Chapter 463 Jia She Makes a Foolish Move
Under repeated pressure from everyone, Jia She had no choice but to leave in a huff.
Yingchun, still shaken, burst into tears: "Thank you so much for your help, sister and everyone else. But I'm afraid Father... won't let this go so easily."
Daiyu pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Second Sister, would you be willing to stay at the academy for a long time?"
Yingchun nodded: "Of course I would. This feels more like home."
“Alright then.” Daiyu made up her mind. “I will petition the Emperor to formalize the official position of the academy instructor. With the official appointment from the court, your uncle will no longer be able to force you.”
It has to be said that Jia She made another terrible move!
If he remains calm and collected, he can enjoy a life of wealth and luxury without ever experiencing hardship.
But he still had to think about all sorts of random things, and that's how he ended up getting himself into trouble.
Even now, he still thinks that his niece is the vice-principal of the academy and in charge of women's official schools across the country, so she can definitely make an exception for him.
But I never expected Daiyu to be so heartless!
Jia She returned from the academy humiliated, his anger growing with each passing day. He felt his niece, Daiyu, was utterly ungrateful. He threw tantrums around the mansion, yelling at Madam Xing, "All these years of kindness have been for nothing! Now that she's climbed the social ladder, she doesn't even respect her uncle anymore!"
Madam Xing timidly advised, "My lord, please calm down. Miss Lin is a princess, and now also an official appointed by the imperial court. Naturally, things must be handled according to the rules..."
"Bullshit!" Jia She kicked over the footstool. "What rules? She just doesn't want to help! I shouldn't have been so nice to her in the first place!"
That's incredibly ungrateful.
When Daiyu first entered the Jia family, did Jia She ever show her any favor?
Now he's acting like an uncle.
The next day, incited by others, Jia She stormed into the Women's Academy and made a scene in front of all the students, shouting, "Lin Daiyu! Come out here! I'm going to make you explain yourself today!"
Daiyu was in class when she heard the noise and came out. Seeing Jia She's appearance, she felt both angry and sad. But she still maintained her manners: "Uncle, what can I do for you? Please come inside and talk."
"Say it right here!" Jia She deliberately raised his voice, "Let everyone be the judge! Your own uncle is asking you for such a small favor, and you're making excuses. Don't you have any filial piety?"
The students exchanged bewildered glances, all disgusted by Jia She's behavior. Mi Ling, unable to bear it any longer, stepped forward and said, "Lord Jia, this is a school, please..."
"Get out of my way!" Jia She shoved Mi Ling aside. "This is our family matter, it's none of your business!"
Seeing this, Daiyu's face darkened: "Since Uncle insists on speaking here, then I, Yu'er, will make it clear in front of everyone. First, Sister Yingchun is a teacher at the academy, protected by the imperial court; no one can force her into marriage. Second, that marriage arranged by Prince Zhongshun's mansion is to make Second Sister a concubine; I absolutely cannot watch my own sister jump into a fire pit. Third..."
She paused, her gaze sharp: "My eldest uncle keeps saying it's for the family's sake, but has he ever asked my second sister's own wishes? Has he ever thought about her happiness for the rest of her life?"
Jia She was speechless, then flew into a rage: "So! You've grown wings now, daring to lecture your uncle! Just you wait..."
"Lord Jia, what an impressive display of power!" Yuan Hongqu arrived just in time, her voice as cold as ice. "Should I go and invite the Tenth Prince over to see how you're causing trouble at the academy personally appointed by the Emperor?"
Upon seeing Yuan Hongqu, Jia She's arrogance immediately diminished. This third-rank female official was someone even the Emperor respected.
"Lord Yuan...Lord Yuan..." Jia She stammered, "This is our family matter..."
"Family matters?" Yuan Hongqu sneered. "Yingchun is an official appointed by the imperial court, and her marriage is a matter of state! If Lord Jia continues to pester me, don't blame me for being impolite!"
Jia She slunk away, but his resentment only grew stronger.
He then went to Grandmother Jia and exaggerated how Daiyu was so cold and unapproachable.
Although Grandmother Jia doted on Daiyu, she valued the family's interests even more, so she sent someone to invite Daiyu to her residence.
“Yu’er,” Grandmother Jia said, holding her hand, “your eldest uncle may be muddle-headed, but he means well. Now that the family is weak, if we could establish a connection with the Prince Zhongshun’s household…”
“Grandmother,” Daiyu interrupted her, “do you know what kind of person that illegitimate son of Prince Zhongshun’s mansion is? Not only does he already have three concubines, but he is also addicted to gambling. His first wife was driven to her death by him! Can you bear to let Second Sister jump into this fire pit?”
Grandmother Jia was shocked upon hearing this: "This...is this true?"
“It’s absolutely true.” Daiyu took out the information she had prepared beforehand. “These were all investigated with the help of the Tenth Prince. If Grandmother doesn’t believe me, she can send someone to inquire.”
Looking at the evidence, Grandmother Jia sighed deeply, "This eldest son of mine is truly foolish!"
But Jia She still wouldn't give up.
He came up with a foolish idea: to forge Yingchun's resignation documents in order to forcibly take her home.
Fortunately, Daiyu was prepared. The gatekeeper of the academy recognized that the document was fake and immediately detained Jia She's men.
When the news reached Daiyu's ears, she was both angry and heartbroken.
What angers me is Jia She's unscrupulous methods, and what pains me is that family ties have been so blinded by self-interest.
“Granny,” she found Yuan Hongqu, “I really can’t bear to see my eldest uncle demeaning himself like this. Is there any way to both protect my second sister and put my eldest uncle’s mind at ease?”
Yuan Hongqu pondered for a long time, then suddenly said, "The reason your eldest uncle is uneasy is simply because he is afraid of the family's decline. If we can give him a stable job, perhaps we can dispel his thoughts."
Daiyu's eyes lit up: "You mean...?"
Three days later, Daiyu personally visited Jia She.
This time, she was not acting as a niece, but as the dean of the Women's Academy.
"Uncle," Daiyu said bluntly, "the academy is currently receiving orders from the Ministry of War and needs a large number of management personnel. I would like to ask you to serve as the supervisor to oversee production. What do you think?"
Jia She was taken aback at first, then sneered: "You want me to take care of those women's chores?"
Daiyu said seriously, "Uncle, don't underestimate this job. It involves handling millions of taels of silver every year, and only a person of high moral character and prestige can handle it. Moreover, this is an imperial mission, and if you do well, the Emperor will reward you."
Upon hearing "millions of taels," Jia She was tempted.
But he still maintained his airs: "Since you are so sincere, your uncle will reluctantly agree."
However, after Jia She took office, he found it difficult to change his old habits.
First, they withheld wages, and then they used inferior goods to pass off as superior ones, both of which were discovered in time by the people sent by Daiyu.
This time, Daiyu didn't stand on ceremony and directly invited Jia Lian over: "Second brother, if you still want to preserve this family fortune, you should persuade your eldest uncle. If things continue like this, forget about wealth and honor, you might not even be able to save your life!"
Jia Lian had long been dissatisfied with his father, so he immediately summoned the clan elders and forcibly took away Jia She's management authority, leaving him only with a nominal title and a salary.
After this reprimand, Jia She finally quieted down.
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