Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

Jia Cong asked Qingwen to pass a message to the outer courtyard and asked the housekeeper to go to the east courtyard to invite Jia Zheng. He took his time, spending half a cup of tea, before taking Yuanyang to the west palace.

As soon as the two entered Rongqing Hall, Jia Cong had just sat down when Grandmother Jia asked, "Brother Cong, this year is the three-year selection period in the palace. At this time in previous years, the family would plan a future for your elder sister.

All the expenses for social interactions are paid from the public treasury. Although you are the head of the family now, if your elder sister can have a successful future, it will be of great benefit to the whole family.

Your wife asked Feng Ge'er to withdraw 4,000 taels of silver from the public treasury because of this matter, but Feng Ge'er said that there was not enough silver left in the public treasury and he could not withdraw 4,000 taels at once. Do you know about this?"

After hearing what Lady Jia said, Mrs. Wang couldn't help but secretly slander her in her heart. Now the old lady is saving face for this boy.

There's no need to ask about this matter. It must be him who instigated Feng girl. But the old lady still asked in this roundabout way, as if she was afraid of tearing this boy's face off.

Jia Cong smiled slightly and replied, "My second sister-in-law has already told me about this. She said that there is no extra money to be withdrawn from the public treasury, which is the truth.

Last year, because I inherited the title of Rongguo by imperial decree, the Rongguo Mansion bid farewell to the old and ushered in the new. The number of guests who came to congratulate at the end of the year and during the New Year holidays increased a lot more than in previous years. My second sister-in-law was worried that it would bring shame to the Rongguo Mansion.

Therefore, a lot of effort was put into the arrangements for the New Year's Eve decorations, hanging lanterns, banquets, and other matters in the mansion, and the expenses were naturally higher than in previous years.

By the time spring comes, there will be little silver left from the previous year. In addition, it is not even February this year and the fields of the mansion have not been harvested yet, so naturally we cannot spend four thousand taels of silver all at once."

Grandmother Jia frowned and said, "Even if there isn't much silver left in the treasury at the beginning of the year, with such a large estate in the West Mansion, we can always scrape together four thousand taels of silver, right?"

Grandmother Jia originally wanted to say that the East Mansion is so big, and the West Mansion has no money, so does the East Mansion have no money either?

But it was really hard to hear these words out loud, so he had to beat around the bush and talk about the West Mansion.

Jia Cong replied calmly, "Madam, Madam said that this matter is based on the old practice of previous years. The four thousand taels are used to establish connections in the palace and help my elder sister to be selected for the emperor's favor.

Don’t say that there is not enough money in the public treasury. Even if there is extra money in the public treasury, these four thousand taels cannot be spent from the public treasury!”

When Grandmother Jia and Mrs. Wang heard this, they were both shocked. Grandmother Jia's face was a little gloomy, and Mrs. Wang's face turned red and her expression was extremely ugly.

They all knew that Jia Cong was now the legitimate head of the Rongguo Mansion, and as soon as he inherited the title, he let the eldest sister-in-law of the first wife take over the power of managing the household, which invisibly sidelined the second wife.

Now that the second house has moved to the East Courtyard, it is no longer considered an official part of the Rongguo Mansion. As long as Jia Cong does not nod, the money cannot be taken out from the public treasury, and even Lady Jia cannot force it.

Because Grandmother Jia knew that her grandson was not easily fooled and would not give in to any persuasion, and he was also the emperor's appointed official.

Therefore, when Lady Jia spoke to Jia Cong just now, she did not use her status as an elder to intimidate him, but was rather gentle and conciliatory.

Moreover, Jia Zheng, the son of the second wife, had raised and cared for Jia Cong. Jia Mu and others always thought that even if he was unwilling, he would still have to consider his face for the sake of his relationship with his elder brother. This was also human nature.

Mrs. Wang was certain of this, so she went to talk to Lady Jia about the matter. Since it was impossible to withdraw money from the public treasury openly, she used Lady Jia's seniority and power to make Jia Cong compromise.

But they never expected that Jia Cong would reject them without hesitation in front of them, without showing any sympathy for them.

……

Lady Jia was getting angry and was about to speak.

Mrs. Wang couldn't help but speak first, her tone already unable to conceal her indignation, and said: "Brother Cong, although you are now the head of Rong State, you should also consider the future of your family.

If your elder sister can be favored by the emperor, the Jia family will become more prosperous and wealthy, which will also be of great benefit to you. Why can't the public spend this money? What kind of logic is this? "

Jia Cong seemed to turn a blind eye to Mrs. Wang's dissatisfaction. Ever since he had been rising in power and overshadowed Baoyu's glory, Mrs. Wang had always had some secretive thoughts, and Jia Cong was not unaware of it.

Ever since she inherited the title of Rong and caused the second branch of the Jia family to lose its legitimate position, Mrs. Wang's hostility towards her has become increasingly intense.

