Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

Upon hearing Wang Xifeng's words, Grandmother Jia cursed her inwardly as cunning, but dared not say anything more, and looked at Madam Wang.

Madam Wang naturally couldn't say anything. She also had to maintain her dignity; if she was politely refused the first time, asking again would be considered coercion.

No matter what, she was the birth mother of the Imperial Concubine, so she wouldn't argue with Wang Xifeng on the spot over some rewards.

However, he had already made up his mind to go back and have a good discussion with Jia Zheng, so that Jia Zheng and Jia Lian could talk to each other and revise the system for allocating revenue from the official treasury.

Otherwise, I fear that the Rongguo Mansion, a prestigious century-old noble family, will soon be unable to maintain its prestige.

Seeing that Lady Wang had no objections, Grandmother Jia happily selected a few practical items from among the many rewards. Lady Wang also symbolically took two items and had Zhou Rui's wife send them home.

When Wang Xifeng turned around, she saw Yingchun and the others gathered around the dozens of fine palace satins, praising the Empress Dowager's gift as truly extraordinary.

She generously said, "If the three of you like this fabric, I'll have someone make two new spring outfits for each of you later."

However, you'd better make time to come to my place, and I'll have someone measure your figures again.

You're all growing so fast, you change every year, it wouldn't be good if the clothes didn't fit by the time they were made for you."

Upon hearing this, Yingchun and the others were overjoyed and thanked them profusely.

Tan Chun then went around to Wang Xifeng's side and massaged her body, which made Wang Xifeng laugh and scold her.

Grandmother Jia looked at the harmonious and friendly relationship between the sisters-in-law and showed an approving expression in her eyes.

In these aspects, Feng Yatou is simply lovable!

After laughing for a while, she asked loudly, "Feng girl, what has Lian'er been doing again?"

I heard he left the banquet quite early and isn't home now. He just got back; instead of resting, what has he been busy with?

Wang Xifeng had some guesses, but wasn't sure: "Who knows? He didn't tell me either. I guess it's something he did outside."

At this moment, Lai Dajia said from the side, "I heard that Master Lian sent someone to the money exchange to exchange silver."

"Exchange for silver?"

"I don't know exactly what they did, but I heard from people outside that only a few of the guards who went out with Second Master this time came back..."

Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang were both startled.

"Only a few came back, what does that mean?"

Grandmother Jia had heard that after Jia Lian inherited the title, he selected a group of mischievous boys from the family and had them train in the east wing every day.

But she, as an ancestor, didn't care about the exact number or who they were.

"I heard my husband lament that Master Lian had selected more than twenty guards, but less than ten of them came back after going out with him this time. They said they all died in the border region."

Master Lian also ordered his men to bring back all their urns and deliver them to their respective homes.

This afternoon, those families were crying quite a bit; many people in the manor know about it.

"So, they're all really dead?" Madam Xing exclaimed.

When she was officially recognized as the wife, the old Duke had already died, and she had never witnessed such a large-scale event as the deaths of so many people.

In fact, even when the old Duke was alive, very few of his personal guards died in battle.

After all, the death of a personal guard meant that the commander was at least in danger.

Given Rongguo Gong's status, even when he led troops into battle, he rarely experienced crises.

Jia Lian's situation this time was just an accident.

Even Grandmother Jia fell silent.

Wang Xifeng's face turned slightly pale.

Although she knew before that Jia Lian's wealth and status were hard-won, she didn't feel it particularly deeply.

Upon hearing this, she realized that only a few of the guards Jia Lian had trained were left alive. Even she felt a chill run down her spine!

Unlike Grandmother Jia, she knew most of Jia Lian's guards, or at least had met them before.

The night before Jia Lian set off, she personally instructed those people to protect Jia Lian well.

Who knew that out of so many young men, only a few would make it back alive?

The heartless man didn't tell her any of this when he came back, and she has no idea how many dangers he went through outside.

Fortunately, there were still a few left. If they had all died, and no one was protecting Jia Lian, she couldn't even imagine the consequences.

