Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

Qingwen, standing nearby, felt deeply uncomfortable hearing Wang Xifeng say something about "the little thing raised by the concubine," her words filled with contempt for concubines and illegitimate sons.

After all, she was the only one in the house with the status of a concubine! Her status was even more legitimate than Ping'er's; Ping'er was just a maidservant! That's what she thought.

In the end, he could only pout inwardly, not daring to show any dissatisfaction in front of Wang Xifeng.

After finishing their business, Wang Xifeng still hadn't forgotten what happened that afternoon. With a smile that concealed a dagger, she asked Jia Lian, "What's the meaning of bringing two Tatar women back from the border?"

Jia Lian leaned back on the kang (a heated brick bed) with a leisurely air and said with a smile, "Didn't I say that they were rescued from the battlefield? Their parents and relatives all died on the grasslands, leaving them homeless. Fortunately, the girls on the grasslands are not like the women of our Central Plains. Both of them can ride horses and shoot arrows, so I kept them by my side as guards."

"Is it really just a bodyguard job?"

Wang Xifeng looked at Jia Lian with a half-smile, "I think they are all quite beautiful, even though they are Hu women. Haven't you thought about taking them as concubines or something?"

Jia Lian replied with a smile, "Auntie, with these three already, there's no rush to take in anyone else."

When Wang Xifeng saw Jia Lian smiling at Ping'er and the other two, she immediately became annoyed.

"Oh, when did you get three concubines?"

I only knew she was her, but I didn't know when these two became your aunts?

Wang Xifeng pointed at Qingwen, then glanced at Ping'er and Xiangling, who were also blushing.

Jia Lian just smiled and didn't explain. Wang Xifeng got angry and said, "Bah, you really are used to taking advantage of me. Just because I'm being accommodating to you now, you're getting even more arrogant?"

If I had known, I shouldn't have given Ping'er to you!

In fact, Wang Xifeng was already mentally prepared.

After all, Qingwen was handpicked by Grandmother Jia to be one of her maids, and she would definitely become one in the future.

Ping'er was someone she made her own decision about. Although she was only a maidservant now, it was because she couldn't do without Ping'er, her right-hand woman.

Once a concubine is appointed, she is subject to certain rules and can no longer manage the household affairs under her supervision.

There is only one Xiangling, which has not been explicitly mentioned before.

However, Wang Xifeng also understood that, given the girl's appearance and Jia Lian's fondness for her, Xiangling was still not considered a maidservant of the Jia family, and there wasn't even a written contract of sale.

It's conceivable that Jia Lian intended to take her as a concubine in the future.

She understood in her heart, but Jia Lian's frankness in saying it still annoyed her.

When did Grandma Feng become like this? She used to forbid him from taking any in, and he could only do it secretly outside. Now, there are three of them openly under her nose, and he has to take them around every day. It's infuriating!

Seeing Wang Xifeng angry, Ping'er and the others, who were each harboring their own thoughts, became somewhat uneasy.

Jia Lian stretched out his foot and pulled Wang Xifeng, who was sitting on the edge of the kang, onto the kang. He then reached out and restrained her, saying, "Who told you to be born into a wealthy family and marry me? Isn't it natural for you to have several sisters? If you're not happy about it, let's fight right now. Whoever wins gets to speak first."

As they were talking, Jia Lian had already pinned Wang Xifeng down and grabbed her hand.

Seeing this, Ping'er immediately gave Qingwen and the other girl a meaningful look, signaling them to go out together.

Qingwen gave Jia Lian and the other girl a disdainful look, but still obediently followed Ping'er out.

On the kang (heated brick bed), Wang Xifeng didn't see anything. While dodging Jia Lian, she scolded, "What are you doing? The maids are still here. What kind of behavior is this if they see us?"

Jia Lian leaned down, ready to bite Princess Xifeng, but seeing her twisting and turning, he couldn't bring himself to do it, so he laughed and said, "Look around, is there anyone else in the room?"

Sister Feng tilted her head sharply, and sure enough, Ping'er and the other two had disappeared.

With a sigh of relief, Jia Lian leaned in and kissed her rosy cheek.

Wang Xifeng spat and said, "Look at you, so impatient! Aren't you afraid they'll laugh at you?"

Seeing that she had stopped struggling, Jia Lian released her hands, put his arms around her waist, and lifted her up. Finding that Wang Xifeng was still so light and lithe, his anger flared even more. He whispered teasingly in her ear, "Let them laugh. It's been over a year since I've had my Feng'er. Shouldn't I have a good taste?"

