The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 190 Provocation
At Rongguo Mansion, Grandmother Jia was happy for her nephew Shi Ding's conferment of the title of Marquis Zhongjing, but she was also worried about her granddaughter Lanzhi, who was about to return to the capital.

When Lanzhi returns to the capital, she will definitely come to see Er'er, and then...

The old woman had no idea whether, having killed Tatars before, she might be overcome with murderous intent and end them all with a single sword stroke.

She felt panicked and scared!
At this moment, Grandmother Jia was only worried about her second son's life, and didn't care at all about fighting.

If you get beaten up, as long as you're still alive, you can at least slowly recover.

But if you get killed, then you really are doomed!

"Min'er, what are we going to do about your second brother?"

Grandmother Jia asked her daughter with a worried expression.

"..."

Jia Min sighed softly to herself, "Let's just do what we have to do!"

"Why do you say that too?" Grandmother Jia said, distressed. "He's your second brother!"

"What about the eldest sister?"

Jia Min countered, "On her deathbed, she entrusted her children to her second brother, asking him to look after her nephews. But when he replied in that letter, did he ever think about how her eldest sister felt? Her eldest sister is gone, her brother-in-law is gone, and her two nephews have also passed away. Have you ever thought about how Lanzhi spent those days?"

All are sisters.

If the second brother can treat the eldest sister like that, how good can he be to her?
Especially back when she was at home, she didn't get along well with her second sister-in-law.

Even if the mother takes care of her child because of her, just look at Baoyu now, and you'll know how much of that so-called care really is.

Especially as mothers get older and their energy wanes, children suffer countless hardships as they grow up.

Looking at Baoyu now, Jia Min could imagine what kind of life her child would lead.

This was even after the second brother moved out of Rongxi Hall and could no longer manage the household.

If he were the butler...

"Please stop saying things like the dead should give way to the living."

Jia Min didn't like hearing this. "If Lan Zhi can crawl out of a pile of dead bodies, then we have to make way for her. Even if Father were still alive, we would still make way for her."

If Father were here, he wouldn't even need Lanzhi; he could have killed Second Brother himself.

"...You're trying to rip my heart out!"

Tears fell from Grandmother Jia's eyes.

"Mother……!"

Faced with her mother's tears, Jia Min had no choice but to say again, "If you really want what's best for your second brother and don't want him to die, then you should treat Lanzhi even better. No matter what she says or does, you shouldn't object."

Jia Mu: "..."

She understood what her daughter meant.

Lanzhi still had to call her maternal grandmother. She showed enough love that she probably couldn't bear to see her, at such an old age, suffer the pain of losing a child again.

But will this really work?
"When the eldest brother and Lian'er turned against the Wang family in court, they had already made the Jia family's stance clear."

Jia Min said, "I think Lan Zhi has already heard about this. She is fighting in Ningxia, and both the Eastern Prefecture and here are sending her as much as possible. We are trying to make up for it, even though it is late."

The eldest sister-in-law of the East Mansion set a good example, and everyone in the family, even the children, helped sew knee pads and vests for that side.

Even if you don't care about the monk, you should consider the Buddha. As long as Lanzhi has a little bit of soft-heartedness, she can't bring herself to kill her second brother.

"It hasn't been easy for Lan Zhi to get to where she is today, and I don't think she would easily allow herself to be branded as a murderer of her own family."

Her second brother is her second maternal uncle.

She'll face countless impeachments in her official career.

Jia Min sighed, "But if you confront her head-on... after killing so many Tatars, if her bloodlust doesn't subside, she might actually fight you head-on."

This?
Probably.

Grandmother Jia sighed and wiped away her tears. "Never mind, it is indeed my Jia family that has wronged her."

The old lady said this, and in her heart she was prepared to do as her daughter said. However, she was also prepared to push the instigator, Wang, out if things didn't work out.

At this moment, in the Pear Fragrance Courtyard, Jia Zheng also heard the news from the servant.

Lan Zhi was actually on the first list of those awarded by the Ministry of War.

This is how to do?
Jia Zheng paced around the room like a headless fly.

How to do?
Can he escape?

"……master!"

Seeing him like this, Aunt Zhou was happy but also flustered. "My cousin is an official, and she has to take turns on duty. Do you think you should pack some things and tell the old lady that you want to go back to your hometown in Jinling to pay respects to your ancestors and take a look at the sacrificial fields there?"

Back in my hometown, my brother wrote to me last time saying that the sacrificial fields and houses around the ancestral graves are of poor quality.

Two of my grandnephews are growing up, and with the whole family here, it's not good to just keep running those few shops.

