The Second Master of the Red Chamber

Chapter 832 The Secrets of That Year (Part 1)

After waiting for an unknown amount of time in a state of tension and trepidation, Granny Lai finally heard a noise outside.

She quickly got up to check, and before she even left the house, she saw a tall, handsome man striding towards her.

Granny Lai certainly recognized the man.

His eldest son's family, including her most beloved grandson, all ended up in this situation because of this person.

But she dared not hold a grudge against this man, and even when he stepped up the steps and came to her, she hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed.

"This old servant greets Second Master Lian and pays respects to the Marquis..."

Jin Wenxiang and his companion left the capital on the very night Jia Lian returned, after the Iron Net Mountain Incident had ended. At that time, Jia Lian had not yet been granted the title of Duke.

Granny Lai lives in the harsh and cold Northeast, so she still doesn't know that Jia Lian is the third Duke of Rongguo.

Jia Lian made no attempt to explain. Standing at the door, looking at the increasingly aged Jia family servant who could barely kneel, Jia Lian helped her up and said slowly, "Old Granny Lai, how have you been?"

"Thanks to the good fortune of the old lady and the marquis, this old servant is still well, but I have always been worried about the old lady and all the young masters and ladies in the manor..."

According to the old rules of the Jia family, even the cats and dogs serving the elders were more honored than ordinary people.

Not to mention a servant as highly experienced as Granny Lai.

Back in the Jia family's two mansions, Granny Lai was someone who had the right to put on airs in front of all the younger generation of the Jia family.

It could be said that some ordinary members of the Jia family would feel honored to be called "brother" or "sister" by Granny Lai.

Just like back then, even though Jia Lian dealt with Lai Da's family in such a grand manner.

However, if Granny Lai did not leave with her son and grandson, she would still have a place in the Rongguo Mansion as long as Grandmother Jia was there.

Unfortunately, this person, who had served Grandmother Jia her whole life and was about to die, was the one who angered Grandmother Jia, who had never dealt with servants severely in over a decade, to send someone to kill her.

Jia Lian wouldn't believe it if she didn't know something important.

Therefore, Jia Lian didn't waste any words. After sitting down on a chair in the room, he said directly, "I have been favored by the Emperor and was granted the title of Third-Class Duke of Rong more than ten days ago."

Granny Lai was taken aback, then immediately knelt down and kowtowed: "This old servant congratulates Your Excellency, Your Excellency..."

Granny Lai's face showed a genuine joy.

She came to the Jia family with Grandmother Jia when she was a teenager, and it can be said that she spent her whole life in the Jia family.

She witnessed the entire process of the Jia family's rise and fall.

Now that the Jia family has regained its glory under Jia Lian's leadership, and even the title of Duke has been restored, she is genuinely happy.

After offering her congratulations, she was about to ask something when she noticed a complicated look in Jia Lian's eyes, which made her stop talking.

Jia Lian asked, "Does Granny Lai know why the Imperial Family bestowed upon our country the title of Duke?"

"This old servant does not know..."

"On the 14th day of the fourth month of the seventh year of Emperor Ningkang, the retired emperor, in front of the palace at the Iron Net Mountain hunting grounds, said in front of tens of thousands of officials and soldiers that my father was his son who had been left outside the palace."

Jia Lian spoke very calmly, as if he were talking about something insignificant.

Granny Lai's old eyes widened suddenly as she realized something. She lost her strength while kneeling on the ground and sat down with a thud.

She murmured to herself, "This old servant congratulates the Duke, congratulations on the Duke's return to his ancestral home..."

If he had any doubts before, now, seeing Granny Lai's unconscious reaction, Jia Lian was certain.

He maintained his indifferent demeanor and asked, "Does Granny Lai know why you've come here?"

"Didn't they say the old lady was seriously ill and wanted to see this old servant, so they sent someone here... here..."

As Granny Lai answered, the expression on her face changed from shock to fear, and she even trembled as if she were shaking.