Wang Xifeng was also aroused by Jia Lian's advances. Noticing that Jia Lian was already undressing her, she quickly said, "No, it's not good here. Let's go inside, it'll be warmer..."

Jia Lian readily agreed and picked up Feng Jie's slender figure, carrying her barefoot on the carpet towards the bedroom.

"You look like you're about to die!"

Wang Xifeng lay in Jia Lian's arms, her eyes filled with shyness. After a coquettish remark, she raised her delicate arms to wrap around Jia Lian's neck, and then let him have his way...

……

Despite the fact that the New Year was just around the corner, Jia Lian still took the time to visit his maternal grandfather's family.

His maternal grandfather is a very individualistic old man. If he finds out that he didn't report his safe return to Beijing soon, he'll probably get angry, and then it won't be easy to appease him.

Aside from the Zhang residence, Jia Lian only visited the Lin family.

Firstly, to congratulate Lin Ruhai on his promotion; secondly, knowing that he and Daiyu were both ill, to see if there was anything they could do to help.

At this time, the imperial court had already granted the civil and military officials a year-end holiday, so Lin Ruhai was at home, busy setting up the ancestral hall and preparing for the ancestral worship ceremony.

Ancestor worship is a top priority for large families, and they cannot forget it even if they are far away from home.

Unfortunately, all that's left of the Lin family now is Lin Ruhai, Lin Daiyu, and Lin Ruhai's two concubines...

At first glance, the vast Lantai Temple official residence looked utterly desolate.

Moreover, although Lin Ruhai has been promoted to the capital, his condition has not improved much, judging from his appearance.

Hearing that Lin Ruhai had returned to his hometown to recuperate for half a year before being suddenly summoned back to the capital, Jia Lian guessed that Emperor Ningkang probably didn't have enough people under his command, especially those with merit and seniority like Lin Ruhai. So, even though he knew Lin Ruhai was in poor health, he still transferred him to the central government to take up an important position.

Fortunately, the Lantai Temple is a prestigious government office, and its officials should not have much to do on a regular basis. Hopefully, Lin Ruhai can take this opportunity to gradually recover his health.

In the days that followed, Jia Lian spent most of his time in the east wing, serving Jia She personally.

The old man used to beat or scold him whenever he saw him, but now he's so sick he can't walk or speak, so even if he wanted to beat or scold him, there's nothing he could do.

However, Jia Lian still noticed that when the old man was occasionally lucid, he still treated him with disdain.

He found it strange.

Normally, someone who is this sick would be deeply moved by their son's filial piety, so why doesn't Jia She fall for it?

Did the old man gain true insight before he died, and see through his feigned filial piety?

But it doesn't matter now. Given Jia She's current condition, he could probably strangle him at will without arousing any suspicion...

The threat posed by Jia She to him has been largely eliminated; now he only needs to wait for Jia She to kick the bucket.

As for the Jia family, because of Jia She's affair, this year was not easy for them either.

Firstly, Grandmother Jia had no interest in participating in various banquets, so Jia Zheng, Jia Zhen, and others below her could not hold lavish parties.

Every year before the Lunar New Year, Jia Zhen, as the clan head, would treat the clan members to a lavish feast. This year, however, this was cancelled, and only a few tables were set up as a token gesture. Jia Lian was also invited, but unfortunately, he declined quite reasonably.

On the day of the ancestral worship ceremony, after the entire clan had finished their ancestral worship, the clan elders gathered together to inquire about Jia She's illness, and they all felt that he was beyond help.

So, they discussed with Jia Zhen the matter of the succession to the Rongguo Mansion's title...

They are the apparent decision-makers regarding clan succession... but in reality, their combined influence is less than that of Grandmother Jia.

Of course, as long as there is no conflict and everyone follows the rules, there shouldn't be any problems.

There was little controversy surrounding Jia Lian's status as the eldest son of the legitimate wife. All the clan elders felt that Jia Lian should inherit the position, and they could even report it before Jia She died.

After all, Jia She was alive, so the report could be submitted in his own name.

Once Jia She dies, and with Grandmother Jia no longer involved in external affairs, Jia Zhen, the clan head, will need to step in.

Jia Lian did not want to owe Jia Zhen any more favors, so he went through a third party and asked Jia Dairu, the only patriarch of the two households, to make the proposal.

No one had any objections, but since the report was to be submitted in Jia She's name, they still had to ask Jia She's opinion first.

Therefore, Jia Zhen, Jia Dairu, and others waited for a long time in the east wing, finally waiting until Jia She was a little more awake, only to hear a weak and rude word:

"Get lost~~"

……