After hearing Wang Xifeng's words, Jia Mu cursed secretly and said nothing more, so she looked at Mrs. Wang.

Mrs. Wang naturally had a hard time saying anything. She also needs to be decent. The first time she said it, she was rejected politely, but the second time she said it, it would be coercion.

No matter how much she was the biological mother of the imperial concubine, she would not argue with Wang Xifeng on the spot for some reward.

I just made up my mind to go back and have a good discussion with Jia Zheng, let Jia Zheng and Jia Lian talk about it, and re-formulate the income control system of the official treasury.

Otherwise, I am afraid that the reputation of Rongguo Mansion, a dignified and century-old government, will soon be unsustainable.

Seeing that Mrs. Wang had no objection, Jia Mu happily picked out a few practical rewards from the many rewards. Even Mrs. Wang also took two symbolic gifts for Zhou Rui's family to send home.

Wang Xifeng turned around and saw Yingchun and others gathered around the dozens of pieces of fine palace satin, praising that the things the Queen Mother had given her were extraordinary.

She then said very generously: "If you three like these materials, I will have two new spring clothes tailor-made for you each when you come back.

However, You'd better take some time to go to my place, and I'll have someone re-measure you.

It's the time when your body is growing, and your appearance will change every year. If it doesn’t fit well, it won’t be good.”

When Yingchun and others heard this, they were overjoyed and thanked them all quickly.

Tan Chun also walked around to Wang Xifeng and massaged her body, making Wang Xifeng laugh and scold her.

Seeing how harmonious and friendly their sisters-in-law were, Mother Jia’s eyes showed approval.

Feng Yatou is so adorable in these places!

After laughing, she laughed loudly and asked: "Girl Feng, what did Lian'er do again?

I heard that he left the table very early before , and now he is not in the house. He has just come back. If he didn't say he had a good rest, what is he busy with?"

Wang Xifeng had some guesses, but was not sure: "Who knows, he didn't tell me that he wanted to come. It's his business outside."

At this time, Lai, who was standing next to him, said: "I heard that Mr. Lian seemed to have sent someone to the bank to exchange the money."
< br />"Exchange money?"

"I don't know what to do specifically. I just heard from people outside that only a few of the escort boys who followed the second master out this time came back... ”

Jia Mu and Mrs. Wang were all shocked.

　“Only a few come back, what do you mean?”

Jia Mu had heard that after Jia Lian succeeded to the throne, he selected a group of gangsters from his family and trained them in the east cross courtyard every day.

But her ancestor doesn’t care how many there are and who they are.

"I heard the man from our family lament that Mr. Lian had chosen a total of more than twenty guards. This time he went out with him, but not even ten came back. They said they were all dead. Outside the Great Wall.

Mr. Lian also ordered people to bring back all their urns and send them to various families.

This afternoon, those families She was crying a lot, and many people in the house knew about it."

"So, are they all really dead?" Mrs. Xing said in a huff.

When she was being straightened up, the old man was already dead, but he had never seen such a big scene where so many people died at once.

In fact, even when the old Duke was still alive, his soldiers rarely died in battle.

After all, the death of the personal guard in battle means that the general is at least in danger.

With his status as Rong Guogong, he rarely experienced crises even if he led troops on expeditions.

This time Jia Lian was just an accident.

So much so that even Jia Mu fell silent.

Wang Xifeng’s face turned pale.

Although she knew that Jia Lian's wealth was hard-won, she didn't feel particularly deeply about it.

At this time, I heard that only how many of the guards Jia Lian trained were dead? Even she felt frightened!

Unlike Jia Mu, she knew most of Jia Lian’s guards, or at least met them.

The night before Jia Lian set off, she personally ordered those people to protect Jia Lian.

Who knew that of so many young boys, only a few would come back alive?

When the heartless man came back, he didn't tell her this, and he didn't know how much danger he had experienced outside.

Fortunately, there were still a few left. If they were all dead and no one was there to protect Jia Lian, she would not dare to imagine the consequences.

