From the Red Mansion, you can travel through the world of martial arts

Chapter 356 Baoqin's Marriage
In June, the weather has already turned hot. Ordinary people in the capital are already worried about the unbearable heat, but wealthy families like the Yong'an Marquisate naturally do not have such troubles.

In each corner of the study, there is a bronze ice jar in the shape of a auspicious beast. The jars are filled with ice cubes, and a light white mist is constantly emitted from the mouth of the beast, making the room cool and refreshing.

Behind the large desk, Jia Wei and Miaoyu sat side by side. He changed into a thin brocade robe, with his chest uncovered, leaning back in the chair, dozing off and thinking, while one hand rested on Miaoyu's skirt, feeling her soft thighs.

Miaoyu felt the hand on her leg, feeling a little uncomfortable, and continued to talk about official business with Xing Xiuyan beside her...

Outside the courtyard gate, Baochai led Ying'er, Xiangling and Qingwen inside. Baochai seldom set foot in this study, so at this moment she looked around the second courtyard carefully.

The front hall and back house are complete, with exquisite corridors and hanging flower gates. There is also a small rockery in the courtyard, which is particularly quiet and unique. It reminded her of the Lixiang Courtyard in Rong Mansion.

The group entered the house through the corridor. Miaoyu and Xing Xiuyun were a little surprised to see Baochai coming, and quickly stood up to greet her.

"Mrs."

Baochai smiled and said, "It's been hot lately, so I'll send you some iced osmanthus dew."

The two girls thanked him and began to drink the osmanthus dew. The three maids also sat down and shared the drink.

Xing Xiuyan filled a bowl with the white jade porcelain cup that Ying'er brought, while Miaoyu went to the inner room and took out a silver-gilt green jade porcelain cup.

Qingwen sneered silently and winked at Ying'er and Xiangling with her lips curled. Xiangling just sipped the osmanthus dew in small sips and didn't pay any attention. Ying'er just pretended not to see it.

Baochai also served a bowl herself and presented it to Jia Wei.

"Master, please use some osmanthus dew."

Jia Wei didn't even open his eyes, but opened his mouth. Baochai smiled faintly, took a spoon and scooped a spoonful of dew into his mouth.

There was a cool breeze in the study. The screen window in the corridor was half open. Amid the chirping of cicadas and birds, a butterfly danced lightly into the room.

"Today, all the gold and silver awarded by the palace have been put into the treasury. The harvest from the farm awarded is also very good. It is estimated that the annual rent can be 2,000 dan."

Jia Wei didn't react much after hearing this. He had worked very hard going south, and the emperor would definitely give him some benefits.

Now his title is first-class marquis and his official position is commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guards. It is difficult for him to make further progress, and he can only be rewarded with more gold, silver and farmland.

"The palace also awarded me thirty pieces of Shu brocade. I plan to make a few sets of clothes for Sister Lin so that she can wear them when she gets married."

"Yeah," Jia Wei nodded slightly. He opened his eyes and met Baochai's bright almond eyes. He felt much better instantly.

"You should also make a few new dresses. You can take care of the arrangements for the other sisters as well."

"In addition to the sisters in the mansion, I plan to make a set of clothes for the eldest sister in the West Mansion and the maid. And Xiangyun." Baochai said, "I don't need it. I can still wear last year's skirt."

"Nothing else matters, you have to do it." Jia Wei pinched her cheek, "You wear something different every day, and it's fresh for me to see."

Baochai smiled and said, "Okay."

After drinking the iced drink to cool him down, Jia Wei got up and went to take a nap with Baochai in her room. Miaoyu and Xing Xiuyan respectfully saw them out the door.

Jia Wei strolled leisurely in the garden, and Baochai and the three maids had to slow down.

He casually picked a flower, inserted it into Baochai's bun, and lifted her chin to take a look.

Baochai smiled.

The flower was bright red, but on Baochai's head it did not look gaudy or tacky, but rather had a certain cool and elegant temperament.

