Corrupt official in the Red Chamber

Chapter 437 Begging for mercy

After the banquet was over, they returned to the main hall of Rongqing Hall and the guests and hosts were seated again.

After Mrs. Zhen sat firmly, she thought while drinking tea: It's almost time, it's time to mention it, otherwise there will be no chance.

So she put down the tea cup and said to Jia Mu who was sitting in the middle: "Old sister, you also know about my family's affairs. I didn't have the face to beg you, but after all, he is my biological flesh and blood, and I have to protect him no matter what." He lives, so I am shamelessly asking you for a favor.”

After hearing her words, Jia Mu felt troubled.

Ever since Mrs. Zhen came, Jia Mu had been talking about him, just to avoid mentioning this matter. Unexpectedly, Mrs. Zhen finally brought it up.

However, Jia Mu was not prepared to interfere in this matter.

What Zhen Dianlun committed was so big that Jia Mu didn't think she could do it. Even if she could do it, she would have to sacrifice several lifetimes of love. Jia Mu didn't think it was worth it.

So Jia Mu said with a smile: "Children and grandchildren will have their own blessings. I am getting older. Don't worry about it. You should spend the rest of your years peacefully in the back house."

After saying this, Jia Mu picked up the tea cup and gestured.

Anyone who understands will know that Jia Mu is serving tea to see off the guests.

If Mrs. Zhen was usually reprimanded like this by Mother Jia, she would naturally not have the shame to stay, but this time it was different. For the sake of her eldest son's life, she had to persist no matter how embarrassed she was.

So Mrs. Zhen did not leave according to etiquette, but stayed there and continued: "Our two families have been close friends for several lifetimes. Now that something like this has happened to my family, the only one I can turn to is you. My sister, just look at it." Stretch out your hands before me."

Jia Mu sat there in embarrassment, not knowing how to answer.

After all, she couldn't involve her own family because of the Zhen family's affairs.

Jia Mu sighed and decided to tell the truth.

"Old sister, there is nothing I can do about it. Although I am living a good life now, I don't have much power in the Jia family anymore."

When she said this, Jia Mu's face showed a trace of sadness.

She also began to slowly fall into recollection. You must know that in the past, she was in the Jia clan, but even the clan leader Jia Zhen would act based on her face.

Thinking about it now, although she is still very noble in the Rongguo Mansion and can be regarded as the head of the Rongguo Mansion, she is not respected among the entire Jia family.

Now that all the Jia family members are fawning over Jia Rui and Jia Dairu, who still looks at her, the old lady of Rongguo Mansion?

Mrs. Zhen was dubious about Jia Mu's words.

She knew that the Jia family had always been under the control of Jia Mu, but now that she said she could not control the Jia family, Mrs. Zhen didn't believe it.

"Old girl, I don't want you to work in vain. This time I brought 20,000 taels of silver for you to work on. Didn't you envy my luminous pearl before? I also brought it to you."

After saying this, Mrs. Zhen winked at her maid, and she immediately withdrew respectfully.

After a while, she led a few stout women and walked into Rongqing Hall from the outside carrying three or four boxes.

Seeing the box placed in the main hall of Rongqing Hall, Mrs. Zhen stood up, took out the keys from her arms, and asked the maids beside her to open them one by one.

As the first box was opened, the eyes of the maids and Jia Mu in Rongqing Hall began to shine.

It turned out that this was a box full of silver, and the boxes were opened one after another. Silver and gold were piled full of them in Rongqing Hall.

The value of these boxes is at least 20,000 taels of silver. It seems that in order to save her son's life, Mrs. Zhen really spent a lot of money.

Mother Jia looked at the box below, her expression changed a little.

She was having a fierce psychological struggle. With so much money, how could she not like it? But thinking about Jia Rui's rudeness to her, Jia's mother was a little undecided.

When Mrs. Zhen saw the look on Jia Mu's face, she knew that she was already attracted, so she asked the maid next to her to take out the red box she was carrying, and then signaled to Jia Mu.

The maid immediately came to Jia Mu with the box in her hands, half-kneeling and entrusted it to Jia Mu.

Jia Mu did not pick it up herself, but motioned to the mandarin duck beside her to pick it up.

The mandarin duck carrying fruit box came to Jia Mu and opened it gently, only to see a translucent yellow sphere inside.

Seeing this treasure, Jia Mu couldn't help but fall into memories.

She had just married Jia Daishan, and at a party, Mrs. Zhen took out this orb to show off.

When I saw the orb, I couldn't take my eyes away. I wanted to spend 50,000 taels of silver to buy it on the spot, but Mrs. Zhen refused directly.

You must know that at that time, Jia Daishan was still the Duke of Rongguo, and Jia Mu's father was still alive. At that time, the Jia family and the four major families were at their peak.

But even so, Mrs. Zhen did not compromise.

In the end, the matter was dropped. I didn't expect that decades later, I would be able to see this baby again and have the opportunity to keep her by my side.

