The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 265 Letter

The death of Consort Zhen caused no ripples in the court; those who heard about it acted as if they hadn't heard anything at all.

People are deliberately forgetting the favored concubine who once tried so hard to please her, and forgetting that she had a son who almost ascended to the throne.

When Grandmother Jia heard this, she couldn't help but sigh.

The fate of women in the imperial harem is truly unimaginable.

Surprisingly, the old lady was relieved that Yuan Chun had come out of the palace.

“Last year, on the Emperor Emeritus’s birthday, she looked even younger than me.”

Xing smiled at Jia Min and said, "I never thought it would be gone so quickly."

"He was someone who should have died long ago."

Brother Jing died because of her son, and Sister-in-law Dongfu and Zhen'er almost lost their lives as well. Jia Min could never forget the desolation of that day.

As for the Zhen family, on the surface they were old relatives and took good care of her and Ru Hai, but in reality...

Thinking of the letter left by the flower room manager, which said that the Zhen family had placed someone by her husband's side, and that her husband had been poisoned last year and almost vomited blood, she could no longer view the relationship between the two families with the same perspective as before.

"...Death is the greatest tragedy. Now that everything is in the past, let's not talk about it anymore."

Grandmother Jia glanced at her daughter-in-law and daughter, "These days, the Zhen family isn't having an easy time either."

"Isn't there also the Princess Dowager of Nan'an?"

The Princess Dowager of Nan'an was also a member of the Zhen family.

Although we weren't in the same room as them.

Xing was a simple-minded woman. She only remembered that the Dowager Consort, who always treated her with indifference whenever she saw her. "I heard from the master that the Zhen family will be coming to the capital soon."

In any case, the Princess Consort of Nan'an will be dragged down by these so-called family members.

The Xing family is waiting for that day.

She's incompetent, but lucky!

Those who bullied her and looked down on her are all in trouble.

Her gloating expression was so unbearable for Grandmother Jia to watch.

But what can be done?

She arranged for her eldest son to marry this daughter-in-law.

Back then, Wang advised her that if she married someone of high status and he treated Lian'er badly, the family would never have peace.

Grandmother Jia knew that Wang had ulterior motives, and she... had a little bit of one too, and so, by a twist of fate, she let Xing into the family.

Hey~
The old lady sighed inwardly. "Alright, I don't need you to serve me here for now." She waved her hand to shoo him away. "Go look at your master's woodblock prints!"

"Eh~"

Xing was surprised to receive this benefit, so she responded loudly, gave a quick bow, and ran off.

“Look at her…”

Grandmother Jia was angry.

Jia Min laughed, "I think my sister-in-law is a true person."

Although he's a bit slow-witted, stubborn, and greedy, he's not a bad person.

Otherwise, given his older brother's temperament, there's no way he would have told her about the Zhen family.

"There are gains and losses, Mother, don't be too demanding."

Now, it's Lian's daughter-in-law who's in charge of the household. If the mother-in-law is too powerful, even if she's a second wife, she can still make the house a mess.

"...For every sentence I say, you always have ten sentences to shut me down."

"Pfft~"

Jia Min was amused by her mother's resentful look. "In this family, only I can keep you quiet. Mother, you should be glad that you only gave birth to your one daughter!"

Jia Mu: "..."

She was both angry and amused, and punched her daughter a few times. "You better watch out, you have a daughter too."

Jia Min couldn't help but laugh, "Yeah, yeah, I'm waiting for her to grow up so she can annoy me."

The eldest sister-in-law of the East Mansion was harmed by some bald-headed monk.

This reminded her of a past event.

When Daiyu was a child, she was often ill, and they consulted almost every doctor in Yangzhou. Then one day, a bald-headed monk came and told her to give up the child. The words he said were very ominous. Because of this, she was so worried that she fell ill.

Looking back, Jia Minzhen was truly grateful that they were able to go to Beijing.

The two children, being mischievous and playful, are actually healthier than when they're at home.

"However, perhaps I won't even have to grow up before your granddaughter takes care of me."

"That's right~"

Grandmother Jia laughed, "What have you done to make Daiyu angry?"

"cough~"

Jia Min subconsciously cleared her throat and said, "Didn't I cough a few times this morning? Chang'an asked me to invite the family physician to take a look, and Daiyu said I should practice the Five Animal Frolics with her."

"You've been quite busy these past few days. Are you really not feeling well?"

Grandmother Jia couldn't help but show concern.

Both sons are infuriating, but the daughter is a sweet and caring daughter.

Meanwhile, in the neighboring East Mansion, Shen Ning, who was feeling a little better, was being held by her sweet little girl, listening to her babbling incomprehensible baby talk.

Having escaped death and seeing her beloved daughter again, Shen Ning's eyes were filled with joy at the sight of the little girl's vibrant energy.

