The Overlord of the Red Mansion

Chapter 214: Marriage with Lin Daiyu

The New Year passed quickly. It was a dull and uneventful time, and it passed by before we knew it.

Because no princes came to celebrate the New Year, Jia Rong, as the only prince who participated in the sacrifice, was naturally very busy and often slept in the palace.

Staying overnight in the harem had long been a common occurrence for Jia Rong, to the point where even court ministers and royal family members thought it was normal.

Soon, the first month of the year was over without us noticing.

When Jia Rong arrived at the imperial study that day, he found that the emperor was discussing matters with his ministers.

Everyone stopped when they saw Jia Rong come in.

It’s not that she didn’t want Jia Rong to hear it, but Jia Rong usually wouldn’t come over on his own initiative unless there was something important.

The emperor asked, "What's the matter, brother?"

Jia Rong replied, "Your Majesty, I have spent a lot of time in the palace during the New Year and New Year. Now that the end of the year, when things are most likely to go wrong, is over, I would like to go home and rest for a while, and take care of the affairs of the clinic and the family."

The emperor was slightly startled, and soon sighed as if lost.

"I see. This year is a peaceful year. I almost forgot how many years it has been since we had such a peaceful year. Thank you for your hard work these days, my brother."

Although it seems to have happened in recent years, to the emperor it seems like many years have passed.

The rest of the people had similar feelings.

The ministers praised him, saying, "Thanks to the presence of King Zhongxiao, the thief dared not cause trouble."

Jia Rong quickly waved his hand, "It's just luck. A lot of things happened last year, so don't make rash remarks."

Everyone was tactful enough not to continue this topic, as a lot of things did happen last year.

What a terrible year!!

The Prince's tutor said, "The city has been guarded more strictly recently, and the ironclad concrete building of the Loyal and Filial Prince is about to be completed. It would be better to recruit a few more princes to the capital, especially a few vassal kings, to entrust them with important tasks and help the country!"

Jia Rong said, "I second the proposal. Recently, there have been more and more things to do, and I am too busy to handle them all."

The emperor nodded and said, "Yes."

The ministers quickly jointly recommended the most capable of the current vassal kings, the King of Zhenxi.

The main reason is that although Jia Rong only holds the position of Imperial Medical Bureau now, he gives people the feeling that he has all the power in the court, and someone must be found to check and balance him.

In fact, Jia Rong didn't want to meddle in other people's affairs at all. He just wanted to be his own doctor and had no pursuit of power.

After the ministers finished their work, the shameless Jia Rong quickly told the emperor about an immoral thing.

"Your Majesty, do you still remember that the Grand Emperor wanted to grant me a marriage?"

The emperor thought for a moment and quickly said, "Remember, when does my brother plan to ask for the imperial edict?"

Jia Rong said, "It would be best if someone wrote the imperial edict at six in the evening and sent it to my house at seven or eight. I also hope that it would be added that the descendants of me and Jia Yuanchun's Rongguo lineage would continue to have the surname Jia and inherit the Rongguo Mansion. Since she wants to go to her mother's family, let her go. I really can't bear it these years."

The emperor was stunned. He didn't expect that Prince Zhongxiao would be so immoral.

However, when I think about the fact that Jia Yuanchun is always meddling in the affairs of the Jia family and is entangled with the vile and trouble-making clan of the Rongguo Mansion, it is indeed not suitable for her offspring to inherit the lineage of King Zhongxiao.

"Okay! I will draft the imperial edict myself. Brother, go back and wait for the news! I will help you once too!"

"Good brother!" Jia Rong didn't follow the rules and praised him with a smile.

The emperor did not feel offended, but felt more at ease, "Hahaha! Well said, I am not alone anymore! If you have anything to say, just tell me directly!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Jia Rong replied again.

The seventeen or eighteen-year-old emperor didn't say anything. He was very happy to help him with the household chores.

Jia Rong quickly left the palace and went home directly through the back door.

