The head of the Red Mansion

Article 89
At Ningguo Mansion, Shen Ning, who hadn't gone to the West Mansion at all, was holding her daughter and leading her family. After receiving the food and toys bestowed by the Empress, she watched as the servants carried jars of imperial wine into the wine cellar.

It was only then that she remembered that the wine cellar still contained hundreds of jars of fine wine left behind by her father-in-law when he was alive.

No wonder the Emperor Emeritus served wine when he helped the eunuch with his dowry for Yueyue.

She was clearly remembering that her father-in-law loved to drink.

Although the old man never allowed himself to get drunk, his love for alcohol was well-known among those who knew him.

Shen Ning sighed softly in her heart, "You are not allowed to touch any of the wine your grandfather left behind."

what?
Jia Zhen was stunned.

He also likes to have a few drinks.

The wines left by my grandfather, though varied, are all fine and famous wines from different regions.

Several generals brought them with them when they returned to the capital to report on their duties.

Inside the top are several jars left by my great-grandfather. They were imperial wines bestowed by the Great Ancestor Emperor. My grandfather was reluctant to drink them, and my father wouldn't let him drink them either. Why did my grandfather have so much wine and still not let him drink it?
Does he have such a large wine cellar, yet he wants to buy wine from outside?

"This wine cellar is quite tall. Have someone build some sturdier shelves to make more space so you can buy another batch."

As Shen Ning looked around her family's wine cellar, she said, "From now on, you should save three jars of wine for me every year, and label them with dates. In seventy or eighty years, they will all be aged wines."

Jia Zhen: "..."

His mother really does things on a whim.

Are you storing this wine just for show, not to drink it?
"What? Don't want to?"

Shen Ning turned around and saw her eldest son looking resentful. She said, "Don't worry, I'll pay for the wine from now on. I just want to store wine, and you can't disagree with that."

"...How could that be?"

Jia Zhen immediately backed down, saying, "I just think that if you store it like this, our wine cellar is still a bit small."

His family's wine cellar was specially built by his grandfather at great expense, but if his mother stores the wine this way, and if he lives a long life, there will be nowhere to store Rong-ge's wine in the future.

"makes sense."

Shen Ning nodded and said, "Didn't Rong-ge say that Lai Sheng's courtyard also has a wine cellar? Then let's buy a batch and you can help me store it there."

"No, why are you storing so much wine?"

Jia Zhen was puzzled.

"...They are all sisters. Yingchun and Tanchun probably won't have anyone to store wine for them. Consider this wine as a gift from your aunt."

Yuan Chun's fate has changed; next up are Ying Chun and Tan Chun.

Of course, there's also Daiyu, who will soon accompany her mother back to the capital to visit her family.

Yueyue has wine, but they don't, so they won't be affectionate when they walk together in the future.

Although everyone has their own destiny, even if she sent the wine, they might not become very close. But for Shen Ning now, storing the wine was just a matter of giving a few instructions. "Didn't you see how angry your second aunt was when she heard that Yuan Chun didn't get any of the imperial wine? Her face was almost contorted with anger."

Jia Zhen: "..."

My second aunt is so petty.

"The Wang family was once extremely wealthy, so how come Second Aunt turned out like that?"

Jia Zhen was completely baffled.

"...Perhaps the Wang family itself has problems."

Leaving aside Wang Xifeng, both Madam Wang and Aunt Xue were cunning and scheming.

Both of them were the type who would never give up until they achieved their goal.

If it were anyone else, they would have been too ashamed to stay after being repeatedly provoked by Grandmother Jia's words. But Aunt Xue brazenly used the Jia family's house to marry a wife and insisted on living there.

She finally succeeded and married her daughter to Jia Baoyu.

Without Madam Wang's support, this wouldn't have been possible.

Therefore, both sisters are very patient.

Because of them, Wang Xifeng seems much more endearing.

Moreover, Xue Baochai in the book may have seen through Wang Xifeng's status in the Jia family from the very beginning, so she never gave her any respect. Even though she was much younger, she still called her "Feng Yatou" (a term of endearment for a young girl).

That's absolutely disgusting.

"Be more careful from now on."

"Yes!"

"Lian Er is a fool. As his older brother, you should take good care of him and not let him be deceived by others, so that he doesn't foolishly think that others are good."

"……Yes!"

Jia Zhen understood his mother's meaning.

"Didn't Eunuch Dai say that we could do with the cloth bestowed by the Emperor Emeritus as we saw fit?"

Shen Ning thought of something and said, "Later, I'll have Madam You set aside some money to give one bolt of cloth to each of the old ladies in the West Mansion, except for Madam Wang."

If Wang made her unhappy, then of course she wouldn't make her happy either.

"it is good!"

Jia Zhen agreed without hesitation.

The fabrics and clothes for my younger sister's future wedding will naturally be replaced.

"The tea, osmanthus dew, rose dew, fruits, and pastries bestowed by the Empress should also be sent to the West Palace."

Shen Ning said, "The same goes for the Wang family, no."

As for who gave the items to Wang Shi, she didn't care.

