The Splendor of the Red Chamber

By the time the general flow of the funeral arrangements was sorted out, it was already past midnight.

Jia She was getting old, and his health was failing due to his life of debauchery; Jia Zheng was in better condition, but because he was preoccupied with his sordid affairs, he always seemed somewhat absent-minded.

Seeing this, Jia Zhen respectfully invited his two uncles to go back and rest first, so as not to exhaust themselves and shorten Jia Rong's lifespan.

Jia She and Jia Zheng were both of the grandfatherly generation, so they didn't need to be here giving instructions and managing things. Therefore, they left Jia Lian to help out at Ningguo Mansion and went back to their own homes.

Let's not even mention Jia She.

When Jia Zheng returned home, Lady Wang and Aunt Zhao came out to greet him upon hearing the commotion.

Jia Zheng glanced at Aunt Zhao, then led Madam Wang into the main hall.

Although he usually favored his concubines, there were some things he could only discuss with Lady Wang.

The couple closed the door, and Jia Zheng first recounted what he had seen and heard, especially Jia She's sarcastic remark and Jia Zhen's reaction at the time.

Then he pointed in the direction of Zhiwei Pavilion and said with a gloomy face, "From what I can tell, the reason why Rong-ge'er was accidentally killed is probably related to Qin-shi coming to our mansion to recuperate."

"You mean...?"

Madam Wang covered her mouth in shock. Although incestuous relationships have existed since ancient times, it was still too horrifying to see it happening to someone close to her or a relative.

However, after the initial shock, she remembered something unrelated: "Master, Rong's wife just moved into Zhiwei Pavilion, and Rong died that very day. Do you think it could be...?"

She also pointed in the direction of Zhiwei Pavilion, and said cryptically, "...For those who cause trouble?"

Ever since her eldest son died young, Lady Wang harbored resentment towards Li Wan, always feeling that it was because Li Wan was destined to bring misfortune to her husband.

Now that Qin Keqing has just moved in with Li Wan, she has suddenly become a widow. Doesn't this just confirm her suspicions?!

"What nonsense are you spouting!"

Jia Zheng glared at his wife and said irritably, "This is clearly the filth and corruption of the East Mansion; we can't avoid it anyway, so why are you trying to implicate your own family?!"

After saying this, he urged Madam Wang to wash up and go to bed so that she could go to Ningguo Mansion to take charge the next morning.

Jia Zheng lay down on the bed and soon fell into a deep sleep.

Lady Wang, however, tossed and turned, unable to sleep. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that Li Wan was a jinx who would bring misfortune to her husbands, and thus she became increasingly hostile and harsh towards her.

…………

From the very beginning of the next day, the women of the Rongguo Mansion, from Madam Wang and Madam Xing down, all followed the men to the Ningguo Mansion to attend the funeral.

In the past, weddings and funerals in the clan were good opportunities for Wang Xifeng to show off—but Fengjie deeply hated Jia Rong, so how could she help with his funeral?

Upon arriving at Ningguo Mansion, she merely observed proper etiquette around her stepmother, Xing, and aunt, Wang, and chatted idly with the women of the clan.

However, Jia Lian, as the uncle, had no choice but to take on the responsibility. Jia Zhen was used to being a hands-off manager, and Jia Qiang was young and inexperienced. Therefore, the burden of welcoming guests, sending them off, and purchasing supplies fell on Jia Lian's shoulders.

I was so busy all day that I barely had time to breathe.

After dinner, Jia Lian summarized the day's expenses and, as per custom, reported them to the head housekeeper, You Shi, for review.

When Ms. You took the list, she saw that the terms and conditions were clear and the details were appropriate, making it more organized and neat than any other account book she had ever seen before.

Every single item was meticulously categorized, with details of money inflows and outflows, purchases and expenses, social obligations, and household miscellaneous expenditures all clearly marked without any ambiguity.

There are no superfluous or superficial details, nor any careless or ambiguous writing; the reader can understand it at a glance without having to painstakingly analyze each sentence.

After reading it, Madam You couldn't help but praise, "What a meticulous and organized Second Master Lian! Just looking at this ledger, he's ten or even a hundred times better than the steward in our household!"

Jia Qiang chimed in, praising, "Indeed! I've truly broadened my horizons today by being with Uncle Lian!"

"Sister-in-law, you flatter me."

Jia Lian sipped his tea with a calm and modest demeanor.

After all, he had received nine years of compulsory education, and even if he only learned a little bit, he was still better than most ancient people in mathematics.

In addition, he had practical experience in managing the Rongguo Mansion, and the combination of these two factors made him very adept at organizing accounts.

Furthermore, in order to completely clear himself of suspicion, Jia Lian deliberately put on an act of being extremely diligent and did most things himself, so it is not surprising that the account book was recorded so clearly.

