Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

Even though they were helping with the funeral arrangements, Madam You and Madam Qin couldn't possibly stay overnight in the east wing. So, around midnight, seeing that there wasn't much left to do, the two of them took a carriage back home.

Sister Feng felt sorry for Jia Lian, who had to go to the yamen the next day, and didn't want him to get any rest, so she dragged him back to his room to sleep, saying that she would take care of the rest of the work.

Jia Lian thought about it and agreed.

Sister Feng is a strong-willed person; if she doesn't go to sleep, she will definitely insist on going too.

He has to go to the yamen to hand over his duties tomorrow, but that morning is the busiest time in this courtyard. At that time, all the men, women, and children of the entire clan will come to kowtow. Since he won't be there, Wang Xifeng will naturally have to take charge of the household affairs, and she won't get any rest.

It would be better for me to go to sleep for two hours first, and then get up at four in the morning so she can also go to sleep for two hours. This way, we'll both be more energetic than staying up together.

When they arrived at the house where they had lived in their youth, it had already been completely renovated by Sister Feng's people.

The bed sheets, blankets, and all other items had been changed, and a charcoal fire had been lit underneath.

Most strikingly, within the large, fluffy quilt, a delicate curve arches, and on the pillow at the head of the bed, a small, well-behaved, and adorable head rests quietly, creating an exceptionally beautiful scene.

But the beautiful little maid Xiangling had already fallen asleep.

"This room hasn't been lived in for so long, and the kang (heated brick bed) wasn't heated. It was chilly, and I was worried you wouldn't be able to sleep, so I had her lie down inside to warm you up. Who knew she'd fall asleep like that... really..."

Sister Feng explained for a moment, then tried to wake Xiangling.

Jia Lian stopped her, saying, "Forget it, let her lie down. If you call her in, the warmth we managed to build up will dissipate again."

As they were talking, Jia Lian plopped down on the bed and pulled the blanket over himself.

Feng Jie's eyes turned meaningful, but seeing Jia Lian's shameless and naive appearance, she just pursed her lips and said, "There's no time for you to mess around now. If you like her, you can take her as your concubine when you have some free time later, and I won't care."

"I told you to take her in before, but you pretended to be righteous and refused. Now you're busy with this little thing?"

Feng Jie had already accepted Qingwen and Xiangling's existence from the bottom of her heart. If she still had some wariness and suppression towards Qingwen, she was much more at ease with Xiangling, who was a bit silly and liked to read books.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have sent Qingwen back to look after the house, but left Xiangling here and even had her warm Jia Lian's bed.

She was just worried that Jia Lian might waste his precious time and energy tonight on a whim, which would lead to problems tomorrow.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing," Jia Lian said, and then began to take off his shoes.

Feng Jie didn't say much. She squatted down to help Jia Lian take off his socks. When Ping'er brought in the foot-washing water to serve him, she checked the lights and candles in the room. Then she left a maid in the outer room to serve him and led Ping'er, who had washed and dried Jia Lian's feet, out.

Inside the room, Jia Lian, wearing only his undergarments, crawled into bed. Seeing that Xiangling hadn't been woken up yet, he figured she must be exhausted today.

He glanced at her face a few times, then lost interest in teasing her. After lying down, he reached out and held her small, delicate, and warm body in his arms.

Perhaps because his body and hands were still a little cold, Xiangling was woken up again by his close-fitting clothes.

"Second Master...you..."

Xiangling rubbed her eyes, only then realizing the situation she was in.

Jia Lian tightened his arms around her and whispered in her ear, "Don't talk, just sleep. We have to get up in two hours, there's no time for anything else."

Upon hearing this, Xiangling dared not move again, her body tense in Jia Lian's arms, not daring to budge.

After a while, Xiangling realized that Jia Lian was breathing evenly and probably asleep, and she finally relaxed.

After thinking about it, I felt at ease nestled in this warm embrace and drifted off to sleep again.

That night, the Jia family mansion was brightly lit, and neither the masters nor the servants got a good night's sleep.

The second and third days were the days when the Jia family's eight sons and daughters in the capital came to pay their respects and help. At the same time, the Jia family also conveyed the news of Jia She's death to all their old friends and relatives. The families that received the obituary would also come to pay their respects starting from the fourth day.

Before relatives and friends came to pay their respects, the Rongguo Mansion needed to set up Jia She's mourning hall, as well as the Buddhist and Taoist rituals and ceremonies, in accordance with the formal funeral arrangements for an official.

Therefore, these two or three days are also the busiest time.

It wasn't just Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng in the east courtyard; the entire Jia family, from both mansions, was busy running around and working hard for this matter.

