The Red Mansion Big Liar

Shirtless workers had already loaded the red-hot coal and pushed it to the upper furnace mouth on the high platform. At Zhang Yun逸's command, the red-hot charcoal blocks immediately poured down. Then, air was blown and materials were poured, and all the work was carried out in an orderly manner.

May was the height of summer, and everyone was living a life of luxury. After a short while, everyone except Zhang Yunyi could no longer stay in the factory.

"Wenhui! Take the prince, Eunuch Dai, and the others to rest first."

After he finished speaking, he bowed slightly to King Zhongshun and his party, and said, "It is my duty, please forgive me for my negligence!"

After everyone left, he didn't care about his identity. He scooped a bucket of water from the water tank in the corner and sprinkled it on his face. A cool feeling poured down on his head and he felt much more comfortable.

These water tanks were not made at his request. Although the craftsmen of this era had never made glass, they were already familiar with smelting it.

While listening to reports from various places, Zhang Yun逸 reminded the workers to prevent heatstroke and cool down.

Time passes quietly bit by bit.

……

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 73: Tailing and Spying on Secrets

Rongqing Hall.

It was the time of morning and evening visits, and on the soft couch on the high platform, Jia's grandmother was leaning sideways on the Luohan bed.

In the hall, Mrs. Xing, Mrs. Wang, Wang Xifeng, Li Wan and Sanchun were chatting about daily life, and bursts of laughter could be heard from the room.

As they were talking, Madam Xing suddenly asked, "I heard from the master the other day that the nephew of Brother Jing from the East Palace is now working in the inner court and wants to make glass. I wonder if you have heard of this?"

When she asked this, everyone in the room fell silent.

Last time when she went to the garden, Jia's grandmother did not invite the eldest daughter-in-law to come with her, so naturally no one was so blind as to stir up trouble in the eldest house and run over to inform on her, making things difficult for herself.

"Madam, you are joking. Lian Er is not at home. Apart from the two masters, how would we know what is going on outside? If you really want to know, go back and ask Brother Zhen or Sister Zhen. Wouldn't everything be clear?"

Although Wang Xifeng disdained her parents-in-law for being slow to realize the situation, she had no choice but to bite the bullet and break the silence.

Mrs. Xing is her mother-in-law after all, so she can't lie with her eyes open, so she avoids the main issue and only mentions the glass but not the person.

"The master had heard Wenlong mention this earlier, but he didn't take it seriously. A few days ago, I met two cousins ​​from the Shi family and heard that the glass workshop would start working today."

After she said this, she looked at Lady Jia eagerly, and the implication of her words was obvious.

In fact, it would be unfair to say that Jia She was completely unaware of Zhang Yun逸's existence.

He usually mingled with Jia Zhen and Xue Pan. Although Jia Zhen knew the temper of his cousin and deliberately concealed it, Xue Pan never kept it a secret.

She complained to him many times that Xiangling was snatched away by him.

However, Aunt Xue was worried that he would make a fuss, so she did not tell him everything.

Jia She was so confused that he thought that the Xue family was an imperial merchant and had connections with him, so they only got a 10% share of the sugar, which was not even an average. He felt a little contemptuous and did not take it seriously.

A few days ago, I learned from the brothers Shi Nai and Shi Ding that they were tinkering with glass again, so I thought of cramming for it.

Jia She also asked Jia Zhen, but he was evasive and didn't give any useful information. That's why Xing Shi tried to persuade Lady Jia, hoping that she would come forward to ask.

Hearing this, Jia's mother frowned, and looked at Mrs. Wang on the other side. She snorted and scolded, "It's not easy for him to be an official. He spends all day at home drinking with his concubines. Now he cares about these things. Go back and tell him to stop thinking those evil thoughts."

If it were any other time, she would not bother to ask about it, but for Yuanchun's matter, she had already reached a tacit understanding with the East Palace. Now that the matter has not been done yet, she is naturally worried that her eldest son's mischief will cause dissatisfaction in the East Palace.

Madam Xing didn't understand the meaning of the words, but said indignantly: "It's rare that the master is thinking about serious matters. As a daughter-in-law, can't I stop him? Besides..."

At this point, she glanced at Madam Wang across from her and said, "We are at least one level closer to the Xue family..."

"All right!" Before she could finish, Jia's mother had already frowned and interrupted her with a scolding, "Stop talking nonsense. Can it be that I can't control him anymore? Go back and just tell him. If he has any dissatisfaction, tell him to come to me and tell me himself!"

It wasn't that she thought there was anything wrong with what Mrs. Xing said, but she was worried that she would persist, so she used harsh words to put her off.

Seeing that Lady Jia was angry, Mrs. Xing dared not say anything.

At this moment, someone outside reported: "Butler Lai and Madam Lai are here!"

