Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

The next morning, Wang Xifeng got up early to help Jia Lian go to his new post.

After breakfast and changing into her official robes, Wang Xifeng meticulously smoothed out any non-existent wrinkles and checked the belt of her waist tag repeatedly, muttering incessant instructions. Her earnest demeanor even prompted Jia Lian to grumble in disapproval.

"How about you come with me to take up your post? I'll give you a position, and we can work together as a husband-and-wife team?"

Upon hearing this, Sister Feng was taken aback for a moment, then laughed and said, "If you're not afraid of being laughed at, do you think I wouldn't dare?"

Jia Lian pursed his lips, ignoring what he had said.

At the courtyard gate, the maids and servants who were following her laughed. Sure enough, the Second Mistress was quite formidable.

Wang Xifeng raised the corners of her mouth triumphantly, and after checking Jia Lian one last time, she seemed to finally feel that there was no problem before saying, "It's your first day on duty. Everything else is fine, but if you encounter someone who doesn't obey you, you must find a way to subdue them. Otherwise, it will be difficult for you to command respect in the future... Don't think I'm being long-winded. I know you've been a general before, but I'm just giving you this advice for nothing."

Jia Lian smiled but didn't say anything more.

Wang Xifeng is a person with a strong desire to express herself. If she is not allowed to say what she wants to say, she probably will feel uncomfortable keeping it to herself. So let her say it, whether we listen or not is another matter.

They arrived at Grandmother Jia's courtyard and bid her farewell.

At this time, Lady Wang, Li Wan and others had already arrived to pay their respects to Grandmother Jia. When Jia Lian, dressed in the attire of a newly appointed official, strode confidently into Rongqing Hall, he immediately amazed all the women, young and old.

Although they had seen Jia Lian's new official robes a few days ago, they had not seen what they looked like on Jia Lian.

At this moment, even Madam Wang and Li Wan couldn't help but sigh inwardly: others use clothes to accentuate their figures, but he only makes his clothes stand out even more!

"I've met the old lady..."

Jia Lian stepped forward and gave a private greeting to Grandmother Jia. Grandmother Jia then beckoned Jia Lian closer, looked him over, nodded, and asked, "Why are you only leaving at this hour? Your master went to court before dawn..."

Jia Lian laughed and said, "Grandson, this is a local government official. He doesn't need to attend court, and besides..."

My grandson is now a minor official, and it wouldn't be good for him to arrive too early on his first day in office. We need to give his subordinates some time to greet him.

Upon hearing this, Grandmother Jia didn't know what to say, so she could only laugh and say, "Look at you, you haven't been an official for long, but you've already picked up all the official airs..."

In reality, it had been so many years since anyone in the family had become a new official that Grandmother Jia had forgotten the etiquette and common sense of being an official.

It was Jia Zheng who personally instructed Jia Lian to go later.

Jia Lian naturally wouldn't argue with Grandmother Jia about this. He glanced at Yingchun and the others standing to the side, and seeing these little fairies staring at him with adoring eyes, he subtly turned to the side so that they could see him from a different angle.

There's no way around it; being born with such handsome looks, he has to give the girls a little treat.

Daiyu and the others noticed Jia Lian's little actions, their cheeks flushed slightly, but they couldn't help but want to take another look.

The new military uniform that Lian Erge wore this time, compared to the armor he wore when he first returned, had less of an imposing and heroic aura, but it was also more fitted and showed off the beauty of Lian Erge's figure even more...

With her keen old eyes, Grandmother Jia noticed that Jia Lian was really too attractive to the young maids. If he weren't her eldest grandson, she would have already sent all her granddaughters to the back and hidden them away. Otherwise, he would surely steal her precious darlings away sooner or later.

"Alright, since it's your first day in office, be careful in everything you do. I won't say anything else, I suppose your master has already given you instructions. You may go now."

Upon hearing Grandmother Jia's instructions, Jia Lian stopped interacting with Daiyu and the others. After bidding farewell to Grandmother Jia, he bowed to Lady Wang and Li Wan before turning and leaving Rongqing Hall.

……

The West City Military Command is one of the Five City Military Commands, and its office is located in the West City.

Because of the complex nature of the Military and Horse Administration's powers, from fire prevention, theft prevention, and fighting prevention to even cleaning ditches and clearing streets, it can be said that anything that happens in the capital can be said to be related to the Military and Horse Administration!

Therefore, in the course of daily operations and work, it is inevitable to deal with Yingtian Prefecture, the Ministry of Justice, and the Zhenfu Division.

Unfortunately, among all the government offices with overlapping powers, the Military and Military Affairs Bureau was the one that handled the most trivial matters and had the lowest-ranking officials. Therefore, it was the perfect scapegoat.

However, this only applies to mid- to high-ranking officials; it's not an easy place to stay.

In fact, as an important government office with great power in the capital, and the greatest contributor to maintaining stability in the capital, its role is irreplaceable.

Furthermore, due to the complexity and diversity of the work, as well as the rumored wide range of "lucrative opportunities," many low-ranking officials who lived in poverty were eager to be transferred to the Military Affairs Department...

Knowing that the new commander would be taking office today, the officials and generals, who had received the news a day in advance, had already prepared a simple welcoming ceremony.

They arranged for more than two hundred soldiers who were not on duty to be stationed on both sides of the main street in front of the yamen, with a red carpet laid in the middle, to greet them with an air of authority from early morning.

As the appointed time approached, the official in charge, along with several commanders and deputy commanders, all dressed in official robes and arranged according to their rank, stood at the forefront to greet them.

At precisely the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), the sound of horses' hooves rang out from the street corner, and soon more than ten riders arrived gracefully.

The officials quickly straightened their clothes and, as the newcomer approached, immediately bowed and said, "We, your humble servants, respectfully welcome Commander!"

They had already found out about the new commander, and some even had a portrait of Jia Lian. So when Jia Lian rode up, they immediately recognized him as their new leader.

With the officers and generals taking the lead, the soldiers behind them also paid homage in unison, their slogans resounding throughout the sky.

Jia Lian dismounted, stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said with a smile, "Gentlemen, you are too kind. Please rise."

The officials finally looked up and saw Jia Lian, who was so young yet already their superior. Even though they were mentally prepared, they couldn't help but curse: "Damn it, there's no comparison. Why wasn't I born into a better family?"

Clearly, they believed that Jia Lian was able to take up this position because of his background—he was the grandson of the Duke of Rongguo!

As for those so-called achievements of killing Tartars on the border, they were just tricks put up by the higher-ups to fool the lower-ups.

Whatever you think in your heart, you can't show it on your face. You still have to be respectful and smile as you try to build rapport.

As the head of the civil officials in the yamen, the official first introduced himself and then took the initiative to introduce the other officials and generals to Jia Lian, but only the main ones.

Jia Lian, however, had already reviewed the roster of all the officials in the Military Command. Upon hearing the last name, he asked with a smile, "Where is Deputy Commander Cui?"

Upon hearing this question, everyone felt somewhat embarrassed and had strange expressions.

Fan Jin smiled and said, "Lord Cui was originally going to come and greet you, but his youngest daughter suddenly fell ill, and he couldn't get away. He has already asked the yamen for leave..."

After Fan Jin finished speaking, everyone quietly glanced at Jia Lian's expression.

Jia Lian smiled slightly and said, "Let's go, let's talk inside the yamen. Please, gentlemen."

Everyone quickly stepped aside, saying, "Please go first, sir..."

……