The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 88 Provocation
Marquis Xinping, Cheng Luo, is twenty-two years old. He is slightly weak, but has no major illnesses. Due to the tragic deaths of his parents, he has no one left in his house.

real or fake?

Yuan Chun could hardly believe it.

Even someone like her father had two concubines.

Yuan Chun couldn't believe that such a good thing would happen to her.

She couldn't help but turn around and glance at her aunt.

"The Marquis of Xinping? Excellent, excellent!"

Grandmother Jia didn't care whether the child was physically weak or had any major illnesses; all she knew was that the child was related to the royal family by blood.

The fact that the Empress was able to recommend Yuan Chun for the title of Marquis of Xinping, who was related to the royal family by blood, should mean that the Emperor had a good impression of the Jia family.

The old lady is now worried that the emperor will turn against the Jia family.

She never thought there was anything wrong with sending Yuan Chun into the palace like that before, but now she is really scared.

"Yuan Chun, quickly thank your aunt!"

She was speaking to her granddaughter, but the old lady's eyes were fixed on her second son and his wife.

If these two were any more sensible, they would have immediately thanked them as well.

"Yuan Chun thanks you, Auntie!"

Yuan Chun respectfully kowtowed to Shen Ning.

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

"Thank you so much, Auntie!"

Jia She and Jia Zhu bowed with their hands clasped together, and Jia Zhu kowtowed as if to a younger sister.

"We're all family, why be so polite?"

Before Jia Zheng and Wang Shi could speak, Shen Ning helped Jia Mu up, "Auntie, let's go out, in a little while..."

Before she could finish speaking, hurried footsteps came from outside. "Madam, Master, Eunuch Dai has arrived with an imperial edict from the Emperor Emeritus."

really!

"It is an imperial decree to grant the marriage."

Jia Zhen quickly stood up, "Let's go together, both uncles!"

Was it truly a marriage bestowed by the Emperor Emeritus?
Wang, who had just been reluctant to thank Shen Ning, suddenly stood up and said, "Quick, someone come here and help the young lady wash up again."

She was so shocked by her daughter's return that she hit and rubbed her.

Wang was getting anxious, realizing that her neatly combed hair might be in disarray.

Her makeup must be ruined too.

She also needs to be served again.

“Sister Yuanchun, come with me.”

Without even glancing at Wang, Madam You said to Jia Yuanchun, whom her mother-in-law had gone to great lengths to bring back, "Everything is ready here."

Jia Zhen said there was an imperial decree today, so she had the maids prepare it.

The incense table had already been prepared. Today's mission was for the Emperor Emeritus to bestow favors upon the Jia family.

Dai Quan looked particularly amiable.

This delighted Jia Zheng and Wang Shi, who shamelessly followed their daughter to get dressed again.

Especially when they saw those raised objects, their eyes practically lit up with joy.

"Oh my, they even have alcohol."

Wang Xifeng was incredibly envious when she saw the hundreds of jars of imperial wine being carried by the palace servants.

When Wang Shi and Jia Zheng saw this, they were indeed even more delighted.

"Madam Shen, where is your young lady?"

After nodding to Grandmother Jia, Jia She, and Jia Zheng, Dai Quan smiled broadly at Shen Ning, his face full of wrinkles, "The Emperor Emeritus is preparing a dowry for Miss Yue on behalf of the late Old Master Jia."

what?
Shen Ning was stunned.

It wasn't Yuan Chun's, it was Jia Yue's?

Jia Zhen slapped his thigh, "Oh dear, I forgot, Father-in-law, please wait a moment." He hurriedly said to his mother and You Shi, "When we were thanking the Emperor Emeritus, he said he would give Yueyue a dowry on behalf of Grandfather. Quickly, You Shi, go and bring Yueyue over here."

"I go!"

Jia Rong ran off in a flash.

"Sorry sorry!"

Jia Zhen bowed to Dai Quan and asked, "Father-in-law, do we have another imperial decree?"

"Haha not bad!"

Dai Quan still smiled and said, "There is another imperial decree for the eldest daughter of the Rongguo Mansion."

He looked at Jia Yuanchun and said, "Please wait a moment, Miss. After I announce the imperial decree here, I will go over there to congratulate you."

"...Thank you for your trouble, sir.

Jia Yuanchun quickly gave him a curtsy.

"Haha, these are all joyous occasions, why talk about trouble?"

Dai Quan was quite eloquent, saying to the smiling Grandmother Jia, "Madam, your health is as robust as ever!"

"Thank you for your concern, Father-in-law!"

With a glance from Grandmother Jia, Jia She quickly took out a purse and presented it, saying, "Father-in-law, please continue as before. On the occasion of my daughter Yuan Chun's wedding, please come and have a drink at the celebration."

"Whenever I have free time, I will definitely come and bother you."

They tried to establish a relationship through casual conversation, but Wang Shi was actually looking at all the things in the courtyard, calculating how much was for Yuan Chun and how much was for Jia Yue.

