The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 280 Taking Medicine

Chapter 280 Taking Medicine
One pill per person, who goes first?
Jia Zheng and Wang Shi were stunned.

They never imagined they would die.

The old lady herself took charge.

"Big... big brother..."

Jia Zheng's legs trembled, and he cried out, "It's Wang Shi..."

"No, you can't do this to us."

Wang grabbed the bottle that Granny Lai had put down, smashed it, and shouted, "My Yuan Chun is the Lady of the Marquis, and my Zhu'er is about to take the imperial examination. You can't treat us like this! I'm going to find the Old Madam, I'm going to find Madam Shen!"

She wanted to go crazy; she wanted to call for lots and lots of people.

However, the villagers who used to hang around the door were all nowhere to be found.

Outside, there were only guards standing in various positions.

They, they're serious.

Are they really going to execute her and Jia Zheng?

How is this possible?
The old lady loved her second son so much.

"Second Madam, why bother?"

Granny Lai waved to the two old women who were about to come in, indicating that they didn't need to come any further. "Since we've brought up the eldest young lady and Master Zhu, let's be respectful for their sake. Otherwise... if you don't want to be respectful, we servants can't be respectful either."

Her voice was slow and gentle, and not loud, but to Wang Shi and Jia Zheng it sounded like a demon's curse.

"No, you can't treat me like this. I just blurted it out in the heat of the moment."

Wang cried bitterly, "I'll go apologize, I'll go apologize to my sister-in-law, please, please let us go, we really won't dare to do it again, please."

"...The First Madam of the East Mansion is no longer someone you, Second Madam, can see whenever you want."

Granny Lai responded coldly, "Second Madam and Second Master would better hurry up. Forcing the servants to take action is not good for you, Master Zhu, and Master Bao."

Jia Zheng: "..."

Wang: "..."

Wang was so frightened that she forgot to cry.

Looking at Jia She and Jia Zhen waiting for them to take their medicine, the two suddenly realized that their second branch of the family might have been abandoned by the Jia family.

"Big Brother~~~"

"I don't have a brother like you."

When Jia Zheng cried out for help again, Jia She interrupted him, saying, "When you let Wang Shi throw mud at your own family like that, you are no longer my brother. If my grandfather and father were alive, they would be ashamed of you."

Jia Zheng: "..."

He dared not look directly into his nephew Jia Zhen's murderous eyes, turning instead to the weeping Wang Shi. Fear and regret welled up within him, giving him boundless strength. "It's all your fault!"

Jia Zheng slapped Wang Shi with all his might, sending her staggering back several steps until she fell to the ground.

"Ah~~~~"

With her mouth full of blood and foam, Wang spat out two loose teeth and burst into tears, sobbing, "Waaahh ...

"Since the second wife doesn't care about appearances, then let's send her on her way!"

Without further ado, Granny Lai raised her hand, and two old women who had been waiting at the door stepped forward, picked up the pills that Wang Shi had just knocked over, and without saying a word, one grabbed her and the other held her chin down, threw the pills into her mouth, and then sealed her mouth to prevent her from spitting them out.

Wang struggled violently.

But how could she possibly be a match for those two old women?
In the end, even her nose was covered.

Jia Zheng's hands and legs trembled.

His hand was numb from the slap, but seeing his wife, whom he had hated for over a year, being held down like this, he felt an overwhelming sorrow.

He slowly bent down, picked up the grayish-brown pills that had rolled to his feet, and glanced at his brother one last time.

Jia She remained indifferent, showing no sign of reluctance whatsoever.

Jia Zheng's lips trembled, his body shook, and he dared not look at his nephew, whose expression was even colder. He shoved the pill into his mouth and swallowed it with great effort.

"It's my fault, elder brother. For the sake of our shared motherhood, please help me take care of Zhu'er, Baoyu, and Huan'er."

"...They are my nephews. I will naturally take care of them if I can."

Jia She looked at his incredibly selfish younger brother and was truly unmoved. From childhood to adulthood, he had been tricked countless times by his brother's tactic of feigning remorse while actually shifting blame. "You've studied for so many years, and it's all gone to waste. You don't even understand the principle of shared prosperity and shared loss."

If the Jia family is not doing well, how can your sons and daughters be doing well?
Moreover, Zhu'er, Baoyu, and even Yuanchun were all cared for more by their elder sister-in-law.

Both of them were stupid and wicked, equally bad.

"You think you're harming your sister-in-law? Actually, you're harming yourselves."

Even Jia She didn't say that you're harming your own children.

Just by looking at Jia Zhen, you can tell that he will definitely not help Jia Zhu any more.

Count on him?
Even more impossible.

