Chapter 38 When One is in Trouble, All Sides Trample "Please, Your Excellency, grant justice, young lady..."
It's not hard to guess what Grandmother Jia wanted Lin Daiyu to do; even someone like Jia Baoyu, who rarely went out or socialized, knew.
It's nothing more than offering incense tomorrow and asking Uncle Zhongyong if he can help.
Having figured this out, Jia Baoyu couldn't help but feel a little dejected. He had told his grandmother that morning to stop Lin Daiyu from going out, because it was cold in winter and the Earl of Zhongyong was a rough man who wouldn't know how to take care of anyone. If Lin Daiyu went out with him, she would only suffer.
Unfortunately... but Jia Baoyu still had a glimmer of hope. What if the matriarch also thought it would be better not to let Lin Daiyu go out?
Jia Baoyu waited in the outer room so that he would know immediately when Lin Daiyu came out.
Inside the room, Yuanyang made way for Lin Daiyu, who stepped forward to support Grandmother Jia's arm and helped her into the inner room.
Grandmother Jia sat down and sighed, "The Great Buddha Hall is a good place. It enshrines the memorial tablets of the imperial family members. It is very quiet and ordinary people cannot enter. You haven't properly offered incense for several years. It wouldn't hurt to go."
As she spoke, Grandmother Jia quickly went over the name of the Marquis of Zhongyong again.
He can get charcoal from the retired emperor and the emperor, and everything he sends is of the highest quality. Next year he will be the commander-in-chief of the Northern Camp. If he just asks, it will represent his attitude, and this matter can be settled.
Lin Daiyu hummed in agreement but didn't say anything. Anyway, she wasn't the one who was worried, and besides, her third brother had said that if anything happened, she should push it onto him.
While Grandmother Jia was still hesitating, weighing her options, and carefully choosing her words, Lin Daiyu had already drifted off into her own thoughts.
She even adapted a joke: "Third Brother is so tall, if the sky falls, Third Brother will hold it up."
"Yu'er."
"Ah?" Lin Daiyu quickly composed herself and called out, "Grandmother."
"Tomorrow, when you go to offer incense, also ask Uncle Zhongyong about our family's situation... We don't need his help, just ask what happened so that we'll know who to turn to."
Lin Daiyu then heard the words "our family".
"I feel really bad," Lin Daiyu said awkwardly. "Even if a servant asks the Marquis of Zhongyong, he can't possibly know what to do with this. He just returned and has gained the Emperor's favor. He's at the height of his power, and many people are watching him."
It was hard to tell whether Grandmother Jia was angry or ashamed. She paused and then said, "I'm asking about your second uncle."
Lin Daiyu breathed a sigh of relief, realizing she had completely forgotten about her second uncle, probably because he had been gone for three years.
"I...I'm just afraid he doesn't know." Lin Daiyu's face still showed the same difficulty as before: "It's a matter of civil officials. He's just a military officer, and besides, my second uncle is stationed in Qiongzhou. It wouldn't hurt to ask, but Grandmother shouldn't just rely on me. My second brother Lian is always socializing in the capital, and he's very well-informed."
"That's for sure, but I'm just asking out of curiosity. Even if you don't know, it's a small token of my appreciation; after all, he's your uncle." Grandmother Jia forced a smile and then instructed Yuanyang, "Go and tell them about last time—"
She paused, finding it difficult to choose something that the Marquis of Zhongyong had never given her, especially something so valuable: "Never mind, those are all material possessions. I should focus on taking care of my health first. Yuanyang, get a red ginseng for your Miss Lin. It won't cause internal heat. Have the maid cut it up and soak it in water for you to drink often."
Lin Daiyu thanked her, and Grandmother Jia smiled and said, "Seeing how graceful you are, I'm relieved. Go back early; you still need to prepare for your trip tomorrow."
The maidservant carried the ginseng box and escorted Lin Daiyu back home.
As soon as Lin Daiyu went outside, she saw Jia Baoyu waiting for her.
