Chapter 11 This is a warning to others! The Jia family is innocently implicated...
Lin Daiyu had just finished lunch. With no one around to offer what appeared to be concern but was actually mockery, and with Baoyu's encouragement, she did indeed eat a few more bites.
Hearing that her maternal grandmother wanted to see her, she hurriedly followed Yuanyang over.
"Grandmother." Lin Daiyu had just bowed when Grandmother Jia beckoned, "It's just the two of us, why bother with all that formality? Come and sit next to me."
Because the question she was about to ask was not very serious, Grandmother Jia first exchanged a few pleasantries, such as "What did you eat for lunch?", "Was it good?", "Tell me if there was anything wrong, and I'll talk to them so you won't be put in a difficult position," and so on. Only then did she ask, "You were young back then, so you may not remember clearly, but did the Marquis of Zhongyong really not have any old relationship with your father?"
Lin Daiyu was sensitive and had no parents to rely on. Although she lived in the Rongguo Mansion, she was not as comfortable as Xue Baochai and Shi Xiangyun, who were staying there temporarily.
Moreover, the entire Jia family was on her side; only Grandmother Jia and Jia Baoyu combined could be considered one. Grandmother Jia's words naturally couldn't fool her.
Lin Daiyu lowered her head slightly, sighed inwardly, and said, "Indeed, I have never heard Father mention it." She considered for a moment and then said, "Besides, even if they had an old acquaintance, the Marquis of Zhongyong should have been a child at that time. Perhaps he remembered it, but Father did not take it to heart."
"I knew it—" Hearing this answer, Grandmother Jia breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "Since they are old acquaintances, there's no harm in meeting them."
Lin Daiyu recalled that during her ten years in the Jia family, she had only been in the Ning Mansion and the Wang Mansion. But then she thought that even the three sisters of the Spring Festival were the same. At least in this respect, no one had mistreated her.
She said softly, "I will follow my grandmother's arrangements. It's just that the basket of vegetables was only delivered this morning, and she said she caught a cold the other day. It would be better to wait a couple of days."
Lin Daiyu's compliance made Grandmother Jia feel that she was very considerate. Grandmother Jia smiled and said, "Yuanyang, the red ginseng they sent last time, cut some for my Yu'er to take back."
After saying that, she patted Lin Daiyu's hand and said, "Tell Zijuan to make it for you to drink. This won't cause internal heat."
Lin Daiyu nodded her thanks, sat for a while, said a few more words, and then took her leave.
Mu Chuan had lunch with the emperor in the palace.
He was a very tall man, so his energy expenditure was naturally high. He practiced martial arts every day, so he naturally ate much more than others. The emperor was very pleased to see this and smiled as he instructed a eunuch, "From now on, when the Earl of Zhongyong comes, prepare enough food for three people."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your trouble, Eunuch." Mu Chuan glanced at the eunuch and smiled, "This eunuch has a very cheerful appearance."
Upon hearing this, the emperor turned his head and smiled: "Round face, round eyes, fair complexion, and two dimples—truly auspicious. Bai Zhong."
Taking advantage of the situation, the eunuch Bai Zhong bowed to both the emperor and Mu Chuan, saying, "Your Excellency has a good appetite; His Majesty ate half a bowl more rice than usual."
In Mu Chuan's plan, befriending eunuchs was also essential. Having a familiar eunuch in the palace would not only provide access to information but also help avoid pitfalls and make things easier.
The emperor's chief eunuch, Quan Furen, was definitely not suitable. Firstly, the emperor did not need such a high-ranking eunuch, and secondly, this eunuch, Quan, had served the emperor since he was a child. Although he was not very capable, he was extremely loyal and could not be won over.
He extended an olive branch today, and it seems that Bai Zhong is also interested. He will find some opportunities to get to know Bai Zhong and their relationship can take another step forward.
After the meal, Mu Chuan left the palace with the gifts from the retired emperor and the emperor.
The retired emperor bestowed upon him a suit of exquisitely crafted armor, adorned with gold thread and gemstones. Although it could not be worn on the battlefield, it was a dignified and honorable piece of armor to display in the main hall.