If she could go back to Jia Zheng's hometown with him, given Jia Zheng's status, getting a job as his nephew would be no problem.

Moreover, once she left Beijing, her scope of operations expanded significantly.

In this capital city, many people die from a cold every winter.

Once the nephew's job is done, why can't Jia Zheng get sick?
He was already weakened, so it's perfectly normal for him to get sick and then die.

He's gone, so what about the lady...?

The old lady loves her son, but she won't feel sorry for the person who harmed him.

Didn't the young lady want revenge?
At that time, the old lady will probably hope that the cousin will get rid of Wang.

With both the master and mistress gone, this aunt who has no children might be able to stay in her hometown and be cared for by her nephews and grandnephews.

"After the New Year, everyone who was supposed to leave will have left, and then we'll come back."

"...Yes, yes, yes!"

Desperate, Jia Zheng said, "I'll go find my mother right now. You should pack some things and come back to our hometown in Jinling with me."

When it comes to serving others, nothing beats Aunt Zhou.

This journey has been tiring, so it would be best to bring Aunt Zhou along.

Jia Zheng left in a hurry.

Aunt Zhou happily went to pack his things.

Actually, there is nothing to clean up.

It's cold, so bring a sweater, another one, and a few more changes of clothes. For the rest, just bring some money.

As for the master's private savings...

We should wait until he comes back and then persuade him to bring some.

Aunt Zhou wouldn't bring it along without Jia Zheng's permission, lest it give others something to gossip about.

She was quick and finished everything quickly. Jia Zheng hadn't returned yet, so after thinking for a moment, she simply opened the door to the small Buddhist shrine and walked in as if anxious.

"Madam, Madam, something terrible has happened."

Wang: "..."

Madam Wang suspected something was amiss when the food wasn't delivered.

"My eldest aunt's daughter, that cousin named Lanzhi, is also on the list of those who received awards from the Ministry of War this time. She will be returning to the capital soon."

Seeing Madam Wang's face change color, Aunt Zhou felt a sense of satisfaction. "We agreed that no matter what she did to Master when she returned to the capital, he would have to accept it. Master was afraid and asked me to pack my things so he could go back to Jinling immediately."

Wang: "..."

She could no longer strike the wooden fish.

Her heart was pounding wildly.

The old lady is reluctant to hand over the master, but she is certainly willing to hand over her!
What should she do?
Looking at the Buddhist hall door so close at hand, Madam Wang wanted to stand up immediately and beg the old lady to let Yuan Chun go with her, considering that Yuan Chun was the Lady of the Marquis and that Zhu'er was going to take the imperial examination next year. However, after sitting for so long, her legs were not obeying her commands, and she could not stand up immediately.

"By the way, you probably don't know this, but the eldest master of the Wang family has now been appointed General Zhennan by the Emperor."

Aunt Zhou hoped she would make a scene.

The more trouble Wang caused, the less this family could tolerate her.

"They say it's incredibly powerful."

Aunt Zhou said, "When he returns to the capital, he might even be granted a noble title."

Title of nobility?

Wang, who was slowly moving her legs, looked over immediately upon hearing this.

"Oh, I forgot. You're out of touch with the outside world here. You know the third master of the Shi family, Shi Ding, right? He made great contributions in the border town and has been granted the title of Marquis Zhongjing. He's also returning to the capital soon."

Lady Wang: "..." Marquis Zhongjing?
Hasn't the historian already produced a Marquis of Bowling?

how……

At this moment, Wang felt heartbroken that this marquis was not from the Wang family.

If this marquis were from the Wang family, would the Jia family dare to lock her up in the small Buddhist hall like this?
"Look at me, why am I telling you all this?"

Aunt Zhou seemed to remember something, "I still have some things to pack. Please sit down, I'll be going now."

As soon as Madam Wang's legs finally started to move, she quickly went out, slammed the door shut, and locked it.

Wang: "..."

She struggled to her feet, walked to the door, and peered through the crack at Aunt Zhou walking away. She stomped her feet in anger.

That scoundrel, that sly fox, it's all on purpose.

"Come on, come on!"

Wang knocked on the door, calling out, "Someone come here! Someone come here!"

When she first entered the small Buddhist shrine, she often knocked on the door like this.

At first, people responded, but gradually they stopped responding altogether.

Because it's nothing serious.

If we really get involved, it will be these servants who suffer in the end.

Especially after the master recovered, he and the mistress became practically enemies.

I've never seen the eldest grandmother spend all day in the old lady's room.

So when Ms. Wang knocked on the door, no one paid any attention.

The maids and servants in Pear Fragrance Courtyard seemed to be very busy at this moment, all quietly doing their work.

