Since that day, Wang Xifeng has cried heavily in the arms of Old Lady Jia. When she returned home, she was both ashamed and aggrieved, and that night she was bedridden with a cold.
Jia Lian was really a lowly person. Originally, when Wang Xifeng rushed to get close to him, he took all the kindness as nothing. However, now Wang Xifeng was disheartened and became indifferent to him. Instead, he rushed to play the role of a twenty-four filial piety.
Wang Xifeng, who had been waiting for several days without being undressed, was neither happy nor angry, and she didn’t know how many times she cursed.
But that morning, Jia Lian took a nourishing tonic and sat at the head of the bed, fed Wang Xifeng spoonful by spoonful. Suddenly, he heard a report from the outside that Lai Wang was going to the ancestral house in Jinling to check accounts, and he just came to say goodbye to Second Madam.
Jia Lian threw the soup spoon into the bowl and cursed, "What an ignorant dog slave! Second Madam is currently ill; how can she have leisure to see him? Let him kowtow a few times in the yard and it's considered a farewell.”
The little maid saw that he was a bit annoyed, so she obediently stayed out to spread the word.
“Wait a Xifeng sat up straight with strong support and said unquestionably, "First, let him wait outside, wait for me to change clothes, and then call him in to speak.”
As she spoke, she gave Jia Lian another shove and said angrily, "You said you wanted to manage the house for me, but you are always hiding in this room. What's the matter? Hurry up to the front and keep an eye on him, so that those cheap bastards won't cheat and play tricks.”
Jia Lian stood up and looked at Wang Xifeng suspiciously for a while. It wasn't until the servant girl arrived outside that he lowered his voice and said, "You're in a hurry to send me out. Aren't you trying to get those moneylenders again?”
In fact, under the guise of going to Jinling to audit accounts, Lai Wang was actually partnering with the Sun family to run a timber business.
However, Jia Lian didn’t even want to hear the word ”Sun” nowadays, so Wang Xifeng was happy to make him misunderstand and sneered, "Why? If you don't think the money from the loan is clean, don't use it in the future.”
Jia Lian, like her, was also a master who was accustomed to being extravagant. How could he only use those ten taels of silver per month?
Therefore, upon hearing Wang Xifeng's words, he was too busy to laugh and said, "Look at you. I haven't said anything yet; why did you cut off my desire? Forget it, I won’t ask you about these things, I shall just obediently go ahead and handle household chores. Is that all right?”
As he spoke, he got up and bent over exaggeratedly, lengthened his voice, and sang in a rhythmic voice, "I'm going now, My Wife.”
Then he paired himself with gongs and drums and went all the way with a resounding sound.
Wang Xifeng was so amused by him that she couldn't help crying or laughing. She couldn't help but curse twice and then called for Ping'er to come in and let her serve her in a pleated apricot-colored dress.
As Ping’er shouted in the hall, Lai Wang hurriedly entered and knelt to respectfully bid farewell.
“I have already told you all the errands you need to do.”
Wang Xifeng leaned on the couch and said in a low breath, "When you get to the south, you should consult with the officials around the Supreme Master when encountering any problems. The people sent by the Sun family, you should use them as normal, but you should be on guard in secret.”
She usually spoke with a crisp and refreshing expression. Now that her body was weak, it added some lingering charm, and with a hint of hoarse voice. It seemed like countless small hands, tickling through his ears to his heart. The person who tickled was soft all over; only one part was hard!
Lai Wang unconsciously clamped his legs. Due to being guilty in his heart, he didn't dare look up at Wang Xifeng's face. He only hesitated and said, "Madam, the Second Master just had a grudge against Lord Sun, and we’re partnering with the Sun family to do business behind his back, is that alright?”
“What is it?”
Wang Xifeng suddenly straightened her waist, and her tone returned to its usual sharp tone. She angrily scolded, "Who do I want to partner with in business is my business; when is it your turn to gossip?.”
Upon hearing this playful and sinister tone, he was all softened and quickly kowtowed, "I dare not, I dare not.”
However, Wang Xifeng gave a sharp reprimand twice, which made him gasp for breath. Her chest heaved violently, almost bursting at the seams.
Ping'er quickly stepped forward to help her pat her back and explained on her behalf, "Actually, our Second Madam doesn't want to get involved with the Sun family at this time. It's just that the matter has already been arranged and we have already informed the Supreme Master in a letter. It's too late to make any changes now.”
Lai Wang hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, it was me who thought recklessly. Don't worry, Second Madam. When I get to the south, I promise to sleep with one eye open. Not to let anyone waste our money.”
At this moment, Wang Xifeng regained some strength and said in a deep voice, "I don't care what you think in your heart. Anyway, you have to hide this matter even from your wife. Whenever you reveal a little bit of information, I'll skin you off.”
After a pause, her tone softened slightly and she said, "As long as you work steadfastly, you will naturally benefit from this.”
“Thank you very much, Second Madam.”
Lai Wang quickly kowtowed and thanked her. Seeing that Wang Xifeng had no further orders, he quietly retreated.
When he arrived outside, the majestic figure of the hostess gradually subsided, and he couldn't help but recall the first few charming and soft voices. The others always secretly said that Lady Lin was a sick beauty, but he didn't expect the Second Madam to be so provocative when she was sick.
The Second Master has been guarding her these days, being able to listen and see but not eat was a difficult task.
Immediately, Lai Wang thought of going to Jiangnan again. Without being restrained, he had to go and see the ”beautiful scenery!”
He heard that southern women were the most water-spirited, but he wondered if they were like the Second Madam…
While he was daydreaming, he almost bumped into someone.
