The head of the Red Mansion

Inside the inn, Jia Wen stood by the window, looking at the unfamiliar street with vacant eyes.

She hasn't spoken a word since arriving in the capital.

Although there are four sisters, the youngest sister, Jia Min, is different from the others.

Most of the time, the three sisters would play together, make a ruckus together, and rely on each other for survival.

She received her sister's letter before she died.

When she replied to her letter, she also told her that if the family couldn't transfer her brother-in-law and nephew away from the border, it would be better to transfer them to Yansui. Compared to Ningxia, there was less fighting in Yansui, and the Min family was considered a large family in Yansui, so she could take care of them.

But what she received in the end was news of her sister and brother-in-law's deaths, and both of her nephews were assigned to the vanguard battalion.

Jia Wen had considered bringing her niece Lan Zhi to live with her, but Lan Zhi disagreed, and so did Min Tai.

The pain that had been buried deep in her heart for years was torn open again, leaving her heart... extremely sad.

The eldest brother wasn't as heartless as they thought.

They were wrong.

Or rather, if they had written to their eldest brother back then... everything would have been different.

"mother!"

Minmei brought her a cup of cooled tea and said, "Let's not think about the past anymore, okay? If you're like this, your uncle will only be more upset. You don't know, do you? Your uncle has been taken away by the Five Cities Garrison."

When she left Yansui, she bought several servants.

Knowing that her eldest uncle was going to the Wang family to avenge her aunt's family, Minmei specially sent her most clever child to go and see.

Where are the Wang family members?

Jia Wen finally spoke.

She wasn't too worried about her brother.

This is the capital city, and Wang Ziteng is not an official.

What she's worried about now is that her older brother will seek revenge, but it turns out the other person is unharmed.

If that happens, given my brother's personality, he'll be so angry he'll vomit blood.

“Master Wang the Second was injured, and he’s going to sue his eldest uncle. As for Master Wang the First…” Min Mei paused, “Don’t be fooled by his injuries, his eldest uncle can’t beat him.”

He was a military general far more capable than her father, and a former commander of the Beijing Garrison.

Min Mei had no idea where her uncle got the confidence to hit someone.

She didn't know what the people from the capital said, but they couldn't persuade her otherwise; her uncle just patted her head.

Min Mei now suspects that there are things she and her daughter don't know about.

“…Wang Ziteng is indeed very capable.”

Among the four major families, Wang Ziteng is considered one of the top three figures of his generation.

However, he is no match for his cousin Jing.

If my cousin Jing didn't...

Thinking of what her elder brother had said about her cousin Jing being working as a night soil collector at a Taoist temple, Jia Wen's sadness deepened.

If my uncle and father had passed away, and if my cousin had been able to inherit the title normally, my eldest brother wouldn't have been forced to move to the east wing, and she wouldn't be the only one left among my sisters.

"I probably can't go to Rongguo Mansion today."

Jia Wen didn't want to disturb her niece's happy occasion.

Although the letter my niece wrote was quite nice, what about her parents...?

Jia Wen felt apologetic to her daughter, saying, "We'll find Brother Bai and buy a small courtyard so we can live a quiet life behind closed doors."

"...Anything is fine."

Min Mei felt that it was enough that she was able to leave the Min family alive with her mother and bring back all of her mother's dowry.

Now that she has her mother and younger brother, she can go anywhere.

"Mother, where do you think we should buy a yard?"

"I won't go to Ningrong Back Street."

Jia Wen immediately rejected the idea of ​​the family and servants gathering place, saying, "We... will go to Bai Sui Street."

Where is Bai Sui Street?

Min Mei asked curiously, "Is it far from here?"

"It's not far now."

Jia Wen dared not stay too close to home, but she also dared not go too far away.

Moreover, his son is also attending the clan school.

"When it's not so hot in the afternoon, Mom will take you to see it."

Before Jia Wen could say anything, there was a knock on the door, and then a maid pushed the door open. "Madam, Miss, the First Madam from Ningguo Mansion has arrived."

what?
Jia Wen was stunned. When she rushed out, Shen Ning had just come up the stairs to the second floor.

"Sister-in-law?"

Since getting married, Jia Wen has never been able to return.

But she always remembered her sister-in-law's kindness to them, "You...you've come."

The men her father chose for them didn't seem very good; they were all marrying down significantly. However, during the years her father was still alive, she lived a very happy life.

The same applies to my eldest and second eldest sisters.

I just didn’t expect that…

"I'll take you home."

Shen Ning said casually, "Today is Yuan Chun's big day, you, as her aunt, mustn't cry."

"...Can I really go? To the old lady's place..."

"The old lady is waiting for you too."

Shen Ning stepped forward and smiled at the girl who came out with Jia Wen, "Are you Sister Mei?"

"Yes! Minmei greets her maternal aunt!"

Min Mei bowed respectfully to Shen Ning.

"Yes, you look a lot like you when you were little, little sister."

Shen Ning smiled and helped her up, saying to Jia Wen, "You're home now. Don't think about anything else. Just know that there are people at home waiting for you."

