Dream of the Red Chamber: I can upgrade my entries!

Chapter 111 The Wang Family Banquet: Aunt Xue and her daughter lost in daydreams!

At five quarters past dusk, as night gradually enveloped the capital, the backyard of the Ningguo Mansion.

"Master."

As soon as Jia Yan stepped into the courtyard, Xiao Xue went up to him and said, "The eldest master, second master, and Master Zhen of the West Mansion have been waiting for a while."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Yan raised an eyebrow, a look of curiosity on his face. It was quite unusual for so many people to come all the way here and wait for him, even though it wasn't a holiday.

"Second brother!"

"Yan-ge'er!"

Upon seeing Jia Yan, Jia Zhen, Jia She, and Jia Zheng, who were sitting in the main hall, all stood up and looked at him with anticipation in their eyes.

"Uncle She, Uncle Zheng, Elder Brother."

"Have you come to discuss the grand ceremony tomorrow with me?"

After glancing at the three of them, Jia Yan plopped down in the head seat.

"Second brother."

"The preparations for the grand ancestral rites are complete."

"Tomorrow's grand ceremony will mark the beginning of our Jia family's three-day grand banquet."

"I will oversee the grand ceremony, and the three-day banquet will be jointly hosted by the East and West Offices."

Jia Zhen quickly explained.

"Since you've already prepared everything, what are you doing?"

"Could it be that Uncle She and Uncle Zheng have come to thank me for training Cong-ge, Huan-ge, and Lan-ge?"

Sitting upright in the grand chair, Jia Yan spoke calmly and composedly.

"Cough cough."

Jia She and Jia Zheng choked on their saliva and were somewhat embarrassed.

"Second brother."

Upon seeing this, Jia Zhen quickly spoke up: "The inner courtyard of the West Mansion is now under the management of Feng Ge'er. She has checked the mansion's accounts and found a lot of deficits. She informed me and also checked the accounts of the East Mansion. There are too many discrepancies."

"Therefore, Uncle She, Uncle Zheng, and I have come today to ask for your help, Second Brother."

"Big brother."

Jia Yan smiled, a playful look on his face: "I'm a man who wields a knife. I'm good at killing, but you want me to check the accounts?"

"No no no."

When Jia Zhen met his cold, sharp eyes, he felt flustered and couldn't speak coherently.

"Yan-ge'er".

"We won't beat around the bush, let's just tell you directly."

"We would like to ask you to investigate and confiscate the property of all the servants and slaves in the two mansions."

Jia She spoke directly.

"Yes."

Jia Zheng nodded in agreement.

'So that's how it is!'

Upon hearing this, Jia Yan roughly understood their meaning. They were simply saying that he had eight hundred personal guards and one hundred and fifty female attendants, so he could handle the scandals of the two mansions without going through the Shuntian Prefecture government.

It seems that Jia She, Jia Zheng, and Jia Zhen don't want outsiders to see the Jia family make a fool of themselves, but they also want to gain practical benefits.

"Uncle She, Uncle Zheng, Elder Brother."

"If you want me to do it, then listen to me."

"As it should be!"

Jia She, Jia Zheng, and Jia Zhen agreed without hesitation; they certainly didn't think Jia Yan was after those things.

Just kidding. The furs that Jia Yan brought back from the northern desert and gave to the mansion were worth far more than tens of thousands of taels of silver. Many of them were rare treasures that money couldn't buy. Previously, His Majesty had bestowed upon them 100,000 taels of gold and 3,000 bolts of silk and satin. That was a huge fortune, which even the Ning and Rong mansions combined couldn't match.

"Very well, it's not a good time to deal with these people tomorrow. We'll deal with them after the three-day banquet."

“I ordered my men to thoroughly investigate the cunning schemes of those lackeys, so as not to miss any.”

"it is good."

After hearing this, Jia She and the other two all expressed their agreement.

Meanwhile, the Zhongshan Earl's residence was hosting a banquet for the Xue family, mother and two daughters.

"Second brother."

"The matter of Bao Yatou"

Aunt Xue, without any restraint in front of Wang Ziteng, asked directly.

"Little sister."

"If you ask me, Bao'er is so lucky, she should go."

“Nowadays, in our family, the eldest brother is a first-class earl, and everyone in the court and the public shows him respect.”

“Once Bao’er enters the palace, whether she catches the eye of His Majesty or some prince, the Xue family will surely rise to prominence.”

Wang Zisheng, who was sitting next to Wang Ziteng, had always been unruly and absurd. After drinking some wine, he blurted out whatever came to mind.

"Third brother is right."

"It's fortunate that Bao'er is so lucky to be selected as a princess or county princess to serve her."

"Well-educated, polite, gentle and virtuous, her demeanor is no less refined than that of a lady from a noble family."

"When we enter the palace and become imperial concubines or princesses, my sister will become a member of the royal family, and we can all benefit from that."

Wang Ziteng's wife, Li, echoed with a smile.

'.'

