The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 143 Impeachment
July 16th is an auspicious day for all activities.

Last night, Wang was already planning to go out. Today is the auspicious day for her daughter Yuanchun's betrothal. She didn't go out for the last betrothal, and if she doesn't go out for this one, it definitely won't work.

Sure enough, early in the morning, just as the sun was shining in, the doors of the ancestral hall were opened.

With the help of her maids, Wang Shi washed and changed. As each piece of jewelry was placed in her hair, she looked at her familiar reflection in the mirror and slowly smiled.

She wasn't a rootless duckling in this family; she had two sons and a daughter.

Even if the old lady and the old man hated her, they had to endure it.

Not only do we have to tolerate her, but we also have to tolerate her brothers later.

On my daughter's big day, her uncles came over for a drink. Who could say anything?
Wang believed that her elder brother would seize this opportunity to make those who forced her into the ancestral hall suffer in silence.

Speaking of which, she really had to thank that sister-in-law for arranging such a good marriage for Yuan Chun.

Even if Marquis Xinping was not a good person, he was still the grandson of the retired emperor and the nephew of the emperor.

Wang was very pleased with herself, and when she saw that the betrothal gifts sent by the Marquis of Xinping's mansion included a dowry of 3,600 taels of silver, she was even more delighted.

Among her peers, who can compare to her daughter?

Even for Jia Yue, it's uncertain whether her sister-in-law will still be around when she gets married.

At that time, it's possible that the marriage of Jia's fourth daughter will still be in her hands.

"Sir, please smile more when you see my elder brother later."

Wang said to Jia Zheng, who was keeping a distance from her, "We still need to discuss the dowry today. Didn't we say that my family is going to add an estate in the suburbs of Beijing for our daughter?"

"……it is good!"

Seeing her gentle and loving demeanor, Jia Zheng couldn't help but take another step back.

Last time he was sick, he thought the old lady could plead with his sister-in-law to let him go, but as soon as his fever subsided, he was sent back.

Nowadays, the tranquilizers we drink every day are delivered directly to the ancestral hall.

Jia Zheng gradually adapted. Although he didn't understand how the woman could sleep so soundly in that place, having Wang Shi with him in a place like the ancestral hall was better than having no one with him at all.

"Father! Mother!"

Yuan Chun came in, looked at her parents who had been punished, and said helplessly, "I won't take anything from the Wang family."

The Wang family's attempt to gain entry into the Jia family through her is absolutely unacceptable.

"What are you talking about?"

How could Wang possibly agree? "These matters are not for you to decide."

"It's not my place to make that decision, but..."

Yuan Chun glanced at her father, "Your uncle will be back around today."

what?
Jia Zheng shuddered. "You...your third aunt's side..."

"My third aunt was very lucky and survived; my eldest uncle passed away just in time."

When Bai Ge'er learned that his uncle had taken seven days to reach Yansui, he immediately burst into tears.

He cried again while having dinner at the old lady's house that evening.

The two younger sisters cried until their eyes were brimming with tears, and even their grandmother's eyes reddened.

"I have now helped my third aunt get a divorce and brought my cousin Mei to Beijing. I said I would try to get back today."

"Let's go back then!" Madam Wang frowned, "along with your dowry..."

"Mother~"

Yuan Chun didn't know what to say about her mother. "When my uncle arrived in Yansui, he beat up the entire Min family. Apart from the women and children, not a single man over the age of thirteen escaped."

Wang: "..."

She belatedly realized that she understood what her daughter meant.

She couldn't help but look at her husband, Jia Zheng, whose face was now deathly pale.

"Mother, you should send someone to tell your two uncles not to come!"

Yuan Chun was actually worried that when her eldest uncle met his two maternal uncles, it would be like enemies meeting, with intense hatred between them.

If that happens...

Although she wasn't worried about disrupting her betrothal ceremony, she feared that her uncle might get upset and harm himself after his long journey back.

"Yeah!"

Jia Zheng realized what was happening and said quickly, "Quickly, send a message to the Wang family, telling your elder brother and the others not to come."

He must have had the worst luck in eight lifetimes to marry this woman.

"……no!"

Wang didn't dare to argue with Jia Zheng. Her face flushed as she looked at her daughter, "Last time, the auspicious date was fine, but this time, if my family still doesn't come for the betrothal, that old lady from the Cheng family will definitely gossip behind my back."

"I'm not afraid!"

Yuan Chun didn't want her mother to use her as an excuse to speak anymore. "She can say whatever she wants, I'll live my life."

“It’s not a question of whether you’re afraid or not.”

Wang was agitated. "It's your third aunt, Jia Wen! She's divorced! How can a divorced woman come here on your joyous day to bring bad luck? I think we should tell the old lady to let my eldest brother and third sister rest outside for a day and not come into the city for the time being."

This?
Jia Zheng couldn't help but look at his daughter again.

"……This is impossible."

Yuan Chun didn't expect her mother to say that. "When I wrote the letter last time, I told my third aunt that I wanted to invite her over for my betrothal banquet. I want to show those people from the Cheng family that our Jia family's daughters are not to be bullied by just anyone."

My grandmother said something similar to my mother's. When my aunt asked her what she was thinking, that's what she said.

