Chapter 570: The Poison of Love, Desire, Anger, and Delusion

Love Shenjing, Qingyu Ward, Xia Mansion.

Early that morning, Lady Xia and her daughter were having breakfast in the inner courtyard hall when a managing matron came to pass a message, saying that Eunuch Xia had sent someone to the house to invite the Mistress out to speak.

Lady Xia was startled when she heard this. A few days ago, she and Lady Wang had raised silver and handed it to Xia Li Shouzhong's trusted aide to be sent into the palace to make arrangements and clear the way for Jia Yuanchun's major screening event.

Now that not many days had passed, could there have been progress, or was the ten thousand taels of silver not enough for expenses, causing Xia Li Shouzhong to send someone to pass a message so quickly?

Lady Xia was suspicious, so she had the managing matron bring the person to the side hall and went over immediately to speak.

As soon as Lady Xia left the room, the Xia family young lady put down her bowl and chopsticks and followed her out of the hall.

In the side hall of the Xia Mansion, Lady Xia saw the visitor. She recognized this person; it was Chen Bao, a trusted young eunuch of Xia Li Shouzhong.

Lady Xia laughed, "So it is Eunuch Chen who has arrived at the mansion. It has been many days since we last met. I wonder if my clan brother has something he needs to instruct?"

Chen Bao said, "Because of the matter you entrusted to Grandfather Xia previously, Lady, some situations have arisen, and the matter is somewhat tricky. Grandfather Xia asked me to pass a message to you, Lady.

Because the palace is strictly guarded, I took advantage of the opportunity when the Palace Internal Affairs Office was out purchasing to find time to come to the mansion to pass the message.

I cannot stay in the mansion for too long, lest it arouse suspicion, and I must return to the palace in a while."

Lady Xia heard Chen Bao's words and tasted the impropriety in them, and her heart tightened slightly.

She asked, "Is it about the Jia family young lady? Has there been some change in the palace?"

Chen Bao thought of the encounter when he invited Yuan Jing to the banquet that day, and the burning pain of that slap from Xia Li Shouzhong. There were some things he dared not explain to people outside the palace, lest he cause trouble again.

He thought for a moment and said, "Grandfather Xia received your entrustment, Lady, and has been racking his brains in the palace to plan this matter. At first, the arrangements in all places were quite smooth.

It's just that when it came to the critical point of clearing the way, a significant change occurred, and someone spoke up, saying this matter could not be handled further.

Although Grandfather Xia has a high position in the palace and everyone in the palace values him highly, for some things, one still has to look at the wind direction and know when to advance or retreat; otherwise, hindering others would not be good."

Lady Xia was confused after hearing this. This young eunuch had been talking for a long time, but it was all like looking at flowers in the fog, and he hadn't explained why this matter had to be abandoned halfway.

She asked, "Eunuch Chen, I wonder where the obstacle came from in this matter, that even with my clan brother's ability, he would be stumped."

Chen Bao naturally would not explain to Lady Xia that it was the eunuch walking beside the current Emperor who had bluntly blocked the matter.

If such words were spoken to people outside the palace, the handles and roots of disaster left behind would be significant.

Chen Bao said, "Palace matters all involve risks and relate to life and death at every turn. It is safest for you, Lady, not to know the ins and outs.

Grandfather Xia intercepted this matter halfway, also out of the kinship of the same clan, not wanting the Osmanthus Xia family to make a mistake and thus bring disaster upon themselves……"

Lady Xia felt her hair stand on end when she heard this, and she dared not ask any more questions.

……

Although she was only a merchant's wife, the Xia family had been imperial merchants for generations and had always dealt with the Ministry of Revenue and the Imperial Household Department, so she naturally heard many rumors about the dangers of the palace.

Hearing Chen Bao's ambiguous words, how could she not understand that even an old eunuch like Xia Li Shouzhong was wary of this matter; how could the Xia family dare to touch it?

Chen Bao saw that Lady Xia's face had changed, so he stopped where he should. He took a brocade pouch from his body, placed it gently on the table, and pushed it to Lady Xia's side.

He said, "Previously, for the matter you entrusted, Lady, Grandfather Xia spent his heart and mind clearing the way for all parties, and six thousand taels have already been spent. The banquets and human relations were all subsidized by Grandfather Xia himself.

However, the silver for human relations that was sent out cannot be taken back. It is fortunate that this silver was not spent in vain; the human relations and face are all there. In the future, if you have any entrustments, Lady, it is not impossible that they can still be used.

