The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 72 Production (Part 3)

came back.

Jia Zhen is back.

Shen Ning, who had been worried and tormented by labor pains, suddenly felt a surge of energy throughout her body.

She grasped the midwife's hand, "Can I go see my son?"

"……able!"

After a slight hesitation, the midwife Zhong agreed.

Grandpa Zhen is back. She feels that Madam Shen is different from before. Her hand holding hers is much stronger.

Wouldn't it be better to see Grandpa Zhen in person?
"Mother, did you hear what your son said?"

Jia Zhen, unable to hear his mother's response, was still worried about her.

"heard it."

Shen Ning also raised her voice slightly and got up with the help of the two old women.

They quickly helped her to the window, and as the midwife opened the window, she said, "Just take a look from here."

Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly sensed something was wrong with the woman in labor. When she turned around, she found that the people outside were also extremely surprised. It turned out that Grandpa Zhen was... was being carried over.

Jia Zhen, who was leaning weakly against the quilt and being quietly lifted back by the old woman, heard the sound and hurriedly looked up, so shocked that he stammered, "Mother, son, son is alright."

Manager Chen and Madam You, who were directing his exit, were also surprised.

“Mother, Manager Chen and I are here. The old man is fine, you…”

Shen Ning's lips trembled slightly, but she walked resolutely towards the door.

Whether there's something to it or not, you have to see it to know.

Jia Zhen's face was ashen, which must have been due to excessive blood loss.

"Mother~"

Jia Zhen could only gesture for him to be lifted a little further in front of the door so that his mother could see him. "Your son is really alright. It's more important for you to give birth to your sister."

Shen Ning struggled to get out of the house. "Where are you hurt?"

"Legs, legs!"

Jia Zhen quickly lifted his two injured legs. "Look, I can move them. No bones are broken. They'll be fine in a few days."

Is it just the legs?

Seeing the blanket he was clutching tightly and the tense expressions of those around him, Shen Ning slowly lifted the blanket, only to find that his abdomen and chest were tightly bound with cloth strips, and there were obvious signs of bleeding in several places.

So heavy?
Shen Ning, her hands trembling, covered him up again. "Does it hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt!"

Jia Zhen quickly shook his head, "Mother, don't worry, I only have superficial injuries, it doesn't hurt at all."

Jia Rong, accompanied by He Yuanzheng, entered the courtyard at this moment, along with a eunuch carrying his medicine box.

"Nonsense, how could it not hurt?"

Shen Ning also saw Dr. He. "I'm really sorry to trouble you today, Dr. He. Please, you must save my son."

As she spoke the last sentence, tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

She was wrong; she shouldn't have been so hasty and let Jia Zhen take such a risk.

With so many injuries, if any one of them isn't treated properly...

"Madam, rest assured, I will do my utmost."

He Yuanzheng immediately saw her condition and bowed, saying, "You...you should go back!"

"Grandmother, Father has me."

Jia Rong held back her tears and ran over, supporting her grandmother and trying to get her to go back, saying, "If you're like this, Father will worry too."

"……good!"

Shen Ning hugged her seemingly grown-up grandson with trembling hands, "Outside... Grandma is leaving everything to you."

She didn't need anyone to persuade her; the pain in her stomach was getting worse, and she knew she wouldn't be able to stand if she didn't go back soon. "You all need to take good care of yourselves."

The moment the door closed, the pent-up pain surged forth like a tidal wave. She didn't want Jia Zhen and the others to worry, but the pain was just too much. Her rationality couldn't hold her back, and her suppressed cries of pain brought tears to Jia Zhen and Jia Rong's eyes.

The two of them only hated themselves for being useless, which caused their mother (grandmother) to worry at this time.

"Let's find a quiet room and I need to check on the injury first."

He Yuanzheng sighed inwardly and ordered his men to carry Jia Zhen away.

“Over there!” Madam You pointed to the study across the way and said to Jia Zhen, who didn’t want to leave, “Master, I will keep an eye on Mother here. Please don’t make her worry.”

