The head of the Red Mansion

On Ningrong Street, Marquis Baoling Shi Nai, mounted on his horse, looked back at the plaque that read "Imperial Decree to Build Rongguo Mansion" and snorted heavily under his nose.

My aunt has always been biased; she favored my eldest brother at first, and later my third brother.

Now, all she asked was for her to restrain Shen and Jia Zhen, but instead she scolded him.

snort!
Shi Nai snorted heavily in his heart again before whipping the horse's rump hard.

He left, but Grandmother Jia was not at peace.

My second nephew is very stubborn.

He probably couldn't understand her advice.

If someone were to stubbornly confront the Shen family, it would be strange if the Shen family spared him.

Grandmother Jia was in a real bind; she couldn't just abandon her own family!
She deeply understood how important a prosperous maternal family was to a married woman.

In those years, the Jia family declined, and her maternal family was far less prosperous than the Wang family, which allowed Wang to gradually take the lead in the household.

"Yuanyang, have Granny Lai come over here."

what?
Now?

Yuanyang glanced at the sky outside, wanting to offer some advice, perhaps asking Granny Lai to come again tomorrow, but the old lady's expression...

If we don't call Granny Lai over, the old lady will be worried and probably won't get a sleepless night.

"Yes!"

She gave Amber a wink, and Amber quickly withdrew.

Granny Lai also had relatives in the Shi family. Although she hoped that Marquis Baoling, Shi Nai, could rise to power and overthrow Madam Shen and Jia Zhen, she knew in her heart that it was impossible.

Shi Nai was not a capable person.

He's a bully at home, cowardly, and obsessed with saving face.

Someone like him wouldn't stand a chance against Shen Shi, let alone Jia Zhen.

For the sake of her family's stability, Granny Lai, like Grandmother Jia, had no choice but to protect Shi Nai.

So the two talked until midnight, and early the next morning, she went to the Shi family's house.

Shi Nai said it was easy to deal with, and that if the people around him coaxed him and explained the pros and cons, and talked more about the advantages and disadvantages of the Shen family, he would eventually change his mind under the influence of his fear of difficulties.

In fact, it does.

He was afraid that if he swallowed his pride and pleaded for them, he would be slapped to the ground by Shen Ning and Jia Zhen.

He picked up the title of Lord of Bowling from his older brother, and for this position, he turned against his own brother.

Unfortunately, his younger brother Shi Ding obtained the title of Marquis Zhongjing through his own efforts.

This further proves that the person who chose the younger brother was right.

Behind the scenes, Shi Nai was both angry and resentful, so he became even more concerned about his reputation. Otherwise, he wouldn't have gone to the Jia family at night to ask the old lady to intervene.

Not long after Granny Lai left, the madam, the concubine, the steward, and the attendants all tried to persuade her...

Everyone felt it wasn't worth turning against the Ningguo Mansion for a bunch of brainless relatives, only to be hated by them in the end.

Shi Nai sent a bland letter to Jiangnan, reprimanding his clansmen, and then nothing more.

On the Wang family's side, Wang Zisheng was unusually frightened by the fact that the entire Wang family line in his hometown of Jinling had fallen.

His brother, Wang Ziteng, isn't home. What can he do?
He doesn't even dare to look for women outside anymore; he really lives a quiet life behind closed doors.

As for the Xue family...

Aunt Xue was very sad.

The Wang family is the bride's family, and the Xue family is the husband's family.

Her husband is gone, and her relatives are eyeing her and her child with hostility. What can she do without relying on her family?
I never expected that my family would be the same way.

Aunt Xue sighed.

She never expected that Wang Zipeng would fall so quickly.

I wonder if this will drag down my older brother Wang Ziteng's side.

For several days in a row, Aunt Xue couldn't eat or sleep well.

"mom!"

Xue Baochai endured it for two days, but finally couldn't hold back any longer. "Is there something troubling you that you're hiding from me and my brother?"

My mother usually consults with her about things.

But she waited and waited, and her mother never came looking for her. Instead, she became even more distressed.

“We’ve grown up now. If you have any problems, just tell us and we’ll figure something out together.”

Her brother is doing quite well now.

The Jia family's school was very strict, and her brother was afraid that he would still be at the bottom of the class in elementary school, so he would do his homework diligently every day when he came home, and he would ask her if he didn't understand something.

Baochai was quite pleased with this.

"Ah~"

Aunt Xue sighed, "It's all because of your uncle's family."

She couldn't very well tell her daughter that her uncle's family had undermined the Xue family's business, and then they were sued by their relatives and won the case.

"Didn't the entire Dong family, except for Madam You, escort the coffin back to their hometown?"

Aunt Xue could only tell her daughter, "Several of your uncles in your hometown have some connections with the Japanese. They wanted to plead for the Japanese, but Madam Shen and Uncle Zhen were furious and found some of their past wrongdoings to report to the authorities. Now they have all been imprisoned."

what?
Baochai paused.

