The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 292 The Third Sister is the Most Outstanding
Beijing.

Beijing Palace.

Besides the Imperial Palace, there were only four princely mansions in the capital that were larger and in better location than the Jia family mansion. Even the later Prince Yizhong and Prince Zhongshun's mansions were not as well located as the Jia family mansion.

The Jia family's status is now far inferior to that of Prince Zhongshun, but unfortunately there is no extra land in the inner circle of the capital, and the land of Prince Zhongshun's mansion was originally allocated from the imperial estate.

Xue Yan had been to the Jia family mansion, though he had never seen the Grand View Garden, he had heard about it from the girls.

Apart from the Grand View Garden, the Jia family mansion cannot compare to the royal mansion.

Xue Yan followed Prince Bei Jing to a garden. The garden was not large, but it was very unique, with a pond and a pavilion.

"Please have a seat, Mr. Xue."

Prince Bei Jing, Shui Rong, had a gentle expression. He pointed to the stone benches in the pavilion and sat down himself.

Xue Yan was in a good mood.

Although the Prince of Beijing was young, only in his early twenties and about the same age as Wang Xin, he was gentle and kind, surpassing Wang Xin in this respect.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Xue Yan said politely.

The Xue family is not as powerful as before, but they are nominally affiliated with the Ministry of Revenue and receive a position funded by the imperial treasury.

However, the one he values ​​is Xue Yan.

The eldest branch of the Xue family had also heard some news.

The young master is a spoiled brat, utterly useless, but his daughter is talented. However, the emperor doesn't favor the four great families, so her plan to enter the palace is clearly futile.

Water-soluble, I know it all.

Although the emperor bestowed the title of Imperial Concubine upon the eldest daughter of the second branch of the Jia family, according to palace sources, he never actually touched her. She was treated as if she were in the cold palace.

Jia Zheng has been careful in his conduct over the years, but unfortunately, this man is too foolish.

The emperor himself didn't have many bargaining chips, and the price he had to pay was a concubine, but it was a fool like Jia Zheng, and the already declining Jia family was split into three.

It's no wonder that an emperor who has lost his fortune can't be happy.

There's only one Lin Ruhai.

I wonder what this person is busy with these days; it seems like he's disappeared without a trace.

Thinking of Jia Jing, who was "imprisoned," I feel sorry for him.

Even after all these years, the Embroidered Uniform Guard still kept a close watch on him, and this person dared not overstep his bounds in the slightest, remaining silent as a living dead.

Shui Rong smiled and said, "Tell me about Wang Xin."

The Jia family were the leading figures in the founding of the nation.

The "Four Great Families" is just the official name. Are people like Lin Ruhai, the General of Yuehai from Guangdong, the Zhen family from Jinling, and the up-and-coming Jia Yucun, among others, part of their circle?

Lin Ruhai's family lineage was no less prestigious than the Shi family's, and far superior to the Wang and Xue families'.

None of the legitimate daughters of the Jia family married into the Shi, Wang, or Xue families.

On the contrary, only the daughters of these three families married into the Jia family.

One of the legitimate daughters married into the Lin family, and another entered the palace.

Even though he looked down on the Jia family, Shui Rong had to admit that the Prince of Beijing's mansion, having lost its territory and failed to establish its own political clique, was actually inferior to the Jia family.

However, as princes of different surnames, even though they have many conflicts with each other, when the Prince of Beijing's mansion is really about to fall, the other three families will quietly take action, such as protecting the Prince of Beijing's title.

Shui Rong was well aware of his situation.

Being a carefree prince is no problem; the other three princes will definitely support me.

To regain his former status, he still has a long way to go, and building his own power is key.

A quick look at the surrounding area.

Only the Jia family met his needs.

Over the years, I have paid much attention to the Jia family, such as the young master who was born with a jade in his mouth. I had high expectations for him, but he turned out to be as pedantic and unbearable as his father.

Lin Ruhai is very capable.

However, this person chose to become emperor, and then there were no other notable figures.

