The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 96 Grandparents and Grandchildren
At the Prince of Jin's residence, after reading the letter brought back by the skinny monkey, the Prince of Jin frowned deeply. "Are you sure you haven't made a mistake?"

"Absolutely not."

The skinny monkey practically swore to the heavens, "Because we were unsure, I even went to find our inside man. He also said that he caught a glimpse of these handprints and footprints from afar yesterday."

Prince Jin: “…”

He turned the handprints and footprints over and over, and even examined them again in the sunlight. He was certain that they were indeed a child's handprints and footprints, and his brows furrowed even deeper.

What riddle are Shen and Jia Jing playing?
"You said you saw the Jia family riding horses up the mountain on the way?"

"Yes!"

"You also said that you were discovered in Jia Zhen's outer study, and that the guards of Ningguo Mansion chased you for a long time?"

"Yes!"

"So this letter must have been sent up the mountain after they discovered there was a thief in their house?"

"This should be."

The skinny monkey nodded.

"Haha~"

The Prince of Jin sneered and slammed the letter onto the table. "Are these two trying to make a fool of me?"

Skinny Monkey: "..."

Because his name was Skinny Monkey, he kept his head very low.

"Your Majesty!"

Seeing that their prince was about to lose his temper again, Wu Rubao quickly said, "You may be overthinking it. The matter of the Emperor Emeritus bestowing a marriage and sending two additional dowries was only informed to Jia Jing by Madam Shen yesterday, using these handprints and footprints."

As he spoke, he stole glances at their prince to make sure he was really listening before continuing, "Moreover, I've heard that the main reason the couple broke up is because of this child. Because of this child, Madam Shen even confiscated all of Jia Jing's private wealth, and now he's been forced to even pick up manure."

Prince Jin: “…”

He had countless reasons to refute this servant, but Jia Jing was carrying manure...

Thinking of the message from his inside man, Prince Jin snorted and tossed the letter at the skinny monkey, saying, "Send it to the Tai Xuan Temple and throw it into the dung heap."

The line of the Duke of Ningguo is lacking children.

When Jia Jing's brother died, Jia Daihua cried bitterly in front of his father, the emperor.

So much so that the emperor could be ruthless to the crown prince, but was lenient with Jia Jing.

Now that Jia Jinglao has a daughter, he is so indifferent...

The Prince of Jin paced around the room a few times. “Tell our men to keep a close eye on him. No matter who he contacts or what messages he sends, they must report it immediately.”

"Yes!"

The skinny monkey picked up the letter and hurried away.

"The Jia family in the future..."

Prince Jin looked at Wu Rubao and said, "Just have someone keep a close eye on Madam Shen."

Others are not a concern.

"Especially when there is correspondence."

Jia Zhen was a good-for-nothing.

Jia She and Jia Zheng are not capable of being of great use.

They are all people who can only live off the blessings of their ancestors.

It's just that his father was sentimental; if it were him...

"By the way, haven't Jia She and Jia Zheng come out of the ancestral hall yet?"

"I heard that yesterday, because the matchmaker came to the door and the study was ransacked, they came out of the ancestral hall for half a day, but went back in at night."

Wu Rubao said, "This news all came from the Rongguo Mansion. The two branches of the Jia family and the Ningguo Mansion are relatively well-managed." It would be quite difficult to send someone in. "Because of the exposed 'Skinny Monkey,' last night, the number of patrols and night watchwomen in the two mansions was said to be one-third more than usual."

Not doubled?
This was the King of Jin's first thought.

Then, remembering that many people had been punished because the two chief stewards of the two mansions were corrupt officials, he felt relieved and said, "Then let's start with the Rongguo Mansion."

It's better than not being able to touch it at all.

……

Ningguo Prefecture, Ancestral Hall.

Jia Zheng's expression was blank.

Wang talked to him a lot yesterday.

Even after giving up Rongxi Hall, his brother and Jia Zhen were still not satisfied; they wanted to drive his family out of the mansion.