Upon hearing the news of Jia She's death, the Emperor specially ordered the Imperial Clan Court to bestow five hundred taels of silver as a token of condolence. He also granted Jia Lian a month's leave to attend to his father's funeral arrangements at home.

So Jia Lian took care of all the affairs of the military command within a day or two, and then stayed at home to personally handle the funeral arrangements.

Everything was proceeding according to plan, and the Imperial Observatory had also selected a date for Jia She's body to be laid in state for a total of twenty-eight days.

Just three days after the funeral and the sending of the obituary, a worshipper from the inner palace attracted the attention of the Jia family.

……

On the tranquil and solemn Ningrong Street, a troop of imperial guards in golden armor escorted a carriage, which slowly came to a stop outside the east courtyard.

The imperial guards' bright and imposing attire and arrogant gazes made the servants responsible for receiving guests at the east wing gate hesitant to approach and inquire.

Jia Rong, Jia Yun, and others came out to take a look. Jia Yun then quickly went inside to inform Jia Lian, while Jia Rong, along with several members of the clan, waited at the door to see what was happening.

A moment later, two eunuchs placed a footstool in place and then announced to the carriage. Jia Rong and the others saw Hua Zhong's curtain open, and a dignified eunuch in a bright red robe emerged from inside.

The eunuch, arm in arm with the young eunuch, slowly descended the steps, paying no heed to Jia Rong and the others before him. He only glanced at the black-lacquered gate of the east courtyard, his gaze piercing through the deep courtyard and looking straight inside. After a long while, he murmured:

"It's been so many years since I've been here. I never imagined that the prestigious Duke's Mansion would turn its east corner gate into a main gate. Tsk tsk tsk..."

The voice was high-pitched, and the tone was both lamenting and sarcastic.

Jia Rong and the others dared not respond.

Eunuchs who leave the palace are all envoys of the emperor. Moreover, the eunuch in front of me, who is accompanied by so many imperial guards, is obviously of extraordinary status. If I speak rashly before figuring out his identity and purpose, and offend him, wouldn't that bring disaster upon my family?

The head eunuch finally lowered his proud head, glanced at the people before him, and asked, "Which of you is Jia Lian?"

Jia Rong hurriedly bowed and said, "Reporting to the superior, my uncle is inside entertaining guests. I have already sent someone to invite him out, and he will be out soon..."

May I ask what brings you here, sir?

The head eunuch, who looked to be in his fifties or sixties and appeared somewhat aged, forced a rather unpleasant smile and said, "I've come here to pay respects to the dead, of course. What else can I do?"

Jia Rong breathed a sigh of relief and smiled even more humbly, saying, "In that case, please come inside..."

"Not busy, not busy."

The head eunuch shook his head, then ignored the embarrassed Jia Rong and the others, and stood at the door.

A moment later, Jia Lian came out and saw the unfamiliar old eunuch. He was puzzled but did not show it on his face. He stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "I am Jia Lian. May I ask your name, sir?"

The chief eunuch had already sized up Jia Lian the moment he appeared.

He was indeed as rumored, tall and handsome. Even now, dressed in white mourning clothes and with a mourning scarf around his head, he still walked with an imposing presence, making others feel ashamed of their own appearance.

A hint of jealousy flashed across the old eunuch's face.

Eunuchs were clearly much more jealous in this regard than ordinary people.

However, he quickly smiled and said, "So you are Commander Jia, my apologies. I am a steward eunuch of Chonghua Palace, my surname is Wang."

Upon hearing the name "Chonghua Palace," even Jia Lian was secretly startled, let alone Jia Rong and the others behind him.

This Chonghua Palace was the place where the retired emperor lived in seclusion after he abdicated.

Before the retired emperor abdicated, he spent a lot of money to designate a rectangular area on the east side of the Forbidden City and then built a small "Forbidden City" in imitation of the layout of the previous dynasty.

This Chonghua Palace is the main rear hall on the central axis of this city within a city, comparable to the Daming Palace in the imperial palace.

In other words, from the outside, Chonghua Palace only represents one person: the retired emperor.

Therefore, knowing that this eunuch was from Chonghua Palace, Jia Lian had to be cautious and bowed again, saying, "So it is Eunuch Wang who has graced us with his presence. I apologize for not greeting you sooner. May I ask what brings you here, Eunuch Wang?"

The chief eunuch Wang Fu was very pleased to see Jia Lian suddenly become humble.

This is the source of his arrogance. As one of the trusted eunuchs who ran errands for the retired emperor, no matter where he went, whether it was princes or officials, they all had to treat him with respect, because the retired emperor was behind him!

"I wouldn't presume to offer guidance, but I've come to pay my respects upon hearing of your passing and to express my deepest admiration."