She insisted that the old women carry him away, and Jia Zhen could not object. He could only be carried away with tears in his eyes.

Half an hour later, Doctor He treated the wound that Manager Chen had said was not very promising with the best medicine from the palace again, while the cries of pain from across the hall were still intermittent.

While it's true that you shouldn't scream during childbirth, Shen's extremely restrained cries of pain were heartbreaking to hear.

He Yuanzheng sighed and took out a porcelain bottle from his medicine box. "Inside is Physician Zhang's Life-Preserving Pill. Use it as you see fit." He handed it to Manager Chen. "I must go back and report."

"Here you go, sir!"

Rong-ge'er's eyes were red, but he still insisted on seeing the person off with great courtesy.

"I'm here."

Jia She stood under the large red lantern outside the courtyard, cupped his hands and said, "I'll see you off. You've had a hard time, Courtyard Manager He. I'll see you off."

He originally intended to track down the murderer, but then he couldn't stop thinking about this place, so he came back in the end.

However, since his sister-in-law was giving birth, and he was a man, it wasn't appropriate for him to come in, so he waited outside the courtyard.

He Yuanzheng nodded, patted Jia Rong's thin shoulder, and said gently, "Stay here and keep your grandmother and father company."

He sighed inwardly.

Who could have imagined that the once-powerful Ningguo Mansion would be bullied like this?
When Madam Shen was giving birth, they attacked Jia Zhen; this was an attempt to wipe out his entire family!

That's what he thought, and Emperor Xiaomu, who heard his report, thought the same way. He waved for He Yuanzheng to leave, and Xiao Sanzi, the eunuch who had carried his medicine box earlier, entered under the guidance of Eunuch Liu.

"emperor!"

Xiao Sanzi knelt down and said, "Lord Jia has seventeen wounds, the three most serious of which are on his legs. The wounds on his abdomen and chest are secondary."

The emperor frowned slightly. "...Was he alright when you left?"

"Lord Jia lost too much blood, and talking to Madam Shen upset his mind and heart. Chief Physician He and Doctor Chen from Huichuntang treated him with acupuncture. When we left, he was still unconscious and very restless, as if he was still thinking about Madam Shen in his sleep."

"Didn't Madam Shen give birth? How did they manage to get in touch?"

"Lord Jia was worried about Madam Shen, so he had someone carry him into the courtyard, thinking he could say a few words through the window to reassure her. But Madam Shen was worried about him and insisted that the servants help her to look through the window. And that's when the trouble started."

Xiao Sanzi recounted everything he saw and heard after entering Shen Ning's courtyard.

Hearing Jia Zhen and Jia Rong's self-reproach and remorse, and hearing Lady Shen's shock, sadness, and later suppressed cries of pain upon seeing her children and grandchildren, Emperor Xiaomu was not unmoved.

Born into royalty, the simplest and most genuine family affection in the world becomes like a cloud in the sky, something that can only be seen but not touched.

The bonds between fathers and sons, mothers and sons, are fraught with hidden interests. Each of them is caught in the middle of the situation, yet they are unable to unravel it in the slightest.

Jia Zhen...

Under the lamplight, Emperor Xiaomu saw his third son secretly wiping away tears and couldn't help but ask, "Why are you crying?"

"This servant... this servant is thinking of my mother."

Xiao Sanzi was startled and quickly said, "My mother died in childbirth when she gave birth to my younger brother."

"Oh? And what about your brother?"

"My younger brother didn't last three days either."

Xiao Sanzi's tears fell down in a steady stream.

He buried his younger brother himself.

He was buried next to his mother.

However, he was small and weak, so the pit he dug was not deep.

"……reward!"

Emperor Xiaomu knew that every eunuch who entered the palace had his own hardships, so he didn't ask any further questions. "Go down!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Xiao Sanzi kowtowed three times, took the two taels of silver from his master, Eunuch Liu, and hurriedly and carefully retreated.

"Let's go!"

