The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 132 Questioning
June 16th is auspicious for moving, opening a business, breaking ground, giving blessings, and setting up a bed...

Early in the morning, Yingchun and Tanchun, along with their maids, came to help Mr. Zhan move.

Of course, Daiyu, who also wanted to study, brought her younger brother Lin Chang'an along as well.

Teacher Zhan Xue didn't mind their young age. She gave one a book and another a few ink sticks, giving them a sense of pride that their teacher was doing his bidding. They moved happily and in a grand procession from Rongguo Mansion to Ningguo Mansion.

The desks, study desks, music rooms, chess rooms, art studios, and so on are all prepared here.

The spacious and bright Ningxi Pavilion suddenly became lively because of their arrival.

"Auntie~"

Lin Chang'an, with his sharp eyes, spotted Shen Ning coming out of the inner room. His eyes crinkled with laughter as he ran over, asking, "Are you here to help the master move too?"

"Yes!"

Shen Ning patted his little head and nodded with a smile to Zhan Xue, who was bowing. "From now on, we'll be in Mr. Zhan's care for these children."

"You're welcome, madam."

Zhan Xue was surprised that Madam Shen would come in person. "Mencius said that a gentleman has three joys. Although I am not a gentleman, it is a great blessing in my life to have become a teacher for these children!"

"Sir, it is our good fortune to have you teaching us!"

Yingchun, along with Tanchun and Daiyu, bowed to Shen Ning, saying, "Aunt, we're here. Please sit down, sir. We'll be done in a bit."

"Haha, then I'll leave it to you."

Shen Ning was delighted with Yingchun's change. "Mr. Zhan, let's go over there and have a cup of tea!"

Zhan Xue smiled and nodded, then went with her.

Neither of them was worried about the children. Qingzhu had taken four old women and two maids from Ningxi Pavilion to identify the children yesterday. Now they were following Zhan Xue's maid, Weidong, to make arrangements, and the children were just helping out; their role was simply to participate.

"I won't concern myself with the children's studies; Mr. Zhan certainly has more experience than I do."

"I wouldn't dare. When I was young, I heard of Madam Shen's great name back home."

Indeed, a great reputation is well-deserved.

Back then, how many people in the capital envied Madam Shen, for she was respected and loved by her husband, and also liked and cherished by her parents-in-law.

I heard that when her mother-in-law passed away, she transferred all her private property to Madam Shen and left nothing to her son.

Looking at how Madam Shen treats Grandma You now, it seems that's the same.

Zhan Xue envies this kind of family atmosphere because she doesn't have one.

It can be said that there are very few families like this among the tens of thousands of households in the entire capital.

She was genuinely happy to be transferred to teach at Ningguo Mansion.

"...That's all in the past."

Shen Ning smiled and said, "Besides welcoming you, there's another matter I wanted to discuss with you this time."

"You say."

Zhan Xue still greatly admired this woman who might have changed the fate of the entire Jia family.

"I've heard that you play the zither quite well, sir?"

"Yes!"

If you want to become a female tutor in such a prestigious family, you need to have some skills.

Zhan Xue is very confident in her area of ​​expertise.

"I wonder if you accept older students?"

what?
Could it be that Madam Shen wants to learn the zither?

Zhan Xue laughed, "Go ahead and accept it! Confucius said that education should be provided to all without discrimination, let alone just because someone is old?"

"That would be great."

Shen Ning smiled, "My daughter-in-law, Madam You, really wants to learn the zither, but she has to manage the household affairs in the mornings and doesn't have much time..."

"You can come in the afternoon, or you can come in the evening for half an hour."

While feeling regretful that it wasn't Mrs. Shen, Zhan Xue also felt much less psychological pressure.

"Then it's settled."

Shen Ning was very satisfied and said with a smile, "Once Ningxi Pavilion is all set up, I will let her come over to become my apprentice."

"Yes, anytime."

Whether you're herding one sheep or a flock of sheep, it's still the same thing.

It does not matter.

The two reached an agreement, smiled at each other, and were about to say something when the wet nurse brought over little Jia Yue, who had tears welling up in her eyes.

The girl actually takes a walk with Shen Ning every day at this time.

If you can't find someone now, and you don't know how to talk to them, they'll cry.

"Oh dear, missing your mother?"

Shen Ning hugged her daughter and introduced Zhan Xue to her with a smile, "Look, this is the tutor that your mother specially brought for you."

Zhan Xue: "..."

Is this word "拐" (guǎi, meaning "turn") for real?
seems like it.

"Haha, Mr. Zhan, please don't be offended," Shen Ning said, holding her youngest daughter. "It's just that my child loved listening to her nephew read when she was still in my belly."

"...I heard Yingchun mention it."

Zhan Xue smiled as she looked at her future student, "I was once worried that you would really send her over before she could even crawl, so that I could teach her to speak."