"Sister Lin." Jia Baoyu greeted her, but not wanting to ask directly, he expressed his apology tactfully: "Madam is not well, things are a mess... I may have to stay at home tomorrow, Madam can't do without me."
Having grown up together, to be honest, Jia Baoyu is indeed naive; he wears his heart on his sleeve, unable to hide anything.
When Lin Daiyu saw him like this, she was indeed angry, but her anger wasn't entirely directed at Jia Baoyu; it was also directed at herself.
"What use are you if you stay at home? Are you just causing trouble?" She said and left. Jia Baoyu was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly chased after her.
"Lin Daiyu...I..."
"Young Master Bao, please don't cause trouble elsewhere," Lin Daiyu said coldly. "I have a lot of things to do here, and I can't entertain Young Master Bao."
After being stabbed several times, and feeling that Lin Daiyu had betrayed his feelings by being close to outsiders, Jia Baoyu became heartbroken and wandered aimlessly around the garden.
In Grandmother Jia's room, she thought silently for a long time. Yuanyang stepped forward and whispered, "Grandmother, why don't you let me go with Miss Lin to offer incense? That maid in Miss Lin's room, Zijuan... she's a bit slow and stubborn. Xueyan hardly ever hears her say more than three words a day. It would be better for me to go with them."
How could Grandmother Jia not understand what she meant? But...
Despite her stern reprimands outside, the Jia family has little support left.
Of course, if it's a wedding, funeral, or her big birthday next year, she can still invite a lot of distinguished guests. But if something really happens, how many people will come? And how many people will lend a helping hand?
Therefore, it is even more important not to anger the Earl of Zhongyong.
"No need," Grandmother Jia said with a forced smile. "Daiyu has always been intelligent, I'm at ease with her here." But after saying this, Grandmother Jia instructed, "Go and tell Zijuan to come to my place after Daiyu has rested. This is a Buddhist temple, so don't be impolite. Xueyan is still young, so she needs to be careful."
This means don't let Miss Lin know. Yuanyang thought for a moment and said, "I'll go and bring Miss Lin some steamed milk buns."
Grandmother Jia nodded, but before Yuanyang could leave, she changed her mind: "Don't call her over, it'll cause a big fuss. Just tell her."
The entire Rongguo Mansion was excited about Zhou Rui being taken away by the officials, but there was no real fear.
Half the people were waiting to watch the excitement, while the other half were waiting to go up and have a bite.
Tan Chun went to see Madam Wang again, offered a few words of comfort, and just as she came out, she saw Aunt Zhao waving at her from not far away.
Tan Chun immediately felt uncomfortable, but she also knew that if she didn't go over, Aunt Zhao would definitely shout loudly, and then she would feel even worse.
"Auntie, you're not taking good care of Huan'er, are you free again?" Tan Chun said as soon as she entered.
Aunt Zhao scoffed twice: "What are you saying, young lady? Madam is in such a hurry. If I don't go and say a few words of concern, she'll find another reason to humiliate me."
"Since you're so good with words, Auntie, you should ask a few more questions and see if Madam gets angry," Tan Chun said sarcastically.
Aunt Zhao poured water for Tan Chun and then asked, "What exactly happened? I heard them say that it even implicated Master."
Tan Chun didn't even glance at the cup: "I'm just a young lady, I don't care about these things. If you care, Auntie, just ask Madam."
Already irritable, Tan Chun's patience had reached its limit after dealing with these two sentences. She stood up and said, "The New Year is almost here. Auntie, you should stay home and copy some scriptures to avoid upsetting Madam again."
Aunt Zhao sneered as she watched Tan Chun's retreating figure: "It would have been better to have given birth to a blockhead than to you! But..."
If the mistress's maidservant were to implicate the master, it would actually be a good thing for her. Aunt Zhao hurriedly picked out a few better pieces of cloth from the sewing basket, using them as an excuse to inquire about the news.
