The Overlord of the Red Mansion

Chapter 113: The Art of Controlling People, Fighting
Jia Rong did a good thing before leaving.

That night, Jia Rong brought back home two young women in their thirties and forties and a girl of seventeen or eighteen.

The three of them came in on sedan chairs and went straight into the garden from the west gate.

Because it was night, the maid on duty opened the door and saw Jia Rong coming in with three sedan chairs, and hurriedly asked the reason.

"Master, who is here?"

"It's none of your business! If you dare to say something wrong and it gets out, I'll kick you out!"

The old woman didn't dare to ask more questions and waited until Jia Rong and his men came in before carefully closing the door.

Although these old women are usually gossipy, they are also afraid of certain things.

Most of the gatekeepers were widows. In ancient times, men died early, and old widows lived a miserable life even if they had sons.

Here in the palace, you can eat meat, sleep on a warm kang, and have two meals a day on time.

After returning home, they had to cook and collect firewood by themselves, and they starved and froze to death.

The outside world is in chaos now, and being driven out is equivalent to a dead end. Most of the old women who had left Rongguo Mansion before died.

Even young men and women would not have a good fate after leaving. Many of them would become useless after leaving the Duke's Mansion and would not be able to support themselves at all.

When Jia Rong said he wanted to drive people away, he was definitely not bluffing. No matter which grandmother he asked, she would not be able to save him.

The Ning Mansion has its own rules. Don’t ask about things that you shouldn’t ask.

Jia Rong soon arrived at the Four Seasons Garden, which was designed by Jia Rong himself.

A cross-shaped block is divided into four courtyards of 400 to 500 square meters, separated by flower and grass gardens that bloom in different seasons. People can visit other courtyards by walking along the 20-meter-long grass path.

Shi Xiangyun, Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai lived in the Summer Courtyard of the Four Seasons Garden, the three sisters of the Spring family lived in the Spring Courtyard, Miaoyu, Xing Xiuyan and Xue Baoqin lived in the Winter Courtyard, and the Li sisters, their aunt and Qiao'er lived in the Autumn Courtyard.

Qiao'er has lived separately from her parents since she was a child. When she grew up, she had her own room and was accompanied by maids and a wet nurse. Wang Xifeng either accompanied Jia Rong or managed affairs and took care of her son, so she did not spend much time with him.

Only girls live in the Four Seasons Garden. Yuanyang, Ping'er and others and Jia Rong and his wife live in the large courtyard of Tianxiang Tower in Huifang Garden, which is the main place.

However, just as the emperor rarely lived in the Forbidden City, Jia Rong rarely lived in the back garden. He spent most of his time in the front yard, where it was convenient to go in and out, to go to get off work, and to manage people and affairs.

The maid started knocking on the door, and after two minutes someone opened it.

The person who opened the door was Lin Daiyu's wet nurse, followed by Lin Daiyu's maid Zijuan.

Zijuan asked hurriedly, "Master, why are you here so late at night? Is there something wrong?"

Jia Rong walked in directly and said, "I have brought Xiangyun's aunt and sister here to talk to your young lady. Don't spread the news."

Actually, it doesn’t matter if it gets out, but I just want to create a nervous feeling among others.

Zijuan and others all knew that Shi Xiangyun's uncle had committed a capital crime, and that her aunt and sister had been sold to a brothel for several months.

After realizing the seriousness of the problem, the maids and servants dared not say anything.

Jia Rong quickly brought his men into the courtyard and went straight to Shi Xiangyun's room.

Shi Xiangyun had fallen asleep. When she was called out of bed, she saw her two aunts and sisters.

Soon, several people were talking and crying. Jia Rong sat in the outer room, listening to the crying and whispering inside while drinking tea quietly.

Soon, Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai came over, both wearing their clothes.

Jia Rong was slightly moved by Lin Daiyu, who was not dressed up but still pure, elegant and beautiful.

Xue Baochai wore a white jacket with blue and white flowers printed on it, and an orange nightgown underneath. Because of her plump figure, she seemed to be radiating heat, yet felt cool to the touch and comfortable.

