Dream of the Red Chamber: I can upgrade my entries!

Chapter 115 Ignorant and Foolish Woman, How Can the Jia Family Tolerate Your Insolence Here!
"Yu'er."

"What does this mean?"

Grandmother Jia, who was on the couch, couldn't help but sit up, her old eyes fixed on Lin Daiyu.

“Brother Yan said that the country is not peaceful. Even if we don’t fight on the battlefield, it’s not a bad thing to learn some martial arts to strengthen our bodies.”

"My second sister and third sister will be practicing martial arts with us at the East Mansion tomorrow."

Lin Daiyu did not show any timidity. Although she was young, she had already displayed unparalleled beauty, which made people take notice.

The words fell.

The women present all wore puzzled expressions.

"Woo!"

When Jia Baoyu heard that all the sisters in the mansion were going to the East Mansion, his big face slumped down, and he buried his head in Grandmother Jia's arms, his sobs echoing throughout Rongqing Hall, leaving everyone dumbfounded.

"Oh dear, my darling, what's wrong?"

Holding Jia Baoyu in her arms, Grandmother Jia felt extremely distressed.

"Ancestor."

"I don't want my second sister and third sister to go to the East Mansion."

Jia Baoyu said pitifully to Grandmother Jia.

'? ? ? '

Yingchun and Tanchun were already disappointed in Jia Baoyu, and Xue Baochai, having some thoughts in mind, did not speak.

"Brother Bao Er".

Little Xichun stared wide-eyed, put her hands on her hips, and angrily questioned Jia Baoyu.

"Fourth sister, don't be rude."

Lin Daiyu took Xichun's hand and comforted her gently.

"If you don't want to go, then you don't have to go."

"That's what Grandmother Jia, who always doted on Jia Baoyu, said."

"Ancestor."

"Yan Er is a heartless man."

“Send Lin Daiyu and Fourth Sister to the East Mansion so they can learn some crude and uncouth things all day long.”

"Why don't we bring Lin Daiyu and Fourth Sister back?"

At this moment, Jia Baoyu, taking advantage of the situation, went straight to Jia Mu's arms and acted coquettishly.

'.'

For a moment, Lin Daiyu felt a surge of anger. Why did she leave the Rongguo Mansion? It was all thanks to Lady Wang. Now, Jia Baoyu actually wanted her to return to the Rongguo Mansion, which was like dragging her back into the wolf's den.

In the past, the women of the Jia family would have thought Jia Baoyu was just being cynical and irresponsible when they saw him like this, but today he has greatly disappointed everyone. For his own selfish reasons, he has recklessly cut off Yingchun and Tanchun's path to learning martial arts.

At thirteen, Jia Baoyu was no longer a child. In an ordinary family, he would have already married, had children, and been able to stand on his own. Yet he still acted like a child, which only made him a laughingstock.

The Jia family has two branches, and Jia Cong, Jia Huan, and Jia Lan are all younger than him. They all practice martial arts and calligraphy in the East Branch, which is hard work, but no one complains. However, Jia Baoyu is the only one who wants to play.

“What Baoyu said is not wrong.”

"Why should a girl learn such crude skills? In the capital, young ladies from noble families are all well-versed in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and are skilled in needlework."

“How could a family like ours do things that are beneath us?”

As soon as Madam Xing spoke, she instantly attracted everyone's attention. No one expected that this seemingly invisible eldest mistress of the West Mansion would actually support Jia Baoyu at this time, and the meaning behind her words was nothing less than a denigration of Jia Yan.

"What does Auntie mean by this?"

Lin Daiyu faced Madam Xing directly, her words eloquent: "I was born with some chronic illnesses, but fortunately, Brother Yan took care of me, ordered people to find medicine, and used the Eight Pieces of Brocade to strengthen my muscles and bones. Could it be that in my aunt's eyes, my life is not as important as these things?"

"If it were the Lin family of Suzhou, a family of four generations of marquises and a renowned scholarly family, I doubt they could even aspire to the status of having two dukes in this family."

Boom!

The entire hall was filled with shock and disbelief; everyone stared at Lin Daiyu, unable to believe it.

She was Lin Ruhai's only daughter and the only direct descendant of the Lin family, so her words undoubtedly represented the Lin family's intentions.

"I"

Madam Xing never expected that Lin Daiyu, who was usually as sickly and delicate as Xi Shi, could be so sharp, with words like daggers that could kill in one blow. She was so frightened that her face turned pale and she dared not say anything more.

Yingchun, Tanchun, and Xue Baochai watched coldly, making no attempt to smooth things over for her. Grandmother Jia was impressed by Lin Daiyu, noting that her granddaughter was just like Jia Min—eloquent and quick-witted.

"Tap tap!"

A maid rushed in hurriedly and reported, "Madam, the eldest master, the second master, and Master Yan have arrived."

“Tap tap.”

The dull footsteps approached from afar, and three figures stepped into Rongqing Hall one after the other.

"elder brother."

Little Xichun broke free from Lin Daiyu's hand and, with her short legs, rushed straight towards Jia Yan in the middle.

"Wow!"

