Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

Inside the main hall, only two seats were set up at the head of the table. When Aunt Xue arrived for the banquet, Grandmother Jia invited her to sit at the seat on the west side.

Grandmother Jia herself had a low couch with a dragon-patterned screen on the east side, complete with a backrest, pillows, and a leather rug.

She leaned slightly to one side, letting her maid, Amber, sit on the couch and massage her legs with a beauty hammer. At times, she would take out her reading glasses from a box on a nearby low table and look at the stage outside, then chat and laugh with the people in the hall.

Below the low couch, there were two square tables. At the first table sat Daiyu, Xiangyun, and Baochai, and at the second table sat the three sisters of the Spring Festival.

On the west side, from Aunt Xue down to the front of the flower hall, there were three tables sparsely set up. In order, they were for Madam Wang, Madam Xing, Madam You, Sister Feng, and Madam Qin. At the last table, Li Wan led her son Jia Lan and guests from the clan, while Jia Jun's mother, Madam Lou, led Jia Jun. The four orphans and widows sat at a separate table.

Lady Wang, Lady You, and Sister Feng, seeing that Grandmother Jia was in a rare good mood, all tried their best to make her happy.

Especially Wang Xifeng, creating a lively atmosphere is her forte. After a few jokes and amusement, she easily became the focus of attention.

Because Sister Feng's voice was loud, it easily carried into the corridor outside, allowing all the men to hear it.

Jia Zhen then smiled at Jia Rong and the others and said, "It's all thanks to your Aunt Feng's upright conduct and thoughtful words that she can win over the old lady. She alone is worth more than any of our children and grandchildren in terms of filial piety towards her."

We can now enjoy our drinks in peace thanks to her.

Jia Rong and the others quickly echoed their agreement.

In the Jia family, where filial piety was the guiding principle, whoever could win over Grandmother Jia's favor and make her happy held a position of importance.

Even a maidservant, as long as she was someone Grandmother Jia cared about, would be treated with respect by everyone in the Jia household, from top to bottom.

At least on the surface.

Jia Zhen then turned to Jia Lian and said, "Of course, and Brother Lian too. If it weren't for you constantly bringing honor to our family, the old lady wouldn't be so happy today. You and your sister-in-law are both heroes of our family. Come, let me toast you."

Jia Lian modestly replied with a smile and raised his glass in response.

When the play on stage reached a humorous point, the audience burst into laughter. Grandmother Jia waved her hand generously and gave a "reward," sending her servants to fill bamboo baskets with money and scatter it onto the stage.

Previously, Jia Zheng, Jia Zhen, and others had prepared several baskets of copper coins at the foot of the steps, precisely in preparation for such a situation.

At this moment, at the command of Jia Zhen and others, the dozen or so servants standing by went down and, holding the brand-new copper coins, scattered them onto the platform wave after wave without a care in the world.

Suddenly, all that could be heard was the sound of copper coins hitting the ground all over the table!

The actors, one by one, kowtowed to express their gratitude...

Jia Zhen realized the time was right and invited Jia Lian, "Let's go in and offer a toast to the old lady and the concubines to show our filial piety."

"please."

Afterwards, Jia Rong hurriedly took a silver wine warmer from the servant and followed Jia Zhen and Jia Lian inside.

As the head of the Jia family, Jia Zhen had received rigorous training in etiquette and knew exactly what to do and how to do it in different situations.

He first went to Aunt Xue's table, said a few words of blessing and good health, and then toasted with Jia Lian.

Aunt Xue quickly stood up and said with a smile, "Please sit down, gentlemen. There's no need for such formalities."

Since all three of them were standing, everyone in the hall, except for the seats occupied by Grandmother Jia and the two ladies Xing and Wang, dared not sit down and also stood up.

After paying their respects to Aunt Xue, Jia Zhen led everyone to Grandmother Jia's bedside.

Seeing that the couch on which Grandmother Jia sat was very low, Jia Zhen knelt down without hesitation to offer it to her.

Jia Lian had no choice but to kneel down along with Jia Zhen.

Behind the three of them, Jia Huan, Jia Yun, and others, who followed in and lined up according to seniority and age, also hurriedly knelt down.

Seeing this, Li Wan and Lady Lou also hurriedly ordered their youngest son to attend, and he knelt down last.

Beside her, Baochai saw that Jia Baoyu was still standing there blankly, seemingly lost in thought. She wanted to remind him, but thinking of what he had done before, she ignored him.

Neither Daiyu nor Xiangyun, who were seated at the same table, understood the underlying meaning and simply watched the grand ceremony of filial piety from a distance.

After offering a toast to Grandmother Jia, Jia Zhen and Jia Lian then jointly toasted Lady Xing and Lady Wang.

At this point, no one present was of higher seniority or age than Jia Zhen.

However, in families like the Jia family, there was a custom that unmarried daughters were more honored than daughters-in-law or even brothers, and at this time, they could also be offered a toast.

If it were just the three sisters of the Chun family, it would be fine, as they are all cousins. However, since their cousins ​​Xue and Lin are also present, it's inconvenient to face them directly. Therefore, she smiled and asked Grandmother Jia, "How are the sisters doing here?"

Grandmother Jia was satisfied with Jia Zhen's thoughtfulness in his conduct and etiquette. Knowing what he meant, she shook her head and said, "You may go now. Don't worry about them. Let them pour themselves a cup of wine and have a drink. They'll be more at ease that way."

"Oh, by the way, Lian-ge, stay a moment, I have a few questions for you."

