After Jia Lian went home and took a bath, he came to Xue's house.
He knew what the Xue family was worried about. Now that Xue Pan's matter has been settled in front of Emperor Ning Kang, he naturally put it down. The reason why I didn't go straight to the Xue family to report the news after leaving the palace was because I didn't want to appear too eager for quick success.
If he really wants nothing in return, but he doesn't, in this case, it is natural to act more calmly.
Having experienced Daiyu's success, Jia Lian understood more and more what kind of mentality and image he should maintain when facing an outstanding woman like Xue Baochai.
Therefore, after meeting Aunt Xue and Xue Baochai, Jia Lian slowly told Aunt Xue and her daughter about his meeting with the emperor in the morning. It focuses on describing how Emperor Ning Kang first intimidated, then listened to his explanations, and finally showed mercy.
The twists and turns naturally made the two rich women secretly frightened. In the end, they all turned into respect and even awe for Jia Lian.
They are all women who have read books and know that the power of God is unpredictable. Although they have never met the emperor, they can imagine how difficult it is to not show timidity in front of the emperor, or even find ways to change the emperor's mind.
In other words, if it were not for Jia Lian, his son (brother) would probably be doomed this time.
"Thank God, Bodhisattva bless me."
Aunt Xue's heart, which had been hanging for many days, finally calmed down. She thanked Jia Lian and Bodhisattva again. Finally, she hesitated and said, "Lian'er, you just said that you would donate 50,000 taels of silver and 5,000 shi of food to the imperial court..." "
Five thousand shi of food is nothing, but fifty thousand taels of silver is not a small sum even for the Xue family.
Although the Xue family's wealth exceeds one million, it is family wealth, not cash.
"The situation was urgent at the time, so I had to take this last step. Auntie, please don't blame me for being reckless."
"I know, but with these fifty thousand taels of silver, I can only..."
Aunt Xue looked troubled, and Jia Lian raised his eyebrows upon seeing this, "If Auntie is in any trouble, I'll pay for the fifty thousand taels of silver. It's also my fault. I didn't tell Auntie in advance and made my own decisions."
Although Jia Lian spoke calmly, Baochai, who had been sitting quietly next to him, became anxious.
Baochai knows her mother's temper best. At first, when the Xue family was in good times, it was okay. Later, my grandfather and father passed away, and my mother often lamented that the family had more money than money, and then began to become more and more frugal.
Although I know that my mother is prepared for danger in times of peace and is afraid of having nothing to lose, but at this moment, is this the time to consider the gain and loss of money?
Fifty thousand taels of silver is a lot of money, but how can it be more important than the life of my brother and the kindness of my second brother Lian?
So he winked at Aunt Xue repeatedly, and when Jia Lian's expression turned pale, he couldn't help but interject: "What did second brother Lian say? You have taken a huge responsibility for my brother's affairs. We don't know what to do." I am grateful. There is no reason to ask Brother Lian to pay for this money.
What my mother means is that although our family has a lot of 50,000 silver, most of the cash in our family is stored in various shops to use as money for store development. There is not much money left at home. I don’t know if it’s enough for fifty thousand taels. If it's not enough, you have to ask the guys below to send some. "
After all, Aunt Xue is not a stupid woman. Although she feels sorry for the money, she still knows the importance.
Hearing her daughter's words, she was startled, secretly scolding herself for being stupid, and then quickly put on a smile and said to Jia Lian: "Bao Yatou is saying, brother Lian, what you said is embarrassing to my aunt.
What I wanted to say just now is that I don’t know the disaster relief arrangements of the court. When will the money be needed, I can arrange for someone to send it there to avoid delaying the important event. "
Aunt Xue knew that in the eyes of people like Jia Lian, she would not take a mere tens of thousands taels seriously. If she really shirks and refuses to pay the money, Jia Lian may actually pay the money out of his own pocket.
But in that case, let’s not talk about issues of face and conscience, let’s just talk about reality. If something happens to the Xue family in the future, Jia Lian will definitely not be able to help again, and he is not stupid.
I was so confused that I almost ruined the Xue family's most important connections and favors for some money that I should have contributed.
Fortunately, the words came true.
"The court said there should be no rush. Disaster relief is a big thing and it will definitely not be completed in a short time. However, I agreed to this matter in front of Your Majesty. If Auntie can, it is better to prepare it as soon as possible. If you have any difficulties, you can do it. Talk to me."
