The head of the Red Mansion

In the Rongguo Mansion, Wang Xifeng paced back and forth in the small courtyard that hadn't been moved into yet, her heart filled with unease, feeling that a fight might have already broken out in the East Mansion.

Her second uncle was unreliable his whole life. Her eldest uncle used to be able to keep an eye on her, but ever since the case of the startled horse, he has become much more indulgent, perhaps out of guilt.

Now they've actually brought along their enemies from the East Mansion, and even dragged their second uncle here into setting a trap for Brother Zhen.

The thought that they had already alerted her aunt made Wang Xifeng feel like the sky was about to fall.

"Second Madam!"

Ping'er rushed in from outside, "It's terrible! The two masters have left the manor, and the thorny branches that the second master was carrying have been thrown into the street by the other manor."

what?
Wang Xifeng swayed slightly, then quickly grabbed Ping'er's hand, "How do my eldest and second uncles look?"

Although she had long suspected that the two sides had fallen out, as a daughter of the Wang family and a daughter-in-law of the Jia family, she still wanted to hold onto some hope.

She could only hope that her second uncle was being unreasonable, that he was in a bad mood after offering his apology with thorns on his back, and that he was unwilling to complete the proper etiquette, which was why the people in the East Mansion were angry and threw away the thorns he had offered as an apology.

"Where's Second Master? Oh, and Brother Zhu too? Isn't he here either? Have they returned?"

“I had Long’er secretly look, and he said that the First Master and the Second Master both looked very unwell, and the guards all looked anxious, as if they were being chased by someone, and they ran very fast.”

Ping'er was about to cry. "Long'er also said that they called Manager Chen from Huichuntang."

Wang Xifeng's heart trembled involuntarily, and she hurriedly asked the maids in the courtyard, "Is there any movement from the mistress's side?"

If Aunt Jia Min rushes to the East Mansion, it's either because the Old Madam is furious or the Eldest Aunt is furious.

"no!"

The maids shook their heads. "We were watching the road to the side gate. The young lady didn't go that way."

"Go and take a look at the old lady's yard."

Wang Xifeng was still worried.

She also hoped that it wasn't the old lady and her aunt who were angered.

As long as they are both alright, she and Jia Lian still have hope; otherwise...

Wang Xifeng dared not think any further. "Ping'er, go to the side gate again and report back immediately if anything happens."

However, she was unaware that Jia Lian had foreseen the danger facing the young couple and had already tried his best to speak up for her, though he himself had also encountered a rather difficult situation.

The Wang family was his in-laws, and in the eyes of outsiders, he was indeed Wang Dabo's natural ally.

"……Yes!"

Glancing at his aunt, who was determined not to take shortcuts, Jia Lian bowed respectfully. "Nephew will go to the ancestral hall and think it over carefully."

The imperial court was too far from home; if something really happened, he couldn't possibly run back halfway to ask his aunt.

Therefore, this is the path he must take.

Although it seems a bit difficult, staying at home... is obviously not going to be easy either!

"Second Uncle, let's... go together!"

If my second uncle stays here, it will put him in a difficult position, as will my grandmother and aunt.

Jia Lian was afraid that he would upset the old lady or his aunt again, so he wanted to help him.

"Wait first!"

Shen Ning, however, did not want to let Jia Zheng go so easily.

If he always makes a lot of noise but does little, then not only will she have countless messes to clean up, but the three brothers Jia Zhen, Jia Zhu, and Jia Lian will also have to follow him around and keep busy.

"Jia Zheng, in front of the old lady, tell me yourself, do you know where you went wrong?"

"I know...I know."

Jia Zheng looked at his old mother pitifully, and tears fell from his eyes.

He couldn't bear the weight of his brother-in-law's and two nephews' lives.

"Mother, your son was wrong."

"...What's the use of saying the wrong thing now?"

Grandmother Jia also knew that if she didn't give an explanation today, her niece-in-law and Zhen'er would probably not be able to get away with it.

She said fiercely, "Zhen'er, you are the clan leader. You break one of your uncle's legs for me."

With his leg broken, he can no longer wander around outside and bring trouble to the Jia family.

However, despite saying this, the old lady still hoped that Shen Ning and Jia Zhen could take the initiative to reduce her son's punishment.

After all, Yuan Chun was about to get married.

People all value peace and prosperity.

If her father were to lose a leg on the eve of her wedding... the old lady of the Chen family would probably say that her granddaughter brought misfortune upon her.

"...Let's forget about the broken leg."

If Jia Zheng's legs were truly broken, given the old lady's tendency to take her anger out on others, it would be Wang Shi and Wang Xifeng who would suffer the most.

Wang Shi was one thing, but Wang Xifeng...

Shen Ning did not want to hurt anyone.

When she read Dream of the Red Chamber, she really liked Sister Feng.

Feng Jie certainly had many flaws, but she was worthy of everyone in the Jia family.

