I'm in the Red Mansion

Jia Cong asked someone to invite Lady Jia, Mrs. Wang and others into Ninglu Hall.

Grandmother Jia, Mrs. Wang and others were so sad, their expressions were terrified and helpless, which made people feel sorry for them.

After everyone sat down as host and guest, Grandmother Jia couldn't help but say, "Brother Cong, you are the head of the Jia family. Now you can see that Rongguo Mansion is in trouble."

"Not only was my title stripped away, but my mansion was also taken back, and all my property was confiscated. Even after I die, I will not be able to face the ancestors of the Jia family."

After hearing what Grandmother Jia said, Jia Cong remained silent.

What does it have to do with me if you end up like this?

You reap what you sow. What have you been doing?
There is enough behind me to forget to pull back, and there is no way ahead to turn back, but unfortunately, it is too late.

Seeing that Jia Cong did not say anything, Jia's mother had no choice but to say, "Brother Cong, I want to borrow your Jia family's carriage to go to the palace to ask the emperor for mercy."

Jia Cong nodded and said, "This is easy. I will have someone prepare it."

When Wang Xifeng was about to be taken away for interrogation by the Jingzhao Prefecture, Grandmother Jia did not use her personal connections to save her.

The purpose is to save this face for use at a critical moment.

Now is the critical moment.

Grandmother Jia hopes to swallow her pride and ask the retired emperor to allow Rongguo Mansion to keep its title and mansion.

Even if the family property cannot be kept, as long as the title and the mansion are still there, there will at least be a chance to turn things around in the future.

And once they really lost their titles and mansions, they would really have nothing.

Jia Cong ordered people to prepare a carriage and took Lady Jia to the palace.

However, when Lady Jia stepped in this time, the retired emperor made the excuse of being unwell and refused to even see her.

This made Grandmother Jia very disappointed, and she had no choice but to return.

After returning to Ningguo Mansion and Ninglu Hall, Jia's mother said to Jia Cong, "Brother Cong, I want to talk to you alone for a few words."

Jia Cong nodded in agreement and invited Lady Jia into the inner hall.

After closing the door, Jia's mother suddenly knelt on the ground and said, "Cong'er, you are the head of the Jia family."

"Our two mansions are in a relationship where we prosper together and suffer together. I beg you to save the Rongguo Mansion."

Jia Cong frowned and helped Jia's mother up from the ground, saying calmly: "Grandfather, you really think too much. How can I be so worthy?"

"Your Majesty personally issued an order to strip Rongguo Mansion of its title and take back the Duke's Mansion granted by the Emperor. What else can I do to save Rongguo Mansion?"

Ha ha!

Isn't it time for you to expel me from your clan? You finally remembered me now.

Not to mention that he has no ability to save the Rongguo Mansion, even if he really has the ability, what right does he have to save these people?
Is it because Big Face Bao has a big face?

Grandmother Jia took a deep breath and said, "Brother Cong, this time the attack on my Rongguo Mansion is not only aimed at Rongguo Mansion, but also at you, Brother Cong?"

Coming for me? Are you getting old?
If you are not crazy, how can you say such things?

Seeing that Jia Cong did not respond, Jia's mother had no choice but to say, "Cong'er, as long as you make a petition to the emperor, we can do it."

"I am willing to use your title of Marquis of Champion and your post as Jiedushi to secure the title and residence of Rongguo Mansion. I am sure the Emperor will agree."

"Their real purpose is to take away your title of Marquis of Guanjun and your post as Jiedushi."

Hearing this, Jia Cong couldn't help but show a thoughtful look on his face.

You know what, this is really possible.

Emperor Yonglong must have still hoped to continue to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun and did not necessarily want to give up his post as Jiedushi.

But the emperor emeritus and the conservatives must have regarded him as a thorn in their side.

If he really submitted a memorial, he would be willing to use his title and official position to protect the Rongguo Mansion.

If the retired emperor had agreed to it without the permission of Emperor Yonglong, this might not be impossible.

After all, this is not the first time the emperor has done this.

Out of filial piety, Emperor Yonglong could not say anything as long as the retired emperor agreed.

