The Splendor of the Red Chamber

Wutong Garden.

After Jia Lian left, Wang Xifeng fell into a deep sleep.

She didn't know how much time had passed, but in her daze she felt someone calling her ear. Fengjie struggled to open her eyes and saw Ping'er sitting anxiously beside her. She asked in a daze, "What is it now? You really can't give me a moment's peace."

"Grandma, something's happened!"

Ping'er said in a panic, "Everyone outside says that Second Master, dressed in armor, rode into the east courtyard with his spear in hand, and in front of the Master, used the shaft of his spear to lift Wang Zhu'er into the air, and then used the tip of his spear to pierce the character 'Lian' on his back."

The master was furious. He smashed a whole basket of pots and pans in the room, even tearing up two of his favorite fans. He yelled that if the second master didn't immediately kneel down and beg for forgiveness and accept punishment, he would go to the yamen to sue him for being disobedient and unfilial!

Upon hearing these words, Wang Xifeng could no longer control herself.

She scrambled to her feet, grabbed Ping'er's wrist, and demanded, "What about Second Master? What did he say?"

"When the second master came back earlier, he saw that Grandma was asleep, so he said he was going to go and talk to the old lady. He should still be in the old lady's courtyard now."

Upon hearing this, Sister Feng hurriedly asked Ping'er to help her get dressed. Ignoring the fact that her legs were sore and weak and her feet felt like they were walking on cotton, she rushed to Grandmother Jia's courtyard like a whirlwind.

Inside the lobby.

Grandmother Jia was sitting on the daybed with Daiyu, while the three sisters of the Spring Festival, along with Baoyu and Baochai, surrounded them on both sides, listening to Jia Lian recount his experiences and observations during his trip south.

Upon hearing that Sister Feng had arrived, Grandmother Jia laughed to those around her, "Look, look! This little girl Feng really can't be separated from your Second Brother Lian for a moment."

Jia Lian got up and went to greet her, only to bump into Feng Jie at the door.

"You just worked up a sweat, why are you out here?"

He shoved the hand warmer in his hand over and mouthed "cry" to Sister Feng.

Sister Feng, being a shrewd woman, immediately realized what was happening and cried out, "Grandmother, you must do us justice!"

As she spoke, she pushed Jia Lian aside, stumbled and rushed to the old lady's side, half-kneeling on the footstool and hugging Jia Mu's legs.

"What's wrong now?"

The old lady was startled. Seeing that Fengjie was only crying, she quickly looked up and questioned Jia Lian, "Lian'er, did you make Fengjie angry again?"

"this……"

Jia Lian pretended to be troubled.

Seeing this, the old lady assumed he had fallen ill with his philandering again and angrily slammed her hand on the table, saying, "Hurry up and tell me!"

Jia Lian then lifted his robe and bowed, cupping his hands and saying, "She must know that her grandson has angered Father, which is why she is so panicked."

"Did you anger your father?"

Upon hearing this, Grandmother Jia's attitude softened considerably, given Jia She's reputation.

So she pulled Fengjie into her arms and urged Jia Lian, "Tell me what exactly happened."

"this……"

Jia Lian hesitated for a moment, then said, "A son should not speak ill of his father. I can only tell my grandmother that my father has arranged for me to do something that cannot be said in public."

The grandson felt this was absolutely unacceptable, but not knowing how to refuse, he simply went and made a fool of himself…

He recounted everything he had done in the east courtyard, and then explained to Grandmother Jia, "I only wanted to practice my martial arts, but that Wang Zhu dared to speak so rudely. Remembering his usual behavior, I couldn't help but tease him."

The people present reacted in various ways upon hearing these words.

Some were filled with fear and apprehension, like the second daughter, Jia Yingchun; some secretly cheered, like the third daughter, Jia Tanchun; some frowned in deep thought, like Xue Baochai; and some admired and worried, like Yuanyang and Hu Po.

The strongest reaction came from Jia Baoyu, who excitedly scratched his head and cheeks, feeling both that his brother Lian's actions were outrageous and that he felt extremely satisfied, wishing he could take his place.

Of course, if it were really him going, he would probably fall off his horse and kneel for a long time upon meeting him.

After hearing this, Grandmother Jia paid no attention to Jia She or Wang Zhu'er. Instead, she asked with concern, "I've heard that Zheng Xiao and Liang Xuan are both famous and fierce generals in the army. Lian'er, you've only been practicing martial arts for less than a year. Are you really confident that you can defeat them?"

"Grandma, there's no need to worry."

Jia Lian raised his head and said, "Before returning to the capital, I demonstrated my martial arts skills in front of Grand Commandant Wang. He said that even if I couldn't win completely, I could at least be invincible!"

"Okay, okay."

