Chapter 386: Different intentions in the same government, ways to please Yue Ling
When the old dukes of Rong and Ning mansions were still alive, the Jia family was still favored by the royal family.

As one of the four kings and eight dukes, the Jia family is a unique family of nobles and dukes of two countries, and their ancestors had made great military achievements.

After Emperor Longyou ascended the throne, he still did not treat the Jia family unfairly. Even though the two old masters had retired, he still ordered the imperial physician to take care of them in the Rong and Ning mansions, which was a special favor.

But with the passing of the two old dukes, the power of the Jia family gradually declined.

As for Lady Jia’s status as a first-rank imperial concubine, her status as a noble was also revealed in the turmoil of the Zhen family, and she became increasingly unpopular with the four kings and eight dukes. Even the four major families in Jinling, Jia, Shi, Wang, and Xue, who had many intermarriages, could no longer unite.

As a result, Lady Jia’s words were no longer authoritative, and no one cared about them outside. She was also discouraged and unwilling to manage household affairs, so she handed over power to Lady Wang, the second wife.

After having a rift with the first wife, she violated the ancestral temple etiquette and opened a separate courtyard on the east side. She had little contact with Jia She, so that she could be at peace without being bothered.

But this sowed the seeds of internal strife within the Jia family.

Lady Jia’s power is declining and she can’t suppress the people below who have ulterior motives. Lady Wang is plotting to take over the mansion, and Lady Xing, as Jia She’s spy, is even more unwilling to lose such a huge family fortune.

This battle without the smoke of gunpowder had already begun in the Rongguo Mansion.

During the conversation with Mrs. Wang, Lin Daiyu, who was no longer the little white flower of the past, saw through it all.

Mrs. Wang’s brother Wang Ziteng made new achievements, and Jia Yuanchun was awarded the title of Consort Xian De, which made her rely on to stir up trouble in the mansion.

Even so, gaining power is not enough, she must also win over Yue Ling to consolidate her position in the mansion.

How could Lin Daiyu allow such a thing to happen? No one could take advantage of Yue Ling in front of her.

The girls had suffered the injustice from Baoyu and the cold stare from Mrs. Wang in the room, and they had already torn their faces apart. Lin Daiyu told Lady Jia what she had just talked about with Mrs. Wang without any hesitation.

After all, she still has some affection for Lady Jia and they don’t have too many grudges against each other. It would be good to remind her of this, but it does not mean to provoke internal strife in the Jia family.

Unexpectedly, after hearing what happened, Jia’s mother did not question the faults of the second wife, but instead threw dirty water on Yue Ling, creating a rift between her and Yue Ling. This was unbearable for Lin Daiyu.

Considering that Lady Jia is her elder, Lin Daiyu couldn’t lose face and refuted her in person. The little girls behind her were all filled with righteous indignation and raised their heads to stare at Lady Jia.

Lin Daiyu sensed that the atmosphere was gradually cooling down, so she acted as a mouthpiece for her sisters and took the initiative to ask Grandmother Jia about the reason, “Grandmother, what is the reason for what you said?”

All the ladies in the Anjing Marquis’s mansion nodded to Lin Daiyu. They all thought that Lin Daiyu’s question was good and they should press her right here.

But when Jia’s mother heard this, she paused in a mysterious way, took the honey water that had been dried on the side, took a sip, wiped her mouth with a silk handkerchief, and then smiled and talked freely: “Your elder sister has been raised by my side since she was a child, so she was able to enter the palace and receive the emperor’s favor. I thought I had some ability and raised the girl to be outstanding. But when I met Yu’er, I felt that she was not as smart as Yu’er.”

Changing the subject, Grandmother Jia continued, “Yu’er is smarter than your mother. She should know that the court is not stable now.”

“And the source of this instability is Yue Ling. He wants to change some new law to muddy the waters and win the favor of Your Majesty, so as to consolidate his own authority.”

“If he hadn’t been in the emperor’s favor, how could he have gotten any good results after offending various parties? Yu’er has also read history books. Have the ministers who carried out the reform ever had a good ending?”

Lin Daiyu frowned slightly, feeling displeased.

The women’s initial anger turned into worry.

What Grandmother Jia said really made some sense. Everyone in the room who had read history books knew that it was normal for ministers who carried out reforms to end up in disgrace, and very few of them could have a good ending.

