Chapter 160 Lantern Festival
On the Mid-Autumn Festival on August 15th, Ningguo Mansion became more lively than ever early in the morning.
All the men of the Jia family who were in Beijing, from the trembling old men to the children who could just walk, were present.
It was a rare day when no one dared to whisper to each other. Everyone looked at Jia Zheng who was tied up and couldn't help but breathe more lightly.
Although there are rumors outside that the second master of Rongguo Mansion is incompetent and has fallen out of favor with the old lady, and that he and the second wife have been locked up in the ancestral hall, few people have actually seen them.
No one dared to be curious.
After all, no matter how poor Jia Zheng was, he still had a mother who was the wife of a duke, a brother who was a first-class general, and soon he would become the father-in-law of the Marquis of Xinping.
Moreover, Jia Zhu is very good at studying.
Some elders of the clan couldn't help but take a closer look at Jia Zhu, Baoyu and Huan'er.
Let’s not talk about the two younger ones for now. The older Jia Zhu is like a modest gentleman, gentle as jade. No one can predict what his future will be like.
Jia Zhu is not afraid of being seen by others.
I’m just afraid that others won’t see it.
His parents made many mistakes, but they had never done anything wrong to him.
If the elders of the tribe and the executioner could consider his kindness and be a little lighter when beating him, it would show his love as a son.
“Let’s do it!”
Jia Zheng didn't dare to look at his three sons.
The beating he received today will make it impossible for him to stand up straight in front of his sons ever again.
"Second brother, before you do anything, tell your ancestors and the other clansmen whether you are wrong or not."
Jia She was really going to beat his stupid brother, but he was not very happy in his heart. "This time...how many crimes have you committed? If you still don't know, Zhu'er, Baoyu, you two come up and speak for him."
"……I was wrong!"
Jia Zheng knelt down in front of the tablets of his ancestors and said, "I... am unfaithful and unfilial..."
Although I don't want to say it, Zhu'er will take the imperial examination next year.
As long as he passes the exam, even if he can only be sent to a seventh-rank county magistrate, if he works hard, maybe he can follow him.
This was the idea he and Wang came up with after thinking about it for a long time yesterday.
They were sent away with their sons to a place where no one knew them, and it was fine for them to become old masters or old lords.
While Jia Zheng was enumerating his own crimes, over at Rongguo Mansion, the female members of the Jia family were watching Wang enter the small Buddhist hall.
The once-powerful wife of the Rongguo Mansion is now...
While watching the fun, the ladies of the Jia family couldn't help but take a second look at the mistress of the Ningguo Mansion.
This is a truly amazing person!
I heard that at the emperor's birthday banquet, when Princess Jin said that she was the most fierce woman in Da Zhao, she had tea thrown in her face.
Oh my~ Jia Qin's mother hid behind the crowd, afraid of being seen by Shen Ning.
Because her son Qin Ge was gambling, the family rules of the Jia family were also changed by this person.
"Sister-in-law, are you particularly happy to see me like this?"
Wang, who was dressed in plain clothes and had all her hairpins and rings taken away, was still unwilling to accept it. When she was about to step into the Buddhist hall, she turned back and asked Shen Ning.
Shen Ning: “…”
If she didn't want to set some rules for the ladies of the Jia family, she would not have been willing to come.
"Are you talking about me?"
Shen Ning seemed very surprised and said, "We have been sisters-in-law for so many years. If I had had a problem with you from the beginning, I would not have liked your children Zhu'er and Yuanchun." She looked back at Wang Shi calmly, "At this point, the one you feel most sorry for is actually yourself and your children."
It’s a pity that this person still doesn’t understand it.
Or is it just her own desire to win?
"Other people's happiness or unhappiness has nothing to do with you now."
Since you insist on getting mad, just give it to me!
Shen Ning thought she was still a bit magnanimous, "You are going to enter the Buddhist temple. From now on, you should confess to the Bodhisattva and hope to be a human being in the next life."
For the sake of Yuanchun and the others, she didn't say anything, "You are not worthy of being a human being."
But Wang, who often chanted Buddha's name, understood it.
She was angry, hateful, and afraid! "Okay, stop talking."
Grandmother Jia sighed in her heart.
There are so many people here, why does this daughter-in-law have to keep staring at Shen? She can't be provoked every time, but she still has to provoke her.
Isn't this stupid? "It's getting late, Wang, please go to the Buddhist temple!"
How glorious is that?
Why are you still complaining when so many people are watching you? Why don't you save some face for Zhu'er and Yuanchun?
Grandmother Jia really dislikes her daughter-in-law more and more.
