Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 67: Resentment from the Sky
Jia She was detained in the clan house for four days before he came back. The loyal and obedient prince was very respectful and gave Jia She, the dandy nobleman, a hard time.

During these four days, Grandmother Jia was worried and couldn't sleep at night. When Jia She returned home, the old lady was relieved and fell ill.

The imperial physician was invited to examine the patient and prescribe medicine. It took four or five days of recuperation before the patient recovered.

News also came from Zhen'an Prefecture that the case of Ma Dao Po and Wang Shanbao's witchcraft had been reported to the Ministry of Justice and the case was closed. The evidence was conclusive and they would be executed in the autumn.

The clan affairs office also conveyed the palace's oral order, saying that Jia She's behavior was eccentric and he had done a lot of absurd things. He had forced innocent people to death by the servants of the first house, used witchcraft to harm their master, and colluded with innocent people. As the head of the family, Jia She could not escape blame.

He was forced to stay indoors for a month to reflect on his mistakes and observe the consequences.

The heir to the title of Lord Jia was detained by the clan office for four days, causing the Jia family to lose face among the noble circles in the capital.

Although Grandmother Jia felt ashamed, fortunately her family's title was saved, which made her feel that it was a blessing in disguise. After she recovered, she enjoyed a few days with her grandchildren, and the situation passed.

Jia She's despicable and dissolute character was not born that way.

It is not difficult to say that Lady Jia's joviality was not due to her own temper, and it is hard to say that it had no negative influence on Jia She's growth process.

Jia She reflected on his mistakes at home, but the instigator of the witchcraft incident was Mrs. Xing's concubine, which almost made Mrs. Xing's reputation infamous among the eight concubines in the capital.

These days, Grandmother Jia had her eldest daughter-in-law reflect on herself behind closed doors in the East Courtyard to avoid being disgusted by her presence. She was even no longer required to follow the daily rules in Rongqing Hall.

This time, Jia Cong not only eliminated the evil woman who forced Zhishao to death, but also severely suppressed Jia She and Mrs. Xing.

This will weaken their voice in the Jia family and also weaken their control over me in the future.

Since he moved into Qingzhizhai, he hardly left the house and studied hard day and night.

At first, sisters such as Daiyu and Tanchun gradually found out about it, and later it reached the ears of Jia Mu and Jia Zheng.

In the end, even the maids and servants in the mansion knew about it.

The young men in this mansion were all born into wealth. From Jia Lian, Baoyu, Jia Huan, to Jia Rong and Jia Qiang of the Cao generation, all of them lived a comfortable and wealthy life.

There is no other boy like Jia Cong who is so absorbed in his books and oblivious to what is happening outside.

The person who did this ten years ago was Jia Zhu, and the person who did this thirty years ago was Jia Jing.

They are all the literary stars of the Jia family.

Although the servants had little knowledge, they had always heard about the stories of the older generation. Many people said that since Cong studied so hard, he would be a great man in the future and there was no doubt that he would become a scholar or a Jinshi.

Then the news that Jia Cong was appreciated by a great scholar and recommended to study at Qingshan Academy gradually spread, making Jia Cong's position in Rongguo Mansion more and more stable.

However, these also brought about some discordant consequences, and Jia Zheng became increasingly strict with Baoyu and Jia Huan's studies.

One of them looks down on studying, and the other has no ability to study at all.

The result was that he could not study well, and was scolded by Jia Zheng every day, which made him miserable.

Seeing her beloved son frowning every day and his father acting like a mouse seeing a cat, Grandmother Jia couldn't help but take her anger out on Jia Cong.

……

Early in the morning that day, after Baoyu had been helped to wash and dress by Xiren, he ate a few bites of breakfast and prepared to go talk to Lin Daiyu.

Suddenly, a maid came outside and asked him to go to the Mengpo Zhai study because the master wanted to test him on his homework.

When Baoyu heard this, his face turned pale, which scared Xiren who was standing beside him. She had to shout at him several times before she finally called Hun'er back.

But he couldn't not go, so Xiren coaxed him to go first, saying that she would ask the little maid to guard outside the study. If the master scolded him harshly, she would ask the old lady to save him.

There were only Jia Zheng and Baoyu in the Mengpo Zhai study.

As for Jia Huan, he had already been in the clan school for two years and was forced by Jia Zheng to study hard for several days, but he still could not memorize even half of the Thousand Character Classic.

Moreover, the man looked vulgar and could not speak clearly, so Jia Zheng wisely gave up hope on him.

……

"It is said that self-cultivation lies in rectifying one's mind. If one is angry, one cannot rectify one's mind. What is the next part? Recite it to me." Baoyu glanced at his father's stern eyes, shuddered, and hastily looked away. He scratched his head and thought for a long time before reciting:

"If you have something to fear, you cannot be right; if you have something to enjoy, you cannot be right; if you have something to worry about, you cannot be right. Your mind is not there... your mind is not there..."