Jia Lian stopped upon hearing this. Jia Zhen smiled and was about to leave when Grandmother Jia instructed him, "It's quite cold outside. If you get tired of sitting, or if you have other plans, feel free to go. You don't need to stay here with me. It's more convenient for us mother and daughters to chat and joke around together."

Jia Zhen agreed, and then led the others out.

Inside the hall, the women, whether openly or subtly, all glanced at Jia Lian, who stood out from the crowd in the middle of the passageway, his head slightly bowed.

There's no need to elaborate on Lian Erye's facial features; what's most remarkable is his well-proportioned and upright physique, which is neither too burly nor too thin, meeting the standards of the most beautiful man in the minds of women.

Grandmother Jia glanced at Jia Lian a few times, thinking to herself that, indeed, men can only truly show their power after they become officials.

Jia Lian's current demeanor is far more intimidating than before!

Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly realized that everyone was still standing, so she said to Jia Lian, "Why don't you sit down? It's not comfortable for your sisters to sit while you're standing. Wouldn't it be tiring for everyone to stand with you?"

"Yes, thank you for the seat, ma'am."

Jia Lian simply smiled. In the past, when he came to see Grandmother Jia, he rarely had a chance to sit down, and others probably didn't need to deliberately make him "stand as punishment."

In fact, in the previous two families, apart from the old clan head Jia Jing who had become a monk, only when the three men Jia She, Jia Zheng, and Jia Zhen entered Rongqing Hall did the sisters have to stand up to show respect.

From now on, we'll have to add him to the family.

No one even specifically reminded them; everyone naturally felt that this was how it should be done.

Jia Lian's gaze swept casually across the room and settled on the sisters' side... He was a grown man, surely he wouldn't be so shameless as to go and sit next to his sisters-in-law...

The quick-thinking maid grabbed a stool, but then faced a dilemma.

If Grandmother Jia wanted Jia Lian to stay and talk, it would be best if he were seated close to her. However, at the table in front of Grandmother Jia's low couch, Baochai, Jia Baoyu, Daiyu, and Xiangyun were already seated, so it wouldn't look good to suddenly insert a seat.

It's even worse to put the stool in the middle of the aisle, as that would make it look like you're on trial.

The table below the three sisters could be accommodated, but that would create a lack of hierarchy, and it would be inappropriate to have Master Lian sit at the table next to Master Bao's...

Just as the maid hesitated slightly, Daiyu took a step back and bowed, saying, "Second Brother Lian, please sit here..."

Daiyu's timely action not only relieved the maid's anxiety but also surprised almost everyone.

Everyone present knew the temperament of Jia Mu's beloved granddaughter, Daiyu. She appeared gentle but was unforgiving on the inside. Even Bao Er Ye couldn't get along with her. They had never seen her so proactive and sensible.

Xiangyun felt this most deeply. During the year that Jia Lian was away from home, she visited the Jia family mansion several times. She thought she understood Daiyu's personality and thought to herself, "This is not in line with Sister Lin's temperament at all."

Then she glanced at Jia Lian and nodded secretly: So Sister Lin respects Brother Lian so much!

Jia Lian laughed from the bottom of his heart, but how could he possibly take Lin Daiyu's seat? So he smiled and said, "Thank you, sister, but there's no need to trouble yourself. It doesn't matter where I sit."

As he spoke, Jia Lian took the stool from the maid's hands, placed it beside him, and sat down next to Yingchun.

Daiyu was not one to force others. The fact that she had offered her seat in front of everyone made her feel uncomfortable and shy, as it went against her own style. So she didn't say anything and sat down after everyone else had taken their seats.

At this moment, everyone roughly understood that Jia Lian must have had feelings for Daiyu, having escorted her for a long distance, so Daiyu respected Jia Lian even more. This made the brotherly and sisterly affection between the two of them all the more apparent, as they were both of rare character.

Several people also glanced at Jia Baoyu discreetly. In fact, in that situation, it was not Daiyu who should have offered her seat, but Jia Baoyu.

Baochai thought so too. In fact, her first thought was to offer her seat to Jia Lian, but firstly, her seat was not very convenient inside, and secondly, she and Jia Lian were not familiar with each other, so offering her seat would inevitably feel abrupt.

She had expected Jia Baoyu to give way, and Xiangyun to give way, but she never expected Daiyu to give way, and so quickly and naturally.

This certainly made her realize that Jia Lian held a different position in Daiyu's heart, but more importantly, it was through this small detail that she saw where Jia Baoyu was inferior to Jia Lian.

Regardless of status, age, or seniority, Jia Lian was superior to Jia Baoyu, yet Jia Baoyu showed no willingness to yield, leading to disharmony in the situation. In contrast, Jia Lian, who clearly deserved the superior position, did not act arrogantly or with excessive arrogance; his every word and action commanded respect and was impeccable.

No wonder they say people are most afraid of comparison. She had always heard her mother praise her cousin from her aunt's side since she was a child. When she met him in the capital last year, she also felt that he was quite intelligent, unlike her brother Xue Pan, who was just an ordinary person. He was even better than most scions of noble families. However, compared with her second brother Lian, he paled in comparison.

He even hid in his room and committed shameful acts during a major holiday!

Thinking about all this, Baochai felt utterly disappointed with her younger cousin Jia Baoyu, who was not as good as she had expected.

Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang didn't think much of it; they only felt that Jia Lian and Daiyu had behaved well, but subconsciously overlooked Jia Baoyu's presence. After all, Baoyu was still young.