Xue Baochai, sitting at the lower seat, appeared calm and unmoved by the outside world. Aunt Xue glanced at her younger brother and second sister-in-law, her expression hesitant. She had come today to ask Prince Teng to remove Xue Baochai's name from the Imperial Clan Court's register, not to hear them talk about entering the palace.

"Your uncle and aunt make it sound like you're enjoying a life of luxury by going to the palace."

"This blessing is better given to you."

Xue Pan, being straightforward and honest, directly retorted to Prince Sheng and Lady Li.

“Pan’er is ignorant. If I had a daughter like Bao’er, I would discipline her to enter the palace and become an imperial concubine or a princess, bringing glory to our family.”

Li was completely unaware of Xue Pan's thoughts; on the contrary, she seemed to think that entering the palace was a great thing and was quite pleased with herself.

"Zhong'er, Yi'er."

“This is Pan-ge’er’s first time visiting the manor. You can take him around.”

"Don't just sit there. Tomorrow is the Jia family's grand ancestral sacrifice. Take a good look at those gifts and make sure nothing goes wrong."

"Zisheng, you should go down and rest too."

Wang Ziteng glanced at his two sons, Li Shi, and Wang Zisheng, and then spoke.

"Yes."

Wang Zhong and Wang Yi hurriedly pulled Xue Pan into the Earl's mansion. Li Shi got off the table somewhat unhappily. Wang Zisheng dared not argue with Wang Ziteng. He left the mansion in high spirits and ordered the servants to carry his sedan chair to his home.

For a moment, only Prince Teng, Aunt Xue, and Xue Baochai remained in the main hall of the Earl's Mansion, and even their breathing became very clear.

"Second brother."

Aunt Xue's mood fluctuated, and she couldn't figure out what Wang Ziteng was thinking.

"Little sister."

“Li is from a humble family and is short-sighted, while Zisheng is even more of a fool.”

"Expecting them to say anything is like asking heaven to be blind; don't pay them any attention."

"If the palace were really that good, my eldest niece has been there for several years, why is she just a female official serving others?"

"I had someone go to the Imperial Clan Court to get Bao's name a long time ago." Wang Ziteng looked at Aunt Xue, and couldn't help but show some genuine emotion.

"Second brother, it's me."

Aunt Xue was so moved that she didn't know what to say.

"Thank you very much, Second Uncle."

Xue Baochai rose and gracefully gave a curtsy.

Others might not understand, but she saw it perfectly. The reason why Prince Teng had his two cousins ​​take Xue Pan away and also scolded his second aunt and uncle away must be because he had something important to say to them.

"I know something about my younger sister's situation, so I can't blame others."

“From a young age, she was pampered by her father and became arrogant and domineering, offending many young ladies from official and prestigious families in Nanjing.”

"I never expected that she would be so restless after marrying into the Jia family, clinging to those old grievances and even scheming against the younger generation. She has utterly disgraced our Wang family."

“My grandfather had a friendship with the first Duke of Rongguo. My father went to ask him for help, and only then did the Duke of Daishan agree to the marriage. Before entering officialdom, Cunzhou was a man of poetry and wine, and I thought that their marriage would be harmonious.”

"Unexpectedly, after Cunzhou entered officialdom, his temperament changed drastically. He valued studying and making progress, and returned to the right path. All he wanted was to bring honor to his ancestors. He was upright, had a clean reputation, treated the virtuous with respect, and helped the weak and distressed. He had the style of his ancestors, but he was too pedantic."

"He doesn't concern himself with any of the mundane affairs of the mansion, spending his days reading books, playing chess, and chatting with a group of scholars. On the contrary, his eldest sister has taken over the most prestigious noble family in the capital, and her personality has become increasingly eccentric."

"The Jia family has singled her out for confinement, which is already to protect the reputation of the Jia and Wang families. Otherwise, if what she did got out, how would the world view our family?"

Wang Ziteng spoke in a heavy tone about Madam Wang's plight, looking regretful.

"Second brother."

"You mean we don't need to worry about the eldest sister?"

Aunt Xue asked, somewhat reluctantly.

"How should we manage it?"

To everyone's surprise, Wang Ziteng retorted, "Let her out to continue causing trouble. The death of one maid is not enough; how many people need to die?"

"Let alone her, even I have to rely on the Marquis Wu's whims. Even His Majesty in the Golden Palace gives way to the Marquis Wu."

"A sixteen-year-old marquis has accomplished something that countless people throughout history have never been able to do. The Emperor Emeritus values ​​him highly."

"Even if he killed a woman, or even a marquis, no one would condemn him."

"He's still considering the Jia family and giving face to Old Madam Shi and Cunzhou. Don't let him lose even that."

The resounding words echoed throughout the hall, striking a chord deep within.

'this'

Aunt Xue and Xue Baochai were shocked and pale, realizing for the first time just how extraordinary Jia Yan's status was.

In terms of rank, he was only one grade higher than Prince Teng. Both the Marquis and the Earl were of the highest rank, and their treatment was not much different.

But Wu Hou was different. Judging from what Wang Ziteng meant, Jia Yan could crush him as easily as crushing an ant. How could this not send chills down one's spine?

"Everyone in the household, except for Feng Ge'er, is a fool."

