Red Mansion Huacai

Chapter 376 Savior
In the Jade Emperor Temple, Yingchun and Xiuju were wearing Taoist robes. When they saw Madam Xing coming, the master and servant hurried out to greet her.

When they got to the temple, Madam Xing sat down and Xiu Ju hurriedly served tea. Madam Xing said, "You are no longer in mourning now, and you will have to get married in the future. What are your plans?"

Yingchun was startled when she heard this, and after a long while she said, "I don't have any plans. I just want to serve the Taoist master."

"Stupid!" Mrs. Xing scolded, "It's fine if you just recite the sutras behind closed doors, but do you think you really want to become a nun?" After a pause, she continued, "Your good brother and sister-in-law are a pair of famous people, Mr. Lian and Mrs. Feng, the couple are so powerful and considerate, but they don't care about this sister at all.

If anything falls from my body, they have a say, now I can only let them do it. Besides, you are not my child. Although you are not born from the same mother, you have the same father. You should take care of each other and avoid being laughed at by others.

I think that things in the world are hard to determine. You were raised by the eldest master and his parents, and this girl Tan was also raised by the second master and his parents, so they have the same origins. Now your mother is dead. From the past, it seems that your mother is only ten times better than Aunt Zhao. You should be better than the girl Tan. Why are you not even half as good as her?
Who would have thought that this was not the case? This is not unusual! On the contrary, I have lived my entire life without children and I have lived a clean life, so I cannot be laughed at or criticized.”

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law who came with them said, "The second young lady is honest and kind, unlike the third young lady who is sharp-tongued and wants to outwit her sisters. They knew that their elder sister was like this, but they didn't care at all."

Yingchun felt that the words were getting more and more outrageous. She raised her head and wanted to refute, but when she met Mrs. Xing's gaze, she quickly lowered her head, fearing that Xiu Ju, who was standing beside her, would be furious.

Everyone could see that Mrs. Xing was not really standing up for the Second Lady, but was really using the Second Lady and the Third Lady as leverage. Xiu Ju couldn't help but feel puzzled, wondering where Mrs. Xing got the leverage over the Second Lady.

Before he could finish his words, a maid outside called out, "The third and fourth girls are here."

Madam Xing sneered, stood up and said, "Even if you don't care, I will definitely mention it to the old lady to avoid her saying that I am not fulfilling my responsibilities as a stepmother."

After saying that, he stood up and led the others away. A moment later, Tanchun and Xichun came in, and Xichun asked, "Second sister, what did the eldest lady say just now? I saw that her expression was quite unfriendly."

Yingchun stammered but didn't dare to say anything bad about Mrs. Xing. But Xiu Ju, who was standing by, couldn't stand it anymore and repeated what Mrs. Xing had just said, which made the third girl, Tanchun, grit her teeth.

Xu Yu said coldly: "We are close relatives, but you are all like black-eyed chickens, wishing you could eat me and I could eat you!"

Feng Jieer has been in charge for two years. All the concubines of Lady Wang who used to hold important positions have lost their jobs, and the accountants in the family have also been replaced. Those who used to take advantage of her and make money are now hopeless. Seeing Feng Jieer's dowry is so glorious, aren't they jealous?
These are just the servants below, what about the others?

Sisters-in-law, legitimate and illegitimate children, brothers, mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law, husbands and wives, masters and servants, have long been fighting over the words money and power. Although Mrs. Xing's sour words were also directed at Tanchun, they were mostly directed at Sister Feng.

Xichun felt the same way. She didn't know what was going on these days, but Youshi always came to see her for no reason, and her words were full of attempts to win her over.

After a few words of idle chatter, Tanchun pulled the second girl's hand and asked, "Second sister, what did Fourth Brother Jian say?"

How did she say that? Recalling what happened a few nights ago, Yingchun couldn't help but blush.

The third girl, Tanchun, is now grown up. Seeing her sister like this, she immediately has something in mind. Seeing the fourth sister, Xichun, looking for Xiuju to ask for tea, she whispered, "Second sister, I am doing this for you because I want to promote your marriage with Fourth Brother Jian... Isn't it... Isn't it..."

Isn't it something? It's a secret meeting.

The second girl's face turned redder and she said quickly, "He promised me that he would not talk about it until Sister Yun got married."

Tanchun frowned and thought, "It's been delayed day by day, and suddenly it's been delayed for another year."

Yingchun defended Li Weijian, saying, "It's not his fault... As for the matter of the succession, you know our family background, it's really hard to say. Let's not talk about other things, but we can't get past the old lady."

