Chapter 822: Worldly Feelings Break Kinship

Lady Rongguo Prefecture, East Road Courtyard, Zhao Zhao Yiniang's room.

Zhao Zhao Yiniang had originally thought she had taken advantage of the situation and was quite pleased with herself.

When she saw the object tucked into the robe, she couldn't help but be startled, and a sense of terror welled up in her heart.

She hurriedly clutched the bundle tightly, a forced smile appearing on her face, and said to the old woman: "I didn't expect Jinxiehao to be so fast; it's only been two days and it's already done."

The elderly woman smiled apologetically, "This robe is of such noble material; the price must not be low. The Zhao Yiniang is generous and truly dotes on her son."

Zhao Zhao Yiniang smiled stiffly, "I only raised this one boy, so naturally I have to treasure him."

She hurriedly turned and returned to the room, grabbing a handful of copper coins from the money box, but then felt it was too much and was truly reluctant, so she put half back.

She went out and stuffed them into the elderly woman's hand, saying, "Sorry to trouble you for the trip. These copper coins are for you to buy wine."

"Don't talk nonsense to others about this; the Mistress will think I'm wasting silver."

The elderly woman smiled, "Don't worry, Zhao Yiniang. Helping you run errands is what I should do; I won't be loose-lipped."

Zhao Zhao Yiniang sent the elderly woman away, returned to the room, opened the package, and took out a bright green sachet from the round-collared robe.

She cursed softly, "This dead girl is simply bold; does she want to kill me and Jia Huan'er!"

Zhao Zhao Yiniang had opened the package and looked at the bright green sachet, instantly thinking of the origin of the robe.

Her son Jia Jia Huan had an identical bright green sachet and had boasted to her that it was made and given to him by Cai Xia.

Later, this bright green sachet was lost by her son, and he was unhappy for two days, so Zhao Zhao Yiniang remembered it clearly.

The sachet tucked into the robe just now was identical in style to the one Jia Jia Huan had originally had, and Zhao Zhao Yiniang saw at a glance that it was made by Cai Xia.

She couldn't help but mutter softly again, "This shameless girl, she got a big belly from Jia Baoyu and still wants to come and provoke Jia Huan'er."

"She doesn't look at where she lives. There are so many people coming and going in the West Prefecture; she dares to do this kind of lewd thing."

"If someone accidentally sees it, Jia Huan'er will be ruined by her. I'm still waiting for him to win a scholar's title and bring me glory!"

……

Zhao Zhao Yiniang was muttering to herself when a figure flashed at the door. Jia Jia Huan actually walked in, and Zhao Zhao Yiniang was startled, hurriedly stuffing the bright green sachet into her sleeve.

She scolded, "You maggot-hearted thing, why aren't you studying properly and wandering around again? Be careful that Third Sister doesn't beat you!"

Jia Jia Huan said with a bitter face, "Zhao Yiniang, I got up at the third quarter of the Chen hour and have already studied for an hour and a half. My waist and back are sore. Jia Baoyu has been studying for a month and hasn't read as much as I have in a day. I'm not a beast of burden; you should let me rest and catch my breath."

Jia Jia Huan said lazily, suddenly seeing the package on the table. He curiously picked up the robe inside.

He gestured it against his body and smiled, "This robe is truly decent. Zhao Yiniang still dotes on me, not forgetting to make new clothes for her son for the New Year."

"My son is going to the Imperial Academy after the New Year. There are all decent scholars there, and my son should be dressed properly. This robe is just right for the occasion."

Zhao Zhao Yiniang said impatiently, "Wear it if you want; why so much nonsense."

She didn't forget to add, "Now you know, only I, your mother, think of you. I made this for you; you just need to be diligent in your studies."

After sending Jia Jia Huan off to study, Zhao Zhao Yiniang sat alone and thought for a while. Thinking of the West Prefecture, where there were eyes everywhere, she was ultimately uneasy.

She shouted toward the outside, "Little Little Jixiang, where did you die to again!"

As soon as Zhao Zhao Yiniang's voice fell, a little maid emerged from a corner and shouted, "Zhao Yiniang, I'm here. What do you need?"

Zhao Zhao Yiniang searched through the money box and picked out a three-tael silver piece, saying, "Go to the Jinxiu Shop and make a round-collared robe for Brother Jia Huan."

"Use the best dark-patterned silk, don't use the wrong color, and tell them to be quick. It must be done before New Year's Eve!"

……

Count's Mansion, Jia Cong's courtyard.

The sun was setting behind the mountains, and the red clouds filled the sky. Jia Cong returned to the mansion. As soon as he entered the inner courtyard, he saw that all the rooms and verandas were busy with maids and elderly women coming and going, looking very busy.

The idle rooms and pavilions were being dusted and cleaned, lanterns were being hung on the verandas, and the curtains and window lattices of the halls were being taken down and washed, all filled with the atmosphere of the New Year.

This year's ancestral sacrifice was a major event at the end of the year. Cleaning the ancestral hall, hanging ancestral portraits, incense burners, meat and vegetable offerings, and inviting monks and Daoists all needed to be fully prepared.

During the New Year sacrifice, descendants from all eight branches in the Divine Capital needed to be present, and the twelve branches in Jinling would also send people to participate, so the accommodation for guests needed to be arranged.