It was Jia Lian who wronged her first.

On such an important day as her birthday, he was having an affair in her own home. Anyone would be worried in that situation.

Despite the injustice she had suffered, it was all glossed over by the old lady with just a few words.

She married into the Jia family with her dowry, but when the Jia family confiscated her property, her dowry turned into a box of pawn tickets.

Make bricks without straw.

She lent money at exorbitant interest rates, but what she filled was the seemingly bottomless pit of the Rongguo Mansion.

To be precise, she was tricked by her aunt, Wang.

Because of Yuan Chun, this eunuch and that eunuch in the palace kept asking for money year after year. Who could afford to give it to her?

"Go into the ancestral hall, copy the clan rules, and copy the Great Zhao Code!"

what?
Jia Zheng was stunned.

Grandmother Jia and the others were also quite surprised.

This punishment seems severe, but for scholars, it is actually quite lenient.

Many of the mistresses of the inner court punished their children with the Classic of Filial Piety and the Rules for Women, which were clan rules and the Great Zhao Law... They may have been a bit long, but they really meant nothing to Jia Zheng.

“Recite the clan rules ten times, and the Great Zhao Code twenty times.”

Just as Grandmother Jia and Jia Zheng were about to breathe a sigh of relief, Shen Ning suddenly said, "You're not clear-headed, easily influenced, and a traitor. Then you should copy the clan rules and memorize them, and try your best to be a qualified member of the Jia family. The reason I asked you to copy the Great Zhao Code is to let you know that there are some things you can't touch, or you'll break the law."

She looked at Jia Zheng, her voice icy, "Once the twenty volumes of the Great Zhao Code are finished, distribute them to the clan leaders. From now on, anyone in this family who dares to break the law will be handed over to the authorities."

The idea of ​​hiding a broken arm in a sleeve is no longer possible with her.

“After I finish writing all of these, I have to review them. I either write them haphazardly or have someone else write them for me…”

"Don't dare!"

How could Jia Zheng dare to do that?

"I want to see three sets of clan rules and one set of the Great Zhao Law before the Lunar New Year."

"……Yes!"

Jia Zheng responded in a trembling voice, "Yes."

With more than five months to go before the Lunar New Year, he has no time to rest.

Jia Zheng was unaware that Shen Ning intended to keep his time under tight control.

"Auntie, I've said all I need to say. Is there anything else you'd like to add?"

Jia Mu: "..."

She felt she had nothing to add!

But Shen's condition...

"Those letters you wrote..."

The old lady was still bothered by these things: "Write everything down when you enter the ancestral hall, this old woman wants to see it."

Look at how stupid he is.

Look at how far the Wang family has bullied the Jia family.

"If you can't write it, then don't come out."

"……Yes!"

Jia Zheng prostrated himself deeply.

When Manager Chen arrived, Madam Wang had already woken up. She was fine, just a little heatstroke. But Master Zheng... not only had thorns on his back and injuries on his legs, but also burns on his shoulder.

Even as he pretended to only target the injury and not the person, Jia Zheng was still blushing with embarrassment.

But what can be done?

His mother wanted him to see a doctor for his injury; if he didn't, he would be considered unfilial.

……

At the inn, Lanzhi met her three cousins.

Jia Zhu felt deeply ashamed in front of her cousin, whose eyes held a murderous glint.

"Come, come, besides the things in the carriage, this little box is a New Year's gift from your aunt and sister-in-law." Jia Zhen stuffed a small wooden box into her hand. "Your cousin doesn't have anything else, but this horse..."

He stroked the glossy black horse with a hint of reluctance. "This is a descendant of my grandfather's warhorse. It is exceptionally fine. I'm giving it to you."

"...Thank you so much, cousin!"

Everything else can be declined, but this horse...

Even one more horse would be good for the women's army.

"Its name is Flying Tiger."

Jia Zhen said, "You'll know how stable it is when you ride it."

He was able to travel from Tongzhou to Tianjin overnight and even catch up with the Japanese pirates; God was on his horse.

"If you come across any good horses in the army, be sure to find a wife for Flying Tiger. And if they have foals..."

"I'll send it back."

Lanzhi could see his seriousness and reluctance, and immediately understood.

"Haha! Thanks!"

Jia Zhen smiled and bowed to her.

When he was young, he learned horse training from the horse lord in the capital, and he was actually very interested in it.

However, his status disqualifies him from being a stable boy.

In the end, he only learned half of it.

"And I!"

Jia Lian stepped forward and said, “You know what my cousin is doing now. If you need anything, just write to me. I will also inform Lord Jiang and ask him to take good care of you.”

"……it is good!"

Lan Zhi accepted this favor.

According to what she found out, this cousin had previously been in charge of the mundane affairs of the Rongguo Mansion on behalf of the second wife.

