The next days are spent visiting relatives and friends.
Either he would invite others to drink, or he would go to other people's houses to have drinks. He kept going on until the twelfth day of the first lunar month, and then he stopped.
Lin Daiyu and Shi Xiangyun stayed after coming to pay Jia Mu New Year greetings.
There are many sisters here, and it is more lively. Everyone even took the time to open a poetry club.
In the blink of an eye, it’s the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month.
The Ning and Rong mansions were all hung with all kinds of lanterns, and the Grand View Garden was also hung with all kinds of strange lanterns.
At night, the colorful lanterns are full of light, colorful and colorful, illuminating the entire Grand View Garden as brightly as day.
Jia Cong also had some large lanterns made and placed in open spaces, ponds, and rivers.
It makes the whole garden look more dreamlike and colorful.
Walking in the Grand View Garden, it was like walking into a sea of lights, a world of lights, which made all the little sisters and the girls from the two houses exclaim and sigh.
Although it is not as good as the large-scale lantern festivals in the city, it is still more exquisite, strange and fantasy, making it more eye-catching in comparison.
For several days, people came and went in the Grand View Garden in an endless stream, coming to watch the lanterns in the garden.
Jia Cong is responsible for guarding the palace and actually has no holidays. However, as the commander, he does not need to personally stand guard and patrol, he only needs to arrange the Imperial Guard soldiers to stand guard and patrol.
Even so, he still needs to be on duty in shifts with other generals.
Jia Cong also came to work one day shift and two night shifts.
The day shift was just fine, the night shift was a good job for him. After a round of inspections, he sneaked into Cining Palace and spent quality time with the Queen and Concubine Chen.
After the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, even if the year is over, the peaceful days of the past have returned again.
Jia Cong also worked in the palace during the day and went home at night. His life was very regular.
A group of sisters went to Ningguo Mansion every now and then to have dinner with Jia Cong.
On this day, after going to the Yamen, Jia Cong returned to Ningguo Mansion as usual.
As soon as he reached the door, he was stopped by Xue Pan.
"Brother Cong, I've waited for you. My mother asked me to invite you to my house for dinner. It just so happens that we brothers can have a few drinks."
Xue Pan, after the incident with Zhou Hao, listened to Jia Cong and hid in the south out of fear of revenge from the Zhou family.
He hid for more than half a year, and only came back during the Chinese New Year.
Aunt Xue was afraid that he would cause trouble again, and since she was getting older, she planned to arrange a marriage for him, and she would have someone in charge.
A few days ago, I was chatting with Xue Baochai and learned about this matter from her mouth. The reason why I called myself over today was probably to discuss this matter.
I am not qualified to take care of this kind of thing, and I don't want to take care of it. If it goes well, forget it. If it goes wrong, I will just blame it.
However, Aunt Xue asked me to go, so I had no choice but to go and have a look first.
Jia Cong smiled and said: "Brother Xue, why are you in such a hurry? You should always ask your brother to go back and change his clothes. You can't go to see your aunt wearing a suit of armor, right? You go back and tell your aunt first, lest she wait in a hurry. I'll go back and change." Put on your clothes and come over immediately."
Seeing Jia Cong's armor and stomach, Xue Pan knew that what he said was reasonable. He probably wouldn't be comfortable wearing this thing all the time.
He nodded and said: "Okay, brother will go back first, so you should come here quickly."
Jia Cong said: "Don't worry, I'll change my clothes and go there."
After watching Xue Pan go away, Jia Cong turned around and returned to Ningguo Mansion.
Under the service of Yuanyang, Xiren and others, he took off his armor and put on regular clothes.
Xiren said: "Master, I heard someone from the front saying that the Xue family's uncle is looking for you, have you seen him?"
Jia Cong said: "Well, I saw him. My aunt asked him to invite me to their house for dinner. I won't eat at home tonight. You can eat by yourself."
Yuanyang said: "Sir, my concubine invited you over. Isn't it to discuss your marriage with Miss Xue?"
Jia Cong shook his head and said, "Probably not. I heard from Sister Bao the day before yesterday that my aunt had arranged a marriage for Brother Xue. It is probably because of this that I was asked to come over today."
