The head of the Red Mansion

After seeing off the last guest, Jia Zheng and Wang Shi felt a little sad. Their time for exercise was over, and they would probably have to return to the ancestral hall again.

That place is no place for a human to live.

They weren't bitten by mosquitoes these past two days, not because Madam You was being extra considerate, but because she was afraid the mosquitoes would bite their faces and make it difficult to entertain guests today.

Now that the guests have finished their hospitality, if we go to the ancestral hall again, Madam You probably won't burn as much mugwort incense.

"Let's go, everyone, sit with the old lady!"

Jia She glanced at Zheng Er Shazi and was the first to walk back.

Jia Zheng: "..."

He hadn't been able to speak to his older brother all day, and now...

For some reason, that glance from his older brother just now made him feel extremely uneasy!
I have a feeling this scoundrel is going to get a beating from his mother.

He's wanted to beat him up all these years.

But because of his mother, he not only failed to get a fight, but he also kept her under control.

now……

Jia Zheng's legs felt a little numb; he didn't want to go.

His mother was already disappointed in him enough.

She no longer treats him as she used to.

My brother, please repeat the mistake you made...

Jia Zheng looked at Wang Shi, who was not far away.

Wang silently turned her head away and went to the old lady first.

Besides punishing the ancestral hall, what else could they punish her for?

I can't divorce her anyway.

It's impossible to make her die from an illness.

She has three children.

Her eldest daughter is to marry the Marquis of Xinping, and her son will take the civil service exam next year.

They were members of the Jia family, and since their mother had died, they were still in mourning.

So whether it's the old lady, Madam Shen, or the eldest son who just returned today, at most they'll just scold her and let her stay in the ancestral hall for a while longer.

Having endured this period with mosquitoes, the rest... well, I'll just treat it as living in a small Buddhist shrine.

Wang felt that her situation wouldn't get any worse, so she walked with composure.

But Jia Zheng is not an option.

He faced a situation even worse than being sent to the ancestral hall.

He walked forward slowly.

But no matter how slow he goes, he can't possibly travel to the ends of the earth.

Sure enough, in the mother's courtyard, the servants and younger generation had all left, while Wang was already kneeling there.

Seeing his two younger sisters in the room today, Jia Zheng felt even more ashamed, but the eldest son's demeanor clearly indicated he wouldn't let him off the hook...

Jia Zheng quickly walked a few steps and knelt down not far from Wang Shi.

He truly hated that old woman.

"Mother~"

Jia Zheng's voice was full of sorrow, and his eyes were filled with pleading, as if he were begging his mother to let him go.

Jia Mu: "..."

What could she possibly say?
Wang came over, said nothing, and knelt down there.

She wanted her to say a few polite words to Jia Wen. If Min'er could lend a hand, given Jia Wen's usual quick wit, this matter might be resolved today.

The old lady sighed softly in her stomach and looked at her eldest son.

"Mother~"

When Jia She saw his second brother kneel down, he also lifted his robe and knelt down, saying, "Today, in the court, in front of the Emperor and all the civil and military officials, I have sued the Wang family."

Wang's heart pounded faster than usual. She turned to look at Jia She, her lips trembling. "Brother, even if you don't look at me, or at Zhu'er and Yuan Chun, you should at least look at Feng'er and Lian'er, right?"

The Rongguo Mansion and the Wang family have long had an inseparable relationship.

"Grandma, is my brother trying to force me and Feng'er to our deaths?"

Wang Shi held a handkerchief, covered her face, and cried, "If I die, I'll die, but what will happen to my Yuan Chun, Zhu'er, and Bao Yu?"

"Who forced you to die?"

Jia She really wanted Wang Shi dead, but he felt sorry for his nephew and niece. "Mother, Wang Ziteng does not admit my accusations and insists that I and the Lan family provide evidence. I cannot provide evidence, so he countersued me for injuring Wang Zisheng. In addition, due to the impeachment by Imperial Censor Zheng, the Emperor fined me two months' salary."

Jia Mu: "..."

It startled her.

So it turns out they were only fined two months' salary?
This is... too light.

The old lady's eyes showed a hint of joy. "Let her punish me then, but she can't be so reckless in the future."

When the Duke was alive, he was often fined for his salary.

The more they are punished, the closer they become.

In any case, the Duke's mansion never relied on that meager salary to make a living.

"Yes!"

As Jia She nodded, he glanced at Jia Zheng, "My son was fined two months' salary, but my second brother..."

"..."

Jia Zheng's heart pounded wildly.

He finally realized what was wrong.

When my elder brother sued the Wang family, did he also... also reveal the matter of the letter he wrote?

In a short while, all the color drained from his face; if he had been standing, he probably would have fallen.

What happened to your second brother?

Grandmother Jia glanced at her second son, also feeling worried.

"His Majesty has decreed that my second brother must divorce!"

Boom~
It was like a heavy hammer blow that hit Jia Zheng on the head. His vision went black, and he almost fainted.

