Although Wang Xifeng took money from Zhou Rui's family and temporarily helped her hide the truth of the matter, she didn't expect that Zhou Rui's family could really suppress the matter.
Leng Zixing's matter was suppressed inexplicably, and the Zhou Rui family did not lose Mrs. Wang's trust.
Although Wang Xifeng had doubts, she didn't care. A family like her would not be afraid of being accused of treason, let alone a slave's son-in-law who made mistakes.
Wang Xifeng originally planned to use the affairs of Zhou Rui's family to take advantage of her, but unexpectedly, an imperial decree made her wish come true.
The imperial edict stated that wherever there is a home in the Chongyu Courtyard where it is possible to stay at the gate for defense, you may wish to invite the royal family members of the inner court to enter their private quarters, so that the common people can indulge in the intimacy of flesh and blood, which is the most important thing in family relationships.
After receiving the imperial edict, the Jia family immediately began to arrange the flowing water banquet, which was still a seven-day running water banquet. If the family's money had not been spared, it might have been arranged for a few more days.
For a time, Ningrong Street was bustling with activity.
"Old lady, Zhou Guiren's father has already started work at home to build a provincial residence. Concubine Wu's father, Wu Tianyou, also went to see the house outside the city." Jia Lian reported the information he found to
To Jia Mu.
Mrs. Wang couldn't sit still, "Old lady, your Majesty has sacrificed a lot for our family, we can't let your Majesty lose face."
In fact, Mrs. Wang didn't need to remind her, Jia Mu had already made up her mind to build a garden. She still remembered that Lin Ruhai didn't give her any face last time.
After that, people were sent to pick up Lin Daiyu several times, but failed to do so.
Jia Mu did not discuss it with anyone, but said firmly: "It concerns the empress's face. This is an important matter and cannot be neglected! You must discuss the construction plan quickly."
When Jia's mother speaks, the Jia family has no worries about disobeying her.
First, Jia Zhen, in order to show her loyalty in front of the empress, agreed to dedicate Huifang Garden as a place to build a garden. In this way, plus the backyard of Rongguo Mansion and the nearby support area next to Jia's house, it was enough to build a high-standard provincial palace.
The villa.
Then Jia Zheng found Shan Yezi and designed a beautiful garden based on the Jia family's place.
It can be said that everything is ready, all we need is the east wind.
All the people in charge of the Jia family gathered in Jia Mu's house.
After listening to Jia Zheng's introduction, Jia's mother was very satisfied with the garden and said, "Girl Feng, I will leave the construction of the garden to you."
Wang Xifeng likes to exercise power, but she does not dare to take this job easily. She hesitated and said: "My ancestors trust me, and my granddaughter-in-law will naturally not refuse. I will ensure that the food is properly prepared to satisfy the empress. However, these external matters
?”
Mother Jia understood the meaning of her words, "Our attached middle school also has a good foundation. If you need anything, you can use it."
Wang Xifeng said nothing and looked at Mrs. Wang.
When she accepted the housekeeper's right, the family was already stretched thin. If Lin Ruhai hadn't sent people to send a large number of gifts every year after Lin Daiyu came, the Jia family would have been unable to survive.
Wang Xifeng has also seen that the Jia family's old background is far worse than that of the Wang family. This is why Wang Xifeng has the confidence to say in front of Jia Lian that just sweeping the cracks in the Wang family's floor will be enough for the Jia family.
Now that Jia's mother was so confident that she was using the Jia family's old foundation, Wang Xifeng could only look at Mrs. Wang. Who said that the Jia family's account books were in Mrs. Wang's hands.
Seeing that she couldn't escape, Mrs. Wang had no choice but to say: "The expenses on the house are too great, and I have already spent a lot of money on food."
Just one sentence, not even an explanation.
Jia She was unhappy and said, "When my wife took over the stewardship of the house, our house had a lot of property. How come we have only been eating so much for just a few years?"
Of course someone had tampered with her.