For example, Fan Zhongyan, the Duke of Wen, was able to return to his hometown to retire only because of his extraordinary personal charm, world-renowned character, and numerous political achievements.

The faces of the girls suddenly darkened, unable to hide their emotions at all.

Grandmother Jia raised her eyes slightly and shook her head secretly, not caring about the expressions of the crowd. She leaned back in the armchair contentedly and comforted Baoyu in her arms.

“So, it is a blessing to be born in a family like ours. There is no need to fight with outsiders, or do things that only attract attention and cause trouble. People live in a muddle-headed way, and it is precious to be able to live in peace.”

Touching the back of Jia Baoyu’s neck, Jia’s mother fumbled with the colorful thread, looking for the magical jade.

As he touched it, he said proudly, “Not to mention that the Jia Mansion has a unique auspicious sign. Baoyu is blessed by the gods. He will have great blessings in the future. Glory and wealth are still to come.”

“The current uncle of the emperor has only just fulfilled some of his promises.”

The girls became even angrier when they heard this. They realized that Grandmother Jia was standing up for Baoyu and was deliberately belittling them. She first attacked Yue Ling and thus hit their pride.

For a moment, the women were at a loss to argue with him.

Grandmother Jia’s status is already higher than theirs, and they are all younger generations. How could they argue with others in another family’s mansion, not to mention that she is Lin Daiyu’s grandmother.

For a moment, all the girls were at a loss and looked at Lin Daiyu.

Lin Daiyu clenched the handkerchief in her sleeve tightly, feeling extremely angry.

If it were someone else, Lin Daiyu would of course jump up and criticize, but this was when she was facing Lady Jia, and the filial piety she had accepted was not something she could argue with such an elder.

It would have been fine if it was Mrs. Wang, as her true colors were revealed by Lin Daiyu, but Grandmother Jia was the head of the Jia family, and even Lin Ruhai had to show some respect to her.

Lin Daiyu suddenly felt as if she was being pressed down by a mountain, making it difficult for her to breathe.

She had never felt so powerless before, trapped in an indisputable situation.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Daiyu knew that she could not show her weakness at this moment, as there were many sisters from the Anjing Marquis Mansion behind her.

Grandmother Jia secretly observed Lin Daiyu’s actions, then withdrew her gaze after a moment and nodded secretly.

If we talk about liking someone, she likes Lin Daiyu very much. She is outstanding in appearance, smart and clever, and now even her congenitally defective body has been cured.

Grandmother Jia is in charge of the Rongguo Mansion and has seen too many young girls from other families, but none of them can compare to her. What’s more, Lin Ruhai’s official career is also on the rise. After returning to Beijing, he will certainly be highly regarded by the emperor and will be a great help to the Rongguo Mansion.

It’s a pity that in her eyes, Lin Daiyu is still a stubborn girl, and her heart is only on Yue Ling. If she can be more open-minded, turn around, and recognize Rongguo Mansion as a closer family, Jia’s mother will take care of her without hesitation.

Lin Daiyu was speechless for a moment. Before she could say anything, Grandmother Jia added fuel to the fire, “It’s good that you understand. The path Yue Ling is walking on now is like walking on thin ice. It is not a good thing.”

Seeing Lin Daiyu slowly lowering her head and her eyes dimming, Grandmother Jia became even more proud. She raised her hand and pulled up the colorful thread, wanting to hold the magical jade in her hand and show the other girls the auspicious sign bestowed by the gods on the Jia family. However, she did not feel the weight when she lifted it.

He turned his head in surprise and looked at Jia Baoyu.

Jia Baoyu’s face also became unnatural, and he changed the subject guiltily, “Is Yue Ling really as dangerous as our ancestors said? Then won’t he have a peaceful life after returning to the capital?”

Grandmother Jia’s eyes, which had been narrowed into slits, also curved, and she smiled and clapped her hands, “That’s natural, but in my opinion, he can’t be quiet even if he wants to. When people have enjoyed power, it’s hard to let it go.”

Jia Baoyu clapped his hands joyfully.

With Grandmother Jia’s support, Jia Baoyu could not help but be bolder. He said to Lin Daiyu below: “Sister Lin, for your own safety, why don’t you stay at Rongguo Mansion again?”

“Besides, a separate courtyard has been built in the mansion. His mansion definitely doesn’t have such a large garden. When the time comes, we sisters and brothers can swim in it and go boating on the lake and recite poems. Wouldn’t that be fun?”

“Rafting?”

