Red Mansion: I am Jia Lian

Chapter 547 Shangyuan Lantern Festival
In order to demonstrate the prosperity of the empire under the rule of Emperor Chenghui, the Lantern Festival plan was formulated on the first day of the twelfth lunar month last year.

Early in the morning on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Jia Lian, who was still lying in bed, was surrounded by four little ones.

The eldest sister Qiao'er was holding her two younger sisters' hands, while Jia Quan was standing alone on the side, looking pitiful.

Even if Jia Lian didn't want to get up, he had to.

Ping Erh came in with a rosy face, and was about to spank her daughter. Qiao Jie stood in front of her, showing her responsibility as an elder sister. Jia Quan also shouted, "Don't spank my younger sister."

"Your father worked hard last night. You are all filial children. Why don't you let your father sleep a little longer?" When violence failed, Ping'er patiently reasoned with him.

A few children looked a little scared, and it seemed that they realized their mistakes.

Jia Lian interrupted with a smile: "Okay, I've had a good rest. The children like me so much."

Ping Erh then gave up and complained helplessly: "Master, just spoil them!"

While I was washing and grooming, the four little ones didn't leave. They stood by and waited patiently. It was obvious that they were busy.

To be honest, Jia Lian was also surprised at the patience of these children. It seemed that Qiaojie, the eldest sister, had set a good example. Otherwise, ordinary children would not have such patience.

After washing up, Jia Lian squatted down slowly, hugged them one by one, and kissed their cheeks.

Children are the most sensitive and they can feel in their hearts who is good to them.

"Okay, do you guys have anything to say? If so, just speak up!" Jia Lian even encouraged them deliberately, fearing that they would be timid.

Qiaojie immediately spoke crisply: "Father, there is the Lantern Festival today. We asked mother if we wanted to go and see the lanterns, but she refused, saying that there would be too many people at the festival and we would be afraid of being kidnapped."

Jia Lian could sense the eager anticipation in the children's eyes, so he naturally would not let them down, so he smiled and said, "Okay, I'll take you to see the lanterns tonight, and I'll go talk to mother."

"Great!" The four little ones cheered together and jumped around Jia Lian.

After enjoying some family happiness, Jia Lian had his breakfast.

While they were eating, Wang Xifeng came and glared at Qiaojie fiercely: "You have learned to complain, right? Wait until your father is not home, and see how I will deal with you."

Qiaojie was obviously not afraid. After all, Wang Xifeng had threatened her many times but never took any action.

"Okay, don't scare the kids. I'll tell the servants to get everything ready, and everyone can go and watch the fun."

As soon as Jia Lian opened his mouth, Wang Xifeng shut up and told Qiaojie: "Take your brothers and sisters out to play, don't disturb your father's meal here."

Qiaojie led her brothers and sisters out, and Wang Xifeng said worriedly, "The security in the capital has been much worse in the past two years. There are frequent reports of women and children being abducted in the capital. I am really worried."

When Ping'er said this just now, Jia Lian thought she was trying to scare the child. Now that Wang Xifeng said it, Jia Lian realized that similar cases really did occur frequently.

"These people are very bold. Last year, a concubine of an official went out with her maid to buy powder. She was drugged and taken away by two servant women. The case caused a big stir. The Shuntian Prefecture and the Wucheng Military Command were dispatched. In the end, the person was never found. No one found her alive or dead. It took a long time for the commotion to subside."

Wang Xifeng continued to speak, and Jia Lian put down his chopsticks and said in shock, "Two living people are missing, and we searched the whole capital but couldn't find them?"

Wang Xifeng said, "If you want to hide in a high-ranking family, where can you find them? Can you rely on the yamen runners of Shuntian Prefecture or the soldiers of the Wucheng Bingmasi? What's the point of them without me to back them up?"

"In just two years, the capital's public security has deteriorated to this extent. Who is in charge of the Military Affairs Department now?" Jia Lian really didn't know. After all, Li Yuan had gone to the south, and he didn't care much about the follow-up.

After all, you have been transferred. If you still keep giving orders to your previous unit, won't that make people dislike you?

"How would I know this? I don't usually care about this."

Jia Lian couldn't take care of this matter for a while, as he had other things to do. He needed to go out of the city today to visit Mantou Temple. However, he was really worried about this matter, and before leaving, he asked someone to find Ni Er and told him not to run around in the afternoon and wait for Jia Lian to summon him.

When Jia Lian left the city, Li Heng also entered the palace.

The father and son met frequently during the first month of the year, and Emperor Chenghui's opinion of Li Heng gradually improved.

"Recently, newspapers have been praising my father for spending the treasury to host the Lantern Festival and other events to enjoy the people. The words Yao, Shun, Yu and Tang appear repeatedly. I, your son, am proud of it." Li Heng started by giving him a spirited massage.

