Dream of the Red Chamber: I can upgrade my entries!

Chapter 93 Bloodshed in Rongxi Hall: Killing Someone and Destroying Their Spirit!
Others may not be aware of the laws and regulations of the dynasty.

"Brother Lian donated the title of Prefectural Magistrate to his name, so he should know about it."

Looking around at everyone, Jia Yan's gaze fell on Jia Lian.

'Thump!'

Jia Lian was startled and quickly stood up: "Yes."

"What is the punishment for a treacherous servant who deceives his master?"

As soon as Jia Yan finished speaking, everyone present felt a chill run down their spines and their hair stand on end.

"He should be executed by torture!"

Jia Lian knew this was his pledge of allegiance, and without thinking, he blurted it out.

"Clap!"

Zhou Rui's wife collapsed to the ground, her face pale, her pupils dilated, and her heart filled with fear.

"I have always preferred to persuade people with reason."

"Where are Ruhua and Xueyan?"

"My lord!"

Two maids stepped forward, their eyes filled with disgust and hatred as they looked at Zhou Rui's wife.

"Who allowed them to withhold the expenses of my sister, Lin Daiyu, in her courtyard?"

"It's her."

Ruhua and Xueyan pointed at Zhou Rui's house and said loudly.

"No, not me."

"They are slandering us."

Zhou Rui's wife hurriedly retorted, her eyes fixed on Madam Wang. However, Madam Wang's face remained calm, like a stagnant pool, without the slightest ripple, and she paid no attention to anything that was happening in the hall.

"Lai Da".

Jia Yan called out again.

In the crowd, a wealthy middle-aged man dressed like a landlord walked up to the Jia family with a humble demeanor and said, word by word, "Reporting to the old lady, the eldest master, the second master, and Master Zhen, all the maids and servants in the inner courtyard have confessed."

"It was Zhou Rui's wife who instigated the embezzlement of all the expenses in the courtyards of the Fourth Miss and Miss Lin. In addition, the pharmacy cut off Miss Lin's supplies. The money that should have been used for the two young ladies was embezzled by her."

"How brave!"

Jia She slammed his hand on the table and roared, "You insult your master and embezzle money! What a shameless wretch who doesn't know his own mortality!"

"In my opinion, we should just drag this kind of person out and beat him to death, so as not to sully our eyes here."

"Yu'er."

Grandmother Jia originally did not care much about Lin Daiyu, but when she heard that someone had cut off the medicine, she realized that this was not just a problem, but a threat to Lin Daiyu's life. If Lin Daiyu were to die because of this, what would become of Lin Ruhai and the entire Lin family of Suzhou?
With the daughter of a relative by marriage dying in the Rongguo Mansion, what will become of the Jia family's reputation and face?

"Madam, save me!"

At this moment, Zhou Rui's wife was in despair, and her only hope rested on Madam Wang.

"The evidence is irrefutable. Uncle She and Uncle Zheng, do you have anything to say?"

"No."

Both Jia She and Jia Zheng chose to remain silent.

"The Jia family has two dukes, the most powerful noble family in the family. How can we tolerate such a treacherous and unruly servant who deceives his master?"

“This official is guilty of heinous crimes and should be executed.”

Jia Yan's cold, stern voice resounded throughout the entire Rongxi Hall.

boom! ! !
Everyone present looked up at Jia Yan. His indifferent face was deeply engraved in everyone's hearts, making them shudder.

"Tap tap!"

Two sword-wielding maids came out and took Zhou Rui's wife into custody.

Whoosh!!!

A rainbow, as clear as autumn water, was reflected in Rongxi Hall. A maid drew a long sword from her waist and held it straight to Zhou Rui's neck. Instantly, everyone's heart jumped into their throat.

"Madam, Madam, save me!"

Upon experiencing the sharp edge up close, Zhou Rui's wife was so frightened that she lost control of her bladder, and the air reeked of a fishy stench as she pleaded desperately.

The Jia family members all turned their gazes to Madam Wang, wanting to know what she would do.

"Clap."

Jia Yan waved his hand, and a burst of energy struck Madam Wang, releasing her from her speech impediment.

Unfortunately, Lady Wang remained calm and collected, constantly fiddling with her prayer beads, completely oblivious to Zhou Rui's fate. From the moment Jia Baoyu was stripped of his inheritance rights as the second son of the Rongguo Mansion, she had already harbored hatred for the Jia family.

"Yan-ge'er".

Grandmother Jia seemed to have guessed Jia Yan's thoughts and couldn't help but speak up to stop him.

"cut!"

Jia Yan held Xi Chun in his arms, covered her eyes with his hands, and uttered a single word.

"Puch!"

The long sword in the maid's hand had already slashed across Zhou Rui's neck, and blood spurted out, staining the floor of Rongxi Hall red.

"what!!!"

The women present all let out sharp screams of fear. Madam Xing, Li Wan, You Shi, and Jia Rong were so frightened that they fainted. Wang Xifeng, Jia Lian, Jia Zheng, and Jia Zhen endured their fear, their bodies still trembling, their faces deathly pale.

