Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 230: Blurred Thoughts and Delusion

Shenjing, Ministry of Rites, Jiaofang Division.

From the Pipa Music Room on the second floor of the main hall, a melodious sound of pipa was heard. Although the sound was clear, one could tell that it was still a bit immature.

Everyone in the neighborhood knew that it was the disciple of Du Qingniang, the guest instructor of Pipa at the Jiaofangsi, who was practicing playing the instrument.

In the inner room of the music room, there was a tall and graceful beauty with a high bun on her head, no hairpins, and wearing a snow-white Taoist robe. She was graceful and radiant.

A maid in green clothes held a gray-white cover and handed it to the beautiful lady with both hands, saying:

"Madam, this secret note was ordered by the Lord Si to collect all the details of Zhang Shouan's case. Please take a look."

Du Qingniang read the secret letter very carefully. When she saw the last few lines, she realized that there was a conspiracy to stir up trouble among the scholars and the people. However, the situation was complicated and there was no basis for it.

She picked up the brush and crossed out these sentences, saying, "Zhang Shouan deserves his punishment. We are only collecting evidence for this matter, and we are not making any speculations. Since the current situation is cunning, let Shengxin commit suicide."

"This secret document will be re-copied and then submitted to Si Gong. The original manuscript will be burned..."

At this time, in the Pipa Music Room in the outer room, a Pipa piece ended and Du Qingniang got up and left the inner room.

There was a pretty girl in the music room, wearing palace clothes and holding a pipa. When she saw Madam Qing coming in, she quickly stood up and saluted her with a very respectful look.

Du Qingniang smiled and said, "You have only been learning the piano for a few months. Although you are still a little awkward, it is rare for you to reach this level."

The woman looked respectful and said, "If it wasn't for you saving me that day, I would have died. I can't repay your kindness, so I have to study hard and live up to your expectations."

Du Qingniang walked forward, stretched out her hand and slightly lifted the woman's chin, and her voice seemed to be full of emotion:

"You are beautiful, intelligent, and strong. You come from a family of officials and can read and write. It is too humiliating for such a person to be sent to the 16th floor to receive guests."

When the woman heard this, she showed deep shame on her face and said in a trembling voice: "If it weren't for Madam Qing's rescue that day, Min'er would have been doomed forever. In the next life, I will repay you with a grass knot and a ring."

Du Qingniang raised her eyes slightly, glanced at the very old copper hairpin on her hair, and sighed slightly in her heart.

Zou Min'er was the daughter of a criminal official. Her father had committed an unforgivable crime, and according to custom, female members of the family were sent to the Jiaofang Bureau and were not allowed to become singing and dancing girls. They could only do menial work or entertain guests on the 16th floor as a punishment.

In addition, she was so beautiful that she was coveted by others as soon as she entered the Jiaofang Bureau. When she knew that she was going to be sent to the 16th floor to be a prostitute, she wanted to commit suicide with the sharp copper hairpin on her head.

Du Qingniang happened to meet her at that time. Seeing her situation, she was touched by her worries. Not only did she save her, she also spent a lot of money to bribe the local officials and transferred her to Pipa Se.

As a guest coach hired by the Ministry of Rites at a high price, she had considerable power, so it was not difficult for her to do all this. But for Zou Miner, it was already a blessing of rebirth.

Du Qingniang smiled and said, "You don't have to wait until the next life. Just follow me and I won't treat you unfairly."

……

Ningguo Mansion, Conglu Hall.

Yesterday, dozens of Jinyiwei soldiers swept through the Zhen'an government office and took all those involved in the Xiuniang Incense Shop case, from the prefect Zhang Shouan to the police chiefs and jailers involved in the case, to the Jinyiwei prison.

When Jia Rong heard the news, he was flustered and hurried back home to discuss countermeasures with his father.

At this time, apart from Jia Zhen, the only other person in Lu Tang was the housekeeper Lai Er who had participated in this matter. Therefore, Jia Rong did not need to be cautious about what he said.

"Master, Zhang Shouan has now been brought to the Dali Temple for trial. In order to shirk his guilt, he will definitely confess his son. What should we do?"

Jia Zhen's face also changed drastically, and he said angrily: "You dead bastard, I asked you to do such a small thing, it would be fine if you failed, but why did you cause trouble later?"

Jia Rong said with a bitter face: "Master, you can't blame me for this. No one could have imagined that Uncle Cong from the West Mansion would suddenly appear and go to Zhen'an Mansion to take people away.

