Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

When Jia Lian appeared at Rongqing Hall, the sisters in the garden were already eagerly awaiting his arrival.

As soon as Jia Lian finished exchanging greetings with Grandmother Jia, Xiangyun eagerly stepped forward and asked, "Second Brother Lian, it's already past Chen Shi (7-9 AM), when are we setting off?"

Dressed in red, Xiangyun, with her tomboyish charm, looked adorable and lively.

Jia Lian couldn't help but touch the bun on her head and said with a smile, "Anytime is fine."

After speaking, Jia Lian raised his head, looked at Baoqin beside Baochai, and waved to her.

Baoqin was puzzled, but she still moved closer.

Jia Lian then handed her the marriage certificate that he had been hiding in his sleeve.

"This is……"

Not only Baoqin was puzzled, but also people like Tanchun came over to take a look.

Jia Lian said, "The eldest son of the Mei family is involved in the Crown Prince's case and his return is uncertain. The Mei family couldn't bear to delay your life, so Hanlin Mei personally came to the mansion to return the marriage certificate, stating that this marriage is now off and both families are free to marry each other from now on."

Everyone was stunned by Jia Lian's words. Could it be that simple?

While breaking off an engagement isn't absolutely rare, it shouldn't be done so casually, right?

Moreover, most engagements that are broken off end badly because the two families have a falling out. How could the Mei family be so kind as to take the initiative to break off the engagement just so as not to delay the bride's life, simply because their son was in jail?

Even Grandmother Jia, who was embracing and caressing Jia Baoyu, was startled and said to Baoqin, who was still in a daze, "Qin'er, let me see."

Holding the marriage certificate, Baoqin walked back blankly, unsure of what to do, and handed it to Grandmother Jia.

Grandmother Jia slowly opened the document, glanced at it twice, and soon a smile appeared on her face. She said, "That's right, it's your marriage certificate."

Most of the sisters in the room had never seen what a marriage certificate looked like before. When they saw Grandmother Jia smile, they all crowded forward to take a look.

Unfortunately, Grandmother Jia casually handed it to Yuanyang, who was standing nearby, and told her to put it away again. Then she said to Baoqin, "Keep it safe. When you get back, give it to your mistress. Whether she seals it or destroys it is up to her. In short, from now on, you have absolutely no connection with the Mei family."

Grandmother Jia already adored Baoqin, and now that Baoqin's marriage was canceled, the biggest obstacle to taking Baoqin as her granddaughter-in-law was gone, and she looked at Baoqin with even more doting affection.

He pulled Baoqin into his arms as well, embracing both Baoqin and Jia Baoyu on either side.

Baoqin only started to feel shy at this moment. She took the marriage certificate from Yuanyang's hand and quietly tucked it into her sleeve so that no one could see it.

Jia Baoyu stared blankly at Baoqin, who was so close to him, her face so clean and flawless it seemed unreal.

The others in the hall had already started discussing it, and Xiangyun asked Jia Lian curiously, "Why didn't the Mei family go to the Xue family to break off the engagement, but instead sent the marriage certificate to you?"

Jia Lian smiled but remained silent.

Tan Chun quickly pulled Xiang Yun along.

When Xiangyun saw the way everyone was looking at her, she seemed to realize that she had said the wrong thing, smiled awkwardly, and shut up.

In fact, many people have similar questions in their minds.

They still remembered how Mrs. Mei had treated them when her requests were rejected.

Would someone like this, fearing that his son's accident would delay the woman's marriage, hastily call off the engagement?

Even if the Mei family is truly so kind, why don't they go to the Xue family to return the money, and instead go to Jia Lian?

No matter how I think about it, it doesn't seem reasonable.

Grandmother Jia said, "I asked him to do this."

"I discussed this with your aunt before, and we think it would be better to cancel Baoqin's engagement."

Your aunt was worried that if she went to break off the engagement, she would be harassed by Mrs. Mei. Therefore, I suggested that your second brother, Lian, help Qin retrieve the marriage certificate.

