Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

The fact that the Military Command had arrested the young master of the Zhou family was not a big deal in the vast capital city, and therefore it only circulated within a small circle.

Zhou Hongchang was thinking of using his daughter's connections to force the military command to release the prisoners, so he waited for a response and did not take any rash actions.

However, within the Military Command, quite a few people were privately discussing it, because their Military Command's prison had not held a "noble relative of the emperor" like Zhou Sheng for a long time.

Although he stayed at home, Deputy Commander Cui Yaosheng, who was constantly monitoring the movements within the Military Command, was quite excited upon hearing the news. He felt this was a golden opportunity and was already secretly plotting how to use this incident to launch a counterattack against Jia Lian...

Jia Lian didn't care much about what these people were thinking; he simply acted according to his own plan.

At the main gate of the front courtyard of the Military Commandery, Jia Lian personally saw Fu Shi, Zhan Guang, and others off.

They were all Jia Zheng's protégés and retainers. Jia Lian sent someone to invite them in the morning. When they heard that Jia Lian needed their help, they were more than happy to come.

Since they gave him so much face, Jia Lian, having used them all, naturally had to give them some face in return.

"Thank you all for today. I will definitely repay you when I finish my business here."

Upon hearing this, Fu Shi and three or five others quickly bowed in return, each smiling obsequiously, "Second Master, you flatter us. It is our honor to serve you, and we dare not trouble you with any reward..."

These men who served as Jia Zheng's retainers were all learned men who had studied for more than ten years. However, due to various reasons, they were "unappreciated" and fortunately, Jia Zheng recognized their talents and recruited them into his household as retainers. Therefore, they all regarded Jia Zheng as their benefactor and mentor, and regardless of their age, they all regarded themselves as juniors and students.

However, in Jia Lian's view, these people, just like their names suggest, were all low-class characters.

For example, Fu Shi was nothing more than a sycophant.

Zhan Guang was merely benefiting from the situation...

However, being considered low-class only refers to their poor character, not that they have no value.

Take Fu Shi, for example. He actually held the title of Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations) and was the most prestigious student under Jia Zheng. Jia Zheng relied on him the most, unlike his other students.

Jia Lian also knew that in the future, with Jia Zheng's help, Fu Shi would be appointed as a sub-prefect in Shuntian Prefecture...

Therefore, in addition to flattering Jia Zheng, these people also considered themselves scholars and aloof in the Jia family. In previous years, they didn't even pay much attention to him, the "Second Master Lian," and would rather please Jia Baoyu than pay him any attention.

Now that they see Jia Lian has risen to prominence, they immediately change their attitude and fawn over him as they would over Jia Zheng.

In reality, their obsequiousness towards the Duke's mansion was merely a ploy to leverage its power for future official positions.

Jia Lian had no intention of saying much to them. After exchanging a few polite words, he instructed his men to send them back untouched.

Turning around, I saw Gu Danfeng, looking weak and with injuries on her face, staggering out, indicating that she had already given her statement.

Jia Lian suddenly burst out laughing.

He felt that Jia Zheng's many retainers were not entirely useless; at least, many official duties that did not require his personal involvement could be accomplished through the retainers.

What he lacks now is precisely someone without any other connections, with a clean background, who can help him handle some tedious clerical work.

Although there are several within the Military Command, they all hold official positions and can be used, but they cannot be commanded as effectively as one's own limbs.

There's a perfect, suitable young man right in front of us, delivered right to our doorstep. How could we not try to trick him into coming over...?

Just as Gu Danfeng was about to bid farewell to Jia Lian and head home, he noticed Jia Lian suddenly smiling at him with ill intent. Before he could finish saying goodbye, Jia Lian grabbed his wrist and said with a laugh, "Brother Gu and I hit it off immediately. Why are you in such a hurry to leave? I just acquired a bottle of excellent tea and would like to invite you to taste it with me..."

……

After seeing Gu Danfeng off, Jia Lian was quite satisfied.

With the teachings of respecting scholars that he learned from Jia Zheng, coupled with his own empty promises, Gu Danfeng, the third son of the Gu family who was not very successful in life, was persuaded by him without any resistance.

However, as a Confucian scholar, he valued filial piety highly and dared not make such a decision on his own. He said he would go home and discuss it with his father before giving a reply.

Jia Lian didn't press him, and generously agreed to give him three days to consider before letting him go back.

After sitting in the yamen for half a day, arranging things properly both inside and outside the office, Jia Lian headed back home as evening approached.

After taking a look at the half-dead Jia She, he was summoned by Jia Zheng's servant, who said that Jia Zheng wanted to see him.

Jia Lian then went to Mengpo Studio.

As expected, Jia Zheng expressed concern about the Zhou family's affairs.

Jia Lian simply smiled and explained that he had his own reasons, and at the same time, he felt a little sad for Jia Zheng and the others.

The powerful figures of the Duke's mansion are now afraid of even a minor relative with weak roots, which shows how cautious they have become.

I imagine that Jia Zheng will be bolder once he becomes the emperor's father-in-law.

