Chapter 731: Confusing and Setting a Poisonous Trap

Shenjing City, Ningrong Street.

At sunset, the red clouds filled the sky, and the spacious and clean street was bathed in golden halos, appearing exceptionally peaceful and quiet.

A carriage turned the corner of the street and headed toward Rongguo Prefecture. The carriage wheels rolled, leisurely and flickering, permeated with a sense of stability and safety.

Jia Zheng in the carriage sat upright with his chest out, twisting his beard, his expression relaxed, even with a bit of self-satisfaction.

He had been in the Ministry of Works for fifteen years, sitting dully in the office, living a mediocre life, without any achievements.

Although he had been an official for many years, every three years the Ministry of Personnel's performance review was always average. Although he wouldn't be dismissed, his hope for promotion was cut off.

In his fifteen-year career in the Ministry of Works, he only rose from a main official to a department director, not because he made political achievements, but mainly because his seniority was too old, and he could only be promoted according to precedent.

Li Dekang, who entered the Ministry of Works five years later than him, was now the noble Grade 2 Minister of Works, while Jia Zheng was still a Grade 5B Ministry of Works department director.

Fortunately, he was the legitimate son of the Duke of Rongguo, a descendant of a noble family, not only with a noble status but also not hindering others' official careers, so his popularity in the Ministry of Works was actually very good.

But in these two years, Jia Zheng, although not promoted in the Ministry of Works, was no longer just the good-natured person of the past.

His reputation among his colleagues was rising day by day, and he was increasingly attracting attention among the officials of the Ministry of Works.

Even the Minister of Works, Li Dekang, looked at him with different eyes, and when he had free time, he often invited him to the official residence to chat, which made Jia Zheng feel quite gratified and honored.

He was not foolish; he knew that his current official dignity all came from his nephew, Jia Cong.

It was because this nephew had outstanding ability, topped the imperial examinations, pushed the Rongguo Jia family to the peak again, achieved a noble Hanlin family status, and was a dazzling family of successful candidates.

Although his two sons were both unpromising and had achieved nothing to this day, which made Jia Zheng always somewhat regretful.

But he and Jia Cong were like father and son, always treating him as his own. How could the world be perfect? The family reputation being so prosperous could be considered the realization of Jia Zheng's lifelong wish.

Now Jia Zheng was extremely proud. The somewhat boring going to and from the office in the past had now become something he happily went to and fro, flocking to.

When the carriage was about to pass by the family school, Jia Zheng subconsciously lifted the carriage curtain to look.

He had been keen on reading and taking examinations all his life. Although he had no achievements in this regard, he had always been quite concerned about the descendants of the clan who were dedicated to reading.

These descendants were mostly from poor families. Although they didn't have Jia Cong's talent, they knew how to study hard, which was also extremely rare.

Jia Zheng usually sent some small silver and paper and brushes to help these studying descendants, so he had always paid attention to the family school and came to patrol and inspect when he was free.

This time he lifted the curtain to look at the family school, just out of habit. He was thinking about whether to look for the Old Master Dairu, whom he hadn't seen for a long time, to chat about the classics.

Just in time, he saw his clan nephew Jia Rui talking to a woman at the entrance of the family school, his words quite cold and heartless.

The woman was in her thirties, with a withered yellow complexion and ordinary clothing, looking like she was from a poor family.

Only hearing the woman say: "Rui Daye, how could the Old Master suddenly expel my Rong'er from the school? There must be a reason."

"My family is an orphan and a widow, and life is already bitter. If we leave the Jia family school, where can we find rice and grain for him to study?"

"Please, Rui Daye, show some kindness and help us plead with the Old Master to keep Rong'er."

Jia Rui sneered: "Jin Saozi, don't say such things. Who let Jin Rong provoke Huan Ge'er? The Second Grandmother Lian personally spoke; who dares to say half a word of objection?"

Jia Zheng hadn't paid much attention originally, but just happened to hear the words "Huan Ge'er," and his heart was shocked, and he couldn't help but say: "Stop the carriage."

Li Gui, who was driving the carriage, pulled the reins lightly, and the carriage stopped by the side of the road.

