Chapter 269: Jia Mu: It's Best to Send That Troublemaking Grandson Far, Far Away!

Near noon.

The half‑drawn sheer curtains of Rong Qing Tang let slanting sunlight stream in, spreading a warm, mellow glow across the blue‑brick floor.

Several pots of jasmine sit in the hall, their blossoms in full bloom, emitting a faint, lingering fragrance that mingles with the coolness drifting from the ice basin, easing the summer heat a little.

Jia Mu reclines on the couch, wearing a stone‑blue sheer shirt, a red‑gold forehead band atop her head, and idly fidgeting with a round fan in her hand, waving it on and off.

Mrs. Wang, Mrs. Xing, You Shi, Auntie Xue, Feng Jie, Li Wan, as well as Si Chun, Dai Chai and a dozen others sit in the hall chatting with Jia Mu, while a few maids bustle about attending to them.

At this moment, Jia Mu turns to Tan Chun and asks in a hoarse voice:

"Third Little Girl, Jia Jing should be returning soon, shouldn't he?"

A trace of worry flickers in Jia Mu's expression, as if the good days before her were about to vanish.

Tan Chun sits at the lower seat, dressed in a goose‑yellow sheer shirt that makes her face look like a freshly peeled lychee, white with a hint of pink.

She sets down the tea cup in her hand and laughs lightly:

"A while ago, Marquis Wei Ning returned to the capital, bringing a family letter from Third Brother; I also inquired about his situation in the northwest."

"He said that after another battle with the Hun Xie side, he'll regroup and return to the capital, estimating he'll be back in about a month."

"Didn't the court decree that Jia Jing should be granted a Guogong Mansion? Has the ground been broken yet?"

Upon hearing that Jia Jing is about to return, Jia Mu's expression tightens, and she hurriedly asks about the construction status of the Guogong Mansion.

Tan Chun smiles and says:

"Madam, don't worry; the other day I sent someone to the Ministry of Works, and they said the foundation of the Guogong Mansion has already been laid."

"The specifications are a notch lower than the Prince of the Commandery's mansion: the main hall has five rooms, the main gate three, all built with fine materials shipped from Yungui."

"The Ministry of Works officials estimate it will be completely finished in about half a year."

Jia Mu hears this, a slightly awkward smile appearing on her face, and she sighs:

"No rush, I'm not in a hurry; half a year is quick enough…"

"When Jia Jing returns, he might not be able to move in in time!"

Wang Xifeng stands behind Jia Mu, twirling an ivory‑handled round fan, its surface depicting a cat‑butterfly fluttering over a peony, animated by her movements.

Hearing this, a sly smile appears on her face as she says:

"Madam, your worries are unnecessary; Third Brother returning isn't like there's nowhere for him to stay."

"His Jingwu Yuan is now tidied up more than anywhere else."

"Besides, when he does return, he'll be occupied with official duties, so he won't stay at home long!"

"If Madam is anxious, have Second Master press the schedule, making the Ministry of Works staff work overtime."

"Second Master is an official of the Ministry of Works; his words are certainly effective!"

Feng Jie originally made only a joke; she knows Jia Mu rarely meddles in outside affairs.

Moreover, asking Jia Zheng to press the schedule is out of the question; Second Master has never liked mundane tasks, so he's not the type to do such work.

Who would have thought, Jia Mu, after hearing Feng Jie's words, did not refuse.

Instead, after a moment's thought, she said pensively:

"Then when Baoyu's father returns from court, I'll speak with him! Jia Jing's residence construction is a major matter; the sooner the better!"

The people in the hall couldn't help but chuckle.

Just how "afraid" Madam is of Third Brother returning, she is so eager to have him moved out of Rong Guo Mansion.

What they don't know is that Jia Mu truly wants to keep this troublesome grandson far, far away!

The last time he came back from Liaodong as a third‑rank marquis, he threw the whole household into chaos!

First he reorganized the entire mansion, then he beat Baoyu, then he scolded Mrs. Wang, then he called her an old fool!

All that turmoil still gives her a headache when she recalls it now!

This time he's returned as a first‑rank Guogong; what that troublesome grandson could do, she dares not imagine!

It's still best to send him away far, far away quickly!

At her age, she only wants a peaceful life; no matter how high his rank, she doesn't desire anything from him!

Just as Feng Jie was about to tease Jia Mu a few more lines, a young maid from outside reported:

"Jia Zhen and Jia Rong have arrived!"

The chatter in the hall fell silent at once.

The sisters of the Jia Mansion have lately learned from Tan Chun about some of Jia Zhen's unseemly conduct, and their impression of him is not good.

Feng Jie furrowed her brow, thinking to herself that the visitor comes with ill intent.

These days Jia Zhen hasn't stopped sending Jia Rong to his small courtyard to cause mischief, using every excuse to try to bring Qin Keqing back.

Of course, Feng Jie wouldn't let them succeed.

Jia Mu's expression hardened; she glanced at You Shi in the hall, sighed with a weary gesture and said:

"Please come in!"

Jia Zhen, wearing plain robes, is still within the mourning period for Jia Jing; he normally appears like this except when he goes to Fan Lou.

Jia Rong follows behind Jia Zhen, head lowered, her complexion ashen, like an eggplant struck by frost.

The two entered and paid their respects to Jia Mu.

Jia Zhen does not sit; he stands in the hall, clasping his hands and says:

"Madam, I have come today to take Keqing back."

Jia Zhen's voice sounds a bit wavering, his complexion dim, evidently having been overworked lately.

The reason he came to see Jia Mu today is that he truly had no other recourse!

Qin has been hiding in Feng Jie's small courtyard, feigning illness and refusing to return to Ning Guo Fu; he thinks Qin must be near madness!

Yet even with threats, bribes, and all sorts of tactics, Feng Jie remains unmoved.

He simply wouldn't give him the face of the old "Big Brother Zhen", and was unwilling to send Qin Shi back to Ning Guo Fu.

Rong Guo Mansion has its own guards, so he cannot simply come and seize people by force.

With no other recourse, after much thought, he could only go to Jia Mu to ask her to decide.

He knew Jia Mu was the most concerned with appearances; as long as she spoke up and told Feng Jie to "release the person", Feng Jie couldn't stop it!

As for whether Feng Jie would spill the beans about the affair, Jia Zhen wasn't worried.

First, there is no solid evidence, so there's nothing to talk about.

Second, this is a family matter of Ning Guo Fu; outsiders have no right to interfere.

Third, once this becomes known throughout the household, Qin Shi will suffer the most, to the point of being unable to face living on.

Therefore, as long as he can find a righteous-sounding pretext, no one has the right to stop this!

His only concern is Jia Jing's attitude in this matter and possible retaliation against him after returning to the capital.

But, in order to obtain Qin Shi, he no longer cares about those things!

First, let's make the rice cooked (i. e., make it a fait accompli); as for the future, at worst he could seek an official post outside the capital in Jiangnan.

He heard that the Yangzhou thin horses there are also unique; it would be perfect to stay there for a few years, anyway he's already made enough money in the Jingying.

In the hall, hearing Jia Zhen's words, Jia Mu's expression changed, and the palm-leaf fan in her hand paused.

She glanced at Jia Zhen, then at the nearby Mrs. Xing, Lady Wang, and a few others from the Yu family, seeing that they all remained silent.

On her aged face appeared a hint of doubt, and she asked:

"What nonsense is this? Why did you bring Qin Shi to my Rong Qing Tang? She's not even here!"