No wonder, that heartless guy is always so strong-willed. When I first saw him at home, he was so tired that he lay down.

Thinking of this, Wang Xifeng couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache. At this moment, she longed to go home immediately, find Jia Lian, and ask him about all his experiences outside.

If even Grandmother Jia, Wang Xifeng, and others were like this, let alone the three Yingchun sisters who were just overjoyed.

The oldest among them was not yet of marriageable age, and the youngest was not even ten years old. The idea of ​​dying on the battlefield was too far away for them.

But this time, it happened right next to them, and it was the guards under their most respected Second Brother Lian. They couldn't help but be afraid, and their faces turned pale.

After all, Grandmother Jia was used to seeing all kinds of storms. She waved her hand and sighed, "This is the responsibility and danger that men must bear if they want to make achievements."

Back when the Duke was alive, he often led troops into battle. Many of his personal guards and retainers died, and I personally helped to handle the funeral arrangements for many of them.

It's just that so much time has passed, I've almost forgotten about these things.

As she spoke, Grandmother Jia seemed to fall into deep thought.

At that moment, she deeply realized the decline of the Jia family.

If it weren't for Jia Lian, the Jia family, which rose to prominence through military achievements, would have been out of the question about military affairs for decades, causing her, the matriarch, to become so unfamiliar with the concept of dying on the battlefield.

"Feng girl, go back and tell Lian'er that those who died should be properly taken care of and compensated. Don't be too sad."

Never mind, it's not that I said it. I suppose he didn't even want to tell us about this before, because he was afraid we would worry.

Lian'er has really grown up and can take on responsibilities now.

Let him handle it himself; you all just need to cooperate.

After Grandmother Jia finished speaking, she leaned on her cane and stood up shakily. Yuanyang, who was standing nearby, quickly went up to help her into her bedroom.

Seeing that Grandmother Jia had gone to rest, Lady Wang and the others naturally dispersed as well.

Li Wan also walked home with her maid Su Yue.

But her heart was not at peace.

In recent years, she has viewed family matters, especially those concerning Jia Lian, almost from the perspective of an outsider.

She was genuinely surprised, and even a little confused.

After all, she had married into the family early on, so she had some initial acquaintance with Jia Lian, her uncle.

Until Jia Lian repeatedly shattered her expectations, becoming someone who surprised her, a stranger to her, and even someone she couldn't help but admire!

Although Grandmother Jia didn't say it explicitly, she could tell that the Jia family would most likely have to rely on Jia Lian to support them in the future.

I didn't listen to what Grandmother Jia said. She told Jia Lian to make his own decision and to ask Wang Xifeng and others for assistance.

Those words, though seemingly addressed to Wang Xifeng, were actually meant for both Madam Xing and Madam Wang.

That's true, Jia Lian is already a marquis.

With this identity alone, in any dynasty or family, he would definitely be the head of the family.

In other words, from now on, it seems that the master will have to take a backseat to the second master Lian in matters of the household...

Previously, after Jia Lian had just inherited the title and even acted as the clan head, many people in the family still believed that Jia Lian and Jia Zheng would complement each other.

In fact, Jia Zheng might be the primary figure, with Jia Lian as secondary.

Because Jia Zheng was not only an elder, but also the biological father of the Imperial Concubine.

There were even rumors that Jia Zheng would soon be promoted.

Li Wan didn't think this was just a rumor. She had heard from Grandmother Jia and others that, according to the rules, whenever a new noblewoman was promoted in the palace, the emperor would promote the noblewoman's close relatives to higher ranks or even titles.

Yuan Chun was not only made a concubine, but also promoted to the rank of Imperial Noble Consort, while Jia Zheng was still just a minor official!

This is because the Jia family is preparing for a visit to their relatives.

Once this matter is resolved, Jia Zheng will most likely be promoted.

If that's the case, Jia Zheng will still be the master of the Rongguo Mansion.

But who could have imagined that Jia Lian would suddenly be promoted, and rise so high that he almost reached the level of the old Duke!

Putting aside everything else, the achievement of raising the family's title from a second-class general to a marquis is unparalleled in the Jia family!