The woman's voice clearly came over: "Rui Daye, it doesn't make sense. Rong'er was beaten by Huan Sanye, Huan Sanye is fine, but Rong'er was expelled from the school instead."

Jia Rui sneered: "Jin Saozi, I manage the school for my grandfather. I know every single thing in the school."

"Let's not play games. What your Jin Rong did in the school is spreading like wildfire on the street. Don't say you don't know half of it."

"Not to mention Huan Ge'er beating him, because he did this kind of low-class thing and also dirtied Huan Ge'er, this is why he angered the Second Grandmother, who expelled this boy from the school."

"I will definitely not plead for this favor. Why should I go and ask for such shame? Huang Da Nainai and the Second Grandmother are close, and even she didn't dare to speak, let alone me."

Hearing this, the Widow Jin felt a bit empty in her heart. She knew what dirty things her son had done.

Although she scolded her son for being shameless, he was, after all, the flesh that had fallen from her body. Her life as a widow was not easy, and in the future, she would rely on this only son, so naturally, she had to come out to take the lead.

She also knew the difficulties of her sister-in-law, Jia Huang's wife. Originally, it was she who begged the Second Grandmother Lian to get her son into the Jia family school to study.

Not only did they not have to pay tuition silver, but there was also a two-tael stationery subsidy every month. There was no such good thing in the world, and she really couldn't bear to lose it.

Now her son was fooling around with classmates in the school, getting mixed up with Huan Sanye, and spreading an extremely unpleasant reputation.

Her sister-in-law naturally didn't dare to plead with the Second Grandmother Lian, but only went to quarrel with the Second Lady who had lost power, picking the soft persimmon.

Now it seemed that her sister-in-law was indeed a shrewd person, going to quarrel with the Second Lady and getting so many benefits.

If she had gone to the Second Grandmother Lian from the beginning, there would definitely be no benefits, and she would have been cleaned up.

Now that the news reached the Second Grandmother Lian's ears, she indeed erupted fiercely...

Jia Rui said: "Jin Saozi, you don't have to play games with me. You are smart, and I am not stupid. Things on this Ningrong Street cannot be hidden."

"The day before yesterday, Huang Da Saozi went to the Eastern Road Courtyard to reason, and the Second Lady gave two hundred taels of silver at once, and only then did Huang Da Saozi stop."

"Two hundred taels of silver is enough for your family to buy a few acres of good paddy fields, and you won't have to worry about food and clothing in the future. Jin Rong is not material for studying; do you think he can pass the exam after studying?"

"It's better to go home early and honestly dig for food in the soil in the future. Don't say anything more; Jin Rong can never enter the family school again, don't waste your saliva..."

Jia Zheng sat in the carriage, separated by the curtain. Although he didn't hear every word clearly, he understood most of the matter.

It turned out that his son Jia Huan had beaten Jin Rong, and in the end, Feng Jie had expelled Jin Rong from the family school, and also said that Jin Rong had done shameless things.

His wife had actually spent two hundred taels of silver to settle this matter. Since the second branch moved into the Eastern Road Courtyard, two hundred taels was not a small amount.

One never knows a wife like a husband. His wife spent such a large sum of silver, clearly because Huan'er's actions were not clean, and she was obviously using silver to block people's mouths.

Jia Zheng thought clearly about these things, his face already full of gloom. The greatest regret of his life was that neither of his two sons was promising, and both were complete playboys.

His lifelong glory in the imperial examinations and the revival of the family reputation all relied on Jia Cong. Baoyu and Huan'er didn't even have one-tenth of the promise of others.

He said in a deep voice: "Li Gui, you heard the words just now. Go and inquire about what is going on and come back to tell me."

Hearing his master's instructions, Li Gui's expression was a bit strange. In fact, he didn't need to inquire to know the truth of the matter.

He was originally Baoyu's wet nurse's brother. At that time, Baoyu had the maple dew tea incident, and the wet nurse, Li Mama, relied on her old age to sell her old age, which made Lady Wang dislike her.

It happened that the imperial court issued a new policy, and Rongguo Prefecture needed to pay a large amount of land tax, and the public treasury's surplus was inconvenient for turnover, so Wang Xifeng dismissed the population everywhere.