"Haha, so you were mentally prepared for this?"

"If you're willing to part with it, it's not impossible."

While in the Rongguo Mansion, although there was a dedicated maid to do the rough work, Zhan Xue only had one maid, Wei Dong.

But it's different here; she was provided with six people, including old women and maids.

So, having another child is really nothing.

"That hits the nail on the head."

Shen Ning smiled, "I am indeed a little reluctant, but it's okay to do it occasionally!"

Zhan Xue: "..."

for real?
“Her sisters are all here. You see, on the first and fifteenth of each month, I bring her over for half an hour so she can experience the atmosphere of the school and have her sisters hold her, how about that?”

"of course can."

It will only take half an hour.

Zhan Xue breathed a sigh of relief. When the little girl made "ah ah" sounds at her, she couldn't help but touch her little hand. Just as she was about to say, "Let me hold you," Qing Ping rushed over and said, "Madam, the master has something urgent to discuss with you."

……

In Jia Zheng's study at Pear Fragrance Courtyard, Jia Zhen met Lu Kun again. After a cordial and friendly meeting, he heard Jia Zheng boasting about his newly acquired chicken-blood stone seal.

Jia Zheng, who had never received any praise, was quite willing to say a few good words for Lu Kun when he received such a beautiful chicken-blood stone.

But he was unaware of the truth of the matter, and only praised people without getting involved.

Time passed slowly, and Lu Kun grew increasingly anxious, frequently giving Wang Zisheng meaningful glances.

"Hehe, my dear nephew."

Prince Sheng was waiting for him to get impatient.

Otherwise, how could he make himself stand out? Seeing that he could act now, he casually stuffed a roll of silver notes into Jia Zhen's arms, "Let me reintroduce you, Master Lu is now considered my Ren'er's father-in-law."

"Lord Jia..."

Lu Kun smiled and was about to bow when Wang Zisheng pressed him down, saying, "Why are you calling me Lord Jia? That's too formal." He turned to Jia Zhen with a grin and said, "For the sake of your uncle and your second uncle Zheng, how about letting him go about the gambling den matter?"

"What gambling den?"

Jia Zheng, who was completely unaware of what was going on, sensed something was wrong when he saw the roll of silver notes. Upon hearing this, he immediately became serious, "Zhen'er, you went to the gambling den? How could you go to the gambling den?"

He had always looked down on his good-for-nothing nephew.

Now I dislike it even more.

Especially during that time at the ancestral hall, this nephew openly sided with his elder brother.

Hmph, my sister-in-law has been talking nonsense all day long, now look what happened!

Jia Zheng felt a surge of excitement. "Your mother established these clan rules in front of the whole family..."

"It's not about gambling."

Wang Zisheng, receiving a look from Lu Kun, quickly stopped him, saying, "Oh dear, I'm here talking to my nephew about something. Cunzhou, if you have something to do, go ahead and do it." He called Jia Zheng by his courtesy name, "If you have nothing to do, just sit and listen. We're all relatives, so please put in a good word for us."

He was just using Jia Zheng as an excuse to invite Jia Zhen over. "Nephew, doing business is not easy. You should be forgiving when you can! You've taken their money, so you can't go back on your word, can you?"

"Heh, Uncle Sheng, is there some misunderstanding?"

Jia Zhen took out a roll of silver notes from his pocket. "He came to apologize, and I accepted the silver. What did I do wrong?"

"So this matter... is over?"

Lu Kun desperately needed Jia Zhen's assurance, so he cupped his hands again and said, "Thank you very much."

"Haha, of course it's all in the past."

Wang Zisheng chuckled and then instructed, "Now that you've gone there, nephew, you should tell the Five Cities Garrison and Shuntian Prefecture, so they won't keep bothering the Lu family."

Jia Zheng listened, completely bewildered.

His second brother-in-law is usually very unreliable.

If it weren't for Master Lu, who came along, giving him this piece of bloodstone...

Jia Zheng's brows furrowed repeatedly.

When his second brother-in-law slipped him the silver note, he didn't see it clearly, but now that Jia Zhen has taken it out, although the note is rolled up and not fully visible, the character 'ten thousand' on it is clearly visible.

If all these banknotes are in units of 'ten thousand', that's quite a lot!
Moreover, judging from what he said, Master Lu had already given Zhen'er some silver before.

hiss~
The more Jia Zheng had liked that piece of chicken-blood stone just moments before, the angrier he became now.

But he had no idea that Lu Kun had originally intended to give him silver, but Wang Zisheng said that the piece of chicken-blood stone was enough to make him ecstatic.

"If businessmen are constantly being visited by government officials, how can customers dare to come to their door?"

As he spoke, Wang Zisheng gave Lu Kun a wink.

Lu Kun hurriedly replied, "Yes, yes, there are soldiers at the money exchange and outside my residence." They looked even more stern than yesterday, and he was afraid.

