Chapter 687: Clever Words Block Delusions

Rongguo Prefecture, East Courtyard.

Although Lady Wang was quite tempted by that small box of treasures, she was not entirely foolish.

She did not believe that a dowry-accompanying matron from the Zhen family, having just heard that her Baoyu was betrothed, would have the confidence to present such a heavy gift.

The saying goes: "When a gift is bestowed upon someone without cause, there must be a request behind it."

Moreover, this matron had just said that the items in this box were all old Zhen family heirlooms—family treasures; how could they be given away so easily?

Lady Wang closed the lid of the box with some reluctance and said, "This gift of yours is a bit too heavy. I cannot accept it without reason; I will take the sentiment, however."

Liu Baozheng's wife smiled and said, "Lady Jia, you are too modest. The Zhen and Jia families have been family friends for generations, but now that the two families are separated by distance, it is inconvenient to visit frequently."

"Now that the Zhen family has arrived in the Love Shenjing and learned of the great joy of your young master, how could we not come to offer our congratulations? If my mistress knew, she would surely blame me for lacking propriety."

"I don't fear Lady Jia laughing at me, but I have been entrusted by my mistress to handle an urgent matter in the Love Shenjing, and I wish to find an old family relative to help."

"I have looked through all the high-ranking families in the Love Shenjing, and only the Jia family of the Love Shenjing and the Zhen family share such deep ties, and the Jia family's reputation in the Love Shenjing is solid and universally praised."

"Regarding this matter I am handling, I truly wish to ask Lady Jia for your care."

Lady Wang smiled slightly. This matron had finally spoken the truth; if it weren't for needing help, how could this box of glittering items be given away so easily?

She asked, "I wonder what matter your mistress has entrusted you with?"

Liu Baozheng's wife said, "To speak of this matter, it carries some weight. I originally intended to go to Rongguo Prefecture to find your Second Grandmother Lian to mediate, but upon further thought, I felt it was not secure."

"When I was at home, I heard that Second Grandmother Lian is Lady Jia's niece-in-law and was taught the ways of management by you personally."

"Although she is currently managing Rongguo Prefecture, she is ultimately of the younger generation; how could she compare to Lady Jia's high virtue and prestige?"

"I am thinking of the matter my mistress entrusted me with, and I dare not be the least bit careless."

"To find someone to help, one must find the most weighty figure to avoid taking detours or causing complications."

"Therefore, I have thickened my old face to beg at Lady Jia's door, hoping Lady Jia can extend a helping hand."

……

This Liu Baozheng's wife was also an extremely shrewd person. She knew that the First and Second branches of the Jia family were one family once the doors were closed.

Her seeking help from Wang Xifeng would sooner or later be known to Lady Wang.

Rather than being discovered later and creating a rift, it was better to speak vaguely about it first, so as to leave room for excuses later……

Lady Wang heard Liu Baozheng's wife's words, which belittled Wang Xifeng while admiring and elevating herself; it truly hit the mark, and she felt very comfortable in her heart.

She smiled and said, "Feng Yatou can be considered capable; she was taught the ways of management by me personally. However, she is still young, that is the truth."

"You are also a mature person, and your thinking is quite meticulous and thorough. I just don't know what the specific matter is?"

Liu Baozheng's wife's words were clever and perfectly raised the atmosphere, making Lady Wang feel somewhat pleased, even somewhat eager to try……

Seeing Lady Wang's expression, she felt that her verbal groundwork had reached the right moment.

She said, "This matter is a long story. Last year, something happened to the Zhen family's First Branch, and my mistress's Cong Sanye was suddenly harmed by someone."

"The loss of a person is already a tragedy for the family, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard investigated old cases, saying that the Cong Sanye was involved in the private manufacture of firearms while he was alive."

"The Zhen family has always been a family that accumulates virtue; how could they have touched such things? With the Cong Sanye gone, how could he defend himself?"

"This matter dragged on for several months, and the Cong Sanye was convicted by the government, and even my master was implicated."

"Although the Zhen family is a century-old clan, the foundation accumulated over generations is not enough to be completely defeated by this one incident."

"But my mistress lost her own son, and her heart is exceptionally sorrowful; she has also received quite a shock."

