The head of the Red Mansion

Having changed her clothes and disguised herself as a seriously ill woman, Kuroiwa Nami walked and coughed all the way until she finally arrived at the city gate.

She strolled around the city, and many people were still talking about the Jia family's happy addition the day before.

hum~
Do you think she is a fool?

Shen's actions were merely an attempt to silence others. Having not returned for nearly two days and one night, her reputation for innocence was long gone.

Why pretend to have escaped death?

Kuroiwa Nami was delusional to hear people say that her reputation was tarnished.

In some parts of Jiangnan, if a woman hasn't returned home for so long, she's either said to be dead or has entered a Buddhist temple.

Who is as shameless as the Shen family?
Kuroiwa Nami walked around the city gate, but unfortunately, everyone was talking about the great scene of picking up money, and no one mentioned the Shen family's reputation at all.

Bah~
Still talking about the capital?

It's not even as good as Jiangnan.

Have we abandoned all sense of propriety, righteousness, integrity, and a sense of shame?

Kuroiwa Nami gritted her teeth, but there was nothing she could do.

To avoid arousing suspicion from the soldiers, she waited outside for quite a while before queuing up again to enter the city.

This time, she went to the teahouse frequented by the imperial censors.

I've heard that censors can report matters based on hearsay.

Shen has been missing for so long, aren't they even a little bit interested?
Kuroiwa Nami had heard that if an official ordered more dishes than necessary at a restaurant, he would be impeached for being extravagant and dissolute.

Jia Zhen was appointed to the Imperial Guard, and she didn't believe he had no enemies.

The enemy of the enemy is the friend.

Since Granny Lai was no longer able to work, she had to come up with another idea.

"I want to apply to join the mission to interrogate the guilty."

The young censor said to his colleague, "This tiny Japanese country is going too far!"

"Yes, I went to see the head outside the city yesterday as well."

The middle-aged censor said, "I heard that the injury on Madam Shen's face was inflicted by him."

He also looked furious.

Ever since Madam Shen's ten strokes of the cane secured several prefectures of territory for Da Zhao in the Russian Kingdom, she has been the one he admires the most. "These Japanese don't know how high the sky is or how thick the earth is. Why don't we join forces tomorrow and set off with the punitive mission, along with our army?"

"Add me one!"

"And I!"

Walking to the window, Kuroiwa Nami, who was pretending to rest, was suddenly stunned.

Why is it a mission to interrogate people?
Aren't they... a country that is not subject to conquest?

Nami Kuroiwa's face gradually turned pale.

In the previous dynasty, they were a country that was not subject to conquest, but now the Great Zhao...

As Kuroiwa Nami listened to the indignant discussion inside, she couldn't help but feel a chill despite the sweltering heat.

Last year, before the reign of the Great Zhao Emperor was overthrown, the country's strength was far inferior to that of the previous dynasty.

The imperial court was in complete chaos. How could it have become like this in such a short time?
They swept through the Russian Kingdom in the north, only to be defeated in an instant. All their efforts only made the Great Zhao stronger.
After arriving in Beijing, she did a lot of research, but it still felt somewhat unreal.

Back when their delegation and the Rakshasa delegation came together, everyone thought they would get a share of the pie here and then get a share of the pie from the Rakshasa. How come things have suddenly turned out like this after only a few months?

she……

Nami Kuroiwa couldn't sit still any longer.

She had to return home immediately to report what had happened here to the officials.

As Kuroiwa Nami hurriedly got up, she glanced one last time, still unwilling to give up, at the young man who spoke the loudest and had the most complaints about Japan.

The next day, before dawn, the officials who should have been up for court remained silent. A servant came to knock on the door with a lantern, but to his surprise, the moment he pushed the door open, he saw his official's head with wide, angry eyes.

Fresh blood dripped down the large desk, soaking the folded paper filled with writing.

……

In Ningguo Mansion, Shen Ning listened with her eyes half-closed to Xing'er's report on the news outside.

The swift passage of the punitive mission through the court, along with the large army that was to accompany it, drew everyone's attention.

After Xing'er finished reporting everything, he remembered something else. "Oh, right, Madam, this morning, Censor Duan, who was transferred from the Hanlin Academy to the Censorate this year, was found decapitated in his study. His death was extremely gruesome."

Who did he offend?

"We don't know yet; the Shuntian Prefecture is investigating."

Xing'er said, "However, I heard that the Emperor intends for him to be one of the members of the punitive mission. Since he joined the Censorate, he has impeached eleven officials in Jiangnan, and all eleven of them have been demoted or dismissed from their posts."

He was a very capable young censor.

The fact that the emperor transferred him from the Hanlin Academy to the Censorate and even included him in the interrogation mission indicates that he intended to promote him.