When Jia Zheng proposed to move to the East Courtyard, Wang Fu-ren wanted to keep him, but she made things worse and maliciously used words of filial piety as a threat, which made Jia Cong feel disgusted.

Now, she didn't take his ridiculous questions seriously at all, and said calmly, "Madam, do you think that the Jia family is not rich and prosperous enough now? What would be enough?"

This question left Mrs. Wang speechless, and even Lady Jia didn't know how to answer.

Although the Jia family experienced the death of Jia She and the exile of Jia Lian, if you think about it carefully, the Jia family's reputation was not damaged. The two mansions in the east and west have two titles in one family, and their glory and dignity are even greater than in previous years.

Grandmother Jia still lived a life of wealth and luxury. Although the second wife moved to the east courtyard and was less dignified than before, her food, clothing and other expenses remained the same as before.

But greed is insatiable, and who would want more wealth and glory...

Moreover, to Mrs. Wang, the wealth and dignity of the Jia family all belonged to Jia Cong. Their second branch had fallen into poverty and was merely dependent on others. How could they be considered wealthy and glorious just by having enough food and clothing?
Her Baoyu failed in his studies and had a ruined reputation, so he could no longer bring her honor and wealth. If Lady Wang wanted her second wife to turn things around, all her hopes were placed on her daughter Yuanchun.

As long as the money is spent wisely and her daughter can gain the emperor's favor and become a noble lady in the palace, or even a royal concubine, then that would truly satisfy Mrs. Wang.

By then, the Second Branch will once again be the leader in the Jia family and will no longer have to look at the face of this whore's son. With the power of her daughter being favored by the emperor, the Second Branch can even take back the family business...

But how could she express these secretive and arrogant thoughts out loud? She was just trying to find words to argue...

……

The curtain at the door of Rongqing Hall was suddenly lifted by a maid, and Jia Zheng walked in.

When Lady Jia saw Jia Zheng suddenly appear, she was slightly delighted.

Now the situation in the family has changed, and neither he nor his daughter-in-law can deal with this kid.

Only one family can make this kid restrain himself, that is, his own son Jia Zheng. Because of the unusual relationship between him and his son, only this kid can be submissive and have room for him to change his mind and compromise.

He asked, "We were just talking about the second room. How come you just happened to be here?"

Jia Zheng said, "It was Cong who asked the steward of the East Palace to drive to the East Road Courtyard, saying that he wanted his son to go to Rongqing Hall to discuss family affairs, but he didn't know what it was about."

When Grandmother Jia heard this, her face froze. She had thought that her son was called here to help before her daughter-in-law came, but she didn't expect that he was invited by Jia Cong.

Grandmother Jia thought that with Jia Cong's mind and means, he would never cause trouble for himself.

She thought of her pedantic son, who had always sided with this kid and did many things to undermine his own success. Thinking of these, the old lady suddenly had a headache.

Jia Cong said to Jia Zheng, "Today, please come to Rongqing Hall to discuss the matter of withdrawing four thousand taels from the public treasury to help my elder sister get the emperor's favor."

Jia Zheng stroked his beard and said, "I have heard from my wife about this. Lian'er's wife said that there is not enough silver in the treasury and that she cannot withdraw so much silver at once.

Now that Cong is the head of the family, I wonder how he will decide this matter?"

Although Mrs. Wang had mentioned this matter to Jia Zheng, she knew that Jia Zheng always valued and protected Jia Cong, and did not agree with her on this matter.

Therefore, he did not dare to say it in front of Jia Zheng. He said that the failure to pay out money from the public treasury was a secret act of Jia Cong. Even if he said it, Jia Zheng would not listen and he would be scolded instead.

That was why Jia Zheng made such remarks when he entered the hall. He was no exception and was naturally happy to see his daughter gain the emperor's favor, and he considered it an honor for his family.

However, Jia Zheng's expectations on this matter, with the attitude of doing his best and letting things take their course, were far from being as passionate and persistent as Mrs. Wang's.

Jia Cong did not answer directly, but said: "Master, I have been at home for these years, and I know something about what happened back then. I went to the palace twice to talk with my elder sister, and I know what she is thinking.

When the old grandfather passed away, the eldest master inherited the family title, but he did not have the talent of commanding troops like the great grandfather, and only held the honorary title of first-class general.

The master was granted an official position by the Emperor, and he took the path of a civil official. At that time, the Jia family had actually left the military family behind. "

Jia Zheng was reminded of Jia Cong's words and sighed, "Brother Cong is right. My elder brother and I are both mediocre in talent and strategy. We can hardly be even a fraction as heroic as Grandpa.

"If a son is not virtuous, he will not bring honor to the family. After the death of the master, the Jia family's foundation is no longer as strong as before, so they let the eldest girl enter the palace early, hoping that she can protect the family in case of an accident."