Jia Lian didn't pay much attention to this little disagreement. Being familiar with the affairs of Mrs. Wang, Mrs. Xing, etc., he had some idea of the character of these ladies. In comparison, Aunt Xue was open-minded and sensible.
In other words, if every woman is as knowledgeable and sensible as Baochai, then it will not be possible to reflect the value of Baochai.
Aunt Xue, who was desperate to make up for the situation, repeatedly agreed to Jia Lian's words, saying that the money could be collected within three days at best.
After discussing the details, she repeatedly asked Jia Lian about Xue Pan. Aunt Xue smiled and said, "Look, I'm only asking you questions. I haven't even asked you if you had dinner?"
Hearing Jia Lian say that she had eaten, Aunt Xue stood up with a smile and said, "I remember you said last time that the sweet wine made by Bao Yatou is delicious. Not long ago, she brewed another vat, and I asked someone to cook a bowl for me. Come and have a taste.”
As she spoke, Aunt Xue didn't wait for Jia Lian to refuse. She just glanced at her daughter with a smile, stopped her wanting to get up, and then walked out, taking away the two maids at the door of the room.
In the elegant living room illuminated by candlelight, only a young and handsome man and a twenty-eight-year-old girl were left.
Jia Lian looked at the girl in front of him, whose skin was as good as snow and who was well-mannered. Suddenly there was a look of embarrassment on her face, and she knew in her heart that Aunt Xue had probably told her everything she needed to tell her.
In this way, Jia Lian didn't have to be secretive. He chuckled and said slowly: "How is sister Baochai?"
"Thank you, second brother, for your concern. I'm still fine. This time, because of my brother's affairs, second brother Lian has been affected. I would like to thank you again."
Baochai didn't know why, although she was inevitably shy when facing Jia Lian's gaze in the past, she could bear it.
At this moment, there was a feeling like a light on her back, which made her restless.
Baochai simply took the opportunity to stand up, bowed to Jia Lian, and then stood quietly aside.
I just hope that my mother will come back soon.
"Haha, I saw Sister Baochai fine yesterday. Why is it that Sister Baochai seems to be afraid of me when we haven't seen her for a day?"
Seeing Baochai take a step back and stand, Jia Lian shook his head and smiled.
It was rare for Baochai to look like this, which made him feel a little bit indescribably joking.
Baochai glanced at Jia Lian. Jia Lian's words immediately reminded her of what happened yesterday when Jia Lian took her on a one-day trip to the capital and the imperial city, and how she fell into his arms.
I didn't feel too embarrassed yesterday, but after listening to Aunt Xue's "good words" last night, when I think about it again, I feel embarrassed, especially now when I'm facing Jia Lian.
But after all, she was calm-minded, and she quickly calmed down her chaotic thoughts, shook her head slightly, and did not answer Jia Lian's words head-on.
When Jia Lian saw this, he knew that it would be difficult to tease her like other girls. He also saw her standing far away. Under the light of the light, her skin became more crystal clear and jade-like, and her skin glowed. Jia Lian couldn't help but stand up and smiled at her. She walked away.
Baochai's spirit suddenly became tense, and he looked at Jia Lian head-on, his red lips slightly parted: "Second brother Lian..."
Fortunately, Jia Lian stopped one step in front of her, which invalidated all her planned methods. She could only resist the urge to escape and lower her head.
After a few breaths passed, neither of them spoke. In the not-so-spacious living room, there was only a slight spring breeze, and the shadows of candles swaying left and right on the screen.
Baochai is a stunning beauty, and her beauty is upright and majestic, full of elegance, and can be called a national beauty.
Moreover, Jia Lian also discovered that Baochai today was wearing a very new apricot yellow peony embroidered round-neck jacket on the upper body, an off-white pleated skirt on the lower body, a tassel gold hairpin in her hair, and a pair of light green ginkgo earrings on her earlobes. .
Although the outfit is not luxurious, it can better show off her national beauty. It is different from her usual plain outfit, which makes Jia Lian feel bright.
Only peonies are the true national beauty, and they move the capital when they bloom.
Nothing better than that.
Facing Baochai like this, even though Jia Lian, who had warned himself many times not to be rash and abrupt, couldn't help but feel a little anxious.
