The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 27 Peel it clean
What, the last few months?

Both Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang were furious.

If it were only a few months, they would have let it go. But in fact, ever since Shen Ning fainted in the classroom that day, she seems to have come to terms with everything. Before, it was her who couldn't eat or sleep well, but now it's them who can't eat or sleep well.

Her energetic and restless nature suggests she's still very capable of living.

When Manager Chen of Huichuntang came to check on her pulse last time, Grandmother Jia, under the pretext of concern, inquired about Shen Ning's health. He explained clearly that although she was already forty-six years old, she had taken good care of herself in the past and had a solid foundation. In recent years, her main problems were emotional and mental. Now that she has come to terms with it, and with two more months of recuperation, there is a very high chance that both mother and child will be safe.

This is why Grandmother Jia hurriedly sought out Jia Jing.

Her niece-in-law always favored her nephew Jia Jing, as long as he was willing to put her in a certain position...

“Jing’er,” Grandmother Jia said, carefully choosing her words, “Shen’s health isn’t as bad as you think. Manager Chen from Huichuntang has been checking her pulse and said that she’s calmed down now that she’s stopped suffering. Plus, she has two experienced midwives by her side, so the chances of a smooth delivery are extremely high.”

Jia Jing: "..."

Is that so?
He didn't know whether he should be happy.

But this mortal world...

Jia Jing lowered his eyes slightly.

Zhang, a Daoist from Qingcheng Mountain, said that only by severing all worldly ties can one truly attain enlightenment.

Perhaps it's time to put an end to this.

Jia Jing made up his mind, "I understand what Aunt means."

Grandmother Jia was greatly relieved. "That's good. What's done is done." It was impossible to get the treasury silver back. "But the agreement between the two households has been largely fulfilled. We can't afford any more backtracking."

Yuan Chun is already in the palace.

Zhu'er has a good chance of getting into school, and Baoyu is intelligent and talented; their future is sure to be bright.

With the siblings around, the Jia family will never fall into ruin.

"Brother, as you know, my Yuanchun is in need of our family's help right now."

Jia Zheng bowed sincerely, "But you know my elder brother, what I mean is, isn't there still a sum of money reserved in the clan? Could you perhaps..."

Just as he was about to ask if he could move the space out first, a maid rushed in and said, "Old Madam, Madam of the East Mansion and Master Zhen have arrived."

what?
So fast?
A flash of anger crossed the eyes of both Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang.

How long has Jia Jingcai been here? How did they know and even came to kill him?

"Please!"

Shen Ning's sedan chair was carried straight to the entrance of the main hall. "Grandma, your niece-in-law greets you."

Jia Jing was slightly taken aback. Although he hadn't seen the person yet, the voice was crisp and clear, as if he had truly returned to a few years ago.

He couldn't help but look towards the doorway.

When Shen Ning was helped in by Jia Zhen and Rong Ge'er, she immediately looked at Jia Jing.

"Father!"

"grandfather!"

The two men nervously bowed to Jia Jing first.

Despite being a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations, this old man still used the methods of an old military officer to educate his children and grandchildren. Even Jia Rong, his only son, had been disciplined by him several times.

Jia Jing didn't even look at them. When he waved his hand to dismiss the formalities, his eyes were fixed on Shen Ning.

After not seeing her for a while, Madam's complexion had indeed improved a lot. The worry on her face was gone, and she looked... radiant and full of maternal gentleness.

His gaze lingered on her pregnant belly for a moment, then he stood up and said, "Sit down!"

“…” Shen Ning slowly walked over, “Passing by home without entering, my husband… has made something of himself.”

In the original owner's memories, Jia Jing became a Taoist priest not only to cover up his awkward situation, but also because he had experienced great ups and downs and had lost hope in officialdom, economics, and the coldness of human relationships.

The only one who could hold him back was the original body.

Fortunately, Taoist priests can also start families.

The original owner of this body specially bought a separate courtyard outside the Taoist temple for him.

Even after he leaves home to become a monk, he can still enjoy all the benefits of being the head of the Ningguo Mansion.

At first, things were fine, but gradually, the original owner found that he had really become obsessed with Taoist teachings and longed to attain immortality.

He spent a lot of money buying incomplete formulas for immortality pills from wandering Taoist priests, as well as various fragmented scrolls, and became increasingly indifferent to his family and relatives.

The original owner vaguely sensed that he wanted to sever all ties with the mortal world.

Fortunately, she became pregnant at this time, and she was full of hope that she could win him back, but what she got in return was...

Shen Ning slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, "Husband, have you made up your mind?"

"..."

"..."

The people around her, including Grandmother Jia, didn't know what she was talking about, but they felt inexplicably uneasy.

