The head of the Red Mansion

At Ningguo Mansion, Madam You was extremely busy. Not only was she handling the funeral arrangements for her father, but she also had two sick people, a young child, and a baby.

Fortunately, her two aunts and two younger siblings from the West Mansion came to help; otherwise, she simply couldn't bear to think about what would have happened.

"Madam, the lady has woken up. She drank some water but didn't vomit, and even had someone bring the fourth young lady over for her to see."

"Really?"

Lady You was overjoyed and got up to go to the other courtyard.

After her father-in-law passed away, her mother-in-law collapsed. Everyone said she was going to follow him in death.

Both she and Jia Zhen were terrified and filled with anxiety.

Jia Zhen had a shoulder injury and fell slightly ill after returning home. But being young, he recovered quickly. However, when his mother was in such a state, they would sometimes think of her while keeping vigil at his father's coffin and burst into tears.

They begged their father-in-law not to take their mother-in-law away with him.

Children without mothers are so pitiful; let alone Yue'er, even they are no good.

My mother is usually such a kind and gentle person.
But that day she carried a gun, and after saving herself, she followed the guards and rushed to rescue the old man without regard for her own safety...

The old man said that if his mother had arrived even a little later, he might have died.

There were also rumors circulating that the mother had killed five people with a musket that day.

Five people!

The emperor found it unbelievable when he looked at the dossier submitted by Shuntian Prefecture.

He knew how powerful the Jia family's guards were.

The royal family didn't mind them sending lower-ranking officers into the army.

Firstly, there weren't many, and secondly, the people who sent them were truly talented.

Each of them could stand alone on the battlefield.

This is very rare.

There are talented people in the military, but having talented people alone is not enough.

The soldiers below need to be led.

However, those who rose from lowly soldiers to banner commanders had limited literacy, while those sent by the Jia family were different.

They can quickly grasp the superiors' intentions and help train the troops.

The method is simple, direct, and practical.

The emperor once sent people to investigate Jiao Da, the head instructor of the Jia family's military guards.

This man, a common soldier, once carried the Duke of Ningguo back from a pile of corpses on the battlefield.

That alone would have been enough to earn him a minor officer position, but he didn't join the army.

They lived out their old age in the Jia family, and the Jia family did not forget the life-saving grace they had received years ago.

The benefits they offered were excellent.

Madam Shen and Jia Zhen ate four dishes and a soup, as did the old man.

He takes his pulse twice a month to check for any health issues. If anything is wrong, he's given herbal medicine or his diet is adjusted. They're taking his care of him very seriously.

Even Liu An, who was by his side, said that when he got old, he would be very happy to have such a wonderful life.

Although those words were spoken in jest, the emperor could sense the envy in his voice after so many years together.

He was also very moved!

No wonder the Emperor and his elder brother, the Crown Prince, trusted the Jia family so much back then.

"Your Majesty, the Emperor Emeritus has awakened."

Xiao Sanzi rushed over.

The emperor suddenly stood up and strode towards the Shou Kang Palace, asking, "What did the imperial physician say?"

"The Emperor Emeritus can no longer speak, his body is immobile, and he has no strength in his hands."

"..."

The emperor felt a sense of relief, but quickly shook it off, asking, "Does the retired emperor recognize people?"

"It seems like it can still recognize people."

Recognizing people?

The emperor's heart skipped a beat again.

In the few days since his father fell ill, everything he did seemed to go more smoothly.

He's been emperor for several years now, and it seems that only now are some people realizing that he is the emperor.

His brothers, who used to fight with him, are now all getting along very well.

The emperor likes it the way it is now.

But Father can recognize people...

That day, the emperor saw it clearly: although the old man cursed the Prince of Jin as a wicked child, he seemed to feel sorry for him when he saw him in that state at the end.

He loved every one of his sons, but never him.

The emperor walked a little slower.

During his years as a prince, he was practically invisible. If it weren't for his elder brother, the crown prince, occasionally paying attention to him, he might not have even grown up.

When he became emperor, his brothers... couldn't wait to swarm him and tear him apart alive.

Being an emperor was even more difficult for him than being a nobody prince.

At least when he was an invisible prince, he could live a peaceful life behind closed doors.

But his father acted as if he had gotten a great advantage, and would scold him whenever he was unhappy.

Even during court sessions...

They didn't care about his feelings at all.

Everyone else is richer than him, and during holidays he is extremely poor.

He has no money to reward people, let alone bestow favors upon them; what kind of emperor is he...?

The emperor turned and headed towards the empress.

"Liu An, has Consort Zhen been behaving herself these past few days?"

“This servant had someone check, and she has been praying for the Emperor Emeritus in the small Buddhist shrine.”

They were genuinely praying for the Emperor Emeritus.

After all, she can only be well if the retired emperor is well.

"Has the Prince of Jin's residence sent a letter to Jiangnan?"

