Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

Jia Zheng personally led a group of servants to deliver the rewards that Jia Lian had received to Grandmother Jia's courtyard.

It's no wonder Jia Zheng was so surprised. Although the Rongguo Mansion received some rewards from the palace every year, these were distributed uniformly by the Imperial Household Department according to the household's status and had no direct relationship with the emperor.

Moreover, the reason why the emperor personally bestowed these things upon Jia Lian was actually because of his military merits!

The Jia family mansion—I haven't heard that name for many years…

"Grandma, please look, these things were all sent back by Lian'er. He said it was a reward from the Emperor for his meritorious service on the border last year."

Jia Zheng had his servants stand in two rows, with the ones in front holding gold and silver ingots and green ruyi scepters, and the ones behind holding the finest palace brocade.

With the help of two maids, Grandmother Jia came down the steps and slowly looked around.

The gold and silver ingots were all small silver ingots, each weighing two taels. Grandmother Jia could tell at a glance that they were indeed made exclusively for the inner court.

A plate of gold and neatly stacked silver coins filled two wooden tables.

There was also a small, exquisite green ruyi (a traditional Chinese ornament symbolizing good fortune)...

Grandmother Jia looked at everything, and then glanced at the twelve exquisite bolts of palace brocade being carried by the three servants behind her. For a moment, she felt that the scene before her was somewhat familiar.

She remembered that when the Duke was leading troops in the field, the old emperor would always bestow similar gifts upon him to reward his achievements...

Jia Zheng added, "His Majesty also bestowed five imperial horses, which are now being properly cared for in the stables of the South Courtyard."

"Good, good..." Grandmother Jia came to her senses and said "good" several times. Then she asked where Jia Lian had gone.

"Today is the Lantern Festival, and he needs to go to the yamen to coordinate affairs, so he will not be taking a break," Jia Zheng replied.

Grandmother Jia sighed upon hearing this. This was probably why Jia She, Jia Zhen, and others were unwilling to serve as officials outside the government. They couldn't even enjoy a peaceful Lantern Festival; they still had to go to the yamen to work.

This reminded me of what happened yesterday.

She had been worried just yesterday that Jia Lian, being young and impetuous, might offend some nobles in the palace. If he angered the emperor, not only would he lose his official position, but he would also be in serious trouble.

Who knew that he would turn around and return the emperor's reward to her.

It was as if it were clearly telling her how unnecessary her worries were yesterday...

Yes, it's best to leave matters outside to the men of the household to decide. Grandmother Jia couldn't help but feel thankful that she hadn't openly agreed to the Lady of Xiangyang's request yesterday; otherwise, she feared she wouldn't have been able to save face today.

Last night, she casually asked Jia Lian a question, and realizing that Jia Lian had already made up his mind, she didn't interfere further.

Grandmother Jia even decided that from this day forward, she would no longer treat Jia Lian as a young junior, but would treat him the same way she treated Jia Zheng, and would not interfere with his official career outside, letting them do whatever they wanted.

If she still can't see now that Jia Lian is highly valued by the emperor, then she has lived over seventy years in vain.

Similarly, Aunt Xue and the wives of the various households could also see this!

The emperor's rewards always had a deeper meaning than the actual gifts themselves.

Therefore, everyone around them rushed to congratulate Grandmother Jia, showering her with compliments as if they were free.

Many of these were directed at Wang Xifeng.

At this moment, this usually shrewd and sophisticated granddaughter-in-law was like a country bumpkin who had never seen the world. She clung to the imperial gifts, unable to move, her eyes filled with greed.

All of this was earned by someone with no conscience!

She had thought that the ginseng he brought back last time was valuable enough, but seeing him throw it away without a care in the world, as if he were cutting off her own flesh!

Besides her dowry, she had managed the Rongguo Mansion for several years, scheming and calculating every penny she could muster. Even with all that effort over three or four years, she had only managed to earn a few thousand taels of silver in side income…

But those heartless people, this reward alone is worth several thousand taels of silver!

Sure enough, it's much easier for men to make money than for women, even though she's in charge of the Duke's mansion.

Wang Xifeng even vaguely guessed that Jia Lian must have saved a lot of money in secret... most likely in his study, or in the hands of the two foreign women he had recently brought back.

Wang Xifeng had long wanted to give Jia Lian the money, but she hadn't found the right opportunity.

Now it seems she doesn't need to anymore. She vaguely feels that from now on, she will never have to worry about money again. Heartless bastards, plenty to eat!

The women didn't find Wang Xifeng's appearance laughable at all; instead, they were filled with envy.

Any woman who sees another woman's husband receiving such immense wealth and status will feel her heart flutter uncontrollably, wishing that her own man could be like that tomorrow, allowing her to experience the same glory and prestige.

