I'm in the Red Mansion

Chapter 153: Ghosts and monsters, each with their own thoughts

As for the Ningguo Mansion, it was just as Jia Cong had expected. The descendants of the side branches were all determined to inherit the title of Ningguo Mansion and even the entire Duke's Mansion.

In fact, there is a legitimate great-grandson in Ningguo Mansion, and that is Jia Qiang, who is of the same generation as Jia Rong.

It can even be said that Jia Qiang is the most qualified heir.

Unfortunately, Jia Qiang's parents had both passed away, leaving him alone.

Originally, he was raised by Jia Zhen and received the same treatment as Jia Rong.

Later, in order to avoid suspicion, they allocated him a yard and let him live on his own.

And Jia Qiang, because he had lost his parents and was the only one of the direct descendants.

Therefore, he was ostracized by all the other branch children.

As for the other descendants of the Ningguo Mansion, they were trying their best to gain personal advantages.

Others include Jia Chen, Jia Qiong, Jia Lin, Jia Qiang, Jia Chang, Jia Ling, Jia Zhen, Jia Ping, Jia Zao, Jia Heng, Jia Fen, Jia Fang, Jia Jun, and Jia Zhi.

There are many people crossing the sea, each showing their abilities and finding their own way.

Not to mention Lady Jia, Jia She, Jia Zheng and others, even on Wang Xifeng's side, there were people trying to find ways to get through to her.

These people are not stupid. They know that there is no one left in Ningguo Mansion.

The succession to the title here will definitely not be able to avoid Grandmother Jia's involvement. Even if it comes to the Zongzheng Temple, I'm afraid they will have to ask Grandmother Jia's opinion.

It would have been fine for Lady Jia and the others, but Wang Xifeng was secretly sneering in her heart.

These people, don't they just take a piss and look at themselves to see if they are worthy of inheriting the title?

Each and every one of them has lost their mind due to their own thoughts.

But no matter who came to her for help, no matter what gifts they brought, she would accept them all.

According to her, these people's things would not easily come into her sight.

Now that they want to send it, just accept it all.

As for whether it can succeed or not, it has nothing to do with her.

As for Lady Jia, she did have some thoughts on this.

There is really no one left at Ningguo Mansion.

The only one left was Jia Qiang, who was good-looking but useless.

I heard that even though he indulged in all kinds of eating, drinking and entertainment, it was still difficult for him to support the Ningguo Mansion.

What's more, the head of the East Mansion is the head of the Jia family.

How can a small person like him hold up?

Apart from Jia Qiang, the rest were all distant relatives from side branches.

Grandmother Jia had people investigate these people, and found that none of them could achieve anything.

In this case, why not pick someone from Rongguo Mansion to inherit the title?
Baoyu is a very suitable candidate.

In the Rongguo Mansion, the first and second wives have been fighting over the right to be a housekeeper for years.

If Baoyu were to inherit the title of Ningguo Mansion and the entire Ningguo Mansion.

This dispute can be easily resolved.

As long as she goes to the Empress Dowager to beg for mercy, there is an 80% chance that this matter will be accomplished.

Thinking of this, Grandmother Jia couldn't help but become more excited.

Grandmother Jia couldn't help but call Jia Zheng over and told him her plan.

After hearing this, Jia Zheng immediately knelt on the ground and said in a panic, "Mother, this is absolutely inappropriate."

After hearing this, Grandmother Jia was secretly angry at her second son for being too upright and rigid, and unable to adapt.

But Jia Zheng said, "Mother, we have already separated from Ningguo Mansion."

"If we let Baoyu inherit the title there, what will outsiders say? Won't they say that our Rongguo Mansion has seized the property of Ningguo Mansion? Wouldn't that make outsiders laugh at us?"

"Besides, if Baoyu really inherits the title of the East Palace, how will mother let the eldest lady in the palace deal with it? Wouldn't it ruin her reputation?" "Now, the eldest lady is in the palace, but it is the last and most important time. We must not let this incident ruin her plan."

After hearing this, Grandmother Jia couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

By the way, she almost forgot about Yuanchun in the palace.

If Baoyu were really allowed to inherit the title of East Palace, his manner of eating would be too embarrassing.

Now in the palace, the eldest girl is preparing to seek the position of imperial consort. If this matter were to get out, it would indeed be detrimental to their plans.

Grandmother Jia was calculating the gains and losses here.

In the end, Grandmother Jia decided to give up the idea of ​​letting Baoyu inherit the title of East Palace.

Finally, after some discussion, they reported Jia Qiang's name.

After all, Jia Qiang is the legitimate great-grandson of the East Palace.

Upon hearing this, Jia Qiang was overjoyed and hurried to Rongqing Hall to kowtow to Lady Jia to express his gratitude.

Grandmother Jia gave him some careful instructions, and Jia Qiang agreed to all of them.

Next, Jia Qiang went to the Zongzheng Temple for the examination.

To inherit the titles of these dukes and marquises, one must pass the examination in the Zongzheng Temple before one has the right to inherit the titles.

The content of the assessment is actually not simple. It includes military strategies, horse riding and archery, and other items.

It was fine before, but later the assessment of Zongzheng Temple has gradually become a formality.

Otherwise, how could people like Jia She and Jia Zhen pass the assessment?
Jia Qiang originally thought so too.

He thought that as long as Lady Jia reported his name, it would be a foregone conclusion that he would inherit the title of the East Palace.

Unexpectedly, what was just a formality for others became a reality for him.

After a series of assessments, Jia Qiang was found to be completely unqualified and was directly dismissed.

This action stunned the entire Jia family.

Of course, the descendants of the side branches of the Ningguo Mansion were extremely ecstatic.

Originally, after the Jia family reported Jia Qiang's name, they had given up the idea of ​​seizing the title.

But I didn’t expect Jia Qiang to be useless. He actually failed the test.

In this way, they actually got an opportunity.

So, next, at Ningguo Mansion, Grandmother Jia carefully selected five candidates.

They were asked to take the test one by one, but unfortunately, no one could pass it.

This made Grandmother Jia dumbfounded.

No matter how dumb she was, she knew that there must be something wrong when things were abnormal.

There must be some royal considerations involved here.

Could it be that the emperor wants to take this opportunity to revoke the title of Ningguo Mansion?
Unable to guess the answer, Grandmother Jia finally used her trump card. She decided to let Jia Baoyu take the test.

It's not that the Rongguo Mansion wants to seize the Ningguo Mansion's property, but that the children of the Ningguo Mansion are useless.

Grandmother Jia never thought about whether Jia Baoyu was useful or not.

Perhaps the Zongzheng Temple would give her some face.

It’s just a pity that Jia Baoyu is even more useless.

Even if the other children of the Jia family failed the exam, at least they could shoot ten arrows.

But when Jia Baoyu went there, he couldn't even draw a bow and arrow, and was laughed at by everyone.

This time, Grandmother Jia was really panicked.

She already felt that the emperor might really want to take back the title of Ningguo Mansion.

Thinking of this, Grandmother Jia could no longer sit still. She put on her imperial dress and went to the palace in person to ask for an audience with the Empress Dowager.

(End of this chapter)