Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 238: Each Has His Own Thoughts
The Imperial City of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Ninghe Palace.

In the magnificent and elegant palace, Empress Dowager Yi Zhang was dressed in a precious and intricate phoenix-colored gown, with a head full of silver hair and a clear mind and bright eyes.

Sitting below her was Madam Jia from the Rongguo Mansion. Today she had waited outside the palace gate for half a day before being summoned to the Empress Dowager's Ninghe Palace.

This was because Lady Jia and the Empress Dowager were close friends when they were still in the boudoir, which was why she was given such honor and favor. Ordinary people who wanted to see the Empress Dowager were not allowed to even enter the palace except for the New Year's Day.

"Madam Jia, I have also heard about the recent events of the Ningguo Jia family. It is fundamental for the descendants of a noble family to strive for honor, otherwise there will always be some unexpected things happening.

The current emperor is wise and intelligent, and can be compared to the previous emperors. The emperor praised the emperor's achievements in governing the country, so the emperor has not been concerned about state affairs in recent years and has been resting and enjoying his life."

When Grandmother Jia heard this, she felt a chill in her heart.

Ever since Jia Zhen was taken away by the people from the Dali Temple that day, Jia's grandmother realized that the real mastermind behind the robbery of Xiuniang's incense shop was Jia Zhen, and that Jia Rong was doing it under his instructions.

This beast is really good at pretending. He even asked Congge'er to go to the Dali Temple to plead for mercy. After all, it turns out that he is the culprit. Because of his greed, he even harmed his own son.

Given Lady Jia's temper, this beast deserved to die, and it would also reduce some of Rong'er's guilt, and there would always be someone to inherit the title in Ningguo Mansion in the future.

But I heard in recent days that many people went to the Dali Temple to report the illegal activities of Ningguo Mansion, and many officials in the court asked the emperor to severely punish Jia Zhen and his son. The situation is somewhat dangerous.

Even Lai Er, the steward of Ningguo Mansion, was reported to the Dali Temple. People said that Lai Er relied on the power of the Jia family to bully others and do evil things, and he was responsible for several deaths.

Her maid, Lai Ma, came to beg several times, but Grandmother Jia was too lazy to see her. Her own nephew's life or death was uncertain, so she had no time to care about her servant's life or death.

That was not all. The Grand Clan Director of the Imperial Clan Court actually wrote a letter to the emperor, asking the emperor to abolish the hereditary title of the Ningguo Mansion because Jia Zhen and his son had committed unforgivable crimes.

This Prince Zhongshun has always been at odds with the Jia family, and Grandmother Jia knows it. It is no exaggeration to say that they are incompatible. How can anything good come of him stepping forward to strip him of his title?

Only then did Lady Jia panic. The Ning and Rong families were blood relatives and shared the same blood. If one suffered, all would suffer. If Ning was stripped of his title, Rong would be unable to survive on its own.

If misfortunes never come singly and something unbearable happens again, as the most senior feudal lord in the two mansions, I will not be able to face my ancestors after my death.

Only then did he shamelessly go to the palace to ask the Empress Dowager for mercy. Originally, he wanted to ask for some favors from the retired emperor through the Empress Dowager.

Even if Jia Zhen and his son are to be punished, please ask the Supreme Emperor to retain the title of the Ningguo lineage for the sake of their ancestors' merits.

At worst, he could adopt a son from the clan into the Ningguo bloodline and inherit the Ningguo title. This way, he would be able to give an explanation to his ancestors after his death.

The descendant that Jia Mu was most proud of was naturally Baoyu. Although Jia Mu was unwilling to have him adopted out of Rongguo, she could still give him up if Baoyu could get the title of Ningguo.

Even if Baoyu became a member of the Ningguo family, he would still be his own grandson. If you think about it carefully, it doesn't matter. Baoyu has a title, and he will have wealth and honor for several lifetimes.

Another most important thing is that Baoyu does not have to bow down to that boy in everything. After he passes away, Baoyu will have the title to rely on and will not be afraid of being bullied by that boy.

Grandmother Jia didn't even reveal her thoughts to her son and daughter-in-law, but she thought it was an excellent idea. Not only could it preserve the title of Ningguo, but it also fulfilled her lifelong wish to love Baoyu.

But the old empress dowager's words that the emperor had long since stopped caring about state affairs shattered most of her plans.

Empress Dowager Yizhang said, "Madam Jia, don't worry too much. The emperor has his own wise decisions on these matters. Although Ningguo is in decline, fortunately, your Rongguo Mansion's eldest branch has produced a talented person, which will ensure that your family's reputation will not fall in the future."

When Lady Jia heard the Empress Dowager say that the Emperor would make the final decision, she knew that her trip to the palace had been in vain, and she felt a sense of panic in her heart.