The emperor also stood up.

He sent someone to summon Yuan Chun to Tingfeng Pavilion, and she has probably arrived by now.

The Ningguo Mansion, by sheer chance, helped him out of a lot of trouble.

But Father...

In the past, Jia Jing had more face in front of his father than he did.

They truly treated him like a son or nephew.

Unfortunately, the Crown Prince lost his mind. Although his actions had nothing to do with the Jia family, and the Jia family even helped to quickly quell the chaos, the Emperor still took his anger out on him.

Jia Jing did not inherit the title; Jia Zhen only granted him the rank of Third-Class General of Might and Valor.

Logically, he should be a first-class general, just like Jia She of the Rongguo Mansion.

The emperor sighed as he walked.

His father held a grudge against the crown prince and Jia Jing.

He couldn't comment on this matter. From his father's perspective, the Crown Prince and Jia Jing were challenging his authority and questioning his abilities, wasting his love and support for them. They deserved to die.

In the eyes of the Crown Prince and Jia Jing, their father... was once wise and powerful, but later became confused.

At least on the issue of the maritime ban, he sided with his elder brother, the Crown Prince, and Jia Jing.

pity……

What the Crown Prince couldn't accomplish back then, Father Emperor couldn't accomplish either, even when he was still alive.

A gentle evening breeze wafts through the Listening Wind Pavilion.

Yuan Chun wore a thin cloak, feeling very uneasy.

Since that day, the emperor had encountered him several more times.

It seemed like her luck had finally turned, but... Yuan Chun knew it was all a lie.

This is a place where people eat people.

Behind every smile, there is another face, or several faces.

So does she.

She let out a soft sigh.

"Are you upset that I'm late?"

"Your Majesty~"

Yuan Chun hurriedly tried to bow, but Emperor Xiaomu stopped her, saying, "I'm in a hurry to find you because I have something to ask you."

"...Your Majesty, please ask."

Yuan Chun had a meal.

She was always afraid that the emperor was approaching her with ulterior motives.

Because she really can't give anything.

Although she was the legitimate daughter of the Rongguo Mansion, her father did not inherit the title. He still held the same official position that the retired emperor had bestowed upon him.

The Jia family wielded some influence in the military, but they were always on the side of the retired emperor.

It was precisely because of this that Consort Zhen did not give her any special treatment.

She understood that as long as she pleased the Emperor Emeritus, she would have everything she was entitled to.

She doesn't need to give the Jia family much face.

But as for the Emperor… Yuan Chun’s heart was pounding like a drum.

She was afraid that the emperor would never take any shortcuts and would follow her directly.

She knew how the Emperor was doing since she entered the palace.

Don't even mention that she can't promise anything on behalf of the Jia family; even if she could... she wouldn't dare!

Although the retired emperor seemed to be detached from affairs, everyone in the palace and the court knew the truth.

Yuan-chun was afraid of causing further trouble for the Jia family.

"What do you think of Madam Shen from the Ningguo Mansion?"

Aunt?
Yuan Chun was shocked. Why would the Emperor ask about her aunt?
Uncle Jing has already become a monk, so why is he still...?

"Auntie... is a very good person."

Yuan Chun did not want to belittle her aunt like others did.

My aunt doesn't have a daughter, so she always likes her very much whenever she sees her. She always thinks of her when she has something to eat or play with.

She felt at home in Ningguo Mansion, just like at home.

Sometimes I'm even happier than at home.

At least when she was at home, she had to take care of her grandmother while also thinking about her mother.

However, the two were always secretly competing with each other.

Her mother was always crying. She and her brother were taken to their grandmother's side as soon as they were born, which made her miss her day and night, and she almost cried herself blind.

Later, when Baoyu was born, he was the same way. Yuanchun couldn't help but feel more sorry for her mother. But she vaguely sensed that her grandmother had noticed and was very unhappy.

Sending her to the palace—in the past, if she had pleaded and begged, her grandmother would have argued with her mother openly or secretly, even if she didn't change her mind. But this time, they were on the same side.