He was clearly the legitimate son of the first wife, clearly the one who should inherit the Rongguo Mansion, but in the eyes of outsiders…

"That car was bought by me and your cousin Zhu. We'll definitely send some more over to our home later."

Jia Lian said, "Don't refuse, this is all you deserve."

As he spoke, Jia Zhu bowed and clasped his hands behind him.

They worked together very well.

“The family doesn’t know what your second uncle and aunt did.” Jia Lian continued, “The old lady and your eldest aunt were very angry today. After the war in Ningxia is over… when you return to the capital, the family will definitely give you an explanation.”

"...I will definitely come back."

Lan Zhi glanced at Jia Zhu, "You can go back and tell those two."

If she couldn't take revenge through legitimate means, she wasn't incapable of thinking of other unorthodox methods.

The reason why that garrison commander surnamed Hu died such an ignominious death was because she secretly orchestrated it.

"……it is good!"

Jia Zhu understood something, but what could he do when his parents were wrong?

If he were her cousin...

"No one else needs to come; I have a lot of things to do."

Lanzhi stopped looking at Jia Zhu, cupped her hands to Jia Zhen and Jia Lian, and said, "Elder cousin, second cousin, please go home and thank my aunt and sisters-in-law for me!"

"to make!"

Jia Lian nodded, "If there's anything you need to say, don't beat around the bush. We... really do need to go home."

"I really don't want to go into the ancestral hall with you."

Jia Zhen sighed, "Cousin, you're busy, let's go back slowly."

"..."

Lan Zhi understood. Since all the brothers were going to enter the ancestral hall, Jia Zheng... would certainly not escape either. "Then I'll take my leave first, and I won't see you off."

In fact, someone inside was calling her name.

Moreover, the voice sounds like that of a general.

In her haste, she rushed forward, only to find General Jiang already mounted on his horse. "We have to get back quickly," she thought.

With everything taken care of, Old Man Jiang was eager to return home. He bowed to the three Jia brothers, who had also rushed out, and said, "Gifts for Lanzhi, please..."

"I'll arrange for it to be transported there along with the grain and fodder."

Jia Lian quickly said, "Please take good care of my cousin, Lord Jiang."

"nature!"

Jiang Yu nodded, "Lan Zhi, mount your horse."

He didn't waste any more words.

The emperor gave him his full support, and next up was his business with the Tatars.

The military situation was urgent and could not be delayed, so Jiang Yu spurred his horse and left.

Lanzhi flipped onto the back of the flying tiger that Jia Zhen had quickly brought over, and followed without the slightest hesitation.

Unlike when she came, this time she had an extra horse.

……

Yansui.

Min Tai felt weak all over as he left the General's Mansion.

His son entered the Duke's mansion.

The Jia family knows everything.

How to do?
"Master~"

The servant helped him up and was about to say something when Min Tai suddenly said, "Quickly, hurry back to the manor."

Now only his wife can save him.

As long as his wife stands by him, no matter how dissatisfied the Jia family is with him, they won't do anything to him or the Min family out of respect for his wife.

"……Yes!"

The servant helped him onto the horse. Min Tai couldn't ride fast for a while, so he could only try to think of how to coax Jia Wen and his daughter.

Wenniang's two children are the apple of her eye.

Their surname is Min.

Although they are all... all traitors, he can only rely on them now.

Min Tai had a vague suspicion that Wen Niang, who had once been full of love for him, had turned to hate because of what had happened in the past few years. What if she knew that the Jia family was still supporting her...

They might forcefully take his children away.

The arm cannot twist the thigh.

Even though this place is far from the capital, and even though the Jia family is no longer the original Jia family, a mere fifth-rank military officer could still crush him to death.

Min Tai felt he should keep the details of the Jia family a secret from Jia Wen.

"Xu~"

He dismounted in front of the curio cabinet and asked, "Manager, do you have any good jewelry?"

Women love jewelry the most.

Even if Jia Wen didn't love her, she still had to save up a dowry for her daughter as she grew older.

"What does Lord Min want?"

"Whatever it is, give my wife and daughter each one."

Min Tai felt flustered, but on the surface he put on a loving expression, "Hurry up, money is no problem."

At that moment, he was unaware that Jia She's work, day and night, was actually no slower than that of the soldiers delivering messages.

When Jia She got tired of riding in the carriage, he would get out and ride a horse.

When we got tired of riding horses, we took a car.

Although he suspected that Jia Wen was dead, he still wanted to do his part until he received concrete news.

He thought about many things along the way.

I thought about how my father treated my younger sisters.

I thought of his Spring Festival.

He couldn't bear the thought that Yingchun might end up like Jia Wen.

"Sir, Yansui is just ahead."

Huo Qi saw the city walls of Yansui.

"Good good."

We've finally arrived. Finally, we don't have to endure the bumpy ride anymore.

Jia She was full of energy again. "Quickly, to the Min family." (End of Chapter)