The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 34: Shifting the blame
Wang Ziteng arrived very quickly.

He did not immediately bring a royal physician.

It's not appropriate for him, an outsider, to interfere in the Jia family's affairs.

Even your younger sister can't lay a hand on you.

The only one who could take action was Old Mrs. Jia, Shi.

However, getting that old lady to do it wasn't easy.

"In this matter... the Jia family is actually finding it difficult to take action."

Madam Wang, who had just returned, showed a hint of regret on her face. "That Shen family probably took precautions against someone targeting her and hired two midwives at a high price. I even saw them today."

She looked at her brother, "Brother, you have to think of a way from the outside."

Wang Ziteng: "..."

Looking at his sister's haggard face, he pondered for a long time before finally nodding, "I remember Jia Zhen also often travels outside."

"..."

Madam Wang's eyes slowly brightened.

Right, how could she not have thought of that?
Madam Shen only has this one son. If she suddenly hears that something has happened to him...

Moreover, Jia Zhen is the head of the Jia family and the heir to the East Mansion. If something happens to him, the position of family head would never fall to Rong-ge'er, who is still a child.

This gave her family's Jia Zheng an opportunity.

Most importantly, with Jia Zhen gone, the Rongguo Mansion could legitimately take over all of the Ningguo Mansion's influence in the military.

hiss~
When the brother and sister looked at each other, a hint of a smile flashed in their eyes.

"Then I'll stay home and listen to my brother's good news."

If I had known, I would have asked her brother sooner.

"Take good care of it."

Wang Ziteng showed great affection for his younger sister, saying, "Don't worry, your brother will definitely handle things well."

If they want to gain everything the Jia family has in the army, then the Jia family cannot have a second voice.

"As for Zhou Rui..."

Wang Ziteng paused for a moment, then said, "Don't worry, if the old lady can't handle it, your brother will take care of it for you."

As he got up to leave, Jia Zheng hurriedly came over.

"Cunzhou should spend more time with Shulan from now on."

He addressed Jia Zheng by his courtesy name, showing affection while simultaneously reminding him, "She is your wife. If she loses face outside, you won't have much face either."

Jia Zheng: "..."

His face gradually turned red.

He was somewhat afraid of his brother-in-law.

but……

"Yes!"

He bowed quickly, as if seeing off a plague god, and said, "Brother-in-law, please take care."

Wang Ziteng: "..."

He slowly stopped. "Cunzhou, do you know why Shulan has this illness?"

"……Know."

Jia Zheng was both ashamed and indignant.

The Ning and Rong mansions were already being ridiculed because of the Lai family's two branches. Just as the ridicule had subsided, Zhou Rui appeared.

Zhou Rui managed the estate in spring and autumn, but the harvests he reported were lower year by year. As a result, he built a large estate outside and also established a separate family. His son and daughter were all young masters and ladies.

Zhou Rui's wife, relying on Wang's influence, accepted gifts from the old women in the mansion.

The kitchen and sewing room alone bring in several hundred taels of silver a year.

It's ridiculous that Wang said she was like a sister to her.

"Brother, please keep an eye on Shulan. She treats Zhou Rui's wife like a treasure, but in the end, people treat her like a fool."

Wang Ziteng: "..."

Did he mean it?

He was clearly referring to the Shen family of Ningguo Mansion.

He took a deep breath. "Can't we get Zhou Rui's things back? What's the rush?"

"No hurries?"

The thought of his colleagues calling him "Blind Jia" behind his back made Jia Zheng's face twist involuntarily. "If others said that you, brother, are bad at judging people and are blind with your eyes open, how would you feel?"

He's an official!

An official misjudged people...

The thought that he would never be able to move and would be laughed at by everyone made him want to kill himself.

Because he was too ashamed to face anyone, Jia Zheng had already taken two days off.

"I trusted Wang Shi, which is why I entrusted her with managing the household affairs. And what was the result?"

Jia Zheng was on the verge of tears. "It's one thing for Zhou Rui to get himself into jail, but what he shouldn't have done was to make me bear the reputation of being a bad judge of character."

Wang Ziteng: "..."

He wanted to say that even without Zhou Rui's affair, Jia Cunzhou wouldn't have been able to advance any further.

To be honest, the two Jia brothers are quite different; one is too lively, and the other is too rigid.

"Isn't the head of the Rongguo Mansion your elder brother, not the steward Zhou Rui he's referring to?"

Wang Ziteng looked puzzled and speechless. "Cunzhou, although we are brothers, you can't take on everything yourself."

This?
Jia Zheng was somewhat stunned.

But slowly, he seemed to realize something, "Yes... Brother-in-law is right to reprimand me."

Wang Ziteng patted him on the shoulder, "Don't worry about the yamen." Although the Ministry of Works also has a lot of work, this guy is really not cut out for it. "You just look after the logistical documents and organize them. As long as the documents are correct, what mistakes can you make?"

It's actually quite nice to just sit there, drink tea, and read the official gazette.

If he were to leave her outside, he would probably have to worry about his younger sister.

Wang Ziteng decided to go back and have drinks with some of his friends from the Ministry of Works.

“Go back and talk to Shulan properly. You are sad and upset, but she is even more upset than you are.”

Wang Ziteng sighed for his sister, "Don't worry, I won't let Zhou Rui get away with this."

"Yes!" Jia Zheng bowed again, his expression much more sincere. "I'm troubling you with everything, brother-in-law."

Wang Ziteng waved his hand before striding away.

Jia Zheng stood there for a moment and thought about it. Instead of entering Rongxi Hall, he went to Grandmother Jia's courtyard.

