Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

"Sir, this is the preliminary inventory of the Wang family's assets."

As evening fell, Jia Lian returned to the Salt Administration Office, feeling somewhat tired, but he still mustered his energy to take the roster handed to him by Yang Xun. After reading it, he frowned and asked, "Why are there so many fewer people than the Zhao family?"

Yang Xun and the others laughed and said, "Sir, you may not know this, but although the Wang family holds the position of vice president of the guild, they have not been wealthy for as long as the Zhao family. Moreover, the Wang family also runs a money exchange. It is said that the Wang Family Money Exchange is quite famous in all the major prefectures of Jiangnan. Therefore, I'm afraid that the Wang family has pledged most of their money in the money exchange."

Jia Lian suddenly realized, then laughed self-deprecatingly, realizing he had almost become obsessed.

It was also because these salt merchants were simply too wealthy, especially the mountains of gold and silver bricks piled up in the Zhao family's secret chamber, which was so dazzling that it made him subconsciously have high expectations for the Wang family as well.

Looking back now, although the Wang family did have a larger share of salt permits, they also had to pay tribute to the Crown Prince and others. Therefore, the profits remaining in the Wang family were probably not much more than those in the Zhao family. In addition, given that they had only been established for a short time, it was normal that they could not compare with the Zhao family.

"My lord, the Wang family's other businesses are fine; the government has a set of methods for dealing with them, such as how to convert them into cash or sell them."

However, because the Wang family's money shop involves a great many loans, it could cause unnecessary turmoil if not handled properly.

Prefect Zou suggested selecting some powerful merchants in Jiangnan and having them compete to sell the entire Wang family's money shop. This would save the lord a lot of time and be much more convenient.

Jia Lian nodded, agreeing that selling the whole package as a package was indeed the best option.

Moreover, aren't those salt merchants going to invite him to dinner in three days? They'll probably behave much better this time.

If things can be settled by then, he wouldn't mind sharing the salt permits of the Wang family's money shop and the Zhao and Wang families with them.

After hosting a simple banquet at the yamen to reward his subordinates Yang Xun, Zhao Cheng, and other close associates, as well as Yangzhou officials like Gao Kui and Zou Tong who had helped him, Jia Lian went back to his room to rest.

"Sir~~"

Having safely reunited with her son, Madam Xu's eyes were filled with tenderness when she saw Jia Lian.

Dressed in a bright and sunny spring outfit, she stepped forward with graceful steps.

These past few days, even knowing that people would gossip, she still came every day to help Jia Lian tidy up his house, acting as if she were Jia Lian's maid.

After thanking Jia Lian gently for saving her son, she noticed that Jia Lian looked a little tired, so she stood quietly behind him and massaged his shoulders.

After a while, Jia Lian opened his eyes, pulled her into his arms, lowered his head to sniff her chest, and smiled, "Have you taken a bath?"

Xu blushed slightly, but still nodded immediately.

As Jia Lian laughed, he couldn't help but reach out and gently massage her ample bosom, asking with a smile, "I wonder if there's any poison here, Madam?"

Xu Shi could easily see through Jia Lian's teasing, so she smiled and replied, "If I say it's not poisonous, would you dare to try it, sir?"

Originally a well-bred and dignified lady of high birth, she had already begun to display her charm in front of him within a few days, which made Jia Lian nod in approval, thinking that she was indeed a promising young woman.

After carefully considering the woman's figure and observing her face, I felt that although she was not very young and her skin was not as delicate as that of a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl, the beauty of her appearance and figure was something that was hard to find in this world.

In Jia Lian's opinion, when she was young, she must have been no less beautiful than those famous courtesans. In fact, even now, her charm surpasses that of the most famous courtesan, Jiang Yun.

So he patted her bottom, and after she got up, he ordered, "Put the cups and saucers on the table over there."

Although puzzled, Madam Xu still obediently did as she was told, maintaining her dignified posture. After cleaning the table, she walked over to Jia Lian and looked at him with a questioning gaze.

"The lady's figure is so beautiful, yet I have never properly appreciated it; it is my fault."

On this auspicious occasion, would you, my lady, be willing to grace this table and display your figure so that I may have a good look at you?

Xu looked at Jia Lian, who was all serious, and then at the bare, cold table. Suddenly her face turned bright red, and then she was overjoyed.

"My lord, does this mean you're willing to take me in...?"

Xu's voice was full of shyness. Seeing that Jia Lian remained noncommittal, she stood there for a moment with a flushed face, then glared at Jia Lian, turned around, bent over, and shyly lay on the table.

