Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

Mrs. Wang's face was as grave as ink, her heart filled with worry and anxiety. She made a quick decision and ordered the servants to carefully carry Jia Baoyu back to his room. Xiren, Musk Moon, and a group of other maids saw Jia Baoyu being carried back and hurriedly gathered around. They anxiously looked at Jia Baoyu's pale face, their eyes filled with concern.

Xiren softly asked, "Young Master, what's wrong?" As she spoke, she gently wiped the sweat from Jia Baoyu's forehead with a handkerchief. The other maids also got to work, some helping him change his clothes, others bringing him tea. The whole scene was busy and tense, but everyone did their best to make Jia Baoyu feel comfortable and at ease.

The imperial physician carefully observed Jia Baoyu's injuries and gave him a thorough examination. Then, turning to Mrs. Wang, he said in a deep voice, "Madam, although the young master's injuries appear quite serious, they are not actually broken into the bones. With proper care for a period of time, he will be fully recovered." Hearing this, a heavy weight finally fell from Mrs. Wang's heart, and a trace of relief appeared on her face.

Meanwhile, Old Lady Jia, whose age had slowed her movements, happened to overhear the imperial physician's words as she rushed to Jia Baoyu's room. Her heart relaxed, and her tense expression softened. She walked over to the bedside, sat down, and, gazing intently at Jia Baoyu's face, she said gravely, "Baoyu, rest assured and recuperate. Don't worry. I will intercede with your father, and he won't blame you." With these words, Old Lady Jia gently patted Jia Baoyu's hand in comfort. Then, turning to the servants nearby, she instructed, "You must take good care of the young master. Don't neglect him in the slightest. If you need anything, please let me know." With these instructions, Old Lady Jia left.

Back at her residence, Madam Jia had Jia Zheng summoned. Arriving at Rongxi Hall, Jia Zheng saw Madam Jia sitting in the main seat with a gloomy expression. He felt a pang of anxiety, knowing the old lady was coming to settle accounts. Sure enough, upon seeing him enter, Madam Jia immediately said with a cold face, "Second brother, kneel down!"

Jia Zheng dared not disobey his mother's order and could only kneel on the ground, bowing his head in silence. Seeing his obedience, Mrs. Jia's anger subsided a little, but she still asked with a stern face, "Second son, do you know why I asked you to come here today?" Jia Zheng quickly replied, "Mother, please calm down. I know I was wrong. What happened today is entirely my fault. Please punish me."

Madam Jia snorted and said, "Punishment? Do you think punishment can solve the problem? Look at Baoyu, he's covered in bruises from your beatings, and you still think you're in the right?" Jia Zheng hurriedly explained, "Mother, I have no choice but to do this. Baoyu is too naughty, doesn't study hard, and spends all day hanging out with those bad friends. How can he become a useful person in the long run?"

After hearing this, Mrs. Jia's face became even gloomier and she said, "You always say that Baoyu is a good-for-nothing, but have you ever fulfilled your responsibilities as a father? Baoyu is just a child, but you punish him with such harsh means. Aren't you afraid of hurting his feelings?" Jia Zheng lowered his head and said nothing, but he disagreed in his heart.

Seeing that Jia Zheng had nothing to say, Mrs. Jia continued, "Although Baoyu is a little naughty, he is kind-hearted and smart. As long as he is taught well, he will definitely achieve something in the future. But you beating and scolding him like this will only make him feel disgusted and even rebellious." Jia Zheng was shocked and looked up at Mrs. Jia with a hint of doubt on his face.

Old Lady Jia sighed, her expression eased slightly, and she said slowly: "Second brother, now that things have come to this, don't blame yourself too much. We will discuss Baoyu's matter in the future. I just hope that you can pay more attention to Baoyu in the future and never beat or scold him. After all, he is your own flesh and blood. Can you bear to watch him become a useless person?" Upon hearing this, Jia Zheng nodded hurriedly and said that he would follow his mother's teachings.

Seeing Jia Zheng's gracious admission of guilt, the anger on Old Lady Jia's face gradually dissipated. She gently waved her hand, motioning for Jia Zheng to stand, and then spoke earnestly, "Second son, you are now an adult, and you should know how to be a parent. Baoyu's growth requires the combined efforts of all of us. You must remember that raising children isn't just about spanking and scolding; it's more important to provide them with care and guidance." Jia Zheng nodded in agreement, secretly vowing to change his parenting methods and nurture Jia Baoyu with all his heart. He knew his mother's words, though harsh, were born from her love and expectations for her grandson.

Seeing his mother so agitated, Jia Zheng knelt down hurriedly to explain, "Mother, calm down. This is not what I meant! I just hope Baoyu can make some progress. When Zhu'er was his age, she was about to take the Tongsheng exam. Even Lian Huan'er is more motivated than him." Upon hearing this, Mrs. Jia's face became even uglier. She pointed at Jia Zheng and scolded him, "Well, you actually dare to mention that child Zhu'er! Do you want Baoyu to repeat Zhu'er's mistakes? Is beating and scolding the only way a father can educate his son? Back then, elder brother Jing passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi, but you didn't even pass the exam to become a scholar. Did your father ever beat you?" After saying this, Mrs. Jia took a deep breath and said sternly, "My Baoyu is a very blessed man. He will surely have a great future. Even if you are partial to others, you should not slander my grandson like this. Jia Huan, with his shifty eyes, is no match for Baoyu!"

After hearing what Jia's mother said, Jia Zheng's face flushed crimson, and he felt ashamed. He recalled his own experiences in his youth, and his heart was filled with emotion and helplessness.

Back then, my eldest brother was raised by my grandmother and wasn't close to my mother. Meanwhile, I had always been doted on by my mother. To gain my father's attention, my mother devised various methods. She hired teachers to teach me and instructed them to praise my father for my exceptional talent for reading.

However, Jia Zheng knew in his heart that he was not that talented. Every time he was tested, the teacher would leak the questions to him in advance, allowing him to pass the exam easily. Although this earned him superficial honors, he knew in his heart that these achievements were not truly his.

Although Jia Zheng knew his true level, he still worked hard to study, hoping to improve. At the age of fifteen, he finally passed the examination for a student. However, becoming a senior scholar was a distant dream for him. He knew that his knowledge was limited and he could not cope with the higher-level examinations.

In desperation, Jia Zheng would feign illness to avoid important exams. Over time, his father gradually became aware of the problem. However, due to his loving heart, he did not overly reprimand Jia Zheng. On his deathbed, he simply left a letter requesting that the emperor grant Jia Zheng the title of Chief Official, which he later promoted to Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Works.

Now, facing Grandmother Jia's preference for Baoyu, Jia Zheng felt mixed emotions. He realized that he had also grown up under his mother's doting, and that this doting might not be entirely correct.