Chapter 729: Schemes in the Inner Quarters

Lady Rongguo Prefecture, Rongqing Hall.

Wang Wang Xifeng's words were silver-tongued and sharp, yet every point was reasonable. Like an iron chain across a river, she left no room for criticism, and not a single step could be overstepped.

Though Lady Wang had her own schemes, when it came to the eloquence of twisting black into white, she was far inferior to her niece-in-law.

Filled with indignation and burning with inner fire, she racked her brains, just waiting to find words to refute her.

Yet she heard Wang Wang Xifeng continue: "Miss Xia can be considered sensible and reasonable; it is precisely because she took a fancy to Jia Baoyu that she has the good fortune to marry into our Jia family."

"If she had taken a fancy to someone else, I fear she would not have had the fortune to be a Jia family wife."

"Therefore, this granddaughter-in-law feels that as for how much dowry the Xia family brings, that is their family's business; we should just proceed with the wedding in a proper and orderly manner."

"If we deliberately inflate the spectacle and stretch ourselves thin to hold the wedding, it would truly look unseemly to outsiders."

"It would look as if we were holding a golden rice bowl yet begging for food, making people think we lack discernment and instead lowering the noble status of the Jia family..."

Jia Mu heard Wang Wang Xifeng becoming increasingly sharp, but since every word clung to the Jia family's noble status, Jia Mu truly found it difficult to refute her.

She even felt a bit pleased upon hearing it, yet she was also filled with frustration—neither up nor down, neither awkward nor comfortable—an indescribable sense of unease.

Moreover, Wang Wang Xifeng's words were blunt but true: it was fortunate the Xia family took a fancy to Jia Baoyu; if they had taken a fancy to Brother Cong, who would even pay him any mind...

At this thought, Jia Mu felt a bellyful of discomfort. Was her Jia Baoyu really so worthless? She was truly unwilling to admit it in her heart and hurriedly cut off this train of thought.

Seeing the second daughter-in-law's extremely ugly expression, she thought of Phoenix's sharp tongue; if she let her continue, she would drive people mad.

She hurriedly said: "Phoenix, your words are too harsh. According to you, does the public treasury not need to spend silver, and are we to marry this daughter-in-law by catching a wolf with empty hands?"

Wang Wang Xifeng laughed: "Look at what the Old Matriarch is saying. How could we not spend silver to marry a daughter-in-law? I was merely explaining the logic behind it."

Jia Mu and Lady Wang heard this and both breathed a sigh of relief in unison; this damned girl at least knew to allocate silver and wouldn't be completely stingy.

Yet they heard Wang Wang Xifeng add lightly: "Buying a maid in this household costs a hundred or eighty taels; marrying a daughter-in-law surely requires spending a bit more."

Lady Wang heard this and felt her whole body swaying, nearly fainting from anger.

Fortunately, she knew the severity of the situation; the Western Prefecture's treasury was in Wang Wang Xifeng's hands. If they quarreled and tore off the mask of civility, she wouldn't be able to get a single tael of silver.

From then on, the first and second branches would be completely broken. Would she still have the face to cross the threshold of Lady Rongguo Prefecture? How would she continue to enjoy the wealth and glory of Lady Rongguo?

All the hopes and expectations of the second branch would also be completely severed...

Lady Wang thought of this, and even though she was angry enough to stop breathing, she forcibly suppressed her rage, remaining silent, her expression terrifyingly gloomy.

Seeing Lady Wang in this state, Wang Wang Xifeng couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed, and even more wary.

She had originally wanted to say some harsh words to provoke Lady Wang into a shouting match, so that everyone would tear off their masks and there would be no need to worry about feelings in the future—everything would be strictly by the book.

It would save her aunt from indulging in wishful thinking, constantly demanding eight thousand taels, and spending all day plotting to empty the Western Prefecture's coffers. She hadn't expected her to be able to endure such insults...

Jia Mu was already feeling impatient and said: "Phoenix, don't talk about these useless things. Just talk about the matter of the eight thousand taels."

Wang Wang Xifeng said: "The Old Matriarch is clear about the Lady Rongguo Prefecture's financial foundation. Now that a large portion of the noble estate's income is gone, the public treasury's annual revenue is only ten thousand taels of silver."

"To withdraw eight thousand taels at once—not to mention that we won't be able to get through this year—the whole household will starve to death next year."

"If the Old Matriarch and the Second Lady are understanding, these eight thousand taels absolutely cannot be disbursed. This is the very clear logic of managing a household."