Jia Cong was the head of both the Ning and Rong Prefectures, and the ancestral sacrifice involved both. Seeing Yingchun was worried that the West Prefecture's manpower was tight and it would be difficult to take care of everything.

She sent Musk with four maids and elderly women to the Phoenix Girl's courtyard to listen to Wang Wang Xifeng's orders and help manage the miscellaneous affairs related to the sacrifice.

Wu'er and Ping'er freed up their hands slightly and began to organize the list of guests for the New Year banquet. These included both relatives by marriage for generations and noble families of the same generation.

Ping'er had followed Wang Wang Xifeng to manage the West Prefecture for many years and was familiar with the guests at the end of the year, while Wu'er was literate and skilled with the brush, so they complemented each other.

Wang Wang Xifeng had dealt with two groups of reporting elderly women and checked the list prepared by the two, and the three were discussing matters.

The warm curtain at the entrance was lifted, and Lin Lin Zhixiao's wife entered with two maids, each carrying a package.

Lin Lin Zhixiao's wife smiled, "I have already bought the various fabrics you ordered, Grandmother. They are all the best goods in the city."

"You are still generous and doting, not forgetting to buy fabric to make clothes for your sister-in-law at the end of the year."

Wang Wang Xifeng smiled, "It's not that I'm generous; I don't have the status to do this. I'm just an errand runner."

"It's the Matriarch who is using her own private silver to buy fabric to make clothes for the grandsons who haven't married and the granddaughters who haven't left the boudoir, just to add some joy."

"Regarding the shares for Jia Baoyu and Jia Huan, I asked the maid to pass a message to the Second Mistress earlier. Since I don't know their preferences for colors, I asked the Second Mistress to handle it."

"The silver spent on that side will be deducted from the Matriarch's private funds."

"Originally, Third Brother Cong also wanted to buy fabric, but Second Sister said that she had already prepared high-quality ones for her brother at the beginning of the month."

"Buying fabric again would be a waste, so she just took the reward from the Matriarch on behalf of her brother, without wasting any more silver."

Wang Wang Xifeng chatted while fiddling with the fabrics, and Lin Lin Zhixiao's wife smiled, "Cong Sanye is also blessed. Second Sister is so thoughtful and considerate."

Wang Wang Xifeng looked at the fabrics and smiled, "They are also rare siblings. Second Sister treats her brother like a treasure, holding him in her palm and reluctant to let go."

"Last year, several noble families wanted to arrange a marriage, and the Matriarch wanted to mediate, but she pushed it away with all sorts of reasons, dragging it out for another year."

"Now that she is also a young lady who manages the household, the Matriarch can't force her too much. This year will be even livelier, and I don't know how many people will come to step on the threshold."

……

Wang Wang Xifeng was chatting, and her hand was rubbing the soft silk fabric when she suddenly saw a dark blue floral fabric, which was very elegant and noble.

She asked curiously, "I only asked you to buy fabric for the young ladies; why is there fabric for men?"

Lin Lin Zhixiao's wife glanced at it and smiled, "I was careless. This fabric was bought together with the others, and I forgot to separate them."

"This was bought by Miss Xing from the East Prefecture. I don't know where she heard that I was purchasing fabric for the West Prefecture and was familiar with the market prices."

"Yesterday, she sent the maid Zhuan'er to pass a message, saying she wanted to buy high-quality fabric, regardless of the price, as long as the goods were good, and she also specified the style."

Wang Wang Xifeng was slightly stunned, rubbing the soft fabric, and suddenly understood, smiling, "I know who Miss Xing bought this for."

Lin Lin Zhixiao's wife smiled, "The Grandmother is still the most transparent. I guessed it right. Although Zhuan'er didn't say it clearly, I could hear it, so I naturally picked the best."

"This is high-quality satin from Gusu, thicker than ordinary satin, and the style and pattern are also grand. It is precisely for men to wear in winter."

"This satin costs more than other fabrics, and because I am a regular customer, I got a discount, but it still cost three taels and seven silver."

Wang Wang Xifeng said, "Yo, things are tight at the end of the year, and the price is truly not cheap. Miss Xing has the same share as the young ladies in the mansion, which is two taels of monthly allowance."

"I heard that Uncle Xing is old and his health hasn't been good these past two years, so most of Miss Xing's monthly allowance is used to subsidize the family, and she doesn't have much silver in her own hands."

"This piece of fabric probably took up half a year of her monthly allowance. She is truly willing; she is a thoughtful girl."

Wu'er also stepped forward to look at the fabric and said, "Although Miss Xing has two taels of monthly allowance and Second Sister dotes on her, she rarely uses silver on ordinary days."

"The clothes and shoes she wears are all made by herself and her maid, and she even uses very little rouge and powder."

"Second Sister saw that she only had one maid and was worried that it wouldn't be enough for her daily use, so she wanted to assign her another one, but she said she didn't want it."

"Cong Sanye likes her simple temperament and often speaks of her good points. When he goes to Second Sister's room, he always finds Miss Xing to talk to."

Lin Lin Zhixiao's wife smiled, "Cong Sanye's future little wife really seems reliable."

Wang Wang Xifeng smiled, "Although the Eldest Mistress had some delusions back then, she also did a good thing. Although she will be a concubine in the future,"

"Miss Xing's appearance and temperament are beyond reproach, and I find this child pleasing to the eye."

"Although she grew up in a poor family, now that she has entered the Count's mansion, her backbone hasn't loosened at all. She is young but lives transparently."