At the time, she was really afraid that she wouldn't be able to accompany the little girl as she grew up, and that she would become the poor little girl in the book again.

So what if one has a high status?

Surrounded by people, yet utterly alone... even more pitiful.

Shen Ning supported the little girl, preventing her from falling off her. "Mother knows you've been wronged these past few days. They wouldn't let you in, but Mother couldn't do anything about it. Mother is sick."

As she spoke, she held up her bandaged right hand to show her, "Look, it hurts so much, Mom."

"Ap ap ap~~"

The little girl tilted her head back, as if she wanted to blow air into her.

Shen Ning smiled and moved closer.

Sure enough, her sweet little girl was blowing air.

It's like she fell down, and she's comforting her.

In an instant, the pain that Shen Ning had been enduring seemed to have lessened considerably.

……

The 29th day of the first lunar month is auspicious for weddings, sacrifices, consecration ceremonies, opening markets, trading and receiving wealth, digging wells, and meeting relatives and friends.

A lively family banquet was held at Ningguo Mansion to celebrate Jia Yue becoming a county princess.

This time, Grandmother Jia did not send anyone to invite Jia Zheng.

However, even when it came to the important events of the Jia family, people still managed to gossip about it to him.

"Heh, didn't you say the old lady misses you?"

Wang was gloating at home, saying, "Why is it that everyone from the Jia family went to the family banquet, but they didn't care about you?"

Jia Zheng: "..."

He was furious, but there was nothing he could do.

The truth is, his mother didn't send a carriage to pick him up.

Logically, since everyone was attending the family dinner, someone should have been sent to pick him up.

Even if his mother forgot for a moment, what about Pearl? He's her son!

And Jia Zhen, as the head of the clan, how could he not know that someone was missing?
He made his mother, son, and nephew angry at home, but he never considered what he himself had done wrong.

"The village chief said that the bald-headed monk we were looking for is wanted by the government."

Wang simply couldn't believe that such a highly skilled person could be a bad person.

Or rather, the misfortune that Shen, that wicked and wicked woman, suffered this time was related to him.

"But the arrest warrant didn't say what crime he committed."

Wang said, "What I mean is that you take out one hundred coins to work as an errand boy, and write a letter to the Wang family, or send it to the Xue family to my sister, to inquire about her situation."

Given their current situation, they can't go around asking people for information on their own.

It's not advisable to go to the Wang or Xue families either.

But you can ask someone else!

Wang had wanted to hire someone for a long time, but she didn't have the money.

Not a single penny.

Jia Zheng copied the family's rare collection of poems by heart, and although he earned more than ten taels of silver, he didn't give her a single penny!
Wang deeply resented that she had no way to make money.

Of course, the less money she had, the more she wanted to find that bald-headed monk.

"...So, should we send it to the Wang family or the Xue family?"

Jia Zheng had a stern face and looked reluctant, but in fact, he had already started grinding the ink.

"Send it to the Xue family!"

After thinking it over, Wang decisively chose the Xue family.

Her second brother, Wang Zisheng, is not a reliable person.

If word gets out, it won't be good. Jia Zheng picked up his brush and quickly finished a letter, then counted out one hundred coins for Wang.

In the evening, the gatekeeper delivered a letter to Aunt Xue.

At this time, Xue Pan was still in school, but Xue Baochai returned.

"Mom, what letter is it? You've been reading it for so long!"

"Shh~"

Aunt Xue waved her hand, dismissing the servants, before whispering to her daughter, "It's a letter from your uncle."

Uncle?

Jia Zheng?
Xue Baochai was very surprised.

Although the Jia family's banquet today is entirely vegetarian, several renowned vegetarian chefs from the capital have been invited.

Yingchun, Tanchun, and the others spent several days busy preparing the recipes themselves.

My cousin, Wang Xifeng, even went back and forth between the two households.

She was the only one among the group of book-loving girls who did not participate in the affairs of the Ningguo Mansion.

Baochai sometimes feels quite awkward, but fortunately, her family does have things they need to help with, like right now.

"A bald-headed monk?"

After reading the letter, she turned to her mother in great surprise, lowering her voice, "It's been so long, and my uncle and aunt haven't written to us once. This one they finally sent is just to ask about that bald-headed monk?"

"No."

Aunt Xue was quite surprised as well.

That bald-headed monk is no good.

"You often visit the East Mansion, is that bald-headed monk really the one who poisoned Madam Shen?"

"..."

Xue Baochai didn't speak, but nodded in agreement.

At this moment, her eyes were scanning the surroundings, afraid that someone might be eavesdropping or watching in the room.

"Oh dear, could that person be related to your aunt and uncle?"

Aunt Xue's heart raced.

