Chapter 52

Lady Wang saw Jia Zheng's expression of sharing the honor and knew that Jia Cong entering Qingshan Academy to study was very much to her husband's liking.

Putting Jia Cong in the West Prefecture to be raised also suited his heart, but with Brother Cong's background, even if he went to some academy to study, what could he do?

Even if he passed the top scholar examination in the future, at most he would be a poor Hanlin scholar, and in the end, it would still be a path of moving out and living separately.

And looking at the Old Lady's appearance, she hadn't changed her mind because he had some ability; on the contrary, she was very troubled and disgusted by his temper of stirring up trouble.

This is also good; with his background, he could never overshadow her Baoyu.

Lady Wang was always generous to those she felt were not a threat.

Seeing Jia Zheng's attitude toward Jia Cong, she always had to support her husband's face.

Otherwise, how could he get the good name of being kind, benevolent, and respectful to his wife?

Moreover, the Old Lady had already nodded to let Jia Cong be raised in the West Prefecture, and this matter was a foregone conclusion.

So she said: "Old Lady, since the Master says it is a good thing, it is never wrong. Since that Mr. Liu helped, it is also a favor."

Wang Xifeng added: "That courtyard is next to the northern corner gate, and going out is the back street. In the future, when Brother Cong goes to the academy to study, it will be convenient for him to enter and exit."

"I have also been inquiring these past few days to see what elegant gifts are suitable. This person is a great scholar, so if the gifts are too lively, it will make us look vulgar."

Jia Mu and Lady Wang naturally knew that place, and their hearts were like a mirror; didn't the Old Duke live there in his retirement?

"Wait until Brother Cong's injuries are healed, and then send him."

Daiyu had only been in the Rongguo Mansion for a few years, and the Lixiang Courtyard had been vacant, with no one coming or going, so she naturally didn't know where the Qingzhi Study next to the Lixiang Courtyard was.

It was extremely good that this Third Brother Cong could be recommended to study there.

But she took Jia Cong's going to Qingshan Academy to study to heart; when she was still in Gusu, she had heard of the great name of Qingshan Academy from her father.

It was very far from Rongqing Hall and Rongxi Hall, and living so far apart would also avoid Jia Mu seeing Jia Cong and feeling depressed.

Jia Mu's brows relaxed upon hearing this, feeling that this second daughter-in-law knew how to behave; although she didn't like this grandson, he was, after all, the flesh and blood of the Jia family.

Wang Xifeng's mind was the most meticulous and shrewd; she knew the Old Lady had never liked Jia Cong.

Wang Xifeng rolled her eyes and said: "Next to the Lixiang Courtyard on the east side, there is an empty side courtyard called Green Branch Study, with one main room and five side rooms, and the appearance is also very neat."

"Originally, when the Old Master was in retirement in the Lixiang Courtyard, that courtyard was where the people serving him lived. Since then, it has been vacant. It is just right to tidy it up and let Brother Cong live there."

Jia Mu said: "The wife is thoughtful; just handle this matter according to your wishes."

Lady Wang added: "There is one more thing. Since Brother Cong is to be brought to the West Prefecture to be raised, the outer study can only be a temporary place to recuperate, and another place must be arranged for him to live."

So the courtyard she arranged for Jia Cong was next to the Lixiang Courtyard; although it was in the inner residence, it was at the corner of the north side of the inner residence.

She asked Wang Xifeng again: "Is there any other suitable place in the mansion to live?"

Externally, they were still one body; if someone helped him, it was giving the Jia family face, and all the etiquette should be observed—this was the style of a noble family.

That location was a bit remote; otherwise, why would the Lixiang Courtyard be a place for outside relatives like Lady Xue to stay? But it was suitable for Jia Cong to live there.

Ever since Daiyu saw Jia Cong's calligraphy and read that *Bu Suan Zi*, she knew he was a person of talent.

As long as such a person studied hard in the academy for a few years, he might be able to pass the examination.

Once he obtained a title, he would have a foothold in the mansion and wouldn't live as miserably as he did now.

