Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 740: Misfortunes never come singly
Rongguo Mansion,
In the main hall of the Pear Garden,

Wang Xifeng sat on the kang in the inner room, her pretty face showing a cold look, her eyebrows raised, and the bracelets on her jade wrists seemed a little tight. She stared at Lai Wang kneeling on the ground, furious. She had not done what she had asked her to do, and the silver she had taken was actually returned intact.

"You little dog slave, you can't even deliver money properly, what are you doing?"

"I am wronged, grandma. I went out early in the morning with people and money, took the visiting card, and went to the back government office of Shuntian Prefecture. As soon as I entered the government office, I was stopped by the governor Song. I told him my purpose and said I wanted to see Lord Xu. But Lord Song said that Lord Xu had caught a cold these days and was recuperating at home, so he couldn't see guests. He drove me out."

Lai Wang had a sad face and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his hand. His clothes were already soaked with sweat. Hearing his grandmother's stern words, he continued nervously;
"I felt something was wrong at the time, so I changed my words and said I wanted to see the Jia family members who were brought here yesterday and take those who were not involved back first. Unexpectedly, Lord Song said that he could not make the decision on this matter. Since the case had been reported, a court hearing would be held. We could talk about it after Lord Xu recovered from his illness. I had no choice but to rush back in the rain."

Wang Xifeng sat there, listening to Lai Wang's story, her eyes were startled, she was a little bit unbelieving, Lord Xu of Shuntian Mansion had always had a good relationship with Rongguo Mansion, he had always given her things during the New Year and other festivals, she just hoped that he could take care of her on weekdays, but now, he didn't show up, didn't accept the money, and even stopped her from taking her family back, there must be something wrong, but it was hard to guess what it was.

"Besides these, you didn't ask anything else, or even inquire about why it was so?"

"Grandma, I felt that it might be complicated, so I asked Lord Song for help. Lord Song replied quietly, saying that it was Lord Xu's idea, and he didn't say anything else."

Lai Wang knelt on the ground, shivering from the cold, but he did not dare to move at all.
a long time,

Wang Xifeng's expression eased a little, and then she let him get up.
"Get up, don't tell anyone about this. Go back and change into clean clothes and rest. When you get the letter, go back again."

"Yes, grandma,"

Lai Wang finally breathed a sigh of relief, knelt down limply, kowtowed, and then left.
As soon as people leave,
Ping Erh called the maid to take the brocade cloth and wipe the wetness off the floor. After the job was done, she told the maid to leave immediately.

"Grandma, is there any misunderstanding here? Lord Yi Xu of Shuntian Prefecture shouldn't be like this. In the past, he also promised to do some of your things."

Ping'er walked to the inner door, closed it, turned around and quietly expressed her doubts, because in the past, she was the one who entrusted Lai Wang with the things that grandma wanted to do, and privately went to the yamen to see Lord Xu and did a lot of things. Now that Rongguo Mansion was facing such a big event, why did the problem arise on Lord Xu's side? What was the reason?

"This is what I'm worried about. If something is out of the ordinary, there must be something fishy going on. If he doesn't show up, either Lord Xu has something up his sleeve, or we haven't figured out the underlying situation yet."

Wang Xifeng was not surprised. She had seen everything during her years as the housekeeper of Rongguo Mansion. It was hard to say whether they were human or ghost. But she didn't know how Lang'er and Uncle Bao were doing in today's special examination. Especially Lang'er, his eldest sister-in-law was also a problem, especially the attitude of Mrs. Wang from the Marquis' Mansion. She didn't know since when, not only had the Jia family been having bad luck, but everything had happened to them. Could it be that, as Mrs. You guessed, they needed to offer sacrifices to their ancestors and pray for success?

"Grandma, should we discuss this matter with the old lady? After all, it's such a big deal. If the concubines of Ningguo Mansion cause trouble again, it will be difficult to deal with."

Ping'er was a little worried. The so-called troublemaker was the father and son of Jia Zhen from Ningguo Mansion, who were still in prison. If the children of the Ningguo Mansion caused trouble again, Master Zhen and Rong'er would be in real trouble.

