The Red Mansion Big Liar.

Chapter 34 Running in both directions
Zhang Yunyi in the front hall was absent-minded, and so was Wang Xifeng in Huifang Garden.

Ever since she entered the garden, she had been looking in the direction of the Ascension Pavilion intentionally or unintentionally.

Not to mention that Zhang Yunyi fell in love at first sight and was completely bewildered. Half a day passed and there was no sign of him.

The most annoying thing is Jia Rong, who knew he had arrived but didn't come to inform him.

Just as she was feeling angry, Li Wan brought up something irrelevant and said to her with a smile, "Our Second Madam is dressed up in all her splendor today. Could it be that Second Lian is coming back?"

This undoubtedly stirred up a hornet's nest. Wang Xifeng sneered, "Oh! I'm not like my elder sister-in-law who only knows how to take care of Lan. We are here to accompany our ancestor. If we don't dress nicely, won't it embarrass her?"

Wang Xifeng's words seemed to be an explanation, but they pointed out that Li Wan was a widow and unemployed and could only live with Jia Lan.

As the eldest daughter-in-law of the Rong family, the job of housekeeper should have fallen on her shoulders. However, Wang Xifeng showed up unexpectedly and not only snatched her power as housekeeper, but also verbally bullied her and mocked her for only being able to take care of her son.

However, she had never been liked by her mother-in-law, and she knew she could not argue with Wang Xifeng, so she could only remain silent.

Wang Xifeng was always unyielding. Seeing Li Wan back down, she did not stop but said, "However, I would like to ask you, sister-in-law, when did Lian Er say he would come back? You know something that I don't know. Could it be that the servant who delivered the message doesn't even recognize his own door?"

"You..." Li Wan said in shame and indignation, "When did I ever say that?"

Although it is said that a person of integrity has nothing to fear from his own shadow, there are many rumors surrounding a widow. If the rumors are spread by someone with ulterior motives, there is no guarantee that Lady Jia and Mrs. Wang will not become suspicious.

The two were not talking in whispers. Although Baochai and Sanchun were far away, Jia's mother and Wang Fu-ren only used the excuse of visiting the garden, but they heard everything clearly.

"She's a widow and unemployed, stop making fun of her."

If it were only our family, it would be fine, but Aunt Xue, Youshi, and Qin Keqing were also there. Grandmother Jia hurriedly half-jokingly and half-explained, "This is my fault. I shouldn't have asked him to accompany Lin girl back. Maybe he blames me too. But Lian Er has indeed not sent a message back for some time. Tomorrow I will send someone to the south to tell him to come back as early as possible."

"Look at what the ancestor said, how dare the granddaughter-in-law!" Wang Xifeng smiled and said, "Being able to share the worries of the ancestor is something we and my wife have been looking forward to for a long time. Everyone in the mansion knows that the ancestor has always been generous. Before he left, I told him that it would be a good idea to stay out for a while. Maybe the ancestor will feel sorry for him and give him some money, which will be enough for us to eat for ten or eight years."

Grandmother Jia always liked to entertain her parents with colorful clothes. Although she knew that Wang Xifeng was joking, she was still quite happy and said with a smile: "You are a girl with many tricks. But now that I know it, don't think about it anymore."

"Oh! Look at me, I am so straightforward that I even forgot to hide it from the old lady." Wang Xifeng hurriedly beat her chest and stamped her feet.

Her acting was so realistic that Grandmother Jia was naturally happy, and everyone laughed along with her.

Wang Xifeng made Jia's mother happy and suggested, "Granddaughter-in-law, you have been walking around for quite a while. Why don't we go to Rong's daughter-in-law's room to rest?"

It's probably no use just waiting for Zhang Yunyi to come to you. Instead of wasting time like this, it's better to create an opportunity.

Besides, Tianxiang Tower and Dengxian Pavilion are opposite each other. Since Mrs. Wang has specifically inquired about it, she doesn't believe that she will be able to hold back and not ask a question once she is in front of them.

