Chapter 40 'Ventilation'
At Ningguo Mansion, Shen Ning took a walk in the garden after lunch and was about to take a break, but unexpectedly, Jia Zhu appeared again.
"Auntie!"
Jia Zhu greeted him with his usual signature smile and said directly, "I forgot one thing yesterday."
"you say."
Shen Ning felt a little sleepy and yawned slightly.
"Our treasury owes silver."
Jia Zhu dared not not come.
Although Brother Zhen has many faults, at the moment, he is far more reliable than his father and uncle.
Although my uncle is my biological brother, my cousin is more of a family member.
If his uncle really harms his cousin, he doesn’t know whether his aunt can bear it, but the Jia family will definitely be finished.
My father and uncle cannot protect the Jia family. My eldest uncle will use them to gradually devour everything the Jia family has in the army.
From now on, the Jia family had to depend on their uncle for survival.
But this is not the most dangerous thing. The most dangerous thing may be that my uncle will also be targeted by the emperor.
The Wang and Jia families are relatives who cannot be severed. If the Jia family withdraws from the army and the Wang family takes their place, who are they taking for fools?
Jia Zhu thought about it for a long time, and even without eating, he didn't care that his aunt might take a nap, and hurried over, "I heard many classmates talking privately in the Imperial College. The emperor should have collected all the debts long ago."
"oh……"
Emperor Xiaomu has not yet taken the initiative to ask the ministers who owed him money to pay it back, and it is obvious that he is still concerned about the emperor.
However, this retired emperor did live a long life.
The ancients attached great importance to filial piety, so it is no wonder that he later had to collect money in a roundabout way.
"The emperor confiscated it, what can you do?"
Shen Ning asked Jia Zhu casually.
"The emperor confiscated it because he was taking care of the emperor and the old ministers."
Jia Zhu sighed in his heart.
The most noble people in the world have many reasons why they have to do so, let alone other people.
"Just because the emperor doesn't accept it for now doesn't mean our family doesn't have to pay it back."
Jia Zhu bowed and said, "I, your nephew, would like to thank you for forcing my father and uncle to return the silver."
“…”
Shen Ning looked at him and smiled slowly, "Are you afraid that you will have to pay back the money in the future?"
"Yes!" Jia Zhu nodded. "If you don't pay back the money now, the Jia family may have to go bankrupt to pay it back in the future."
He has been worried about the money.
Fortunately, my uncle was not too confused and kept it sealed.
But after learning that his mother had embezzled the money, he was really shocked and broke out in a cold sweat. "Auntie, you forced the family to pay back the money because you are aware of the risks here, right?"
"...Auntie is not as powerful as you think."
Shen Ning smiled and touched her belly, "I'm paying you back because I really want to accumulate some blessings for your sister."
"The little sister must be a very good girl."
The smile in Jia Zhu's eyes was full of warmth. "Auntie, have you asked a few more doctors to treat your health?"
It is very important to have a wise and reliable elder at home.
Jia Zhu sincerely hoped that this aunt could live longer than his grandmother.
"nature!"
Sincerity and falsehood were visible at a glance. Shen Ning smiled and nodded, "I still want to watch your sister grow up and see her get married."
“…”
Jia Zhu felt sad.
My aunt’s wish is so small.
But the mother wanted to destroy it all for her own selfish reasons.
"Auntie!" He hesitated, "At present, only we and the Shi family have paid back the silver. Have you ever thought about how much those who can't pay back hate us?"
Um?
Shen Ning looked at Jia Zhu. For some reason, she always felt that there was deep pain and entanglement in his eyes.
She said, "So, Auntie hired two midwives a long time ago!"
Jia Zhu: “…”
"Are you still worried about other people in the family?" Shen Ning asked him tentatively.
"…A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind."
Jia Zhu thought for a moment and said, "After my family paid back the money, a classmate reminded me that everyone in our family should be careful. After all... even if those who borrowed the money back then were not really poor, they must have spent money on weddings and funerals over the years, even if not all of them were as poor as the Shi family. If our family pays back the money, these people may not be happy, let alone those who are really poor."
He had no choice. He couldn't really betray his mother. "As the saying goes, a gentleman doesn't stand under a dangerous wall. I think it's better to bring a few more people with Brother Zhen and Brother Rong. After all, I plan to bring two more servants."
"...You are absolutely right!"
Shen Ning looked at him and nodded slowly, "I'll talk to your brother Zhen later."
"Brother Zhen is the head of the Jia family. His safety concerns our entire Jia family."
Jia Zhu finally said, "Tell him not to think it's troublesome. Bringing a few more people won't cause any trouble."
"……good!"
Shen Ning agreed, but after seeing Jia Zhu off, she no longer felt sleepy.
Jia Zhu came specifically for her family's safety.
What made him feel dangerous? Or was someone targeting Haodaer?
Shen Ning twirled the jade bracelet on her hand and finally spoke, "Qingping, ask someone what happened in the West Mansion today? Also, who did the second wife meet in the past few days?"
"……yes!"
When Qingping heard what Jia Zhu said, she felt something was not right, and she hurried out.
"Green bamboo!"
"Madam!" Qingzhu stepped out of the line, "Do you want to call me master?"
"No!"
Shen Ning shook her head. Her eldest son was at home today and was going to work with a few accountants to sort out the income from the clan’s land over the years to see if there was any shortfall.
Because of the Lai family and Zhou Rui, he was no longer confident about those people.
For now, let him sort out things over there first.
"Go and call Jiao Da for me first."
"yes!"
Qingzhu also went there in a hurry.
Shen Ning leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes slightly, wondering who would benefit the most if something happened in the East Mansion.
Jia She was the first person to be excluded.
His self-awareness has always been clear. As the heir of the Rongguo Mansion who is trusted by everyone, he can stay at home all his life as long as he has enough food and drink and is accompanied by beautiful women and antiques.
Jia Zheng considers himself a gentleman, but he is old-fashioned and stubborn. Even if he wants to take a shortcut, he only dares to rely on the old lady's power to exploit his elder brother at home.
Outside, he is just a humble and good-natured gentleman, and he would never think of doing anything to Haodaer.
Grandmother Jia...
It is possible that he would take action against her, but as for Jia Zhen... as long as Jia Jing is still around, he will not take action immediately.
The Xing family is even less likely, so the only option is the Wang family.
Because of the Wang family and Wang Ziteng, she has the conditions and ability to take action against Haodaer.
Hiss~ A hint of cruelty flashed across Shen Ning's eyes when he opened them.
The Wang family has not yet repaid the money they owe, and Wang Ziteng must be very anxious. After all, the emperor emeritus is a thing of the past, and even if the emperor has limited power, it is still easy to make his career less smooth.
If something happened to her older son, she, as an elderly mother, would not be able to bear it and might even die on the spot.
By then...
Would Rong Ge'er, who had not yet grown up, have to grow up with Wang Shi like Jia Lian? She might even prevent him from growing up.
Thinking of this, Shen Ning could no longer sit still, "Get some ink and brush!"
(End of this chapter)
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