How could Wang Xifeng not know this? She snorted coldly and said, "It's just my own fault."
"Hmph! Those things are not our concern. Since someone is stopping us, we can't do it. Let's wait and see what Lord Xu of Shuntian Mansion wants to do. Rongguo Mansion is like this. As for Ningguo Mansion, the people of the master's family are still in the imperial prison. How bad can it get? Go ahead and make a fuss. I want to see what kind of trouble they can come up with."

Wang Xifeng patted her legs with her sleeves and sighed. Seeing that the Jia family was in trouble, everyone wanted to step in and take advantage of them. It was good to say that people would come to help when times are tough, but people would come to help when things are tough. However, how did those people in the concubines start to make trouble?
What on earth is going on with the Jia family's clan school? Thinking of those scholars who have passed away, I feel a little depressed. Could it be that they also know that the children of the Jia family are unteachable and left?
"Ping'er, take two people with you, let's go to the academy and see how it became the cause of cholera. Let's see who was behind it. Let's also see how the news that Lang Ge'er was refused by the Second Madam to participate in the imperial examination got out."

"Yes, grandma, but, grandma, I am wondering if the eldest grandma has deliberately leaked the news, and if someone with ulterior motives heard it, it would spread the rumor and become known to everyone."

Ping Er responded, took out an oil umbrella from the corner, walked closer and whispered something, but Wang Xifeng glared at her.
"You are just itching for trouble. What can you say and what can't you say? As you said, the eldest grandmother leaked the secret, so what? It's all true. There is no way it's a rumor. It's just that the eldest grandmother was blamed. Maybe the eldest sister-in-law wanted to leave the house a long time ago. The second wife can't do anything. In the end, this matter is nothing more than a one-time settlement."

Wang Xifeng sighed. Even if they really wanted to investigate, the old lady would suppress it. After a while of making a fuss, everything would die down and return to the old way.

He stood up, straightened his clothes, took the umbrella and was about to go out, but before he could leave the gatehouse, the maid from Rongqing Hall came to tell him,

"Second grandma, the old lady is looking for you urgently. She said there is something urgent."

"Got it, I'll go right away,"

Wang Xifeng replied to the outside, frowning. She had no peace every day. What happened? Seeing the maid was about to leave, she asked:

"Don't leave yet, do you know what happened to the old lady?"

"To answer Second Madam's question, it seems that the soldiers from Marquis Luo Yun's residence of Aunt Xue's family carried the son of the Xue family back. It seems that he was beaten, and the aunt is still crying."

The maid behind the curtain replied hastily, and then left without waiting for Wang Xifeng to ask any more questions.

"Did Xue Pan cause trouble again? Why was he beaten again? Isn't Marquis Luo Yun, the personal guard of the Marquis's mansion, the chief examiner in Hanyuan Hall and unable to come out?"

With a mind full of questions, I should have gone to the school, but now I can only go to the old lady first. Suddenly, a saying came to my mind: Misfortunes never come alone. One wave of troubles comes after another.

The master and his servant,

Following the bluestone path of the courtyard, along the corridor, I entered the courtyard. I did not go through the main gate, but turned a few times and entered through the corner gate.

Just entered the inner hall,
Then she heard someone sobbing inside. Wang Xifeng stopped and listened carefully for a while. She was sure it was Aunt Xue crying. She saw the maid waiting at the corner door and asked,

"What's going on inside?"

"Replying to Second Madam, at noon today, a carriage came with the personal soldiers of the Marquis's residence. They carried Master Xue back from the carriage. His chest was covered with whip marks, which was very scary. When Madam Xue saw it, she started crying and couldn't be stopped."

I don't know if these old ladies saw it or not, they were just talking with pale faces,

Wang Xifeng was confused, wondering if he was beaten by the people in the Marquis' Mansion, or if he was beaten by someone else and rescued by the Marquis's personal soldiers.
"Who hit me so hard? Can you find a doctor?"

"Replying to Second Madam, these servants don't know, but when I came back, I heard that the wounds were all covered with medicine and bandaged. I think it was someone from the Marquis' Mansion who did it."

Several maids shook their heads. They didn't know what exactly happened.

When Wang Xifeng heard that it was the marquis's mansion that bandaged him, she felt strange. Who could have beaten him? She raised her eyes, stopped, walked forward, lifted the curtain and looked inside.