"Could it be, could it be..."

Seeing that Granny Lai was trembling and could not speak properly, Jia Lian spoke for her: "That's right, the old lady is not sick. And Jin Wenxiang was indeed sent by the old lady to find you."

"The very first night after the Emperor Emeritus announced that I was the Emperor's grandson, after I returned home and inquired about the events of that year from the old lady, she immediately and secretly dispatched Jin Wenxiang to the northern estate to find you."

Granny Lai said, trembling, "Why is the old lady looking for me..."

Jia Lian didn't say anything more, he just looked at her.

Granny Lai trembled even more violently: "Did the old lady send him to kill me?"

Seeing that Jia Lian did not answer but his expression clearly indicated his agreement, she immediately turned ashen-faced.

After a long while, she seemed to have regained some strength, and knelt up again, asking Jia Lian, "Since it is the old lady who wants to kill me, this old servant does not think I have the right to ask you, Second Master, to do it yourself."

So, Second Master's appearance here must have been done behind the old lady's back?

Jia Lian nodded: "That's right, you're very smart."

Granny Lai asked, "What does the Second Master want to know?"

"What happened back then."

Granny Lai sat back down on her calves, remaining silent.

Jia Lian did not urge him.

We've waited so long, what's a little longer?

He knew that the more important the information that Granny Lai knew, the less eager he should appear.

If we cannot completely destroy the other party's defenses, it will be difficult to fully control what they want to know.

"If, if this old servant tells Second Master what I know, would Second Master be willing to spare this old servant's life?"

"No."

Jia Lian replied without hesitation.

Giving her unrealistic hopes at this time is encouraging her to hold back.

"You should know that even someone like the old lady would go so far as to send people to kill you, which means that what you know must be of great importance."

The more important the secret, the less risk of it being leaked.

So you should know that even if you don't say a word today, you must die.”

Upon hearing that she was destined to die no matter what, Granny Lai surprisingly did not show much reaction.

Seeing this, Jia Lian continued, "However, although I cannot spare your life on behalf of the old lady, if you are willing to tell me everything you know, perhaps I can forgive the crimes committed by Lai Da back then and bring his family back to live in the mansion."

Granny Lai, whose expression had been numb, suddenly brightened upon hearing this: "Is what the Second Master said true?"

"Even if I am at my worst, I would not deceive a dying man."

Upon hearing this, Granny Lai seemed to come back to life completely.

Yes, even before they left the Rongguo Mansion, Jia Lian was already a star in the heavens.

Not to mention that he has now become a duke, and even his background has been made public...

For someone like Master Lian, bestowing wealth and status upon her sons and grandsons was merely a matter of lifting a finger.

And she even thought of that.

Since Jia Lian has found her, it means he must have confirmed from some source that she knows some things from back then.

If I don't tell him, I'll anger him...

He himself was not afraid of dying, but his son's family might suffer his revenge.

It might even implicate the youngest son, who is still serving as the steward in the Ningguo Mansion!

After a moment of change in expression, Granny Lai kowtowed and said, "There's no need to go back to the manor. Lai Da has done so many things to harm the manor; his family has long been too ashamed to return to work here."

I only beg Your Excellency to have mercy and restore my grandson's academic achievements. If I do so, this old servant will be eternally grateful for Your Excellency's great kindness.

When Jia Lian drove Lai Da's family out of the capital, he originally did not intend to exterminate them.

Unfortunately, the Lai family still harbored illusions at the time, which not only delayed their journey north, but their son, Lai Shangrong, also dared to make some inappropriate remarks in front of his classmates and relatives.

The reason why Lai Shangrong was different from the other servants of the Jia family for generations was simply because he had the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the imperial examination at the county level).

Therefore, Jia Lian contacted his former mentor and the education commissioner of Jinling, and stripped him of his scholar title on the grounds that his parents were disloyal to their master.

