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Last time on Grafting Life: The sun sets on the saga of the You Sisters.
Chapter 63 – Red Chamber (63)
Who would have thought that the emperor would send people to confiscate the Zhen Family’s property before the mourning period for the old Zhen consort had passed? What kind of family was the Zhen Family, how much power did they have in Jiangnan? Not even the Jia Family could compare.
Mother Jia sat on the couch, but her hands and feet felt numb. Looking at Madam Wang who looked like a bodhisattva, she asked, “Is the consort well recently?”
“Very good.” A smile appeared on Madam Wang’s lips. She immediately hid it, but Mother Jia still caught it.
“What is the matter?” Mother Jia snorted and then asked coldly, “Tell me honestly how is the consort?”
Madam Wang stilled. But Mother Jia’s gaze was too sharp. She whispered, “Consort is not quite right, she seems to be pregnant, but it is early and not accurate.”
Mother Jia’s expression did not relax and she said, “How can you be so muddle headed? This is the state mourning period. It is hard to say if this is good or not.”
Madam Wang smiled and said, “Old Mistress, you worry too much. That is the dowager consort, and not the dowager empress. The emperor paying so much attention to the funeral of the old consort may have been to numb the Zhen Family and use the chance to act.”
However, Mother Jia’s heart sank. She said, “Did the Consort use a trick?”
Madam Wang’s expression was not quite natural. She hid from Mother Jia’s gaze. After a long time, she said, “It is because there is no other way.”
Mother Jia closed her eyes, feeling powerless.
Lin Yu Tong and the storekeeper were checking accounts. She heard him say, “The Jia Family’s days are likely not able to continue for long. Just this year, they have pawned enough things in our shop to fill a room.” Then he sighed. “These things likely have emptied the Jia Family.”
“Yes, they cannot last for long,” Lin Yu Tong said in a low voice, “Did you discover anything else?”
“The second mistress of the Jia Family sent people to sell the farms of the Jia Family in Jinling. She seems to be in a hurry to gather silver,” the storekeeper said. “You know, for the sake of the master, we know the news from Jiangnan faster than others. If we buy this as well it would be too eye-catching.”
“Then tell the Jinghai Count. He has many soldiers, they do not have much property. Maybe they want to buy good land in the capital or in Jiangnan. With each person’s ability, they will be able to get a few dozen acres, or a hundred or so. This is a chance. Have a few dozen of them share a farm. The Jia Family was glorious once, and their land will be better than others.”
The storekeeper acknowledged and then left.
Lin Yu Tong did not know her unintended action caused the Jinghai Count’s establishment’s feelings towards her to explode. Wen Tian Fang led the soldiers. Most in his establishment were not servants, but family soldiers.
Wen Tian Fang got the word from the storekeeper and was shocked. He had never thought of getting land for his subordinates. In the past, he just gave them silver. In his view, with silver, they could get land anywhere. But thinking about it now, he had overlooked this. Asking about it now, he learned that his people’s land was either in the north or shops in little towns. The silver they had could not do much. Also, good farmland was a rare resource everywhere, nothing that they could get.
Wen Tian Fang was silent for a moment and then had the steward spread the news. If someone wanted land, he could send people to do this. A few dozen acres of land would end up being the foundation of an entire family.
When the news spread, even the soldiers at the very bottom were moved. They all wanted a few acres.
The steward reported helplessly. “Now, the Jia Family’s land is not enough to divide.”
Wen Tian Fang frowned, “They are asking for just a few acres, Jiangnan is far from the capital, how can they manage it?”
“They are all brothers. A few dozen people to a troop. Their land will be managed together. Twice a year, they will send someone to look, and it will be fine,” the steward said with a smile, “Lucky that Eldest Miss Lin thought of us. The people below are all grateful.”
Wen Tian Fang laughed. “Women are more careful and can think of this, to resolve the true difficulty of the people on the bottom. This is better than anything else. You pay more attention in the future. Also, send the word. This is a good thing for them to gather money together, but do not fight over this in the end.”
“Yes,” the steward acknowledged and left with a smile.
Wen Tian Fang took a small box from the drawer, stood up, and planned to go to the Lin Family.
Lin Yu Tong heard that Wen Tian Fang was visiting and was shocked. Lin Ru Hai was still in the palace, and may not return at night. He likely would sleep in his office. Lin Yu Yang had gone with Scholar Zhang to visit another great scholar, and his return date was uncertain. Wen Tian Fang knew all this, why did he come to visit?
Was there a major matter?
Lin Yu Tong hurriedly stood up, and went to the flower hall with her servant girls.
“Count.” Lin Yu Tong curtsied slightly. “Has something important happened?”
Wen Tian Fang stilled. There is nothing important? He had just wanted to come see her. But how could he say such a thing?
He smiled and said, “Today, you sent someone to tell me of the Jia Family. I remembered that there is a matter I may have to tell you, but it is not good to pass this along to you through someone else. So I came in person.”