The second and first wives were still sitting inside, while Aunt Xue was sitting on the kang next to the old lady, wiping her tears with a handkerchief. As for Xue Baochai, she was nowhere to be seen. Sanchun, the maid, was also nowhere to be seen. The eldest sister-in-law and Madam You must not have come.

"Oh, old lady, what's going on? What injustice did Aunt Xue suffer that caused her to be like this?"

Just entered the house,

Cuili's voice came, and everyone knew without asking that it was Wang Xifeng who had come. Aunt Xue didn't know what she was thinking of, but her crying became even louder. Grandmother Jia deliberately slammed the table and replied unhappily,
"You are the one who talks too much. I just comforted you and you come to bother me again."

Wang Xifeng was complained about, and deliberately covered her face, took a few steps closer, sat down next to Aunt Xue, reached out and patted Aunt Xue on the back, complaining:

"Aunt Xue, look, in the end, all the blame falls on me. If there is anything, just say it out. Why can't I see Baochai?" At this time, Aunt Xue wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. I don't know if she listened to what Feng said, but she stopped crying.

"She is taking care of Pan'er in the room. You see, he went out in the morning and said he was going to take the imperial examination. I thought it was a good thing, so I let him go. But when he got there, he got into a fight with some young master of the Yang family and was caught by the Marquis on the spot. He was caned and banned from taking the exam for six years. His clothes were all torn. If I had known, I would not have let that useless person go."

Aunt Xue was sad not because of the ban on the imperial examination, but because her son had suffered physical pain. She was heartbroken because it was something he couldn't pass. She didn't expect Xue Pan to pass and bring honor to the family.
But other people didn't know the inside story. Xue Pan was studying in the Rongguo Mansion. It was well known to everyone. His elegance and righteousness were known throughout the Jia Mansion. Everyone said that the Xue family had a good son and that there was someone to carry on the family tradition. Now he even took part in the provincial examination, which meant that he had made great achievements in his studies.

"Aunt Xue, if you don't want to participate, then don't participate. It's not a big deal. As for the six-year ban, it is indeed too severe. When the Marquis comes back, find an opportunity to ask about it and talk about it. As for that Young Master Yang, he was also punished."

Wang Xifeng was also a little surprised. A six-year ban from taking exams was such a heavy punishment. I think it must be a big deal. But it was good that he could come back safely. She would talk about the future later. With Xue Baochai in the mansion, they would have a prosperous life.

Others also said the same words of comfort.

"Yes, Madam, don't be too sad. You have to take things slowly. When the Marquis comes back in a few days, I will ask for you why the punishment is so severe. But when I think about it carefully, it is because of the young master of the Yang family. I heard that this person is the only son of Yang Shaoshi, the Minister of Guanglu Temple. I am afraid that there will be a grudge between them in the future."

Grandmother Jia had not finished her words. Behind Lord Yang was the Prime Minister. She did not know whether it was a coincidence or the Marquis of Luo Yun's Mansion did it on purpose. She could not finish her words in front of the concubine.

At this time, Aunt Xue realized what everyone was worried about. Thinking about it carefully, it was indeed the case. The Marquis must have a reason for punishing her like this. As for the Guanglu Temple Minister or something like that, she didn't think much about it.

"What the old lady said is right. It's good that he is fine. If he doesn't want to take the special examination, then don't take it. The Xue family's past were not good at studying. It's enough for him to live a peaceful life. I didn't expect him to pass the exam. By the way, when Xue Pan came back, he said he saw Master Bao, queuing in the hall. Now that I think about it, he should have gotten his examination number and rested."

After crying for a long time, the pent-up anger in her heart finally dissipated. She remembered what Xue Baochai had told her, that she must not tell anyone about Lan Ge'er's affairs, but that she could tell Xue Pan about what he had seen with Jia Baoyu when he came.
Just as I was thinking about it, I told this matter. The second wife, who had been silent, was obviously a little anxious and asked;

"Then did you see that Baoyu was wet by the rain?"

The Second Wife was always worried about Baoyu. It was raining so hard outside, and she was afraid that he would get cold standing outside with his bag on his back.

