The Second Master of the Red Chamber

Chapter 716 Glass Screen

It was a night of romance and love.

The next morning, after waking up, Sister Feng lay in bed with Jia Lian for a while, then got up alone to dress up.

Suddenly he remembered something and wanted to go back and discuss it with Jia Lian.

But inside the lotus tent, Jia Lian was half lying on the pillow. On his chest, the maid Ping'er was leaning lazily, with one of her little hands unconsciously drawing circles on him.

Occasionally she looked up and met Jia Lian's eyes: with a sweet smile, her long black hair fell down, revealing her purity.

That would be fine, as she naturally knew very well what kind of beauty the maid she had raised was like. The key point was that Jia Lian was also looking at Ping'er with a smile on his face at this time, and he reached out to rub Ping'er's head, his eyes full of doting.

This made Feng Jieer very jealous, and she couldn't help but make sarcastic remarks.

"Why, you haven't gotten tired of me after more than a month, and you still treat me like a treasure. Look at what you have accomplished..."

Hearing Sister Feng's jealous voice, Ping'er's expression changed and she immediately got up and dressed.

Ping'er was very clear about her position. She knew that the reason why Fengjie was willing to let her sleep with him was not only because she was submissive to the Second Master, but also because she was too thin-skinned and acted like a young lady.

When faced with some requests from the Second Master that she wasn't sure whether were in accordance with etiquette or not, and when she didn't want to or was embarrassed to agree to them but couldn't refuse them, she could only let her concubine take over.

Therefore, Ping'er now dared to get a little closer to Jia Lian in front of her, but she didn't dare to offend her too much.

Although Jia Lian heard Feng Jie'er's ridicule, he just smiled and didn't take it to heart.

If Wang Xifeng isn’t jealous, is she still called Wang Xifeng?

Although her words were often harsh and unpleasant when she was jealous, on the other hand, if this woman with a dagger hidden behind her smile did not vent her jealousy but smiled, then he would need to be careful.

So he didn't answer, but just admired the way his own pretty Ping'er was dressing.

  Seeing that Jia Lian ignored her, Sister Feng just hummed, turned back to comb her hair which had been tangled all night, and said:

"There is one thing I forgot to tell you. The Madam and the Old Lady were talking about the twelve little actors in Lixiangyuan.

Now that the old empress dowager has passed away, according to the regulations, people like us are not allowed to hold banquets or perform operas within a year.

I guess it won’t be of any use to the Empress in the palace.

The lady then said that it was a pity to keep them in vain, as they were all young girls and it would only delay their development, so it would be better to let them go.

The old lady didn't care about it, so the lady asked me what I thought. "

Jia Lian curled his lips and said, "They are just a few little maids. They don't cost much money all year round. It's a pity to keep them for nothing."

Feng Jieer heard the disdain in Jia Lian's words and was a little surprised. She stood up and walked over, saying with a smile: "Second Master, are you reluctant to part with those little girls?"

Jia Lian glanced at her and said, "When those little girls were first bought, the youngest was only eight or nine years old, and the oldest was no more than eleven or twelve. They were all innocent and well-informed.

  Although the Empress would not be able to use them during the year of national mourning, what about the year after that? Would she send someone to go to the south of the Yangtze River with tens of thousands of taels of silver to buy a new batch and bring them back to retrain them?

Let's take a step back. Even if the queen doesn't come to visit her parents anymore, there are so many people in the family, and the old lady likes to be lively, so keeping these little girls who can sing and dance will always be useful. "

“What you said makes sense…

It's just that Madam feels that the family is now in a lot of deficit. In the Lixiang Courtyard, not counting the four delicate beauties you moved out, there are about 20 to 30 people including little actors, tutors, and maids who serve and educate them. The food, clothing, and other expenses for these people throughout the year are also a considerable expense.

My wife is also thinking about the family..."

Jia Lian looked at Wang Xifeng and saw that she was looking at him with a smile. How could he not understand this woman's intention?

No matter how stingy she was, even if she had ten boxes of heavy gold under her bed, she would not be reluctant to spend money to support a small theater troupe.

He suddenly laughed and said, "The second wife is nearly fifty years old and no longer as beautiful as she used to be. It's understandable that she can't stand these charming little actors and doesn't want them to stay at home and get in the way.

But could it be that our Second Madam Feng, who has just passed her prime, is so beautiful that people dare not look directly at her, would also be so jealous of others' talents?"

When Jia Lian said this, Sister Feng blushed and spat.

