The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 300: A vagrant position
They both had broken legs, but neither was in mortal danger.

This was the first thing Shen Ning paid attention to.

The second thing...

But I never expected to hear about the conflict between Lord Left and Lord Right.

Does this mean that there are radical and conservative factions in the Japanese imperial court?
It's a good plan.

They've already planned out both the way forward and the way back.

The great Zhao dynasty was powerful because the conservatives had the upper hand in the court, and they were willing to sue for peace.

The Great Zhao Dynasty is barely powerful, but it cannot fight on multiple fronts. Therefore, the radical faction can gain the upper hand in the court and cause another Japanese pirate raid.

Even the conservative and radical factions could take turns in power, testing the waters in Jiangnan several times.

They can't possibly lose, right?

Shen Ning couldn't help but sneer, "Was Qi Zixiu there at the time?"

"Yes!"

Wasn't this something my mother specifically instructed me to do?
Jia Zhen didn't understand why his mother was suddenly asking this again, so he could only nod.

"Does he have sympathy for those Japanese people?"

what?
Jia Zhen thought for a moment, "Son...Son only paid attention to that guy named Kinda Shouji at the time, and didn't pay attention to Lord Qi."

"...Grandson only felt that Lord Qi was very dissatisfied with the fact that the Japanese had used torture on us before the interrogation."

When Shen Ning looked over, Rong Ge'er honestly said, "He's probably still dissatisfied because our family was assassinated, which has set back his career."

Ok?
Shen Ning asked urgently, "Was he stripped of his official position?"

"That's not true."

Because of the old man's attitude, Rong Ge'er had someone inquire about him and found out that "he had been demoted, and from the prosperous Jiangnan region to Luzhou Prefecture in Sichuan."

Shen Ning: "..."

"Mother, Lord Qi must be dissatisfied with our family, we..."

"We were assassinated in his territory, so why should he be dissatisfied with us?"

Shen Ning interrupted Jia Zhen, "Why isn't he dissatisfied with the assassins? He's cowardly before the battle even begins. Have someone investigate who he wrote letters to besides his self-defense memorial?"

"Yes!"

Seeing his mother's expression, Jia Zhen quickly and obediently went to do as he was told.

"Rong-ge'er, do you think the Emperor and Grandmother are harsh on Qi Zixiu?"

"no!"

Rong Ge'er shook his head. "Although the Japanese pirate raids in Da Zhao were not as severe as in the previous dynasty, they have always existed." He said, "The court has repeatedly ordered that those people be investigated, but they can still come to Xuzhou to assassinate our family. Obviously, the officials in charge of various parties have not used iron-fisted methods to investigate seriously."

The emperor's anger is justified.

The Japanese pirates have always existed because of the interests of certain people in Jiangnan.

Both the military and political authorities in Jiangnan have failed in their duties.

"Yes, they don't want to investigate, and they even want to avoid it."

Shen Ning sighed, "That's why the Japanese pirates have been causing trouble in our Great Zhao for so long."

Even in modern times.

Having experienced the desperate years of resistance against Japan as their predecessors, the spirit of ordinary people permeates every aspect of life in China.

There will always be some people who, for their own benefit, protect and safeguard their lives.

"Forget about those people, let's not talk about them anymore. Let's leave as soon as your father gets back!"

Leave early, come back early.

"Yes!"

When Rong-ge saw that his grandmother's things were all packed up, he said, "Then I'll go call a car."

Shen Ning waved her hand, telling him to leave.

It takes a hundred days to recover from a broken bone. The three people in the prison can no longer escape on their own, at least not now.

Someone will save you...

Shen Ning hoped that someone would actually come to rescue them.

Only by rescuing them will the emperor pay more attention to the problems of Japanese pirates and officials in Jiangnan.
Shen Ning drank the last sip of tea and opened her arms to catch her daughter, who was staggering towards her.

At the yamen gate, Qi Zixiu stood with a blank face, watching the Jia family's extra-long convoy quickly disappear into the distance, escorted by elite soldiers, guards, and bodyguards.

“My lord,” the clerk stood beside him, “that glance Madam Shen gave when she got into the carriage just now… something felt off to me.”

Wasn't Madam Shen said to be a scholar?
The adults suffered an undeserved calamity, yet instead of offering sympathy or a kind word, they looked at the adults with cold, suspicious, and scrutinizing eyes as they left. For some reason, the clerk felt a chill run down his spine.

"Could it be that she really blames our failure to protect her for being assassinated by the Japanese pirates?"

That's too much.

"..."

Qi Zixiu narrowed his eyes but did not speak.

There are too many people and too much gossip outside.

Although he had been managing affairs in Xuzhou for several years and had a good reputation as an official, Shen, through his own efforts in the capital, used various means to force the Jurchens to abandon their country and honestly hand over most of the wealth that had been looted from the Central Plains... This alone made him famous throughout the court and the country.

Speaking ill of the Shen family here...