As for the remaining four thousand taels of silver, Grandfather Xia asked me to be sure to return them to you, Lady. This matter can only be stopped here."

Lady Xia cursed inwardly when she heard this. This dead eunuch Xia Li Shouzhong had too black a heart. The matter wasn't handled, yet he first swallowed six thousand taels of the ten thousand taels of silver. He was truly not a thing!

……

But although she thought this in her heart, she naturally wouldn't let out half a sentence in her mouth. She said with a kind face, "The palace is the number one place in the world, and there are too many true Buddhas in that place. Handling matters is naturally the most difficult.

This matter is not that my clan brother didn't try his best to handle it; it was only out of necessity that it became like this. Moreover, my clan brother handled matters for my entrustment, so how could I let my clan brother subsidize the silver? This is truly inappropriate."

Lady Xia pushed the brocade pouch in front of Chen Bao and laughed, "Where is the reason to take back the silver that has been sent out? Just take it as me filling the deficit for my clan brother.

If there is any surplus, take it as a filial offering from my daughter to this clan uncle of hers. My clan brother entered the palace when he was young, has no children, and has achieved today's success, which is truly admirable.

My daughter is now at the age of fifteen. If she can have a good marriage in the future, as long as my clan brother can grace us with his presence and drink a cup of wedding wine, it will not be in vain for the kinship of the same clan."

Chen Bao saw the brocade pouch that Lady Xia pushed in front of him, and his heart was also surprised and unexpected.

He followed Xia Li Shouzhong daily and knew clearly about his handling of matters. The Xia family's entrustment to handle Jia Jia Yuanchun's matter was indeed partially arranged by Xia Li Shouzhong, but the silver spent was only about two thousand taels. He returned four thousand taels to the Xia family, and in one round trip, he ate a deficit of more than three thousand taels.

If it weren't for the fact that Xia Li Shouzhong and Lady Xia were clan relatives and had to leave some face, he would have eaten all four thousand taels clean.

Although he didn't handle the matter for people, he used other people's silver to do favors and also captured many connections. It was truly a business with ten thousand profits for one cost.

……

Chen Bao also knew clearly in his heart that this Lady Xia was the head of the Osmanthus Xia family and had seen many things outside. She must be able to see the mystery in it.

Not only was she not the least bit unhappy, but she actually sent the four thousand taels as a gift. Her generosity was so extraordinary. Could it be that she had other matters to ask of Grandfather Xia? Chen Bao thought about the fact that the matter with Yuan Jing was botched last time and he was slapped by Xia Li Shouzhong. He had to earn back this face, lest he lose his esteem in the future and have a hard time mixing in the palace.

Listening to the meaning in Lady Xia's words, vaguely mentioning her daughter's marriage, could it be that there was some article in it that needed Grandfather Xia to join hands?

Chen Bao thought that Xia Li Shouzhong loved silver and wealth the most. If he could help him connect to the Xia family's business, wouldn't that be finding a way for Grandfather Xia to make a fortune?

By then, he could reveal the matter of Yuan Jing, and he would surely be even more esteemed by Grandfather Xia in the future……

Chen Bao tentatively asked, "You mentioned your daughter's marriage, Lady. Your daughter is a young lady of a great family and must be outstanding in character. Your family also has dealings with noble families like the Lady Rongguo Jia family. Could it be that the marriage will also come from this? If the Xia family can match such a noble family, it would be a great good thing. Grandfather Xia is your noble relative, Lady. Wouldn't he also have glory when he hears this?"

Lady Xia heard Chen Bao's words, and a smile appeared on her face, but this smile was somewhat meaningful, with a few points of pride that were not easy to detect……

She said, "As parents, we always hope that our children will have a place to entrust their lives. It's just that the Xia family's status is mediocre, and the Lady Rongguo Jia family is a noble family of merit. How could there be such a convenient thing? I thank you for your auspicious words, Eunuch."

Chen Bao heard that Lady Xia did not make her words clear, so he naturally did not dare to ask more. He would just tell Grandfather Xia word for word when he went back, and he would decide.

……

Chen Bao thought of another matter and asked, "When I left the palace, Grandfather Xia once instructed me to ask if this matter should be greeted with Count Lord Weiyuan Jia. After all, Lady Jia is his eldest sister.