My sister and brother-in-law have reason to hate Madam Shen.

But this matter...

"Baochai, what should we do?"

Aunt Xue's eyes were filled with fear.

At that time, her son and daughter were both studying at the Jia family home.

My son is very motivated these days. Although he's busy and disorganized every day, he's really studying.

My daughter too.

The girls who study with her will inevitably become wives of officials in the future.

If they were kicked out of the Jia family for helping to deliver a message...

No, being kicked out of the Jia family might be the least of their worries. Madam Shen almost lost her life. The Ningguo Mansion can't retaliate against her sister and brother-in-law, but against their family…

"Where's the messenger?"

If Aunt Xue could think of something, how could Xue Baochai not have thought of it?
At this moment, her face was more solemn than ever before.

"Still at the gatehouse!"

"Have him tied up and gagged!"

"What...what are you going to do?"

Aunt Xue clutched her chest and asked her daughter.

"Find my cousin Zhu, and also invite my cousin Feng and her husband."

Baochai said, "This matter... is left to them."

What they do is none of their business.

In short, this matter cannot be handled by their family.

"Can it be done?"

Aunt Xue couldn't make up her mind.

"Besides this, Mom, do you have any other ideas?"

This?
No!
“…Alright!” Aunt Xue finally stood up. “I’ll have someone tie that man up and gag him right away.”

The family banquet at the Jia family's place is almost over.

She then calculated the time and sent someone to invite Jia Zhu, Jia Lian, and Wang Xifeng.

Since moving into the Xue family, they have been keeping to their proper place. Although Xue Pan is a bit slow-witted, he has been trained. Jia Zhu and Jia Lian, who had been drinking, also came.

But it would have been better if I hadn't read the letter, because once I did...

The suspicions of Aunt Xue and her daughter immediately surfaced in their minds as well.

The bald-headed monk almost took the life of the eldest aunt of the East Mansion.

When Jia Zhu handed the letter to Jia Lian and his wife, his face was ashen.

What are my parents going to do?
Did they think about this whole family when they did this?

Have you ever thought about how much your aunt has worried about this family?
When the second aunt returned, none of them could think of a way to break the deadlock. It was she who quickly and efficiently subdued the prince and then treated the two princes like insects.

Jia Lian released the letter, and Wang Xifeng released the letter.

Neither of them knew what to say.

One of them grew up with his second uncle and aunt, while the other was Wang's own niece.

However, if the bald-headed monk really was brought here by my second uncle and aunt...

"They have no money."

Jia Zhu pressed his hand to his chest, racking his brains for a solution, "How can I command someone like that bald-headed monk?"

His eyes were fixed on his aunt. "Auntie, where's the messenger? Can we bring it over and ask him?"

"They were gagged and tied up in the woodshed."

Aunt Xue quickly gave them directions.

The brothers Jia Zhu and Jia Lian stood up together.

At this moment, the village chief's son, who had been tied up, was terrified.

Sending a message to this prefecture for one hundred coins—I thought it was a very good job.

"Waaaaah~ Waaaaah~~~~"

When he saw the two men who came in looking fierce, he was so scared that he almost wet his pants.

"do not be afraid!"

Jia Zhu took a long breath and then exhaled. "I'm just asking you some questions. If you answer them well, this... is yours."

He took out two golden melon seeds.

"Don't shout!"

Jia Lian removed the rag from his mouth.

"Sirs, gentlemen, I was just delivering a message, I really don't know anything!"

He'll tell his dad when he gets home.

That Jia Cunzhou is a scoundrel.

"I didn't say what you knew."

Jia Zhu sat down on the stool the servant had brought for him. "The person who sent you to deliver this message is my father." That will never change. "I want to ask you, has anyone been coming or going from my parents' place lately?"

His parents weren't that capable.

At this moment, he suspected that someone wanted to use his parents to harm his eldest aunt in the East Mansion.

"Is their life... the same as before?"

"Almost...more or less!"

The village chief's son was sweating. "They're all from our village, but they went to Beijing together last time."

How long ago was the last time?

About five days ago.

five days?

That was when my aunt was seriously ill.

Jia Zhu and Jia Lian exchanged a glance, both feeling heavy-hearted.

"Besides that, is there anything else unusual? For example, are you looking for anyone?"

"They are looking for the bald-headed monk that the authorities are investigating."

The village chief's son said, "That monk once came to Mr. Jia's house to ask for water. Aunt Wang took pity on him and gave him some steamed buns. Aunt Wang said that the monk had told her fortune, and she wanted to find the monk to find out what that fortune was all about."

Fortune telling?

Jia Zhu couldn't help but think of what the clansmen had said: the monk had been saying the wrong things when he entered the house.

Is someone trying to use fortune telling to deceive his parents?