"But what about me..."

"So what if you get a divorce? Does it mean you're no longer a daughter of the Jia family? No longer Yuan Chun's aunt?"

"Sister-in-law~"

Jia Wen choked up.

Shen Ning reached out and wiped away the tears she couldn't hold back. "It's our fault, we...we didn't take good care of you. If you blame us, then..."

"I'll go back!"

Jia Wen quickly shook her head. She knew that her sister-in-law hadn't had a good life in those years either. "Sister-in-law, thank you."

Along the way, she listened to her older brother talk about many things about the family.

I feel that if the eldest sister-in-law of the Dongfu family were still stuck in her past self-pity, even if she could get through childbirth, the family... would not be as prosperous as it is today.

Meanwhile, the eldest brother is probably still in the east courtyard, living in a daze and squandering the family's money.

He can't even stand up straight at home, and is disciplined by the old lady in everything. How could he possibly run so far to stand up for her?

Jia Wen bowed deeply.

"Get up quickly, or I'll get angry if you thank me again."

Shen Ning quickly pulled her up, "Don't forget, you call me sister-in-law."

She felt quite ashamed; she had subconsciously ignored the people who didn't appear in the Dream of the Red Chamber, even those who had the original owner's memories.

"Come on!" Shen Ning grabbed one of them with each hand. "I'll take you home."

"Aunt, my uncle has been taken away by the Five Cities Garrison. Is the family not going to take care of him?"

Minmei sensed the other party's goodwill and couldn't help but ask about her uncle, whom she cared about very much.

"Well, your older cousin went to the Five Cities Garrison."

Shen Ning smiled, "Don't worry, he won't suffer any losses there."

If the person behind this is capable, they might have already dragged Jia She to court and had the emperor punish him.

They must make Jia She bear the blame for his arrogance and assault on a court official.

Of course, the person behind this may also have a conflict of interest with the Wang family in the Beijing garrison, and is helping them to bring the discord between the Wang and Jia families to the imperial court.

The Jia family wanted the latter.

As for the former...

Even if Jia She's actions in standing up for his sister were a bit extreme, at most he would be fined or reprimanded, and it wouldn't have any impact on Jia Lian.

On the contrary, if Jia She could actually see the Emperor and cry well, the Emperor might even use the Lan family's affair to replace the Ningxia Second Guard with his own people.

If the Emperor were a little smarter, he could have taken Jia She, who was crying for his sister, to the Retired Emperor…

"Never mind them, let's go, your families are waiting for you."

As Shen Ning had guessed, as the carriage slowly drove away from the inn, Jia She and Wang Ziteng were being taken to the imperial court. Imperial Censor Zheng, exuding righteous indignation, glared angrily at Jia Lian, who stood at the very end of the procession. "Lord Jia," he demanded, "what explanation do you have for your father's arrogance and assault on a court official?"

Jia Lian looked at him calmly, "There's nothing to explain."

On the very day he assaulted the man, his father sent a letter home.

His aunt talked to him, and his eldest aunt also talked to him.

Jia Lian said, “My cousin, a boy in his teens, traveled a thousand miles to the capital to seek help, but his money was stolen. He knocked on my door as a beggar, saying that my aunt was dying and the Min family was watching her die. They even wanted to give his sister away as a concubine. I ask you gentlemen, if it were your family... could you tolerate it?”

This?
The court was quiet from top to bottom.

In fact, such a trivial matter as Jia She beating someone could have been avoided by bringing it up in the imperial court.

When Imperial Censor Zheng impeached them, Jia She and his son Jia Lian wrote a memorial defending themselves.

Whoever is unreasonable, the emperor will reprimand that person.

but now……

Anyone with a brain knows that there are still people who are envious of Jia Lian's position as the Director of the Imperial Archives.

But this kid... is actually not bad!

With the war about to break out in Ningxia, the people in the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue were extremely busy. Jia Lian was young and had a good memory, so he could immediately provide accurate data on what each party needed.

Even if it's not enough, he can quickly coordinate with all parties and is a capable and practical person.

"This is not something that can be tolerated or not tolerated."

Imperial Censor Zheng said loudly, "The war in Ningxia is imminent, and many members of the Min family have joined the army. Your father disregarded the overall situation and attacked them. Once Ningxia withdraws its troops, or if the Tatars play a feint attack on us, there will be war in Yansui as well. At that time, who can immediately replace the Min family members?"
Lord Jia, you must know that the military situation is extremely urgent.

If the Min family is at fault, you can sue them in court. How can you resort to violence like shrewish women in the marketplace?
emperor……"

He then turned to the Emperor and said, "Jia She is wrong, yet Lord Jia still seems to agree with him. I beg..."

"..."

The emperor waved his hand, "The border region is in dire need of capable people. Jia Lian, have General Jia She write a defense statement later."

He was exhausted and didn't want to listen to these trivial matters anymore.

"If there's nothing else..."

Just as the emperor was about to adjourn the court, Lord Fan of the Five Cities Garrison rushed in, "Your Majesty, General Jia She of the Rongguo Mansion has led a group of people in a street brawl with Prince Teng, the military governor of the capital garrison..."