Wang Fu smiled and said, seemingly unwilling to elaborate on the matter. He then dropped his pretentious act, straightened his posture, and added, "Lord Jia, please lead the way."

Seeing this, Jia Lian didn't press further and stepped aside to invite them inside.

After Jia Rong and the other old eunuchs had gone to the front, Jia Rong quietly tugged at Jia Lian's sleeve, "Second Uncle, he..."

Jia Rong glanced at the old eunuch's swaggering back, his gaze carrying a hidden meaning.

Jia Lian understood his meaning. Allowing a eunuch to enter the house to worship ancestors seemed inappropriate, unless the eunuch was acting on the orders of the emperor or empress.

But how many people in the world could an emperor personally send someone to offer sacrifices to?

Therefore, although there were many eunuchs in the capital, and many high-ranking eunuchs even had private residences in the imperial city, they generally did not engage in social activities.

They would not attend weddings or funerals, because their physical disabilities would easily make them seem disliked at such important events.

Therefore, officials who consider themselves upright and honest would never allow a eunuch to enter their homes to pay respects to their elders.

Jia Rong also had this concern, feeling that if word got out, it would damage the family's reputation.

Jia Lian shook his head.

He had never really regarded Jia She as anything special, so he naturally didn't care about him. He was a guest, so he didn't care whether he was a eunuch or a nun.

Secondly, Jia Lian really didn't believe that a senior eunuch from the Emperor Emeritus's side would dare to personally come to a Duke's mansion to show off his power without the instructions of any noble person.

There may be reasons for not saying anything; let's see what happens next.

……

The Forbidden City, Daming Palace.

Emperor Ningkang received news immediately that the Grand Eunuch of Chonghua Palace had gone to the Jia residence.

"Your Majesty, your subordinates have ascertained that Wang Fu went to the Jia residence merely to offer condolences and did not take any other action, nor did he convey any decrees from the Retired Emperor."

A deputy commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard knelt before the prince and reported with great certainty.

Emperor Ningkang became somewhat puzzled.

The retired emperor, as his father, occupied so much of his life, and there were so many irreplaceable things about him.

Even now, the retired emperor is the person he, the supreme ruler of the world, fears the most.

Therefore, he could not afford to ignore any news from Chonghua Palace.

Waving for the Imperial Guards to leave, Emperor Ningkang asked Dai Quan, "What do you think is the deeper meaning behind the Emperor Emeritus's actions? Could it be that he remembered Jia Daishan and sent someone to pay respects to his son?"

Emperor Ningkang was no less insightful than Jia Rong and the others. He knew from his subordinates' reports that the chief eunuch of Chonghua Palace must have been acting on the orders of Chonghua Palace, which was the same as the orders of the retired emperor.

Dai Quan didn't have any particular opinion on this matter. It was just a minor thing. When the retired emperor was in power, he often sent people to pay their respects to his trusted ministers.

Although Jia She was a despicable person, he was, after all, the heir to the Duke's title. Whether out of consideration for the Dukes of Ning and Rong or for Jia Daishan, it was understandable that the Emperor Emeritus would send a eunuch to offer sacrifices.

Dai Quan, however, felt that Emperor Ningkang was being a bit too sensitive.

Of course, as Emperor Ningkang's trusted confidant who accompanied him day and night, he would not question Emperor Ningkang's thoughts, but simply nodded in agreement, saying, "This old servant believes that Your Majesty's conjecture is correct."

This old servant has heard that when Lord Daishan was young, he served as the Emperor Emeritus's study companion, and they were very close, having been friends for most of their lives.

Although it has been more than ten years since the death of Daishan, the retired emperor is a sentimental person, and it is normal for him to think of his descendants occasionally.

This old servant has also heard that since last year, Chonghua Palace has frequently summoned some retired officials to the palace for banquets. The Emperor Emeritus treats them very well, and they often stay in Chonghua Palace for an entire day.

In this light, the Emperor Emeritus's actions today are not surprising.

Emperor Ningkang nodded after hearing Dai Quan's words; he thought so too.

It is human nature for old people to be nostalgic, and that is why he has found it so difficult to get rid of those former officials in recent years, especially those important officials in sensitive positions. He has to be careful every time he moves one, for fear of touching the sensitive nerves of the retired emperor.

For example, the military governor of the capital...

The exchange terms with the Jia family should be implemented. In a few days, his mother will hold a small flower viewing party, at which time he will "accidentally" see Jia Yuanchun, the eldest daughter of the Jia family. Then his mother will bestow her upon him, and he will naturally bestow titles and rewards upon her.

Naturally, the Jia family became relatives of the emperor and were considered part of his family...

This way, it wouldn't seem like a transaction, which would damage his imperial dignity.