The filial son of the Red Mansion

"My dear aunt, where does it hurt?"

Chapter 20: Wang Xifeng's Scheme

Wang Xifeng saw him stretching his hand forward to move towards her legs, so she quickly dodged and said, "Stay aside, as soon as you raised your hand, I knew you were holding back something. Is there anything else you want my help with? Tell me all at once. If you don't tell me tomorrow, I won't admit it."

Seeing that he couldn't touch Wang Xifeng's legs, Jia Rong held Wang Xifeng's hand.

"Aunt and I have always been very close, and she has helped me a lot these days. I remember it all. Since you are not feeling well, it is only natural for me to show my filial piety. However, since you have said so, I really need your help with something."

Wang Xifeng's cold hands were wrapped in warmth, and a little warmth gradually spread from her fingers and the back of her hands to her heart, giving her a strange feeling. She spat and said, "What's the problem again?"

Jia Rong gently rubbed the slender hand and pleaded, "Aunt, you have seen my father's condition today, and the doctor also said that he will not live for many days. Many things must be calculated in advance. I have never been a housekeeper, so I don't understand many things. For example, I don't know when to prepare the funeral supplies or what the etiquette and rules are."

Wang Xifeng felt tingling on the palms of her hands and a slight itch on her back.

He sighed, "The old lady sent me here today to take a look. I'll go back and tell her tonight. Your two masters from the West Mansion will come tomorrow. They have their own ideas about the etiquette and ceremonials. As for the coffin, just ask your second uncle Lian to find it."

Wang Xifeng felt as if her palm was being tickled. She paused, glared at him, and said, "Go to Xuanzhen Temple early tomorrow morning and bring your grandfather back. Things have come to this, and Brother Zhen may pass away someday. At least let them meet each other."

Jia Rong listened attentively and unconsciously kneaded Wang Xifeng's hands into various shapes. After being glared at, he realized that Sister Feng was not angry and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. At the same time, he became bolder and kneaded Wang Xifeng's hands wantonly.

"Auntie's hands are a little cold. Let me warm them up for you."

He made an excuse to laugh and asked, "The four palaces didn't send anyone to inquire today. Should I find an excuse to send a letter tomorrow?"

Wang Xifeng probably believed it and let him do as he pleased.

Ping'er glanced at Fengjie suspiciously, then at Jia Rong, seeming to want to say something but stopping herself.

I only heard Second Madam Lian say, "Now the four royal palaces are much more distant from us. When Brother Zhen passes away, we will submit a petition to the palace and ask the Imperial Observatory to come and choose a date. Whether the four royal palaces will come to offer sacrifices will also depend on the palace's order. Now, they definitely cannot come."

Ping'er had a complicated expression. She didn't meddle in other people's business, but was just worried about whether someone would come outside.

After hearing this, Jia Rong thought about it carefully and felt that it made sense.

After all, the four royal palaces were not comparable to the eight dukes' palaces that had already fallen. It was nothing for the dukes' palace to send someone to inquire about Jia Zhen's situation. If the four royal palaces showed up, even if there was nothing wrong, it would still arouse suspicion from those with ulterior motives.

Now that the new emperor has just been established and the emperor emeritus has half retired, the situation in the court must be very complicated.

Jia Rong also learned that the name of the dynasty was Da Wu. At the end of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Taizu started an uprising in Jiangnan, and the families in Jinling responded. The four families of Jinling, Jia, Wang, Xue, and Shi, as well as several other families, followed Emperor Taizu to build meritorious careers. Thus, there were the four major families of Jinling, as well as the glory of the four kings and eight dukes.

Jia, Wang, Xue and Shi were originally from the same hometown, and after the founding of the Wu Kingdom, they had very close contacts.

The wife of the second Duke of Rong, Jia Daishan, now the old lady of the West Mansion, is the daughter of the Shi family; Lady Wang, the wife of Jia Zheng, and Wang Xifeng, the wife of Jia Lian, are both from the Wang family; Lady Wang's sister married into the Xue family and gave birth to a son named Pan and a daughter named Baochai.

The four families of Jinling are intermarried, and their relationship is closer than that of the Eight Lords.

"I wonder how old Xue Baochai is now? Why hasn't she come to the Jia Mansion yet?" Jia Rong calculated secretly, but when he looked up, he saw Wang Xifeng's cold eyes.