Jia Cong said, "Sister, your appearance and character are both excellent. You are more than qualified to be favored by the emperor. But you have been in the palace for nine years, and the Jia family has spent a lot of money, but you have achieved nothing. It is unreasonable."

Both Jia Mu and Jia Zheng grew up in noble families. Although neither of them was particularly talented, they were not stupid either. Jia Mu was even more outstanding among the people in the inner court.

When they heard Jia Cong suddenly say this, they were slightly stunned. In fact, such questions have flashed through their minds over the years, but the Jia family has been blinded by their indulgence in luxury, and their talents and knowledge are limited, so they are unable to explore the inside.

Jia Cong continued, "Things in this world change with time. The situation is different, so the way we deal with it will naturally change.

At present, Cong has received many favors from the emperor. First, he was granted a title for his merits, and then was granted the grace of hereditary succession. Last year, he was granted the grace of inheriting the title of Rongguo. The emperor's favor is so great that it has attracted attention from the court and the public.

Today, the Jia family has two nobles, and the master and He Cong are officials appointed by the court, devoting themselves to state affairs. This situation is enough to ensure wealth and prosperity for the whole family, so we should cherish our blessings and be content.

For example, he also spent a large sum of money to bribe the palace, disrupt the imperial court, and seek a high position in the harem for the daughter of the Jia family.

Once the news spreads, people in the court and the country will definitely think that the Jia family is ungrateful to the emperor's grace, obsessed with power, and insatiable!
Cong is now the heir of the Rongguo Mansion. If the money that the Jia family used to bribe the palace came from the Duke of Xifu, Cong, as the head of the family, would be to blame and would definitely be falsely accused of being the mastermind of this matter!

I am afraid that by then, the impeachment of the Censorate will surely come as a blast. In order to gain the favor of the emperor in the palace, you will bring disaster to your family overnight."

When Jia Zheng and his mother heard the censor's impeachment, their faces turned pale.

At the beginning, Lady Jia and Mrs. Wang prevented Jia Zheng from moving out of Rong Xi Tang, which resulted in the censor and other court officials jointly impeaching him. It caused a huge uproar, and I am still scared to this day...

……

Jia Cong continued, "The current emperor is a rare wise monarch in ancient times. He is very observant and hates evil and wickedness. If he thinks that this matter was instructed by Cong, he will definitely be disappointed with Cong.

If a minister is abandoned by his sovereign, what future can he have?

All the years of Cong's dedication to state affairs and his bloodshed on the battlefield will be in vain, and the current glory and wealth of the Jia family will also be overturned overnight!"

After hearing what Jia Cong said, Jia Mu and Jia Zheng's tone gradually became cold and stern, which made people feel a little chilly, and both of them changed their expressions.

They also heard the meaning of the words clearly, and the cause and effect logic was also very coherent, and it was by no means alarmist.

Jia Zheng said sternly: "I only said that the Jia family had been doing this in the past three years, but I didn't expect that the times have changed and it would be so powerful now.

If we now use public funds to handle this matter, it will really harm Cong'er. If Cong'er's official career is damaged because of this, what protection will the Jia family have? It will be a case of losing the big for the small!

"Old Madam, it seems that this matter must be dropped. Cong-ge is right. The Jia family is now rich and secure. We should be content with what we have and not create any more trouble."

After hearing what Jia Zheng said, Grandmother Jia sighed slightly. Although she felt a little unwilling, she had to admit that what Jia Cong said made a lot of sense.

She was blessed from birth, born into a family of nobles and high-ranking officials, and married into a top-notch duke and wealthy family. She lived a happy life all her life.

If one wants to be happy, the first thing is to be safe. Relying on her family's inherited title and wealth, Grandmother Jia disapproves of her children taking the imperial examinations to become officials, and thinks that there is no need for noble families to change their status by studying.

He even felt that Jia Cong's early success and his pursuit of a high-ranking official position were risky. When Jia Zheng said that Jia Cong would enter the cabinet within 20 years, he reprimanded him and told him not to instigate his sons and nephews to become radical.

It can be seen that Jia Mu's desire for comfort and conservatism is deeply rooted in her heart.

When she agreed to let Yuanchun enter the palace, it was just a small move for the sake of her family.

Yuanchun had won the emperor's favor, so if it was icing on the cake, she would naturally be happy to enjoy it, but if it was like trying to take advantage of the fire, she would definitely avoid it.

Mrs. Wang saw that Jia Cong's lies not only completely convinced her master, but also that the old lady seemed to be bewitched by him, so she couldn't help but feel very anxious.

He said, "Brother Cong, aren't you exaggerating? Can you blame you for the fact that the eldest girl is favored by the emperor in the palace?"

Jia Cong glanced at Mrs. Wang. He knew that even after he said so much, Mrs. Wang still didn't give up.