Jia She had a very clear self-image: to be a peaceful and law-abiding gentleman at home, not to cause trouble for his family and children, which was his way of fulfilling his duty to his grandfather and father.

That was also how they positioned him back then.

"At this point, you should stop thinking about the children. They... have been dragged down and died because of you."

"Cough cough~~ cough cough cough~~~"

Wang swallowed several times before the old woman finally let go of her hand.

However, it was clear that letting go at this point was useless.

What she was supposed to swallow, she had already swallowed long ago.

Of course, she also heard Jia She's words.

She never intended to implicate her own child.

But at this moment, Wang knew that she was about to drag her pearl to her death.

Three years!
He will not only miss scientific expeditions, but he will also miss having children.

Sobbing, Wang said, "I've taken the medicine. I want to see Zhu'er, I want to see my Zhu'er one last time. Jia Zheng, don't you want to see Zhu'er one last time?"

Seeing the indifferent expressions on these people's faces, she knew that it would be useless for her to plead alone, so she could only use Jia Zheng as an excuse to speak.

But Jia Zheng, having taken the medicine, pressed his stomach and sat blankly on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed).

He hadn't felt any pain yet, but he was so scared.

I always feel that at any moment, that pain, which seems to destroy everything, will sweep over my entire body.

"Don't worry, Second Madam, this medicine is not highly poisonous. If Master doesn't come today, he will definitely come tomorrow."

It's not highly poisonous?

When Jia Zheng and Wang Shi looked up, their faces showed hope.

However, the two quickly realized that if it wasn't a highly poisonous substance, then it must be something that had made them seriously ill.

ho ho~
If they die of illness, no one outside will suspect that the Shen family attacked them.

Wang suppressed the roar and accusations that were about to burst from her throat.

She was afraid that if she cried out, Jia Zhen would immediately punish her.

"How many days... do we have?"

Wang asked them in a hoarse voice.

"...That depends on the health of the Second Master and the Second Madam."

Granny Lai was actually unwilling to do this.

She's getting old, and she wants to accumulate good karma for herself.

But she couldn't disobey the old lady's orders.

"If we're lucky, we should be able to hold out for ten days to two weeks."

Of course, if you're unlucky, it might be gone in three days.

Jia Zheng may not have understood what Granny Lai was saying, but Wang Shi did.

She longed to see her son even more.

Since you can't take the exam because you're in mourning, then hurry up and have a baby!

We can't let Jia Lian and Feng Yatou get there first.

If they get there first, the second wife's family will definitely get even less of the old lady's things in the future.

Wang Shi now deeply regrets that when she drugged Jia Lian and Feng Ya Tou, she was a little too soft-hearted and used a very light dose to avoid being discovered.

Now that they are not at home and cannot continue taking medication, they will recover in less than two years.

If I had known it would turn out like this, I should have been more ruthless and used strong medicine from the beginning!

Wang didn't know how long she could hold out.

She was sick a few days ago and hasn't fully recovered yet.

This medicine...

Wang felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen, and her face immediately contorted in agony. "Zhu'er, I want to see my Zhu'er, I want to see my Yuan Chun. Zhu'er, Yuan Chun..."

"Tell her to shut up!" Jia She didn't like listening to her nagging.

This woman has too many hidden agendas.

Now that you've seen Zhu'er and Yuan Chun, are you trying to complain about them?
But what good is filing a complaint?

Even if Zhu'er and Yuan Chun were to become estranged from the family because of them, the family would ultimately be the one to suffer.

Even now, does this woman still think that the Jia family can't do without her child, and that her child is the most successful member of the Jia family?

snort!
"Someone go check on Lin Zhixiao and the others' progress."

The sealing of the breach was led by Lin Zhixiao.

Both coercion and bribery were used.

Anyone who dares to spread rumors is courting death.

"Yes!"

The servant quickly withdrew.

At this moment, Shen Ning and the others' carriage was still halfway there.

Jia Zhu was extremely anxious, but he could no longer ride a horse.

To avoid upsetting his aunt, he didn't dare let his servant rush to stop it for him.

Every breath was excruciating for him.

"Jewel!"

Grandmother Jia was also anxious, but Shen's carriage was ahead, and they couldn't overtake her.

"this is the last time."

By now, Er'er and Wang Shi must have already taken that extremely cold medicine.

Although they had asked the palace physician to prepare some appropriate medicine before leaving the residence, the dosage was small, and the medicine would inevitably damage their health. "In the future..."

"Grandson knows."

Jia Zhu's voice was somber, "Grandson... will certainly not force it. If anything happens in the future, they will hire a doctor if they can afford it, and if they can't... they will just have to endure it."

This is how many impoverished families live.