They were pushing him to the point where he couldn't take it anymore and had to beg for mercy again.

They were also using him to pressure their elderly mother into preparing for a division of the family property.

Huh~
Jia Zheng sneered inwardly.

Without his family, could his elder brother have taken over the Rongguo Mansion?
Wait, his younger sister Min'er is on her way back; they've always had a better relationship.

And Lian'er...

Thinking of the child who had grown up beside him, Jia Zheng felt at ease.

He wanted to show his elder brother which side his own son was on.

He was filled with rage, but little did he know that Shen Ning's so-called separation of the family was nothing like what he had imagined.

Yuan Chun went to ask about it yesterday, and thought about it all night after returning home.

"Grandmother, how long do you think Uncle and Father will stay in the ancestral hall?"

Yuan Chun came over to test her grandmother.

She thought her aunt's plan to divide the family property was excellent, as it would not only avoid future disputes but also prevent her uncle and mother from competing to squander the family fortune.

With the two families entangled together, the uncle always felt he was at a disadvantage. Since he felt he was at a disadvantage, he would definitely keep buying antiques.

As for whether those antiques were genuine, my uncle wouldn't care too much; he just wanted to spend the money.

And then there's the mother, who, because she didn't receive a title, might even secretly sell the estate by taking advantage of her position as steward.

She wouldn't care what her descendants would do; all she needed to know was that the second wife was taking advantage of the public funds.

She discovered this while reviewing the public accounts.

Yuan Chun was very helpless.

She felt that her eldest aunt from the East Mansion also knew this, which was why she proposed that division of the family property to her grandmother.

"...When it's time to come out, it will come out."

It wasn't that Grandmother Jia didn't love her children and grandchildren.

But she really didn't dare to go to the East Mansion to plead for mercy.

She only thought that Jia Zhen was there too, and that Shen Shi couldn't keep him locked up forever.

Even if she wanted to shut it down, Jia Zhen wouldn't be happy about it.

"Grandmother, have you been to the main storehouse in the public hall?"

Yuan Chun had no choice but to unleash her ultimate weapon.

"..."

The old lady sighed, "I know what's making you sad. Didn't you copy it all back?"

In fact, what was copied was even more abundant than what was originally in the warehouse.

Starting with her father-in-law, the two branches of the Lai family managed the affairs of the two mansions and accumulated quite a bit of wealth.

Now, what their ancestors accumulated over two generations has all become part of the Jia family.

And then there's Zhou Rui. He embezzled some of the goods and bought a large estate. If he can get through this year, things will actually get better for his household.

"Grandmother, you are only seeing the surface."

Yuan Chun looked around and the maids and servants hurriedly bowed and withdrew. "On the surface, our family has actually made a profit, but in fact, my uncle and my mother are competing to make money, which is damaging the foundation of the Jia family as a whole."

You know your uncle's temper. He takes more than a thousand taels of silver from the public treasury almost every three months. He uses all that money to buy antiques, but are his antiques really worth that much silver?
You also felt it wasn't worth it, so you kept saying he was a slacker.

People outside also say that my uncle is a scoundrel, and they all take pleasure in being able to deceive him.

"If his reputation is ruined, will it be good for our family?"

Jia Mu: "..."

The old lady couldn't help but rub her chest.

"And my mother. Zhou Rui was able to embezzle so much money in such a short time. Do you think my mother must have had little? Overall, much of their money has an unclear origin."

what?
The old lady's eyes widened as she thought of something.

"I suspect... she's lending money at exorbitant interest rates."

Yuan Chun also lowered her voice with great difficulty and said, "This is also the truth behind why Zhou Rui and his wife died in prison." Grandmother Jia: "..."

The old lady was knowledgeable and experienced, and had actually suspected it long ago.

But having doubts is one thing, being pointed out so clearly by one's granddaughter is quite another.

The laws of the Great Zhao state forbid lending money at exorbitant interest rates.