After hearing this, Jia's mother looked around, waved her hand, and said in a deep voice: "Ask them to come in, Madam, stay, and you all go back first!"

Just as Grandmother Jia had lost her temper, everyone else could no longer wait and, upon hearing what had happened, they filed out as if a heavy burden had been lifted from their shoulders.

Only Wang Xifeng frowned deeply, her eyes flickered between Lady Jia and Mrs. Wang's faces, then she lowered her head and left with the crowd.

Walking around the screen in Rongqing Hall, she glanced at the oncoming Lai couple, and a cold light flashed in her eyes.

After passing through the hall and exiting the hanging flower gate, she did not rush back, but pretended to talk to Ping'er. After everyone dispersed, she immediately ordered, "You stay at the inner gate and watch. If you see anyone entering the old lady's courtyard, come back and tell me immediately."

Seeing her serious face, Ping'er didn't dare to ask more questions. She quickly agreed, walked into the inner gate, and chatted with a few maids.

Wang Xifeng returned to the three-room annex, but had no intention of arranging the affairs of the mansion. She sat for only a short while, then used the excuse of feeling unwell to send all the housekeepers and their wives away.

The speaker may not mean it, but the listener may take it seriously. Grandmother Jia was worried that Jia She and Lady Xing would ruin Yuanchun's plans.

But to Wang Xifeng, she felt that she was favoring the Xue family.

Although it was expected that Lady Jia changed her mind and arranged for Lai and his wife to go south in order to intimidate the Xue family, it was just a guess after all.

She guessed that since Lai and his wife had returned, Lady Jia and Mrs. Wang would certainly contact the Xue family to inform them. She felt that this was a good opportunity to confirm it, so she arranged for Ping'er to follow them.

She leaned against the kang, feeling as irritable as a ball of yarn that had been scratched by a cat, unable to find a clue.

For a moment, I thought of the subsequent actions of Lady Jia and Mrs. Wang, and the boredom of life after losing the power of housekeeper.

For a while, I was thinking about how to break the deadlock.

But after much thought, the problem still lies with Zhang Yunyi. As long as he helps, the Xue family's business will only grow bigger and bigger, and will become more and more attractive to Lady Jia.

Thinking of this, she bit her lower lip unconsciously and twisted her two long legs with even flesh and bones together.

Zhang Yun逸's expression that day could not be faked, and was also supported by Jia Rong's words, but he had the intention but not the courage to do it.

At the beginning, she hoped that Zhang Yunyi would not be able to hold back his anger, but in the blink of an eye, it had been almost a month and there was still no movement.

More importantly, Zhang Yunyi can wait, but she can't.

"Grandma!" Ping'er pushed the door open and came in. "Not long after you left, Housekeeper Lai came out, and then led Master Zhen into the old lady's courtyard."

"Brother Zhen?" Wang Xifeng was stunned when she heard the words, and a trace of surprise flashed across her face.

But then, a look of realization appeared on her face.

Earlier, she still had doubts. Even though the Xue family had Zhang Yunyi to help them, the Xue family still had Xue Pan. It was impossible for Aunt Xue to ignore her son.

No matter how much dowry is given to Xue Baochai, there is a limit after all.

Although Lin Daiyu's dowry may not be richer than Xue Baochai's, she was a magistrate for three years and earned 100,000 silver coins, not to mention Lin Ruhai, the Imperial Censor of Salt.

Not to mention that Jia Min's dowry when she got married should not be underestimated.

You have to know that Lin Daiyu is Lin Ruhai's only legitimate daughter. Compared with the Xue family, which is a fake extinct family, hers is the real extinct family.

To be able to make Lady Jia abandon her own granddaughter, the benefits involved cannot be small.

In a short period of time, she had already figured out an industrial chain centered around Zhang Yunyi.

Although the Xue family is insignificant in itself, its identity as a royal merchant makes it the perfect white glove and it has perfect sales channels.

The two eastern and western mansions and Zhang Yunyi divided up the Tiangong Academy's assets, and the Xue family was probably just a laborer, so it was already their last resort to keep the imperial merchants and assets.

This can be seen from the distribution of profits from sugar. The Xue family even paid out of their own pockets to subsidize the expenses.

The West Mansion...to be more precise, the second branch of the Rong Mansion, if it wants to participate in it, it can only rely on the Xue family's channels.

This is also the reason why Lady Jia favors the Xue family.

Only this kind of continuous business could make Grandmother Jia abandon her granddaughter without hesitation.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but tremble slightly, and her long legs with well-proportioned flesh and bones were pressed together tightly, making it impossible for a needle to be inserted.

……

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 74 The arrow is on the string

"Grandma! Can I open the door?"

Ping'er saw a strange blush on her face, her chest rising and falling, and her breathing becoming heavier. She thought it was because the room was stuffy and she couldn't breathe.