Lady Wang took this opportunity to expel Xixue, who was involved, from the prefecture, and also brought along Li Mama to retire home.

The Li family thus lost a large amount of real benefits. As Baoyu's wet nurse's brother, Li Gui didn't dare to reveal half a word on the surface, but he had a rift with Lady Wang in his heart.

Afterward, Wang Xifeng dismissed Baoyu's maidservants and pages on a large scale, and Li Gui was also among those dismissed.

Originally he was going to be sent to the farm to work, but in the end, he had the thick skin to ask Zhao Yiniang to pass the word.

Zhao Yiniang was secretly unconvinced by Lady Wang and Baoyu. Although she didn't dare to let out half a fart on weekdays.

But she would pull the servants they dismissed, which could be considered a bit of relief, and she also won over people's hearts, so she was naturally willing to sell this favor.

Zhao Yiniang was a middle-aged woman, and her pillow talk was a hundred times more powerful than Lady Wang's.

One night of love and a few words made Li Gui Jia Zheng's carriage driver and page, preserving his rice bowl.

From then on, Li Gui naturally leaned toward Zhao Yiniang and Jia Huan. He had also long known about the rumors outside, but Jia Zheng went to the office every day, and everyone hid it from him.

Now that the master had heard the rumors, he couldn't say he had known for a long time, so he could only pretend to inquire.

However, after a moment, he told Jia Zheng everything about the recent rumors outside and the origin of Jia Huan's matter.

He didn't dare to add oil and vinegar, nor did he dare to hide anything, because he knew the master had already heard the rumors, and if he didn't say it, others would.

The master cared most about raising his sons, and his temper was the most severe and upright, and he couldn't listen to these lewd things between men.

If he deliberately shielded Huan Sanye or had any deception in his words, and was detected by the master, he would lose his life.

Hearing Li Gui's words, Jia Zheng knew that his son had actually done such ugly things, and it was known to everyone on Ningrong Street.

The Jia family had just obtained the clean name of a Hanlin family, and if this beast ruined it, what face would he have in the future!

He was already so angry that his face was flushed, his seven orifices were smoking, and he angrily told Li Gui to whip the horse and return to the prefecture quickly.

Rongguo Prefecture, Eastern Road Courtyard.

Jia Huan had been in a very bad mood these past few days. That day, while strolling after class at school, he happened to see Jin Rong and Yu Ai hiding in a corner fooling around.

He had always looked at Jin Rong with great displeasure, a second-rate goods of an outer surname, relying on having played with Xue Pan's buttocks, showing off his ferocity in the family school.

Those like Xiang Lian and Yu Ai all had to submit to his ferocity, which was simply unreasonable.

He happened to break Jin Rong's ugly matter and was very proud in his heart, clamoring to spread this matter, making Jin Rong unable to be a person in the future.

That Jin Rong was originally a low-class and vicious person, so how could he be willing to be threatened by Jia Huan? Added to the fact that he was older and stronger than Jia Huan, he didn't put him in his eyes at all.

And not wanting to lose his male prowess in front of Yu Ai, he went up and fought with Jia Huan.

Jia Huan was originally weak, so how could he be Jin Rong's opponent? It happened that he met Jia Huan's page going to relieve himself, and with no one to help, he was immediately adjusted to be bruised and swollen.

That day was also unlucky enough. When he returned to the inner courtyard, he met Lady Wang and was scolded head-on, which made Jia Huan deeply resentful.

Originally he wanted to bring a few more pages to find Jin Rong to wash away his shame, but he didn't expect that before he could do anything, he heard that Jin Rong had been beaten into a cripple.

Jia Huan didn't have time to be happy before rumors spread in the school, saying that he was competing with Jin Rong for Yu Ai, and the two were jealous, and the words were very unpleasant.

Because of this, Jia Huan was very embarrassed and couldn't argue, and even skipped school for two days. It was just that the talk outside was becoming more and more unpleasant, and he was also very helpless.

He wanted to find Seeing Cai Xia to relieve his boredom, so as to dispel the bad luck and unhappiness in his heart.