Wang Ziteng is very active and ambitious, but his actions are actually those of a petty person. For a powerful family like the Jia family, what they fear most is not temporary difficulties, but the loss of popular support.

Wang Ziteng undoubtedly accelerated the disintegration of the four major families.

Xue Yan is good.

But his status is too low; he's just a businessman.

Unexpectedly, another Wang Xin has emerged.

The key issue is that he doesn't get along with Wang Ziteng, which is a golden opportunity.

Xue Yan had no idea why the Prince of Bei Jing had summoned him. He had initially wanted to join the Prince of Bei Jing's faction because he knew the Prince needed to recruit people, and because other factions didn't think much of him.

The eldest brother is the eldest brother, and I am myself.

The elder brother's sudden passing meant that many of his political legacies were not passed on to his nephew.

Those who actively approached him were actually after the Xue family. So it wasn't that no one had reached out to him over the years, but rather that people could only know a person's face, not their heart, and he preferred to endure hardship and take his time.

The people you like don't like you back, and the people you don't like like you back.

The idea of ​​finding a backer has always been there, but in the past two years I've been busy with Wang Xin's affairs, which has taken up a lot of my time and made me less interested. If it weren't for the summons from the Prince of Beijing, I probably would have completely forgotten about it.

It turns out it was all for Wang Xin.

Xue Yan understood the situation perfectly and couldn't help but feel a little depressed.

It's quite a coincidence that I've watched Wang Xin get to where he is today, step by step.

It took about four or five years.

From his time in the military to his current rank of brigade commander.

"Your Highness, General Wang is a fair and just man who is fair in his dealings, clear in his rewards and punishments, unmoved by external things, and able to stick to his principles. These are truly rare qualities. Moreover, he is exceptionally talented and a skilled commander, which makes him truly admirable."

Xue Yan said earnestly.

Shui Rong's youthful face remained calm, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes as she quietly sized up Xue Yan, and smiled, "I didn't expect you to have such a high opinion of him."

Xue Yan quickly replied, "This student would not dare to deceive Your Highness."

Identity is something you give yourself.

Without any status, one is merely a commoner, a nobody, and has no right to speak to a prince.

Therefore, even if one is engaged in business, one must have the status of a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial civil service examination) or at least a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the county civil service examination). This way, one can refer to oneself as a student no matter who one is facing, and will not be considered inferior.

A student who has completed the preliminary studies can also refer to himself as a student.

Like a young man.

Young people have unlimited potential.

As an old student, how could he possibly show his face in public? He could only look on with shame.

Shui Rong did not continue to question, but pondered for a moment.

Despite his youth, Prince Bei Jing actually shares many similarities with Wang Xin in terms of temperament, such as being calm and composed and treating others with kindness.

However, Wang Xin treated everyone except his enemies.

Prince Bei Jing only treats people of status, even himself, a merchant. If they are just commoners or servants, that's a different story.

Moreover, Wang Xin's many abilities and problem-solving approaches are as unpredictable as a wild horse galloping across the sky or a gazelle hanging its horns on a tree.

Xue Yan couldn't help but think.

Without Wang Xin as a comparison, the Prince of Beijing's age and demeanor would have earned him an eight out of ten. Now, with such a brilliant example before him, he can only be given a six out of ten, going from excellent to barely passable.

The main difference lies in ability.

Wang Xin faces problems no less significant than those faced by the Prince of Beijing.

His actions were also opposed by the court, such as the anti-Japanese pirate campaign a few years ago and the extermination of the Hu people today. He encountered various obstacles and setbacks, but he was able to move forward steadily, which shows his skillful tactics.

Shui Rong's expression relaxed, and he smiled again, "When Master Xue returns to Datong, please pass on a message to Wang Xin for me."

Xue Yan guessed that Shui Rong had taken a liking to Wang Xin, and respectfully said, "If Your Highness has given an order, this student will certainly comply."

Wang Xin will make the decision regarding the Prince of Beijing. He can simply relay the message himself.

