Chapter 710

Rongguo Prefecture, Rongqing Hall.

The arhat bed in the hall was covered with a scarlet foreign carpet, with silver-red gold-money pattern pillows and autumn-fragrance gold-money pattern mattresses set on the front, which was exceptionally rich and luxurious.

Jia Mu's hair was like silver, and she leaned on the couch, wearing a blessing and longevity auspicious pattern group flower satin jacket, a snow-green stand-up collar jacket, and a red gold sprinkled flower satin horse-face skirt.

The maid Yuanyang had pretty eyes and snow-white skin, a graceful figure, and was beautiful and moving, sitting obliquely behind Jia Mu, gently pounding her shoulders and back.

It was just that her watery, wonderful eyes occasionally saw Wang Lady sitting in the lower seat, and there was a trace of coldness in her gaze that was not easily detected.

Wang Lady was saying, "Old Lady, Feng Yatou's actions nowadays are inevitably a bit too ignorant of priorities.

The monthly allowance for all parts of the mansion is issued on the tenth, but only Baoyu's room is blocked and not given; how can one treat one's own family brothers like this?

She is using the authority of the public funds to act recklessly according to her own temperament; if this spreads out, outsiders will definitely laugh at Rongguo Prefecture for having no rules or etiquette.

I have also managed the household for many years and have never seen her demeanor; Baoyu has suffered this grievance for no reason, Old Lady, you have to manage it."

Wang Lady had just scolded Sheyue in Baoyu's courtyard and then rushed to Rongqing Hall without stopping to complain to Jia Mu.

Her own Baoyu was noble and clever, yet he suffered such bullying in the West Prefecture; Wang Lady's heart was burning with anger, and she really didn't want to endure it for a moment longer.

Jia Mu heard her daughter-in-law's words, which seemed aggrieved but were actually aggressive, and couldn't help but rub her eyebrows, feeling annoyed in her heart.

Living a good, happy, and peaceful life, yet every day they make up some bullshit things; there are not many people in this family who are content and quiet.

She frowned and said, "Whenever trouble arises in the family, it is all because there is no wind without waves; Feng Yatou's actions indeed have inappropriate aspects.

But your handling of affairs a few days ago was also truly lacking in measure, otherwise there wouldn't be these waves right now."

Wang Lady felt aggrieved and said, "Old Lady, I mostly stay in the East Road courtyard nowadays, being cautious in words and deeds daily; I really don't know where there are still mistakes."

Jia Mu said, "A few days ago, Feng Yatou let Ping'er go to the East Prefecture to settle in; Baoyu is young and said a few ignorant words, which is fine.

Feng Yatou felt she had lost face because of him; even if she was a bit angry in her heart, it should have passed; a child interrupting shouldn't be considered a big matter.

But you shouldn't have followed Baoyu's words and made irresponsible remarks about Cong Ge'er taking a concubine.

What kind of woman he takes into his room, I, as the grandmother, don't care; moreover, Ping'er is Feng Yatou's maid, and they are willing.

Why did you have to do something extra and say those idle words? Could it be that Cong Ge'er would listen to you?

Among the young maids in these two prefectures, if Cong Ge'er wants any of them, you see if these maids wouldn't rush to him; who could stop him?

Baoyu says a few words, and Feng Yatou won't take it too seriously, but you are the managing mistress of the Second Branch; if you speak, doesn't it become the Second Branch wanting to manage the First Branch's family affairs?

I am also a person who has been a managing grandmother; wanting to manage this big family is not an easy thing, and there are some places that cannot be touched.

Without rules, it is difficult to form a square; without family prestige, how can one manage a family?

Cong Ge'er let Feng Yatou manage the household; now the Second Branch is involved in the First Branch's family affairs; if she doesn't use some means, how will Cong Ge'er look at her, and how can she continue to be the managing eldest sister-in-law?

You have also managed the household, so you should know the severity of this, and there is no need for me to say more."

