The Red Mansion Big Liar

When Lai Da and his wife came back, Grandmother Jia summoned Jia Zhen. She originally thought that they were going to discuss matters related to the industrial chain. Although it is now clear that it is not in line with expectations, it is not entirely groundless.

Thinking back now, the day before yesterday, Zhang Yun逸 came out of the palace and had a secret conversation with Lady Jia and Mrs. Wang in the side hall. Combined with the attitudes they showed afterwards and the emperor's summons yesterday, she suspected that Zhang Yun逸 was also involved and even made a considerable contribution.

If this is true, then it can explain why he is so confident.

The last time she suffered from unclear information, she, Wang Xifeng, must not fall in the same place twice.

Mrs. Wang did not doubt it. She hesitated for a moment and said, "He knew it earlier than we did. Besides, we only called him over to ask what preparations should be made, not to rush him."

Although she had previously advised Jia Zheng not to push too hard, now she was not simply asking for the drawings. Besides, the old lady came forward and gave him enough face, so she had no such concerns.

As for Zhang Yun逸's admonition to keep it confidential, that was before there was any definite news. Now that the oral order has been given, there is no need to hide it anymore.

"Earlier than Madam knew it?" Wang Xifeng suddenly realized, "Could it be that when he came back from the palace that day..."

"Yes! This time it's all thanks to him. If he agrees to help, remember not to be arrogant in front of him. If you are unsure, remember to come to me."

She knew that Wang Xifeng was used to being bossy and was worried that she would not be able to distinguish the important from the unimportant.

After hearing this, Wang Xifeng's heart trembled, and then she said respectfully: "Madam, don't worry, your niece knows the seriousness of the matter."

Having said that, he didn't agree in his heart. If he really listened to Zhang Yunyi in everything, wouldn't he be eaten alive without a scratch?

Mrs. Wang was like a blessing after a long drought. Although there were some incidents in the morning, she was in a good mood. She gave her a few more instructions before sending her away.

When they returned to the three-room porch, Ping'er was already delighted and couldn't wait to ask, "Grandma asked me to go and invite the master, but is there anything you want to bring over?"

Before, Wang Xifeng only tacitly agreed for her to go and mediate, but this time she took the initiative to propose it.

Wang Xifeng raised her eyebrows and said, "Look how happy you little slut are. Could it be that you are craving for men again after tasting the sweetness of it?"

She also pointed at Zhang Yunyi to cooperate and did not add the word "wild" in front of the man.

"Look at what grandma said. I am here to invite someone. The old lady and the mistress are waiting. How can I delay? Besides, I am your servant. Without your permission..."

"It's good that you know! Go and tell him not to cause me any more trouble. I'll let bygones be bygones."

She got up where she fell. Although Mrs. Wang had said so before, she did not dare to think of revenge, but she was unwilling to be taken advantage of for nothing.

The loss I suffered cannot be recovered. I can't just follow suit and do the same to Zhang Yun逸. Wouldn't that only make me sink deeper and deeper into trouble and let him take advantage of me?

Therefore, I can only make up for it with money.

Ping'er didn't know what happened between the two of them at the rockery, so she hurriedly advised, "Master just didn't agree to marry Miss Bao, but how come Grandma is saying that Master is to blame? Did Master offend Grandma with his words?"

"Pooh!" Wang Xifeng blushed and spat, "Who told him to bump into you!"

"Grandma should be relieved now. The old lady and the madam are relying on you and they won't take your power away. Why should they get angry with you over such a small matter?"

"Who is angry with him? This is bound to happen sooner or later, so we have to make plans in advance."

Although she didn't say what she was going to do, Ping'er understood and took the opportunity to say, "I will persuade you to help. Madam, you can take this opportunity to ease the relationship with me. But don't lie to me again this time."

Nothing can happen again, and Ping'er was worried that something strange might happen again.

"I think it's you, a little slut, who wants to take this opportunity to get through?" Wang Xifeng said coldly, "I didn't agree to let you through this time. Remember my instructions. If you misspoke, I won't take responsibility!"

These words were indeed meant to deceive, but after hearing what Ping'er said, thinking of Zhang Yunyi's fearless attitude, she felt somewhat guilty, worried that she would anger him and really go to Lady Jia and Mrs. Wang to ask for the person back.

However, compared to before, there is no internal worry of power being seized, and the only external threat is Zhang Yun逸, so the situation is much more relaxed.

She secretly calculated in her heart that Zhang Yunyi had helped the mansion so much. If he was willing to speak to Lady Jia and Mrs. Wang, her opposition would certainly be ineffective.

Considering his anxious look when the two met at the rockery, the reason he did this was simply because he coveted me and didn't want to break up with me.

Thinking of this, he felt somewhat pleased with himself and blurted out, "He has some vision!"

