[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber":3,"chapter-my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-12":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","My Life as a Rising Force in the Red Chamber",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2310810,4515,"Chapter 12: Interrogation","my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-12",12,"\u003Cp>But after all, he’s his own grandson, so it’s a good thing—thinking this, Jia Mu’s expression softened slightly: “If that’s the case, you must study hard and not waste the nobleman’s favor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This remark was vague and unclear—whether it was meant as advice to Jia Zheng or a hint to Jia Cong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those sharp and perceptive souls in the hall, like Wang Xifeng and Tan Chun, knew Jia Mu still disliked this grandson and wouldn’t even speak a direct word to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Mu’s coldness was merely a long-standing grievance, not malice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others in Rongqing Hall, seeing Jia Cong—a mere child—achieve such a notable feat, now regarded him with more goodwill, except for one man whose face remained grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Xing had just moments before slandered Jia Cong before Jia Mu, accusing him of being ill-mannered, lazy, and prone to trouble—but now she had been publicly slapped in the face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought that this bastard born of a concubine had shone so brightly, while she herself had been humiliated before the entire household, sent a fire surging to her throat, which she forcibly swallowed down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She felt as if she were burning alive; the old lady was still here, so she dared not storm out, forced instead to sit stiffly, seething as she plotted how to punish the brat once back home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Mu glanced at Jia Cong and frowned: “Your wet nurse must have lost her wits—she didn’t even tidy you up, left you looking like this ragged, hollow-eyed wreck. How can this be the look of a gentleman from a great family?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Cong, who had stood quietly until now, finally spoke: “I no longer have a wet nurse. She’s been assigned to the laundry room.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old lady’s insinuation boiled down to four words: “The Di mother is unkind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wet nurse in a great household doesn’t merely nurse a child—until the young master or miss comes of age, she also serves as a moral guide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Below, Jia Cong inwardly admired: this old lady was truly a formidable woman of the inner quarters—her words were flawless, carrying not a trace of blame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Usually, a wet nurse is dismissed only when the child turns thirteen or fourteen, or when the nurse herself grows too old.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Mu blinked: “What did you say? Your wet nurse is working in the laundry room…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moral guide’s monthly stipend is substantial; unless the young master or miss has grown up, or the nurse herself is aged, no one voluntarily leaves such a post.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All eyes in the hall turned to Lady Xing, flushing her face crimson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If her wet nurse were still here, it would be her fault—but now that the woman has been reassigned, and the disgrace happened outside, who could you blame? It must be her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Mu rubbed her temples: “There are plenty of servants in this household—you can assign anyone to him. His appearance at Prince Jia Shun’s literary gathering shames the entire Jia family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Cong is only ten years old—there’s no reason he should have been deprived of his wet nurse, which is why Jia Mu asked this question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To claim Jia Cong shamed the Jia family is to accuse the wet nurse of negligence—but now that the woman has been sent to the laundry room by Lady Xing, the shame falls squarely on her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These household matters aren’t my concern. You, as parents, should manage them better. I’m tired. Everyone, disperse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Mu’s words were neither harsh nor gentle, but Lady Xing trembled with dread. The young masters and misses didn’t catch the subtext, but Wang Xifeng and others understood perfectly—they waited only to watch Lady Xing’s humiliation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if she’d been slapped left and right across the face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Cong’s ragged, emaciated appearance was the perfect embodiment of “the Di mother is unkind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Xing replied, cheeks burning: “I thought he’d grown up and no longer needed a wet nurse. The laundry room in the Eastern Courtyard was short-handed, so I temporarily assigned her there to help.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s this? He’s so young—how could his wet nurse be reassigned?” Jia Mu frowned, addressing the visibly uneasy Lady Xing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In wealthy clans, producing heirs is the paramount duty; relying solely on the Di wife’s children is insufficient—there are countless Di wives who bear no sons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To ensure lineage, it is the moral duty of the Di wife to treat stepchildren kindly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Wang, for instance, never scolded Jia Huan directly; when free, she even summoned him to copy Buddhist sutras, cultivating his manners—thus earning a good reputation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lady Xing? She constantly threatens to beat him to death, withholds silver, sets traps, and devises endless schemes to torment him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An unkind Di mother is equivalent to the “jealous wife” offense among the Seven Outrages—grounds enough for divorce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since becoming Jia She’s second wife, Lady Xing has borne no children, leaving her already humiliated; now, with the accusation of an unkind Di mother, her reputation will become utterly foul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Xing had no more energy to plot against Jia Cong. She left, heavy-hearted and bitter, her hatred for Jia Cong now at its peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She saw this bastard born of a concubine as her personal demon—anyone near this brat was doomed to suffer endless misfortune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the crowd in Rongning Hall dispersed, only Tan Chun and Xi Chun remained. Dai Yu walked a few steps, noticed they hadn’t left, and stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Chun stepped forward with a warm smile: “Thank you, Third Brother Cong, for the calligraphy you gave me yesterday. I love brushwork too—when you have time, please give me more guidance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Cong smiled: “I should thank you, Third Sister, for the books and fine Xuan paper you gave me—they’re all excellent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dai Yu watched the two speak with quiet interest, her face lit by a gentle smile, like a delicate lotus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today’s events left Jia Zheng deeply satisfied with this nephew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing him converse easily with his sisters, he felt pleased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though somewhat rigid, he was no fool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He clearly saw how his elder brother and his wife despised this stepson, and how deeply his mother harbored resentment toward him—he sighed inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, though the boy appeared downtrodden, just now in Rongning Hall, before all, he had been humble, calm, and dignified—possessing true bearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was how a Jia family scion ought to behave—far superior to his two degenerates. Too bad this boy belonged to the elder branch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking this, he turned and glared at Bao Yu, who trailed behind Dai Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Bao Yu saw Tan Chun and Jia Cong speaking, Ying Chun—though quiet—standing beside Jia Cong listening, and even his own Lin Meimei had paused her steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bao Yu felt a pang of resentment and loss—once, he would have been in Jia Cong’s place, surrounded by his sisters in conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mind was still muddled when suddenly two sharp gazes pierced him—he saw his father’s disapproval, shuddered, and wilted half-dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cong’er, come with me to the study.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And Bao Yu—you too. Hmph.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before today, Jia Zheng knew little of Jia Cong; now, since Jia Cong was attending the Nanxi Literary Gathering, it concerned the Jia family’s honor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though his calligraphy was outstanding, literary gatherings were attended by renowned scholars and masters—true cultivation lay in classical texts and essays; calligraphy alone was too thin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Jia Zheng inquiring into his nephew’s studies was only natural. Though his own talent was mediocre, he had studied for years—far superior to Jia She’s ignorance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bao Yu had secretly rejoiced upon hearing Jia Zheng summon Jia Cong to the study—he imagined he’d be free to play with his sisters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when Jia Zheng ordered him to come too, he froze, eyes wide—Jia Mu had already left; no one could save him now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He dared not refuse. Head bowed, he followed Jia Cong like a man walking on cotton, his soul half-lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1322,"2026-06-20T12:19:54.434Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","3ba251a45b7d099af4d689819670416e40c05091c43c9a58dbf7718eb8deff3e","my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-13","my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-11",920,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmy-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-cover.jpg"]