"If the Old Matriarch calls Brother Cong to ask, and he wants to do this favor, I will pack my bedding and move to the Eastern Prefecture, eating idle rice at his place, and he can manage this household himself!"

Jia Mu heard Wang Wang Xifeng's sharp words and felt a chill in her heart, knowing that withdrawing eight thousand taels from the treasury was already extremely difficult.

Jia Mu had previously been persuaded by Sister Yuanyang, and in her heart, she hadn't held much hope for the eight thousand taels anyway.

Hearing Wang Wang Xifeng's words, though she was a bit disappointed, it wasn't too unexpected.

As for Wang Wang Xifeng saying to call Jia Cong to ask, Jia Mu wouldn't make such a foolish mistake; that boy was even more shrewd and formidable than Phoenix.

If Phoenix wouldn't comply, Jia Cong would certainly pay even less attention. He was the head of the two prefectures; if he opened his mouth to reject this matter, there would be no room for maneuver.

Lady Wang suppressed the rage in her heart and said coldly: "Phoenix, your words are too heartless. Jia Baoyu is the legitimate son of the second branch and the bloodline of the Duke."

"For such a major event as his wedding, how can the treasury not allocate silver to handle it? In the past, even when the sons of the outer six branches married, the treasury would allocate generous gift money."

"Is Jia Baoyu not even as good as those sons? How can there be such logic, and how can this be justified?"

Wang Wang Xifeng laughed: "Second Lady, do not be impatient. I just said that silver should still be allocated."

"It's just that there must be a reason and a precedent for how the silver is allocated; it's not good to have no rules at all, saying it is whatever amount one wants."

"If things were done this way, even if the Western Prefecture were wealthy and glorious, it couldn't withstand being tossed about a few times."

"For example, the Second Lady asking the treasury to allocate eight thousand taels in one go to create a spectacle for Brother Bao is truly forcing someone to do the impossible."

"Eight or nine tenths of the treasury's silver comes from the Western Prefecture's noble estate; at the root, it is all Brother Cong's private wealth."

"Although he lets me, his sister-in-law, manage the household, I dare not act recklessly with such a large sum."

Lady Wang was angry and blurted out: "Who doesn't know that Brother Cong is wealthy outside? Would he even care about a few thousand taels of silver in the household?"

Jia Mu heard Lady Wang's words and her expression changed slightly. She blamed her daughter-in-law for being impatient; some things could be said behind one's back, but it was unpleasant to say them to one's face.

Wang Wang Xifeng heard this, her pretty face sank, and she felt disgusted in her heart. That the Second Lady could even say such things—she was truly calculating even the silver of someone else's lover.

She smiled and said: "The meaning of the Lady's words is about that matter with Miss Qu, right? Who doesn't know she is a female merchant, wealthier than our family?"

"Although Miss Qu has been thoughtful these past few years, offering gifts to both prefectures during festivals, and outsiders say she and Brother Cong are not ordinary..."

"But these are just things said by word of mouth. Miss Qu hasn't even come to the house once, hasn't offered tea to the Old Matriarch, and Brother Cong hasn't sent betrothal gifts."

"The two of them have no name or status; even if they are close, it doesn't count as a connection. Can the silver that young lady earns be counted in our Jia family's accounts?"

"If our family's sons marry, and the expenses for the silver have to rely on Miss Qu's light, these words are truly too unpleasant to hear."

"Second Lady, it is better to say these things only in front of us; do not let them reach Brother Cong's ears. He values his face; if he finds out, he will be angry."

Lady Wang heard this, and her expression changed slightly. These words were ultimately not upright and bright, but could there be anything wrong with the logic?

Wang Wang Xifeng continued: "Since we are talking about the treasury allocating silver, let's just talk about the treasury; other idle talk is useless."

"Brother Cong received the imperial decree to inherit the title and estate; the family situation is different from the past. The first and second branches each have their place, and things must be done according to rules to be successful."

"The Second Lady just hit the nail on the head: when kinsmen marry, the treasury allocates gift money. Since others have it, Brother Bao naturally won't be short of it."

"There is a precedent for this matter: when Brother Rong married, the treasury allocated one thousand taels of gift money."

"Brother Rong was the legitimate son of the first branch of the Ningguo Prefecture, a noble heir inheriting the title; it is not easy to compare him with Jia Baoyu's current status."