Lin Daiyu silently repeated these two words in her heart, and her mind quickly went back to the night at Slender West Lake when she and Yue Ling expressed their feelings to each other.

Having already promised herself to her lover, how could she back down when faced with difficulties?

With her fists clenched and laid flat on her legs, Lin Daiyu raised her head and faced Lady Jia.

At this moment, Jia Mu also used Baoyu’s words to explain her feelings to Lin Daiyu. “Yu’er, I called you here today for no other reason. You are grown up now. After this year, you will reach the age of marriage. It is time to talk about marriage. I am just afraid that you have taken a detour…”

Having successfully diverted the topic, Grandmother Jia no longer pursued the issue of the jade on his neck. Jia Baoyu finally calmed down and breathed a sigh of relief.

Although the jade was his, Jia Baoyu was not stupid and knew what it represented in Grandmother Jia’s heart. Even if she would not punish him, he did not want to make too big a fuss, lest his mother be unable to deal with it.

What’s more, Grandmother Jia also mentioned Lin Daiyu’s marriage. Given her disgust for Yue Ling, she certainly would not bless her to get married. Jia Baoyu couldn’t help but feel a little more excited and looked down with burning eyes.

“Sister Lin is excellent, but Sister Bao is also excellent. There is also the Ningguo Mansion’s Rong’er’s wife who has not yet married and Master Miaoyu, none of whom are inferior in appearance.”

Without caring about Jia Baoyu’s thoughts and ideas, Grandmother Jia kept saying, “Marriage is a big deal, and you need a good partner. Your brother Baoyu is now old enough to get married.”

Lin Daiyu’s eyebrows trembled, and then turned into a smile, but this smile did not feel warm at all, but rather revealed a little coldness. She interrupted Jia’s mother and said, “Grandmother, you should choose a good marriage for your brother so that he can keep the family wealth and enjoy wealth and prosperity.”

“But I heard that the eldest brother Lian hasn’t even married yet, so grandma is planning to find a marriage for brother Baoyu?”

“Isn’t this confusing the hierarchy of seniority?”

……

“Say marriage?”

“This is impossible!”

In the wing room of the east courtyard, Mrs. Xing shook her head repeatedly as she listened to Xiu Luan’s words that came back to tip her off.

“How could the Second Wife propose to Miss Lin? Who in the capital doesn’t know about her relationship with Marquis Anjing? It’s not a good thing to violate Marquis Anjing’s taboo at this time.”

Xiu Luan said truthfully, “Madam, you didn’t see the look on Second Master Bao’s face. He just saw Qingwen, who looked a bit like Miss Lin, and he was as if he had lost his soul. Second Madam asked everyone to leave, and only the two of them were talking in the room. That must be something that no one should know.”

“Except for this one, Xiu Luan really can’t think of anything else.”

Madam Xing shook her head again and denied, “It’s impossible. She goes out all the time. How could she not know the power of Marquis Anjing? If you say that the old ancestor doesn’t know, I would believe it a little bit.”

The master and servant were exchanging opinions heatedly about the affairs in the second room. The door curtain outside was raised, and the drunk Jia She staggered into the room.

Seeing Xiu Luan, he first touched her and pinched her hips, then said jokingly, “You are becoming more and more beautiful? What are you doing in the room? Do you want to serve the master?”

Mrs. Xing saw that Jia She was almost drunk and almost unconscious, so she quickly helped him down.

Xiu Luan dodged with a red face, covering her buttocks, not daring to say a word, but just raised her eyes slightly to look at Mrs. Xing’s expression.

Madam Xing glared and said, “What are you standing there for? Why don’t you go prepare some hangover soup for the master? Do you need to be taught this?”

“Yes Yes.”

Xiu Luan hurriedly left, which made Jia She lose interest. He glared at Madam Xing and said, “She is dressed so neatly, but she always comes to my room. Her mind is on me. Why did you send her away? What? My words don’t count in this room?”

Mrs. Xing quickly apologized with a smile, “Master, that’s not the case.”

Bending over Jia She and hanging his legs, Madam Xing said humbly, “Something happened in the mansion. There was a movement in the second house, so I sent her out to talk to Master.”

The last time Jia She went to Datong Prefecture to deliver a letter, he was badly harmed by Lady Jia. He then saw Lady Jia’s true face, which was that she favored the second wife. As a result, he became more and more addicted to wine and sex, forgetting everything else.