They were not completely oblivious to Jia Jing's changes.

"……Yes!"

A hint of appreciation and reluctance flashed in Jia Jing's eyes.

At that moment, he seemed to see his former wife again. "Seeing you doing so well, Jing... can rest assured."

She can live a good life without him.

Even if she doesn't make it through childbirth, at least she'll be the carefree and unrestrained person she used to be.

Jia Jing disliked her sorrowful face, her cautiousness, and even more so, her insistence on dragging him into a mundane, ordinary life, disregarding his ideals and desires, just like an ordinary woman. They were born extraordinary.

Now that the ordeal is over, and their fate is about to end, he can truly leave.

"But I'm worried."

Shen Ning curtsied to Grandmother Jia, "Perfect timing! Aunt is here, and my second brother and sister-in-law are here too. Let's settle some things here!"

"It's done!"

Jia Jing sat back down. "Go on," he said.

Shen Ning didn't answer immediately, but sat down opposite him. "Is the child in my belly yours?"

"Yes!"

Jia Jing couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, not understanding what she meant.

"That's good. I can't stop you from seeking immortality, but won't you raise this child?"

This?
Jia Jing was slightly stunned.

The Ningguo family is so wealthy and powerful, can't they afford to support even one of their children?

Aunt Gang also said that in order to accumulate good fortune for this child, she not only donated more than a thousand taels of gold to the national treasury, but also ten thousand taels of silver.

In addition, she forced everyone to donate.

Although his aunt and sister-in-law seemed to gloss over the two donations, Jia Jing, who knew their personalities well, could still sense their heartache.

This issue……

Jia Jing thought his wife did a great job.

But now, facing him...

Jia Jing's eyes flickered.

That's true. Everyone else has donated, so as a father, he should also try to accumulate some good fortune for his child.

Thinking of this, he cleared his throat, his voice as gentle and pleasant as ever, "How do you want me to raise you?"

“…Zhen’er inherited the title, so everything in the manor is no longer your concern.”

Shen Ning looked at him and sighed softly in her heart.

The Jia family members are all quite good-looking; having them around is quite pleasing to the eye.

But this one...

"What I mean is, hand over your secret stash."

"..."

"..."

At the scene, Jia Zheng and Jia Zhen, who had private savings, both wanted to cover their faces.

"...Okay!"

After a slight pause, Jia Jing smiled and readily agreed, "Zhen'er, come with me to the Taoist temple and the villa to tidy up in a bit."

Now that he's handed over his private savings, it will be a bit difficult for him to refine any kind of pills in the future.

But it's still worth it to be able to sever worldly ties.

"Anything else? Tell me all of them."

“Zhen’er is the clan leader. Now that you are a person outside the clan, you don’t need to concern yourself with the Jia family’s affairs anymore.”

"..."

Jia Jing glanced disdainfully at his son, whose face had turned pale with fright, but finally nodded, "Just what I wanted!"

"The villa is mine, and the servants inside will be taken into the household. In the future..."

Shen Ning looked at him and said, "From now on, everything you do will be like what the Taoist priests in the temple do—you'll have to do it all yourself."

what?
Grandmother Jia and Jia Zheng stared blankly at Jia Jing.

Jia Jing, who grew up in a wealthy family, is he going to have to wash his own clothes from now on?
Jia Jing looked at Shen Ning and slowly smiled, "That's how it should be!" He couldn't use the child to tie him down anymore; it was rare that she could still come up with this idea. "Anything else?"

Shen Ning: "..."

She couldn't think of anything for a moment, so she just stared at him. But as she stared, she smiled again. "This Taoist robe you're wearing was made by my own hands, the sandalwood prayer beads on your wrist were bought by me, and the red jade Qiankun ring on your waist is the same. Since you've decided not to accept us, then these things... you should return them all!"

If he has no money, let's see what kind of pills he can still refine.

Do you really think people are fawning over him? What's the point?
What utter nonsense about enlightened masters.

The Ningguo Mansion was in such a state of disrepair that Jia Zhen, who was the one most capable of controlling him, was only obsessed with his alchemy and longed to become an immortal.

hum~
Just thinking about how young Xichun would be left unloved and uncared for for the rest of her life because of his words of "never to see each other again" makes Shen Ning furious.

"..."

Jia Jing hesitated for a moment. Besides the Taoist robe, his prayer beads and Qiankun ring were his most cherished possessions.

It was after a long search by the couple that they finally found it.

"Shen family, how cruel you are!"

Grandmother Jia, standing to the side, became angry and said, "Jing'er, give her back. Your aunt will give you something better."

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(End of this chapter)