Three Wives and Four Concubines in the Dream of the Red Chamber

Page 137

Chapter 106 Such Lightning Speed

The sun had barely risen when the vast Rongguo Mansion was already brimming with life.

Grandmother Jia had just finished washing up and was leaning against the back of Rongqing Hall, watching her granddaughters file in one after another, greeting her in unison. Her face was full of smiles.

"Get up, get up! Oh—didn't you guys sleep well last night?"

Amidst the laughter and conversation, Grandmother Jia exclaimed in surprise, glancing uncertainly at Daiyu nearby before looking around at the other young ladies. She sighed inwardly, realizing what had happened.

"Zijuan and the others deserve to be beaten! How can you serve young ladies like that?"

"Grandma, you've misunderstood. We started a poetry competition yesterday, but we ran into a vacancy and no one could fill in. I was worried about that after we got back, which is why I didn't sleep well."

Seeing that even their powder couldn't fool Grandmother Jia, Baochai pursed her lips and quickly changed the subject. Grandmother Jia assumed she was making excuses, but now, putting on her glasses and looking closely, she noticed that even Yun'er looked listless. Suddenly, she believed her a little more, finding it quite amusing.

"What kind of poem have you guys continued? You're all not even sleeping properly anymore, why don't you tell us?"

"Uh…"

The sisters couldn't help but freeze, exchanged glances, and felt a tangled mess of emotions.

How are they supposed to answer that?

Seeing that her sisters below were all flustered, Daiyu assumed it was because they felt guilty about being exposed, so she quickly smiled and tried to smooth things over:

"We spent some time at the manor and saw some novel sights. We're not like our ancestors, who were so well-traveled and knowledgeable. They would exclaim and shout about everything they saw, and it wasn't enough. Yesterday, while we were talking, I thought of writing a poem to record it, so that this trip wouldn't have been in vain."

"As for the poem that wasn't finished... Sister Bao started with 'The misty sea connects with the branches, wiping away the remaining stars,' and the rest of us added the line 'The bright moon floats in the mist, tied with fireflies,' but we couldn't finish it."

"Those silly girls, they completely obscured the scene in the first two lines; naturally, the rest of the text should follow the emotional tone. Back then, you all……"

"..."

Wang Xifeng served with a smile, listening in a daze as Grandmother Jia enthusiastically talked about the intricacies of poetry, making her head spin.

Looking at Daiyu and the others' smiles below, Fengjie felt a sense of familiarity. After thinking for a long time, she couldn't help but chuckle. Wasn't that just like herself? They were all fawning over the old lady!

When Grandmother Jia paused her conversation, still seemingly wanting to continue, and tilted her head towards the table, Fengjie smiled and brought over some fragrant tea, saying with a smile:

"No wonder there's a saying that old ginger is spicier. The old lady always praises this granddaughter and says that granddaughter is wonderful. The root of all this is the old lady!"

"You fiery phoenix! All you've got is a mouth."

"They say that one is influenced by one's company. I think Sister Feng's cleverness in speaking comes from serving the old matriarch. Why don't we invite the deaf and mute people in the mansion over tomorrow so they can also benefit from the old matriarch's good fortune?"

"You, Yu'er, are such a worry! Hahaha—"

Grandmother Jia hugged her beloved granddaughter tightly, tapped her little nose, and laughed so hard she almost fell over, losing all composure. Yuanyang, who was serving nearby, also smiled and took the teacup. Just as she turned around, she heard Fengjie say with a smile:

“It’s quite lively right now. Why don’t you go and get some frozen crispy cakes? They can thaw and everyone can enjoy them in a cool way. Hmm? I’ll take care of things here, Grandma.”

Seeing that Grandmother Jia had no objection, Yuanyang stopped what she was doing, smiled and agreed, and quietly slipped away from the side. But before she could lift the curtain and go out, she suddenly heard footsteps outside the door.

Before she could move aside, a figure tumbled in, knocking her off balance and causing her to cry out in pain.

The newcomer didn't stop for a moment, but rushed into the hall crying and knelt down in front of Grandmother Jia with a miserable expression.

