The Red Mansion Big Liar.

Chapter 73: Tailing and Spying on Secrets

Rongqing Hall.

It was the time of morning and evening visits, and on the soft couch on the high platform, Jia's grandmother was leaning sideways on the Luohan bed.

In the hall, Mrs. Xing, Mrs. Wang, Wang Xifeng, Li Wan and Sanchun were chatting about daily life, and bursts of laughter could be heard from the room.

As they were talking, Madam Xing suddenly asked, "I heard from the master the other day that the nephew of Brother Jing from the East Palace is now working in the inner court and wants to make glass. I wonder if you have heard of this?"

When she asked this, everyone in the room fell silent.

Last time when she went to the garden, Jia's grandmother did not invite the eldest daughter-in-law to come with her, so naturally no one was so blind as to stir up trouble in the eldest house and run over to inform on her, making things difficult for herself.

"Madam, you are joking. Lian Er is not at home. Apart from the two masters, how would we know what is going on outside? If you really want to know, go back and ask Brother Zhen or Sister Zhen. Wouldn't everything be clear?"

Although Wang Xifeng disdained her parents-in-law for being slow to realize the situation, she had no choice but to bite the bullet and break the silence.

Mrs. Xing is her mother-in-law after all, so she can't lie with her eyes open, so she avoids the main issue and only mentions the glass but not the person.

"The master had heard Wenlong mention this earlier, but he didn't take it seriously. A few days ago, I met two cousins ​​from the Shi family and heard that the glass workshop would start working today."

After she said this, she looked at Lady Jia eagerly, and the implication of her words was obvious.

In fact, it would be unfair to say that Jia She was completely unaware of Zhang Yun逸's existence.

He usually mingled with Jia Zhen and Xue Pan. Although Jia Zhen knew the temper of his cousin and deliberately concealed it, Xue Pan never kept it a secret.

She complained to him many times that Xiangling was snatched away by him.

However, Aunt Xue was worried that he would make a fuss, so she did not tell him everything.

Jia She was so confused that he thought that the Xue family was an imperial merchant and had connections with him, so they only got a 10% share of the sugar, which was not even an average. He felt a little contemptuous and did not take it seriously.

A few days ago, I learned from the brothers Shi Nai and Shi Ding that they were tinkering with glass again, so I thought of cramming for it.

Jia She also asked Jia Zhen, but he was evasive and didn't give any useful information. That's why Xing Shi tried to persuade Lady Jia, hoping that she would come forward to ask.

Hearing this, Jia's mother frowned, and looked at Mrs. Wang on the other side. She snorted and scolded, "It's not easy for him to be an official. He spends all day at home drinking with his concubines. Now he cares about these things. Go back and tell him to stop thinking those evil thoughts."

If it were any other time, she would not bother to ask about it, but for Yuanchun's matter, she had already reached a tacit understanding with the East Palace. Now that the matter has not been done yet, she is naturally worried that her eldest son's mischief will cause dissatisfaction in the East Palace.

Madam Xing didn't understand the meaning of the words, but said indignantly: "It's rare that the master is thinking about serious matters. As a daughter-in-law, can't I stop him? Besides..."

At this point, she glanced at Madam Wang across from her and said, "We are at least one level closer to the Xue family..."

"All right!" Before she could finish, Jia's mother had already frowned and interrupted her with a scolding, "Stop talking nonsense. Can it be that I can't control him anymore? Go back and just tell him. If he has any dissatisfaction, tell him to come to me and tell me himself!"

It wasn't that she thought there was anything wrong with what Mrs. Xing said, but she was worried that she would persist, so she used harsh words to put her off.

Seeing that Lady Jia was angry, Mrs. Xing dared not say anything.

At this moment, someone outside reported: "Butler Lai and Madam Lai are here!"

After hearing this, Jia's mother looked around, waved her hand, and said in a deep voice: "Ask them to come in, Madam, stay, and you all go back first!"

Just as Grandmother Jia had lost her temper, everyone else could no longer wait and, upon hearing what had happened, they filed out as if a heavy burden had been lifted from their shoulders.

Only Wang Xifeng frowned deeply, her eyes flickered between Lady Jia and Mrs. Wang's faces, then she lowered her head and left with the crowd.