Lin Yu Tong nodded and said with a smile, “Then sit down to talk?”
Wen Tian Fang said in a low voice, “The Jia Family consort in the palace is pregnant, do you know that?”
Lin Yu Tong’s heart skipped a beat. She could not help but think of the original work’s “pomegranate flowers open in the palace.” Pomegranates were used to refer to children. There were flowers, but no fruit. So it meant that the child would not be born, and Yuan Chun’s death was not far off.
Wen Tian Fang saw Lin Yu Tong change expression and knew that she saw the danger here. He said in a low voice, “This Jia Yuan Chun is so foolish, and her methods are not very clever. Adding on that the matters of the inner palace are not as simple as they look. So……”
“Was she used by someone?” Lin Yu Tong said.
Wen Tian Fang was shocked for a moment. He had never implied anything like this. He did not know where the girl had seen this. He nodded and said, “Father-in-law and I do not dare to participate but she is very daring. There are a lot of matters involved in this. There are the princes, and the sons of the emperor. I do not know who she listened to in order to plot against the emperor and dare to use medicine on him. She wants to have favor and have a son, but because the emperor stayed in her palace, he almost got assassinated. You know why the old Zhen consort is dead. It was because there is the shadow of the Zhen family in this. Maybe they learned that the emperor wanted to remove them, so they acted first.”
“So that is why.” Lin Yu Tong asked, “If that is the case, then the date of Jia Yuan Chun’s pregnancy has been kept a secret? The emperor does not want this matter to be connected to the old consort’s death. But this is not right. Didn’t the Retired Emperor put her son, Prince Yizhong under house arrest?”
“But Prince Yizhong has a son, and this son is very favored by the retired emperor. Otherwise, why would the Zhen Family have been able to jump around for so many years?” Wen Tian Fang smiled and said. This girl truly did not ask Lin Ru Hai about the matters of the court.
Lin Yu Tong seemed to understand.
She thought of the next words following “the pomegranate blooms in the palace” — “three springs fight, but cannot compare to the first spring, tiger and rhino meet, the dream ends.”
The tiger was a kind of beast and so was the ox. When the tiger and the rhino met, would it not be a struggle?
“I understand.” Lin Yu Tong nodded. “As long as you and Father are not involved, it is fine. Other people are not important.”
Wen Tian Fang coughed and said, “We know, we will not make a mistake. Do not worry.” Then he took out a box and placed it on the table. He pushed it in front of Lin Yu Tong. “I had people buy this. See if you like it, and take it if you do.”
Lin Yu Tong suddenly realized that Wen Tian Fang had not come to talk about Jia Yuan Chun. She had nothing to do with the Lin Family. He must know very well the attitude of the Lin Family to the Jia Family. Then, he just came to visit her, and also to give her a gift. Thinking of this, she looked a bit embarrassed, and looked oddly at Wen Tian Fang.
Wen Tian Fang embarrassedly coughed, and then she laughed softly. She reached out to take the box and then opened it. She sucked in a breath. “These are diamonds.”
White, pink, yellow, it would be hard for him to gather so many. While with this time’s craftsmanship, they were not cut well, it did not stop them from being bright.
“I saw you do not like gold and silver jewelry, so I found this. If you like them, have people inlay them in your jewelry, and play with them. They are not worth much. The merchants brought them from overseas. Using our porcelain and silk, we can trade for a lot.” Wen Tian Fang saw Lin Yu Tong recognize such things and explained. As to how Lin Yu Tong knew of such things, he did not ask.
“I do, I like them.” Lin Yu Tong closed the box and said, “Thank you.”
Wen Tian Fang saw that she truly liked them and seemed to sigh in relief. They had talked for so long today, he could not linger so he stood to bid farewell.
Lin Yu Tong saw him to the second door but had Steward Lin see him out.
When Wen Tian Fang left the Lin Family, he turned and went into the alley. Someone suddenly hid in a different alley. Without needing Wen Tian Fang’s order, a subordinate went to investigate. Soon, he came back and reported in a low voice, “It is that Jia Bao Yu of the Jia Family. I do not know what he is doing around the Lin Family. He will come here once in a few days. Because he did not do anything wrong, our patrol did not do anything. Do not worry, it is not possible for him to get close to the Lin Family.”
Jia Bao Yu saw Wen Tian Fang walk far away and then asked Ming Yan with a frowning, “Did you not say that before the marriage, people cannot meet even if they are engaged. How come the Jinghai Count is able to enter?”
“If you want to meet Uncle-in-law Lin and Cousin Lin, you will be able to enter.” Ming Yan hurriedly said, “Just now, the Jinghai Count saw us, it will not be good if we keep on staying here, we should return first.” Do not talk about something like an engagement here. If the Lin Family learns of this, they will come visiting.
“I do not know if Sister Lin’s rouge is used up. I made some more and was not able to deliver it. Do you know where Zi Juan is now? Can you find her and have her deliver it?” Jia Bao Yu suddenly said.
