Devising a Poisonous Scheme, Jingui Burns Herself to Death; Blind to True Zen, Yucun Meets an Old Friend in Vain

Now to return to Jia Lian. He came to Lady Wang's rooms and told her the whole story of Jia Zheng's affair, exactly as it was. The next day Jia Lian went to the Ministry of Personnel and arranged all the necessary matters. When he returned, he paid his respects to Lady Wang again and told her that everything at the Ministry had been settled. Lady Wang said, "Is the news reliable? If it is true, then the master is actually fortunate, and the whole family can set their minds at ease. How is being posted to a provincial office an easy assignment? If he had not been impeached and recalled, those wicked servants might well have destroyed the master's life." Jia Lian asked, "How does Auntie see it so clearly?" Lady Wang said, "Ever since your Second Uncle was posted outside, not a single coin has come back to the family. Instead, we have had to send money out to make up for him. Look at those serving women who went with the master. Their men had not been in the yamen long before they were all decked out in gold and silver. Is that not proof they were secretly lining their......