In the inn, Jia Zhen stood in front of the window, looking at the unfamiliar streets with empty eyes.
She hasn't spoken since she came to Beijing.
Although there are four sisters, the fourth sister Jia Min is different from the others.
Most of the time, the three sisters played together, made noises together, and... depended on each other.
She also received her eldest sister's letter before she died.
When she replied to the letter, she also told her that if the family could not transfer her brother-in-law and nephew away from the border, it would be better to transfer them to Yansui. Compared with Ningxia, there were fewer wars in Yansui. After all, the Min family was a wealthy family in Yansui, and she could take care of them.
But what she finally received was the news of her sister and brother-in-law's death, and her two nephews were also assigned to the vanguard camp.
Jia Zhen had thought about bringing her niece Lan Zhi to live with her, but Lan Zhi and Min Tai disagreed.
The pain that had been suppressed in her heart for many years was torn open so bloodily, and her heart... was extremely sad.
Big brother is not as ruthless as they think.
They were wrong.
Or, if they had written a letter to their eldest brother... everything would have been different.
"mother!"
Min Mei brought a cup of cold tea to her side, "Let's not dwell on the past, okay? Your uncle will be even more sad if you're like this. Don't you know yet? Uncle was taken away by the Wucheng Bingmasi."
When she left Yansui, she bought a few servants.
Knowing that her uncle was going to find the Wang family to avenge her aunt's family, Min Mei specifically asked the smartest one to go and watch.
"Where are the Wang family members?"
Jia Jin finally spoke.
She wasn't too worried about her brother.
This is the capital city, and Wang Ziteng is not an official.
What she is worried about now is that her elder brother will take revenge, but the other person will be fine.
If that were the case, my eldest brother would be so angry that he would vomit blood.
"Master Wang Er was beaten and injured, and he wants to sue my uncle. As for Master Wang Da..." Min Mei paused, "Even though he is injured, my uncle can't beat him."
He is a much more powerful general than her father and was once the chief officer of the Beijing Camp.
Min Mei had no idea where her uncle got the confidence to beat someone up.
She didn't know what the visitor from Beijing said, but her attempts to persuade him were in vain, and her uncle just patted her head.
Min Mei now suspects that there is something else going on that she and her daughter don't know about.
"…Wang Ziteng is indeed amazing."
Among the four major families, Wang Ziteng is one of the top three figures of their generation.
However, he is totally incomparable to his cousin Jing.
If my cousin hadn't...
Thinking of her elder brother saying that cousin Jing was now working as a dung collector at a Taoist temple, Jia Jin looked even sadder.
After her uncle and father passed away, if cousin Jing could inherit the title normally, her eldest brother would not be forced to move to the East Courtyard, and she would not be the only sister left.
"Today... I probably can't go to Rongguo Mansion."
Jia Jin didn't want to disturb her niece's wedding.
Although the letter from my niece seemed good, her parents...
Jia Zhen felt very sorry for her daughter and said, "We will find Bo Ge'er later, buy a small courtyard, and live behind closed doors."
“…All is fine.”
Min Mei felt that it was enough as long as she could take her mother away from the Min family alive and bring back all of her mother's dowry.
Now that she has a mother and a younger brother, she can go anywhere.
"Mom, where do you think we can buy a yard?"
"Don't go to Ningrong Back Street."
Jia Zhen immediately rejected the gathering place of the family and the servants, "Let's... go to Baisui Street."
"Where is Baisui Street?"
Min Mei was curious, "Is it far from here?"
"Not very far."
Jia Jin didn't dare to go too close to home, but she also didn't dare to go too far away from home.
What's more, my son is studying in the clan school.
"When it's not too hot in the afternoon, I'll take you to see it."
Before Jia Zhen could say anything, there was a knock on the door, and then the little maid pushed the door open, "Madam, Miss, the eldest lady from Ningguo Mansion is here."
What? Jia Zhen was stunned. When she rushed out, Shen Ning just went up the stairs to the second floor.
"Sister-in-law?"
Since getting married, Jia Jin has never been able to come back.
But she always remembered her sister-in-law's kindness to them, "Why...why are you here?"
The marriages chosen by their father for them didn't seem very good, as they were seriously down-marrying. However, during the years when her father was still alive, she lived a particularly happy life.
It’s the same with my eldest and second sisters.
I just didn't expect...
"I'm here to take you home."
Shen Ning said calmly, "Today is Yuanchun's big day, you as her aunt can't cry."
"... Can I really go? The old lady..."
"The old lady is waiting for you too."
Shen Ning stepped forward and smiled at the girl who came out with Jia Zhen, "Are you Mei Jie'er?"
"Yes! Min Mei greets her aunt!"
Min Mei bowed respectfully to Shen Ning.
"Yeah, you look a lot like me when you were a kid."
Shen Ning smiled and helped her up, and said to Jia Zhen: "Go home, don't think about anything else, just know that there are people at home waiting for you."