"But Jia Baoyu is, after all, of the Lady Rongguo lineage; we should be a bit biased toward our own family. Let's follow the old precedent of Brother Rong for Jia Baoyu's wedding."

"The treasury allocating one thousand taels of silver as gift money is also very decent for Jia Baoyu."

Once Wang Wang Xifeng said this, Jia Mu couldn't care about being angry; she was stunned.

Jia Mu knew clearly in her heart that letting the treasury allocate eight thousand taels was definitely impossible.

Her second daughter-in-law had indeed acted too ruthlessly, but because she loved Jia Baoyu the most, she could only drag her old face out to mediate.

She thought that if the treasury couldn't produce eight thousand taels, four thousand taels should be possible. At worst, she would subsidize some herself to let Jia Baoyu have a glorious wedding.

She truly hadn't expected Wang Wang Xifeng to use Brother Rong's matter as an excuse, and it sounded reasonable and well-founded. She didn't know who had given her such a rotten idea.

To actually say that for Jia Baoyu's wedding, the treasury would only produce one thousand taels—this Phoenix was too formidable; she could even say such things.

Lady Wang heard "one thousand taels of silver" as if she had been slapped in the face; both her cheeks were burning, and she truly couldn't bear it any longer.

Now that the second branch had moved into the Eastern Road Courtyard, all monthly expenses were issued by the Western Prefecture's treasury according to regulations, and the accounts were calculated strictly, leaving no room for surplus.

She had been accustomed to being the mistress of the house, using the household's assets at will; where had she ever experienced such tight days?

Last time, for the sake of inviting favor for her daughter Jia Yuanchun, Lady Wang had spent ten thousand taels of silver, and she hadn't even heard a sound when it was thrown into the water; she was still suffering from the loss of vitality.

She had originally thought of taking advantage of Jia Baoyu's grand wedding to get more silver out of the Western Prefecture—first, to let her son have a glorious wedding, and second, to accumulate some foundation for the second branch...

She truly hadn't expected Wang Wang Xifeng to be so sharp and vicious, using one thousand taels of silver to fool her, just like dismissing a beggar.

She said: "Phoenix, your words are too unreasonable. How can Brother Rong be compared to Jia Baoyu?"

"Even if the treasury doesn't have much surplus, it shouldn't just allocate one thousand taels. How is Jia Baoyu supposed to marry with this? Does he still need face outside?"

Wang Wang Xifeng laughed: "The Lady is wrong. Although Brother Rong is now exiled, when he was in his position, his status was more important than Jia Baoyu's."

"I won't argue about this anymore. The Old Matriarch suddenly brought this up today, and I hadn't planned or prepared for it beforehand."

"The one thousand taels of gift money I just mentioned is all according to the household's usual practice; this matter cannot be taken as final."

"Because any expenditure exceeding one thousand taels is a large amount for the treasury, I alone cannot decide it; it still requires Brother Cong's nod."

"After I go back and discuss it with Brother Cong, this matter can be settled. Brother Cong has great learning and strict rules; I have no bottom line in my heart, so the Second Lady should not take it as final yet."

Jia Mu and Lady Wang heard this, and their hearts sank. Lady Wang was even more frustrated to the point of wanting to die.

Just this one thousand taels of silver, and it wasn't even final? And she said that boy had strict rules in his heart—could it be that he would use a few hundred taels to dismiss people...

Jia Mu was also filled with frustration and said: "Since this matter requires Brother Cong to speak, you go quickly to discuss it with him and get a definite answer sooner."

"But Jia Baoyu's wedding is a major event for the family. Even if the treasury is a bit difficult, allocating only one thousand taels is truly not enough for expenses."

"You go and tell Brother Cong this, say it is my intention, and let him weigh it and make the decision."

Wang Wang Xifeng heard Jia Mu's words and felt that the heat was already sufficient; seeing that it was time to stop, she hurriedly stood up to take her leave of Jia Mu.

In fact, Jia Cong had already told her the bottom line: for Jia Baoyu's wedding expenses, both the Eastern and Western Prefectures would allocate one thousand taels of gift money each.

But Lady Wang's lion's share of the demand made Wang Wang Xifeng feel quite disgusted.

She was an extremely shrewd and formidable woman; she weighed the pros and cons, grasped the human heart, and understood the nuances with precision.

She didn't mention the one thousand taels from the Eastern Prefecture first, which also had her intentions. Since the other party was asking for an exorbitant price, she would negotiate on the spot.

She kept saying that the Western Prefecture's treasury would only produce one thousand taels, and also said that even the one thousand taels were not final and required Jia Cong's nod to count.

