The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 68 Playing the victim (Second update)

After seeing off Grandmother Jia and her entourage, Shen Ning lay on the couch, feeling a headache coming on.

What is Jia Jing playing at?
Is it a bad sale?
Do they want people to know that the Jia family is failing?

So first they couldn't protect the Wang family, and now they're being attacked at home?
Shen Ning rubbed her forehead, feeling both headache and mental exhaustion.

She was too lazy to write to that person again.

In his view, playing the victim for the Jia family was probably the best way out for his family.

To find a way out, he was willing to harm her and the child in her womb.

Shen Ning, supporting her belly, rolled over, deciding to avoid seeing it altogether.

Let's talk about everything after she gives birth!

Otherwise, no matter how busy you are, you'll most likely end up doing all the work for someone else.

"Madam, you mustn't go to sleep right now."

Liu, the midwife, sensed that she was about to sleep, so she quickly stepped forward to stop her, saying, "If you sleep now, it will be hard to get through the night."

The baby has already adapted to her original routine, and if it is changed, it may also change. If the baby rolls over a few times inside, the umbilical cord could get wrapped around its neck, which would be terrible.

Helpless, Shen Ning could only sit up. "I'm not sleeping." She needed to find something to do. "By the way, where's Liu Tang? Why hasn't he come yet? Did we not invite him?"

That person depends on the Jia family for a living. Even if he doesn't have time today, he should still reply, right?
"While you were chatting with the old lady, the servant came back and said that Lord Chen was arguing with him over there."

Qingping stepped forward and said, "Grandpa Kui originally refused to open the door, but he actually knelt down in the street."

Today, the country is governed by the principle of filial piety.

No matter how many mistakes Chen Chong made, his kneeling made many people think that Liu Tang was wrong.

"Uncle Kui and Uncle Liu had no choice but to invite him in."

"...Haven't we already severed ties?"

Even his surname was changed by his eldest son yesterday.

How could Chen Chong possibly go looking for someone again?

"Lord Chen unilaterally denies it and just keeps clinging to Mr. Liu. Mr. Liu probably has no choice but to accept it."

This?
It is true.

Even in modern times, there's nothing that can be done about those deadbeat fathers; how much more so nowadays.

Shen Ning was still angry with Jia Jing, and said directly, "Tell the old man to keep an eye on Chen Chong and tell him that if he dares to harass Liu Tang again, he will make things difficult for the Chen and Wang families."

In this era, clan law sometimes even supersedes national law.

Chen Chong is an official appointed by the imperial court, so he's not easy to fight, but they can let the Chen family members cause trouble for him themselves.

"Yes!"

Qingping quickly gave the little maid a wink, and seeing her run out, she hurriedly advised, "Madam, the kitchen has just made a shortbread and a sesame glutinous rice cake. Would you like to try a couple?" They were just small pastries, and it should be fine for Madam to eat a couple.

In the past, when my wife was unhappy, eating a snack would immediately cheer her up.

Qingping hopes she can be the same as before.

But Shen Ning really had no appetite right now. "...Forget it, I won't be able to eat anything tonight. You guys can share it. Oh, and take some to Qingzhu too."

"Yes!"

Qingping inwardly complained about the old lady of the West Mansion.

Their wife was fine before, but that old lady insisted on pulling her aside to say something private. Now, she's left happily, but it's made their wife unhappy.

Why are they even here to see their wives? They're clearly just here to cause trouble.

As Shen Ning's personal maid, she naturally sided with her mistress.

"Don't worry."

Seeing the worry in Qingping's eyes, Shen Ning patted her hand reassuringly, "I just haven't figured some things out yet."

In Dream of the Red Chamber, when Qin Keqing died, almost all of the four kings and eight dukes were present. Was it really just because Qin Keqing's identity was problematic?
Is it possible that they were doing it because of Jia Jing?

Furthermore, would someone as intelligent as him really fall into the trap of elixirs and die after consuming them?
Could it be that he had no choice but to die?
Moreover, after his death, the emperor generously issued an additional decree, posthumously granting him the rank of fifth grade, ordering the Guang Temple to offer sacrifices according to precedent, and allowing princes and dukes of the court to offer condolences.

This is intriguing.

At that time, the emperor must have completely trusted the Jia family, right?

It seems that his imperial decree was actually emboldening Jia Zhen and his associates, causing them to become so arrogant and reckless that they disregarded filial piety and national duty, and even had affairs with You Erjie and You Sanjie.