"She is always thinking about how to remedy the situation and wants to leave some room for her remaining descendants."

"This time, she let me and my mistress's maternal brother enter the capital, firstly to clear up some relationships and perhaps exonerate the deceased Cong Sanye, so that his spirit may rest in peace."

"Additionally, there is another urgent matter……"

……

East Courtyard, Inner Courtyard, Seeing Tan Chun's room.

Seeing Tan Chun had tidied up her personal belongings and changed into a pink magnolia-embroidered jacket, paired with a light-colored mugwort-green pleated skirt, making her slender waist look even more graceful and her figure standing tall.

She went to the outer study and, on the pear-wood marble desk, ground ink and picked up a brush to write on two sheets of rice paper, feeling quite smooth and comfortable.

Cuimo brought tea over and smiled, "Cong Sanye truly dotes on you, Young Lady. When renovating the East Courtyard, he specifically chose this place for you to live."

"And to make you live comfortably, he imitated your residence in the West Prefecture both inside and out, putting a lot of thought into the renovation."

"Even this pear-wood marble desk was purchased exactly the same as the one you had in the West Prefecture."

Seeing Tan Chun heard Cuimo's words, felt satisfied and proud in her heart, and smiled, looking quite beautiful and intoxicating.

Compared to the West Prefecture and the East Prefecture, the East Courtyard was much smaller in space, but when Jia Cong renovated the East Courtyard, he thought that Seeing Tan Chun would come to stay in the future.

He had been close and tacitly understanding with Seeing Tan Chun since childhood, and when renovating the East Courtyard, he had some selfish motives, hoping Seeing Tan Chun would live more comfortably in the future.

Therefore, in the right side of the inner courtyard, he selected two connected side rooms with elegant scenery and facing the sun.

The reason he chose the right side was that, according to family etiquette, Jia Zheng and his wife and the legitimate son Baoyu would not stay in this position.

He also followed Seeing Tan Chun's preference for brightness, letting craftsmen open up the two side rooms, imitating Seeing Tan Chun's old residence in Rongguo Prefecture, so that she would not feel stiff or distant when she returned.

……

Cuimo placed the teacup on the desk and said, "Now that the family has Cong Sanye supporting the scene, it is becoming more prosperous than in the past."

"Young Lady has always been close to Cong Sanye, and Cong Sanye dotes on you so much; life today is truly wonderful."

"Young Lady is about to reach the age of fifteen; I hope you will also meet a desirable marriage partner in the future who dotes on you just like Cong Sanye does, then a lifetime will be complete."

"Those of us around you, Young Lady, also feel happy seeing this, and we will all have a good ending in our lives."

Seeing Tan Chun heard Cuimo's words, her pretty face couldn't help but blush, and she scolded, "You girl must be possessed today, suddenly talking such crazy talk."

Seeing Tan Chun and Daiyu were the same age, only a few months younger; she had passed the age of girlhood, her buds were about to bloom, and feelings were emerging from her heart.

In the boudoir, chatting with personal maids and touching upon marriage topics had occasionally happened.

So when Cuimo said these words, she was somewhat shy, but she didn't take it to heart.

Cuimo said, "I see that you are kind-hearted, Young Lady. In the East Prefecture, with Cong Sanye and other young ladies for company, you live so freely."

"But you still think about filial piety to your father and teaching your brothers."

"Young Lady's thoughts are all on the family; I am thinking that for your major life events in the future, the family should all think for you."

……

Seeing Tan Chun heard this, her expression slightly stunned. Shi Shu and Cuimo were her personal maids, destined to follow her for life, and would surely follow her when she married in the future.

Therefore, in wealthy families, personal maids caring about the young lady's marriage is also a common sentiment, as it concerns their own life outcomes.

The young lady and her personal maids are together day and night; some things don't need to be said clearly, as both sides know it in their hearts.

When Seeing Tan Chun and her maids were in the East Prefecture, they were comfortable and carefree every day; who would think of any hidden worries?

But as soon as they returned to the East Courtyard, Cuimo suddenly said such words. The little girl had no hidden agenda, so naturally, she was moved and spoke out.

Seeing Tan Chun suddenly thought that when she entered the inner courtyard just now, she didn't have time to return to her room and took her maids to pay respects to Lady Wang first.

