The Red Mansion Big Liar

"No one was invited!" Lai Shangrong bowed again and said, "That's why my father asked me to ask what you think..."

Yuanchun's marriage fell through, people in Rongguo Mansion changed their minds, and Lai Da became more convinced that he had followed the right person.

During this period, before Jia Zheng was promoted, the news that Mrs. Wang went to the hot spring villa twice and even stayed overnight for a few days had gradually spread among the servants in the mansion.

These servants did not dare to spread any gossip, but they all linked Jia Zheng's promotion and demobilization to Mrs. Wang's itinerary.

There are spontaneous associations among these, but more of them are intentional guidance by Lai Da.

Others may not know, but he knows very well that Zhang Yunyi did not let Aunt Zhao go in Rongfu, so would he let Madam Wang, who was sent to the villa, go easily?

On the one hand, he didn't know that Mrs. Wang was fearless and helped to cover up; on the other hand, it was also to establish Zhang Yunyi's prestige in Rongfu.

Zhang Yun逸 didn't know about the changes in the Rong Mansion. When he heard that Jia Zheng didn't hold a big banquet, he couldn't help but laugh.

Jia Zheng is not Jia Lian, so he can face it calmly. He is the benefactor of his promotion and he cannot avoid himself whenever he invites guests.

"Although we won't host a big banquet for guests, we are not outsiders. We don't know when he will be back, so we have to go and see him off."

Jia Zheng wanted to be a coward, but Zhang Yun逸 was still thinking about his own bad taste and would never fulfill his wish.

Besides, since Jia Zheng is about to leave, there is a high probability that Yuanchun will come back.

Zhang Yunyi was still quite curious about the imperial concubine in the original novel.

"Hey! Then I will take a day off tomorrow as well."

Just as he finished speaking, a message came from outside: "Sir! Eunuch Zhou from the palace is here!"

"Please!"

Zhang Yunyi hurried out to meet him.

As soon as they left the classroom, Zhou Xiangui took the lead and bowed: "Master Zhang!"

Zhang Yunyi called out, "Eunuch Zhou, it's windy outside, go sit inside!"

After welcoming Zhou Xiangui into his duty room and Lai Shangrong serving him the brewed tea, Zhang Yunyi asked, "Eunuch, why are you here now? Is it because the Emperor has some instructions?"

Zhou Xiangui quickly put down his teacup and said with a smile, "The tenth day of August next year will be the emperor's sixtieth birthday. Now the weather is good, and the guano production has increased. The country is prosperous and the people are safe. In addition, the inner treasury is becoming more abundant. The emperor wants to hold a longevity festival."

"Huh?" Zhang Yunyi was a little confused by what he said.

For matters like the Wanshou Festival, even if the money was paid from the inner court, it should have been reported to Prince Zhongshun. He only made money but did not take care of the accounts.

Could it be that he thinks the people in charge in the palace and the Ministry of Rites are not suitable and wants me to help him?

Although I had seen some singing and dancing shows on TV in my previous life and had some inexplicable yearning for the profession of director, what if I messed up...

He was just daydreaming here, but Zhou Xiangui waved at Lai Shangrong and said, "I have something to say to Lord Zhang, you, go out first."

Lai Shangrong heard the hidden meaning and was afraid that the emperor had something to say to Zhang Yun逸 in private, so he did not dare to delay and immediately bowed his head and left.

After Lai Shangrong left, Zhou Xiangui smiled and said, "The Emperor knows that you are very smart and can do things that ordinary people cannot do. He wants you to think of an auspicious omen and wait until the birthday..."

Zhang Yun逸 suddenly realized that the emperor didn't want him to be the director of the Longevity Festival. It was obvious that he wanted him to offer auspiciousness and get good luck on his birthday.

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Please go back and report to the emperor. I will make careful preparations and will not disappoint the emperor."

He had already thought about this matter as early as last year and this year's spring ploughing ceremony.

To achieve great things with little money, you can use grafting technology to create a fruit tree that produces several types of fruits.

If you want to show off, you can make an iron lump to deal with it.

However, he has not yet figured out how to make a choice.

Anyway, there is still more than half a year left, so we can make preparations for both situations.

I thought everything had been explained and after a few more pleasantries, Zhou Xiangui would go back to report.

Unexpectedly, he was not in a hurry to leave. Instead, he drank a sip of tea and said, "According to the rules, for the emperor's birthday, all government offices should prepare tributes. Your Excellency will have auspicious things to offer, so you don't need to prepare anything else. But this is also a great opportunity to ask for good luck and make the emperor smile. If you have any difficulties, just let me know. The palace's singing and dancing troupes are at your disposal."

Hearing the goodwill in the words, Zhang Yunyi said sincerely: "Thank you for your advice, eunuch."

He then changed the subject: "However, the emperor must have long been tired of listening to the singing and dancing troupe in the palace, right?"