"What did grandma say?"

Wang Xifeng blushed slightly and hurriedly covered up, saying, "He fell in love with you, a little slut, at first sight. He has good taste!"

……

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 98 Tacit understanding

Rong Mansion, east wing.

Jia She sat crookedly on a chair in the main hall, silent, only squinting his eyes and glancing at Madam Xing who was standing beside him.

"Master! What do you think of my method?"

Seeing that he finally responded, Madam Xing hurriedly said, "The old lady only told us not to have any ideas about him, but she didn't say that he is not allowed to have any ideas about us. Although we are not allowed to interfere in the garden's affairs now, if we make him our own, wouldn't it be killing two birds with one stone?"

"Humph! What do you mean by killing two birds with one stone? This is a completely stupid move!"

Jia She groaned and said angrily, "Who does he think he is? The other day, the master condescended to come to the door in person to congratulate him, but he didn't even accompany him. Now, the master is just embezzling some of his own money, so is he going to rush to marry the second girl to him?"

Mrs. Xing was stunned when she heard this, but after thinking about it, it seemed to be true.

But having said that, Jia She also said that he didn't even want to accompany her, which showed that he was deliberately avoiding her and didn't want to make things worse.

He hurriedly said, "Master, please don't blame me! Isn't it because the old lady didn't want us to get involved, and gave this job to him? At least we can persuade him to find some lucrative positions for us, so that Master can earn some money, right?"

"Snapped!"

Jia She slammed his hand on the table and shouted, "We are spending our own money, do we have to rely on an outsider like him?"

Madam Xing said with a sad face, "Then... Master, can you come up with a better solution?"

"Nonsense! Can a living person be suffocated to death by urine? Or do you think that I, the master, don't even have this ability?"

"How dare I have such an idea..." Madam Xing explained hastily, "I am stupid and can only think of these things. Naturally, they are not pleasing to the Master. Speaking out is just a drop in the ocean for discussion."

"You can say something that will inspire others to do something good. It means that you have not followed me for nothing all these years!"

Jia She was quite satisfied with Mrs. Xing's attitude and said, "We can't interfere. Isn't my wife still responsible for the overall management? Although Lian Er and the others are treacherous, we are their parents and in-laws after all. If we ask them to show some filial piety, will they dare to refuse?"

"Master, you also said that they are both disloyal. If Lian Er was at home, it would be better. At most, he would pretend to obey us but secretly disobey us. But if he finds a wife to arrange a good job for us, it would be good enough if he didn't report us. So what..."

"Of course we have to use some tricks!" Jia She raised his hand to interrupt before Mrs. Xing finished speaking, "Such a big matter, Master doesn't believe that she can get away with it. You'd better keep a close eye on her. Once we get hold of her pigtails, how can we worry that she won't rush to show her filial piety to us?"

"Master is wise!"

……

"Uncle! The old lady and the mistress would like to invite you over to ask about the garden. The old lady has prepared food, and the mistress and grandma are waiting there. Why don't you go over and eat while chatting?"

In front of Tianxiang Tower, Ping'er met Zhang Yunyi who was returning home after the court session in the evening.

Zhang Yun逸 proposed to the emperor to build the Grand View Garden purely because he did not want to leave any regrets, and he did not expect that the Rong Mansion would actually rely on him.

He didn't think of profiting from it, but with this excuse, he would never lack excuses to go to Rong Mansion in the future.

So he nodded and said, "I'll go back and get the drawings."

When he came back from the rockery the day before yesterday, he had nothing better to do so he made a rough sketch. Since the Rong family was so anxious, it would be enough to use it to measure the land first.

When he went upstairs and entered the study, he saw Ruizhu following him in. She said worriedly, "Master, you have to go early and come back early!"

This time the reason was legitimate, and Ping'er did not hide it when she was chatting with Qin Keqing.

Knowing that the Rong Mansion wanted to invite Zhang Yunyi to their house to discuss the important matter of building a garden, Qin Keqing couldn't help but worry that he would stay there for too long.

Baozhu saw her concerns and took the opportunity to report to Ruizhu.

"Don't worry! How can I not consider these things?" Zhang Yunyi pinched her cheek gently and said with a smile, "Go tell my nephew's wife, I will ask her to come over later."

Yuanchun is now only the prince's concubine, and is indeed not as good as the imperial concubine, but he did not give any discount to the Grand View Garden.

When drawing the map, the territory of Ning Mansion was also taken into account.

Since he wanted to use the land of Ning Mansion, he couldn't bypass Jia Zhen, so this was already part of his plan.

Of course, the more misunderstandings like this the better, and there is no need to explain them to Ruizhu and Qin Keqing.

"Hey!" Ruizhu turned her worry into joy, "Then I will go tell the young lady later!"

