The head of the Red Mansion

The capital city was in chaos once when the crown prince left.

If we come again...

Jia Zhen knew full well the consequences of coming back.

Their family has completely sided with the Emperor, while those who oppose the Emperor... might take advantage of their situation.

After all, in the eyes of those ordinary soldiers, the Jia family was extremely wealthy.

How to do?
If the capital is thrown into chaos, both the Five City Garrison and the Shuntian Prefecture troops will likely be too preoccupied to care for themselves.

They are completely responsible...

Jia Zhen was worried.

He quickly went out, intending to find some people from the Beijing Garrison.

But when they arrived at the Beijing garrison, they were surprised to find that the garrison had already closed.

The military governor of the capital, Chai Xuyao, personally issued the order today.

hiss~
This is wrong!

On the surface, Jia Zhen smiled and acted as if he had just been refused a visit from a friend, but in reality, a huge storm was brewing inside him.

The Beijing Garrison was crucial to the security of the capital region. My grandfather and father both said that the New Year holidays were the most dangerous time for incidents, and the garrison should never be closed during the New Year period.

just now……

He slowly retreated until he was quite far away, and the enemy sentry could no longer see him clearly, before urging his horse to gallop away.

It was already dark when they returned to the capital, but Jia Zhen didn't bother going home and went straight to the palace.

Although there was no evidence, he would rather report the wrong thing and be punished by the emperor than have any wishful thinking about such a matter that concerned the life and death of his family.

However, the emperor had already entered the inner palace, so it was not so easy to see him.

Recently, because of the Prince of Jin's matter, many people have come to the palace to see him, which has annoyed the Emperor to no end. Today, he finally scolded the eunuch who was in charge of the matter.

just now……

Because the Empress had given so many gifts to the woman's mother, the eunuchs reluctantly reported the matter up the chain of command without Jia Zhen explaining the specific reasons.

"Jia Zhen?"

The emperor glanced at the sky outside, his brows furrowing involuntarily. "Did they mention anything specific?"

"No, but the young eunuch said he was sweating a lot." Eunuch Liu said, "It seems to be something urgent."

"Then declare it!"

The Queen took the little princess back into her arms. "It's so late, something must have happened."

"……become!"

The emperor touched his daughter's face and said, "Then I'll come back later."

The last time Jia Zhen came, it was to seek medical treatment for his mother.

This time...

The emperor quickened his pace.

"emperor!"

In the imperial study, Jia Zhen kowtowed to the emperor, and his legs went weak, almost unable to get up.

He looked around, a troubled expression on his face.

Liu Gonggong looked displeased. He waved to the eunuchs and maids, watched them leave, and then simply took over the gate himself.

On such a cold day, Jia Zhen was covered in sweat; he certainly wasn't there to deliver money to the Emperor.

That's either a gift of money, or it's a gift of... some incredible news.

Eunuch Liu pricked up his ears outside the door.

"What is it, my dear minister? Speak slowly, I will not blame you."

The emperor himself had faced countless difficulties, and putting himself in others' shoes, his tone was very gentle at this moment.

"Your Majesty, I...I went to the Beijing Garrison today."

what?
The emperor frowned. "Is something wrong with the Beijing garrison?"

"No, Your Majesty, after my father passed away, I was uneasy, and my mother... my mother often woke up in fright at night."

Their family had long since left the army, and if they didn't find a good reason to go to the capital garrison, what if the emperor became suspicious of them...?

Having experienced the painful loss of his grandfather and the forced departure of his parents, Jia Zhen couldn't help but think more deeply.

"I have no choice but to go to the Beijing Garrison and find a few people I know, and ask them to ask for leave so they can stay at my home for a few days."

This is standard procedure for officers in the Beijing garrison.

It's like when Wang Ziteng injured his leg, he was worried about the safety of his home, so he brought soldiers home.

The Emperor was well aware of this.

Unless the number exceeds ten, reporting is often not required.

If it were Jia Zhen, with connections in the Beijing Garrison, he would also go to the Beijing Garrison to find someone.

"What? You couldn't get one?"

Judging from Jia Zhen's expression, it seems they couldn't get him to come.

The emperor harbored some dissatisfaction with the military governor of the capital garrison, Chai.

We should never forget those who dug the well when we drink the water.

The Jingying garrison was established and built by Ningguo Gong Jia Yan and his son Jia Daihua.

To put it bluntly, the earliest soldiers of the Beijing Garrison were Jia Yan's soldiers.

He was loyal to Emperor Taizu, and Emperor Taizu trusted him.

Then his father, the emperor, trusted Jia Daihua, and the crown prince trusted Jia Jing.

If it weren't for this incident, this family and the royal family would have continued to live in harmony.

Even though something went wrong, his father didn't do anything to Jia Jing. If he hadn't died so young, the emperor thought he would have been useful to him.

Since the man was dead and the Beijing garrison could no longer do anything to the Jia family, he remembered all the good things about them.

At this moment, I'm only angry at the man surnamed Chai, who doesn't give the Jia family any face at all.

"Then, I..."