Jia Yan reacted quickly, scooping her up and pulling her into his arms, saying affectionately, "Why are you in such a hurry, little sister?"

"elder brother."

"Brother Bao and the First Madam are bullying people."

Pointing at Jia Baoyu and Madam Xing, Xiao Xichun angrily complained.

"Oh?"

With a cold and sharp gaze, Jia Yan surveyed the crowd, an invisible pressure descending upon them, making them afraid to even breathe.

"evil creature!"

"What a mess you've made?"

Upon hearing the name Jia Baoyu, Jia Zheng frowned and rebuked him.

"Ancestor."

Jia Baoyu was so frightened that he hid in his grandmother's arms like a mouse seeing a cat.

"It's just a child's joke, why are you scaring him?"

Grandmother Jia looked at Jia Zheng with displeasure from her couch, her trembling voice echoing in the hall.

"younger sister."

How did they bully you?

Holding little Xichun in one arm, Jia Yan ignored everyone else and asked gently.

'Huh?'

Almost everyone held their breath, knowing that Jia Yan was a "sister-doting maniac" who would kill for Xi Chun.

In an instant, Yingchun, Tanchun, and the other women couldn't help but turn their gazes to Madam Xing, who was already terrified and felt her scalp tingle.

"elder brother."

"Brother Bao said we are not allowed to practice martial arts, but we are allowed to play with him."

"The first wife said we don't act like daughters."

Xiao Xichun couldn't remember the whole story, but she picked out some key points, and it was precisely these key points that made the atmosphere in Rongqing Hall extremely strange.

"Beast, beast!"

"Ignorant karmic obstacle, all you do all day is mingle with your sisters, how many words do you even know from the writings of sages?"

Jia Zheng was so angry that his face turned ashen. He roared, "Come here and take him away! If anyone tries to persuade me again today, I will hand over all my official hats, belts, and family property to him and Baoyu. I will inevitably become a sinner. I will shave off these few troublesome hairs on my sideburns and find a clean place to end my life, so as to avoid the sin of disgracing my ancestors and giving birth to a rebellious son."

Seeing this, none of the servants dared to make a move. They all bit their fingers and left Jia Zheng sitting upright in his chair, panting heavily, looking utterly dejected.

"Go and assist Uncle Zheng."

With a wave of his hand, Jia Yan said calmly.

"Yes."

Two sword-wielding maids following behind him strode toward the couch, grabbed Jia Baoyu from Grandmother Jia's arms, and dragged him down to the floor.

"Ancestor, save me!"

Jia Baoyu was so frightened that he trembled all over and hurriedly begged.

"What are you doing?"

Grandmother Jia couldn't bear it and wanted to persuade Jia Zheng, but Jia Zheng's eyes were red and purple. He replied, "Mother, if you still acknowledge me as your son, and the second branch of the family is still under my control, I won't interfere today. It's all you people who have ruined him. You still try to persuade him when he's in this state. What will you do when he's murdered the emperor and his father tomorrow?"

Upon hearing this, Grandmother Jia dared not interfere, much less could she. Jia Zheng was Jia Baoyu's biological father; what was wrong with disciplining her own son?

"Take this wretched creature out of here."

At this moment, Jia Zheng, his eyes red-rimmed, gave the order. "Tap tap!"

Without saying a word, the two maids escorted Jia Baoyu out of Rongqing Hall. Right there in the courtyard, Jia Zheng summoned servants and found a tiger bench and a large board. The two of them held Jia Baoyu down, and Jia Zheng himself took the lead.

"Ah! Ah! Ah!"

Jia Baoyu's screams echoed throughout the inner courtyard, causing everyone who heard them to turn pale.

"Shouldn't the First Madam explain what it means that Xiao Xichun doesn't act like a girl?"

In the hall, Jia Yan's face darkened, and he spoke directly to Madam Xing: "It was I who granted permission for my sister to learn martial arts, and I personally ordered someone to teach her."

"Is the First Madam accusing me of misconduct?"

Madam Xing harbored deep resentment and, for some unknown reason, raised her head and said loudly, "A family of officials and nobles for generations, the girls raised here should naturally be well-mannered and knowledgeable. How can they be as rude as a country bumpkin?"

"I have only ever heard of soldiers practicing martial arts in order to fight bloody battles and gain merit and official positions. I have never heard of women joining the army."

"Shut up!"

Before Madam Xing could finish speaking, Jia She couldn't hold back any longer and angrily rebuked her.

If there weren't so many people around today, he would have loved to beat this stupid woman to death with a stick. How could she say such things?

"Ignorant and foolish woman, how dare you act so presumptuously in the Jia family!"

Jia Yan's face grew even colder, and he said in a cold voice, "Let's not go back to the past. In the Ming Dynasty, there was the Marquis of Loyalty, Qin Liangyu, who served on the battlefield as a woman. This was unprecedented in history. Judging from her loyalty and military strategy, she was a disgrace to men."

"The Qin family members served Emperor Taizu and were granted the title of Marquis of Loyalty, ranking among the four kings, eight dukes and twelve marquises of the founding dynasty."