She was respectful to Lady Wang, but the legitimate mother's expression was indifferent, not taking her return to heart, as if she were dispensable.

Thinking about it, the maids must have felt the subtle coldness, which is why they suddenly said such words……

Seeing Tan Chun knew the reason to some extent. Ever since her Third Brother inherited the Rongguo title, her legitimate mother's resentment had not dissipated, and being helpless, it had become a mental illness.

Added to the fact that in the past year, her Second Brother had repeatedly caused trouble, each time ending up in a mess, and the servants of the two prefectures had secretly gossiped and mocked him.

How could these rumors not reach the legitimate mother's ears? The legitimate mother would not think it was the Second Brother's absurd behavior.

She would only think that the Third Brother was gaining power every day, occupying all the family's benefits, and hindering and suppressing the Second Brother, which caused him to fall so low.

Originally, the legitimate mother treated her quite well, without the initial contempt and indifference the First Lady had for the Second Sister.

But no one expected the family situation to change so drastically.

She had always been close to her Third Brother, and now she lived in the East Prefecture, with the siblings together every day.

If the Second Brother were as successful as the Third Brother, the legitimate mother would naturally not mind, but things were the opposite.

In this world, there is "loving the house and its crow," and likewise, there is "hating the rest."

With time passing like this, the legitimate mother's resentment grew, so how could she look upon her favorably……

……

But for her to distance herself from her Third Brother because of this, to accommodate the legitimate mother's selfish thoughts, and to violate the feelings in her own heart—Seeing Tan Chun could absolutely not do that.

She thought that her birth mother was incapable and barely able to protect herself in the back house; in the future, when she married, wanting to get support from her birth mother would definitely be impossible.

In the back courtyards of wealthy families, the mistress and legitimate mother are as great as heaven. Because illegitimate sons can continue the bloodline, there are not too many scruples.

But the marriage and future of an illegitimate daughter are almost decided by the legitimate mother in the family. Seeing Tan Chun thought of this and felt a tremor in her heart……

Although she was on good terms with her Third Brother, even if her Third Brother were the head of the family, under the clan laws and etiquette, crossing her legitimate mother would be extremely difficult.

……

Just as Seeing Tan Chun was worried, she saw her maid Shi Shu rush into the room.

Seeing Tan Chun asked, "You returned so quickly, why did you come back empty-handed? Did you not find the things?"

Shi Shu said urgently, "Young Lady, I didn't go to the East Prefecture to get things. I just left the gate and happened to encounter a strange thing, so I came back."

Seeing Tan Chun wondered, "What on earth did you encounter that was worth you not even taking the things and running back halfway?"

Shi Shu said, "Young Lady, I just walked to the main gate, about to go to the West Prefecture's corner gate, when I saw a carriage with unfamiliar faces parked at the gate."

"I asked the gatekeeper boy if there was a guest visiting the Master, and the boy said there was indeed a guest, but not visiting the Master, but visiting the Mistress."

"The boy also said the visitor was a female relative from the Zhen family of Jin Ling. I felt suspicious in my heart, so I didn't dare to go out."

Seeing Tan Chun heard this, her heart jumped violently, and her pretty face changed slightly. A shrewd person like her could naturally think of what Shi Shu could think of.

She muttered to herself, "A female relative of the Zhen family? The Zhen family is far away in Jin Ling; where did so many female relatives come from in the Love Shenjing? Could it be the person who went to the West Prefecture yesterday……"

Shi Shu said, "I had the same thought as you, Young Lady. Yesterday in the side room, I heard Cong Sanye talking about the Zhen family hiding silver, which is very dangerous."

"I was worried about getting things wrong, so I went near the main hall of the outer courtyard."

"I happened to meet a maid entering and exiting to serve tea and asked clearly that the visitor was a dowry-accompanying matron from the Zhen family's First Branch. This matter is seven or eight parts certain."

"I specifically passed through the corridor outside the main hall and heard that matron saying something about the First Young Master being harmed by someone, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard being involved in firearms and the like."

"Yesterday, Cong Sanye also said similar things. This matter is ten parts certain, so I rushed to report to you, Young Lady."

