The head of the Red Mansion

At Rongguo Mansion, Xing Shi and Wang Xifeng were on tenterhooks all day.

Many people have witnessed that Jia Zhu's hair has turned mostly white.

Li also experienced a miscarriage.

now……

Wang Xifeng anxiously sent people to inquire about the return of both sides. Unusually, Xing Shi was considerate of her, not only refraining from serving her but also from using words to manipulate her.

Of course, as her aunt, she also dutifully went to Pear Fragrance Courtyard to check on Li Wan.

When Jia Min and Jia Wen received the news and rushed over, she had just left Pear Fragrance Courtyard.

"Sister-in-law, what exactly happened?"

Jia Min left in a hurry, and the maids couldn't explain clearly. All she knew was that her mother and her sister-in-law from the East Mansion had taken her nephew, Jia Zhu, who had vomited blood and whose hair had turned mostly white, out the door.

"Shh~"

Madam Xing glanced at the quiet Pear Fragrance Courtyard and said, "Don't ask anymore. We still don't know what happened. We only vaguely heard that my second brother and sister-in-law said something they shouldn't have."

Jia Min: "..."

Jia Wen: "..."

Both of their hearts sank.

What kind of thing is it that needs to be kept so tightly hidden?
It can only be a shameful thing.

The two looked at each other, neither knowing what to say for a moment.

"Li is pitiful, that's why she got pregnant."

Madam Xing sighed, "Now that she's finally sleeping peacefully, if you want to see her, go later."

It wouldn't be good to go now and disturb her.

"I'll listen to my sister-in-law."

Jia Wen nodded, "Sister-in-law, Zhu'er's hair really is..."

"Yes!"

Mrs. Xing sighed, "The child is a good child, but he is always dragged down by his troublesome parents."

Jia She doted on his nephew.

That child has always treated her with the same respect, whether now or in the past when she was in a very bad position.

Ms. Xing cherishes everyone who is kind to her. "The old lady didn't sleep all night yesterday, and I don't know how she is today."

Just as Jia Lian was at a critical moment, the old lady collapsed, much to her horror.

Xing had always heard that countless people coveted Jia Lian's official position.

"My two sisters, why don't we go to the old lady's room and wait for her?"

She rarely showed concern for the old lady's health.

"...Okay!"

Jia Min's smile looked rather awkward.

As the three of them headed towards Grandmother Jia's courtyard, they were unaware that Aunt Xue, who was not far away, had already received a message from the shopkeeper.

Supporting your brother-in-law!
Aunt Xue was extremely anxious.

Has her sister gone mad?
Is it something you can just say casually?
Her daughter, Baochai, is still studying at the Ningguo Mansion.

Aunt Xue instructed her maid, Tongxi, to hurry to the Ningguo Mansion and find a pretext to call Baochai back to discuss the matter.

If this goes wrong, the entire Jia family will be disgraced.

All the girls' reputations will be affected.

Aunt Xue was counting on her daughter to enter the palace, so how could she bear to let her be implicated by others?

"Mom, where do you feel unwell?"

Upon hearing that her mother was ill, Baochai hurriedly asked for leave and rushed back.

"Ah~"

Seeing her daughter calmed Aunt Xue down a bit, but she couldn't bring herself to tell her daughter about what Shen had said about raising her brother-in-law.

Girls shouldn't have their ears offended.

"It's nothing serious, it's just that my head hurts a lot."

Let's discuss it with our son tonight!

My son is attending school, so the impact won't be too great.

But Baochai really can't go to school anymore. "You're back, so you can help me massage it."

Baochai: "..."

That's it?

Tongxi spoke so hastily.

"Mom, what happened?" She rushed back in a panic. "Is it inconvenient for you to tell me?"

"……Yes!"

Aunt Xue hesitated for a moment before nodding, thinking that her daughter was too smart. "It's a matter of reputation. Your studies... probably won't last much longer."

what?
Xue Baochai was greatly surprised.

What kind of reputation issues could prevent them from attending school at Ningguo Mansion?

Madam Shen is so capable that Her Majesty the Empress sends things over here every few days.

"Mom, is it... that Mrs. Shen has something to say?"

"..."

Aunt Xue didn't speak, she just nodded, "You don't know, they had a fight yesterday."

She hesitated for a moment about Jia Zhu's matter, but ultimately did not speak of it immediately.

"Take a leave of absence and stay home for two days. If there's nothing else, you can go back to school."

Baochai: "..."

She felt her mother was too naive.

They avoid you when you're in trouble, but will they still want you when you're doing well?
"Mom, let's wait a bit before asking for leave. Miss Lin is studying there too."

Other people are one thing, they are either members of the Jia family or dependent on the Jia family, but the daughter of the salt commissioner is different.

If Madam Shen's reputation is truly in trouble and it will implicate the girls in the family, Fourth Aunt Jia Min will not stand idly by.

