The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 321 Kuroiwa Nami
On a dark and windy night, on a mass grave, the croaking of frogs grew more and more mournful, as if they were being subjected to inhuman torture.

Indeed, that was the case. As her body slowly recovered from its stiff state, Kuroiwa Nami grabbed the frog that had jumped over, her long fingernails digging into its flesh.

Watching it struggle desperately in her hand, Kuroiwa Nami's lips slowly curled up.

She made it out alive, but Mrs. Shen, are you ready?

That night, Shen Ning was also having a nightmare.

In the pitch-black night, she ran desperately down an unfamiliar path, as if something terrifying was chasing her. Not only was she all alone, but her ever-present gun was also gone.

She ran into the forest, panting heavily, when a black snake suddenly fell from a tree and coiled around her neck.

Shen Ning has been afraid of snakes since she was a child.

The kind of feeling that makes your legs go weak when you see it getting close.

But today, an even greater terror was approaching from behind. Ignoring her fear, she grabbed it and was about to throw it behind her when she felt a sharp pain in the back of her head as something pierced her. At the same time, the snake that had wrapped its tail around her wrist lunged forward and bit her neck.

Shen Ning screamed and sat up in bed, drenched in sweat.

"Mrs!"

Qingzhu was lying on the bench not far away. Hearing the sound, she jumped up and rushed over.

"Shh~"

Xiao Yue'er sleeps very well, and she wasn't woken up by her at all.

Shen Ning gestured for Qingzhu to speak softly, then whispered her own explanation, "It's nothing, I just had a nightmare!"

She was never short of people around her.

Even when strolling in their own yard, they are accompanied by Qingzhu, Xiaodong, and others.

He accompanied Wen Peilan nine times out of ten. The only time he didn't accompany her, he was definitely teaching the maids martial arts.

"What time is it now?"

"Is it almost dawn?"

A hazy light was already appearing outside the window.

As Qingzhu spoke, she took out a small pocket watch from her bosom. Sure enough, it was a quarter past the hour of Mao (5:15 AM). Madam, you're sweating a lot...

"Call for water!"

I'm not feeling well.

Washing it will probably help.

"Yes!"

So before long, all the maids in the room got up early to keep him company.

She wasn't feeling well that day, and during her nap, she got too close to the ice basin because she wanted to cool off, which made her feel dizzy and lightheaded that night.

The physician spent half the night giving her acupuncture and preparing medicine before she finally calmed down.

As a matter of course, their daughter Jia Yue was moved out again.

Colds can be transmitted from person to person.

Shen Ning stayed home and took her medicine for two days. When she went out again, it was already even hotter outside.

The June sun was blazing, and the Rakshasa delegation was about to leave.

Before leaving, Bazel and Iris visited the Jia family again, but this time they didn't go to the Rongguo Mansion; instead, they went to the Ningguo Mansion.

"Please see me?"

Shen Ning was a little confused.

Even though she was ill, she still heard that they had been drinking with Jia She and had become drinking buddies.

Jia She also showed them around his studio and gave each of them a small seal.

The two of them were full of praise for the little thing that cost less than ten taels of silver.

Because of this, they've practically been staying next door for the past two days.

Why are you looking for her now?
"No need!"

Although she was tempted, Jia She was busy with other things and had finally become friends with her. If she stepped in... what if their friendship turned into enmity?
Besides, given the current social environment, it's not easy for her to see Jia Zhen when he's not home!
Shen Ning said, "Just say that my illness is not yet cured. Take two exquisite gold hairpins from the bridal box that the Empress just gave me, put them in a separate box, and take two jade pendants. Say that they are my personal gifts to their lady."

"……Yes!"

Qingzhu hurriedly went to get her things.

Bazel and Iris, who were drinking tea with Xing'er, waited for a long time but no one came. Just when they were feeling disappointed, they didn't expect that this lady, who was almost called a remarkable woman in the entire Great Zhao, would actually give a gift to their lady.

Is this an apology for all the resentment he's harbored towards her?

Both of them were filled with emotion.

They also solemnly presented their gift—a studded pistol that Jia Lian had returned.

There were two guns in total; they gave one of them to Jia She first.

But I heard that this Madam Shen is a noblewoman of the Great Zhao Dynasty who is extremely fond of guns. The wine they drank with Jia She recently was all given to them by her. So, it is only right and proper that they come over to express their gratitude!
“We’re leaving tomorrow. This gun is to thank Mrs. Shen for the wine she sent us over the past few days. Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, we’re friends from now on.”

The translator will provide simultaneous translation: "A delegation from Dazhao will accompany us to Russia, and we will welcome all who visit Russia."

“I will convey your words to my wife without missing a single one.”

