The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 46 Frightened Horse
Capital City, Yangxin Hall.

Emperor Xiaomu diligently reviewed his memorials.

It's almost March, and spring plowing is about to begin. He has been urging officials from all sides to help farmers make all the necessary preparations for the planting season.

Those without seeds can borrow them temporarily, and repay double the amount upon autumn harvest.

In short, everything must give way to spring plowing.

"emperor!"

Eunuch Liu rushed in and said, "I just received news that Prince Teng's horse got spooked on its way to the Beijing garrison, and he broke his leg."

what?
Emperor Xiaomu looked up in surprise.

However, seeing Liu Gonggong wink at him, he quickly suppressed his smile. "The horse is fine, how could it be startled?" he asked, seemingly concerned. "Have you checked it out? How is Wang Ziteng now? When will his leg recover?"

"Your Majesty."

Liu Gonggong bent down and said, "It was just a few children setting off firecrackers on the road. Unfortunately, Lord Wang happened to run into a member of the Wang family. While the two were talking, the firecracker somehow bounced onto the horse's head. The horse was startled. Lord Wang's leg injury was actually relatively minor. The member of the Wang family who was talking to him was kicked in the head by the horse and his life is still unknown."

good good!
A different light shone in Emperor Xiaomu's eyes.

The Beijing Garrison was crucial to the safety of the capital and its surrounding areas, yet the emperor was powerless to mobilize even a fraction of its forces.

In recent years, although he has been slowly cultivating his own people, he has an emperor above him and Prince Teng below him, so he can't make big moves and it's not easy for him to make small moves.

He could only watch helplessly as Wang Ziteng slowly won over the hearts of the people in the capital garrison, which was truly... infuriating!

The Wang family clearly owed the national treasury a large sum of money, yet instead of repaying it, they squandered it lavishly in the Beijing garrison.

Emperor Xiaomu could not help but suspect that the Wang family had other loyalists.

Otherwise, whoever becomes an official wouldn't be lining their own pockets with money?
He was a military governor of the capital garrison, yet he gave his family's silver to his subordinates...

hum~
Emperor Xiaomu snorted inwardly, but on the surface he seemed very worried. "Send the imperial physician to take a look. The affairs of the capital garrison are of great importance. If Prince Teng's leg cannot be healed in a while, we must select someone else to temporarily take over his command position."

Although he couldn't decide who would be chosen, he only had a chance if his father's side started arguing.

"Yes!"

Eunuch Liu hurriedly withdrew.

At this moment, the emperor was so happy that he couldn't even approve the memorials. Thinking for a moment, he clapped his hands towards a certain spot in the hall, and soon a secret guard floated down.

"Go and investigate in detail the matter of Prince Teng's horse being startled."

Emperor Xiaomu said, "If it wasn't an accident, and there were traces of someone else's actions... help me clean it up."

"Yes!"

The guard's figure flashed and disappeared from the hall.

Emperor Xiaomu paced around the palace several times before calming himself down and resuming reviewing the memorials.

But while he was happy, the retired emperor, who lived far away in the Longevity Palace, was not.

Military horses are specially trained. How could they be easily startled by a firecracker?
Where is the horse?

While fishing and sunbathing, the retired emperor murmured, "Is he dead?"

This?
The eunuch Xia, who answered, had a bit of sweat on his forehead. "Yes, the horse was killed by Wang Ren, the son of Prince Sheng, who was seriously injured and unconscious."

"..."

The retired emperor's long eyebrows twitched. "Killed by the Wang family?"

"Yes!"

Where was Wang Ziteng at the time? Did he know?

"It seems that Lord Wang is being surrounded by several doctors who are setting his bones, and his men are unable to stop Wang Ren."

"……fool!"

Even the retired emperor was speechless.

However, considering that this was the only son in the third branch of the Wang family, he let it go, saying, "Fine, let it be for now!"

It's just a broken leg, not a matter of life and death.

The emperor couldn't just strip Prince Teng of his official position like that.

Even if someone wanted to find a temporary replacement for Wang Ziteng, they would have to come and discuss it with his father.

"Your Majesty, the fish, the fish has taken the bait."

When Eunuch Xia saw the lake surface suddenly ripple, he became excited on behalf of the Emperor Emeritus.

"Haha, extra treat tonight."

The retired emperor cast his hook, and a fat carp nearly a foot long was caught. Instantly, the palace maids and eunuchs surrounding him all cheered with him.

……

Rongguo Mansion, Grandmother Jia's courtyard.