The only thing he couldn’t let go of was the fight with the second wife.

Hearing that there was some movement in the second house, Jia She propped himself up and asked in a somewhat serious manner, “What happened?”

Madam Xing glanced outside the door awkwardly, and then she glanced at the window lattices, which were all closed, and then she spoke with peace of mind: “Marquis Anjing returned to the capital today, and the second house invited Miss Lin to come in, and they discussed things alone in the room.”

“If there is something secretive, why did she come in so openly? I think she is just pretending to be so for us to see. She wants to use Marquis Anjing as a backer.”

Upon hearing the news that Yue Ling was going to Beijing, Jia She sobered up a lot.

He had dealt with Yue Ling face to face before and knew how ruthless Yue Ling was.

When Jia She heard Mrs. Xing say that Mrs. Wang intended to use Marquis Anjing as her backer, he couldn’t help but laugh. He poured himself some tea and sipped it leisurely.

Mrs. Xing didn’t understand why Jia She felt relieved after hearing this, and her eyes widened.

Jia She squinted his eyes, chuckled and explained, “Women are all short-sighted, even the second wife is no exception. Even though she can call the shots in the mansion, she is not even worthy of carrying Yue Ling’s shoes outside. She still wants to use the Lin family’s maid to set up a bridge with Yue Ling. It’s a fool’s dream!”

Mrs. Xing twitched her lips, “So she wants to waste her time and energy on something that won’t get her any favors?”

Jia She sipped his tea, thought for a moment, and then said, “That may not be the case.”

Mrs. Xing couldn’t figure out Jia She’s thoughts. “What do you mean, Master?”

Jia She said leisurely, “I am not the only one watching over this mansion. The old ancestor is also watching. Although the old ancestor is no longer in charge of things, he certainly does not want to see the second branch really become so powerful that she will be left behind.”

“And the Second House at this time may have learned some news in the palace, so they first befriended Marquis Anjing in order to arrange for the old ancestor to go there as well.”

Madam Xing’s eyes lit up and she said, “Then this is our chance. As long as we show our loyalty to our ancestors, then we will surely…”

Jia She was shocked and said, “What’s the use? Even if the Second House is weak, the ancestors will still treat them leniently. Don’t forget the phoenix egg in the Second House!”

“Could it be that the old ancestor would lock up the second branch of the family in this east courtyard?”

Madam Xing smiled awkwardly before she understood what was said. “Yes, the master is far-sighted. The old ancestor has always favored the second branch. If it weren’t for the old ancestor’s tacit approval, things wouldn’t have come to this point today.”

Seeing things clearly, it was a doomed tragedy. How could Jia She be happy? He sighed and shook his head, and the complacency on his face slowly disappeared. “The second house can still make some trouble, but there is not much we can do.”

Mrs. Xing suddenly had an idea and suggested, “How about we show our good will to Marquis Anjing?”

Jia She frowned, thinking that his woman seemed to be even more whimsical and out of her mind. “What nonsense are you talking about? What can we do to please Marquis Anjing? The second house can still use Yuanchun to make a fuss.”

Madam Xing asked repeatedly, “Master, have you forgotten how Ru Hai tried to please Marquis An Jing? Can’t we just follow his example? Since there is a successful example, why not learn from it?”

Jia She’s eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands and exclaimed, “That’s right, that’s exactly what’s going on!”

“But then again, it’s rumored that Marquis Anjing prefers young girls, and Yingchun is not young anymore.”

Mrs. Xing said, “Why not? The master is also a man, and he should know that he needs to change his taste after eating something he is used to. Moreover, Xiu Luan said when she came back that even Qing Wen, who was driven out of Rongguo Mansion, was taken in to Anjing Marquis Mansion. As long as she is outstanding in appearance, she will be right.”

“Besides, there is my niece here, she is also a beauty.”

Jia She stroked his beard and nodded slightly, “That makes sense, very much so. Then you should think of a way to send them away…”

After saying this, Jia She shook his clothes and went to his room to sleep.

Mrs. Xing was left standing there in a daze. After a while, she came to her senses and slapped her lips twice in anger. “Look at how rude I am. The master has been a hands-off manager for a long time. Now that this matter has been handed over to me, what should I do?”

“Even my own aunt couldn’t reach an agreement with her. How dare I, your aunt who married into your family later, insert women into someone else’s room to compete for your favor? How shameless!”

(End of this chapter)