Qi Zixiu isn't that stupid.

Although he admired her somewhat, he could not fully acknowledge her so-called contributions.

The Jurchens were already at their last gasp.

Even without the Shen family, if one ultimately wants to gain the protection of the Great Zhao, one will still have to pay the dues.

It's a pity that the officials and teachers in the court are all too gentlemanly, unlike Shen, who acted like a shrew, thus allowing her to gain such great merit for nothing.

This woman... she must have some tricks up her sleeve.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have earned the reputation of being a shrew.

But the main reason she was able to intimidate Suo Jin and his people was that Da Zhao's six-shot revolving muskets did indeed overwhelm the Russians.

Qi Zixiu sighed inwardly.

No, he still has to write to his teacher. This woman is very unreasonable. She can be angry with him because of the Japanese pirates' assassination attempt, and she can be angry with his teacher because of him.

To strike first is to be strong, but to strike later is to suffer disaster.

He turned back quickly and went to grind the ink.

At this time, Qi Zixiu's mother and wife also knew about his demotion and were returning from the other courtyard in grief and anger.

Their carriages met the Jia family's caravan at the other street corner.

They clearly have no connection with the Qi family, but in order to make this Madam Shen happy and safe, they gave up their house. Why don't they care about any past ties?
When the Qi family's carriage was given way, Old Madam Qi and Madam Qi quickly got out of the carriage and whispered a few words to the steward.

Before long, the horse that Qi was pulling, carrying many chests and crates, got spooked. Although the horseman was pulling fast, the chests and crates fell to the ground.

The Jia family's convoy naturally came to a stop.

"Please, Madam, have mercy!"

Old Madam Qi, without needing anyone's help, shakily leaned on her cane as she approached Shen Ning's carriage. "My son has been diligent and conscientious in his post in Xuzhou. The matter of the Japanese pirates has nothing to do with him. I implore Madam and Lord Jia to submit a memorial to the throne and plead his case!"

As the old lady spoke, she promptly knelt down, pleading, "Please have mercy, Madam! Please have mercy, Lord Jia! My son is innocent!"

In the capital, weren't Lady Shen and Jia Zhen also assassinated?
Flies don't stare at seamless eggs.

Why would someone assassinate your family instead of others?

"Please, madam, have mercy!"

As she spoke, the old woman crawled forward on her knees.

The soldiers and guards on either side were momentarily at a loss as to how to stop it. While looking at the carriage, they also looked at Jia Zhen standing next to it.

Jia Zhen frowned, and was about to wave someone to help the old woman away when she burst into loud sobs again, "Please, Madam, have mercy! Please, Lord Jia, have mercy! The two of you were assassinated by the Japanese pirates, and my entire Qi family is deeply saddened by this. We moved house overnight because of this..."

"The Japanese pirates were rampant in Jiangnan, does the old lady think that's normal?"

Shen Ning lifted the car curtain and gestured to Xiao Dong and Xiao Nan, who were coming from the car behind, to help her up.

Old Madam Qi didn't want to get up, but the two young girls were incredibly strong. "Lord Qi is guarding this region for the Emperor. The Japanese pirates are under his jurisdiction, and Lady Chaoben was so well-prepared to take action. Do you think that's normal?" Shen Ning's voice was extremely cold. "If all officials in Jiangnan were as diligent as Lord Qi, then one can imagine what kind of lives the people of Jiangnan are living. They live on our own territory in Dazhao, and their lives are constantly threatened by the Japanese pirates. What kind of officials are they then?"

At this point, her eyes sharpened. "Guards, drag him out and ask Qi Zixiu whether he is truly dedicated or just occupying a position without doing his job."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Qi Youding and several of his guards rushed out, grabbed the old woman, and dragged her away.

The road ahead was now clear, and as Shen Ning flung down the curtain, the carriage quickly started moving again.

Old Mrs. Qi didn't expect that she wouldn't give her a chance to speak at all.

How could her son be a deadbeat?
The old lady wanted to curse, but she was too angry.

Having lived a life of luxury for many years, she had always been fawned over in the local area since her son requested that she be granted an imperial title. She had never suffered such humiliation before, and she fainted on the spot.

But the old lady fainting doesn't mean Shen Ning's questioning is over.

Qi Youding and several others stormed into the government office and relentlessly hurled her words at Qi Zixiu.

Qi Zixiu wanted to refute, to say that they were also assassinated in the capital, and that the people had their eyes on them and would harm others no matter where they went.

But he couldn't say these things so openly, even though everyone knew them.

It is true that he was negligent and derelict in his duty to assassinate a first-rank imperial lady in his own territory, but Qi Zixiu genuinely felt that his actions were understandable!
He couldn't understand why Madam Shen, who was also a scholar, had no empathy whatsoever.

They also vented all their anger towards the Japanese pirates on him.

How innocent he is!

Is it wrong for his mother to stand up for him?

How much effort did he put in to get to this point?