Yuanyang said, "It's really time for Uncle Xue to get married. Otherwise, if his brother doesn't get married, Miss Xue won't be able to run in front of his brother, which will delay the time for me and Miss Xue to get married."
Xi Ren said: "Uncle Xue is getting older. If we get married, we should get married soon. I want to get married to Miss Lin first, and then to Miss Bao. This time is just right."
Yuanyang smiled and said, "We in Ningguo Mansion are going to have a lot of happy events this year. Qingwen is currently busy making the groom's clothes for me."
Jia Cong smiled and said: "It's hard for this girl Qingwen. When I get married, I can let you be my aunt. In the future, you can be served by others instead of me."
Xiren smiled, and it was obvious that he was quite happy.
"Even if I become an aunt, I still have to serve you."
Yuanyang said: "Instead of being an aunt, I would rather stay with you and stay with you all the time."
Jia Cong smiled and said: "You are smart, and you know that those who are near the water and the towers first get the moon. You can decide this by yourself when the time comes. Naturally, I can't lack someone to take care of it. Instead of leaving it to others, I trust you more.
In fact, even if you become an aunt, you can still stay with me and help me take care of some trivial matters. After Sister Lin comes in, Ping'er will become her subordinate and help her continue to manage the house. Zijuan should also intervene. Zijuan may also take care of the affairs of the back house for her, so you should still be responsible for taking care of my affairs. "
Yuanyang smiled and said, "Let's wait until Miss Lin comes in. I don't want to argue with Zijuan and make Miss Lin unhappy."
Jia Cong said: "It's not like you don't know Sister Lin's temperament. She doesn't have much interest in these trivial matters. Now she is focused on practicing martial arts and wants to follow me to fight. If you really want to be a housekeeper, Sister Bao is more suitable. Forget it, let’s not talk about this, I have to hurry over so as not to keep people waiting.”
Yuanyang said: "Master, drink less, don't drink too much."
"knew."
Jia Cong responded, then walked out of the room.
Looking at Jia Cong's retreating back, Xiren said: "Yuanyang, do you think Miss Lin will target us and send us away after she comes in? At the beginning, the people around Second Master Lian were all treated by the Second Mistress. They were sent out, leaving no one behind. I don’t know if our master can protect us.”
Yuanyang glanced at Xiren and felt that she was a little unfounded.
Although there is an example of Second Grandma Lian, Miss Lin is not Second Grandma Lian.
Their temperaments were so different that she didn't believe Miss Lin would do this anyway.
Besides, everyone has lived together for so many years, and there is still some affection between them.
A few years ago, when my father was in Liaodong, I, Heping'er, was entrusted with the responsibility to take good care of Miss Lin. It was impossible to do this just based on these feelings.
Besides, this man of mine is not a vegetarian. He is also a person who values love and justice. It is impossible to see this kind of thing happen.
"Xi Ren, you are overthinking. Miss Lin is not the second grandma, and our master is not the second master Lian. For all of us, he took the initiative to get us around, which shows that he has long recognized it in his heart. We. Miss Lin will not do this, and our master will not allow this to happen. Our master is not comparable to Mr. Lian, so just put your heart in your stomach. "
Xiren said: "I also know that Miss Lin will not do this, but I am a little worried. It is our blessing to be able to follow our master in this life. I don't want to leave him. He is the only person I can rely on."
Yuanyang said: "Stop thinking nonsense, our master is a man who values love and justice and will not let us down."
Yuanyang is quite familiar with Jia Cong's character.
He has been with Jia Cong all these years, helping him manage his private treasury, and being in charge of all matters related to Jia Cong.
Everything on the side.
Ping'er and Yuanyang, one outside and one inside, are Jia Cong's right-hand men. They know more about some things about Jia Cong, and they can be said to be the confidants of his confidants.
Therefore, Yuanyang doesn't worry about these things at all. What she thinks about is how to stay with Jia Cong all the time.
My aunt's status in this mansion is not high, and no one will care. She might as well stay with Jia Cong, and her status will be higher.
