webnovelfull Chapter 12 Incident
Chapter 12 Incident
Having decided on the candidate, Jia Huan no longer hesitated and directly summoned Zizai Feihua to announce the matter.
The two were naturally delighted and immediately knelt down to pledge their loyalty: "We will definitely work harder in the future and serve Third Master well."
"I have only one request for you: manage Qingfeng Courtyard well, keep an eye on the people in the courtyard, report any issues promptly, do not act on your own initiative, and of course, do not bring every little thing to my attention. If you do your job well, I will not treat you unfairly."
Jia Huan's voice was clear and gentle, delivering each word clearly to the two of them. He beckoned to them, "Come here, both of you."
The two obediently walked to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed). Jia Huan reached into a black lacquered box on the kang table, grabbed two handfuls of gold melon seeds, and gave them to the two men, each weighing about two ounces.
One by one, the gold pieces fell into my palm, heavy with weight.
Zizai Feihua held the golden melon seeds in both hands, her eyes wide with amazement. They didn't know where Jia Huan got the golden melon seeds, but it didn't matter; it wasn't their concern. All they knew was that the golden melon seeds in their hands were almost their entire monthly allowance for a year.
So much money!
I doubt even the old lady's maid, Yuanyang, has ever received such a generous reward at once.
Looking at the bright yellow and golden gold, Zizai Feihua was dazzled, her heart pounding, but she quickly came to her senses and knelt down to express her gratitude.
"Thank you, Third Master!"
"Get up, all of you! If you do your best, I will certainly not treat you unfairly. But whether you can continue to be treated fairly depends on your own abilities."
Jia Huan waved his hand, signaling the two to get up. He spoke to them, but his gaze was already looking out the window.
Zizai Feihua exchanged a glance, and thinking of the four people outside, they understood.
The two left the west side room, whispered a few words to each other in the main hall, and then went out.
As for how they dealt with the other people in the courtyard and managed their relationships, that was their business. Jia Huan had no intention of knowing the inside story. Anyway, the next day, everyone in the courtyard was still busy with their work in an orderly manner, but they all had a slight look of joy on their faces, as if they had received some benefits.
The Qingfeng Courtyard was a scene of prosperity and flourishing.
Life is like a book, and time slowly turns the pages. Before you know it, it's April, spring is in full bloom, and everything is coming back to life. The warm spring air and bright sunshine completely awaken the silence of winter.
As dawn breaks, the air is filled with the fragrance of earth and the fresh scent of tender leaves. The persimmon tree awakens from its winter slumber, its branches sprouting vibrant green buds that eventually unfurl their leaves. Birds in the branches sing even more joyfully, together with the persimmon tree, creating a vibrant and lively scene.
For once, Jia Huan didn't stay cooped up in his room reading and drinking tea. Instead, he suddenly got the urge to grow some flowers and plants to pass the time, hoping it would also help him cultivate his character and temperament.
Tables and chairs were placed in the yard, and the tables were filled with all kinds of flower pots, the largest as big as a plate and the smallest no bigger than a teacup. They were all filled with soil. Two large trays were placed on the ground to one side. One tray was filled with some oddly shaped stones and driftwood, and the other tray was filled with some plants that had been found in the yard and the nearby garden greenhouse.
Such as the beautiful five-needle pine, the unique and ancient Chinese juniper, the ancient and vigorous Podocarpus macrophyllus with its graceful branches and leaves, the charming pomegranate, the petite and elegant small bamboo, and the lush and verdant Asparagus fern that resembles overlapping green clouds, these are all elegant and carefully cultivated plants. There are also moss growing in inconspicuous corners of the garden, or unknown flowers and grasses growing on the ground with weeds. There is also the calamus, which is known as the "most elegant plant in the world" and is highly praised by literati. These are all small plants, exquisite and charming.
Kyoto's weather is far less warm and pleasant than that of the south. There were two snowfalls in March, but by April, the temperature had risen considerably. Jia Huan no longer needed to wear such heavy clothes. He changed into a light purple spring outfit, rolled up his sleeves to his elbows, and used a spatula to loosen the soil in a square flowerpot that was no bigger than the palm of his hand.
"Oh dear! Something terrible has happened at Rongxi Hall, and you're still here tending to your flowers and plants!"
Aunt Zhao rushed into the garden, beaming with joy as she spoke to Jia Huan, her tone laced with schadenfreude.
Upon hearing this, Jia Huan frowned slightly, put down what he was holding, and it landed on the table with a 'thud'.
Zizai Feihua stood by his side, watching his every move. Seeing his displeased expression, she understood what was going on. There were a bunch of maids and servants in the courtyard. Aunt Zhao had no brains and went into the courtyard to tell Jia Huan that something had happened in Rongxi Hall. She was even beaming with joy. What would people think if word got out!
Zizai Feihua bowed slightly to Aunt Zhao, interrupting her, and said calmly, "Aunt Zhao must be tired from your journey. Please sit here for a while, and I will make you a cup of tea."
Aunt Zhao had no suspicions and was even happy to feel that she was highly valued in her son's courtyard.
Zizai and Feihua exchanged a glance, both understanding each other's meaning. Without delay, Zizai went briskly to the tea room, while Feihua quickly summoned the maids and servants in the courtyard to the backyard and gave them a good talking-to.
In an instant, the once lively courtyard fell silent, leaving only Jia Huan and Aunt Zhao.
Jia Huan stared at Aunt Zhao without saying a word, his eyes like a bottomless pool, silently swallowing all her emotions.
Aunt Zhao's initial high spirits vanished, her senses gradually returned, and she realized the inappropriateness of her words. Awkwardly, she touched her nose with a handkerchief and said somewhat embarrassedly, "I was a little confused just now."
Before, Aunt Zhao considered herself Jia Huan's birth mother and would never bow down or admit defeat even if she was wrong. However, since her son fell ill, he seemed to have become a different person. Even though he had never lost his temper with her or spoken harshly to her, his calm and composed demeanor inexplicably gave people a sense of pressure, making them feel fearful and afraid to act rashly.
Seeing her hesitant manner, Jia Huan knew that she had realized her mistake, so he calmly asked, "Auntie just said that something happened at Rongxi Hall. What happened?"