"Bah, you are a child of a rich family. My aunt is your aunt after all, how dare you... frame her like this? When did she become fed up with little actors? When did she become jealous of others' talents...

Just talking about the matter, you..."

Feng Jieer wanted to criticize Jia Lian's inappropriate remarks, but seeing Jia Lian's unmoved expression, she couldn't continue with the next words.

Not only was he unable to respond, but he couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Realizing something was wrong, he quickly stopped and couldn't help but give Jia Lian a blank look.

  What a stinky man. He always says that he speaks harshly, but he himself is not much better!

Although my aunt...

Well, she really didn't like women with pretty and charming looks, especially those who always dressed up flashy on a daily basis.

  Investigating the root cause, Sister Feng can probably guess:

It was all caused by Aunt Zhao, Mrs. Wang’s enemy for the rest of her life.

Thinking of this wonderful woman, Sister Feng couldn't help but feel sorry for Lady Wang:

How could my uncle, who comes from a wealthy family and looks so serious on the surface, fall for something like this?

  But it was just a thought in her mind. After all those things, she had already seen clearly that in such a huge Duke's Mansion, the only person she could really rely on was her first husband Jia Lian!

She would never again be as foolish as she was before and stand on Mrs. Wang's side, targeting that low-level woman everywhere.

Looking back, it was true that he hated that stupid woman, but the fact that he targeted and even oppressed Aunt Zhao at that time was somewhat instigated by Madam Wang and felt that he was being used as a gun by her.

She didn't like this feeling very much.

But she quickly put aside these unnecessary thoughts and looked at Jia Lian with gentle eyes.

Although Jia Lian had just made a subtle criticism of Mrs. Wang, his words clearly contained three compliments for her, which she did not ignore and felt quite happy.

Jia Lian was just saying this casually; he didn't really care about the affairs of Jia Zheng and his wife.

  Jia Zheng likes to be flirty when he gets old... What's wrong with a romantic woman?

As for Mrs. Wang, it was a fact that she was narrow-minded and did not like good-looking and attractive women, so it could not be considered as a fabrication by him.

It was quite interesting to see Feng Jieer's reaction.

"Since Madam doesn't want the little actors to stay in the garden, then move them all to Tianxiang Tower.

Forget about the teachers and those who originally served them. Those who were at home were returned to their places of origin, and those who were hired from outside were given some money to be dismissed.

As for this year, just treat it as a long vacation for the little actors and let them serve as maids for Mr. Gu for a while.

After a year, we will reorganize the team. By then, whether the Imperial Concubine wants to summon us or the family needs us, it will be convenient.”

Jia Lian directly gave the final solution.

Gu Qingyi and the four beauties were only temporarily in Tianxiang Tower. Jia Lian's original intention was to set up a "women's music hall" outside and let the four beauties move in.

It can also be considered as finding a career for them.

The four beauties were all talented and knowledgeable, and Jia Lian did not mind spreading their talents and music. If the time was right, Jia Lian would not even mind making them the stars of the time, so that they could also go down in history.

Of course, this still depends on their luck.

The women's music hall had been completely decorated and arranged, and Jia Lian had ordered Jiang Yun and others to prepare for the opening. Who would have thought that first her affair with Princess Zhaoyang was exposed, and then the concubine passed away, and the whole country was in mourning.

Under such circumstances, the opening of the Women's Music Band project can only be postponed.

As for the Twelve Officials, Jia Lian certainly would not let Lady Wang send them away.

In order to buy these girls to train them, it cost 20,000 to 30,000 silver coins! Although most of it may have been embezzled, even if only a small part was used on them, it can be seen that it was a waste.

It can be said that each of the Twelve Officials is a carefully selected girl with a very good foundation.

If such a group of girls were dismissed, not to mention how they would make a living, it would also be a huge loss for the Rongguo Mansion.

In the original novel, the reason why they were dismissed was because the Rongguo Mansion was on the decline and Mrs. Wang wanted to save expenses.

Now, although the treasury of Rongguo Mansion is poor, Jia Lian is not poor and does not mind keeping more useful idle people.

Seeing Jia Lian make the decision, Sister Feng raised her eyebrows but didn't say anything else.

In fact, she didn't really want to disband the small opera troupe that her family had spent a lot of money to train.

She was a person who liked to show off, and she agreed with Jia Lian's words. Even if it couldn't be used this year, she could continue to keep it. After the national mourning, wouldn't she be able to use it?