Aunt Xue shook her head and explained,
"Don't worry, sister. The candidates from the palace are waiting in the hall and won't get wet in the rain. I heard from Pan'er that the candidates in the palace have beds to sleep on, which is much better than staying in the Imperial Examination Hall."

"Amitabha, that's good, that's good, may our ancestors bless us."

The Second Wife chanted a Buddhist name, and finally she felt relieved. After all, the time had come for Baoyu to pass the imperial examination. It would be a blessing for all the ancestors.

"Okay, it's good that everything is fine. Baoyu has his own blessings. Feng girl, do you have any news from Shuntian Prefecture?"

The old lady leaned against the bed, leaning against it, and turned her eyes to Wang Xifeng again. She had not forgotten what happened last night.
Wang Xifeng's face changed, and she opened her mouth and said in embarrassment;
"Madam, we sent people to Shuntian Prefecture early in the morning, but they ran into some trouble. Lord Xu caught a cold and couldn't see guests, and his subordinates didn't dare to make the decision, so they had to make a wasted trip."

As if she had said it unintentionally, she said it out loud. Before the others could react, Jia's mother's eyes narrowed and she sighed.

"It is said that a good horse is ridden by others, and a good person is bullied by others. This is absolutely true. The Jia family has fallen on hard times these days, but not everyone can mess with them. What is a casual cold? Isn't it just waiting for a good price? Let him guard it. I want to see how Lord Xu wants to judge it."

Grandmother Jia has seen many storms and waves. Now, even though so many things have happened to the Jia family, they are not seriously hurt. A group of old nobles are involved, and there are relatives from the Wang family. Now, no matter what, they are also involved with the Luo Yunhou Mansion. If the Jia family is really touched, some things cannot be resolved. Grandmother Jia understands this, so she just lets Ningguo Mansion go. It all depends on the royal family's opinion.

However, even Lord Xu of Shuntian Mansion, who had always been on good terms with Rongguo Mansion, wanted to take a bite of the Jia family. How could Grandmother Jia be willing? She could only let him do it.
Seeing the old lady like this, Wang Xifeng wanted to ask some questions, but she couldn't ask them. She could only nod and said;

"What about the elders, old lady?"

"What else can I do? Let them calm down first, and then go over to appease them. Whether it succeeds or not is fine. I also want to see what kind of trouble the children of the Jia family can make, and see which of them can accomplish it."

Then there was a sneer.
In the main room, there was a brief and strange peace again.

Beicheng,

At the residence of Yang Shaoshi, the Minister of Guanglu Temple, a thunderclap was heard outside. Madam Yang, who was embroidering in the room, felt her fingers tremble. In an instant, red appeared on her fingertips. The maidservant beside her changed her expression and shouted anxiously;

"Ma'am, are you okay?"

Then he found a clean piece of brocade and bandaged the lady's wound.

Madam Yang's face looked a little ugly, her eyelids twitched, and she was a little flustered.
"It's strange, I haven't felt at peace today, I feel upset, I don't know what's going on?"

"Madam, don't think too much. Maybe you didn't get enough rest last night because of the young master's matter."

The personal maid beside her, Yun Yatou, whispered to comfort her.

"Maybe."

Madam Yang thought about it and thought that it was probably because of this matter.

Just thinking,

Suddenly, there was a "bang" outside, and the door was pushed open. Just as he was surprised, Butler Yang rushed in in a panic, shouting anxiously;

"Madam, Madam, go to the main hall and take a look. The young master has been whipped and sent back. He is now on the bed in the main hall."

"What, tomorrow, tomorrow he."

As soon as he stood up, he felt a black screen before his eyes and immediately collapsed. The maids who were serving him were so frightened that they rushed to him.

"Madam, madam, why are you still standing there like an idiot? Hurry up and help her to the bed. Go and call the doctor."

"Yes, Butler Yang."

The maidservant, under the command of Miss Yun, lifted the lady up and put her on the bed, and sent someone to find a doctor. Butler Yang stamped his feet anxiously. What was going on? Looking at the panicked Yang family, he gritted his teeth and ordered;

"You, guard the gate, no one is allowed to go in or out, the rest of you, follow me to the Prime Minister's residence to find the master."

"Yes, Chief Steward!"

Helpless, Butler Yang hurriedly took his people and left the Yang Mansion.
(End of this chapter)