The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 16 Gambling

Does Rong-ge have someone by his side?
Shen Ning was almost amused by her eldest son's behavior. "Can people be treated the same? One is the son of the head steward, and the other is a servant with no connections. In the eyes of servants, because of Lai Sheng, you are the future master of the mansion. Even if they listen to your father and scold or beat you, they will do so within limits. But what about Rong-ge'er?"
You treated him the same way your father did back then? Have you considered how difficult his life must have been? Of his four servants, why are only two left? And both are from the Tang family; not a single servant from the Jia family remains.

Jia Zhen: "..."

He was completely dumbfounded!

he……

When he thought of Lai Sheng's words about those two not being clever enough and transferring them to be apprentices outside, and then finding a suitable replacement for the young master later, he suddenly had nothing to say.

“Before, the Lai family only had one son, and he would stay by your side. Now that they have three sons, they don’t want to keep any of them. Jia Zhen, have you ever thought about why?”

Shen Ning stared at him, "Let me tell you, it's because the Lai family no longer has any faith in the Jia family, because they think the Jia family is bound to fall, because they've already made enough money, and because for the sake of their descendants, they want to gradually distance themselves from the Jia family."

"..."

Jia Zhen's face turned pale and then red, his lips trembled, as if he wanted to say something in rebuttal, but from his mother's point of view, it seemed... that was indeed the case.

How can it be?

Jia Zhen didn't want to believe it.

Their family was still prominent and still held the title of nobleman. That year, so many people were implicated, even his father-in-law had to go back to farming, but their family did not fall.

How dare the Lai family?

No, no, no, they dared. The Lai family sought favors that very year. The father had worked hard to graduate, but was forced to leave the court.

They seized the title while he was in a good mood...

Jia Zhen's eyes gradually reddened.

There's an old saying... "Look at how your father treats his son."

Shen Ning looked at him and mercilessly delivered another fatal blow, "You think they are loyal? Isn't this loyalty bought by the Jia family? For so many years, hasn't the Jia family provided them with food and drink? Haven't they given them clothes, hats, and shoes for spring, summer, autumn, and winter? Or have they not given them a monthly allowance?"
Many officials from humble backgrounds could only afford a courtyard in the capital after rising to the second or third rank, but the Lai family... was their courtyard small?
There's a saying you're right about: they're asking for favors in order to benefit their descendants.

Jia Zhen: "..."

His body swayed, and he almost couldn't stand up.

"Don't blame your mother for speaking so harshly."

Shen Ning sighed, "I've been through hell and back before." She pointed to the seat next to her, gesturing for him to sit down. "You still remember the Lai family's kindness, and I'm not that heartless. How about this, let's make a bet. The Lai family has been with the Jia family for many years, so it's normal for them to have accumulated some wealth. You take Jiao Da and go confiscate their property. Excluding the houses, if all their assets don't exceed 20,000 taels, you'll release all the members of their family from slavery and give them complete freedom from now on."

on the contrary……"

Shen Ning closed her eyes briefly. "He's a wicked servant. Either hand him over to the authorities, or have him beaten to death or sold off. Not only that, you must use swift and decisive measures, exercise the authority of the clan chief, and take down the Lai family of Xifu."

what?
Not only was Jia Zhen speechless with shock, but Lady You was also visibly shocked.

"The Ning and Rong families share both honor and disgrace, and the two branches of the Lai family... naturally do the same."

Shen Ning's gaze was calm and firm. "That year, a great change occurred. Before the Jia family fell, the Lai family was already thinking about their way out. They had long been living a life of being waited on hand and foot. If they didn't leave the Jia family immediately, you don't really think they would still show their last bit of loyalty, do you?"

Jia Zhen: "..."

His hands were trembling slightly.

"What? You're afraid to gamble?"

Shen Ning looked at her son, who had cowered, and said, "Or are you going to remember that master-servant relationship that they no longer care about, let them steal from our home, and even curse your mother for bullying your wife and children?"

"..."

Jia Zhen's eyes gradually reddened, and his bottom, which had just been sitting down, slowly lifted up again. "My son is gambling!"

Now that the decision has been made, there's no time to delay.

"Someone come here!" he shouted. "Summon Jiao Da and summon the guards."

"……Yes!"

Xing'er, the servant outside, rushed out.

Before long, the sound of the guards' orderly footsteps came from over.

Shen Ning stood up. "Let's go. There's nothing for us here. Let's go see Rong-ge'er."

Madam You quickly helped him up.

Not long after the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law left the ceremonial hall, the situation in Ningguo Mansion changed drastically.

Lady Wang, who had followed Jia Zheng back to the mansion from next door, clutched a handkerchief that was almost shredded, wishing she could hit someone.

But she didn't dare to hit him, because she knew that Jia Zheng was also holding back his anger and might have a big fight with her.

Yes, she didn't tell the whole story last night and downplayed many of the important points, but can we blame her entirely for her shame today?
Although Shen Ning was the eldest sister-in-law, her elder brother Jing was not an official, so she didn't even have an official title.

What gives her the right to put on airs in front of her cousin, who is an official in the next household?
Why should she, a lady of high rank, act like the elder sister-in-law?

Why should we change the path that our ancestors designed for their descendants?

Is it so great to know a few sayings of sages?

