Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 400 The Xia Family's Daughter Grows Up

"Go again?"

Jia Zheng was stunned for a moment, then he came to his senses and said with a smile: "You are joking, my Lord. Why would I bother you with something? I just heard that you are moving to a new house, so it is the Jia family who should congratulate you."

In front of other officials, Jia Zheng relied on his status as the emperor's father-in-law and laughed and talked with them. But in front of Yue Ling, he had two completely opposite attitudes. He was extremely respectful, and the idea of ​​not wanting to provoke this big Buddha was as if written on his face.

Even though Yue Ling wanted to make things difficult for them and warn them about their harsh treatment of Lin Daiyu, he couldn't find a reason.

"I heard from Yu'er that Madam Jia is not feeling well. As the younger generation, how can we not go and visit her?"

Jia Zheng secretly shook his head and thought to himself, "You are not here to visit. The old lady vomited blood and fainted just by hearing the news that you were promoted to a higher rank. If she saw you in person, wouldn't she faint directly?"

Without hesitation, Jia Zheng quickly changed the subject, "No need, no need. My Lord, you are so worried. Mother is in good health and is now recuperating. We dare not come to disturb her."

"Speaking of which, Yu'er caused some unpleasant things when he came to the mansion the day before yesterday. It was my evil son who really didn't know right from wrong. However, I have already taught him a good lesson, and I hope that the Marquis will forgive me."

With no other options, Jia Zheng had to bring out his eldest son to divert Yue Ling's attention.

As expected, this trick really worked. Yue Ling continued, "As for Baoyu, I also know his character. Although he is not a bad person, he is too different from the world. At his age, he can study or join the army. He still stays in the garden all day, protected by you, the head of the family. How can he know the sufferings of the people outside and how difficult the world is?"

"Fighting is not a solution. Brother Cun Zhou needs to think of a way to make it grow faster."

Jia Zheng scratched his head and said in shame, "My foolish son cannot compare with the Marquis in terms of foresight and knowledge of the state. He indulges himself in rouge and powder all day long, and does not seek knowledge or fame. He is really irresponsible and will never amount to anything."

Yue Ling smiled and shook his head, "You are still spoiling me too much, but I have a method. It depends on whether Brother Cun Zhou is willing to use it."

Hearing this, Jia Zheng's eyes lit up, and he cupped his hands and said, "To be honest, my rebellious son is a source of worry for me. If the Marquis can educate him and make him study hard, it would be a great blessing to have him reborn."

Yue Ling smiled and said, "It's not that I want to discipline him on your behalf, but I want to give Brother Cun Zhou some advice."

"Appreciate further details."

"According to Baoyu's age, it's time for him to get married. Brother Cunzhou, why don't you choose a good marriage for him, first get married and then start a career, with a wife to control him and always whisper in his ear, asking him to study hard and take care of the family, wouldn't that be more motivating?"

Jia Zheng smiled bitterly and shook his head, "My Lord, what you said is very true. This is exactly what our family has in mind, but the Jia family has been in a mess for a long time, and there is no easy candidate for marriage."

"According to the Marquis, how about marrying Xue Baochai, the eldest daughter of the Xue family, to my Baoyu?"

Jia Zheng pondered Mrs. Wang's ambiguous attitude the day before, and asked out of guesswork to find out what Yue Ling was thinking.

It's not that he didn't know that Xue Baochai was always working by Yue Ling's side, but she was a nameless and unprivileged girl, and there was no sign of her having any intimate behavior with Yue Ling. What's more, the wedding of Lin Daiyu and Yue Ling was already on the agenda, so Xue Baochai had no chance.

If Xue Baochai was just Yue Ling's helper, it would be good to use this marriage to bring her closer to Yue Ling.

Jia Zheng actually valued this aspect more.

After all, he didn't believe that the young and promising man in front of him was really as lustful as the rumors said. As long as he stepped into the Anjing Marquis Mansion, not even a female cat would be able to leave.

But it was exactly what he expected. Even though Yue Ling was not a sex maniac, he did not have the habit of handing over someone who was interested in him.

With his eyebrows slightly raised, Yue Ling couldn't help laughing in anger.

"The Jia family is so bold that they don't want to pursue Lin Daiyu, but instead want to pursue Xue Baochai? If they wait until they meet Xue Baoqin, won't they also want to pursue Xue Baoqin? They really want to match a beautiful young girl with their Baoyu, and he is worthy of her?"

Yue Ling's face was calm. He put his arm around Jia Zheng's shoulders, looked around, and whispered to him, "Since Brother Cun Zhou has nothing to hide from me, then I don't have to hide anything either. Miss Bao has been running around with me for many years. She has made many contributions and worked even harder. She and Yu'er are like sisters. How can I bear to let her marry someone else? What if she causes trouble for the Marquis' Mansion? What should I do?"

"Even if she doesn't get married, she should have a room in the Anjing Marquis's mansion."

