The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 33 Seeing off guests
At Rongguo Mansion, Madam Wang, who was bedridden, was so angry when she heard that the old lady had gone to the East Mansion that she immediately got up.

Doesn't she know what the old lady is like?
She only had one way to deal with the East Mansion: fawn over them.

But is it useful for the Eastern Palace to flatter them now?
Shen Ning was like a mad dog, biting anyone she could get her hands on.

Back then, when her twelfth uncle, Jia Dairu, told her at school that she had lost her mind, she didn't believe it at the time, but now...

He must have lost his mind.

"Somebody come!"

Madam Wang immediately summoned someone, "Quickly, invite my maternal uncle to the house."

She needs to have a serious talk with her brother.

If we continue to let Shen Ning cause trouble, the agreements that the two families had made will likely fall through.

If this really falls through, what will happen to her elder brother? The Wang family has already spent so much money, what about her Zhu'er, Yuan Chun, and Bao Yu?
Madam Wang knew very well that if that time came, let alone living in Rongxi Hall, her family would be kicked out of Rongguo Mansion as soon as the old lady left.

Jia Zheng is only a minor fifth-rank official; where will his family live then?
A ruthless glint flashed in Wang's eyes. "Wait, let me write a letter first, and you can give it to your maternal uncle along with the letter."

She needed to have her elder brother bring a familiar imperial physician to confirm that Madam Shen had lost her mind.

With unprecedented speed, Wang wrote a letter and sent it to the Wang family by express horse.

In the past, she never worried about the East Mansion.

With Jia Jing deposed, Shen Shi, who was by his side, was also rendered useless.

She came back to recuperate during her pregnancy, and anyone with eyes could see that childbirth wouldn't be easy for her.

Wang had already planned that once she died, she would bring her newborn child here to raise.

Just like raising Jia Lian back then.

Even if her elder brother disliked Jia Zheng, he would still treat her with some courtesy and care for her children because Jia Lian treated her with some respect.

Otherwise, how could Zhu'er have entered the Imperial Academy by using the quota he had?
Although Jia Zhen is shrewd, he certainly cannot be close to the child who killed his mother.

He was grateful that she was willing to take him in and raise him.

By the time……

Wang had thought everything through, but she never expected that Shen would suddenly go mad and use the rumors that everyone knew to cause trouble.

"Somebody come!"

She suddenly remembered something, "Bring a sedan chair and take me to the old lady's place in the East Mansion immediately."

what?
The maids were taken aback.

"What are you still standing there for?" Madam Wang's face hardened. "Go now."

The old lady always treated Jia Jing and Shen Shi well, and she would listen to what the couple said more often.

Even if he's become somewhat estranged from the Shen family, he'll definitely think more carefully about what she says.

Although it's unclear what else Shen might say to her grandmother, it's always better to be safe than sorry.

She was just too careless before.

“Hold Baoyu in your arms and come with me to the East Mansion.”

Now, the only one who can change the old lady's mind is Baoyu.

The group moved very quickly. Wang Shi didn't care that she might pass on her illness to Bao Yu, and simply carried him over in a sedan chair.

At this moment, Shen Ning and Grandmother Jia were just talking about Yuan Chun's hardships, while You Shi and Li Wan were still choosing maids.

Hearing that only the old lady and Shen Ning were in the room, Wang Shi disregarded everything else and directly pushed open the half-closed door. "Old lady! Sister-in-law..." Seeing her old lady's solemn expression, her heart skipped a beat, and her eyes immediately reddened. "My people have done something wrong, sister-in-law, I... I've come to apologize."

Before she could finish speaking, she seemed to collapse as if her body couldn't take it anymore and was about to kneel down on the spot.

Oops!

Madam You and Li Wan rushed over to support her, asking, "What are you doing, Second Madam?"

When Madam You stopped calling her "Second Aunt" and started addressing her as "Second Madam," she gave a wink, and two burly old women rushed over, dragging and carrying her to a chair to the side.

"Madam, old lady..."

Baoyu was terrified. He looked at his mother and then at his grandmother, and tears welled up in his eyes on the spot.

"Don't cry, don't cry, your mother is alright."

Why should I have known today?

We're all family. If the Shen family's reputation is ruined, will the Jia family benefit?