Jia Mu immediately scolded: "You don't even look at your daily expenses. You men only care about your own enjoyment, and you never care about your family's income."
It was not only Mrs. Wang who took action on the ancestral property, but also Mother Jia. They all wanted to leave more family property for Baoyu, without any selfish motives. Now everyone is watching the Jia family, and they must not smear the mother-in-law.
Jia Mu then said: "As long as the empress is well, the family property will come back sooner or later. Since the public treasury is not enough, you can collect some from each house. Zheng'er, how much money is needed to build the garden?"
When Yamanoko handed over the housekeeping drawings, he also told him the budget, which was about one million taels of silver. This was based on the price of the building materials usually used.
"Mom, I need about one million taels." Jia Zheng said truthfully.
so much?
Even though Jia's mother had a rich private property, she was also shocked. All her private property was reserved for Baoyu, so how could she spend it on it?
But Jia Mu couldn't give up at all, and said: "I will take out one hundred thousand taels, and you can put together the rest, so that the empress can come back in glory."
Jia She was not happy immediately. The family property in Rong Guo Mansion belonged to him, and even the second wife could get away with anything in the public treasury. Jia Mu wouldn't let him pursue it. That's all. Now he was asked to pay for it, so what?
It works.
"My wife is the second wife, why should we pay for it?"
While Jia She came forward, Jia Zhen silently took back the banknotes in her hand. She originally planned to take out 50,000 taels and sell them in front of the empress.
The Rongguo Mansion now only has one hundred thousand taels of Jia Mu's money. What to do with the rest? We can't let the Ningguo Mansion pay all of it.
Mrs. Wang was not happy and said: "Your Majesty's honor belongs to the entire Jia family. How can you say that your Majesty is the second wife's wife?"
Jia Mu also reprimanded unceremoniously: "When you are seeking benefits from my mother's face, why don't you say that my mother is the second wife's mother? I am not dead yet, and you treat Zheng'er like this."
Jia She was foolish and filial, and did not dare to contradict Jia's mother. But asking him to pay hundreds of thousands of taels of silver was just a fool's dream.
"The house can't afford so much money, and it's not because of me alone. Our eldest house can only afford one hundred thousand taels at most, and let the second brother find a way to get the rest. If you really don't want to, then
Check the accounts and see where the family property has gone."
Obviously, Jia She was not stupid and knew the dirty tricks in the public treasury, so he just left after saying these words.
Jia Zheng was also shrewd, and then said: "Old lady, the East Mansion has to take care of the lives of the people, and the cost is higher than the West Mansion. Now that I have given up Huifangyuan, for the sake of the empress, I can only continue
Pay fifty thousand taels."
After Jia Zhen finished speaking, she turned around and left. Like Jia She, she did not put down the banknote. He would only hand over the banknote if Jia's mother agreed.
Jia's mother was very angry with these two people, but there was no good way to do it. She had something in her heart and did not dare to let Jia She check the accounts.
At the same time, Jia Mu also became dissatisfied with Mrs. Wang, complaining that she was too courageous, and said: "From the second son's house, you can figure out the rest by yourself. My old lady is tired too, so you all can go down."
In such a situation, you should leave as soon as you can. Mrs. Xing and Jia Lian had already left with Jia She. Wang Xifeng also took the opportunity to leave, leaving only Jia Zheng and Mrs. Wang.
Of course Mrs. Wang was not happy, and she was even more unhappy about checking the accounts.
"Old lady, are we just going to watch other ladies put themselves on top of our own?"
Jia Mu was silent for a while and said: "After all, the matter of the empress is a big deal, and it is inevitable that relatives will need to help each other."
This is to instruct Mrs. Wang to go to a relative's house to find a solution.
Mrs. Wang had no choice but to accept this suggestion and went back to find a solution.
Mother Jia looked at Mrs. Wang leaving and thought of the Lin family. If it weren't for her stubbornness, the Lin family's property would all belong to Baoyu, and spending one million taels to build a villa for relatives would not be a big deal at all.
What a pity that the Lin family has more than two million taels of silver!