The Black Chamber Dream: Daiyu's Revenge

"My dear nephew complained last time that the old lady favors your second uncle and that you can't realize your ambitions in the household," Lin Ruhai said bluntly. "Well, now a good opportunity is presented to you. If you handle it well, you might have a chance to get a real position, and even gain a good reputation in the court. I just don't know if you dare to take it or not?"

All that preparation was for this day.

Upon hearing this, Jia Lian's spirits lifted, and he quickly stood up to ask, "Uncle, I am ignorant and would appreciate your guidance!"

"The Ministry of Revenue is now pursuing the recovery of debts owed to the national treasury. Nephew, do you know how much silver the Rongguo Mansion owes to the national treasury?" Lin Ruhai stared sharply at Jia Lian.

Upon hearing this, Jia Lian's face stiffened. Although he knew that the household owed some money, he had absolutely no idea how much it was.

He had only heard that everyone borrowed money from the national treasury back then, and those who didn't borrow were considered antisocial, but no one ever mentioned the specific amount.

Lin Ruhai held up two fingers.

Jia Lian paused, swallowed hard, and tentatively asked, "Two hundred thousand?"

Seeing Lin Ruhai nod, Jia Lian was dumbfounded—two hundred thousand taels! How could he possibly repay that?

He and Wang Xifeng, who were in charge of the household, were naturally aware of the current situation. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they were spending more than they earned, and this huge sum of money was simply astronomical.

"Two hundred thousand, it is indeed a lot, but considering your family's situation, it's not that much." Lin Ruhai didn't seem to care and continued to advise, "The current emperor is intolerant of any wrongdoing. The Zhen family has fallen. Nephew, think about what would happen if you didn't repay the money?"

He spoke seriously, reminding Jia Lian of the gravity of the situation.

"Since you have to pay it back anyway, why not take this opportunity to stand out and impress the Emperor? If you can be the first to pay off the debt, the Emperor will be pleased, and your future will be secured." Lin Ruhai patiently persuaded him, clearly explaining the pros and cons.

Jia Lian understood his uncle's meaning, but his problem was that he had no money. He smiled bitterly and said, "Uncle, don't laugh at me, but this household has long been in debt. With so much money, I can't possibly make a meal without rice."

Lin Ruhai shook his head and laughed, "You're still too young. Since you and your husband have helped me a lot, I might as well be frank with you today."

He lowered his voice and said, word by word:

"First, go and see the Lai family! How come their servants are richer than their masters?"

"Secondly, it's inappropriate that the Rongguo Mansion's plaque is still hanging there, even though the Duke has been gone for so many years. What title did your father inherit? I'm sure you know the answer!"

After the two points were explained, Jia Lian suddenly realized the truth, as if enlightened.

He quickly stood up, bowed deeply to Lin Ruhai, and said gratefully, "Thank you for your guidance, Uncle! I understand now!"

After taking his leave, he hurriedly returned to his residence, his mind racing as he plotted how to seize this opportunity to gain real power and advance his career.

Jia Lian hurried along, his mind racing as he pondered the deeper meaning of Lin Ruhai's words.

Upon returning home, he immediately began discussing the matter with his wife without taking a break.

“If you ask me, Uncle is absolutely right! With the old lady always favoring the second master, if we really have to divide the family property in the future, I’m afraid our branch will be even more pitiful. It’s better to strike first!” Wang Xifeng’s eyes lit up immediately after hearing this.

The more she thought about it, the more feasible it seemed, and her tone became increasingly firm: "After repaying the money, our Rongguo Mansion will gain a good reputation in front of the Emperor. If we change the mansion's plaque to 'First-Class General's Mansion,' then the master will be the rightful head of the family! Then, wouldn't it be more legitimate for the two of us to manage the household? And when we divide the family property in the future, we'll have a respectable explanation!"

