The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 48 Zizhi Tongjian
Ningguo Mansion, Shen Ning Courtyard.

When Jia Zhen entered, bathed in the last rays of the setting sun, she was strolling in the courtyard, digesting her food.

There's an old saying that goes, "A hundred steps after a meal can help you live to ninety-nine."

Life is good, and there's still so much delicious food to enjoy. Shen Ning hopes she can live to be ninety-nine.

"what's wrong?"

The colors on their faces don't look quite right.

“Wang Ziteng’s horse was startled. Wang Zisheng happened to be there at the time and was kicked in the head. He is still being treated.”

Jia Zhen felt like he was in a dream.

He intends to make a move against Wang Ziteng, also using the "Startled Horse" technique, but it's still in the planning stage, and it's unclear who will get there first.

Jia Zhen was both happy and alarmed. "Mother, do you think this is a coincidence or someone did it?"

Shen Ning: "..."

Does she need to know who did it?
Does her affair with other men have anything to do with her?

"Who cares about it?"

Shen Ning continued walking her path slowly, saying, "Whether it's a coincidence or something deliberate, it has nothing to do with us. Speaking of which, Wang Ziteng has been riding high these past few years, so it's hard to say he hasn't gotten into some trouble he shouldn't have."

uh~
That makes a lot of sense.

but……

“Mother!” Jia Zhen walked alongside her, “In the eyes of outsiders, the Jia family and the Wang family are practically inseparable. If he gets into trouble, we…”

"You stay home and wait until I give birth before we talk about it."

Shen Ning interrupted her eldest son, "Whether the Jia family and the Wang family are tied together depends on whether you and your Uncle She go to see him immediately."

Jia Zheng may be fast, but he cannot fully represent the Jia family.

At least the one who inherited the title was Jia She.

In the Dream of the Red Chamber, Prince Teng probably never really took control of the Beijing Garrison, so much so that when the Emperor ordered him to patrol the border, he immediately went to patrol the border.

The Emperor is certainly less willing to let him control the Capital Garrison than the current Ningguo Mansion is.

"did you go?"

"without!"

Jia Zhen quickly shook his head, "Uncle She didn't either."

With his mother helping him analyze the situation, he felt more at ease.

Jia Zhen laughed and said, "The old lady wanted him to go, but Uncle She hurt his back and they've already called the imperial physician."

Shen Ning: "..."

I'm quite impressed.

"Have you gone to take a look?"

A smile appeared in Shen Ning's eyes, "Over at the West Mansion, besides the old lady, there are probably only a few children. The old are old, and the young are young..."

"My son just came from the West Mansion."

Jia Zhen nodded, "Aunt Xing and Yingchun are both here."

Welcoming Spring?

Shen Ning paused in her steps.

When she went to the Rongguo Mansion to see Jia Jing last time, she did see that little maid.

The seven-year-old child seemed alright, not particularly timid.

I regret that I was in a bad mood at the time and was only thinking about stripping Jia Jing naked, so I didn't say a word.

"Green Bamboo!"

"Mrs!"

Qingzhu quickly stepped forward.

"I remember Yingchun likes to play chess, right?"

She then asked her son.

But how could Jia Zhen know?

But when his mother asked him, he quickly nodded, "Yes!"

If you don't like it, you can learn to like it with a little effort.

Anyway, girls usually play chess or play the piano, right?

"go with!"

Shen Ning said, "Send some medicinal herbs to the master. Take a set of Zizhi Tongjian from Er Yatou, and also send a set of the new jewelry you made the other day. Tell Er Yatou that since her brother is not at home, she is the pillar of her father's family. Take good care of her father and mother. When her aunt gives birth to her little sister, she will reward her well."

"……Yes!"

Qingzhu and Jia Zhen were both puzzled as to why she was sending the Zizhi Tongjian to them.
Is that a book for a little girl?

But Qingzhu didn't ask any questions, gave a slight bow, and quickly went to make arrangements. "Mother, are you sure it's the Zizhi Tongjian?"

