The Red Mansion Big Liar

This relationship is enough for Zhang Yun逸 to treat him differently.

However, since the matter was too obvious, it was inevitable that people would point fingers at him. When Zhang Yunyi saw him speak just now, he deliberately left a number.

This is not the first time he has done something similar.

Prior to this, several children sent by officials from Shuntian Prefecture to support the event were also selected, as well as the illegitimate son of Zhou Chengru, the Minister of Works, and several teachers.

It wasn't too conspicuous to mention Wu Qi at this moment.

Of course, the master leads you to the door, but the practice is up to you. If these people are hopeless, they are just unpopular bastards in the family, so it is enough to show some mercy to them, and there is no need to spoil them.

……

While Zhang Yun逸 was teaching carefully and enlightening the people, Jia Zheng had been ill for many days.

In the past, no one would insist on taking a leave of absence, let alone for ten days or half a month, even for a year or two.

But now, the Ministry of Industry has urged us many times.

However, returning to the Ministry of Industry, I will inevitably have to face those ridicules and sarcasms.

When he thought of this, Jia Zheng felt humiliated and it was more painful than killing him.

He already knew that the emperor had granted the marriage because of the efforts of Lady Jia and Mrs. Wang, and he couldn't help but blame Zhang Yunyi for interfering.

If he hadn't been so talkative, how could there be a wedding garden?

Now, not only has the money been spent, but many variables have also been added.

However, although he cursed Zhang Yunyi's ancestors in his heart, he also knew that the situation was stronger than the person.

If she wanted to break the impasse and regain her face, she could only hope that he would speak well of her in front of the emperor.

But when he thought about the bad things that happened every time he went to see Zhang Yunyi, he was discouraged.

It can be said that if you stick your head out, you will be cut by the sword; if you hide your head, you will also be cut by the sword.

However, between two evils, one has to choose the lesser one. The embarrassment in front of Zhang Yun逸 will ultimately be limited to the mansion. But if the matter is delayed any further, it will become a laughing stock in the whole court.

Just when he finally made up his mind and decided to go to the East Palace for help rather than a long pain, he decided to go to the East Palace for help.

As soon as I arrived at the door, I heard the servants whispering outside.

"Master Yi is different. Even a house like the East Mansion needs to be renovated!"

"I'm afraid that Master Zhen died in disgrace, so he feels that living here is unlucky?"

"Uncle Zhen died in the backyard. A while ago, the construction of Huifang Garden started. I heard that Uncle Yi moved to the hot spring villa outside the city. He said that he wanted to turn every room into a warm room."

Hearing this, Jia Zheng's eyes suddenly gleamed with a sharp light, and his movement to push the door paused.

He squinted his eyes and stood at the door thinking for a long time. Slowly, a method that would achieve the best of both worlds and minimize the damage gradually took shape in his mind.

He straightened his robe, waited until the noise outside the room died down, then he took a deep breath, pushed the door open, and headed straight for Rong Xi Tang.

……

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 314: Follow the guidance

"Why is the master here?"

Ever since Jia Zheng gave Baoyu a severe beating because of Jin Chuan, the couple have never met each other properly again.

Mrs. Wang felt a little uncomfortable when she suddenly saw him.

Although the love between the couple had been almost worn out, the wife must obey her husband, so Jia Zheng was willing to give them a way out, and Mrs. Wang did not mind taking advantage of the situation.

Unexpectedly, her good expression was met with a cold snort: "Humph! Why am I here? How long has the eldest girl's matter been delayed? Aren't you in a hurry at all?"

"This..." Madam Wang was almost choked to death by his words. She said, "Master, what are you talking about? How can a woman like me have any say in the matter of asking for an imperial decree?"

Jia Zheng sneered, "You don't dare to say anything? When you were jumping up and down, I didn't see you have this much self-awareness!"

Mrs. Wang was speechless. It was indeed she and Lady Jia who had worked hard to arrange Yuanchun's marriage, but Jia Zheng only found fault with her and didn't go to Lady Jia, so she couldn't help feeling resentful.

"That's what the old lady meant. Why are you blaming me alone?"

Jia Zheng said righteously: "As a son, it's fine if I don't make her worry less, but do you think you are going to push such a small matter onto the old lady?"

"Forget it!" Mrs. Wang sighed, "I will write a letter now and ask my brother to help..."

She just thought that Jia Zheng was calling her to task and forcing her to ask her brother Wang Ziteng for help.

Unexpectedly, Jia Zheng snorted coldly: "Humph! Let's not talk about whether his words are effective or not. The emperor is far away and the opportunity is gone!"

Even if we ride at full speed, it will probably take a month to go back and forth. And now it's winter, if we encounter snow and wind, it will be more delayed.

The Ministry of Works was pressing him, and he was now under great pressure, anxious to get the matter resolved.

"Then tell me what to do! The old lady and I have tried to find the Zhen family, but now they are making excuses. What can I do?"

