The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 136 Storm (First Update)
Another fine?
Wang Zisheng felt the wound at the corner of his eye throbbing, "Old lady..."

"Shut up, did I even speak to you?"

Grandmother Jia was most angry with Prince Sheng, that scoundrel.

Because this despicable scoundrel, in league with the Wang family, treated her son like a fool.

The Wang family clearly doesn't respect the Jia family at all!
“Nephew, you are the head of the Wang family. I only have a question for you.”

Wang Ziteng: "..."

He glanced at his sister, whose face was pale and who had probably been scolded badly, and then at his brother-in-law, who had just been walking with difficulty and was tied up with real thorns. He knew that the old lady was really angry.

"As soon as I heard the news, I rushed over."

He looked helpless in his wheelchair. "Grandma, you saw the injury on my second brother's eye." His second brother had barely survived, but he had accidentally hurt him again. Wang Ziteng was both regretful and heartbroken. "Don't worry, I will definitely discipline him. Here, let's go to the East Mansion first. I'll make him apologize to Sister-in-law Shen and Nephew Zhen in front of everyone."

He tried to downplay the seriousness of the situation by avoiding mentioning the trap his second brother had set for his brother-in-law.

"...That's all?"

Grandmother Jia didn't care how he disciplined Wang Zisheng; she only cared about her foolish son and stupid daughter-in-law. "If that's all there is to it, then you two uncles should just leave the Jia family now!"

From that day forward, no one from the Wang family could ever set foot in the Rongguo Mansion again.

Unless her second son's family leaves the Rongguo Mansion, she can no longer control them.

“My Jia family’s threshold is too low; it is not enough for the Wang family’s uncles to set foot on our lowly land.”

Grandmother Jia ordered, "Someone come here..."

Just as she was about to suggest seeing the guests off, Wang Ziteng quickly said, "Grandma, I know that today's events were entirely my second brother's fault."

Before he could finish speaking, he received a disdainful snort from Old Madam Jia. He paused, then could only look at his sister, whom he wanted to protect.

Now that they're home, how to punish the second brother is entirely up to him. If things get too serious, he can just put on a show. But what about the younger sister?
Wang Ziteng had no choice but to say, "My younger sister was actually implicated by my second brother. As you know, he only recently escaped death, so the whole family had no choice but to go along with him."

"..."

Grandmother Jia didn't say a word, she just watched coldly.

Wang is a daughter-in-law of the Jia family, but she has shown her disloyalty even in the East Mansion. After forcing Shen and Zhen'er, who are younger generations, to sever ties with Er'er, they still dare to be relentless. Whose power are they relying on?

The Jia family hasn't fallen from grace yet.

If the Wang family, which rose to power by relying on the Jia family, dares to act like this, what chance do they have if the Jia family were to hand over all their connections in the military?

There's no need for outsiders to bully them; the Wang family alone could crush the Jia family to death.

At this moment, Grandmother Jia's face was full of majesty, and the anger surging in her eyes made Wang Ziteng's heart pound with fear.

He immediately thought of the Beijing Garrison.

“But your second brother is wrong, so you shouldn’t have gone along with him.”

Wang Ziteng looked at his sister with great remorse, "Wan Niang, you really made a mistake this time."

Wang: "..."

She knew her older brother was going to harm her.

The mother-in-law has been scolding the couple ever since, and in her anger, she even used her cane.

Although she didn't hit her, Wang knew that if her mother-in-law hit Jia Zheng once, she would wish she could hit her ten times.

“Mother, I was wrong,” she knelt down abruptly, touching her head to the ground. “If you want to hit or punish me, just do it. Please don’t upset yourself.” As she said this, she wept softly. “I am willing to enter the ancestral hall with my husband.”

I'm afraid the ancestral hall won't provide them with ice basins.

On such a hot day, and with mosquitoes on top of that...

Wang could imagine how miserable they must have been.

She really didn't want to go to the ancestral hall. She would rather eat vegetarian food for three years than eat that "bitter-sweet" meal.

"The daughter-in-law also vowed to eat vegetarian food in front of the Bodhisattva for three years in order to pray for the Jia family to prosper."

"..."

"..."

Wang Ziteng and Wang Zisheng were heartbroken.

But the two knew they couldn't plead for them.

Their pleas were to no avail to Old Madam Jia, and even after they left, they would take their anger out on their sister even more.

"Isn't it right for you to pray to the Bodhisattva to bless the Jia family so that it may prosper?"

Grandmother Jia looked down at her, saying, "Yuan Chun is about to get married, and Zhu'er is about to take the imperial examination." Lian'er from the eldest branch of the family is already a clerk in the Imperial Treasury, so Wang Shi doesn't need to pray to the Bodhisattva for protection. Only the children born to Wang Shi from the second branch are needed at this crucial time. "Wang Shi," she continued, "when you think about your second brother's so-called in-laws, have you ever thought about Zhu'er and Yuan Chun? They are your own children. How do you treat their elder brother like that? Where do you place them?"