In the Grand View Garden, Madam Xing hurriedly arrived at Yingchun's Purple Lotus Isle. As soon as she entered, she waved her hand and told the maid to leave: "What exactly happened?"
Yingchun asked, "What is it that you are asking, Madam?"
"Are you pretending to be stupid or are you really stupid?" Madam Xing said impatiently. "Your husband and I live in a remote area, and we're not well-informed. I heard that Zhou Rui was arrested by the authorities? And the Second Master even asked to be dismissed from his post?"
Yingchun thought for a moment: "They only said that they were being escorted back to the capital, but I didn't hear the words 'dismissed from office'."
"They've all been escorted away. Could it be a promotion?" Madam Xing laughed happily, then asked, "Tell me everything, not a single word can be wrong!"
Yingchun told Madam Xing everything she could remember, and Madam Xing was satisfied. She smiled and said, "Listen carefully, and just tell me if you have any news. When your husband and I move back to the main house, you'll definitely get your share of the benefits."
Madam Xing's words were blunt and explicit, making Yingchun feel embarrassed for her, and she couldn't help but frown.
Madam Xing saw this but didn't care. She hurried back to inform Jia She. "Dismissal is good! Let's see how the second branch of the family can still occupy the main hall now!"
When the second wife moves into the small house, she will take charge of the Rongguo Mansion and arrange for people to speak ill of the second wife every day.
In the row of courtyards behind the Rongguo Mansion, Zhou Rui's family lived in the middle courtyard, while there were two rows of courtyards on either side, all of the same size, with two courtyards and three rooms, where respectable stewards lived.
Zhou Rui's wife was still crying in Madam Wang's room, while her neighbors had gathered together.
What did he do wrong?
"Who knows? I even advised him to look at the official warrants and explain things properly. The magistrate of Wanping County is, after all, a local official. Who knew he would not only tear them up, but also spit on them and stomp on them several times, leaving none of the several warrants behind. Doesn't he deserve it?"
"You call that persuasion? I'm almost embarrassed to say anything to you. If you say a few more words, he'll be ready to fight that constable with the knife to the death."
"Speaking of which... he's in jail now. Even if he gets out, the job shouldn't be his anymore, right?"
Everyone was envious of the jobs that Zhou Rui and his wife had.
Zhou Rui manages the rent for the spring and autumn seasons. When he comes back, he casually mentions things like "the first half of the year was flooded, the second half of the year didn't rain, we haven't recovered from the locust plague last year, the estate was robbed, the houses need repair, the furniture is ruined," etc. Is the master supposed to investigate these things personally?
The masters of the Rongguo Mansion are all "merciful," so whatever they say goes.
They were puzzled. So, while the Great Wei Dynasty was thriving and the people were living in peace and contentment, their Rongguo Mansion's estate was always having problems. Was this place there to balance the fate of the nation?
Not to mention Zhou Rui's wife, she was in charge of the women's outings in the mansion. She could go wherever they went, especially the second wife, who represented the Rongguo Mansion in social interactions and visited only respectable families. The things Zhou Rui's wife received from one outing were equivalent to several months' worth of monthly allowance, which made people extremely envious.
"Speaking of which, they were all servants brought by the Wang family. Even if they were to be rotated, shouldn't it be the turn of the servants born into the Jia family?"
"Who says otherwise? Those from the Wang family know how to fool people, and those who have latched onto the Wang family have also learned to deceive people."
An old woman sneered, "I overheard them trying to fool the little maids last time, charging ten coins for an egg. This is the capital, where are eggs lacking? The capital can't afford to lack eggs. Besides, if the Duke's mansion doesn't have eggs, won't there be dead bodies everywhere outside? What will be left of the Great Wei Dynasty? Bah, bah, bah!"
"Those young ladies are so easily fooled. A chicken costs only forty coins, but an egg costs ten coins. It's really a case of one daring to cheat and the other daring to believe it. Besides, does the Duke's mansion really need to buy its own eggs? Their grain, vegetables, and livestock are all from their own estates, but they don't raise chickens? Do those chickens eat people at night or what?"