Shui Rong spoke again, this time with earnestness, his tone showing he was thinking of Wang Xin's best interests.

“Wang Xin has rendered many merits to the court and has made contributions to the Great Zhou. However, he is a bit impatient and is inevitably attacked by others. Therefore, we should make more connections with him. Even if we are thinking about making contributions, we cannot ignore him.”

Xue Yan nodded repeatedly.

Wang Xin did indeed suffer a lot of exclusion because he was unwilling to engage in social interactions, so being ostracized was inevitable.

How could the Prince of Bei Jing not know?

Now that they knew this, they still needed to win over Wang Xin.

Could it be that the Prince of Beijing wants to win over Wang Xin and take back Daming?

While Wang Xin was dealing with the Hu people in Datong, Liaodong was also dealing with the Man people. The northwest was not peaceful, and the south was unstable. The Donghu people had actually become much more restrained and were watching the battle between the Zhou and the Man people.

Prince Bei Jing's attempt to reclaim Daming would provoke the Donghu.

Even though the main force of the Donghu is not in Daning, if the Great Zhou makes a move against Daning, the Donghu will definitely change their attitude.

Xue Yan had no idea.

Let Wang Xin deal with these things.

He knew nothing about warfare, only about doing business. No matter how much he listened to about border affairs, he was still an outsider. Doing it was a different story. Xue Yan was self-aware.

Despite Wang Xin's eloquent business acumen, he does indeed have many excellent ideas.

However, Xue Yan had no doubt that if he were to run the business himself, he might not necessarily do it better than Xue Yan.

After leaving the Prince's Mansion, Xue Yan went to the Jia Mansion on the way.

Firstly, to see his widowed sister-in-law, and secondly, to check on his daughter. After dealing with matters in the capital, he will soon be going to Datong, and it will probably take him half a year to return. Before leaving, he will also visit Hanlin Mei.

The marriage between the two families should be getting to a head.

Mei Hanlin, mindful of his status, endured it and took the initiative to visit the groom's family. After all, the marriage was already arranged, and his family was indeed marrying into a higher social class.

Even with the temperament of the Prince of Beijing, he had never fully accepted him because of his pure merchant identity. It was only because of Wang Xin that he took the initiative to summon him.

Mei Hanlin's status was so noble, a breath of fresh air in the scholarly world.

Sometimes, if Xue Yan could put himself in her shoes, he could understand, so he didn't dwell on many things, only worrying that his daughter would suffer in the future.

Jia Mansion.

Ping'er went to see Wang Xifeng, but there wasn't a single person serving her in the room. Ping'er was envious and personally helped her wash up. After that, she ate a meal with Wang Xifeng.

"The Second Madam has devoted herself to the mansion, yet she has ended up in such a state; it is truly disheartening."

Ping'er choked up as she spoke.

Wang Xifeng, on the other hand, was much calmer.

I've cried enough day and night.

“I used to think that my family was more important than anything else, but I found that it still depends on the person. The best thing I ever did in my life was to let you go with Master Xin while things were still going well. At least one of us will be happy. Even if I die one day, someone will remember my kindness.”

Her father-in-law pressured her, and her mother-in-law publicly berated her.

Her husband didn't care about her at all.

She thought her uncle would stand up for her, but her aunt didn't care, her maternal aunt couldn't help, and her uncle didn't ask any questions. Instead, he started currying favor with her father-in-law.

Wang Xifeng had had enough of the life she had lived for the past six months.

I'd rather die.

Hearing the tone of Second Madam's voice, Ping'er realized that this once strong-willed person was now riddled with illness and her spirit had been tarnished. Where was the former vitality she once possessed?

"Second Madam, when Master Xin returns, I will talk to him and ask him to help you."

Wang Xifeng smiled bitterly.

He had been bedridden for many days, his face was pale and he looked lifeless.

Ping'er felt extremely distressed.

"Master Xin is a good man, but how can he interfere in my affairs?"

"Don't make things difficult for him."