Unexpectedly, I didn't see things as clearly as this old woman.

Originally, the Rongguo Mansion was being liquidated, and Jia Cong was still a little puzzled.

Originally, Rongguo Mansion should have been liquidated after Lady Jia's death.

Now Lady Jia is still fine, but unexpectedly she was purged.

I guess there really is a reason for this?

But why should I agree?
Jia Cong looked at his mother and said with a smile: "Grandfather, use my Ningguo Mansion title to exchange for the Rongguo Mansion title."

"The old ancestor has a good plan, but why would my Ningguo Mansion do this?"

Grandmother Jia sighed and said, "Brother Cong, I know that you must hate me and Rongguo Mansion in your heart."

"What happened back then was indeed my fault. But acting this way will also be good for you."

"You originally have two titles. Even if you lose the title of Champion Marquis, you still have the title of Ningguo Mansion that you inherited."

"You are young and powerful now, but this may not be a blessing. It is the wisest way to protect yourself if you retreat while the tide is at hand."

"It can also help you fulfill your filial piety and reputation, and save Rongguo Mansion. It can be said that it kills two birds with one stone."

"Brother Cong, think carefully about what I said. Does it make sense?"

After saying this, Jia Cong couldn't help but look at Lady Jia with admiration.

This old woman is indeed quite something.

If you put aside the facts, what she said is more and more true.

However, he was promoted by Emperor Yonglong and was favored by the emperor.

He retired at the peak of his career. How would Emperor Yonglong view him?

Can the conservatives really let him off just because he retired at the right time?

Haha, I’m afraid I’m overthinking it.

The only way to protect yourself is to have military power in your hands.

Once he has made Jizhou’s business impenetrable and made it his own back garden, that will be the real way to protect himself.

Even if the imperial court wanted to move against him, it would have to think carefully.

Instead of putting your own safety at the mercy of your enemy.

Doesn’t this old woman understand this truth?
Thinking of this, Jia Cong couldn't help but sneer and said, "To drive out the Qing Dynasty and recover our land is my lifelong wish."

"Don't talk about this again, old ancestor. I will never agree to it."

Hearing this, Grandmother Jia knew that nothing could be done and her face was filled with disappointment.

Getting Cong'er to give up his title and official position to save the Rongguo Mansion is their last hope.

Unexpectedly, Congge refused decisively without hesitation.

At this point, they no longer have any hope.

Now Jia She is half dead and Jia Zheng is exiled to Lingnan.

Jia Lian was imprisoned for three years, and the only men left in the entire Rongguo Mansion were Jia Baoyu and his nephew Jia Lan.

Jia Lan is still young, what can he understand?
And Jia Baoyu...

Even if Grandmother Jia loved Jia Baoyu as much as she loved him, she knew she could not rely on him.

Having lost their titles, mansions and properties, how can the people in Rongguo Mansion expect to live in the future?
Let’s not talk about anything else, just say that now they don’t even have a place to live, food to eat or clothes to wear.

The maids, old women and servants who follow them can no longer even afford the monthly wages.

If I want to find a place to settle down now, I have to be thick-skinned and ask Cong Ge'er for help.

Just settle down in Ningguo Mansion temporarily and find a solution later.

Thinking of this, Jia's mother had to blush and said shamelessly: "Brother Cong, now all the property of Rongguo Mansion has been confiscated, and not a single silver was brought out."

"We don't even have a place to stay. Our two houses are meant to prosper together and suffer together. Therefore, we would like to stay in this East House temporarily."

In Grandmother Jia's view, their temporary residence here was just a waste of space in a few courtyards.

Well, there is also food, monthly allowance and so on.

However, it doesn't cost much money.

Even if Jia Cong was heartless, he would not refuse to agree to her request.

But she didn't know that Jia Cong didn't want them to live here.

He felt annoyed just by looking at Lady Jia and Lady Wang.

What's more, there is a shameless guy who might do something if he is not at home.

And Lin Daiyu is pregnant, and Jia's grandmother relies on her seniority and no one can suppress her, so it is possible that something bad will happen.

Therefore, it is better to send him away from here.