After entering the door, I saw several children playing on the road between the back door and Tianxiang Tower. Lin Daiyu and Shi Xiangyun were also here.

"Your Majesty!"

When the wet nurses saw Jia Rong, they quickly bowed respectfully.

Jia Rong got off the horse and handed the reins to the maid who knew how to ride a horse.

"Your Highness." Everyone outside also called Jia Rong "Your Highness".

Generally, Jia Yuanchun and others call Jia Rong "Master" when talking to him, and only use the title "Prince" when talking to others.

Sometimes it’s okay to call her casually. Our family isn’t that strict. Just don’t be as unruly as Jia Xichun.

Shi Xiangyun saw Jia Rong coming over and reported, "The princess took the two children to attend Xichun's wedding, and she also asked the prince to come over when he comes back. It should be in time."

"I won't go." Jia Rong said with a smile: "Tomorrow is Yingchun's birthday. It will be the first time for Yingchun to give birth in the next few days. I will stay in Four Seasons Garden these days. You can eat casually."

Lin Daiyu swayed slightly and said coquettishly, "Xichun's wedding, if you don't attend, she will definitely be sad. How can you not attend? We both want to go too."

Shi Xiangyun said quickly, "Yes! Tanchun and Madam have already gone, and we two want to go too."

Jia Rong smiled and said, "Who will take care of Yingchun if they are gone? You can't let Xichun dote on you and ignore Yingchun, right?"

"You can go if you want. I'll go to accompany Yingchun. Compared to Yingchun, Xichun is living a truly happy and wealthy life. If I go there, it will just be icing on the cake."

Jia Rong said to the children, "Mom is not at home today, so you can eat whatever you want. What do you want to eat?"

More than a dozen children happily gathered around Jia Rong.

"Dad, I want to eat watermelon."

“There are no watermelons now.”

"Father, I want to eat roast duck."

"Okay, let the servants go buy it!"

"Dad, I want some ice milk!"

"no problem!"

"Dad, my scooter is broken."

"Go to the storeroom and get a new one!"

"Father, my sister hit me!"

"This is difficult. Go find Aunt Baoqin to help you get justice."

...

Jia Rong quickly helped the children solve various problems, which were nothing more than problems of eating, drinking, and having fun, as well as disputes and robbery among children.

Those that can be handled fairly should be handled fairly, and those that are too troublesome should be handed over to others.

After Jia Yuanchun was not at home, everyone no longer had to go to Tianxiang Tower for meals, and they all enjoyed themselves in their own houses and yards.

Lin Daiyu and Shi Xiangyun went back to play with Xue Baochai and visit her baby.

When Jia Rong arrived at Yingchun's room, he saw the slim Xing Xiuyan and Mrs. Xing coming out of the middle room.

"Your Majesty!"

Jia Rong said to the two of them, "Stay and have dinner with us. Tomorrow is Yingchun's birthday. Let's stay and have a simple meal to celebrate in advance."

"Yes." Yingchun's stepmother, Mrs. Xing, and cousin Xing Xiuyan both agreed.

Although they are not blood relatives, they get along very well now.

Mrs. Xing was no longer as mean as before. She no longer had to serve the old lady and the master Jia She. She chatted with the old women every day, or visited her niece and daughter, or sat and strolled in the garden, and played cards after dinner. Her life was quite comfortable.

Mrs. Xing took the initiative to say, "I'll go talk to the kitchen and ask them to add a few more dishes."

Jia Rong smiled and said, "Well, it's spring now, and it's time for Aunt to change her clothes. When you come back, go to the embroidery room and ask them to make two more festive clothes."

Mrs. Xing also smiled and said, "Okay, thank you, Your Majesty!"

Mrs. Xing left quickly, leaving the place to the young man.

Jia Rong looked at Xing Xiuyan, who quickly turned her head away in embarrassment, "Master, why are you looking at me? Sister Yingchun is waiting in the room."

Jia Rong laughed and said, "She is not comfortable at night, and you are pregnant, so I can't find someone to accompany me at night."