Lin Daiyu had never thought that Jia Rong would still have lustful thoughts at this time. Hearing the crying inside, she hurriedly asked in a low voice: "Did the emperor forgive them?"

Jia Rong said nonchalantly, "I brought them back secretly. Anyway, no one in the capital can go to brothels for more than a month, so everyone secretly brought them home to support them. I can just send them back after a while."

Lin Daiyu was shocked. Every time she knew that Jia Rong was bold, he would always do something even more bold.

Xue Baochai asked carefully: "Does Madam know..."

Jia Rong smiled and said, "What do you think?"

Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai looked at each other, both with speechless expressions in their eyes.

If Jia Yuanchun knew this, she would probably be crying now.

At this time, several people from the inner room came out quickly.

The two daughters-in-law and young ladies of the Shi family knelt down in front of Jia Rong.

"Duke Ning! Please save us, we don't want to go back!"

The women cried and begged Jia Rong.

Shi Xiangyun's aunt said, "Please show mercy, Lord Ning! Even if we can only be servants in Ning Mansion, it is better than working in a brothel all day. We are beaten every day, and our lives are worse than death. If we go back, we will die."

Shi Xiangyun also cried and said, "Big brother! Please save them!"

Jia Rong sighed and said, "I have taken a great risk by bringing them out to meet you. The lives of the Shi family's wives are important, and so are the lives of our Jia family."

Jia Rong then said to the kneeling wives, "Don't worry, I will take care of Sister Xiangyun from now on. She is living a life of luxury here, and I have known her since childhood. I will never let her suffer any injustice."

Everyone is indeed relieved that Shi Xiangyun is here, but... the ladies and young ladies who have fallen into prostitution and receive guests every day now wish they could suffer for Shi Xiangyun and exchange their positions.

Shi Xiangyun was in tears at this time. No matter how badly her aunts had treated her in the past, they were still her relatives. Now, seeing them being treated like that in such a muddy place, she could not sleep or eat well.

"Big brother!" Shi Xiangyun cried and begged Jia Rong.

Jia Rong quickly said, "I have already spent money to arrange the relationship. I will be with the emperor for one or two months, so there should be nothing to do. It just so happens that the royal brothel is not open, so let them stay here for a month and make plans after I come back." Shi Xiangyun wiped her tears and said, "Thank you, big brother!"

Jia Rong comforted Shi Xiangyun, "Be good, I'm here, everything will be fine."

The people on the ground clearly felt that the tone was abnormal. They also knew that Jia Rong had been married for a long time, so what was the difference between him and Shi Xiangyun?
But who cares about that nowadays!!
Not to mention Shi Xiangyun, the kneeling old aunts and young ladies had been trapped in the brothel for three or four months, being abused and insulted all day long, but they did not really commit suicide as heroines.

To some extent, feudal thinking such as the separation of men and women and ethics and morality can no longer restrain them! !

As long as Jia Rong is willing to save people, these former marquises and marquis' daughters are willing to be slaves together.

Miss Shi hurriedly shouted to Jia Rong: "Brother Rong! Please save me, I am willing to repay you for my whole life!"

Jia Rong said quickly, "I have risked my life to bring you back here for a few days of peace and quiet. You should repay the favor first. Go take a bath and eat something. Tomorrow, tell Xiangyun and my family about what happened recently. Don't keep it in your heart and get sick."

"Don't think too much about anything else. Just enjoy yourself for as long as you can."

Several aunts and sisters hurriedly expressed their gratitude: "Thank you, Duke!"

Jia Rong brought the Shi family over mainly to let them talk to the girls about how hard life is out there, so that a group of people wouldn't take themselves too seriously.

Sure enough, after the fallen marquises and rich girls told everyone about the misfortunes they had encountered and begged everyone for help and asked Jia Rong not to send them back, the feelings and thoughts of their family members changed.

Even Shi Xiangyun herself did not take the Marquis's daughter too seriously. She had no idea whether she was a legitimate wife or a concubine, and she was vague about that.

