Chapter 825: Strange Words Fall Upon Two Beauties

Rongguo Prefecture, Rongqing Hall.

Seeing her niece-in-law praising her great-grandson, Jia Mu also felt a sense of pride.

She would no longer feel that praising someone for their diligent studies was a worthless thing to say; the Jia family was now a noble and prestigious household, and times were different from before...

Though Jia Mu felt somewhat proud in her heart, she smiled at Li Wan, "I know you also come from a scholarly family and hope your son will have a bright future.

Back then, Cong Ge'er only began to study diligently after he turned ten. Lan'er is only seven this year, yet you are so strict in your discipline; as a mother, you are too heartless.

To whip him along this fast, could it be you want to raise a top scholar? This is going to overshadow even Cong Ge'er."

Li Wan smiled, "Old Ancestor, you are truly joking. When it comes to studying, relying solely on diligence is far from enough; one must also have natural talent and endowment.

Cong Brother has extraordinary talent and peerless literary grace; he is a one-in-ten-thousand figure. How could Lan'er be mentioned in the same breath as him?

Your granddaughter-in-law does not have such grand ambitions, foolishly hoping Lan'er will be as successful as Cong Brother. If he can have two or three tenths of Cong Brother's good fortune, I would burn high incense every day.

It is just that children are all mischievous. If I discipline him strictly while he is young and cultivate his character early, I will be able to manage him when he grows up, and your granddaughter-in-law will have less to worry about in the future."

Hearing this, Lady Li naturally praised Li Wan's child-rearing methods highly and offered several sincere compliments, making the atmosphere even more harmonious.

Hearing this, Lady Wang felt very uncomfortable in her heart and could not help but harbor suspicions; her daughter-in-law's words were very grating. What did she mean by this?

It was one thing for her to teach her son to study, but what did she mean by "strict discipline while young to manage him when grown"? It sounded like she was mocking her for not teaching Baoyu well...

Last time, she had instructed her to go before the Old Ancestor to speak about the reduction of monthly allowances, and she had said she needed to wait for the year-end social visits to find a convenient time to speak.

Now was the perfect time, yet she brought her along for social visits every day without seizing the opportunity to handle the serious business, dawdling about without any sense of priority.

She only chatted with others about teaching children to study and even praised that boy from the East Prefecture; she was also an unreliable thing, failing to accomplish anything while only succeeding in ruining the mood...

Lady Wang felt depressed, thinking that her daughter-in-law had been a widow for too long, losing all spirit, and was truly disappointing.

Marquis Zhongjing smiled, "Big Brother has a keen eye for talent. It was because of your care and support when Cong Ge'er was young that the Jia family has its current situation.

Now, the prestige of this Hanlin household is not only respectable on the outside, but the descendants in the family are also inspired. Even a young child like Lan'er knows how to study diligently.

In my opinion, it is only a matter of time before another brilliant talent emerges from your lineage in the imperial examinations."

Hearing this, Jia Zheng felt it hit the mark. He had been obsessed with studying and the imperial examinations his whole life and believed there was nothing more respectable than achieving success through them.

Shi Ding's words touched his heart, so he naturally felt secretly happy and could not help but offer a few humble words.

Thinking that his grandson Jia Lan was clever and sensible and would likely be a seed for scholarship in the future, and that his concubine-born son Jia Huan had also begun to apply himself, he felt a sense of expectation and certainty regarding Shi Ding's words.

It was only his legitimate son Baoyu who remained lazy and sluggish, which stirred up irritation and regret in Jia Zheng's heart.

Jia Mu smiled, "Since Lan'er is studying in the East Courtyard, let him apply himself well. We won't go and disturb him; just let Baoyu come and see his elders."

She then sent Hupo to call Baoyu. Seeing Seeing Tan Chun present and knowing she was deeply loved by Jia Cong, she felt she shouldn't neglect her too much.

He laughed and said, "Third Sister, why are your Yiniang and brother not to be seen? We are already in the final days of the year, yet you do not come out to move about, instead moping at home and missing out on the fun."

Why not call them to come together? Today I am holding a banquet in the hall; it will be livelier with more people."