Xing Xiuyan quickly said with concern: "Then let Sister Bao or Qingwen come to accompany the master. Li Wen and Li Qi are also free. If it is not enough, there are many maids in the courtyard who want to serve the master."

Jia Rong looked at this gentle girl who seemed to be a beautiful girl from a small family but actually loved to act coquettishly.

"Let's go see your sister. I'll just bear with it tonight. How can I leave my pregnant wife aside for something like that at this critical moment?"

Jia Rong and Xing Xiuyan had already entered the bedroom, and Jia Yingchun, who was lying on the bed, also heard their conversation.

"Master..." Jia Yingchun greeted her husband with a happy face.

Jia Rong sat by the bed and said to Jia Yingchun, "How are you? Are you feeling better?"

Jia Yingchun smiled and said, "Nothing has happened. I can walk normally and nothing has happened. I just lie in bed because I was afraid something might happen. I thought the master wouldn't come back in the next few days, but I didn't expect that he would come back."

Jia Rong said: "This is your top priority, how can I not come back?"

"Oh~" Wang Xifeng's voice came from outside the window, "Our prince is really good at talking. We are so jealous of him."

Wang Xifeng quickly brought Lin Daiyu, Shi Xiangyun, Xue Baochai and others over.

"Your Highness, is your sister feeling better? I was thinking that if the master is not around these few days, I would bring some people to stay and take good care of Yingchun." Jia Rong smiled and said, "Sister Feng is still reliable. As expected of a daughter-in-law who has given birth to three children, she must have more experience than the average person. She must teach Yingchun well."

"Of course I need to say that!" Wang Xifeng sat at the end of the bed and said to Jia Yingchun, "Sister, just tell me what you want to eat, and tell me if you feel uncomfortable. We have a lot of people and strength in our family, so don't hold it in. When you need to trouble someone, just speak up. Don't hold it in."

Yingchun looked at the people in the room, then leaned into Jia Rong's arms and said with emotion: "I'm fine. Thank you, sisters."

Jia Rong took the opportunity to say, "Yuanchun, Tanchun, Baoyu and the ladies have all gone to Xichun's wedding. Let's just have some fun today and celebrate your birthday!"

Everyone from Four Seasons Garden came over to join in the fun, and the maids who stayed behind at Tianxiang Tower also came over to eat and chat.

Miaoyu and others also attended the celebratory dinner, and they were so excited that they forgot about Xichun's marriage.

It is obvious that Jia Xichun and Jia Yuanchun deliberately postponed Jia Yingchun's birthday and held their wedding before Yingchun's due date, just to give Jia Rong time to attend the wedding.

But Jia Rong would rather celebrate Jia Yingchun's birthday in advance than attend this crappy wedding.

Not only that, the shameless Jia Rong and the helpful emperor had already reached an agreement.

Just as everyone was eating, Qingwen ran in quickly.

"Master! The emperor has sent someone to issue an imperial decree, and they are already here!"

"Please come in!" This was the first time Jia Rong was so polite.

The eunuch who delivered the imperial edict entered the courtyard and read out the imperial edict.

The eunuch came in and said quickly and respectfully, "Your Majesty, the Emperor has issued an order."

Jia Rong knelt down quickly, startling the eunuch who brought the imperial edict.

Upon seeing this, the others quickly followed Jia Rong and knelt down to receive the order.

Seeing that the eunuch was still not reading, Jia Rong raised his head and glared at him fiercely.

The eunuch who delivered the imperial edict finally found the feeling and hurriedly opened the imperial edict with both hands and read it out.

"The Emperor, in compliance with the Will of Heaven, proclaims: The descendants of Duke Rong are unfilial and their family traditions are corrupt. I cannot bear to see the line of Duke Rong die out, so I order the descendants of Duke Rong's legitimate daughter Jia Yuanchun to continue the lineage of Duke Rong."