Just as the emperor was about to say, "Give him a note to back him up," Jia Zhen hurriedly shook his head. "No, Your Majesty, I couldn't get into the Beijing Garrison at all. I found out that the Beijing Garrison was closed."

Closure?

The emperor's heart skipped a beat.

He certainly knew what closing the camp meant.

Why did the Emperor suspect Jia Jing back then?

Wasn't it because the Crown Prince launched a mutiny with the help of the Imperial Guards when the capital garrison was closed?
However, when the Beijing garrison closed its camp, whether for rest or training, the garrison commander would secretly submit a written application to the emperor three months in advance.

The Emperor suspected the Jia family, mainly because he suspected that Jia Jing had also spoken to the Crown Prince.

just now……

He did not receive any written application.

What is Chai Xuyao ​​doing?
Or did he report the closure of the camp to the Emperor Emeritus?
No, the camp was already closed once this March. Logically, it should only be closed once a year.

Jia Zhen knew that the camp had been closed once before, which is why he panicked.

"Close the camp!"

The emperor gritted his teeth, but his expression became even more amiable. "I understand. My dear minister, you have inherited the title of Third-Rank General of Mighty Valor, haven't you?"

"……Yes!"

What is the Emperor trying to do?
Jia Zhen's heart was trembling.

"Was Commander Chen of Tianjin a soldier under your grandfather's command?"

"Yes!"

"In that case, I will write you a letter by hand. You shall immediately go to Tianjin and mobilize two-thirds of the garrison's troops to enter the capital from the East Gate to guard the East Gate."

what?
Jia Zhen was stunned. Could he really do it?

Seeing the dark glint in the emperor's eyes, he quickly bowed and said, "Your subject Jia Zhen accepts the imperial decree and thanks you!"

The emperor quickly wrote a letter.

The situation was urgent, and he had to make a quick decision.

The guards stationed around the capital are all under the Emperor's command, and they will not move unless the Emperor gives the order.

However, Jia Zhen's status was different.

Chen Shoubei joined the army at the age of thirteen just for a bite to eat. It was Jia Daihua who took pity on him and took him in as a personal guard.

Later, he received care from Jia Jing, who taught him to read and read military books.

Tianjin was one of the key strongholds for the defense of the capital, and Commander Chen had three thousand soldiers under his command.

Even if we can't lend him two-thirds, lending him just half would still help him out.

"Extraordinary measures are needed for extraordinary circumstances!"

The emperor's voice was deep, "Jia Zhen, I need you to go and return quickly."

"Yes!"

Jia Zhen stuffed the imperial edict, stamped with the emperor's seal, into his robes and hurriedly left the capital.

The sky over the capital changed that night.

Unbeknownst to anyone, the young generals from the border towns who had come to the capital to receive their rewards were all secretly summoned by the emperor.

The thirteen guards of Ningxia had not yet entered the Beijing garrison, but they were also subject to the summons.

In a short time, they took over a third of the Imperial Guards and the Dragon Guards.

At the same time, Dong Xiaoquan also went to the palace overnight. When he came out of the palace again, the Five Cities Military Command was under his control.

Meanwhile, all the princely residences in the capital were secretly monitored.

But if there is any unusual activity, arrest them at all costs.

At Ningguo Mansion, when Madam You heard from the servant sent back by Jia Zhen that the master had rushed out of the capital after entering the palace, she felt something was amiss. Forgetting that her mother-in-law was about to go to sleep, she called Jiao Da over.

She had everything arranged for the household's supplies, but now the master has left the capital...

Madam You was truly uneasy. "How many people did Zhen'er bring?"

Shen Ning asked Jiao Da.

"Eight!"

Jiao Da was sweating profusely. Why couldn't the old man come back first and talk to him? Why did he have to go to the palace?
Last time he brought eight people, and they almost all died.

To this day, they are all still recovering from their injuries.

What if something else goes wrong?
"...Are there any security escort agencies in the capital?"

Having learned from their mistakes, Shen Ning believed that Jia Zhen and the guards would not repeat the same error.

He didn't have time to go home; he went to the palace first and then left the capital. He must have discovered something.

When they raided the Lai Sheng and Lai Da families' homes, Shen Ning felt that Jia Zhen was quite shrewd in some matters.

Something bad is probably going to happen in the capital.

She couldn't control what happened at the palace, but she had to ensure the safety of her entire family.

"Yes, the Fuwei Escort Agency has a branch in the capital."

"Jiao Da, go and fetch someone right now."

Shen Ning said, "We'll hire as many people as they have, along with the guards, to take care of the family first."

"Yes!"

Jiao Da left in a hurry.

"Green Apple!"

Shen Ning raised her voice.

Qingping, who had retreated to avoid suspicion, hurried back in.

"The slave is here!"

"Go to the West Mansion and invite Miss Lan Biao over."

"Yes!"

Qingping also left in a hurry.

"Mother~"

Yu's heart was in turmoil.

She was worried about both her family and Jia Zhen.

"Don't worry!"

Shen Ning reassured her, "Maybe we're just overthinking it."