"Ancestor! Ancestor, save me!"

Before the smile on Grandmother Jia's lips could fade, she was startled by the unexpected intruder, and her face darkened.

"You are—from Wu Xindeng's family?"

Just as she was about to reprimand her, Grandmother Jia looked at the rather familiar face of the old woman below and was taken aback.

Although there are many servants in this mansion, there are only a few who are respectable and in charge of things. Apart from the maids around her and the ladies' attendants, the only people who are in charge of things outside are Wu Xindeng, Lin Zhixiao, the Lai brothers, and so on. There are even fewer women in the mansion whose wives are also respectable.

Now that this person, who was one of the most prominent figures in the backyard besides the masters, was crying so pitifully in front of her, Grandmother Jia's good mood, which she had just been having fun with her granddaughters, vanished instantly. Her brows furrowed, making the atmosphere in the back hall much heavier.

"Wu family daughter-in-law, stop crying. Tell me what happened!"

At this moment, Grandmother Jia put on a stern face, her cold and stern expression completely different from her usual kind and gentle demeanor.

Yingchun and the others sat to the side, unable to help but straighten their backs, feeling a little scared. They could only stare blankly at the tips of their shoes, their ears secretly listening to the sounds.

"Grand Ancestor! I was busy in the manor early this morning when someone ran over to say that my house was suddenly surrounded by a group of soldiers. My wife rushed back after hearing the news and tried her best to be lenient, but they still wouldn't let it go, saying that the food they bought from the shops in the manor made someone sick and that they were coming to confiscate our property!"

"Waaaah! My husband was afraid of causing trouble for the family, so he thought of paying money to settle the matter. He even dared to borrow the name of the old ancestor's family to say a few words of peace, but those thugs are getting more and more aggressive. I heard that they have already broken into my house and smashed most of it!"

"What?! Such a thing is possible!"

Grandmother Jia stood up shakily, furious. How dare anyone try to extort money from her Rongguo Mansion? And they only got more brazen after giving their name?

"Investigate them immediately! I've lived all these years and never seen such arrogant soldiers! Go find their superiors right now, see if they're from the Five Cities Garrison, the Capital Garrison, or the Ministry of War! Bring them all here!"

"Old lady! Waaaaah!"

"Brother Yu, this is really... this is too fast!"

Wang Xifeng's heart pounded. She glanced at Wu Xindeng's wife, who was still kneeling on the ground wiping away tears. Her mind was filled with the matter she had discussed with Gu Yu. She felt her throat was very dry. After swallowing, she forced a smile and helped Grandmother Jia catch her breath.

"Grandma, don't be angry. These soldiers can't read a single word. They've had a few drinks and they think they can do whatever they want. Just send a few servants over to stop them and bring their superiors over. If they need to be beheaded, they'll be beheaded; if they need to be arrested, they'll be locked up for life. There's no need to get so angry."

Grandmother Jia snorted angrily, glanced at the girls beside her who were all standing up in fright, and barely managed to suppress her anger, only saying in a resentful voice:

“You young people don’t know the intricacies of this, but back when your grandfather’s generation was alive, similar things happened.”

"They deliberately picked some filthy scoundrels to cause trouble. If you dare to delay even for a moment, they'll make you lose all face! These days, such things are rare. Today, they're deliberately trying to make sure the Jia family has no one to rely on!"

Chapter 107 That's all my money! .jpg

With such a commotion, several prominent old women in the mansion, disregarding their own hard work, were busy relaying the news back and forth.

Upon hearing the news, Madam Wang, Madam Xing, and Aunt Xue rushed over and sat down beside them with varying expressions.

"Madam, the master has already received the news and has gone there with the steward."

"The servants from the manor have already gone with them."

Grandmother Jia gave a soft "hmm" and remained seated at the head of the table. Now that Jia Zheng was not present, it was only right for her eldest son to step forward.

Glancing at the girls below, each with a different expression, Grandmother Jia took a deep breath, as if muttering to herself, or perhaps deliberately instructing these naive young women:

"For families like ours, who have no worries about food and drink, the most important thing is our reputation. In this capital city, how often do we end up with families ruined and people killed? First, some scoundrels come to cause trouble. If you take a little longer to deal with it, the whole city will find out which family has been humiliated by hooligans and thugs, and everyone will spread the word about your family's situation."