Sister Feng said coldly, "What was Rong'er thinking about just now? Why did she look like that?"

look?

What expression?

I guess Xue Baochai is not very old now, so how could she possibly think about that?

Jia Rong shook his head repeatedly. "My dear aunt, you must have seen it wrong. It's cold today. I will take you back home."

Wang Xifeng snorted coldly, thinking that he was thinking of something dirty, and quickly pulled back his hand. She said coldly, "No need, Ping'er, let's go."

Ouch.

Why are you angry for no reason?

"Aunt, please wait a moment. I have something for you." Jia Rong called Wang Xifeng and hurried out of the room to get a copper-faced round hand-warming stove. He said anxiously, "I see your hands are very cold today, and you don't have a hand-warming stove with you. Take this, and you won't be cold on the way back home."

Wang Xifeng stared at the copper stove in a daze, and then seeing Jia Rong's concerned expression, she felt an indescribable feeling in her heart.

The stove was not big, and could be held tightly with both hands. She held it in her hands, and a wisp of fragrant smoke rose from the hole on the stove. The temperature of the copper surface was not too hot, nor was it cold. It seemed to have just been burned, just the right warmth.

Jia Rong smiled and said, "I thought that since my aunt came here today and had nothing on her hands, I asked the maid to order it when she came over."

Wang Xifeng nodded woodenly, without any of the domineering aura of Second Madam Lian.

"Rong'er, you are thoughtful."

"That's what I should do." Jia Rong laughed and said, "As long as Auntie likes it."

A person like Wang Xifeng who is good at scheming pays the most attention to details and is actually the easiest to be defeated by others' schemes.

Unfortunately, no one has ever taken care of the details she cares about.

Jia Rong is the first and only one.

Wang Xifeng held the copper stove in her hands, with mixed emotions in her heart. She turned around and led Ping'er for a few steps, then turned back and saw Jia Rong still there. She said, "I just remembered something. Rong'er, please send us off. I'll tell you on the way."

"Okay."

There was no reason for Jia Rong to refuse, so he hurriedly invited Wang Xifeng to go out the side door and get in the carriage.

In the car.

Jia Rong sat next to Wang Xifeng and asked, "Aunt, what do you want to tell Rong'er?"

Wang Xifeng's face was hidden in the darkness, so it was hard to see her expression. She said slowly, "After all, such a big thing happened just after the wedding. Today, I will say good things about your wife in front of the old lady. When you go back later, remember to tell your wife to behave well in front of the ladies tomorrow."

Although Jia Rong was also a scheming person, he did not understand what Wang Xifeng meant at this time. He asked puzzledly: "What performance do you mean, aunt?"

Wang Xifeng said, "Old ladies are very soft-hearted when they are old. They cannot bear to see the younger generation cry. What are you touching with your hands?" She paused, and no one knew what she was thinking. The carriage was silent for a moment, and Wang Xifeng said, "If you feel cold, put your hands on the stove. Don't interrupt me."

Jia Rong reached for the incense burner but accidentally touched Wang Xifeng's soft legs. Not hearing any scolding, he reached back and touched Wang Xifeng's fingers holding the copper incense burner.

It’s warm indeed.

"Tell your wife to cry in front of the old lady tomorrow and say more words of self-blame..." Wang Xifeng said, her brows gradually frowning.

Chapter 21: Insincere praise of "filial piety"

"Aunt's hands, why are they still so cold?"

Jia Rong's voice floated into her ears. Wang Xifeng relaxed her brows and scolded softly, "You unlucky seed, did you listen to my words?"

"I've got it in mind!" Jia Rong laughed. He naturally listened to it.

Wang Xifeng's suggestion was also in line with his idea. Although he disliked Grandmother Jia, she was the elder of both houses after all. Most people in Rongguo Mansion did things according to Grandmother Jia's wishes, and they were all snobbish.

He didn't want Qin Keqing to suffer any injustice in the Jia family, and in the end it would ruin his mood for the evening.

He also thought carefully that if Lady Jia treated Keqing differently in the future, his work in Rongguo Mansion would be much smoother.

It would be very convenient for him to go to Rongguo Mansion in the future, and he would have one more reason. Especially since there were many girls in Rongguo Mansion, such as Aunt Li's two daughters, Xue's sisters, Xiangling who had the temperament of Keqing, and Miaoyu who practiced Buddhism in the Grand View Garden.