But a moment later, Qingping ran back and said that she was too late, and the young lady had been taken away by someone from the palace.

This news is neither good nor bad.

The good thing is, the Emperor has taken action.

If someone is truly audacious and dares to do something, they can be quickly brought down.

The bad thing is that the family has lost a major fighting force.

"In that case, I'll make another trip and ask the Master of the West Mansion and Lian'er and her husband for help."

While they are on guard here, the Western Prefecture can't be idle either.

Shen Ning said to Madam You, whose face had turned much paler, "Have a cup of tea and calm down!"

If you scare yourself before anything even happens, it's easy for something bad to happen.

"If something really happens... don't you have a secret compartment in your room?"

Shen Ning gently reminded, "Just go in without worrying about anything else."

But her situation... is a bit tricky.

The tallest tree catches the most wind; that's exactly what she's like.

If the intruders really break into Ningguo Mansion, and she tries to hide, everyone in the mansion will probably die.

"I...I'm not scared!"

Madam You tried her best to calm herself down, saying, "I'm worried about the master."

With so many people in her family, what is she afraid of?
"Okay, it's not fear!"

Shen Ning, with her good temper, said, "You don't look well. Come and rest in my room."

"No need, I'll go to my sister's room!"

Madam You said, "I'll come after Uncle She and Brother Lian arrive."

As she spoke, she tried to get up, but as soon as she stood up, her vision went black and she almost fell.

"Somebody come!"

Shen Ning quickly stood up to help her, "Please summon the royal physician!"

She was ill, and Jia Zhen and the others were also injured. It was inconvenient to keep asking Manager Chen, so they specially invited an old doctor recommended by him to be the family physician.

The old doctor came over quickly, touched Madam You's hand for a while, and then said with a smile, "Congratulations, Madam, congratulations, Madam You are pregnant, it's been almost a month."

what?
Not to mention the shock of Madam You, even Shen Ning was shocked.

In the Dream of the Red Chamber, Lady You never had any children until the very end.

just now……

Thinking of how Jia Zhen shared a table with Madam You every day just to eat more delicious dishes, Shen Ning couldn't help but smile. "Alright, alright, Dr. Han, is there anything we should pay attention to next?"

Madam You also stared nervously at Doctor Han.

She never imagined she would have a child.

She's been married for several years, but she hasn't gotten pregnant.

There was no movement from Jia Zhen's other concubines and maids.

Originally, she genuinely thought it was because of the eldest branch of the Jia family.

But now...

Tears welled up in Madam You's eyes.

Her father-in-law passed away, and she's been very busy lately, so she didn't expect this...

"Grandma has been overworked and emotionally unstable lately."

The doctor said, "You should get some rest in the future. I will prescribe some medicine for you. You can take it if you want, or it won't matter if you don't want to take it."

"open it!"

Shen Ning made the final decision with a single blow.

"Mother~"

"Get some rest!"

Shen Ning smiled and said, "These family matters..." She thought for a moment, "How about letting your sisters help manage them?"

Although Yingchun and the others are still young, it's not a bad thing for them to learn how to manage a household early on.

After all, they each have their own businesses.

"If they can't handle it, then you can step in."

"to make!"

Madam You stroked her flat belly and nodded on the spot.

Being a housekeeper is an essential step for girls.

My cousin Minmei from my third aunt's family studied here, and she tutored her several times.

I feel like I'm alright at doing things.

She felt at ease leaving it to them.

"I'll send out invitations to my cousin Min and the others tomorrow."

I'm posting this because, firstly, I value it, and secondly, kids really love it.

Ms. You decided to cater to his preferences.

After all, she's going to be a hands-off manager.

"You make the decision!"

Shen Ning had no objections. Just then, Jia She arrived with Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng.

The fact that they were suddenly invited so late at night means there must be something important going on.

So, they arrived fairly quickly.

Shen Ning didn't waste any words. After dismissing the maids, she finished explaining Jia Zhen's matter in a few words: "...You should also keep an eye on the gates in the West Mansion."

This is just in case.

It's impossible for the children in Dream of the Red Chamber to grow up, only for her to end up making them unable to grow up after all the changes she made.

"Seal off what can be sealed off for now!"

"...Auntie!"

Jia Lian hadn't expected it to be such a big deal. "The Emperor Emeritus...didn't he suffer a stroke?"

His face was also somewhat pale.

I'm thinking too much right now, and the more I think about it, the more uneasy I feel.

How could the royal family's father-son and brotherly relationships be like this?
"It is precisely because the retired emperor has fallen that some people are able to take a desperate gamble."

Jia She sighed.

He knew this was the last chance for some people.

Otherwise, after the New Year, the Emperor's position will be even more secure, and he really won't be able to do anything.

"Don't worry, sister-in-law, I've got it in mind. I'll handle the patrols myself."

He personally oversees the process, and he doesn't believe anyone would dare to slack off.

"But Lian'er..."

Looking at his son, Jia She said, "These next few days, you better be careful. If anything seems amiss, hide it and don't show your face." (End of Chapter)