A friend in need is a friend indeed.

Given her current situation, she could no longer see any of the people who had previously been on her side. Only Ping'er was still willing to come back to see her and genuinely cared for her. How could Wang Xifeng not be moved?

Ping'er knew that it was difficult for Master Xin to take action, and she really couldn't think of any other way.

Finally, Ping'er asked, "Now that the Third Miss is in charge, Madam is still the mistress of the mansion. How can she tolerate the servants being so presumptuous? I'm going to find the Third Miss."

After Wang Xifeng fell ill, Madam Wang suddenly appointed Jia Tanchun, the third daughter of the household, to manage the affairs of the household.

The third daughter was born out of wedlock, and was even born out of wedlock to the second wife's family.

Let alone the fact that the third daughter has a second daughter, Jia Yingchun, when has Madam Wang ever let the third daughter get the better of her?

Over the years.

Everyone knows that Aunt Zhao lives a very cautious life.

Even Jia Huan was looked down upon by the maids. If a son born out of wedlock is treated like this, then he is still a man, let alone a daughter born out of wedlock.

The third daughter had tried to please Madam Wang for many years, but Madam Wang had not changed her attitude. So Madam Wang's sudden arrangement surprised many people.

Regardless of what people in the mansion speculated about, Madam Wang supported the Third Miss without hesitation this time.

Six months have passed.

Don't tell me yet.

The mansion is managed in an orderly manner, and everyone inside and outside the mansion is praising it.

Whether Madam Wang's thoughts were as calm as she appeared, no one else knew.

Ping'er was very familiar with the mansion, and without waiting for Wang Xifeng to comfort her, she went to Jia Tanchun's courtyard.

They arrived in a menacing manner, but as soon as they entered the courtyard, they found it quiet, with the maids, servants, and other women waiting outside the windows.

"Miss Ping."

"Miss Ping has arrived."

Although Wang Xifeng has lost power, Ping Guniang still has Lord Xin behind her.

Master Xin is a guest.

Moreover, they are becoming more and more powerful. They are even more capable guests and cannot be offended. No one is foolish enough to bully Miss Ping'er. On the contrary, they all have kind faces.

Ping'er felt a pang of panic.

The third daughter has grown up; I never expected her to be so amazing.

The servants in the Jia family were all born into the household and were skilled at judging people by their appearance. They possessed various inner strengths that made people unable to vent their anger or find fault with them. It was not easy for the Second Mistress to keep them in check.

The third young lady, being a young lady, faced many inconveniences compared to the former second mistress.

Yet he managed to keep everyone under his control, which is something that cannot be achieved by ordinary means. Moreover, seeing that most of the people's faces were smiling, it was even more remarkable that it was not just a matter of using force.

Beyond her expectations, Ping'er dared not be negligent and restrained her previous posture.

Jia Tanchun was talking on the couch.

Some of the stewards' wives stood, while others sat on footstools, all listening intently, afraid of missing a single word.

Ping'er couldn't help but listen carefully.

“After a year of hard work, whatever the profits you make, they are all yours. Our master family would never stole from your servants; if word got out, the Jia family would lose face.”

"However, the expenses in various places, as well as planting, cleaning and so on, must be the same as before. If any master in any place complains, don't blame me for taking away the job and giving it to someone who is willing to do it."

The third girl spoke decisively and crisply.

They left no room for rebuttal, and strangely enough, no one did. Instead, everyone looked delighted and patted their chests, guaranteeing that they would satisfy all the young masters and ladies in the area.

The atmosphere was completely different from usual.

Ping'er couldn't help but look at the Third Sister again.

After not seeing her for many days, she had grown up to be slender with narrow shoulders and a slim waist, tall and graceful, with an oval face, beautiful eyes and delicate eyebrows, and a captivating and intelligent demeanor. Her refined and elegant appearance was unforgettable. Ping'er couldn't help but secretly admire her, thinking that among the three young ladies in the manor, the third young lady was the most outstanding.

(End of this chapter)