Jia Zheng had only intended to offer advice, but seeing that Jia Lian seemed to have his own ideas, he didn't say anything more. He simply sighed and said, "Today, the wife of the Marquis of Xiangyang and the consort of the Earl of Shoushan both visited us about the Zhou family's affairs, so the old lady knows about this matter."

These are people with whom our family has had a long-standing relationship. Unless it's a matter of great importance, we should still give them the respect they deserve.

So if the old lady wants to see you later, explain properly and don't talk back to her...

It turns out that although the patriarch of the Zhou family was rational and did not take any action, he could not keep it from his wife and mother. Faced with two irrational women, Zhou Hongchang could not control himself and could only let them use their connections to save their own son and grandson in their own way!

Ultimately, it was entrusted to the residences of the Marquis of Xiangyang and the Earl of Shoushan.

"Yes, nephew understands."

Jia Lian responded to Jia Zheng with a smile, but he wasn't worried at all.

According to the tradition of the Jia family, the men did not concern themselves with domestic affairs, and the women did not concern themselves with external affairs.

Therefore, let alone the fact that with Grandmother Jia's shrewdness, she might not directly agree to those two imperial decrees, even if Grandmother Jia were to be confused for a moment and want to interfere, it wouldn't matter.

Now that he's grown up, even if Grandmother Jia wanted to control him, it wouldn't be so easy.

It's just a matter of putting in some effort to deal with it.

The next day, when Jia Lian arrived at the yamen on time, he found that his adjutant, Cui Yaosheng, had actually come to work.

After he finished his roll call, Jia Lian smiled at him and asked, "Lord Cui, what brings you here today? Didn't I grant you leave? What's wrong? Has your daughter's illness improved?"

Cui Yaosheng was a slightly overweight man in his forties. Upon hearing Jia Lian's question, he smiled and cupped his hands, saying, "Thank you for your concern, sir. My daughter's condition has improved considerably. I know that things are hectic in the yamen today, and since you are new to the post, I was worried that you might not be able to handle things properly. That's why I came to assist you."

"Lord Cui, you're too kind..."

Jia Lian chuckled and then ignored him, focusing on assigning tasks.

Cui Yaosheng's face turned somewhat unpleasant.

He barely slept last night, thinking it over and over, and finally decided to go inside the government office to take a look.

He couldn't feel at ease until he saw the situation inside the yamen with his own eyes. He even thought that if Jia Lian were willing to take the opportunity to speak well of him, he might be willing to respect Jia Lian as his superior...

Seeing Jia Lian's arrogant attitude, he immediately abandoned any thought of seeking peace, sneered, and interrupted Jia Lian, saying, "I heard that yesterday, Your Excellency ordered not only the beating of Consort Zhou's younger brother in the palace, but also his imprisonment."

Jia Lian wasn't angry at all about Cui Yaosheng's rudeness; he simply nodded and said, "That's true."

Cui Yaosheng then said rather bluntly, "Oh, sir, aren't you worried at all?"

I've heard that Consort Zhou is one of His Majesty's most favored consorts in the palace. Even though you come from a noble family, I'm afraid you can't afford to offend Consort Zhou.

Therefore, I advise you, sir, to release the second young master of the Zhou family as soon as possible, lest you bring trouble upon yourself...

"This humble official is not looking down on you, sir, but is acting in your best interests, and for the sake of our Western Military Command."

Upon hearing Cui Yaosheng's words that belittled Jia Lian, the officials below fell silent.

Cui Yaosheng wore a smug look on his face. He deliberately wanted to provoke Jia Lian, make Jia Lian lose face, and then resolutely refuse to release the person.

He was also waiting, waiting for Jia Lian to completely offend the Zhou family, waiting for the nobles in the palace to whisper in the emperor's ear, so that Jia Lian would be in deep trouble...

That way, he can reap the benefits without lifting a finger.

Seeing Jia Lian's face turn somewhat gloomy, he was not afraid at all, but rather delighted. He was about to step forward to continue to provoke him when he saw a female guard beside Jia Lian suddenly draw half of her sword and hold it in front of him.

The gleaming edge of the sword froze him in place, instantly tensing the atmosphere in the hall.

Cui Yaosheng's face immediately turned extremely ugly and angry. He asked in a deep voice, "What do you mean by this, sir?"

Jia Lian was very satisfied with Aqi's reaction. After a pause, he smiled and said, "Please forgive me, Lord Cui. This servant was rude. She would do the same to anyone who came within three steps of me for no reason."

It's all my fault. I killed too many enemies on the battlefield, and after returning to the capital, I became timid and fearful, always worried that someone would try to assassinate me.

If this has frightened Lord Cui, please forgive me…

Only then did he allow Aqi to put away her weapon.

Jia Lian's words left Cui Yaosheng in a dilemma, unable to advance or retreat. His expression was extremely awkward and angry, and he felt as if he had been humiliated.

Before he could even think of a way to save face, a soldier rushed up to him, shouting, "My lords, the palace eunuchs have arrived..."

Cui Yaosheng's face immediately lit up with joy.