The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 24 One Family's Joy, Another's Sorrow
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Emperor Xiaomu listened to the report from the secret guards and remained silent for a long time.

"emperor!"

Looking at the sky outside, Eunuch Liu finally said, "The Jia family's silver is almost ready for delivery. If it's usable..."

"It's only right and proper to pay off debts."

The emperor waved to the guards, signaling them to leave. "Alright, give Jia Rong some more imperial medicine, and that's enough for now!"

"……Yes!"

Liu Gonggong was somewhat bewildered.

The Jia family still wields considerable influence in the military. They finally managed to get involved, so why did the Emperor let them go?

"Slave, go right away."

The emperor watched him leave, thought for a moment, and finally stood up. "Prepare the carriage for Kunning Palace!"

With an extra two hundred thousand taels of silver, he finally had some money in his pocket and could share the good news with the Empress, putting her at ease.

The majestic palace, bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, was exceptionally radiant. Before mounting his horse, Jia Zhen, clinging to a sliver of hope, couldn't help but glance back.

Unfortunately, no more eunuchs were ever produced.

He sighed softly to himself, mounted his horse, and the sound of hooves clattered as several carriages followed closely behind, heading straight for their home.

At Ningguo Mansion, Shen Ning was waiting for the father and son to return.

"Mother!"

"Grandma~"

Unlike Hao Da'er's forced smile, Jia Rong's smile was pure and beautiful: "The Emperor bestowed upon me three boxes of white jade ointment."

White Jade Ointment is a famous secret medicine in the palace. It not only has the effects of removing blood stasis, stopping bleeding, detoxifying and reducing swelling, but also has the legend that no matter what kind of injury it is, it will not leave a scar.

Many people outside are offering high prices to buy it, but they can't find it.

Jia Rong immediately presented them, saying, "Grandmother, my injury isn't serious, I'm giving them all to you!"

"You're giving them all to me?"

Shen Ning laughed, "You gave them all to me, aren't you afraid your dad will be jealous?"

what?
Father and son exchanged a glance, and Jia Rong quickly brought out a box, saying, "Father, I'd like to give you a box."

Jia Zhen: "..."

I feel so complicated.

His son is filial, but to him... he's not really that much.

"good!"

He'd been busy all this time, so it was only natural for his son to give him some filial piety.

Jia Zhen took it from her immediately. "Mother, I've gone to the West Mansion and dealt with all the servants who needed to be dealt with. You should rest early. I'll come to see you again tomorrow."

"No hurries?"

Shen Ning gestured for him to sit down. "The Lai family's assets haven't been distributed yet. Whether it's your Uncle She or Uncle Zheng, they're definitely not going to be happy with the servants' affairs."

"...That's true."

His family doesn't have these kinds of troubles.

Although he already knew that he wouldn't get a single penny of the valuables confiscated from Lai Sheng's house, the ones who benefited were either his mother, his wife, or his own son.

Jia Zhen felt only a little disappointed, but quickly put it aside, saying, "Then my son will go tomorrow and also give Uncle She some support."

"Well!"

Shen Ning nodded. "How did you feel about dealing with the Lai family today?"

how is it?

Jia Zhen lowered his head, "I am ashamed! I didn't even know they were stealing right in front of me."

"Then how did it feel to go and return the silver to the treasury?"

This?
Not only was Jia Zhen stunned, but Jia Rong was also stunned.

What connection is there between a servant and treasury silver?
"For the royal family, there is actually not much difference between subjects and servants."

Shen Ning sighed, "If the Lai family steals our house, as long as it's not too outrageous, we can help out out of consideration for our ancestors and the bond we've shared. But if they go too far, then we have to take action."

Similarly, the Jia family was also connected to the imperial family.

As long as the Emperor Emeritus is still alive, and the bonds of friendship remain, the Jia family will be fine as long as they don't go too far.

But a new emperor brings a new court; the national treasury is empty, yet the Ning and Rong families owe over two hundred thousand taels of silver… If nothing goes wrong, all will be well, but if trouble arises, the entire family could be implicated.”

Jia Zhen: "..."

His heart was slowly racing.

The Jia family and the Emperor have absolutely no affection for each other now.

"So don't look down on Rong-ge'er's white jade ointment because it's not worth much."

Shen Ning picked up a box of white jade ointment from the table. "With three boxes bestowed, the Ning family is at least halfway to the Emperor's approval." "Grand...Grandmother, it's four boxes."

Jia Rong's eyes shone brightly as he reached into his purse and pulled out a box. "Knowing that I was repaying the money, a high-ranking official came over to check on me and sent someone to deliver a box of white jade ointment to me. Since I used some, I didn't take it out."

"Well done!"

Shen Ning smiled, "Keep it safe."