Thinking of this, Jia Cong couldn't help but say, "Grandfather, letting you stay in the mansion is just a small matter."

"It's just that this is unfair to you, old man. I think it's better to do this."

"I'll clean up a yard outside for you to live in. This way you won't have to feel restrained, which will be better."

"By the way, my third sister and eldest sister-in-law already live in the Grand View Garden, so they don't have to move in with us."

If Tanchun and Li Wan and her son had gone with them, they would have suffered as well.

In fact, Jia Cong also wanted Aunt Zhao to stay.

But there is really no reason or excuse to say this, so I have to give up.

After hearing what Jia Cong said, Jia's mother didn't think much about it. Instead, she felt that Jia Cong had a conscience.

It is indeed better to settle down alone outside than to live under someone else's roof, and you don't have to worry about other people's feelings.

Since Brother Cong said so, I believe everything will be arranged properly.

And Jia Cong is indeed a kind-hearted person.

That afternoon, Jia Cong ordered people to find a courtyard with three entrances and bought it directly at twice the price.

Then he arranged for someone to send Lady Jia and others directly over there.

At first, Grandmother Jia was grateful, but after arriving at the new courtyard, she was dumbfounded.

The courtyard with three entrances is not small.

But there are too many people in Rongguo Mansion, even though there are not many masters.

But he had many slaves, hundreds of them.

This three-story courtyard simply cannot accommodate so many people.

The only way they could do that was to make a large dormitory and squeeze twenty or thirty servants into one room.

But if this is the case, where is the dignity?

Only then did Grandmother Jia realize that this bastard Jia Cong had no kind intentions at all.
It was obvious that he thought they were an eyesore and directly drove them out of Ningguo Mansion.

Grandmother Jia was so angry that she was shaking all over and she wanted to give up the house.

But now, if they leave this house, where will they have a place to stay?
When the Rongguo Mansion is ransacked, the old house in Nanjing will also be confiscated.

Although there are still branches in Jinling.

But now they are down and out and have lost everything. What good would it matter even if they go back to their hometown in Jinling?

Aren't you still living under someone else's roof and depending on other people's wishes to make your living?
You have to please other people everywhere, so you might as well stay in the capital.

At least there are real relatives here.

For example, the Xue family and the Lin family.

After thinking this through, Jia's mother had no choice but to stay here. They only had breakfast and didn't even have time to have lunch.

That evil bastard Jia Cong didn't even give them a meal.

Now everyone is starving.

Grandmother Jia hurriedly ordered the kitchen to prepare dinner.

But there were no ingredients in the kitchen.

And they all had no money.

As masters, they rarely go out on weekdays.

Even if they want to buy something when they go out, the maids will take care of the bill. Why would they need to bring their own money?

Now, they are even poorer than maids and old women.

Grandmother Jia was also helpless and had to ask Lin Zhixiao to go to Ningguo Mansion to borrow some silver and buy some ready-made food.

It won’t be too late to buy ingredients and cook tomorrow.

You can't let the whole family go hungry, right?
Soon, Lin Zhixiao bought food and handed over the remaining silver.

This time, Ningguo Mansion lent them a total of 200 taels of silver.

Two hundred taels of silver?
What is it enough for?
Not enough for a month.

Grandmother Jia originally thought that Jia Cong would at least lend them a few thousand taels of silver.

I didn't expect him to be so stingy, which made Grandmother Jia's face look very ugly.

She even wanted to have someone send the two hundred taels of silver back.

But now some money has been spent on food, and there is not enough two hundred taels of silver left.

Besides, if they really go back, what will they eat?
It's really a penny that stumps a heroic man.

After dinner, Grandmother Jia felt uncomfortable.

There are three courtyards in total, including the main hall. How big can it be?
The furnishings in the room were completely different from those in Rongqing Hall where she originally lived.

Suddenly, Grandmother Jia finally came to her senses.

The Rongguo Mansion has fallen into decline.

Times have changed.

Let’s not talk about anything else, just look at these old women, maids and servants, they simply can’t afford to support them.

It would be better to release them all.