To stop the criticism, Grandmother Jia explained the whole story.

After hearing this, everyone realized it made sense.

Indeed, if Lian Erge (Second Brother Lian) were to ask the Mei family to return the marriage certificate, the Mei family would likely give it to him whether they wanted to or not.

Although it is unknown whether Lian Ergege forced the Mei family, since Lian Ergegege said that the Mei family was kind and took the initiative to return it, then it must have been a kind and voluntary return.

Everyone found the matter of breaking off an engagement to be simple and taken for granted when it came to Jia Lian.

Even Grandmother Jia sighed inwardly. The matter she had just entrusted to Jia Lian yesterday had been settled by this morning. Her adopted grandson's ability to get things done was truly admirable.

So Grandmother Jia smiled at Jia Lian and said, "Are you taking Yu'er and the others out of town for a spring outing today? Why didn't you invite Baoyu along?"

"My third sister already called him, but he said he didn't want to go out."

"You call yourself the older brother? Can't you be a little more understanding and considerate? He said he wouldn't go, so you just ignored him and left him all alone at home?"

Faced with Grandmother Jia's questioning, Jia Lian shook his head and smiled, then looked at Jia Baoyu, who seemed a little embarrassed, and said with a smile, "Did you hear that? I'm asking you myself now, are you going out of the city with us for a trip?"

Jia Baoyu glanced at Jia Lian, then at Grandmother Jia, and finally nodded in response to the hopeful gazes of Tan Chun and the others.

Actually, he didn't want to go out of town to have fun; it was just that he was feeling a bit awkward because Jia Lian had organized the gathering, and Jia Lian hadn't invited him.

But this morning, seeing the ladies in the garden packing their bags and setting off with their maids, he had already regretted it.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be here.

Just now, when Grandmother Jia asked him, he had actually expressed his desire to go, which is why Grandmother Jia helped him stop Jia Lian.

Jia Lian, however, felt indifferent about whether or not Jia Baoyu should be taken along.

Anyway, Jia Baoyu is harmless, and if it were a lewd man like Xue Pan, he would never have taken him along.

Therefore, if he is willing, Jia Lian doesn't mind taking him out to play; if he quarrels with him, he is too lazy to serve him.

His patience was only truly boundless when it came to Daiyu.

Seeing that there were no more obstacles to travel, Xiangyun and the others began to urge them again.

Grandmother Jia hurriedly said, "Although I don't object to you taking them out to play, remember to take good care of them and make sure they don't fall or get hurt."

Also, the accompanying guards must be properly arranged…”

Grandmother Jia was just nagging for nothing; she actually knew that Jia Lian was reliable and unlikely to make mistakes. She wouldn't feel comfortable entrusting Jia Baoyu to anyone else.

Soon, Jia Lian led Jia Baoyu, eight girls from the Grand View Garden, and a dozen maids out of Rongqing Hall.

Each maid carried a bundle on her back, containing her own and her mistress's belongings.

Everyone wore smiles, their voices melodious and cheerful. The commotion they created naturally drew the attention of the servants and maids in the courtyard, who stopped to watch and marvel at their feats.

……

Although Jia Lian had specifically instructed that the trip be relatively low-key, involving only seven or eight carriages and dozens of guards and attendants.

However, Jia Lian was the focus of attention for all parties, and it was during such a special period. Therefore, almost as soon as his team left Ningrong Street, the news reached the ears of several forces.

In the Daming Palace, Emperor Ningkang had just summoned several close ministers to discuss a few matters and deal with a group of people. Before he could even rest, he heard the news that Jia Lian had left the city.

Especially after learning that Jia Lian seemed to have taken his brothers and sisters out of the city for a spring outing, he was immediately filled with intense jealousy.

Perhaps sensing the unusual expression on Emperor Ningkang's face, Chu Jiang, the deputy commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, as soon as the Duke of Rong left the city, I arranged for elite personnel to secretly follow him, and they can report to Your Majesty on the Duke of Rong's movements at any time!"