Tanchun couldn't help but widen her eyes... Was he planning on outlasting the old lady?
On second thought, the old lady's health has been getting worse in the past two years, and she has been sick from time to time. Besides, she is old, so it may only be these two years. By then, the main house and the ear house will be separated into separate houses. Given the relationship between Feng Jieer, Jia Lian and Li Weijian, they will not stop Yingchun's affairs.

Tanchun sighed. At least her second sister had hope. Fourth brother Jian was a decent man, not like those vagrants in the outside world. There would be an explanation in the end. But what about herself? She would be a 15-year-old girl next year, and she didn't know how her marriage would go.

Without mentioning the gossip of the three sisters, let's just say that Mrs. Xing came out of the Jade Emperor Temple and went all the way out of the Grand View Garden. When she arrived at the gate of the Grand View Garden, she wanted to go to Rongqing Hall to talk to the old lady about the embroidered sachet, but then she thought that if the old lady knew about it, she would only make a big deal out of a small matter.

If she didn't make such a fuss, how could she get involved in the family business? Suddenly, she remembered that Lady Wang had been walking around from time to time recently, and even the maids who were taking care of her were not so restrained, so Lady Xing went to Lady Wang's courtyard.

Unexpectedly, just as they arrived in front of Rongxi Hall, they saw Yuanyang carrying a bundle and handing it to Jia Lian from a distance. She frowned and whispered some instructions in a low voice. Jia Lian had a sad face and nodded in agreement. The two turned around and saw Mrs. Xing, and then they separated from each other.

Yuanyang bowed and hurried back through the hall to Rongqing Hall. Jia Lian bowed slightly and was about to leave, but was stopped by Mrs. Xing.

"Lian'er, are you feeling better now?"

Jia Lian's face was filled with bitterness... How could syphilis be cured just by saying so? He had spent a lot of money these days on doctors and medicine, but it seemed to get better as soon as he took the medicine, and it would come back as soon as he stopped taking it. When it came back, it was extremely itchy and unbearable, which was really annoying.

Jia Lian said vaguely, "Better now."

Madam Xing glanced in the direction where Yuanyang left and said, "You and Yuanyang are sneaking around...what are you doing?"

Jia Lian said dejectedly, "Yesterday a Western monk gave me a prescription, but the medicine is very expensive and I really can't afford it here, so I had to ask Yuanyang to borrow some from the old lady first."

"So that's how it is." Mrs. Xing glanced at the bundle and saw that Jia Lian was holding it with great weight, so she knew that it must be filled with gold and silver. Mrs. Xing's heart moved, and she said, "It's only May, and the rent for summer and autumn hasn't been collected yet, so it's possible that I can't open it. I don't have much money on hand, so if Lian'er is convenient, you might as well lend me two hundred taels first."

"This..." Jia Lian borrowed money to pay for his medical treatment, and all the public funds had been used up long ago. He was too embarrassed to ask Sister Feng for money, so he found Yuanyang and persuaded her to borrow some things and pawn them at the pawnshop, hoping to make up the difference when the summer rent came next month.

Mrs. Xing happened to see this and blackmailed Jia Lian. Jia Lian knew that if he didn't agree to Mrs. Xing's request, she would tell the old lady about it.

Yin smiled and said, "Since the eldest lady is not willing to help, just borrow two hundred taels from me first." He immediately opened the package and counted out a few gold grains.

Mrs. Xing was even more proud of the money she received, and said with a smile, "Brother Feng is making a lot of money now, why do you still need to steal things from the old lady? If you go to Yihong Courtyard and ask for money, at least you can get 1,800 silver coins."

Jia Lian rolled his eyes inwardly and bowed his hands, saying, "Madam, please stay. I still need to meet that foreign monk."

Jia Lian left quickly, and Mrs. Xing got the upper hand, and she couldn't help but feel even more proud. She turned around and went into Mrs. Wang's courtyard, and saw two maids guarding the side room. When they saw her, they didn't come out to stop her, so she went into the main room.

The maid reported and led Madam Xing inside. Seeing that Madam Wang was sitting cross-legged on a cushion with her eyes closed and beating a wooden fish, Madam Xing simply sat down beside her.

After waiting for a long while, Mrs. Wang opened her eyes, looked at Mrs. Xing and asked, "Why are you here?"

Mrs. Xing said, "Come and see you... I think it's inappropriate for the younger generation to be the head of the family." As she spoke, she pulled out an embroidered sachet from her sleeve and said, "Look, who knows who threw it on the road and it was picked up by a silly girl. If it is presented to the old lady, I'm afraid it will cause another scandal."