Huh?
No, his father is dead, so why would his eldest son be so happy?
Or perhaps he also knew about the Jia family's problems and was hoping for his father's death?
hiss~
Indeed, if you want someone to perish, first make them go mad!

Shen Ningwei let out a breath of stale air, "Once you've thought it through... everything will be fine."

Nowadays, playing the victim is indeed a viable strategy.

Then... what if something happens to Jia Zhen as well?

Anyway, Shen Ning couldn't bear to part with Jia Rong. He was still a child, and it was a crucial time for him to learn and practice martial arts; he couldn't be delayed.

She was pregnant, and it was bad for something to go wrong.

Lady You was a second wife, and her status was not high enough.

From all perspectives, Jia Zhen is the most suitable candidate in the entire household.

"Go find Jiao Da." Shen Ning twirled the jade bracelet on her wrist. "I have something to tell him."

At this moment, Jia Zhen, who was on his way to Jia Kui's house, was unaware that his mother had already set her sights on his legs.

With guards surrounding him in front, behind, and even on both sides, when he arrived at Jia Kui's house, he didn't knock on the door at all, but directly signaled the guards to kick it down.

bang~
With a loud crash, the gate collapsed.

Chen Chong, who was desperately pleading with his son and Jia Kui to spare the Chen family, felt his heart leap upon hearing this.

Sure enough, it was Jia Zhen who arrived.

As Chen Chong watched him step over the collapsed gate, the veins on his forehead throbbed rapidly.

"Lord Jia!"

His legs went weak, and he knelt down on the spot. "Please, for the sake of your mother's safety and for the sake of the good fortune your Jia family has been bringing to the child in her womb, just let our family go!"

If he had known that Wang Shi was such a fool, still so stupid to defy the Jia family even after they had sent people, he would have restrained her much earlier.

Chen Chong was filled with remorse. "If you agree, I will never make things difficult for Liu Tang again."

He agrees to sever ties, okay?

"Oh~, is not making things difficult for Liu Tang considered a condition?"

Jia Zhen gave a forced smile, "Lord Chen, you're quite the schemer!"

"..."

Chen Chong wiped his face. "This humble official dares not. Lord Jia has made a condition. As long as it is within my power, I will do my utmost."

"First, Liu Tang's mother's dowry, including all the produce over the years, will be transferred to Liu Tang."

Jia Zhen took a sip of the tea that Jia Kui had personally served him, and then said, "Second, either you divorce the wicked girl from the Wang family, or... slap her a hundred times. Remember, I want to see eight big teeth fall out after you slap her."

"..."

Chen Chong's lips trembled; he was unsure whether he should stand up.

He can't do either of those things.

First of all, Liu's dowry was something he couldn't bear to part with.

He married her because he was after her dowry.

Although he made a lot of money in the Ministry of Works over the years, the Liu family's estates and shops also generated considerable profits.

Over the past ten years or so, I've accumulated at least eight thousand taels of silver, if not ten thousand.

If they really pay it all off, how will their family survive?
No, even the house was part of her dowry.

He will be homeless.

"It seems you're unwilling?"

Jia Zhen still had a smile on his face. "Alright then, perfect. I haven't vented my anger enough yet. I can go through your Chen family's genealogy from top to bottom, as originally planned. Tell me... is it better to break a leg or an arm?"

Or, to put it bluntly, break their third leg. Families like yours... don't deserve descendants.

If you have something but don't cherish it, it's better not to have it at all.

"Oh, and the Wang family, and your close friends too."

Jia Zhen's threat was blatant: "As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together, and you..."

"I agree!" Chen Chong couldn't bear to think about the consequences, and finally hissed, "I agree to all your conditions."

Hedong in thirty years and Hexi in thirty years.

He simply couldn't believe that the Jia family could continue to have such smooth sailing.

If the Censorate could impeach him for lax household management, then Jia Zhen... was guilty of extortion and plunder.

He still didn't believe that the Censorate would let him go.

"Please, have mercy and spare my family and friends."

Chen Chong lay prostrate on the ground, concealing the murderous intent in his eyes.

At this moment, he actually wanted to say that Jia Zheng was also his friend.

If you're so capable, go ahead and lay a hand on him!

Sorry, we had guests at home and I was busy all day, so this update is really late.