"I heard that Xue Ke went to visit the Mei family. How was it?" Jia Wei suddenly asked.

He had been paying attention to Baoqin's marriage, so he asked this question. Baochai was silent for a while, then said: "It seems that she has been treated coldly..."

Jia Wei thought to himself that as expected, in the original novel, Baoqin lived in the Grand View Garden for a long time, and it was obvious that the Mei family delayed the wedding.

The reason is not difficult to guess. Mei Hanlin's family is noble and has no shortage of books, but they lack money.

He agreed to be engaged to Baoqin not only because he was attracted by the Xue family's wealth, but also because although the Xue family was an imperial merchant, their ancestor was Ziwei Sheren, and they were also a family of poetry and literature, and a famous official family.

But after the death of Xue Ke's father, the second branch of the Xue family declined, and the Mei family had a prosperous career, so it was inevitable that they changed their hearts.

It was with the help of Rongguo Mansion that Jia Zheng and Mei Hanlin got in touch, and then the Mei family recognized the marriage.

The situation is very different now. The Xue family has improved because of his power. Ordinary people would definitely be willing to marry Baoqin and become a brother-in-law to him, a powerful man of the time.

But the Mei family is a Hanlin family, a family of scholars, and they pride themselves on their noble status. They are probably worried that getting too close to a powerful and military figure like Jia Wei would ruin their reputation.

Jia Wei's reputation is not very good nowadays. Every day, the censors impeach him for abusing his power, deceiving the emperor, and being a corrupt official. He is like the second Wei Ao.

Jia Wei was secretly delighted. It seemed that he could easily win his sister-in-law...

His face darkened: "Call Xue Ke over so I can ask him."

"There's no need to rush. Let's contact them first and see what the Mei family's intentions are." Baochai said.

Jia Wei nodded, but he had some expectations in his mind...

The Mei family didn't want to get too involved with him, but they also didn't dare to offend him.

I'm afraid the Mei family will not directly regret the engagement with the Xue family, but will drag the matter down and keep silent about it. If they delay it for a few more times, the Xue family will not be able to have the nerve to marry their daughter to him.

After thinking for a while, Jia Wei came up with an idea. If he took the opportunity to transfer Mei Hanlin to another place, the Mei family would definitely leave without saying goodbye, and the marriage would be called off.

Others can't tell that it's his brother-in-law who's doing the bad things!
It's just that officials from the capital are transferred out of the capital. As long as they are not demoted, they will be promoted. Let Jia Wei help Mei Hanlin to get promoted. This is as disgusting as eating history...

How about transferring them out first, and then finding an opportunity to deal with the Mei family later?

Suddenly Jia Wei remembered that Zhao Zongxian was promoting a nationwide salt tax reform, and vaguely came up with a way to kill two birds with one stone...

He came to Baochai's yard from time to time, and after entering the house, Jia Wei found that the ice jar in the house was empty.

Baochai also noticed and said, "I didn't know the master was going to come and rest. I forgot to prepare in advance."

As she spoke, Ying'er went out the door behind her, probably to get some ice.

Jia Wei asked with a smile: "Why, the mansion is so poor that you can't even afford a few pieces of ice?"

Baochai smiled faintly and said, "This summer is still long. There are many courtyards in the mansion that use ice, and the ice in the ice cellar is limited. Of course, we have to use it sparingly."

Qingwen, who was pouring tea nearby, heard this and complained, "We save money in our courtyard, but we can't afford to use it freely in other courtyards. In August and September, we still have to go out and buy more."

"Are you talking nonsense again?" Baochai looked at Jia Wei's expression.

Qingwen muttered a few words and dared not say anything else.

Jia Wei's face was full of deep thought, not because Qingwen was slandering Miaoyu in a roundabout way...

　Thanks to the book friend "Dachuan404" for the 5000 points reward

　　
　
(End of this chapter)