Chapter 866: Conquering the Inner Chambers

Rongguo Prefecture, Rongqing Hall.

The incense burner in the hall burned warm, making it as cozy as spring. The air was filled with the scent of lily incense—sweet, lingering, and refreshing to the heart and spirit.

Yet, as Wang Xifeng brought up the past, Baoyu's face changed in terror. He felt not a shred of the hall's warmth; his heart turned ice-cold, and a chill radiated from his entire body.

That time, he had only been in the inner chamber, chatting with his sisters about the imperial marriage decree. It had come from the bottom of his heart, and he had wronged no one.

He did not know how the words had leaked out, leading to a reprimand from the Imperial Clan Court. It remained a nightmare he could never erase.

That time, not only was he beaten half to death by his father, but the piece of spiritual jade he prided himself on was also confiscated by his father and locked away on a high shelf.

Thinking back to how he had passionately smashed the jade, how Grandmother Jia had been heartbroken, how his mother had been filled with pity, and how his sisters had trembled—what a satisfying affair that had been.

In the end, those salary-thieving worms at the Imperial Clan Court had ruthlessly destroyed that reliance of his. Every time Baoyu thought of it, his heart felt as if it were splitting apart.

……

Therefore, the three words "Imperial Clan Court" held immense lethality for Baoyu.

In his heart, the officials of the Imperial Clan Court were all ignorant village bumpkins who understood nothing of the world's elegance and purity, knowing only how to be boorish and spoil the scenery.

Moreover, Wang Xifeng bringing it up at this moment seemed somewhat malicious, as if she were wishing for the Imperial Clan Court to come knocking.

Baoyu felt his legs go weak and his face turn pale; he felt the urge to flee in a panic, to leave this sorrowful, angry world forever.

Hearing Wang Xifeng's words, Jia Mu's aged face also changed color. She said, "Feng Yatou's words make sense. Baoyu, you can grumble and say whatever you like.

But you must not involve matters of the imperial court. If word gets out and things are dragged in recklessly, the family will suffer. You are forbidden from saying such things again."

Baoyu had already been frightened pale by Wang Xifeng's few words. Gone was his earlier desire to show off; he became as silent as a cicada in winter, not daring to speak another word.

Lady Wang's expression was awkward. She felt Wang Xifeng's mouth was wicked, clearly trying to humiliate Baoyu again, deliberately picking the sorest spot and scaring Baoyu half to death.

Seeing Baoyu reveal his true colors after only a few words—what a spineless, soft-hearted wretch—Wang Xifeng felt a sense of satisfaction and naturally wanted to continue the humiliation.

……

She said, "Grandmother, we are approaching the fifteenth of the first lunar month. The harvest from the fiefs this spring won't arrive until the end of the third or the beginning of the fourth month.

Because of the expenses during the New Year, we have already spent quite a lot. With Baoyu's wedding in the third month, the public treasury will have to pay out a large sum of silver again.

So, from the end of the first month to the end of the fourth—a full three months—the household expenses will be very tight.

Today, everyone in the family is here, and we all know the situation. As your granddaughter-in-law, I am not afraid of losing face, but before the harvest arrives in the fourth month, the public treasury will be facing a famine for several months.

In previous years at this time, I would pawn a few gold necklaces or some dowry jewelry, and then quietly redeem them once the harvest was accounted for.

Using my own private funds to fill the deficit is nothing for me, but now that Brother Jia Cong is in the limelight, the Western Prefecture is the focus of everyone's attention.

With so many eyes watching, how can I, your granddaughter-in-law, do things properly? If word of this gets out, Brother Jia Cong will lose face.

Since you asked me to manage the household, I cannot just wait until the end of spring. I must find ways to economize and shift funds so we don't have to tear down the east wall to repair the west.

Otherwise, with a deficit every month, this household will be hard to manage. The most feasible method right now is to follow the family rules and clan rites.

We should cut down the old expenses and allowances for various places according to the rules.

It just so happens that the Second Lady is here today, so we can discuss this together and also ask for your instructions, Grandmother."

