Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

In Fengjie's courtyard, a high table is set up under the outer corridor of the west wing, on which stands a single copper pot with two handles.

On the corridor about ten feet away, there was a long table and benches, with arrow baskets hanging on both sides of the table. However, the "arrows" inside were rather short, and when Jia Baoyu pulled one out, it had no arrowhead.

"This is used for pitch-pot. Second Master said that this game is called pitch-pot."

"Just stand here and throw these short arrows into that jar."

"I know."

Jia Baoyu chuckled.

He was a man of diverse learning, and had already discerned the true nature of things.

This game originated in the pre-Qin period and was popular for a time, but it is rarely played in this dynasty.

At least he's never played it.

Seeing Jia Lian display the pot, she immediately became interested. She told the maids below to move aside, afraid of hurting her, and then threw it. By sheer coincidence, it hit the spout of the pot right there.

"Interesting!" Jia Baoyu's eyebrows immediately lit up, and he happily started playing.

Seeing this, Tan Chun and the others gradually gathered around.

Wang Xifeng, not seeing Jia Lian, hurriedly asked the maids.

"Second Master just came back and said that Master and Uncle Zhen prepared a coming-of-age ceremony for Second Master at the ancestral hall. Second Master changed his clothes and went there."

Wang Xifeng understood, then asked Ping'er to look after the younger sisters and brothers in the courtyard, while she led the others to the kitchen.

……

Twenty years old is the age for coming of age.

Although people in this dynasty do not attach as much importance to the coming-of-age ceremony as in previous dynasties, this is because the current dynasty stipulates that a man is considered an adult at the age of sixteen. For example, all the princes can open their own princely residences at the age of sixteen.

However, the coming-of-age ceremony for men, like the coming-of-age ceremony for women, has been a symbolic age since ancient times, and it still holds considerable significance for the individual.

Therefore, in order to show their respect for Jia Lian, Jia Zheng and Jia Zhen prepared a simple coming-of-age ceremony for him.

Several respected elders from the clan were also invited to observe the ceremony.

Halfway through the ceremony, a message was suddenly announced from outside that the Crown Prince's Chamberlain had arrived with his men.

The family elders who were attending the ceremony were all greatly surprised, including Jia Zhen, who did not understand why people from the Crown Prince's residence would come to the Jia family.

Only Jia Zheng had heard a little news from the Chief Secretary of Prince Bei Jing, so he hurriedly ordered the coming-of-age ceremony to be stopped and returned to Rongxi Hall with Jia Lian and Jia Zhen.

"Haha, it's been a long time, General Jia, you're still as dashing as ever."

Jia Lian had met Han Zhe, the Crown Prince's Chamberlain, once before at the Crown Prince's villa, so Han Zhe greeted Jia Lian first upon meeting him.

Jia Lian cupped his hands and said, "I was unaware of Lord Han's presence. I have failed to greet you properly and am deeply sorry for my disrespect."

"Where, um, General Jia's attire...?"

Han Zhe, seeing Jia Lian dressed in a deep robe and black cloth cap, asked him a question out of curiosity.

"To be honest, Lord Han, I have just reached the age of twenty, and my elders in the clan were just holding a coming-of-age ceremony for me..."

With just Jia Lian's brief explanation, Han Zhe knew that it was his sudden visit that had interrupted Jia Lian's coming-of-age ceremony.

He showed no remorse, but simply laughed and said, "Haha, in that case, General Jia is doubly blessed today."

"I have come today on His Highness the Crown Prince's orders to deliver to General Jia the three thousand taels of silver awarded to him, as well as the ten thousand taels of silver that the Zhou family owed him."

When Han Zhe said this, Jia Zheng and Jia Zhen, who were standing nearby, were both stunned.

Even Han Zhe's arrogant attitude—merely nodding at them without saying a word—from the moment they entered, they had no intention of arguing with him.

Jia Zhen was unaware of this matter and could only stare blankly, remaining silent.

Although Jia Zheng knew this, he had previously felt that getting that silver back wouldn't be so easy...