Wang Lady was slightly stunned after hearing this; she had been angered by the matter and hadn't thought deeply for a while, but now she was a bit awakened.

Feng Yatou deliberately making things difficult for Baoyu was not only to embarrass her but also to show it to that kid in the East Prefecture.

She was worried that Cong Ge'er would think she had no means and therefore look down on her, making her lose her footing in the prefecture.

Feng Yatou was originally such a rigid person; now, in order to flatter that kid, she is so regardless of face; she really doesn't know shame!

……

Jia Mu continued, "I also know what you mean; it's nothing more than wanting me to come out and speak, pressing Feng Yatou to issue the monthly allowance in Baoyu's courtyard.

I am also clear in my heart; as long as I speak, even if Feng Yatou is angry in her heart, she will mostly do as told.

But what is the use of you winning this face back?

Once things become like that, the First Branch and the Second Branch will tear their faces apart, and they will really have to confront each other.

Cong Ge'er is a person with very deep thoughts; even if he doesn't speak to his face, he won't resent me, the grandmother, for being partial, and the affection accumulated by Zheng'er will be mostly gone.

He has reached this point at such an age, and his thoughts and means are much more formidable than Feng Yatou's.

He has been close to Third Yatou since he was a child, but he has always been distant from Baoyu and has no special affection.

Last time he said those harsh words to Sister Xi Ren, it was when he passed the imperial examination; Baoyu spoke recklessly, and he was already a bit angry in his heart.

If I press Feng Yatou to issue the monthly allowance and reject the First Branch's face, he won't be able to speak too much about this matter, but he might use Baoyu's mistakes to vent.

Now that I am not dead yet, your two branches are already confronting each other like this; when I die in the future, where will my Baoyu have a good life?"

Wang Lady's face turned slightly white after hearing this; she was not a stupid person and naturally knew that what Jia Mu said was extremely reasonable.

Now the First Branch has obtained the hereditary title and family business, causing the Second Branch to only be able to live by looking at others' faces; the only thing they can rely on is the Old Lady, which can preserve more face.

But the Old Lady is already over seventy; how many years can she protect the Second Branch...

Jia Mu saw that her daughter-in-law was a bit alert after her earnest words, but she still couldn't hide her unwillingness.

She couldn't help but feel annoyed and sighed; although her daughter-in-law was ruthless and had some means, she was accustomed to losing big things for small ones and didn't know how to look further.

Jia Mu said, "According to my meaning, I will pretend I didn't hear your words today, and I will pretend I don't know about these small things like monthly allowance.

Either way, it's just a delay of ten days or half a month; even if it's gone, it's not a big deal; could it be that the maids in Baoyu's room will starve to death?

Yuanyang, go and get twenty taels of silver and go tell Sister Xi Ren my meaning.

They have been serving Baoyu diligently, and this is the benefit I reward them with; they can keep it to buy rouge and powder, or send it home."

Yuanyang agreed hurriedly and went to the back hall to get the silver to handle the matter, looking quite capable...

Wang Lady was dumbfounded after hearing Jia Mu's words, and felt even more aggrieved; did I come to the Old Lady to talk just for twenty taels of benefit?

How could the Old Lady forget that the person she doted on most in her life was Baoyu, and now she is so concerned about that kid in the East Prefecture, muddling through everything...

……

Not mentioning Wang Lady's full of resentment, Jia Mu continued, "For a hereditary family like ours, bumps and bruises in the household are common things.

There is no need to take everything to heart; one must know the principle of turning big things into small ones and small things into nothing; this is the way for a harmonious, prosperous, and long-lasting family.

You also need to look further and don't always stare at these small things in front of you; now I am still worried about a big matter."

Although Wang Lady was stifled and unconvinced in her heart, she was a bit curious when she heard Jia Mu say there was a big matter.

