The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 308 Daughter of an Old Friend
How to do?
How does he know what to do?
Ichiro Ishii's face was grim. With all his schemes, he couldn't possibly escape Tianjin, let alone this prison.

The only people they could interact with daily, besides prisoners, were the nine yamen runners on duty.

They spent countless sums of money trying to get them to pass on a message to Yu Zhijian, but to this day, they still don't know if the message has actually reached him.

They were finally allowed to go to court, but one of them was given ten strokes of the cane first.

The charge was fighting in jail.

Is that what they want to fight?

It was clearly three burly men who wanted to beat them up.

But the man surnamed Yu ignored him and directly ruled it a case of mutual fighting.

After ten strokes of the cane, they were all like dead dogs, and were taken to court separately.

It wasn't until that day that Ichiro Ishii learned that Shoji Kaneda and his team's operation had failed.

Not only did they fail, but they also implicated all their clansmen in Dazhao.

Ichiro Ishii was confident that as long as he could confront Shoji Kaneda face to face, he would not implicate their delegation.

However, all that bastard brought over from Xuzhou was a confession.

It's too easy to forge a confession.

Moreover, there was more than just Shoji Kaneda's testimony there.

Ishii remained defiant and stood his ground against Yu Zhijian, refusing to admit any connection with Kaneda Shoji. However, in the blink of an eye, one of his servants, unable to withstand the intimidation, was tricked by Yu Zhijian's words and said some things he shouldn't have.

Ishii was going crazy. He finally managed to persuade him to recant his testimony, but unexpectedly, the servant died overnight.

By the time he realized it, his body was already stiff.

Ishii suspected that it was the work of the three burly men who had been bullying them in prison.

But there is no evidence.

When he told his attendants to recant his testimony, he used Japanese, which they shouldn't have been able to understand.

The servant's death made Ishii suspect that there was someone in the prison who could understand their language and command the three burly men.

"grown ups……"

Tomoko Mizuno was still pleading.

If he had known it would be so difficult to get out, he would have preferred to stay in prison.

Seeing his expression, Ishii gritted his teeth and ultimately didn't reveal all his cards to him.

Shoji Kaneda has implicated many people.

Their previous arrangements in Dazhao had already alerted the Dazhao authorities due to his carelessness.

Does Yu Zhijian really know nothing about Mizuno Tomosuke?

perhaps……

He was merely the thread he released.

"Once Lord Yu says so, you should go to the capital and find the Rakshasa delegation!"

what?
Tomoko Mizuno was stunned.

Who does the Rakshasa delegation know him to?

They all look down on themselves, and even when they see adults, they ignore them completely.

he……

"If we can save them, we will; if we can't... as long as you've tried your best, leave everything else to fate!"

"……Yes!"

Mizuno Tomoko finally felt a little relieved. "I will do my best."

He did indeed go to find Yu Zhijian.

As Yu Zhijian had guessed, he said that he was only the local official of Tianjin, and whether Japan sent another delegation or whether the Emperor informed Japan of the delegation's situation was none of his business. He was only responsible for his own people.

Helpless, Mizuno Tomohide took half of the silver the mysterious man had given him and gave it to a smarter boatman, asking him to occasionally go to the prison and bring some silver to the adults to improve their meals.

He hired a carriage and headed straight for the capital.

At this time, the Japanese hiding around the capital were already aware of the mission's situation.

But there was nothing they could do.

Because of the assassination attempt in Xuzhou, the Zhao government is now investigating them very thoroughly.

Everyone who was slow to act was imprisoned.

Moreover, many others in the martial arts world are also searching for them.

Those people were chanting the slogan, "The greatest heroes are those who serve their country and its people!"

Pooh!
I wonder how many Japanese people secretly spit out that phrase.

But what's most infuriating is that this so-called Jin Yong is connected to the Ningguo Mansion.

Everyone knows that he wrote "The Legend of the Condor Heroes", but he is elusive and his books were printed with the help of Madam Shen from Ningguo Mansion.

It is said that many people in the capital want to find this great master Jin, but no one dares to ask her directly.

now……

All we can do is bide our time and wait for the right opportunity.

April 17th, Jinling.

Early in the morning, a queue formed in front of Attorney Li's stall, where he specializes in writing legal documents.

This has completely stumped him.

This is a place for people to write legal complaints, not a place to write letters!

"Sir, this is where you write your complaint. Who do you want to sue?"

In this city of Jinling, there are some people who cannot be sued.

Attorney Li needs to find out the details first, otherwise even if the old man gets the petition, it won't be of any use, and he might even get beaten up.

"The old man wants to sue Prince Qi."

"Wang Ziqi? Is he a member of the Wang family of Jinling?"

If a name contains the characters for "son" and "moon," then it must belong to the same generation as Wang Zipeng.