But Han Zhe didn't care about them. After he finished speaking, he went out and ordered his servants to bring all the things in the carriage in.

Jia Lian was not surprised by this.

Gu hu

It seems he made the right choice by gifting the "Auspicious Cranes" painting.

The Crown Prince not only sent him three thousand taels of silver, but it also seemed that he had taken the initiative to ask for the ten thousand taels that the Zhou family owed him!

Although the three thousand taels given to the Crown Prince should have been an equal exchange, Han Zhe described it as a reward.

This was quite common; he had noticed it long ago. Most of the people around the Crown Prince were rather arrogant, and it was common for them to act like dogs relying on their master's power.

Sure enough, two large boxes were carried in by the Crown Prince's men and placed in the main hall shortly afterward.

"Open."

At Han Zhe's command, the two boxes were fully opened.

Sure enough, there were two boxes of silver. One box was only a little half full, while the other was almost full. Moreover, there was a layer of silver notes on top, which looked to be several hundred taels of silver each.

Han Zhe smiled and said that one box contained three thousand taels of silver given by the Crown Prince, while the full box contained silver that the Zhou family had just brought to the Crown Prince's residence that morning, and the Crown Prince immediately sent it to him.

"The Crown Prince values ​​General Jia very much."

General Jia may not know that the Zhou family originally intended to renege on their debt, but how could the Crown Prince allow it?

Upon learning that the Zhou family had not yet delivered the silver to you, I was immediately dispatched to the Zhou family to order Zhou Hongchang to deliver the silver to General Jia's mansion within a day, not a single tael less!

The Zhou family originally wanted to make excuses and even tried to bribe me with silver... How ridiculous!

Leaving aside the fact that I was entrusted by the Crown Prince, the fact that the Zhou family lost money in front of everyone and still wanted to deny it is an act of shamelessness that I find utterly disgraceful.

Therefore, I reprimanded the Zhou family.

Sure enough, they gathered the money this morning. Perhaps they misunderstood the Crown Prince's intentions, as they ended up delivering the money to the Crown Prince's residence instead.

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince immediately ordered me to send it to General Jia intact.

Han Zhe seemed to be on very good terms with Jia Lian, speaking with great righteousness.

However, Jia Lian noticed that when he mentioned "bribery," he paused deliberately and seemed to understand something.

Jia Lian smiled inwardly at this; he had already intended to do so, so Han Zhe didn't need to remind him.

"Your Highness is a man of great wisdom and righteousness. I will never forget your kindness. Please convey my gratitude to Your Highness upon your return, Lord Han."

"Haha, no problem, no problem..."

After a few polite words, seeing that Zhao'er hadn't arrived yet, I smiled and invited him to sit down for tea and a chat...

Half an hour later, Han Zhe left satisfied with the generous "tea money".

This made it easier for Jia Lian, Jia Zheng, and others to inspect the silver and banknotes.

Because it wasn't like the brand-new, standard-issue silver ingots that Prince Bei Jing had sent last time, the amount couldn't be discerned at a glance.

"Hehe, congratulations, Brother Lian..."

Jia Zhen, standing to the side, offered his congratulations.

Jia Zheng had no doubts and was about to have someone deliver it to Jia Lian's home.

Jia Zheng had already figured out his strategy for getting along with Jia Lian, so naturally he wouldn't be tempted by the more than ten thousand taels of silver in front of him.

"not busy."

Jia Lian squatted down in front of the box to inspect it, then stopped Jia Zheng and ordered, "Go and get the large scale!"

Jia Zheng and the others were puzzled: Why do we need to weigh it?

This was something the Crown Prince sent over!

Jia Lian smiled slightly, "Since everyone's gone, there's no harm in weighing them."

After a long pause, Jia Zheng and Jia Zhen looked at each other, unsure how to express their thoughts.

The missing box contained a full three thousand taels.

That large box, even with the silver notes included, only amounted to eight thousand taels.

It's two thousand short of ten thousand!