Jia Rong quickly set out to accompany the emperor to preside over the funeral, and Jia Yuanchun and Youshi also set out with the queen's family.

As expected, the emperor found out what Jia Rong had done on the way.

"Jia Rong, do you admit your guilt?"

"Convicted."

"Tell me, what crime have you committed?"

"I used my patrol authority to force street vendors to buy my coal."

"anything else!"

"I took the medicine from the imperial pharmacy and tried it on my son and my wives and concubines, which was not on the doctor's prescription."

"It's not these things. The Minister of Rites impeached you for secretly taking away the wife and daughter of a criminal from the Jiaofang Bureau and not returning. Do you know your crime?"

"It's unfair! I spent fifty taels of silver and paid the money! The Ministry of Rites didn't stop me from leaving, but I didn't expect that they would impeach me after helping me do something wrong! It's unfair!"

"The descendants of the Shi family have also made many contributions to the court. I allow them to be freed from their slavery. You have violated the law knowingly this time, and your salary will be suspended for seven months!"

"Yes!"

Jia Rong thought he would be demoted and have his title reduced, but he didn't expect that his salary would be suspended.

It's impossible to go to jail. This is nothing.

The demotion was mainly to remove him from the idle position of the Vice Minister of War. If he dared to dismiss the officials of the Imperial Hospital and the Imperial Pharmacy and raid the Jia family today, Jia Rong would give him a tetanus injection at night!
Artists are bold!
Jia Rong already knew where he would be promoted next, which would definitely be the Ministry of Rites.

In order to prevent officials from becoming too powerful, the Assistant Minister of War would generally not be promoted to the Minister of War. Instead, he would be promoted one level to other departments and then promoted back.

However, this old man was always thinking about suppressing this and that, which made Jia Rong want to suppress him too.

Feudal ideas are unacceptable. Jia Rong only regards the emperor as a big boss like the one who pays salaries.

When I think about it this way, I feel that this boss shows off his political skills all day long, and small favors like that are acceptable.

But even in modern society, no matter who has the ability, can they continue to tolerate these bastards?

Whether it is marrying Jia Yuanchun or a series of other things, Jia Rong has his own logic. When others try to persuade him, he thinks that they have feudal ideas in their minds and doesn't care about what others say at all.

Lin Daiyu was able to give some advice, mainly because Jia Rong did not take the matter seriously.

Soon, while protecting the emperor, Jia Rong attacked at night and beat up the emperor and the princes who were holding a royal meeting in the middle of the night.

Three people were killed and eight were injured.

Fast as the wind, swift as thunder.

Jia Rong quickly brought people over from the yard where he was resting.

"Commander Ma, where did the assassin run to? I'll go after him!"

It was not Jia Rong who was on duty today. The one on duty was Lord Ma, the infantry commander who was a royal relative. Naturally, all those attending the royal meeting were royal family members, and Jia Rong was not there, so there was no question of him being late to save the emperor.

Commander Ma said anxiously, "Don't worry about the assassins for now. Duke Ningguo has arrived just in time. Go in quickly! The emperor and the prince are seriously injured!"

The emperor, who had just demonstrated his ability to rule people yesterday, had now been hit by Jia Rong's kick, which would have cut off his lineage and exterminated his descendants.

The other princes were also hit hard, some died and some were injured.

Except for the one who was sentenced to death by Jia Rong on the spot, the other eight were rescued and were able to get out of bed the next day.

If he takes action, the patient will be saved; if he doesn’t save the patient, the patient will die. This is a miracle doctor!

The emperor hurried back to the palace and ignored the old concubine.

Can filial piety be more important than one’s own life?

Not to mention the emperor, princes and others, even the civil officials did not dare to talk about filial piety rules at this time.

"Military Minister Jia Rong has been rewarded for saving the emperor! He will be promoted to the governor of the Beijing Camp! He must take up the post immediately and there must be no mistakes!"

After being beaten, the emperor became obedient, no longer greedy for power, and began to train a crown prince.

(End of this chapter)