Red Mansion, Ningfu Scholarly Family

Chapter 18 Jia Jing’s power!

……

After all, Grandmother Jia was Grandmother Jia, and her seniority was there. The maids in the Ning Mansion involuntarily took a step back, and no one dared to stand up and speak.

Zhou Ruijia wanted to stand up and speak, but her stomach was still aching badly. She lay on the ground motionless, with only a faint groan of "ouch".

"This, this, my son didn't know there was such a thing." Jia Zheng said timidly.

Hearing this, Jia's mother stamped her feet in anger, pointed at Jia Zheng and cursed, "You come here and hit my Baoyu without even asking me. Do you want to piss me off to death? Who asked you to come here?"

"Yes……"

"Old lady, I asked him to come here!"

A majestic voice sounded from behind, and the momentum that Lady Jia had just shown was completely suppressed.

The scene suddenly became quiet and the sound of falling leaves could be heard.

The aura of the head of the Jia family is so terrifying.

"It's the father's fault for not educating his child. Look at what Baoyu has become because of you! If it were me, I would beat him to death!"

Jia Jing stepped forward with a dignified look and scolded Jia Zheng first.

"Yes Yes!"

Jia Zheng nodded hurriedly like a chick pecking at rice, very obediently. Since he was a child, Jia Jing was like a mountain, pressing him to the point of suffocation, and now it was even worse.

Mrs. Wang was so frightened that she didn't even dare to cry.

Just a few years ago, Jia Jing called her most respected brother Wang Ziteng over and gave him a severe scolding, and her brother did not dare to refute her.

Although the status of their Wang family has improved somewhat in recent years due to Wang Ziteng's promotion, it is only slightly better than the Shi family, and can only be regarded as a younger brother in front of the Minister of War Jia Jing.

Jia Baoyu was originally relieved to see Lady Jia coming, thinking he was saved. But after hearing what Jia Jing said, he was so frightened that his eyes widened and he fainted.

Grandmother Jia was immediately heartbroken.

"Brother Jing, you..."

"old lady!"

Jia Jing interrupted Jia's mother without any hesitation and said in a cold voice: "Our family has its own rules. You should go back to the inner house and take a rest. The things outside will naturally be handled by me, the head of the Jia family. You don't need to worry about it!"

The rule of the Jia family: men and women each have the same share.

Men are in charge of external affairs, such as court affairs, rent in the farm in spring and autumn, educating young men to read and write, etc.

Women were in charge of matters inside the palace, such as receiving the ladies of the imperial court, the families of visiting officials, and the needlework, reading and literacy of the young ladies in the palace.

By openly bringing people out like this, Lady Jia was already taking the lead in violating the family rules, so Jia Jing's tone was a little impolite.

Grandmother Jia felt humiliated and uncomfortable.

This is because she is the ancestor in the West Mansion and no one is older than her, so she is used to ignoring the rules. It is not the first time that she has led people to break into Jia Zheng's outer study to rescue Baoyu.

Little did they know that it was because she took the lead in violating the clan rules that the people below followed suit, causing the family rules at Rongguo Mansion to become almost like a decoration. There were all kinds of people, such as drinking and gambling at night, neglecting their duties and stealing, and even embezzling the master's property for personal gain. There were all kinds of things, and the so-called family rules were like a joke.

Of course, there were also people who violated the house rules in Ningguo Mansion.

For example, Master Jane.

The outcome is clearly visible there.

Anyone who wants to challenge Master Jing's authority should think carefully.

"Jing'er, I don't care about anything else, but Baoyu is still young, far from being an adult. Now he has been beaten like this by his father. It won't violate the family rules if I take him back, right?" said Jia's grandmother, frowning tightly.

Jia Jing shook his head slowly and sighed, "In that case, the old lady should take him back. Cun Zhou, you should go back too. Remember to discipline him more in the future. You should also understand the principle that jade cannot be made into a useful object without being polished. Don't bring shame to our Jia family, a family of scholars!"