"But...who can I talk to? The housekeeper is the second wife, and the manager is Second Madam Lian. They're both surnamed Wang. If they don't promote their own people, are they going to promote you?"
The group looked at each other, saying, "Let's go, there's nothing more to say."
Despite this, money is a powerful motivator, and everyone went back to plan their own ways to get a share.
While I wouldn't dare to truly cause trouble for everyone when one side is in trouble, it's fine to kick someone while they're down behind the scenes. As long as the trouble isn't done openly, it's also fine.
Anyway... this is the Rongguo Mansion, and the eldest daughter of the family is still a concubine in the palace. What's there to be afraid of?
Inside the Daming Palace, the retired emperor was far more well-informed than the Jia family. He only needed to gather a few people and ask them a few questions to learn the whole story.
The retired emperor's face was gloomy, but his tone softened slightly: "Why doesn't he tell me anything? Does he think that I, the retired emperor, can't make decisions for him?"
Dai Quan was still thinking about what to answer. He wanted to establish a good relationship with the Earl of Zhongyong. After all, the Emperor Emeritus's health was not as good as before, and he was so old. In the future... during the transition, if something happened, there would be someone who could speak to the Emperor.
However, before he could come up with a word, the Emperor Emeritus had one himself.
“Alas… When the old Duke of Rongguo Mansion died, I specially granted them permission not to inherit the title at a lower rank, and instead allowed him to inherit the title of Duke.”
"Jia Zheng's official position was also bestowed upon him by me."
"The fact that the Jia family's daughter was able to enter the palace and become an imperial concubine is also related to me."
"...No wonder he misunderstood me."
Alright, no need to think of any more words.
Dai Quan said, "The Marquis of Zhongyong still cares about His Majesty. I heard that he accused a servant of having private property, but he didn't mention the master of Rongguo Mansion at all."
"You don't understand!" The Emperor Emeritus raised his voice, a rare occurrence. "This is what worries me even more. The Rongguo Mansion, relying on the merits of its ancestors, has shown no ambition whatsoever over the years. How can they compare to the Grand General? Instead, they expect the Grand General to yield to them. Where is justice? Where is the law of the Great Wei? What if there are still people like the Grand General?"
The Emperor Emeritus thought for a moment and said, “He has just arrived in the capital and his family is not well-off. He is only a first-class earl... His annual salary plus estate is only three thousand taels of silver. Here’s what we’ll do: go and send him some silver. He is the Grand General of the Dragon Guard of the Daming Palace, a second-rank official. He should receive at least twenty thousand taels a year. Give him all of it, and it will alleviate his immediate crisis.”
Dai Quan agreed and hurried off to do it.
The salary in the Great Wei Dynasty was divided into three types. The first type was the basic salary, which included silver, cloth and rice. This was not high. A first-rank official would only receive about 500 taels of silver a year.
Next are the benefits of officials with proper jobs: charcoal allowance in winter, ice allowance in summer, and subsidies for housing, clothing, sedan chairs, and other aspects of life, which can amount to three to five thousand taels of silver a year.
Finally, there's the departmental benefits; the department with the most lucrative opportunities will have the best year-end bonuses.
If you add all three together, a first-rank official could earn over 20,000 taels of silver.
Take Mu Chuan for example. He only served as the Dragon Guard General for three months at most, and his basic salary was just over one hundred taels of silver. He was given charcoal for winter, armor, and other supplies in kind.
However, this position of Imperial Guard was part of the Daming Palace's staff, and the amount of pay depended entirely on the retired emperor.
What did the retired emperor say? He gave him a supplement of 20,000 taels.
Dai Quan went to the storehouse and found a pair of fine jade ruyi scepters to add to the collection, and personally brought the gifts to the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence.
