The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 52 Fooling
In Jia She's courtyard, the servant boy who had come to deliver the message from the East Mansion sneaked out through the back door.

Just then, Jia Zhu arrived at the front gate.

"Uncle, you..."

He looked at the listless and dispirited Jia She, trying to find any trace of deception, but he couldn't find any.

Is he really sick?
It's not a drawing?

Jia Zhu sniffed; the smell of medicine in the room was still quite strong. "How is your back now? Should we call another imperial physician?"

At this moment, his expression showed genuine concern.

"No need!"

Jia She was weak and listless. "I took the medicine today and I'm much better than yesterday."

Why is it so hard to get some sleep?

But now, facing this very clever nephew, he could only feign concern and ask, "How is your second uncle? What did the imperial physician say? And Lord Wang, how is his leg? Will it have any impact on the future?"

“My second uncle isn’t doing well,” Jia Zhu said painfully. “The imperial physician said he needs to observe his condition over the next few days. My eldest uncle has always been healthy, and his leg was set in time, so it won’t have any lasting effects. He just needs to rest for a while.” He pleaded with his eldest uncle, “Uncle, we have people in the Beijing garrison, don’t we? Could you perhaps help us investigate the military horses?”

Jia She: "..."

"The Wang and Jia families are interdependent. If the person behind them can attack the Wang family, they can certainly attack our Jia family as well. We..."

"and many more!"

Jia She gestured for a stop. "Is it already confirmed that it's not a coincidence?"

"no!"

Jia Zhu could only repeat what he had found out yesterday, “...That person is too malicious. If we don’t find out the truth, does that mean we should never go out again?” He looked earnestly at his uncle, “Uncle, I feel that the other party’s ultimate target is our Jia family, because the Jia family was the first to take the initiative to repay the national treasury’s debt.”

Although that's not the issue, Jia Zhu had no choice but to take this step if he wanted his uncle's help at this point.

Jia She gave him a deep look, "...Zhu'er, do you think the national treasury shouldn't repay its debts?"

"Should!"

Jia Zhu's expression was resolute, "But undeniably, our family has also been targeted by various parties because of this."

"Ho~"

Jia She let out a sound that was neither a smile nor a laugh, "So, they're going to target the Wang family first, the one they're least willing to mess with?"

Jia Zhu: "..."

I always thought his uncle was a fool.

In fact, his uncle had always been confused.

But now...

"If I were the one behind this, and since the target is the Jia family, then you wouldn't be able to return safely today."

Jia She looked at his good nephew and said, "Even earlier, when you went to investigate the case last night, we took the opportunity to deal with you."

Jia Zhu: "..."

A layer of sweat broke out on his back.

“Pearl, you have always been a smart child.”

Jia She sighed softly, "You should know very well that Lord Wang's matter most likely originated from the Beijing Garrison. If you want my help, just say so. Why scare your old uncle with the safety of our own family?"

He once had a bright child whom he loved dearly.

But the child died, and his wife couldn't bear it. She desperately gave birth to Lian'er in his place, and then she too passed away.

Jia She's eyes were slightly moist. If his eldest son were still alive, why would he be in this state?
"Nephew is wrong."

Jia Zhu knelt down with a thud, "Your nephew hopes that Uncle can investigate the Wang family's affairs as if they were his own, that's why..."

He kowtowed several times, pleading, "Nephew begs Uncle for help!"

"..."

Jia She looked at his nephew, who was kneeling with his head on the ground, and said in a calm voice, "I wanted to help, but even your own nephew is trying to fool your uncle, let alone outsiders."

Jia Zhu: "..."

He regretted it so much he wanted to slap himself.

His long-held impression was that his uncle was the easiest to fool. But when the Wang family got into trouble, neither his maternal uncle nor he considered contacting his father.

They all knew that asking their father about this matter would be even more useless.

The only influence my father could leverage was that of the Rongguo Mansion.

Could the person who made the move not know the relationship between the Jia and Wang families?

They still did it.

Clearly, the father couldn't help.

But my uncle is different.

Although he was always unreliable, my uncle used to wander around various military camps with my great-grandfather and grandfather when he was young. As long as he was willing, those old officers would always give him some face.

When Jia Zhu realized this, she was in great pain.

My uncle is far more capable than my father.

Grandpa made the right decision to pass the title to my uncle.

Otherwise, even if a father who only talks nonsense, never enters the military camp, and has never even touched a bow were to receive a title, who would take him seriously?

"Go back now!"

Jia She closed his eyes slightly. "The situation in the Beijing garrison is complicated. It's not that Uncle doesn't want to help, but that he really can't."

The only person who can help is Brother Jing from the East Mansion.

Although he switched to a literary career at a young age, my respected elder brother has also handled many military affairs since he was a child, following his uncle.

Almost all the elderly people still living there have received kindness from Brother Jing.

Prince Teng's appointment as the military governor of the capital was entirely due to the help of his elder brother, Jing.

Now like this...

Jia She felt he should send a letter to Brother Jing, saying, "Instead of begging me, you should go to your Brother Zhen."

“My nephew has already spoken to Brother Zhen.”

Jia She: "..."

I'm a little angry!
We've already looked for them all, why bother going back to him and ringing the wooden bell?
"That's good. If I can help, your Brother Zhen will definitely help."

Jia She didn't open his eyes. "Go back. If you don't go back soon, the old lady will come looking for you."

"...Nephew...takes his leave!"

After getting up, Jia Zhu bowed deeply again, "Uncle, I'm sorry, I won't dare to do it again."

"..."

Jia She was too lazy to speak, so he closed his eyes and waved his hand to shoo people away.

Only then did Jia Zhu leave with heavy steps.

He was wrong; he truly knew he was wrong.

When Grandmother Jia saw her eldest grandson looking like he was about to cry, she waved for the maids to leave before asking with concern, "Zhu'er, did your uncle scold you?"

They even bully a child. Do they think she's an old woman who's dead?
"without!"

Jia Zhu burst into tears, saying, "My grandson lied to his uncle today."

Jia Mu: "..."

She had a vague suspicion in her heart, and sighed, "Your uncle won't hold it against you." She put some eggplant casserole on his plate, "You should learn this from Lian'er. Look at how many times he's lied to us, thrown tantrums, and acted like a brat? Has anyone really held it against him?"

This grandson is good in every way, except that he is a bit old-fashioned and stubborn.

"You don't need to tell me about Lord Wang's matter; your uncle and your elder brother Zhen will help."

The old lady reassured her grandson, "Even the Shi family won't just stand by and watch. All you need to do now is eat well and get a good night's sleep."

The Wang family is really something, always looking for Zhu'er.

At this moment, Grandmother Jia began to miss Jia Lian again.

If Lian'er were at home, why would her eldest grandson need to run around like this?