"old lady……"
Wang didn't think too much about it. She didn't see Yuanchun and her daughter-in-law Li in the crowd. She felt that the old lady and Shen were still taking care of her children.
She fell to her knees and cried, "Please, old lady, take care of our master. He can't bear forty beatings!"
Let’s talk more about Jia Zheng. What if the old lady feels sorry for him?
"...Sister-in-law, you are wrong."
Xing rarely spoke, and asked, "Why was my second brother beaten with forty boards? Wasn't it because of you?"
After the second wife fell, her life suddenly became better.
Not only does she live in Rong Xi Tang now, the master is also much more amiable than before. Although he already has many concubines, she doesn't have to worry about him taking in more!
Jia Lian became an official, and just for the sake of his position, he couldn't treat her badly.
The daughter-in-law who used to take her lightly is now very respectful to her.
Of course, the one who made Mrs. Xing most satisfied was Yingchun.
One of them has no children, and the other has no mother.
If she was very nice to her, Yingchun would treat her twenty times in return.
Because Yingchun treated her well, even the master looked up to her.
"You are the one who has done him the most harm in this family." Madam Xing said, "Hurry up and go to your Buddhist temple. We will be there for you, my second brother."
"Second Madam, please!"
The two maids stepped forward at the old lady's signal, as if to say, "If you don't come in, we will drag you in."
"…The daughter-in-law bids farewell to the old lady!"
Wang covered her face and walked into the Buddhist temple crying.
The door slammed shut with a bang, followed by the sound of the door being locked with a click.
Wang looked at the compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva and suddenly fell to the ground.
"Ms. Zhou, from now on, you will be the one delivering food and drinks here."
The old lady glanced at Aunt Zhou, who was huddled aside and seemed to be obedient, and said, "You will be in charge of the keys as well."
"……yes!"
Aunt Zhou was shocked all over and quickly knelt down and kowtowed to the old lady.
The old lady looked at her shaking hands, and when she took the key, she twitched her lips and said, "Okay, Wang's matter has been dealt with. Let's ask about the situation at the ancestral hall."
"Go back to the old lady! Ladies!"
Qing Ping came over in a hurry. "The fight at the ancestral hall has been completed. The second master has fainted, but Manager Chen gave him medicine in time and said he needs to rest."
"Where's the master?"
Yu was very concerned.
"Master has also applied the medicine, Rong Ge'er is watching."
That's good.
Yu Shi breathed a sigh of relief, "Mother~" She wanted to go back and see.
"Now that everything is done, let's have a meal and go home early!"
Shen Ning had to visit Jia Rong's destined wife, Qin Keqing, in the evening, and didn't want to waste time and energy socializing with these people.
"Okay, then let's start the banquet!"
The old lady was also anxious to see her second son, so the banquet started quickly and ended even faster.
As the carriages drove away from the Ning and Rong mansions, Shen Ning finally saw Haodaer.
Jia Zhen, who had been beaten with twenty boards, could only lie down.
He actually just suffered some minor skin injuries.
The guards who were beating with the stick were here with him. The louder he swung the stick, the lighter the beating was.
"Don't worry, mother. Your son is fine."
“…”
Shen Ning didn't say anything, but she glanced at Jiao Da.
"Mother!" Jia Zhen felt that his mother had seen through him, and said with a wry smile, "Second Uncle Zheng was beaten quite severely. Do you think we should send some medicinal herbs over?"
"If you want to send it, send it!"
Shen Ning waved to Rong Ge'er, "Rong Ge'er, come here and walk with grandma."
“…Hey!”
Jia Rong looked at his father and hurriedly followed his grandmother.
At the beginning, he couldn't help but feel the pain in his buttocks when he saw how badly the uncle was beaten.
But when it came to his father's turn...
Rong Ge'er, who had learned a lot of nonsense from Jiao University, knew that there was something fishy behind his father's beating.
That is to say, the first few boards were heavier, but that was to cause the swelling to show everyone, and there was no serious damage to the bones.
"Grandma! My great-aunt entered the Buddhist temple... Did she make any noise?"
"It's okay. She wanted to make a scene, but she didn't."
As Shen Ning walked, she thought about how to tell Rong Ge'er about Qin Keqing, "But I still feel bad."
"grandmother!"
Rong Ge'er turned around and was about to leave, "Manager Chen hasn't gone far, grandson..."
"It's a big holiday, I was just angry for a moment, it's no big deal."
Shen Ning pulled him back, "In previous years, your grandfather would always accompany you during the festival." It seemed difficult to find a reason to get her grandson to accompany her to the Lantern Festival, "Now your father is like this again..."
"...Grandma," Jia Rong said distressedly, "Your grandson will accompany you."
