Uncle Lai in the Red Chamber

Chapter 298
After leaving the palace, Lai Shangrong hesitated for a moment and then ordered the carriage to go home directly.

He didn't get much rest throughout the first month. He had just met the emperor, and he would probably not look for him again. He just took the opportunity to go home, and went to Rong Mansion to inquire about Xue Baoqin's marriage, and then make a decision.

What he didn't expect was that when the carriage arrived at the door of his house, he happened to see Mei Gong coming out of Rong Mansion.

I couldn't help but wonder, could it be that someone came to break up the engagement?
He hurried home and changed into casual clothes, then went to Rong Mansion to inquire about the situation.

Lai Shangrong guessed right, Mei Gong did come to cancel the engagement.

Since the twelfth lunar month, Mei Gong has not calmed down, and in the first lunar month, it has intensified, and the old news of corruption in the Camping and Maintenance Department, which had been forgotten, has been brought to the forefront again.

Today, he was even more determined. Under the banner of looking for the Xue family, he came to Rongguo Mansion with great fanfare.

At this time, in Rongqing Hall, Jia Mu and Mrs. Wang were discussing this matter.

However, they didn't know about the rumors outside, and they still had an attitude of watching the show.

After all, what can a family of children, Jia She, Jia Lian, and Jia Baoyu expect in Beijing.

"The Mei family is not from the Hanlin family, so why are you so disrespectful of face and come to our house to break off the engagement with great fanfare? Have you asked my aunt if there is anything hidden?"

Those private speculations, after all, involved the emperor and Yuan Chun, and there was no solid evidence. Therefore, Mei Gong did not want to give others a reason and only threatened to break off the engagement with the Xue family.

And Aunt Xue, although she learned the true intentions of the Mei family from Xue Pan and Xue Biao, it was because the second wife of the Xue family had affected Jia Zheng's reputation. She was afraid that it would affect the good relationship, so how could she dare to tell Mrs. Wang clearly.

"This... my wife doesn't know either. Maybe it's because the Mei family can't accept the marriage within a hundred days!"

"Although this matter has little to do with our family, after all, Girl Qin recognized you as my godmother, and someone came to our door. It doesn't look good on our family. We should ask the Xue family to discuss a countermeasure as soon as possible to avoid making people laugh. .”

"What the old lady said is that the Mei family is so ignorant that they even retreated to our house after breaking up the engagement."

"Oh! It's my fault for this. I shouldn't have asked you to accept this marriage. Otherwise, there would be no reason for him to come to our house to break off the engagement. If this matter spreads out, I'm afraid it won't look good on my face!"

After a pause, he then said: "Either you go back and make amends with your concubine, and our two families cancel this marriage?"

When she said this, Mrs. Wang's vigilance immediately rose. She had long suspected that Jia Mu was attracted to Xue Baoqin.

"My daughter-in-law thinks it's inappropriate. After all, our family is the imperial concubine's natal family. If he shows her weakness when he comes to make trouble, how can she lose her face?"

"How come I don't know this? But if your goddaughter regrets her marriage, your mother-in-law will look good on her face?"

Mrs. Wang refused to give in and said: "The left and right are already at odds now, why should we offend our relatives again."

The two of them were facing each other, and word spread outside that Lai Shangrong was here.

"Please come in quickly. Shang Rong is in the officialdom and knows more than us. He has also worked with Mei Hanlin. Maybe he can give me some advice."

Lai Shangrong inquired in the front yard that Mei Gong came to break off the engagement, but Xue Biao seemed to be still hesitant and refused to wait for Jin Ling's reply before deciding to come directly to Jia Mu.

After saluting, he did not immediately explain the situation.

Instead, he asked knowingly: "I just came home and saw Mei Gong coming to the door. Is it because of the engagement with the Xue family?"

"Isn't that right? Why did you come to our house after you broke up with me? This Mei family really doesn't deserve the title of Hanlin."

"Old lady, madam, don't be anxious. There is another secret behind this matter. It's better to invite the Xue family here and I will tell you all."

Jia Mu hurriedly asked someone to invite her.

…………

Let’s talk about the Xue family later.

In the small courtyard in the northeast corner.

Xue Baochai and Xue Baoqin, who came from the Grand View Garden, as well as Xue Pan, who was watched closely by Aunt Xue, were also anxiously waiting for news about Xue Pan.

Finally, I saw Xue Biao walking in with a helpless expression.

"Brother Tao! What did you say?" Aunt Xue said anxiously.

A few days ago, she just learned from Xue Pan the real reason why the Mei family broke off their marriage. Because she was afraid that Jia Mu and Mrs. Wang would find out the truth and harm their good relationship, she was frightened and afraid of being tortured when she heard that the Mei family came to visit. .

