Chapter 807: Wind and Snow Fill the Bow and Sword

Lady Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

Sister Yuanyang was wearing a thin padded jacket of water-red damask, with a green satin vest on the outside, and a white crepe silk sweat towel tied around her slender waist. Her figure was like a willow, busy back and forth in the hall.

She asked Sister Feicui to open the lid of the incense burner, and she herself carried the charcoal basket to fill the red mud charcoal into the incense burner.

She then carried a small white jade beast-ear incense burner and placed it on the case of the Luo Han bed, lighting a stick of Su red thread incense commonly used by Jia Mu.

She went to the tea stove in the back hall to brew tea, and after a while, she served two cups of old gentleman's eyebrows to Jia Mu and Wang Lady.

Jia Mu sighed, and Wang Lady looked even more worried.

She said: "Old Lady, Jia Baoyu only watched a few operas today. Which brother or sister in the family is not like this? The Second Old Master's temper is becoming more and more irritable.

He scolded Jia Baoyu like this in front of everyone, without giving Jia Baoyu any face at all. Who will respect Jia Baoyu in the family in the future?"

Jia Mu frowned and said: "What kind of talk is this? I am still here. Who in the family dares to look down on Jia Baoyu?

It's just that you have to be smart. The situation in the family is different from the past, and you can't always have those thoughts and calculations from before.

In the past, the disciples of the Lady Rongguo Mansion, whether it was Lady Lian Second or Jia Baoyu, or Jia Huan little boy, even if their studies were a bit sloppy, it didn't count as anything as long as they could read and write.

Which family of the noble families in the capital is not like this? It's just a common occurrence.

But now, Cong Ge'er

Although it cannot compare to the prestige of the old Duke opening the mansion in the past, it is still a remarkable foundation for the Jia family of Lady Rongguo, worthy of being protected and maintained by the descendants of the family.

Under such circumstances, if the descendants of the family are still lazy in reading poetry and books, it will not sound good if it gets out.

People will say that the Jia family was just lucky, a single branch standing alone, with no successors, and that apart from younger brother Cong's ability, the other descendants are too mediocre.

Matters still need to be looked at in the long term; younger brother Cong's talent for studying is outstanding, and family traditions are passed down, bloodlines are inherited; in the future, his descendants will likely be the same.

The second branch has now become a side branch, and the rules of the clan are there; it is a matter that cannot be helped. If the descendants are also inferior to the first branch generation after generation, what hope will there be in the future?

Zheng'er values studying extremely highly; he must have also thought about long-term matters, which is why he cares so much that young Jia Huan is now willing to study, and he never forgets to keep it on his lips.

But I know the son I raised; Bao Yu is after all the legitimate son, and Zheng'er hopes even more that he can succeed in his studies.

So you must understand his intentions; as the saying goes, when husband and wife are of one mind, their strength can cut through metal.

You, as his mother, should persuade Bao Yu more on ordinary days, let him change his nature slightly, and spend a little more effort on books.

Even if he really doesn't like studying, he should pretend to love studying in front of others; if the father and son can get along on the surface, it will save a lot of gossip and trouble inside and out.

Let him say less of those foolish words about poetry and books being useless; given the current situation in the family, Bao Yu saying these things will only make people annoyed.

Look at these maids in the family; they are now distant from Bao Yu, and it is because these words are inappropriate.

……

When Wang Lady heard these words, although she knew there was some truth in them, she still felt very unconvinced in her heart.

A little beast who insulted his mother's maid actually pretended to be diligent in studying, swaggering and deceiving in front of the Master, making her Bao Yu lose all face.

It was all because she was soft-hearted before, letting this little beast grow so big; now he has become a spirit and a pest...

The old lady glanced at her daughter-in-law, seeing that she was silent, not knowing what she was thinking in her heart.

She sighed slightly and said, "I also know that some things cannot be forced; Bao Yu has not liked studying for the imperial examinations since he was a child, so how could he be persuaded all at once?"

"But whether it is Bao Yu or Jia Huan'er, they are both Zheng'er's biological sons; this point cannot be wrong."

"In the future, no matter which one succeeds in his studies, it will be the foundation and prestige of the second branch; you must understand this principle in your heart."

The old lady's words seemed meaningful; Wang Lady felt a chill in her heart; although the old lady was old, she was not confused at all...

