Chapter 234: Lady Wang: If Only She Could Pair Her Own Bao Yu…

In the past two‑plus months, Nian Shilan, with several maidservants and a nanny, has often visited the Jia Family, and the people of the Jia Mansion have become fairly acquainted.

However, today she not only came herself, but also brought the wife of her brother, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works Nian Xiyao, Li Shi, to visit the women of the Jia Mansion.

Speaking of it, the Nian family is also considered a top‑tier official lineage of the Great Han Empire.

Nian Gengyao needs no introduction; in Liaodong he commands a hundred‑thousand border army, holds the rank of First‑Class Marquis, and serves as a Third‑Rank General of Pingliao, making him a high‑ranking, powerful top‑tier martial hero of the Great Han.

Nian Gengyao's father, Nian Xialing, entered officialdom through the examination system and rose to become the Provincial Governor of Huguang.

After retiring in the fifth year of the Jing Sheng era, he continued to be highly respected for his family's reputation and abilities.

Last year, because of Nian Gengyao's achievements in Liaodong, the court additionally conferred upon him the title of First‑Class Marquis and the office of Grand Tutor, making him a top‑tier civil official of the Great Han.

Nian Gengyao also has an elder brother, Nian Xiyao, who has likewise made considerable achievements in his official career.

He now holds the position of Senior Third‑Rank Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, and is the direct superior of Jia Zheng, the second master of the Jia Mansion.

With these three, the depth of the Nian family's foundation in the Great Han court is evident.

Now, Nian Xiyao is conversing with Jia Zheng in his study, while his wife Li Shi has brought Nian Shilan to chat with Jia Mu, the Grand Madam of Rong Guo.

Li Shi's visit to the Jia Mansion this time is, first, to get acquainted with the family of the currently soaring Crowned Marquis in the court, and second, to discuss Nian Shilan's marriage prospects.

As Jia Jing rises powerfully within the Great Han court, from the imperial princes and dukes down to the civil and military officials, few wish to form marital ties with him.

A twenty‑one‑year‑old Crowned Marquis who has not yet married is such a temptation for officials who have unmarried daughters at home.

As the current head of the Nian family, Nian Gengyao has repeatedly written to his brother in the capital, urging him to do everything possible to arrange a marriage between his sister Nian Shilan and Jia Jing.

Jia Jing's rise began in Liaodong, where Nian Gengyao watched him, in just over two years, advance from a lowly Seventh‑Rank official to a Senior Second‑Rank Crowned Marquis.

Nian Gengyao knows Jia Jing's character and talent well; back when he was in Liaodong, he also gave Jia Jing considerable attention.

In any case, he cannot stand by and watch the talented youth he has nurtured be snatched away by another family.

Fortunately, his family has a younger sister still waiting in the inner chambers; isn't that a match made in heaven?

It must be said that it was precisely Nian Gengyao's repeated praise of Jia Jing within the Nian household that prompted Nian Shilan to visit the Jia family repeatedly on her own initiative.

This time, after learning that Jia Jing has achieved consecutive victories in the northwest and is even about to be granted a dukedom,

he wrote to Nian Xiyao many times, urging him to visit the Jia Mansion frequently, to strengthen the ties between the two families and create conditions for his younger sister.

Thus, the scene today of Li Shi accompanying Nian Xiyao to bring Nian Shilan to the Jia Mansion came about.

The people of the Jia Mansion do not dare to neglect the Nian family members; after all, Nian Gengyao had greatly assisted Jia Jing in Liaodong and is considered Jia Jing's benefactor.

Moreover, Nian Xiyao, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, is also Jia Zheng's direct superior.

"The garden of this mansion is truly beautiful; such a large garden is rare in Shenjing City!"

"Look at the rose and crabapple blossoms forming a floral curtain; they are certainly rare varieties."

Li Shi surveyed the multicolored flowers planted in the Rong Guo garden and, with a smile full of admiration, praised Jia Mu.

She was not merely being polite.