This verbal pressure was meant to beat Lady Wang's extravagant hopes into the ground, reducing her wild ambition to scrape from the treasury to the lowest expectation.

It was also to let the Old Matriarch know the scale of the two prefectures' treatment of Jia Baoyu's wedding, saving the Old Matriarch from remaining muddled and still treating Jia Baoyu as a golden phoenix...

After letting it sit for a few more days, when the Second Lady's spirit dropped, she would then mention the one thousand taels of gift money from the Eastern Prefecture, and the Old Matriarch would tacitly accept it upon hearing it.

As long as the Old Matriarch tacitly permitted this matter, her calculating aunt would no longer be able to stir up any waves.

In Rongqing Hall, Lady Wang watched Wang Wang Xifeng's departing back, feeling incomparably angry.

She said: "Old Matriarch, the first branch is acting too arrogantly now. Phoenix's words are too excessive."

"For Jia Baoyu's wedding, the treasury allocates one thousand taels—she could even say such things. If outsiders heard this, wouldn't it be a joke?"

"Brother Cong is now praised by everyone, a third-place scholar in the first rank, a fifteen-year-old Hanlin, the top among scholars. To treat a brother in the family like this—what kind of sage books has he read!"

Jia Mu heard the vicious jealousy in her daughter-in-law's words and felt a slight shock in her heart, worried that she would do something to ruin that boy's reputation, which would be good for no one.

She thought of how, after Jia Cong inherited the title, the Western Prefecture lost a large portion of the noble estate, and Phoenix had been cutting expenses and dismissing people throughout the prefecture, offending countless people like a madwoman.

Only the population and expenses of Rongqing Hall had not been touched by a single bit, and she had even added two laundry maids.

Sister Yuanyang also said that the hall's annual three-thousand-tael expense was issued by the treasury on time every month, never delayed for even a moment.

It must be that Brother Cong had given instructions, which was why Phoenix was so cautious. She ultimately had to rely on the first branch to provide for her dignity.

If the two branches really caused a feud and the household became restless, what good days would there be in the future...

Jia Mu said impatiently: "Enough, this matter is not to be mentioned again. You were also a bit reckless, asking for eight thousand taels right away; this is not emptying the first branch's coffers."

"Phoenix and Brother Cong are both shrewd people; how could they easily comply? This matter has already become a bit stiff."

"If we keep tossing about like this, the family will be hurt. Whether it is one thousand taels or two thousand taels, let them be."

"I still know Brother Cong. No matter how formidable his methods are, he still remembers Zheng'er's benefits in his heart. As long as we don't make a scene, it won't be too awkward."

"The person I love most in this life is Jia Baoyu. Now that he is marrying and starting a family, I have my own private funds to give him for his use, which can subsidize some of it."

"Let's put this matter aside for today. Anyway, there is still half a year until Jia Baoyu's wedding. You first busy yourself with preparing the betrothal gifts..."

Jia Mu used a bit of manipulation and smoothed things over again, finally managing to coax her daughter-in-law away.

It had truly taken a lot of effort, and feeling a soreness in her old waist, she hurriedly let Sister Yuanyang support her to the inner hall to rest.

Lady Rongguo Prefecture, Eastern Road Courtyard.

Lady Wang had been humiliated by Wang Wang Xifeng in Rongqing Hall, and her mood was extremely bad, her face gloomy and frightening.

Seeing the Lady's ugly expression, Yuchun felt a sense of trepidation, following her side cautiously, fearing she would make a mistake and become the Lady's outlet for anger.

The two had just entered the black-oiled gate and turned the corner of the veranda, just about to enter the inner courtyard gate.

Suddenly, a figure rushed across, seemingly in a hurry to enter the inner courtyard, nearly colliding with Lady Wang.

Lady Wang was already feeling uneasy, and seeing that this person was Jia Jia Huan, her mood became even more disgusted and repulsed. Seeing him bruised and swollen, she didn't know what had happened.

She shouted: "You, stop right there! Look at what you look like—a bruised mess. Where is there even a bit of the demeanor of a young master of a great family?"

"That concubine of yours is also a dead person, unable to teach you how to be a person, and you can't even keep your clothes and appearance clean. You've lost all the face of the second branch!"

Lady Wang had originally maintained the posture of a legitimate mother and rarely scolded Jia Jia Huan, not only often being pleasant but even secretly indulging him.

