Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

"I've heard that your father, Jia Zheng, has been in charge of your family for over ten years? But the one who inherited the title is your uncle, Jia She?"

Emperor Ningkang's voice seemed casual, yet also somewhat mocking.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Chun was secretly startled and quickly replied, "Your Majesty, my family's situation is indeed slightly different from other residences."

After my grandfather passed away, my eldest uncle, being of a quiet and unassuming nature, disliked theoretical and mundane matters and could only stay at home to grow flowers and plants.

Therefore, my grandmother arranged for my parents to live with her and serve her.

However, whenever there are important matters in the family, they are always discussed and decided upon by my father and eldest uncle together, contrary to what outsiders say, that my father makes all the decisions alone.

"You don't need to explain these things to me. I was just asking casually."

Alright, it's getting late, you should get some rest.

As Emperor Ningkang spoke, he stood up and left Fengzao Palace.

"Congratulations to Your Majesty..."

Yuan Chun escorted Emperor Ningkang to the palace gate, and only after watching him board the imperial carriage did she turn back with her entourage.

Sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed), Yuan Chun picked up those poems again and read them through, her brows furrowed.

She could understand what Emperor Ningkang meant just now.

Your family is in disarray because you do not distinguish between elders and juniors. Therefore, even though the eldest son is clearly talented, he has to hide his ignorance and pretend to be stupid in order to protect himself!

She felt that Emperor Ningkang must have misunderstood.

Although Grandmother favored them a bit and didn't like the eldest uncle, she was definitely not intolerant of the eldest son's lineage!

Her father was an upright man, and her mother, though not a woman of many words, was a compassionate one.

They wouldn't...

But how do we explain what's happening right now?

Her knuckles clenched involuntarily, a hint of sadness in her voice.

Brother Lian, is it really because you were afraid we would harm you that you've kept quiet for so many years?

Yuan Chun found it hard to accept; the more than ten years she spent at home were the happiest time of her life.

She felt that at home, there was only joy and no worries.

She hoped that everyone in her family would be free from worries and scheming.

At the same time, deep within Chonghua Palace, in the magnificent and splendid garden.

An elderly man with white hair and a gaunt appearance is pruning excess branches and leaves from a white crabapple tree.

Beside him stood an old eunuch, who solemnly read the poems in his hand to him one by one.

"Your Majesty, the reading is finished..."

"Read it again."

"Uh, yes..."

……

After seeing Yang Jun off at Rongguo Mansion, Jia Zheng looked at the things the servants were carrying.

Upon opening it and taking a look, it was indeed a tray of brand-new silver ingots!

Jia Zheng was unable to describe his feelings at that moment in words.

He felt that God must be playing a joke on him.

The child he had watched grow up, his nephew who had always been good for nothing, suddenly became diligent and ambitious, as if he had suddenly gained new intelligence, and was determined to make a name for himself in the officialdom!

That's fine. As long as you're physically fit, you can learn martial arts.

He got into a fight with the heir apparent of Prince Duan and was punished by the emperor to go to the border, but by a twist of fate, he performed meritorious service and was promoted and ennobled...

This is somewhat plausible. Perhaps the bloodline of his ancestors has awakened within him. He had always stayed in the capital and had no opportunity to demonstrate it. But once he was on the battlefield, it was like a fish out of water.

He could accept all of this because, setting aside the disadvantages for their second branch of the family, his nephew's accomplishments in bringing honor to the family were a good thing for the clan!

However, he couldn't accept that Jia Lian, who had never been able to utter a single coherent sentence since childhood, could suddenly write poems and essays, and that they were written by someone who had been blessed by a master, and were even better than him... much better.

After careful consideration, Jia Zheng realized that he was not used to writing poetry and lyrics, but Yu Cun was very talented in literature.

Even if we compare Yucun's masterpiece with his, I'm afraid he might not be able to win!

This……

Jia Zheng took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

Looking at these glittering silver objects in front of him, for a fleeting moment he wanted them sent to the government office…

Today, we invited Mr. Shan Ziye to our house to survey the terrain. According to Mr. Shan Ziye's preliminary plan, Jia Zheng thinks that it will definitely cost a lot of money!