But she heard Jia Mu say, "The eldest girl will reach the ten-year period of entering the palace next year; at that time, she will have to leave the palace and return home; ten years of youth have been wasted in vain.

She was brought up by me since she was a child; the most important thing after she returns home is her lifelong event.

But the eldest girl is already twenty years old; wanting to find a matching marriage is also very difficult.

Any son of an official or hereditary family will be engaged after fifteen years old; how can the eldest girl catch up?

If I don't see that she has a lifelong reliance, I won't be able to close my eyes even if I die.

I am thinking of letting Cong Ge'er help plan this matter; his official position is pure and noble, his reputation is loud, the palace also values him, and he has broad connections in the officialdom.

Or by his reputation, he might be able to find a good marriage for the eldest girl.

If for the sake of a few months of allowance, the whole family becomes awkward and confronts each other, wouldn't it be losing big things for small ones, and perhaps delaying the eldest girl's lifelong event."

Wang Lady felt her brain was about to split when she heard this; the person she hated and was unconvinced by most was the one who held all the big and small affairs of the Second Branch in his hands.

Now even the eldest girl's marriage has to pass through this kid's hands; listening to the Old Lady, without this kid, the eldest girl wouldn't be wanted by anyone; how unreasonable.

……

Jia Mu said again, "Baoyu is a bit strange this time; he didn't care about these idle matters in the past, but this time he spoke out to stop Ping'er from entering the East Prefecture.

I know he has always liked pretty girls, and now that he has reached the age and women have entered his room, he understands human affairs more and more.

He must be envious of Cong Ge'er because Ping'er is pretty, but this kind of thing is everyone's fate; how can one be envious?

You, as a mother, should teach him more; if he takes a fancy to any maid in the prefecture, I will give her to him; what is that worth?

Even if the ones in the family are not satisfactory, spending some silver to buy good-looking ones outside is also a very simple thing.

Only one thing, let him listen to me; any woman in the family who has anything to do with Cong Ge'er, he is not allowed to talk about or get involved in the future.

Brothers fighting in a big mansion, most of it comes from women; never get involved in this, so everyone can be quiet."

Wang Lady's heart skipped a beat after hearing this; if it were in the past, she would definitely not be convinced by Jia Mu's words.

Her Baoyu was born strangely, had first-class looks, was born of the legitimate line, and was so doted on by the Old Lady, so the good things in the prefecture were naturally prioritized for him.

But now Wang Lady didn't dare to think so; even if Baoyu took a fancy to any maid in the prefecture and wanted to ask the Old Lady for her, Wang Lady would definitely stop him.

Because at this moment, Baoyu's room must not have any new women, otherwise Baoyu's unspeakable hidden illness, how could it be hidden from people?

Once this kind of thing leaks out, the Second Branch's face will be lost, and he will become a laughingstock for others for a lifetime, and Baoyu will no longer have the face to stay in the West Prefecture.

Fortunately, the word on this matter is very tight; in Baoyu's room, except for Sister Xi Ren and Caiyun who entered the room, no one else knows anything.

Wang Lady has even issued an order that daily Baoyu is only allowed to have Sister Xi Ren and Caiyun on night duty, and Bihan and Qiuyun are only allowed to serve outside, to avoid Baoyu's absurd and chaotic sexual affairs.

As for those tricky and restless goods in Baoyu's room, they cannot be kept for long, and sooner or later they will be sent away; the first one is that Sheyue.

This little hoof is so cunning in her tongue; if she finds out Baoyu's secret, she will definitely ruin things...

……

Count's Prefecture, Jia Cong's courtyard.

At sunset, the sky was full of rosy clouds, casting gorgeous light and shadow in the inner garden; the clear stone paths, pavilions, and towers reflected each other, quiet and peaceful.

Jia Cong returned to the prefecture after work and had just entered the main room of the courtyard when he saw Hearing Zhi Shao tidying up; the marble table was full of things, all of which were items with Jiangnan style.