"Mei Shibo is gone..."

Before he could finish his words, Xue Pan angrily shouted: "He did this to Sister Baoqin, and you still call that old immortal uncle?" "Evil! Can't you wait for your brother to finish?"

Xue Biao sighed: "Mei Shibo left. He just said he would give us another ten days. If there is no explanation by then, he will come again."

The development of the situation has far exceeded his expectations. He originally thought that even if the Mei family wanted to break off the engagement, they would only discuss it privately. Unexpectedly, he went straight to the door of Rongguo Mansion without caring about face at all.

It's just a matter of Xue Baoqin's life. Not being able to consummate the marriage has already betrayed his father's will. If he makes the decision without permission, wouldn't he be violating his mother's will again if his mother replies and refuses to break off the engagement when the time comes.

I can only keep begging Mei Gong for some time, and when my mother replies, I will come to her door and give her a clear answer.

"He...he didn't tell you the reason, right?"

Aunt Xue's biggest concern is affecting Chi Yu.

"It's not."

Aunt Xue took a long breath and said: "Brother, please listen to my advice and call off this marriage as soon as possible! Now because of Girl Qin's matter, even the empress is involved, and you still think it's too troublesome?" Not big enough?"

"My nephew didn't know that he would come suddenly today. Fortunately, we were given ten days. As soon as mother's reply comes..."

"Ouch! At this time, it doesn't matter if she doesn't reply or not? Does Qin girl still have the face to enter the door of his Mei's house?"

"Either we listen to what Sister Baoqin wants."

She knew Aunt Xue's worries, and when Xue Biao refused to let go, she planned to break through Xue Baoqin.

Xue Baoqin, as for Xue Baoqin, had traveled extensively with her father since she was a child and was used to freedom. She didn't want to marry so early, but she couldn't disobey her father's orders.

Hearing that the Mei family regretted their marriage, although they were indignant, they also felt a little secretly happy.

Moreover, before she even entered the house, the Mei family was already telling her what to do. If she really got married in the future, those constraints of the three obediences and four virtues would not suffocate her to death.

It's just that it's not easy for her to express her position when it comes to her own marriage.

"Didn't my brother say that he had written home a long time ago? Anyway, there are still ten days. If my mother hasn't replied by then, the worst..."

At this point, she felt that she had made her attitude clear, and she couldn't just say that she wanted to break off the engagement.

But Aunt Xue is not just worried about her marriage, she is also worried that if the matter remains unresolved and the Rong Mansion goes out to inquire about it, it may bring disaster to her family.

In fact, it's hard to say who's hurting who, but the situation is stronger than others, who made her wholeheartedly want to climb up Rongfu.

"What does it matter if you don't wait? Don't you understand the truth that you can't be sweet if you don't wait? If the matter really gets bigger and affects the reputation of the empress and the second master, then they will still have the nerve to beg. The second wife is making arrangements for Girl Qin?"

He paused for a moment, his heart pounded, and he gritted his teeth and said, "I didn't want to tell you this now, but I have to tell you now. The second wife is going to discuss with the Lai family to bring Qin Yatou and Shang Rong together."

Although Lai Shangrong refused to join the party, it can be seen that Xue tadpole is not getting enough oil and salt. In order to avoid making things worse, he can only find an excuse to fool him first.

Anyway, there are traces of this matter, and he didn't say it to death. Even if Xue Biao went to Lai Shangrong to ask about it in the future, as long as he didn't mention the specific time, he could completely fool him.

Xue Baochai guessed what Aunt Xue was thinking when she was halfway through her words, and looked at her mother in astonishment.

However, he immediately guessed her original intention and hurriedly cooperated.

"Mother is confused! Brother Lai and Sister Lin have an engagement, how can they marry Baoqin?"

"Sister, are you confused? Mom said it was a match-making, but she didn't say it was about getting a wife. Being a concubine to Brother Lai doesn't count as wronging Bao Qin." Xue Pan said naively.

When Xue Baoqin heard that he and Lai Shangrong were to be matched, his heart palpitated. But after listening to Baochai's words, he remembered that he already had an engagement, and he couldn't help but feel disappointed.

When I heard Xue Pan's words, I couldn't help but think of Xing Xiuyan, and my resistance seemed not that great.

However, she was not willing to get married so early, let alone be a concubine, and was hesitant about how to speak.

Aunt Xue over there was stunned for a moment after hearing Xue Pan's words. She seemed to have a new idea, but she saw Xue Pan with a sad and angry face.

"Evil! What nonsense are you talking about..."

Just as he was about to continue talking, word spread outside that Uncle Lai was in Rongqing Hall. It was related to Xue Baoqin's marriage, and Jia Mu invited them to come over to discuss it.

(End of this chapter)