The first day of the third lunar month is Lady Wang's birthday. Wang Xifeng and Li Wan are all gathered here today to discuss with the old lady and the two ladies, Xing and Wang, how to celebrate.

"Let's have some longevity noodles together."

Wang was in a great mood lately, and although she said that, she knew in her heart that the more she said that, the more money the old lady would spend to do things for her.

Recently, things have become quite tense with the East Mansion, and the old lady needs a reason to gather everyone together and reconcile.

hum~
Madam Wang sneered inwardly.

Let those from the East Mansion take this opportunity to share in her good fortune and enjoy a reunion dinner. Anyway, the final outcome is already decided.

"Don't listen to your wife."

As expected, Grandmother Jia smiled and said, "It's been a long time since there's been a happy occasion in the manor. Let's make this a big celebration to shake off the bad luck."

From Lai Da to Zhou Rui, and even the school, she had worried a great deal about them.

Grandmother Jia really wanted to shake off the bad luck.

“Feng girl, add another 30% as usual. We’ll invite your eldest aunt and sister-in-law from the East Mansion later, so our whole family can have a good time.”

"Yes! We'll do as the old lady says."

Wang Xifeng smiled broadly. "In addition, my sister-in-law and I have discussed it privately. We'll invite an opera troupe to the mansion for Madam to perform 'Magu Presents Longevity.'"

"Good good!"

The old lady was getting on in years and liked lively entertainment. Upon hearing this, she was overjoyed. "Then it's settled. You two sisters-in-law can discuss and decide everything. I only have one request: just make sure your wife is happy."

"Then let's listen to the Eight Immortals' Birthday Celebration!"

Madam Wang glanced at the old lady and smiled, "I only heard about Magu offering longevity last year."

"The Eight Immortals celebrating a birthday is indeed better."

Grandmother Jia was even happier. "Oh, right, let them sing a scene from The Peach Banquet as well."

Before the old lady could finish speaking, a maid rushed in, "Madam, Madam, something terrible has happened!"

Madam Wang frowned; she was perfectly fine.

The auspicious day is approaching, and she also has many taboos.

"Who let you wander in like that?"

Seeing that the old lady and her aunt looked displeased, Wang Xifeng quickly raised her eyebrows and said, "You have no sense at all! Where's Ping'er? Get her out of here right now!"

"Madam, Grandmother, the Wang family has sent word that Lord Wang's horse has sprung a fright, and Second Master Wang has been kicked in the head. They say he's dying."

what?
Madam Wang stood up abruptly.

Wang Xifeng's expression also changed. "Quickly, prepare the carriage."

"Grandma, Feng'er and I will go back first."

As she said this, Madam Wang's eyes were already red.

"Go, go, go!"

Grandmother Jia was also very concerned.

The Jia family and the Wang family are practically tied together.

It's fine if Wang Zisheng is fine, but Wang Ziteng absolutely cannot be harmed.

"Is Zhu'er at home? Let him keep you and your daughter company."

My daughter-in-law's birthday is coming up, and my grandson has been on leave from work recently, so we'll go visit him together.

“I’ll go tell my husband right away.”

Li Wan also quickly stood up.

Before long, the courtyard, which had been so lively just moments before, was now empty except for Grandmother Jia and Madam Xing.

"Go and tell She'er too."

Grandmother Jia didn't want to see her eldest daughter-in-law. Prince Teng's horse was a military horse, and it was normally impossible for it to have an accident. But now that it was like this, she was very upset. "They are all family relatives. If you don't know, you don't know. But since you do know, you should go and see her."

"Yes!"

Xing also left in a hurry.

Before long, all the masters and servants of the Rongguo Mansion went to the Wang family.

Jia Zhu, who was with his mother, wife, and Wang Xifeng, looked very unwell.

If the old lady could think of it, how could he not?

Military horses are normally not prone to being startled, and given the special status of the eldest uncle, the horse he rides is even more carefully selected.

Jia Zhu couldn't help but suspect that someone had tampered with the horse.

But why would anyone attack the eldest uncle when everything is fine?

He couldn't help but glance back in the direction of Ningguo Mansion.

Is it her aunt or her older cousin?
He spoke so cryptically that day…

Will not.

My aunt is a woman, and even if she suspects something, she won't do anything without evidence, since she's focused on bringing good fortune to the child in her womb.

Moreover, she couldn't possibly have influence within the military.

My older cousin...

The eldest cousin knew how important his uncle was to their family, and he couldn't just take action without certainty about the evidence.

It must have been an accident.

Yes, it must have been an accident.