Thinking of this, Grandmother Jia couldn't help but ask someone to call Mrs. Xing and Mrs. Wang.

Now, in the entire Rongguo Mansion, only the mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law are holding up the place.

Grandmother Jia couldn't help but say, "Now that my Rongguo Mansion has been stripped of its title and its property has been confiscated, it is no longer the same as before. You should also be prepared to live a hard life."

"As you can see, this house was given to me by Cong Ge'er. It is only three stories high."

"Now we have even less income, and we can't employ so many people, and this yard can't accommodate so many people."

"So I thought that among the three of us, including Baoyu, we should keep only one maidservant by our side, and send the rest away."

"From now on, I'm afraid you will have to do all the things in the mansion yourself."

After hearing what Lady Jia said, Mrs. Xing and Mrs. Wang felt very uncomfortable.

Where had they ever done these rough jobs before?

I'm afraid the days ahead will be even more difficult.

Madam Wang thought for a moment and said, "At least keep two people around the old ancestor to serve him."

"No matter how difficult life is, we can't let our ancestors suffer like this."

In her heart, Grandmother Jia actually disliked Lady Wang.

But in terms of general knowledge, Mrs. Wang is indeed far better than the eldest sister, Mrs. Xing.

Well, Grandmother Jia dislikes Madam Xing even more.

Grandmother Jia shook her head and said, "I have experienced everything in my life and have enjoyed enough blessings. It is enough for me to have a maid by my side."

After hearing what Lady Jia said, Mrs. Wang stopped trying to persuade her.

Early the next morning, Grandmother Jia called all the servants together and said she would give them freedom.

In fact, the servants in Rongguo Mansion had already anticipated this.

They realized this faster than the master of Rongguo Mansion.

The Rongguo Mansion is finished. When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. They are basically all going to leave.

A small number of servants kowtowed to Lady Jia and chose to leave.

All the servants in the Rongguo Mansion who were prominent had made some progress.

Whatever the master gets, they get half.

There are rewards during the New Year and other festivals.

Therefore, those servants who were in high positions all had a certain amount of family wealth.

They can live well even if they leave Rongguo Mansion.

These people naturally choose to leave.

However, most of the remaining low-level slaves were unwilling to leave.

They knelt on the ground, unwilling to leave, and asked their ancestors to take them in.

The vast majority of these people are children born in the Rongguo Mansion.

They lived on the Rongguo Mansion, and they didn't make much money on a daily basis.

It would be difficult for them to survive without the Rongguo Mansion.

Grandmother Jia also felt helpless.

Finally, she said, "Well, I'll find you a place to go."

With this opportunity, Grandmother Jia brought the rest of the people to Ningguo Mansion.

After finding Jia Cong, Jia's mother couldn't help but say, "Brother Cong, these are my Rongguo Mansion's children, they don't want to leave."

"And now, it is really difficult for my Rongguo Mansion to support so many people."

"They are all loyal and can be used with confidence. You can keep them all."

Jia Cong thought about it and nodded in agreement.

Some of these people can still be used.

Now he is also short of manpower in Jizhou City, so he can bring some people over.

Grandmother Jia said to Yuanyang again, "Yuanyang, from now on, you should go and serve Congge'er."

After hearing this, Yuanyang fell to her knees and cried, "Does the old man not want me anymore?"

"I have served my ancestors, and I don't want to go anywhere else. I just want to stay with my ancestors."

Grandmother Jia sighed, "Foolish child, in this world, is there any banquet that will never end?"

"You are not young anymore. Following an old woman like me would delay you. I am arranging a good place for you by letting you serve Brother Cong."

Grandmother Jia said to Jia Cong again: "Brother Cong, I have raised this girl since she was a child. Now I give her to you. I hope you can treat her well."

Jia Cong nodded and said, "Grandfather, just rest assured."

Yuanyang kowtowed to Jia Cong several times while crying, then stood up and kowtowed to Jia Cong again, as a sign of acknowledgment of her new master.

After leaving all the servants here, Grandmother Jia got up and said goodbye.

Jia Cong did not try to keep him.

Jia Cong then took Yuanyang to the inner house, and Yuanyang kowtowed to Lin Daiyu, Xue Baochai and Xue Baoqin.

