The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 227 Going to school
On the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month, the Shi family sent Shi Xiangyun over early in the morning.

The young girl first went to pay her respects to the old lady, and then hurried to the Ningguo Mansion.

Of course, Baochai, with the demeanor of a mature and dignified older sister, also accompanied them.

"Auntie!"

Xiangyun still had some baby fat on her face, and her voice was lively yet somewhat charmingly naive, "Are you strolling around the garden so early?"

Is it still early?

The little girl looked incredibly beautiful and elegant in that bright red brocade jacket with gold flecks, which accentuated her fair complexion and made her appear extremely wealthy.

Shen Ning waved to her, "You've come all the way from the Shi family, that's so far. I've only been wandering around for a short while."

This was actually the first time she had seen this child since she transmigrated.

Grandmother Jia felt sorry for her grandniece and sent people to fetch her several times, but Shi Nai and his wife refused to let her go, leaving her helpless.

Shen Ning knew that this was mainly because the Jia family owed money to the national treasury.

To repay the debt, Shi Nai fell out with all his uncles and brothers who had previously separated from the family. But after he sold everything he owned to repay the debt, he probably harbored resentment towards the Jia family.

Otherwise, why would a child who practically grew up by Grandmother Jia's side only be sent over again after more than half a year?
"Miss Bao hasn't explored our garden yet, has she? Let's take a walk together!"

Shen Ning pulled Xiangyun along, but didn't forget Baochai.

"Yes! I've heard from the ladies that the garden in the mansion is extremely beautiful."

Baochai bowed and then happily stepped forward.

She was actually a little afraid of this Mrs. Shen.

My brother was well-disciplined at school.

When he was a child, his father was still alive, but because of his mother, they couldn't discipline him as well.

Once inside the Jia family school, Madam Shen completely thwarted her brother's most frequently used tactic of feigning illness.

Although he still goes to school full of resentment, his handwriting has clearly improved.

Clearly, he wrote a lot of characters while in school.

Because of her brother, Baochai was very grateful to Madam Shen, but she also vaguely felt that Madam Shen did not like her very much.

To receive an invitation now...

Baochai was overjoyed.

"Aunt, I'd like to go to Ningcui Pavilion."

Xiangyun didn't want to stroll around the garden. "I heard that all the sisters are there. I want to go too."

"Ha ha!"

While she was still young, Shen Ning shamelessly pinched her little cheek, "They won't be here this time."

"Where did they go?"

"He's helping your cousin-in-law manage the household in the flower hall in front."

what?
Xiangyun and Baochai were both very surprised.

"Have they all mastered it?"

There was a hint of longing in Xiangyun's eyes.

Her second uncle and aunt kept her at home; how many good things did she miss out on?

"You've come to the right place."

Shen Ning chuckled, "I don't know either, but I think they're probably learning as they go! After all, they're discussing things together."

"Let's discuss and plan together?"

Xiangyun blinked her eyes. "Auntie, if I come to study today, can I join you in discussing things tomorrow?"

"...So, did you come here to study, or to discuss how to do something together?"

Shen Ning asked her with a smile.

"All."

Xiangyun tugged at her sleeve, "Auntie, I need to study, and I also need to discuss management matters with my sisters."

In my memory, my aunt treated her very well.

My second aunt said that when you come here, you should listen to what the old lady and your cousin say.

Yesterday, my third aunt also said that we should listen to the old lady and my cousin's wife more, especially my cousin's wife. If there's anything, just say it. Being too meddlesome is not good.

"Chengchengcheng!"

Within reasonable limits, Shen Ning was willing to make things convenient for these young girls, saying, "Just come if you don't mind the hassle."

At this point, she noticed Baochai's apparent envy and sighed inwardly, "Miss Bao is already quite adept at managing the household, isn't she?"

"No no."

Baochai quickly shook her head.

Although her mother would discuss many things with her, those were things she couldn't make up her mind about.

She had never tried having a dedicated housekeeper before.

“When I was at home, I mainly focused on reading.”

She can learn a lot and see a lot of things by reading books.

"is it?"

Shen Ning could tell that she still wanted to come and study.

Yesterday, Qingping brought a food box home and told her that Bao was staying with the old lady, who had left her some food and seemed to like it very much.

The children from both families are studying here, and Baochai wants to study here...

"Would you like to study at Ningcui Pavilion with the girls here?"

Shen Ning smiled and looked at her.

"May I?"

Baochai was genuinely pleasantly surprised.

She thought she wasn't good enough; she thought that because she was a merchant, Madam Shen looked down on her. She never expected…

"nature!"

The little girl's eagerness to go to school made Shen Ning feel a little uneasy.

It seems she needs to ask the school to keep a closer eye on Xue Pan.