Listening to his wife's analysis, Jia Lian's doubts were completely dispelled, but he was still a little worried: "That's true, but we are the younger generation after all. This matter still needs to be addressed by the master himself. I'm afraid he might not be able to grasp the importance of things."

“I think the master probably wants to reclaim his position, but he just hasn’t found the opportunity yet!” Wang Xifeng smiled shrewdly. “Think about it, he is the eldest son who inherited the title, but he doesn’t have as much say in the mansion as his second uncle. How can he feel good about that? You just need to give him a little hint and explain the pros and cons clearly, and he will definitely be tempted.”

After discussing the matter, Wang Xifeng and Jia Lian decided to split up and set out together. Jia Lian would be responsible for persuading Jia She, while Wang Xifeng would go to Lady Xing to subtly encourage her, aiming for a swift and decisive victory.

Before Grandmother Jia could react, Jia She and his son launched their attack.

They swiftly raided the Lai family's property. Relying on the Jia family's power, the Lai family had embezzled and amassed a fortune over the years, their wealth astounding.

Granny Lai, Lai Da, Lai Shangrong, and others, who usually acted arrogantly and domineeringly, never expected to come to such an end.

The huge sum of silver confiscated from the Lai family can be used to repay the national treasury.

Jia She even personally wrote to the Ministry of Rites, requesting that the plaque at his residence be replaced. This action shocked the entire capital.

Among the four kings and eight dukes, many had old relatives in the Jia family, and they were all stunned when they heard the news.

The following morning at court, the emperor praised the Rongguo Mansion, commending them for their "commendable loyalty and righteousness, their profound understanding of justice, their willingness to share the burdens of the court, and their exemplary conduct as officials."

Not only that, the emperor also bestowed five hundred taels of gold directly upon Jia She, a first-class general, to demonstrate the emperor's boundless grace.

At the same time, the emperor also learned that Jia She's eldest son, Jia Lian, had made great contributions. He was overjoyed and simply said, "I remember that there is a vacancy for the position of Chief Clerk of the Guangdong Ministry of Revenue. The Ministry of Personnel should discuss it and decide to let the eldest son of Marquis Jia En take up this position."

Although he was only a sixth-rank official, the emperor's words carried a very different meaning.

Inside the Rongguo Mansion, Grandmother Jia, belatedly realizing what was happening, couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

She originally thought that with Yuan Chun entering the palace and Bao Yu being born with a jade in his mouth, the second branch of the family would surely bring glory to the family and have a brighter future.

Who would have thought that the eldest son's family could regain their footing in such an unexpected way, and even gain the emperor's favor.

But now that things had come to this, Grandmother Jia knew that even if she threw a tantrum, she could not change the established facts.

Therefore, it's better to remain silent and maintain a semblance of calm. After all, they can't afford to mistreat themselves; they'll still be the old ladies of the Duke's mansion in the future.

With the Rongguo Mansion taking the lead, other officials who were originally hesitant to pay their debts also began to take action, fearing that they would become the next targets to be purged.

For a time, the Ministry of Revenue's work to recover the arrears progressed exceptionally smoothly, and the national treasury was thus replenished.

Of course, not everyone is so "pragmatic".

The Duke of Liguo's mansion remained stubborn, relying on its past merits and intricate connections to refuse to repay the money. But before the Ministry of Revenue could urge them again, the Censorate's memorial impeaching the Duke of Liguo's mansion arrived before the Emperor.

Extra Chapter: The Empress's Rebirth - The Xue Family Moves Away the Crown Prince and Receives Praise

When the memorial impeaching the Duke of Liguo's mansion was presented to the emperor, the emperor immediately ordered the crown prince to go to the Ministry of Justice to learn how to handle cases.

When the Empress learned of this, her heart sank.

She recalled her past life, when the second son, Xiao Tingkai, went to the Ministry of Justice to handle the case of the Duke of Li's mansion, but ended up having an affair with a mistress there, causing a whole host of scandalous things. Although the Crown Prince was handling the case in this life, the Empress was still very worried.