His smooth career came to an abrupt end because of this assassination attempt.

If the Shen and Jia families had any conscience at all, they should have said a word for him!
Qi Zixiu was so angry that his face turned red and his neck bulged, but Qi Youding and the others didn't have time to listen to his nonsense; they still had to catch their boat.

When he couldn't fart, the group turned and left.

Qi Zixiu wanted to call for help, but his vision blurred with anger.

Besides, what could he possibly say to a few servants?
His mother stopped the carriage in the street, wanting the whole world to know his grievances, but after being questioned repeatedly by Madam Shen, he...

Qi Zixiu collapsed to the ground.

Only then did the people of Xuzhou Prefecture learn that he had been demoted.

So, it turns out, they definitely wanted to sympathize.

But Madam Shen's words weren't entirely without merit!
She, a first-rank imperial lady, could be assassinated on her own turf. If ordinary people like them were to do something that offended the Japanese pirates, the consequences would be predictable.

In Jiangnan, there are many cases of people dying mysteriously, and even entire families being wiped out. I've heard that many of these deaths are the work of Japanese pirates.

That's not the most important thing. The most important thing is, was it wrong to deal with the Japanese pirates?
The Japanese pirates assassinated Madam Shen, so Madam Shen must have done something to frighten them.

Otherwise, why would the Emperor send so many people to protect him?
So Qi Zixiu drank the medicine, and none of the gentry who were supposed to come and greet him came.

At this moment, Shen Ning had already boarded the large ship bound for Jinling again.

Xuzhou is not far from Nanjing.

"Zhen'er, have you written a letter saying that everything is alright at home?"

"Written by my son the day before yesterday."

Jia Zhen was also worried about Lady You.

He hadn't written home beforehand, and no one in the household knew if they had heard about the assassination attempt, or if they had, whether they had kept the news from Lady You.

But no matter how much they try to block it, once the emperor does this, those in official circles who need to know will probably already know.

Jia Zhen only hoped that when he could no longer keep it a secret at home, his letter would arrive in time.

"Did you say anything to your Uncle She?"

"without!"

Jia Zhen actually wanted his uncle to help him vent his anger.

But his mother wouldn't allow it, and coupled with Wang's previous rumors, he forced himself to endure it.

"..."

Shen Ning glanced at him and couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "The breeze here is quite nice, you should stay here and enjoy it."

This son has truly wasted his reputation as a troublemaker.

She flicked her sleeves, turned and left, leaving Jia Zhen completely bewildered.

The wind is nice, but the spring wind is pungent, and if you're not careful, you can get sick. How can Mother let him blow on it?

……

Capital, Rongguo Mansion.

After several busy days, Jia She finally breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the letters from Tianjin and Tongzhou.

He has already made the necessary arrangements.

Next, we'll see when the Japanese delegation arrives in Beijing.

"master!"

Lin Zhixiao came over beaming, "Guess who's here?"

Jia She: "..."

Lately, he's the one visiting others. Who's visiting him?

But seeing how happy Lin Zhixiao is...

"Is that Cheng Luo?"

A son-in-law and half a son.

Although Cheng Luo is not his biological son-in-law, he is almost the same as his biological son-in-law.

Even if he only holds a title and doesn't actually hold any official position.

But having him with me is different from not having him with me.

"No, it's Jin Muchuan, Lord Jin. Lord Jin who used to serve the Old Master of the East Mansion and Master Jing."

he?
Jia She immediately stood up. "Where is he? Please come in quickly!"

"Hahaha~"

Jin Muchuan entered his outer study with a loud laugh, "Master She, how have you been!"

The Jia family has been on a downward spiral.

Jin Muchuan had long since given up on his plans for promotion.

Even if he doesn't get promoted, he won't lose out.

He was originally just a common soldier.

Without the old master and Master Jing, he is nothing.

He cherished this affection, only regretting that he was too far from the capital.

When he heard the news of Jia Jing's death, he locked himself in his room for a day and a night.

He personally made a memorial tablet and placed it together with the old man's, so that the old man could offer incense and prayers to him. But unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better, and he returned to the capital.

The Emperor summoned him urgently, but he lingered in Jinling for two days, personally visiting his grandfather's grave to pay his respects. It was only then that he encountered Jia Zhen on the way, and in his haste, he was unable to pay his respects to Madam Shen.

"Is it really you? Little Gold?"

Jia She was so happy he almost jumped for joy, "When did you return? Were you in the capital to report on your duties or...?"

"I have been in Beijing for three days and am now in the Beijing Garrison."

"Jingying?"

Jia She patted his shoulder hard. "Alright, alright, that's your old haunt."

This guy rose through the ranks from a lowly soldier; every veteran in the Beijing garrison knew him.

Even newcomers have heard of his legend.

"It's the usual place."

Jin Muchuan laughed, "I have some connections with the generals around the capital. I heard that Master She is going to do something big. How about I join them?"