Baoyu's voice became lower and lower, and he could not remember what he said next.

In fact, Baoyu is also a talented person, as can be seen from the exquisite and graceful rhymed poems he usually writes.

I just don't know where he learned this outdated stuff from. He hates the Four Books and other official books about the imperial examinations the most. He sneers at the idea of ​​taking the imperial examinations to become an official, and he disdains the official career and economy.

In fact, these remarks are just nice excuses for the fact that he has been spoiled by wealth since childhood, has developed a lazy character, and is unwilling to work and endure hardships.

Forced by Jia Zheng these days, he would pick up a book and read a few pages when he returned to his room. However, he could not last more than half a cup of tea before he felt nauseous and wanted to vomit. He threw away the book and went to play with the maid.

"You evil creature, you have studied in the clan school for so many years, and now you can't even memorize a university textbook. How can you be a human being? You have brought shame to our ancestors!"

Jia Zheng picked up the ruler on the table and said, "Put your hand over here!"

Baoyu said tremblingly, "Master, I will definitely change. Please forgive me this time."

Jia Zheng said coldly, "I have spared you so many times for the sake of the old lady. If I spare you again, I will harm you. Stretch out your hand!"

The little maid who was sent outside as a spy by Xiren heard a "pop" sound from inside, followed by a scream from Master Bao.

The little girl's hair stood on end and she ran off like a rabbit to report the news.

By the time Lady Jia and Mrs. Wang arrived, Baoyu had already been hit seven or eight times, and his palms were red and swollen.

Grandmother Jia pointed at Jia Zheng and scolded him, "You are a father, yet you beat your son so early in the morning, and you are so cruel. Are you hoping to piss me off to death sooner?"

Jia Zheng frowned and said: "Old lady, how dare your son make you angry? Your son only taught Baoyu to study hard, but he is so disappointing. He has studied in the clan school for so many years, but he can't even recite university knowledge."

What will happen if this continues? Cong'er is the same age as him. Yesterday I asked him to come to the study to test his homework. He could recite the Great Learning and the Analects of Confucius by heart, and his understanding of the scriptures was also unique.

My son does not ask Baoyu to be as outstanding as Cong, but only wants him to be a little more ambitious... "

As soon as Grandmother Jia heard Jia Cong's name, she became furious. So this was the root of the problem. Why was it that evil creature again? If it wasn't him, how could my Baoyu be beaten by his father?

Grandmother Jia said angrily: "We are from a poor family and do not need to rely on studying to change our status and earn a living.

If you can study, then study. If you can't study, then don't study. Isn't the huge inheritance left by our ancestors enough? Do you have to be greedy for more and become a high-ranking official before you will stop? "

"Don't be confused, the one in Qingzhizhai is not your son, Baoyu is!"

Jia Zheng's face turned red from hearing Jia Mu's unreasonable arguments. He didn't dare to say a word and just stood there in silence.

Grandmother Jia ignored him and took Baoyu, whose face was covered with tears, back to Rongqing Hall.

When Mrs. Wang saw Baoyu’s red and swollen palms, she felt extremely distressed.

Suddenly he said to Grandmother Jia: "Brother Cong has been in Qingzhizhai for some time. Because the old lady was ill a few days ago, and Brother Cong's wounds have not healed well yet, I am worried about you.

I didn't ask him to come and greet you, but now that the old lady is in good health, he will live in the West Mansion in the future, and the daily etiquette must be followed. From tomorrow on, I will ask him to greet you and follow the rules every day."

At first glance, what Mrs. Wang said sounded fine. Everyone knew that the old lady had a rift with Jia Cong, and the lady was pushing Jia Cong closer to the old lady. This was also a good intention to ease the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren.

But what Mrs. Wang said was at a very inappropriate time. I don't know if she said it deliberately at this critical moment because she saw that Baoyu was beaten because of Jia Cong.

As expected, Grandmother Jia said angrily, "I don't need him to come to Rongqing Hall to pay respects. He should take care of his own life and read his own books. It would be better for everyone to have some peace and quiet. We can all avoid these formalities with him!"

Yuanyang, Amber and others nearby all changed their expressions when they heard this. Originally, everything was fine when Third Master Cong moved to the West Mansion. He paid his respects to the old lady every day according to the rules, which was the proper filial piety.

Now even these etiquettes are omitted, which is a slap in the face of this grandson. How come the third master Cong suffered as a result of the master hitting Baoyu today?

I'm afraid that the old lady's words will reach Qingzhizhai in less than half a day. I wonder how the people over there will feel after hearing them.

(End of this chapter)