"My elder brother has a son and a daughter. Wang Ren is cold-hearted and has no talent. He is used to eating, drinking and gambling."

"Only Feng Ge'er is decisive and intelligent. If she were a man, I would give her all of my possessions."

"If she hadn't seen through the situation early on and hadn't joined forces with her elder sister to make things difficult for the Marquis's younger sister, the marriage alliance between the Jia and Wang families would probably have ended there."

"Second brother!"

Aunt Xue's face was pale, and her body trembled slightly.

Xue Baochai deeply understood these words. Her cousin's elegance surpassed that of the entire Rongguo Mansion, truly a woman who was no less capable than any man.

"Since we're siblings, there are some things I won't hide from you."

Meeting Aunt Xue's gaze, Wang Ziteng solemnly said, "As long as Feng-ge'er is here, and Da-mei is still here, this marriage relationship will not be broken."

"Even though it is the Rongguo Mansion, there is no guarantee that one day it may form a good relationship with Marquis Wu."

"Don't underestimate the Rongguo Mansion. General Jia has already accepted the imperial decree to take up the post of Military Governor of the Capital Garrison and oversee the three major camps in the capital. This post was personally arranged by Marquis Wu. During this time, Feng Ge'er's husband, Jia Lian, has been training with Marquis Wu's personal guards."

"Furthermore, three younger members of the Rongguo Mansion are highly regarded by the Marquis Wu, which presents the greatest opportunity."

“If Bao’s daughter is so fortunate, I, her uncle, will personally escort her to her wedding.”

"If not, Pan-ge'er can stay in the Rongguo Mansion with those Jia family sons and build some relationships, which will make it easier for him to take over the family business in the future."

'Huh?'

Aunt Xue was surprised, and Xue Baochai fell into deep thought.

"In short, the Jia family won't urge you, so you can stay in the Rongguo Mansion for now and live there in peace."

“Bao’er often interacts with the young ladies of the Jia family, especially the younger sister of Zhuge Liang.”

"Understand?"

After taking a deep look at the Xue family mother and daughter, Wang Ziteng gave them his earnest instructions.

"Second Uncle".

What should be done with our family businesses?

Xue Baochai was not swayed by these words; her clear eyes looked at Wang Ziteng.

"I have already assumed the post of Admiral of the Tianjin Navy and will soon be heading south on official business."

Wang Ziteng didn't say it explicitly, but he left out a sentence.

"Thank you very much, Second Uncle."

Xue Baochai bowed again, already understanding that Wang Ziteng was willing to intervene in the Xue family's affairs, and that was enough.

Coincidentally, in Nanjing, in Southern Zhili, there was a quiet and secluded courtyard.

"Daddy!"

A simple young man and a beautiful young woman were lying on the bed, calling out excitedly.

“Dou’er, Qin’er.”

The middle-aged man on the bed opened his eyes and looked with difficulty at his two children.

"Doctor Huangfu."

"Is this my father's last burst of lucidity before death?"

Xue Dou quickly got up and asked Huangfu Song, a famous doctor from the north, who was standing nearby.

"Young Master Xue is overthinking it."

Huangfu Song grabbed the middle-aged man's wrist, carefully took his pulse, and then a faint smile appeared on his face: "Your father was originally only infected with miasma, but the long journey caused his condition to worsen, and the malaria penetrated deep into his internal organs."

"With my medical skills, I cannot completely eradicate the root of the disease; I can only barely maintain it. Fortunately, I received a prescription from Zhuge Liang. After three doses, the evil spirits entrenched in my internal organs were completely eradicated."

"Just now, after taking your pulse, I found that your father's vital energy is steadily recovering. With some rest, he will be fully recovered."

"Later, I will perform acupuncture on him again to complement the internal and external treatments and enhance the therapeutic effect."

"Thank you very much, Doctor Huangfu!"

Upon hearing this, the Xue siblings were overjoyed and quickly expressed their gratitude.

"No need to thank me."

Huangfu Song waved his hand and said helplessly, "I only did some insignificant things."

"It was Marquis Wu who truly cured your father."

He knew his own situation best; he didn't have the means to bring the dead back to life or heal the wounded. If Jia Yan's prescription hadn't been so effective and potent, how could it have worked so quickly? He wouldn't have had the chance to add the finishing touch.

As he spoke, he took out gold needles from his medical kit and meticulously performed acupuncture on the middle-aged man.

'Marquis Wu!'

Xue Dou and Xue Baoqin, brother and sister, exchanged a glance and both remembered this kindness in their hearts.

Ten days later, under Huangfu Song's care, Xue's father recovered completely. The second branch of the Xue family, which should have disappeared, began to make a name for itself in Jinling, making friends with merchants from all walks of life, and extending its reach to every corner of Southern Zhili.

No one knew that the rise of the Xue family's second branch was supported by Marquis Wu, Jia Yan. Some greedy and greedy individuals tried to touch it but disappeared without a trace. Gradually, the Xue family's second branch became a tacit understanding that various forces in Southern Zhili dared not touch.

(End of this chapter)