Wang: "..."

She was thinking, "Is Jia Zhen someone I can bully?"
She thought it was just a matter of going to Shuntian Prefecture.

Who knew it would turn out like this?

Wang was not without resentment towards her injured second brother, but it was too late to say anything now. Her sister-in-law from the East Mansion must have complained bitterly to the old lady.

It's hateful that this old lady is biased towards outsiders, preferring to listen to others rather than protect her own son and daughter-in-law.

“I was wrong, I was blinded by greed. Grandma, please tell me how to punish me! Your daughter-in-law will accept it all.”

Wang's tears fell. "Master, I didn't expect things to be so serious. When we get to the ancestral hall, please punish me severely!"

Jia Zheng: "..."

He was angry but also believed what Wang said.

Because he didn't expect things to be so serious.

Over the years, they've written many letters to various places and received a lot of thanks, so why now...?

Jia Zheng dared not move. Summer clothes were thin, and if he moved, the thorns on the brambles would prick his flesh. "Mother!" he pleaded with his mother, "I know I was wrong. Please let us go to the East Mansion to apologize to my sister-in-law!"

Although my sister has already restrained Yuan Chun, Li Wan, and other younger relatives, they will surely hear about what happened today from the servants!

If he could, Jia Zheng would want to die.

He had always been beaten by his father, but this was the first time he had been beaten by his mother.

Those blows from the cane really hurt so much.

Jia Zheng suspected that his mother had bruised his right thigh, otherwise why would it be getting more and more painful?

Although he hated Wang for harming him so much, he really wanted to go into the ancestral hall to rest for a while!

"...My brother-in-law was implicated because of my stupid second brother."

Wang Ziteng was quite annoyed that he couldn't find his niece Wang Xifeng to speak on his behalf. "How about this, I'll take the initiative. The Wang family has a separate courtyard in the suburbs of Beijing, plus a hundred acres of fertile land. Perfect timing, isn't my niece getting married soon? Let's add it to her dowry list!"

Real estate and land in the suburbs of Beijing are becoming increasingly scarce, and many people are now unable to buy them even at high prices.

"Old lady, even if you break a bone, the tendons still connect it."

Having offered benefits, Wang Ziteng then played the emotional card again, saying, "The Wang and Jia families are old relatives. It is precisely because I know your family is good that I rushed to marry Feng'er to you."

Feng'er and Lian'er were childhood sweethearts.

In the past, her words might not have worked, as the old lady doted on her second son more. But things are different now. The old lady favors the eldest son's family more, and her nephew-in-law has become a physician in the Imperial Household Department with a bright future. Even if she doesn't care about her second son and daughter-in-law, she still has to care about her grandson and granddaughter-in-law.

“My brother-in-law is an honest and kind man, which is why he was bullied by my scoundrel. But rest assured, as long as I, Wang Ziteng, am alive, I will never let him suffer, nor will I let anyone else suffer for him.”

As he spoke, he pointed again to the spot on his second brother's head where blood was faintly seeping through, "Do you think I, Wang Ziteng, am the kind of person who can't think straight?"

My sister still has to live here.

Both his nephew and niece are outstanding.

Wang Ziteng naturally doted on him, saying, "Someone, what kind of sticks are you using? Get me some brambles instead." Huh?
Prince Sheng is afraid of pain.

But I also know that I can't object at this time.

"Grandma, what do you think..."

Just as he was about to plead again, the gate to the courtyard facing the street rang, and the gatekeeper called out to the master. Wang Ziteng felt relieved. "Zhu'er is back just in time." He said to Jia Zhu, who was rushing back, "Let's ask your grandmother to calm her anger together with your uncle!"

"……grandmother!"

Jia Zhu was covered in sweat from running, but he didn't care about anything else. He looked at his father first, then his mother, and then at his pitiful second uncle. He quickly knelt down and said, "It's hot, you..."

"Get up!"

The old lady didn't want to make things difficult for her eldest grandson, so she sighed and said, "If you want to plead for your parents, go ask your aunt and brother Zhen."

She was too embarrassed to say it, "Your parents are traitors."

"He's not clear-headed, doesn't understand basic logic, gets fooled, and still thinks the other person is a good person."

It's true, Zhu'er is pitiful to have such parents.

"Let's go to the East Mansion."

Wang Ziteng, Jia Zheng, and the others all breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time, they couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.

How can they have any face left after speaking ill of them in front of Pearl like this?

"Mother!"

Jia Zhu first helped his mother up, then went to help his father, who was in even greater distress, calling out, "Father~"

Tears streamed down his face as he dodged the thorns and helped his father pull the brambles away, saying, "Please be careful."

Jia Zheng: "..."

He felt it, and he felt ashamed, guilty, and sad.

Although her body felt better, the mental anguish was even more unbearable. She turned her head away and shed tears in front of her son.

Jia Zhu helped him steady the brambles with one hand and supported him with the other, then said to the dejected Prince Sheng, "Second Uncle, please walk slowly."