Jia Zheng sighed slightly, thinking that it was just a rumor spread by Marquis Anjing and was not false.

"But I do have a good match, and I promise to give you Baoyu."

Jia Zheng smiled again and asked quietly, "Since the Marquis has chosen this person, he must be a very good person. Could you please tell me who he is?"

"You even brought your dirty thoughts into my inner house. Don't blame me for being unfair."

Yue Ling nodded repeatedly, suppressed his emotions, and said: "Speaking of this person, Brother Cunzhou may be familiar with him. He is the Xia family, which is a royal merchant family like the Xue family. The Xia family suffered a loss a long time ago, and it is the orphans and widows who are struggling to support the huge family business. Their daughter has just grown up and is often praised for her beauty and talent. It can be said that she is both beautiful inside and out."

"I have heard Miss Bao mention this in the past. Although Miss Xia is gentle and affectionate, her heart is like thunder and lightning. She is as strong as Miss Bao and can manage the family business."

Jia Zheng opened his mouth in astonishment. "My Lord, are you talking about the Xia family with hundreds of hectares of flower fields outside the capital? The one that supplies flowers and bonsai to the Ministry of Internal Affairs?"

"Exactly."

Jia Zheng smiled bitterly and said, "My foolish son has a weak character. If he had married a strong woman..."

"Oh, that's wrong. Baoyu is as gentle as a woman, with more yin than yang. Doesn't he need a woman with strong opinions to take charge of the family? The two of you happen to have a perfect balance of yin and yang, a perfect match made in heaven."

"This, this, this... But the Xia family is only an imperial merchant after all, and our country's dukedom..."

Yue Ling had a look of disappointment on his face. He let go of Jia Zheng's shoulders with a little disdain, stroked his sleeves and said, "So what about the Duke's Mansion? Even I know that the Rongguo Mansion has exhausted manpower and financial resources to build the imperial residence. There must be a deficit in the accounts now, right?"

"If you have the full support of the Xia family, not only can you build a garden, but you can also use the palace style flowers in the garden."

"Besides, if you weren't from the Duke's Mansion, they might not agree. In today's world, only those who are powerful and wealthy will be looked up to. Just having a name without substance won't do."

Jia Zheng nodded, as if he understood something, and then he clasped his hands and said, "Thank you very much for your advice, my Lord. I will go back to the mansion and send someone to investigate after I leave the court today."

"Okay, okay, you're welcome. After all, this is for the sake of the child. The sooner this happens, the better. If someone else sets their sights on their huge family business, how can it be your Rongguo Mansion's turn?"

"Yes, yes, yes, the Marquis taught me..."

Just as he finished speaking, an eunuch walked out of the palace gate and looked around. When he saw Yue Ling, his eyes lit up and he walked quickly forward.

He completely ignored the existence of Jia Zheng, the father-in-law of the emperor, and only greeted Yue Ling, saying, "My Lord, you can just stand in front of the queue. His Majesty will read out the decree of the reward in the court."

Yue Ling turned around and said, "Okay, please pass on the message, eunuch."

Leaving Jia Zheng behind, Yue Ling followed the eunuchs to the front of the team, under the Xuande Gate.

The Right Prime Minister Chai Pu, the Vice-Minister Dongfang Zhi and others appeared to be old acquaintances of Yue Ling.

However, at the foot of the city gate tower, everyone did not chat, but just nodded slightly.

Another small group included the sons of the four kings and eight dukes led by the Prince of Beijing. Many of them had participated in the Battle of Beijing and had received favors from Yue Ling. They all bowed to Yue Ling silently.

Yue Ling also returned the greeting from a distance, being extremely humble. Suddenly, the spear tips of the Yulin Guards in front of the door fell down, overlapping each other, making a harsh collision sound.

"My Lord, you are armed and cannot enter the Hall of Supreme Harmony according to the law. Please hand over your sword to us for safekeeping."

The sudden situation attracted everyone's attention, and they glanced secretly and whispered.

"Is he really here? Marquis Anjing's achievements are so great that His Majesty has begun to criticize him on etiquette."

After one person finished speaking, someone else added, "When the cunning rabbit dies, the good dog is cooked; when the high birds are gone, the good bows are hidden; when the enemy country is defeated, the counselors die. This is an eternal truth, and it seems that even the Marquis of Anjing is not immune to it."

The imperial censors, who had been silent for a long time, looked at the scene with shining eyes, trying to guess the emperor's intentions and seek their own interests from this situation.

Censors can report things based on hearsay, and impeach officials in court without knowing whether they are true or false. This is a powerful tool for Your Majesty to control court officials and for the court to unite and attack dissidents.

The more important the official who falls in the struggle, the greater the credit for the censors.

Today, Marquis Anjing's reputation is second to none in the court. If Emperor Longyou is really hinting at giving Yue Ling a warning after he returns to the capital, then the censors' chance has really come.