Mrs. Wang took the embroidered sachet and saw the goblins fighting on it. Her face suddenly changed with fright. She asked, "Where did you get it?"

Mrs. Xing continued to talk, and finally said, "Sister Feng is the head of the household, but she doesn't show up herself. She sends the unmarried third girl to manage the household. No matter how capable the third girl is, she is still an unmarried girl. How can she manage the tricky servants? Madam, look, these things have now entered the garden. If it gets out, how will the girls in the family live in the future?" Mrs. Wang thought about it and had been planning how to manage the household again. Now is an opportunity. What Mrs. Xing can think of, Mrs. Wang can think of. For such things, I am afraid that the old lady must be the last to know, otherwise it will definitely be a small matter.

Now that I have gained a reputation for being careless, it is just right for me to use Sister Feng as a raft.

Yin suddenly stood up and said, "I have been chanting Buddha's name for two years. I thought Feng was a good girl, but I didn't expect that she has become spoiled recently. This thing may belong to Lian'er!"

Mrs. Xing blinked and was instantly convinced. Jia Lian even had syphilis, so what else could he not do?
Madam Wang continued, "It's not a good idea to alarm the old lady. I'll go talk to Feng first!"

Seeing Madam Wang walking out of the main room, Madam Xing immediately stood up and chased after her: "Madam, please wait a moment. I will go with you."

But on this day, in Yihong Courtyard, Sister Feng was checking accounts with Ping'er. In May, all kinds of fruits and vegetables will be on the market, and the greenhouse business will come to an end. It will not be until July that all kinds of off-season fruits and vegetables will be planted.

After counting the accounts, Sister Feng frowned and said, "It seems to be a little less than last year."

Ping Erh said, "Nowadays, it's not just your grandma's family that makes a living from greenhouses. I heard that the greenhouses in the Cheng'en Marquis's Mansion were expanded by half last year. If the share is thinned out, then the profit will be less."

Sister Feng frowned and thought, "Nowadays, I have enough money to spend, but I have become too ambitious. I make 10,000 and want 20,000. I make 100,000 and want 1 million. I have nearly 20,000 silver dollars in hand. I would have been satisfied in the past, but now I look down on it."

Ping'er thought to herself, isn't it that she has become wild? It's only been a few days since I last saw Fourth Master Jian, and he's already urged me to deliver the letter again.

Just at this moment, a maid came back and said that the eldest wife and the mistress had come together.

Sister Feng was very surprised and hurried to greet her. Ever since Lady Wang was released from confinement, the two of them had only a superficial relationship and rarely visited each other.

When they arrived in the courtyard, they saw that Mrs. Wang and Mrs. Xing looked even more unhappy. They went to the inner room and sat down without saying a word.

Fengjie was unsure, so she hurriedly served tea and asked with a smile, "Madam, are you in a good mood today? Why don't you come here for a walk?"

Mrs. Wang shouted, "Ping'er, get out!"

Ping Erh was so panicked when she saw this that she didn't know what to do. She hurriedly responded and was about to take the maids out, but Feng Jieer asked, "Is there anything Ping Erh that she can't bear to hear?"

Mrs. Wang looked at Sister Feng silently. Sister Feng felt a little flustered, wondering if her affair with Brother Jian had been discovered by someone.

His expression changed immediately and he waved at Ping'er, who then went out with the little maid.

Only then did Mrs. Wang, with tears in her eyes, throw out a scented bag from her sleeve and say, "Look!"

Sister Feng hurriedly picked it up and saw that it was a ten-brocade spring scent bag with a picture of goblins fighting on it. She was also startled and frowned and asked hurriedly, "Where did Madam get it from?"

When asked, Mrs. Wang said in a trembling voice, "Where did I get it? I sit in the well every day, and the old lady thought you were a careful person, so I took it when I had time. Who knew you were the same as me? Such a thing was placed on the rocks in the garden in broad daylight, and was picked up by the old lady's maid. It's no wonder that your mother-in-law saw it and sent it to the old lady a long time ago. Let me ask you, how did this thing get lost there?"

When Fengjie heard this, she glanced at Mrs. Xing, who had a wooden face, and her color changed. She asked hurriedly, "How do you know it's mine, Madam?"

Mrs. Wang cried and sighed, saying, "You ask me this question! Think about it, except for you two young wives, what use do the rest of the old women have for this? And where did the girls come from? Of course, where did Lian'er get the low seed from? -"

Before Mrs. Wang could finish, Sister Feng stopped her and said, "Madam, I have to refute what you said. The Second Master has been ill and has never been to the garden. Madam, you said that the old lady's maid found it in the garden, but that doesn't make sense. The Second Master hasn't been to the garden for a long time. If this thing really belongs to the Second Master, could it fly in by itself?"