"But what on earth do I ..."
"What's wrong with divorce? If you divorce, you are no longer a daughter of the Jia family? You are no longer Yuanchun's aunt?"
"Sister-in-law~"
Jia Jin choked up.
Shen Ning reached out and wiped away the tears that she couldn't control. "It's our fault. We... didn't take good care of you. If you blame us, then..."
"I'll be back!"
Jia Zhen hurriedly shook her head. She knew that her sister-in-law had not had a good life in those years. "Thank you, sister-in-law."
Along the way, she listened to her eldest brother talk about many things at home.
I feel that if the eldest sister-in-law of the Dongfu was still trapped in her past self-pity, even if she could survive the birthing period, the family... would not be as prosperous as it is today.
And the eldest brother must still be in a daze in the East Courtyard, trying hard to squander the family's money.
He couldn't even stand up straight in his own home and was disciplined by the old lady in everything. How could he run so far to speak for her?
Jia Jin bowed deeply.
"Get up quickly, or I'll be mad if you thank me again."
Shen Ning hurriedly pulled him up, "Don't forget, you called me sister-in-law."
She was quite ashamed. She subconsciously ignored the people who did not appear in the Red Mansion, even if she had the memories of their original selves.
"Let's go!" Shen Ning pulled one of them with each hand, "I'll take you home."
"Aunt, my uncle was taken away by the Five Cities Army. Doesn't the family care about him?"
Min Mei felt the other party's kindness and couldn't help but ask about her uncle whom she particularly cared about.
"Well, your eldest cousin went to the Wucheng Bingmasi."
Shen Ning smiled, "Don't worry, he won't suffer any loss there."
If the person behind the scenes was more powerful, Jia She might have been dragged to the court to be punished by the emperor.
They had to make Jia She take the blame for being arrogant and assaulting a court official.
Of course, the person behind the scenes may also have a conflict of interest with the Wang family in Beijing, and is helping them bring the discord between the Wang and Jia families to the court.
The Jia family wants the latter.
As for the former...
Jia She stood up for his sister, and even if his methods were a bit extreme, at most he would be fined or reprimanded, which would not have any impact on Jia Lian.
On the contrary, if Jia She could really meet the emperor and cry well, the emperor might even use the Lan family's affairs to replace the two guards of Ningxia with his people.
The emperor should be smarter and bring Jia She, who is crying for his sister, to the emperor emeritus...
"Don't worry about them, go quickly, your family is waiting for you."
Shen Ning guessed it. When the carriage slowly drove away from the inn, Jia She and Wang Ziteng were also being taken to the court.
Censor Zheng looked at Jia Lian, who was standing at the end, with a righteous look in his eyes. "Sir Jia, do you have any explanation for your father's arrogance and beating up an official?"
Jia Lian looked at him calmly, "There's nothing to explain."
On the day of the beating, his father sent a letter home.
My aunt talked to him, and my aunt-in-law also talked to him.
Jia Lian said, "My cousin, a teenager, traveled thousands of miles to Beijing to seek help. His money was stolen. He knocked on my door as a beggar and said that my aunt was dying. The Min family was watching her die and wanted to give his sister away as a concubine. I would like to ask you gentlemen, if it was your family..., would you be able to endure it?"
This? The whole court was very quiet.
In fact, such a trivial matter as Jia She beating someone did not need to be brought to the court.
When Censor Zheng impeached them, Jia She and his son Jia Lian wrote a memorial to defend themselves.
The emperor will reprimand anyone who is unreasonable.
But now…
Anyone with a little bit of common sense knows that there are still people who are jealous of Jia Lian’s position as the Doctor of the Armory.
But this kid... is actually pretty good!
The war in Ningxia is about to break out, and the people in the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue are extremely busy. Jia Lian is young and has a good memory, so he can immediately give accurate data on what the parties want.
Even if things are not enough, he can quickly coordinate all parties and is a capable person who can get things done.
"This is not something that can be tolerated."
Zheng Yushi said loudly: "Ningxia is about to go to war, and many people from the Min family are joining the army. Your father attacked them without considering the overall situation. Once Ningxia withdraws troops, or the Tatars play a feint to the east and attack in the west, Yansui will also have a war soon. Who can immediately replace the Min family? Lord Jia, you must know that the military situation is urgent.
If the Min family is wrong, you can sue the officials, but how can you fight like a street shrew? Your Majesty..."
He turned to the emperor and said, "Jia She was wrong, but Lord Jia still seems to agree with it. I beg you to…"
“…”
The emperor waved his hand and said, "The border town is in need of people right now. Jia Lian, please ask the first-class general Jia She to write a letter of defense."
He was very tired and didn't want to listen to such trivial matters.
"If nothing else..."
The emperor was about to dismiss the court when Lord Fan from the Five Cities Military Department hurried up to the court and said, "Your Majesty, Jia She, the first-class general of Rongguo Mansion, led his men to fight with Wang Ziteng, the governor of Beijing Camp, in the street. They..."