"Resuspension...remaining?"

Grandmother Jia looked at Shen Ning with a pained expression, as if seeking help, "Niece-in-law~"

"pretty good."

Shen Ning put down her teacup and gave three words.

Everything is going as she expected, which is really good.

But what she thought was a good thing, Jia Zheng and Wang Shi could not accept.

"Brother, are you trying to cut off all our second branch's chances of survival?"

Wang Shi shouted hoarsely, as if she would have lunged at Jia Zheng to fight him if it weren't for him standing between them, "How can our master live like this?"

It's hateful that Jia Zheng is so stupid; he's neither dizzy nor not dizzy, and he doesn't even know how to commit suicide.

"Sir, how can you face anyone after this?"

At this point, Wang burst into tears, tears streaming down her face.

If the master has divorced, then her title of noblewoman... will she still be there?

How will she go out and visit guests in the future?

"you shut up!"

Grandmother Jia was so angry that she trembled all over, leaning against her daughter Jia Min who had rushed over, "She'er, you, you..."

"Mother, do you know what people outside are saying about my second brother? They say he's a fool."

Jia She was furious, but what could he do? This guy really was a complete idiot. "Look at what he's done in the Ministry of Works all these years! He claims to attend court, but he's just a laughingstock. If he had any ability, would Prince Sheng dare to bully him like that?"
In his current state, he'd be better off staying at home like a son, rather than in the imperial court.

Jia Mu: "..."

She clutched her chest, feeling a mix of anger, resentment, and helplessness.

"Mother!"

Jia Min tried to soothe her mother, speaking softly, "It's definitely better for Second Brother to stay at home like this..."

"But he..."

"Zhu'er will be participating in the imperial examination next year."

Jia Min comforted her elderly mother, "As long as you pass the exam, even if it's just a seventh-rank official position, it's still better than your second brother's nominal post."

Her second brother was really not suited for the imperial court.

Rather than letting him cause trouble for the family, it's better for him to stay home quietly.

“My father once said that as long as my eldest and second eldest brothers are safe and sound and don’t wander around, that’s all that matters.”

The eldest brother did this; he never wandered around aimlessly.

It was his mother and second brother who went too far, to the point that he—relentlessly squandered the family fortune. Jia Min had been investigating some of the family's affairs lately and was utterly speechless with anger.

She didn't think her older brother was wrong; if she were the older brother, she would have done the same.

Otherwise, even if he doesn't lose, his second sister-in-law could find any excuse to empty the public coffers.

"...Never mind!"

The old lady sighed, "Zheng'er's official position was obtained for nothing, so now... let him retire!" She didn't even want to look at her second son anymore. "You're all tired today, so... you should go back to the ancestral hall early!"

Although she wanted him to return to Lixiang Courtyard, she knew that if her son returned, Wang Shi would inevitably have to go back as well.

The old lady was unhappy that Wang was going back.

Her son was stupid, but without Wang's meddling, he would never have harmed his own family.

“Zheng’er…” Seeing her second son’s pitiful state, she finally offered a word of comfort, “Your father wants you and your eldest brother to live peacefully and safely, so don’t think too much about it now.”

Jia Zheng: "..."

He glanced at his mother blankly and helplessly, kowtowed, and stood up in a daze. He seemed to want to go to the ancestral hall, but after taking only a few steps, everything went black and he collapsed on the spot.

That would be terrible if it fell to the ground.

Jia Zhen, who had been silent all along, rushed out and pulled him back, preventing his head from making intimate contact with the ground.

"Oh dear, sir!"

Wang rushed over, crying, "Master, you can't die, Master..."

"Shut up!" Seeing her son's increasingly pale face as Wang Shi shook him, Grandmother Jia, who had just gotten up, hurriedly said, "Quickly, fetch a doctor."

"Cough cough~"

Jia Zheng was shaken awake. Seeing Wang Shi's tear-streaked face, an indescribable anger surged from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. With all his might, he slapped Wang Shi hard across the face. "Get out! Get out of here!"

He never wanted to see her again.

He also doesn't want to see anyone again.

I dare not see anyone again.

I felt that everyone's eyes held contempt, disgust, and disdain for him...

Jia Zheng knocked Wang Shi aside, and with Jia Zhen's help, he staggered to his feet and headed towards the ancestral hall.

"Mother, don't worry, I've already called a doctor," Jia She said, supporting his mother's hand from the other side. "Once my second brother calms down, I'll take him over to have him examined."

We called a doctor because we were afraid of upsetting the old lady.

Now that the old lady is doing well, there's no harm in showing her to my second brother.

"..."

Grandmother Jia glanced at her second son, who had regained his footing, and didn't want to see her eldest son either. She pulled her hand back and waved it repeatedly, saying, "You all go ahead, I need to rest for a while."

She actually knew that Er'er's official position... not only did the eldest son want to get rid of him, but the East Mansion and Lian'er also didn't want him to hold that official position anymore.