She glanced at the box where her mother usually kept letters and said, "Mom, the imperial court is investigating the Japanese."

If you're looking to die, don't drag her family down with you.

“Unless it involves matters of principle, Mrs. Shen is generally not one to hold a grudge.”

She was afraid her mother would get involved too.

“Since we came to Beijing, we have been relying on Cousin Feng and Cousin Zhu.”

Fortunately, one of them was the matriarch of the first wife's family, and the other was the eldest son of the second wife's family; both were highly regarded by the old lady and Madam Shen.

"Are their ties with their maternal uncle's family shallow?"

It's said to be my uncle's house, but actually...

Baochai lowered her eyes. She knew that those uncles seemed nice, but in reality, they had always been eyeing her family like a fat sheep.

Before, her father was gone, her brother was useless, and she hadn't grown up yet; now...

"But look at how they interact with your uncle's family!"

Now the whole family depends on this place, and her brother has become more ambitious. Even the shopkeepers outside who used to be outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant have become more obedient because of the Jia family. Baochai felt that her mother should make the same choice as them.

"Mom, we can't and shouldn't interfere in our uncle's family's affairs."

Baochai held her mother's hand and said, "The whole East Mansion was assassinated in Xuzhou Prefecture. Many people died. Think about it, if you were Madam Shen, wouldn't you hate them?"

My most important children, grandchildren, and daughter are all by my side. If anything happens to any of them, it will be a hurdle I can never get over.

"This is something that crosses her bottom line. Anyone who crosses her bottom line will only face a storm."

Not only the Wang family and the Xue family are like this, but the Jia family is the same.

"...Mom knows, Mom didn't do anything."

Seeing the fear in her daughter's eyes, Aunt Xue finally offered a word of comfort.

To her, her two children were her very heart and soul.

Everyone else... has to give way to these two children.

It's far better to rely on the Jia family than on those cannibalistic maternal and paternal families.

Aunt Xue sighed, "Don't worry, Mom isn't senile yet."

Her son studied at the Jia family school, and her daughter also studied with the Jia family's girls.

If her husband knew that their children would have such good fortune, he would rest in peace.

"Don't tell your brother about this."

My son is like a firecracker, he'll ignite at the slightest provocation.

"...Mom, do you know how Madam Shen educates Rong-ge'er?" Baochai felt that her mother had done everything for her brother, so he would never make any progress in his life.

“I would talk to him about everything and let him analyze it first before pointing out the pros and cons.”

This is how a great family teaches its children.

Influenced by her mother, Baochai always believed that everything a woman has ultimately depends on a man for its existence.

But Madam Shen showed her another way of life.

Compared to her mother, who could only see the backyard and schemed her whole life in it, Baochai felt that the way of life that Madam Shen led was what she wanted.

She was arrogant and thought she was better than her brother in every way, but all along, she had followed her mother's example, only daring to hint at her brother's advice...

Baochai felt sorry for herself because of that.

I also grieve for my brother and for my mother.

"And that's how Third Aunt taught Sister Mei and Brother Bai."

Baochai hoped her mother could change her parenting style.

As it turned out, the mother was wrong.

"We can learn from how Fourth Aunt taught Daiyu and Chang'an."

No one spoils her brother so much that he becomes arrogant and ignorant, like her mother did.

Unfortunately, their family didn't have the power to do that; they couldn't even do that in Jinling, let alone in the capital city where powerful and wealthy people gathered.

"Whenever they have a problem, they first let the boys try to solve it. If they can't solve it, then they discuss it together."

Aunt Xue: "..."

She looked at her daughter, her mouth slightly open, unsure of what to say.

In this life, she only had these two children, and she devoted herself entirely to them...

Now my daughter is saying she was wrong?
Is she wrong?

Sometimes, she couldn't help but feel regret. Pan'er wasn't as good as other people's children, but what did other people's children have to do with her?
She wanted to give Pan'er the best, she wanted to take care of everything for him... but was that wrong?
She heard that Min Jianbai, at a young age, had traveled all the way from Yansui to Beijing for his mother, even becoming a beggar. She thought the child was good, but she felt more that Jia Wen was useless.

She has a good family to rely on but doesn't know how to use it.

When she found out she couldn't use it, she just sighed a few times in her heart.

Aunt Xue was more relieved that her family didn't have to go through that, as Min Jianbai was working hard to support his family while attending school.

But now...

Aunt Xue dreamed of having a son like Min Jianbai. If her Pan'er were like him, she would have nothing to worry about.

As for Lin Chang'an, his whole family are scholars. His father was a former third-place scholar in the imperial examinations, and Jia Min was a recognized talented woman back then.