Lin Daiyu gripped the armrests of the chair tightly with her small hands. Although her face was pale with fright, she forced herself to stay upright and not be afraid.

Only Jia She and his mother were used to it; they had seen mountains of corpses and seas of blood before, let alone this level.

"evil creature."

Witnessing the maid's gruesome death on the spot, Madam Wang was filled with rage, her face contorted with rage, and she roared in a low voice.

"Snapped!!!"

With a crisp sound, everyone saw Xiaoxue take the sheathed sword and strike Madam Wang's face hard.

In an instant, a deep mark was imprinted on Madam Wang's face, and the bruise under her skin suddenly turned red and swollen, gradually turning purple, showing how forceful the blow was.

"Your Excellency is of noble birth, and you are nothing but a nobody, daring to speak so disrespectfully?"

Xiaoxue gave Madam Wang a cold look.

"you"

Madam Wang covered her cheek with one hand, her eyes filled with resentment and hatred. The unprecedented frustration and physical pain made her unable to hold back any longer, and she lost her former peaceful and Buddhist-like posture.

This scene was clearly witnessed by the Jia family. While they were shocked, they were also deeply afraid. Even Jia Zheng dared not say a word, and the entire Rongxi Hall fell into a deathly silence.

"Come on, throw her into a mass grave."

"Feed the dog."

Meeting Madam Wang's gaze, Jia Yan's lips curled into a slight smile as he gave the order.

"Yes."

Two sword-wielding maids stepped forward and dragged Zhou Rui's body out of Rongxi Hall like a dead dog, leaving a wide, bloody trail on the ground that was chilling to behold.

"Yan-ge'er".

How far are you going to take this?

Grandmother Jia could not simply sit idly by. After all, Lady Wang was the legitimate wife of the second branch of the Rongguo Mansion. Tearing off her face and trampling on her would undoubtedly humiliate Jia Zheng and make Jia Baoyu and the entire second branch unable to hold their heads high in the two mansions.

In the more than 70 years since the establishment of the two mansions, only Jia Yan dared to kill someone in Rongxi Hall. All traditions were overturned, which was something she could not tolerate.

"hehe."

Jia Yan smiled and said sarcastically, "Is it fun?"

Do you guys think it's fun?

"."

Everyone present wiped away their sweat, and no one dared to say a word.

"Grandma, what's the rush? This is just the beginning. The best part is to watch and savor it slowly."

Jia Yan put down Xiao Xichun, stood up, and walked step by step to Lady Wang, looking down at her condescendingly: "I heard that you spend your days in the mansion eating vegetarian food and chanting Buddhist scriptures. Are you afraid of encountering ghosts after walking on the dark roads too often?"

"That's right. With all the evil deeds you committed back then, not even Guanyin Bodhisattva or Buddha could protect you."

"Huh?" The Jia family never expected Jia Yan to make such a sarcastic remark to their faces. You don't hit someone in the face, and you don't expose someone's shortcomings. This is kicking Lady Wang in the heart.

Lady Wang didn't utter a single word, her eyes fixed intently on Jia Yan, as if she wished she could devour his flesh and sleep on his skin.

Just recovering from her shock, Madam Xing almost burst out laughing when she heard this. Since marrying into the Jia family, she, as the first wife's second wife, had always been subservient and had a deep-seated hatred for Madam Wang. Now that she saw Madam Wang in trouble, she was naturally overjoyed.

Jia She, Jia Zhen, Jia Rong, and the others just watched; it was none of their business anyway, so why bother themselves?

A hint of reluctance flashed across Wang Xifeng's eyes. After all, she was her aunt, so how could she not feel a little pity? But when she thought of Jia Lian and the eldest son's family, she shut her mouth and dared not say another word.

Li Wan was the most indifferent among them. She was Jia Zhu's wife and Lady Wang's eldest daughter-in-law, so she knew Lady Wang very well. When Jia Zhu was alive, she was not favored at all. After Jia Zhu died, she and Jia Lan were treated no better than Aunt Zhao.

"Yan-ge'er".

"You've already killed the one who deserved to die."

"What else do you want? Do you want me to kowtow and apologize before you'll let it go?"

In a moment of desperation, Grandmother Jia uttered a few words that drew the attention of everyone in the Jia family.

"Mother."

"You're confused."

“These things should have been dealt with, and Yan-ge did a good job.”

Jia She interrupted Grandmother Jia, for he was not as clueless as she was. The importance of a military commander to the Jia family was unparalleled.

Let alone disciplining the Rongguo Mansion, even if Jia Yan were to kill Lady Wang today, he would only say one word: "Good."

"Boss."

Grandmother Jia glared at Jia She, her dissatisfaction reaching its peak.

"Mother."

"Shufen was wrong."

Jia Zheng, his face deathly pale, uttered a single sentence.

"Second dick."

Grandmother Jia never expected that the one who would deliver the final blow would be Jia Zheng, Lady Wang's husband and Jia Baoyu's biological father.

"hehe!"

Lady Wang couldn't help but glance at Jia Zheng, a ferocious smile appearing on her face that sent chills down one's spine.

"old lady."

