Chapter 164 Everyone has a gossipy heart
Compared to conspiracy, open conspiracy is the most unsolvable. Human weaknesses are exploited to the fullest, and it is impossible to see through it.

The villa for visiting relatives represents the family’s dignity, face and reputation. Each family knows the emperor’s intention, but they can only accept it. It seems stupid, but in fact they are helpless.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and after the hustle and bustle, Rongguo Mansion returned to its former tranquility.

Laughter and joy were restored in Rongqing Hall, and the atmosphere was full of joy.

Mrs. Wang, Aunt Xue, Li Wan, Sister Feng, Yingchun, Tanchun, Xue Baochai, and several stewards and important wives from outside the office were all trying to please Lady Jia.

As they were talking, they heard footsteps outside, and a maid came in and reported, “Master Lian is here!”

Hearing that Jia Lian, the assassin, was coming, the wives hurriedly stood up and took their leave.

Knowing that Jia Lian had something important to do, Li Wan took Yingchun and her sisters out.

Aunt Xue thought about it and also took her leave.

After a while, Jia Lian came in, greeted Jia’s mother, and then said, “The master sent me to tell the old lady. The masters have already agreed to measure the area from the east, from the garden in the east mansion, to the north. It is about three and a half miles in size, and we can build a separate courtyard for the visit. The second master has asked an old man from the Ministry of Works, Mr. Shan Ziye, to design the garden. The blueprint will be available in two days.”

Madam Wang continued, “Give them more money for tea, and let the workers in the Ministry of Works work harder. They will produce the blueprints tomorrow. Send them to the palace for your Majesty to review. If there are any inappropriate parts, please make corrections in time.”

Jia Lian answered “yes”, but his eyes were looking at Grandmother Jia.

Grandmother Jia glanced at Madam Wang and then spoke: “Has your uncle come?”

Jia Lian: “Here I come.”

Grandmother Jia nodded and said with a smile, “That’s good. A family should be harmonious. Go on.”

Jia Lian: “Yes. The people from the Ministry of Works roughly calculated the total account. Including the main hall, there are about fifteen groups of buildings and more than twenty scenic spots, and they have to be piled up into three mountains.”

Grandmother Jia’s expression changed immediately: “Why do you need so much?”

Mrs. Wang’s face also became solemn.

Jia Lian smiled bitterly and replied, “Madam, this is the royal family’s rule. The Ministry of Works also follows the regulations, and the same is true for Concubine Wu’s family.”

After a pause, he said, “The stream water can be brought from Huifang Garden, and some of the bamboo trees, rocks, etc. can be moved from the master’s courtyard. These two things can save some money.”

Grandmother Jia couldn’t help but frown. The emperor was too greedy! Even if the Jia family confiscated all the servants’ homes and sold all their ancestral property, they still couldn’t raise this much money!

Thinking of this, Grandmother Jia sighed in her heart and realized that she could only write a letter to Lin Ruhai.

Jia Lian: “I heard from the Ministry of Works that the Li family is also measuring the land.”

Grandmother Jia: “Oh? They want to build a garden too?”

Jia Lian replied, “Yes. It is said that it was His Majesty’s grace that allowed the Li family to rebuild the Li Mansion according to the standards of a marquis’ mansion.”

The standard of a marquis’s mansion? Grandmother Jia was both surprised and delighted. She was surprised that the emperor’s eating manners were too ugly, but she was delighted that Li Hu would be able to bring greater help to the Jia family in the future.

Her heart suddenly skipped a beat. Although it was a reconstruction, the cost was not small, especially at this time. The Li family certainly could not come up with so much money. It seemed that there was no hope for Lin Ruhai!
Grandmother Jia sighed and asked again, “What did your master say?”

Jia Lian glanced at Wang Xifeng first, then answered, “I heard that Wang’s uncle has made a lot of money in the south, and the Wang family’s relatives in Jinling have also made a lot of money.”

As soon as these words came out, Mrs. Wang subconsciously looked at Wang Xifeng. Wang Xifeng was stunned at first, and then she shook her head slightly as if to confess to Mrs. Wang, to show that she had not told Jia Lian about the Wang family.

However, Grandmother Jia had seen it and understood that what Jia Lian said was true. At the same time, anger rose in her heart. After so many years, even a dog should have parents to support it.

Suppressing her anger, Jia’s mother looked at Mrs. Wang and said, “Are those IOUs written by Uncle Baoyu still there?”

Mrs. Wang’s heart skipped a beat. She actually knew all that!
Grandmother Jia continued, “Write a letter to Uncle Baoyu and tell him that it will take a year to build the villa for the visit of the empress, so there is no need to rush.”

Mrs. Wang and Wang Xifeng were both shocked.

