The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 40 'Ventilation'

At Ningguo Mansion, Shen Ning, who had just finished lunch and taken a stroll in the garden, was about to rest when Jia Zhu unexpectedly arrived.

"Auntie!"

Jia Zhu greeted him with his usual signature smile and said directly, "I forgot something yesterday."

"You said."

Shen Ningwei was a little sleepy and gave a small yawn.

"The matter of our family's national treasury owing money."

Jia Zhu dared not refuse to come.

Although Brother Zhen has many flaws, he seems far more reliable than his father and uncle so far.

Although my uncle is a blood relative, my cousin is even more of a family member.

If the eldest uncle were to harm his cousin, he didn't know if the eldest aunt could bear it, but the Jia family would definitely be finished.

If Father and Uncle cannot protect the Jia family, then my eldest uncle will use them to gradually erode all of the Jia family's influence in the army.

From then on, the Jia family had to rely on their uncle for survival.

But that's not the most dangerous thing. The most dangerous thing might be that the emperor would also target the eldest uncle.

The kinship between the Wang and Jia families cannot be severed. The Jia family withdrew from the military, and the Wang family took their place. Who do they think they are fools?

Jia Zhu was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he couldn't even eat properly. He didn't even consider that his aunt might need a nap before rushing over. "I overheard many classmates at the Imperial Academy talking about how the Emperor should have collected all the debts long ago."

"Oh……"

Emperor Xiaomu has not yet taken the initiative to demand repayment from the ministers who owe him money, clearly still out of consideration for the retired emperor.

However, this retired emperor did indeed live a very long life.

The ancients valued filial piety, so it's no wonder he later resorted to a roundabout way to collect money.

"The Emperor has confiscated it, what can you do about it?"

Shen Ning asked Jia Zhu seemingly casually.

"The Emperor's confiscation is probably out of consideration for the retired Emperor and the old ministers."

Jia Zhu sighed inwardly.

Even the most distinguished people in this world have many unavoidable circumstances, let alone others.

"But the fact that the Emperor is not accepting it for the time being does not mean that our family does not need to repay it."

Jia Zhu cupped his hands in thanks, saying, "Nephew thanks Aunt for forcing Father and Uncle to return the money."

"..."

Shen Ning looked at him and slowly smiled, "Are you afraid you'll have to pay back that money in the future?"

"Yes!" Jia Zhu nodded. "If this money isn't returned now, the Jia family will probably have to go bankrupt to pay it back later."

He was constantly worried about that sum of money.

Fortunately, my uncle wasn't too senile and kept it sealed.

But when he learned that his mother had actually embezzled the money there, he was truly shocked and broke out in a cold sweat. "Auntie, you're forcing the family to repay the money because you're aware of the risks here, right?"

"...Auntie isn't as formidable as you think."

Shen Ning smiled and patted her belly, "I'm returning the money because I really want to accumulate some good fortune for your sister."

"The little sister must be a very good girl."

Jia Zhu's smile held a newfound warmth. "Auntie, have you consulted several doctors to treat your health?"

Having a wise and reliable elder in the family is so important.

Jia Zhu sincerely hoped that this aunt would live longer than his grandmother.

"nature!"

Sincerity and pretense are immediately apparent. Shen Ning smiled and nodded, "I still want to watch your sister grow up and see her get married."

"..."

Jia Zhu felt a pang of sadness.

My aunt's wish is so small.

But the mother, for her own selfish reasons, wanted to destroy all of this.

“Auntie!” He hesitated, “Currently, only we and the Shi family are repaying the money. Have you thought about how much those who can’t repay the money hate us?” Hmm.
Shen Ning looked at Jia Zhu and, for some reason, felt that there was deep pain and entanglement hidden in his eyes.

She said, "That's why Auntie hired two midwives so early on!"

Jia Zhu: "..."

"Are you worried about the other people in your family?" Shen Ning asked him tentatively.

"...The tallest tree in the forest will surely be felled by the wind."

Jia Zhu thought for a moment and said, "After the family repaid the loan, a classmate reminded me that everyone in our family should be careful. After all... those who borrowed the loan back then, even if they weren't really poor, must have incurred expenses over the years for weddings and funerals, even if not all of them were like the Shi family. If our family repays the loan, these people might not be happy, let alone those who are truly poor."

He had no choice; he couldn't very well expose his mother. "As the saying goes, a wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall. I think it would be better for Brother Zhen and Brother Rong to have a few more people with them. After all, I'm planning to bring two more servants with me."

"...You're absolutely right!"

Shen Ning looked at him and slowly nodded, "I'll talk to your brother Zhen later."

“Brother Zhen is the head of the Jia family, and his safety is related to the safety of our entire Jia family.”

Jia Zhu finally spoke up, "Tell him not to think it's troublesome and to bring a few more people; it won't cause any problems."

"……it is good!"

Shen Ning agreed, but after seeing Jia Zhu off, she couldn't fall asleep again.

Jia Zhu came specifically for her family's safety.

What made him feel threatened?
Or is it that someone already has designs on the eldest son?

Shen Ning twirled the jade bracelet on her wrist and finally spoke, "Qingping, find someone to ask what happened at the West Mansion today? Also, who has the Second Madam met with these past few days?"

"……Yes!"

When Qingping heard Jia Zhu's words, she sensed something was wrong and hurriedly left.

"Green Bamboo!"

"Madam!" Qingzhu quickly stepped forward. "Should you call him sir?"

"No!"

Shen Ning shook her head. Her eldest son was home today and needed to work with several accountants to review the clan's land revenues over the years and check for any shortfalls.

Because of the Lai family and Zhou Rui, he no longer trusted those people.

Let him sort things out over there first.

"Go and call Jiao Da for me first."

"Yes!"

Qingzhu also left in a hurry.

Shen Ning leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes slightly, calculating who would reap the biggest and greatest benefits now that something had happened at the East Mansion.

Jia She was the first person to be excluded.

He has always had a clear self-awareness: as a trusted heir to the Rongguo Mansion, he could stay at home for the rest of his life as long as he could eat and drink, and be accompanied by beautiful women and antiques.

Jia Zheng considered himself a gentleman, but he was rigid and stubborn. Even if he wanted to take a shortcut, he only dared to rely on the old lady's power to exploit his elder brother at home.

Outside, he was a gentleman and a kind-hearted person; no one would have imagined that he would lay a hand on his eldest son.

Grandmother Jia...

There's a possibility he might take action against her, but as for Jia Zhen... as long as Jia Jing is still alive, he won't act immediately.

It's even less likely that it's the Xing family; only the Wang family remains.

Because of the Wang family and Wang Ziteng, she had the means and the ability to take action against Hao Da'er.

hiss~
A ruthless glint flashed in Shen Ning's open eyes.

The Wang family has not yet repaid the debt, and Prince Teng must be very anxious. After all, the retired emperor is a thing of the past, and even if the emperor's power is limited, it is still easy to make his career less smooth.

If her eldest son has an accident, she, an elderly pregnant woman, might not be able to withstand it and could even die on the spot.

Until then...

Will Rong-ge'er, who hasn't grown up yet, also grow up by Wang Shi's side like Jia Lian?
She might even prevent him from growing up.

Thinking of this, Shen Ning could no longer sit still. "Fetch the brush and ink!"

(End of this chapter)