This Count Jia is now deeply valued by the Emperor. Don't let him have a misunderstanding of Grandfather Xia because this matter didn't succeed. It is always good to speak clearly."

Lady Xia was also a cunning person. As soon as she heard Chen Bao's words, she knew that Xia Li Shouzhong thought that the matter of Jia Yuanchun was entrusted by Count Lord Weiyuan Jia Cong.

Lady Xia was a person immersed in the merchant road and was cautious in her thinking. Since she helped Lady Wang move about for this matter, she had long ago inquired about the details of this matter.

From beginning to end, this matter was planned by Lady Wang and her, and Lady Wang had never mentioned Jia Cong once in the middle.

Lady Wang had quite a bit of resentment toward this nephew of hers in her words. A shrewd person like Lady Xia could naturally hear it.

Moreover, Lady Xia knew very well that a large part of the six thousand taels of silver Lady Wang raised was obtained by selling off the assets of her dowry shops.

The Xia family was a leader in the merchant road of the Love Shenjing. How could news of this kind of business market be hidden from her ears?

If this matter was really planned by Jia Cong behind the scenes, Jia Cong, as the head of the two Jia family prefectures, would have allocated the silver needed for arrangements in the palace for Jia Yuanchun's matter from the Jia family's public estate.

Where would there be a need for Lady Wang to sell her private assets to raise money, and in the end, even need the Xia family's assistance because the amount was insufficient?

Even if Lady Xia didn't need to ask Lady Wang face-to-face, she had calculated these matters clearly in her heart. Jia Yuanchun's matter must be Lady Wang's private action and had nothing to do with that Jia Cong.

However, whether Jia Yuanchun's matter was controlled by Jia Cong was irrelevant to Lady Xia.

She had never been sincere about running for Jia Yuanchun's position in the harem.

The reason she was so enthusiastic about helping Lady Wang handle this matter was just to deepen the connection with the Jia family's Second Branch and had other plans……

……

However, even if Lady Xia had long seen through the root of the matter, there was no need to let Xia Li Shouzhong know everything.

She was a woman who had been widowed for many years, yet she could maintain the huge imperial merchant family so that it was airtight. How could she be a person with simple thoughts?

She had seen many deceptions on the merchant road and naturally knew very well that some things were unclear in the light and dark, and fishing in troubled waters made people even more wary.

Especially when dealing with a ruthless and black-hearted person like Xia Li Shouzhong, that Count Lord Weiyuan, who was famous at the age of fifteen and had fascinated her daughter, was an even better deterrent…… She smiled and said, "There is no need for my clan brother to worry about this matter. In my opinion, since the matter of Lady Jia has been stopped, there is even less need for my clan brother to show his face. Instead, he can stay out of it, which is even more appropriate.

I have always been the one connecting with this matter, the Second Branch Mistress of Lady Rongguo Prefecture. I will just pass the reason to her, and we don't need to pay attention to the rest."

Chen Bao did not know the ins and outs of this matter and naturally could not make his own decisions. Hearing that Lady Xia's words were reasonable, he would just go back and relay them to Xia Li Shouzhong.

Lady Xia said, "Please go back, Eunuch, and be sure to relay my intentions. In the future, for matters of the Xia family, I still ask my clan brother to take care of us."

After Lady Xia finished speaking, she asked her trusted matron to withdraw fifty taels of silver to treat Chen Bao to tea.

Fifty taels of silver was more than a year's salary for a young eunuch. This unexpected wealth made Chen Bao extremely happy, and he said repeatedly that he would definitely relay Lady Xia's instructions to Grandfather Xia truthfully.

……

Not long after Chen Bao left, the Xia young lady came out from behind the screen in the side hall. Just now, she heard that someone from the palace had come, so she knew it must be related to the screening of the Jia family's eldest young lady.

Now, the Xia young lady was interested in any matter related to the Jia family, because she felt that these matters could always be linked to Jia Cong.

Her obsession had deepened, and her thoughts had become strange and twisted. She always felt that by listening to more of these Jia family matters, she could get closer to that young man who was peerless in beauty and outstanding in demeanor.

Once this strange thought arose in her heart, it was somewhat difficult to restrain, and her whole body felt dry and moved……

"Mother, that old eunuch Xia Li Shouzhong is truly not a thing. The matter you entrusted to him wasn't handled, and he even swallowed six thousand taels of silver. He lacks great virtue. No wonder he is going to be cut off from having descendants!"