Old Mrs. Zhen looked at the greed in Jia Mu's eyes, smiled softly, and then said nonchalantly: "I asked someone to inquire. As long as a person dies with this thing in his mouth, his body will not rot."

The greed in Jia Mu's eyes became even stronger when she heard this. She gently stretched out her hand, took out the pearl from the box, and then played with it in her hand.

I don't know if it was a psychological effect, but after the bead fell into her hand, Jia Mu felt comfortable all over. This time, Jia Mu was even more undecided.

While she was playing with the pearl, her mind was working crazily.

She was analyzing the pros and cons, and whether Jia Rui would buy her favor. Even if she bought her favor, she would have to give away huge benefits, and whether the Jia family could afford it.

Finally, Jia Mu made up her mind that the bead must fall into her hands and she would be buried with it afterwards.

Mother Jia let out a long breath, then put the pearl back into the box and pushed it to Yuanyang.

"Old sister, I can help you ask about this matter, but there is no guarantee that it will work. And you also know that our prime minister is very ruthless in asking for money, so you must be mentally prepared."

When Mrs. Zhen heard what Jia Mu said, she immediately became very happy.

As long as it can be solved with money, it won't be a problem. Although the Zhen family is in ruins now, she still has a few sons. As long as these sons work together, they can at least collect another four to five million taels of silver. , don’t you believe that so much money can’t buy Jia Rui?

"Don't worry, little sister, I know it in my heart. As long as this thing is done, I will lose everything and repay the Prime Minister."

Jia Mu sighed, nodded slightly, and then served tea to see off the guests again.

This time, Mrs. Zhen didn't bother anymore. She stood up, bowed, and left with the maids.

After Mrs. Zhen left, Jia Mu took the pearl in her hand again and played with it carefully.

The more she looked at it, the more she liked it, and the more she looked at it, the more she felt that it was a rare treasure.

Yuanyang frowned and said with some worry: "Old lady, Uncle Rui's side is not easy to talk to."

Mother Jia put the pearl back into the box again, and then placed it next to herself. "I know it too, but he will sell me some face anyway."

"Old lady, Uncle Rui may sell your face on family matters, but this matter is related to national affairs and the fate of our Jia family. He may not compromise." Yuanyang was still a little worried.

Jia's mother stared out the window for a long time, and then she said to herself: "I am already so old, and I still have a few more days to live. What I want is nothing more than my posthumous affairs. Jia Rui sees that I have served the Jia family for many years." For the sake of worrying, you shouldn’t refute my face as a dying person, right?”

After hearing this sentence, several old ladies beside Jia Mu looked at each other and understood.

Yuanyang also understood what Jia Mu meant, which was to use public opinion to force Jia Rui to agree.

But as a result, the relationship between Rong Guo Mansion and Wu Guo Mansion has become somewhat tense, and the descendants of Rong Guo Mansion will be the unlucky ones.

However, Jia Mu had already made a decision, and Yuanyang could not change it, so she could only lower her head and stop talking.

However, Yuanyang didn't see the strange look in Jia Mu's eyes when she looked up at her.

Besides, after Jia Rui came back from the palace, he first saluted Mr. Jia and Mrs. Wang, and then talked with the two elderly people for a long time before leaving.

After that, he circled back to Xue Baochai's yard.

Now Xue Baochai is pregnant again. Although she can no longer accompany Jia Rui, Jia Rui still has to have dinner with her before going to other concubines.

Today is no exception.

After coming in, I saw Xue Baochai sewing small clothes as usual.

Jia Rui frowned, "Why are you doing this even though you're pregnant? Are all the people working on the needlework down there dead?"

Xue Baochai stood up gently, changed Jia Rui's clothes, then helped him sit on the stool, and pushed his half-drinked fragrant tea to his hand.

"I don't trust the people on the needlework. After all, it's our children's own clothes. I'd better sew them myself."

Jia Rui shook his head gently, then picked up the tea cup and drank it in one gulp.

"Yesterday Aunt Zhen's mother came over, and I heard that she even sent a few big boxes." Xue Baochai said intentionally or unintentionally.

How could such a smart woman as Xue Baochai not understand the purpose of Aunt Zhen's mother?

She revealed the news to Jia Rui without stirring up trouble.

Jia Rui frowned and said, "You came to my back house because of your relationship?"

Xue Baochai asked Ying'er to get a new cup of tea and personally brought it to Jia Rui's hand, "Don't be angry, it's human nature."

Jia Rui took the tea cup, took a sip, and then said: "When Concubine Zhen passed away, she asked me to take care of Aunt Zhen. I agreed at the time. I didn't expect to encounter such trouble."

If Concubine Zhen hadn't left her alone, Jia Rui wouldn't even want to keep Aunt Zhen's family.

"Then what are you going to do? Just kill the person without caring about it?" Xue Baochai asked with his lips pursed.

Jia Rui stood up and walked around the room a few times, then sat down again in annoyance.

"Zhen Dianlun doesn't matter. Killing him and letting him go won't have big consequences. But if we just let the rebellious person go, how will I care about others in the future?"

(End of this chapter)