Emperor Chenghui was very comfortable being pressed. Although there were a lot of bad things in recent years, from a global perspective, the country was peaceful and the people's livelihood was improving. Especially the citizens of Beijing, because the R&D Department had built a large workshop and hired a lot of workers, and the establishment of various logistics channels also required a lot of manpower. There was work to do and money to earn, so there was hope for the future.

"Well, you're just saying nice things so early in the morning and trying to please me for no reason. You're either a traitor or a thief!" Emperor Chenghui tried hard to keep a straight face and maintain the image of a strict father, but unfortunately the corners of his mouth were a little too upturned and he couldn't suppress it.

Li Heng took out a large-denomination bank note and presented it with both hands. "Father, I and my colleagues in the R&D Department would not miss such a grand occasion of joy for all the people. We have made good profits in recent years, so the R&D Department will pay for the Lantern Festival."

Emperor Chenghui's face instantly became calm, and he pointed at the table and said, "Put it down." Li Heng stepped forward, put it down respectfully, and turned around to take a walk.

Emperor Chenghui carefully looked at the third brother and found that he did not look guilty at all. He could not help asking, "Others dare to touch the money of the Research and Development Department, but you are not the one who dares to touch it. What I said is not wrong, right? I know that your relationship with Jia Lian is average, not good, nor bad. Who gave you the courage to take one million yuan from the Research and Development Department at a time?"

Li Heng was well prepared, and he answered with his hands down in a respectful manner: "Father, this is not my own decision. In fact, when the subordinates from the R&D Department came to pay New Year's greetings these days, I casually mentioned that the Lantern Festival was organized by your father with the treasury. You all said: Your Majesty is kind and benevolent, and you have been doing this for three generations. I only regret that my personal ability is limited and I can't do much. I just casually said that there is money in the account. If you have no objection, I am willing to make the decision for a while."

At this point, Emperor Chenghui laughed angrily: "You are really smart. In front of everyone, who dares to object? You should stop blaming Jia Buqi for his tricks."

"Your son..." Li Heng shut up after he started to speak, lying down.

Emperor Chenghui looked at Li Heng, thought for a while, and then smiled and said, "It may not be a bad thing. But it's just a precedent. If you come swarming in the future, how will you deal with it?"

Seeing the emperor's change of attitude, Li Heng no longer questioned his private dealings with Jia Lian, and said with a smile: "Without the emperor's order, no one other than Jia Buqi can take a penny from the R&D department."

Emperor Chenghui understood Li Heng's meaning. As long as Jia Lian did not object, the account of the Research and Development Department would be a hidden internal treasury.

This is true. It makes me excited to think about it. If I were to spend the money, Jia Buqi would not object. However, I still have to give him a heads up in advance, so as not to disappoint the loyal minister.

In short, this money kept in the account can be the emperor's fire-fighting water at the critical moment.

Emperor Chenghui had a calm expression, but his heart was in turmoil. He still wanted to ask Jia Lian if the money had any special use.

It is said that the R&D Department is the hen that lays golden eggs, and this is the hen that Jia Lian raised. If it were handed over to someone else, it would have been ruined long ago.

Thirty million on the books is a huge sum of money. Jia Lian could bear not to ask for it, but for others, huh, who wouldn’t be confused?

After much thought, it can only be Jia Lian.

Emperor Chenghui actually felt a little guilty about his newly born greed, thinking that he had ruined Jia Lian's plan. ...

After leaving the city, Jia Lian looked at the snow in the wilderness. The world was so clean under the cover of white snow. Wherever there were people walking, the muddy stains were so conspicuous.

The snow on the road leading to Mantou Temple had been shoveled, so it definitely couldn't have been done by Miaoyu and her people.

From afar, you can see green smoke rising from the Mantou Temple. Within the field of vision, there are also distant mountains and sparse woods.

From this perspective, Chinese painting is not freehand, but realistic.

There was no one else walking on this road, so Jia Lian and his group were naturally particularly eye-catching.

As soon as I arrived at the nunnery, the door opened and the old nun's smart face smiled like a dry and wrinkled chrysanthemum.

Zhineng would not return empty-handed after greeting and flattering Jia Lian. Jia Lian raised his hand and a bill fell down. Zhineng caught it with both hands and fell over with joy.

Before Jia Lian could go in, Miaoyu, dressed in black, stood on the steps in front of the hall with a sad look in her eyes. If she hadn't had her hair, she would have thought she was singing "Thinking of Spring".

"Layman, long time no see!" Jia Lian clasped his hands and bowed. Miaoyu waved the Buddhist whisk in her hand, and her eyes suddenly became clear, looking like an otherworldly sage.

"Greetings, Lord Jia!" Miaoyu spoke with a slight nasal tone, perhaps because she had caught a cold.

Although Miaoyu seems to have a different flavor, Jia Lian really has no idea. Her identity is too special and he really doesn't dare to do anything wrong.