Grandmother Jia beckoned Baoyu to her, took him into her arms, and said, "Quickly, call her your aunt, she's about to give birth to your little brother."

"It's my little sister!" Baoyu's eyes were about to burst into tears. He was chubby and fair-skinned, and he said to Shen Ning in a childish voice, "Auntie, it really is my little sister."

He remembered this auntie. She would come over when he paid respects to his ancestors and during the New Year. She not only gave him red envelopes, necklaces, and sachets, but also lots of delicious food.

"The child is talking nonsense..."

Grandmother Jia was embarrassed and was about to help patch it up when Shen Ning smiled and touched her belly, "I'm not talking nonsense. I also think it's a girl. I already have a son and a grandson. All I need is a daughter."

She casually pushed the plate of snacks toward Baoyu, saying, "Be good, when your little sister is born, you can play with her."

"Okay!"

Baoyu nodded repeatedly.

He was still young, clean and tidy, wearing the magical jade pendant...

Shen Ning's eyes involuntarily fell on the Spirit Jade.

"Sister-in-law, can you please spare Zhou Rui's wife?"

Suddenly, Madam Wang spoke up, her face full of pleading, "Taoyue has been with me since she was six years old. We've known each other for decades. I beg you, please ask my elder brother and Zhen'er to release her and her two children!"

Releasing Zhou Rui is probably impossible, but Tao Yue has been rescued.

Otherwise, the more than 80,000 taels of silver, including principal and interest, would never be recovered.

Wang's tears fell down. "I know she did something wrong. Don't worry, she can be beaten or scolded as she pleases when she comes back. But Shuntian Prefecture is really not a place for her and her son to stay."

Shen Ning: "..."

"Baoyu, quickly beg your aunt for your mother."

"Aunt..."

Baoyu grabbed her little hand, pleading, "Auntie, please spare the Zhou family!"

The tears he hadn't shed just moments before started flowing. "My mother is sick because of them. If you're still angry with them, then hit me!" he said, extending his chubby little hand. "I'm not afraid of pain!"

"..."

Shen Ning gently flicked his little nose. "Aren't you afraid of getting hurt? But your auntie is worried about you being in pain!"

Especially Grandmother Jia, who was standing nearby, felt an urge to immediately call out to Baoyu her beloved son and daughter when she heard him say that.

"My darling, did you hear that? How could your aunt be angry with your mother?"

The old lady felt sorry for her grandson and quickly took him into her arms, saying, "Don't worry, Grandma will go find your uncle when we get back."

After seeing Baoyu, she completely forgot about what Shen Ning had just said about Yuan Chun.

Yuan Chun may have a tough time now, but it's all worth it.

Grandmother Jia believed that her eldest granddaughter, who was born on the first day of the Lunar New Year, was blessed, and she also believed that Baoyu, who was born with a jade in his mouth, was blessed.

But where does the greatest fortune in the world lie?
Of course, it's the palace!

Yuan Chun was destined to walk that path.

Grandmother Jia believed that with her granddaughter's talent, appearance, and extraordinary gentleness and thoughtfulness, she would eventually win the Emperor's favor.

As for the Emperor Emeritus and Consort Zhen...

Even if the Emperor Emeritus was a little angry, he wouldn't do anything because he remembered how the Duke had risked his life to save him back then.

As for Consort Zhen... she has always been cunning, and since the Emperor is now legitimate, she might also need to use her granddaughter to make some preparations.

After all, behind Yuan Chun in her family stood not only the Jia family, but also the Wang family, the Shi family, and the Xue family.

Even other noble families, out of consideration for their ancestors, would naturally side with them.

As for Madam Shen... she seems to have a long-term vision, but she makes the same mistake as Jing'er—she's too cautious.

What else can they do besides maintain the status quo?
"Grandmother, let's go back now."

Seeing his mother's anxious gaze, Baoyu very considerately said, "Uncle will be home soon."

"Auntie has something to attend to, so she should go back first."

Shen Ning's smile was faint. "I didn't do Zhou Rui's thing. But my second sister-in-law's apology today... was all empty words. I didn't see any sincerity in it."

Grandmother Jia clearly didn't take her words to heart.

If Yuan-chun doesn't return, the Jia family will be embroiled in the mess of the imperial court.

Shen Ning was angry. "Madam You, please see the guest out for me!"

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(End of this chapter)