Xue Baoqin hurriedly pulled her up from the ground, then put her arm around her shoulders and said, "Third Master, you must not treat me badly in the future!"

Hong Xiu smiled and said, "Don't worry, Auntie. As long as Third Master has a bowl of soup to drink, Sister Yuanyang will have a bowl to wash! As long as Third Master has a mouthful of meat to eat, Sister Yuanyang will have a bone to gnaw on."

Xue Baoqin chuckled and said, "Hongxiu, now you have also become a bad person!"

Hong Xiu chuckled and said, "I didn't come up with this idea. I learned it from the Third Master."

The mandarin duck was feeling sad, but now he couldn't help but smile.

She couldn't help but rush over and said, "You are so good, Hongxiu, you come to make fun of me when I am sad!"

Hong Xiu quickly dodged and begged for mercy, saying, "My dear sister, you don't have to be sad. If you follow the Third Master, I'm afraid you will be so happy that you won't want to leave in a few days!"

These words made all the girls laugh.

But before she could get married, Xue Baochai was called away by Aunt Xue, who told her that it was related to Xue Pan's marriage and asked her to go back to help consider it.

Xue Baochai felt a little puzzled, but she didn't think too much about it.

After returning to the Xue family, Xue Baochai met Aunt Xue and asked, "Mom, has my brother's marriage been decided? I wonder which girl he has chosen?"

Aunt Xue could not help but say, "My son, it hasn't happened yet. It's not about your brother's marriage. I just called you back for this reason and have something to ask you."

"Now that the Wang family has been confiscated, and the Rongguo Mansion has also been stripped of its title and its property has been confiscated, my son, do you think our family will be implicated?"

"Also, your aunt's family is now in decline, and their livelihood has become a problem. Let's go to the capital first and stay at their house."

"Now that they are in trouble, how can we just ignore them? According to you, how much silver should we send over there?"

Before Xue Baochai could say anything, Xue Pan snorted coldly, "When I was involved in the lawsuit, they pushed the blame and wanted to sever ties with our family."

"In my opinion, just give them thirty or twenty taels of silver, and have less contact with them in the future."

"I'm afraid if I get too close to their family, it might bring trouble to our family."

Aunt Xue was so angry that she picked up a feather duster and started to hit Xue Pan, who immediately covered his head and ran away.

Xue Baochai couldn't help but say, "Mom, my brother's lawsuit is over. In the past two years, we have been careful and have not bullied others."

"Therefore, this incident has nothing to do with our family."

"My aunt's family has fallen on hard times, so it's only right that we get help from our relatives, but we can't help them get through poverty."

"Besides, Third Brother Cong doesn't seem to like them and didn't arrange for them to stay in Ningguo Mansion."

"We just found a three-building house outside to settle them down. The ancestor sent someone to borrow money, and Brother Cong only gave them two hundred taels of silver."

"I think it's not appropriate for our family to get too close to them. Giving them 1,800 taels of silver will be enough."

Hearing this, Aunt Xue was shocked.

Fortunately, Baoyatou was called back for questioning. Otherwise, a big mistake would have occurred.

Aunt Xue couldn't help asking, "I'll listen to you, my son. Do you think eighteen taels of silver is too much? Will it make Cong unhappy?"

Now Jia Cong is the son-in-law of their Xue family and also their Xue family's biggest backer. Naturally, they cannot make Jia Cong unhappy with them.

Xue Baochai couldn't help but laugh and said, "Mom, it's okay. If it's any less, it won't look good to outsiders."

"Mom, emergency relief can't make them poor. Their family is used to a comfortable and enjoyable life, and they have no income."

"Even if we give them 10,000 taels of silver, they will be squandered in a few years."

"Even if our family doesn't take the initiative to distance themselves from him, his family will not come to visit us easily after a few attempts."

Hearing what Xue Baochai said, Aunt Xue couldn't help but nodded.

The so-called being well-matched does not only apply to marriage, but also to relatives and friends.

I have been relying on others for support, and it didn’t take long for them to become distant. (End of this chapter)