A pair of painted oil-paper umbrellas, four high-quality sandalwood fans, a box of refined lake brushes, a cinnabar red inkstone, and two bags of specially made green salt.

Jia Cong asked, "Hearing Zhi Shao, where did these things come from?"

Hearing Zhi Shao smiled, "They were sent by Miss Lin personally just now, gifts brought by Master Lin from Gusu."

Jia Cong wondered, "It's not a year or a festival now, and Lin Meimei's birthday has long passed; why did Father-in-law bring things over at this time?"

Hearing Zhi Shao said, "I also felt curious; just now when I was chatting with Miss Lin, I also asked about this topic.

Miss Lin said that a fellow villager and old friend of Master Lin was transferred to the capital by the Ministry of Personnel this time and became a supervising censor of the Shanxi Circuit of the Censorate.

Because it is rare for an old friend to be an official in the capital, Master Lin asked him to bring two boxes of gifts for Miss Lin."

Jia Cong was slightly stunned after hearing this, because he had some impression of the supervising censor of the Shanxi Circuit; he even remembered that the previous censor of Shanxi was named Hong Youfang.

This person was once a grading official under the five-room co-examiner of the spring examination, and because he was involved in the major case of fraud in the spring examination, he was recently dismissed and investigated.

This time, more than thirty officials in the capital were dismissed and removed from office because they were involved in the major fraud case like Hong Youfang.

Therefore, during this period, there were often officials from outside who were transferred to the capital by the Ministry of Personnel to fill the vacancies; various powerful people often had social and mediation activities for these vacancies in the capital.

This fellow villager and old friend of Lin Ruhai must have been able to enter the capital as a censor of the Shanxi Circuit of the Censorate because of this opportunity.

For officials from outside to be transferred to the capital as officials is a great opportunity in their official career; many people have been promoted rapidly and have risen to the top.

Hearing Zhi Shao smiled, "Miss Lin came to send gifts at this time, but it happened that Cong Sanye came back late from work, so they didn't meet; Cong Sanye, why don't you go over to thank her."

Jia Cong also felt it made sense after hearing it; now that the sky was still bright, it was convenient to enter and exit.

After entering the main room of Daiyu's courtyard, he saw her leaning on the head of the bed flipping through a book; seeing Jia Cong enter, she smiled, "Third Brother, you finally finished work."

Jia Cong smiled, "I received your gifts, so naturally I have to come to thank you."

Daiyu smiled and said, "It's just local products from my hometown; is it worth Third Brother coming over specially to thank me? Xueyan, hurry up and serve tea to Third Brother."

Jia Cong went over and sat on the edge of the bed; Daiyu saw that he was used to being casual, and her mouth curled up slightly, letting him be.

Jia Cong saw Xueyan go out to make tea and asked, "Why don't I see Hearing Zi Juan's shadow today?"

Daiyu smiled, "Today is Hearing Zi Juan's mother's birthday; she saved up her monthly money for more than half a year, bought the gold bracelet she had been eyeing, and went home to celebrate the birthday; she won't be back until tomorrow.

Speaking of monthly money, I went to pay respects to the Old Lady in the morning and went to Feng Sister's place to play with the eldest girl, but I heard some rumors.

They said that Second Aunt went to Rongqing Hall yesterday to tell about the unissued monthly allowance in Baoyu's courtyard, but the Old Lady didn't say anything today, so this matter will likely continue to be left hanging."

Jia Cong knew that Rongqing Hall's affairs could never be hidden from people.

Yuanyang asked Qingwen to go over to cut embroidery patterns yesterday, and Qingwen told Jia Cong after returning about Second Aunt going to complain to the Old Lady yesterday...

Jia Cong said, "Don't you think Second Sister-in-law's actions are a bit overbearing?"

……

Daiyu shook her head and said, "Tigers and wolves are stationed at the steps; rather than talking about cause and effect, it is better to hit the key point.