Seeing Tan Chun was different from Daiyu; she was born in the mansion since childhood, so she naturally knew where the courtyard next to the Lixiang Courtyard was, and that place was indeed a bit remote.

The Old Lady had never liked Third Brother Cong; otherwise, she wouldn't have let him live in such a lonely place. As for the wife, it was hard to say, and she didn't dare to think too much.

At least Third Brother Cong had left the East Courtyard and could go to the academy to study; he wouldn't have to live so dangerously in the future, which was the first good thing.

The others were not the most important; in short, there would be a long time to come.

Lady Wang added: "Old Lady, logically Brother Cong should have the same quota as Huan'er, but Brother Cong's concubine mother is long gone, and this situation is somewhat different."

"He needs more capable people by his side to serve him; one Qingwen might not be enough, so add another sensible senior maid, and a few rough-working maids will be enough."

Jia Mu said: "You make the decision on this matter; just discuss it among yourselves and handle it."

Wang Xifeng heard this and thought Lady Wang wanted to insert her own people; the mansion was deep, and wanting to take precautions was understandable.

She said: "A few rough-working maids are easy to get, but there are not many clever senior maids. Does the wife have a suitable candidate in her heart?"

Lady Wang said: "Before the New Year, I heard that the daughter of the Liu family in the kitchen had grown up, and her mother wanted to find a job for her. It just so happened that I saw that child once that day."

"Her name is Wu'er, and her appearance and temper are both good. Her family has been old servants for generations; such family-born servants are the most reliable. Putting her in Brother Cong's room as a senior maid is just right."

Wang Xifeng was stunned, only then realizing that she had guessed wrong just now and had guessed the wife's intentions wrong. Hearing this name, she was a stranger; if she wanted to insert someone, she would definitely want someone familiar with the ropes.

It was just that the Liu family in the kitchen was not usually familiar with the wife, so why did the wife specifically point out her daughter to go to Brother Cong's room to be a maid?

Although Wang Xifeng was puzzled in her heart, it had nothing to do with her, so after thinking for a while, she let it go.

She didn't know that Lady Wang arranging for Liu Wu'er to be Jia Cong's maid had another reason.

Because before the New Year, she heard some rumors that the Liu family in the kitchen had raised a daughter named Wu'er, whose appearance was not inferior to senior maids of the Jia Fu like Yuanyang, Sister Xi Ren, and Ping'er.

The Liu couple usually loved her like a treasure, but this Wu'er was born somewhat delicate and weak, taking medicine every three days.

So she had never been assigned a job, only doing some idle work for her mother in the kitchen.

The Liu family's intention was first to plan for their daughter, and second, they had some intention of climbing the social ladder.

Hearing that there were many people in Baoyu's room and little work, and Baoyu was the one who cared most about maids, they had the intention of wanting Wu'er to serve in Baoyu's room.

Even if she couldn't stay in the room in the future, she would have a foundation after being released, and she would have more to rely on for her life.

Lady Wang treated Baoyu like the flesh of her heart and hated anyone who was lazy or tricky around Baoyu; how could she not be angry after hearing these things?

It was just that the Liu family had been in the kitchen for many years and hadn't made any mistakes, and Wu'er had no job for the time being, so she couldn't catch any handle.

Before the New Year, when she and Wang Xifeng were checking the various chores in the mansion, she just happened to see Wu'er once.

Her appearance was indeed outstanding, but her form was delicate and self-respecting, and she even had a bit of Daiyu's demeanor, which made her feel even more disgusted in her heart.

If such a person entered Baoyu's room, she didn't know how she would instigate her son, fearing that even his father and mother would become estranged.

Now that she had encountered this matter with Jia Cong, Lady Wang used Jia Cong as a shield to stuff Liu Wu'er to him as a maid, saving her from harming her Baoyu.

The plot refers to the cultural background of *Dream of the Red Chamber*, but the Jia Fu is only the place where the protagonist starts and accumulates; the subsequent plot will have an upward trend, and the scenes displayed must walk out of the Jia Fu to face a larger world.

I have received many sincere opinions, some of which are very constructive. Thank you all for your support and corrections.

(End of chapter)