Tea was served in the Zen room, and Miaoyu accompanied them personally. Jia Lian chatted with them across the tea table. When he saw that it was almost time, he was about to get up and say goodbye, but Miaoyu suddenly said, "Following the world can train your mind!"

Jia Lian was obviously stunned for a moment, then instantly understood what she meant. He was subconsciously confused, with a question mark in his eyes.

Miaoyu's cheeks flushed slightly, but it wasn't very obvious. Jia Lian understood and said with a smile, "Yes, the worldly life is a training for the mind."

Miaoyu stopped talking again and just looked at Jia Lian quietly.

"How about I find a secluded house in the city, set up a nunnery, and then invite the lay Buddhists to come after I have settled down?"

Miaoyu nodded slightly, trying to maintain her dignity: "Yes!"

Jia Lian stood up to say goodbye, and Miaoyu accompanied him to the gate of the mountain alone. When there was no one behind him, she said to Jia Lian, "Thank you very much!"

Jia Lian smiled and waved his hand gently: "No need!"

After leaving Mantou Temple, Jia Lian had basically dealt with all the matters before leaving Beijing. Now all that was left was for Miaoyu to find a new place to settle down.

Where should I place her? Since it concerns Miaoyu, I still have to tell the emperor.

It seems that in recent years, as she has grown older, Miaoyu has become more and more active. She is about the same age as Baoyu, and it is a good time for a girl to get married at this age.

When we got back to the city, it was still early, but the streets were already bustling. Countless merchants were carrying their loads and pushing their carts, heading to Suzaku Avenue, just to find a good spot and make some money.

It's not easy for those running small businesses. While others are having fun, they still have to earn money to support their families and are unwilling to miss this good opportunity.

There were more and more soldiers and yamen runners patrolling the streets, and people kept coming to greet Jia Lian. The journey was not fast, and when he returned home, the four children were waiting anxiously at the door.

"We're back, we're back." The four little ones cheered, Jia Lian smiled and held a little girl in each hand, and walked in together. Jia Quan sighed, not knowing why.

Although Wang Xifeng had told Jia Quan about the so-called rule of embracing grandchildren instead of children, Jia Quan was still very disappointed and still envied his two younger sisters.

Jia Lian sat down and dinner was served immediately. Wang Xifeng, Ping'er and Guixiang accompanied him. The four younger ones were at another table, eating their meals with big mouthfuls of food very consciously.

Wang Xifeng smiled and said, "It's rare for him to eat on his own initiative. Usually the maids have to chase him and feed him."

When they were almost done eating, Wang Xifeng said, "Someone from the East Palace came to ask if we want to go on a trip together. Master, make the decision, and I'll send someone to reply."

Jia Lian smiled and said, "It's good to travel together so that we can take care of each other."

Before officially leaving, Jia Lian went to the central courtyard to meet Lady Jia, to ask her out of filial piety whether she wanted to go on the trip too.

Grandmother Jia said that she was old and could not stand the hassle, so she decided not to go.

Baoyu wanted to go with them, and Jia Lian naturally did not stop him. He also asked Mrs. Wang if she wanted to go with them. Mrs. Wang thanked him and declined.

Xiangling didn't want to go because she had to take care of her mother. Jia Lian didn't force her to go because she was in poor health. He just told her that she had enough money and shouldn't be reluctant to take good medicine.

When Jia Lian and his family arrived at the front yard, Jia Rong was already waiting. Youshi and Qin Keqing were both there, and the children were held by maids.

For safety reasons, he brought nearly two hundred generals with him on this trip. Although many of them were already officers in the army, they all rushed here after hearing the news.

Ten vehicles and hundreds of people set off in a mighty procession. Before that, the family guards were specially divided into groups, and each one was responsible for whose safety and who would be held accountable if anything happened.

Jia Lian sat in the carriage, opened the window, and held one of the two little girls beside him with one hand, letting them stand on the seats and look out.

There were a lot of people on the road, but the scene at the Jia Mansion was too scary, so pedestrians tried to avoid it. There were also too many people, so they had to stop and wait.

They were out playing and not in a hurry, so Jia Lian was not in a hurry. Wang Xifeng and other female relatives were also very happy, looking around so much that their eyes were not enough. Such opportunities were too rare in normal times.

It was dark, the lights came on, and Suzaku Avenue was connected by lights.

In the east wind night, flowers and trees are bloomed, and the stars are like rain.

Jia Lian deeply understood the meaning of this sentence!
The sky in the distance was completely dark, while the sky nearby was as bright as day.

The four little ones were dazzled by the sight. When they were happy, they clapped and jumped for joy.

The female members of the family were also very happy, with smiles on their faces.

Suddenly there was a commotion ahead and the convoy was forced to stop. A group of family generals immediately surrounded the convoy to block the surging crowd.

(End of this chapter)