"Don't try to pin this on me. If I'm unhappy, my father will be even more unhappy."

"When the Jia family ancestral hall is opened, people will naturally discuss right and wrong with you."

Jia Yan glanced at Grandmother Jia and said indifferently.

"you!!!"

How could Grandmother Jia not understand his threat? Once the ancestral hall is opened, the twelve branches of the family in the capital will inevitably turn their attention to her. At that time, whether the Jia family will acknowledge her as the matriarch is another matter, let alone dealing with Jia Yan.

"Uncle Zheng".

"Baoyu must be eleven years old this year."

"Yes."

Slightly taken aback, Jia Zheng was unsure why Jia Yan had suddenly brought up Jia Baoyu's age.

'How ruthless!'

Jia She and Wang Xifeng were the first to realize that this was an attempt to destroy someone's spirit.

For Lady Wang, nothing was more important than Jia Baoyu, this "phoenix egg." To get rid of him would be to take Lady Wang's life.

"Cao Chong weighed an elephant at the age of six, and Gan Luo was appointed as a high minister of the Qin state at the age of twelve."

“In ordinary families, there are countless children who get married at the age of eleven.”

“There are bound to be exceptions among noble families, but to say that someone of this age is naive and inexperienced would be a lie.”

"Daughters are made of water and flesh, while men are made of mud and flesh. I feel refreshed when I see daughters, but I feel suffocated by the stench of men."

"Does Uncle Zheng know who said these words?"

Jia Yan brought up the matter with a smile.

"It's him?"

Jia Zheng asked somewhat uncertainly.

"Not only that, but they called eloquent writings 'bait for fame' and those who entered officialdom through the imperial examinations 'traitors and corrupt officials'."

“The management of the imperial court, high-ranking officials and generous salaries, are all regarded as ‘nonsense’.”

"The wealthy and idle are nothing more than this."

Several sentences rang out in Rongxi Hall, and the Jia family members all had different expressions. In the past, they would have just listened to these words and let them go, but now, upon closer listening, they found that the meaning was completely different.

The Jia family has been nobles and high-ranking officials for generations. Which of them didn't cultivate their influence in the imperial court? Which of them could escape high-ranking positions and generous salaries?

Among the family members who were not skilled in martial arts, Jia Jing was the most outstanding, having passed the imperial examination in the year of Yimao. Next was Jia Zheng, who was most fond of idle talk and grand discussions. Jia Zheng's eldest son, Jia Zhu, passed the county-level imperial examination at the age of fourteen and was hailed as the literary star of the Jia family. Because he studied diligently and devoted a lot of energy to his studies, he passed away before the age of twenty.

On a smaller scale, Jia Baoyu's words were an insult to Jia Jing, his biological father Jia Zheng, and his elder brother Jia Zhu. On a larger scale, they were questioning the imperial talent selection ceremony and criticizing past national policies.

"These are all things he said?"

Jia Zheng looked at everyone in disbelief.

"Second Master."

“Brother Bao is young and probably doesn’t understand the deeper meaning, which is why he’s talking nonsense.”

Wang Xifeng quickly tried to smooth things over, but little did she know that her words had completely ignited Jia Zheng's anger.

"evil creature!"

"What a wretched child!"

“I will kill him today, so that he will not bring disaster to the family in the future.”

Jia Zheng roared in exasperation.

"Zheng'er."

"If you want to kill him, kill this old woman first."

"Why make such a show of it when it's just childish talk?"

“Baoyu is a good boy. So many things have happened here. Don’t frighten him.”

Grandmother Jia could no longer sit still and hurriedly scolded Jia Zheng.

"Mother."

Facing Grandmother Jia, Jia Zheng dared not vent his anger, his face turning a purplish-blue from the suppressed resentment.

'Sure enough! '

The Jia family members shook their heads, understanding perfectly.

"The old lady is right, they are indeed still young."

Jia Yan continued, "Everyone in the mansion knows that Baoyu loves to eat rouge, especially the rouge around the maids' lips, which must be quite moisturizing."

"I don't know how many times Jin Chuan'er fed him that."

Boom!

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire Rongxi Hall erupted in chaos.

"Damn it, how dare he do this?"

Jia Zheng could no longer contain his anger and leaped to his feet, startling everyone else.

Jin Chuan'er was a maidservant serving Lady Wang. Jia Baoyu's actions were undoubtedly "adultery with his mother's maid." In a country that governed the world with filial piety, this crime was extremely serious, second only to deceiving the emperor and killing one's father.

"you dare?!"

Lady Wang immediately stood in front of Jia Zheng. She wasn't stupid; if this matter were confirmed, Jia Baoyu's future would be ruined.

"Shufen".

"you"

Jia Zheng looked at Lady Wang, his eyes filled with a variety of complex emotions. Even a day as husband and wife is worth a hundred days of kindness, and he had some feelings for Lady Wang.

PS: 'Indecent assault on one's mother's maid' was not explicitly stipulated in ancient laws, but rather it was part of the core requirements of loyalty and filial piety advocated by Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism during the Southern Song Dynasty. This crime was more of a moral standard.

(End of this chapter)