The Wang family has been having a run of bad luck lately; Wang Zipeng has been imprisoned.

Given that the Wang family's direct descendants were completely suppressed by the Jia family, Attorney Li felt he could make some money from this.

As the saying goes, when a wall falls, everyone pushes it down. The Wang family's actions are arguably the most domineering among the four great families. If possible, he would be willing to be one of those who push the wall down.

Unlike some who believe there is still a chance for Wang Zipeng's case to turn around, Attorney Li, who specializes in this field, thinks it is impossible.

Madam Shen of Ningguo Mansion was a woman who did not tolerate any wrongdoing, and there was no room for negotiation between the Wang and Jia families.

If he hadn't taken Wang Zipeng's money, fine, but he did...

Even if Jia Zhen is a blockhead, he wouldn't go against his mother when it comes to the Wang family's affairs.

Moreover, he is a filial son.

Not far from the group, he saw Master Xing of the Jia family and suddenly understood.

"Yes, yes, they are members of the Wang family of Dongcheng."

When Attorney Li was looking at Xing'er, the old man also gave Xing'er a particularly ingratiating smile.

"Go, bring a few benches."

Xing'er grinned, showing off his big white teeth, and said to the people around him, "Everyone, just sit and wait in line. It's fine, we have plenty of time."

Today's target is the Wang family.

The old man was adamant that he would suppress the Wang family first.

"Come on, we can also write legal documents here."

After shouting to the crowd in line, he turned to Attorney Li and said, "Attorney Li, how about this? We'll help you write it, and you can help us check it. If there are any mistakes, you can point them out on the spot. You can keep the money for writing the petition. We'll do a good deed every day."

"Of course, of course, I wouldn't dare!"

Since everyone talks about doing one good deed a day, let him do one good deed a day too!

Attorney Li believed that he wouldn't lose out by helping the Jia family.

Not long afterward, one petition after another was brought to the government office by the aggrieved parties.

All of them were lawsuits against the Wang family.

From encroaching on other people's land to abducting other people's wives and daughters, forging documents, and falsely accusing others, almost all of the Wang family patriarchs were brought to justice.

Prefect Chen was sweating profusely. He knew the Jia family was about to make a big move, but he hadn't expected it to be this big.

But they won't answer...

He glanced at the Jia family stewards outside the yamen, who seemed to be watching the commotion, gritted his teeth, and stamped his foot, "Men, arrest Wang Ziqi immediately!"

The victim has a complaint and evidence; nothing else matters.

……

In the government prison, Wang Zipeng, dressed in prison clothes, paced back and forth anxiously.

The only one who could save him was his cousin, Wang Ziteng.

But he was still fighting in Annam.

Don't say that distant water can't quench immediate thirst. Even if it could, would my cousin be willing to go against that Shen family again because of him?

Wang Zipeng didn't care much about Jia Zhen. Even though he had been promoted last year, a playboy is still a playboy. The fact that he was able to discover something was wrong with the Beijing Garrison so quickly and report it to the Emperor was most likely due to Shen's guidance.

Without the Shen family, Jia Zhen would be nothing.

The Emperor sent elite troops to escort him. Was it Jia Zhen who was escorting him?
Bah, it's that woman from the Shen family.

She was able to have a baby last year...

Thinking of how Lady Shen had kept Jia Jing under her thumb her whole life, and recalling her cousin's words about her affair with her brother-in-law, Wang Zipeng couldn't help but wonder if her relationship with the Emperor... was also somewhat ambiguous.

Judging from the various messages coming from the capital, Wang Zipeng admitted that she had some ability, but no matter how capable a woman is, she can only stay in the inner quarters. It would be impossible for her to rise to the forefront without the support of a man.

bang~
Wang Zipeng slammed his fist into the wooden railing.

His fist hurt, but not as much as his headache.

This woman is always relentless when she's in the right; once she's subdued, she'll definitely press her advantage.

"Wang An!"

"master……"

In the next cell, the head steward, who was also imprisoned with him, was very uneasy seeing his master pacing back and forth like this.

Upon hearing this, he hurriedly knelt down through the prison door.

"Over the years, haven't I treated you well, sir?"

Wang An: "..."

He began to understand what their master meant.

He... he's going to take the blame for everything.

“The master treated me like his second parents.”

The whole family is here.

If he doesn't admit it, the master will fall, and the whole family will be doomed.

Wang An lowered his head. "Whatever decision you make, sir, I... I will obey you."

"...Let's write a letter in blood!"

Wang Zipeng sighed deeply, "I recognize you as my brother. From now on, your children will be my nephews and nieces."

"Yes!"

He won't live to see tomorrow.

Wang An's body felt weak, and he knelt down, leaning on the railing. "Master, please be well."