The profit is too high, often driving people to ruin and death.

But the law is the law, and many mistresses of grand mansions are lending money at exorbitant interest rates through their servants.

Wang was lending money at exorbitant interest rates...

“Grandmother, the Emperor Emeritus is still alive, and the national treasury is empty. The Emperor can tolerate what he can, but he is young and will eventually come to power. When that time comes, what do you think he will do when facing the Emperor Emeritus’s old ministers? At that time, what Mother has done will bring trouble to the entire Jia family.”

"..."

The old lady's breathing suddenly became heavy. "No, she doesn't care about the family anymore."

"Yes, the current housekeeper is my second sister-in-law, but she is my mother's own niece. There is no money in the family coffers. Even a clever woman can't cook without rice. If there is just one old woman who talks about usury in front of her, do you think she wouldn't do it?"

Jia Mu: "..."

Her face couldn't help but turn ashen.

"And my father..."

Yuan Chun looked pained.

In her childhood, she thought her father was a man of noble character, possessing both the integrity of a scholar and the virtue of a hermit, a true gentleman.

During her years in the palace, she faced all sorts of exclusion. Sometimes, she would ponder for days over a single sentence from Consort Zhen, and she gradually discovered problems she had never noticed before.

"Father has no penchant for buying antiques or concubines, but have you ever considered how much silver his kept men cost each year?"

Jia Mu: "..."

"There are seven people who are always by my father's side: Cheng Rixing, Zhan Guang, Shan Pinren, Bu Guxiu, Ji Haogu, Hu Silai, and Wang Erdiao. My father supports them and their families. Not to mention their expenses in the mansion and their clothes for the four festivals, the amount they bring home each year is at least one hundred taels, and some even as much as five hundred taels."

While some among them possess talent, many more are sycophants and flatterers.

They spoke sweet words to their father, but outside, they abused the Duke's power, acting like bullies and even taking over lawsuits to extort money from others.

Yuan Chun was deeply saddened. "They did not help Father establish himself in the officialdom, nor did they help Father teach his children and nephews. Instead, they coaxed Father to play chess and drink tea with them, to recite poems and songs, and to use their mediocre skills to appraise famous people's calligraphy and paintings. They seemed to know everything, but they were completely useless."

The father was pleased with his flattery and spent all his time in his study, neglecting both family affairs and the care of his grandmother and nephews.

Grandmother, what Father did was actually more harmful than what Uncle did by spending money on antiques and concubines.

Jia Mu: "..."

She was simply stunned.

There used to be several retainers and advisors by the side of the Duke.

She has made it a habit to take care of them all.

In fact, they did do a lot for the Duke and the Jia family.

She thought...

The old lady had come to realize the incompetence of her second son, and now...

"Separate...separate the family!"

After the family splits up, they can only eat what they already own, so they have to make some plans.

We can't say they're still greedy for their own money, can we?
"Grandma~"

Yuan Chun quickly patted her grandmother's chest to soothe her, saying, "It's all my fault, you..."

"none of your business!"

Grandmother Jia was extremely saddened.

Her Yuan Chun was truly talented and beautiful!
But to be born into such a family...

"Did your aunt tell you about the family division?"

"Yes!"

Yuan Chun lowered her head.

"That's good."

The old lady nodded. "Go tell your eldest aunt to give me a couple of days' notice. After two days, we'll go to the ancestral hall to divide the family property between your uncle and father."

She didn't bring it up immediately because she felt sorry for her granddaughter.

The child had just spoken to her when she went to separate the family property. When her second son and Wang Shi came back and inquired, who knows how many troubles they would cause.

Although her granddaughter is about to get married, as long as she remains in the mansion, the word "filial piety" will weigh heavily on the child.

Moreover, Wang Shi was a heartless person. Grandmother Jia felt sorry for her eldest granddaughter's miserable life in the palace, so how could she bear to let her be tormented by her own mother?