Seeing this scene, the eunuch's face immediately changed, "Are you crazy? This is the imperial sword bestowed by His Majesty. It allows Marquis Anjing to do whatever he wants outside, beheading court officials and mobs. Do you think this is a sword for entering the palace?"

Dongfang Zhi couldn't help but move over and kindly reminded, "Lord Yue, be careful."

Even if Yue Ling didn't turn around, he could tell how many people were watching him from behind.

To implement new laws and enrich the country and strengthen the military was the common vision of him and Emperor Longyou. Yue Ling did not believe that Emperor Longyou, with whom he had been close the day before, would turn against him today.

Emperor Longyou was not an emperor with moody tempers.

Yue Ling calmly took off the sword, held it in his hand, and said to the left and right Yulin guards: "This is a sword bestowed by the emperor. Since I went south, I have never left it. I have never given it to anyone else."

"It would be inappropriate to take it away and give it to you for safekeeping now. How about allowing me to bring it to the court and return it to your majesty?"

Yue Ling's words were powerful and majestic, and the oncoming pressure made the Yulin Guards dare not make a decision on their own. They all lowered their heads and remained silent.

The eunuch pointed at their noses and cursed: "You are really crazy. If His Majesty knows what you did today, you will be punished! The Marquis sympathizes with you, but you dare not appreciate it! What's wrong? I will report it to General Manager Xia!"

Yue Ling stretched out his hand to stop the emotional eunuch, so that he would not go in to file a complaint to the emperor and make the matter worse.

"Eunuch, forget it. They have their own difficulties. I will just enter the hall and let His Majesty decide."

Yue Ling strode into the palace gate, followed by all the officials.

Only officials who were close by, standing in the front rows, had the opportunity to see this scene and hear what was going on in the front.

Right Prime Minister Chai Pu couldn't help but glance at Prince Beijing, who was standing calmly beside him, looking up at the palace wall in a daze, and shook his head slightly.

"Now there's something good to watch..."

All subsequent officials thought so.

……

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall,
In the Buddhist temple behind the hall, there are no longer any vegetarians or Buddhists.

Miaoyu has gone to the Anjing Marquis' Mansion with her master. This place should have been empty, but now it has become Jia Mu's place of recuperation.

This was widely spread in the Rongguo Mansion, saying that they did not want Lady Jia to be disturbed and needed to rest and recuperate.

But Yuanyang, Amber and others who are inseparable from Grandmother Jia know clearly that Grandmother Jia has been trapped here by Jia She and Jia Zheng.

On the rattan chair in the courtyard, Jia's grandmother was leaning on it, her face was sallow and she looked listless.

Yuanyang and Amber were fanning themselves gently, both with distressed looks on their faces.

Lady Jia, who once had the final say in the mansion, is now locked up in this small courtyard. Even her meals have to be delivered from outside instead of being taken by them.

How could the eldest daughter of the Shi family, who had been spoiled since childhood and had been granted the title of a first-rank duke, accept such a huge gap between the past and the present?

Grandmother Jia stared, looked up at the sky, and murmured, "You unworthy descendants, you will be punished sooner or later. The ancestors of the Jia family are watching you from heaven. Without an old woman like me, just look at what this Duke's Mansion will be like after being ruined by you!"

Just when it was time for breakfast, there was a knock on the door.

Yuanyang went to open the door, but saw that the person who came to deliver the meal was not someone else, but Mrs. Wang.

"Second Madam, what are you doing?"

Madam Wang smiled apologetically, handed over the food box in her hand, and asked, "Is the old ancestor awake or asleep?"

Yuanyang looked back and replied, "Still resting."

Madam Wang rubbed her palms together and said, "Okay, I'll wait a little longer."

"Who's coming?"

The voice of Jia's mother was heard from inside, and Mrs. Wang pushed open the door, leaned forward, and said, "It's me. I'm looking for the old ancestor for something."

Jia's mother looked over, her face revealing disgust. "What are you doing here? Are you here to laugh at me, an old woman?"

Madam Wang smiled awkwardly, "What are you talking about, old ancestor? How dare we?"

Grabbing the food box from Yuanyang, Madam Wang stepped forward again and said, "The old ancestor is very kind to us. The master and I know it very well. It was the eldest wife's idea to keep the old ancestor here to recuperate. We can't argue with it."

"Now Jia She has sent all the three girls to An Jinghou to please him. In my opinion..."

"what!"

Grandmother Jia slammed the table in anger, sat up straight and said, "How can there be such a shameless person? He really brings shame to the Jia family!"

Mrs. Wang shook her head in distress. "The power of the Anjing Marquis's Mansion is incomparable to the current Jia Mansion. For now, we should wait for the old ancestor to come out and then make a long-term plan."

Grandmother Jia opened her eyes and asked incredulously, "Why? Do you have a solution?"

(End of this chapter)