After Lady You affixed her personal seal to the document and handed it to the stewardess for registration, Jia Lian rose to take his leave, saying, "There are still some things to finish up outside, so Qiang-ge and I won't bother you any longer, sister-in-law."

Madam You hurriedly got up to see him off.

Even after Jia Lian and Jia Qiang had walked away, she still stood in front of the door, lost in thought.

Yindie, the head maid, sensed something was amiss and quickly shooed away the head maid and the other servants. She then stepped forward and whispered a reminder: "Madam, there are too many people here, and if you do this... there might be gossips."

Madam You then withdrew her gaze and scolded her impatiently, "What nonsense are you talking about? I was thinking about something else."

Yindie was her confidante, and she didn't hold back much when speaking behind closed doors. She immediately covered her mouth and laughed, "Madam may be able to hide things from others, but she can't hide them from me. You've been staring at Master Lian in a daze more than just this once today."

As she spoke, she couldn't help but praise, "However, Second Master Lian is indeed a handsome man. He was originally dashing and debonair, and now, thanks to the blessings of his ancestors, he has gained an additional three points of heroic spirit."

In terms of interpersonal skills and how to treat others, he is first-rate. Even his accounting is so precise; none of the gentlemen in our household can compare!

Hearing Yindie's effusive praise, Madam You was both annoyed and amused.

He picked up his slender, onion-like fingers and poked her forehead, scolding, "It's not that I was stunned; I think it's clearly you, you little slut, who's fallen for me!"

Jia Lian has indeed become increasingly outstanding recently, standing out like a crane among chickens among the many idle and dissolute sons of the Jia family.

But Lady You stared blankly at his back, not because she was attracted by his "good looks," but because she felt that there was something strange about Jia Rong's affairs.

Because Jia Zhen never told You Shi about the alleged collusion between Jia Rong and Jia Lian, You Shi was not misled or disturbed by the false information.

She clearly remembered that when Jia Rong came out of the house yesterday morning, her face was pale and she rubbed her chest several times.

Considering that Jia Lian had received ancestral blessings and gained immense strength, it was hard for Lady You not to suspect that he was involved in Jia Rong's death.

However, just as Jia Zhen did not tell You Shi his speculations, You Shi did not tell Jia Zhen her conjectures either.

She was by nature the type to avoid trouble, and Jia Rong's death would only benefit her, not harm her.

Since Jia Zhen was convinced that he had accidentally killed his son, why should she go to the trouble of offending Jia Lian and the Rongguo Mansion behind him?

Every time she saw Jia Lian running around for Jia Rong's funeral, You Shi felt a strange sense of absurdity, which is why she couldn't help but stare blankly into thought.

After exchanging a few words of laughter and banter, the master and servant took the account books and returned to the inner quarters.

Lady You first went to greet Madam Xing and Madam Wang. When she turned around, she saw Wang Xifeng huddled in a corner, listless and lacking her usual charm and vivacity.

Madam You immediately leaned closer, feigning anger, and said, "Well, I'm so busy I don't even have time to catch my breath, and you've come to our mansion to rest and recharge!"

She pointed at Sister Feng, then said to Li Wan beside her, "Look, look! Anyone who didn't know better would think she was the one racking her brains to manage everything!"

Li Wan, who had been lost in thought, blurted out upon hearing this, "She's listless here, but she's probably quite energetic at night."

Upon hearing this, Madam You raised an eyebrow and said mischievously, "How do you know she's energetic at night? Did you see it with your own eyes or hear it with your own ears?"

Li Wan then realized her mistake and quickly tried to salvage the situation: "I meant that once she returns to our residence, she'll need to be alert and handle the household chores!"

There's nothing wrong with what she said, but she said it too hastily, which made her seem guilty.

Could it be that this aloof beauty has also fallen in love?

Madam You rolled her eyes a few times, then looked at Wang Xifeng and asked, "I heard that the Lian brothers' strength has increased tenfold. Is that true or not?"

She emphasized the phrase "from head to toe," clearly implying something more.

Wang Xifeng glanced at her lazily and said listlessly, "You're supposed to be sisters-in-law, yet you continue to be so disrespectful to your elders. I'll go tell the ladies."

In the past, she would have subtly shown off a bit.

But after what happened with Jia Rong and Qin Keqing, she became more wary of her sisters-in-law and was unwilling to praise Jia Lian's bravery and skill in battle.

Although she tried to hide it from them, her dreamy, watery eyes, her hazy, moist gaze, and her charming and alluring demeanor could not fool the two men.

So the more she tries to hide it, the more it arouses people's imagination.

Not to mention Li Wan, who had been observing things closely last night, her mind was in turmoil. Even You Shi, who originally had no particular thoughts, couldn't help but let her imagination run wild.

At this moment, Wang Xifeng checked the time, stood up and said, "You've reminded me. I need to go back to the mansion to inspect the place and also to comfort Rong-ge's wife."