Wang Fu arrived with the imperial decree. Seeing Jia She dressed in thin clothing, he said with concern, “The weather is still chilly, and the General’s health is delicate. You should wear something thicker.”
“His Majesty is very fond of Miss Lin. Seeing that she loves to read the Great Learning, he has specifically permitted her to enter the palace to study as a companion to the Princess.”
“His Majesty also recalled that you have an illegitimate daughter, so he sent an oral decree permitting her to enter the palace to study as well, simply to accompany Miss Lin.”
Yingchun’s status was a bit too low; otherwise, Situ Xuan would have made her a companion as well. Jia She felt Wang Fu was being far too respectful. He pulled him aside and asked softly, “Steward Wang, we are old acquaintances. Can you tell me the truth: what exactly does His Majesty intend to do?”
If the Emperor were rewarding Lin Daiyu to compensate Lin Ruhai, the logic would hold, but he felt there was more to it. Wang Fu stood quite close to Jia She, and seeing his fair, jade-like skin, he suddenly understood why the Emperor had been moved. Such rare beauty deserved to be paired with the most noble person in the world. Wang Fu averted his gaze and stepped back half a step, not daring to get too close. The Emperor possessed an intense sense of possessiveness; if he knew he was standing so close to Jia She, he would certainly be displeased, and a beating would be inevitable.
Wang Fu coughed softly. “General, Lord Lin has served His Majesty with loyalty, and he has no sons, only one daughter. To be honest, His Majesty left the palace today specifically to see Miss Lin. They spoke quite happily, and His Majesty is very fond of her.”
What? Situ Xuan and Lin Daiyu spoke happily? Jia She was instantly on edge. “Steward Wang, Daiyu is only six years old.”
Wang Fu understood the implication of Jia She’s words, his eyes nearly popping out in terror, his face turning pale. “My ancestor, you must not say such things! His Majesty told Miss Lin to call him Uncle, with the intention of raising her like a daughter.” He resolved that he would never come to the Jia Mansion to deliver decrees again; Jia She’s way of speaking was far too frightening. He would not survive many more such shocks.
Seeing Wang Fu’s intense reaction, Jia She felt relieved that Situ Xuan did not have that kind of interest in Lin Daiyu. Unable to learn anything else, he could only assume Situ Xuan valued Lin Ruhai and wished to compensate Lin Daiyu for his strange actions.
After Jia She returned to his room and wiped his hair dry with a handkerchief, he sighed helplessly. If Situ Xuan truly wanted to take Daiyu hostage, he would have no choice but to watch. Even if his spiritual ability broke through to the second level, he could not oppose imperial power.
Lin Zhixiao was setting up an incense table when he was pulled aside by Wang Fu. “Steward Lin, why are there no maids serving the General? I only saw young male servants.” Lin Zhixiao had been nervous, fearing he had arranged something improperly, but hearing it was just idle chatter, he wore a lewd grin and whispered, “The maids in the mansion are easily embarrassed; they often blush just by looking at the Master. The bolder ones would even steal things the Master has used, so the Master feels uncomfortable and forbids them from serving him directly.”
Those little maids were indeed insane; it was not just the maids in the East Courtyard, but the maids and nannies throughout the entire Rong Mansion who were quite wild. A handkerchief Jia She had used had been auctioned off for ten taels of silver outside. He himself had sometimes been tempted to auction off the General’s belongings.
Wang Fu asked deliberately, “Does the General’s wife not manage this?”
Lin Zhixiao, seeing Wang Fu was also prone to gossip, whispered, “The Master and his wife do not have a very good relationship. Let me tell you a secret, but you must never tell my Master.” He wanted to curry favor with Wang Fu, so he shared a secret that was not actually a secret at all, as many in the Rong Mansion knew. Wang Fu narrowed his eyes with a smile. “You are quite sharp. Tell me.”
Ensuring Jia She was in his room, Lin Zhixiao said mysteriously, “The Master and his wife have never consummated their marriage.” He gave Wang Fu a lewd wink.
Wang Fu was surprised. “Does the General have a problem with his body?” This was not good news!
Lin Zhixiao shook his head. “No, the Master is perfectly healthy. As his personal attendant, how could I not know? He simply no longer has an interest in those things; he is dedicated to his health.”
“He has sent away half of the concubines in the courtyard, and the remaining ones dare not approach him.” Since Jia She had started cultivating, his face had become increasingly beautiful. The concubines in the back courtyard felt inferior to him, feeling unworthy, and since Jia She showed no interest, they dared not approach him for fear of being cast out and losing the chance to see him again.