Now that the Xue family is stable, Baochai, who is just as talented as Lin Daiyu, won't have so many schemes, right?

Shen Ning didn't think that Baochai in Dream of the Red Chamber really liked Baoyu. Their values ​​were not the same. Baochai believed in the imperial examination and liked to read, while Baoyu disliked reading the most.

She married Baoyu simply because he was the only and best person she could get.

Shen Ning sighed softly to herself, "But, the New Year is almost here, and you..."

"I want to be with Sister Yun."

Being able to study at Ningguo Mansion is equivalent to receiving instruction from Madam Shen.

Baochai knew how important this was to her.

"to make!"

Shen Ning nodded, "Qingzhu, lead the two young ladies to the flower hall. The dough figurine maker should be arriving soon. Perfect timing, make one for each of them."

"Dough figurine making?"

Shi Xiangyun was overjoyed.

She's seen dough figurines made.

I've just never made one myself.

"Auntie, would you like to invite a dough figurine maker over to make dough figurines for us?"

"Yes!"

Shen Ning smiled, "Do you like it?"

"I love it so much."

Shi Xiangyun jumped up, "Auntie, you're so kind! Sister Bao, let's go quickly!"

As she spoke, she grabbed Qingzhu and tried to head towards the flower hall.

Helpless, Baochai could only hurriedly bow to Shen Ning before quickly following behind.

Shen Ning watched them walk away before turning around and going her own way.

Just then, the dough figurine master that Jia Zhen had invited arrived, and the flower hall suddenly became lively.

……

In the imperial palace, the emperor, having finished his court session, hurried towards Kunning Palace.

Finally, Zhen Yingjia was thrown into the Ministry of Justice prison.

How excited he must have been when this person he had so desperately wanted to take down appeared in court in shackles!

Back when the Crown Prince was still alive, the Zhen family could be considered the local tyrants of Jiangnan.

After the Crown Prince passed away and became emperor, the Zhen family became virtually local tyrants.

No matter who goes to Jiangnan to serve as an official, if they don't pay homage to the Zhen family, or if they have two dukes' mansions backing them up like Lin Ruhai, they won't last long, or they'll die!

The emperor had long harbored deep resentment towards him.

When the Emperor traveled to the south, the Zhen family indeed spent a considerable amount of money. Therefore, the Emperor tacitly allowed the Zhen family to embezzle some of the taxes collected in the south. However, their embezzlement continued year after year without end. To this day, the national treasury has not repaid a single penny, and it is said that the Zhen family's daughters who married into the surrounding areas of the south all went to places owned by their families.

ho~
Even the royal family's wedding of a princess wasn't this extravagant.

The emperor arrived at Kunning Palace as quickly as possible, but before the palace servants could even pay their respects, he waved them away.

"Your Majesty...! Is there some good news?"

The Empress looked at him with some uncertainty.

"Hahaha! Guess!"

The emperor laughed.

He felt embarrassed to laugh in court, and he felt embarrassed to laugh for no reason on the way back, so he could only laugh when he saw the Empress. "You guessed right, so I will give you an imperial estate in Jiangnan."

Royal Estate?

Is it from Jiangnan?
The Empress couldn't help but laugh. "What if I guess wrong?"

"guessed wrong?"

The emperor grinned, showing his large teeth, and said, "Since I'm in a good mood, I'll grant you a small imperial estate."

"Then what does 'big' mean? What does 'small' mean?"

The Empress asked with a smile.

"A profit of 10,000 taels or more is called a big profit, and a profit of less than 5,000 taels is called a small profit."

"That……"

The Empress circled the Emperor once. "We've already had quite a few happy things," she said. She had actually guessed it long ago, but since the Emperor was so happy, it wouldn't be very interesting to guess it all at once. So she pretended to be deep in thought. "And now you're so happy again...? Your Majesty, could you give me a hint?"

As she spoke, she playfully nudged him.

"I already gave you a hint!"

The emperor laughed loudly, "Give it a try, and I'll believe in you."

"trust me?"

The Empress laughed, "You even gave me a hint?"

She seemed to be recalling what he had just said. "Oh? You just mentioned the imperial estates in Jiangnan?" At this point, she looked surprised. "The Zhen family? Lord Zhen has been taken to the capital?"

"Haha, that's right!"

The emperor spun around happily, "The Zhen family has been a thorn in my side for so many years!"

He had thought that taking down the Zhen family would be quite a challenge for him.

Unexpectedly!

"Back then, the Crown Prince was determined to take over the Zhen family, but he failed."

He suddenly stopped in his tracks. "The New Year is approaching, and I—want to go and share the good news with my elder brother, the Crown Prince."

Without the crown prince, he wouldn't be where he is today.

"I'll go with you!"

