The head of the Red Mansion

In Ningguo Prefecture, the ancestral hall finally quieted down.

All the members of the Jia family who participated in driving people away went back to their own homes.

Even if they didn't win, they clearly did what they were supposed to do, so the punishment... is over.

As Jia Zhen watched the clan elders leave, limping but with their backs straight, amidst the admiring gazes of the crowd, he vaguely wondered why his mother hadn't held a grudge about their failed attempt to defeat Wohe that day.

"Zhen'er, you should have come back sooner!"

Jia She sighed, "In the future, if you do anything, tell your uncle. Don't forget your uncle."

"Eh~"

What can Jia Zhen do?
He could only agree, saying, "If Woh still wants to marry Second Aunt, we'll definitely have plenty of time to make our move later."

"Ah~"

Jia She sighed. His second sister had entered the palace and was now Princess Rongguo. In truth, there was no use in seeking help from the Jia family anymore!

But he didn't know what the emperor was thinking, and his sister-in-law from the East Mansion hadn't entered the palace, so he could only passively deal with whatever came his way.

"...It's good to use your hands more."

Jia Zhu, who hadn't spoken much, said in a low voice, "Not only did we stretch our muscles, but we also worked together against external threats and helped each other. So that if something happens in the future, even if we can't support each other, we won't kick each other when we're down."

Actually, there are some things he hasn't said yet.

If the Jia family fights the Jurchens a few more times, and something happens to the Second Aunt in the future, or if the Great Zhao changes its policies toward the Jurchens, it won't necessarily involve the Jia family.

After reading his grandfather's secret memorial and the imperial archives, Jia Zhu vaguely understood that a family could not rely solely on loyalty and courage to establish itself in the world.

This loyalty and courage might be fine if you encounter a good emperor, but if you encounter one who changes his mind as easily as turning the page and likes to take his anger out on others, then retreating won't help.

"I've been reading at home these past few days."

Jia Zhu tried to cheer herself up, saying, "If anything happens, Uncle and Brother must let me know."

“Pearl, it’s more important for you to go to school right now.”

Jia She tried to persuade him, "These household matters are my responsibility..."

"uncle!"

Jia Zhu bowed deeply, "Without the Jia family, what am I, Jia Zhu?"

"..."

Jia Zhen patted his brother's shoulder silently, "Uncle She, just listen to Zhu'er. If he's worried about home, he won't be able to study well at the Imperial Academy."

It's better to just study at home!

"Alright, alright, but you can go and talk to the old lady yourself."

Jia She was afraid his mother would scold him for not caring for his nephew.

His mother has misinterpreted his actions a lot, so he has to be careful.

"Don't worry, Uncle!" Jia Zhu gave her uncle a warm smile. "I'll talk to Grandmother myself." She promised not to let Grandmother blame her uncle.

After the group parted ways and returned home, Jia Zhu indeed went to see the old lady first.

"No, I don't agree."

How could the old lady agree to let her grandson, who was good at reading, take sticks and fight the Jin people who knew martial arts?

She already knew that the other party had been holding back and hadn't gone all out just now; otherwise, even if more of her grandson and his men went up, they wouldn't be enough to defeat them.

"They're only being tolerant of our family now because they want to marry your second aunt. But that doesn't mean they don't hate us. What if one of them gets malicious and, instead of hurting you, smashes your right hand? You won't be able to write then, what will you do?"

This?
It's indeed very possible.

However, Jia Zhu would never allow himself to be a deserter.

"Grandmother, isn't there Grandfather's arm guard in the storeroom?"

Jia Zhu said, "Grandson, put on your arm guards."

Jia Mu: "..."

Does this mean they're absolutely not going to the Imperial College?

She looked at her resourceful grandson and sighed inwardly, "Alright, if those people come again, just bring a few more servants."

"Eh~"

Jia Zhu was delighted, "Grandmother, those people all know martial arts. When they come again, I want to..."

“Go tell your uncle and Brother Zhen what you want to do.”

Grandmother Jia glanced at the maids in the room and said, "There are many people and eyes in this mansion. Those Jurchens have their eyes on your second aunt. They may have bribed one or two informants in our house as well."

They have to give them a good talking-to!
One has two.

If we continue to pretend we don't know and don't give them a warning, the Jurchens will become even more blatant.

What if everyone in her house has been bribed...?

Grandmother Jia did not want to deal with the matter later.

By then, it's often too late.

"My grandson knows."

Jia Zhu's expression turned slightly serious. "Thank you for the reminder, Grandmother. I'll take my leave now!"

He went to see Jia She, and of course, he also had someone summon Jia Zhen from the East Mansion.