Wang Fu dragged Lin Zhixiao to continue digging for details on Jia She’s private life. Lin Zhixiao found the Chief Eunuch to be no different from an ordinary person, equally gossipy. Wang Fu learned what he wanted: Jia She and Lady Xing had a poor relationship, and he currently had no one by his side. The less-than-ideal news was that Jia She was dedicated to his health and slept alone every night.
Jia She changed his clothes and came out. Wang Fu looked at him with a smiling expression. “General, are you feeling better? Why don’t we wait inside? It is my fault for not notifying you in advance.”
He had intentionally not notified him. If Jia She had been prepared to receive the decree, he would have had no excuse to linger in the Jia Mansion after the ceremony. This way was better; he could sit with Jia She, chat, and probe into his preferences and daily habits for the Emperor.
Jia She had Lin Zhixiao brew some tea. Lin Zhixiao hesitated for a second. “Master, the remaining tea at home is just coarse, and the only drinkable tea is the one you roasted yourself in Yangzhou.”
Jia She did not want to give the spiritual tea to Wang Fu. Although an ordinary person could not detect the spiritual energy, the tea was something he had nurtured leaf by leaf, intended for Lin Daiyu.
Since he was the Chief Eunuch and Situ Xuan’s confidant, Jia She could not afford to offend him, so he had Lin Zhixiao get the tea. “I hope Eunuch Wang will not mind; I roasted this tea myself, and the taste may not be the best.”
Wang Fu would not dare mind. He wanted to bring the tea back to the Emperor; if His Majesty was pleased, he might even be rewarded. Lin Zhixiao served the tea. Wang Fu examined the color, which was entirely different from the tea he usually drank, and after one sip, his face was filled with astonishment. Having served Situ Xuan, he had tasted famous teas from all over the country, yet none had stunned him like the tea Jia She had roasted.
Wang Fu sipped it with enjoyment and looked at Jia She with bright eyes. “General, His Majesty is also a tea lover. You should send some to him; His Majesty would surely be very pleased.”
Jia She knew Wang Fu was hinting, but he truly dreaded Situ Xuan. He did not even want to speak to him, wanting only to stay as far away as possible. He couldn’t quite grasp why he felt such dread toward the Emperor. Perhaps it was just a fear that manifested as a visceral discomfort.
Jia She hesitated deliberately. “That would not be appropriate. There is no tea His Majesty has not tasted; how could my coarse tea be worthy? Besides, since it is something to be consumed, if anything were to happen, I would have nowhere to seek justice.”
Wang Fu fell silent, realizing he had underestimated Jia She’s caution. Eventually, Wang Fu received three ounces of tea.
Mother Jia arrived with Lin Daiyu. Jia She saw the baby in Wang Xifeng’s arms and could not help but stare. When receiving the decree, Wang Fu specifically told Lin Daiyu and Jia She that they did not need to kneel. Mother Jia and Jia Zheng’s family were furious. Mother Jia, as she knelt, could not help but let her imagination run wild—was the Emperor dissatisfied with her and using this to reprimand her? When Mother Jia heard that Lin Daiyu would be a companion to the Princess and that Yingchun could also study in the palace, her anxiety only deepened.
Wang Fu handed the rewards to Lin Daiyu, then handed a tray to Lin Zhixiao. “These are rewards from His Majesty, who appreciates your hard work in Yangzhou. His Majesty knows you are frail and specifically found this medicinal jade; I hope you will recuperate well.”
Jia She saw the medicinal jade on the tray and felt it radiating faint pulses of spiritual energy. It was beneficial for ordinary people, but useless to him. Jia She thanked him for the decree and personally escorted Wang Fu out.
Wang Fu never once acknowledged Mother Jia, which only confirmed her suspicions that the Emperor was displeased. She gripped Jia Zheng’s arm tightly and said with great gravity, “Move out of the Rongxi Hall and move to the East Courtyard when you return.”
Jia Zheng and Lady Wang were furious. Jia She had just returned and heard Jia Zheng saying, “Mother, my study has too many things. It is impossible to move to the East Courtyard in such a short time.”
Jia She sneered, “I am living quite well here in the East Courtyard and will not move. You can move out of the Rongxi Hall or move out of the mansion entirely, for all I care, but do not give me orders.”
Jia She had already had Lin Zhixiao renovate the East Courtyard to his own heart’s content, making it a hundred times better than the Rongxi Hall. Mother Jia, seeing Jia She had not a shred of respect for her, nearly fainted. Jia Zheng and Lady Wang hurriedly helped her away.