"At that time, saying 'tiger father and dog son' will sound nice, but I'm afraid it will disgrace our ancestors! Besides, if you don't take this approach, they will go even further and take advantage of your weakness and incompetence, calling on their friends to set a trap to seize your shops and estates, and you will only be able to watch helplessly."

Seeing that Grandmother Jia was gritting her teeth in anger, Daiyu realized that the Jia family had been taken advantage of, and quickly tried to comfort her:

"Grandmother, there's no need to be angry. My eldest uncle has already taken people to handle the situation, and such a thing will not happen."

Grandmother Jia forced a smile, but a hint of worry remained in her eyes.

The Jia family, with two dukes, was once very powerful and influential. Although their fortunes have declined, they haven't lost their airs yet. She, the Lady of Rongguo, is still alive!

Moreover, the eldest granddaughter in the palace had just been appointed as the Minister of Fengzao Palace and given the title of Imperial Concubine. Her son-in-law, Lin Ruhai, was also deeply favored by the Emperor and held a top position among the four princes and eight princes. Who would dare to provoke such a powerful figure?

But since it has already happened, it means that the other party is not afraid at all... Grandmother Jia felt a slight headache and couldn't help but sigh, close her eyes and rub her head. Daiyu quickly and obediently helped to massage her head.

The room fell silent for a moment, but not long after, Sister Feng, who was busy with the matter, strode in with a strange expression on her face and her voice was much lower.

She wasn't sure what expression to make at this moment. The bad news was that Wu Xindeng's house was still vandalized, and the patriarch didn't stop it when he went over—or rather, the patriarch helped in the latter half of the incident.

The good news is that Grandmother Jia's worries were unfounded; she completely eradicated a cancer in the household, and in a way, we should thank her.

"Grandfather, the master is back and is coming this way."

"Oh? Let him in quickly!"

Grandmother Jia's expression turned serious. She waved her hand, signaling Fengjie to take Daiyu and Baochai inside to take temporary shelter and wait for Jia She to come in and explain the situation.

Wu Xindeng's wife had already been helped up and was standing to the side, staring intently at Feng Jie who had just entered, hoping to glean something from her expression.

Feng Jie only glanced at her briefly, without revealing anything, which made her feel uneasy and anxious.

Not long after, the sound of footsteps grew closer and closer, and Jia She strode in, his face still showing a hint of undisguised joy.

When they turned around and Jia She was about to pay his respects to Grandmother Jia, he suddenly saw the old woman below still wearing a mournful expression. A guess formed in his mind, and he couldn't help but snort angrily, saying in a deep voice:

"What are you still standing here for, you old codger? Get someone out of here right now!"

As the nominal head of the Jia family, even before Grandmother Jia had spoken, several old women hesitantly stepped forward and dragged Wu Xindeng's wife away, leaving only her pitiful cries behind.

"Old lady! I'm innocent! Sir, I'm innocent!..."

Grandmother Jia watched with a trembling face as Jia She displayed his power, her eyes filled with displeasure. After Jia She finished his greetings, seeing the smug look on his face, she asked him directly:

"What exactly happened? Tell me quickly, what's wrong with that guy surnamed Wu?"

Perhaps because he was out on business, Jia She was dressed reasonably well, unlike his usual behavior of staying at home all day indulging in debauchery. He finally looked like a wealthy young master.

"Don't worry, madam. This matter has been taken care of. The troublemakers were not some thugs. Lord Zuo explained the situation to my son and has already returned."

"I'm glad I'm fine, I'm glad I'm fine..."

Grandmother Jia breathed a sigh of relief, and even her good-for-nothing eldest son seemed more agreeable to her now. With her old arms and legs, she hated any trouble and only wanted to hold her grandchildren and enjoy the simple pleasures of family life; she had no desire to cause any chaos.

But before the thought had subsided, Grandmother Jia let out a soft "hmm" and asked again:

"Lord Zuo? Who is this? Could he be from the Ministry of War?"