Shen Ning patted his hand that had been supported again, "Tell me honestly, when we beat your father today, did Jiao Da and the others let him off?"
"…Maybe… a little."
Jia Rong stole a glance at his grandmother's face and saw that something was wrong, so he hurriedly said, "But if you let him go again, his buttocks will be swollen after twenty strokes of the board."
"He deserved the beating he received. He failed as a clan leader."
Shen Ning let out a long breath, "Now he is lying in front of the tribe again..."
"Grandma~"
Jia Rong cried out in pain, fearing that his grandmother would beat him again.
"Never mind, I'm just too lazy to look at him."
Shen Ning closed her eyes and said, "There is a lantern festival today. You can go with your mother and accompany me to the lantern festival later."
Huh? Jia Rong was stunned.
"Leave your aunt to him to take care of. If he doesn't take good care of her... I won't forgive him when he comes back."
Finally, finally, we get to the point.
Shen Ning felt that her life was too difficult.
"Why? You don't want to?"
"Yes, yes!"
How could Jia Rong be unwilling? What about the Lantern Festival?
Once upon a time, he also loved to join in the fun.
But after the past six months, he dared not indulge himself anymore.
When my grandfather is not at home and my father...is not very capable, he is the man of the family.
Rong Ge'er, who had experienced his father being assassinated, his grandmother having difficult childbirth, and his family almost being wiped out, was too afraid of the feeling of being powerless.
My father said he was useless.
If my grandfather just stood there, no one would dare to mess with him.
Jia Rong's goal was to stand there so that no one would dare to touch his family.
…
Qin Mansion!
Seeing that it was getting dark, Qin Ye took two old servants and his two children, and the three of them walked towards Chang'an Street with smiles on their faces.
This year's lantern festival is mainly concentrated there.
Every street and avenue in the capital city take turns to hold lantern festivals.
"Father, I don't want you to buy me a lantern. I want to win the lantern by guessing the riddle myself."
"I want one too. I want one too."
Qin Zhong jumped up and down, "Sister, help me win."
"OK!"
Qin Keqing touched her brother's head and nodded vigorously, "The first one is for you."
“Hahaha~~~~”
Qin Ye laughed and joined in the fun, "Then give me the second one."
His two children are his life.
If you can't guess it, the worst that can happen is that you give some money and wink at the store owner.
I don’t know how many people do this every year.
"Yeah, I can definitely guess it."
Qin Keqing clenched her fist to show her determination.
On the other hand, Shen Ning, who was afraid of accidents, had already booked the second floor of a restaurant in the middle section of Chang'an Avenue as her residence.
"Brother Rong, did you see that rabbit lantern?"
Shen Ning didn't expect him to win the oversized dragon lantern. "Go and help grandma win it later."
"Well, I want the little fish one next to it."
Youshi also pointed to one and asked Jia Rong to help them win.
"And your aunt's."
In front of the window, Shen Ning looked around, "Well, that frog is well made."
Ah? Jia Rong looked at the frog lantern and said with disdain, "My aunt will definitely not like it."
"…So what do you think she likes?"
"That~"
Jia Rong pointed at a row of small lanterns with the twelve zodiac animals in them and said, "I want to win all of that row for my aunt."
Shen Ning: “…”
Youshi: “…”
They both thought he was bragging.
The lanterns on this street are actually not that easy to guess.
The main purpose of merchants hanging up lanterns today is to sell lanterns.
You can come up with a few easy ones to attract popularity, but you will never let people guess the very good ones casually.
"good!"
Shen Ning didn't get discouraged, and said with a smile: "I'm listening on behalf of your aunt, if I can't win back..."
"Then my grandson will buy it!"
Jia Rong smiled, "Anyway, I will definitely bring that row of zodiac lanterns home for my aunt."
"Okay, okay!"
He winked at Xing'er, who had already visited Qin's house and got to know Qin Ye's family, and said, "You guys take Rong'er down there carefully. Remember, if it's too crowded, come back immediately."
Most of the shops on this street had hung lanterns for sale, and with so many people coming, Shen Ning felt it was too easy for something to go wrong.
"yes!"
Xing'er hurriedly agreed. He was about to go downstairs with Rong'er, but he paused for a moment after glancing at her. "Madam, you... aren't going down?"
Hmm? Are we there yet?
Shen Ning also hurriedly looked for it.
There are too many girls in the crowd.
Of course, they are also surrounded by their families.
Old and young...
Is it her? Shen Ning found the most beautiful one.
Qin Keqing is very beautiful.
Shen Ning naturally looked for the most beautiful one.
Although she is still young, she must be a beauty.
"Okay then, let's go for a walk together!"
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