The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 405 The incident came to light
Lin Daiyu chuckled and said, "Why should I ask for extra wages? If Huandi needs money, just take it. Anyway, whatever I need to wear and use in the future, Huandi, you can buy it for me."

Ping Erh hurriedly said, "That's unacceptable. There are so many eyes watching us in the Jia Mansion. Miss Lin doesn't care, but if the Third Master uses your money, won't he be criticized?"

Lin Daiyu said disapprovingly: "It's my own money, I can spend it on whoever I like, even if I throw it into the water to make a noise, it has nothing to do with other people."

Ping'er smiled bitterly, "That being said, people's words are scary. You can ignore it, but Third Master is in the wrong for spending your money. It won't sound good if someone with a ruthless heart complains to the old lady, saying that Third Master took advantage of the opportunity to handle Mr. Lin's funeral to embezzle the Lin family's money. Wouldn't Third Master be unable to defend himself? Even if Young Lady comes forward to clarify the matter later, people will think that Third Master used some shameful means to deceive Young Lady."

Lin Daiyu blushed slightly when she heard this. Her heart was now completely devoted to Jia Huan. Not to mention money and other external things, even her body and soul belonged to Jia Huan. She had not considered other influences. When Ping'er reminded her, she realized that she could not act rashly in this matter. She nodded and said, "Sister Ping'er is right. It was I who was not thoughtful. I will take care of this account myself from now on."

Ping Er heaved a sigh of relief and said, "It's as it should be." She took the brocade jacket that Jia Huan had left on the back of the chair and put it back on him, saying softly, "It's getting even colder now, Third Master, you should put on your clothes."

Seeing this, Lin Daiyu chuckled and said, "My dear sister-in-law, you are really a good wife to Huandi. Unlike my Xueyan, who is stupid and doesn't know the difference between hot and cold."

Ping'er's cheeks immediately flushed. She shook her head and smiled bitterly, saying, "I really can't afford to offend Miss Lin. Well, I'd better go to the outer room to chat with Xueyan." After saying that, she pulled Xueyan to the outer room.

Xueyan said with a smile: "Aunt Ping, what should we talk about?"

"Little hoof, I think you are itching for trouble. No wonder your master said you are stupid. She insulted you like that, and you still blame her. I will tear your mouth off."

Hearing the noises of playing and laughter coming from outside, Jia Huan couldn't help laughing, but Lin Daiyu gave him a sidelong look, which made our classmate Jia a little puzzled. Could it be that Sister Lin, this jealous person, was jealous of Ping'er too?
"Sister Lin, you came to see me so late, is there something wrong?" Jia Huan asked with a smile.

In fact, Lin Daiyu had nothing to do. She just suddenly wanted to stay with Jia Huan for a while. This might be what they mean by "a day without seeing you feels like three years".

Of course, as a reserved girl, even Lin Daiyu, a "rebel" against feudal ethics, was too embarrassed to show it directly, so she had prepared an excuse before coming. She took out a list and said, "These are the gifts I prepared for everyone, both for the masters and for the servants. Tomorrow, Brother Huan will trouble Steward Lin to help with the shopping."

Jia Huan took the list and said with a smile, "I am also having a headache preparing gifts. Now is a good time to take Sister Lin's list and discuss it with her."

"Just don't make mine heavier, especially Yun'er's. If you make it heavier, she will laugh at you for half a year." Lin Daiyu warned.

Jia Huan said with a smile: "Who told you to always make fun of Sister Yun for her poor pronunciation and calling Second Brother "Ai Gege"? You need to change your habit of exposing other people's shortcomings."

Lin Daiyu's face was slightly hot as she said, "I won't laugh at her anymore. It's just that you're afraid that I'll offend someone."

At this time, the sound of the wind outside the window seemed to be louder, and the snowflakes hit the window paper with a crackling sound. The two of them listened carefully in tacit understanding. The charcoal fire in the stove flickered, and a warm and cozy emotion enveloped the two of them, so they subconsciously leaned towards each other.