"Yes, yes, I will follow your teachings." Jia Zheng nodded hurriedly.

Mrs. Wang was as if she had been pardoned. She quickly shook Baoyu and said, "Baoyu, Baoyu, wake up quickly. It's okay. Our ancestors are taking us home."

Only then did Jia Baoyu dare to open his eyes and throw himself into his mother's arms.

Woo woo woo... From now on, I will never come to the East Palace again!

The farce ended quickly, and all the servants present were ordered to keep their mouths shut.

Both the East and West Mansions need to maintain the dignity of a large family. It is impossible for them to fall out over a trivial matter and make a fool of themselves in front of outsiders.

The east wing of Ning Mansion.

"Master, it's time to take medicine."

Pei Feng walked in carefully holding a pill.

Uncle Rong instructed:
Master Zhen must take a pill before going to bed.

This kind of precious elixir was custom-made by both governments.

The West Mansion was prepared for Master Bao, and Xiren served him medicine every day.

The East Mansion was prepared for Master Zhen, and Peifeng served him medicine every day.

The two men had the same problem: they were both beaten by their master from time to time, which made them weak.

"Ahem, what's going on outside?"

After Jia Zhen took the pill, he looked outside.

Pei Feng replied cautiously: "Master, I heard that Master Bao from the West Mansion was beaten again."

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhen sighed deeply.

"Brother Bao, you got beaten again? Why do we brothers have such a miserable life?"

Peifeng pursed her lips.

You two are simply a pair of brothers in distress!

……

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

"Old lady, the East Palace is now recognized as a scholarly family in the court. Rong Ge'er is also a talented scholar. He will take the imperial examination this year. With Rong Ge's performance in the county and prefectural examinations, it is almost certain that he will pass the examination."

"We don't even have an outstanding person here. My son was really worried, so he hit Baoyu twice out of frustration. It was also for him to study hard and pass the imperial examinations in the future to bring honor to the family!"

By the end of his speech, Jia Zheng was almost in tears.

After hearing this, Jia's mother could not help but sneer, "You are so anxious, why don't you take the imperial examination and come back to bring honor to the family?"

Just one sentence almost made Jia Zheng spit out blood, and his face turned purple.

Then, Grandmother Jia continued, "It's fine that you're useless, but you still have the nerve to use Baoyu to do magic all day long. If you pass the imperial examination and come back, don't just beat Baoyu, you beat me, and I'll accept it!"

She lost face in the East Palace tonight. If Jia Zheng was also a Jinshi, would Jia Jing dare to speak to her in such a condescending manner?
Seniority needs to be supported by status and position, otherwise it will be a fantasy. Just like Jia Dairu in the clan school, although he has a high seniority, who listens to him?

Jia Zheng lowered his head and said awkwardly, "Mother is teaching me that I... really don't have the face to hit Baoyu."

Of course, he had studied hard, but the reality was cruel. He was simply not cut out for it. After years of hard study, he failed to even pass the exam to become a scholar.

Grandmother Jia heard the bleak meaning in Jia Zheng's words, and could not help but persuade him: "It's not that I don't allow you to take care of him. He is your son and you are his father. It is natural for you to take care of him. I can't say anything. But why can't you talk about it calmly? Why do you have to beat him with a stick? Didn't you see that Zhen'er from the East Palace was beaten to tuberculosis!"

"Cough cough cough..."

At this moment, Baoyu suddenly coughed twice.

Grandmother Jia, Mrs. Wang, and everyone else were shocked.

"Hurry, hurry and find the imperial physician from the Imperial Medical Bureau!" said Grandmother Jia anxiously.

Jia Zheng frowned and said, "It's so late, the Imperial Hospital is probably closed..."

Grandmother Jia waved her hand to interrupt, "You must break open the door of the Imperial Hospital even if you have to!"

……

(End of this chapter)