Inside, Jia Baoyu was reciting poems to the old lady in his childish voice. Jia Zheng paused at the door, his expression softening considerably.

"The master has arrived."

Upon seeing that it was his maid, she quickly lifted the curtain for him.

Jia Zheng hurried inside.

"master!"

Jia Baoyu was startled; he was most afraid of his father.

A while ago, his father took some black steamed buns from the school and forced him to eat them. Although his grandmother stopped him after he only ate a few bites, his throat still hurt for several days.

"Good boy! Go down now!"

Jia Zheng, unusually gentle, gestured for the maids to take Baoyu out, "Mother..."

The door closed, and he looked at his elderly mother with a hint of hesitation, "Your son hasn't been to the yamen for two days."

"...What happened?"

Grandmother Jia wasn't too surprised.

Her son's official position was the easiest; whether he went or not, it wasn't a big deal.

He used to take leave quite often.

"Zhou Rui has gotten himself into jail, and now many people in the government are talking behind my back... saying that I misjudged people."

Jia Zheng felt he had been diligent and conscientious, but thought, "My son is distressed. Isn't it my elder brother who manages the spring and autumn rents, Zhou Rui?"

Jia Mu: "..."

She knew why her son had come to her.

The old lady wanted to sigh.

After returning from the East Mansion, she sent someone to call She'er, but to her surprise, he had already gone out.

Zhou Rui's matter was already difficult to handle.

If we make She'er take the blame again...

But it's not an option to shirk responsibility either.

She'er shouldn't take the blame for misjudging people, but given Zheng'er's temper, he'll probably keep asking for leave and not going to the yamen.

The Jia family holds two noble titles, and if Zheng'er doesn't go to the yamen soon...

The old lady sighed. "Your older brother was definitely in the wrong. I'll talk to him about it later."

"In that case, son thanks mother!"

After bowing, Jia Zheng personally poured a cup of tea for his elderly mother. "Mother, what did your sister-in-law say when you and Wang returned from the East Mansion?"

"She didn't do it."

Grandmother Jia shook her head, "If she's going to do it, she won't deny it."

Can we blame her for always relying on Jing'er and his wife?
Neither of his sons is any good.

The two daughters-in-law... well, let's not even mention them.

She's so old, yet she still has to clean up their messes.

"I heard that Uncle Wang's eldest brother came. What did he say?"

"He didn't say anything," Jia Zheng said somewhat awkwardly, "he just told me to take better care of Wang Shi."

Jia Mu: "..."

A wise child is better than his mother.

She immediately guessed that it was Wang Ziteng who had put She'er in charge of the man with a poor reputation for judging people.

The Wang family does have a capable person in them!

Grandmother Jia was very envious.

They not only envied the Wang family for producing such a talented person as Wang Ziteng, but also envied that Wang Ziteng was not implicated by his family and was able to become an official with great power.

"Hmm~"

Grandmother Jia was slightly downcast. "Since he said that, you should go and visit Wang Shi more often." As she spoke, she remembered something else. "Zhu'er is on leave this morning. She said she was going to visit the school. She should be back soon."

This time, it seems that her daughter, Zhu'er, has lost even more weight.

"Send someone to fetch a royal physician to examine Wang Shi's pulse as well!"

"……Yes!"

Thinking of his son's appearance, Jia Zheng was also slightly worried. "I will send someone to invite Physician Wang right away."

At this time, Jia Zhu did indeed return from the school, but instead of going home, he went first to Ningguo Mansion to pay his respects to Shen Ning.

"Uncle mother!"

He was sitting in the hall when he saw Shen Ning enter, and he quickly stood up and bowed, "It's been a long time, Auntie, you seem to be feeling much better."

Before he entered the mansion, he was still worried about this aunt.

"Yes, Manager Chen of Huichuntang who examined my pulse is a very capable person."

Searching through the original owner's memories, Jia Zhu was always a very gentle and warm-hearted young man.

He studied very hard, took care of his younger siblings, and respected every elder who showed him kindness.

Shen Ning said, "Zhu'er, you've lost weight again. Studying is hard, but you can't neglect your health. Let's go to Huichuntang and ask Manager Chen to prescribe a nourishing medicine for you!"

"……it is good!"

Jia Zhu initially wanted to refuse, but seeing the concern in her eyes, he paused only slightly before smiling and agreeing, "I'll go when I have time. This morning, my nephew went to the school. The newly hired Mr. Fang and Mr. Chen are both very talented. They said that Grandpa Jiao also has the students practice martial arts every day..."

"You think it won't work?"

"No, no, no!" Jia Zhu quickly shook his head. "The Imperial Academy also has classes like Cuju (ancient Chinese football), horseback riding, pitch-pot, and archery."

He never expected that Jiao would teach some of the things he learned on the battlefield to the younger members of his clan.

“The Jia family rose to prominence through martial arts, but the clan’s members have gradually neglected their martial arts skills, which I think is not good.”

When he was young, he actually wanted to learn martial arts.

Even if they don't go to the battlefield, those who practice martial arts, whether it's playing football, riding horses, throwing arrows, or archery, will have a faster reaction speed.

“Now that Auntie has resumed martial arts training, although the proportion of class time is very small, it is much better than before.”

Children who go to school in the future will be very fortunate.

This can be considered as making up for some of the regrets he had when he was young.

"Oh?" Shen Ning smiled. "Did you eat the 'bitter memories and sweet presents' meal?"

I ate a steamed bun after soaking it in hot water.

Jia Zhu smiled and said, "If Mr. Lu from our Imperial Academy knew this, he would probably want to learn from him."

(End of this chapter)