After letting everyone feast their eyes on the sights, Grandmother Jia said to Jia Zheng and the others, "I often tell you that for a family to prosper, the men need to handle important matters outside the home."

Before, you were all alone, but now it's better. With Lian'er helping you, things will be easier for you.

"The old lady is right."

Jia Zheng nodded honestly, and it was clear that he was quite happy.

Grandmother Jia nodded secretly, thinking that this was good. As long as Jia Zheng and his nephew Jia Lian had a harmonious relationship, the family would not fall into chaos.

Then he said to Wang Xifeng, "Alright, Feng'er, quickly have your men take all these things away and store them properly. This is the wealth your Lian'er earned with his life!"

Wang Xifeng nodded hurriedly, eager to take these things away, as if if anyone else saw them, they might snatch them from her.

So he personally picked up the fragile green ruyi and called Ping'er, Feng'er, and a group of maids to move all the things into his room.

When they arrived home in a great commotion, Wang Xifeng was somewhat at a loss when she chased after Qingwen, who came up to touch and tug at her.

Although her bedroom was not as large as Grandmother Jia's, it was still quite big, with four or five cabinets, countless chests, and a rather spacious partition.

But now, she was somewhat at a loss as to how to display these newly acquired treasures.

In the past, she couldn't have imagined having this problem. She wished she could have all the good things and fill her house to the brim.

After much discussion with Ping'er, they managed to move and put the things away properly. She was so tired that she collapsed onto the bed for a while.

Suddenly turning to look at Ping'er, he asked, "Miss Ping, tell me, how come your Second Master has suddenly become so powerful?"

Ping'er smiled. In the past two years, Wang Xifeng had asked similar questions countless times.

Not receiving a reply from Ping'er, Wang Xifeng didn't mind. She started counting on her fingers, from the first time Jia Lian went to Yangzhou, when he brought her a hairpin and a bunch of worthless gifts, to the increasingly better things Jia Lian sent home each time.

Now she's even more remarkable, starting to take things back from the emperor himself!

Previously, the largest portion of the family's assets consisted of her dowry, but at this rate, that will soon no longer be the case.

The saying goes that the economic base determines the superstructure. Although Sister Feng didn't understand this saying, she naturally understood the principle, and she suddenly realized the crisis involved.

"Miss Ping, you say your second master is becoming increasingly powerful, having risen to a high-ranking official position and received imperial honors. Will he eventually look down on me and abandon me?"

Ping'er had just sat down next to Feng Jie when she heard Feng Jie lying on the couch rambling incoherently. She was shocked: "Why is Grandma saying this?"

Wang Xifeng sat up, blushing slightly, and said, "Look at me, I'm rough and have no literary talent. Your second master often criticizes me, saying I'm not romantic. I... Humph, now that he's successful, he can't help but think I'm not good enough!"

I'm the kind of person who can't tolerate any flaws. If he dislikes me, I'll definitely argue with him, and then he might not want me anymore.

Ping'er was speechless when she heard Feng Jie say that.

Since you know this, you shouldn't argue with him...

However, as Wang Xifeng's personal maid, she knew that Wang Xifeng's concerns were not without reason.

"Second Grandmother, Second Master is actually very good to you. As long as you don't argue with him in the future and go along with him more, Second Master will definitely continue to be good to you."

Ping'er had no idea that Wang Xifeng was just feeling anxious for a moment. Hearing her say that, she smiled and looked at her.

"Why are you always going along with him? If he wants you and I give you to him, does that count as going along with him? If he wants you to give him *that*, and you refuse, and I force you to do it, does that count as going along with him?"

"Second Madam~!" Ping'er stood up abruptly, glaring at Feng Jie'er, her ears turning red.

This is absolutely outrageous!

Seeing that Ping'er was about to run away, Wang Xifeng was even more pleased. She reached out and grabbed her, pulled her over, and then whispered in her ear, "To be honest, your second master has made us look so good today, we should reward him."

"Or, why don't you just give in to him one more time..."

Ping'er got angry, shook off Fengjie's groping hand, and scolded, "Do as you please, I won't."

Wang Xifeng was very reserved when facing Jia Lian, but when facing Ping'er, perhaps because of her status, she became extremely despicable.

She mimicked Jia Lian's actions, pulling Ping'er's head towards her and asking with a smile, "Really not going to agree? I'm afraid that's just a lie. How come you seemed to be enjoying your food so much last time..."

Just as Ping'er was being humiliated by Feng Jie, Qingwen came in and said, "Second Madam, Madam You from the East Mansion has sent someone to invite you to a banquet and a play. The Old Madam and the others are also going."

"understood."

Only then did Sister Feng let Ping'er go and get up to tidy up.

Ping'er was about to go back to her room to change her clothes when Qingwen approached her and asked, "Sister Ping'er, what were you and Second Mistress talking about in the room just now? What delicious food were you having?"

Ping'er glanced at her, then remained silent.