Those who can hide poison in their teeth are all assassins.

The Prince of Jin does have some men under his command, but if those men in black were truly his men, he certainly wouldn't be willing to cause such havoc.

Anyway, the emperor had no money, so he kept a dozen or so secret guards, and they were so busy that he felt like he was going to eat dirt. He simply couldn't understand the Prince of Jin's mind.

Why not do something better with such a good assassin?

Why insist on targeting the Jia family so relentlessly?

The emperor was puzzled; he even suspected that those people were from the Zhen family of Jiangnan.

Or perhaps it belongs to Consort Zhen.

“It was handed over, and the princess said it was for the old lady over there.”

Liu An answered honestly.

The emperor fell silent.

In those years, it was the Prince of Jin's favoritism, coupled with the Emperor's favoritism and the support of the Zhen family, that allowed him to surpass his brothers and even have the strength to rival the Crown Prince.

Of course, that was mainly because the emperor needed to suppress the crown prince.

now……

The emperor glanced in the direction of Shou Kang Palace again and finally decided to go with the empress.

There was nothing he couldn't say in front of the Empress.

He also couldn't understand how the Zhen family and Consort Zhen could allow Prince Jin to collude with Japanese pirates to deal with the Ningguo Mansion.

"...Yes? Why is that?"

Hearing the emperor's confusion, the empress seemed to understand. "I think it's precisely because he's figured out the key point that he's been keeping such a close eye on the Jia family?"

"Oh?"

The emperor, eager for knowledge, asked, "Tell me, what is so special about the Jia family?"

If he were the Prince of Jin, wanting to seize the throne, then he would definitely use his best resources wisely!
"emperor……"

The Empress sighed inwardly, "When did your luck start to turn around?"

emperor:"……"

He froze, his expression changing drastically. "You mean..."

"Yes!"

The Empress nodded solemnly, "Your Majesty, we must not forget those who dug the well when we drink the water. I have heard that Lady Shen is very ill!"

The royal family has wronged the Jia family.

"Jia Jing's death must have been a huge blow to her."

"..." The emperor sighed, "I understand, but we still need to take care of Father for now. At times like these, we must be even more cautious."

My father is ill, but even a dead tiger doesn't lose its power, let alone the former ruler of the Great Zhao Dynasty.
The retired emperor lay on the couch, his eyes drooling and his mouth crooked.

He regretted it; he shouldn't have gotten angry that day.

What in this world is more important than his health?

How could he just...

The retired emperor was lying on his couch, thinking about which ministers he should summon, when he felt a heat spreading through his clothes, followed by the smell of urine.

he……

The Emperor Emeritus's eyes widened in disbelief.

He... he's lost control of his bladder?

How can it be?

He is the emperor, the emperor...

"Your Majesty, please don't get agitated, please don't get agitated, it will be over in a moment."

Seeing that his eyes were rolling upwards, Dai Quan quickly tried to comfort him while signaling the eunuchs to hurry up.

Two eunuchs hurriedly lifted the quilt and took off the Emperor Emeritus's pants. Someone else washed his body. Soon, he was lifted up again, a new quilt was laid out, and he got into bed clean and comfortable.

To others, he was well taken care of; the eunuchs each had their own tasks, and their movements were fluid, fast, and skillful. However, to the retired emperor, he was suffering greatly.

His face...

He made a few 'hmph' sounds in his throat, but it was as if he had a lot of saliva in his mouth, and he couldn't express what he wanted to say.

This this?

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you mustn't get agitated, you mustn't faint!"

Dai Quan was almost in tears. "If you get any more agitated or dizzy, your health will suffer even more."

The Emperor Emeritus: "..."

He forcefully suppressed his surging emotions, "Shin...Tae...Il..."

"Are you calling for the imperial physician? He'll be here right away, right away."

Before he could finish speaking, several hurried footsteps came in.

"Father..."

There was a peculiar smell in the room, but the emperor suppressed it, pretending to be nonchalant. "You're awake! That's wonderful! Imperial physician, imperial physician, come quickly..."

The imperial physician arrived, but the Emperor Emeritus's stomach rumbled, and he felt a warm, thin, sticky substance coming from below.

The retired emperor was so ashamed and indignant that he fainted in a fit of anger.

The imperial physicians were busy again in Shou Kang Palace.

After a while, Consort Zhen, who was praying in the Buddhist hall, finally received the news that the Emperor Emeritus had woken up.

but……

Upon seeing the note that said she would become aphasic, incontinent, and unable to control her limbs, leaving her paralyzed, she collapsed to the ground.

Prince Jin was imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court that night. With the Emperor Emeritus in such a state, what would become of her son?
The Emperor hates the mother and son. When the Emperor Emeritus was still powerful and influential, outsiders dared not do anything to Prince Jin, but now...