Seeing Tan Chun was clever and meticulous. Just now, seeing everyone praising Jia Lan's diligent study, the Lady's expression had been strange—though there was some joy, there was more discomfort.

It must be that the Lady was overly suspicious, thinking that the eldest sister-in-law's theory on child-rearing had struck a nerve regarding the Second Brother's failure in his studies.

Now that the Old Ancestor was asking about her concubine-mother and brother, Seeing Tan Chun naturally wouldn't seek trouble for herself by saying things like her brother was shut away in hard study.

Otherwise, the Lady would surely think she had ulterior motives and was mocking her to her face; it would be very unwise to offend her legitimate mother for nothing.

She smiled, "Yesterday I went to my concubine-mother's courtyard. Huan'er was restless in his sleep and kicked off his quilt at night, catching a cold; he has a bit of a headache and fever.

It's nothing serious, though. After applying some Sanfeng plaster to his temples, he's already much better. Today my concubine-mother is at home taking care of him.

If I let Huan'er come over now, I'm worried he might bring the illness with him. It would be more appropriate to wait until New Year's Eve to come and kowtow to the Old Ancestor."

Jia Mu said, "During the New Year, peace and safety are the most important things. Since Huan boy has caught a cold, it's fine for him to rest for two days before coming."

As soon as Jia Mu finished speaking, Hupo brought Baoyu into the hall. Seeing Seeing Tan Chun and Xiangyun, Baoyu felt joy in his heart.

Not seeing the shadows of Cousin Lin or Cousin Bao, he felt a bit disappointed...

Marquis Zhongjing's wife smiled, "Big Brother, Old Ancestor mentioning Huan'er reminds me of something.

A few days ago, Xiangyun came home and mentioned that Baoyu and Huan'er were going to enter the Imperial Academy to study.

It shows that the Jia family's household style is upright now. Since Cong Ge'er set the example, all the descendants take studying as their profession, which makes us envious just looking at it."

Hearing Lady Li mention the Imperial Academy, Baoyu's expression turned bitter. He felt that the world was ignorant and that their hearts had been tainted by the stench of fame and fortune.

They didn't say any other good words, only loving to talk about the "moths of officialdom." For a person of his temperament to live in this filthy world was truly not easy...

Fortunately, he still knew better; with his father Jia Zheng present, even if he were full of passionate words, he absolutely wouldn't dare to let out a single fart.

Jia Zheng sighed, "This is because Cong Ge'er achieved success himself and didn't forget to pull his brothers in the family along, giving both of his hereditary student quotas to Baoyu and Huan'er.

Over these years, Cong Ge'er has studied for the imperial examinations, gone south to handle official business, and gone north to fight in wars, rushing about everywhere, laboring his heart and strength.

I, as his uncle, am mediocre and can hardly offer half a bit of support, yet I have to let him worry about the future of the Second Branch's descendants. Thinking of this, I feel uneasy in my heart."

Jia Mu smiled, "This is the good cause you planted back then, which is why you are reaping the good fruit now. We are all one family; it is only right for him to pull his brothers along.

It's not a waste of the heart you had for him back then, so there's no need to feel uneasy now."

Jia Zheng said, "Old Ancestor, while these words are common sense, as an elder receiving benefits from a junior, I cannot remain indifferent. I always want to do something for him.

A few days ago, I heard rumors that now that Ping'er and Wu'er from Cong Ge'er's Second Branch have entered his chambers, he only has one proper maid left by his side. Is this true?"

Jia Mu smiled, "This is not false. The previous ones became concubines,

and among Cong Ge'er's first-class maids, only Qingwen remains. This was even given by me back then."

Lady Li chimed in from the side, smiling, "Cong Ge'er is the head of two prefectures; having only one proper maid by his side doesn't support his status. He still needs a proper entourage."

Hearing this, Baoyu felt great injustice in his heart. The maids in my room also became concubines; except for two rough-working maids, I don't have any proper senior maids either.

Now they only let people like Xi Ren and Caiyun fill the numbers, and no one talks about adding two pleasing ones for me, nor has anyone ever mentioned this matter.