"Please tell me first what exactly happened with Mrs. Shen!"

Isn't it making things difficult for her to guess?

"Never believe what you hear from others."

Baochai said, "I studied at Ningguo Mansion, and Madam Shen was a very kind person."

The matter of Princess Rongguo alone is enough to make the whole world remember her.

Baochai was very knowledgeable, but she never knew what the use of learning so much was.

Women were not allowed to take the imperial examinations, and had to depend on men for everything.

Having learned so much, I've become more magnanimous, and sometimes I even see my brother's attitude as wrong.

But her brother was very good to her.

So much so that Baochai sometimes felt that books had changed her temperament.

She began to agree with the idea that women in the Wang family were virtuous because they were untalented.

But she also loves books and enjoys reading, and often wants to compete with her sisters.

This exacerbated her inner conflict.

This contradiction persisted until Madam Shen decisively handled the matter of Princess Rongguo.

She showed her how important it is for a woman to read more books, and to read good books.

"Take her former reputation as a shrew, for example. How many people would dare to say that now?"

Baochai was afraid that her mother would be misled, "Perhaps the Emperor and many officials in the court would prefer that she be more assertive."

Aunt Xue: "..."

Good heavens, she was speechless.

"Mom, can't you just tell me what happened?"

"...There are some things you shouldn't hear right now."

Aunt Xue sighed and said, "I'll just tell you this: your aunt is causing trouble again. This time, she's tarnishing Madam Shen's reputation."

Because of this, your cousin Jia Zhu vomited blood. His hair, which was fine yesterday, has turned mostly white today.

what?
Xue Baochai was shocked.

Since entering the Rongguo Mansion, she has always had a very good feeling about her eldest cousin, Jia Zhu. He seems to be the most perfect brother in her life.

My aunt and uncle weren't home, so my older cousin took care of the household.

To prevent them from feeling uncomfortable, they would come over every few days to chat with Mom and ask about her brother's studies.

Because of my older cousin, my brother has recently started talking to my mom and her for a while after dinner.

The teacher's, the martial arts instructor's, the classmates'...

Baochai was overjoyed that they had gone to the capital. If they had stayed at home, her undisciplined brother would have become even more unruly.

"Mom, ask the shopkeeper outside to find more high-quality He Shou Wu and send it to my eldest cousin."

"Ugh!"

Aunt Xue sighed, "I've already sent people to look for them."

Why would a daughter need to explain this?

She also really likes this nephew.

This child has a good temperament and is a good person. If he passes the exam and becomes an official, he will be a help to his son and daughter no matter what.

"Your aunt is confused, but you can't be confused too."

Seeing that her mother seemed to be feeling better, Baochai advised again, "Putting everything else aside, think about your brother. How much has he improved since he started school?"

Aunt Xue: "..."

"Although Madam Shen has a good temperament, there are some things that cross her bottom line. If we really do them, our family may no longer have a place in the capital."

This is by no means alarmist.

Just look at how she treats the Wang family, and you'll know.

At this time, the mother and daughter were unaware that Jia Zhen had already led men to smash up the Wang family's gate.

With Wang Ziteng away from home, Wang Zisheng, to prevent himself from being ambushed again and to avoid the embarrassment of being asked about his sister's hard life in the countryside, not only kept his son Wang Ren at home, but also simply brought several of his mistresses to the mansion.

The father and son lived a carefree life, drinking and playing with women at home.

"Second Master, Second Master, something terrible has happened."

When the steward rushed over, Prince Sheng was in a blissful state, being served by two concubines.

"Get out."

Wang Zisheng was very unhappy that his mood had been interrupted.

housekeeper:"……"

He knew that even if the Second Master was done having fun, he would still leave him hanging for a while after seeing what he shouldn't have seen.

But the gates of the Prince's mansion can't wait!

"Second Master, Jia Zhen is banging on our front door!"

This time he was a bit smarter, speaking quickly and urgently.

what?
Wang Zisheng could hardly believe it. He was an honest man at home, and Ren'er was an honest man at home. When did they offend Jia Zhen?
Did that make him want to come and smash his front door?
Where is Ren'er?

Wang Zisheng immediately suspected that his son had sneaked out and offended someone. "Has he gone out these past few days?"

As he spoke, he lifted the curtain on his concubine's clothes and hurriedly put them on.

"The old man hasn't gone out these past few days."

The steward was watching. "When Jia Zhen was banging on the door, he was scolding our well-mannered daughter. It seems something has happened to the aunt again."

younger sister?

Wang Zisheng was furious!
What kind of life did his sister have in their family?
So much dowry went to the Jia family back then, and now she can't even get a bite of meat.

Do they still dare to come looking for him now?
What do you take the Wang family for?

Prince Sheng was furious.

His brother has been doing very well in the south recently and is highly regarded by the emperor.