Anyway, I'll find any opportunity to be disgusting.

No one can expect her to be lenient with the Wang family.

At this moment, Shen Ning was unaware that Madam Wang had found yet another reason to resent her.

"master!"

Wang complained to Jia Zheng, “There’s no smoke without fire. Since Consort Zhen said that, she must have found an opportunity. My sister-in-law is like that… Can’t I even stand up for my daughter a little?”

Jia Zheng: "..."

He looked dejected.

After being scolded several times, he knew the opportunities and dangers of his daughter becoming the emperor's attendant.

Great opportunities come with great risks.

They could either propel him and his family to great heights or plunge them into the abyss.

The path my sister-in-law chose for her daughter is safe and sound, but it's not good for the family.

"It's all in the past, so don't dwell on it."

The Emperor Emeritus has already granted the marriage, so what's the point of saying anything more?

Jia Zheng accepted his fate, but accepting his fate did not mean that he had no resentment towards his sister-in-law in the East Mansion.

He seemed to be comforting, saying, "We should thoroughly investigate Cheng Luo's medical records later. The fact that he could provoke Princess Baofeng and Marquis Xinping to their deaths means that his illness must have been extremely dangerous back then. If we investigate, we can all feel more at ease."

"..."

These words were like needles, piercing Wang's heart instantly.

Oh right, how could she forget about that?

Cheng Luo is twenty-two years old and doesn't even have a wife at home. What if he's impotent?
If that's the case, then Shen will have really ruined her daughter's life.

"Yes, yes, Pearl, go and investigate!"

Wang's voice became shrill again.

At this moment, she even suspected that her sister-in-law was using her family's Yuan Chun to force Cheng Luo, who was difficult even for the royal family, onto her daughter, just in order to curry favor with the royal family.

Otherwise, why would the Emperor Emeritus and Empress treat a baby girl who was only a month old so well?

"It's all my sister-in-law's fault, how could she have taken Lian'er away?"

Her daughter Zhu'er's education is so important that she's now managing all the household chores.

"She can't stand to see our family doing well!"

Wang Xifeng, who had just finished tidying up Yuan Chun's room, came in through the back door and was about to report when she heard her aunt's words, and her steps faltered.

She slowly retreated again.

Newlyweds, it would be a lie to say she didn't miss Jia Lian.

But given the situation at home, Wang Xifeng suddenly realized that Jia Lian really couldn't stay at home.

At home, my aunt will treat me like a gofer.

"Ping'er, when do you think Second Master will be home?"

"At most a month!" Ping'er was also worried about her grandmother.

"Second Master is probably already on his way. He misses you, so he will definitely hurry."

There are many beauties in Jiangnan; I wonder if the Second Master can resist them.

During this time, Ping'er often overheard some maids and old women gossiping behind her back, saying things like, "What if she brings back some unrelated woman... that would be terrible."

She was so frightened that she would make her footsteps louder each time so that her grandmother wouldn't hear her.

"I wish he would slow down."

Wang Xifeng was indeed unaware of the gossip circulating in the household. She sighed, "As you can see, there are many thankless tasks in this family."

The marriage that Auntie found for Yuan Chun's younger sister was, in her opinion, really good.

Unfortunately, my aunt wanted something even better.

Moreover, even knowing that Consort Zhen might have ill intentions, he still clung to that one in ten thousand hope, vainly trying to force his aunt to feel guilty.

“Our eldest son’s family has few masters and few affairs, so the second master doesn’t need to be at home at all.”

Wang Xifeng became wary of her so-called good aunt and made up her mind, "When he comes back... I'll have to think of a way."

I really hope that my aunt can bring my father-in-law and the others back to the ancestral hall, and take the opportunity to reclaim Rongxi Hall there.

It would be even better if they could help with the division of the family property.

"Grandma is right!"

Ping'er, who had served her since childhood, immediately understood her meaning and hurriedly said, "I heard that the Empress has bestowed many things upon the East Mansion. Do you think we should go over and help the eldest mistress?"

"nature!"

The master and servant exchanged a smile and were about to go over when they saw Madam Xing, the mother-in-law, walking briskly towards them.

Wang Xifeng quickly bowed.

"Are your second uncle, second aunt, and Brother Zhu all here?"

"Yes!"

"That's perfect. The master said he's going to the ancestral hall and told them to hurry over too."

Mrs. Xing looked excited.

After living in the ancestral hall, the second son's family couldn't possibly keep occupying Rongxi Hall and refusing to return it, could they?

So, after a short while, Wang Xifeng, who had shrunk behind a tree, noticed that her second uncle and his family of three were heading towards the East Mansion with very bad expressions.

Her mother-in-law followed behind, beaming with joy.

For some reason, Wang Xifeng felt like laughing.

For the first time, she felt that her stepmother-in-law was not bad.

At this moment, Grandmother Jia, who was having a headache from the noise from her second son's family, couldn't help but sigh when she heard that they had all gone to the ancestral hall.

"Grandma, do I also have to kneel in the ancestral hall?"