Moreover, news that the eldest uncle beat up the entire Min family, forced them to divorce, and took back all the dowry has already spread throughout the capital.

Some people say it's good, some people say it's bad.

But Yuan Chun knew that this was a great thing for their family.

If this can force the two uncles to stay away from the house, it will be tantamount to sending a signal to the outside world that the Jia and Wang families are no longer on good terms.

"you you……"

Wang was furious with her daughter.

As expected, those who weren't raised by their side aren't close. She's not even dead yet, and she already can't stand her uncle's family...

"Your uncle is being a jerk, are you going to be a jerk too? Aren't you afraid your third aunt will bring you bad luck, but you should also consider other people."

Wang was furious and was about to leave when she said, "No, if you won't go and tell her, I'll go and tell the old lady myself."

Yuan Chun was raised by the old lady.

The Shi family also had daughters.

Besides, how many people would want to sit at the same table with a woman who has just divorced?
"Mother~~"

Yuan Chun tried to stop her mother, but her mother turned around and slapped her.

slap~
At the critical moment, Li Wan, who had just entered, rushed over and used her arm to shield her sister-in-law, saying, "Madam, today is my sister's big day, you can't hit her."

"She's being immature, and you, Li, are you immature too?"

Wang regretted it the moment the slap landed. If it left a mark, not only would her daughter be unable to face anyone, but she herself... might be sent back to the ancestral hall immediately.

But now that her daughter-in-law had stopped her, she felt relieved, but her anger flared up again. "Does your Li family ever have a divorced woman come home? You..."

"Mother~~~~"

Yuan Chun interrupted sharply, "If you want to go find the old lady, then go ahead. My aunt is with the old lady; she's waiting to settle accounts with you."

Should we confront her?

When she was so scared?
Madam Wang was furious, but she quickly realized that since her sisters-in-law were married in different parts of the country, it was difficult for them to communicate. Therefore, most of their letters were sent home first.

she……

The thought of the letter she had deliberately wet and then not delivered to her sister-in-law made Wang's heart skip a beat.

"Sister-in-law, I'm so sorry!"

Yuan Chun no longer cared about her mother.

However, her mother's words just now were tantamount to cursing the women of the Li family, so she had to apologize.

"...Today is your big day."

Li Wan never blamed Yuan Chun.

Anyway, she knew what kind of people her in-laws were, so she just told them, "Prepare yourself well."

If my mother-in-law wants to do something reckless, then let her do it!

After the old lady and her aunt had run out of patience with her, Li Wan felt that she and Jia Zhu could finally relax.

Anyway, she was really relaxed during the time her in-laws lived in the ancestral hall.

“The Li family…”

Seeing that her daughter-in-law ignored her, Madam Wang tried to save face and was about to scold her when a maid rushed in and said, "Master, Madam, something terrible has happened! The eldest master and the second master have been impeached."

At the same time, upon receiving this news, Grandmother Jia felt particularly distressed.

Also.

If you want a divorce, then just get a divorce. Why beat up the whole family?
She'er has gone too far!

The old lady was furious.

Her son and grandson are going to be implicated because of Jia Wen, that illegitimate daughter!

"...The court session hasn't even ended yet, how come this news has already spread?"

Jia Min looked at her mother and asked the little maid with great confusion.

But how could the little maid know?
She stood there blankly, unsure how to answer.

"Grandma, Auntie~"

Ping'er rushed over and said, "The reason why Master and Second Master were impeached was because of Imperial Censor Zheng. I heard that he said last night that he would impeach Master for assaulting a court official, and Second Master was just an accomplice."

"Oh~"

When Jia Min received her elder brother's letter, she sensed that he was about to be impeached. "Mother, don't worry. Every year, our master receives several impeachment petitions. Although my brother has gone a bit too far, the general in Yansui hasn't said anything. At most, he'll write a defense petition."

"...When your father was alive, did I ever worry about anything?"

Grandmother Jia sighed, "Your eldest brother is foolish. Lian'er has come this far with great difficulty; if he gets implicated..."

"How can it be considered a burden? It might be a good thing!"

Shen Ning entered, fanning herself with a fan. "The manor should investigate who sent this message at this time."

This?
Grandmother Jia and Jia Min exchanged a glance, both understanding something.

You mean the Wang family?

"Perhaps... there's also the Cheng family."

Shen Ning took a sip of tea. "Of course, they could also just be pawns pushed forward by someone else."

Jia Mu: "..."

Isn't this enough to make her worry?

"Mother!"

Jia Min thought of something, "Since they've already been impeached, I might as well send someone to tell my elder brother to go to the Wang family and avenge my elder sister!"

what?
Grandmother Jia was stunned.

Shen Ning, however, looked at him with appreciation, saying, "That's a good idea."

Anyway, I have to write a defense statement.

Because Jia Wen was still alive, the news spread, making it seem as if the Jia family was in the wrong.

But Jia Lan's situation... is completely different.

Didn't the retired emperor pride himself on being sentimental?

How could people treat his daughter like that right after his uncle passed away?
"In case...what if..."

The old lady looked at this and then at that, very uncertain.

"Mother, do you still want to be disgusted by the Wang family?"

The return of the eldest brother resolved the family's intractable predicament.