"Where are the people?"
Censor Zheng's beard puffed up, "Your Majesty, Jia She should be severely punished for such behavior."
emperor:"……"
He looked at the man surnamed Fan, then at the man surnamed Zheng, and then calmly looked at the group of people in the court who liked to gossip around. He knew in his heart that someone was not being honest.
They wanted to use Jia She as a breakthrough point to bring down Jia Lian.
In other words, they put pressure on Jia Lian in order to get military support for their people.
Haha~ The emperor sneered in his heart, "You brought it? Then pass it up and ask!"
Normally he would intervene if court officials were fighting in the street.
There is nothing wrong with bringing him to the court.
But the emperor still remembered this man named Fan deeply.
"……yes!"
Lord Fan quickly gestured outside.
Soon, Jia She and Wang Ziteng, who was sitting in a wheelchair, were brought up by the guards.
"Your Majesty~~"
As soon as Wang Ziteng's wheelchair stabilized, Jia She, who had beaten him, knelt on the ground and burst into tears, "Your Majesty, please help me! Wang Ziteng has gone too far."
Wang Ziteng: “…”
His face flushed red, and he was about to explode with anger.
"Bold Jia She..."
Just as Censor Zheng was about to say something, Jia Lian knelt down beside his father and said, "Your Majesty, please make a decision for the family of the late Lan Zhenghong, Lan Qianzong, the chief of Ningxia Zhongwei."
What? The emperor couldn't help but look down.
Jia She's crying suddenly became louder, "Lan Zhenghong is my eldest brother-in-law, Your Majesty, his family died tragically!"
He was really crying, and he cried very sadly.
"Wang Ziteng borrowed his sister's help..."
This is a long story. Sometimes Jia She cried so hard that he couldn't continue, and Jia Lian would add to it.
The adults, who were originally very impatient, unexpectedly, could listen to the gossip on the spot.
Those who don’t know Jia Zheng well just think that he is an upright and elegant gentleman.
Understandable...
The Minister and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works both looked a little strange.
Neither of them had expected that Jia Zheng would be so confused.
However, they were basically just making up the numbers in the court. Now, facing the inquiring gazes, they all tried their best to keep their eyes on their noses, their noses on their hearts, and their hearts without any other thoughts.
"…Your Majesty, this is just the opinion of the Jia family."
Wang Ziteng has chest pain.
Jia Lian is his nephew-in-law.
In this way, he didn't say a word to excuse their family. It seemed that he was really going to stand against him.
Bastard! He was the one who secretly spread the news of Jia She beating people.
The purpose is to let the people of the Censorate impeach him, so that Jia Lian will realize that he needs help, and Wang Ziteng is his natural ally and the biggest helper. It also allows those who once looked down on him to see that Wang Ziteng can stand firm in the Beijing camp without relying on them.
But...but why did it become like this?
Wang Ziteng was going crazy. "Jia She, Jia Lian, do you have any evidence? If you don't, you are just slandering me."
"emperor!"
Jia Lian was silent for a moment and said, "When the Lan family was on fire that day, my cousin escaped and is now a deputy lieutenant in the women's army under General Jiang Yu."
What? Wang Ziteng was stunned.
Everyone in the court was also very surprised.
"She told us what happened to the Lan family that day in person, so..."
Jia Lian paused for a moment and said, "My second uncle will be punished in the ancestral hall."
My aunt said that it would be better for my second uncle not to be an official.
He also said that his foolish deeds should not be known only to his family.
It has to be completely cut off, I hope my second uncle won’t help anyone with things like asking for favors or recommending for official positions.
My aunt also said that it would be best for my second uncle to stay at home from now on.
Even the eldest brother and Yuanchun said that they had less to worry about with the second uncle at home and that everyone was doing well.
"oh?"
The emperor's eyes sparkled, and he felt the air was a little fresher. "Ministry of Works, has Jia Zheng asked for leave recently?"
Now that the Jia and Wang families are no longer involved, he feels more at ease using them.
In fact, both his father and he were well aware of the Jia family's plan.
Many people in the court like to do this.
Today I will support you, and tomorrow you will support me.
They exchanged interests with each other, as if they were fools.
"yes!"
The Minister of Works quickly bowed his head.
“I see…”
The emperor glanced at Wang Ziteng, who seemed about to fall, and said slowly, "Let him write a letter of retirement later!"
"yes!"
Just a few words determined Jia Zheng's future.
Wang Ziteng knew that it was his turn.
But he is still young.
If he retires and goes home, the Wang family will be finished.
"emperor!"
Wang Ziteng, ignoring his injured leg, knelt on the ground and said, "I still say the same thing. Please ask the Jia family to produce evidence. Please ask Deputy Captain Lan to produce evidence."
If the girl from the Lan family had any evidence, she would have presented it.
Since it has not been presented, it must be that it does not exist.
"Otherwise... it would be a false accusation." (End of this chapter)
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