It was because the shopkeeper's wife escaped that the woman went to the Dali Temple to file a complaint, which caused the incident to get out of hand. Master, we didn't expect that Uncle Cong was so deeply involved with the incense shop. In the past few days, my son has also heard some news, and they all say that Uncle Cong has a complicated relationship with the owner of the incense shop.

Otherwise, why would he stand up for someone like this? Rumor has it that the owner of the incense shop is a young and beautiful woman. Uncle Cong cares so much about the incense shop, and he probably has something against the owner.

Uncle Cong is a lustful man. You can tell from the fact that he brought a pretty girl back home before the New Year. He also keeps a house full of pretty maids. Everyone in the two mansions knows about it. It's not surprising that he does such things outside.

The incense shop was probably his private property outside, but it was registered under the name of his lover."

Jia Zhen's eyes lit up and he said, "If that's true, he is a member of the Jia family who has not yet registered as a household. It is against the family rules to privately accumulate property!"

Jia Zhen himself was licentious and shameless, so it was very easy for him to believe such things as secret affairs between men and women. He thought that everyone in the world was like him and liked to do such things, so it was natural and logical.

Jia Zhen has always been cruel to his son, beating, scolding and humiliating him at every turn. After being under the tyranny of his father for a long time, Jia Rong's mentality has become distorted and he is very afraid of Jia Zhen.

Jia Rong had messed up this time and might be implicated in a lawsuit. He was afraid of being beaten, scolded and humiliated by Jia Zhen. Now that he had Jia Cong's words, how could he not exaggerate them and exonerate himself?

It would be a good idea for him to rack his brains and make up some gossip about Jia Cong.

He added: "Master, this must be true. Not to mention the owner of the incense shop, the shopkeeper's wife, even though she is over 30 years old, is also a very beautiful middle-aged woman.

Which family could hire such a beautiful woman as the shopkeeper? It must be Uncle Cong's trick. He has private property outside and uses it to support beautiful women... "

Lai Er, who was standing next to him, turned his gaze and said, "Master, according to what Master said, the owner of the incense shop must be the mistress of Master Cong San.

That incense shop can be considered as the private property of Mr. Cong Sanye, which is equivalent to the property of the Jia family. If the eldest master has a dispute with this incense shop, it can only be regarded as a family affair of the Jia family.

Even if Zhang Shouan gave up my uncle in the Dali Temple, we will definitely be able to shirk our responsibility on this grounds. Family affairs have their own rules and do not involve national laws.

We only said that Zhang Shouan went too far in order to curry favor with the Ningguo Mansion. It was his own fault and had nothing to do with our Ningguo Jia family."

Jia Rong was delighted when he heard this, and said quickly, "What Mr. Lai said makes sense. This is a family matter, and there is no need to interfere.

Master, we know the inside story, but the Dali Temple doesn't. If they get Zhang Shouan's confession and come directly to arrest my son, wouldn't that be a disgrace to the Ningguo Mansion?"

Jia Zhen glanced at his son and heard the fear in Jia Rong's words. As a father, he naturally knew best what kind of person his son was. He was just a useless jerk.

Ever since he was crippled by that damn Chen Xiong, he has lost even a trace of masculinity.

If he were arrested and taken to the Dali Temple and threatened, he would probably say anything, and by then he might even betray his father.

Thinking of this, Jia Zhen glared at his son with disgust and said, "You useless thing, go hide outside for a few days and don't let the people from the Dali Temple find you, otherwise you will ruin my business!

My Jia family is a prominent family with strict family traditions. We do not allow children who have not yet established a household to accumulate private property. This trend must not be allowed to continue. I'm going to talk to the old lady and settle the matter. You can come back later.

By then, no matter whether it is the Dali Temple or the Zongrenfu, they will not be able to find fault with us!"

Jia Zhen thought that this matter would cause big trouble, but he didn't expect that there would be a ray of hope. The incense shop turned out to be Jia Cong's private property.

Jia Cong was not yet twenty years old and had not yet left the house to divide his household, but he had private property, which was a serious violation of the clan rules and would be confiscated according to the family rules.

Although he was finally taken into the Rongguo Mansion, it had nothing to do with his Ningguo Mansion.

However, as the Ning and Rong mansions were close relatives, it would not be a problem for him to get the Ningguo mansion to participate in some shares as long as he coaxed the ancestors a few words.

Although it is not as lucrative as taking over the entire property and earning 50,000 taels of silver a year, at least there is always a profit of 10,000 or 20,000 taels every year, which can alleviate the famine in Ningguo Mansion.

Thinking of this, I couldn't help feeling proud.

(End of this chapter)