Mu Chuan was talking to Dou Changzong: "Lord Qi has given twenty spots, plus two squad leaders. You pick forty people and go to the Chongwenmen tax office first thing tomorrow morning to find him. Ask him to choose which ones are suitable, and be respectful. Do you know what to say?"
"Don't worry, General," Dou Changzong said with a smile. "You've been teaching us all along, and we're not stupid. When choosing wet nurses, we have to pick three out of ten. How can we say that there are only twenty? We need you to see if they're suitable before they can serve."
"Yes, just tell him that. When you get there, do more and say less, and find out the details as soon as possible." After instructing Dou Changzong, Mu Chuan called someone over: "Go to the Dianchi Club and tell them that I'm taking Miss Lin to their house for dinner tomorrow. Order some special dishes, make sure they're fresh, and if they have any dishes with sugar, prepare a few more."
After giving the instructions, Dai Quan arrived with the silver and rewards.
Mu Chuan accepted the reward, thanked the Emperor Emeritus, and then said to Dai Quan, "After all, you are an old minister of the Emperor Emeritus, so I came here because I know you have some dignity."
Eunuch Dai said with a wry smile, "What kind of old ministers are they? They just act recklessly because of their ancestors' reputation. General, just wait and see. When Jia Zheng returns to the capital, the Emperor will definitely dismiss him from his post."
"I never expected the Emperor to be so fair and honest; it makes me seem narrow-minded."
When Dai Quan returned and relayed Mu Chuan's words, the Emperor Emeritus was indeed pleased: "That's excellent. The Jia family has so many people, dozens of branches, yet not a single one is outstanding. Of the two who were not, one passed the imperial examination and became a monk, and the other passed the county-level examination but died young. It's clear that their family was utterly absurd; they couldn't even keep a single good person, and they were beyond redemption."
If nothing had happened before, the retired emperor wouldn't have remembered them. But now that they've caused trouble, and people are investigating what they've been doing all these years, they're really getting on everyone's nerves and are a thorn in everyone's side.
In the evening, Jia Lian returned.
As the New Year approached, he was in charge of the Jia family's affairs, so he inevitably had to go out for social engagements. These engagements usually involved drinking, eating, and watching plays, and by the end of the day, he would smell strongly of alcohol.
Wang Xifeng deliberately fanned herself: "Second Master, you still know to come back? So many people went out looking for you today. Yuanyang has come to urge you three times already."
When Jia Lian entered the mansion, a servant had already told him about the changes in the Jia family. Jia Lian was so frightened that he sobered up considerably.
"Is there anything your Wang family can't handle?" Jia Lian's tone was equally blunt. "What did Lord Zhang say?"
Wang Xifeng frowned, and after thinking for a moment, she told the truth: "I have a feeling that something is not right this time. When Wang Xin went to the Zhang family to deliver the silver, they only said that Lord Zhang was visiting friends and had not yet returned. They even refused to accept the silver, which is obviously just an excuse."
Jia Lian frowned and said, "It shouldn't be dismissal... Although the official said he was being escorted, I think he was probably just trying to scare us and get more money. If he were really dismissed, wouldn't he have to come to our mansion and read out the imperial edict? Second Master's position was bestowed by the Emperor Emeritus. Without the Emperor Emeritus's approval, the Emperor can't easily take it away. Besides, Second Master is the Emperor's father-in-law."
Wang Xifeng scoffed, about to offer some flattery, when she thought, "Second Master is my father-in-law. Strictly speaking, a proper father-in-law is a Duke. What kind of father-in-law is he? Who would exile their father-in-law three thousand miles away?"
However, these words were too harsh, and Wang Xifeng hesitated for a moment. During this hesitation, a quarrel broke out outside.
"You jinx! You have such a bitter face! All you do is cry all day long! Cry, cry, cry! What are you crying for during the New Year? You're going to cry away all my good fortune!"
Wang Xifeng frowned and smiled, "Qiu Tong is young after all, and she's full of energy all day long."