After kowtowing, he trembled as he lifted his prison uniform, tore a large piece of cloth from his undergarment, bit his fingertip hard, and began to write his confession.

But just then, a sound of "ouch, ouch" came from the prison gate, followed by the sound of chains and dragging footsteps getting closer and closer.

bang~
"Just be patient."

A man who had been beaten half to death was thrown in.

"Ouch~~"

Prince Qi's buttocks were bruised and battered, and the fall made his whole body tremble with pain.

"Ziqi..."

Wang Zipeng could hardly believe it. "You... how did you get here?"

"Fourth Brother~"

When Wang Ziqi saw his cousin, tears streamed down his face. "The Wang family is finished."

The Shen family is so cruel!

Over the generations, the number of daughters from the Wang family who married into the Jia family was too many to count on one hand.

But she can turn on you in an instant.

"what happened?"

"Waaah, the Jia family has even mobilized its peasants! Ziyou and Ziwang have been arrested! Prefect Chen has turned his back on us!"

what?
Wang Zipeng's vision went black.

He thought it was just him.

He helped the Japanese, he worked tirelessly for them, but unexpectedly...

"Guards! Guards! I want to see Chen Zan! I want to see Chen Zan! I want to see Jia Zhen! Guards! Guards!"

But now, who cares about him?
Prefect Chen is extremely busy right now.

All the yamen runners in the mansion were extremely busy.

Before long, more members of the Wang family and their stewards will be arrested and brought in.

The Wang family's sky has collapsed today.

Imprisoned deeper inside, on the verge of death, Ito Rui and the others felt a chill run down their spines upon hearing the shouts and cries outside.

The Wang family has fallen, what will happen to them...?
Did the mission know they were suffering?

Even if they knew this and were willing to send people to rescue them, their clansmen would probably have been imprisoned in the prefectures and counties along the canal.

How long will it take to get the people from one family to another to Nanjing?

Can they afford to wait?
Ito Rui's heart sank, and she felt even colder, and her buttocks hurt even more.

They were paraded in shackles for three days. Although they would be sent back in the evening, only they knew how painful it was to stand there all day.

Even if a doctor treats you and applies medicine at night, what's the use if you can't get any rest?

As Ito Rui gasped for breath, trying to figure out his own course of action, the women of the Wang family had already fled to their respective maternal homes, each weeping.

The bolder ones went straight to the Ningguo Mansion, kneeling outside the gate and begging Shen Ning to show mercy.

Please, Jia family, consider that we are all related by marriage and do not go so far as to kill us all.

But how far is it from the main gate to the courtyard where Shen Ning is?

She couldn't hear anything at all.

At this moment, the mother and daughter were boating on the lotus pond. Shen Ning picked a lotus leaf and placed it on her daughter's head.

"Giggle~~"

Jia Yue was incredibly happy.

Shen Ning was also very happy. She found a lotus leaf and covered her head with it to shield herself from the sun.

"Wait a minute, wait until it gets warmer, then Mom will teach you how to swim."

What else should kids do if they don't play?

If you're going to have fun, you should.

In this life, apart from childhood, when we can be happy, the rest of the time...

"Once you learn to swim, we'll go to the hot spring resort in winter."

She wanted to go last year, but unfortunately she couldn't because of her life.

This year……

Shen Ning felt that if she worked for a few more months and drove away most of the Japanese who needed to be driven away, then everything would be fine.

After all, the emperor's family already held absolute power in the capital.

"Zhuang~"

Jia Yue can't speak much yet; most of the time, she just utters one word at a time.

"Zhuangzi!"

Shen Ning taught her daughter with a smile.

In the pavilion not far away, Rong-ge'er was still reciting his lessons.

However, I've almost finished memorizing it.

Just then, Xiaoxi came running from a distance, "Madam!"

She called out from the shore, "Madam, we've found the girl you're looking for."

what?
Shen Ning was initially a little confused, but after realizing what was going on, she quickly said, "Let's get to shore quickly."

At this moment, Zhen Yinglian, who was waiting at the back door, tugged at the hem of her clothes, still looking frightened as she gazed at the grand gate and courtyard.

She knew that the so-called father was not her biological father.

But having been abducted at the age of three, she can't remember where her home is.

At first, she tried hard to remember, but after being hit repeatedly, she fell ill several times, and gradually, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't remember anymore.

Today I'm going to the alleyway to buy wine for my 'father'.

It's just a few steps away.

Unexpectedly, someone pulled her aside and said she was the daughter of their wife's old friend.

Zhen Yinglian was terrified.

With just a few tugs, 'Dad' was brought out.

Before, it was her father who beat her; today, it's him who's being beaten by someone else.

I was very happy, but also very nervous.

She doesn't remember her home, her parents... are her parents alright?