For the first time, Madam Wang regretted not having studied more and being unable to read and write.

Just thinking about how yesterday she used a quote from Mencius to silence her, the old lady, and the women of the clan, and today she used the same sage's words to force Jia Zheng to beg for mercy, filled her with intense hatred.

At this moment, she really missed her eldest son and daughter.

They all speak the words of sages.

Unlike Jia Zheng, who is a bookworm and utterly useless.

If her children were alive, they could certainly help her use other sages' words to refute her.

"All go out."

As soon as he stepped into the room, Jia Zheng, who had been holding back all the way, waved to the maids who wanted to bow, telling them to leave quickly.

The maids were startled. They peeked at Madam Wang, who was entering with a sullen face, and quickly curtsied before quietly leaving the room, thoughtfully closing the door behind them.

The master and mistress arguing is not something any of them should witness. But weren't they returning from the East Mansion?
Why are you arguing?

The maids looked at each other, all very worried.

The wife basically has no way to deal with the husband.

If they are upset, they might not retaliate, but if they do... it can be fatal.

The maids were trembling with fear, hoping that this matter would be over soon.

Inside the room, Jia Zheng had already swept a teacup off the table with a clatter. "Wang Shi, aren't you going to explain yourself to me?"

He actually admired the new school rules and reward/punishment system that Jia Zhen and his classmates came up with.

If Wang hadn't misled him, how could he have lost so much face in front of his sister-in-law?
"Explain what?"

Madam Wang sat down in her usual seat. "Master was drunk last night, and you couldn't understand what I was saying. Can you blame me?"

She didn't blame the man for being useless, so what right did he have to blame her?

"Instead of blaming me, sir, you should think about why your sister-in-law is so overreaching. As for her saying that teaching the children martial arts is good for their health, we should just listen to her and leave it at that."

The business ties between the Jia and Wang families were with her.

The beneficiaries were Jia Zheng and her children.

"My sister-in-law has a great influence on Brother Jing and Jia Zhen."

Ignoring the man's unpredictable expression, Madam Wang said, "But they all agreed to what happened back then. You should think about what we will do if they change their minds, and what will happen to our Yuan Chun."

What's the point of being a female official?

Their goal was to help Yuan Chun become a close confidante of the emperor.

If the crown prince can be deposed, then if their Yuan Chun gives birth to a prince, why can't she advance even further?
"...Aren't you overthinking this?"

Jia Zheng's shame and anger were dispelled by the crisis that Wang Shi had raised.

When Yuan Chun was brought into the palace, it was something he and the old lady had discussed and agreed upon, and everyone tacitly agreed.

The Jia family transferred power in the military to the Wang family, which benefited the Jia family the most.

in case……

Thinking about how Shen Ning had shown him no respect today and used the words of a sage to pressure him, Jia Zheng couldn't help but overthink things.

"Thinking too much?"

Knowing she had subdued him, Wang snorted, "I think you're overthinking things."

Why support her brother? Isn't it because of the marriage alliance between the two families, and the Jia family has no one capable of supporting him?

Although the decision to withdraw the Jia family from the military was made by their ancestors for the long-term development of the family, this withdrawal was always just a show for those in power.

If Shen Ning changed her mind and allowed members of the Jia family to become minor officials in the army based on their own abilities, the higher-ups wouldn't care.

But while those in power don't care, the Wang family has to.

Once members of the Jia family establish themselves in the army, the Jia family's hidden power within the army will inevitably be reduced by one-third, or even more.

Her brother, Wang Ziteng, was no longer the only option.

After all, they would definitely trust their own people more than outsiders.

Don't you think your sister-in-law has changed a lot?

After Brother Jing resigned from his official post and left home, his wife became listless for several years.

Now that I'm pregnant, I feel so powerful. What do they think they are?
A sharp glint flashed in Madam Wang's eyes. "Reforming the school may only be her first step."

Jia Zheng: "..."

He slowly sat down, humbly asking, "What was her second step?"

"Discipline the servants in the mansion."

Lady Wang looked at him and said, “For example, we can win over Jiao Da’s heart, not disband the guards, and send all the servants in the manor who are related to us to the estate.”

"..."

Jia Zheng was greatly shocked.

The Rong family's guards were all disbanded after the incident that year.

Ning Mansion...

Suddenly remembering something, Jia Zheng asked urgently, "What did Zhou Rui's wife say when I came back yesterday? Is the household already sending people to their deaths?"

Not too stupid.

Madam Wang sighed, "Yes, the matter has already been dealt with. Even Lai Sheng's wife has been punished and sent home."

"Lai Sheng's family?"

Jia Zheng stood up abruptly. "I'll go tell my mother."

His grandmother loved Granny Lai the most.

Let Granny Lai go and plead for her. Even if we don't respect the monk, we should at least give the old lady some face. That woman might not give him any face, but we should at least give the old lady some face.

Jia Zheng was actually aware of his own shortcomings.

But he has a good mother.

His mother has always favored him since he was a child.

As for the Lai family's matter, it was originally the eldest sister-in-law and Jia Zhen who were in the wrong. The Lai family had served the Jia family for so many years, always loyal and devoted. How could they disregard past relationships and the ancestors' reputation for being kind and generous to their servants over such a small mistake?

(End of this chapter)