Chu Jiang's words had a hint of self-aggrandizement, as this was a crucial period, and given Jia Lian's special status, he was naturally a key person to watch.

He believed that Emperor Ningkang thought the same way.

To everyone's surprise, Emperor Ningkang merely glanced at him and then calmly ordered, "Withdraw your men. From now on, except for necessary intelligence gathering, there's no need to deliberately monitor Jia Lian's movements. Let him do whatever he wants."

As one of the three leaders of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Chu Jiang naturally understood Emperor Ningkang's temperament very well. Therefore, he knew that Emperor Ningkang's glance just now clearly showed some dissatisfaction.

He was quite surprised. His job was to monitor all officials and even the imperial relatives and nobles on behalf of Emperor Ningkang. Now that Emperor Ningkang had just seized power through a coup, Jia Lian, as the grandson of the retired emperor who had placed great hopes on him in his time of crisis, was clearly a dangerous element. Wasn't it only natural to monitor him?

Why is Emperor Ningkang dissatisfied?

Especially the last sentence, what does it mean to let him do whatever he wants?

Chu Jiang didn't quite understand, but he knew that this newly promoted Duke of Rong held a very special place in Emperor Ningkang's heart, so he quickly agreed.

How could he possibly know what Emperor Ningkang was thinking?

Since the Iron Net Mountain Incident, Jia Lian had always been impeccable and demonstrated absolute loyalty to him. Even when Jia Lian discarded him like a used tool, taking back all of his military power, Jia Lian never uttered a word of complaint.

Jia Lian has already gone to such lengths. If Jia Lian knew that he was secretly sending people to monitor him, wouldn't Jia Lian secretly laugh at him?

Although he was an emperor, he was still a human being and cared about his reputation.

Especially in front of an unparalleled talent like Jia Lian, he had to maintain his lofty image; otherwise, how could he tame such a fine steed?

Moreover, he genuinely didn't believe Jia Lian would secretly do anything to oppose him.

Back then, Jia Lian held military power and artillery, and faced with the Emperor Emeritus's earnest recruitment, he chose to stand on his side without hesitation.

Now that he has taken back all his military power, and those who firmly supported the retired emperor have been killed, what reason does Jia Lian have to go back on his word at this time?

The only thing that angered him was that while he was racking his brains and exhausting his energy, Jia Lian was at home indulging in romance and pleasure...

After dismissing Chu Jiang, Emperor Ningkang became increasingly angry. Therefore, he issued an edict to Dai Quan: "After he returns to the city, go and ask him if he has forgotten what he told me about the powerful enemy in the western sea."

Then I issued an imperial decree ordering him to depart for Tianjin on a chosen date to continue overseeing the construction of warships. A year later, I want to see a thousand new warships!

Hearing Emperor Ningkang's clearly resentful words, Dai Quan chuckled inwardly, but still had to remind him: "Your Majesty, have you forgotten how much money the Duke of Rong spent on shipbuilding? Most of the silver in the national treasury has already found a place to go."

Therefore, let alone whether Marquis Zhenyuan could build a thousand warships within a year, even if he could, I'm afraid the national treasury wouldn't be able to afford the consumption..."

Emperor Ningkang was so angry that he lost his mind, and only then did he realize how terrible Jia Lian's shipbuilding was.

And then there's the Zhenyuan, which Jia Lian had already built, causing him immense heartache, but after seeing the finished drawings, he was incredibly satisfied. He had long wanted to see its true form...

After thinking for a moment, Emperor Ningkang changed his mind and said, "Then let's make three hundred ships, size doesn't matter... Also, tell him to save some money for me. If he tries to make any more exorbitant demands, I won't give him a single penny. Let him figure it out himself!"

For some reason, Emperor Ningkang felt a sense of urgency, hoping to quickly build a fleet capable of expeditions overseas, just as Jia Lian had described. He wanted to see if those western sea barbarians were truly as threatening as Jia Lian had said…