard some news that might resolve our family's problems." Xue Pan plopped down on a stool, gulping down tea, his forehead covered in sweat.

"Go and get him a clean towel."

Seeing this, Aunt Xue couldn't bear it and quickly ordered her maid to fetch a handkerchief so she could personally wipe the sweat from Xue Pan's forehead and face.

"Big brother."

"What news have you heard this time?"

Although Xue Baochai was disappointed in her own brother, she was also very affectionate towards him, and asked him directly.

"hey-hey."

Xue Pan smiled and said loudly, "My second uncle is coming back. He says he's going to be granted a title."

"The imperial court is already discussing it. My second uncle has done a great job this time; he will at least be granted a hereditary title."

"When the time comes, let him erase his sister's name from the register. What do these family matters matter then?"

"This is truly wonderful news!"

Aunt Xue was all smiles. Wang Ziteng had become successful, so how could her own sister not benefit from it?

"My second uncle has been granted a hereditary title, what an honor that must be for him!"

Xue Baochai was lost in thought, thinking of someone, a name she heard all the time, even though they weren't there.

Prince Yizhong's Mansion, by the garden pond.

"Puff puff!"

A tall, imposing figure wore a royal blue python robe and a golden crown with two dragons playing with a pearl on his head. His face bore the marks of time, with a few fine wrinkles extending quietly from the corners of his eyes. His eyebrows were thick and long, and his eyes were dark and deep, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.

He simply took handfuls of fish food from the bowl in his hand and threw them into the water, letting the koi carp in the pond leap and frolic.

"Your Majesty."

Zhen Yingyan, who was always dressed in dark clothes, appeared in front of him, her thin face full of gloom.

"Jia Jing had a good son."

"Why can't I have such an outstanding son?"

With a gentle squeeze, Prince Yizhong channeled his inner energy, and the golden alms bowl was molded into a perfectly round sphere.

"Your Majesty."

"The young prince was born into wealth and privilege; how could the Jia family's sons compare?"

Zhen Yingyan offered a flattering remark, selectively ignoring certain details.

"Humph!!!"

Prince Yizhong snorted and said, "You're good at praising, but do you think I don't know his true abilities?"

"I have won this world for him. I hope he can hold onto it and remain in power in the future."

"The young prince will certainly not disappoint the prince's expectations."

Zhen Yingyan continued the conversation.

"Has anything been found out in the investigation in Ping'an Prefecture?"

"I do not believe that none of this is being manipulated behind the scenes."

Prince Yizhong asked directly.

"Your Majesty."

Zhen Yingyan immediately got to the point: "The chess camp has indeed discovered some clues."

"The reason why the Jia family was able to so easily seize Huihua City was because Heiyun Du cooperated from within and without."

"The evidence of Jia She's smuggling with the military governor of Ping'an Prefecture seems to have been deliberately erased, and the Hidden Dragon Guard was involved in it."

Upon hearing this, Prince Yizhong was not surprised at all and sneered, "Father has always cared about nothing but profit."

"It was the same then, and it is the same now."

"The Jia family has demonstrated their abilities and made great contributions to the nation."

"How could Father Emperor care about Jia She's behavior? These things were probably buried without even the Fourth Prince knowing about them."

"This"

Zhen Yingyan didn't know what to say.

(End of this chapter)