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

Inside Rongqing Hall,

Faced with Grandmother Jia's plea, before Xuanwu could reply, Jia Zheng, his neck stiff, preemptively spoke:

"Mother, what are you saying? Didn't you just say that you would leave this wretched boy Baoyu to Jing'er's disposal?"

"Why are you pleading for him now? When will this constant protection end?"

Grandmother Jia sighed, a hint of helplessness on her face, and said in a hoarse voice:

"I originally thought Jing-ge'er was just sending someone to beat him, but I never expected... he wanted Bao-yu to kneel in the ancestral hall!"

Jia Zheng's expression was indifferent, and he frowned as he said:

"What's wrong with kneeling in the ancestral hall? As the patriarch of my Jia clan, it's the most appropriate punishment for Jing-ge to make this damned beast kneel in the ancestral hall!"

"This brat is arrogant and dissolute, and he never learns his lesson. I think just making him kneel in the ancestral hall is too lenient a punishment; it won't teach him a lesson at all!"

Jia Zheng put on an act of worry that Jia Jing's punishment was too lenient and completely failed to touch Jia Baoyu's stubborn and wicked soul.

Grandmother Jia's expression froze; she was nearly driven mad by her stubborn youngest son. She took a deep breath and whispered a reminder:

"Beating someone with a board is a minor matter for one's own family, but kneeling in the ancestral hall and publicly disposing of the matter by summoning all clan members are matters of clan affairs."

"Such a grand display, wouldn't it easily ruin Baoyu's reputation if word got out?"

"Reputation? What reputation does this wretched child have left?"

"A reputation for only loitering in the inner quarters? A reputation for disliking reading and lacking ambition? Or a reputation for being incompetent, unworthy, and frivolous?" Jia Zheng asked in a deep voice, his face flushed.

"Besides, what does he need fame for? Does he want fame so he can pretend to be stupid again? Or cause trouble by smashing jade again?"

Grandmother Jia was so overwhelmed by Jia Zheng's series of questions that she felt dizzy and disoriented.

What terrible things have I done?!

It's bad enough that my grandson is such a worry, but my son is just as inconsiderate of my good intentions, and then there's this troublesome third grandson...

How are we going to live from now on!

Xuanwu waited quietly until the two finished speaking before addressing Grandmother Jia:

"Madam! The Duke's order has been issued, and we, his personal guards, can only obey. We have no right to act on our own!"

"If Madam wishes to plead for Baoyu, she can go to the East Mansion and explain the situation to the Duke herself when he returns. Right now, however, Baoyu must come with us!"

Having said that, before Grandmother Jia could speak further, he turned to his personal guards and solemnly ordered:

"Guards, take Jia Baoyu away!"

Upon hearing this, two guards immediately stepped forward and dragged Jia Baoyu out to the outer room.

At this moment, Baoyu's dark face, as bright as the Mid-Autumn Moon, was completely stunned, or rather, he had been stunned ever since Jia Zheng tried to beat him to death!

As the guards were about to take him to kneel in the ancestral hall, just imagining that terrifying scene...

He felt a violent jolt, his face turning ashen. He struggled violently, looked at Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang, and cried out:

"Ancestors, save me, save me, I don't want to kneel in the ancestral hall..."

"Mother, save me, I'm scared..."

Hearing Jia Baoyu's repeated calls, Lady Wang felt her heart breaking.

The last time she felt so humiliated and helpless was last year, also in Rongqing Hall, when Jia Jing's personal guards were escorting Jia Baoyu to the outer room to be beaten with a board!

At that moment, she secretly vowed to herself that there would never be a second time like this in her life...

But right now... my poor Baoyu...

When faced with Baoyu's plea for help, Grandmother Jia couldn't utter a single word and turned her face away in unbearable pain.

Her eyes were closed on her aged face, and her whole body trembled slightly. For a moment, she felt that she could hardly stand up. Only with Yuanyang's support could she barely stand.

As the guards escorted Baoyu out of the main hall of Rongqing Hall, an eerie silence fell over the hall once more.

Those who witnessed this scene had various expressions and reactions.