After a pause, he continued, "Besides, the sachet was embroidered by hired workers imitating the work of the internal workers, and the belt and tassels are all market goods. Even though I am young and disrespectful, I don't want this useless thing.
Third, this thing is not something I carry all the time. Even if I have it, I only keep it at home. Why would I want to carry it with me everywhere? Moreover, in the garden, every sister will pull and tug at us. If it is exposed, not only in front of the sisters, but also in front of the servants, what's the point of me! I am young and disrespectful, but I can't be so foolish.
Fourthly, among the masters, I am a young daughter-in-law, and among the servants, there are more than one person younger than me. Besides, they often come into the garden and go to their homes at night. How do we know that it is not on them?

Fifth, besides me who often stays in the garden, Sister Zhen often brings a few young concubines here, such as Yanhong, Cuiyun and others, who are all young concubines, and they should have this. And Sister Zhen over there, she is not a foreigner, she also often brings Peifeng and others here, so how do we know they are not theirs?

Sixth, there are too many maids in the garden. Can we guarantee that all of them are decent? There are also some older ones who know about the human affairs. Maybe they can sneak out without being investigated for a while, or they may quarrel with the little girls at the second gate for some reason. It is unknown whether they got it from outside. Now, not only I have no such thing, but I can also guarantee Ping'er. Madam, please think about it carefully."

Mrs. Wang seemed speechless after being refuted by Feng Jieer. She only said, "I also know that you are a lady from a wealthy family. How can you be so frivolous? But I was angry and said something to provoke you." Then she said, "In front of your mother-in-law, you are the head of the family now, and something like this happened. What do you think should be done?"

Feng Jieer said, "I think it's not a good idea to be too ostentatious. It would be bad if it disturbed the old lady."

Mrs. Xing then spoke up and agreed, "That makes sense."

Sister Feng glanced at Madam Xing with her triangular phoenix eyes, secretly resenting herself, but she said, "Don't worry, Madam. I will find a few capable maids from Lin Zhixiao's family to conduct a secret investigation and get to the bottom of this matter."

Mrs. Wang said, "How many maids do you have? I'm afraid they are not enough. I think we should ask Zhou Ruijia to accompany us."

Mrs. Xing also said, "Wang Shanbao is the most considerate one, why not count her in as one?"

Feng Jieer knew that the two wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to make a big fuss, but since she was given the opportunity, she had no choice but to agree and said that she would use the excuse of investigating gambling.

At that moment, Feng Jieer called Ping'er and gave orders. Soon, Lin Zhixiao's wife, Zhou Rui's wife, Wang Shanbao's wife and other maids gathered together. Feng Jieer ordered people to lock the corner door, and then led people to search and seize the things from the maids on night duty.

In a short while, they found candles, lamp oil and other items. Feng Jieer didn't care much, but Wang Shanbao, the housekeeper, took the chicken feathers as a token of authority and shouted, "This is also stolen goods, don't touch it, wait until tomorrow to report to the first and second wives before touching it."

After coming out of the duty room, Sister Feng said, "My eldest sister-in-law is a widow and she is not at home during the day. We should not disturb her."

Housekeeper Wang Shanbao was also used to observing the situation. With Li Weijian, who was like a close brother, supporting him from behind, who would dare to offend Li Wan?
He immediately agreed, "Who wouldn't praise the character of the Grandmother? The Grandmother's room is the quietest in the house, we shouldn't disturb her."

Ping Erh, who was beside Sister Feng, said, "The eldest lady has an outstanding character, but does that mean the third and fourth young ladies are not good? I cannot accept what you are saying."

Wang Shanbao was startled and said quickly, "Madam Ping, you are joking. This is character... Just now, the eldest lady and the mistress have instructed us to check the maids around the girls."

What are they investigating? Ping Er knew it all. Looking at the expressions of Zhou Rui's wife and Wang Shanbao's wife, it was clear that they were planning to take advantage of the opportunity to take revenge.

Just as she was coming out of the duty room, she saw a maid hurrying over. When she got close, she replied, "Second Madam, Fourth Master Jian wants to go into the garden."

Sister Feng was immediately happy, thinking that Brother Jian had come at the right time. She was just worrying about how to shirk responsibility, and maybe it would be Brother Jian who should be blamed.

(End of this chapter)