A baby barely a month old actually received a dowry from the Emperor Emeritus...

Wang was very resentful.

Unfortunately, this time, my daughter really has to thank Madam Shen.

She took a fancy to the large red brocade with gold flecks.

It must have used a lot of gold thread; the colors are rich, brilliant, and dazzling—perfect material for a wedding dress.

This must be the best tribute satin from Jiangnan.

Of course, other fabrics such as Yuhua brocade, Huanhua brocade, Sanhua brocade, Caiyun brocade, Fuguang brocade, Xueduan, Zhuanghua satin, Jacquard silk, Tianxiang silk, Danluo gauze, and Ruanyanluo are also all fine items.

Although the Wang and Jia families were both extremely wealthy and their warehouses were not short of a few bolts of fabric, those fabrics had been stored for a certain period of time, and no matter how well they were preserved, they had lost some of their color. They were not as good as the ones bestowed by the Emperor Emeritus today.
Shen Ning also glanced at the gauze and soft gauze. Summer was just around the corner, so perhaps they could use them to cover a window and make a screen door to keep mosquitoes out of the house and bite her daughter.

"Grandmother, Auntie is here."

Jia Rong carried Jia Yue in front, with the two wet nurses following quickly behind.

The little girl was awake at this moment, her big, bright, and pure eyes, like grapes, wide open. When she was turned and held in her mother's arms, her eyebrows curved into a smile, instantly capturing Shen Ning's heart.

"Come, come, the whole family has been waiting for you."

Shen Ning gently touched her daughter's face and said, "Father-in-law, thank you for your trouble."

"It's easy to talk about."

Dai Quan also glanced at the little girl a few more times.

The Jia family members are all quite good-looking.

This little girl was born into a life of luxury and has been cared for by the Emperor and Empress. Now, even the Emperor Emeritus has bestowed upon her treasures, which shows that she is very fortunate.

He opened the imperial edict, which read, "By the mandate of Heaven, the Retired Emperor decrees..."

Apart from the hundred taels of gold and the imperial wine, which were given to Jia Yue separately, everything else, such as the gold and jade ruyi, jewelry, and brocade, were all given in duplicate.

Although Jia Yue is far from getting married, and can forgo gifts like brocade, the retired emperor is not like the emperor; he is wealthy and has no shortage of things.

The old man felt a little guilty towards his grandson, who was left behind by his daughter who died young, so he gave him even more generous gifts. In the end, Jia Yue actually benefited from his sister's influence.

But Wang was unaware of these circumstances!
Seeing that the gold and so many jars of imperial wine had been left behind, while Yuan Chun, as the elder sister, had received less than a mere child, she felt very aggrieved.

After returning to the Rongguo Mansion and receiving another imperial decree, she had lost most of her initial joy.

"Pity!"

A palace maid who had received a red envelope from the Rongguo Mansion feigned a sigh and said, "I heard from Aunt Lingyu from Consort Zhen's side that Consort Zhen is preparing to speak to the Emperor about giving her eldest daughter a proper social status."

His voice wasn't loud, but the name "Consort Zhen" was just too captivating.

Wang happened to hear this, and she turned around abruptly to look at her daughter.

Yuan Chun's face turned pale. "Mother!" She squeezed her mother's hand, her eyes filled with pleading, her voice soft, "This is an imperial decree from the Emperor Emeritus."

Wang: "..."

If she hadn't remembered that this was a marriage bestowed by the Emperor Emeritus, she...

Wang was so angry that she trembled all over.

There are many dangers in the palace, but there are also better opportunities.

The Shen family...

She gritted her teeth and silently uttered those two words in her mind.

In Wang's heart, her daughter was perfect in every way. Even if the emperor didn't like her at first because of Consort Zhen, he would definitely be attracted by her talent and beauty after spending some time with her.

But now?

The wife of a fallen noble family.

And this so-called position of Lady of the Marquis was even used to kill a princess.

Is the Marquis's mansion really simpler than the imperial palace?

Which powerful and influential family doesn't have its share of sordid affairs? Which family doesn't have someone die in its backyard?
Her daughter... she's been wronged!

Seeing the palace maid walk away, Lady Wang turned around and slapped Yuan Chun hard across the face. "Where is your filial piety?"

Yuan Chun's mouth bled, and she immediately knelt on the ground.

Yingchun and Tanchun, who were out receiving imperial orders for the first time, were so frightened that their faces turned pale.

Why couldn't you just be patient?

Tears streamed down Wang's face. "Why do you have to believe others? I'm your own mother, would I ever harm you?"

"...Mother, I have been in the palace for almost three years."

She's my own mother!
But that person wasn't an outsider; she was her aunt who cared for her even more than her own mother.

Yuan Chun covered her face and lowered her head. "The Dowager Consort was kind enough to help me three months before I entered the palace. Why did she have to wait until now? Can't you tell? That person is trying to sow discord in our family."

"Now they're saying they still want our family's favor!"

Although Yingchun was terrified of her second aunt's current state, she felt even more sorry for her older sister.