"The person I feel most sorry for right now is my aunt!"

If it weren't for the shock his aunt felt about his hair, and the fact that the family had secretly sent medicine without her knowledge, she certainly wouldn't have cared anymore.

"Grandmother, am I really useless?"

"Who said that?"

Grandmother Jia sighed inwardly, "What does your parents' affairs have to do with you? If you raise a child but don't teach him, it's the father's fault."

Actually, it's because she spoils her second son too much.

"Your grandfather was busy back then, and your grandmother only spoiled him..."

The Duke should have realized that the Jia family only needs Jia Jing.

Just like in the East Mansion, after Jia Jing came along, Jia Zhen could only be treated like the eldest son.

"Grandma never imagined he would turn out like that."

Lian'er had been by her side since childhood and knew that the Li family was plotting against the East Mansion. He even went to the Li family to avenge Zhen'er. Why couldn't Er'er understand? They couldn't be two Jias in one stroke.

They've all been dragged down by the Wang family!

As the old saying goes, marrying an unvirtuous wife will bring misfortune to three generations.

“Your mother’s heart has never been with the Jia family.”

She was a woman too. When she spoke those words to Madam Shen and her eldest son, she never considered that her words would also affect Yuan Chun and Zhu'er.

“She never thought about you. If she had thought about you even a little bit, she wouldn’t have been so biased towards the Wang family.”

In fact, if Yuan Chun were to gain power after entering the palace, Prince Teng would definitely be the first to benefit from it.

Only they, one in the imperial court and the other in the harem, could support and cherish each other.

But the Jia family...

If he cannot achieve anything in the court, even if Yuan Chun wanted to bring it up, she would have no way to do so.

Grandmother Jia has been thinking a lot lately. "In the future, I'll have your daughter-in-law learn from your eldest aunt in the East Mansion."

"……Um!"

Jia Zhu listened to her.

The scenery outside the window is rushing past; we'll be there soon.

Jia Zhu couldn't help but cough a few more times.

He was quickly thinking in his mind how to persuade his parents.

But the more I think about it, the harder it seems.

My parents... only believe in their own reasoning.

Otherwise, things wouldn't have come to this point.

he……

Jia Zhu suddenly had an idea. She secretly bit her tongue and wiped it on her sleeve when her grandmother wasn't looking.

His parents relied on him the most.

If he becomes incapacitated, they will surely behave themselves.

After a while, we finally arrived at the small courtyard.

Shen Ning was the first to get off the bus.

Upon hearing the news, Jia Zhen hurriedly came out to greet them.

Seeing that his sister-in-law didn't seem to be troubled by Huang Yao, Jia She felt relieved and finally thought of himself.

For a moment, he looked left and right in a panic, and when he was sure there was nowhere to hide, he could only lower his head and hang his hands, pretending to be obedient.

At that time, he was not ready to meet his sister-in-law.

In Wang's yellow ballad, he was the younger brother-in-law she raised!

Jia She simply couldn't believe that Wang Shi could fabricate such things about him.

My sister-in-law is such an amazing person!

He had no choice but to be filial to his mother, but he also wanted to be filial to his sister-in-law in the East Mansion!
When the eldest brother was alive, his sister-in-law accompanied him in taking care of him. Even when the eldest brother was not alive, his sister-in-law continued to take care of him, both in a tangible and intangible way.

"Mother, why...why are you here?"

Seeing that his mother looked alright, Jia Zhen was relieved.

"Do you think you can keep something this big a secret?"

Shen Ning glared at him, "The old lady and Zhu'er are here too, go help them up."

"Eh~"

Jia Zhen hurried over.

He couldn't help but suspect that Jia Zhu had caused the commotion and was begging his mother for help.

Hmph, you think you can take advantage of my soft heart?
Jia Zhen stepped forward with a grim expression, but...

"Old lady~"

He had just given a slight helping hand to Grandmother Jia, who was being supported by a maid, when he saw Jia Zhu, who seemed both familiar and unfamiliar.

Jia Zhen was stunned on the spot.

Jia Zhu got out of the carriage with unsteady steps, and Grandmother Jia helped him up.

"Brother~"

The guilt and sadness in Jia Zhu's eyes were clearly visible.

"...Yes, I'm here."

Jia Zhen was utterly shocked when he saw his younger brother's hair.

He turned his head blankly and looked at his mother.

"Pearl, Pearl~~~"

Inside the house, Jia Zheng and Wang Shi heard from the old woman that the old lady and Zhu'er had also arrived, and they both called out to them.

"Grandmother, Aunt~"

Jia Zhu was worried about her parents' current situation and couldn't help but look at her grandmother and aunt.

"Go!"