He moved, forced himself to stand still, and said with a smile: "Sister Baochai is a little different from usual. What did aunt say to you?"
Baochai was originally under Jia Lian's silent observation at close range, and was a little unable to hold on. Hearing Jia Lian speak at this time, he felt relieved.
She raised her head and glanced at Jia Lian, and when she met Jia Lian's eager eyes, she quickly turned away and said "hmm" softly.
She is not someone whose behavior will be completely influenced by a girl's thoughts. Knowing that her mother left her here to give her and Jia Lian a chance to be alone and communicate.
It just so happened that she also wanted such an opportunity, an opportunity for herself to make better decisions. So, she knew she couldn't stay shy and silent.
Sure enough, with her response, Jia Lian answered the question faster.
"So, what do you mean?"
Baochai lowered his head and was silent for a moment, then said without raising his head: "A woman is different from a man in life. She can only ask for not much. Second brother Lian has the kindness to rebuild my Xue family, so he will give everything he has." It's hard to repay, not to mention my mother's promise first, so if the second brother Lian insists on Baochai, Baochai will have no room to refuse."
As she spoke, Baochai took a bold look at Jia Lian and found that Jia Lian's face was filled with joy, and her heart couldn't help but beat.
Brother Lian really likes me...
But she still suppressed her inexplicable emotions and continued: "Therefore, there is no need for Brother Lian to ask what Baochai wants. But mother said that Brother Lian is a gentleman and is not willing to force Baochai. Baochai is here. Thank you again. Second brother Lian."
Jia Lian smiled, this girl is putting a high hat on him, using retreat to advance, and fighting for the right to speak for herself.
In this situation, if I don't follow her, doesn't it mean that I am not a gentleman?
So Jia Lian smiled and asked, "I wonder what sister Baochai wants in her life?"
Baochai frowned. Jia Lian's reaction was not what she expected, but when he asked her what she had said before, she couldn't help but refuse to answer.
After thinking for a while, she said: "Baochai is just a daughter from a poor family, so what can she ask for? She is just like most women in the world, she only has a good man to help her husband and raise her children."
Baochai said that he felt strange. If it hadn't been happening now, she wouldn't have believed that one day she would openly talk about her life with someone other than her mother, and a man at that.
Think about it and think it's just because of a special situation and facing a special person.
The smile on Jia Lian's face suddenly brightened and he said: "I'm afraid sister Baochai is lying. From my point of view, sister Baochai is not as shallow as those secular women.
Sister Baochai is not only naturally gifted, but also eager to learn and knowledgeable, as well as skilled in human relations. If it is not limited to being a daughter, and there is nowhere to display all my talents, otherwise, given time, not to mention all the princes in the temple, even I, Jia Lian, may have no choice but to be inferior. "
Jia Lian's words made Baochai suddenly open his beautiful eyes.
She really didn't expect Jia Lian to say that. It’s just enough to praise and flatter her. Isn’t it too exaggerated and inappropriate to say that the princes in the temple are no better than her?
Moreover, Ting Lian's second brother's tone has already put himself above the other princes in the temple.
It would be fine to say that he is as arrogant and ignorant as his brother, but he knows that he is not. In this case, he was either joking or being completely confident.
Baochai wasn't sure what Jia Lian was thinking, but she felt that Jia Lian's way of talking between the two of them was quite novel and interesting. Ordinary people, who would dare to speak like this?
So she said: "Second brother Lian is joking. Baochai is just a young woman in a boudoir who has no experience in the world. How dare she be compared with the adults in the temple, let alone second brother Lian."
Baochai said, looking at Jia Lian with a rare smile, as if he was laughing at Jia Lian's boasting.
"I'm not joking. I think sister Baochai has great ambitions. If she really marries an ordinary person, without Mingzhu's secret support, it will be difficult for ordinary people to bear such blessings.
So in my opinion, it is better for Sister Baochai to join me. When I take charge of the government in the future, I will definitely open a mansion and build a dental building for Sister Baochai alone, so that Sister Baochai can show off her talents and live up to her talent. "
Once surprised, two or three times would be much better. Baochai felt that she still didn't understand Jia Lian too well.
She seemed to understand why even Lin Daiyu, who was extraordinary and unworldly, was willing to commit herself to Jia Lian.