Grandmother Jia: “I am tired, you all go down.”

Mrs. Wang could only stand up, bow slightly to Lady Jia, and walk out the door.

“Lian’er stays.” Grandmother Jia added.

Jia Lian stopped.

The footsteps outside were getting farther and farther away, and Jia’s mother finally spoke: “Where did you hear that?”

Jia Lian replied, “I asked Brother Li to find out from the Imperial Household Department.”

Grandmother Jia nodded and continued, “Tell your father to talk to your uncle Jing and ask him to let the fourth girl move back.”

Jia Lian: “Yes.”

At the same time, in the western warm room of Yuqing Palace, Li Hu and the prince were playing black and white chess.

The prince, in contrast to his usual relaxed and graceful demeanor, picked up a chess piece and slammed it heavily onto the board.

Li Hu glanced at the prince with a frosty face, and silently picked up a piece and placed it lightly on the chessboard.

Zhao Tong silently refilled their tea.

At this moment, a young eunuch reported from outside: “My Lord, Minister Jia is here.”

The prince put down a piece and said, “Come in.”

After a while, Jia Yucun came in excitedly and greeted him: “Your Highness, the cabinet has reached an agreement with the Jurchen envoys on a ceasefire, compensation and trade.” The prince stopped the chess piece he was about to place and asked, “When will the contract be signed?”

Jia Yucun was silent for a moment, then replied, “We will sign the contract when the 5,000 war horses that the Jurchens promised to compensate Dashun arrive.”

Li Hu was stunned and looked at Jia Yucun: “Only 5,000 war horses?!”

Jia Yucun: “There are also 30,000 cattle and sheep.”

Li Hu’s face darkened.

The prince sighed: “Okay, you can go back to work.”

Jia Yucun hesitated for a moment and said, “Well, the Jurchen leader Heshen wants to host a banquet for General Li,” and looked at Li Hu cautiously.

Li Hu frowned. Why did this old man insist on treating him to a meal? !
The prince was also curious: “What’s the reason?”

Jia Yucun: “He said he wanted to thank General Li.”

Li Hu was stunned: “Thank me?”

Jia Yucun: “Yes.”

The prince looked at Li Hu, his eyes full of questions.

Li Hu looked confused.

Jia Yucun continued, “That Heshen also said that he wanted to discuss ways to make money with General Li.”

“A way to make money?”

Li Hu was muttering to himself when an idea suddenly occurred to his mind and he blurted out a Chinese quintessence.

The prince looked at him: “What’s wrong?”

Li Hu smiled and briefly recounted what happened outside Yongding Gate that day.

After hearing this, the prince turned his gaze to Jia Yucun.

Jia Yucun: “It is true.”

The prince turned to Li Hu and asked, “What do you think?”

Li Hu blinked and said, “Go ahead. I have some gossip to ask him.”

The prince became interested: “What gossip?”

Li Hu smiled and waved his hand.

The prince turned his head away.

Li Hu came over and whispered something in his ear.

The prince was stunned at first, and then the fire of gossip burned fiercely.

Li Hu turned to Jia Yucun and said, “Tell Heshen.”

“Wait a minute.”

The prince interrupted him, thought for a moment, and said, “You are the general in charge of the garrison in the capital. It is inappropriate to attend a banquet hosted by an official of an enemy country. This will give them an advantage! So, let Minister Jia host a banquet for the Jurchen envoy in the name of the Ministry of Rites at Huitong Hall.”

Then he said to Zhao Tong: “Take Minister Jia to see Chief Steward Dai. This matter cannot be concealed from the Emperor!”

Zhao Tong: “Yes.” He answered and led Jia Yucun out.

When the footsteps faded away, the prince said softly, “There is something I just found out today. Someone from Concubine Xian’s palace went to the clan residence and met the second brother more than once.”

“Oh?!” Li Hu was startled.

The prince said: “It was Dai Quan’s godson who took him there.”

Li Hu understood that this was the emperor’s intention.

The prince slapped the couch and said, “It seems that there is a great possibility that the second brother will replace me!” Then he started coughing again.

Li Hu was startled: “Your Highness.”

The prince waved his hand and said, “Don’t worry, I won’t do anything that will give anyone a handle. I will also pretend that I know nothing and continue to cooperate.”

Li Hu had nothing else to say but nodded.

Prince: “By the way, I called you here for another matter.” He stood up, walked to the desk, and opened a box.

Li Hu followed and took a look, and found that it was a stack of silver bills.

The prince said: “Here is a silver note of 20,000 taels, just as a token of my appreciation.”

Li Hu was not polite and bowed with both hands: “Thank you, Your Highness.”

The prince smiled and said, “I’ll wait for your news.”

(End of this chapter)