Try to persuade her by talking about her family, parents, older brother, and younger brother.

Only her aunt cared for her.

Teach her to be careful with her words and actions, teach her to protect herself wisely, teach her to act within her means...

She wanted to help her oppose it.

But her position was awkward, and her words carried little weight.

"Is he very good to you?" Emperor Xiaomu looked at her gently, but in fact he didn't miss a single detail of her expression.

"Yes!"

Yuan Chun said, "Auntie is very kind to all the girls in the clan." For every wedding, she would help with the facials and give them a dowry.

Her share used to be exceptionally generous.

Her aunt even showed it to her.

"She always wanted a daughter."

I received news from home before the Lunar New Year that my aunt was pregnant.

Yuan Chun looked at the Emperor, slightly nervous, "Your Majesty, why are you asking about my aunt all of a sudden?"

"Hmm, it seems your aunt really likes girls."

Emperor Xiaomu laughed and said, "Isn't she pregnant? In order to bring good fortune to the child in her womb, she donated a sum of money to the national treasury. Also, thinking about the debts at home, why don't you have your uncle and brother pay off all the debts to the national treasury?"

what?
Yuan Chun was shocked.

No wonder Consort Zhen treated her so badly not long ago.

So it was because they paid off their debts?

"Paying back debts is a matter of course, isn't it the right thing to do?"

"..." Emperor Xiaomu patted her hand, "It is indeed a matter of course, but in this world, there are so many people who pretend to be righteous and act as deadbeats."

Yuanchun: "..."

Suddenly I feel so fortunate that the debts at home have been paid off.

Although they sided with the retired emperor, the Jia family really couldn't afford to offend him too much.

"You only mentioned that your aunt loves girls, but you haven't said anything else."

“My aunt has always been very compassionate towards the poor and weak.”

The Emperor seemed to have no ill intentions towards his aunt, which made Yuan Chun feel much more at ease. "The orphanage in the capital receives a lot of donations, so she didn't donate to this place. Instead, she provided all the food and clothing to the orphanage in Datong. I even helped her with the accounts for that before."

Datong?

Emperor Xiaomu remembered that after he had found it very difficult to support the orphanages in the capital, he specifically ordered someone to investigate the situation of the orphanages in various prefectures.

What happened inside was shocking. Many orphanages had become dens of human trafficking, and almost all the decent children inside had been sold.

It's not that there aren't wealthy people donating money and goods, but rather that many of the orphanage managers are dishonest.

Throughout the entire Great Zhao Dynasty, apart from a few orphanages in the south that were doing exceptionally well, only the orphanages in the capital and Datong in the north were doing well.

The capital was under the emperor's nose, while Datong was where the various generals and officers kept an eye on things from time to time.

I had only heard that the donation was made by a mysterious lady, but I never expected it to be Mrs. Shen.

Emperor Xiaomu let out a soft sigh of relief. "Your Uncle Jing knows about this, right?"

"knew."

When it comes to her eldest uncle, Yuan Chun's tone becomes less relaxed: "My eldest uncle never cares about my eldest aunt."

"Your uncle resigned from his official post, and Madam Shen lost her title. Do you think she can bear the strange looks from others?"

"..."

Yuan Chun pursed her lips. "You have to endure it whether you like it or not."

What else can we do? Thunder and rain are both acts of imperial favor.

My aunt said that she was not suffering, but my uncle was the one who was truly suffering.

"In this world, no one's life is smooth sailing."

The crown prince is dead.

At least her uncle is still alive.

It can also protect the family.

Yuan Chun was also well aware that the Ning and Rong mansions were now truly relying on Uncle Jing, who held no official rank or title.

The emperor patted her on the shoulder, "It's windy today, you should go home early."

Yuan Chun seemed to be doing better than he had originally thought.

Emperor Xiaomu, knowing his head of the secret guards should be back by now, sent Yuan Chun away and went straight to the Empress's palace.