After putting the blueprints in his pocket, he went downstairs and stepped into the Tianxiang Tower Archery Range. Ping'er hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "Master! Did you offend Grandma with your words at the rockery the other day?"

"No!" Zhang Yunyi denied it flatly: "Why do you ask that?"

He didn't lie. He did talk back, but he didn't clash with her.

Ping Erh hesitated and said, "Grandma said that as long as Master turns a blind eye this time, it would be considered as helping her!"

In order not to cause more trouble and to let bygones be bygones, of course, we cannot report truthfully. Otherwise, that would not be negotiation but simply adding fuel to the fire.

Even if Wang Xifeng was willing to give in, she would not be so humble. Zhang Yunyi knew she was hiding something without even looking at her expression. He smiled and said, "Tell me exactly what she said. How can I still be angry with a woman like her?"

Ping'er had no choice but to repeat the original words.

Zhang Yun逸 knew very well what Wang Xifeng wanted, but Ping'er was still in the dark, so he kept it to himself.

But he was quite dissatisfied that she was still holding Ping'er hostage.

"Since you asked me to help you, why are you still holding me captive?"

Ping'er explained hurriedly, "Before, grandma was worried that Miss Bao would take away her power after she got married, so she was a little anxious. Fortunately, she was worrying too much. Now that she is counting on the master to help her, she will definitely not make trouble again."

"Okay! Go back and tell her that I'll talk to her in person when we meet the old lady later."

He didn't care about the trivial matters of power struggle within the Rong Mansion, and he had no obligation to keep an eye on the Rong Mansion and review the expenses.

Even though he himself did not intend to get involved, he planned to use this as a favor to find a way to make money for Jia Zhen.

As the saying goes, one should be grateful to those who have eaten his food and should be grateful to those who have received his gifts. Even Master Lian does not get anything for free, so is Master Yi no better than Jia Lian?

Youshi has been eaten up by him till there is nothing left, and she is still plotting to swallow Qin Keqing. If Jia Zhen is not given any benefits, once the matter is exposed, even if he is favored by the emperor, he will not be able to swallow his anger in silence.

Even if I don't dare to kick him out, it's not a problem to find a reason to ask him to move out.

Carrots and sticks have always been the best way to control people.

Taking advantage of the opportunity of building the Grand View Garden, Jia Zhen could kill two birds with one stone. Not only did he profit from it, but he could also get money from the Rong Mansion, which was a big handle.

Once he really falls out with you, you can use it as a threat to bargain with him.

By then, the matter will be done and with threats and inducements, the chances of him being forced to swallow his anger will be greater.

He is not worried that Jia Zhen will not covet the money of Rongfu, but he is worried that he will not covet enough.

Of course, there has to be an insider involved. Since Wang Xifeng also wants to be greedy, it's just a good opportunity for everyone to get what they want, and it's a tacit agreement.

……

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 99: Turning against guests

In front of the inner gate.

Zhang Yunyi stopped and said to Ping'er, "You go back and report first. I'll go call Brother Zhen and we'll be there soon."

Before going to Rong Mansion, he still needed to prepare for Jia Zhen, and some words were not suitable for Ping'er to hear.

After parting ways with Ping'er, he stepped into the Neiyi Gate and came to Ning'an Hall, where he ran into Jia Zhen.

"Brother Zhen!"

"Why is my cousin here?"

"Thank you for your care, brother..."

He had just started talking when Jia Zhen interrupted him, saying, "Are you uncomfortable living anywhere? Or are there any servants who have upset your cousin? Just tell me! If you mention moving again, I'll be really angry!"

He already knew that the Zhang family's renovations were complete, so when he heard him suddenly say this, he just thought that he had the idea of ​​moving.

"My cousin is seriously ill. My sister-in-law takes good care of Yun Yi. How can my brother bear to leave?"

There was a hint of evil in his words, and Jia Zhen, being an expert at this, immediately heard the metaphor.

However, although he felt a little unhappy, he did not think that Zhang Yunyi did it on purpose. He just thought he was a young man who said whatever he wanted.

He thought to himself that this kind of thing can only be understood but not expressed in words. It would be fine if he just pretended to be deaf and dumb and was happy about it in private, but if he was to make it up in front of him, how could he save face?

It was hard to say, so he could only smile and say, "We are all family, and this is also my brother's intention, so you don't have to be polite, cousin!"

"Although my cousin is open-minded, I can't be ungrateful. I have to return the favor, right?"

If the previous sentence was an outburst of his bad taste, this sentence was intended to refresh Jia Zhen's bottom line.

Jia Zhen was originally unhappy when he heard Zhang Yun逸 praise him for being open-minded, but when he said he would return the favor, he no longer cared about the loss of face.