If we lay off employees at this point, not only will all previous investments be wasted, but we may also have to pay severance pay.

As for reselling to reduce losses?

Stop joking. How could you hear that a Duke's Mansion doesn't buy people but sells them instead?

As for her earlier suspicion that Jia Lian was reluctant to part with these little actors...

Firstly, Jia Lian hasn't taken action against these little actors for such a long time. Secondly, Jia Lian has a lot of women around him now, so she is not really afraid of these girls who will not pose any threat for at least a few years.

To take a step back, if this vixen who was raised at home and knows Jia Lian well can consume Jia Lian's energy, it is better than bringing a vixen back from outside.

After this matter was settled, Feng Jieer and Ping'er helped Jia Lian get up and change his clothes while they chatted about family matters.

Suddenly, a servant came from outside to report: "Second Master, Second Madam, our uncle sent someone to deliver a Western glass screen, saying it's for Second Madam." Sister Feng frowned and said: "We have so many screens at home that we don't have anywhere to put them. What is he sending it for nothing..."

Suddenly thinking of something, Feng Jieer glanced at Jia Lian and asked someone to bring the things in.

Soon, several maids brought in something, which was a dressing mirror that was one person tall and two feet wide.

Feng Jieer already had a similar dressing mirror.

But when she heard the old woman who delivered the message say that this was specially bought by her brother Wang Ren from a foreign merchant as a gift for her, she was still very happy.

  So she dismissed the servants, pulled Jia Lian to sit on the kang, and talked about her brother Wang Ren in a roundabout way. Finally, she said:

"So, my brother felt that he was not cut out for business, so he sold most of his properties in the south and moved his family back to the capital.

But he has been away from the capital for so many years and has no roots in the capital. I just happened to hear that you are getting more and more powerful, so I asked me to ask you if there is any place that needs people...

I think my brother is not an outsider. If you really need a job, you might as well give him one.

There is no need to be picky. He is a man of little ability. If you give him a little, it will be enough for him to torment. "

Although Feng Jieer tried to look relaxed and smiling when she spoke, Jia Lian could still see the thoughtfulness and flattery in her eyes.

Obviously she knew that he didn't like Wang Ren, and he didn't like her helping someone to ask for an official position.

“I’m actually a little curious.

In terms of official position and power, I am not as good as my uncle. Why didn't he ask my uncle for help, but asked me through you?

Could it be that I, your brother-in-law, am closer to you than your uncle?"

Jia Lian waved his robe and sat up straighter.

Feng Jieer was a little embarrassed: "My second uncle's idea is to let him go to the border army to train for a few years, but he is weak..."

"Since you are weak, you should stay in the capital and be a rich and idle person."

Jia Lian waved his hand, not wanting to hear any more nonsense.

With an uncle who holds real power from the first rank, wouldn't it be easy for him to get a job as an official?

  Civil servants might be a little difficult, but military officers below the fifth rank can be chosen at will, right?

After all, I still don't want to suffer.

  Well, among the children from big families, how many are willing to work hard and make progress?

For example, Jia Lian in the past, didn’t he also donate money to become a Tongzhi, and then started to live a life of idleness and wait for death after getting an official position?

This shows that he was not sincere in asking for an official position this time. He probably saw that his brother-in-law was too glorious, so he started to fantasize about the day when he could have beautiful women, fine wine, and great power...

For this kind of person, let alone the fact that he knows that the other party is a "forgetful" person, even if he doesn't know, he will not use him.

When he stood up and tried to leave, his arm was grabbed.

When he turned around, he saw Sister Feng pulling his sleeve and looking at him pitifully.

"My parents died early, and I only have this one brother. Now my uncle and aunt are at the border, and he is alone in the capital without anyone to rely on. If I don't take care of him, how pitiful he will be.

Can you please help me, just for my sake, okay, Second Master..."

Jia Lian was silent for a moment.

First of all, when had anyone ever seen Feng Jieer, who was bold, careful and had a strong sense of self-esteem, begging others in such a humble and almost coquettish manner?

behave in a spoiled manner?

Just thinking about it, I feel that this word does not match Wang Xifeng.

Secondly, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

In this world, there are not many people who can make Feng Jieer beg for mercy.

This Wang Ren, however, occupies one of them.

  But Jia Lian knew that the reason why Wang Ren was known as an ungrateful person was because he had let down Feng Jieer, his sister who was so sincere and trusted him so much!