It's a pity that he passed away so early.

“Send a high-quality offering.”

If Xing'er could think of it, Shen Ning could naturally think of it too. "Report any news from Shuntian Prefecture immediately."

"Yes!"

Xing'er nodded.

"Have someone thoroughly investigate the situation in Xuzhou Prefecture."

A serious criminal who was in prison actually faked his death and escaped.

The newly appointed prefect of Xuzhou cannot escape blame for dereliction of duty.

"In addition, you should go to Tianjin yourself and ask the Japanese delegation who are in prison if they know Kuroiwa Nami."

Shen Ning's foot wasn't healed yet. "Whether you know them or not, find a way to beat them up."

She's petty and narrow-minded.

"Tell them that all the Japanese in Dazhao will suffer because of Kuroiwa Nami. If necessary, inform the punitive mission and the accompanying army."

"Yes!"

Shen Ning waved her hand, "Go see Qingcheng!" She had agreed to their marriage last year, "I'll take care of things when I get back from Tianjin."

"Yes~"

Xing'er's voice suddenly became much louder, "Thank you, Madam!"

"..."

Shen Ning felt a pang of reluctance as she watched him leave in high spirits.

Qingcheng's departure means that all the maids of the Qing generation will be leaving one after another.

"Qingzhu, ask Qingcheng later if she would be willing to work as the manager of my sewing room after we get married?"

She's used to wearing the clothes Qingcheng makes for her.

"She'll definitely agree!"

Qingzhu laughed, "Last time she told me that she didn't want to stay at home."

The lady sent a chiming clock to the sewing room. Every quarter of an hour, when the chiming clock rang, the people in the sewing room had to take a quarter of an hour's break.

It's all for their eyes.

The lady also taught everyone how to do eye exercises.

Qingcheng said that life at the sewing shop is much better now than before.

"Then tell her that I'll write her a letter of appointment later."

Shen Ning was pleased, "And you guys too, if there's nothing to do at home, come back. Whether you're in charge of Yue'er's room or here with me, it's all fine."

As Jia Yue grows older, her condition is also becoming more dangerous, so she wants to transfer her daughter to a different hospital.

If her daughter were with her that day...

Shen Ning was incredibly grateful that she was too tired that day, and Jia Wen helped carry her daughter away; otherwise, if the mother and daughter had been captured together, she would never have been able to escape.

"Thank you, Madam. Don't worry, everyone is fine and will definitely be willing to come back."

It's so free outside!
But no matter how good it is outside, it's not as good as inside the mansion.

Qingzhu returned home twice during that time. Her parents were only polite to her, while her brothers and sisters-in-law only envied her.

What they cared about most was the money, jewelry, and even clothes she had saved with her wife. They wished she would leave everything behind.

And the same goes for the husband's family...

Sometimes Qingzhu feels quite bored.

The person who passed the imperial examination and became a scholar, whom she initially thought was quite good, gradually seemed to be different from what she had imagined.

He started putting on airs, as if she wasn't good enough for him.

But her handwriting is better than his.

Many of the books he read were borrowed from the manor with her help.

But even so, he was still not satisfied.

He wished she could provide him with all his writing materials.

The reason people say her calligraphy is good is because her brush, ink, paper, and inkstone are all better.

ho~
Don't you even know your own identity?
“Even if it’s inconvenient for you to come back, this place is also your family home.”

Shen Ning noticed a hint of melancholy in Qingzhu's expression and said, "If there's anything, just tell me."

"Ok!"

Qingzhu nodded, but she didn't intend to bother her mistress with her trivial matter. "Madam, The Return of the Condor Heroes will officially go on sale at the Grandma's bookstore tomorrow. This time, a larger print run has been made. If it sells well, will it still be sold in limited quantities every day as before?"

Now, she and Qingping are handling this matter.

"...If it sells well, have your grandmother order more writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, and sell them as a package deal."

Shen Ning said with a smile, "For example, a book that originally cost six taels now costs nine taels, and three taels of that can be used for writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones. Once it sells well, we will share the profits from the writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones with her."

All proceeds from the book will be donated to some struggling sales agencies.

But she can't just keep working like this forever!

"Grandma must think you didn't tie it enough."

Qingzhu knew about the You family.

Thinking of Madam You's shrewd businessman appearance, Shen Ning couldn't help but laugh, "It's okay, let her tie us up if she wants to. Anyway, the more we tie up, the more money we make."

While they were talking about Madam You, Madam You received a letter from Old Madam You.

Judging by the time, there are still more than half a month left, which is about the time when she will give birth. Her stepmother is worried about her and wants to bring her two younger sisters over.

Ms. You hesitated.

Although my stepmother and sister weren't my biological sisters, we got along quite well over the years.

