The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 177 Important Person
The political intrigues at court were far too distant for ordinary people who were only concerned with making money and buying warm clothes.

Those with some free time would gather in teahouses and mostly talk about the war in the north.

The marriage between the Jia and Qin families proceeded steadily and discreetly.

Qin Ye was naturally happy to send his son to study at the Jia family school.

His two children were his life.

Although she was reluctant to part with her daughter, Madam Shen and Madam You of the Ningguo Mansion were both good people.

With their guidance, my daughter's future path will be easier.

Therefore, Qin Ye agreed.

I agree that my daughter will marry into the family on the sixth day of the second lunar month next year.

"Miss, Qingzhu from Ningguo Mansion has arrived!"

"Please!"

As she spoke, Qin Keqing went out to greet them.

Qingzhu came down from the Qin family's gate. "Please don't be so polite, young lady." Seeing that they were about to welcome her, a maid, she quickly stopped them and hurriedly came down with a box from the old woman. "It's getting cold. I'm here on my mistress's orders to bring some sweaters for you, young lady, and Master Qin and Young Master Qin."

Last time I sent two sets of cotton-padded coats to each of them, this time it's sweaters.

Nowadays, she and Qingping are considered regulars at the Qin residence. They not only deliver things for the madam, but also occasionally deliver calligraphy, poems, or trinkets that Rong-ge'er sees.

"Thank you!"

Qin Keqing was extremely grateful: "Sister, when you go back, please thank Madam and the elders for me!"

Since her engagement to the Jia family, she has had much less to worry about.

When my mother was alive, she took care of everything. After she passed away, my father had to do it all himself, and he would always forget this or that.

Qin Keqing still remembers the first year after her mother passed away. Because of the snow, her family didn't even have a single vegetable leaf to eat for half a month.

Because her father forgot to prepare for winter storage.

She had no choice but to learn how to manage a household little by little.

Clothes for all four seasons, kitchen supplies, social interactions...

Because her father had no biological children and she was an adopted daughter, the Qin family had always looked down on them.

When there are good things happening, it's never their turn; but when it comes to contributing money and effort, they're always the first to do so.

This year is different.

Because of the marriage alliance with the Jia family, the previously unfriendly relatives have suddenly become good people and especially close 'relatives'.

"Okay!"

Qingzhu smiled and agreed, then turned around and took out two small windmills from the car. "These were bought by our young master, who said they were for his uncle to play with."

Qin Keqing: "..."

Qin Ye, who had just left the yamen and rushed back, saw his daughter blushing and laughed, "Then thank you very much, Rong-ge'er. Keqing, please take this."

My daughter is still young.

It's rare for Rong-ge to buy things for Zhong-er, and he always gives her an extra one.

Qin Keqing took the windmill and ran shyly into the house.

"I'm troubling Miss Qingzhu again."

Qin Ye spotted the big sweater at a glance and was overjoyed.

He also had a sweater, but it was only wool-lined with rabbit fur trim.

now……

"Not at all! This is what I should do."

Qingzhu said, "Master Qin, try on this dark blue-gray squirrel fur coat first. If it's not good, you can take it back and have it altered immediately."

"...Just right!"

Qin Ye did try it on, and the gray squirrel fur cloak was both stylish and warm.

The hidden guard on the beam next door diligently took notes.

These are all meant for the retired emperor to see.

As expected, a small booklet was added to the Emperor Emeritus's desk that evening.

He had many granddaughters, and he didn't even remember the names of many of them, but this one was the crown prince's child.

Whether the Jia family truly cares about his granddaughter or not can be seen from their daily interactions.

On the second day of the ninth lunar month, the Ningguo Mansion sent four kinds of pastries.

On the fifth day of the ninth month, Rong Ge sent someone to deliver two roast ducks from Tian Xiang He.

On the seventh day of the ninth month, the young ladies of Rongguo Mansion presented him with rouge and face cream that they had made themselves.

On the Double Ninth Festival (the ninth day of the ninth lunar month), the Ning and Rong prefectures each sent a box of high-quality rice cakes...

The Emperor Emeritus watched until today, October 19th, when the Ningguo Mansion sent him a large woolen coat.

It depends on what you have, so give whatever you can, without having to insist that it must be something extremely precious.

His granddaughter, on the other hand, could only be given a handkerchief, a forehead band, or a sachet.

The retired emperor touched the sachet on his waist.

This was sent by Jia Zhen.

It was sewn by her granddaughter, stitch by stitch.

He put down the booklet and sighed softly, "How is the Prince of Jin now?"

"Reporting to the Emperor Emeritus, I am still at Ningfu Palace attending to Consort Zhen who is ill."

Dai Quan answered honestly.

Is Consort Zhen still coughing?

"It's said to be much better."

Much better!