She quickly summoned the Crown Prince and gave him some earnest advice.

"Rui'er, your father sent you to the Ministry of Justice mainly so that you could learn and gain experience. You must not make decisions on your own, and even less should you have any wild ideas or do anything outrageous." The Empress's brows were full of worry, fearing that her son would be misled by the complexities of human relationships and temptations.

Seeing his mother so nervous, the Crown Prince couldn't help but wonder: Why does Mother have such a feeling that the Duke of Li's mansion is some kind of dragon's den or tiger's lair?

"Mother, don't worry. This isn't the first time I've been to the Ministry of Justice. Have you forgotten? I also went there for three months of study last year. Just the other day, even my second brother went to the Ministry of Works to study." The Crown Prince reassured the Empress, thinking that his mother was overthinking it.

The Empress certainly remembered these things, but how could they be the same? The Duke of Li's mansion was involved in many things, with intertwined interests, and... she couldn't say directly that there were beauties in the Duke of Li's mansion who might bewitch you.

"Anyway, don't be arrogant and think you can see through everything. You have to consult your father, the Emperor, on everything. If you're unsure about something, ask the Minister of Justice and the other officials. Don't try to be clever on your own." The Empress could only repeatedly emphasize this, hoping that the Crown Prince would act cautiously and stay true to himself.

While the Empress was worried about her son, the Xue family in the Rongguo Mansion began to plan their relocation.

The idea of ​​moving was suggested by Baochai.

“Mom, think about it,” Baochai said calmly, sitting opposite Aunt Xue. “Now that the Rongguo Mansion has been replaced by a first-class general’s mansion, the master is in charge. We’re not related to the master. Now that he’s in power, why would he care about us?”

"My aunt has been locked up in the Buddhist hall for so long, and she hasn't been released yet. My uncle knows about it, but he hasn't said a word, not even asked a single question," Baochai pointed out incisively. "Ultimately, now that the Rongguo Mansion is in power, they no longer need to rely on my uncle."

“Now that Lord Lin is highly regarded by the court, and the old lady didn’t like us anyway,” Baochai continued, analyzing the pros and cons.

“Mom, as you know, Feng’er has never taken us seriously. Now she’s the one in charge. If we don’t leave on our own initiative, I’m afraid we won’t be able to stay for long, and things will get even more ugly.”

Baochai's words made Aunt Xue sigh and feel very worried.

“My son, how could I not know all this!” Aunt Xue sighed. “But without the protection of the Duke’s mansion, our shop will only become more and more miserable. Your brother is unreliable, and we are just a widow and her son. If we leave the Jia family, we don’t know where we can go to stay.”

As she spoke, her eyes reddened.

Baochai, however, had already figured out her way out.

She said firmly, "Of course we'll stay with my uncle. Last time my aunt took me to the palace, I saw that she was very close to me. I think she would be happy for us to stay there."

Baochai realized that her uncle and aunt probably had their own plans, and she could just happen to be a part of those plans.

Since both sides had their own plans, they might as well take this opportunity to move into their uncle's house legitimately. Aunt Xue, seeing the current state of the Jia family, knew there was nothing she could do. Rather than be driven away, she decided to take the initiative.

"But if we leave now, what about Baoyu and the matter of the golden and jade marriage?" Aunt Xue suddenly raised her voice, as if she had suddenly remembered something important and almost forgot about this matter.

Baochai, however, had already seen through it all. She calmly analyzed, "Mother, think about it. Now that Cousin Yuanchun has left the palace, what can the second branch of the Rongguo Mansion do, even if the Old Madam favors Baoyu the most?"

She continued counting on her fingers: "The title belongs to the eldest son's family, and it will be inherited by Second Brother Lian in the future. Baoyu doesn't like to study, and I'm afraid he won't even get an official position in the future. Even if he has the protection of his uncle Jia Zheng, what if his uncle is no longer around? Are we going to have to rely on Second Brother Lian and his wife to make a living?"