People like Brother Lian are like celebrities, left in the world, and completely different from everyone else.
Thinking that she might be with the person in front of her for the rest of her life, Baochai suddenly felt light-hearted and couldn't help but scolded: "Brother Lian's so-called show of his talents, does he mean to become my concubine with you?"
It was rare for me to speak quickly, but after I said it, my mood was different.
There was both relief and some trepidation. She was relieved because the topic of marriage between men and women, which they had never discussed, was finally brought up, and she might be able to hear the most direct response from Jia Lian.
The uneasiness was that she was afraid that Jia Lian's answer would not be what she wanted.
When the time comes, how should I choose? Mother was right. In the current situation, committing to brother Lian was the best choice.
What's even more rare is that I also like him...
Like Baochai, Jia Lian couldn't keep the smile on her face after she mentioned the unavoidable barrier of "being a concubine".
Although Jia Lian was a little happy in his heart, because just from Baochai's unprecedented coquettish words, he was sure that this girl secretly admired him.
But Jia Lian was not carried away by the joy. He could see that Baochai was different from Daiyu.
For such a woman, it seems that the influence that emotions can bring to her is not decisive.
He was not sure whether Baochai was willing to marry him, and felt aggrieved for the time being. Yes, in Jia Lian's heart, sooner or later he will be able to give Baochai what he wants, but he can't do it yet.
For a moment, Jia Lian didn't want to pretend to be a gentleman anymore and just did what Baochai said at the beginning and forced her in.
Anyway, he has already taken care of Aunt Xue. Anyway, Baochai doesn't look like a person who would rather bend than bend. At most, he will be good enough to her in the future.
But in the end, Jia Lian sighed inwardly, took a step forward, and hugged Baochai, who was a head shorter than him, in his arms under his suddenly nervous gaze.
"Second brother, you..."
Baochai subconsciously pushed Jia Lian twice, and found that he couldn't push or escape, so he was naturally very nervous.
Fortunately, she soon discovered that Jia Lian was just hugging her, just like when he protected her yesterday, very gently, and there was no other indecent behavior, so she slowly felt relieved.
Jia Lian didn't care to take in the warm fragrance of nephrite in his arms. He just put his head close to Baochai's ear and whispered: "Although Jia Lian is not a gentleman, he is also a man of his word.
Since I said in front of your mother not to force you, I will never do anything to force you until you agree. "
The second time he embraced Baochai's delicate body, Jia Lian could better understand what the national beauty of peony was and what a noble concubine of the Tang Palace was. At this moment, Jia Lian was even thinking that even if Yang Yuhuan was reborn, the feeling of holding him in his arms would be nothing better than this.
But Jia Lian didn't dare to feel the warm fragrance too much. He didn't even dare to peek too much at the snow-skinned face near the corner of his eyes. He was afraid that he could not help but make an extraordinary move and ruin all his long-term preparations. .
Baochai's nervous thoughts subsided and she was left feeling ashamed. She glanced at the deserted door and felt a little relieved knowing that her mother was there and no one would come in at this time.
But she didn't answer Jia Lian's words. She knew that Jia Lian's words must not be finished yet.
Sure enough, Jia Lian continued to say: "But I want to tell sister Baochai that what I love about you is beyond what you have seen and heard in sixteen years, and even beyond what everyone in this world can understand.
If I don't get it from you in this life, even if I am famous and have power all over the world, it will still be a shortcoming for me. "
The sincere words and profound confessions reached Baochai's ears and penetrated into the girl's heart, making her whole body tremble. Even until the man let go of her, didn't know what he said, turned around and left, she still stood there, unable to extricate herself for a long time.
I don’t know how long it took, but Aunt Xue walked in.
She glanced up and asked with a smile, "He's gone?"
Baochai took a deep breath and nodded.
"Bullying you??"
Baochai was stunned for a moment, then his face turned red, and he said in disbelief: "What did mother say? He... Brother Lian is a gentleman, naturally..."
Baochai couldn't speak any more.
Are you a gentleman? Aunt Xue shook her head and without saying anything else, she stepped forward and took her daughter's hand.
Just from the blushing look on her daughter's face, she knew that the matter was probably gone. Under such circumstances, she naturally had many important matters that she wanted to discuss with her daughter. (End of chapter)
