Dream of the Red Chamber: Madam, please have some self-respect!

The humiliation of today is etched in Jia Yun's memory, but now is definitely not the time to indulge in momentary pleasure.

After suppressing his resentment, Jia Yun smiled and said to his mother, whose tears were still wet on her face, "Mother, you are right. It was my youthful impetuosity that caused you to worry. Once I am better and can get out of bed, I will go and kowtow to our ancestors to apologize."

Mrs. Bu never expected that her son would agree to apologize so readily after experiencing such a great humiliation.

She was momentarily stunned, unsure of what to say.

Upon hearing this, Qingwen looked at Jia Yun in surprise, her eyes filled with confusion. How could Yun-ge'er, with his usual unyielding nature, so easily...?

Jia Yun looked at the changing expressions on their faces, but didn't explain much. She simply closed her eyes and whispered, "I'm tired. I want to rest by myself for a while."

A moment later, only Jia Yun remained in the room.

The 36-pound tiger-head gold-inlaid spear stood quietly in the corner of the room.

Meanwhile, the dramatic incident at Rongqing Hall has finally passed.

As Grandmother Jia lay alone on the couch in the warm pavilion, lost in thought, she did not touch a single bead of sandalwood prayer beads in her hand for a long time.

After calming down, the old lady carefully reflected on the events of the day, and a sense of regret arose in her heart.

It wasn't that he regretted his decision to suppress Jia Yun and protect Jia Zhen and the family's reputation, but rather that he felt he might have acted too hastily, too obviously, and his methods were not tactful enough.

To resort to severe torture based solely on Jia Zhen's clearly untenable one-sided account is indeed biased and gives others ammunition to criticize.

If the censors or officials who were at odds with the Jia family found out and deliberately spread the word, it would damage her reputation for "fairness, kindness, and wisdom" and "skillful management of the household."

Yuanyang carefully served a cup of warm ginseng tea, and glancing at Grandmother Jia's expression, said softly, "Grandmother, have some tea to soothe your nerves. You've been busy all day. You were just trying to maintain harmony in the family, and you were worried that the younger generation might not know their place and cause trouble in the future. That's why you got angry and punished them. Your intentions are good."

After taking the teacup, Grandmother Jia sighed, and unconsciously used the lid to gently stir the floating ginseng whiskers.

She turned to Wang Xifeng, who was standing to the side with her own thoughts, and said, "Feng'er, perhaps I was a little... hasty in today's matter. I shouldn't have reacted so quickly just by listening to Zhen'er's side of the story. Yun'er is a bit fiery and stubborn, but... alas, he is still a member of the clan. If I beat him too badly, it won't sound good if word gets out."

Wang Xifeng knew perfectly well that Grandmother Jia wanted to maintain her high and mighty image, but she didn't want to completely discourage Jia Yun's still-useful heart, and she was also afraid of outside criticism—she was trying to save face for herself.

But then again, how can one person have all the benefits?

Fengjie didn't mind that the old lady had lost her temper with her during the day. She immediately put on a worried look of empathy and echoed what Grandmother Jia said.

"Grandmother, please don't say that! You're making your granddaughter-in-law feel bad! You are the head of the family, and you worry about us children and grandchildren day and night. Isn't it all for the harmony and prosperity of our family? Brother Zhen is the clan leader and the head of the Ningguo Mansion. You should naturally take his words seriously. This is also to maintain the clan leader's dignity."

Yun-ge'er is young and impetuous; it's only right that he learns a lesson and tempers his temper. However… this beating was indeed too harsh; I'm afraid it might have injured his bones. Tomorrow I'll find an excuse to visit him with some of the best medicinal herbs and tonics, and give him a good talking-to. I'll also make him understand that your kindness and strictness, Ancestor, are all acts of imperial grace; your beatings and scoldings are all out of your good intentions to help him succeed. I'll tell him not to hold any resentment, and that focusing wholeheartedly on serving the family is the right thing to do.”

Upon hearing this, Grandmother Jia's expression softened slightly, and she nodded before putting down her teacup.

"It's good that you go and talk to him. After all, we're all related by blood. Tell him to rest assured and take care of himself. If he needs anything, just let me know."

However, just as Wang Xifeng had no time to figure out what appropriate excuse to use or what gifts to prepare to "persuade" Jia Yun,

In fact, less than two hours had passed since the Rongxitang incident, just as dusk was falling.

A piece of news that surprised all the servants and maids inside and outside Rongqing Hall, and even Jia She, Jia Zheng, Lady Wang, Lady Xing, and others who had received the news, spread as quickly as if it had sprouted wings—

Jia Yun is here!

he came!

Instead of lying on the couch to recover from his injuries, or waiting for his elders to comfort him, he came to Rongqing Hall with his shocking injuries and asked to see Grandmother Jia!

What does he want to do?

Could the injury be fake?

Or... has he changed his mind and is going to cause trouble again? Or... has everyone misjudged his intentions?

Upon hearing the maid's report, Grandmother Jia's fingers, which were twirling her prayer beads, suddenly paused.