The retired emperor nodded. "After he returned, did the emperor summon him?"

"I saw him."

Dai Quan answered more cautiously, "A few days ago, Consort Zhen was still very ill, and His Majesty only spoke a few words with Prince Jin. Yesterday, Consort Zhen was feeling better, and His Majesty specially invited Prince Jin to dinner."

"..."

The Emperor Emeritus's lips twitched involuntarily.

The emperor's son was very frugal.

It was almost just four dishes and a soup.

Improving my life means eating at his place.

He treated us to dinner...

The retired emperor could imagine how frustrated the Prince of Jin must have been.

As far as he knew, the Prince of Jin's son always had at least ten dishes at every meal.

"Now that the Dowager Consort is feeling better, go to Ningfu Palace and tell Prince Jin to return to his residence!"

It's not good for a prince to stay in the palace all the time.

"Yes!"

Dai Quan hurriedly went to deliver the message.

At this time, in Ningfu Palace, Consort Zhen also suspected that her son was going back.

She risked a serious illness to bring her son back, but seeing his condition, he still resented her.

Letting a son like that go...

Empress Dowager Zhen had a vague feeling that something big was about to happen.

Do you know why the Emperor Emeritus agreed to call you back?

Prince Jin: “…”

He couldn't even be bothered with his mother.

Why did we agree to let him come back?
Isn't it because you're sick?

Unfortunately, he could only say these words to himself.

"Say whatever you want to say!"

Holding it in is also uncomfortable.

Moreover, even if she manages to hold it in for a while, she'll definitely tell him in the form of a note later.

The Prince of Jin felt that his mother was becoming increasingly fond of lecturing.

“Son, just listen.”

"Do you know how fast Wang Ziteng runs? He rides at breakneck speed, covering at least 300 li every day."

Consort Zhen sighed inwardly, finally hardening her heart, and said in a low voice, "But what about you? Your father called you back, firstly because of my illness, and secondly... he doesn't want you to be impeached again, and he will lose face along with you."

Prince Jin: “…”

"Your father... has probably given up on you completely."

With the war in the north nearing its end, the retired emperor, while wary of the emperor, also... resigned himself to his fate.

Consort Zhen could clearly sense that while he was wary of the emperor, he was also very satisfied with him.

Although he treated the crown prince the same way back then.

But back then he was young and could still take risks, but things are different now.

The emperor helped him avenge his previous humiliation.

The emperor was accepted by the court and the common people.

That's not the most important thing. The most important thing is that the emperor is now the emperor, and he is now the retired emperor. There are some things that, even if he wanted to do them, wouldn't be so legitimate anymore.

"To be precise, he abandoned everyone, and now... he has completely accepted the emperor."

Prince Jin: “…”

Even without his mother saying anything, he already had a feeling.

But I'm so unwilling to accept it!

How dare this bastard child, whom he once trampled underfoot, occupy such a high position?
Is it all based on luck?
"Be good after you leave the palace."

"Mother concubine~"

The Prince of Jin's eyes were filled with malice. "You want me to accept my fate?"

Are you still not ready to accept your fate?
Empress Dowager Zhen's tears fell. "Do you want your family to end up like the Crown Prince back then?"

The Prince of Jin flicked his sleeves, about to smash something, when he heard the heavy footsteps of palace servants outside.

So, with a slight turn of his sleeve, he withdrew his hand.

"Your Highness, Prince Jin, Eunuch Dai from Shou Kang Palace has arrived."

"Please!"

Consort Zhen quickly wiped away her tears.

When all the palace servants were outside, Dai Quan knew that the mother and son were having a private conversation, and judging from the Prince of Jin's expression, they seemed quite unhappy.

He dared not delay, quickly conveyed the Emperor Emeritus's intentions, and hurriedly withdrew.

"...You can leave now!"

Consort Zhen lay down and said, "I'm getting old, this is all I can do to help you."

Even the retired emperor was powerless to help, let alone her.

He then took on all the responsibilities for his son...

Consort Zhen felt that this would harm him and his family.

“Mother, I can accept my fate, but there are two people I must get rid of.”

The King of Jin said, "Give the token that commands those people to my son!"

Consort Zhen: "..."

Her eyes met her son's, and she was unwilling to back down, but Prince Jin suddenly knelt down, saying, "Mother, I need those people, and there are some things I must do. Only by doing them will I not regret it."

Those people were all trained with the help of the Zhen family.

He could go to his uncle himself, but there's no guarantee that the emperor's men wouldn't be around his uncle.

The Prince of Jin did not want any more accidents to happen.

"...There is no such thing as a secret that stays hidden forever."

Empress Dowager Zhen had no idea why her son was so murderous. "There are many ways to kill someone using someone else's knife. Why do you have to do it yourself?"