At the same time, Jia She, having paid off his debts, immediately demanded Lai Dajia's account books, and sent someone to fetch Jia Zheng, heading straight to Grandmother Jia's room.

Everyone knew he was going to cause trouble, but no one dared to say a word. Everyone tried to stay as far away as possible.

"Grandma, since my second sister-in-law misappropriated the money, shouldn't she make up for it?"

"What?"

Grandmother Jia already knew from her second daughter-in-law where the eight thousand taels had been spent.

Even without her saying it, she could guess. "That money was used by Yuan Chun. She's having a hard time in the palace. What? You can't stand to see her doing well?"

She looked at her eldest son, who was obsessed with money and wouldn't let it go, and felt angry. "You just went to return the money. Did you get a good word from the palace?" She wanted to see what was going on in his head. "Let me tell you, old woman, not only will you not get any good word, but you will also make your niece's life even more difficult."

"Woo~"

Madam Wang, who had remained there the whole time, covered her face and wept bitterly.

"Did I send her into the palace?"

Jia She glanced at Madam Wang and said, "Mother, let's use our connections to get my niece Yuan Chun back!"

"presumptuous!"

Grandmother Jia was furious, "Are you a blockhead? Haven't I told you about the benefits of Yuan-chun entering the palace?"

“I told him, but Yuan Chun has been in the palace for two years, and my son hasn’t seen any improvement. All I see is money flowing out of the house.”

Some people in the palace are treating the Jia family like royalty.

Yuan Chun got what she deserved, and although her uncle could also benefit a little, the one who benefited the most was her second brother's family!

Moreover, it's still uncertain whether she'll recover.

Jia She said, "We're out of money now. Are we going to have to borrow from all over the place to give it to her? How are we supposed to make a living then?"

"Are you trying to drive me crazy?"

Grandmother Jia was well aware that her eldest granddaughter's expenses were excessive.
But having already invested to this extent, how can we give up halfway?
She believed that her eldest granddaughter would surely have good fortune. "How could the family be short of money? It's just that Lian'er got married last year, which cost a bit more. Even if things don't go well, this old woman still has some savings. Don't worry, you'll live a good life."

"...If Mother wants to say that, then I have nothing to say."

Jia She knew that his mother had a large private treasury, but no matter how large it was, it wouldn't be his turn. "But my second sister-in-law spent so much money all at once without even informing me. I'm really afraid that one day she will empty the house completely, and I'll be like a stupid deer, not knowing anything."

"How are you doing?"

"I will take all the things that Lai and his family copied."

what?
Even Jia Zheng, who had remained silent until now, was furious.

Not to mention the house, the Lai family's land, shops, antiques, and calligraphy and paintings alone amount to more than 100,000 taels of silver, not to mention the more than 1,000 taels of gold they also own.

"Old woman, I'm not dead yet, and you want to separate from me?"

Grandmother Jia's eyes flashed with a fierce light. "Jia She, do you intend to be unfilial?"

Parents are here, no separation.

Isn't his eagerness to separate the family so much just a way of hoping for her early death?
"My son doesn't dare!"

Jia She immediately knelt down, saying, "You said you wanted my second brother to live closer, you said Rongxi Hall was the best, and you told me to move to the small courtyard on the east side near the stables. I listened to you all. I'm already like this, and you still say I'm unfilial? Do you want me to die?"

He stiffened his neck and looked at his elderly mother, whose eyes were also red. "Your son was born after ten months of your pregnancy. I don't ask for your private savings. I only ask that the family didn't know about it beforehand. Can't you even accept the little bit that the Lai family stole?"

Is that a little bit?

Jia Zheng looked heartbroken and said, "Brother, Mother is getting old, and you are pressuring her like this..."

"Shut up!"

Jia She's eyes reddened. "Did I speak to you?" He crawled two steps on his knees. "Mother, my courtyard is really small. Please have pity on me."

Jia Mu: "..."

She looked at her eldest son, whose hair was turning gray, and hesitated for a moment.

It was because of this son that she was able to gain a foothold in the Jia family.

But the Lai family's accumulated wealth over generations was no less than her private savings; some went to her eldest son, and some to her...

"Grandma, listen, isn't that Baoyu crying outside?"

Madam Wang suddenly called out, "Baoyu, Baoyu, come in quickly."

"...Alright, get up!"

Grandmother Jia regained her senses and her mind cleared. She quickly exclaimed, "The gold and all the estates and shops confiscated today shall be handed over to the public treasury. The rest... shall all be yours."

Thank you to readers i二宇A乃贝ting, 小勺子, 庭桂花开, and cjy080837 for their generous donations. Thank you to all the readers who voted and continued reading! Thank you!!!

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(End of this chapter)