"Neither, it's Commander Zuo of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"what?!"

Not only did Grandmother Jia exclaim in surprise, but even Sister Feng, who was temporarily hiding inside, widened her eyes, never expecting that it was actually a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

“Mother, don’t worry. It’s Wu Xindeng’s fault for this! He’s been bullying people outside because of the name of the Jia family. He’s even killed several people. This time, he’s been passing off inferior goods as superior ones, which has caused a junior officer to be poisoned to death.”

"Lord Zuo was furious and planned to take revenge, but he didn't expect to find evidence of Wu Xindeng's corruption and abuse of power on the way. Just then, I saw the messenger coming over, which saved me from a misunderstanding."

After a pause, Jia She said coldly, his face filled with anger:

"That bastard Wu Xindeng, together with Dai Liang and a few others, actually embezzled fifty or sixty thousand taels of family property, and even used the name of my Jia family to do favors for us. It's simply outrageous!"

If he were to use those favors, wouldn't he be able to get another twenty or thirty thousand taels of silver as a tribute? How despicable!

Grandmother Jia was so angry by his words that she trembled all over. She waved her hand to signal Jia She to leave and hurriedly called Feng Jie out.

"Such a thing has happened in this mansion! Are you all dead?!"

Sister Feng immediately knelt down with a crying face to explain:

"Grandmother's words are really going to drive your granddaughter-in-law to her death! How could we, the people in the backyard, know what those men have done outside? Wu Xindeng is in charge of the treasury, Dai Liang is in charge of the estate's harvest, and we are just responsible for managing the various old women and maids and serving Grandmother diligently."

Seeing that Madam Wang and the others had also stood up to apologize, Aunt Xue felt it inappropriate to step forward herself, so she quickly smiled and smoothed things over, saying:

“Grandma, what Sister Feng said makes sense. How would the people in the backyard know what the men have done? Besides, now that Wu Xindeng’s family has been arrested, it can be said that our ancestors have blessed their descendants and prevented the loss of their legacy.”

Upon hearing that the topic of ancestors had come up, Grandmother Jia's expression softened considerably. She gestured for Fengjie to rise and remarked with emotion:

"Truly, it's the ancestors' blessing that these rats couldn't hide for long. Wu Xindeng's family is truly blinded by greed! They're pretending to be deaf and dumb, trying to delay me. Humph! There's no need to send his whole family to the yamen; just hand them over to the Embroidered Uniform Guard and send them to the imperial prison!"

Although it's somewhat inappropriate, given the Jia family's status, no one would criticize them for having the Imperial Guards handle things for them.

Chapter 108 The Situation Subsides

"From this day forward, investigate thoroughly! Is there only these two in this entire mansion? Any old woman who dares to hide anything, lock them all up in the imperial prison!"

"Grandma, don't be angry, don't be angry."

Aunt Xue chuckled and came forward to help Grandmother Jia catch her breath, gesturing to Sister Feng to quickly go and serve her, while comforting her:

“My family has been in business for so many years, so we know a bit about the ins and outs of it. The old lady has been through a lot, so she naturally knows as well.”

“Wu Xindeng and his group, who control the income and the warehouse, colluded to create false and empty accounts. How could they be easily discovered? Others don’t have the connections to do this, so there’s no need to make such a big fuss.”

She had said those words in the heat of the moment, but now that she had calmed down a bit, Grandmother Jia realized the inappropriateness of her words and took the opportunity to pat Aunt Xue's hand:

"Thanks to my concubine for persuading me, I was just confused by anger."

After thinking for a moment, he turned to Sister Feng and asked:

"Who is in charge of purchasing in the manor? Find out immediately!"

There must be both inflows and outflows. Now that the warehouse and the inflows have both been involved in scandals, she doesn't believe that the outflows are completely innocent.

Sister Feng pretended to be trying hard to remember, and after thinking for a moment, she said:

"It seems his name is Qian Hua? I'll give the order right away."

"If there's really a problem, give her a good thrashing! Don't worry about who's shameless or not. If she has a problem, just tell her to come to me!"

"Yes!"