The Second Master of the Red Chamber

The next morning, Sister Feng arrived at Rongqing Hall early and found a suitable opportunity to mention to Lady Jia that Jia Lian intended to build a house outside.

As expected, after hearing this, Grandmother Jia reacted strongly. If Jia Lian and his wife had not been completely different from before, I'm afraid Feng Jie would have been scolded on the spot.

Even so, Grandmother Jia still questioned with a serious look:

"Is it your uncle and aunt who made you angry, or are you just fed up with an old woman like me? Why are you moving out again out of nowhere?"

Hearing this, Sister Feng lay down beside Grandmother Jia's legs and said flatteringly, "Look at what the old lady said, it's certainly not true.

To be honest, when Mr. Lian mentioned this, I was not happy either. I live comfortably in my own small courtyard, why would I bother to build a house outside? And I wish I could serve the old lady all my life and listen to her teachings, so how could I bear to leave this place?
But Master Lian is very determined, and as a woman I can’t persuade him, so I can only come to ask the old ancestor for advice.”

Grandmother Jia sat on the couch, looking down at Feng Jieer, who was already the wife of a duke but still behaved so filially. Her stern expression lessened a little, and she said in a gentle tone, "In that case, what about Lian'er? Didn't we agree before that the family should live in harmony?

If he has any dissatisfaction, he can just speak it out, and everyone can discuss it together, just like a family.

He wants to move out so suddenly, isn't he deliberately trying to make others laugh at our family? "

Grandmother Jia was not only angry because of Jia Lian's inconsistency, but also because she knew the implications behind Jia Lian's moving out.

How could it be unreasonable for him, the Duke of Rong, to move out of the Duke of Rong's Mansion?

As I said, Jia Lian's title will expire one day, and if he moves out, he will be forcing Jia Zheng and his wife to move out.

It is impossible for Grandmother Jia to allow Jia Lian to bully Jia Zheng's family in this way, both morally and logically.

At the same time, Grandmother Jia was still a little puzzled. If Jia Lian had thought this way before, it would be fine, but now that he knew his life experience, why did he still do this?

He doesn't look like such a shameless person.

Feng Jieer then told Lady Jia about all the inconveniences, claiming that Jia Lian now had more and more subordinates and his power was growing, and the small East Courtyard was no longer enough for him to display his talents.

If I come to the main courtyard to do business, I'm afraid I'll disturb my uncle and aunt.

Grandmother Jia was also a person who managed a household, so she naturally understood that the problem that Sister Feng mentioned existed. If there were two heads of a mansion, it would be fine if they had separate courtyards, but if they were to be combined into one, many problems would be difficult to solve.

This is also one of the reasons why he likes Jia Lian.

For so many years, Jia Lian has been deliberately controlling his power in the East Courtyard, leaving Jia Zheng with enough dignity.

Now that Jia Lian has been promoted to Duke, the problems that Sister Feng mentioned are indeed very troublesome.

She really wanted to call Jia Lian over, so that the two of them could discuss the issue and resolve it by making concessions, as they had done in the past.

But from the tone of Feng Jieer's voice and seeing that Jia Lian specifically asked Feng Jieer to deliver the message, it was clear that while he was firm in his attitude, he also deliberately left some space for each other so as not to hurt their feelings.

In this situation, if she couldn't come up with a practical explanation, there would be no point in calling Jia Lian over.

After thinking it over again and again, she said, "How about asking your aunt to switch with you?"

Seeing Sister Feng'er's surprise, she said, "Anyway, your second uncle is currently serving in another place, so there are only your second aunt and two concubines in the main courtyard.

Since you feel that your courtyard is too small, why not let your aunt and auntie move to your courtyard, and you two can move to the main courtyard."

Grandmother Jia is never confused about major issues.

She knew very well that Jia Lian would never move out, at least not right now.

Since he could not move out and was not satisfied with the current situation, Jia Zheng and his wife had no choice but to give in.

As he said, Jia Zheng was on a post outside the capital and he didn't know when he would be able to return to the capital. In the meantime, he could only inconvenience Lady Wang.

As for the two concubines, it doesn’t matter where they live.

Needless to say, after hearing Lady Jia's suggestion, Feng Jieer was immediately moved.

Ever since Jia Lian promised her the future, she has been thinking about the mansion for a long time.

"I'm afraid this is inappropriate. How can we wrong the Second Madam like this..."

Jia Mu saw that Feng Jieer was not sincere and snorted, "It's all for the sake of the family. Your wife can still stay in the east wing, so what's the big deal if she moves to your courtyard?
If you agree with what I say, go back and tell Lian'er. I will also ask your wives to come over so that we can discuss it together.

Anyway, Feng girl, if you still think of us as a family, you should know that there is nothing that cannot be discussed among family members!"

Feng Jieer was so moved that she almost agreed.

Seeing that Lady Jia had already sent someone to invite Mrs. Wang, Sister Feng just remembered Jia Lian's repeated instructions last night.

"Madam, I'm afraid it's not appropriate..."

Grandmother Jia said angrily, "Isn't it appropriate? Didn't you say that the courtyard is too small and you want to change to a larger one? Isn't the main courtyard big enough for you two to mess around?"

In Grandmother Jia's eyes, she even felt that this was the real purpose of Jia Lian and his wife, which was to live in the main courtyard.

For the sake of the overall situation, she could make concessions and even make decisions on behalf of Jia Zheng and his wife, but she could not accept that Jia Lian and his wife continued to demand more.

Because that meant that Jia Lian and the other two had no intention of giving Jia Zheng and his wife any respect.

Feng Jieer quickly explained: "The old lady misunderstood, that's not what I meant..."

