Dream of the Red Chamber: Starting with a Chronicle of Tragic Love

Heon-gwi is suffering inside...

In fact, given the status of Princess Chang Le and others, it would be most appropriate for them to keep their distance from such matters.

Unfortunately, that old dog Xin Like is blocking the door and won't let me leave...

Left with no other choice, everyone could only take their seats.

The plaintiff is in place, the defendant is in place, and the jury is in place. Only one question remains...

Who should preside over the trial?

Surely no one would want to risk this misfortune.

Grandmother Jia snorted coldly.

"If no one else will come to investigate, how about I step in?"

Xin Like waved his hand.

"Old Madam, this is your own family matter. If I let you judge it, you'll be sitting on the wrong side."

Grandmother Jia slammed her teacup down, her voice laced with anger.

"Then what?"

"Does my Rongguo Mansion's family affairs really need to be judged by you, Headmaster Xin?"

"Or do you still consider yourself the same Imperial Censor Xin from back then? Wanting to scrutinize all the officials?"

Xin Like waved his hand again.

Grandmother Jia was furious.

"If you won't let me conduct the trial, and you won't conduct it either, then the nobles present here are even less likely to conduct it."

"Then why are you still guarding the door?"

Xin Like smiled without saying a word, but reached out and beckoned the veiled girl closer, whispering a few words of advice.

The veiled girl's eyes lit up, and she ran out of the courtyard.

Not long after, they brought back another one...

The boy wearing a mask.

Wang Ziteng looked disdainful.

"Where did this wild brat come from?"

"Old dog Xin, why are all your followers so secretive and unreliable?"

But then the masked boy spoke.

"Those who hide their heads and tails may not be wearing veils, but may be wearing official hats; those who cannot be brought to the table may not be boys, but may be adults."

"This 'sir,' wearing an official's hat, must be well aware of this principle, right?"

"Sharp-tongued, let's see what tricks you can pull." Wang Ziteng grunted, turned his head away, and said no more.

Wang Xifeng, who had fallen to the ground, was startled when she heard this person's voice.

How could it be him?

He should be in Fengping Courtyard right now, worrying about the matter of acting as a guarantor for the student.

How did he inexplicably appear in the Rongguo Mansion and become the presiding judge?

Furthermore, I had clearly investigated and found that this kid was just an ordinary student at Chongzheng Academy, but I didn't know when he boarded Xin Like's big ship.

A chill ran down Wang Xifeng's spine.

In the blink of an eye, Jiao Si bowed deeply to everyone.

"Gentlemen, the matter is urgent, so I will not stand on ceremony any longer."

He turned to Duoguniang.

"Miss Duo, you say the Rongguo Mansion is short of monthly allowances, do you have any evidence?"

"nature."

Duo Girl pretended to wipe away her tears.

"Apart from the first-class maids serving the masters, all the other servants have been owed wages in recent years. Many of them have sons and daughters at home, and because their monthly wages are insufficient, they have no choice but to borrow money from Wang'er at exorbitant interest rates."

"If you don't believe me, you can ask a few people and take a look at those IOUs."

Grandmother Jia let out a playful laugh.

"absurd!"

"Although my Rongguo Mansion is not as prosperous as it used to be, it is not so poor that it cannot even afford monthly wages!"

"Lian'er, go and call in a few maids and servants. I want to hear how they owe you this!"

Jia Lian was secretly delighted, but his face showed embarrassment as he stood still.

"Grandma...Grandma, it seems there really is something to this..."

"This morning, I asked Qing'er and a few others. They said that their monthly wages for the past few years have been cut in half. Because of this, many servants have had to find other jobs..."

Grandmother Jia's face immediately fell.

She glanced sideways at Madam Wang and Wang Xifeng.

"Madam Wang, you are now the head of the household, and Feng'er is helping you manage the household affairs. You two tell me, where has all the money in the mansion gone?"

Madam Wang gave an apologetic smile.

"Grandma, look at what you're saying. I'm getting on in years, and lately Baoyu has been so naughty all the time. My heart is entirely worried about Baoyu."