Jia Huan used the tongs to add two pieces of charcoal to the stove and said softly, "It seems the snow is getting heavier. Sister Lin, why don't you stay here tonight instead of going back?"

Lin Daiyu's cheeks immediately flushed. Jia Huan knew that the other party had misunderstood him, and hurriedly explained: "You guys sleep here, I will sleep in the study."

Lin Daiyu said shyly, "Then I can't sleep in your room either. If people see me, I'll be in such a mess." Then she poked Jia Huan on the forehead with her slender finger and said lightly, "What a bad idea!"

Jia Huan's heart was slightly disturbed. He grabbed Lin Daiyu's sleeve and put it under his nose, and immediately smelled a unique fragrance.

Lin Daiyu's cheeks felt slightly hot, she pulled back her sleeves, stood up and said, "I want to go back." Then she walked out of the inner room in a panic. Jia Huan was sweating inwardly, Sister Lin wouldn't think I wanted to do something bad, right? Well, I'm not that kind of person!

…………

On this day, there was also wind and snow in the capital, and it was much heavier than in Yangzhou. By evening, the snow was nearly a foot deep.

At this moment, Mrs. Wang was feeling restless and pacing around the room, because usually at this time, Jia Zheng would have returned home from work and had dinner, but today he had not returned yet. She was afraid that the wind and snow were too strong and something might have happened on the way.

Just as Mrs. Wang was about to send someone out to look for him, a servant came in and reported, "The master has returned home, and the sedan chair has just entered the second gate."

Mrs. Wang breathed a sigh of relief when she heard this and quickly ordered people to prepare hot water. The hot chicken soup to ward off the cold was already stewing on the stove.

About half an incense stick of time later, Jia Zheng entered the room. Jin Chuan'er and Yu Chuan'er hurriedly came forward and helped Jia Zheng change his clothes and shoes. Mrs. Wang even brought him hot chicken soup personally.

Jia Zheng drank the chicken soup in one gulp, then walked to the stove and sat down. He began to feel his body gradually warm up, and exhaled a breath of hot air, saying, "It's only the middle of October and it's snowing so heavily. I'm afraid this winter will be colder than in previous years."

"Yes, I remember it snowed so heavily in October seven or eight years ago." Mrs. Wang continued, and then asked carefully, "The master seems to be a little late in dismissing the court today."

Jia Zheng's face darkened, and he seemed to be troubled. After a long while, he said, "Minister Wang (Wang Ziteng) has been impeached."

Mrs. Wang was surprised and asked hurriedly, "What's the matter?"

Jia Zheng asked in a deep voice, "Do you know about the Wang family's renovation of their ancestral tomb?"

Madam Wang nodded nervously and said, "I do know about this matter. Could it be that my second brother's impeachment is related to the renovation of the ancestral tomb?"

Jia Zheng said with a dark face, "The Wang family's renovation of the ancestral tomb violated the rules. It happened to be discovered by Jiao Fang, the censor of Jinling, who has already impeached the emperor."

Mrs. Wang's face changed slightly, and she asked with a stammer, "Is this serious?"

Jia Zheng snorted coldly and said, "It doesn't matter. The emperor has already ordered the Jinyiwei stationed in Jinling to investigate. If the matter is true... I'm afraid that your elder brother is really blinded by greed and has done such a stupid thing. If he is not careful, it will ruin the Wang family."

Madam Wang said in a trembling voice, "It's just a ancestral tomb. Even if it's a little bit beyond the scope of the law, it shouldn't be so serious, right?"

Jia Zheng coldly rebuked, "Long-haired woman, you know a few things. Since ancient times, there have been many ministers who were suspected by the emperor for building tombs and eventually lost their lives. Fortunately, Minister Wang is also a man who has experienced many storms. Now he has taken the initiative to resign and asked the Ministry of Rites to conduct a thorough investigation. I hope this tactic of retreating to advance will work, otherwise the Wang family will be in trouble."

Mrs. Wang's eyes went dark and she almost fainted. Her second brother Wang Ziteng was the pillar of the Wang family. If he fell, the Wang family would surely be in ruins.

(End of this chapter)