Jia Zhen looked puzzled. "Is it related to playing chess? I remember we have a few chess manuals at home..."

"Chess records are static, but people are dynamic."

Shen Ning said speechlessly, "To play chess well, one must win from afar. To win from afar, one must understand people's hearts. She should read the Zizhi Tongjian and see how the capable people in the world manage people from afar."

Jia Zhen: "..."

I'm trembling with fear!
How did my mother manage to perfectly combine chess playing with the Zizhi Tongjian (Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government)?

"Oh, by the way, you should take a look later too!"

"……Yes!"

Jia Zhen walked away dejectedly.

In the small garden of the east courtyard of the West Mansion, Jia She, who was feigning illness, was very unhappy that his daughter was there.

With his daughter here, he can't easily find a concubine.

"I'm all set here, you should go home and get some rest too!"

Actually, he was somewhat relieved.

His son wasn't home, but his daughter, knowing he was injured, immediately came to stay with him.

Jia She's voice at this moment carried a rare hint of warmth.

"You all keep a close watch on the second young lady, and then..."

Just as he was about to say something more, a maid came to report that the First Madam of the East Mansion had sent someone over.

Jia She had no choice but to give up for the time being.

"Greetings to the master and mistress."

Qingzhu bowed to the two people who were looking over, and then bowed to Yingchun. "Greetings to the Second Miss. Our Madam knows that the Master has injured his back, so she specially asked me to send some medicine over."

"Thank you for your trouble, sister-in-law."

Jia She leaned back on the couch and gestured for Xing to take the food, saying, "Go back and tell her that I'm fine and will be better in a few days."

"Yes!"

Qingzhu took the large box from the maid behind her and handed it to Xing's maid. Then she took the small box and a large set of books and personally presented them to Yingchun. "Second Miss, our mistress said that since Second Master Lian is not at home, you are the pillar of the master. Knowing your filial piety, this is a special reward from our mistress to you."

what?
"Thank you, Auntie!"

Yingchun, busy with the gifts, accepted them with her maid, saying, "Auntie, you flatter me."

Her father's lips twitched when he heard that she was his pillar of support.

"Respecting one's father and mother is Yingchun's duty!"

"...Hahaha, that's for sure."

Jia She had no idea why his sister-in-law would pull this stunt.

Lian'er isn't home, but he's far from needing care yet.

Besides, what could a little girl like Yingchun possibly do for him?
"Sister-in-law, you're too kind."

Madam Xing smiled and said politely, "Go back and tell your wife that once the master is feeling better, I will bring Er Ya to pay my respects to her."

"That's a good feeling."

Qingzhu smiled and said, "Our madam is now obsessed with the little girl. The second young lady is beautiful and loves playing chess. Our madam specially gave her this set of Zizhi Tongjian, saying that if you read it more in your spare time, it will be very helpful for learning chess."

"……Yes!"

Yingchun is confused.

Zizhi Tongjian is a historical book, right?

What does learning chess from her have to do with me?
Yingchun doesn't really like chess; it's too mentally taxing.

But it seems her family wants her to learn chess.

She had no choice but to learn it because she wanted her elders to like it.

"I'll remember what Auntie said."

The young girl solemnly agreed, and at Jia She's signal, a maidservant gave Qingzhu and the two maidservants who had accompanied her a reward.

This is something that shouldn't be done by a man like him, but unfortunately, the Xing family is extremely stingy.

Anything that passes through her hands will be stripped bare.

It would be one thing to do this with the second branch of the family, but to do it with the East Mansion... Jia She couldn't bear to lose face like that.

Yingchun personally saw Qingzhu and the other two off, and when she returned, she naturally decided not to leave again.

After all, she is now her father's pillar of support.

Jia She wanted to sternly dismiss the person, but his sister-in-law had already given his daughter such a big slap on the wrist. If he were to throw it to the ground, not only would his daughter be upset, but his sister-in-law would also be upset.

Never mind, just bear with it!