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

Tan Chun looked at the young man whose voice was as clear as metal and stone, her beautiful face blank, and ripples of emotion welled up in her bright eyes.

She knew then that she had not done anything wrong yesterday.

When her third brother handed over the power of housekeeping that day, he told her that as long as she managed the household with impartiality, kept the family in mind, maintained integrity, and worked diligently, she could just go ahead and do it, and he would support her!

Isn't this strong stance the best proof of that?

Yuan Chun looked at Jia Jing, her elegant face displaying a complex expression.

She both agreed with Jia Jing's insistence on strictly disciplining Jia Baoyu, but couldn't help feeling worried about Baoyu and Lady Wang's situation.

My own mother is still lying in her hospital bed, constantly saying that Baoyu absolutely cannot be harmed!

If I knew that Jingdi's attitude was so stern, I wonder if I could accept it! Would it make my condition even worse?

Qingwen stood to the side, her increasingly charming oval face raised, her bright eyes beneath her willow-leaf eyebrows filled with a hint of relief!

This Second Master Bao once wanted to take her to his courtyard, but luckily Sister Yuanyang spoke up for her, which allowed her to come to Third Master's room!

Otherwise, how could we have such a wonderful opportunity now!

When I have some free time today, I really need to... go and thank Sister Yuanyang properly!

Xiangling's honest face showed confusion, her eyes flickered, and she was somewhat surprised and suspicious.

The reason why Third Master is so angry is probably partly because Second Master Bao harassed Miss Lin...

Grandmother Jia's face paled slightly. Although she had anticipated that her third grandson's attitude wouldn't be pleasant when she came to plead for him, she knew he wouldn't be very agreeable.

But I never expected that after only a couple of words, I would receive such a sharp and scathing rebuke!

The scene of being scolded so badly that she couldn't even lift her head made her feel as if she were facing the late Duke Rongguo!

They were all men of this caliber, wielding the power of life and death, ruling the eight seats, possessing an unyielding and resolute character, heroic and extraordinary...

Grandmother Jia quickly interrupted her wild thoughts, forcing a smile onto her aged face, and said:

"Yes, yes, yes! Jing-ge'er is right! Bao-yu did something wrong, he deserves to be punished!"

"Yesterday I was telling Baoyu's father that we wouldn't say a word no matter how the clan dealt with it!"

"But, Jing-ge, you don't know, when Bao-yu's manhood was found yesterday, it was broken, which is a very bad omen."

"That was a lucky charm he carried with him from the moment he was born. Now that this has happened, I'm worried something might happen to him!"

"Baoyu's mother was so worried that she vomited blood and fainted..."

Before Grandmother Jia could finish speaking, Jia Jing interrupted her in a deep voice:

"Last time you made the Second Master vomit blood, and this time you made his mother vomit blood. Will the Old Madam vomit blood next time? What a spoiled brat!"

Grandmother Jia was stunned for a moment, then quickly explained:

"No! No! Baoyu's mother spitting blood has nothing to do with Baoyu. She's worried because without the protective jade pendant, how will Baoyu survive?"

"Now she's bedridden and sick, and she keeps talking about how Baoyu will be punished by the clan..."

This is what they call "admitting mistakes with a straight face" plus "playing the victim"!

A poor mother, coughing up blood and bedridden, still constantly thinks of her son. Such deep motherly love—shouldn't the clan forgive her and spare Baoyu this beating?

"Oh? Without the Jade of Spiritual Enlightenment, is Madam Wang so worried about Baoyu's safety?" Jia Jing asked expressionlessly.

Upon hearing this, Grandmother Jia thought that Jia Jing's attitude had softened, and a hint of joy flashed in her aged eyes.

Yuan Chun paused, her hand holding the teacup still. A look of surprise appeared on her fair skin. She raised her bright, clear eyes and gazed intently at the teacup.

Could it be that Jingdi is trying to forgive Baoyu this time out of consideration for their mother?

Filial piety is of paramount importance. If the mother is bedridden, it is indeed possible to make an exception!

But wasn't it said that Jingdi didn't have a good impression of his mother?