Upon hearing that Prince Teng had stamped and certified it, Grandmother Jia was immediately relieved. She patted Wang Xifeng's hand with obvious delight and said, "Feng'er, Lian'er has become successful now; you should be happy. Why are you shedding tears again?"

Wang Xifeng finally understood that Jia Lian had probably planned this all along, intending to use Grandmother Jia's influence to suppress Jia She.

She immediately choked up and said, "Grandma, our Second Master meant well, but the First Master... now he's said that if the Second Master doesn't kneel down and beg for forgiveness and obediently accept punishment, he'll go to the yamen to sue him for being disobedient and unfilial!"

"Don't cry, don't cry."

The old lady patted her back a few more times, then looked hesitantly at Jia Lian: "Lian'er, what are your plans?"

Jia Lian banged his head on the ground and said, "Grandson has no plans, but I can't help thinking about Rong-ge'er. If Father really wants to follow Brother Zhen's example, then grandson can only obediently accept it."

Originally, Grandmother Jia wanted to persuade Jia Lian to kowtow and admit his mistake, since the elderly naturally tend to uphold filial piety.

But when Jia Lian mentioned Jia Rong, the old lady's thoughts immediately changed.

As the saying goes, even a tiger won't eat its cubs, but Jia Zhen, after failing to take his daughter-in-law by force, beat his own son to death in a fit of rage!

Jia She and Jia Zhen are birds of a feather; if he were to follow suit and act recklessly...

No, absolutely not!

Grandmother Jia already doted on her grandson, not to mention that Jia Lian had now received the blessing of the ancestors and was the greatest hope for the revival of the Rongguo Mansion. Even if there was a one in ten thousand chance of him dying young, the old lady would never sit idly by.

So the old lady released Wang Xifeng and said sternly, "It's a wonder he knows what it means to be disobedient and unfilial—back then, the Duke made him move to the east wing so that he could reflect on his mistakes behind closed doors."

Now that he has remembered filial piety, he will follow the Duke's dying wish and remain secluded for a while longer to properly consider the principles of father-son relations!

Become!

Jia Lian secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and then bowed deeply to his grandmother.

As a son, he couldn't agree with the old lady's words, so he could only express his attitude and gratitude through his actions.

Seeing this, Wang Xifeng also hurried to his side and together they thanked the old lady.

"Okay, okay."

The old lady waved her hand and said, "I'm tired too. You should go back and rest early. If there's anything else, just say it directly. I'm an old woman and I'm hard of hearing. I can't understand your roundabout ways."

It was clear that the old lady had also realized that Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng were putting on a show.

However, she still chose to help Jia Lian suppress Jia She, since the latter had long been useless, and Jia Lian and Bao Yu were the future of the Rongguo Mansion.

After leaving the old lady's courtyard.

In front of Ping'er and the other maids, Jia Lian kissed Wang Xifeng on the cheek and laughed, "You really are my timely helper and virtuous wife."

"Go to hell!"

Wang Xifeng feigned anger, but the joy and smugness on her face were impossible to hide.

Jia Lian waved for Ping'er and the others to step back, then, as he walked back, he instructed Wang Xifeng, "While the Master is confined to his quarters reflecting on his mistakes, find a way to place a few more people in the east wing. Keep a close eye on him from now on!"

"That's easy."

Wang Xifeng nodded first, then said with some concern, "But he is, after all, a father, and the old lady can't keep him locked up forever. Even if we know what he's going to do, I'm afraid we won't be able to restrain him."

"It's alright. Once I've established myself outside, we'll move back to the east wing. I'll personally keep him in check! If he still dares to act like a master then..."

When Jia Lian got to this point, a look of hostility appeared on his face.

Wang Xifeng shuddered, grabbed Jia Lian's arm, and whispered, "Don't do anything reckless! Killing one's father is an unforgivable crime!"

Jia Lian was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head and laughed: "What are you thinking? Putting aside any question of crime, if the master were to pass away, I would have to observe three years of mourning—even if I were stupid, I wouldn't choose to ruin my future at this time."

"So what do you mean?"

"What I mean is, if he remains stubborn, we'll secretly imprison him under the guise of being his grandfather and raise him as a wealthy idler."

…………

Not to mention that when the couple returned to Wutong Garden, Jia Lian brazenly closed the door and began cultivating the land.

Meanwhile, news that Jia Lian had mounted his horse, brandished his spear, and used Wang Zhu'er to establish his authority in front of Jia She, and that he had later persuaded the old lady to take his side and punish Jia She by confining him to his room to reflect on his mistakes, quickly spread throughout the Rong and Ning mansions.

The opportunists in the mansion were all in an uproar, and from then on dared not neglect Jia Lian and Feng Jie even more.

In the east wing, people were restless. Those who used to fawn over Jia She all restrained themselves and dared not take sides between the father and son.