"What you said today, keep to yourself from now on, and don't mention it to anyone."

At this point, Grandmother Jia added, "Forget it, you don't need to go to your eldest aunt's place in the East Mansion anymore. I'll talk to her myself later."

"……Yes!"

Yuan Chun slowly nestled into her grandmother's arms. "Grandmother, thank you."

She was also very perceptive, so how could she not know what her grandmother really meant by saying all this?
"Silly child, you can't be so straightforward after you marry into the Xinping Marquis's family."

The old lady hugged her eldest granddaughter and said, "Your aunt was able to do this because she and your uncle Jing were a loving couple. She had been the matriarch of the family for many years, and she also had your brother Zhen, a son who could carry on the family tradition."

Even if Jia Zhen was not a good person, he still inherited the title and was the head of the Jia family clan.

Lady Shen herself was a first-rank imperial consort.

But what could a newlywed granddaughter possibly have?
The old lady could also see that her three granddaughters, including Fengya, all admired Shen.

They all wanted to learn from her, whether intentionally or unintentionally, in their speech and actions.

That's not impossible, but only if you can establish a firm foothold first.

"The old lady of the Xinping Marquis's mansion is no kind person. Even Princess Baofeng is suffocated by her. You..."

"My aunt told me to bring several fierce-looking, strong old women as part of my dowry."

Jia Mu: "..."

She immediately thought of the six burly old women with feather dusters attached to Shen's side.

Yuan Chun asked her grandmother for advice, "My aunt also said that if I encounter a villain like the old lady of the Xinping Marquis's mansion, I have to be more wicked than her first."

Yesterday, my aunt taught her that using palace intrigue tactics to deal with Old Madam Cheng would be useless.

She's corrupt and chaotic.

We should learn this from my uncle and Brother Zhen.

She had to show Old Mrs. Cheng her true nature as a troublemaker, so that she wouldn't dare to mess with her.

"But before I speak ill of him, I must first make things clear to Marquis Xinping."

"...Alright!"

Grandmother Jia patted her granddaughter on the back. "Old Madam Cheng's reputation is ruined. Even if she wanted to spread rumors about you being unfilial, not many people would actually believe her. Everyone... has their weaknesses."

Just like her.

The old lady instructed her granddaughter, "She must really like her illegitimate grandson. Learn from your aunt, find fault with him, and knock him into the ancestral hall. If you can't find him right away, then look at the people around them. You are the matriarch of the household, so finding fault with them won't be difficult. Once you get rid of everyone around them, you can do whatever you want with the rest."

Of course, the other party might think the same way. Princess Baofeng is a prime example; her capable confidantes were either lured away or met with misfortune.

These were all discovered during a family investigation.

"Your aunt asked you to take care of a few more formidable women; that's because she really cares about you."

After thinking for a moment, Grandmother Jia said, "Later, have your second sister-in-law call the old women over. You can take a good look at them. They need to be aware of the affairs of the Marquis of Xinping's mansion."

Otherwise, you might get harmed without even knowing it.

“At any time, you have to stand on your own two feet. If Marquis Xinping is doing well, then you are doing well. If Marquis Xinping is not doing well… then you have to have two children and live your own life.”

Grandmother Jia said, "Learn from your eldest aunt. Look at your eldest uncle, he doesn't care about anything anymore. She can let go of him and live her own life well."

In her life, she had seen too many women who spent their lives in the inner quarters of their homes, slowly dying out.

But they couldn't bear to see their granddaughter end up like those people.

"As long as you protect yourself, everything else will go smoothly."

"Ok!"

Yuan Chun nodded and leaned against her grandmother. "Grandmother, don't worry. I finally managed to escape from the palace. No one or anything outside can disturb my peace of mind anymore."

She reciprocated the kindness shown to her by the Marquis of Xinping.

If you treat her very well, she will reciprocate in kind.

Otherwise, she would treat him the same way he treated her.

Just like my aunt said, she has money and connections, what kind of good life can't she live?