Jia Zheng wanted to make progress, and so did he, but the two of them were going in opposite directions. Zhang Yun逸 naturally would not miss the opportunity to please the emperor.

"Your Excellency has thought it through thoroughly. It is I who have made a fool of myself!"

"No way! Yun Yi is grateful that my father-in-law is willing to say these heartfelt words to him!"

Zhou Xiangui bent down and leaned his head towards Zhang Yunyi and said, "I heard that the opera troupe in Prince Zhongshun's mansion is really unique. There is a Qi official in it, and his singing style is even more unique. However, I'm afraid he also needs to prepare, and I'm afraid he won't easily give this prize to others."

"A gentleman does not take away what others like! I can't steal the prince's limelight."

There aren't many entertainment options these days, just musicals, dances, dramas, and some storytelling.

He did have an "original" work like the Legend of the White Snake, but even after the book was published, it was difficult to achieve a sensational effect. In addition, the story was too long, so it was not suitable for performance during the Wanshou Festival.

However, some well-known modern songs and even choreographies may not necessarily suit the tastes of the ancients.

As for drama, it’s easy. You just need to choose a good troupe.

It's just that he himself is not good at it, finds it difficult to distinguish between good and bad, and has not prepared in advance.

Instead of thinking about it here, it is better to find another way. Even if it is just to make the emperor smile, it is worse than being lost in the crowd.

"Since it's such a big thing to celebrate the emperor's birthday, I have to think about it slowly. Once I have considered it, I will trouble you, eunuch!"

Although he did not intend to adopt Zhou Xiangui's suggestion, sometimes when someone gave him a gift, he would offend that person if he did not accept it.

Therefore, Zhang Yun逸 made up his mind that no matter whether he could get it or not, he would ask Zhou Xiangui for two people. He couldn't let Zhou Xiangui feel that he was keeping people at a distance or looking down on him.

……

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 327 An unexpected surprise

The programs for the Wanshou Festival can be put aside for the time being, as Jia Zheng’s trip is imminent.

When he returned to the hot spring villa at night, he immediately went to You's room and asked, "Where are the fan pendants I asked you to prepare last time?"

Now that both his wives and concubines were taken by Zhang Yunyi, the hat could be said to be firmly worn. Since it was a farewell song, he could not leave it out. He could just take this opportunity to give him the green hat fan.

"This... I didn't know Yun Yi was going to use it, so before he left, he sealed it on the museum shelf in the warehouse."

"That's good!"

Before going to Rong Mansion, just go back to the mansion to get it. Zhang Yunyi asked about the storage location and did not explain much.

After listening to the fetal movements for a while and chatting with Youshi for a while, he finally said evasively, "The second master of the West Mansion will leave for Beijing to take up his post tomorrow. I will go there and will not be back at night. I will stay at my second sister-in-law's place."

"What? Is she... itching again? Did she send someone to look for you?" Yu said sarcastically.

"Not really. It's been two months since we moved here. Now that we're there, we have to comfort them!"

Now that Yuanchun's case had been settled, he didn't mind leaving Wang Xifeng with a thought.

In ancient times, offspring were related to the continuation of the family for men, and were equally important for women.

A woman without children, even if she is the legal wife, cannot have her spirit enshrined in the ancestral hall after her death.

This is easy to understand. The so-called coffin, coffin refers to the outer coffin, and spirit refers to the tablet placed in the ancestral hall.

You have no offspring, so who will offer sacrifices to you?

Therefore, the ancients attached great importance to offspring, regardless of gender.

Considering both her life and her death, even if she raises the son of a concubine by her side, at least she can bear the title of the legitimate mother, so that her family will not be wiped out and she will not become a lonely ghost after her death.

It is true that Youshi and Wang Xifeng did not get along well, but that was history. After all, they were friends who had fought together. There might be some jealousy and secret rivalry, but in such a big matter, they would not trip up each other and create an unsolvable grudge.

However, this time he was not doing it simply for Wang Xifeng.

There are also Li Wan, Yingchun and others who need to be comforted, and by the way, let’s take a look at Yuanchun.

In addition, although Gu Wenhui would also send over the daily affairs of Tiangong Institute, it was the end of the year and there were many things to do, so it was more convenient to go back and handle matters such as assessments.

Therefore, this time when he went back, he would not just stay for one day, but planned to treat Rongguo Mansion as another villa.

Because he was worried that Jia Zheng would leave in a hurry.

He got up early, said goodbye to Qin Keqing, the You sisters and a group of maids, and boarded the carriage back to the city.

When the carriage entered the Ning Mansion, he got off and ran straight to the storeroom. He found the fan pendant in a box on the antique shelf. He then picked out a folding fan given by the emperor and put the pendant on it.

