Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

Chapter 41 Daiyu Enters the Mansion

After nearly a month of drifting along the Grand Canal, we finally arrived in the capital.

At the dock, the mules, horses, carriages, and sedan chairs of the Jia family were already waiting. Jia Lian was arranging things when he suddenly saw Jia Yucun approaching. He dropped his chores, stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said with a smile, "I've been so busy with things along the way that I've neglected you, Mr. Yucun."

Jia Yucun quickly returned the greeting, replying very politely, "Brother, you are too kind. I have been fortunate to receive your care along the way. Your words make me feel ashamed."

Jia Lian smiled and said, "Mr. Yucun's carriage is ready. Please follow me."

Jia Yucun shook his head, "I came to take my leave. Firstly, my brother has come from afar and is busy with many things, so I don't want to disturb him. Secondly, I have some friends in the capital and am about to visit them."

So, farewell.

Although Jia Yucun was eager to be reinstated to his original position as soon as possible, he knew he should not rush things.

If he were to visit Jia Zheng immediately upon arriving in the capital, it might give the impression that he was a scheming and power-hungry person. Therefore, it was decided that he should return to the capital to rest and recuperate for a day or two, and then visit Jia Zheng after he had read Lin Ruhai's letter. This would be the proper course of action.

Jia Lian seemed to understand Jia Yucun's thoughts and didn't press the matter, only asking, "It's still about ten or twenty li to the capital. Would you be willing to give me a discount, sir?"

"No need for you to trouble yourself, brother. I have enough for my travel expenses. Farewell."

After exchanging pleasantries, Jia Yucun bowed deeply, then turned and strode away, displaying a rather carefree attitude.

As Jia Lian watched him walk away, he thought to himself that if this guy didn't turn bad, he would be a very charming person.

He shook his head, ignoring him, and went to the boat to ferry Daiyu and the others off. After they were settled, the long procession headed towards the capital.

Daiyu knew that noble families and high-ranking officials were full of people with eyes and ears, and many of them were greedy and ambitious. Now that she had come to his house, those who knew her would say that her maternal grandmother missed her and had taken her to stay temporarily, but those who didn't would think that she had come to seek refuge with his family.

Therefore, after disembarking, she secretly resolved to be more careful in everything she did, and never let others look down on her.

Once inside the sedan chair and into the city, a glance through the gauze window at the main street revealed the city's bustling streets and thriving population, a sight unmatched elsewhere.

After walking for half a day, she suddenly noticed that the surroundings were much quieter. She quietly lifted the gauze curtain and saw two large stone lions crouching on the north side of the street, and three large gates with animal-head carvings inside. A dozen or so people in splendid clothes and crowns were sitting in front of the gates. The main gate was not open, but people were going in and out through the east and west side gates. Above the main gate was a plaque with the five large characters "Imperial Decree for the Construction of Ningguo Mansion".

After walking a while, they came to another three-room gate. Daiyu was pondering something when she suddenly noticed the procession stop. A moment later, Jia Lian rode up to her sedan chair and said, "Sister Lin, we've arrived. This is our home. Sister, please come in with them. The old lady is eagerly waiting to see you."

Daiyu quickly asked, "Won't Second Brother Lian come in with us?"

"I'll go see my father first."

Jia Lian said something and saw that Daiyu seemed reluctant to leave. Although he knew that she was new to the place and wanted someone familiar to help her, Jia Lian was still quite happy.

All those three months of hard work finally paid off; the little girl now considers him someone she can trust.

Seeing Daiyu nod and silently lower the gauze curtain, Jia Lian smiled and said, "Oh, right, there's one more thing I'd like to ask you, sister."

"Second Brother Lian, please speak."

Jia Lian smiled and said, "Later, I will let Xiangling go in with my sister to see the old lady. You know that Xiangling is weak and timid. Lin sister has seen a lot, so you have to help look after her and not let others frighten her."

Inside the sedan chair, Daiyu sniffed for no reason. What was going on? She was the guest, yet she was being asked to help look after Xiangling!

But why do I still feel a little happy?

After thinking for a moment, Daiyu replied, "She's not my maid, so how can I protect her? If Second Brother Lian is worried that others will frighten her, then he should protect her himself."

"Now that my sister has agreed, I can rest assured."

Seeing Jia Lian leave after saying that, Daiyu stomped her foot in anger.

When did she agree? She didn't believe Jia Lian hadn't heard her clearly, so he must have done it on purpose. What a cunning and despicable person.

Even so, Daiyu decided in her heart that if Xiangling really had a problem later, she would help her, as a way of repaying Jia Lian's favor.