Ever since they had a lingering affair in the storeroom that day, because they had broken the window paper, they were more intimate than ever before.

Although Seeing Cai Xia was afraid in her heart, she couldn't resist Jia Huan's soft words and entreaties, and was tricked by him into the woodshed, stables, and other places without people, playing wantonly several times.

The two were young and didn't know the severity, tasting the marrow and knowing the taste, muddled and muddled, becoming more and more reckless and bold.

Jia Huan even sneaked into Seeing Cai Xia's room at night and didn't come out until dawn like a soft-legged shrimp, which was truly like glue and lacquer.

It was just that after he was scolded by Lady Wang that day, he didn't see Seeing Cai Xia's shadow the next day.

It was said that the Lady's dowry shop lacked manpower, and she was specifically assigned to help, and she had to live in the shop to watch the door at night.

Hearing this, Zhao Yiniang couldn't help but gloat, secretly mocking Lady Wang.

Laughing at her for losing the position of the lady in charge, actually becoming so stingy, not even willing to hire people in the shop, taking her own personal maidservant to use.

Jia Huan was having a hot time with Seeing Cai Xia, and suddenly lost her shadow in the inner courtyard, feeling exceptionally lonely, missing that fragrant, soft, and indulgent taste every day.

This day he was bored and sneaked into Seeing Cai Xia's room again, hoping she had returned to the prefecture.

It was just that he sneaked into Seeing Cai Xia's room and didn't see Seeing Cai Xia, but saw Yu Chuan tidying up clothes.

Jia Huan wondered: "Yu Chuan, why are you here? What are you busy with?"

Yu Chuan saw Jia Huan come to Seeing Cai Xia's room and couldn't help but be surprised, her expression even revealing something strange.

She said: "I am helping Seeing Cai Xia tidy up her clothes."

Jia Huan was angry and asked: "Seeing Cai Xia has lived in the Lady's shop for a long time and hasn't let her come back. Does she have to live there for a long time?"

"Does it still need you to tidy up her clothes? Why doesn't Seeing Cai Xia come back to tidy up herself?"

Yu Chuan thought for a while and said: "San Ye doesn't know yet. Xing Xing Fu Ren just transferred Qiuwen to serve in the Eastern Courtyard and let Seeing Cai Xia go to the Western Prefecture to serve the Bao Er Ye."

Hearing this, Jia Huan only felt a chill rushing to the top of his head, followed by a bellyful of rage.

He said: "Second Brother has good maidservants by his side, so why does he still want to snatch Seeing Cai Xia away? I definitely won't allow it!"

Jia Huan was already over thirteen, knew the cold and warmth of the family, hated the difference between legitimate and concubine-born, and was jealous of Baoyu's legitimate inheritance, getting all the favor of the prefecture and occupying all the good things.

He had no brotherly feelings for Baoyu, only a bellyful of resentment and hatred. Usually, as long as he had the opportunity, he had done many things with open fire and hidden knives.

Now that he heard he even wanted to snatch his Seeing Cai Xia, he was naturally furious.

Seeing Jia Huan's expression was frightening, Yu Chuan couldn't help but be afraid. She was Lady Wang's personal maidservant, so naturally, she knew more than others.

A few days ago, the Lady had mentioned to the master that she wanted to let Seeing Cai Xia enter Baoyu's room, and the master didn't care much and had already agreed to this matter.

It was just that even if Yu Chuan knew the truth, she didn't reveal half a word to others.

Because Yu Chuan knew that Jia Huan and Seeing Cai Xia had always been entangled, and heard her sister Jin Chuan's warning, not allowing her to have any entanglement with the men of the second branch.

Seeing Cai Xia's matter involved the two brothers Baoyu and Jia Huan, and she dared not get involved even half a bit.

Yu Chuan saw Jia Huan's expression was ugly and said cautiously: "Xing Xing Fu Ren says it's fine, San Ye, I advise you not to manage this matter."

Jia Huan's face flushed and he said: "I just don't agree. I'm going to tell the master!"

Before his voice fell, he heard a flurry of footsteps in the courtyard of the hall next door, and his father Jia Zheng's roar came out.

