Not to mention that the emperor was scolding his younger brother behind closed doors, it was just that Jia Lian had just left the Yangxin Gate holding the royal pen in both hands, and met Qiu Shi'an, the eunuch of the Prime Minister's Inner Court, leading the young eunuch.
Just as Jia Lian was about to speak, Qiu Shi'an's eyes were very sharp and he could see clearly that what Jia Lian was holding in his hands was the "Chengxintang Paper" that King Zhongshun had struggled to get hold of. He immediately understood that Jia Lian had obtained the imperial pen.
He hurriedly caught up and said with a smile:
"Oh, congratulations, Mr. Jia, for receiving the imperial pen reward. It's a great honor."
Jia Lian also nodded repeatedly:
"Well done, Eunuch Qiu. The emperor has rewarded me with the words 'Fu Fu En Rong'. I have to go back quickly, frame it, and enshrine it in Jia's ancestral hall. I'm holding an imperial pen here, and I'm not allowed to see you as a gift. Please be considerate of me."
."
In the palace, neither of them dared to call themselves brothers, but their tone was very affectionate.
Jia Lian said again:
"The emperor also awarded me the 'Jixian Tower'. I will prepare more wine when the time comes, and I will ask Eunuch Qiu to come and appreciate it."
Qiu Shian was confused:
Jixian Building? That is the top restaurant in the capital, and it is the property of Prince Zhongshun's family. Why did the emperor inexplicably reward Jia Lian with something belonging to Prince Zhongshun?
But he said:
"Okay, okay, I'm just waiting for you to post."
Therefore, when you are in the palace, there are too many things that need to be avoided, and you have to be cautious in your words and deeds at all times. Especially Qiu Shian just went to the harem to announce the decree for the emperor. Now he has to go back to deliver the decree to the emperor quickly, and he does not dare to do it again.
What a delay.
So Qiu Shian was not polite to Jia Lian and just asked:
"Did Mr. Jia come on horseback or in a sedan chair?"
After hearing that Jia Lian said he was coming on horseback, Qiu Shian called a young eunuch next to Yangxin Gate and ordered:
"Master Jia is holding the imperial calligraphy treasure in his hand. It is not convenient for him to ride back. Please ask someone to prepare a sedan for Master Jia and take him back home."
Jia Lian thanked him and Qiu Shian smiled:
"I have some errands to do, so I can't stay here for long. I'm going to say goodbye. I'll definitely go and bother you someday."
After saying that, he hurried in.
.
"Second Master Lian was carried back by a palace sedan!
In his hand is a letter given by the emperor himself!"
.
This news immediately caused the entire Rongguo Mansion to explode again.
Jia Mu and others did not dare to neglect, and hurriedly changed their clothes and came out.
When Jia Lian came in with the calligraphy gift given by the emperor, he first placed it on the altar table. Everyone kowtowed and then started to watch.
When Jia's mother saw the words "Fu Fu En Rong", she was even more happy. She took Jia Lian with one hand and quickly ordered someone to frame it and take it to the ancestral hall for enshrinement.
Jia's mother asked Jia Lian why he received this reward. Jia Lian only said vaguely, "The emperor praised me for my achievements at a young age."
Jia Mu was also a person who had seen a lot of things, so she immediately understood that there must be something fishy in this. However, it was not convenient to say it in public, so she chatted a few words with everyone, and then asked Jia Lian if he had had dinner.
Jia Lian touched his belly:
"Oh, I was just so happy that I didn't feel hungry even if I didn't eat.
Now that I remind the old lady, my grandson feels extremely hungry."
Jia Mu smiled and said:
"To meet such a great good thing, I won't even feel hungry anymore."
Everyone laughed.
Jia Mu said again:
"You all go back. He has gained respect today, so I will leave him here to eat a 'little stove'. No one will say that I am partial, right?"
Naturally, everyone said, "Second Master Lian is so capable, so even if the old lady prefers him, it must be right."
Mrs. Wang felt awkward, and she was just talking about it from beginning to end.
Wang Xifeng originally wanted to stay, but Jia Mu smiled and sent her away:
"You've been working all day today. I'm afraid you're tired, so you should go back and take a rest.
In case I really tire you out, not to mention that no one is using my place, even Lian Er will blame me."
.
After everyone left, Jia Mu asked the maids around her to go to the kitchen to prepare food for Jia Lian, and then ordered to bring snacks and fruits, and also ordered hot tea and hot milk. She immediately sent everyone out, and only Jia Mu was left in the house.
, Jia Lian and Yuanyang.
Jia Mu then asked:
"Tell me the truth, what is this reward for?"
Jia Lian did not hide anything, so he told Jia Mu all the conversations he had with the emperor.
Jia Mu was frightened and said:
"You are so brave, kid. If you don't pay attention to any of these words, it will be fatal. You are really blessed by your ancestors today."
Jia Lian smiled and said:
"Don't worry, old lady. Given our family's status, what the Emperor is most worried about is that our Jia family is trying to gain power, not that our Jia family is greedy for money.
If we are really greedy, maybe the emperor would be happy for us.
When the time comes, the emperor will issue a decree. If he says to take it down, he will take it down. If he says to confiscate the house, he will confiscate it. The emperor is not worried about this.
But if our family has a master who is capable of fighting, and can win over the ancestors' connections in the army, then the emperor will definitely start to deal with our Jia family immediately.
Therefore, we, the descendants of the Jia family, have no future, so the emperor can rest assured rather than being able to fight and kill."
Hearing this, Jia Mu nodded and said:
"It is a blessing for the Jia family that you can have this insight, see clearly, and think clearly."
Jia Lian smiled again:
"Since the Emperor can agree to let his grandson open an official bank account, it means that the Emperor is worried that the King of Beijing helped us first. When the time comes, we will be grateful to the King of Beijing for his kindness in helping us when the time is right. From now on, the four princes and the eight princes are completely the same.
That would give the emperor a real headache.
Now the emperor and King Beijing are wary of each other, and both parties have their own agendas. We have to work both ways in this gap, and this is how our Jia family survives now.
Let’s take advantage of the immediate benefits first, and as for what happens later, we can just respond flexibly according to the situation.”
Jia Mu nodded:
"This is the only way left now.
It is better for both sides to win over us than for both sides to be wary of us."
Taking Jia Lian's hand, Jia Mu said again:
"It's hard for you. At your age, you have to put so much thought into this big family."
Jia Lian quickly smiled and said:
"What did the old lady say?
I can't write two characters for "Jia" in one stroke. We are all members of our own family. If I don't do it for my own family, who else can I do it for?
Furthermore, since I enjoy the wealth inherited from my ancestors, I must be able to care about this and shoulder this responsibility.
Nothing in the world comes for free, I understand this."
Hearing this, Jia Mu suddenly burst into tears and said:
"It would be great if Baoyu could have half the thoughts you have."
.
As an old man, it’s normal to be biased.
But Jia Lian didn't want to talk about Baoyu at all, so he frowned slightly and said:
"What happened this time is actually a bit dangerous. After all, the person behind the plot is Prince Zhongshun, a famous figure in the court.
Although his grandson took the opportunity to teach him a lesson, costing him a capable butler and costing him a restaurant, he could not shake the foundation of the emperor's younger brother.
The more I think about this matter, the more worried my grandson is. I dare to ask the old lady, what kind of grudge does our family have against Prince Zhongshun’s Mansion, so that he is so deliberately planning to destroy our Jia family?"