If you let someone else do it, you might still succeed.

But the son did it himself...

Consort Zhen lacked confidence.

“My son wants people, but he didn’t say anything. He must be going to kill someone.”

The Prince of Jin said, "With my son being summoned back like this, countless officials and ministers are watching this as a joke."

The emperor was also laughing at him; he could tell at dinner yesterday.

"Mother, have I asked you to do anything for me these past few years?"

Consort Zhen: "..."

Ever since she missed out on the throne, her son has resented her and would never ask her for anything again.

But those people...

"for you!"

She pulled a sachet directly from under her pillow. "It contains the contact information, and the token is that cracked jade pendant."

"Thank you, Mother. Your son... takes his leave!"

After receiving the items, the Prince of Jin quickly stood up and strode away.

As Consort Zhen listened to his footsteps receding into the distance, she finally sat up again. "Someone, bring me pen and ink."

She needs to write a letter to Jiangnan.

As for my son, I can no longer offer him unconditional support.

……

Ningguo Mansion.

Shen Ning finally learned that Prince Jin had returned.

Both mother and son were very annoyed.

Shen Ning had originally planned to take her family to stay at a hot spring resort, but that's definitely not going to happen now.

"Mother, the Prince of Jin's reputation has plummeted again since his return."

Jia Zhen couldn't help but offer some words of comfort, "Our family has little to do with his ambitions for power... surely he wouldn't bother us again?"

Why is his imperial ambition so dilapidated?

Shen Ning sighed, "For every bit of good fortune the Emperor brings, his side suffers a bit more. You do the math yourself. How much has our family helped the Emperor since we started returning silver to the treasury?"

Jia Zhen: "..."

Even in this freezing weather, he felt like he was sweating.

“He only travels about a hundred miles a day outside the capital. It seems like he is indulging in pleasure and has no ambition. However, it may be what Prince Jin wants others to see.”

Shen Ning took a sip of hot tea. "The Emperor's position is becoming more and more secure. Naturally, the princes in the capital must behave themselves and show the Emperor that he has no great ambitions."

This?
Jia Zhen opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but then he thought about how Prince Jin had been a master at sowing discord between the Emperor Emeritus and the Crown Prince.

"Alright, in a few days, send some more things to Taixuan Temple for your father."

Let's leave the things they can't handle to Jia Jing!

If Jia Jing can't solve it either, then they should just stay home and behave themselves.

Anyway, this house is quite big.

Shen Ning didn't care.

"And there's his place too..."

Shen Ning thought for a moment, "Let's find some people to keep an eye on things!"

"Yes!"

This is a big deal.

Jia Zhen dared not delay, "Why don't we have our son go tomorrow?"

The sooner we go, the sooner he can rest easy.

"what ever!"

Shen Ning said, "But this time, try to bring Jiao Da along. He's older and has more experience."

Perhaps it can reveal dangers that others cannot see.

Although the capital city is more stable than before with the emperor's throne secured, it's still hard to guarantee that no one will resort to desperate measures.

For some reason, Shen Ning had a feeling that their family might be facing another major storm.

Whether the storm was blowing from inside her home or outside... she couldn't guess yet.

Logically, the Jia family should have been brought under control by her.

After seeing her eldest son off, Shen Ning couldn't help but glance in the direction of the West Mansion.

Jia Zheng's backside hadn't fully recovered when Wang Shi was confined to the small Buddhist hall.

The one who truly manages the household is Wang Xifeng, and she is still quite sensible.

The Wang family didn't rush to find her, so the possibility of something happening to her is extremely low.

With Jia Min at Grandmother Jia's place and Jia Wen at hers, both children are very ambitious, and she herself has a sum of money, so there's no way she could get into trouble.

At Madam Xing's place...

With Jia She around, she would never cause trouble.

In Dream of the Red Chamber, apart from being stingy and reluctant to part with money, she didn't have any major flaws.

Moreover, Madam Xing and Yingchun are now very close.

According to Shen Ning's investigation, the first wife's family is doing quite well.

now……

Shen Ning tried hard to think of anything else she might have overlooked.

"Qingping, is everything alright in the West Prefecture lately?"

"There is one!"

Qingping thought for a moment, "The second aunt of the Wang family in Jiangnan sent a letter saying that she will be bringing her family to the capital soon."

The second aunt of the Wang family?
Aunt Xue?
Shen Ning immediately thought of Xiang Ling.

How could she forget her?

Judging by the time, she'll be sold to two different families by that wicked child!

How to do?
Is it too late to send someone to Jiangnan now?

Is the young master of the Feng family trying to buy a wife to celebrate the New Year?
"Go, have Xing'er come over here."

Xing'er is quite capable.

Shen Ning was considering matters in Jiangnan, and decided to have him go and check on the sacrificial fields there as well.