"If you don't want to, you might as well hang yourself. You weren't forced here. You practically clung to Second Master, scurrying into the Rongguo Mansion like a little puppy. Did Second Master wrong you? Did Second Madam wrong you? You cry the moment we meet. I'd rather see a ghost than see you!"
Wang Xifeng raised her eyebrows and looked at Jia Lian: "Second Master, aren't you going to try to persuade her? Qiu Tong is scolding your beloved. She's the Second Mistress You, who has been given a separate house. Even if it's a time of national mourning or family mourning, and you have to divorce your wife and remarry, you still want to bring her into the house."
Jia Lian felt extremely uncomfortable listening to this long string of words. He said, "What's the point of saying all this? I'm going to pay my respects to the old lady."
Jia Lian left in a bit of a hurry, and soon after, he sent someone back to inform Wang Xifeng: "Second Master said that the Old Madam is urging him urgently, so he went out overnight to inquire about the situation."
Wang Xifeng sneered and said to Ping'er, "See? These are the men of the Jia family."
The next morning, as soon as Mu Chuan arrived at the Rongguo Mansion and entered through the main gate, he saw Lin Daiyu standing smiling at the entrance of the warm pavilion, holding a fluffy hand warmer in her arms.
"Why are you standing at the door? Aren't you cold?" Mu Chuan hurriedly went to greet him.
"I'm not cold." Lin Daiyu shook her head and added, "I'm wearing the cashmere undershirt that my third brother gave me, and it's quite warm."
After saying this, Lin Daiyu's face flushed slightly, as if what she had said was not proper etiquette and should not be uttered to others.
To everyone's surprise, Mu Chuan acted as if he hadn't noticed and said, "I'm wearing cashmere underneath too."
Lin Daiyu was relieved: "Would Third Brother like some tea?"
Mu Chuan raised an eyebrow: "I didn't come here just for tea. I brought you some snacks for your journey. The Great Buddha Hall is a bit far, but we won't have vegetarian food there for lunch. I've made a reservation at the Dianchi Club. We'll go there to eat after we've offered incense."
"Yunnan ham," Lin Daiyu immediately said. "I've never tried it before. I've heard it's not as salty as Jinhua ham and has a unique flavor. I wonder what it tastes like."
"Shall we leave now?"
Zijuan and Xueyan, along with two other old women carrying things, followed. As they turned the corner, Lin Daiyu saw Granny Shen waiting by the carriage.
Lin Daiyu immediately smiled: "Mother Shen."
Granny Shen also had a smile on her face as she put down the stool and helped Lin Daiyu into the carriage.
The two women were happy, but Mu Chuan was not so satisfied. This was the downside of bringing Granny Shen along. Granny Shen did everything, and he was just a heartless guide.
The Great Buddha Hall is located in the north of the city. It's about ten miles northwest of Andingmen.
Mu Chuan rode at the front on horseback. With the New Year approaching, the capital was crowded. They set off at the beginning of Chenshi (7-9 AM) and arrived at their destination at the end of Sishi (9-11 AM).
People usually make reservations in advance when visiting such high-end places, which makes it easier for them to prepare sedan chairs and arrange private rooms.
The carriage stopped at the mountain gate, and then lay Buddhists carrying the sedan chair came up. After Lin Daiyu got into the sedan chair, the group walked inside and arrived at the main gate of the Great Buddha Hall, where Lin Daiyu got out of the sedan chair.
The environment was indeed beautiful. Although it was the dead of winter, at least half of the flowers, plants, and trees were still green. The monks walked leisurely and unhurriedly.
Mu Chuan asked, "We've been in the carriage for almost an hour. Shall we go to the side room to rest first, and then go to offer incense?"
"Okay. My body is stiff from sitting for so long," Lin Daiyu said softly. "I'm also a little thirsty."
"Then I recommend you try their truffle tea. I had it once last time, and it has a... forest flavor, very refreshing. The desserts are also good; you should like the osmanthus cake. The osmanthus flowers used right now should be freshly made this year."
Lin Daiyu smiled and said, "Then I must try it. What else?"