In the past, when I was with the old lady, all the masters in the house would be polite to her. Now that he is with Jia Cong, as his personal butler, his status is even higher, and no one will underestimate him.
Thinking of what Jia Cong said just now, I felt quite happy.
It is indeed a good idea to be able to continue to stay with Jia Cong as an aunt and help take care of his affairs.
······
Jia Cong left the courtyard and walked through the Grand View Garden. After a while, he came to Xue's house.
Seeing Jia Cong entering, Xue Pan led Xue Ke out to welcome him.
"Brother Cong is here, please come in quickly."
Jia Cong smiled and said: "Brother Xue, brother Xue, we are not outsiders, why should we be so polite."
A few people smiled, exchanged greetings, and came to the house together.
Aunt Xue knew that Jia Cong was coming, and walked out of the back room with Xue Baochai and Xue Baoqin.
Jia Cong quickly stood up and saluted: "I've met my aunt. I'm going to bother my aunt again today. Sister Bao and sister Qin, you two are also back."
Aunt Xue smiled and said: "Brother Cong is here, why are you so polite here? Just treat it like you are at home."
Xue Baoqin smiled and said, "Knowing that my brother-in-law is coming to our house for dinner, my sister and I will naturally come back to accompany you."
Jia Cong smiled and said, "I know, aunt, and thank you, sister Qin."
After some polite greetings, everyone took their seats and started chatting about home affairs.
Xue Baochai said: "Brother Cong, we went to the palace yesterday but we didn't see you. Are you staying in the palace?"
Jia Cong glanced at Xue Baochai and said with a smile: "Well, I was on duty in the palace yesterday and didn't go home. Although this errand is usually free, he doesn't have much freedom. He has to stay in the palace on duty every now and then. And on the 5th When the city's soldiers and horses were in charge, it was far behind."
Xue Pan said: "Brother Cong, it should be quite satisfying to be an errand in the palace. You are there to protect the emperor, and you need the emperor's trust."
Jia Cong gave Xue Pan a strange look and said to himself that it was indeed quite refreshing. How could he not be happy with the Queen and Concubine Chen by his side? Most people feel very happy just thinking about it.
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Xue Baochai's face turned red, and he glared at Xue Pan angrily, and said angrily: "Brother, what are you talking about? If you get married, just get married. Why don't you do anything to me?"
Jia Cong smiled and said, "Brother Xue seems to be very satisfied with this marriage. I wonder which family the girl is from?"
Xue Pan said: "It's not bad. She's a girl from Guihua Xia's family. I heard she's pretty good."
Aunt Xue said: "Brother Cong, I called you here today to talk about this. I think the girl from the Xia family is pretty good. Her family has also been an imperial merchant, so our two families are well matched. I want to ask, you I know this family well, and if there is no problem, I would like to settle this matter and let you, Brother Xue, get married as soon as possible, so as not to delay your marriage with Bao Yatou."
It was really Xia Jingui from the Xia family. Regarding this family, Jia Cong had read information about this family when he was in the Wucheng Army and Horses Division.
Xia Jingui is the only daughter in the family. Her father has passed away and she lives with her mother.
After Xia's father died, the Xia family's status as an imperial merchant was also revoked by the Ministry of Household Affairs, and the once famous Osmanthus Xia family declined.
As for Xia Jingui's character, Jia Cong didn't know.
However, in the original "Dream of Red Mansions", this woman is not a trouble-free winner, and brings the Xue family into chaos.
Although the Xue family has declined, the names of the four major families are still very resounding. The Xia family wants to cling to the Xue family, and someone pulls the strings. Naturally, the two families hit it off.
With the status of the Xue family and Xue Pan's habits, it was impossible to marry a girl from an official family. She was indeed a good match for the Xia family.
Looking at the expressions of Aunt Xue and Xue Pan, Jia Cong already understood that the Xue family was very satisfied with the marriage, so he couldn't say anything more.
Jia Cong thought for a while and said, "Aunt, to be honest, I do know some details about the Xia family, but I don't know the character of the Xia family girl. Auntie, it's best to find someone to find out."
Jia Cong didn't know what would happen in the future, so he could only vaguely remind them.
As for the outcome, it can only depend on God's will.