Aunt Zhou, who had gotten herself another pair of sheepskin boots, didn't seem to hear anything.

It was Jia Zheng, who had returned, who heard it.

He pleaded with the old lady, but she was no longer the same as before. Even when it came to his life or death, she refused to budge and had someone call his elder brother to seal the gate of Pear Fragrance Courtyard.

Jia Zheng is going crazy.

He can't leave even if he wants to now.

I knew earlier...

As soon as he entered the courtyard, he heard Wang Shi knocking on the door. Jia Zheng's anger immediately found an outlet. "Someone come here!"

He shouted, and Aunt Zhou rushed out, "Master!"

"Open the door!"

Seeing Jia Zheng's changed expression, Aunt Zhou seemed frightened and took a step back, covering the purse containing the key to the small Buddhist shrine with her sleeve.

Her movements seemed subtle, but Jia Zheng, who knew her well, immediately understood. He stepped forward, snatched the purse, grabbed the key, and went to open the door.

But Wang sensed something was wrong from his tone and quickly hid in the inner room.

But it's too late.

Aunt Zhou watched as Jia Zheng opened the door, then heard a loud 'bang' as the door was kicked open, followed by Wang Shi's wailing.

ho~
Aunt Zhou hurried a few steps, ostensibly to break up the fight, but in reality, she was there to watch the spectacle.

She lost her own child.

Countless times, she also thought that Wang's child was gone.

But to actually kill a child...

Aunt Zhou couldn't bring herself to be completely ruthless.

Now that there's a good opportunity to avenge her child without having to lay a hand on the child, the latter is definitely better.

"Master, you can't do this! There's a Buddha living in this house."

Aunt Zhou, who had tried to kick the door open several times but failed, persuaded Jia Zheng, saying, "The Bodhisattva will be angry."

"The Bodhisattva has been blaming you for a long time. Wang, you poisonous woman, can you hide forever? Come out here!"

When Jia She arrived, he heard his brother panting heavily.

He was speechless.

He raised his hand to the four servants and said, "From today onwards, you will take turns guarding the gate and are not allowed to leave."

"Yes!"

The four servants hurriedly and loudly responded.

"Second brother, second sister-in-law, you two should calm down. Even if you don't care about your own reputation, you should at least care about the children's reputation."

Jia She shouted those words, patted his behind, and turned to leave.

He has recently become fascinated with seal carving, and wants to study many characters and write many different styles of characters.

I don't have time to listen to their nonsense here.

There's so much to learn about seal carving.

He drew blood many times while practicing on wood.

However, it is not without gain.

A few days ago, he carved a small seal for Yunmozhai and sold it for two taels of silver.

Although the material itself was worth two taels, it wouldn't have sold so quickly without his inscription.

Jia She is currently in a phase where he works for others for free, and if the material he's carving is damaged, he has to pay for it.

He was single-mindedly focused on accumulating experience and making progress.

Anyway, when the servant helped him get the job, he didn't tell the other party who he was.

No one knew, so Jia She didn't feel ashamed.

"Sir, take a rest. Look at your hands..."

Even Madam Xing had no idea how her husband could be so obsessed with seal carving.

His hands had more than a dozen cuts from the carving knife.

Old wounds never heal before new ones appear.

I don't make money off people...

Xing glanced discreetly at the several pieces of poorly carved material in another box, suspecting that they had not only failed to make money but had actually lost some.

"It's okay, it will heal in a few days."

Jia She shifted his position to block his waste material, saying, "When I become a master of epigraphy, I'll carve one for you that can be passed down through generations."

Xing: "..."

What can she say to that?
That's it.

Anyway, these materials look cheap.

Even if you play some more, you won't be able to play much more.

Compared to before the family split up, we've saved so much money.

"When the time comes, please get a few more for Er Yatou."

Yingchun is still young. If Master practices for a few more years, even if he can't become a master of seal carving, the pieces he carves will definitely be perfectly shaped.

Madam Xing looked forward to that day, saying, "By the way, when she turns fifteen, you should get some good material and carve a nice jade pendant for her."

Those who collect metal and stone can carve characters, so of course they can also carve patterns or something.

"Okay, okay, I'm busy, so I won't keep you any longer."

If she kept looking, she would have to count the silver in his waste.

Jia She, concerned with his reputation, immediately sent the man away.

"Over at Pear Fragrance Courtyard, the second son and his wife are fighting again. You're the sister-in-law, go and break them up!"

Let's go see what's going on over there!

"Huh? Why are you arguing again?"

Xing's voice was filled with excitement, "This second brother of mine is really something, I'll go take a look right now."

She left in a hurry, and Jia She breathed a sigh of relief, finally able to calm down and get back to his work.