Chapter 286 A Spot Bought for 50,000 Taels of Silver
The Emperor coaxed the Empress back to the palace. He felt that his relationship with Zhao Huajing had taken a step forward. After her emotions subsided, Zhao Huajing wondered, "What did I say? Did I say anything insubordinate?"
Rongguo Mansion, Rongyue Courtyard.
Wang Xifeng had already smashed a tea set. When she saw Jia Lian come in, she raised her hand and smashed a cup over his head.
"Ouch!" Jia Lian pretended to slip, covering his forehead with one hand.
Wang Xifeng's heart tightened, and she hurried over to check if it had hit anything vital.
However, when she looked up and caught a glimpse of a fleeting smile in Jia Lian's eyes, she turned back.
"Not even a sound! Don't try to play dumb with me!" Wang Xifeng sneered.
"If it really hits you on the head, at least it'll make a crisp sound!"
Jia Lian chuckled ingratiatingly and picked up the teacup from his pocket.
"Second Madam, why are you so angry? You made this new dress for me, and now this cup of tea has ruined it." Jia Lian said shamelessly, moving closer to Wang Xifeng.
"You want it? Then ask your aunt to make you a new one! The Xue family gave you tens of thousands of taels of silver as a gift, so they'd be happy to give you another piece of clothing as a bonus."
"My dear Second Madam, since you know I did this for this reason, you should at least remember how hard I worked. Yet you didn't even give me a kind look when I got home..." Jia Lian actually started to feel aggrieved.
Wang Xifeng casually picked up the beauty fist weapon next to her and started hitting Jia Lian hard.
"Jia Lian, you heartless bastard!"
"Feng'er, explain yourself clearly. How have I lost my conscience? Didn't I keep all that money for you in the end? Would I dare to spend even a single tael of it recklessly?" Jia Lian grabbed the beauty's fist and snatched it away.
"Is it about the money? You helped the Xue family send gifts and used our family's connections to get a guarantee for Xue Baochai. She's going to the girls' academy in a few days," Wang Xifeng roared angrily.
"How can you face Sister Yuan like this? How did she help us? And you just undermine her like this!"
“How can this be considered sabotage?” Jia Lian put down his fist and lazily rolled onto the couch. “I’m helping Mr. Yuan.”
"Stop making excuses! Last year, Xue Baochai was put on the academy's list of people who would never be admitted because of impersonation. This year, you've pulled strings to get her a place as an auditor. Aren't you undermining your sister Yuan?"
Seeing Jia Lian's nonchalant attitude, Xue Baochai felt a surge of helplessness.
Does that mean he changed everything, that he turned over a new leaf, it was all a lie?
In reality, Jia Lian is still that dissolute young master, the ruthless and heartless Second Master Lian.
"Feng'er, things aren't as you think." Jia Lian was anxious when he saw Wang Xifeng's dejected expression, so he quickly got up to pull her up.
"Feng'er, listen to me."
Wang Xifeng kept a cold face and ignored him.
“How could I possibly do something so ungrateful! That day I was talking to someone outside when I happened to run into Xue the Fool, so we had a meal together.”
Jia Lian dared not conceal anything and hurriedly told Wang Xifeng the whole story, like pouring beans from a bamboo tube.
"Xue the Fool said his sister is exceptionally talented and has outstanding literary skills. Last year, she was not admitted to the girls' academy because she did not know the rules. This year, if anyone can help his sister get into the girls' academy, he is willing to pay 50,000 taels of silver."
"The Xue family is really generous!" Wang Xifeng said coldly. She still didn't understand why Jia Lian was helping the Xue family.
It's true that money can be tempting, but does Jia Lian not know what kind of money is worth earning and what kind isn't?
"That fool Xue has taken so much silver, who wouldn't be tempted? I'm a normal person, of course I'm tempted too. Rather than letting outsiders earn this silver, let's let our own family earn it!" Jia Lian said with great confidence.
"So you took the Xue family's money, used your connections, and got a spot for Xue Baochai?" Wang Xifeng was extremely disappointed.
Fifty thousand taels of silver brought out Jia Lian's true nature; what if there's more in the future?
Jia Lian nodded. "After I received the money, I went to inquire about any other ways the academy could get a student like Xue Baochai in. This method of finding a guarantor to audit classes at the girls' academy was spread by the Duke of Li's family. I wanted to give it a try. Our family still has some influence. I didn't give many gifts; I just drank with the heads of those families a few times, and the deal was settled. I never thought it would go so smoothly."
The Jia family of Rongguo Mansion is no longer the stinking excrement that everyone used to avoid. Instead, it is thriving and prosperous, so naturally, more people flock to them. Jia Lian himself hasn't really noticed it yet, while Wang Xifeng has never gone out much to socialize and has a simple social circle. Therefore, she is not very aware of how the Rongguo Mansion is perceived by the world, as it has already undergone earth-shattering changes.
“After the girls’ academy opens, my second sister and the others will all go to study there. Only the Xue family girl will be left at home. Without any sisters of similar age to her, how can she feel at ease continuing to live in our house?” Jia Lian seemed to be considering the Xue family’s interests.
“Jia Lian, if you can disregard Sister Yuan’s reputation for money today, you might abandon me and Qiao Jie for money in the future.” Wang Xifeng was very disappointed to see that he still showed no remorse towards Yuan Hongqu.
"Feng'er, what kind of person do you take me for? Didn't I give you all the money I got? The remaining 20,000 taels will only be given to me after Xue Baochai enters school. Once I get that money, I'll send it to Mr. Yuan." Jia Lian said confidently.
"My sister Yuan would never care about your twenty thousand taels of silver!" Wang Xifeng was so angry that she was about to smash the cup again, but she had already smashed all the cups next to her. She turned around and slapped Jia Lian instead.
"Feng'er." Jia Lian grabbed Wang Xifeng's wrist, seemingly finally understanding the root of her anger.
“I asked Mr. Yuan before I went to find the guarantor. She agreed.” Jia Lian’s tone was a little aggrieved.
"Stop lying! Sister Yuan would never do something that would backfire on her."
"I really did ask her. I asked her if any woman who met the academy's age limit could be accepted as long as there were guarantors. Mr. Yuan said yes. Otherwise, how could I have gotten the guarantor list from the academy?" Jia Lian hurriedly explained.
Seeing Jia Lian sweating profusely with anxiety, Wang Xifeng suddenly realized that he probably wasn't lying. Perhaps he really had tricked Yuan Jie into saying something and then helped Xue Baochai.
Wang Xifeng frowned.
"Why is Miss Xue so persistent in getting into the academy? Is she trying to gain prestige, or does she want to meet young ladies from prominent families there to pave the way for her future? I need to see Sister Yuan as soon as possible."
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