Walking around the screen in Rongqing Hall, she glanced at the oncoming Lai couple, and a cold light flashed in her eyes.

After passing through the hall and exiting the hanging flower gate, she did not rush back, but pretended to talk to Ping'er. After everyone dispersed, she immediately ordered, "You stay at the inner gate and watch. If you see anyone entering the old lady's courtyard, come back and tell me immediately."

Seeing her serious face, Ping Er did not dare to ask more questions, and quickly agreed, entered the inner gate, and chatted with several maids. Wang Xifeng returned to the three-room porch, but had no intention of arranging the affairs of the mansion. She only sat for a while, then used the excuse of being unwell to send all the housekeepers and wives out.

The speaker may not mean it, but the listener may take it seriously. Grandmother Jia was worried that Jia She and Lady Xing would ruin Yuanchun's plans.

But to Wang Xifeng, she felt that she was favoring the Xue family.

Although it was expected that Lady Jia changed her mind and arranged for Lai and his wife to go south in order to intimidate the Xue family, it was just a guess after all.

She guessed that since Lai and his wife had returned, Lady Jia and Mrs. Wang would certainly contact the Xue family to inform them. She felt that this was a good opportunity to confirm it, so she arranged for Ping'er to follow them.

She leaned against the kang, feeling as irritable as a ball of yarn that had been scratched by a cat, unable to find a clue.

For a moment, I thought of the subsequent actions of Lady Jia and Mrs. Wang, and the boredom of life after losing the power of housekeeper.

For a while, I was thinking about how to break the deadlock.

But after much thought, the problem still lies with Zhang Yunyi. As long as he helps, the Xue family's business will only grow bigger and bigger, and will become more and more attractive to Lady Jia.

Thinking of this, she bit her lower lip unconsciously and twisted her two long legs with even flesh and bones together.

Zhang Yun逸's expression that day could not be faked, and was also supported by Jia Rong's words, but he had the intention but not the courage to do it.

At the beginning, she hoped that Zhang Yunyi would not be able to hold back his anger, but in the blink of an eye, it had been almost a month and there was still no movement.

More importantly, Zhang Yunyi can wait, but she can't.

"Grandma!" Ping'er pushed the door open and came in. "Not long after you left, Housekeeper Lai came out, and then led Master Zhen into the old lady's courtyard."

"Brother Zhen?" Wang Xifeng was stunned when she heard the words, and a trace of surprise flashed across her face.

But then, a look of realization appeared on her face.

Earlier, she still had doubts. Even though the Xue family had Zhang Yunyi to help them, the Xue family still had Xue Pan. It was impossible for Aunt Xue to ignore her son.

No matter how much dowry is given to Xue Baochai, there is a limit after all.

Although Lin Daiyu's dowry may not be richer than Xue Baochai's, she was a magistrate for three years and earned 100,000 silver coins, not to mention Lin Ruhai, the Imperial Censor of Salt.
Not to mention that Jia Min's dowry when she got married should not be underestimated.

You have to know that Lin Daiyu is Lin Ruhai's only legitimate daughter. Compared with the Xue family, which is a fake extinct family, hers is the real extinct family.

To be able to make Lady Jia abandon her own granddaughter, the benefits involved cannot be small.

In a short period of time, she had already figured out an industrial chain centered around Zhang Yunyi.

Although the Xue family is insignificant in itself, its identity as a royal merchant makes it the perfect white glove and it has perfect sales channels.

The two eastern and western mansions and Zhang Yunyi divided up the Tiangong Academy's assets, and the Xue family was probably just a laborer, so it was already their last resort to keep the imperial merchants and assets.

This can be seen from the distribution of profits from sugar. The Xue family even paid out of their own pockets to subsidize the expenses.

The West Mansion...to be more precise, the second branch of the Rong Mansion, if it wants to participate in it, it can only rely on the Xue family's channels.

This is also the reason why Lady Jia favors the Xue family.

Only this kind of continuous business could make Grandmother Jia abandon her granddaughter without hesitation.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but tremble slightly, and her long legs with well-proportioned flesh and bones were pressed together tightly, making it impossible for a needle to be inserted.

……

(End of this chapter)