She's too old to manage things anymore.

For now... let it be!
Holding her daughter's hand, the old lady didn't look at anyone else and went straight into the inner room.

Jia Min gave Shen Ning an apologetic look and went over to comfort her.

Shen Ning smiled but didn't say anything. She was also quite tired today, but now everything was finally over. "Third sister," she patted Jia Wen's hand, "you've had a tiring day too. Come visit me tomorrow after you've rested."

"Hmm~"

Jia Wen never expected her eldest brother to be so brave, managing to get her second brother's official position so easily. Before the old lady could even say anything, she said, "I'll see my sister-in-law off."

So happy!

My older sister, brother-in-law, and two nephews would be so happy if they knew.

"Now Feng'er is in charge of the household, and that child..."

"I know."

The two women, ignoring the tears, followed Wang Shi, who was heading towards the ancestral hall with Jia Zheng. As they walked, they talked, “Brother Bai told me that his second cousin-in-law cares for him very much, and the courtyard where she lives is close to the back street.”

Next to the east courtyard, there was a door that the mother and her two children were living there quite well. "Sister-in-law, don't worry about us. I'll let you know if anything happens."

Shen Ning nodded, "Yingchun and the others are studying at the East Mansion. You can ask Mei-jie later if she wants to go with them too."

“Even if you don’t tell me, I’m going to tell you anyway.”

Jia Wen smiled, "Yingchun and the others invited Mei-jie today. She said she'll go ask you tomorrow to let her attend the school."

"What are you asking for?"

Shen Ning glared at her, "Tell her to come."

"Then I'll prepare a gift for her to formally become an apprentice, and I'll go over there first thing tomorrow morning."

"Aren't you going to take a few days off?"

"She would jump for joy whenever she heard that she could go to school."

Jia Wen laughed, "When she was at home, I was the one who taught her, but there were some things that I was stumped by her questions."

Both her son and daughter are smarter than her.

Jia Wen had previously worried that she was delaying her daughter's future, but now things are all right.

"I don't have to worry about her going to school!"

"Haha, what I hear is you showing off?"

Shen Ning also hopes that one day in the future, she can say this to others.

"Sister-in-law must have misheard."

Jia Wen smiled, just about to praise her little niece who had been blowing bubbles with her earlier that day, when Baoqin rushed over, "Madam, the Marquis of Xinping has arrived, and our young lady invites you over."

Xinpinghou?
Cheng Luo?

Shen Ning was stunned.

Coming over so late at night, is there something wrong?
"Since it's Yuan Chun who's calling you, sister-in-law, please go over!"

Jia Wen's face turned pale; she feared something bad had happened.

What I fear even more is that she has implicated Yuan Chun.

Although my second brother and sister-in-law are not good, their nephews and nieces are all very good.

"Besides me, who else did you invite?"

"We have invited the master, the mistress, and several gentlemen."

"Didn't you invite your master and mistress?"

Shen Ning felt a sense of relief.

If there are any changes to the marriage, Yuan-chun must ask Jia Zheng and Wang Shi for help, as they are her parents.

"no!"

He shook his head while holding the zither.

Where is the Marquis of Xinping now?

As she spoke, Shen Ning patted Jia Wen's hand reassuringly.

"In the flower hall!"

"Okay! I'll go over there."

When Shen Ning followed Bao Qin to the flower hall, Cheng Luo had already been sitting there for quite a while.

He went to see Yuan Chun first, and Yuan Chun also thought it was a problem with the marriage, but he was teary-eyed, so it didn't seem like it.

When asked why he needed to consult an elder, he gave a nonsensical reply, saying that he would listen to her in everything from now on.

Yuan Chun suspected that the Cheng family and the old lady of the Cheng family had scolded him because of what happened today, and she was so angry and furious that she could only help to find the elders.

"Have some water first, calm yourself down!"

Seeing that he seemed restless, Yuan Chun could only reassure him, "Don't worry, my uncle will be here soon."

"..."

Cheng Luo tried to calm himself down, but even his uncle, the emperor, couldn't do anything about it.

But he couldn't sleep without giving it his all.

"When my mother passed away, she was very worried about me."

He looked at Yuan Chun, "But I'm even more worried about her."

Yuanchun: "..."

What do you mean?
She didn't understand.

Princess Baofeng has passed away, I'm worried...

“They insisted that my mother be buried with that man, but I refused even at the cost of my life.”

Cheng Luo wiped away a tear, "But I couldn't hold back everyone, and she was eventually buried in the Cheng family ancestral graveyard."

"You...you want to move the grave?"

Yuan Chun grasped the key point.

Cheng Luo nodded vigorously. "I know it's difficult, but a few months ago, Chen Tang from the Chen family of the Ministry of Works changed his surname to follow his mother's, didn't he?" He looked at Yuan Chun expectantly. "If I change my surname, I can bring my mother into the picture." (End of Chapter)