Once you come to the Red Mansion, even if you don't have big ambitions, you at least have to meet and make some friends with all those beautiful people.

Who wouldn’t be curious about what those hairpins look like?

It would be best if we could make friends with them.

As a man! He never denied that he had bad qualities. If he couldn't be bold and dissolute in his life, what was the point?

Of course, he is not the kind of person who would just take possession of a beautiful woman when he sees her, but he would win her over by conquering her heart.

As the saying goes: She is good, I am good too, we can choose any posture we want.

Wang Xifeng asked, "What are you doing with my hand?"

Jia Rong carefully held Sister Feng's cold hand and said earnestly, "I'm afraid you have a cold. I'll send you some medicinal food tomorrow to nourish you."

It just so happened that he had received a lot of dietary pastries and kibbutzim for strengthening the body at a funeral before, and he had eaten some of them to replenish himself, so he still had a lot left.

It's better to keep it as a favor. Besides, Wang Xifeng has helped him a lot, so he can't just take without giving anything in return, otherwise he will lose friends easily.

Wang Xifeng was surprised and asked, "You also know that stuff?"

"My nephew knows a lot."

Jia Rong said with a big grin.

He secretly glanced at Wang Xifeng in the dark, put Wang Xifeng's hand back on the stove, and covered the back of Wang Xifeng's hand with his own hand. He made up his mind that he would not take it away until Wang Xifeng spoke.

He was so bold that if Wang Xifeng started scolding him again, he would have an excuse.

What he didn't expect was that Wang Xifeng didn't mention this matter at all. She just continued to remind him what preparations he should make tomorrow and told him what to tell Qin Keqing and she must not say anything.

Before he knew it, Jia Rong had taken advantage of Wang Xifeng's inattention and had already taken Wang Xifeng's hand.

But after a while, the carriage stopped at the west corner gate of Rongguo Mansion.

Jia Rong let go of Wang Xifeng's hand with a little regret and got off the carriage first.

Afterwards, under the watchful eyes of several gatekeepers at Rongguo Mansion, he treated Wang Xifeng to a carriage with great filial piety.

"Aunt, watch your step."

The light from the lanterns under the eaves of the west corner gate shone onto Wang Xifeng's face, where a faint smile was visible.

Wang Xifeng landed on the ground, and then she held out the stove in her hand and said, "It's cold today, Rong'er, take it back."

"Aunt, I still have a few steps to go before I reach the yard, and I need this thing to keep warm on the way. Please just go back to the yard quickly, and I will go home first." Jia Rong was unwilling to take it, so he got on the carriage and urged the servant who led the horse to go back home.

Wang Xifeng looked out from the corner door, and a smile appeared on her lips that she had never seen before.

Usually the person guarding the corner gates was an important housekeeper's wife in the mansion. The one on duty at the west corner gate was Zhou Rui's wife, known as "Zhou Rui's wife". She was Wang Xifeng's companion and had a high status among the servants in the mansion. She was in charge of the travel of the ladies in the mansion at the corner gates, so she often worked and appeared beside Wang Xifeng.

At this moment, Zhou Ruijia looked at the carriage going away from the East Palace, and smiled as she prepared a sedan chair to invite Wang Xifeng into the palace. She flattered him, "In the past, people always said bad things about Master Xiaorong. But in the past few days, I have seen that he is truly filial to Grandma."

Wang Xifeng held the copper stove in her hand, took a quick look, and smiled meaningfully. She said, "Rong'er is indeed a filial person."

After listening to the conversation between the two, Ping'er couldn't help but think about the meaning of the word "filial piety" in her heart.

At this moment, Jia Rong in the carriage only heard a reminder in his head: [Mission Completed]

[Received Wang Xifeng's insincere praise for her "filial piety", and was rewarded with a Western-style musket]

【Remaining tasks】

[Task 1: Receive praise for being filial at Jia Zhen's funeral. Reward: 50 taels of silver]

[Task 2: Receive insincere praise from Mrs. You for being filial, reward: one piece of gold-thread soft armor]

[Task 3, receive Wang Xifeng's sincere praise for "filial piety", reward: one ounce of silver]

What is the insincere praise of "filial piety"?