"The lineage of Duke Ningguo is loyal to the emperor and patriotic, and is known for its loyalty and filial piety. The late emperor bestowed the surname of the emperor on him. I remember that the Duke of Zhongxiao is talented, well-read, and has the title of the top scholar in the imperial examination, but his family has no good match. Therefore, I grant him a marriage with Lin Daiyu, the daughter of his mentor, the top scholar Lin Ruhai, as his wife, so that he can inherit the lineage of the Duke of Zhongxiao and worship the Lin family together. I decree this."

Wang Xifeng's lips were dry, and Xue Baochai's hands, feet and heart were cold when she knelt on the ground.

Not only them, but even Lin Daiyu was also very nervous.

Lin Daiyu was very embarrassed and at a loss at this time, and had no idea why this happened.

"I accept the decree. Thank you for your grace!" Jia Rong accepted the decree with a helpless look, and said to the maid next to him, "Quickly take this gentleman down to receive the reward."

The money was too hot to handle, so the eunuch who was delivering the message said hastily, "I dare not... I have something else to do, so I'll take my leave first..."

The eunuch left in a hurry. Since the new emperor ascended the throne, the eunuchs and maids in the palace have been checked more strictly.

If you offend the emperor, you may not die, but if you offend Jia Rong, you will definitely not have a good ending.

Jia Rong ignored the eunuch who ran away, although he really wanted to give him money.

After everyone left, Jia Rong sighed and said, "I've long told Yuanchun not to get too close to them. I've told her thousands of times, but it doesn't work. She just won't listen."

At this time, Wang Xifeng and others stood up and roughly understood the reason.

Wang Xifeng said quickly, "I didn't expect this either. The emperor and the emperor emeritus have never liked the people from Rongfu. But seeing that Master Zheng and Baoyu were fine, I thought everything was fine. I didn't expect this to happen again."

Jia Rong sighed, and then said to Lin Daiyu who was standing there awkwardly: "Daiyu, don't worry about this. This matter was originally arranged by the emperor. I actually tried my best, but recently the Wang family and the Jia family have formed an alliance, and the Wei family has also formed an alliance with the Jia family."

"I've already told you that our family doesn't want to marry into any outside marriage, ah!"

Jia Rong had said it before. Anyway, it was not his fault. He had said it before.

Wang Xifeng asked anxiously, "Will the emperor vent his anger on the prince?"

Jia Rong shook his head. "No, since he has granted marriage to Daiyu and me, it means that he wishes us the best. He is just warning us not to always associate with those unclean relatives. After all, I am now a relative of the emperor, not a relative of the Jia family."

Lin Daiyu asked anxiously, "But why did you grant me the marriage?"

Jia Rong smiled and said, "Who could be more suitable than you? The emperor has long known that you are in our family, and he also knows the relationship between you and me. Your father was a minister of the previous emperor, and he died in office. He cannot treat you unfairly no matter what."

This is pure nonsense. The previous emperor and the current emperor have killed many loyal ministers. How could they care about the descendants of loyal ministers?

If it weren't for the relationship with Jia Rong, Lin Daiyu would not be thought of at all.

Soon everyone lost the mood to eat.

It should be a good thing for Lin Daiyu, but Lin Daiyu couldn't be happy. She always felt it was too sudden.

Jia Rong comforted Lin Daiyu, saying, "This time it's not monogamy, nor is it divorce. It's just that someone must inherit the Rongguo Mansion, and it can only be Yuanchun."

"But this is not a bad thing." Jia Rong said gently: "Jia Ben and Jia Shu are very close to the old lady. They have been shouting that they want to inherit the big house in the west since they were young. Now they have finally got what they wanted."

Lin Daiyu and others smiled awkwardly.

Jia Yuanchun would probably cry when she found out.

But it is neither a good thing nor a bad thing for others.

There are also people like Jia Yingchun who don't care at all.

Jia Yingchun has no good feelings towards Jia Yuanchun, who comes between her and Jia Rong, nor does she have good feelings towards the willful Xichun and Jia Baoyu.