……

The old lady chatted for a while, wanting to send her daughter-in-law back so she could go to the back hall bedroom to lie down.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside the hall, followed by crisp laughter; it was Wang Wang Xifeng talking to the gatekeeper maid.

The red brocade curtain was lifted, and Wang Wang Xifeng entered with a face full of smiles, followed by her maid Feng'er, who was holding a black lacquer wooden box.

The old lady smiled and said, "Why aren't you listening to the opera peacefully, but running here to stroll again?"

Wang Wang Xifeng smiled and said, "The old lady has left, so if we listen to the opera alone, where is the fun? We all sat for a while and then dispersed."

"I thought I had something to offer the old lady, so I went back to my courtyard to get it before coming over."

The old lady smiled and said, "Then I must see what good thing it is."

Wang Wang Xifeng took the wooden box from Feng'er and handed it to the old lady as if presenting a treasure.

She smiled and said, "A few days ago, Bao Er Ye sent a New Year's gift from Liaodong, instructing that two high-quality wild ginseng roots be taken to offer to the old lady."

"I was still worried, so I took them to a pharmacy outside to have an expert look at them; they are indeed old ginseng roots over twenty years old."

"They may not be the best of the best, but they are top-tier old ginseng, to offer to the old lady for daily nourishment."

The old lady opened the wooden box and saw that the two wild ginseng roots were realistic in shape, with all their roots and whiskers, and were indeed of top-tier quality.

She said with some surprise, "Lady Lian'er was exiled to Liaodong, and I was always worried that he was living a hard life; how could he get such rare goods?"

Wang Wang Xifeng smiled and said, "Bao Er Ye was exiled to the army thousands of miles away, and originally he naturally had to live a hard life, but now it is also thanks to the good fortune of younger brother Cong."

"Younger brother Cong once led troops in Liaodong, and he has many comrades in the army there, who take good care of Bao Er Ye on a daily basis."

"Because Bao Er Ye is literate, they honored younger brother Cong's old friendship and let Bao Er Ye take on the job of a warehouse clerk; his life is stable, and he has not suffered."

"The wild ginseng and furs brought this time were also gifts from his connections in the army."

……

The old lady sighed and said, "If Lady Lian'er is taken care of by his brother's connections in Liaodong, then that is the best thing; I was truly terrified before."

"Exile to the army is extremely dangerous; more than ten years ago, there was a change in the imperial family, and many noble families in the Love Shenjing were implicated."

"There were quite a few who were beheaded or had their homes confiscated, and even more were exiled to the Nine Frontiers; I never heard of anyone coming back alive."

"These people exiled to the Nine Frontiers either died of illness outside the borders or disappeared without a trace, their life or death unknown."

"Many of them were old friends of the Jia family; after one change, they died without a place to be buried."

"Lady Lian'er was also unlucky, all because he was pitted by his father; he suffered this disaster, yet he has this good fortune; it is truly the protection of the Lady Rongguo ancestors."

"As long as he is living stably, nothing else matters."

Wang Wang Xifeng said, "I have asked younger brother Cong several times; he received letters from his colleagues in Liaodong saying that Bao Er Ye is cautious in his actions and words, and his popularity in the army is quite good."

"He can now withstand the bitter cold weather there; now he just has to slowly endure the days, and there will be a day when he returns."

The old lady said, "Speaking of Lady Lian'er, I am reminded of Rong'er; he was exiled to Qiongzhou for thirty years, so I am afraid it will be very difficult for him to return alive."

"Ever since the Ningguo Mansion was confiscated, the Ningguo branch has been scattered; who still remembers Rong'er?"

"Even if it is very difficult for him to return alive, we should at least know whether he is dead or alive; one stroke cannot write two 'Jia' characters."

"Phoenix girl, you should also put some effort into this; if you have any useful connections, ask them to help inquire about Rong'er's situation; we can consider that we have done our best."

Wang Wang Xifeng agreed hurriedly, but she did not think much of it in her heart; the things Rong'er did back then were disgusting to think about.

He even had an illicit affair with a male actor from the Prince Prince Zhongshun's Mansion; he was just a shameless, lowly embryo.

Moreover, he was still burdened with the crime of patricide; the old lady was also old and confused, still talking about kinship with him.

And Wang Wang Xifeng could clearly perceive that Jia Cong was extremely disgusted with Jia Rong, and not just because of his lawless and criminal acts.