"Are you barking and snarling here because you think the entire Jia family are as stupid as you?"

"you"

Madam Xing was so angry by this outburst that her face turned red and she almost couldn't catch her breath.

"Let me ask you a question, madam, about Uncle She."

"Which noble family in the capital has a woman known for her refined manners and knowledge, who doesn't practice martial arts?"

Jia Yan's gaze swept over Grandmother Jia and Jia She.

"Ugh!!!"

Jia She shook his head and sighed deeply.

“Never.”

Grandmother Jia, lying on the couch, had a particularly complicated expression as she recalled, "How could a family of military merit not learn martial arts? At the beginning of the founding of the country, many daughters of dukes and marquises had riding and archery skills that were no less than those of men, and I was one of them."

“Over the years, the nobles have forgotten the bravery of their ancestors. Not to mention women, even men are rarely brave and fierce.”

"hiss!!!"

Yingchun, Tanchun, and Xue Baochai couldn't help but click their tongues in amazement. So this was the true foundation of the founding nobles?
Listen carefully.

Gazing at Madam Xing, Jia Yan said, word by word, "Women practicing martial arts is a tradition of noble families like ours."

"It is my fault."

Madam Xing lowered her head, her eyes concealing resentment and bitterness.

"Yan-ge'er".

"This foolish woman comes from a humble family, is short-sighted, and has many shortcomings in dealing with people and situations."

"I will teach her properly when I get back."

Jia She stepped in to smooth things over.

"Really?"

With a sneer, Jia Yan said disdainfully, "Uncle She underestimates the First Madam. Her words today are not directed at anyone else."

"The eldest son's family has regained control of the West Mansion. Some people want to exercise their power in managing the household, but they are not expected to be overshadowed by their daughter-in-law, and they are dissatisfied."

"Moreover, some people are blinded by greed and have always cut back on the allowances of their illegitimate sons and daughters. Now that they no longer have those benefits, how could they be willing to accept it?"

'what? '

Everyone in the hall turned to look at Madam Xing.

Yingchun seemed to remember something, and a strange look flashed across her usually calm and composed face.

"let me go!"

"I'm the wife's personal attendant, what do you want?"

Just then, a commotion arose from outside the hall, drawing everyone's attention.

"Clap!"

"Hey hey!"

Several maids threw the two old women into the hall. One had a pointed mouth and monkey-like face, and the other was fat and had a rat-like face.

"Mrs!"

"girl!"

The two old women came to their senses and looked at Madam Xing and Yingchun.

Only then did bystanders recognize them as Wang Shanbao's wife, who was Madam Xing's personal maid, and Yingchun's wet nurse.

"Grandma."

Yingchun's head maid, Siqi, recognized Wang Shanbao's wife at a glance.

"Waaah, Madam, Cong-ge'er is going to kill someone."

"Girl, them"

Upon seeing so many people in the hall, the two old women burst into tears, leaving everyone looking at each other in bewilderment.

"Uncle Yan."

Jia Cong and Jia Huan each carried a bag and stood in front of Jia Yan.

"Open."

Jia Yan gave them a look.

"Yes."

Jia Cong and Jia Huan put down the package they were carrying, and what they revealed made everyone's eyes widen.

On the left are some tattered clothes with obvious signs of wear and tear, while on the right are some exquisite gold and silver jewelry.

“I don’t know when the Jia family became so poor that a son born out of wedlock has to wear such clothes.”

"He hasn't bought a single new piece of clothing in three years, and the food he eats is worse than what the maids and servants eat."

"The monthly allowances for the sons of the household have not been seen at all, and there is not a single maidservant to serve them."

"What? Is this imitating the sages, enduring hardship and hunger?"

Jia Yan's resounding words echoed in everyone's ears.

"Clap!"

Madam Xing's face turned ashen, and she collapsed to the ground.

"Foolish woman."

Jia She's face was also a mix of blue and purple; he couldn't escape the charge of mistreating his illegitimate son.

If this were to get out, how would the nobles in the capital view him?
Over the years, he indulged in wine and women, neglecting his first wife, but he was not so heartless as to treat even his own flesh and blood this way.

"Can anyone recognize these things on the right?"

Jia Yan then asked another question.

"These are all pieces of jewelry that the girl lost."

Xiuju, Yingchun's maid, mustered up her courage and stepped forward to identify the culprit.

'Whoosh!'

Inside the hall, the Jia family members all stared at Yingchun, thinking that this eldest son's illegitimate daughter, nicknamed "Second Blockhead," was living a rather miserable life.

"Second sister."

"It's hard to say what's going on in the world. You were raised by Uncle She and your predecessors, and your third sister was also raised by Uncle Zheng and your predecessors. You have the same background."

"Looking back, only your mother was ten times better than Aunt Zhao now. You should be better than your third sister, so how come you're not even half as good as her? Blindly yielding and backing down will only put you in a more difficult situation."

"Others can help you once, but they can't help you for lifetimes."

Jia Yan gave Yingchun a deep look and said meaningfully.

"Second brother."

Yingchun was deeply moved, and tears welled up in her eyes.

(End of this chapter)