Tan Chun frowned slightly, wondering why her third brother's words didn't seem like a "good thing."

Grandmother Jia was overjoyed and quickly said:

"That's right! The imperial physician came yesterday and said that Baoyu's mother vomited blood and fainted because she was overwhelmed with worry."

"In the end, it's because I'm worried about Baoyu! Jing'er, do you think we should give Baoyu another chance to correct his mistakes? He's physically weak and can't withstand being beaten..."

Tan Chun and Yuan Chun exchanged a glance upon hearing this. Wasn't the imperial physician referring to illness caused by grief and indignation, and a mixture of shame and anger?

Jia Jing sneered and said:

"If Wang is really worried that Baoyu will lose his protection in the future, I think it would be better to let her go to the ancestral hall to copy scriptures and pray for Baoyu after she recovers, and kneel before the ancestral tablets every day."

"Since Heaven recognizes her sincerity, perhaps it will bestow great blessings upon Baoyu in the future!"

This obviously meant confining Madam Wang to the ancestral hall!

Grandmother Jia's expression changed, and she exclaimed in alarm:

"Jing-ge'er is joking!"

Jia Jing's expression turned serious, and he said in a deep voice:

"I never joke! How dare the old lady mention Wang Shi to me!"

"Do you think I didn't know what unreasonable and tantrum-like things she said yesterday?"

"What do you mean by 'a child not born of your own parents can't be raised properly'? What do you mean by 'before it grows feathers, it forgets its roots and only flies to higher branches'?"

"My third sister is the housekeeper I personally selected in front of everyone. She is fair and impartial in her dealings."

"Wang Shi, relying on her status as the legal mother, interfered arbitrarily, made unwarranted accusations, prevented the second master from educating his son, and sowed discord between the legitimate and illegitimate children."

"Does she still respect the family rules and regulations of the Jia family? Does she think no one can control her?"

Grandmother Jia looked solemn, opened her mouth, but for a moment did not know how to refute.

After all, when Jia Jing appointed Tan Chun as the housekeeper, he did say in front of everyone that no one was allowed to interfere!

Moreover, what Madam Wang said yesterday was indeed...inappropriate!

After a long pause, Grandmother Jia could only try to salvage the situation by saying:

"Baoyu's mother acted rashly in the heat of the moment, and your second uncle already gave her a severe scolding yesterday!"

He's already insulted you, so you can't insult him anymore!

Jia Jing snorted coldly and said:

"If it weren't for the Second Master's sake, I would have invited her into the ancestral hall today and asked her in front of the entire clan where her virtue as a woman is!"

"We already let the matter of the subsidy to the Wang family go, but she dares to be so insolent this time!"

"...We can't let her get away with this! Tell her when the old lady gets back!"

"She is punished by copying 'Admonitions for Women,' 'Inner Teachings,' 'The Analects for Women,' and 'Abridged Records of Female Exemplars' for a year, and she must copy at least a thousand characters every day and submit them to the East Mansion."

"This will both cultivate her virtue and teach her a lesson! She can't even fulfill her duties as a wife and mother; who is she trying to impress by spending her days chanting Buddhist prayers and eating vegetarian food?"

The four books, "Admonitions for Women," "Inner Teachings," "Analects for Women," and "Exemplary Women's Guide," are actually the core teaching materials for women's education today!

The content basically covers all aspects of a woman's conduct and behavior, mainly establishing moral role models and regulating words and actions, and teaching how to be a virtuous wife and loving mother!

Given Jia Jing's status as a first-class duke and head of the Jia family, it was entirely appropriate for him to punish Lady Wang by making her copy books!

Even if Lady Wang really did something that harmed the interests of the Jia family and clan, it would be easy for Jia Jing to build a Buddhist hall to confine her or simply hang her with a white silk ribbon to save face!

In feudal clan society, when faced with Jia Jing's punishment, Lady Wang really didn't say a word!

Of course, considering the feelings of Jia Zheng, Yuan Chun, and Tan Chun, Jia Jing still showed leniency!

Grandmother Jia was stunned. What did she mean by that?

Baoyu's attempt to win Baoyu's heart failed, and he even lost another person in the process.