Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

Sure enough, just as Jia Lian finished thinking, he saw Feng Jie and You Shi come in talking.

She looked up and glanced at Jia Lian and Qin Shi. Seeing how well-behaved they were, she smiled and said, "Why are you two sitting so far apart? We're all family, why are you being so distant? You're sitting here without saying a word."

"Rong'er's wife, did he bully you, so you're ignoring him?"

"Auntie~~"

Qin seemed quite embarrassed; her cheeks were flushed as she stood up to greet him.

Madam You then scolded Feng Jie, "How dare you say such things when you're supposed to be an aunt? I'll tell the old lady later and see if she scolds you or not."

Wang Xifeng walked to the side, poured herself a bowl of tea and drank it, and then said to You Shi, "What's so hard to say? Let those men harbor bad intentions, and if they see someone good-looking, they won't let them go. They dare to do it, but we're not allowed to say anything?"

I'm not like you hypocrites who pretend to know nothing on the surface, but are actually quite shrewd and scheming behind the scenes.

Although Sister Feng was not good at understanding romance, it didn't mean she was oblivious. As a woman herself, she knew very well how popular her man was right now.

Even if the two women in front of her wouldn't dare to do anything to betray her, it didn't mean they wouldn't harbor bad intentions.

So her words, while ostensibly saying that Jia Lian liked to do bad things, were actually a warning to You Shi and her companion, telling them not to have any improper thoughts.

Hmph, don't think I'm blind. I'm very shrewd.

Therefore, she stared at both Madam You and Madam Qin with her phoenix eyes.

Madam You and Madam Qin were speechless. They felt that Sister Feng was quite an oddball. Why not just pretend you didn't know and keep quiet? Why did she have to bring it up? The more you talk about it, the more likely you are to arouse other people's curiosity...

Qin is alright; nothing's wrong with her.

Madam You's heart skipped a beat, but she showed no sign of it on her face, pretending not to understand, and sat down to the side.

Sister Feng also returned and sat down, and told Jia Lian about the arrangements at the mourning hall.

Jia Lian had long ago ordered the steward and others to go out and purchase some things needed for the funeral, but Jia She was a simpleton and did not believe that he was going to die, so he could only make the purchases secretly and put them in the outer courtyard.

Now, we have enough of the essentials, but to get everything we need, we'll have to send someone out to buy more tomorrow.

Jia Lian then said, "These matters will require your continued attention for now."

Upon hearing this, Sister Feng asked, "What, are you going to the yamen again tomorrow?"

Jia Lian nodded: "There are many things to do in the yamen, and I have to give some instructions first, otherwise things will easily go wrong."

"Only after the Imperial Observatory selects a date for the temporary placement of the body can I request leave from the ministry, so I won't have to juggle both tasks."

Upon hearing this, Fengjie from the You family could only nod. However, Qin asked curiously, "Why did Second Uncle only ask for leave from the ministry? Doesn't Second Uncle need to observe the mourning period?"

Officials who are in office are granted permission to return to their hometowns to observe mourning for three years after the death of their parents; this is known as the "mourning period."

Jia Lian and the others shook their heads. You Shi and Qin Shi explained, "Although your uncle works in the government office in the capital, he is a military officer and is not allowed to observe mourning for his parents."

Emperor Taizu decreed that all military officers and generals of the Great Wei Dynasty were not allowed to observe mourning periods.

These are the laws and regulations established by Emperor Taizu after he founded the country through military force, drawing on the experience of previous dynasties in governing the country.

Although civil officials assist the country and govern the people, they can be easily transferred to any position. Therefore, the three-year mourning period has little impact on the stability of the country.

However, military officers are different, because many of them are stationed at border fortresses, and their duties are related to national security, so they cannot be easily moved.

In order to ensure national stability, Emperor Taizu simply stripped all military officers of the right to observe mourning for their parents, allowing only civil officials to do so.

Qin was young and mostly knew about civil officials, or military officers like Jia Zhen and Jia She who never did any serious work and just stayed at home all day. That's why she didn't know the rule that military officers were not allowed to observe mourning periods.

The four people gathered in the hall, along with two elderly and experienced women, to brainstorm and discuss the various arrangements before the funeral and the sending of the obituary.

Suddenly, a housekeeper's wife rushed in to report.

It turned out that in order to arrange a place for Yingchun, You Shi and others to stay, and for Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang to rest when they came, Feng Jie decided to clean out many rooms in front of and behind Jia She's courtyard.

Most of these houses were inhabited by people related to Jia She.

Whether it was Sister Feng deliberately targeting her or not, she somehow managed to have "Aunt Mei's" place taken over, saying that she would arrange another place for her to live.

When Jia She was alive, Aunt Mei was one of his most favored people. She was unwilling to be treated like this, so she instigated the other people whose houses had been taken away to complain together in the courtyard.

The wives in charge then dared not touch them.

Both Lady You and Sister Feng knew about Aunt Mei's background. Lady You was certain, but Sister Feng, due to Jia Lian's "explanation," remained skeptical.

So both of them looked at Jia Lian.

Jia Lian touched his nose, pretending not to see their gazes.

Sister Feng snorted and pressed Jia Lian, "What did you say, Second Master Lian? If you just give the word, we'll naturally not dare to touch her room for your sake, right?"

"Since I've asked you to arrange these things, you're in charge. As long as it's reasonable, arrange it however you want."

"Of course it's reasonable. That person has taken up the best main room on the east side, and I was planning to vacate it for the old lady. What do you say about that?"

"Of course, it's up to you. Let's find her a different room to stay in temporarily..."

Jia Lian said casually.

He had already made up his mind to get rid of all those vulgar women after Jia She's funeral.

However, to prevent them from causing trouble, it's not appropriate to reveal this idea right now.

Seeing Feng Jie pressuring Jia Lian, Madam You suppressed a laugh, stood up and said, "Let's go, let's go and see. After all, she's a member of the master's household, and we're all juniors, we can't let her lose face."

Sister Feng scoffed, "What's all this talk about being respectable? No matter how respectable she is, can she compare to the old lady?"

You wait here, I'll be right back!

Sister Feng's favorite type of person is someone with no connections but who dares to cause trouble. She derives her power from these kinds of people.

If even such a trivial matter requires Madam You's intervention, wouldn't that diminish her reputation?

Therefore, he led his men and quickly gave chase.

Madam You shook her head, turned back to sit down, and laughed, "Feng'er is still the same. She has such a sharp tongue; ten people couldn't argue with her. Now that she's gone, I'm afraid Aunt Mei will suffer."

"What, Uncle, you really don't plan to go and check on us?"

"Why am I even looking at her? I'd rather..."

Jia Lian glanced at You Shi, and although he hadn't finished speaking, You Shi understood immediately and lowered her head.

Qin sat below, still pondering Mei's problem.

Judging from the reactions of Madam You and Sister Feng just now, she guessed that perhaps Uncle Lian had some relationship with this aunt.

That was the master's concubine.

Uncle Lian doesn't seem like that kind of person!

However, thinking back to when Jia Lian touched her hand earlier, Qin Shi felt ashamed and thought: It's not impossible.

They all say that no man is immune to infidelity, and I suppose Uncle Lian is no exception...

Thinking of all this, she couldn't help but look at Jia Lian. As she looked up, she noticed the flirtatious exchange between Jia Lian and her mother-in-law. A chill ran down her spine; it seemed... something was amiss...