"Men, grab your weapons and get them out of here!"

They've already attacked; if we keep giving in, where will his brother's face be?
In their recent communications, Prince Sheng felt that his brother had suppressed the Prince of Nan'an.

If he gives in today, the Prince of Nan'an's mansion will pass this matter on to the Prince of Nan'an, and his brother over there will probably find it difficult to handle.

In the world of business, saving face is extremely important.

"Second Master, let's reconsider this matter!"

The housekeeper was terrified.

Jia Zhen was acting so aggressively; what if it really was his aunt causing trouble?
Now that the Emperor and Empress favor Madam Shen of the Ningguo Mansion, and the Master is not at home.

Even when the master was at home, he never got away with anything from Madam Shen.

Now that the Second Master is going to fight someone, why is he so unsure of himself?
But his words had no effect, so he had no choice but to go find Grandpa Wang Ren again.

By this time, a crowd of onlookers had gathered in front of the Wang family's house.

How much trouble have the Wang and Jia families caused in the past six months?
And here we go again...

Judging from the way the Ningguo Mansion attacked, you could tell they were furious.

"Someone, report to the authorities!"

The Wang family was no match for the Jia family's guards; they were routed as soon as they made contact.

Even more shockingly, Wang Zisheng was punched in the head by Jia Zhen.

He was furious: "Jia Zhen, you've gone too far! If you're so dissatisfied with my sister, then make her divorce Jia Zheng!"

This was my brother's plan.

He said last time that once he made another contribution, he would let his sister divorce Jia Zheng.

If Lan Zhi dares to come to his house and cause trouble, he will not let her off easily.

"Heli?"

Jia Zhen laughed angrily, "Did everyone hear that? Wang Zisheng wants to take his sister and divorce Jia Zheng."

He generously clasped his hands in greeting, inviting everyone to witness, "As the head of the Jia family, I agree to this. However, since we are now two separate families, your Wang family's slander against my mother is not as simple as just smashing down the gate."

Jia Zhen grinned menacingly. "Guards!" he shouted. "Seize Wang Zisheng and slap him twenty times in the face first. I suspect he is colluding with the Jurchens and using Wang Zisheng to spread rumors about my mother."

On their way back from the South Gate, they had already been told that those bastards, Suo Jin, had paid people to spread rumors about their mother raising her younger brother-in-law, and that the Five Cities Garrison was already helping him arrest people.

"Yes!"

The guards stepped forward and, without saying a word, began to beat Prince Sheng mercilessly.

Wang Ren, who rushed over, saw his father's nose bleeding profusely and tried to hide, but Jia Zhen had already seen him.

"Take down Wang Ren."

Jia Zhen was filled with murderous intent.

Doesn't Wang Shi value her maternal family?

Then we'll just have to endure it!
"If you make a fuss, slap yourself."

His mother said that if Wang Ren came out to stop them, they should hold him down and beat him a few more times.

"Brother Zhen, Brother Zhen, let's not get a divorce, let's not get a divorce."

Wang Ren readily begged for mercy.

But it's too late.

Papapapa
In a short while, his face swelled up like a pig's head.

……

At the meeting hall, Suo Jin heard the guard's report and cried out of his own stupidity.

As Tiebao and Voch entered, he roared at the guards, "Did I tell you to give me money to fuel the rumors, or did I tell you to identify yourselves?"

It's definitely not that he's stupid; it's that the guards are too stupid.

"Get out, all of you, get out of here! Each of you will receive thirty strokes of the military rod."

"..."

"..."

The two guards were stunned for a moment, and before they could say anything, Voch waved his hand and said, "Get out of here."

If the servants don't take the blame, then the masters should take it.

Woh was speechless. "Uncle Wang, this matter has become the talk of the town. We can't avoid it now. Prepare... the money!"

Suo Jin: "..."

Tie Bao: "..."

“The Jia family won’t let go of another chance to extort us, and the emperor of Dazhao will certainly be happy for them to do so.”

These days, he has been trying to brainwash his son, but the situation is beyond his control, and he has been brainwashed by his son little by little.

"Or we could be more straightforward and hand over all the wealth that our three banners had hidden back then to the Emperor of Dazhao, thus surrendering completely."

"Nonsense!"

Suo Jin was so angry that his hands trembled. "Something our ancestors risked their lives to obtain..."

"Uncle, don't worry!"

Tie Bao looked at Voch, "I heard the princess wrote to you, did she say anything?"

"Yes!"

Woh sighed. "The princess said that the Russians are using some missionaries to write letters to the Emperor of Da Zhao, and they may want to divide us and the various Tatar tribes."

For the sake of the children, she urged us to act decisively and fight the Russians for the emperor so that we could become officials in the Great Zhao Dynasty in the future.

To protect that land for the Great Zhao. (End of Chapter)