Awakened by Ping'er's voice, Wang Xifeng took a deep breath.

After pondering for a long time, Fang lowered his voice and ordered, "After dinner, go back to the room and bring two bottles of my rose water. Wait until 3 p.m. and deliver them to Qin in the East Mansion."

At this point, she paused, looked at Ping'er with deep eyes, and said slowly: "Remember, don't leave in a hurry, chat with her, and wait until Brother Yi comes back from court, then sneak away to Dengxian Pavilion to find him, and tell him that I have an appointment with him, and we will meet in the empty room in the small corridor behind the house in the evening."

"This……"

Ping'er originally thought that as long as Zhang Yun逸 didn't give her a chance, Wang Xifeng would be helpless. Unexpectedly, she actually took a risky move.

She quickly advised, "Madam, if you want me to go, why do you have to take such a risk? Just send me and my indenture with you. Wouldn't that be cheaper? I don't ask for a title, I just ask Madam not to take such a risk for me!"

Wang Xifeng looked at her with a complicated expression, and after a long pause, she said in a gentle tone, "I have to give it a try. Don't worry, I dare not force him. You saw it today. Even the eldest wife was planning to take advantage of him, but she was scolded by the old lady. Now I am afraid that I can't avoid it, but I am poking the tiger's nose with a straw stick."

What Wang Xifeng said was not false.

Plans can't keep up with changes.

If Lady Jia was tempted by the Xue family's property, she could also catch the adulterer and force Zhang Yun逸 to cut off the Xue family's financial resources.

But if the Xue family did not profit from it, and the beneficiary was the Second House, why would Zhang Yunyi be blackmailed by her just because of Ping'er?

By then, I'm afraid he will become fearless and end up reporting this to Lady Jia.

If the hard approach doesn’t work, you can only use the soft approach.

The reason why the Second House was able to participate was only because of the sisterly relationship between Lady Wang and Aunt Xue. The main reason was because of the marriage alliance. If she could persuade Zhang Yun逸 to take over and use the Xue family for her own benefit, not only would Lady Jia and Lady Wang's plans fail, but she might also be able to get a share of the pie.

As for whether Zhang Yunyi would be impressed by her, she was not worried.

After all, money is a tempting thing. If you can get rid of the second wife, why should you give her more?

She even felt that Jia Zhen would have considered it, but there was no one in the East Palace suitable for marriage, and she was afraid that Zhang Yunyi would marry into the Xue family and leave her behind, so he brought in the second house.

Of course, if he were to go back on his word at this moment, he would certainly offend Lady Jia and Mrs. Wang. If they wanted to persuade him, simply sending Ping'er would probably not be enough.

Fortunately, Xue Baochai is good-looking and has a good figure, so there is no need to worry that he will not be attracted to her.

At worst, give him a taste of the sweetness first, then paint a pie in the sky for him, and promise to fulfill his wish after the success.

Are you afraid that he won't spare no effort and work hard for you?

But how to taste this sweetness and how much to taste depends on the circumstances and circumstances.

The matter was of great importance, and even Ping'er could not be completely at ease.

At least, she had to be reserved before she committed herself to Zhang Yunyi.

Although Ping'er didn't know what she was planning, she was worried that someone might see her, so she had to continue to persuade her: "Why don't I go and tell Master Yi to come over another day?"

"No!" Wang Xifeng refused flatly, "This should be done as soon as possible. You should go to that empty room tonight and make it a done deal!"

Zhang Yunyi could wait, but she couldn't wait any longer. Of course, the sooner the better, so as to avoid any more trouble.

Of course, she had another consideration.

In case Zhang Yunyi remains unmoved, or is greedy for more, he will have to be given some sweet treats.

With Ping'er taking the lead, in a short period of time, he could only take advantage of the situation.

"But...but even if Master Yi agrees to go on a date, there must be an excuse, right?"

Wang Xifeng waved her hand and said, "You don't have to worry about that. He can just go to the old lady or the mistress and visit her. Who dares to stop him?"

She was certain that the three parties had conflicts of interest, so it was perfectly reasonable for Zhang Yunyi to come and discuss the matter.

"But how can we get here after we go to the old lady and the mistress?"

Wang Xifeng thought for a moment and said disdainfully, "It's not the cold winter, it's not the twelfth lunar month, there are so many burdens on me, I can just find an excuse when the time comes. Anyway, the matter won't take much time, so I can just make up a excuse and cover it up."

"Then... I will give it a try. However, grandma was so blunt last time and Master Yi has not even come to visit. I am afraid that I may not be able to invite him."

……

"Your Majesty is delighted! Your Majesty is delighted!"

In the Linjing Hall, Dai Quan bowed and kowtowed, saying, "Master Zhang has arrived in front of the hall, and he is bringing the glass produced by the Tiangong Institute to announce the good news!"

"Hurry up!"