He said calmly, "As long as you don't extract money from the Jia family to buy off the matter, my elder sister has received the emperor's favor, so it's naturally none of my business or the family's business."

……

After hearing this, Mrs. Wang, who had been extremely resentful, felt a little relieved.

Now she also knew very well that after what Jia Cong had just said, she could never get another ounce of silver from the public treasury.

But even if her master was persuaded by Jia Cong, she would not give up.

Now that the Second House has fallen to this point, Lady Wang is unable to sleep or eat. Her daughter's future is her glory and the last dignity in her life.

Back then, Mrs. Wang was the eldest daughter of the Wang family in Jinling. She lived a life of luxury and became the mistress of the Jia family after marrying into the family.

Before Jia Cong inherited the title and was honored with the national title, Mrs. Wang was almost a replica of Lady Jia, which made her arrogant and she could never be humble.

She would arrange for her niece Wang Xifeng to marry into the Jia family and let Wang Xifeng take over the family business, not only because Wang Xifeng was her biological niece, but also because Wang Xifeng had a similar temperament to her.

Mrs. Wang was originally a capable and ruthless woman like Wang Xifeng, but after marrying into the Jia family, she was affected by the power of Lady Jia and the death of the eldest son Jia Zhu.

This prompted her to put on a kind and benevolent appearance so as to leave a good reputation in the Jia family and gain a firm foothold.

Although she is as ruthless and capable as Wang Xifeng, and has the same passion for power and wealth, she does not have Wang Xifeng's shrewdness and adaptability to circumstances, but only has a more old-fashioned and paranoid madness.

Now that she could not withdraw money from the public treasury, she could only reluctantly use her own savings of many years. She figured that even if the money was not enough, selling some of the items from a few dowry shops would be enough.

When Jia Cong saw the thoughtful expression on Mrs. Wang's face, he knew that she still refused to give up.

She said lightly, "Madam said that my elder sister could obtain the emperor's favor without any arrangements at home. In my opinion, this is absolutely impossible.

As I said before, the elder sister's appearance and character are both top-notch, and she is worthy of the emperor's favor. However, she has been in the palace for nine years, and the Jia family has spent a lot of money, but has achieved nothing.

It can be seen that the failure to accomplish things is not due to the elder sister's lack of talent and beauty. Now that the Jia family has inherited the title, times have changed. Some things have never happened before, and they are even less likely to happen in the future!"

In order to dispel Mrs. Wang's delusions, Jia Cong spoke harshly but did not make his words clear.

At the beginning, Baoyu's words in the inner courtyard about the arranged marriage were the work of a foolish man and a foolish woman. Within two days, the news spread to the palace. The Rongguo Mansion was like a gaping gourd, and I'm afraid nothing can be hidden.

From the moment he entered Rongqing Hall today, he was prepared that every word he said might be spread.

This is exactly what he meant when he spoke so highly of Emperor Jia Zhao as one of the rare wise rulers in history.

Naturally, she could not tell Mrs. Wang the whole story. Yuanchun could not get the favor of Emperor Jiazhao because the emperor was tired of suppressing the four kings and eight dukes. It was impossible for him to favor the eldest granddaughter of Rongguo Mansion and boost the arrogance of the elder Laoxun.

If these words were really spoken out loud, it would greatly violate Emperor Jiazhao's taboo...

……

After hearing Jia Cong's harsh and cold words, Mrs. Wang was so angry that her face turned pale. She thought her daughter was so outstanding, but she was just unlucky.

This little beast actually cursed her like that. His mind is so narrow-minded and vicious to the extreme. What he said is nonsense and totally illogical!
Now, Yuanchun is Mrs. Wang’s deepest obsession.

After nine years in the palace, she went through several selections and many twists and turns.

I bowed ten times before the Buddha at Mount Lingshan. I have already done the first nine and only need to give the last bow. Who knows, I might be able to see the Western Paradise. There is no way to give up halfway!

She was not discouraged by Jia Cong's words. Instead, they aroused her fiery paranoia. She thought more and more about how to raise four thousand taels of silver. If she wanted to succeed, she might need more...

Mrs. Wang thought that as long as she could raise the money, she could rely on her brother Wang Ziteng's connections in the officialdom to get an opportunity for her daughter.

Moreover, the conversation with Mrs. Xia that day made her realize that the Xia family had deep connections in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the palace, which might be more useful than her brother's power.

Mrs. Wang recalled the intimacy and warmth in Mrs. Xia's words that day, and felt more and more that she could definitely take advantage of the Xia family.

As long as she and Mrs. Xia talk it out, if the Xia family can help the second branch of the Jia family succeed, it will definitely benefit the Xia family in the future.

Mrs. Wang thought that since it was a win-win situation, Mrs. Xia would definitely be interested and lend a helping hand... (End of this chapter)