"Nephew, how about your uncle accompanies you and my in-laws on a trip together?"

Prince Sheng was in Lu Kun's hands and received tens of thousands of taels of silver.

When the daughter of this family marries into the family in the future, she will receive a dowry of approximately one million yuan.

With so much silver, the Wang family will surely prosper for several more generations.

"Ho~"

Jia Zhen placed the roll of silver notes on the table. "I'm afraid that won't work. Master Lu gave too much money. I didn't dare to make a decision on my own, so I went to the palace yesterday to hand it over to the Emperor. Now... it's up to the Emperor to decide."

Lu Kun: "..."

He looked at Wang Zisheng eagerly.

"Nephew, times have changed!"

Prince Sheng was getting a little anxious. "Yesterday you didn't know about the relationship between the Lu family and our two families, did you? Now that you know, go to the palace and plead with the Emperor on our behalf..."

"Uncle thinks too highly of me."

Jia Zhen waved his hands repeatedly, "Is this the palace a place where we can go back on our word?"

"Then what do you mean by this?"

Wang Zisheng's voice suddenly became louder, "Zhen'er, how come you're acting so ruthlessly these days? The Emperor is so busy with state affairs, how could he possibly remember this? Be good, listen to your uncle. If you don't want to go to the palace, your uncle will accompany you to the Five Cities Garrison and Shuntian Prefecture, and we'll quietly drop this case ourselves."

"I can not!"

Jia Zhen waved his hands repeatedly.

"Liu Youfu has confessed."

Lu Kun finally spoke up, "If we can't drop the case, then let's close it." As he spoke, he stood up and bowed deeply to Jia Zhen, "Once the case is closed, the soldiers will definitely leave. It just so happens that I still have some shares in the money shop, and I am willing to give them all to Lord Jia."

"Zhen'er, we're all family."

As he spoke, Wang Zisheng stepped on Jia Zheng's foot, signaling him to help persuade him.

Jia Zheng: "..."

He didn't even bother to look at his brother-in-law and said, "What you're saying is confusing me. Zhen'er, have you made enemies with your in-laws, the Lu family?"

"Is such that……"

Lu Kun hurriedly told Xie Zhenghu, the dwarf assassin, about how his steward owed him a favor and had taken him in behind his back. "Now Liu Youfu has confessed his crimes in Shuntian Prefecture, but because of the relationship between the two prefectures, Shuntian Prefecture and the Five Cities Military Command dare not close the case casually."

He cleverly avoided mentioning Jia Zhen, instead referring to both mansions: "Liu Youfu is my steward. If he made a mistake, I naturally have to apologize to Lord Jia. That's not bribery."

At this point, Lu Kun's eyes turned red. "I was thinking of getting this matter settled as soon as possible and reopening the business. Otherwise... as you know, Master Jia, those soldiers would always try to squeeze money out of me when they have nothing to do. Now they've found an opportunity to not only shut down my gambling den, but also my money shop and my home."

“Nephew,” Wang Zisheng felt that the two families could easily resolve this matter. “It’s just a matter of you saying the word. Our two families still have a relationship. Brother-in-law, why don’t you say something?”

"...Zhen'er, go to Shuntian Prefecture and the Five Cities Military Command!"

Jia Zheng glanced at his brother-in-law and said, "Now that we're all relatives, this matter has nothing to do with our in-laws, Lu. As for the Emperor... as long as the Shuntian Prefecture judges and closes the case, there will definitely be no problem."

His daughter is about to marry the Marquis of Xinping.

In a way, the Jia family is now related to the Emperor by marriage.

"Put away the banknotes. We're all family. It would be unethical to deal with these things anymore."

As he spoke, Jia Zheng glanced at the silver notes and said, "Perfect timing, I'm free today, so I'll accompany you on this trip."

"This is not an outsider's gesture, but a small token of my appreciation."

How could Lu Kun dare to take it back?
He grabbed the roll of silver and tried to stuff it into Jia Zhen's hand again, "Lord Jia..." his voice was pleading, "You..."

"Zhen'er, keep it!"

Madam Wang also spoke in the inner room, "Accompany your second uncle and the others to withdraw this case. Have Ren'er come over later to thank you properly."

"Yeah!"

Wang Zisheng laughed heartily and pulled Jia Zhen aside, saying, "Once this matter is settled, your uncle will treat you to a good drink."

"What kind of wine do you want to drink..."

As Shen Ning's voice rang out from outside, a burly old woman kicked open the study door, and several servants nearby knelt on the ground in fright, saying, "Tell me about Master Wang Er."

"Mother!"

Jia Zhen sensed something was wrong with his mother's expression and rushed over, "Son doesn't drink, son..."

"Did I ask you?"

Shen Ning's eyes were fixed on the stunned Jia Zheng and the other two. "Jia Zheng, are you going to sell your nephew for money?"