As Aunt Xue watched Baoyu's figure gradually disappear into the distance and saw Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang, who were both filled with sorrow but remained silent, she was suddenly touched by something inexplicable!

Pan'er seems to be not much better than Baoyu. I hope that day will never come.

Probably not!

Although Pan'er is a bit rough around the edges, he has always respected and cared for me and his sister, and has never smashed jade or thrown a tantrum at home!

Besides, a brother-in-law and a cousin are ultimately different! I think Jing-ge'er knows what he's doing!

Sister Feng watched this scene expressionlessly and indifferently, her conviction growing stronger within her.

The Jia family now belongs to the third brother. All twelve branches of the family in Shenjing are on the third brother's shoulders. Even the old lady is completely unable to resist the third brother's will!

Compared to the last time Baoyu smashed the jade, the third brother now needs to personally intervene to punish Baoyu!

This time, the third brother didn't even show his face. He just sent his personal guards to take Baoyu to the ancestral hall to kneel down. The old lady and the others didn't dare to stop him in the slightest!

The disparity shown here clearly demonstrates the rising status of the third brother in the household!

Yuanyang and Li Wan helped Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang respectively.

Although the two wore expressions of sorrow and regret, a closer look revealed that these expressions were mostly superficial.

The two of them clearly did not have much sympathy or feeling for Baoyu being forced to kneel in the ancestral hall.

Yuanyang was more concerned about Jia Mu's expression and condition, fearing that the elderly Jia Mu could not bear the sudden change of having her "heart and soul" taken away.

Fortunately, after Jia Jing's repeated admonitions, Grandmother Jia's tolerance for such things has increased significantly.

Although his expression showed grief at this moment, it seemed more like melancholy than the usual "headache and resentment".

After Xuanwu ordered his men to take Baoyu away, he turned and bid farewell to Grandmother Jia and Jia Zheng.

Jia Zheng spoke solemnly:

"General Lu, when Jing'er returns, please tell him that I can no longer control this wretched child of mine!"

"He is busy with official duties and has many responsibilities. He shouldn't worry about such a thing."

"If you can discipline him, that would be best; if you can't, just beat him to death, and I'll pretend I never had this son!"

Jia Zheng's words were sincere and heartfelt, and did not seem like he was just being polite or joking at all!

Upon hearing these cruel words, Madam Wang trembled, her face growing even paler, and she said in a tearful voice:

"master……"

"Second Master, you're being too harsh! Although Baoyu is spoiled to an excessive degree, his crime doesn't warrant death."

"The Duke often told me that while strict discipline is necessary in managing a household, one should never punish someone without first educating them!"

"The primary focus should be on education for the children of the household. Scolding and punishment are only meant to make them repent and reform."

"The principle of 'learning from past mistakes to avoid future ones' and 'curing the disease to save the patient' should not be followed by excessive pampering or indulgence, nor should it be followed by excessive coldness and ruthlessness."

"No matter what, as long as it's not a major violation of national law, it's still a minor punishment to serve as a warning."

"I hope that all my clansmen and descendants can repent of their past mistakes, strive for progress, and become useful members of society for the country and their families!" Xuanwu said after a moment of silence.

Upon hearing this, Grandmother Jia's expression softened somewhat. Her aged gaze stared blankly at Xuanwu's cold and hard face, as if she saw a resemblance to her third grandson in him!

Lady Wang, who was grieving and weeping, suddenly found her sobs subsiding. She raised her pale face, her eyes filled with a hint of confusion.

This eldest son of a concubine has always been ruthless and heartless; how could he possibly offer such kind and compassionate advice?

Jia Zheng's face turned bitter, and he sighed deeply, groaning with shame:

"It's kind of you, Jing-ge, to have such good intentions, but I'm afraid my little rascal is hard to change and unruly."

"If you commit evil deeds that disgrace your family and dishonor your ancestors in the future, it will be too late for regrets!"

Jia Zheng seems to have completely lost faith in Jia Baoyu!

..............................

I'd like to recommend a historical political intrigue novel by Tomato called "Who Taught You to Be Such a Spoiled Brat?" Feel free to search for it and read it if you're interested. Thank you for your support!