This was exactly what Grandmother Jia wanted, so she said hurriedly, "You must be tired after walking around for half a day. Let's go sit in Rong's wife's room."

Youshi and Qin Keqing had no objection and quickly ordered their servants to make arrangements. Then they all went to Tianxiang Tower in a mighty procession.

When they arrived at Tianxiang Tower, Grandmother Jia sat in the main seat, Wang Xifeng served her at her side, Lady Wang and Aunt Xue sat on both sides, and the rest sat according to age.

Xue Baochai pointed at the busy maids and old women outside the Dengxian Pavilion opposite and asked, "Are there people living there now?" Hearing this, Wang Xifeng immediately turned her head to look at Mrs. Wang.

She originally thought that after bringing people to Tianxiang Tower, Mrs. Wang would definitely lead the topic to Zhang Yunyi, but she didn't expect that these words came from Xue Baochai's mouth.

Thinking of the recent rumors in the mansion, she suddenly felt mixed emotions.

She didn't believe that Xue Baochai was just asking casually. Although aunt and niece are closer than aunt and niece, she was the daughter-in-law of the eldest wife after all. If the rumor was true, she would not be as important as Baochai in Mrs. Wang's heart.

Although Jia Zhen had warned Jia's mother not to mention Zhang Yunyi before she entered the garden, Youshi could only say, "The old master passed away at the end of the year, and after the funeral, the master brought Master Yi back."

When Zhang Yunyi was mentioned, Xue Baochai, as a girl, was reluctant to say much. Mrs. Wang was afraid of missing this opportunity, so she quickly winked at Aunt Xue.

This scene was seen by Wang Xifeng, which further confirmed her speculation.

She had gone to great lengths to help gather information, but in the end not only was she treated as an outsider, but Xue Baochai was the one who reaped the benefits. How could she be willing to accept this?

"Oh?" Aunt Xue took over the conversation at this time, "There was a rumor outside a while ago that the head of the Tiangong Institute in the inner palace is a relative of the mansion. Could it be this Mr. Yi?"

Speaking of Zhang Yunyi, You Shi couldn't help but feel proud of him and said with a smile: "That's right!"

"Oh! I thought it was just a rumor outside, but I didn't expect it to be a relative of yours. I wonder if he is in your house?"

"He's drinking with my aunt's cousin in the front yard!"

Hearing this, Mrs. Wang smiled knowingly, because she had long guessed that the Ning Mansion was deliberately concealing the truth, so she specially asked Aunt Xue to bring Xue Pan along to block both ends.

Aunt Xue originally thought that Zhang Yunyi would not come back until the court was over, and was afraid that Lady Jia would go back after getting tired of playing, so she planned to leave an introduction in advance and then ask Ning Mansion to introduce him later. Unexpectedly, he was actually in the mansion.

He looked at Grandmother Jia and said, "I have heard that there is a new Tiangong Court in the inner palace, but I have no one to recommend it. Today, it happens that the old lady is here. I wonder if I can borrow the old lady's face..."

"What's the point of introducing him? We are all relatives. You are too polite." Grandmother Jia said with a smile, "It just so happens that I haven't seen this child for a few years. Why not ask him to come over and talk to me."

"Yes!" Yu Shi agreed and immediately got up and went to the front yard to invite Zhang Yunyi.

Aunt Xue flattered, "If the old lady wasn't here, we wouldn't be able to get in even if we wanted to."

Li Wan, Sanchun and others were confused. Although they knew that there was such a relative in the Ning Mansion, they remembered that they had not visited him for many years. They couldn't help but be curious as to why he suddenly became so popular.

Wang Xifeng, who was standing behind Lady Jia with her head down, was more convinced that it was Lady Wang who instructed her to do so when she saw Aunt Xue and her daughter singing the same tune.

He then secretly pondered how he could attract Zhang Yunyi's attention in public without making any noise.

……

(End of this chapter)