No wonder, the heartless one has always been very strong. When I first saw him at home, I was so tired that I lay down.

Thinking of this, Wang Xifeng couldn't help but feel a little distressed. At this moment, she wanted to go home immediately, find Jia Lian, and ask him all about his experience outside.

Jia Mu, Wang Xifeng and others are still like this, let alone the three Yingchun sisters who were so happy just now.

The eldest of them is less than a hairpin, and the youngest is less than ten years old. Death in battle is too far away for them.

But this time, it happened right next to them, and they were the guards of their most beloved brother Lian Er. They couldn't help but be afraid, and all of them looked a little pale.

After all, Jia Mu is used to seeing storms. She waved her hands and sighed: "This is the responsibility and danger that their husband's family must bear if they want to build a successful career.

Thinking back to those days When the Duke of Guo was still alive, he often led troops in battles, and many of his soldiers and generals died, many of which I personally helped to provide pensions for.

But as the years have passed, It has been so long that I have almost forgotten these things."

Jia Mu said, somewhat lost in thought.

At this moment, she deeply realized the decline of the Jia family.

If it were not for Jia Lian, the Jia family, which started out with military exploits, would have ignored military affairs for decades. As a result, her ancestors would have become so unfamiliar with the idea of ​​returning to a corpse wrapped in horse leather.

"Girl Feng, go back and tell Lian'er that he will send people to take care of and care for those who died. Don't be too sad.

Forget it, it doesn’t need to be said by me. I think he didn’t even want to tell us about it before, just because he was afraid that we would worry.

Lian’er has really grown up and can take on things Now.

Let him figure it out on his own, and you all just have to cooperate."

After Jia Mu finished speaking, she stood up tremblingly with her cane and stood aside. The mandarin duck quickly went up and helped her into the bedroom.

Seeing Jia Mu going to rest, Mrs. Wang and others naturally dispersed.

Li Wan also took his maid Su Yue back home.

But her heart was not at peace.

In the past few years, she has looked at family affairs, especially Jia Lian's affairs, almost from the perspective of a bystander.

She was really surprised and even a little confused.

After all, she entered the house early, and she had a preliminary understanding of Jia Lian, her uncle.

Until, Jia Lian broke her understanding time and time again, making her surprised, unfamiliar, and even had to admire him!

Although Jia’s mother didn’t say it clearly just now, she could tell that from now on, the Jia family would most likely rely on Jia Lian for support.

Didn’t listen to Jia’s mother and let Jia Lian make his own decision and let Wang Xifeng and others assist.

Those words seemed to be addressed to Wang Xifeng, but in fact they were also addressed to Mrs.Mrs. Wang said.

That’s right, Jia Lian is already a Marquis.

With this status alone, in any dynasty or any family, he is definitely the talker of the family.

In other words, from now on, I am afraid that the master will have to take a back seat to the second master Lian in family affairs...

Previously, Jia Lian had just ascended the throne and even acted as an agent. After becoming the patriarch, many people in the family still believed that Jia Lian and Jia Zheng would complement each other.

Even, Jia Zheng will be the leader, and Jia Lian will be the second.

Because Jia Zheng is not only an elder, but also the biological father of the imperial concubine.

There are even rumors that Jia Zheng will be promoted soon.

Li Wan doesn’t think this is just a rumor. Because she heard from Jia Mu and others that according to the rules, when there was a newly promoted nobleman in the palace, the emperor would promote the nobleman's close relatives, or even elevate them to titles.

Yuanchun was not only named a concubine, but also promoted to a noble concubine, but Jia Zheng was still a Yuanwailang!

This is because the Jia family is preparing for the marriage ceremony.

Once this matter is over, Jia Zheng will most likely be promoted.

If that were the case, Jia Zheng would still be the master of Rongguo Mansion.

But who would have thought that Jia Lian was suddenly promoted to a noble title, and as soon as he was promoted, he ascended to the sky, almost approaching the old Duke!

If nothing else, just raising the family title from second-class general to marquis is such an achievement that no one in the Jia family can match!