Aunt Xue never thought of comparing herself to their family.

But my daughter's heart... seems to have grown bigger!

"Let Mom think about it carefully."

Aunt Xue couldn't bear to scold her daughter either.

Her daughter is both beautiful and talented, no less so than any of the young ladies in the Duke's mansion.

She ruined her daughter's life.

"Let's talk about it when your brother gets back!"

Under her daughter's earnest gaze, Aunt Xue chose to temporarily escape.

The daughter was always considerate; when Pan'er returned, she pretended to have forgotten about it, and everything was fine.

"……it is good!"

Faced with her mother's evasive gaze, Baochai could only sigh inwardly.

Fortunately, their family didn't get involved in their uncle's family's affairs.

That's all she can tell herself now.

……

In Shuntian Prefecture, Dong Xiaoquan looked at Mizuno Tomoko, who had died a gruesome death below the hall, and didn't know whether to feel relieved or what.

Prefect Yu of Tianjin had already informed him of this man's situation.

Yesterday, he was beaten up by the Russians and kicked out of the meeting hall, but unexpectedly today...

"Sir, the deceased was also struck by a hidden Heart-Slaying Palm!"

Chief Constable Lu was also speechless. "Just like the Japanese from the other day, if I'm not mistaken, they all died at the hands of Heart-Summoning Li."

That guy is a江湖人 (jianghu person, someone who lives in the martial arts world) and likes to call himself a great hero.

Nowadays, influenced by "The Legend of the Condor Heroes," people say that the greatest heroes are those who serve their country and its people...

The Japanese around the capital city were often intercepted by these江湖人士 (jianghu figures) just as the Japanese had set their sights on them.

"This injury..."

Dong Xiaoquan pressed Mizuno Tomoko's chest. "I can't tell!" All he could see were the marks from a wide leather belt. "Was this done by Admiral Iris Roberts of the Russian delegation?"

"……Yes!"

Chief Constable Lu suspected that his superiors were up to no good. "I misjudged them before. I'll go to the meeting hall to summon that general named Iris."

"go Go!"

A group of people from the Ministry of Rites have been getting really annoyed by the Russians lately!
Since they were all serving in the same court, Dong Xiaoquan decided to lend them a helping hand from the sidelines.

"Call over all the Rakshasa who attacked Mizuno Tomohide and let them identify the body first."

The proper course of action would be to divert their attention and have the Ministry of Rites, in accordance with the Emperor's wishes, implement the Great Zhao Code and the Great Proclamation in various academies as soon as possible.

"Yes!"

When Chief Constable Lu came out, he waved to his men, and a large group of them marched towards the meeting hall.

……

Jinling!

Shen Ning has been living a particularly pleasant life lately.

When she first read Dream of the Red Chamber, she thought that Grandmother Jia was obsessed with good looks, and while she admired her, she also felt a bit contempt for her.

Now it's her turn...

Shen Ning thought it was really great to be a looks-obsessed person.

The lotus is growing so well.

Just like when she was with Daiyu, she could eat half a bowl more when they ate together.

Poor thing, she was pregnant with Jia Yue when she transmigrated, and she was afraid of having a difficult childbirth. Even when faced with the delicacies of the Dream of the Red Chamber, she didn't dare to indulge herself and eat to her heart's content. She restrained herself and so on, which is why her appetite was only so big. Later, after several illnesses, her appetite became even smaller.

Shen Ning didn't want to die young, so she tried her best to make changes, but to no avail.

But now, facing Xianglian, she really ate half a bowl more rice!
"This stir-fried water bamboo is quite good, you should try some more."

Water bamboo shoots are as white as jade and as delicate as silk, which is Shen Ning's latest favorite.

Whether stir-fried or stewed, it retains its original sweetness and crispness.

Aunt Li's cooking skills are impeccable. When stir-fried, the fragrance of water bamboo intertwines with the spiciness of minced garlic, simple yet flavorful; when stewed, it absorbs the essence of the broth, becoming soft, tender, and flavorful, making every bite a source of pure bliss.

Of course, its deliciousness lies not only in its rich and varied taste, but also in its ability to harmonize with a variety of ingredients. Whether paired with meat or vegetarian food, it can showcase different layers of flavor.

"Yes, Auntie, you should eat too!"

Xianglian smiled sweetly at her, "At worst, I'll accompany you for a longer walk later."

"Haha, that's settled then."

Shen Ning glanced at her daughter, who was intently holding a small spoon and eating while discarding most of her food, and felt incredibly happy.

"When we get tired of walking, we'll go to the boat to see the lotus flowers and admire the moon."

The lotus pond at night has a unique tranquility and mystery.

Like a traditional Chinese ink painting, a silent poem...

Shen Ning pointed and encouraged her to look around more, so as to strengthen the future poetry club of Daiyu and the others. (End of Chapter)