The Red Mansion Big Liar.

Chapter 357: Jia's Mother's Preparations

When Zhang Yun逸 asked indirectly how much of Lady Jia's own money had been spent.

Grandmother Jia also called Yuanchun over and comforted her, "Now you can rest assured! I have just asked Brother Yi, and it is indeed the emperor's intention!"

If there had been no news of her marriage to Prince Ning, even if Yuanchun had missed the best age to get married, it would not be impossible for her to find a reasonable marriage given the status of the Rongguo Mansion.

However, once you are involved with the royal family, you have to weigh everything carefully.

Not to mention that no one would come to propose marriage, even if the Rongguo Mansion was willing to lose face and find someone to propose marriage, most people would use rumors as an excuse to refuse.

This is also the reason why Yuanchun was disheartened when she heard about the divorce and planned to go home to accompany the ancient Buddha.

In ancient times, marriage was a major matter that was arranged by parents and matchmakers. It was rare for people to have the final say on their own, and they didn’t even dare to expect free love.

Although Zhang Yun逸 is not as good as Prince Ning, as a prince, Yuanchun has lived in the deep palace for a long time and longs for freedom more.

Just for this reason, in her heart, Zhang Yunyi is much better than Prince Ning.

In addition, Zhang Yunyi was young, promising, and handsome. Even if Yuanchun was in her prime, this marriage would be considered high-class for him.

Nowadays, what is there to be dissatisfied about?
"This kind of thing is decided by the elders. Since it is the emperor's wish, your granddaughter will have no other requests..."

She was too embarrassed to say she was absolutely willing, so she could only express her feelings implicitly.

"Hoo! Good girl!" Grandmother Jia hugged Yuanchun with great satisfaction and said, "However, Yi'er's father's mourning period has not yet ended. You still have to endure for some time before you can marry into the family."

"Grandma... Granddaughter, don't worry, I can stay at home and spend more time with grandma..."

"Hey!~ Men should get married when they are old enough and women should get married when they are old enough. Why are you shy with me?"

Grandmother Jia patted Yuanchun on the shoulder and said, "He is a man of loyalty and righteousness. Please help organize the play for the Wanshou Festival so that he can show his gratitude to you!"

Grandmother Jia called Yuanchun, on the one hand, to tell her the good news as soon as possible to reassure her; on the other hand, to remind her to pay more attention to Zhang Yun逸.

Although it is not difficult to make this marriage happen with the emperor's will, after marrying into the Zhang family, she will have to look at Zhang Yunyi's mood.

This time, after all, she snatched Yingchun's opportunity and forced her to become a concubine, so it was inevitable that there would be a rift between the sisters.

For the sake of Yingchun, Zhang Yunyi actually resisted the pressure from the emperor. Although he finally gave in, he was ultimately forced to do so. In addition, there had been rumors of Yuanchun's marriage, and Zhang Yunyi knew the reason, which made Lady Jia worried.

However, she was afraid that Yuanchun would not be able to bear it, so she did not dare to tell her the truth and could only hint at it indirectly.

"Granddaughter understands! Don't say..."

Yuanchun was too embarrassed to say that she had an engagement, so she paused and changed her words, "Don't mention that Brother Yi had pleaded for me. Even without my grandmother's order, I would have done my best!"

"That way, I feel relieved!"

At this point, Jia's mother changed the subject and said, "However, this may not be enough. Remember to invite him over to talk more often."

"This..." Yuanchun's cheeks flushed, and she said shyly, "Grandma... Grandma, what do you mean? I have heard such rumors before, so I should be cautious and careful to avoid being in trouble. How can I still..."

"Hey!" Grandmother Jia said disapprovingly, "Why is it not okay? Your Majesty..."

She wanted to say that the emperor had already made an order, but then she remembered that it was the emperor's order before, so she quickly changed her words and said, "Since the emperor is willing to help, why should we care about what others say? Besides, who dares to gossip in our own family?"

Yuanchun was not without doubts and said: "But...if Brother Yi thinks that his granddaughter..."

"Are you stupid, kid?" Grandmother Jia said angrily, "I didn't ask you to invite him openly. Isn't there a cover for the Wanshou Festival play? Why do you think I must let you live in the Grand View Tower and set the rehearsal place at your place?"

"Granddaughter, I understand!" Grandmother Jia sighed, "I am doing this for your own good! Although there is the emperor's order, it was me who asked your mother to help me. He knows it very well, so there is no guarantee that he will not have a grudge. You must remember to follow his lead and don't let him feel dissatisfied!"

Hearing Grandmother Jia's tireless talk, Yuanchun did not dare to slack off. She kept it in mind and said, "My granddaughter is unfilial and has caused my grandmother to worry!"

"It would be great if you could understand my painstaking efforts!"

Seeing that she had convinced Yuanchun, Grandmother Jia calmly changed the subject.

"What I am most worried about is you and your brother. An elder sister is like a mother. You have raised him since he was young. Although you have been in the palace for so many years, you are still your sister after all. Has he been to your place to talk to you recently?"

Yuanchun evaded the point and said, "Don't worry, old lady. My younger brother is the smartest one. He often comes with my sisters and helps with plans."

Jia Baoyu was not a cunning person to begin with, so she could see that the reason he often went to the Grand View Tower was not because of their deep sisterly love.

She even cared more about the little actor than her sister.

However, Lady Jia was obviously looking forward to something, and Yuanchun couldn't bear to make her sad.

But she didn't want to lie, so she had to avoid the main point. On the one hand, she hinted that he would only go with his sisters, and on the other hand, she mentioned that Jia Baoyu would help with advice to reassure Grandmother Jia.

After hearing Yuanchun's words, Jia's mother felt relieved. She patted her shoulder and sighed, "That's good! That's good!"

Grandmother Jia was determined to let Yuanchun replace Yingchun at all costs.

In addition to the fact that Yuanchun was raised by his side since childhood and his relationship with her was special, he also felt guilty about Yuanchun's entry into the palace and the accidental marriage with Prince Ning.

More importantly, it was because of her beloved Jia Baoyu.

If the Rongguo Mansion had not built the Grand View Garden, with the wealth of the mansion, even if Jia Baoyu could not be allowed to spend extravagantly, he could at least be guaranteed to have enough food and clothing for the rest of his life.

But now, even if she added her own money, the total was only over 100,000 taels of silver.

Not to mention all the expenses, big and small, in the mansion, just the monthly salary for nearly a thousand people in the mansion would be over ten thousand taels of silver in a year.

Not to mention the various extra expenses such as interpersonal relationships, birth, aging, sickness and death.

Although there are ancestral fields in the south and the farm to supplement the income, the expenses are still not enough to cover the income.

She was not aware of the true relationship between Zhang Yun逸 and Wang Xifeng. She just thought that Zhang Yun逸 loved Wang Xifeng because of Yingchun.

No one knows a child better than his mother. She knew very well that Jia Zheng didn't even help when his oil bottle fell over, and he couldn't even take care of himself, let alone Jia Baoyu.

Although Mrs. Wang's dowry was quite generous, it was still just living beyond her means.

Therefore, he hoped that Yuanchun could replace Yingchun and marry Zhang Yunyi, so that Jia Baoyu would have more protection.

After all, Yingchun is separated from Jia Baoyu by a layer, and there has always been a grudge between the first and second wives.

Now, as long as she is still alive, she can still suppress it because of filial piety.

But if one day she is gone, it would be a blessing that the family does not fall apart. How could we dare to hope that the first wife would help the second wife?

The grandparents chatted for a while and ate dinner together before Yuanchun said goodbye and left, returning to the Grand View Garden.

……

(End of this chapter)