Xing'er nodded hurriedly, "Here, on behalf of my wife and husband, I wish you both a safe journey."

As the person in charge, he also had certain authority.

He immediately ordered someone to bring two jars of wine to them on Jia Zhen's behalf.

The two left happily and returned to the meeting hall. When they opened the exquisitely scented jewelry box, they were both stunned.

Each box contains a peacock, seemingly poised for flight, its magnificent body crafted from gold, dazzlingly beautiful. Its outstretched wings, with their delicate textures and exquisite carvings, perfectly complement each other, exuding both dynamism and elegance. The peacock's head is also inlaid with gemstones, its bright eyes revealing a noble and mysterious aura!
Oops!

Both of them couldn't help but breathe more heavily.

This is the most expensive gift they have ever received.

The anger that had been building up inside me vanished completely at that moment.

……

Inside the palace, Liu Zhi requested that one more person be added to the delegation.

"Jia She?"

The emperor was completely dumbfounded. "Why did you add him?"

Although Jia She did a lot of work in dealing with the Japanese delegation, Yu Zhijian might not have gotten involved in this mess without the help of Jia Min and Jin Muchuan.

"Your Majesty may not know this, but Jia She has now become friends with Bazeir and Iris."

Liu Zhi laughed, "After being stripped of their titles by Lord Yu in Tianjin, these two have been living in poverty ever since, and have not received enough respect from our Zhao officials."

Of course, it's also impossible to respect them.

They regretted giving away the things they had sent and wanted them back.

After causing a scene at the Ministry of War, those seasoned soldiers played them for a fool, and ever since then, Bazel has avoided soldiers at all costs.

He asked Jia Lian for the gun because it had been dismantled. Jia She was stalling for time for his son, entertaining him with food, drinks, and games. Over time, they became friends.

"As for Jia She, since he couldn't return the gun for the time being, he kept giving them a friendly look."

Liu Zhi said, "I heard that the Zhao delegation is going to Russia. They keep saying, 'Why isn't Lord Jia She of the Rongguo Mansion on board?'"

He paused for a moment, then said, "As you know, we didn't treat them well before, and it's easy for them to give us the cold shoulder when we're on their turf. But if Jia She is with us, things might be different."

emperor:"……"

Jia She inherited the rank of First-Class General, which was more than enough in terms of status.

"Let's do it!"

The emperor thought for a moment, but he couldn't bear to see his own family members being bullied over there. "Jia She has actually been held back, but he is a decent person. You can use him if you think it's appropriate, but you can't bully him."

This is the only remaining member of the third generation of the Jia family. For the sake of Da Zhao, the Duke of Rongguo even gave up his own daughter early on.

Jia She was someone who would only cower in fear if others bullied him at his doorstep.

After the Duke of Rongguo passed away, Old Madam Shi openly showed favoritism, letting him live in the east wing, so he lived in the east wing...

The emperor, who was also hurt by the favoritism of his elders, actually felt quite sympathetic towards Jia She.

The Jia family has rendered meritorious service to the court, and he is willing to support him and let him live a peaceful life.

But going to the Rakshasa Kingdom could very well lead to unforeseen circumstances.

"Why are you bullying him when he's perfectly fine?"

Liu Zhi still had a good impression of the Jia family. "When he joined the delegation, he was just a mascot."

Given the miserable state of the Russian delegation in Dazhao, the emperor and Liu Zhi had made ample preparations.

The mission included not only civil and military officials, but also thirty elite soldiers and imperial physicians.

They also prepared plenty of gold, silver, money, and various medicines.

They had stocked up on plenty of the hand grenades that the Rakshasa people knew about.

In short, it's like openly telling the Russians that they're not afraid of a hardline approach.

The emperor's decree quickly arrived at the Rongguo Mansion, and Jia She was completely dumbfounded after receiving it.

He was selected by the emperor for the envoy's list and was going to the Rakshasa Kingdom.
How is this possible?
Grandmother Jia was also very surprised when she heard this news.

She looked at the imperial edict her son had brought in from all angles. She recognized all the words, but something just didn't feel right when put together.

"...Aren't those Rakshasa people coming every day lately?"

Jia Min looked at the imperial edict, then at her brother sitting there as if unaware of the time, and couldn't help but smile. "The Emperor probably thought that my elder brother had a good relationship with them, so he added him at the last minute."

The list of mission members had been prepared long ago; this was truly unexpected for my brother.

"But...am I capable?"

Jia She never accomplished anything significant in his life.

I don't think I can accomplish anything significant in my life.

Now, a major task has suddenly fallen on my shoulders... I feel inexplicably excited, but also very stressed.

"What do you mean by 'okay'?"