The emperor rewarded him with a sharp knife, the kind that could cut through iron like mud.
The other two also gave him some medicinal herbs, saying that he had worked hard and they were worried that he might have some hidden injuries, so he should take good care of himself.
Mu Chuan left the palace with his belongings and headed first to his Zhongyong Earl's residence.
Because it was so popular, the signboard was already up in just four or five days.
The large characters "Imperial Decree for the Loyal and Brave Earl's Residence" shone with a golden light under the afternoon sun.
"The characters are made of gold," Zhao Jingcheng, nicknamed the strategist, said proudly to Mu Chuan.
"Not bad." Mu Chuan praised as he strode in: "How's the main hall being prepared? It doesn't feel quite right to receive guests at the old general's house."
"It will be better in two more days." Zhao Jingcheng followed and added, "This morning, the Rongguo Mansion sent two baskets of lush green vegetable leaves, along with a letter. I'll go get them."
With a hint of disdain in his tone, Mu Chuan said, "Just give me the letter. I'm staying at the old general's house. Bringing food back would make it seem like I'm dissatisfied with his cook. I'll leave it for you to eat."
"They're all grown men," Zhao Jingcheng muttered under his breath. "Who wants vegetables? If you ask me, the Jia family really doesn't know how to reciprocate. Vegetables are indeed rare when it gets cold, but what is the general doing? He should have sent two lamb legs instead of just showing off his abilities."
Mu Chuan was indeed a little disgusted by the two baskets of vegetable leaves, but he didn't think as much as Zhao Jingcheng did, and after Zhao Jingcheng's reminder, he realized that it made sense.
He sent charcoal to Miss Lin because his letter mentioned "a slight cold," so why did the Rongguo Mansion send him vegetables? As a first-class earl, how could he not get fresh vegetables in winter?
Gift-giving is not about showing off one's superiority.
He certainly wouldn't lack food, and since he lives in the Marquis's mansion, it's even less likely he would.
Even the way they give gifts reveals their superiority.
As expected of the Rongguo Mansion.
"A strategist from a prominent family." Mu Chuan praised Zhao Jingcheng, "He knows so much about matters of the inner quarters."
Zhao Jingcheng suddenly felt a little embarrassed, turned his head and shouted loudly, "Put the armor here, and as for the sword... wait until I find an expensive stand for it."
Mu Chuan looked at the newly renovated house, which was bustling with activity, and then took the reply letter that Zhao Jingcheng handed him and read it.
They didn't say anything, and the handwriting was still as beautiful as ever, with a faint fragrance.
The content itself is mostly polite but meaningless chatter.
I wonder what Miss Lin was thinking. Suddenly, an old acquaintance with whom she had no prior connection appeared. I wonder if she was startled by him.
A fleeting thought of curiosity crossed Mu Chuan's mind. He put away the letter and said, "The provisions and other supplies are almost ready. The day after tomorrow, we'll go to the military camp on the outskirts of the city to see if they're still lacking anything. It's about time we send them back to Pingnan Town."
Miss Lin wasn't frightened, but almost everyone else was.
In the afternoon, Jia Zhen went to the home of another member of the Imperial Guard and inquired about some information.
This one was even worse; they were the last in line and got hit with sticks.
Jia Zhen breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that it wasn't directed at them.
However, after I returned, news from the Rongguo Mansion also came.
It's said that the Ning and Rong mansions are completely unguarded with outsiders. Their servants are utterly unreserved; a little money or a meal can easily lead to a flood of gossip spreading from the mansions to the outside world. And between the two mansions, it goes without saying.
Otherwise, even though Jia Yuanchun had been a concubine for many years, no one cared about her younger sister, and no one wanted to curry favor with her.
It wasn't until they heard the news that they realized both families were incredibly absurd, and they were afraid that marrying into the family would ruin their reputation and be a losing proposition.
Jia Zhen was drinking tea when one of his favored concubines came to report.
"...I overheard them talking while taking a walk in the Grand View Garden in the afternoon. The general wanted to see Miss Lin, but the old lady refused, saying that a good daughter does not see outsiders."