A hint of surprise flashed in his cloudy old eyes. After a moment of silence, he slowly said, "Let him in."

Jia Yun changed out of his blood-stained tattered robe and put on a clean, slightly plain blue cloth long gown.

His steps were noticeably unsteady due to the pain in his hips and back, and fine beads of cold sweat seeped from his forehead as he endured the pain, but his back stood straight as a bamboo shoot that would rather break than bend.

When Jia Yun reluctantly walked to the cold bluestone slab in the courtyard of Rongqing Hall, he knelt down properly facing the main hall.

Jia Yun raised his head and calmly looked at Grandmother Jia, who was seated in the hall: "This unworthy grandson, Jia Yun, has come to apologize to Grandmother!"

"Your grandson is young and impetuous, lacking in manners, disrespectful to elders, and speaks arrogantly, causing your anger and sorrow. This is a grave act of filial impiety! All that has happened today is due to your past misconduct and failure to fulfill your duties, which has led to your disappointment and anger. All punishments are deserved, and I have no complaints whatsoever!"

As he spoke, Jia Yun gestured to the long spear that several servants had carried to the ground behind him, his voice growing increasingly low: "This item is a treasure passed down from the glorious ancestors of the Ningguo Mansion, a testament to their battlefield exploits, and of extraordinary significance. I, your young and virtuous grandson, dare not keep it to myself, nor am I worthy of possessing it. I have come with this spear to return it to my ancestor for his disposal! I only beg for your forgiveness for my ignorance and arrogance, and to give me a chance to repent and atone for my sins!"

Before the words were even finished, Jia Yun no longer hesitated and bent down to kowtow.

These actions and words left not only Lady Wang and Lady Xing, who rushed over upon hearing the news, dumbfounded, but even Grandmother Jia, who was already mentally prepared, completely stunned.

There was even a hint of urgency in Grandmother Jia's voice: "Quick! Help him up! This child... he still has such serious injuries! The ground is cold, how can he kneel like that!"

Yuanyang quickly responded, hurried down the steps, and carefully helped Jia Yun up from the ground.

Looking at Jia Yun's pale yet handsome face, and then at the long spear lying discarded on the ground behind him, Grandmother Jia softened her tone, unusually, and beckoned to Jia Yun:

"Good child... stop kneeling! Come here, come before your ancestor... It's... it's your ancestor's fault, your ancestor is senile... believing everything she hears, causing you great injustice..."

Although she did not explicitly name Jia Zhen, her words were a tacit admission that she had been biased and had acted unfairly.

With Yuanyang's help, Jia Yun moved with difficulty to the bottom of the steps in front of the hall, without overstepping his bounds.

Jia Yun stood with his head bowed at the foot of the steps, his tone becoming increasingly respectful and sorrowful.

"Grandmother, you have wronged your grandson greatly. All the blame lies with me. Your admonitions were for my own good, out of a desire for my success. It was my failure to appreciate your good intentions that caused your disappointment and anger. These ten strokes of the cane today are like a wake-up call, waking me from my foolishness. From now on, I will certainly repent, be careful in my words and actions, study diligently, and never again disappoint your expectations and those of my uncles. I will surely bring honor to the Jia family!"

Jia Yun's sincere attitude, taking all the blame upon himself, gave Grandmother Jia a great deal of face.

Seeing how "righteous" and "sensible and polite" he was, Grandmother Jia was deeply moved and repeatedly said.

"Good child, good child! You think so well, you're so sensible, your grandmother is so relieved... Ah, I'm so relieved! Go back and take good care of yourself. If you need any medicine or tonics, just tell your sister-in-law Feng! If we don't have it in the manor, we'll buy it outside! Make sure you get well!"

Grandmother Jia glanced again at the gleaming spear on the ground, pondered for a moment, and then slowly shook her head.

"This gun... since I've already promised to give it to you, it's yours. Our Jia family rose to prominence through martial arts, and it's good for a real man to have a weapon passed down from his ancestors. Besides, you also have martial arts skills, so take it back. But you must keep it safe; consider it a keepsake."

A crisis that could have nearly led to a catastrophe was averted with Jia Yun's unexpected apology.

Madam Wang, Madam Xing, and the others also took the opportunity to say some polite words such as "It is good to admit one's mistakes and correct them" and "The most important thing is for the family to be harmonious," before dispersing with their own complicated thoughts.

When the candlelight flickered in the room, leaving only Grandmother Jia and her trusted confidante Yuanyang.

The gentle emotion or perhaps guilt that had appeared on Grandmother Jia's face gradually faded, replaced by a deeper solemnity.

She leaned against the soft pillows, closed her eyes to rest for a long time, before slowly speaking to Yuanyang, who stood at her sides:

"This Yun-ge... is too deep a mind, so deep that it's frightening."

The mandarin ducks stood to the side, holding their breath, not daring to say a word, and simply lowered their heads even further.

"If this boy weren't surnamed Jia, he absolutely could not be allowed to live!"