Dream of the Red Chamber: A Refined and Elegant Young Man in a Turbid World

After hearing this, Jia Cong understood perfectly. Lai Da and Lai Shangrong were always shrewd and opportunistic, and they were used to treating people differently based on their status. Knowing that Jia Huan was not favored, they dared to be so negligent and perfunctory. In the end, they did not take their illegitimate master seriously.

Now that he has just taken office as the governor, he needs to establish his dignity in the mansion and let these old servants know that even if the master of the Rong mansion is born out of wedlock, he is still the master, and no matter how powerful the servants are, they can never overstep their bounds.

He then helped Jia Huan to his feet and patted him on the shoulder.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of this. The distinction between master and servant is clearly written in the laws of the country and the rules of the family. If a servant disrespects his master, it is a violation of the law and etiquette. Although I, this so-called governor, have no jurisdiction over the affairs of the household, I will not tolerate the rule of servants disrespecting their masters being broken."

Having said that, he led Jia Huan straight to Qingxuan, the outer courtyard where Lai Da lived in the mansion.

Before long, they arrived at Lai Da's gate. Lai Da was checking accounts with his wife when he heard that Jia Cong had arrived with Jia Huan. His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly dropped the abacus, leading his wife out as they ran, bowing deeply and smiling broadly.

"This servant greets Third Master Cong and Third Master Huan. I was unaware of your arrival and have failed to greet you properly."

Jia Cong didn't offer any formality in helping him up; he simply stood there, his expression calm yet carrying an air of official authority: "Lai Da, you've been the steward of this household for generations. Do you know the proper conduct of a servant?"

Upon hearing this, Lai Da broke out in a sweat and hurriedly replied, "This servant understands, this servant understands."

"It's good that you know." Jia Cong's gaze swept over him, then turned to the head of the Lai family, who stood to the side with his head bowed. "Your son, Lai Shangrong, returned home to visit his family. He was extremely attentive to Second Master Bao, but cold and disrespectful to Third Master Huan. The servants below were even gossiping and criticizing their master. I had no idea that the rules of the Rong Mansion were in your Lai family's hands? Or has he forgotten his humble origins just because he bought a minor official position, and dared to insult his master?"

Hearing this from the side, Jia Huan felt a surge of satisfaction and immediately raised his voice, "That's right! He clearly looks down on me; even a servant dares to climb over his master's head!"

Lai Da was terrified and immediately knelt down to beg for forgiveness, "This servant has failed in his duty to raise his son, this servant deserves to die! It's all that beast's fault for being so foolish and disrespectful. This servant will call him over right now to kowtow and apologize to Master Huan!"

Lai's wife also knelt down, pleading with a mournful face, "Third Master, please forgive him this time! Shang Rong is young and ignorant, and he certainly did not mean to disrespect his master. This servant will certainly discipline him strictly!"

Just then, Lady Wang, having heard the commotion, arrived with her maids and servants. She had always relied on Lai Da to manage the household affairs, and the Lai family was known for their obsequious manners. Seeing Jia Cong leading Jia Huan to cause trouble, she was already displeased and wanted to reprimand Jia Huan for meddling and then persuade Jia Cong to let the matter rest.

But when he looked up and saw Jia Cong dressed in a blue official robe with an official seal around his waist, standing upright with a solemn expression, looking every bit the proper court official, he swallowed back the reprimand that was on the tip of his tongue.

Although she was in charge of the household's finances and was a noblewoman appointed by the court, she was still a woman of the inner quarters. According to the rules of the dynasty, officials outside the court were respected, but those inside the court were not allowed to interfere at will, especially since Jia Cong was in the right.

It is neither proper etiquette nor law for a servant to disrespect their master. If she openly protects the Lai family, she will be accused of "indulging servants and failing to distinguish between superiors and inferiors," which would be difficult to explain to Grandmother Jia.

Although Lady Wang is one of the most ruthless characters in the entire Rongguo Mansion, she has always advocated focusing on the big picture and letting go of the small details. She may not care about Jia Cong suppressing the Lai family, but if it involves Baoyu or the inheritance of the Rongguo Mansion's title, then you can see if she will bring out her good younger brother, Wang Ziteng!

Madam Wang only had a few moments to think before she had to suppress her displeasure and put on a calm expression. "Cong-ge'er is back. Why are you making a scene here? We're all family. Why take such a small matter so seriously?"