Lady Xia frowned when she heard her daughter's reckless words, "As a young lady, you don't know any taboos in your speech. What cut off from having descendants? It's too ugly to hear. What would it look like if people heard it!"

The Xia young lady didn't care about her mother's reprimand and continued, "Mother, since the matter wasn't handled, he returned four thousand taels of silver. Why didn't you keep it well?

Four thousand taels is not a small amount, and silver doesn't come from the wind. Why did you give it to that old eunuch for nothing?"

Lady Xia looked at her daughter and said with some doting, "Don't you ponder those useless things every day. Our family has no male descendants, and this family business will sooner or later be taken away by you.

How could Mother not know that silver doesn't come from the wind? But when silver should be used, unless you don't have it in your hands, don't say four thousand taels, even forty thousand taels should be willing.

Although Xia Li Shouzhong is a clan relative of our family, it is a relationship that has been distant for several generations. This clan relative is just a virtual name.

If our family wants to cage this path of his in the Love Shenjing, don't we have to use silver? Do we really rely on the virtual name of this clan relative? This time he didn't handle the matter, so he swallowed six thousand taels under the pretext. How could Mother not know he has a black heart? He returned four thousand taels, just to leave some face for himself.

He is worried that if he really swallowed the whole thing, our family would be dissatisfied. If we spread this matter, it would ruin his reputation, and who would dare to ask him to handle matters in the future?

If no one dares to use the power in his hands, even if he becomes the head eunuch in the palace, to people outside the palace, he is also a waste. How will he make a fortune in the future?

He is greedy by nature and also reluctant to part with these four thousand taels in his heart. He had no choice but to send them over.

But if Mother really accepted them, the friendship between our family and him would be broken, and it would be difficult to ask him to handle matters in the future.

But by giving up these four thousand taels of silver, the extra benefits are truly not small……

Xia Li Shouzhong and Chen Bao must think that the relationship between the Xia family and the Jia family is very deep because of Jia Jia Yuanchun's matter, and Mother deliberately leaked the topic of your marriage, making Chen Bao think that the Xia family and the Jia family have marriage intentions.

He will surely learn this and tell Xia Li Shouzhong when he goes back. Now that Jia Cong is the head of the Jia family, everyone says he is deeply valued by the Emperor. Xia Li Shouzhong is an old eunuch in the palace and must know this kind of market.

Therefore, because of this vaguely covered meaning, he also has an extra layer of wariness toward our family. In the future, only we will throw food, and it won't be his turn to come to the door to scrape.

Xia Li Shouzhong has some face in the inner six palaces. It is not impossible that because of the benefit of these four thousand taels, he has gained convenience and pushed the waves in other matters, which is also not impossible to know."

The Xia young lady just listened to her mother explaining her thoughts and didn't notice the hidden meaning in the words for a while……

……

Lady Xia continued, "Besides, these four thousand taels of silver, logically, also belong to Lady Jia. Although our family lent them out, they have to be returned. This silver is also prepared by Mother as a human debt for you……

Moreover, Jia Jia Yuanchun's matter, Xia Li Shouzhong couldn't handle it, which is a good thing for us, and it reduces the risk of taking on unnecessary responsibilities……

Although the Xia family has gold and silver, in the final analysis, for a family like ours, truly making friends with a household like the Lady Rongguo Jia family is of great use for long-term planning!"

When Lady Xia said this, she felt quite emotional in her heart, and the Xia young lady also had a pink face and a budding heart when she heard this.

It's just that when Lady Xia said this, she was thinking about how to handle Lady Wang and her precious son Jia Jia Baoyu.

However, when the Xia young lady listened to her mother's words, she was thinking of the peerless Jia Cong, fantasizing about which day she could be romantic and satisfied with him……

……

Just as the mother and daughter were each thinking their own thoughts, a maid outside came to report that the dowry matron of the Jia family's mistress, having received her mistress's instructions, had sent some top-grade brocades and porcelains from the shop, and the person had already entered the inner courtyard.

Lady Xia smiled slightly and said, "It must be that the silver has been in the palace for many days, and Lady Jia can no longer hold her temper, so she sent her trusted aide to inquire about the news. Jin Gui, accompany me to meet the guest."

The Xia young lady said unhappily, "Mother, I am most annoyed by this hypocritical Lady Jia. Her dowry matron is just a slave in her house. It is enough to give face for Mother to go and speak to her.

Why do you have to let me accompany you to meet her? A low-grade old slave, where does she have such a big face!"