Sure enough, before he could even sit down and take a couple of sips of tea, the head of the secret guards, dressed in black, appeared. "Your Majesty, it has been confirmed that the dwarf assassin Xie Zhenghu is connected to the remnants of the previous dynasty. They probably think the Jia family is about to fall, so they're giving them a push to avenge the blood feud between the two generations of Dukes of Ningguo and them."

He presented the message from his inside contact with both hands: "This order is for Jia Zhen's death, 50,000 taels of silver. Jia Zhen is seriously injured, 30,000 taels of silver."

Emperor Xiaomu took the thin piece of paper, nodded, and said, "Go down!"

He turned to the Empress and said, "Send two female physicians to Ningguo Mansion to take care of Madam Shen during childbirth!"

"...Production? Today?"

The Queen was surprised.

She just heard that someone was trying to assassinate Jia Zhen.

"Yes!" The Emperor sighed. "I still need to go to my father and plead for the Jia family."

It would be best if the Emperor himself granted Lady Shen an imperial decree.

The Jia family is in such a pitiful state now; surely the Emperor will feel some pity for them.

Emperor Xiaomu knew that his aging father was most proud of his glorious past.

Throughout that period, the Jia family's influence was ever-present.

Now that the descendants of the Duke of Ningguo are in such a miserable state, they should be given some kindness.

Fortunately, Jia Jing had already become a monk, and Madam Shen was a woman.

Considering the possibility that she might have a difficult childbirth and not live to enjoy it, the Emperor might leniently give her more.

Emperor Xiaomu personally went to see the retired emperor.

At this moment, the retired emperor was indeed not asleep.

He was wearing his reading glasses, reading the memorial sent by the emperor.

Important memorials were left for him to add his own comments, while unimportant ones were approved by the emperor himself.

He was still quite satisfied with his son in this respect.

Although he was the emperor, he never overstepped his bounds.

In her heart and mind, there was still her father, the emperor.

"Your Majesty the Emperor Emeritus, the Emperor has arrived."

Eunuch Qian reported in a low voice.

"please!"

Something must have happened so late at night.

The retired emperor put down the memorial and waited for his son to come in.

……

In Ningguo Mansion, Shen Ning felt that she would rather be dead.

It really hurts so much.

She was in so much pain that she was almost delirious.

When she went to see Jiao Da that day, her real intention was for him to find someone from his own circle to do the job.

Even if their own family members break both legs, their lives won't be in danger.

But now...

Thinking of the old man's expression that day, Shen Ning regretted it so much that she wanted to punch herself.

The old man had been kind to the Jia family; if he had been any better, Jia Zhen and Jia Rong would not have neglected him in his old age.

But in the Dream of the Red Chamber, Jiao Da had a terrible time.

Although he could still rant and rave about everyone, his master couldn't do anything about him, but the servants below had plenty of ways to control him.

Clearly, this old man was someone who had made up his mind and was incredibly stubborn.

She asked him to play the victim for the Jia family, wasn't that just to make the Jia family really suffer?
Even in her dreams, Shen Ning was still thinking about Jia Zhen's injury.

They were terrified that her actions would cause the still-good Jia Zhen to perish.

Let Rong-ge'er become an orphan.

She might not be able to withstand this hurdle.

The child was so difficult to give birth to; she felt she had to apologize to her.

"Slice it open, slice it open~"

Muttering to herself, Shen Ning hoped that someone could cut out the child in her womb, so that at least they wouldn't both die.

"Madam, open your mouth!"

Zhong Pozi forced a bowl of particularly bitter medicine down her throat.

Shen Ning slowly opened her eyes. The candlelight flickered, and Madam You and two unfamiliar women had entered at some point.

"Mother!"

Madam You held her hand tightly. "It's already past four in the morning, and the old man is still sleeping soundly. He doesn't have a fever at all."

"……Thanks!"

Shen Ning squeezed her hand with relief, "I'm entrusting him and Rong-ge'er to you."

Five thousand words of new chapter, please vote!