When Baoyu, who was studying at home with his tutor, heard the news of the Emperor Emeritus's decree, the tutor had already left.

He was completely unaware that his status in the family had long since vanished because of the magical jade pendant around his neck.

Even Yingchun and Tanchun were summoned and made to kneel and listen to the imperial decree, but from the old lady to Jia Zheng and Lady Wang, no one mentioned him.

If they don't mention it, no one else dares to.

"My father, mother and brother all passed away."

There was a hint of fear in Baoyu's eyes.

He had a vague feeling of being rejected.

"Your parents and brother went there on business."

Looking at her little grandson, who had been so adorable just a few days ago, whom she cherished and pampered, Grandmother Jia felt even more troubled. "Good boy, you shouldn't go and join in the fun."

"But……"

"Your older sister is back."

The old lady didn't want to stay with Baoyu any longer. "Don't you miss her? Go quickly, she's still living in her old room."

"Big sister?!"

Baoyu forgot everything else at once, his eyes filled only with surprise and joy, "Grandmother, is it true?"

When has your grandmother ever lied to you?

“Thank you, Grandma!”

Baoyu hugged the old lady, rubbed against her, and then ran happily to the backyard, calling out, "Big sister, big sister, where are you?"

Hearing Baoyu's innocent and cheerful voice, Grandmother Jia slowly covered her chest.

Her precious jade!
What will we do then?
Zheng'er never liked him in the first place.

That foolish woman, Wang, ruined Baoyu's life!
No, we need to think of a way.

She clutched her chest, trying to think of a solution, unaware that seeing Yuan Chun's swollen lips, Bao Yu's heart ached and his eyes welled with tears.

Although they hadn't seen each other for more than two years, he, who grew up with his sister, always remembered her.

"It's nothing, I just bumped into something by accident."

Yuan Chun hugged her younger brother and wiped away his tears, saying, "A real man doesn't cry, he bleeds!"

"...I'm still young."

Baoyu immediately nestled into his sister's arms.

Having already gossiped for a while and drunk two cups of tea, Tan Chun and Ying Chun very tactfully gave up their space.

"How do you know so much?"

Jia Yan had a difficult childbirth, and Chen Guye changed his surname. Yingchun only knew the general outline before, but today she heard the whole story, and it made her very excited.

"My aunt just said that!"

Tan Chun said, "I just visited my aunt the other day."

Her aunt was a servant born into a family, so she knew a lot.

But in front of her eldest sister, Tan Chun kept downplaying things related to Zhou Rui's family and their stepmother. "Second sister, let's visit the East Mansion more often to play with our little sister!"

Her aunt also said that if she could learn a thing or two from her aunt when she was teaching her younger sister, that would be enough for her in this lifetime.

Tan Chun wholeheartedly agreed.

Her current worry is that her younger sister is too young, and her aunt doesn't know how to teach her anything.

"Okay!"

Going to the East Mansion was more comfortable than staying at home, so Yingchun was naturally willing. "My younger sister likes to hear us read, so we read to her."

Perhaps when my younger sister is old enough to crawl, my aunt can really call over the teachers here to teach her together.

In her sleep, Jia Yue's lips twitched slightly, revealing a small dimple, and she smiled in her sleep again.

At this time, those who were paying attention to the Jia family already knew that the Emperor Emeritus had bestowed a large number of gifts and had also allowed Yuan Chun, who had already entered the palace, to return home to await marriage.

Cheng Luo of the Marquis of Xinping's residence also received the imperial decree and a large number of rewards, including imperial estates, which made him very relieved.

The Jia family is quite impressive!
The Jia family caused a great uproar because of a daughter from a collateral branch who vandalized the Chen family's property. At that time, he thought that it would be great if he could marry a daughter from the Jia family someday.

After marrying a daughter of the Jia family, even if the old lady in the backyard wanted to cause trouble, she would have to think twice about whether she and the Cheng family could withstand the Jia family's retaliation.

He doesn't need to worry, because his wife can't protect the children while he's away from home.

Cheng Luo now only hopes that Yuan Chun has a formidable personality.

Please, please, don't make it into dough balls.

"My lord, the old lady is smashing things again."

"Let her."

Cheng Luo didn't even look up, still looking at the imperial estate bestowed by his uncle, the emperor, examining its size and produce. "Everything damaged will go into the Marquis's public account." He certainly wouldn't contribute a single penny.

The Marquis's mansion was just an empty shell from the start.

Although they had some means, they were far from being able to live a life of extravagance.

It was his mother's dowry that made the Marquis's mansion prosperous.

When his mother died, her dowry was divided up by people sent by his uncle, the emperor, resulting in a significant deficit, and the Marquis's mansion even had to pay half of it.

Now, this so-called home can barely afford official kiln porcelain anymore. We've smashed all of it, so we'll just use folk kiln porcelain instead!

"Please ask Mr. Zhang to come and choose an auspicious day so we can send betrothal gifts to the Jia family. We also need to start preparing the betrothal gifts."

His mother was worried about him until her death.

He had to think everything through for his mother, to put her at ease, to let her know that he would have a home, a peaceful home.