Jia Zhen frowned. If that's the case, then... it's still best to target them!
Those who were beaten with sticks were made an example of, and Jia Rong was that monkey!
Jia Zhen put down his teacup, flicked his sleeve, and stood up: "Go to the Rongguo Mansion."
Just as dinner was approaching, Madam Xing had hailed a mule cart when Jia She stopped her.
“You go there every day, have you heard anything?” Although Jia She adhered to the principle that superiors should speak in a cryptic manner, his wife really couldn’t understand him, so he explained it more directly: “My niece, and the Earl of Zhongyong.”
Madam Xing recalled for a moment: "The old lady seemed to look down on him and didn't want to see him."
"She's just waiting for the right price." Jia She had no motherly affection for his mother, only resentment from being driven out of the Rongguo Mansion and fear of his parents' authority. He spoke without any mercy.
"The Lin family has fed the second branch of the family for so many years. Even my good son has embezzled a lot. He sent her home for her funeral a few years ago and has been spending money like water ever since. The Lin family is wealthy and powerful, with four generations of noble titles. Lin Ruhai was also a third-place scholar in the imperial examination and served as the salt commissioner of Lianghuai for six years. The Lin family can't be poorer than the Xue family, can they?"
“That’s definitely not possible.” Madam Xing nodded. “The old lady wouldn’t marry her daughter off to the Lin family just because they are poor and living a hard life, and then ask her daughter to do good deeds.”
These words carried an even stronger sense of sarcasm, and Jia She laughed: "Isn't it true that with Lin Ruhai dead, the old lady's desired reward has arrived?"
When Grandmother Jia married off her daughter, she wasn't just after money; she was also after Lin Ruhai's future and the resulting transformation of the Jia family. Jia She's words were a sarcastic jab at the old lady's thwarted plans.
Madam Xing hadn't thought that far ahead; all she was thinking about was the money: "Surely not a single penny should go into the public accounts?"
Jia She sneered: "Can you manage the public accounts?"
Madam Xing shook her head.
Jia She then asked, "Can you see the public accounts?"
Madam Xing shook her head again.
Jia She continued, "Can the old lady's private savings be given to you in the future?"
Madam Xing's heart had turned cold, but there was something even colder.
Jia She shrugged: "Me too."
Madam Xing was furious. How could she be accused of being greedy for money after all this!
After waiting a while, seeing that Jia She had nothing more to say, Madam Xing got into the carriage, and the clattering of hooves began. Madam Xing suddenly sighed.
"The Lin family's daughter and Baoyu are so close that they're practically inseparable. Everyone in the mansion knows they're a couple, but the old lady just won't say anything. Sigh... I used to think it was pitiful that the eldest daughter of the Xue family was so eager to get close to him. But now, who can be more pitiful than the Lin family's daughter? Her parents are gone, her family fortune is gone, and Baoyu... well, he'll be gone too."
Madam Xing arrived at Grandmother Jia's courtyard and immediately saw a group of people waiting in the side hall.
"Master Zhen of the Ning family has arrived. He's talking inside," said the maid who was lifting the curtain.
Madam Xing nodded, then made sarcastic remarks to her sister-in-law and daughter-in-law.
Before long, Jia Zhen came out, and the women bowed to each other. Jia Zhen left quickly.
Then Yuanyang came out and said, "The old lady isn't feeling well, so she won't be coming out for dinner today."
Although Yuanyang said this, she subtly conveyed through her eyes that the old lady was physically fine but in a bad mood. Everyone understood, and after a perfunctory, routine greeting, everyone dispersed.
Lin Daiyu breathed a sigh of relief. Baochai wasn't here today. She was the best at putting people down when she spoke, so she didn't have to bother dealing with her.
After dinner, Jia Baoyu sat in Lin Daiyu's room for a while, chatting with her to help her digest her food, before returning to his own room.
As soon as they entered, Xiren rushed up to them and asked anxiously, "I heard them say that Miss Lin's father offended the Marquis of Zhongyong years ago, and he's come to cause trouble for our Jia family?"
A note from the author:
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