Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

With that, he slammed the table with all his might. The dull sound was like thunder, shaking the teacups on the table and causing them to jump. The tea in the cups splashed out in shock, spilling onto the floor, leaving patches of water. His breathing grew heavier, his chest rising and falling like surging waves, as if he was trying desperately to suppress the rage burning within him.

Grandmother Jia's face darkened instantly, a look of displeasure appearing on her face. She angrily rebuked, "Shut up! No matter how bad Yu Shi is, she is still your wife. How can you be so heartless and ungrateful as to say such hurtful words? Besides, as the saying goes, there is no smoke without fire. If you hadn't behaved improperly, how could these gossips have reached my ears?"

Jia Zhen was so frightened that he dared not say a word. He could only stand there with his head down, his whole body trembling slightly, and cold sweat oozing from his forehead.

Seeing this, Jia Mu's tone softened slightly, but still with a hint of blame, and continued: "What is even more unexpected is that I witnessed with my own eyes the pregnant You Erjie and You Sanjie, as well as their mother, fighting and kicking your wife!" When she said this, a trace of anger and disappointment flashed in Jia Mu's eyes.

Jia Zhen was startled and quickly explained, "Grandma, please calm down. This is all a misunderstanding..."

However, Grandmother Jia refused to listen to his explanation and interrupted him directly, "Misunderstanding? What kind of misunderstanding could make them touch a pregnant woman? Jia Zhen, Jia Zhen, you really disappoint me!"

Jia Zhen's face flushed crimson instantly. He knew he was in the wrong and couldn't refute what Grandmother Jia said. He gritted his teeth and humbly admitted his fault, saying, "Grandma, you are right. I know I was wrong. Please punish me, Grandmother."

Jia Zhen's face flushed red after being rebuked by his mother's relentless rebuke, then turned pale and blue, his expression becoming extremely embarrassed. Veins popped out of his forehead, his eyes widened, his lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he kept it to himself.

"No wonder Youshi disappeared so early this morning! She's become so capable that she's dared to come to you, my great-aunt, to complain! Just wait and see, I'll divorce this childless, immoral, jealous, shrew!" Jia Zhen was furious, shouting for someone to bring pen and ink to write a divorce letter. His voice was like thunder, echoing throughout the room.

Seeing this, Grandmother Jia hit Jia Zhen hard with her cane and said sternly, "Shut up! How can you be so presumptuous in front of rules and etiquette!" Her eyes were as sharp as a knife, staring straight at Jia Zhen, as if she wanted to see through him.

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhen's temper instantly vanished, like a frost-bitten eggplant. He lowered his head, shrank his neck, and dared not utter another word. Inwardly, he secretly thought, "I'll go back and settle this account with Youshi later."

"Now you don't have to hide anything. I know everything. So, what are you going to do?" asked Jia's mother. Her voice was calm and majestic, with an unquestionable power.

Jia Zhen lowered his head, like a mute man, and said nothing. His fingers kept fiddling with the hem of his clothes, revealing his inner uneasiness and confusion. Seeing this, Jia's mother softened her tone a little.

"I know you're busy with your duties outside and have no time to take care of things at home. But Youshi is your wife after all, so you should take good care of her."

Jia Zhen nodded silently, but his heart was like a vast ocean, filled with resentment towards Youshi. All these bad consequences were Youshi's own fault.

"Don't mention divorce again in the future. Live a good life." Jia Mu's words were like a sharp sword, piercing Jia Zhen directly.

"Although this matter is not appropriate, my second sister is pregnant after all. She is the blood of our Jia family after all. It is better to let her give birth to the child secretly. Besides, Youshi has been childless for many years, so I might as well divorce her for being childless. Once the mourning period is over, there is no need to keep her as a second wife. I can directly marry her as the principal wife with a sedan chair carried by eight people, three matchmakers and six engagements. I am sure she will be willing!" Jia Zhen's heart seemed to be burning with a raging fire, hot and crazy. He was completely immersed in his own pipe dream and couldn't extricate himself.

Upon hearing this, Grandmother Jia knew that Jia Zhen had fallen into a quagmire of stubborn delusion, unable to extricate himself. Her gaze was like frost, piercing her bones, and she said bluntly, "Stop your wishful thinking! Are you willing to throw the reputations of the whole family, young and old, at risk for a shameless slut? How can the elders of your family tolerate such reckless behavior? Can you still hold on to your throne as head of the clan?"

Grandmother Jia's words were like a basin of cold water, extinguishing the raging fire in Jia Zhen's heart. He came back to his senses as if waking from a dream, and realized how absurd and dangerous his previous thoughts were.

Grandmother Jia looked at Jia Zhen, her tone softening slightly, but the sternness in her eyes remained undiminished. "As the head of the Jia family, you should set an example, strictly abide by the rules of propriety, and not do anything that violates morality and ethics. The only way now is to properly handle this matter to avoid a catastrophe."

"Not to mention that according to national law, you can't divorce Youshi because she's in mourning for your father. Even if you divorced Youshi today, tomorrow she would be like a flood that bursts the dam and spread the news of your disgraceful deeds of marrying another wife during the mourning period, seducing your aunt, and committing debauchery. Everyone would know about it. Being stripped of your title would be the least of your punishment. It's hard to say whether you can even save your life."

Grandmother Jia's face was gloomy, and she spoke to Jia Zhen in a stern tone. Her eyes were fixed on Jia Zhen, as if she wanted to see through him.