Dream of the Red Chamber: Start by gaining Zhao Yun's martial prowess, and be ennobled in a sin

"That girl Feng actually did such illegal and disorderly things behind my back? No wonder I kept getting told that our monthly wages were always late!"

"This money is earned through blood and tears. Many of those who borrowed it were forced to sell their children, their families were destroyed, and their lives were ruined. This kind of thing is extremely immoral! It should never happen!"

Seeing that Jia Jing and Grandmother Jia had no reaction, Lady Wang narrowed her eyes and couldn't help but make a show of it.

She feigned anger on her fair skin, but a hint of joy lurked in her eyes.

Now, Feng Yatou has no right to manage the household anymore!

"No wonder he's always short of money; turns out he's been lending it all out! He's certainly got a shrewd business sense!"

Madam Xing had long harbored resentment towards Feng Jie for favoring the second branch of the family and not towards her, her mother-in-law. Now, she jumped out to kick her while she was down, her words laced with sarcasm.

Grandmother Jia still liked Wang Xifeng, her clever and charming granddaughter-in-law, and somewhat wanted to protect her. She looked at Wang Xifeng and asked:

"Sister Feng, are you really lending money at exorbitant interest rates outside?"

"Ancestor, I didn't... This is Zhou Rui's slander."

"She must be worried about being kicked out of the manor, so she's making things up to slander me. You have to believe me!"

Wang Xifeng finally came to her senses and defended herself to Grandmother Jia.

She will not admit to this crime in any way.

If this charge is admitted, not only will the person lose their power to manage the household, but it could also damage their reputation.

As she spoke, she glanced at Wang's daughter-in-law in the courtyard, hoping she would understand her meaning and come out to take the blame for her.

But Zhou Rui's wife was already on the verge of execution, her entire family's lives at stake. How could she tolerate Feng Jie's sophistry? She shouted:

"Old lady, sir, I have evidence; this is not mere nonsense."

"If you don't believe me, you can search Sister Feng's room. There's a whole box of loan tickets in there!"

"Furthermore, she lent money at exorbitant interest rates through 'Datong Money Shop,' and the person in charge was Wang's daughter-in-law. This matter is clear and can be easily investigated."

Zhou Ruijia's words caused Feng Jie's expression to change, revealing a hint of fear.

I never expected things to turn out this way. I thought that from today onwards I would have all the power and truly become a housekeeper.

He had just been thinking of sharing some of the wealth confiscated from the Lai family and other servants, but in the blink of an eye, he was reported to the authorities, his situation was dire, and he had lost all face.

Right now, let alone the housekeeper, even a slight mistake could result in punishment or even dismissal.

Right now, all we can do is hope that Wang's daughter-in-law will understand what we mean and step forward to take the blame!

Otherwise, given my third brother's meticulous nature, with Zhou Rui's testimony, this matter would certainly not be able to be covered up.

The Wang family is truly despicable! They're trying to put me in a desperate situation!

Fengjie's dislike for Madam Wang was instantly amplified!

"This..." Grandmother Jia hesitated for a moment. She remembered Wang Xifeng's past kindness and didn't know whether she should continue the investigation.

As for Jia Jing, he didn't rush to speak, but quietly watched the women perform.

Seeing that Grandmother Jia hesitated and Jia Jing remained silent, seemingly intending to protect Wang Xifeng, Lady Wang thought for a moment and then spoke to Grandmother Jia:

"Grandma, I think we should still investigate! No matter what, this has already happened, and so many people in the courtyard have witnessed it!"

"Things have escalated to this point, there has to be a resolution. This matter is easy to investigate; all we need to do is send someone to search Sister Feng's room!"

"Wouldn't it be even better if it turned out to be a misunderstanding!"

"Madam, you..." Wang Xifeng felt even colder and more resentful as she watched Madam Wang relentlessly pursue her, as if she wouldn't stop until she was put to death.

At this moment, Madam Wang's kind and gentle face had transformed into the image of a venomous snake in Sister Feng's eyes.

Although she herself doesn't consider herself a good person, she has a clear conscience towards her family.