Ming Yan wanted to cry and said, “Uncle-in-law Lin sent Zi Juan to an unknown place. Second Master, do not search for her. If the Lin Family learns of that, they may go back on their word.”
“Idiot, ordered by the parents and spoken by the matchmaker, the matter is set in stone. Do not let me hear you say such nonsense in the future, I will not be polite,” Jia Bao Yu stomped his feet and said.
In the end, he reluctantly went back to the Jia Family. While the plants in the garden were still vibrant, they were not as prosperous as before. The servant girls in the garden ran and played around, not knowing the troubles of the outside. Bao Yu sighed. Seeing Xue Bao Chai walk towards him, he hurriedly stood still and said, “Sister Bao, where are you going? How come you are alone outside?”
“Third Sister invited me to talk.” Xue Bao Chai saw Jia Bao Yu’s clothing and said, “Did you go out?” Otherwise, he would not be dressed so well.
“Yes! I had free time and went to roam around.” Jia Bao Yu saw Xi Ren come to get him after he finished talking. In this home, he was like a puppet, and did not have any freedom.
Xue Bao Chai turned her head and smiled. “I have never seen someone as attentive as Xi Ren.”
It was hard to say if this was praise or a criticism. Jia Bao Yu snorted. “If she were not so attentive, I would be more free.”
Xue Bao Chai smiled and did not speak, turning to leave.
Xi Ren walked over with a smile. “Who was it just now? She saw me come and left?”
“You know who it is, why ask?” Jia Bao Yu sneered. “Right now, of the relatives in the family, only she does not hide from me. What do you want to say?”
Xi Ren flushed red. She pulled Jia Bao Yu’s sleeve and said, “So Second Master blames me for the matter of Miss Yun.”
“Do not mention Sister Yun.” Jia Bao Yu pushed aside Xi Ren’s hand and said, “You know best how the words from her rooms spread.”
Xi Ren choked and said, “Second Master, where did you come from? Who made you so angry that you vent to me? You misunderstand me, what can I do? Do I have to kill myself before Second Master believes me?”
“If you die, you will be more clean than those who are living.” After saying this, he ignored Xi Ren and went to his courtyard.
Xi Ren watched Bao Yu walk away and did not chase. She turned and left the garden, heading for Rongxi Hall. Madam Wang heard that Xi Ren had come and frowned before calling her in.
“Is something wrong with Bao Yu?” Madam Wang asked.
“Second Master frequently goes out, I heard that he will circle around the Lin Family each time. But hiding it like this is not a long term solution.” Xi Ren observed Madam Wang’s expression and whispered, “Living in the garden, I am not able to watch over the master. How about having Second Master move out from the garden. One, the misses in the garden have grown up. Second, there are misses of relatives there.”
“Who do you mean by misses of relatives?” Madam Wang snorted coldly. “Just attend to your duties, do not worry about anything else.” Xing Xiu Yan lived with Ying Chun and did not come out of the room if nothing was the matter. The words could only be for Xue Bao Chai. She did not like this. Also, the Lin Family matter had been caused by these gossiping servant girls. Who could be blamed for what had happened?
Xi Ren’s heart stopped for a moment. She did not dare to refute, and hurriedly left.
“This servant girl has ambitions,” Madam Wang said to Zhou Rui’s wife.
“Yes,” Zhou Rui’s wife acknowledged and said, “However, the servant girls in the garden should be sorted out.”
“Go, look in the garden.” Madam Wang was worried for Jia Bao Yu in the end, and would not be at ease if she did not see him.
But when they entered the garden, they met up with Madam Xing.
“Eldest Mistress, where are you going? Madam Wang asked.
Madam Xing was in a good mood and said, “The aunt of the Xue family visited today, saying that she saw my niece and wants her for her nephew. Does Mistress not know this?”
Madam Wang truly did not know and said with a smile, “I did not expect such a matter.” A marriage between Xing Xiu Yan and Xue Ke would not harm her, she would not be unhappy about it.
As they spoke, the sisters-in-law moved into the garden. Suddenly, someone dashed out. Upon looking, it was the Foolish Girl who did heavy labor in the old mistress’ courtyard.
“Girl, why are you only focusing on walking, you gave people a fright,” Madam Xing said in vexation.
Madam Wang was pressing on her chest. Seeing the Foolish Girl still smiling dumbly, she said, “This girl is a fool.”
The Foolish Girl finally knelt to greet them. Zhou Rui’s wife saw something in her hand, treasuring it like she did not dare to dirty it. “Did you find a treasure, you are so careful with it?”
The Foolish Girl stood up and nodded. “It is a treasure. The evil spirits are fighting.” Then she gave it to Zhou Rui’s wife.
Zhou Rui’s wife took it, and her expression changed……
- Grafting Life Chapter 62 – Red Chamber (62)
- Grafting Life Chapter 64 – Red Chamber (64)
- Grafting Life Chapter 65 – Red Chamber (65)
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