For the entire Shilin community, people like Lai Shangrong, whose ancestors were slaves for generations, were granted the status of slaves by the grace of their master, and then luckily obtained official rank, were all outliers.

Logically speaking, such a person should be more inclined to curry favor with their master so that their career will be smoother in the future.

He actually dared to break with his master's family, even forcing them to lower themselves to deal with him? Both his mentor and the education official were very surprised.

Furthermore, since he was merely a scholar who had not yet fully entered the scholarly world, the education commissioner was naturally happy to give Jia Lian face. On the spot, on the grounds that the Lai family was immoral, corrupt, disloyal, and unjust, Lai Shangrong's academic title was revoked and he was banned from taking the imperial examinations for life.

Naturally, the Lai family was shocked, angry, and afraid by this outcome. They eventually realized that they couldn't fight against the powerful, so the whole family slunk away to the north to guard the estate for the Jia family.

Over the course of a year or two, Lai Shangrong spent his days drowning his sorrows in alcohol, living a life of debauchery. Granny Lai and the others saw this and felt deeply pained.

It can be said that Jia Lian destroyed Lai Shangrong's academic achievements, which meant destroying the hopes of his entire family.

Now that she sees a chance to reclaim her grandson's lost future, Granny Lai certainly won't let it go.

Seeing that Granny Lai had changed her request, Jia Lian knew perfectly well that Granny Lai, who had been a servant all her life, did not want her descendants to continue to be servants.

That's true, that's how normal people think.

Those who are born to enjoy being servants are ultimately a minority.

So he said nothing more and simply replied, "Okay."

Granny Lai immediately kowtowed repeatedly in gratitude. Jia Lian was afraid she would kowtow to death, so he said, "Alright, Granny Lai, please get up and sit down to talk."

"Yes, yes, okay..."

Knowing she was going to die and not even considering struggling, Granny Lai became calm.

She shakily got up, sat down where Jia Lian indicated, and then looked at Jia Lian with kind eyes, saying:
"Speaking of which, I watched my son grow up with my own eyes. I really never imagined he would grow up to be what he is today..."

With a sigh, seemingly aware that Jia Lian might not want to reminisce with her, she changed her tone and said, "Speak, what does the young master want to ask?"

Jia Lian felt a sudden surge of excitement and trepidation, but he tried his best to remain calm and said:
"Old nanny, please tell me everything you know from beginning to end."

Granny Lai nodded, then suddenly looked at the doors and windows.

Jia Lian understood her meaning, "Don't worry, old nanny, no one within twenty paces will know about our conversation today."

Granny Lai nodded, looking at Jia Lian with admiration and envy.

She longed for her eldest grandson to one day possess the same magnanimity as Jia Lian.

It's probably impossible; she won't be able to see it anyway.

But at least now there is hope again, and she must fight for this hope for her eldest grandson.

"I don't really know what happened back then."

All this old servant knows is that when the old Duke returned from his inspection tour with the Prince of Dai, he suddenly had a woman by his side.

That woman was truly beautiful, with a face like a flower and jade, and I felt pity for her.

My young lady... who was the old lady back then, was a famous beauty in the capital at the time, and even she couldn't help but feel secretly annoyed when she saw her.

Fortunately, things didn't seem to go as the young lady had expected. Ever since that beauty entered the manor, the old Duke's attitude towards her was nothing like that of a concubine.

Despite being treated with great courtesy, he refused to get close to her, and even dared not approach the courtyard where the beauty resided, seemingly out of fear of her.

The young lady found it strange, but no matter how she asked the old Duke, he only gave vague answers.

Until one day, half a month later, the Prince of Dai suddenly arrived in disguise...

It was from that day that our young lady learned that the beauty was the wife of the Marquis of Anyang, who had caused such a stir because of the rebellion.

When the young lady learned of this news, she was very happy and thereafter treated the Lady of Anyang with utmost respect..."