Yet when it comes to Jia Cong, it becomes an issue, saying he can't support his status. That I have to live like this without anyone caring is simply nonsensical!

He had originally wanted to tease and talk with Seeing Tan Chun and Xiangyun, but after Lady Li's words, he felt disgusted and unhappy.

Jia Mu smiled at Lady Li, "What you say is exactly the truth. Cong Ge'er has always had a simple nature, only knowing how to be an official outside, and he doesn't care about these things at all.

Fortunately, Feng Yatou brought this up that day; otherwise, I really wouldn't have thought of it in such detail. Since he doesn't care himself, we as elders must look after the family's dignity.

Actually, this matter is simple. There are so many maids in the prefecture; whichever one he takes a fancy to, even if it's one of the best by our side, just give her to him."

Lady Wang felt stifled in her heart, feeling that this prefecture was becoming more and more disgusting. No matter what they were talking about, it always ended up circling back to that boy.

They were just talking about the Second Branch's descendants studying, so how did it circle around to adding maids for that boy? What is all this? It's simply improper.

Hearing Jia Mu's words, Baoyu felt infinite bitterness rise in his heart. In the past, whatever happened, the Old Ancestor would always prioritize him.

Now the Old Ancestor has also changed her heart, actually saying such things. Doesn't she know that the maids by her side are all the best in the prefecture?

If these words reach Jia Cong's ears, what will happen? Just based on his lustful, shameless, and domineering nature,

he won't hesitate to take advantage of the situation and come to snatch the maids by the Old Ancestor's side. If they are all snatched and ruined by him, it will truly be heartbreaking enough to die.

As soon as Jia Mu's words came out, Yuanyang behind her felt a shock in her heart, her mind churning with Jia Mu's sentence: "Even if it's one of the best by our side, just give her to him."

Could it be that the Old Ancestor hasn't forgotten her words from two years ago and has now developed this intention? Her heart pounded, and a faint blush appeared on her pretty face.

Although she had heard that the Second Branch was going to cut expenses and that the Second Lady was no longer entitled to first-class maids, she didn't know that Jia Mu had other thoughts in her heart.

For these two years, what she had been attached to in her heart, she could not forget for a single day. Her thoughts were entangled and could not be severed, and this sentence had stirred up a heart full of infatuation and reverie.

Seeing Tan Chun's thoughts were usually on Jia Cong. Hearing Jia Mu's words, her heart stirred slightly.

The Old Ancestor's tone was not small. Now, most of the first-class maids of the West Prefecture were in the Old Ancestor's room.

If one were to talk about the most outstanding in appearance and character, it would naturally be Sister Yuanyang. Could it be that Third Brother has taken a fancy to her, and the Old Ancestor is willing to give her away?

But she heard Jia Zheng smile, "The maids by the Old Ancestor's side are naturally all the best, but you are getting on in years and need capable people to serve you.

How can we let Cong Ge'er beg for your maids to use? Cong Ge'er is a person who reads and understands reason; I'm afraid he wouldn't dare to accept the Old Ancestor's reward."

Lady Li smiled, "Big Brother's words are reasonable. Who doesn't know that Aunt knows how to train people? The maids by her side are all like water onions, which is very eye-catching.

I know that people like Yuanyang and the others are usually inseparable from Aunt. Cong Ge'er is polite and filial; how could he want your good things?"

Yuanyang heard Jia Zheng and Lady Li speak in unison, thinking that this matter was improper in terms of etiquette, and feared there was no hope, nor did she want to give Third Brother a handle to be criticized...

The longing she had secretly developed faded away like the tide, the blush on her face gradually faded, and her heart felt empty.

Jia Zheng said, "Cong Ge'er is now the head of two prefectures. If he wants to add senior maids by his side, he naturally must use first-class ones.

But in the prefecture, except for the maids by my side, the Big Lady's side, and the Old Ancestor's side, there are no first-class ones elsewhere.

The Big Lady is now a widow in the inner courtyard and doesn't deal with outside matters. The family must always be considerate, so it's not good to move her maids." ===== CHAPTER 826 =====