Feng Jieer considered her words carefully and said solemnly, "Old Madam, you also know that our Second Master Lian has always respected Second Uncle and Second Aunt, and he has no intention of competing with Second Uncle and Second Aunt for the main courtyard.

He told me that he didn't want to move out unless it was necessary.

Just because of his background, he had to make such a decision.

The old lady may not know that many people are saying that Second Master Lian and First Master Xian have usurped the title that originally belonged to Second Master...

The old lady also knew that Mr. Lian was a man with a strong sense of self-esteem, so he naturally could not tolerate this. He told me that if he wanted something, he could get it with his own ability, and he would never steal other people's things.

Since he is not a member of the Jia family, the title of the Jia family should be returned to the second master.

Unfortunately, the title was bestowed by the emperor and he had no way to return it, which made him feel resentful about it.

But..."

Listening to Sister Feng's words, Grandmother Jia scolded, "He is a general, but he believes everything others say.
Everyone in our family knows that, although his title is due to the influence of his family, if he were an incompetent person, how could he have reached this point today?

His second uncle hasn't said anything about it, but he's being hypocritical? "

After scolding him, he asked again: "Just say what you want to say, don't hesitate."

Feng Jieer then said, "It would be fine if it was just outsiders saying this, but it just so happens that many of our own family members also have such views."

"Family? Who?"

"Madam, it was those people in the clan... Madam, I think you have also heard about how Jia Gui and Jia Qin, father and son, joined forces with many other people to oppose him during the ancestral worship ceremony yesterday."

Grandmother Jia was startled, then her eyes showed some understanding, but she still spoke unhappily: "Didn't he say that those who didn't live up to his expectations were beaten with a stick by Lian'er on the spot? He also ordered that from now on no one in the family is allowed to talk about his background, and those who violated the order will be severely punished?

Why, he has been beaten and the order has been issued, but you are still holding on to him?"

"The old lady also knew that it was just a polite remark made by him for the sake of the overall situation.

He is a proud man. He said that, but how could he deceive himself?

He really didn't want to compete with the second master, and he didn't want to be misunderstood by those people from other rooms and have them stab him in the back, so he decided to move out.

The old lady doesn't have to worry about us, we have our own money to build a house.

We have already chosen the location, which is right where the Lai family originally lived, and not far from the mansion.

After the house is built, it will be convenient for both sides to travel, and it won’t affect anything.”

When she heard that Jia Lian and his wife had even chosen an address, how could Grandmother Jia not know that they were determined to move out.

She suddenly felt very tired. She thought that she was almost eighty years old and shouldn't be so worried.
So he took a deep breath and said, "Even if you want to build a house, it won't happen overnight. Let's put this matter aside for now. Let me discuss it with your uncle and aunt, and then you can make a decision. How about that?"

Hearing the pleading tone of Lady Jia's voice, Sister Feng did not hesitate and agreed.

Her trip was just to convey Jia Lian's message to Jia Mu and others. The real decision was still made by Jia Lian.

According to her own opinion, she thought that what Lady Jia had just suggested was quite good.

After Sister Feng left, Grandmother Jia immediately asked someone to call Mrs. Wang and told her what she had just talked about with Sister Feng.

Mrs. Wang was surprised at first, and then she began to think silently.

Grandmother Jia reminded her, "I know what you mean, but don't forget that Lian'er still has the title, which was bestowed on him by the emperor. Unless the emperor speaks up, no one can take it away!"

Mrs. Wang laughed when she heard this and said, "What are you talking about, old lady? How can a daughter-in-law be so ignorant? She must know the overall situation.

But the old lady also said that even if Baoyu's father and I moved out of the main courtyard and exchanged residence with them, it would not be allowed. So I, as a daughter-in-law, had no idea what to do.

It happens that tomorrow is the 26th. Otherwise, when I enter the palace tomorrow, I will mention this matter to the queen and see what she says. "

Hearing this, Jia's eyes lit up: "Okay, I'll go to the palace with you tomorrow!"

In the eyes of Lady Jia and Lady Wang, Yuanchun, who is already a noble concubine, has more authority than anyone else.

……

The 26th day of every month was the day when the royal family granted permission for each family to visit the empress and concubines in the palace.

Ever since this benevolent policy was introduced, the harem has become much more lively on every 2nd and 6th day of the lunar month than usual.

Fengzao Palace, when Yuanchun saw Lady Jia also entering the palace, she was very happy.

He led his mother and grandmother to the Queen's Palace, went through a brief process, and then returned to Fengzao Palace to chat.

After chatting about family matters and sending the palace maids away, Jia's mother and daughter talked to Yuanchun about the family's predicament, focusing on the fact that Jia Lian and his wife were going to build a new house to live in.

Yuanchun immediately became anxious: "This is absolutely not allowed!"

"We naturally know that it is not possible, but..."

Sighing, Jia's mother and her husband told them about their difficulties one by one, and finally said, "Right now your father is in the south, and we can't contact him for a while.

But Lian'er seems determined, and we really can't find a proper solution, so we want to find you and let you make the decision."

The two Jia's mothers were just at a loss for a solution, so they thought of seeking advice from Yuanchun, who was of noble status.

This may not be without the intention of asking Yuanchun to persuade Jia Lian to give up moving out. They all knew that Jia Lian had always respected Yuanchun, the eldest sister in the deep palace.

Who would have thought that after listening carefully, Yuanchun did not rush to express her opinion, but slowly pondered over it.

After a while, she slowly said: "In this case, I actually have an idea that will satisfy both parties..."

Grandmother Jia and the other two were stunned.

...(End of chapter)