I stepped out and just locked the door when I heard someone behind me say sadly, "Uncle!~"

Zhang Yunyi turned around and looked, and suddenly his eyes brightened up. He said with a warm face: "Wu'er, what's wrong with you?"

He came to Liu Wu'er, held her cheeks with both hands, and stared at her eyes that were filled with tears and seemed to be able to speak.

"Master!" Liu Wu'er lowered her eyelids and cried, "Please save Fang Guan and the others! The old lady said that she doesn't need them anymore and wants to send them all away."

Although many wealthy families kept actors, the original intention of purchasing these young actors was to celebrate Yuanchun's wedding.

But now, Grandmother Jia felt that they had brought bad luck, so she simply dismissed them all out of consideration for the sake of out of sight and out of mind.

Although actors were originally of low status and being sold out was common, they had been in the Rong Mansion for almost a year and had no worries about food and clothing. They had never even sang a play. How could they be willing to give up such a good life and go out to make a living and live a hard life?

It would be fine if there was no one to turn to, but now, Liu Wu'er, who is of similar age and with whom I have known each other for a long time, seems to have climbed up the social ladder. Plus, they had joked about it a while ago, so I decided to try my best and turn to her for help.

Zhang Yunyi lived outside the city, and Liu Wuer was very anxious. It happened that Zhang Yunyi returned home at this time, and he immediately came to plead for mercy after hearing the news.

Zhang Yunyi said calmly, "I thought it was something serious! Okay, I got it!"

As he spoke, he pinched Liu Wu'er's pointed chin and said in feigned anger, "Master kept you here so that you can get well and serve Auntie in her room as soon as possible. Don't put the cart before the horse because you are worried about such a small matter! If you get sick with worry, Master will be angry."

In order to help the group of little actors who were half teachers and half friends, Liu Wuer really gave it her all and just now she was able to put her knowledge into practice.

But, she was still a little unfamiliar with it and had never had such experience before?

Having her chin pinched by Zhang Yunyi, she was already at a loss. Now, she heard his tone of dissatisfaction, and became even more frightened. She quickly avoided his gaze and said, "I...I know I was wrong!"

"Since you know you're wrong, I'm going to punish you!"

Before Liu Wu'er could react, Zhang Yunyi's free hand had already gone behind Liu Wu'er and gently patted the perky breast on her back.

Seeing the little girl hunched over, with her hands behind her back, and hurriedly hiding them behind her, looking aggrieved and shy, Zhang Yunyi said proudly: "Since this is your first offense, I will only give you a light punishment and a heavy warning this time."

He then patiently said, "Serving in the aunt's room and serving the master is not an easy job. Don't be distracted by these trivial matters. Get well soon and don't keep the master and aunt waiting for too long!"

"I...I haven't been slacking off." Liu Wu'er explained quickly, "Master Zhen said that I need to move around more. I've been visiting my mother a lot lately, and I've also learned a few things from Fang Guan and the others..."

At this point, she finally realized what was happening and quickly changed her words, "I have learned a few lines from opera. If you like, I will sing a few lines for you!"

"Oh?" Zhang Yunyi looked at Liu Wu'er with interest.

No wonder she looked so plaintive and tearful just now, and walked so gracefully like a willow in the wind, it turned out to be because of this.

He rubbed Liu Wu'er's chin and said with a smile: "You don't have to sing now. When you recover, go to the aunt's room to serve her, and then give me a surprise. If you sing well, I will reward you handsomely."

"Then...then Fang Guan and the others..."

Because Zhang Yunyi did not express his opinion seriously, Liu Wuer mentioned learning from the little actor just now. Although it was for explanation, it was also meant to plead for them.

Zhang Yunyi's hand that was pinching her chin slid and grasped her slender waist, patting it gently. He then held her in his arms and walked away, saying, "Since Wu'er is begging for them, how can I stand by and watch them die?"

He paused and said, "However, since I have promised you, please don't let me down. Get well soon. I am still waiting for you to serve me in my room!"

When has Liu Wuer ever experienced all this?

The Ning and Rong mansions have always had the tradition of keeping people in the house, and they are extremely sensitive about serving in the house.

At this moment, he held her in his arms again. She felt the numbness in her waist spreading throughout her body. Her legs and feet became weak, and she leaned into his arms involuntarily.

……

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 328 Killing and Punishing the Heart

After comforting Liu Wuer, Zhang Yunyi moved to Rong Mansion.

He happened to see Lady Jia and others saying goodbye to Jia Zheng.

"You...why are you here?"

Jia Zheng, who had been in high spirits just now, looked at him with caution when he saw him, like a mouse seeing a cat.

Although the real reason for Jia Zheng's reaction was unclear, this reaction was exactly in line with the attitude of a green-haired turtle. Zhang Yunyi was quite satisfied and jokingly asked, "Why? Doesn't the uncle welcome you?"