Meanwhile, in the palace, Jia Wen also learned that Prince Li, Suo Jin, and Prince Zheng, Tie Bao, had come to the capital and had already delivered gifts to the Jia family, but they were also thrown out.

She felt a rare sense of relief at this.

She didn't feel that her family had been particularly harsh on her when her sister-in-law wasn't back.

She was the one who first put her family in a dilemma.

Moreover, compared to her alone, the reputation of the girls in the entire family is of course more important.

It's just that her sister-in-law helped her find another path that could protect both her and the family.

now……

Jia Wen knew that neither she nor her family could now obey the emperor.

She desperately wished the emperor could be more powerful, even more powerful.

It would be best to take back all the land that rightfully belongs to them to Dazhao.

"Princess!"

Granny Wu was the one who brought her to the palace. "The person Her Majesty mentioned to you yesterday has arrived. Why don't you go and choose one?"

The Emperor and Empress both felt sorry for Princess Rongguo, and for this reason, they brought over a group of specially trained people to let her choose first.

"Okay!"

Jia Wen smiled broadly. "I'll go thank Her Majesty first, then I'll go choose the people. Is that alright, Granny?"

"Anything is fine!"

Wu Mama was the Empress's person, so she was naturally happy to hear this. "These people all know a little martial arts, and one of them is also knowledgeable in medicine. You are a princess of our Great Zhao. If anything happens in the future, with them around, no one will dare to touch you."

is it?

Jia Wen didn't have high hopes for this.

The brutality of the Jurchens is unimaginable to the people here.

"Granny, Wohe... can't he die?"

Jia Wen asked the most crucial question.

In fact, only with the backing of Da Zhao after Woh's death could she possibly have a better life.

Otherwise it would be impossible.

Go back with Voch; the emperor is far away, and they have plenty of ways to control the people around her.

"...I heard they're going to give him the throne over there."

Granny Wu said helplessly, "Please bear with some things for now."

"I know!"

Although she had suspected this beforehand, Jia Wen was still very saddened when she actually heard it.

"It is said that both of your sons will be granted the title of Beile."

Granny Wu could only comfort her, "Wohe needs our help. You should be more assertive in the future. Don't look at him, just look at the two princes. As long as they grow up a bit, good days will come."

The princess's health is a problem.

The imperial physicians in the palace have been working hard to help her recover.

I hope I can live a few more years! "Mmm!"

Jia Wen nodded.

"actually……"

Granny Wu hesitated for a moment, then said, "Madam Shen of Ningguo Mansion is skilled with firearms. She once killed four people with a firearm. Would you... like to learn how to use it?"

Can she learn this?
Jia Wen's eyes lit up. "Is that okay?"

"Ok, Ok!"

Granny Wu didn't dare to say it at first.

Few noblewomen in the capital are as daring as Madam Shen.

Many of them also felt that Madam Shen's behavior was unconventional and not a model of a noblewoman.

However, they only dared to discuss these things in private, after all, the once powerful Princess Consort of Jin had been beaten by her in front of Consort Zhen.

Later, I dared not say it anymore.

The first shrew of the Great Zhao Dynasty, when she, her husband, and son were all in danger, first killed to save herself, and then made a long-distance raid to rescue her son and kill Japanese pirates. Although Jia Jing was ultimately not saved, just because she preserved his last shred of dignity, no one in the capital dared to ridicule the couple as a shrew.

Moreover, Jia Jing followed the same path as the former crown prince, and his death changed the entire political landscape of the Great Zhao Dynasty.

The Emperor and Empress are both reading it.

"Our Lady has always favored Madam Shen. She heard that she is good at shooting muskets and wants to learn from her. She even specially prepared a shooting range in the garden. If you want to learn, just go there."

"I go!"

Of course Jia Wen wants to learn, of course she must learn.

She always remembered how her sister-in-law had intimidated Voch with a musket.

"If Her Majesty knew you wanted to learn, she would be very happy."

The Empress heard that the princess had many whip marks on her body and told the Emperor several times that she wanted to kill Woh.

This has made the emperor afraid to come to the empress's place anymore.

"If you have some free time in the palace, you can also summon Madam Shen and the others to come and meet you."

Madam Shen's temper might have some influence on this princess who has been bullied.

They are family, and there are some things that Madam Shen can say, but it's not so easy for Her Majesty the Empress to say.

"Ok!"

Jia Wen visibly cheered, "When I see the Empress later, I'll tell her everything."

As evening fell, the emperor, having finished all his business, was heading towards the inner palace when he heard another 'bang' coming from the direction of Kunning Palace, causing him to pause in his tracks.

His wife also has a temper.