"Why is there no way?" Jia Zheng said confidently, "If it weren't for Brother Yi'er's interference, there wouldn't be this variable. He is in the emperor's favor, and he has been granted a title and a house. This matter was caused by him. Who else can we find if not him?"

Mrs. Wang blurted out, "Then go find me! You come to me to accuse me, do you want me to show up in public?"

She said this just to vent her anger, but unexpectedly Jia Zheng nodded solemnly and said, "You are the one who caused the trouble. I have been kept in the dark by you. Naturally, you have to go find him!"

"Aren't you afraid of losing face?" Mrs. Wang immediately retorted.

But after she said it, she felt a little regretful and worried. Could it be that Jia Zheng said that deliberately to test her?

She secretly glanced at Jia Zheng and saw that his expression was indeed frozen.

But before she could open her mouth to defend herself, Jia Zheng sighed, "You...you know everything?"

Mrs. Wang couldn't believe her ears. Although she had suspected it long ago that Jia Zheng had seen the unbearable scene, he was unwilling to say anything about it. It would have been fine if they kept it to themselves, but how could he admit it to her face?

"You...what do you mean?"

"What else could it mean? It's better for you to embarrass this person than for me to embarrass myself!"

Jia Zheng only invited Zhang Yun逸 to his house a few times, but each time he embarrassed him. Mrs. Wang also saw through the clues and no longer hid it.

Mrs. Wang didn't understand his logic for a moment, and thought he was deliberately humiliating her. She said angrily, "How can you say that? Isn't it your people that I lost?"

Jia Zheng couldn't help but feel embarrassed when he heard this, but then he shook his head and said, "Hey! How can this be confused? Besides, I've already inquired about it, Master. The East Palace is being renovated. He is now temporarily staying in a manor outside the city. Even if you are embarrassed when you go there, it won't spread to your family."

Mrs. Wang looked incredulous, but Jia Zheng did not notice her expression and swore, "He is not a gossiper. He did not spread the news the first two times. As long as you don't say anything and I don't say anything, naturally no one will know."

He was quite open-minded. It was embarrassing! As long as no one knew about it, it was not embarrassing.

Having learned from the previous experience when the Grand View Garden was completed, he had already made up his mind that when Mrs. Wang came to visit him, he would send the servants away and close the door. He would not come out to see anyone until the work was done.

Now that the conversation was out of the question, Madam Wang was too lazy to hide from him any longer and went straight to the point, "You...are you going to send me here to be humiliated?"

Jia Zheng did not understand the true meaning of this, and tried to persuade him kindly: "How can it be a humiliation? It is only a loss of face, and it will not be spread out. It is better than leaving the eldest girl's matter unresolved and making our house a laughing stock in the world!"

"Okay! Okay! I was wondering why you weren't afraid of losing face now! It seems that you think your face outside is more important, and you don't care about your face at home!"

Jia Zheng was not ill, but he had taken leave for more than half a month. Now he said such words. How could Mrs. Wang not guess the reason?

Originally, she suspected that Jia Zheng was testing her on purpose, but now seeing his attempt to cover up something that only made it more obvious, how could she not understand that she was overthinking?

Jia Zheng was speechless for a moment after his secret was exposed. He could only make up a story: "What do you mean by ignoring the family's reputation? I am doing this for the sake of the mansion. I am sacrificing my own interests for the sake of the greater good. The reputation of the mansion that has lasted for nearly a hundred years cannot be ruined in our hands!"

Although she could see that Jia Zheng had no intention of testing her, how could Mrs. Wang have the nerve to go along with it in front of him?

"Are you asking me to be humiliated for the sake of our mansion's reputation?" Thinking of Yuanchun's pending marriage, Mrs. Wang sighed, "Forget it! Ask someone to invite him over tomorrow, and then you can talk to him in person!"

"How can this be possible!" Jia Zheng immediately said with a stern face, "I have finally waited for such an opportunity, and I am still worried about him in the East Palace! Why are you still bringing him home?"

"You..." Mrs. Wang was filled with shame and anger. Her dignified face flushed red, her breathing was panting, and her majestic chest rose and fell.

"What's wrong with me? I'm doing this for your own good! Do you really want to throw me home?"

Jia Zheng still insisted, "I've thought about it. He has to go to the government office during the day. You should go later and don't be surrounded by people, so as not to let others see you and spread gossip back to the mansion!"

Seeing how shameless he was, Mrs. Wang angrily said, "Well! You forced me to do this!"

"How can I force you to do this? This is also for the sake of my daughter. As a father, I am willing to sacrifice my dignity. As a mother, can't you make some sacrifices?"