After marrying into the Jia family, she took care of everyone from Grandmother Jia to Jia Baoyu and others with all her heart, without the slightest neglect.

Although he has recently been vying with Madam Wang for control of the household, he has only been thinking about placing more of his own people in the mansion to gain more power, but he has never thought of taking drastic measures against Madam Wang.

Who would have thought she would be so ruthless...

Grandmother Jia gave Lady Wang a deep look. She was a shrewd old woman, and she had figured out what was going on.

This matter is not simply a servant accusing his master of lending money at exorbitant interest rates, but a power struggle between the first and second wives over the management of the household.

This suggests that it was likely Baoyu's mother who instructed Zhou Rui's wife to do this behind the scenes.

Grandmother Jia was somewhat annoyed by Lady Wang's actions, but the deed was already done, and the most urgent matter was how to make a decision.

To her, both Sister Feng and Madam Wang were equally dear to her!

In terms of affection, she actually preferred Sister Feng a little more, but Lady Wang was, after all, Jia Baoyu's biological mother and Jia Zheng's legal wife. In terms of relationship, Lady Wang was undoubtedly closer.

Moreover, she hoped that the second branch of the household would be managed by the steward, and at least before her death, she did not want the structure of the first and second branches of the Rongguo Mansion to change.

Just as Grandmother Jia hesitated, a maidservant suddenly stepped forward from among the servants in the courtyard, took a few steps forward, knelt down before Grandmother Jia and Jia Jing, and loudly proclaimed:

"My lord, old lady, it has nothing to do with the second mistress. It was all done by your servant behind her back. It was your servant who was lending money at exorbitant interest rates outside."

This person was none other than Wang Xifeng's maidservant, Wang'er's wife.

After saying this, without waiting for Grandmother Jia and the others to ask further questions, she raised her voice again:

"This servant also accuses the Second Madam of embezzling public funds for personal gain and subsidizing her own family."

"Since the second wife took over the household affairs, the annual New Year's gifts she gave to the Wang family were twice as much as those she gave to the Shi family, the old lady."

"They also designated that all large purchases for the household must be made from shops under the Wang family's name, with prices nearly 30% higher than the market price."

Wang's daughter-in-law recounted the story expressionlessly, explaining that she had no other choice but to speak out.

As Wang Xifeng's trusted maid, she shared a relationship of mutual benefit and loss, so she was naturally willing to stand up and take the blame for Wang Xifeng.

After all, this is what servants of wealthy families are supposed to do.

As long as the master is alright, even if the servant is punished, it is only temporary. It can also demonstrate loyalty, and the servant will receive the master's favor afterward.

But if the master falls, then the servant is basically finished!

Therefore, when Wang's daughter-in-law was mentioned by Zhou Rui's wife, she was already prepared to take the blame for Feng Jie. After seeing Feng Jie's signal in her eyes, she did so without hesitation.

But this crime wasn't so easy to bear. After all, how could a servant use her monthly wages to lend money? How could she withdraw her wages from the treasury in advance? How could she delay the disbursement of wages to the household?

This matter simply cannot withstand scrutiny.

Therefore, she simply filed a lawsuit against Madam Wang, not seeking to bring her down, but only to muddy the waters.

Both sides have something to hide, so neither can accuse the other now.

"Bullshit! You dog of a lackey! You're blinded by greed!"

"You are also a servant of the Wang family, yet you dare to spout such nonsense and slander your former master, and even try to pin your own grievances on me. You are simply lawless..."

Madam Wang was completely unprepared for this turn of events. Enraged by her daughter-in-law Wang's words, she turned pale and sternly rebuked her.

"All I know now is that I am a servant of the Jia family!"

"Besides, I have proof. This year, the Second Madam sent double the New Year's gifts to the Wang family, saying it was to celebrate the promotion of the Wang family's uncle to Vice Minister of War."

"There's also the Wang family's shop 'Da Chang Ji,' which is where the household usually purchases expensive spices. Just by checking the daily account books, we can tell whether what you're saying is true or false. It was Zhou Rui's wife who handled it."