"What about people?"

Imperial Censor Zheng's beard bristled. "Your Majesty, Jia She's actions deserve severe punishment."

emperor:"……"

He glanced at the man surnamed Fan, then at the man surnamed Zheng, and then subtly looked at the group of people in the court who liked to sway and change their allegiance. He knew in his heart that someone was up to no good.

They wanted to use Jia She as a breakthrough point to bring down Jia Lian.

Or rather, to put pressure on Jia Lian in order to get military support for their people.

Haha~
The emperor sneered inwardly, "You brought it, didn't you? Then bring it up and ask!"

If court officials were to engage in a street brawl, he would normally intervene.

Bringing it to the imperial court is perfectly acceptable.

However, the emperor still remembered this man surnamed Fan very well.

"……Yes!"

Lord Fan quickly gestured outwards.

Soon, Jia She and Wang Ziteng, who was in a wheelchair, were brought up by the guards.

"Your Majesty~~"

As soon as Wang Ziteng's wheelchair was stabilized, Jia She, who had been hitting the man, knelt down on the ground and burst into tears, crying, "Your Majesty, please do justice for me! Wang Ziteng has gone too far!"

Wang Ziteng: "..."

His face was flushed red; he was about to explode with anger.

"How dare you, Jia She..."

Just as Imperial Censor Zheng was about to say something, Jia Lian also knelt down beside his father, "I beg Your Majesty to do justice for the family of the late Lan Zhenghong, the commander of the Ningxia Central Guard."

what?
The emperor couldn't help but look down.

Jia She's cries suddenly grew louder, "Lan Zhenghong was my brother-in-law, Your Majesty! His whole family died a terrible death!"

He was really crying, and he was crying very sadly.

"Wang Ziteng used his sister's help..."

This is a long story. Sometimes Jia She would cry so much that he couldn't continue, and Jia Lian would add to the story from the side.

The adults, who were initially very impatient, were surprised to find themselves listening to gossip live.

Those who don't know Jia Zheng only think of him as an upright and refined gentleman.

What can be understood...

The Minister and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works both had rather strange expressions.

Neither of them expected that Jia Zheng would be so muddle-headed.

However, in court, they were basically just there to make up the numbers. Now, when faced with probing gazes, they all tried their best to keep their eyes down, their minds focused, without any other thoughts.

"...Your Majesty, this is only the Jia family's opinion."

Wang Ziteng has chest pain.

Jia Lian is his nephew-in-law.

In this way, they didn't say a single word to defend their family, it seems they really want to stand on the opposite side.

Son of a bitch!
The story of Jia She beating someone was spread secretly on his orders.

The goal was to get the Censorate to impeach him, to make Jia Lian realize that he needed help, and that Wang Ziteng was his natural ally and greatest support. It also wanted to show those who had previously looked down on him that Wang Ziteng could maintain his position in the capital garrison without their assistance.

But... but how did it end up like this?

Wang Ziteng was practically going crazy. "Jia She, Jia Lian, do you have any evidence? If you don't have any evidence, you're just slandering me."

"emperor!"

Jia Lian paused for a moment and said, "When the Lan family was engulfed in flames, my cousin escaped and is now the deputy captain of the women's army under General Jiang Yu."

what?
Wang Ziteng was stunned.

The people in the court were also quite surprised.

"She told us about the Lan family's affairs that day herself, because of this..."

Jia Lian paused for a moment, then said, "That's why my second uncle was punished in the ancestral hall."

My aunt said that it would be better if my second uncle didn't take the official position.

He also said that his confused behavior shouldn't be known only to his family.

We must cut ties completely. My second uncle must not help anyone with favors or recommends for official positions.

My aunt also said that it would be best for my second uncle to stay at home from now on.

Even the eldest brother and Yuan Chun said that it was easier for them to have their second uncle at home, and everyone was doing well.

"Oh?"

The emperor's eyes flickered, and he felt the air become fresher. "Minister of Works, has Jia Zheng recently taken leave?"

Now that the Jia and Wang families were no longer entangled, he felt much more at ease using them.

In fact, both the Emperor and Jia himself were aware of the Jia family's intentions.

Many people in the government like to do this.

Today I'll help you up, tomorrow you'll help me up.

They were exchanging favors, as if the father and son were fools.

"Yes!"

The Vice Minister of Works immediately lowered his head.

"That's it..."

The Emperor glanced at Prince Teng, who looked like he was about to collapse, and said slowly, "Let him write a memorial requesting retirement later!"

"Yes!"

With just a few words, Jia Zheng's future was decided.

Wang Ziteng knew it was his turn.

But he is still young.

If he retires and goes home, the Wang family is finished.

"emperor!"

Ignoring his injured leg, Wang Ziteng knelt on the ground and said, "I still maintain that the Jia family should produce evidence, and Deputy Lieutenant Lan should produce evidence."

If the Lan family maid had any evidence, she would have already presented it.

Since it wasn't presented, it must not have been.

"Otherwise... it would be a false accusation." (End of Chapter)