Wang Zisheng glanced at him, nodded somewhat ashamed, and subtly moved away from him.

Seeing this, Jia Zhu paused, and said to her father, who was still crying but had no hands to wipe it away, "Bear with it for now, things will be better when we get there."

"Son, why are you only arriving now?"

Wang stood beside her son, wishing she could hug him and weep bitterly.

If they had come sooner, she and her husband might not have had to suffer so much.

"There's an exam today."

Jia Zhu was also helpless, "No one is allowed to go in during the exam."

He only found out about the family trouble after he finished the exam.

Although the specific reasons are unknown, judging from the severity of the punishments given by the grandmother and the eldest uncle, it is clear that the matter is very serious.

I don't know what his father did this time, but he brought his mother and second uncle along as well.

When we get to the East Mansion, how will he beg and plead?
"Mother, please help Father support me like this, I'm going to find Grandmother."

In this sweltering heat, my parents, who have always lived a life of luxury, are easily susceptible to illness if they suddenly suffer such hardship.

At that time, everyone will be uneasy, and Grandmother will have to worry.

If Grandmother gets worried, she might just let it go quietly.

Jia Zhu really felt that his father deserved to be taught a lesson.

He's been having several dreams lately about his family's house being ransacked, and his father being pushed around in shackles.

Jia Zhu was terrified and strode over to his grandmother. "Grandmother, let's tie the thorns around our wounds when we get to the East Mansion. Otherwise, the wounds might not heal properly as we walk along the way, and if they develop a high fever, you'll have to worry about it, won't you?"

This?
Grandmother Jia turned around and saw the specks of blood on her second son's clothes. Her expression changed. "Go and clean it up."

"Eh~"

Jia Zhu hurriedly ran back to untie his father, saying, "Father, please take this bramble stick and tie him up again at the East Mansion."

After finishing with his father, he went to take care of his second uncle. "Second Uncle, tie him up when we get to the East Mansion."

Wang Zisheng: "..."

I'm even more embarrassed to see my nephew now.

As he was being carried, Wang Ziteng looked at his capable nephew and sighed softly.

At this moment, Shen Ning was also on her way back to the mansion.

It was too hot, and the chill from the ice basin was no longer as strong as it had been when they came out. She took a fan and waved it herself. "Don't worry, Madam, we'll be home soon."

Qingzhu and Qingping fanned themselves harder. "I'm not in a hurry, I'm just angry."

Shen Ning also fanned them, saying, "The wind doesn't need to be strong, I'll fan it for you."

Life without air conditioning is really tough.

She sighed inwardly, "I thought it was the Lan family that was being unreasonable, but I never expected it was the Jia family. I'm afraid my eldest aunt was heartbroken when she passed away."

When Shen Ning first entered the world of Dream of the Red Chamber, she always wanted to break her eldest son's legs and confine him to the inner quarters. However, she never imagined that it was Jia Zheng who should be punished even more.

Xue Pan committed murder, a case that was beyond doubt, yet they still dared to bail him out, which shows how audacious they were.

How come you haven't developed any brains after reading so many books?

No, did he even read the Great Zhao Code?

"He just used his two nephews to curry favor with the Wang family. How clever of him."

Wang Ziteng's ambitions were even greater than she had imagined.

I originally thought he was only eyeing the Beijing garrison, but now it seems he wants to get his hands on all the connections the Ning and Rong families have in the military.

If you can't get it, just destroy it.

"But...there's no evidence!"

Qingzhu knew that his wife wouldn't let them off the hook, but the letter that could serve as evidence was gone.

"...The evidence is for the world to see."

Shen Ning slapped herself a few more times. "Sometimes you don't need evidence against bad people."

Wang Zisheng dared to trespass into the Jia family not only because of his brother, but also because his nephew-in-law Jia Lian was now a physician in the Imperial Treasury.

Because of Jia Lian, the Wang family probably all thought that Prince Teng's return to the Beijing garrison was a foregone conclusion.

ho~
They're dreaming!
Jia Lian is bold enough to be foolish and willing to help; she can push him up, and she can also pull him back down.

Shen Ning cursed inwardly. Jia Lian, who had finally finished everything, was also on his way back to the mansion by carriage.

He didn't sleep a wink last night. The Armory not only manages weapons, but also grain, clothing, and so on. There are many accounts in various places. If people hadn't been transferred from the Ministry of Revenue, he probably wouldn't have been able to sort them out for months.

Now it's all good; he just needs to follow the rules from now on.

"Second Master, this servant will hurry home and have Second Madam prepare some wine for you. Have a drink, and then you can relax before you go to sleep."

Wang'er was happy; his master was promising, so he was likely to be just as successful.

"No need, I'll talk to her myself."

Jia Lian, unaware that he was about to enter the eye of the storm, chuckled and said, "As for the East Mansion, go and invite Master Zhen over. I must thank him."

It's the last day! If you still have tickets, don't waste them. And if you don't have tickets, leave a review.