The only one with whom she had a good relationship was Tanchun, but Tanchun had nothing to do.

Anyway, she had never thought about the position of the main wife. For an insignificant concubine like Jia Yingchun, it didn't matter who became the main wife as long as Jia Rong was there.

Others don’t care, but Jia Yuanchun cares a lot.

Jia Rong quickly sent someone to the Wei family to deliver the message, telling his wife, with whom he had been married for ten years, the good news that the emperor allowed polygamy.

Of course, this kind of good news will not be told until she comes back. This exciting news must be announced at someone else's wedding.

***
In the bustling Wei family mansion, a large group of people were watching the bride and groom getting married.

"Send to the bridal chamber!"

The wedding was quickly confirmed, and everyone watched the groom, Master Wei, leading the bride forward with a red ribbon.

Jia Yuanchun and the female relatives also walked towards the bridal chamber, while the men were chatting outside.

The Wei family has many relatives. A relative lady had just arrived and asked in a low voice, "Why didn't the prince come?"

Miss Wei next to her explained, "I am staying at home with a pregnant concubine. She should give birth in the next few days."

The relative whispered, "Isn't it his aunt who is getting married? Is he staying at home with his concubine at this time? It's not like the baby is going to be born today."

Miss Wei frowned and whispered, "Why are you saying these things on such a happy day?"

The relative said with a smile: "I just want to meet the King of Zhongxiao. He is only 26 years old. I heard that he is handsome, romantic and talented."

Miss Wei smiled and said, "I haven't seen it, but I heard that it is true."

Everyone walked towards the bridal chamber in a lively manner. When a group of female relatives were accompanying Jia Yuanchun to go in, suddenly a maid came running over.

"princess!"

Jia Yuanchun discovered that the person coming over was Qingyun, the maid she had left at home.

"What's the matter?" Jia Yuanchun asked softly, already feeling that it couldn't be a good thing.

Qingyun didn't say anything, but looked around.

Jia Yuanchun said nothing and took Qingyun to a remote place.

At this time, the elders of the Wei, Wang, and Jia families also felt that something was happening.

Now no one has the time to care about Jia Xichun and Master Wei. Except for a few young ladies who have gone in, several ladies are waiting for news.

Mrs. Wang also looked at her daughter and saw that her daughter and the maid were talking in a low voice on the ground about seven or eight meters away. There was a big red lantern hanging above them.

I didn't hear anything. After the maid said a few words, Jia Yuanchun slowly squatted on the ground, covering her face with one hand, as if she was crying.

Grandmother Jia also noticed it and quickly asked, "What's wrong? Go and have a look!"

Mrs. Wang: "I'll go."

Mrs. Wang walked over quickly and asked carefully, "Yuanchun, what's wrong? What happened?"

Jia Yuanchun slowly stood up and wiped her tears with her handkerchief. "It's okay. The prince asked me to go back. I will take the children back first."

Mrs. Wang obviously sensed something was wrong. "What happened? You scared me. Tell me what happened, or I won't be able to sleep tonight."

Jia Yuanchun lowered her head and said aggrievedly, "The emperor just issued an imperial decree, allowing my son to continue to have the surname Jia and inherit the Rong Mansion, and also granting Miss Lin a marriage with the prince."

As Jia Yuanchun spoke, she lowered her head and wiped her tears, feeling very sad.

Madam Wang walked over quickly and asked nervously, "Does the emperor want the prince to divorce his wife?"

Qingyun replied, "No, it means that the eldest grandmother's family belongs to the Jia family of Rongguo Mansion, and Miss Lin is the Princess of Loyalty and Filial Piety."

Mrs. Wang also took a step back and said in disbelief, "Why is this happening? Yuanchun has done nothing wrong, why is this happening?"

After hearing what Mrs. Wang said, Jia Yuanchun couldn't stop crying.

If it weren't for these relatives, she wouldn't be where she is today.

(End of this chapter)