Although her family was poor at the time, her stepmother used all the betrothal gifts sent by the Jia family as part of her dowry.

The two younger sisters don't have a father because their father saved their father.

Now I'm worried about her and want to come and be with her during childbirth...

Secretly, Madam You actually wanted them to come.

Her mother-in-law was very good, Jia Zhen was very good, and Rong-ge'er and Ke-qing were also very good, but none of them were her family.

With her father gone, her stepmother and sisters were her closest relatives.

After much deliberation, she finally took the letter to find Shen Ning.

"Your mother-in-law is coming? Then you'd better prepare the courtyard properly!"

Shen Ning really liked You Sanjie from Dream of the Red Chamber.

Although he took a difficult path, he was strong-willed and courageous in pursuing love.

Moreover, based on what is written in the book, Shen Ning does not believe that You Sanjie was actually taken advantage of by Jia Zhen and Jia Lian.

She looked down on those two people completely.

Despite her dissolute lifestyle and her banquets with Jia Zhen and Jia Lian, she managed to terrify both of them that day.

In Shen Ning's view, she was using that unconventional method to protect her own innocence.

"By the way, you have two younger sisters. How old are they? Why don't we clean out two more courtyards?"

Old Lady You can live closer to Jia Zhen and Lady You, but the two girls don't need to.

Shen Ning was also afraid that Jia Zhen would abuse people.

Lady You in the Dream of the Red Chamber was doing well, but that doesn't mean she wasn't heartbroken.

At this moment, Lady You was once again at a critical juncture.

Shen Ning made a final decision: "Yusheng Residence behind the rockery is quite spacious. Why don't you let your two younger sisters live there? It's close to Ningcui Pavilion, so they can play with Yingchun and the others occasionally. If they need to go to school, just tell Mr. Zhan, and it will be convenient for them to go."

"Yes, I'll do whatever you say, Mother."

Yu's eyes sparkled; she had only just begun when her mother-in-law had already said so much.

They didn't look down on her family at all.

"As for whether or not they should go to school, I'll ask them later."

My two younger sisters, one gentle and the other feisty, are both quite nice.

For several years after they married into the family, they only corresponded by letter.

But between the lines, You Shi could sense that her personality hadn't changed. Her third sister was afraid that she would be bullied by Jia Zhen, so she even told her in the letter not to be afraid. Although she was a second wife, she was married through proper channels and should act like the mistress of the house.

"Girls all love to be beautiful."

Shen Ning said, "Take some nice ornaments from the storeroom and put them up for them."

She patted Madam You's hand, "You're the older sister, so take good care of her. Zhen'er won't say anything."

"Ok!"

Yu nodded vigorously.

She happily went to tidy up the house for her stepmother and two younger sisters, while Shen Ning immediately asked Qingzhu to prepare some gifts for her as well.

Second Sister You is a bit silly.

However, her own conduct is not entirely upright.

But no matter what, it was too much to end up like that.

Shen Ning remembered that her in-laws' family wasn't very good either.

However, one needs to see the person in question to truly make a comment.

At this time, Old Lady You brought her two daughters to the capital, mainly intending to seek refuge with them.

As the two daughters grew older, it became time to arrange marriages for them.

Referring to herself, what kind of good family could she possibly come from?

Finding their older sister, on the other hand, could change their entire future.

So, she sold a lot of things during this trip.

Nowadays, Old Lady You looks down on the Zhang family, who arranged the marriage between You Erjie and her mother when they were still children.

She had already inquired and learned that the Zhang family had fallen into ruin.

The former head of the imperial grain depot was embroiled in a lawsuit, lost his fortune, and ended up struggling to make ends meet.

What kind of good life can her daughter, as beautiful as a flower bud, have after marrying into such a family?

As luck would have it, she married into the You family, and the Zhang family had lost contact with her for over a decade.

"My sister's situation isn't necessarily any better."

Unlike Old Lady You and her sister's expectations, Third Sister You was very worried. "They are from a Duke's mansion. When they married my sister, wasn't it because they thought our family was easy to manipulate?"

If anything happens, they are powerless to help her.

"Nonsense, your sister was personally chosen by Madam Shen."

Despite having to work hard to make a living at home, Old Lady You was still very well-informed about the outside world. "She did choose your sister for the sake of her grandson, but she's not the kind of person who would cause trouble."

In the past year or two, my eldest sister's letters have been filled with a lighthearted tone.

"Now you're going to have a nephew, so just be respectful to his family. We just need to take care of your sister and nephew's health."

She doesn't insist on anything else.

Having lived half her life and lost two husbands, Old Lady You had long since resigned herself to her fate.

Whether others respect you or not is not important; what matters is whether you can live a good life. (End of Chapter)