Jia She turned to Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng, his eyes softening when he saw the baby in her arms. Jia Lian gestured for Wang Xifeng to show her to him. Jia She reached out and took the child; Wang Xifeng was startled. She hadn’t expected Jia She to hold a child.
Jia She laughed at her shock. “Why are you startled? I held Hu’er back in the day.” Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng were silent. In noble families, men rarely held their children, but the fact that Jia She had held Jia Hu showed how deeply he had loved his late son. But Jia Hu had been murdered!
“Do not overthink it; I have long let go of the past. What is the child’s name?”
“She has no name yet; we are waiting for Father to return to choose one.”
Jia She searched his memory but could not think of a good name. “I will think on it. As for Yingchun and Daiyu entering the palace, you must both be diligent in helping them. Who knows, perhaps my little Guai Guai will also be able to study in the palace one day.”
Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng were thrilled, especially Wang Xifeng. She had been worried Jia She disliked girls, but seeing him unwilling to let go of her daughter and even giving her the nickname Guai Guai, she was overjoyed.
Jia She carried Guai Guai into the room and instructed Lady Xing, “Jia Lian and his wife are staying for dinner; instruct the kitchen that the dishes should not be spicy.”
Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng went into Jia She’s study. Jia She had Lin Zhixiao fetch the jade locket he had commissioned. Lin Zhixiao brought the locket along with a set of fine red gemstone headwear. Jia She watched him with satisfaction. He personally put the locket on Guai Guai and said to Wang Xifeng, “This headwear belonged to Jia Lian’s birth mother; I give it to you today, hoping you and Jia Lian will be considerate of each other and live in harmony.”
He added, “I do not favor sons over daughters. Guai Guai is wonderful, and you must take great care of her.”
Wang Xifeng nodded repeatedly. Jia She handed the child back to Wang Xifeng, instructing her, “Guai Guai may very well study in the palace; her parents must have clean records. I know you are different from Lady Wang. Do not interfere in the dirty business in the mansion; be careful not to play with fire. I will state this clearly: if you commit an act that violates the law and implicates Jia Lian and Guai Guai, I will have Jia Lian divorce you.”
“You have cared for Jia Lian well and have merit in bearing Guai Guai. As long as your actions are justified, I will be fair and not favor Jia Lian just because he is my son. You and Jia Lian are equal in my eyes; if either of you errs, I will punish you both.”
Wang Xifeng only relaxed after he finished, breaking into a cold sweat. She was grateful once more that she had not been seduced by Lady Wang, or Jia Lian would have divorced her by now. Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng had a meal with Jia She and discussed it in whispers on the way back.
“The Eldest Master seems to love our daughter; he not only gave her a nickname but also plans for her to study in the palace.”
Jia Lian nodded. “Father has the ability; his relationship with the Prince of Virtue is excellent. You must remember what he said today: stay away from the mess in the mansion.”
After they left, Jia She called Lin Zhixiao to ask about Lin Daiyu. Knowing she was with Yingchun, he had his lounge chair moved to the courtyard to begin his daily meditation. Situ Ruo reached the palace and asked, “Imperial Brother, do you need me for anything?”
Situ Xuan had been restless all morning, waiting for news. After learning Situ Ruo had stayed in the Jia mansion until noon, he was irritable and had ordered him to the palace. Situ Xuan handed him a memorial impeaching Situ Ruo. Situ Ruo read it and turned furious.
“This is nonsense! My friendship with Jia She is private. When have I ever used royal privilege to help him? Jia Lian entered the Ministry of Revenue because Jia She repaid the debt. If they can repay their debt, I will authorize their juniors to enter the Ministry of Revenue as well.”
“These Censors do nothing but bark like mad dogs. Situ Xuan and Jia She are perfectly innocent. This memorial claims we have an improper relationship and that I am shielding Jia She while he runs wild. It is a joke! Jia She rarely leaves his house; how could he run wild?”
“He is a descendant of the Duke of Rong and holds a first-class general title. Must he bow to every low-level official like a commoner?”
Situ Xuan looked at Situ Ruo, who was so fiercely defending Jia She. “You protect Jia She so vehemently; is there truly nothing between you?”
Situ Ruo froze, his voice rising in volume. “Imperial Brother, how can you ask such a question? It is absolutely impossible between me and Jia She. I will tell you the truth: Jia She is too ethereal, too immortal-like. I cannot feel an ounce of lust toward him; I only want to keep him enshrined.”