Hearing Wang Xifeng's words, Jia Mu immediately felt a headache. She knew she couldn't avoid this forever; the First and Second Prefectures were clashing again……

This matter wasn't new; Wang Xifeng had brought it up many times before the New Year. Jia Mu, worried about ruining the festive mood, had glossed over it several times to muddle through.

To appease the First Prefecture, Jia Mu had turned a blind eye when Wang Xifeng wanted to get her hands on Yu Chuan to be Jia Cong's personal maid.

She let her grandson get his way, and now that the girl followed him everywhere, it could be considered a success.

Feng Yatou had also calmed down a bit, temporarily delaying the awkward matter, agreeing to handle it after the New Year.

She hadn't expected Baoyu to spout nonsense today, only to be exposed on the spot by Shi Xiangyun. Feng Yatou knew the implication, and naturally, she wasn't pleased.

She had brought it up to her face, but one really couldn't find fault with it. With the fifteenth of the first month approaching, wasn't it time to deal with it after the New Year……

……

Hearing Wang Xifeng's words, Lady Wang felt her heart leap in panic. Before the New Year, rumors had been flying in the Western Prefecture about cutting the Second Prefecture's expenses, and the first item was her own monthly allowance.

If her monthly allowance as the mistress of the house were really cut, she would lose all her face.

Although rumors of this matter had spread, no one had mentioned it since. Lady Wang had still harbored a glimmer of hope, thinking that out of respect for the Master, Wang Xifeng wouldn't dare to do it.

She hadn't expected her to bring it up so bluntly in front of Grandmother today.

Moreover, with juniors like Yingchun and Lin Daiyu present, it was clearly meant to strip her of her dignity and make her lose face in front of the juniors. The intention was truly vicious.

Seeing Jia Mu's expression at this moment, which showed a hint of awkwardness and difficulty, and seeing that she didn't decisively stop her, Lady Wang felt a chill in her heart.

Now that Grandmother was supported by the First Prefecture, and Feng Yatou was as cunning as a ghost, the expenses for Rongqing Hall were not only not reduced by a fraction, but were even more attentive than before.

Out of concern for her own face, Grandmother, not looking at the monk but at the Buddha, had already softened her stance toward Feng Yatou's meddling, more or less just muddling through……

Lady Wang suddenly felt some regret. Why had she come to Rongqing Hall today? Wasn't this just walking into a trap, letting others tie her hands and feet to humiliate her?

……

Just as Wang Xifeng was pressing her advantage and about to take action, the warm curtain at the entrance was lifted, and Lin Zhixiao's wife walked in.

She said, "Grandmother, the Cong Sanye's personal guard, Jiang Liu, has returned with a message. Because the young ladies have all come to the Western Prefecture, he had the old woman pass the message here.

He says that after the Cong Sanye entered the palace, the Emperor granted him the rank of Assistant Regional Commander, commanding six thousand troops of the Divine Machine Camp, and he will soon be stationed in Tongzhou to fight the Mongol Tatars moving south."

Hearing the news, the hearts of Yingchun, Lin Daiyu, and the other sisters couldn't help but rise. He was finally going on an expedition……

Jia Mu asked, "Did he say which day he is leaving? Why did only his personal guard return to the prefecture? Didn't Brother Jia Cong come back?"

Lin Zhixiao's wife replied, "Jiang Liu said that the Cong Sanye went to the firearms workshop outside the city. Because there is much official business to attend to before the expedition, he will be back a bit late today.

As for the day of the expedition, he didn't specify, only saying it would be in these few days, likely before the fifteenth of the first month. I suppose military matters are rarely spoken of clearly.

In addition, the Second Master of the Shi family has also been appointed to a military post, serving as Deputy Commander, responsible for leading troops to guard the Love Shenjing."

Jia Mu sighed and said to Shi Xiangyun, "Your second uncle is better off, staying in the Love Shenjing to guard it, which carries much less risk."

Hearing this, Shi Xiangyun felt even heavier at heart, and Yingchun, Lin Daiyu, Seeing Tan Chun, and Xue Baochai were no different.