Consort Zhen's tears fell. She suspected that even without the emperor's words, there were plenty of people helping him to abuse her son.

Ahhhhh~~~~
Consort Zhen covered her face and wept silently.

She had no idea how her son, whom she had painstakingly raised, could be so stupid.

They even colluded with Japanese pirates.

No, no, no, even if her son wanted to find the Japanese pirates, he had nowhere to go!

It must be from my older brother's side...

Consort Zhen pounded her chest a few times.

She regretted it so much!
I shouldn't have given that team of men to my son in the first place.

Ambitious but incompetent, arrogant, and even thinks he's the second smartest person in the world...

Consort Zhen was heartbroken.

She once mocked the Shi family of Rongguo Mansion for raising two useless sons.

But looking at it now...

It's just a case of the pot calling the kettle black; we're all the same.

How to do?
Looking at the Bodhisattva's kind and benevolent appearance, two words suddenly came to mind for Consort Zhen.

Is this retribution?

impossible.

This didn't happen to her!

If it weren't for the Emperor Emeritus repeatedly giving the mother and son the wrong impression...

No, he not only gave the mother and son a false impression, but also Prince Cheng and his group a false impression.

"Karma! It really is karma..."

Consort Zhen covered her face and wept bitterly, her voice soft as she murmured the Emperor Emeritus and the retribution...

But now, the person who is being punished is still her so-called support. How cruel is God?

Consort Zhen was here, worrying about her son who was imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court, praying to the Bodhisattva to bless the Emperor Emeritus so that he could at least release her son. Grandmother Jia of the Rongguo Mansion was also worried about her son.

How to do?
Lan Zhi has returned to Beijing.

He also led his men and killed many Japanese pirates and men in black.

She went to the East Mansion several times, looking around. Was she looking for Zheng'er?
Grandmother Jia was flustered and frightened!
In this household, Min'er and Jia Wen, along with Xing Shi and her two granddaughters-in-law, all spoke highly of Lan Zhi.

If it weren't for what happened back then, she would also want to be Lanzhi's most loving maternal grandmother!
She is willing to be good to her.

The Duke regretted that his descendants were mediocre and none of them inherited their ancestor's great abilities.

If he knew Lanzhi was like an ancestor...

Grandmother Jia was in the room, looking extremely worried.

She felt she should get sick too.

If she falls ill, could Lanzhi be lenient with her son, considering her advanced age?
Hey~
She sighed and racked her brains for a solution, while Jia Zheng of Pear Fragrance Courtyard was also trying his best to find a way.

To avoid Lan Zhi, he even stopped going to the East Mansion. But if he could hide from her for the first day, could he hide from her for the fifteenth?

"Master~"

Aunt Zhou tried to help him, saying, "The eldest madam of the East Mansion wasn't feeling well the other day, so I'm afraid Miss Zhou won't have the energy to visit the madam or you."

She mentioned Wang Shi first.

"But I just heard that the First Madam is able to take medicine without vomiting, and she even had someone bring the Fourth Miss to her for a checkup."

They've definitely recovered.

Once she catches her breath, with Fourth Sister around, First Madam will basically be fine.

"Now that she's better, Miss Biao won't have time to worry about her."

Aunt Zhou said, "If she doesn't come today, she'll definitely come tomorrow... or at most the day after tomorrow."

This?
Jia Zheng's face turned ashen.

“Master, instead of waiting for her to come looking for us and being passive, why don’t you carry a bundle of thorns on your back and take the initiative to go find her while she is still in the East Mansion?”

This?
Jia Zheng dared not!

I heard she can chop people up like she's cutting vegetables or melons.

Despite being outnumbered, they managed to turn the tables and wipe out both the Japanese pirates and the men in black.

Jia Zheng's legs were spinning, and his buttocks were extremely painful.

"Now that the master is gone, she can't let the Jia family suffer another death."

Ok?
Jia Zheng suddenly looked up at Aunt Zhou.

"You didn't actually know much about what happened back then; you just wrote that letter to please your wife."

Aunt Zhou instructed him, "If she asks again, just say that Madam has been locked up in the small Buddhist hall. If she has any complaints, she can just say so."

"..."

Jia Zheng was tempted.

He wanted to go there immediately.

Whether you stick your neck out or not, you'll get stabbed. Just like Zhou said, even if Lanzhi has a lot of hatred for her elder brother who just died, she can't really kill him.

If only he were a little more sincere...

"Go! Go and prepare brambles."

He finally made up his mind, "I'll go and talk to the old lady again."

A mother can't just watch him die!

Jia Zheng left in a hurry.

Aunt Zhou went out and instructed the maid to bring more brambles before knocking on the door of the small Buddhist hall. "Madam, Master is going to the East Mansion to apologize to Miss Lanzhi. If you are so kind, please be sure to plead with him as soon as he returns!" (End of Chapter)