I'm afraid we'll face more financial difficulties in the future.

But after thinking about it, I held back.

Reason is reason, and law is law; we cannot let Lian'er's heart be broken.

He has already made many contributions to the family.

Well, whatever the reason behind Lian'er's success, his ability to make money is truly astonishing.

Unexpected wealth could fall into his lap at any moment...

A small leak will sink a great ship.

Win over Lian'er, get him to earn more money for the family, and then have him share the money with everyone. That's the way to make it last.

After all, I'm an honest official! I'm destined not to bring too much money home...

"You few, take the things to the second gate and have someone deliver them to Lian'er's courtyard!"

After making a suggestion, Jia Zheng felt that he should tell the old lady about this matter, so he got up and went to Rongqing Hall.

……

Wang Xifeng had many eyes and ears in the Rongguo Mansion.

She knew immediately when Jia Zheng sent the silver inside.

So he immediately took Ping'er and rushed home.

On the way, he complained that Ping'er was walking too slowly, and turned back to urge her, "You little rascal, hurry up, or there might be a ghost following you!"

Ping'er replied speechlessly, "Grandma, the money has already been delivered home. Even if we were to return a step later, the money wouldn't disappear."

"What do you know! Don't you know that your second master is hiding money outside? Just in those two scoundrels' rooms alone, who knows how much he has hidden?"

"If your second master comes back, he'll definitely send him outside right away!"

"Grandma, this was originally sent to Second Master..."

Ping'er has the most upright values; whoever earns the money has the right to dispose of it.

Wang Xifeng rolled her eyes. "I've spoiled you for nothing. You're always on his side. Aren't you afraid he'll take that money and go out and fool around?"

Wang Xifeng didn't know why, even though the family had so much silver that it couldn't be stored away, she still wanted to keep the money under her control.

Actually, she was unwilling to admit it.

Given Jia Lian's current shrewdness and status, she felt somewhat insecure, fearing that Jia Lian might do something to betray her one day.

Therefore, as long as Jia Lian's money is in her hands, it gives her a great sense of security.

"By the way, do you know why we received this sum of money today?"

"I'm not quite sure. I only heard from the people in Madam's room that it was sent by someone from some Prince's Mansion, saying it was a reward for the Second Master... They couldn't say for sure, but we'll probably know when Madam gets back."

Wang Xifeng had only heard that someone had sent money to Jia Lian again, but had not yet had time to find out what was going on.

Sure enough, as soon as the screen was inserted and the courtyard was entered, several maids came out of the main house. Qingwen, that little hussy, acted like the mistress of the house, greeting and seeing off the guests on the porch.

"Second Madam Lian is back..."

The old women and daughters-in-law who had just come down from the courtyard all beamed with joy when they saw Wang Xifeng.

They were the ones who were ordered to bring in the silver.

Having just passed through their hands, the heavy silver coins now met with fawning smiles from the mistress of the house.

The jealousy in her eyes was almost impossible to hide.

What virtue or ability does Madam Lian possess to be worthy of Master Lian...?

Before long, money was sent home in large sums to support her expenses!

Facing these old women, Wang Xifeng merely gave a soft "hmm" as an answer, then walked straight past them and asked Qingwen, "Has your second master returned yet?"

"Second Master just got back a short while ago and is having dinner inside now."

Upon seeing Sister Feng, Qingwen suppressed her previous bright smile and stood respectfully on the veranda.

Wang Xifeng's eyes lit up, and she lifted the curtain and went into the room.

She originally intended to go directly to Jia Lian, but her eyes were involuntarily drawn to the conspicuous plates on the living room table and cabinets, so she strode over and lifted the silk to take a look.

It really was full of silver!

She touched them, counted them, and there were six plates in total! Wang Xifeng's face immediately lit up with a smile.

Without checking each one, he opened the curtain of the cubicle and went inside.

Sure enough, Jia Lian, dressed in casual clothes, was sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) eating, with only Xiang Ling beside him, serving him wine.

The little girl's face was flushed, I don't know if it was from drinking or something.