The Red Mansion Big Liar.

Chapter 30 Hypocrisy
As soon as the Spring Equinox arrived, Jia Zhen in Ningguo Mansion started to get busy.

Mrs. Wang in Rongguo Mansion was also looking forward to this day.

The last time, when Wang Xifeng came back from Ning Mansion, she immediately informed Lady Jia of the news.

However, Lady Jia thought that it was not long since spring had arrived and the grass and trees in the garden had not yet sprouted, so she advised her to be patient.

Seeing that the vernal equinox had arrived and new buds had sprouted on the branches, she could no longer hold back.

After paying respects to her parents in the morning and evening, he dismissed his attendants and brought up the old matter again: "Old lady, should we go over and take a look?"

"What's the hurry?" Jia's mother said calmly, "Didn't you say last time that the emperor set up the Tiangong Institute in the inner palace and let him be in charge?"

"What does this have to do with our visit to the garden?"

"Didn't Feng say last time that he moved in on the seventh day of the first lunar month? Logically, he is the younger generation. When we went there last time, we should have at least gone up to greet him, right?"

"Yes! But the master also said that the East Palace has not been visited for many years..."

"Stupid! How can you hide the truth?" Grandmother Jia frowned and said, "Besides, even if he hasn't been in the family for many years, the East Mansion took him in when he was helpless. We can only praise them. Why don't we mention it?"

"What the old lady said is absolutely right. I also felt it was strange at the time, but since the master said so, I didn't think too much about it."

"He always thinks that everyone is like him, and that face is more important than anything else. But some people would even give up their face for money. Besides, as the saying goes, a penny can make a hero fall. How could he know the difficulty of being without money?"

Mrs. Wang said thoughtfully, "Could it be that the old lady meant..."

"I didn't think much about it at first, but after hearing the news brought back by Feng girl last time, I can't help but doubt it!"

At this point, Jia's mother sighed and said, "In recent years, there has been no real job in the East Palace, and they can't let go of their past vanity, so they can only force themselves to maintain social connections. In addition, there are a lot of people to eat and feed, so even if there was some foundation in the early years, it has been spent. If not for this, why would Rong'er marry an adopted daughter?"

"That's true. Rong'er is the grandson of the Duke's Mansion after all. It would be fine if he married the daughter of a fifth-rank doctor, but he chose to marry an adopted daughter."

"Yes! Now that they have this way to make money, I'm afraid they won't be able to prevent it in time, so why would they take the initiative to introduce it to us?"

"What does the old lady mean?"

"People always judge others by themselves. Since they have this intention, we should not be too anxious, so as not to hinder the eldest lady's departure from the palace. Didn't you say that the emperor set up the Tiangong Court in the inner palace to handle this kind of thing? When this matter ferments in a while, we can take our concubines with us. I'm afraid we don't even need to ask for it. Isn't it cheap?"

After hearing this, Mrs. Wang glanced at Grandmother Jia with a fearful look and said in admiration, "The old lady is indeed very far-sighted."

She thought for a moment and said, "My sister's family is an orphan and a widow, and Wenlong is a jerk. I'm afraid he might not be able to hear the news. I'll go and give him some advice."

Grandmother Jia saw everything and sighed secretly. If it weren't for Yuanchun, she would never have explained these methods to her daughter-in-law.

"Well! You decide for yourself!"

After leaving Rongqing Hall, Mrs. Wang rushed to Lixiang Courtyard without stopping.

Inside the room, Aunt Xue, who was sitting cross-legged on the kang, got up in a hurry upon hearing the news. She had just put on her shoes, but before she could put them on properly, she saw Madam Wang enter the room.

"Hey! Why is my sister here?"

She had gotten up in a hurry, and her shoes were not properly put on, so she stumbled as she walked, causing her already plump body to shake.

Mrs. Wang couldn't help but look at him sideways, and she couldn't help but feel a little resentful in comparison. "You are already so old, but you are still so flustered. There are no outsiders here, so why bother with those empty formalities."

"It's rare for my sister to come over, and I'm just excited for a moment."

Aunt Xue took Madam Wang's hand, came to the edge of the kang and sat down. While asking Xiangling to make tea, she asked, "Sister, how come you have time to come here today?"

"I heard about a happy event from the master a while ago. I happened to be free today, so I came over to tell you so that we can make preparations early."

"Good news!" Aunt Xue said in surprise, "Could it be that the two children..."

"That thing hasn't even started yet!" Mrs. Wang raised her hand to interrupt, "You're talking about Wenlong too. He's so out of tune all day long. How come you haven't heard a word about such a big thing?"

Hearing Xue Pan mentioned, Aunt Xue's heart began to lift: "What's wrong? Could it be that this evil creature has caused some trouble outside again?"

"That's not the case. It's just that your family is a royal merchant in the inner court after all. Now another courtyard has been added to the seven departments and three courts. Haven't you heard of such a big thing?"

"Ah! There is such a thing?" Aunt Xue sighed, "To be honest, I am worried about this matter. The performance evaluation once every three years is coming soon, and I don't know if I can keep this reputation."

"Oh!" Mrs. Wang chuckled. "I know you're worried about this, right? Otherwise, why would I have come all this way?"

"Sister, do you have any idea?" Aunt Xue asked immediately.

"Originally, there wasn't one, but by chance, the master came back a while ago and said that the inner palace had added a new courtyard. Guess who is in charge?"

"Could it be a relationship within the mansion?"

"He is the nephew of Brother Jing of the East Mansion, and he still lives in the mansion now."

"Oh my! Only a family as lavish as yours could have such a relative." Aunt Xue held Mrs. Wang's hand and said with a smile, "You have kept it a secret from me, sister. If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have to worry about this."

Mrs. Wang accepted Aunt Xue's flattery with ease.

"I wanted to tell you earlier, but I thought that you are separated from him by a layer, and you are a widow, so it is inevitable that there will be many inconveniences. Today, I persuaded the old lady to take advantage of the warmer weather to go to Huifang Garden in the East Palace for a visit in a few days. I will ask you to go with us then, and you can ask the East Palace to help introduce you, so as to avoid gossip."

Although it was Lady Jia's suggestion, Mrs. Wang did not want Aunt Xue to accept Lady Jia's favor.

Aunt Xue had no idea what was going on here, but she was so moved that she kept thanking him, tightly holding Mrs. Wang's hand, and said excitedly, "Thank you, sister, for thinking of me so sincerely."

"We are sisters, so how can I not plan for you?" Mrs. Wang said, "But I also remind you that Wenlong has always been outspoken, so you have to remind him not to talk nonsense in front of others."

After all, he could become her son-in-law, and Mrs. Wang didn't want Zhang Yunyi to be led astray by Xue Pan.

"Don't worry, sister. I will warn him not to talk nonsense."

Aunt Xue patted her chest, causing a huge uproar.

"Okay! Then I'll go back first. You might as well make some preparations so that you won't be panicked when the old lady leaves."

"Hey! Hey!" Aunt Xue bowed her head and escorted Mrs. Wang all the way out of the gate of Lixiangyuan.

……

(End of this chapter)