This touched Mrs. Wang's soft spot. She waved her hands helplessly and sighed, "Forget it! I'll do as you say! However, the city gates are closed at night. I'm afraid I won't be able to come back if I go there. If I don't take any maids with me, I don't know how people will know about it! Just take Yuchuan with you!"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Seeing that she finally gave in, Jia Zheng quickly agreed. After thinking for a moment, he added, "Her sister Jin Chuan is also over there now, so it will be easier to get rid of her when the time comes! Don't worry, I will make arrangements for the master in the mansion. When the time comes, no one will gossip about you when I send you out of the mansion!"

……

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 315 Madam, Don’t Look Back, I’m the Second Master

Perhaps because he was worried that Mrs. Wang would bring her back to the mansion to discuss matters, Jia Zheng hesitated and did not send her out until nearly the hour of You.

He was secretly proud of himself, as he had timed it just right. By the time the carriage had left the city, even if Mrs. Wang wanted to come back, the city gates would have been closed.

As it turned out, Jia Zheng's worries were not unfounded.

As soon as she left the city, Mrs. Wang regretted her decision.

To say that she was completely forced into this situation is to deceive oneself.

As long as she is determined not to obey, Jia Zheng will not force her to do anything.

It was precisely because she had some expectations in her heart, and Jia Zheng was shameless and pressed her hard, that she went along with it.

But when the time came, she couldn't help feeling timid.

If Jia Zheng had been kept in the dark, she might not have been so conflicted, but now that it had been exposed, how would she face him in the future?

Thinking of this, she hurriedly shouted outside: "Quick! Go back home!"

"Ah!" The driver outside hurriedly stopped the carriage and said hesitantly, "Madam! The city gate is closed now. I'm afraid we can't go back!"

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Wang's body softened and she collapsed on the seat.

Yuchuan also advised: "Madam! The master has repeatedly told you to go visit Aunt You... I heard from my sister that the hot springs on the farm are very comfortable to soak in..."

Although Jinchuan had never been to a hot spring, Baozhu and Ruizhu had been there. When they mentioned that they wanted to stay at the hot spring villa temporarily, they couldn't help but talk about it in private.

Yuchuan had long been envious, and when she heard that she could follow Lady Wang and benefit from her wealth, she had been itching to do so.

The first sentence was still reminding Mrs. Wang not to forget Jia Zheng's instructions, but the second sentence had already revealed the secret.

Seeing that things had come to this, Mrs. Wang could only sigh and say, "Forget it! Go!"

If he did not return home this night, even if he did not go to see Zhang Yun逸, I am afraid Jia Zheng would not believe that nothing happened.

She was very nervous, not knowing how Zhang Yunyi would treat her who had come to him. She was reluctant to accept the invitation, and the bumpy ride made her feel almost numb by the time she arrived at the hot spring villa.

Fortunately, everyone in the villa was also surprised and confused when they heard that she suddenly came to visit at night.

Zhang Yunyi was confident as he held the lives and property of the Rong family in his hands and was not worried, but Youshi thought that the news had leaked.

He and You Erjie hurriedly used the excuse of feeling unwell to hide in the empty yard, and did not forget to repeatedly warn Mrs. Wang not to visit them.

After a busy period of time and having moved all the bedding and clothes of the two people, Zhang Yunyi brought Jinchuan to the front of the villa.

Facing Madam Wang, who had just calmed down and stepped out of the carriage, she bowed slightly and asked, "Second Madam, what brings you here now?"

When Mrs. Wang suddenly heard his voice, her legs trembled and she almost fell off the pedals. Fortunately, Yuchuan was quick to catch her in time.

She suddenly lost her footing and inevitably staggered, which made Zhang Yunyi look at her sideways.

However, Mrs. Wang was not so nervous after this interruption, and hurriedly said, "Now that you have moved out temporarily, and You Erjie is pregnant, you must come and visit her!"

"That's unfortunate! She and her sister-in-law are not used to the local climate, so it's not convenient for them to meet guests!"

"Hey! Hey! I brought some supplements..." Mrs. Wang paused and said, "Is it okay?"

This was not the purpose of her trip, and she was also a little nervous, so she forgot to ask about You Erjie's situation first.

Zhang Yun逸 moved out of the city with the intention of avoiding the Rong Mansion. If Mrs. Wang really wanted to visit him, she could have come during the day, but she chose this time.

Seeing her acting like this, how could I not understand?

"It's nothing, thank you Mrs. Lao Er for your concern!"

He glanced at Yuchuan, then at Madam Wang, and said with a smile, "I'm afraid the Second Madam can't go back now, right? Why don't you settle down at the farm first?"

After that, without waiting for Mrs. Wang to reply, she said to Jin Chuan, "There is an empty yard over there. Take the Second Madam and your sister over there, and ask Aunt Wu to send some wine and food over there. Your sister rarely comes over, so you must take good care of her. There is no one in the pond over Aunt You's yard!"

The fact that Mrs. Wang came at night could be explained by her deep love for her daughter, but the fact that she only brought a maid, and that maid was Yuchuan, is worthy of further investigation.