“If that’s really the case, then it’s better to abandon Baoyu and make other plans as soon as possible.” Baochai’s tone was firm, without a trace of regret. She had already seen clearly that although Baoyu was born with a jade in his mouth, in the current situation, he had no one to rely on.

After listening to her daughter's analysis, Aunt Xue sighed: "Baoyu is a very honest child. But you're right, if your father were still alive, he wouldn't be afraid."

Baochai could not understand, but if her father were still alive, why would her family have to rely on others everywhere?

The Xue family acted swiftly.

Aunt Xue and her daughter Baochai were quite tactful; before leaving, they made a point of talking with Grandmother Jia for a while, their faces full of reluctance to part and gratitude for the Jia family's care over the years.

Then he went to say goodbye to Wang Xifeng.

Wang Xifeng couldn't have been happier if the Xue family moved away sooner, as this would save her a huge trouble. She was overjoyed, so she only said polite things like "We should visit each other often in the future" and "Our sisterly friendship will never end," but she was secretly delighted.

The reason why Prince Teng and his wife were happy to have the Xue family stay was entirely because of Baochai.

Wang Ziteng discovered that since the death of the retired emperor, the emperor had become increasingly distrustful of him. Despite his promotion from the military governor of the capital to the commander-in-chief of nine provinces, it was nothing more than a demotion in name only. The military governor of the capital held the power to defend the capital and wielded real military power, while the commander-in-chief of nine provinces was merely a prestigious title with far less real power than before.

So, after considering the Second Prince Xiao Tingkai, who was eager to find talented people, Prince Teng made a new plan in his mind.

He thought to himself, "Back then, the late emperor doted on his crown prince so much, but what happened? Father and son still distrusted each other, and the crown prince was eventually deposed. Now, the crown prince's position is not necessarily as secure as Mount Tai."

The Second Prince, Xiao Tingkai, has a respectable maternal grandfather, and now that the marriage has been arranged, his future wife's family is also quite respectable. Therefore, betting on the Second Prince might not be a bad idea.

The second prince even subtly expressed his desire to take the Xue family girl as a concubine.

Xiao Tingkai had already inquired about the Xue family, the imperial merchants, and they were quite wealthy.

He carefully considered the situation. Crown Prince Xiao Tingrui had the support of the Empress's maternal family, the Li family, while his third brother, Xiao Tingjun, had the support of Consort Qiao's maternal family, the Qiao family. Both the Li and Qiao families were wealthy and powerful clans, so the Crown Prince and his third brother never had to worry about expenses.

With his mother gone, even if his maternal grandfather helped out, he was mostly looking after his cousins; he couldn't rely on his grandfather for everything.

But if you really want to accomplish something big, how can you do without spending money?

The Xue family's wealth was undoubtedly a huge asset to Xiao Tingkai. He needed a reliable source of funds, and a family like the Xue family, with its orphans and widows, was easier to control.

However, while the Second Prince wanted to give her a concubine, the Xue family wanted a secondary consort.

The case of the Duke of Liguo's mansion has been thoroughly investigated. The Crown Prince did not act on his own initiative. Even when he led people to search the Duke of Liguo's mansion, he never coveted the gold, silver, jewelry, antiques, or paintings. The Crown Prince set an example, so his subordinates dared not embezzle money.

Therefore, when the final judgment was made and the property was confiscated, the emperor looked at the items and first scolded the Duke of Liguo's mansion for deceiving the emperor and oppressing the people, and then praised the Ministry of Justice for its efficiency in handling the case.

He then praised the Crown Prince for being young, but noted that he was diligent, patient, and methodical in his work. After praising him, he also bestowed many gifts upon the Crown Prince.

Inside the Delin Palace, the atmosphere was filled with joy and celebration.

The Crown Prince will soon be marrying his Crown Princess.

Extra Chapter: The Empress's Rebirth - Gao Xin's Birth and Daiyu's Housekeeper