Although I felt ashamed, I was also very gratified.

All because on that day, she mustered up the courage to go to Jia Lian late at night. Although Jia Lian did not refuse her and even let her stay overnight, he disliked her for being stupid and only disciplined her.

Even when he saw that she was aroused by love, he only used methods to appease her and never actually took advantage of her body.

Although she felt fortunate to have preserved her innocence, she also secretly felt that Jia Lian despised her for being a fallen woman and refused to condescend to enjoy her, which saddened her deeply.

Today, seeing her son return safely, she was overjoyed and grateful, so she carefully bathed and dressed up before coming to repay Jia Lian.

Who would have thought that Jia Lian would make her pose like that? She wasn't some naive virgin who knew nothing; what did it mean to admire one's figure by posing in such an embarrassing way?

Therefore, she couldn't help but look back at Jia Lian with a mixture of shyness and amusement.

A beautiful woman, slender and alluring, captivating at first glance.

Jia Lian nodded, then stood up and walked over.

Unexpectedly, whether out of nervousness or embarrassment, the beauty suddenly turned over and sat up, curling her arms around Jia Lian.

"What's wrong?" Jia Lian asked with a smile, not at all in a hurry, as he grabbed her hands.

Madam Xu blushed and remained silent for a moment, then suddenly looked up and asked, "I wonder what you think of my daughter's appearance, sir?"

Jia Lian was slightly taken aback, then looked at her with a half-smile.

Ms. Xu blushed even more.

"It is said that daughters resemble their mothers. Madam is exceptionally beautiful, so your daughter must be exceptionally lovely as well."

Madam Xu was delighted and asked hesitantly, "Then, I wonder if you, sir, would be willing to take her in and let her serve you..."

It took a great deal of shame for Ms. Xu to finally speak out about this matter that she had been considering for so long.

It's no wonder she's shameless.

He knew that Jia Lian had already confiscated the property of the Zhao and Wang families and punished them, so this matter of the salt tax shortfall could not be resolved peacefully.

Although she felt that given Jia Lian's attitude towards her, it wouldn't be difficult for him to protect her and her two children, she knew that the An family's former wealth and status were definitely beyond saving.

At this point, if she cannot find a trustworthy backer, she and her two children will likely be at the mercy of others.

Jia Lian, on the other hand, was undoubtedly a powerful and trustworthy right-hand man.

But she understood that her relationship with Jia Lian was nothing more than a charade, a mutually beneficial arrangement. Jia Lian could not possibly take responsibility for an older woman much older than him, and she, as the mother of two children, might shamelessly follow Jia Lian to the Duke's mansion as a maid or concubine.

Therefore, marrying his daughter to Jia Lian as a concubine was the best and most perfect solution that could satisfy all parties.

Given Jia Lian's character, appearance, and status, even if he were to make his daughter a concubine, he would not mistreat her.

Jia Lian laughed, lifted Xu Shi's chin, and said with a smile, "Is it that now that I've promised you, Madam, you don't intend to offer yourself to me?"

Madam Xu blushed crimson at the teasing, and said somewhat embarrassedly, "I am already past my prime, and no longer a virgin. To you, sir, I am nothing but game, worthless, um~~!"

But Jia Lian wrapped his arms around her shapely buttocks, pulled her up into the air, and smiled as he faced her, saying, "But, I only like you, a faded flower. What should I do? Why don't you and Cai'er come with me?"

"This, how can this possibly happen..."

Mrs. Xu was so ashamed that she wished she could disappear into the ground.

"Hahaha."

Seeing Xu's amusing reaction, Jia Lian couldn't help but laugh, before turning serious and saying, "I appreciate your kindness. But no matter what, your daughter is the orphan of a court official. If I were to take her as a concubine at this time, it would inevitably be seen as taking advantage of her vulnerability."

Besides, your daughter must have grown up in luxury. Suddenly making her a concubine and having her serve others from now on, regardless of whether she is willing or not, don't you feel sorry for her?

As for me, since I can only choose one, I would rather choose the lady…”

"But."

"No buts, I haven't had enough of admiring your figure yet, madam. Why don't you turn around?"

After being put back on the ground, Madam Xu looked at Jia Lian carefully for a moment, and after confirming that Jia Lian was not lying, she could only slowly turn around and subconsciously slump onto the table.

When she came to her senses, she felt embarrassed again. But at the same time, she also felt a strong sense of joy.

After all, Jia Lian chose her over his young and beautiful daughter, which is the best praise and commendation for a woman, and something a woman should be secretly happy about.

She is no exception.