Rather, Rong Guo Mansion, as a ducal residence commissioned by the court at the founding of the nation, is indeed unusually large in Shenjing City, and this garden will later become part of the Grand View Garden.

"When I was young, I also loved these flowers and grasses; Old Duke, while on official duties abroad, would sometimes bring back rare seeds for me."

"Over time, that's how this garden's flowers came to be, though the rare varieties are few."

"I am now old, and I rarely feel like moving; I seldom come to this garden to admire the flowers."

"Today is also his aunt's birthday, so I thought of strolling in the garden with a few granddaughters and great‑granddaughters."

Jia Mu's aged face bore a hint of reminiscence, evidently recalling the late Duke of Rong Guo, Jia Daishan.

"I didn't realize today was Mrs. Xue's birthday; my apologies!"

Li Shi gave Aunt Xue an apologetic smile, without any further action.

Given her status as a Third‑Rank Imperial Consort, she need not be overly courteous to Aunt Xue.

She had only just arrived, and had already exchanged greetings with Aunt Xue and others, but still did not know the particulars of today's garden visit.

Aunt Xue, faced with Li Shi's politeness, could not be slow to respond; she quickly rose, offered a bow and returned the courtesy, feeling great delight.

Li Shi is the wife of a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, an official Imperial Consort of the court, and yet she is treated so kindly—truly a testament to the Jia Mansion's prestige!

And that Nian family young lady, it seems she is after Brother Jia Jing.

If the two families unite, perhaps their daughters will become sisters‑in‑law; we must not leave a bad impression on her!

Since Jia Jing was ennobled as Crowned Marquis, Aunt Xue has entertained thoughts of matchmaking her well‑behaved daughter Baichai with Jia Jing.

Of course, she knows that making her a primary wife is difficult.

But she can first cultivate affection and secure a position as a concubine.

Meanwhile, Lady Wang, who is beside Aunt Xue, was rolling prayer beads in her hand, staring intently at Nian Shilan, growing more fond with each glance.

The Nian family's maid Lan appears gentle and virtuous; in these few meetings she has been pleasant and sensible.

Her father holds a top ministerial rank, and both elder brothers are senior court officials; the noble lineage makes her an excellent match, if only she could be paired with her own precious jade…

Moreover, her eldest brother is the direct superior of her own master; if the two families become allied, her master's official career could certainly advance further.

Lady Wang, although aware that Nian Shilan is after Jia Jing, wonders why the two have not yet become united.

These days, so many suitors come to propose marriage, yet there is only one primary wife position; who knows what the head of the main household, that stubborn, solitary man, prefers?

If the two cannot unite, our own precious jade is still not lacking…

And while Lady Wang was daydreaming, over there Jia Mu and Li Shi had resumed their casual conversation.

Jia Mu, with a smile on her face, asked Li Shi:

"I wonder how Madam Nian has been lately; I only saw her at the grand banquet in early spring!"

Madam Nian is the mother of Nian Gengyao and Nian Shilan, the wife of Nian Xialing, and, like Jia Mu, holds the rank of First‑Rank Imperial Consort.

However, the two families were not previously close, so Jia Mu did not interact with her much.

But since Jia Jing's rise, and with Jia Zheng and Nian Xiyao both serving in the Ministry of Works,

in the past two years, during palace ceremonies for festivals, the two have met, exchanged greetings, and chatted briefly with smiles.

Upon hearing Jia Mu mention her mother-in-law, Lady Li's smile faded a bit, and she sighed, saying:

Since the beginning of spring, I've fallen ill. Fortunately, it was nothing serious—just that my body is still a bit weak, and I've been recuperating at home these days!

"Have you ever consulted an imperial physician? I also had some headaches at the start of the year; later, Imperial Medical Academy Judge Wu Qian came to see me, gave me acupuncture for a few days, and I improved considerably."

"His medical skill is superb! My granddaughter had a congenital illness she brought from her mother's womb; after his treatment, she has largely recovered over the past few months."

Jia Mu showed deep concern, recommended Imperial Medical Academy Judge Wu Qian to Lady Li, and then cited her own and Lin Daiyu's cases as proof.