"You go quickly and take Huan'er over, do it quickly. Whoever dares to delay and report, I will beat him to death!"

Hearing such words, Jia Huan was aggressive and murderous, so how could he not know that things were not good?

Recently he hadn't made any mistakes, only the broken matter with Jin Rong could be considered a handle. Could it be that the master believed the rumors outside and actually came home to settle accounts with him?

Thinking of this, Jia Huan was so scared that his legs went soft. He and Baoyu were not on good terms, but there was only one thing that was extremely similar: both were afraid of their father like a tiger.

Last time, during the Jin Chuan incident, Jia Huan had fanned the flames in front of Jia Zheng, resulting in Baoyu being severely beaten and unable to get out of bed for two months, which made him very happy.

Now he was afraid that retribution would be unpleasant, and he would also suffer this disaster. He screamed in fright and ran toward his biological mother Zhao Yiniang's room in a flash.

He had just run to the door when he collided with Zhao Yiniang who was just coming out. Zhao Yiniang staggered a few steps before standing firm.

She blurted out: "You low-class shameless thing, why are you running for no reason? Do you want to drill back into your old mother's belly to reincarnate?"

Jia Huan said tremblingly: "Yiniang, save me quickly. The master wants someone to catch me and beat me to death."

Hearing this, Zhao Yiniang's expression changed greatly. She was born as a slave maid and had some eyes and ears among the servants in the prefecture.

Naturally, she knew about the rumors of her son's scandal outside. She didn't believe it much, and Jia Huan denied it flatly.

At this time, the reason she could think of was nothing more than this disaster.

She said tremblingly: "Could it be that the master knows about the rumors outside and wants to take you and Jin Rong's broken matter to erupt?"

Jia Huan said with a crying face, speaking without choosing words: "It must be this matter. Yiniang knows the son best, how could I provoke a stinky man?"

"The son is a decent person, I only like to play with Seeing Cai Xia..."

Hearing this, Zhao Yiniang's expression changed greatly, and she hurriedly reached out to cover Jia Huan's mouth.

She cursed in a low voice: "You maggot-hearted fool, can you say this kind of thing blindly? If it reaches the master and Lady's ears, do you still want your little life!"

Zhao Yiniang had just finished speaking when she heard chaotic footsteps outside the door, and Li Gui brought two pages to the door.

Seeing one of the pages holding a rope in his hand, Jia Huan shivered all over and shouted: "Yiniang, save me, the master wants to beat me to death."

Zhao Yiniang cursed: "You maggot-hearted goods, you useless coward, you know fear now? Who let you fight with Jin Rong and provoke this body of trouble?"

She turned to Li Gui and said: "Li Jia Laoda, I have helped you. You just came over to take people straight, and you didn't help plead in front of the master?"

Li Gui laughed bitterly: "Yiniang is joking. The master heard the idle talk about Huan Ge'er outside and is now in a rage. Even the Lady can't persuade him, let alone me."

"Yiniang, don't stop him. This matter can't be avoided anyway. Letting Huan Ge'er go over early is the right thing."

"If time is delayed and the master becomes even more angry, wouldn't Huan Ge'er be even worse? Yiniang, don't make us servants difficult."

Li Gui said, shouting to the two pages: "What are you stunned for? Why don't you invite Huan Sanye over to answer? Dilly-dallying, be careful of the master's punishment."

The two pages went up and held Jia Huan's arms, dragging him away, their movements seeming quite skilled...

Hearing Jia Huan's pleading voice, Zhao Yiniang was disheartened, crying loudly, and wanted to chase after him.

Li Gui and the two pages left a few steps before saying to Zhao Yiniang: "Yiniang, don't mess up your steps. The master is in a rage now."

"In the Eastern Courtyard, I fear no one can persuade him. The small one will say one more word: only the Third Girl's words can the master listen to a few..."

Hearing this, Zhao Yiniang suddenly realized, hurriedly stopped crying, and called her maidservant Xiao Jixiang.

She said: "You also know about Huan Ge'er's affairs. You go to the Eastern Prefecture immediately and call the Third Girl over, just say the master wants to beat his brother to death, come and save his life quickly!" (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 732 =====