Hmm, it's so late, and you're still practicing shooting? Are you angry that he didn't go for two days?
“Your Majesty,” Liu An said with a grin, stepping closer, “it must be Princess Rong who is firing the gun.”

Ok?
"Did the Empress teach her?"

This is not good!
Jia Wen's neck injury hasn't healed yet. Can she withstand the shock of being shot?

"Yes!"

"Her neck..."

"I heard that Her Majesty had the trained palace maids help hold the spear, which is relatively better."

That's good.

The emperor breathed a sigh of relief.

After reading Jia Daishan's secret memorial and the Emperor Emeritus's secret files, he felt deeply that his father was a despicable person.

He wanted to make it up to Jia Wen as much as possible.

"However, you should also tell Granny Wu and the others that it's fine to teach Jia Wen how to use a gun, but unless absolutely necessary, she must never point the gun at Woh."

"This servant understands!"

"I will keep this Woch for a few more years."

They were able to unite with various Tatar tribes, which clearly shows they had some skill.

The emperor wanted to see if, after defeating the Russians, he could use them to open up a few more avenues with the Tatars.

"Princess Rongguo is very shrewd. She probably knew your intentions when she was bestowing the title of princess."

"Ah~"

The emperor sighed, "Tomorrow, have the Imperial Household Department send some more gifts over. Also, if she wants to see her family, let her see them."

A good mood may also lead to better physical health.

Upon hearing that the emperor might allow her to see her family, Jia Wen returned home. Although her arm, which had been shot, was very sore, and her neck wound was also painful from the impact, she managed to get a good night's sleep after her dressing was changed and a palace maid massaged it.

Of course, the carriage that was to take Shen Ning to the palace arrived at Ningguo Mansion early the next morning.

It was too early, and the Empress had to attend to palace affairs. She only had a brief meeting with her before sending her to see Jia Wen.

"Sister-in-law!"

Before Shen Ning could kneel down, Jia Wen quickly stopped her, saying, "Are you trying to make me feel uncomfortable?"

"..."

Shen Ning, of course, disliked kneeling, so upon hearing this, she stood up and asked, "How are you doing in the palace?"

"Good! The Emperor and Empress are both very kind to me."

Jia Wen smiled and asked, "Sister-in-law, does your hand still hurt?"

"much better."

Shen Ning raised her right hand, which was wrapped up very well, "But you..."

"I'm much better now."

If it weren't for her sister-in-law, she would have been dead long ago.

Jia Wen was very dependent on Shen Ning, and personally helped her sit down before saying, "I heard that Prince Li and Prince Zheng have also arrived, they..."

"What kind of kings are they?"

Shen Ning smiled faintly, not taking it to heart. "Second sister, you must remember that you are a Da Zhao person. Your grandfather was a hero who drove their ancestors out of Jiangnan and out of the capital. Your father was also a hero who followed your grandfather to fight his way into their old lair and drive them out of the so-called capital."

They sent gifts to the Jia family, still seeking aid from the Great Zhao. Now that you are a princess of the Great Zhao, they must bow before you.

Jia Wen: "..."

She was a little stunned.

My sister-in-law's words make a lot of sense, but...

"Is it a little hard to accept?"

"No!"

Jia Wen shook her head, "I will try my best."

Wasn't it because her grandfather and father were heroes who drove them back again and again that Woch kidnapped her?

Shen Ning patted her hand. "I believe in you. Those people are very ruthless, but their ruthlessness is just due to their strength and the advantage of male stamina. Without those, what are they?"

"...Please teach me, sister-in-law."

Jia Wen humbly sought advice.

Shen Ning smiled and asked, "What are they most afraid of right now?"

"Afraid that the Great Zhao Dynasty won't help?"

Shen Ning nodded, "Da Zhao definitely has the strength to drive the Rakshasa people away now, but once they are driven away... Tie Bao, Wo He and the like will definitely revert to their old ways."

"I know."

Jia Wen nodded, "That's what I'm worried about."

"So, second sister, you must stand up."

Shen Ning said, "They're ruthless, you have to be even more ruthless than them. If you have the courage to die, what can't you do? You can't beat Woch during the day, but at night..."

"Even more so at night!"

Jia Wen shook her head. "Some of us have succeeded. We killed many of their generals, a prince, and several princes and nobles. They are very careful now. All the women who serve them will be stripped naked."

Shen Ning: "..."

Was the practice of stripping women to serve the emperor in the Qing palace out of fear of death?
"I was just using a metaphor."

Shen Ning took a breath and said, "What I mean is, if you're willing to risk everything, if you're not afraid of death, what wouldn't you dare to do? Now you're the princess of Da Zhao, you control everything, and they value your life more than you value yourself." (End of Chapter)