……

Yingchun said, "Grandmother, Brother Jia Cong's expedition is settled. In the Eastern Prefecture, after the fifteenth, all fireworks and theatrical performances will be stopped to pray for Brother Jia Cong's good fortune."

Jia Mu sighed, "In the past, when the old Duke went on expeditions, the family did the same. Feng Yatou, stop all fireworks and theatrical performances in the Western Prefecture as well.

Simplify the banquet on the fifteenth, and don't invite relatives from the seven outer branches. Just inform them of the reason and send some simple New Year gifts."

Wang Xifeng said, "Grandmother is still the most experienced. I will handle it when I go back. Actually, Brother Jia Cong's expedition is a good thing.

When he led troops to battle in Liaodong, he achieved extraordinary military merit, which is why we have this hereditary estate.

This expedition will also be a victory, and perhaps he will achieve more military merit. It won't be too late to celebrate in both prefectures then."

Jia Mu smiled, "You certainly know how to say auspicious things. It would be best if he could achieve military merit, but I hope most of all that he remains safe and sound."

Lin Daiyu said, "Grandmother is the most insightful. Brother Jia Cong is only fifteen, and with his rank and official position, he has achieved everything. Longevity is what matters most."

Wang Xifeng said, "Grandmother and Lin Meimei are both right. The prestige of both prefectures today relies entirely on Brother Jia Cong.

The wealth and glory of the whole family depend on him."

……

Upon hearing that Jia Cong was going on an expedition and that the family wouldn't even be celebrating the Lantern Festival—having looked forward to the fireworks and festivities since the start of the year—Baoyu felt extremely stifled and unhappy.

He was already living a miserable life in the East Courtyard, and now even this little bit of joy was gone; it would be one thing if Jia Cong just wanted to stir up trouble for himself, but he had to make the whole family uneasy along with him.

Now even Grandmother was accommodating him; never before had she favored him so much. It just goes to show that human hearts in this world are easily changed, that one knows the warmth and coldness of others for oneself, and that fortunes can flip in an instant—it is truly tragic.

Even a noble girl like Lin Meimei, who had always been above the common herd, and who was the only one among the sisters in the house who was of the same kind as him, possessing a pure and transcendent spirit—

even she had now changed her tune, speaking of Jia Cong being granted a title and becoming an official, and having achieved full merit. How could such corrupt, sycophantic words come out of Lin Meimei's mouth?

Thinking of this, Baoyu felt his heart breaking; his round face twitched, and he gazed at Lin Meimei with deep, soulful eyes.

Yet seeing Daiyu's delicate brows knitted, as if she were full of worries, not knowing what she was thinking about, and not even sparing him a glance, he couldn't help but feel a sour, unbearable pain in his heart.

……

But just a moment ago, he had been showing off and boasting, thinking his tone was lofty and grand, only to be fiercely rebuked by Shi Xiangyun, leaving him completely humiliated and in a sorry state.

Second Sister and Bao Jiejie even comforted Xiangyun, which shows they are just as muddled as she is; he truly had nothing to say, only lamenting that there were too few sensible people in the family.

Seeing Daiyu's expression dim and her pretty face filled with worry, Baoyu knew it must have to do with Jia Cong. He had originally wanted to offer some advice to wake Lin Meimei up.

But having just been attacked by Xiangyun's sharp words, Baoyu was still shaken; if he spoke up again and was rebuked by Xiangyun once more—and he was a person who cared about his face—he could only let it go for now.

……

With the news of Jia Cong's expedition settled, the people in the hall had different moods, and naturally, no one was in the mood to talk.

Wang Xifeng had originally intended to stir up trouble, but now she dropped the subject; after all, Jia Cong's expedition was a major event, and it would be quite inappropriate to settle scores with the Second Branch at this juncture.

Seeing Wang Xifeng pause for a moment, Lady Wang seized the opportunity and, saying there were still household chores to attend to in the East Courtyard, took her leave of Jia Mu.

As she left, she pulled along the reluctant Baoyu, looking very much like someone fleeing in a panic.

Wang Xifeng stared at their retreating backs, feeling truly regretful, but since the timing was wrong today, she could only leave the torment for later.