That was the family’s wealth, which lasted for at least two generations.

Not to mention, since the emperor is willing to reward Jia Lian in this way, it can be seen that Jia Lian is now a holy family member.

No one can replace you.

No one can suppress you.

Even Jia Mu, who is a first-class Rongguo duchess, cannot do it.

Besides, it is impossible for Jia Mu to suppress Jia Lian. Who has not seen how filial and respectful Mr. Lian is to the old lady.

They are our direct descendants.

Even now, even if someone says that Second Master Bao is no longer Jia Mu’s most beloved grandson, some may believe it.

Thinking of Jia Lian’s glory over the years, even a person as pure and ascetic as Li Wan can’t help but think about it.

She remembered that Jia Lian would pass by her courtyard every evening when he practiced. She could see Jia Lian's return from a distance through the sparse flowers, plants and trees in the courtyard and the poured lattice courtyard wall. The figure of home.

　She also remembered that time when Jia Lian was drunk, she sent Jia Lian back to the house on Jia Mu's orders, but Jia Lian mistook her for Wang Xifeng and even treated her lightly.

She still remembers all these.

"Grandma...?"

Su Yue's voice brought Li Wan back to his senses.

Just as he was about to look back at his maid, he suddenly saw someone in front of him out of the corner of his eye, and he immediately raised his eyes.

This sight almost frightened her soul. She couldn't help but take a step back and said in panic: "Second, where did the second uncle come from?"

Jia Lian frowned.

What happened to Li Wan? He just saw her. He went up to say hello and she didn't hear him.

How come seeing myself now is like seeing a savage beast?

“I just came from Dongkuoyuan, is my sister-in-law okay?”

“No, I’m okay...”

Jia Lian took her Looked at it from beginning to end.

Needless to say, as a woman on the list of twelve beauties, Li Wan's color is absolutely impeccable, second only to the few women he has seen.

Although she is five or six years older than Wang Xifeng, she is only in her mid-twenties now.

She is the same height as Wang Xifeng, but not as slim as Wang Xifeng, and looks a bit plump. In this regard, she is similar to Sister-in-law You in the mansion over there.

Her pure-pigmented attire matches her restrained temperament developed from being a widower for many years. Although she looks elegant and refined, with a Confucian air of indifference, she lacks the vitality that youth should have.

Even if you put it in a Taoist temple, standing next to the Taoist nuns who practice asceticism, it will not look different.

Sensing that Li Wan was a little uneasy when she looked at her, Jia Lian turned her head and said to Su Yue: "Is your grandma not feeling well?"

Su Yue looked confused. , looked at Jia Lian, then looked at her eldest grandma, and asked: "Grandma, what are you feeling uncomfortable about?"

She also felt that the eldest grandma's reaction just now was too abnormal.

Second Master Lian is such a gentle and elegant person, why should I be afraid of him? Not even us little girls.

Li Wan took a deep breath to calm down, "Thank you, uncle, for caring. I'm really fine. I was just distracted."

"That's it."

Jia Lian nodded and said to Su Yue: "Take good care of your grandma. If anything happens, remember to report it to your wife or the old lady. Give it to me and your second grandma Lian."That’s fine. "

After Jia Lian finished speaking, he bowed his hands to Li Wan and walked away.

"Yes~"

Su Yue happily gave Jia Lian Bowing, she didn't get up until Jia Lian had gone far away, then smiled at Li Wan and said, "Second Master Lian is really a nice person, he is so gentle to us, no wonder everyone envies the maids in his house. ”

Li Wan glanced at her and twitched the corner of his mouth. Could this girl be implying that he didn’t treat her well?

He didn’t care about his own girl. , just looked back at the direction where Jia Lian was walking away, feeling confused.

He said that if something happened to her, she could tell the wife or the old lady, even Wang Xifeng, she would understand.

/>　Why did you tell him?

Whether it was a courtesy, a slip of the tongue, or intentional, she didn’t understand.

There was no need to figure it out. In short, as two people, , destined to be in the water but not in the river, there is no possibility of any intersection.