She was raised here when she was very young. Her grandmother and second aunt didn't take care of her much. Although her eldest sister was better to Baoyu, she was one of the few people in the family who were willing to take care of her and her third sister.

"She didn't want our family to think badly of her."

Yingchun, her face pale, said, "She also wants to use you, Second Aunt, to beat up Big Sister."

"Yes, she's so mean!"

Tan Chun's voice was even clearer. She stood next to her second sister with her little chest puffed out, saying, "Our family shouldn't have given her any reward money."

Everyone has two taels of silver.

That's equivalent to her monthly salary.

"Did you hear that? You're not even as good as a child."

When Grandmother Jia heard those words, she paused in surprise.

But the three granddaughters' words made more sense: "Let's hurry back to the ancestral hall!"

Out of sight is pure.

They deserve to be taught a lesson at the ancestral hall.

"Yuan Chun, come here quickly, let your grandmother take a look."

Grandmother Jia walked towards Yuan Chun with a pained expression, "Oh dear, why was she beaten so badly?"

The old lady became even angrier. "Li, quickly help your wife to the East Mansion."

Shen said so much, why doesn't Wang understand?

"Grandma, how can you blame me for this?"

Wang didn't want to listen to what they had to say.

All she knew was that if she endured a little longer, Consort Zhen would speak up for her daughter.

Wang shook off Li Wan, covered her face and cried, "Is what my sister-in-law says necessarily true? Can't you tell that she's been trying to scare us?"

"Mother!"

Jia Zhu, who rushed back after seeing off the guests, felt heartbroken to see his sister in such a state. "Wasn't the marriage arranged for my sister by my aunt good? Even the Emperor Emeritus gave her face. Let bygones be bygones!"

If you always dwell on the past and always think there's something better, then this family will be constantly arguing because of that one sentence.

Jia Zhu also heard what the palace maid said and knew something was wrong, so he rushed back. But he didn't expect that his mother would still scold his sister, saying, "If that person were really a good person, she wouldn't say such things on a day like today."

"Yuan Chun, get up quickly. Today is your big day. Don't hurt your knees from kneeling."

Madam Xing came over and helped Yuan Chun up. "Second daughter, third daughter, come quickly and help your sister back to her room to rest. She's been exhausted all day."

"Mother, I take my leave!"

Yuan Chun did not get up immediately. She kowtowed to Wang Shi before standing up and, with her aunt and sisters by her side, went to Grandmother Jia's courtyard.

She used to live in that side courtyard.

She lived alone at first.

Then came the second sister, Baoyu, and the third sister.

"Don't be angry with your mother."

As she walked, Xing said, "She's had such a rough time these past few days, she can't seem to process anything."

Of course, Wang's embarrassing incident had to be told to Sanchun.

Xing wanted them all to know that she was better than Wang.

“Yesterday was Xiaoyueyue’s one-month celebration. Everyone was exhausted after a long day. Yingchun and Tanchun went back to their residences to rest. Your mother even forced the old lady to find your aunt and ask her to…”

"Auntie, I know."

After reading the letter and hearing that the whole family had entered the ancestral hall, Yuan Chun knew exactly what her mother had been planning.
Especially today in the ancestral hall...

Yuan Chun interrupted her aunt to prevent her two younger sisters from overhearing and losing respect for their mother in the future, saying, "I know everything, thank you. I'm so tired today, I'll talk to you again tomorrow."

“…Okay, okay!”

Xing was rebuffed, but she wasn't too angry. "Then you should rest well. I'll come to see you again tomorrow. Yingchun, take good care of your older and younger sisters."

"Yes!"

Yingchun readily agreed, "Big sister, you can rest in my room for a while. Second sister-in-law will be able to clean up your old room soon, and then you can go back."

"……it is good!"

My second sister seems to have grown up.

Yuan Chun was very pleased. "Come along with me, and tell me about your family matters!"

The younger sisters are still small, so the elders usually avoid mentioning the arguments they have with them.

However, they will certainly know something about important family matters.

Yuan Chun desperately wanted to know what was happening at home.

"Has anything major happened at home since I left?"

"Have!"

Tan Chun said, "Brother Zhen from the East Mansion doesn't understand right from wrong and hit Rong Ge'er. In a fit of anger, Aunt almost smashed up the school."

She had heard her aunt mention it.

Auntie initially said that Auntie had gone too far, and Huan'er was afraid to go to school anymore.

But then she said that her aunt's words were really good, and she no longer had to worry about Huan'er going astray.

Once inside, Tan Chun recounted the gossip she had heard from Aunt Zhao in detail.

Yuan Chun was shocked to hear this.

When Uncle Jing lost his official position, his wife seemed to lose her luster when she was with him.

During that time, she knew that her parents vaguely looked down on the East Mansion.

They kept saying that the eldest uncle's official rank was two levels higher than that of Zhen's elder brother, and that the East Mansion was now being looked after by the West Mansion.

Unexpectedly, my aunt was able to stand up again under those circumstances.

that's nice!

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