Jia Min laughed, "Big brother, don't you know how good you are at coaxing people?"

The Rakshasa people have no manners; they even have the nerve to ask for gifts back after giving them away.

This has become a laughing stock in Beijing.

But was that a regular gun?
Jia Min felt that they were going back to prevent Da Zhao from imitating it.

But when it was time to go back, they turned around and gave the eldest brother a hand.

Either they felt the gun had been dismantled and there was no need to hide it anymore, or they genuinely had a good impression of the older brother.

Jia Min secretly went to check twice, and always felt it was the latter.

"The Rakshasa people love wine, so bring plenty this time. Also, borrow two highly skilled guards from next door..."

Jia Min spoke fluently and at length.

Although the eldest brother is better than the second brother, he is somewhat inconsiderate in his actions.

You can bring your steward Lin Zhixiao along, as well as two diligent servants who can cook. Of course, you also need to bring thick woolen clothes and the like.

Fortunately, the Emperor was lenient, allowing each member of the delegation to bring a maximum of six attendants.

Perhaps we could add another guard.

That day, everyone from Grandmother Jia to Wang Xifeng was very busy. They and Xing Shi packed Jia She's luggage together, and ended up packing two large carts.

This forced Jia Min to personally take charge, cutting this and that.

Upon hearing about the situation, Shen Ning immediately sent over a large quantity of prepared bullets and gunpowder overnight.

The guards of Ningguo Mansion had all become skilled with guns, but no matter how skilled others were, it was irrelevant to Jia She himself.

Having learned that the delegation was led by Liu Zhi, she only had one thing to say: learn to shoot and listen to Lord Liu in everything.

Jia Zhen also came over that night and reiterated that you must listen to Lord Liu in everything. If Lord Liu tells you to go east, never go west. If Lord Liu frowns, you absolutely, absolutely must not laugh; you must frown along with him.

If Lord Liu glares angrily at someone, you must follow up immediately.

He got a spanking last time because he didn't catch up immediately.

Anyway, Lord Liu is a smart man, and following a smart man will never be a mistake.

Jia She understood.

He wasn't smart from a young age.

Both his grandfather and father had repeatedly told him to follow his elder brother Jia Jing of the East Mansion and listen to him for the rest of his life.

His older brother is gone, but Liu Zhi was just as intelligent as his brother.

Moreover, the elder sister-in-law also repeatedly instructed the equally dim-witted Zhen'er to obey Lord Liu in everything.

The next morning, Jia She, who had quietly joined the delegation, took the initiative to befriend Liu Zhi, whose official rank was much lower than his, and his attitude was extremely good.

When Bazel and Iris discovered that he was also in the group, they quickly gathered around him.

Neither of them liked Liu Zhi, but Jia She treated him so well…

We're traveling by land, which will take several months, and now we're on someone else's turf, so of course we have to be polite to each other.

But whether it was Liu Zhi or the other members of the delegation, even the Russians, they quickly realized how much better their lives would be with Jia She's arrival.

They brought a cook with them.

No matter where we ate, the chef would personally prepare everything.

……

Rongguo Mansion!
The son she had always ignored now seemed to have a bright future, and for days on end, Grandmother Jia felt as if she were in a dream.

The first wife, who used to be the wife, was abandoned by her!

The eldest son was neither good at literature nor martial arts, and his daughter Lian'er was far inferior to Zhu'er.

But now...

Pearl is still taking medicine and needs to be treated; she won't be able to take the exam until three years later.

She sighed softly to herself.

As people get older, they also like to reminisce about the past, so they often call Granny Lai to talk.

But the old lady was unaware that, because the Ningguo Mansion was so strictly guarded, Kuroiwa Nami, who had just arrived in the capital, was targeting the Rongguo Mansion.

However, the stewards of the Rongguo Mansion were not so easily fooled; all the people they employed were born into the household.

And the Jia family members...

The Jia family's clan rules were clearly stated in the book. Although she had seduced two weaklings, it was impossible for her to get close to Madam Shen by using their status as concubines.

After wasting a few days outside, Kuroiwa Nami finally got in touch with Granny Lai.

This old nanny can send people into the Jia family.

She once gave a young maid to Old Madam Shi.

It is said that because the young maid was so lovely, the neighbor, Madam Shen, took a liking to her at first sight and even asked Old Madam Shi for her.

"...Be honest, the lives of your grandchildren are in my hands."

The two rode in the same car.

On the surface, Kuroiwa Nami appeared honest and obedient, but the words she spoke to Granny Lai were extremely ruthless: "If you want to live, then send your old lady to the East Mansion."

When her aunt arrives, how could Madam Shen not go to greet her?