"That Zhen family person is truly unscrupulous. Yesterday they went to the West Prefecture to stir up trouble and were turned away by Second Grandmother, and today they came to the East Courtyard to bewitch the Mistress. Truly hateful!"

Seeing Tan Chun could no longer sit still after hearing this and stood up, saying, "I see the Zhen family is also at the end of their rope, insisting on finding a place to hide this silver."

"The more they rack their brains and persist, the more we must not provoke them. It's just that the Master happens to be out, and there is no one in charge at home."

"If the Mistress is really fooled by that matron and accepts the Zhen family's silver, and rumors spread and trouble arises, not only will the Master suffer, but even Third Brother will be implicated."

"Shi Shu, go to the East Prefecture and pass a message to Third Brother. I will go to the main hall now; I cannot let that matron manipulate things in front of the Mistress……"

……

East Courtyard, Outer Courtyard Main Hall.

Liu Baozheng's wife had spoken tactfully and vaguely about the matter of hiding silver.

Since she had been rebuffed in the West Prefecture, she was even more careful when speaking in front of Lady Wang.

She downplayed the risks of hiding the silver, saying it was just a temporary difficulty for the Zhen family, not worth worrying about, just to leave a fallback.

Lady Wang lived in the inner house and didn't know much about outside matters.

But that morning, the officials impeached the Zhen family, and Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao issued an imperial decree to strictly investigate the Zhen family case, which caused a great stir.

Although Jia Zheng was not qualified to attend the morning court, he heard his colleagues discuss the matter in detail.

Because the Zhen and Jia families were both Jin Ling noble families, the two families had been in contact for generations. Last year, because of the imperial marriage, the two families almost became in-laws.

So Jia Zheng took this matter to heart, and after returning to the prefecture, he mentioned it to Lady Wang once. Lady Wang knew to some extent that the Zhen family was currently in trouble.

Therefore, when Liu Baozheng's wife explained the reason, Lady Wang hesitated for a moment about hiding the Zhen family's private silver.

But Liu Baozheng's wife had a silver tongue, saying there was no risk in this matter, which made her somewhat tempted.

Lady Wang was also born into a noble family and naturally, like Wang Xifeng, had heard many stories of noble families; hiding silver to protect oneself when the family fortune declined was a common occurrence in great families……

Liu Baozheng's wife saw Lady Wang's expression wavering and remembered her encounter in the West Prefecture yesterday; her heart was already in her throat.

She said with somewhat urgent words, "Lady Jia, you don't need to worry too much. Even if the things are placed in the prefecture first, the matter will definitely be done secretly, and outsiders will be hard-pressed to know."

"Even if outsiders hear rumors and really want to pick a fight, these treasures and gold and silver don't have the Zhen family's name engraved on them."

"Who else can insist that it is the Zhen family's things? You just say it is the family's hidden wealth, how can others distinguish……"

Liu Baozheng's wife's words were very bold; she was also at the end of her rope and was somewhat desperate.

Lady Wang heard this, her heart jumped wildly, and her tightened thoughts suddenly relaxed by more than half……

Liu Baozheng's wife continued, "This small box of items is just a red congratulatory gift for your young master."

"My mistress instructed me before leaving that if Lady Jia can extend a helping hand, the Zhen family will be endlessly grateful and will definitely have other heavy rewards."

Lady Wang heard these words and became even more tempted. She had just heard Liu Baozheng's wife say that there were a total of thirteen large boxes transported this time.

Lady Wang glanced at the small box on the desk; the Zhen family's small token of sentiment in this box contained four or five thousand taels of jewelry and wealth.

Those thirteen large boxes, how much silver would that be worth……

……

At this moment, Liu Baozheng's wife's repeated words had truly pried open Lady Wang's heart defenses.

She thought about how Liu Baozheng's wife was worried that Wang Xifeng was young and unreliable, so she specifically sought out someone of her generation.

If she didn't dare to accept this silver, and this matron turned around and found Wang Xifeng, and Feng Yatou accepted this batch of silver, then she would become a joke in the Jia family.

When that matron returned to Jin Ling and spoke of it, among the old relatives of her maiden family, she would become an object of ridicule.

Such a face-losing matter, with Lady Wang's deep foresight, was absolutely not allowed to happen.