Even if Jia Jia Huan's behavior was inappropriate, she wouldn't point it out; this concubine-born son growing crooked was exactly what she wanted.

Moreover, she knew her husband was very protective of Zhao Zhao Yiniang and her son, so she would put on a show in front of her husband, and any sabotage was done privately and secretly.

But ever since that day outside the storeroom door, when she heard Jia Jia Huan crazily insulting the maid Seeing Cai Xia, she had hated and been disgusted by this concubine-born son to the extreme.

The disguise she had worn on the surface in the past was torn off, and whenever she encountered Jia Jia Huan's inappropriate behavior, she would scold him without any courtesy.

Jia Jia Huan also knew that his legitimate mother had recently been very unwelcoming to him, but he didn't know the reason.

He was glib and often talked back to his birth mother, and usually didn't have many rules.

But he didn't dare to be the least bit presumptuous toward Lady Wang. Even though Lady Wang never beat or scolded him, he was very afraid of his legitimate mother.

This was the etiquette and family upbringing within a great household, formed over a long period of subtle influence, and there was no reason to speak of.

Lady Wang asked: "How did you get these bruises? Did you cause trouble outside?"

Jia Jia Huan heard Lady Wang's unkind tone, which carried a gloomy chill, and couldn't help but shiver.

He stammered: "Replying to the Lady, the son did not cause trouble. I just came back from school and accidentally tripped and bumped into something."

Lady Wang shouted: "How can you be so reckless in the future? If I see you again, I will not be lenient. Go quickly and have your concubine clean you up!"

Jia Jia Huan heard this as if he had been granted an amnesty, hurriedly saluted Lady Wang, and ran into the inner courtyard in a flash.

Lady Wang watched Jia Jia Huan's back, her gaze flickering, and said to Yuchun: "Go call Mother Chen over to speak."

Not long after, that Mother Chen followed Yuchun over. Lady Wang told Yuchun not to follow and serve, and to go back to her room to work.

Yuchun hurriedly agreed, but she felt a bit suspicious in her heart; recently, the Lady not only had a bad temper but also acted a bit strangely.

In the past, when she saw Cong Sanye Jia Huan, she would at least have a pleasant expression, but now, whenever she saw him and there was any fault, she would scold him from head to toe.

A few days ago, she said the dowry shop lacked manpower and transferred Seeing Cai Xia over to work, and she hadn't come back for several days.

The Lady's dowry shop had always hired outsiders; she had never used people from the household before, but now she had changed her nature.

If the Lady hadn't transferred Qiuwen to temporarily fill in, and she had to handle two people's work alone, she would have been exhausted to death.

But these trivial matters of a great household were things Yuchun was accustomed to.

When she went back to her room to work, she saw the Lady and Mother Chen talking about something, and afterward, that Mother Chen left the inner courtyard.

It wasn't until evening that Mother Chen returned to the inner courtyard and went straight into Lady Wang's room.

She said: "Lady, I have already inquired clearly. Cong Sanye Jia Huan did not fall and get injured; he fought with his classmate Jin Rong at school, which is why he is bruised and swollen."

Lady Wang was a bit confused and asked: "Who is Jin Rong? I've never heard of him before; it seems there is no such name in the outer branches."

Mother Chen said: "This Jin Rong is not a Jia family descendant; he is the nephew of the wife of Huang from the East Alley, which is why the Lady has never heard of him."

"Originally, he was a descendant of an outer surname and could not enter the Jia family school, but it was because the wife of Huang flattered the Second Grandmother that Jin Rong was able to enter the clan school to study."

"This Jin Rong and a classmate named Yu Ai at school are close; Cong Sanye Jia Huan was unconvinced, provoked him with words, and that's why he fought with Jin Rong and ended up with this face."

Lady Wang frowned and said: "A man at school, why is he called by such a strange name as Yu Ai?"

Mother Chen gave a contemptuous smile and said: "The Lady doesn't know. Yu Ai is not his real name, but his nickname."

"Because this boy has a penchant for 'Long Yang' (homosexuality), he was given this name by his classmates. Originally, he was close with the son of the Concubine, Xue Pan."

"Later, because he was tired of Xue Pan, he hooked up with Jin Rong. Cong Sanye Jia Huan didn't know how he got involved, and that's why he fought with Jin Rong."

Lady Wang heard this and felt a wave of disgust, cursing: "This little beast is truly not a thing; he hasn't done anything good outside either."

"To be so shameless as to do such things—I think he is looking for death..." (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 730 =====