Although Baoyu started the matter, it is not as serious as these words, but the principle is the same.

In a big and noble family, ancestral laws and etiquette, legitimate branch and side branch, primary and secondary, each has its own duties and each has its own affairs.

These are the rules passed down by ancestors for many years; they must have their reasons; without rules, how can one form a square?

Feng Sister is now managing the household affairs of the West Prefecture, so naturally, she must keep these rules firmly; otherwise, in the long run, the primary and secondary of the West Prefecture will be unbalanced, and it will be in chaos.

By that time, if the family business of the West Prefecture grows branches, how can Feng Sister be worthy of Third Brother's entrustment?

Baoyu grew up with us sisters since he was a child, and we all know his temperament.

Others know that things are unreasonable, but in his mouth, he feels it is quite reasonable; in short, everything goes his way, which is the proper thing.

So talking proper principles with Baoyu is useless; Feng Sister's method is rough, but it can show the inside and outside and let people see the priorities.

Second Aunt is an elder; I shouldn't have spoken, so as not to lose the etiquette of superiors and inferiors.

But she has always been unconvinced by Third Brother and used Baoyu's words to restrict Third Brother's ceremony of taking a concubine; I really can't stand it."

Jia Cong heard Daiyu's words and felt that she was full of poetry and books, quiet and elegant, not contaminated by vulgarity, and didn't expect her to be so shrewd and transparent.

He smiled, "Lin Meimei is the best, and she is always on my side in her heart."

Daiyu pursed her lips and smiled, "Since you know, remember to be on my side in everything in the future."

Jia Cong smiled, "Meimei has always been a seed of reading; I didn't expect you to be so worldly; if you can manage the household in the future, you will definitely be three points more formidable than Second Sister-in-law."

Daiyu's pretty face turned red for no reason after hearing this, and she said, "I'm just talking big; how can I be as diligent and capable as Feng Sister..."

She turned her wonderful eyes and said, "This matter actually has to be blamed on Third Brother."

Jia Cong was a bit unconvinced and said, "Hu Nao, Baoyu started the matter with his big mouth; how can it have anything to do with me?"

Daiyu smiled, "Sister Ping'er is pretty, and now she belongs to Third Brother.

If Baoyu wasn't envious, why would he cause trouble? Naturally, it has to be blamed on Third Brother.

Third Brother's courtyard is big enough, but if it goes on like this, I'm really worried that your courtyard won't be able to hold people..."

……

Jia Cong felt a bit embarrassed after hearing Daiyu's teasing words.

He said, "Hu Nao, my courtyard is big; even if you come to live, it's enough; either way, I'll let you live in the main room, and I'll live in the side room."

Daiyu's small face turned red as soon as she heard this; in an instant, it was like being lit by fire, showing an unusual brightness.

She said angrily, "Third Brother's face is getting thicker; you even dare to tease me; see if I don't tear your mouth, see if you still dare to bully me!"

As she said this, she stretched out her hand and pinched both corners of Jia Cong's mouth; she actually had quite a bit of strength; Jia Cong's cheeks hurt, he couldn't sit still, and fell onto the bed.

Daiyu exclaimed, hurriedly let go of both hands, and turned over cleverly, not being pressed by Jia Cong, but her body was already trembling with shame.

The two were lying on their sides on the bed for a while, eyes meeting, eyes connecting, a situation that had never happened before, making them both a bit stunned.

Under Jia Cong was the soft bed, and beside him was Daiyu's sweet and pleasant body fragrance, refreshing and intoxicating.

Daiyu came back to her senses, noticed Jia Cong's breathing, and reached out to cover Jia Cong's mouth and nose in shame, muttering, "Not allowed."

Then she realized, sat up, and pulled Jia Cong's sleeve.

Her pretty face was red as she urged, "Third Brother, don't mess around, get up quickly; how can you lie on my bed? If someone sees it..." (End of chapter)