Moreover, Liu Baozheng's wife's remark that the silver had no engraving forced Lady Wang's delusions to grow.

If the Zhen family really had a major incident, wouldn't these thirteen large boxes become ownerless property……

Ever since the Second Branch lost its power and was squeezed out of Rongguo Prefecture, Lady Wang had felt extremely humiliated, and a breath of depression had been pent up in her heart, unable to breathe straight……

And there was her Baoyu, a legitimate son and grandson of the dignified Rongguo Prefecture, such a noble and outstanding figure, yet even the marriage silver was stretched thin, which was truly heartbreaking.

Why did their Second Branch have to suffer such humiliation, and why couldn't they be like that brat in the East Prefecture, occupying all the glory of the clan every day?

Lady Wang thought of these things, and couldn't help but feel bold, her heart becoming more determined.

She said resolutely, "Liu's, the Jia and Zhen families are family friends in Jin Ling, with generations of friendship. Helping each other is a matter of duty, this matter……"

Lady Wang was about to say words like "duty-bound" and "extending a helping hand."

Suddenly, she heard footsteps at the entrance of the main hall and a crisp, sharp voice: "Mistress, this matter is not appropriate, please think twice!"

……

Liu Baozheng's wife saw Lady Wang's tone loosening and knew she was about to agree to the matter, and her heart was ecstatic.

The thirteen boxes she brought from Jin Ling were not ten thousand taels of gold and silver, but a hot, deadly hot potato.

She wished she could throw it away as soon as possible so she could return to Jin Ling safely; as for what happened later, she threw her hands up and couldn't care less.

She was just waiting for Lady Wang to say the word of agreement, and she would strike while the iron was hot, send the boxes to the East Courtyard quickly, and everything would be fine.

She never dreamed that at this deadly moment, someone would speak. She hadn't seen the person, but the voice was sharp, clearly coming to spoil things!

She looked back and saw a young lady enter, beautiful and pretty, with narrow shoulders and a slender waist, tall and standing tall, her appearance graceful.

A pair of watery, bright eyes flashed with a cold, ice-cutting gaze, making people somewhat afraid to look directly.

……

Lady Wang saw Seeing Tan Chun suddenly break in, followed by her maid Cuimo, and her words were unkind. How could she save face in front of the noble female relatives?

She frowned and said, "Third Yatou, I am entertaining guests in the hall. What kind of talk is this? It's too lacking in rules!"

Seeing Tan Chun's face turned slightly pale. Today her father was not at home, and Third Brother could not come over for a while.

If she didn't cut off the conversation and let the Mistress agree to this matron, even if the boxes weren't sent in, a handle would be left behind from now on.

Last time Baoyu said a few overstepping words in the inner house, and within two days, the Clan Office came to reprimand him, causing a huge scandal.

Third Brother once said that within the noble families of the Love Shenjing, there were eyes and ears of the court's Zhongche Office, otherwise how could Baoyu's few crooked words reach the outside?

Once today's matter left a handle, the dangers of the past might not reappear.

If it became as noisy as last time, and the imperial censor impeached them for misconduct, would the Master still be able to be an official, and how would they face people in the future?

She thought clearly about these things, bit her cherry lip slightly, and said boldly, "Mistress, you don't know, this Matron Liu of the Zhen family already went to the West Prefecture yesterday."

"She sought Second Sister-in-law Lian to lobby, wanting to hide her family's treasure boxes in the West Prefecture. Second Sister-in-law knew that the Zhen family was already a family of criminals, fearing the disaster of being raided and convicted."

"Their private silver is equivalent to stolen goods. Once our Jia family touches it, we will definitely be implicated in court charges and bring disaster to the family."

"So yesterday Second Sister-in-law already refused her, and this was also Third Brother's meaning."

"I didn't expect this Matron Liu to be so ignorant. The West Prefecture already refused, yet after only one day, she came to the East Courtyard to deceive the Mistress."

"I am worried that the Mistress is being deceived by her. Even if I am disrespectful in front of the Mistress, I must speak out to stop it. Even if I violate family law, I am willing to accept punishment!"

Lady Wang heard this, full of anger, her face iron-blue, and she looked at Seeing Tan Chun with cold eyes…… (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 688 =====