When he heard the Queen Mother say that a talented person had appeared in the eldest branch of the Rong Kingdom, he thought of Jia Lian reflexively, but he quickly denied it. How could a person like Lian'er, who was a playboy, be considered a talented person?

Although Jia's mother felt uncomfortable, she knew that the Queen Mother was talking about Jia Cong, so she forced a smile and said, "The Queen Mother is talking about Cong-ge'er. This child is also making a fuss."

Empress Dowager Yizhang said with a smile: "All capable children love to make trouble since childhood. It is said that your Cong has great literary talent and unparalleled elegance. Madam Jia should love him well and he will surely be able to establish a family of his own in the future."

Grandmother Jia smiled bitterly in her heart, I don’t even have enough time to love Baoyu, how can I have the time to love him?

It’s just that the Queen Mother doesn’t want to care about the Ningguo title, and I’m afraid it’s dangerous this time...

...Ningguo Mansion, Jia Rong's courtyard.

Keqing was sitting by the bed doing needlework, her expression peaceful and elegant. She was wearing a light gold cold plum embroidered double-breasted jacket, a green lotus cross-collared coat, and a black horse-faced skirt with a trim.

She has a graceful body, a slender waist, black hair as black as ink, clear eyebrows and eyes, and an extremely beautiful appearance. She is as bright and dazzling as a rose or a white flower.

From time to time, maids and daughters-in-law came to report on matters at the mansion. Keqing had seen Youshi handle household affairs before, so she followed the old routine and gave instructions. She seemed to be very comfortable with the job and never stopped sewing.

All these old women and wives knew that the master and the old man in the mansion had been interrogated by the Dali Temple one after another in recent days. It was said that they had committed serious crimes. Something big had happened to the Ningguo Mansion.

Rumors were spreading in the mansion. Some said that the master had committed a crime and would never come back. Others said something even more frightening, saying that the Jinyi Guards would come to search the house any day.

Fortunately, the lady was there to keep the house in check. She tied up a few gossipers and threw them into the stable, and now there are fewer rumors in the house.

However, the next day, my wife suddenly fell ill and was unable to get up to take care of the food.

The doctor said that the wife was anxious and had an attack of the heart. She already had a hidden illness inside and could not hold on any longer. It must be that something happened to the master and the eldest brother, and the wife became ill because of this.

Nowadays, all the affairs in the mansion are supported by Grandma Rong.

Although this grandmother was a very beautiful person, after she entered the family, apart from going to the West Mansion to talk to the old lady and show her filial piety, she usually never stepped out of her own yard.

I thought she was a reserved person, but when her wife fell ill, this grandmother took charge and everyone was impressed by her. She turned out to be a kind-hearted person.

She is meticulous, capable, and literate. Nothing can be hidden from her. She is extremely smart and sympathetic to the poor and humble servants, and she knows when to show kindness and authority.

After all, she was born as a daughter of an official family, so she was indeed very remarkable. After a few days, all the servants in the mansion were very convinced.

Just seeing that the master and the eldest uncle had both met with terrible accidents, even a patient and strong person like the wife couldn't bear the shock and fell ill.

It is amazing that the grandmother is so young, but she can remain calm and still support the family by herself.

But the servants in the mansion had no idea what Keqing was really thinking.

Ever since she married into the Ningguo Mansion, she has been carrying the false title of the eldest daughter-in-law from beginning to end.

On the wedding night, Jia Rong got drunk and fell asleep on the couch in the outer room without even removing her veil. None of the maids in the East Palace tried to dissuade him, and Keqing had to sit on the embroidered bed all night.

After that, he didn't come home every night, as if he was deliberately avoiding her. Although Keqing hoped that he would go away, she was still a little curious.

As time went on, many things could no longer be kept secret, and Ruizhu finally found out the reason.

It is said that the brother-in-law was severely beaten two years ago and had long lost his original nature and was completely inhumane.

He was afraid that if he got close to the girl, his true identity would be discovered and he would be too embarrassed to live like a human being, so he treated her so coldly.

This man married the girl with such great fanfare, but it was just a cover to save face for himself, and he wasted the girl's life in vain.

Ruizhu was indignant about this, but Keqing was surprised as if she had been reborn from a calamity.

But Jia Rong would not bother her. She never expected that the eunuch in the mansion would be such a shameless thing. Every time he looked at her, the greed and lust in his eyes made her feel ashamed and angry.

Fortunately, he arranged Baozhu to be by his side. Several times when Jia Rong was away, Jia Zhen came to his yard despite suspicion, but was pushed back by Baozhu. The little girl was strong and capable.

If it weren't for the pearl, she didn't know that she would end up like that. And all this was because of his planning. Thinking of this, Keqing's heart always beat fast.

So when Jia Zhen and Jia Rong were sent to prison, Keqing was completely free from danger. How could she be unhappy at all?

In the eyes of the servants in the mansion, it naturally became that Madam Rong was so calm in the face of adversity, what a great person she was.

(End of this chapter)