Jia Cong turned around and bowed respectfully to Lady Wang, his manners impeccable yet neither servile nor arrogant.

"Replying to Madam, it's not that I'm being unreasonable, but Huan-ge is the master of this household, while the Lai family has been servants for generations. Lai Shangrong's disrespect for his master has led to the servants following suit and bullying him. This has ruined the rules of the household and disrupted the distinction between master and servant. As an official of the court and a member of the household, I cannot stand idly by in this situation. If we allow servants to disrespect their master today, someone else will dare to overstep their bounds tomorrow, and the rules of this household will be completely broken."

His words were well-reasoned and logical, adhering to both propriety and law. Madam Wang was speechless and could only awkwardly say, "That's true. Since the Lai family is in the wrong, let them apologize. There's no need to be too harsh."

Jia Cong, seeing that he had gained the upper hand, turned to look at Lai Da.

"Lai Da, remember this: Lai Shangrong's official position was bought by the government, and his status was given to him by the government! A master is a master, and a servant is a servant. Even if he becomes a prefect or magistrate, he cannot forget his roots and disrespect even half a master! Today, I will order Lai Shangrong to come to Huan Ge'er's courtyard, kowtow and apologize. If he dares to do this again, don't blame me for reporting to the government according to the law and punishing him for the crime of a servant deceiving his master."

Lai Da kowtowed repeatedly, "This servant obeys! This servant obeys! I will make that beast apologize in person and he will never dare to do it again!"

Seeing the Lai couple kneeling in fear, and Lady Wang not daring to say anything, Jia Huan felt relieved and at ease after Jia Cong vented his anger with just a few words. He tugged at Jia Cong's sleeve, and his arrogance subsided considerably.

Seeing this, Jia Cong nodded slightly and bowed to Madam Wang: "Madam, I have just returned from my duty and it is not convenient for me to stay any longer. Now that this matter has been settled, I will take Huan-ge'er back first."

Madam Wang had no choice but to nod.

"Go and try to persuade Huan-ge'er properly, so that he doesn't throw another tantrum."

Jia Cong agreed, helped Jia Huan turn and leave, and Li Rong hurriedly led the horse to follow. Along the way, Jia Huan's earlier madness and tantrums subsided; he only muttered to himself quietly.

"Cong-ge'er, thank you so much today. You're the only one in the manor who's willing to stand up for me."

Jia Cong patted him on the shoulder.

"We are all members of the family, and our rank and status are clearly defined. No one can treat us with disrespect. If this happens again, you don't need to make a scene yourself; just come to me."

Looking at Jia Cong, who was dressed in an official robe and stood tall beside him, Jia Huan felt a desire to strive for success for the first time. Not only had he followed Jia Cong to learn martial arts, but now he wanted to enter officialdom like Jia Cong, even if it was just a ninth-rank official, Lady Wang would not dare to neglect him.

A moment later, Lai Shangrong slunk in with two servants and arrived at Qingyan Hall. Jia Cong sat upright in the hall, his face devoid of any smile, his eyes lowered as he looked down at the steps below, his expression so somber it was hard to breathe.

As soon as Lai Shangrong entered the door, he knelt down with a thud and kowtowed repeatedly.

"This servant, Lai Shangrong, greets Third Master Cong and Third Master Huan. This servant was foolish and was disrespectful to Third Master Huan the other day. I beg you two gentlemen to forgive this servant this time!"

The two servants behind him also knelt down, their heads bowed low, not daring to breathe.

Jia Huan stood beside Jia Cong. Seeing Lai Shangrong's appearance, his anger subsided considerably, but he still kept a straight face and remained silent.

Jia Cong slowly raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Lai Shangrong, but he didn't mention the matter of apologizing. Instead, he asked Jia Huan in a deep voice,

"Brother Huan, which servant was it who gossiped and argued with you the other day?"

Jia Huan was taken aback, then realized what was happening and pointed to the pale-faced servant on the left behind Lai Shangrong.

"It was him! That day, when I was arguing with Lai Shangrong, he interrupted, saying I wasn't worthy to be compared to Brother Bao, and even insulted me for being ungrateful!"

The servant was so frightened that he trembled all over, kowtowing repeatedly and begging for mercy.

"Third Master, spare me! I had a foul mouth, I'll never do it again! Please, Third Master, have mercy!"