Managing the finances for Grandmother Jia was no easy task.
First and foremost, meticulous accounting was essential.
Admittedly, Grandmother Jia's daily expenses weren't high. From large-scale gifts to small family banquets and birthday celebrations, everything could be accounted for in the Jia family's public accounts. However, small gambling winnings and losses with Fengjie and others, and rewards for maids like Qiuwen, came from her private savings.
Although the amounts were small, they likely occurred daily. Gifts to outsiders were often larger. Each item, meticulously recorded, was part of Yuanyang's careful financial management.
Jia She's desire to marry Yuanyang was a pretense; what he truly valued was his mother's vast private wealth. Lacking the ability to earn money himself, yet still wanting to sponge off his parents, he truly had a useless air about him.
After everyone had arrived, even Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng came over.
Grandmother Jia, who had been languidly resting her chin on her right hand, sat up straight, her expression serious as she looked at everyone. "Where are Xichun and Tanchun? Call them over too."
Shortly afterward, two beautiful young women, each with their own unique charm and elegance, entered.
Tanchun wore a purple dress, while Xichun wore a yellowish one. All four were stunning beauties, each with their own distinct charm.
"The Empress visited the Jia family a few days ago, a great stroke of luck for us. She also told us to cooperate closely with Lu Ming, the governor of Liangzhou, to assist Prince Bian in governing Chang'an. Now, Yingchun has sent a letter saying she is pregnant. Lu Ming now controls Liangzhou and the Three Auxiliary Regions, wielding immense power. With His Majesty's favor and the Empress's grace, his future is limitless."
Everyone listened attentively, except for Jia She, who remained unconvinced. He was an arrogant and dissolute young man who had never taken Lu Ming, a man of humble origins, seriously.
In his view, those from poor families were nothing more than dogs for noble families like theirs!
He, at least, inherited a title, but what about Lu Ming?
Hmph, to survive in this world, you need power and connections!
Lu Ming?
Who does Lu Ming think he is?
"Lu Ming plans to marry Tan Chun and Xi Chun as concubines. What do you all think?" Grandmother Jia seemed to be asking Tan Chun and Xi Chun, but in reality, she didn't care about their opinions at all.
Girls from prominent families were used for political marriages; even if they married out, they were wives, not concubines.
She didn't want her two granddaughters to marry, not because she was reluctant, but because it wasn't worth it.
Madam Wang's heart was in turmoil, but her expression remained unchanged.
She had spoken with her daughter Yuan Chun before and knew that the Empress needed Lu Ming right now; they really had no other choice.
Yuan Chun was on Empress He's side, and Empress He's child was her eldest son, Liu Bian.
If Liu Bian had become emperor, the Jia family would still be prosperous.
But if Liu Xie had become emperor, it would be hard to say.
Secondly, Tan Chun was Zhao Yiniang's daughter, but she was raised by her from a young age, so there was no difference between her and her own daughter.
Furthermore, Tan Chun had no affection for her biological mother, Zhao Yiniang, so Lady Wang treated her as her own daughter.
She was the daughter of Jia Zheng of the Rongguo Mansion and Zhao Yiniang, a concubine who came from a servant background. She was Jia Baoyu's half-sister, commonly referred to as the Third Miss in the Jia family. Baoyu and the three sisters were all raised by Grandmother Jia and received an excellent education, no different from their elder sister, Yuan Chun.
She was shrewd, capable, and decisive, nicknamed "Rose." Even Feng Jie (Lady Feng) was somewhat wary of her; during the search of the Grand View Garden, she slapped Wang Shanbao's wife. She was skilled in poetry and calligraphy, possessing refined tastes, and initiated the establishment of the Begonia Poetry Club, making her a prominent talent in the Grand View Garden. She cared about national affairs and had practical abilities; she was once ordered by Lady Wang to manage the household in place of Feng Jie and oversaw reforms in the Grand View Garden.
However, one crucial point was clear to Tan Chun.
She wouldn't allow others to mention her birth, generally only saying that her mother was Lady Wang.
She understood very well that only by being with Lady Wang could she receive a better education and better treatment, thus becoming a legitimate daughter and being treated as her own.
Therefore, she was indifferent to her own mother, showing no concern or respect whatsoever.
After hearing what Grandmother Jia said, everyone's expressions varied.
Only Jia Tanchun's expression remained unchanged, as if she had known about this all along.
Her ability to rely on Lady Wang proved that her shrewdness and methods were beyond the reach of ordinary women.
Furthermore, having grown up under the tutelage of Grandmother Jia, and receiving her teachings and guidance, she already possessed a strong sense of justice.
Only Jia Xichun's expression changed, seemingly showing disgust and aversion.
She was the youngest of the four sisters of the Jia family.
Her father, Jia Jing, was obsessed with Taoist alchemy and ultimately died from poisoning by elixirs. In the book, Xichun's mother died shortly after her birth, and she grew up under the care of her great-aunt, Grandmother Jia, in the Rongguo Mansion.
While her shrewdness couldn't compare to Tanchun's, she was still a rare and capable woman.
Jia She was the first to object, shouting, "Grandmother, even if Lu Ming controls the Three Auxiliary Regions, Chang'an is still our territory! Who gives him the right to act so presumptuously? Does he think he can do whatever he wants? Chang'an doesn't belong to the Lu family!"
Even though his daughter Yingchun had been used as collateral in Lu Ming's marriage, Jia She harbored no goodwill towards him, only disgust.
If he had any sense, he should be trying to appeal to Lu Ming's emotions, fawning over him, instead of shouting here!
Jia Zheng, as Tan Chun's father, simply stroked his beard, remaining silent. His silence seemed to imply acquiescence, meaning he didn't object.
Jia Lian glanced at his father, wanting to say something, but then fell silent. He was still afraid of his father. Jia She was definitely not a good father; he was practically a scoundrel!
Only Wang Xifeng's eyes flickered a few times, her thoughts unreadable.
Meanwhile, Lady Xing, Jia She's second wife, remained silent with her head down. The mere mention of Lu Ming reminded her of kneeling on the ground like a female dog, swaying her large buttocks to please him, and for a moment, her old vagina began to swell with lust!
The expressions of the crowd varied, each harboring different thoughts and plans. None of them shared the same idea. Grandmother Jia merely glanced at her eldest son, shaking her head slightly in disappointment. "Zheng'er, what do you think?"
Having been mentioned by Grandmother Jia, Jia Zheng could no longer feign ignorance. He could only ponder for a moment, carefully adopting a posture before speaking, "A local official is more powerful than a distant one. Lu Ming now controls the Three Auxiliary Regions, commanding over a hundred thousand troops. Even the Yuezhi have been defeated, and he has also subdued the Western Qiang tribes. This shows his ability; he is truly a hero reborn, and exceptionally brave. Calling him a reincarnation of Xiang Yu wouldn't be an exaggeration!"