Her daughter's arrogance and sharpness seemed to give Lady Xia a headache, and she sighed, "She is a slave of the Jia family, that's true, but she represents Lady Jia coming to the door.

Mother letting you meet her is not to see her, but actually to see Lady Jia. This matron will surely report back word for word when she returns.

When the Jia family knows that their own slave came to the door to send gifts, and you, a young lady of a boudoir, also received her in person, they, as a family of poetry and ritual, will only think that you, this eldest young lady, are generous and polite.

If these words are passed back to the Jia family, it will give you a good reputation. Mother is doing this for your face; don't be ungrateful."

When the Xia young lady heard the sentence that it would pass back to the Jia family a good reputation, she unexpectedly thought that if she had this good reputation passed back to the Jia family, he would surely hear it too……

She thought of this, felt that it was useful and sweet in her heart, and readily responded, "Then listen to Mother's meaning, I will also go and see this old slave."

Lady Xia saw that her daughter changed fast enough, and she was somewhat surprised in her heart. However, it was a good thing that her daughter was obedient, so she didn't take it to heart.

Although she knew that her daughter was obsessed with Jia Cong, she only thought that it was a young lady who had suddenly seen a handsome young man and was obsessed for a while, so she would forget it after a period of time.

Lady Xia herself had also been a young lady and thought that her speculation must be correct, but she never expected that her daughter's obsession was so possessed and her thoughts were so biased and strange……

Lady Xia said, "When you see the person in a while, you just ask how she is. You don't need to say anything else; Mother will handle it."

……

In the inner courtyard hall of the Xia Mansion, the Xia mother and daughter saw a matron nearly fifty years old, with a box of gifts beside her, containing top-grade exquisite brocades, Thai blue porcelains, and other items.

This matron was also surnamed Wang and was Lady Wang's dowry maid back then. She followed Lady Wang into the Jia family and didn't become a concubine or anything like that, but established her own family.

Matron Wang was not only shrewd and capable, but most rarely, she could also read and write. For many years, she had been Lady Wang's trusted aide and her right-hand man.

Ever since Lady Wang raised a large sum of silver and entrusted it to Lady Xia to send into the palace to make arrangements for her daughter Jia Yuanchun and seek imperial favor in the harem.

This matter made Lady Wang hang her heart day and night. Many days had passed, and she hadn't received any news from the Xia family, so she finally couldn't hold back her temper.

So she let her trusted matron bring the top-grade silks and porcelains remaining in the shop, and under the pretext of sending casual gifts, came to the Xia family to inquire about the news.

Matron Wang saw the Xia mother and daughter, hurriedly stepped forward to exchange pleasantries, and said that her mistress happened to get some top-grade fabrics and porcelain tools and sent some to Lady Xia to enjoy.

Matron Wang saw that it was not only Lady Xia who came out to meet her, but the Xia young lady, a young lady of a boudoir, actually followed her mother out and met her with proper etiquette.

After all, she was just a domestic slave of Lady Wang, and she felt decent in such a scene. Thinking of what her mistress often said, that the Xia young lady was extremely good, she also felt that her mistress truly had a good eye……

Lady Xia exchanged a few polite words with Matron Wang and laughed, "I originally had words to say to your mistress, and you just happened to come. It is just right to pass a message to your mistress for me.

The gift money I discussed with your mistress for your eldest young lady's planning, information has already come from the palace this morning.

My clan brother, Eunuch Xia of the Palace Internal Affairs Office, already knows the situation of your young lady. Among the screened women, she is considered to have excellent appearance and character. Eunuch Xia can have the fate to recommend her, and he also feels very honored.

Now, the arrangements in all parts of the palace are quite smooth. This matter is already in sight. If there are no accidents, your mistress will likely have great joy. You go back and congratulate me in advance."

Matron Wang heard this and was also extremely happy in her heart. Since her mistress moved into the East Road Courtyard, she had truly been uncomfortable and uneasy everywhere. Now, she had finally made it out.

She hurriedly thanked Lady Xia repeatedly and said a carload of good methods of the Xia family. Such a major event didn't take ten days, and it actually had such a result, which was truly remarkable, and so on……

The Xia young lady on the side heard her mother's words, a pair of autumn water bright eyes, eyes flowing, born charming, but her heart was full of confusion.

Mother, which nerve is wrong? She actually opened her eyes and started talking nonsense…… (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 571 =====