Jia Lian nodded to himself upon hearing this.

Indeed, everything matches what Grandmother Jia and the others said.

He was about to ask something when he looked up and found that Granny Lai's gaze was full of meaning.

There was a sense of nostalgia, a touch of doubt, and even a hint of pity for the common people.

Jia Lian fell silent.

Sure enough, Granny Lai paused for only a moment before slowly speaking again:

"Miss, you're getting too excited too soon."

The young lady soon discovered that although the Duke usually avoided the beauty, he secretly met with her.

The young lady was furious about this and even wanted to report it to the retired Duke.

In the end, the young lady was sensible and didn't make a big deal out of it.

She was, after all, the King of Dai's woman.

At that time, Emperor Muzong was critically ill, and the Prince of Dai was very likely to inherit the throne.

If this gets out, the entire Jia family will be dragged down with them!

Jia Lian looked astonished.

What?! Jia Daishan is involved here too?
Jia Lian clenched his fingers and stared intently at Granny Lai.

Granny Lai's gaze, however, remained perfectly calm.

If it were in the past, she wouldn't have dared to tell him these secrets that she had kept buried in her heart for fifty or sixty years.

But she has no motivation to keep anyone's secret anymore.

He even felt a secret pleasure at revealing such a shocking secret and seeing the arrogant Master Lian look foolish.

So she waited until Jia Lian's expression returned before continuing:

"For the sake of the Duke's future and the lives of his entire clan, Miss is determined to have a frank talk with the Duke."

This old servant has no way of knowing exactly what the young lady and the Duke said.

However, since then, the Duke has stopped going near the beauty's courtyard and even used martial arts training as an excuse to stay in the outer study all day.

The young lady was finally relieved.

From then on, they were on guard day and night, waiting for His Highness the Prince of Dai to come and take the beauty away.

"Everything went exactly as Miss had planned."

Ever since His Highness the Prince of Dai first visited, he has come to the mansion to see the beauty every few days.

Not long after, the beauty was found to be pregnant.

The young lady was also very happy, thinking that His Highness the Prince would surely take the beauty away now.

Unexpectedly, the day after the beauty was found to be pregnant, news suddenly came that Emperor Muzong was critically ill.

After that, the Prince of Dai never came to the residence again.

Not long after, under the young lady's guidance, the Duke took the beauty as his concubine.

Later, the old servant learned that someone in the court had impeached Prince Dai, saying that the Marquis of Anyang's rebellion was caused by Prince Dai forcibly taking the other's wife, which caused a great uproar in the court.

However, the matter quickly subsided, as it seemed that the Duke took the blame voluntarily, and as a result, he was forced to stay at home for a long time.

Not long after, the Prince of Dai ascended the throne and became emperor.

However, until the birth of the eldest son, the Prince of Dai, who was also the retired emperor, never visited the mansion again.

"Of course, it's possible that they came, but this old servant simply doesn't know it."

Jia Lian asked, "In your opinion, old nanny, is my father the son of the retired emperor or the old Duke?"

Jia Lian asked bluntly, and an awkward expression appeared on Granny Lai's face.

"Well, this old servant doesn't know either. After all, all this old servant knows is that the Duke and that beauty met in private, and that's all I know."

"I suppose the lord is... a descendant of the retired emperor..."

As Granny Lai finished speaking, she suddenly felt a jolt in her heart.

If she remembers correctly, the rebellion of the Marquis of Anyang came and went quickly, and was quelled in just ten days to half a month.

That beauty also seemed to have been brought out by the Prince of Dai from the Marquis of Anyang's residence.

Considering that Jia She was a premature baby born at eight months, there seems to be another possibility...

After thinking about it, Granny Lai decided not to voice her guess.

Calling someone a bastard is already disrespectful enough; if she were to make baseless accusations that someone is a mixed-race person, she feared that Jia Lian, in his anger and embarrassment, would take his anger out on the Lai family.

(End of this chapter)