In the original novel, when Wang Xifeng fell out with Jia Lian and his wife and the Jia family was confiscated, the only person she could think of was her brother.

Therefore, she secretly sent her only hope - her daughter Qiaojie - to Wang Ren, hoping that Wang Ren would be able to take care of her and raise her.

But Wang Ren didn't know whether it was because the Wang family was also in decline and short of money, or because he was afraid that Qiaojie, this "hot potato", would implicate him, so he sold her to a brothel...

Human?

Thinking of this, and seeing how Sister Feng was begging him for Wang Ren's sake, Jia Lian felt very uncomfortable.

He bent down and took Sister Feng up, and asked seriously, "Do you really want me to help him?"

"Yeah." Feng Jieer nodded repeatedly.

"Forget about the Firearms Battalion. They are part of the Imperial Guards and they frequently go in and out of the Imperial City. If they run into someone of high rank, they could easily get into trouble.

Just let’s call it Bingmasi.

I'll have someone recruit a group of city patrol officers later. Ask your brother to sign up.

Patrolling the city is a simple job and there is no danger. Tell him to do his job well, and when he has enough experience, I will naturally promote him. "

As Jia Lian spoke, a chill already rose in his heart.

He originally disdained to punish someone for something that had not happened.

The world is different after all. Maybe Jia Lian has always been smooth sailing, and Wang Ren would never dare to treat Feng Jieer badly in his life.

This is also the reason why Jia Lian has never caused trouble for Wang Ren over the years.

But whenever Jia Lian thought of Qiaojie's sad verdict, the line "Don't talk about nobility when you are defeated, don't talk about relatives when your family is destroyed", and the silent accusation of "cruel uncle and treacherous brother" in the dream song...

When he looked at his clever and well-behaved daughter in this life, whose heart could melt when he held her in his arms, he could not suppress the evil thoughts towards Wang Ren in his heart.

Just in time, he came to me.

It just so happens that in this society where personal connections are important, it is not easy for him to leave his brother-in-law alone outside.

So Jia Lian decided to recruit Wang Ren into his team.

Just like the Zhao brothers back then, they were monitored in real time. If they behaved well, that was fine. If not, it would be a good opportunity to deal with them.

  As for promotion and training?

That is impossible.

"Ah, the city patrol officer..."

"Why, you look down on me?"

Seeing Jia Lian's half-smile, Sister Feng quickly shook her head and said with a smile, "I didn't know you. It's a great fortune for him that you, an impartial and just ruler, are willing to help him.

If he doesn't think highly of it, let him find his own way. I will have given him an explanation."

What kind of person is Wang Xifeng? No matter what she thinks in her heart, she is the most careful about her appearance.

Besides, she also knew that the Wang family was not like the Jia family after all and had lost their titles long ago.

Therefore, it was impossible for her brother Wang Ren to donate money to become an official through formal channels like Jia Lian did in the past.

Wang Ren had no official title, so if he wanted to be an official, he could only start as a clerk.

And didn’t Jia Lian say that one could be promoted by gaining some experience?

So how could Feng Jieer be dissatisfied? No one knew better than her how difficult it was to get Jia Lian to open a back door, so she happily asked the maids to serve breakfast.

After dinner, Jia Lian saw that Sister Feng had not yet found a good place to put the glass screen, so he said, "It seems that Ying's room is still missing a mirror like this. If you don't need it, send it to her."

When Feng Jieer heard this, she subconsciously said, "You really cherish your sisters. Whenever I have something good, you always think of them first!"

Seeing Jia Lian turned away without saying a word, Sister Feng hurriedly held him back and said with a smile, "You got angry just because I said a joke? It's a rare day off for you. What are your plans?"

Jia Lian smiled and said, "I don't have any plans. Why, Second Madam plans to stay at home with me?"

Feng Jieer was tempted for a moment when she heard this, but then she sneered and said, "You have so many good sisters and so many 'beauties', why do you need me to accompany you?

Okay, stop joking. The carriage is ready. Shall we go to the East Palace together?"

Feng Jieer understands romance, but not much.

What mattered to her more was that she had just returned home yesterday and there were a lot of things waiting for her to take care of!

Jia Lian had expected Feng Jie'er's reaction, and he was not dissatisfied at all.

He was used to this woman not being clingy.

Anyway, he has his own things to do. Even if he is free, he can still go and see Miaoyu and tease Daiyu...

So Jia Lian and Feng Jieer went to Jia Jing's mourning hall together, and then went back home separately.