The person dodged and angrily scolded, "Lai Wang, are you suffering from hysteria? Why are you banging your head around with your head covered?! It's just a matter of bumping into me; if you bumped into Lord Sun and Yu Hanlin, what should you do?”
“Lord Sun?”
Lai Wang looked up and saw a burly and majestic figure standing before the meeting, but who else could it be if it weren't Sun Shaozong?
Why did Lord Sun come again?!
Lai Wang's heart was filled with suspicion, but he didn’t dare to neglect anything. He quickly bowed, and without any excuse, he apologized.
Sun Shaozong naturally didn’t have the same understanding as him. He only smiled and waved his hand, then followed the steward in the direction of the Grand View Garden.
When he entered the Grand View Garden, which was filled with beautiful summer scenery, Sun Shaozong smiled and asked, "Tingyi, how is the Rongguo Mansion being repaired?”
It turned out that he came to visit Jia Lan this time with Yu Qian, who had just passed the Imperial Examination.
Yu Qian shook his head slightly and said, "Such luxurious scenery shouldn’t have appeared on earth.”
Sun Shaozong chuckled and was about to tell some interesting stories about building a garden, so as not to be overheard by the steward. However, when he saw Jia Baoyu quickly approaching him, he arched his hand and smiled from a distance, saying, "Brother Tingyi, you are the only one who can be ranked with high grades passing the annual civil service examination. I'm afraid you are the only one in this dynasty.“
After that, he saluted Sun Shaozong and said, "Second Brother Sun.”
Although he referred to Sun Shaozong as his brother, he was ashamed to take advantage of Yu Qian, so he always had different opinions when meeting.
Yu Qian returned a salute and humbly said, "Second Master Bao has praised me falsely. With your talent, as long as you are willing to study hard for a few years, it can be said that obtaining an official position is as easy as taking candy.”
“Thank you Brother Tingyi for your auspicious words.”
Jia Baoyu smiled bitterly and said, "It's just that I don't have a strong personality. I had thought about studying hard before, but it didn't take me a few days to... Sigh”
He sighed heavily, then turned his face and laughed again. "Forget it. The student you're going to meet today is not me, but my precious nephew, Lan’er, who is waiting in the water pavilion now. Second Brother and Brother Tingyi, come with me.”
As he spoke, he waved back the steward who was leading the way, introducing the scenery along the way, and led the two of them around to the vicinity of the Lotus Champs.”
“Here they come; here they come.”
But as soon as the three of them stepped onto the bamboo bridge, Shi Xiangyun, who was watching at the door, flew up to Li Wan and Jia Lan, waving her handkerchief and gesturing, "Yu Hanlin looks even bigger than Lord Sun, with a blue face and fangs like bronze bells.”
“Stop it.”
Jia Tanchun caught up with her and pushed her, saying angrily, "It's already this time. You're scaring Lan’er. Yu Hanlin is clearly a humble gentleman; what kind of monster are you describing?”
“With heaven and earth conscience.”
Shi Xiangyun immediately vowed and said, “Where am I trying to scare him? I'm just joking with him to make him less nervous.”
“Your joke is really…”
“Alright, alright! If you keep talking, you should be caught.”
The two of them were still waiting to discuss, while Xue Baochai hurriedly dragged them to the next room, while Lin Daiyu and Jia Xichun also quickly followed and hid inside.
Li Wan hastily reminded her son a few more words, and as she heard the footsteps approaching, she could only reluctantly avoid them temporarily.
When she arrived inside, he saw Shi Xiangyun holding Jia Tanchun's slender waist and laughing to herself, "How come when I mentioned that Hanlin, Third Sister was so anxious? Isn't it that you are thinking…”
“Don't talk nonsense.”
Xue Baochai stopped her again and whispered, "Yu Hanlin is Lord Sun’s niece's husband. I heard that his son is three years old.”
Shi Xiangyun spat out her lilacs and said, "Don't worry, Third Sister. I'm just talking nonsense.”
“It's nothing.”
Jia Tanchun was quite free and easy, and she said without any hesitation, "To be honest with Sister Yun, his heroic strategy in a recent article is what I really like. In terms of broad-minded and magnanimous demeanor, there is probably no comparison with it.”
“Yes, this is not an ordinary person.”
Xue Baochai also chimed in and said, "First, a strategy theory angered the Emperor, falling from the first tier to the bottom of the third tier. Then, it gained the favor of the Minister of Personnel, Minister Wang, and was accepted as a disciple.”
“Now he has passed the Hanlin exam again. Even if he is the top scorer in his undergraduate studies, he may be three points inferior to his style.”
“If it weren't for Lord Sun's invitation, others might not have been able to invite him.”
Jia Xichun couldn't help but mutter in a low voice while listening to her sisters' endless praise, "This person has good knowledge, but he has a bit of courage. He even dares to criticize the Grand Emperor.”
Jia Tanchun immediately refuted, "It’s good to be bold; otherwise, without any responsibility, what kind of man is he considered?”
Shi Xiangyun nodded and said, "That's right. I think Brother Bao should learn from others.”
Shh~
At this moment, Lin Daiyu suddenly made a silent gesture and whispered, "Don't even talk; Yu Hanlin has already started to test Lan’er.”
Upon hearing this, all the women held their breath and listened attentively to the movements outside, especially Li Wan, who was uneasy and almost tore the handkerchief to pieces.
In the audible silence, they heard Yu Qian's soft voice outside say, “I wonder if you…”
“Second Master, Second Master Bao.”
Just as he heard three words, someone outside the door shouted at the top of their lungs, "The Old Second Master called you to Rongxi Hall to receive guests.”
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