Without hesitation, the Empress took his hand. "Let's... go and tell the Emperor Emeritus again."

"it is good!"

The emperor was deeply moved and embraced her.

Last year they were pitiful, because of the New Year, they were extremely worried.

The Empress's last bit of dowry was used to fund the orphanage, providing thick cotton-padded clothes for the elderly and children there.

They had no money left.

The emperor was used to living a poor life, so he wasn't really afraid of poverty. As long as he had something to eat, it would be even better if that food was hot.

In the past, he couldn't get much hot food in the harem.

On cold days, sometimes the soup delivered would freeze solid.

Back then, how he longed to grow up quickly!

Finally, he grew up, moved out of the mansion, and got a princess. He was served three meals a day, including snacks, which were always warm.

He was so happy then!

He was emperor for several years, but he was never as happy as he was then.

"Empress, have I thanked you all these years?"

"I've said it, I've said a lot."

The Queen buried her face in his chest. "Although I didn't say it aloud, I could feel it."

"..."

The Emperor silently pulled his Empress closer. "At the palace banquet this year, when you meet Madam Shen of the Ningguo Mansion, mention the Crown Prince's daughter to her. We'll find a way to use Madam Shen and Jia Zhen to give her a favor!"

"I'm afraid not."

The Empress raised her head. "Jia Jing has only recently passed away, and the Ningguo Mansion is in mourning, so it is not appropriate for her to attend the palace banquet. However, I can summon her to the palace tomorrow."

Nowadays, it's very easy for them to bestow favors upon whomever they want.

"Then tomorrow!"

The emperor smiled and released her. "Come on, let's go see Father."

The couple held hands, just like they had back in the Prince's Palace, as they went to see the retired Emperor.

The retired emperor, who was previously immobile, is now behaving himself.

He hoped the emperor would come.

He feared that if the emperor didn't come, the palace servants would become even more perfunctory in their service to him.

It's almost Chinese New Year, and his Shou Kang Palace used to be so lively!

But now... he only has one son left, the emperor.

"Father!"

The emperor's gentle voice rang in his ears, and the retired emperor, who had been thinking of the past with his eyes slightly closed, suddenly became alert.

"My son came here to tell you some good news."

good news?
The retired emperor looked at the emperor.

He knew that good news from the emperor was bad news for him.

The old man opened his mouth and took another breath.

He was afraid that he would get so angry that he would forget to breathe.

The retired emperor tried his best to mentally prepare himself, saying, "Don't get angry, don't get angry. If you get angry, no one can take your place if it damages your health."

If he maintains a calm mindset, perhaps he can gradually recover.

"Zhen Yingjia has gone to the capital, but he was escorted there by his son's men."

Zhen Yingjia?
The Zhen family?

The retired emperor breathed a sigh of relief.

He knew what the Zhen family had been doing in Jiangnan for many years.

In those years, he needed ministers like the Zhen family.

He needs the Zhen family and the Prince of Jin to compete with the Crown Prince.

Later..., it was the same.

He needs them to keep the emperor in check.

The retired emperor sighed softly to himself.

If he had known that one day he would be bedridden and unable to move, why would he have bothered with all that other nonsense?
Whether it is the crown prince or the emperor, they can succeed him and govern the Great Zhao well.

"The imperial decree to confiscate the property will probably arrive around the New Year."

The emperor saw no anger on the old man's face and was quite relieved. "Father, I'll go and tell my brother, the Crown Prince, some good news later. What do you think?"

The Emperor Emeritus: "..."

He glanced at the emperor, wondering if this son truly cared about being the crown prince.
ho~
Sure enough, the Crown Prince set that fire precisely because he had anticipated his mindset.

The Emperor Emeritus was breathing slightly heavily.

He was outmaneuvered by the Crown Prince.

That bastard son.

He used the lives of his entire family to scheme against his old father!

How many years has he been heartbroken because of him?
result……

"You also think your son should go and share the good news, right?"

Seeing the retired emperor like this, the emperor felt a pang of pain in his heart. "The Zhen family has long been a cancer in the Great Zhao Dynasty. You have spoiled them for so many years. You remembered the favor you showed when you welcomed me back then and allowed them to retain a portion of the tax revenue to pay off the national treasury's debts. But year after year, why don't they pay it back?"

At this point, the emperor couldn't help but grit his teeth, "Father, what kind of people do you favor? Are they even worthy of being called human beings?"

In the emperor's eyes, those people didn't even deserve to be called human beings.

Relying on the Prince of Jin and Consort Zhen, they practically turned the Jiangnan region of Dazhao into their own Zhen family's Jiangnan.

"They must repay the silver. If one generation cannot repay it, their descendants will all have to repay it for me."

The emperor was filled with rage, declaring, "Unless the Zhen family is wiped out, I will never let them go."