"The household finances and accounts have long been handed over to Feng'er to manage!"

As she spoke, her eyes glanced at Wang Xifeng with a chilling glint.

The meaning is clear: you'll have to bear the consequences of what happened today yourself.

Wang Xifeng's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, immediately sank even further.

His mind raced, trying to come up with an excuse to smooth things over.

But then Jiao Si spoke again.

"Grandma, it's not difficult to find out."

"Why not just check the accounts?"

Grandmother Jia was already somewhat angry at this point.

To put it bluntly, the internal affairs of a government office are nothing more than matters of money and people.

How can people live in peace if the money isn't in place?

I thought it was impossible for the monthly payment to be delayed, but who knew that it would reveal some true meaning?

"Investigate! Investigate thoroughly!"

"Someone, summon Lin Zhixiao (the Rongguo Mansion's accounting steward) and have him bring the account books! I want to see what kind of trickery is hidden here!"

Before long, a middle-aged man rushed over, carrying an account book.

"Greetings, Madam! The account books are here; please take a look!"

Grandmother Jia took the account book and carefully considered it.

She's old and her eyesight is failing; asking her to audit the accounts is a joke. Right now, we absolutely need to find someone who can read the books and has no connection to the Wang family to help us.

She glanced around and gently tossed the ledger aside.

"Masked man, since you are the presiding judge today, you shall be the one to settle this score."

Jiao Si was stunned.

I thought the Duke's mansion's account books would never be shown to others.

To his surprise, Grandmother Jia entrusted it to him.

Judging from this, it seems that Grandmother Jia has already become suspicious of these two Wang family daughters-in-law.

This is interesting...

He deliberately picked up the account book and held the IOUs collected by the servants in his hand. He then went to Wang Xifeng's side.

The voluptuous beauty slumped to the ground, her bright red skirt covered in dust.

Her once arrogant and haughty face now appeared pale and thin due to blood loss.

Her lips, freshly coated with lip rouge, were slightly parted. Though she made no sound, her pitiful and aggrieved eyes clearly indicated that she was begging for mercy.

Jiao Si was momentarily distracted and almost softened his heart.

He shook his head and looked away.

This is an opportunity for revenge that cannot be missed. We must teach her a lesson today, so she'll never dare to harbor any more wicked thoughts. As for romantic escapades, those will have to wait.

He paced anxiously, walking in circles while muttering incantations.

On March 12th, Second Madam Lian withdrew 1,500 taels of silver to purchase a glass screen.

"On March 13, Ni Er, Ma Kui and four others borrowed 1,500 taels of interest from Wang Er."

......

On the ninth day of the fourth month, Second Madam Lian withdrew 1,800 taels of silver for house repairs.

"On the tenth day of the fourth month, Wu Laoqi, Jing Si and others borrowed 1,800 taels of interest from Wang'er again."

"Tsk tsk, there's something fishy about how Second Madam Lian spent that money..."

He rubbed his chin, and then a brilliant idea struck him.

"The name Jing Si sounds somewhat familiar."

"A few days ago I went to the gambling den and saw a large crowd. They said that someone was thrown into the river and drowned because they couldn't pay their debts."

"His name... seems to be Jing Si."

The crowd erupted in uproar.

Even in a noble family, it is probably inappropriate for a woman to act so cruelly.

For a moment, the gazes directed at Wang Xifeng held a more enigmatic meaning.

Wang Xifeng was in great turmoil.

Just now, she deliberately put on a pitiful look, trying to stir up Jiao Si's feelings of pity for her.

Unfortunately, it was to no avail.

At this moment, she could only place her hopes on Grandmother Jia.

In the past, the old lady loved me the most, and I suppose she won't stand idly by today.

Looking up pitifully, what came into view was the old lady's rosewood cane.

"evil creature!"

"Unable to embezzle funds for lending, you've even committed murder and arson. Now the evidence is irrefutable, and you still won't confess!"

Wang Xifeng shuddered, a thousand fears welling up in her heart.

Two streams of clear tears flowed down her cheeks.

"Grandma, I'm innocent!"

"It's true I lend money, but I could never do something like causing someone's death!"