After Daiyu, Xiangling, and the others' sedan chairs entered the West Corner Gate, Jia Lian withdrew his gaze and looked at the remaining cartloads of goods. Apart from two and a half cartloads of famous Jiangnan wines, the rest were gifts he had purchased for his family.

After having Zhou Rui arrange for all the other items to be moved to his own courtyard, Jia Lian called Zhao'er, Xing'er, and the others to take the two carts containing forty jars of wine to the east wing.

The reason he kept ten jars of wine was twofold: firstly, so he could savor them slowly in the future; and secondly, to show everyone that he didn't intend to harm his father with strong liquor, but was simply being filial...

……

Inside Rongqing Hall, Daiyu and Grandmother Jia, one sentimental and the other old and longing for her family, were overwhelmed with emotion upon seeing each other. They embraced and wept bitterly. If not for the comfort of others, one of them would probably have cried until they broke down.

Grandmother Jia had not seen her granddaughter since her birth, and now that she had finally met her, she was overjoyed. Seeing that Daiyu was slender and graceful with a natural beauty, she liked her even more.

Seeing that Daiyu only brought a wet nurse and a maidservant, Lin Ruhai knew that this showed how sensible and polite Lin Ruhai was. Since Daiyu was with her, all aspects of her life were naturally arranged by her maternal grandmother.

The decision was made to arrange the same people who served Daiyu as Yingchun and others, and to give Daiyu an additional extremely sensible and loyal maid named Yingge, who was renamed Zijuan.

After giving the orders, Grandmother Jia was holding Daiyu's hand, preparing to dote on her beautiful granddaughter, when another delicate and frail maidservant walked up from below the hall. Although she seemed somewhat restrained and embarrassed, her appearance was quite remarkable.

Upon closer inspection, she bore a striking resemblance to his great-granddaughter-in-law in the East Mansion!

"Who is this girl?"

Grandmother Jia bent down and asked.

Having received instructions from Jia Lian beforehand, Zhou Rui's wife personally led Xiangling out. After Xiangling kowtowed to Grandmother Jia, she helped Xiangling up and said with a smile, "Grandmother, what do you think of this girl?"

Grandmother Jia was an experienced woman, and upon seeing this, she guessed that it was probably a woman Jia Lian had found outside.

But she was a composed person, and instead of speaking first, she smiled and said, "Bring it over so I can take a closer look."

Zhou Rui's wife then brought Xiangling to Grandmother Jia's side. Xiangling was about to bow again when Grandmother Jia stopped her and squinted as she looked Xiangling up and down.

Xiangling's appearance was so beautiful that even Grandmother Jia couldn't find a single flaw in her. What was remarkable was that, despite her delicate and frail appearance, she possessed none of the affected or vulgar qualities one might expect.

"She really is a good girl. Where did she come from?"

Grandmother Jia took the lead in asking questions, and in fact, many women in the hall had the same guess as Grandmother Jia. They all knew that it was a woman that Jia Lian had brought from outside. Since Jia Lian dared to bring her back for Grandmother Jia to see, he must like her very much.

Zhou Rui's wife deliberately gave everyone time to guess before smiling and saying, "Speaking of this girl's background, it's rather strange. The old lady doesn't know, but this girl's life story is actually quite pitiful..."

Zhou Rui's wife then slowly recounted how Jia Lian went to Nanjing to visit relatives and friends, and by chance, he rescued the kidnapper.

There's nothing to hide about this; almost everyone who went to Jiangnan knew about it.

However, Zhou Rui's wife, deliberately trying to curry favor, told a story in a bizarre and convoluted way, making everyone in the hall marvel as if they were listening to a storyteller.

Grandmother Jia also asked, "What a coincidence that Lian-ge'er happened to witness it?"

"That's right. I heard from the people below that Second Master personally delivered the kidnapper to Yingtian Prefecture for this matter. The magistrate of Yingtian Prefecture even thanked Second Master, saying that he had helped him solve a wrongful case under his jurisdiction."

Grandmother Jia nodded, and when she looked at Xiangling again, her gaze held a touch more pity.

"In that case, the child is indeed pitiful. But now that she's in our family, it's alright. Feng'er and Lian'er are both good people, so we won't mistreat her."

Everyone echoed Grandmother Jia's words, and then Grandmother Jia realized that she had neglected her precious granddaughter. She quickly hugged Daiyu in her arms and said with a smile, "Go and call all the girls here. We have guests from afar today, so tell them they don't need to go to school."

"Yes……"

……