That would have ensured the family's wealth for at least two generations.

Not to mention, the fact that the emperor is willing to bestow such favor upon Jia Lian shows how high Jia Lian's current imperial favor is.

No one can replace him.

No one can suppress them.

Even Jia Mu, who was the wife of the Duke of Rongguo, was not allowed to do so.

Besides, it's impossible for Grandmother Jia to suppress Jia Lian. Everyone has seen how filial and respectful Second Master Lian is to the old lady.

They are, after all, related grandparents and grandchildren.

Even now, if someone says that Baoyu is no longer Jia Mu's most beloved grandson, some people might believe it.

Thinking about Jia Lian's glory over the years, even someone as pure and abstinent as Li Wan couldn't help but let her imagination run wild.

She remembered that Jia Lian used to pass by her courtyard every evening when he practiced. She could see Jia Lian's figure coming home from afar through the sparse flowers, trees and shrubs in the courtyard and the lattice wall.

She also remembered the time when Jia Lian got drunk, and she was sent back to his room by Grandmother Jia. As a result, Jia Lian mistook her for Wang Xifeng and even made a lewd move on her.

She remembers all of these things vividly.

"Grandma...?"

Su Yue's voice brought Li Wan back to her senses.

Just as he was about to turn around to look at his maid, he suddenly caught sight of someone in front of him out of the corner of his eye and immediately looked up.

This sight nearly scared her out of her wits. She couldn't help but take a step back, asking in a panic, "Second...Second Uncle, where did you come from?"

Jia Lian frowned.

What's wrong with Li Wan? I saw her just now, and when I went up to greet her, she didn't hear me.

Why do I see myself now as if I'm seeing a raging flood or a ferocious beast?

"I just came from the east courtyard. Is your sister-in-law alright?"

"No, I'm fine..."

Jia Lian glanced at her from head to toe.

Needless to say, as one of the twelve beauties in the official register, Li Wan's beauty was absolutely impeccable, second only to a few other women he had ever seen.

Although she is five or six years older than Wang Xifeng, she is only twenty-five or twenty-six years old now.

She was the same height as Wang Xifeng, but not as slender, appearing somewhat plump, which was similar to Sister-in-law You in the other mansion.

Her simple, plain attire, combined with the reserved temperament she had cultivated over many years of widowhood, made her appear elegant and refined, with a Confucian air of tranquility, but ultimately lacked the vitality that youth should possess.

Even if placed in a Taoist temple, standing among those ascetic nuns, she wouldn't stand out.

Noticing that Li Wan seemed uneasy under her gaze, Jia Lian turned to Su Yue and asked, "Is your mistress feeling unwell?"

Su Yue looked at Jia Lian with a puzzled expression, then at her mistress, and asked, "Mistress, are you feeling unwell?"

She also felt that her great-grandmother's reaction just now was too abnormal.

Master Lian is such a gentle and refined person, why would the eldest mistress be afraid of him? He's not even afraid of us little maids.

Li Wan took a deep breath to calm herself down. "Thank you for your concern, Second Uncle. I'm really fine. I was just lost in thought."

"I see."

Jia Lian nodded, then said to Su Yue, "Take good care of your grandmother. If anything happens, remember to report to Madam or the Old Madam. You can also tell me and your Second Mistress Lian."

After Jia Lian finished speaking, he bowed to Li Wan and left.

Yes~

Su Yue bowed to Jia Lian happily, and only stood up after Jia Lian had walked far away. Then she smiled at Li Wan and said, "Second Master Lian is such a good person. He is so gentle to us. No wonder everyone envies the maids in his room."

Li Wan glanced at her, her lips twitching. Was this girl implying that she had treated her badly?

She didn't argue with her maid, but looked back at the direction Jia Lian had gone, her mind in turmoil.

He said that if she had something to say, she could tell her wife, her grandmother, or even Wang Xifeng and she would understand.

Why tell him?

She didn't know whether it was just polite talk, a slip of the tongue, or intentional.

There's no need to think it through. In short, given their identities, they are destined to keep to themselves and have no chance of any interaction.