"There are also pine nut pastries, seven-color lotus tofu, vegetarian noodles which are quite delicious, winter bamboo shoots which are very fragrant, and tofu puffs which are soaked in broth and very flavorful."
Lin Daiyu smiled, revealing two small, pointed teeth: "You said this morning that you wouldn't eat vegetarian food."
Mu Chuan immediately said, "Vegetarian food isn't very filling, so we can eat it earlier and go to the Dianchi Club tonight."
"Okay." Lin Daiyu didn't hesitate at all.
The monk in charge of receiving guests led them into a side room and then went to prepare lunch.
Mu Chuan stood in the courtyard. This large Buddhist hall also had a not-so-high back hill, more like a small earthen mound, planted with pine and cypress trees. He had only seen it from afar last time and thought it looked a bit like a maze. He decided to take this opportunity to explore it.
As he was thinking, he saw Lin Daiyu's maid bring out water. The one who was a little older and prettier was probably Zijuan.
Zijuan saw the Earl of Zhongyong, hesitated for a moment, then came over with water: "My lord."
Mu Chuan said, "Put the basin down, isn't it heavy to carry?"
Zijuan looked slightly embarrassed. She put down the basin of water, hesitated for a moment, and then smiled and said, "Thank you for taking care of our young lady, sir."
Outside, Mu Chuan always said the same thing to everyone: "I have a past relationship with Lord Lin, so it is only right that I take care of Miss Lin." But today he added a sentence: "Even if I didn't know Lord Lin, I wouldn't be able to harden my heart when I saw Miss Lin."
From the moment Lin Daiyu mentioned going to offer incense, Zijuan had been thinking about how to ask the Earl of Zhongyong to help arrange her marriage with Master Bao. Therefore, she didn't take Mu Chuan's slightly distorted brotherly remark to heart at all.
She boldly said, "Sir, our young lady will be seventeen next year. You should start worrying about her marriage."
"Is this something a maid should say?" Mu Chuan said with a stern face.
Zijuan mustered up her courage and knelt down.
“Our young lady and Master Bao grew up together, childhood sweethearts, and they know each other’s temperaments and personalities very well. The Rongguo Mansion is a rare and good family, and they are also cousins, so they are all kind and caring people. Since our young lady lost her parents, the Rongguo Mansion has been her only family. Master Lian also handled Master Lin’s funeral. At that time, I guessed that Master Lin had the intention of betrothing our young lady to Master Bao.”
Although she had prepared her words in advance, Zijuan was both excited and scared, and inevitably became somewhat incoherent: "If you don't believe me, sir, you can go to the Rongguo Mansion to inquire. Everyone in our mansion knows that our young lady and Master Bao are a couple. We're just waiting for the old lady to speak."
Zijuan's eyes reddened with excitement: "I've been worried about this for years. Our young lady has treated me very well, and I have to help her find a good husband."
Why didn't Mu Chuan inquire about this?
The spies he sent were able to find out even the nicknames of the concubines in the Jia family, let alone anything else.
"Get up and speak," Mu Chuan said thoughtfully. "Seventeen years old... It's not good for the girl to take the initiative in this kind of thing. I need to see Bao Yu. Here's what we'll do: after the New Year, I'll call him over and ask him some questions."
Mu Chuan was just worried about how to openly attack—no, test—Jia Baoyu. Relying solely on pretending to be a green tea b*tch would be too slow to advance the progress. Just then, this maidservant provided an excellent reason.
How to put it? He could openly play the role of a father-in-law to test his future son-in-law. Stepping forward with the left foot was wrong, blinking was wrong, and even breathing was wrong.
Zijuan stood up gratefully and said with a smile, "Our Master Bao is a dragon among men. Everyone in the Rongguo Mansion praises him. He is worthy of you, Miss. He has a good heart and treats people well. He never beats or scolds the servants. You will definitely like him when you meet him."
"You like it?" Mu Chuan's expression turned strange.
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